While off duty in Okinawa, Marine major William Easter dove into a sea with 10-foot swells to rescue a pregnant woman who had been swept away by unexpected bad weather combined with a riptide. Easter described his decision to rescue her as a "moral obligation" that he was unable to resist. By doing so, he revealed one of the mysteries of the human condition, which is one person's decision to risk, or even sacrifice, his life for a stranger. There is no Darwinian reason for a person to risk his life to save a stranger. After all, each person's instinct for survival of the species is tied to that person's lineage. That's why male lions when they take over a pride will kill the former lion's cubs to ensure the best survival for their own and why women develop herculean strength if it's needed to rescue their children. Humans can bring to the tribe the same sense of obligation they feel to their own lineage. We see this every time troops willingly sacrifice themselves to save each other. There's no reason, though, ever to save a random stranger. Nevertheless, that's exactly what people, especially men, do. When the Titanic sank, the code of "women and children first" meant that a disproportionate number of men went down with the ship. At day's end, roughly 75% of women and only 20% of men on the ship survived. (Children had a lower survival rate of 50%, presumably because they were more vulnerable to the icy cold.) In 1982, Calvin Eugene Simmons was enjoying a spectacular career. Although only 32, he was a well known conductor throughout California and even debuted at the Metropolitan Opera. His swift rise was made all the more impressive by the fact that, in each venue, he was the first African-American to conduct the orchestra. Simmons died at 32 because, while boating on Lake Placid in New York, he tried to rescue a child following a canoe accident. Simmons could not swim. Fortunately, Major Easter could swim, although last December, that ability could scarcely prepare him for the rigors of diving into 10-foot swells, strong winds, and riptides in the East China Sea along the Sunabe Seawall to rescue a pregnant woman whose own husband had staggered out of the water, exhausted, to beg for help. Easter later said, "I was confident in my skills and training," but reading about the rescue shows that Easter, when he leaped into the sea, also made a huge leap of faith: Easter's first reaction to the desperate calls from the exhausted husband separated from his wife by a rip current after bad weather quickly approached was to help the husband search for help, he told Marine Corps Times in an email Thursday. But the Marine quickly realized he was the only one capable and willing to rescue the pregnant woman from drowning, he said. [snip] The Marine first attempted to get ashore, but when the woman was overcome by exhaustion and could no longer help him swim Easter focused on keeping her afloat until rescuers arrived, according to the Navy and Marine Corps Medal citation. After staying afloat for almost an hour, the first rescue craft arrived. Because of the choppy sea and the size of the craft the boat capsized, sending Easter and the pregnant woman back in the water until a larger boat finally arrived and rescued them. What's utterly fascinating is Easter's reason for doing what he did: "I didn't know what the victim's state was, but I felt like I had a moral obligation to do something." That is an extraordinary statement. At a pure genetic survival level, the last thing he should have done was sacrifice himself, but he had a "moral obligation to do so." That moral obligation is so often allied with masculinity that is anything but toxic. Moreover, age doesn't matter. Noah Woods, a five-year-old boy, rescued his whole family from a burning house, dragging his two-year-old sister out and then getting help. Peter Yang received a posthumous admission to West Point after he died saving his classmates following the Parkland shooting. Kendrick Castillo, who dreamed of becoming a Marine, charged another school shooter, saving his classmates as well. Some people go into the military for the adventure, some to gain skills, some to benefit from the G.I. Bill and some just have that altruistic gene that drives them to save others, no matter the fact that it makes no Darwinian sense. For his heroism, Major Easter received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, which is the highest honor awarded to those who engage in noncombat heroism. He also received a letter of appreciation from the mayor of Chatan, Japan. It is a wonderful thing that these were not posthumous honors. A worker in a chemical suit sprays disinfectant in a quarantine facility at the Gradostroitel health resort near the city of Tyumen after a 14-day quarantine for Russian nationals who were evacuated from Wuhan: Maxim Slutsky/TASS US officials say thousands of social media accounts linked to Russia are part of a coordinated effort to spread disinformation about the new coronavirus. The campaign allegedly aims to damage the USs image and spread unfounded conspiracy theories that it is behind the outbreak which has infected nearly 78,000 globally and killed over 2,500 people. US State Department officials told AFP fake accounts were created and used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so the campaign could reach as many people as possible in multiple languages. Philip Reeker, acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, said Russias goal was to sow discord and undermine US institutions and alliances from within. By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting from the global health response, he said. A report prepared for the State Departments Global Engagement Centre, which was seen by AFP, identified several thousand online accounts posting almost near identical messages about the virus. These accounts were previously identified for publishing pro-Russian messages on major events including the war in Syria, Yellow Vest protests in France, and Chiles mass demonstrations. In recent weeks, claims that the US engineered the new coronavirus in an effort to wage economic war on China or that it was manufactured by the CIA as a biological weapon have been circulating social media. The accounts also targeted Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, falsely accusing him of being involved with the viruss spread. According to the report, the accounts are run by humans instead of bots and post in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French. They can reportedly be linked to Russian proxies or disseminate messages similar to those published by Russian broadcast services such as Sputnik and RT. Another official from the Global Engagement Centre was quoted as saying: In the Russian doctrine of information confrontation, this is classic. Story continues The number of coronavirus cases globally hasnt reached its apex, so the Russian strategy is to very cheaply but very effectively take advantage of the information environment to sow discord between us and China, or for economic purposes. The report drew parallels with a KGB disinformation campaign in the 1980s that convinced many people that the HIV virus was engineered by US scientists. Read more Trump furious as coronavirus-infected Americans fly home 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 Prince Harry and Meghan Markles decision to leave the royal family was the exit heard around the world. The two returned from a holiday break only to announce that they would step back from their roles as senior royals. Now, Harry and Meghan have been officially living in North America for just over a month. But have they spoken to the queen since they left? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Queen Elizabeth | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Harry and Meghan left the family for several reasons The couples decision to leave the royal family wasnt an irrational one. Ever since Harry and Meghan wed, they had been bombarded by negative media attention and a public who, for the most part, didnt believe in them. It became difficult for the two to do their jobs, and it took an emotional toll. It ultimately became one of the reasons they decided to give up their HRH titles. When they welcomed Archie, they realized there was another reason to live a more peaceful life so that their son could have one, too. Harry and Meghan wanted to raise Archie away from the fanfare of the royal family. The two have already made scheduled public appearances in North America Since their move, Harry and Meghan have been living a much more peaceful life. Theyve settled into a rental home on Vancouver Island in Canada, and theyve already made public appearances as non-royals. They recently spoke at a conference in Miami and even more recently met with professors at Stanford University for a charity they plan to launch. The couple has kept themselves under the radar, though they were spotted returning home from a trip to California earlier this week and they looked extremely happy and comfortable. The couple recently closed their Buckingham Palace office and likely spoke with the queen Since Harry and Meghan left the U.K. in January, they have not returned. And its made us question how their relationship is with the queen. Its reported that Harry and Meghan recently closed their Buckingham Palace office, which means they more than likely spoke with Queen Elizabeth to finalize that. Since the two arent official royal members, there was no longer a need for them to have an office at the queens home. Though Harry and Meghan have likely spoken about business with Harrys grandmother, its unclear if theyve yet made any plans to return to the U.K. for a visit. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Queen Elizabeth | John Stillwell/AFP via Getty Images They seem to still be on good terms with the queen Regardless of whether Harry and Meghan have chatted with the queen, there doesnt seem to be any bad blood over their decision. Queen Elizabeth saw firsthand the struggle the two were having with royal life, and she likely only wants her grandson and his family to be happy. Its possible shes called to check in on them, and it wouldnt surprise us if thats the case. She seems to genuinely want the best for Harry, and she liked Meghan from the start. Despite being queen, shes still a grandmother with a big heart. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 10:15:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Four people died from infection of the novel coronavirus disease in Iran, an advisor to Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education said on Friday. "So far, 18 Iranians have been infected by the virus, out of which four have died," Alireza Vahabzadeh was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying. The dead are from Iranian cities of Tehran, Qom and Rasht, Vahabzadeh told IRNA. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. KABUL, Afghanistan The United States and the Taliban will start the clock early Saturday on a plan to end Americas longest war after more than 18 years, beginning with what they hope will be seven days of greatly reduced violence in Afghanistan. If the weeklong, partial truce holds, the two sides have agreed, they will meet on Feb. 29 to sign an agreement laying out a timetable for the U.S. to withdraw its troops. Should the truce stand, the U.S.-Taliban deal would be followed within 10 days by the start of all-Afghan peace talks that could result in the formation of a new government in Kabul, a pledge from the Taliban not to allow terrorist groups to operate in the country, and the phased withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign troops over 18 months. But the Afghan government is deep in a political crisis after a bitterly disputed presidential election, with both sides declaring victory. With rival claimants to legitimacy, it is unclear who would negotiate with the Taliban, whether they would be prepared to enter talks while struggling to control the government, or what kind of mandate they would have. U.S. negotiators demanded the seven-day reduction in violence, scheduled to go into effect after midnight Saturday, as a public show of the Talibans good faith and its ability to control its fractious and scattered forces. The truce, to be monitored by American forces, will likely be fragile and U.S. officials have noted the possibility that spoilers uninterested in peace talks could disrupt it. Determining who is responsible for potential attacks during the seven days will be critical. Both sides were cautiously optimistic in announcing the agreement that had been previewed a week ago by a senior U.S. official at an international security conference in Munich, Germany. The announcement had been expected shortly thereafter but was delayed in part because of Mondays release of the results of Afghanistans disputed September 2019 elections that showed President Ashraf Ghani winning by an extremely narrow margin. The U.S. government still has not acknowledged Ghanis victory. I call on all Afghans to seize this opportunity, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter on Friday. The Taliban, meanwhile, said in a statement that the agreement is intended to achieve nationwide peace and and end to the foreign troop presence in the country. The statement said both sides will now create a suitable security situation ahead of the agreement signing date, invite international representatives to a signing ceremony, arrange for the release of prisoners, structure a path for peace talks, and finally lay the groundwork for peace across the country with the withdrawal of all foreign forces. The Taliban added that they will not allow the land of Afghanistan to be used against security of others so that our people can live a peaceful and prosperous life under the shade of an Islamic system. Under the terms of the reduction in violence which covers all of Afghanistan and also applies to Afghan forces as well as the United States and Taliban all sides have committed to end attacks for seven days. For the Taliban, that includes roadside bombings, suicide attacks and rocket strikes. The Taliban military commission issued instructions to its commanders to stop attacks from Feb. 22 against foreign and Afghan forces until Feb 29. The peace deal also calls for the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, most of whom are being held by the Afghan government. Although the U.S. has already discussed the prisoner release with government representatives, there has been no public announcement about it from Ghanis government. A previous attempt at a deal between the Taliban and the U.S. fell apart on the verge of completion in September, with a new outbreak of violence, and the same risk hangs over the latest try. And even if the carefully choreographed rollout of the agreement does presage the end of the American phase of the war, the plan might not spell the end of the war itself. President Donald Trump is determined, one way or another, to reduce U.S. involvement in Afghanistan to a minimum, and the Talibans long-term commitment to compromise and power-sharing remains open to question. The U.S. is expected to keep a small special operations and intelligence force in Afghanistan after most troops have left. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the developments. The U.S.-led military alliance has some 16,000 troops in Afghanistan helping to train the countrys security forces, but it could draw down on its operation to accommodate any firm peace agreement. More than 8,000 of these alliance troops are American. This is a critical test of the Talibans willingness and ability to reduce violence, and contribute to peace in good faith, Stoltenberg said in a statement. This could pave the way for negotiations among Afghans, sustainable peace, and ensuring the country is never again a safe haven for terrorists. Analysts said the election dispute was unlikely to affect the first steps of the peace process, as U.S. officials had made it clear to everyone that their priority was starting the violence reduction. But the high-stakes political showdown would make it difficult to move on to the next phase, when a unified negotiating team that includes the Afghan government is expected to sit across from the Taliban. The U.S. has clearly put its weight on the peace issue, and that message is clear to all sides with President Ghani agreeing to reduction of violence there is a consensus among the parties, said Omar Sadr, an assistant professor of political science at the American University of Afghanistan. But the election issue has created a huge gap between the political sides and that needs to be bridged in a very short time for this process to move forward, he added. And I dont know how that can happen without (U.S. chief negotiator Zalmay) Khalilzad and the U.S. stepping in. Sadr said the Americans remaining quiet on the election results gives them maneuver room to broker a settlement to the political crisis which could provide leverage to make sure the peace process doesnt fall apart. U.S.-Taliban Deal Signing Expected Next Week, If Reduction In Violence Is Successful By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan February 21, 2020 A deal between the United States and the Taliban is expected to be signed on February 29 provided a "reduction in violence'" due to enter into force at midnight proves successful, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 21. The United States and the Taliban have been engaged in talks to facilitate a political settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan and reduce the U.S. presence in the region, Pompeo said in a statement. "In recent weeks, in consultation with the Government of National Unity, U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan," Pompeo said. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward. We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29," Pompeo said, adding that intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, with the final aim of delivering "a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire and the future political road map for Afghanistan." In a written statement, the Taliban confirmed the planned signing of a deal on February 29 "in front of international observers" and said that "the groundwork for intra-Afghan talks will be resolved," although it did not mention when such talks would start. The Taliban had previously refused to speak directly to the Afghan government, which it labeled a U.S. puppet. Earlier on February 21, a senior Afghan official and several Taliban leaders said that the week-long "reduction in violence" will begin at midnight local time on February 22. "We hope it is extended for a longer time and opens the way for a cease-fire and intra-Afghan talks," Javed Faisal, Afghanistan's National Security Council spokesman, was quoted as saying. The talks between U.S. and Taliban representatives began in Qatar in 2018. Afghan government troops will keep up normal military operations against other militants, such as the Islamic State (IS) group, during the reduction in violence period, Faisal said. He added that Afghan troops will also retaliate to the smallest violation of the understanding by the Taliban. "Local government and security officials have been instructed by the president [Ashraf Ghani)] himself on how to follow the regulations agreed upon for the period [reduced violence]," Faisal said. One Taliban leader based in Qatar's capital, Doha, told Reuters that the week-long lull could not be called a "cease-fire." "Every party has the right of self-defense but there would be no attacks on each other's positions in these seven days," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. Both NATO and Russia hailed the announcement. "It will be an important event for the peace process in Afghanistan," Moscow's Afghanistan envoy, Zamir Kabulov, told the state news agency RIA Novosti, adding that he would attend the signing ceremony if invited. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the agreement opened a possible route to sustainable peace in Afghanistan. "I welcome today's announcement that an understanding has been reached on a significant reduction in violence across Afghanistan," Stoltenberg said in a statement. NATO has a 16,000-strong mission in Afghanistan to train, support, and advise local forces. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-afghan -forces-reduction-in-violence-peace -deal-trump-approval/30446745.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Independent schools had 2160 more students enrolled in the year 5 of 2019 compared with year 4 in 2018. This has grown from 2016 when the year 5 intake was 1900 new students. Enrolment figures from the Association of Independent Schools of NSW show year 5 has the second biggest intake of students transferring from other schools, behind year 7, and the year 5 intake has been growing over the past few years. Year 5 is the new year 7 for many Sydney parents choosing private high school for their children. That means new enrolments in year 5 have grown 13.7 per cent since 2016, out-stripping the 7.1 per cent growth in independent school enrolment across all grades. The trend, which has been noted by principals and families at public schools, is driven by parents' fear of missing out on the high school of their choice or that their child might be behind when they start year 7. Some parents also worry about the implications for those left behind at the local school when a number of bright students leave to take up a place in an opportunity class (OC) at a different public school. All public students can sit the test for OC - a selective stream for year 5 and 6 - but they will often have to move schools as there are only a few in each district. The Stapleton family from Tamarama is part of the trend, with Axel, 10, transferring from Rose Bay Public to Waverley College this year for year 5. His older brother Fox also started in year 5 and is now in year 7. LifeStyle The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. Riyadh: As Saudi Arabia hosts the two-day G20 presidency, the first Arab nation to do so, finance ministers and central bank governors from the participating nations weighed the potential impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the world economy. At the meeting, financial leaders from the world's top 20 economies have also sought consensus on ways to achieve a global taxation system for the digital era. The gathering comes amid growing alarm over the new coronavirus as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent the spread of the disease, with major knock-on effects for the global economy. The virus has now claimed 2,345 lives in China, cutting off transportation and forcing businesses to close their doors. The impact of the epidemic could see a "V-shaped" trajectory, with a sharp decline in China's GDP followed by a sharp recovery, but the situation could have more dire consequences for other countries as the impacts spill over, said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. At the core of discussions at the gathering is an action plan to shield the world economy -- already facing a slowdown -- from the impact of the outbreak, said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. "The question remains open: whether it will be a V-shape with a quick recovery of the world economy or whether it would lead to a L-shape with a persistent slowdown in world growth," Le Maire told reporters. "This is the key question." China has said it will not be sending any leaders from Beijing for the Riyadh gathering, chaired by the the kingdom's finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan and central bank governor Ahmed al-Kholifey. But it said the Chinese ambassador in the kingdom will instead lead a small delegation. "We have been closely watching the developments of the virus and assessing its potential effects on economic growth," a senior US Treasury official told reporters. "We expect ministers and governors will discuss the global economic outlook, particularly as it relates to the coronavirus outbreak." The G20 organisers also hosted a ministerial-level symposium on international taxation on Saturday, focused on the challenges arising from the digitalisation of the global economy. "There is a consensus among the G20 members on the necessity of getting this new international taxation system for the sake of fairness and efficiency," said Le Maire. He added there was also consensus on a global framework for an international system while urging the gathered leaders to reach a compromise solution by the end of the year. Last month, Britain said its planned digital tax on hugely profitable technology giants will proceed from April despite US threats of retaliatory tariffs. "You cannot have in a global economy different national tax systems that conflict with each other," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Riyadh gathering. Other European nations like Italy and Austria have already introduced their own digital levy, but France has put its plans on hold. Presidents Emmanuel Macron and US Donald Trump have agreed to extend negotiations on the proposed French tax on digital giants to the end of the year, postponing Washington's threat of sanctions against Paris, according to a French diplomatic source. France has said it would drop its tax if an international agreement is reached under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Saudi presidency will see it host world leaders for a summit in Riyadh from November 21 to 22. It will hold more than 100 events and conferences in the run-up to the summit, including ministerial meetings, organisers say. Human rights groups have urged G20 member states to exert pressure on the kingdom over its intensifying crackdown on dissent, which has seen women activists, journalists and political dissidents jailed. Brian Loncar died in 2016 from a cocaine overdose, but the Texas law firm he built and billed as The Strong Arm will live on in the hands of two Dallas trial lawyers who bought the firm last month. The $13 million sale of Loncar & Associates, whose colorful advertising has pounded Texas airwaves for more than three decades, was closed Jan. 23, making Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Ted Lyon, a former state senator, the firms sole owners. Their purchase of the firm, which has offices in 11 Texas cities, including Houston and Beaumont, brings Loncars heirs very close to the finish line of a contentious three-year battle over his estate. Dallas County Probate Judge Brenda Hull Thompson cleared the way for the transaction Dec. 2 after a two-part hearing over the matter during which the $13 million legal question was whether Texas law would allow Jenkins, who is also the executor of Loncars estate, to be part of the purchase. Jenkins and Lyon (who represents Jenkins) argued that the deal was in the best interest of the estate. Thompson agreed. Jenkins said the joint purchase leaves him and Lyon with a good investment while garnering a good payoff for the estate. Loncars daughters, Hailey and Abby, are the sole remaining beneficiaries of the trust tied to Loncars estate. The Loncar firm has helped thousands of people a year for 30 years, Jenkins said. Im confident that it will be a successful venture. Loncar died in his Rolls-Royce from a cocaine overdose on the morning of Dec. 4, 2016, a week after the suicide of his 16-year-old daughter, Grace, who had battled depression. He was 56. Loncar became a giant of the Texas plaintiffs bar with his TV ads under the nickname The Strong Arm, which helped him build Loncar & Associates to a high-profile and highly profitable law firm. As a larger-than-life celebrity lawyer, Loncars death captured headlines around the world. But much like the Google results that chronicle Loncars controversial career, drama surrounded both the sale of his law firm and the overall settlement of his estate. After Loncars death, Lyon said, parties claiming that his estate owed them money sued. Meanwhile, Dallas advisory firm Hayse, which was hired by the estate, spent a year marketing Loncar & Associates to other firms across the country, but no prospects promising enough for a sale acceptable to Loncars heirs were found, according to court documents. That led Abby and Hailey Loncar to ask if Jenkins was interested in buying the firm. Dallas attorney Bret Madole, who represented Hailey Loncar in the transaction, said the sisters concluded that Jenkins was the best fit to take over the firm because he already knew the ins and outs of the business through his experience running the estate. Moreover, as a 30-year friend of their father, they had also known Jenkins for a long time. They were very comfortable with him and knew they were in good hands, Madole said. And they wanted to see the continuance of their fathers name. The deal was not without obstacles. It appeared that Texas law might prohibit Jenkins from purchasing the firm because of his role as executor of Loncars estate in effect, the transaction would place him in the potentially unethical role as both buyer and seller. The parties had to convince the court that it was in the best interest of the estate. Then came another roadblock. A week after Jenkins and the Loncar daughters filed their joint motion to approve the sale of the firm, others objected, including Loncars widow, Sue. She argued that the sale was not in the best interest of the estate because the law firm was worth more than $13 million. She later withdrew her objection, clearing the way for court approval. Under terms of the sale, Lyon and Jenkins paid $7 million in cash and agreed to pay off the remaining $6 million balance through quarterly payments over the next four years. Lyon said he will not be involved in day-to-day operations of Loncar & Associates. Jenkins said he will assume the role of president. In addition, Jenkins and Lyon acquired an ongoing trademark dispute between Loncar & Associates and Colorado attorney Frank Azar, one of Loncars former law partners. The lawsuit, regarding use of the phrase The Strong Arm, is currently pending in the Northern District of Texas. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a sour-sounding statement after they were forced to drop their 'Sussex Royal' brand last night. In the extraordinary statement that appeared on their website, Meghan and Harry claimed the Queen does not have 'jurisdiction' over the lucrative term 'royal' overseas. They also appeared to complain that the palace is treating them differently to other family members. Here, MailOnline examines what the Sussexes said about what they called their 'Spring 2020 transition' and examined how it compares to information already released by the palace. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a sour-sounding statement after they were forced to drop their 'Sussex Royal' brand last night. Here, MailOnline examines what the Sussexes said about what they called their 'Spring 2020 transition' and examined how it compares to information already released by the palace A statement from Buckingham Palace announcing Megxit in January said: 'The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.' In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'As agreed and set out in January, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will retain their HRH prefix, thereby formally remaining known as His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex. 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer actively use their HRH titles as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020.' The palace statement, issued last month, clearly states that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not use their HRH titles. Meghan and Harry's statement states, however, that they will keep the prefixes His and Her Royal Highness. They go on to claim that the titles will not be used 'actively' when the couple cease being working members of the firm. The statement from Buckingham Palace in January said: 'They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties. With The Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. 'While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.' In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'The preference of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex was to continue to represent and support Her Majesty The Queen albeit in a more limited capacity, while not drawing on the Sovereign Grant. 'While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place.' It later adds: 'It was agreed that The Duke and Duchess will no longer be able to formally carry out "official duties" for The Queen or represent The Commonwealth, but they will, however, be allowed to maintain their patronages (including those that are classified as royal patronages).' The Buckingham Palace statement from January is clear in its assertion that the Duke and Duchess will not receive any public fund for royal duties. This is repeated in Harry and Meghan's statement but it starts by stating that the Duke and Duchess did want to represent the Queen in a 'more limited capacity'. The Sussexes state that they have been subject to a '12-month review period' even though 'there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution.' A statement from Buckingham Palace in January said: 'As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties.' In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'In relation to the military, The Duke of Sussex will retain the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader. During this 12-month period of review, The Dukes official military appointments will not be used as they are in the gift of the Sovereign. 'No new appointments will be made to fill these roles before the 12-month review of the new arrangements is completed. 'While per the agreement, The Duke will not perform any official duties associated with these roles, given his dedication to the military community and ten years of service he will of course continue his unwavering support to the military community in a non-official capacity.' The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes statement lists all the military ranks The Duke of Sussex will retain - even though his military appointments will not be used during the 12-month transition period. In the statement published on January 18, the Queen said: 'Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. 'I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'The Royal Family respect and understand the wish of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to live a more independent life as a family, by removing the supposed public interest justification for media intrusion into their lives. 'They remain a valued part of Her Majestys family.' The Sussexes repeat that they are still part of 'Her Majestys family.' The Queen says the Duke and Duchess have experienced 'intense scrutiny' in the past two years. The royal couple instead choose the words 'media intrusion', a harsher and more divisive stance. A statement from Buckingham Palace in January said: 'Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security.' In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'It is agreed that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son. 'This is based on The Dukes public profile by virtue of being born into The Royal Family, his military service, the Duchess own independent profile, and the shared threat and risk level documented specifically over the last few years.' The Sussexes stated that they 'require effective security' to protect them amid heightened public scrutiny about who will foot the estimated 3million to 6million bill. In a statement in January, the palace refused to comment on security arrangements all together. In a statement, the palace said: Due to the fact that the Duke and Duchess will not be undertaking official engagements in support of the Queen, which are funded by the Sovereign Grant, an office at Buckingham Palace was no longer needed. 'It is important to note that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in the United Kingdom regularly. In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'Based on the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs desire to have a reduced role as members of The Royal Family, it was decided in January that their Institutional Office would have to be closed, given the primary funding mechanism for this official office at Buckingham Palace is from HRH The Prince of Wales. 'The Duke and Duchess shared this news with their team personally in January once they knew of the decision, and have worked closely with their staff to ensure a smooth transition for each of them. 'Over the last month and a half, The Duke and Duchess have remained actively involved in this process, which has understandably been saddening for The Duke and Duchess and their loyal staff, given the closeness of Their Royal Highnesses and their dedicated team.' The Duke and Duchess's statement is much more emotional than the palace's initial one. Harry and Meghan stated that having to shut their London office was 'saddening' and explained that they have been actively involved in the process. They also said that they told they told 'their team personally' last month. In a statement, the palace said: 'As The Duke and Duchess are stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family, and will work towards financial independence, use of the word royal, in this context, needed to be reviewed. Discussions are still ongoing, however, a change will be announced alongside the launch of their new non-profit organisation. In the statement last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'As The Duke and Duchess will no longer be considered full-time working Members of The Royal Family, it was agreed that use of the word Royal would need to be reviewed as it pertains to organisations associated with them in this new regard. 'As shared in early January on this website, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not plan to start a foundation, but rather intend to develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by so many excellent foundations globally. 'The creation of this non-profit entity will be in addition to their cause driven work that they remain deeply committed to. 'While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word Royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation will not utilise the name Sussex Royal or any other iteration of "Royal".' It later added: 'While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal or any iteration of the word Royal in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020.' The Duke and Duchess agreed that their new charitable organisation would not use the word royal, following on from the Palaces statement in January. They did insist, however, that they did not have to do this as the Queen has no 'jurisdiction' over the term abroad. Officers arrested a 49-year-old man Thursday morning after he allegedly tried to rob a bank in downtown San Francisco, police said. Around 10:25 a.m., officers responded to a report of a bank robbery in the 700 block of Market Street. A male suspect allegedly walked into the bank and handed a note to the bank teller, saying he was going to rob the bank with a weapon. A security guard, however, was able to detain the suspect. Once officers arrived, they were able to arrest him. Police have identified him as Thomas Mullin of Los Angeles. He was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted robbery and burglary, police said. The Sonoma County Sheriff's office has identified a pedestrian who died in a collision with a vehicle in Santa Rosa on Thursday night as Noah Stepanoff, 45, of Santa Rosa. Police responded at 8:07 p.m. to the collision after they received a call from a "hysterical" driver who said she struck a pedestrian at A Street near the westbound off-ramp to Third Street near the Santa Rosa Plaza, police Sgt. Josh Ludtke said. The caller said the pedestrian was trapped under the vehicle. Police and Santa Rosa Fire Department medical personnel responded and removed the pedestrian from under the vehicle, a burgundy Nissan Maxima. The driver's name has not been released. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. There is no indication she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and it is unclear where Stepanoff was in the road when the collision occurred, Ludtke said. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call Officer Mike Mieger at (707) 3636. Two men hospitalized for gunshot wounds Thursday night told police that someone in another car opened fire on them while they were stopped at a Morgan Hill intersection. After the shooting, the victims apparently drove their shot-up car to South San Jose, where police were called, said Morgan Hill police Sgt. Bill Norman. The men, ages 19 and 22, were taken to two different hospitals, one in serious condition and the other with life-threatening injuries. Morgan Hill police first received calls about the shooting shortly after 8 p.m., at Cochrane Road and Mission View Drive and found several shell casings at the intersection, Norman said. While they were investigating, San Jose police called them about a vehicle that may have been involved found in the area of Bernal Road and Via De Oro in San Jose. The two men with gunshot wounds inside the car were taken to hospitals, Norman said. Investigators said the victims' car had been headed northbound on Mission View and had stopped at the intersection of Cochrane Road, where the suspect's car pulled alongside and fired multiple shots at them, Norman said. The victims fled west on Cochrane, then north on U.S. Highway 101, where they eventually stopped on Bernal Road in San Jose. The suspects' car is believed to be a dark-colored sedan that was last seen headed east on Cochrane Road. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Sgt. Bill Norman at (669) 253-4982 or bill.norman@morganhill.ca.gov Hayward will begin offering free child care services to parents who want to attend City Council meetings. The service is intended to make it easier for households with young children to participate in local government meetings. Parents can request childcare services by 5 p.m. on Fridays prior to the council's regularly scheduled Tuesday night meetings. Child care will be provided in Conference Room 2A at Hayward City Hall, located on the same floor as the council chambers. Parents using the service will be required to present a valid photo ID, complete a consent form and sign their child in and out of the room. Residents seeking to request child care services during council meetings can contact the Hayward city clerk's office at (510) 583-4400. Council agendas are posted online at https://hayward.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Meetings are held at Hayward City Hall, located at 777 B St. Police in Vallejo are asking for the public's help in locating a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting last fall. The Vallejo Police Department is looking for Alfonzo Lavell Blake, 20, of Vallejo. On Nov. 27 at around 5 p.m. officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Redwood Parkway. Police said a gunbattle occurred at the scene, but there were no reported injuries during the shooting. The incident was captured by the security system of a nearby store, and detectives were ultimately able to identify one of the shooting suspects as Blake, police said. Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Blake for willful discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner. Investigators are also asking for the public's help in identifying a person who was shooting at Blake from a vehicle. Anyone with information on Blake's whereabouts or on the other suspect can contact the Vallejo Police Department at (800) 488-9383. Police in San Rafael on Thursday arrested two suspects in connection with an armed robbery earlier this month at a Home Depot. Gerald Hood, 37, of San Pablo, and Thomas Garcia Rodriguez, 22, of Richmond, were arrested on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime, according to the San Rafael Police Department. On Feb. 2 at 8:15 p.m. two suspects entered the Home Depot at 111 Shoreline Parkway just before the store closed. Police said the one of the suspects, armed with a handgun, approached the cashier and demanded money from the cash registers. The suspects then fled the store, got into a waiting black Dodge Charger and drove away. Police were able to determine Hood was one of the suspects in the robbery, and he was taken into custody Thursday at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland. Investigators were also able to obtain a search warrant for Hood's home in San Pablo and found evidence related to the robbery, police said. Investigators learned a subject in a black Dodge Charger that matched the description of the vehicle involved in the robbery dropped off Hood at the federal building. Police located the vehicle, which was driven by Rodriguez. He was taken into custody, and the vehicle was impounded for evidence. Police said one suspect in the robbery is still outstanding. Police in San Leandro are looking for the public's help in locating a missing man. Police said Milton Howard, 76, was last seen in the area of Lewelling and Hesperian boulevards on Thursday around 11 a.m. Police described Howard as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 130 pounds and with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue or gray sweat suit and yellow or orange socks. He was not wearing shoes. Police said Howard suffers from medical conditions that require medical attention, and he may appear despondent and walking with an abnormal gait. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the San Leandro Police Department at (510) 577-2740. A woman was hospitalized after driving a car off a cliff along State Route 9 west of Saratoga Friday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol. The woman was headed northbound near Heather Heights Road on a part of the two-lane highway that winds through the mountains north of Mt. Bielaswki when she went off the road at about 11:45 a.m., according to the CHP. She was able to call 911 and was taken to a hospital after complaining of pain, according to CHP spokesman Officer Ross Lee. It's unclear how far down the embankment she ended up or how she was able to get back to safety. The road was closed in both directions at about 12:30 p.m. so that crews operating a wrecker with 50 feet to 100 feet of cable could start trying to pull the woman's red Mitsubishi Lancer back onto the road, Ross said. The extent of the driver's injuries were unknown early Friday afternoon and it appears she was the only occupant of the car, Ross said. CHP officers started allowing traffic though the area using one of the lanes at about 1:30 p.m. 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. Even if you cant pay your bill, you should still file your tax return by April 15. The failure-to-file penalty is usually 5 percent of the tax owed for each month that your return is late, up to a maximum of 25 percent. By the way, filing an extension does not give you more time to pay your tax bill. It just gives you more time to file your return. Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat's latest meeting with BJP president JP Nadda has fuelled speculations that a Cabinet expansion is likely in the state Dehradun: Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat's latest meeting with BJP president JP Nadda has fuelled speculations that a Cabinet expansion is likely in Uttarakhand. Rawat had nearly a ninety-minute meeting with Nadda on Friday in New Delhi during which he discussed with him a range of issues related to the state, including a Cabinet expansion, which has been long overdue. According to sources close to the chief minister, the party leadership has given its nod for a Cabinet expansion which is likely to take place by the end of this month. There are three vacancies in the nine-member Uttarakhand Cabinet which can have a maximum of 12 ministers. A 10-member cabinet including the chief minister had been sworn in when the BJP had assumed power in the state in 2017. While two Cabinet berths have been lying vacant since the outset, another one fell vacant last year after the death of Cabinet minister Prakash Pant, taking the number of vacancies to three. The buzz about a Cabinet expansion first began in June 2019 when Pant passed away battling cancer. The buzz, however, died down soon when state Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik was given the additional charge of the Finance and Parliamentary Affairs, the portfolios held by Pant. The buzz began again in January this year when the chief minister himself threw hints on the sidelines of a function here about a possible Cabinet expansion saying the need for it was being felt. All the three vacancies are likely to be filled this time, the sources said, adding the portfolios of some ministers may also be changed. The authorities have identified the man killed in a Jefferson County shooting on Friday night as 19-year-old Avonte Damall Washington. Washington was shot to death around 8:30 p.m. on the 1200 block of Birchwood Street in the eastern area of the county. A suspect, whose name hasnt been released, was injured by gunfire as he fled the scene, according to the Jefferson County sheriffs office, which is investigating the case. The suspect was captured by Birmingham police on a nearby street and taken to a hospital for treatment. The authorities havent said whether hes been charged with a crime. Witnesses told deputies that the victim and suspect knew each other, Deputy Chief David Agee said in a press release. The scene of the shooting has a Birmingham address and is located in unincorporated Jefferson County. The scene is also where a drive-by shooting happened on Wednesday night and left a 15-year-old boy injured by broken glass. Further details werent immediately available. On Thursday, the New York Times published an op-ed by Sirajuddin Haqqani under the headline, "What We, the Taliban, Want." In his op-ed, Haqqani wrote, "I am convinced that the killing and the maiming must stop." The Times described Haqqani as "the deputy leader of the Taliban." But this bland descriptor doesn't capture who Haqqani really is. According to the FBI, Haqqani is a "specially designated global terrorist." The FBI is offering $5 million for information leading directly to his arrest. The US State Department is also offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that brings Haqqani to justice. The only terrorist who has a higher reward is the current leader of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Will the Times be offering Zawahiri an op-ed spot next? The FBI also notes that Haqqani "is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen. He is believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Haqqani also allegedly was involved in the planning of the assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008." Over the past decade or so, Haqqani's men have also kidnapped multiple Americans, including -- get this -- a New York Times reporter. Surely this information about Haqqani would have been useful information for the readers of the Times to know as they evaluated the veracity and claims of Haqqani's op-ed. A New York Times spokesperson told me in a statement via email: "We know firsthand how dangerous and destructive the Taliban is. The Times is one of the only American news organizations to have maintained a full time team of reporters in Afghanistan since the start of the war nearly 20 years ago. We've also had multiple journalists kidnapped by the organization. "But, our mission at Times Opinion is to tackle big ideas from a range of newsworthy viewpoints. We've actively solicited voices from all sides of the Afghanistan conflict, the government, the Taliban and from citizens. Sirajuddin Haqqani is the second in command of the Taliban at a time when its negotiators are hammering out an agreement with American officials in Doha that could result in American troops leaving Afghanistan. That makes his perspective relevant at this particular moment." Many Afghans were outraged that the Times had given Haqqani such a platform. An Afghan government spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, told Reuters, "It is sad that the [New York Times] has given their platform to an individual who is on a designated terrorist list. He and his network are behind ruthless attacks against Afghans and foreigners." Saad Mohseni, who oversees the most-watched Afghan television network, Tolo TV, tweeted, "The NYT has decided to amplify and effectively promote the messages of the world's most notorious terrorist (and Al Qaeda affiliate) -- a man who has the blood of hundreds of thousands [on his hands]. An interview is one thing but to allow such a man to express himself unchallenged is a disgrace." Tolo TV is constantly threatened by the Taliban, and it suffered an attack in 2016 that killed seven Tolo employees. Some US military personnel who have served in Afghanistan were also angered by the Times's decision to give Haqqani a platform, as he leads the Haqqani Network, which is the most lethal of the groups under the Taliban umbrella. Republican Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, a former US Special Forces officer with multiple tours in Afghanistan and the Middle East, emailed me to say, "The Haqqanis are serial human rights abusers, responsible for some of Afghanistan's worst atrocities -- including machine gunning and burning a girls' school and hanging a young child for working with Americans during one of my tours there. For the NYT to willingly enable Haqqani propaganda is beyond the pale. Talk is cheap and much needs to be done to prove that the Haqqanis are serious about peace, much less honoring the rights of women and minorities." Dr. Melissa Skorka, who served as a strategic adviser to the US commander in Afghanistan and is writing a book about the Haqqanis at Oxford University's Changing Character of War Centre emailed me to point out: "Sirajuddin might claim he wants peace, but he leads the vanguard of the Afghan Taliban, works hand-in-glove with al Qaeda, and uses systematic acts of terror to kill and maim innocent people." In his Times op-ed, Haqqani promised that the Taliban would respect women's rights, including "the right to education" and "the right to work." It's hard to evaluate these promises since, when the Taliban were in power, they expunged both education for girls and jobs for women. According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the United States will sign a peace deal with the Taliban on February 29 provided there is a week-long reduction in violence in Afghanistan that is slated to begin Saturday. Such a reduction in violence, however, is not that significant, given the fact that traditionally Afghans don't do much fighting at all during the middle of the bitterly cold Afghan winter. The Trump administration seems to be hastening forward with "peace" negotiations with the Taliban that are really better described as "withdrawal" negotiations that seem suspiciously well timed to coincide with the American presidential election season. In his piece for the Times, Haqqani says that an agreement with the Americans is coming "soon," which will be followed by "the departure of all foreign troops." President Trump sees himself as elected to get out of America's "endless wars." But there is a big difference between fighting an endless war and instituting a persistent presence in Afghanistan to safeguard both American interests and those of the Afghan people. Such a persistent presence should include a relatively small number of US Special Operation Forces to conduct counterterrorism missions; US Special Forces to advise and assist the Afghan military; American trainers for the Afghan Air Force, and intelligence operatives and analysts who would continue to ensure that Afghanistan doesn't revert to being the "Harvard University of terrorism" as Trump referred to the country as recently as August. Haqqani's tepid assurances in the Times that the Taliban, going forward, will be just a normal bunch of Afghan politicians don't mesh well with the FBI's continued assessment that he is one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Ahead of the upcoming 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) scheduled to commence next Monday (24 February), Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha briefed the President of the HRC Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger on the decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw its co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1 of March 2019 on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, which also incorporates and builds on preceding Resolutions 30/1 of October 2015 and 34/1 of March 2017. The Foreign Secretary who is presently in Geneva, on Friday (21 February) informed the President that the Cabinet of Ministers had on Wednesday approved this decision following a cabinet paper submitted by Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The decision had also been presented to the Parliament on Thursday. He also informed her that Minister Gunawardena will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council, and will formally inform the Council Members on the Governments decision when he addresses the High Level Segment of the Council, on Wednesday 26 February. Minister Gunawardena who will also respond to the Oral Update on Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner on 27 February, is scheduled to meet the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, during his stay in Geneva. She was also informed by the Foreign Secretary that on the eve of the decision being taken by the Cabinet, the Ambassadors of the core group that had moved the resolution, who were resident in Colombo ( the UK, Germany and Canada), had also been briefed by Minister Gunawardena. Ambassador Tichy-Fisslberger appreciated Sri Lankas initiative to keep her briefed on the matter. Sri Lanka Permanent Mission Geneva 21 February 2020 Press Release in PDF Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan Toivo Klaar: Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on Armenia-Azerbaijan Germany: A record 80,430 COVID-19 cases detected per day 3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings Copper rises in price One of main tasks of Armenia peacekeepers in Kazakhstans Almaty is to prevent water supply system poisoning About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan Turkey parliament ex-deputy speaker: Armenia must fulfill 4 preconditions Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly 289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Gold slightly rises in price North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile OSCE calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to refrain from the use of force Oil is trading without a single dynamic US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan Newspaper: Ex-ministers are summoned to Hayastan All Armenian Fund parliamentary inquiry committee MOD: Armenia soldiers dead body found at midnight after Azerbaijan provocation Newspaper: Casualties of Armenia PM Pashinyan's 'era of peace' US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22 Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China 20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience 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 Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death 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 Lucknow University is all set to become the first varsity in the country to launch a certificate and diploma course on 'garbha sanskar' from the new academic session. Under the new course, students will be taught about motherhood including what a pregnant woman should wear and eat, how should she behave and keep herself fit and what kind of music is good for her. The course is also a medium to generate employment. According to the university, male students can also opt for the course on 'garbha sanskar'. "The step has been taken after state governor Anandiben Patel, who is also the chancellor of state varsities, proposed the administration to train girls for their prospective role as mothers," Durgesh Srivastava, spokesperson of Lucknow University, told ANI. Addressing students during the convocation in the varsity last year, Patel gave the reference of Abhimanyu from the Mahabharata who received warfare skills in his mother's womb. She had also claimed that there is an institute in Germany which had introduced such a course. "A guideline has been prepared for this programme in which students will learn about 16 values. The programme mainly emphasises on family planning and nutrition value to be taken by pregnant women. Various workshops will be organised under this new course," Srivastava said. Students of Lucknow University and gynaecologists welcome the programme. "The course is really nice and we welcome it. It is a sensitive issue. If students will be trained about motherhood, it would help a couple to have a healthy baby...it means a healthy future to our country," Sanjeev, a male student said. Senior gynaecologist Dr Madhu Gupta said that the course would support women and child welfare programme. "Our country has a rich culture and values. During both pre-conception and conception, the emotions and thinking of a woman reflect on her child. There is a need to look after women's activities, food and mental peace during pregnancy. This prog would support women and child welfare programme," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Theres no other way to spin it BTS purples ARMY. Since the South Korean band debuted in June 2013, each member has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into their music, choreography, and overall performance to ensure the best experience for their fans. Now, as BTS premieres their Map of the Soul: 7 comeback, its still clear the septet RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook truly cares for the fandom. And these BTS quotes about ARMY from recent interviews prove just that. 1. V showers BTS fans with love on The Late Late Show On Jan. 28, BTS stopped by The Late Late Show with James Corden. The group performed Black Swan for the first time, unveiling incredible choreography. Then during the interview portion, Corden touched on the fans and asked the septet to deliver a message to ARMYs across the nation. We want ARMY to be happy through our music, and we will be there for you, with love, V said. 2. Suga wants ARMY to understand this message from the new BTS album When speaking with The Zach Sang Show in late January 2020, BTS delved into the Map of the Soul: 7 album ahead of the Feb. 21 release. Then when the South Korean band was asked what message they want to share with ARMY as they move into the new era, Suga had the perfect response. One message that penetrates the album as a whole is that you must face your inner shadows but resist becoming submerged into its depths, Suga said. You must face it and move on forward. 3. Jimin explains why BTS works so hard on their performances Later in The Zach Sang Show, the host touched on BTS choreography, as the group just debuted Black Swan. Sang also noted the band always appears effortless while performing and acknowledged how much hard work it takes to do so. Then Jimin shared what drives BTS to do their best every time. Whatever the song is, we practice hard to perfect the performance, because we know our fans will be seeing this, Jimin said. 4. J-Hope reflects on the past seven years with ARMY On Feb. 21, BTS appeared on MTVs Fresh Out in New York City. The shows host reminded viewers of ARMYs devotion and compassion worldwide. Then he asked BTS to share a message with fans, giving J-Hope the time to shine. OK, ARMY. We have been together for seven years now, J-Hope said. We want you to know that you are special. Like I said before, you know for sure, that liking BTS was the best decision ever. Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin, and Suga of BTS | Cindy Ord/WireImage 5. RM says BTS and ARMY are one and the same During a special interview with iHeartRadio in January, host JoJo Wright read out a comment from an ARMY, detailing BTS triumph as legends. RM then gave his initial reaction, which truly highlighted the significant role fans play in BTS success and vice versa. Wherever you are, wherever we are BTS and ARMY is the same word, right? RM said. It just sounds different, but I see the same word when we say BTS and ARMY. Please, lets not doubt ourselves and lets follow our dreams as much as we can. Thank you. 6. Jin details why BTS tries their best to spread joy On the morning of the big Map of the Soul: 7 release, BTS dropped by the Today Show. The septet took Rockefeller Plaza in New York and opened up about the new album. Then the hosts mentioned the positivity BTS and ARMY bring to the world and asked the group why this message is so important to them. Jin answered and echoed what we already know they do it for the fans. Its all because of ARMYs, Jin said, as translated by RM. They always give us positive energies. 7. Jungkook thanks ARMY and previews whats to come At the end of the BTS Today Show segment, Jungkook had a final message to ARMY, bidding everyone adieu in New York. However, his remarks also reminded fans the band isnt done yet. With the recent release of Map of the Soul: 7 and an epic tour on the way, BTS has plenty more to give. ARMY! Thank you for all the love, Jungkook said. We cant [wait] to surprise ARMY with a great show and lets get it! Read more: BTS: Everything Fans Noticed in the ON Kinetic Manifesto Film More than half of all South Korea's coronavirus cases are linked to a secretive ultra-religious cult whose leader believes he is immortal. South Korean officials yesterday confirmed at least 309 of the country's 556 new cases are linked to outbreaks at a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu. Five people are now confirmed to have died from the disease in South Korea. Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 113 new cases on Sunday. It also revealed it had obtained a list of 9,300 people who had attended church services, around 1,200 of whom had complained of flu-like symptoms. There are further reports of outbreaks in the psychiatric unit of a hospital in Cheongdo county, infectons in Busan, and on the island of Jeju. And Samsung Electronics said today that one coronavirus case had been confirmed at its mobile device factory complex in Gumi, near Daegu. South Korean officials have confirmed reports of outbreaks in the psychiatric unit of a hospital in Cheongdo (pictured, medical workers moving a suspected coronavirus patient) Two patients from the Cheongdo hospital have died from contracting the virus. KCDC designated both Daegu, which has a population of 2.5million, and Cheongdo county, home to around 43,000, as 'special zones' yesterday. Authorities even sent military medical staff and other health workers, and extra resources, including hospital beds. More than half of the national cases are linked to a 61-year-old woman known as 'Patient 31' who attended religious services at a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The woman had no recent record of overseas travel, officials claimed. Meanwhile, cases from the hospital surged near a hundred overnight, with all but two of the new infections from the hospital's psychiatric unit. Lee Man-Hee: The 'immortal' leader of a secretive cult that allegedly bullies its members into silence Lee Man-Hee (pictured), whose cult has 74 churches in South Korea, is considered by 120,000 followers to be 'immortal' and even the second coming of Jesus Christ Lee Man-Hee , now 88 years old, is the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. , now 88 years old, is the of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. His group has been accused by Christian authorities around the world as being a secret cult that infiltrates churches and 'deceives ' to recruit. ' to recruit. Lee, whose cult has 74 churches in South Korea , is considered by 120,000 followers to be ' immortal ' and even the second coming of Jesus Christ. , is considered by 120,000 followers to be ' ' and even the of Jesus Christ. Very little is known about the cult, but it has been claimed that it is so strict and obsessed with secrecy that its members are bullied into silence . . Lee's critics charge him with self-promotion , such as his alleged trip to the UAE in 2015 to pose for photos and boost his credentials at home. , such as his alleged to pose for photos and boost his credentials at home. Others - often other religious authorities - claim that he is a ' false prophet '. Advertisement It has been reported five patients have died from contracting the super virus KCDC designated Daegu, which has a population of 2.5million, and Cheongdo, home to around 43,000, as 'special zones' (pictured, a health worker disinfects an office in Daegu) KCDC also said they had a list of 9,300 people who had attended church services, around 1,200 of whom had complained of flu-like symptoms (pictured, people wearing masks) South Korean officials have speculated that the outbreaks in the hospital and the church may be linked, as several members of the ultra-religious sect attended a funeral at the hospial for the brother of its founder this month. President Moon Jae-in has called for officials to investigate potential links. The hospital, which has around 600 patients and staff, has been closed, and patients are being transferred to other facilities. KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said they believed the patients had 'repeated exposure given the isolated facility of the psychiatric wards'. Among the new cases confirmed today, two were in Busan, one of South Korea's largest cities, while one was a solider stationed on Jeju. It is believed that he had come into contact with residents in the Daegu area. Pictured, a man wearing a face mask at a subway station being renovated in Seoul KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said they believed the patients had 'repeated exposure given the isolated facility of the psychiatric wards' Among the new cases confirmed today, two were in Busan, one of South Korea's largest cities, while one was a solider stationed on Jeju (pictured, people wearing masks) In Seoul, thousands of people took to the streets for a political rally, despite the city's mayor saying the gatherings would be banned (pictured, a police officer wearing a mask) Seoul police said they were aware of the ban but that it would be an 'abuse of power' for them to intervene (pictured, thousands attending an anti-government rally) All military personnel at a Daegu base have been barred from leaving the barracks. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics said the floor where the infected employee worked would be shut down until Tuesday morning. In Seoul, thousands of people took to the streets today for regular weekend political rallies, despite the city's mayor saying the gatherings would be banned. Seoul police said they were aware of the ban but that it would be an 'abuse of power' for them to intervene. Police could only begin an investigation into the rallies if the city administration sued an individual or groups, an official said. Cult leader at centre of South Korea's coronavirus outbreak says the disease is 'the devil's deed' as cases double to 204 and secretive church is blamed for spreading deadly virus The leader of a 'cult' at the centre of South Korea's coronavirus crisis has labelled the deadly outbreak 'the devil's deed'. Lee Man-Hee declared the virus a 'test of faith' after services at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus were widely blamed for spreading the virus. The movement's leader and self-proclaimed messiah Lee Man-hee rallied his troops today in a message sent on an internal app. 'This disease case is seen as the devil's deed to stop the rapid growth of Shincheonji,' he wrote in the message, according to Yonhap news agency. 'Just like the tests Job went through, it is to destroy our advancement,' he said. Sect leader Lee Man-Hee (pictured left) declared the virus a 'test of faith' after services at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus were widely blamed for spreading the virus Shincheonji, which claims 200,000 followers in South Korea, has now told members to instead watch its services on YouTube. The movement, which translates as 'new heaven and new earth,' was established in 1984 and describes its founder Lee as the 'Promised Pastor'. He has widely been described by other Christian groups as a false prophet or a cult leader. 'Shincheonji followers believe Lee Man-hee is immortal and has an eternal life,' said Ji-il Tark at Busan Presbyterian University in South Korea. 'To propagate their belief, they often approach their relatives and acquaintances or sneak to other churches without telling them they are Shincheonji members.' The church said in a statement it was fully cooperating with government quarantine efforts and accused mainstream church groups of spreading false claims, such as that it initially instructed followers to keep silent about the illness. Proper structures must be instituted to ... 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. SANTA FE Santa Fe Public Schools is hoping that the state of New Mexicos lawsuit against Google can be turned into a teachable moment for students, their parents and staff. On Thursday, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque against the technology company alleging that it is illegally collecting personal data from school children in violation of federal and state laws. The Federal Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, for instance, requires that online service providers must obtain parental consent before collecting information from children under age 13. The lawsuit says the information Google gathers includes physical locations, websites visited, search terms used, personal contact lists and saved passwords. Tom Ryan, SFPSs chief information and strategy officer, says the loss of personal identification information is not something that has happened in Santa Fe. But how information is accessed online is something people should know about. This gives us an opportunity to say stop, take a look, think about, and be discerning about who you allow to access information, he said. Not being aware means youre vulnerable and your kids are vulnerable. The states lawsuit claims that Googles education services package marketed to school districts across the country is used to spy on New Mexico children, teachers, and their families by collecting troves of their personal information and using it for its own commercial benefit. It asks Google to cease and desist from such conduct. Despite the lawsuit, the AGs office has told the schools that there is no immediate harm to use Google products and they shouldnt let it interrupt daily instruction. Santa Fe Public Schools has been using the Google Education package for about five years. The district has more than 2,000 Chromebooks it makes available for use by students, including those under 13. Purchase of the devices was made possible through an Educational Technology Note approved by voters. SFPS was also one of just 16 school districts in 12 states to partner with Google in 2018 to create a rolling study hall. An $85,000 grant paid for the installation of mobile Wi-Fi routers and other equipment on school buses, allowing students to access the internet to do homework on the way to and from school. Ryan said parents and students should be aware that their information can be tracked on the internet and should take precautions, like modifying their privacy settings. Im much more concerned about what is happening outside of school or on devices that as not school-based, he said. The big thing people need to know is with any application you download from the internet, if its free they are selling your data. You are the product. Anything thats free, you are the product and someone is selling your data. When Timothy Schabo was 18 years old, he was out on bail awaiting court for two felony charges he was confident he could beat. Police had found a half-pound of marijuana and less than an ounce of psilocybin mushrooms in his car after they searched it without his consent a search Schabo said his attorney maintained was illegal. There was no way those charges were going to stick, Schabo said. But the presence of his girlfriend, then 17, in his apartment gave the prosecutor insane leverage to get him to plead guilty, Schabo said. She had come to his apartment after running away from home she hadnt told him that with $5 worth of marijuana in her purse she hadnt told him that either. When police came looking for her and found the marijuana, they told Schabo he was considered in possession of drugs since it was in his home a violation of the terms of his bail. He was charged with felony bail jumping. Although it conjures images of offenders skipping town after posting bail, bail jumping can be charged anytime defendants violate a condition a judge places on them when they are released before trial. Those conditions can include prohibitions on possessing drug paraphernalia, consuming alcohol, contacting a victim or going to a certain part of town or establishment, to not committing any new crimes or missing a court date. Violating those conditions which can be as innocuous as walking into a bar, having one beer or forgetting a court date can lead to a misdemeanor or felony bail jumping charge. The felony can lead to six years in prison. Although bail jumping is often dismissed as part of a plea deal, it is one of the most commonly charged crimes in Wisconsin, and it is becoming even more common. From 2011 to 2018, the number of felony bail jumping cases filed in Wisconsin more than doubled, from 4,027 to 8,285. The state public defenders office and some lawmakers see the prevalence of bail-jumping as a problem that needs fixing. They say it can be used to criminalize minor mistakes, unduly pressure people to plead guilty to other crimes and entangle them further in the criminal justice system. When Schabo went to his preliminary hearing he was initially confident he could get the charges dropped. But the prosecutor refused and said if Schabo didnt plead guilty he would push the judge to give him five years in prison for the bail jumping. Schabo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver for the marijuana, and the prosecutor dropped the charge for the mushrooms. Schabo didnt have to spend time in prison. But he later turned to dealing drugs and struggled with various drug addictions, including heroin, and three more felony charges followed. He said he takes responsibility for his actions and regrets that his choices hurt people he cares about. But Schabo said if it werent for the bail jumping charge, he might not have gotten caught up in the system. I mean, nobody can prophesize or second-guess what their life would have been like, but who knows, Schabo said. Maybe I wouldnt have gone down that path. Proposed change Schabo now has a steady job working for state Rep. David Crowley, D-Milwaukee, after his parents helped push him to get clean and get a degree from UW-Madison. Hes also the father of 4-year-old twin girls. But, Schabo wonders, what if he didnt have family members who supported him? What if he had been black? I was given the benefit of the doubt because of the color of my skin, said Schabo, who is white. When people who have less economic mobility, or are people of color, get put in situations where bail jumping gets brought up, they feel even higher pressure to plead to something ... knowing full well how the criminal justice system interacts with them on a day-to-day basis. Prompted by Schabos story and others who have had similar experiences, Crowley and Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, are proposing several changes to Wisconsins bail-jumping laws, including: Make all bail jumping charges misdemeanors instead of felonies. (Under current law, if someone has a pending misdemeanor case, a bail jumping charge is also charged as a misdemeanor; but if the underlying case is a felony, the bail jumping is considered a felony.) Shorten the maximum sentence for misdemeanor bail jumping from nine months to 90 days. Charge bail jumping only if someone intentionally skips court or violates a protective condition of bail, such as an order to stay away from a certain area or not contact victims and witnesses. Minor rule violations would no longer be considered bail jumping. The bill also prohibits prosecutors from stacking up multiple bail jumping charges in one case if a person commits more than one violation. Under the bill, bail jumping could only be charged once per underlying charge. What sane person will go to trial if they are facing three counts of bail jumping charges an additional 18 possible years in prison if they are also offered the opportunity to plead guilty to the original charge in exchange for those charges being dropped? Crowley said. The State Public Defenders Office said the bill would make the punishment for bail jumping better fit the offense. Randy Kraft, a former spokesman for the Public Defenders Office who retired in December, said there should be a penalty if someone skips court or contacts a victim, but it doesnt need to be a six-year felony. A misdemeanor still carries significant consequences, he said. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne declined to comment on the legislation but said, I dont see making blanket changes as always being the best. The bill has garnered support from several Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, is against decreasing penalties for bail jumping, spokeswoman Kit Beyer said. On Tuesday, Vos joined fellow Republicans in passing a bill that goes in the opposite direction: It would prohibit judges from releasing defendants without cash bail if they are facing a bail jumping charge. All Democrats voted against the measure, which still needs Senate approval. Automatic felony Sortwell said he was frustrated with how bail jumping was used against a friend he met in the Army. The man was struggling with a heroin addiction and got caught with the drug, leading to a felony charge for possession with intent to distribute, Sortwell said. One of the mans bail conditions was to not use drugs. While he was waiting for court, he overdosed. The police came, and they saved his life. But then he got arrested again for violating the terms of his bail bail jumping, Sortwell said. That is an automatic felony. Sortwell said his friends underlying charge was dropped to a misdemeanor, but he became a convicted felon because the prosecutor pursued the bail jumping related to his overdose. If youre not convicted of the underlying felony, then how is it legitimate? Sortwell said. Pleas under duress When bail jumping gets thrown into the mix, public defenders can lose negotiating power in plea deals, said Tracey Lencioni, a public defender in Madison. Thats in part because its so easy to prove. According to a 2018 analysis published in the Wisconsin Law Review, 73% of bail jumping charges in 2016 were dismissed, while defendants pleaded guilty to many other charges. Its review of more than 1.6 million Wisconsin cases from 2000 to 2016 found that the purpose for charging bail jumping may be to create leverage against defendants to force them to plead to their original charge. Lencioni has seen cases where defendants take a plea deal to get rid of bail jumping charges or abandon plans to negotiate a felony down to a misdemeanor. That puts defendants under extra stress, which is even more problematic when the person is innocent, she said. Said Kraft: The presumption of innocence is lost in this. Ozanne acknowledged that bail jumping can be a factor in plea deals but said thats because prosecutors need to evaluate the totality of a persons actions when coming to a deal. Piling on charges to get a plea would be not appropriate, he said. Asked why the prevalence of bail jumping has doubled, Ozanne said it could be because Dane County has been trying to decrease its use of cash bail so poor defendants who cant come up with the money dont have to stay locked up. That creates more opportunities for defendants to violate the terms of their bail while theyre waiting for court hearings, Ozanne said. Tough on crime? Current bail jumping laws allow judges to criminalize what would otherwise be lawful conduct, Lencioni said. She recalled one case in which a young man was charged with a felony for operating a vehicle without the owners consent. One of his bail conditions was needing written permission to drive someone elses car. Later, he drove a friends car with verbal permission, not written, and was charged with felony bail jumping. As a Republican, Sortwell said he wants to be tougher on some crimes, but only those that actually hurt people. Most of the time, he said, bail jumping doesnt fall into that category. Sometimes the rules defendants have to follow arent even connected to the crime itself, Lencioni said, such as judges issuing a blanket condition on all defendants not to consume alcohol. Dane County Court Commissioner Jason Hanson said he tries to avoid imposing bail conditions that would be too burdensome, such as banning someone who relies on public transit from using the bus system. One common condition Hanson orders is barring alleged domestic abusers from having contact with victims. Another frequent condition is ordering alleged thieves to stay out of pawn shops. Drunken drivers are usually told not to consume alcohol, while those charged with committing a violent crime may not possess a weapon. We try to tailor the condition to the needs of that particular case or offender, Hanson said. So if Im hearing a specific restriction on drugs or alcohol, for example, Id want to hear a reason for it. Some conditions must be ordered in all cases, Hanson said, including that defendants show up to court, not commit new crimes, not intimidate witnesses or victims and give the court written notice if they change their phone number or address. Hanson declined to comment on Crowleys bill, but said if the measure were implemented, court commissioners and judges would still be able to enforce rule violations by increasing or revoking a persons bail. Moving the needle The bill has been introduced and referred to the Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. Crowley said its a small but important step Wisconsin can take to move the needle forward on criminal justice reform. We cant continue to lock people up for months at a time for a rule that has absolutely nothing to do with the crime, Crowley said. But Sortwell said he would be surprised to see the bill gain traction because he doesnt think his Republican colleagues will support it. He said its a bridge too far for most of them, who think the better position is to be tough on all crime. I hope to see it go somewhere, Sortwell said. But even if it doesnt, well keep pushing. Criminal justice reform is a long time coming. The two-day conference on Judiciary and the Changing World is being attended by jurists from 24 countries. New Delhi: At the International Judicial Conference 2020 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his inaugural speech on Saturday spoke of gender justice, infrastructure development and environmental protection, Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra described the PM as an internationally acclaimed, visionary prime minister and a versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally. No country or society of the world can claim to achieve holistic development or claim to be a just society without gender justice, PM Modi said. India has shown that infrastructure development can happen simultaneously with the protection of environment. The two-day conference on Judiciary and the Changing World is being attended by jurists from 24 countries. Organised by the Supreme Court, it will deliberate on gender justice, right to privacy, populism and the role of the judiciary in curbing it, environment and sustainable development, and the Constitution and its interpretation. Justice Mishra, giving thanks at the end of the inaugural function, said: India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of internationally acclaimed, visio-nary Prime Minister Nar-endra Modi. We thank the versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally, Shri Narendra Modi for his inspiring thoughts which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations, and setting the agenda for the conference. In a reference to November 2019 Ayodhya verdict, PM Modi said that in recent times there were some critical judgments and decisions which have been the subject of global discussions and apprehensions about the consequences. But look what happened, he said. 1.3 billion Indians wholeheartedly accepted the judicial verdict. Chief Justice S.A.Bobde also spoke: The entire world today is interconnected and a small change in one corner of the world can result in changes in different parts of the world. An extra potentially life-saving device is to be made available in the community. The local First Responder Group have procured another defibrillator for the parish which will be on hand in the event of an emergency to aid anybody who might suffer a heart attack or stroke or experience choking difficulty. The new defibrillator is one of handful that is strategically located in fixed positions in different parts of the parish that can be quickly employed to help a persons in distress, pending the arrival of professional paramedics and provide vital early intervention that could be the difference in keeping the person alive in the most serious cases. The group provide a voluntary support service to the paramedic services in a two pronged approach to help save lives, on top of the provision of the permanently mounted defibrillators that are spread across the parish. The new one will be at Joe's shop at the Green Gates, to cover a growing populated area identified by the Group that was lacking a defibrillator. For some time now mounted defibrillators have been maintained at the Community Centre on Sandy Lane, Saint Fursey's National School and Flanagan's on the Dublin Road. Another was located at the Crescent until shameful individuals got their hands on it. Coupled with the fixed defibrillators the Group also are equipped with a mobile defibrillator which they hold in their protection to go out with when called out by the emergency services. The volunteers are trained to operate the machine and apply CPR if required or maybe just lend comfort to a patient if they arrive to a scene ahead of the ambulance personnel. The Group also provide regular training in the use of defibrillators and to administer CPR. They run training courses by-monthly in Saint Fursey's School , and have also provided fundamental training for senior pupils in the local schools on how to respond and get help in the event of being caught up in an emergency. The training has had very positive and indeed a lifesaving result very recently. Local lady Grainne Murphy who undertook the course was able to apply her newly acquired CPR skills on taking up a new job in Dublin when a serious heart attack occurred and the person recovered and is doing well.. It is a prime example of what trainees can do and hopefully more might be inspired to undergo training, and if they have some time to join the Group volunteers who go out when they get a call equipped with the mobile defibrillator and their CPR skills to deal with emergencies until the arrival of the professionals. The Group provide 24 hour call out cover over seven days within the parish taking in as far as the Fane bridge on the Dublin Road down to the Crowne Plaza and back up through the village on the coastal side. Group members are linked into a dedicated number that receives alerts from the Medical Emergency Services, and whoever is free can respond. The Group operate a buddy system where two responders go out to emergencies Group members make themselves available to hold the Mobile defibrillator for a time that suits to answer calls. The Group have also engaged with senior primary school children to help cope with an emergency and perhaps down the road might see fit to join in the selfless work that volunteers do to help their fellow men and women who suffer a heart , stroke or choking episode. During Heart Week in October the Group provided training in CPR for 120 pupils going to the three local schools of Saint Oliver Plunkett's , Saint Fursey's and Saint Francis's and also guidance and instruction on how to gain help if they encounter such a situation. In quite many cases grandparents help to mind young children and they might run a higher risk of suffering a problem that the Group is trying to counteract. It is important that youngsters know how to call for an ambulance, know or be aware of where the Eircode is in the home, and if possible provide help to the patient. A spokeswoman said "we are always looking for new volunteers and if anybody is interested in joining the Group or doing the course, please contact Valerie 0868174119 or Emily 0868390666. The Group was able to purchase the new defibrillator with the proceeds of a recent local bucket collection that yielded E1, 400. Mouli Mareedu By Express News Service HYDERABAD: A 64-year-old man was arrested by the Punjagutta police on Thursday for harassing a woman whom he had paid Rs 5 lakh to be a surrogate mother. The accused, Surappa Raju, had a desire to sire a son after having three daughters and thus hired the victim to be a surrogate mother. But subsequently, he began harassing her to live with him. Punjagutta Inspector M Niranjan Reddy said the accused had approached the victim, who was hard up for money, asking her to be a surrogate mother. And he clinched the deal for Rs 5 lakh with the help of his friend Noor. He paid the victim upfront and promised her to pay Rs 10,000 every month during pregnancy. On February 11, Raju tried to persuade her to live with him. But she told him that she needed more time to think about it as she was married. When she did not respond later, he started making calls to her and even began using filthy language, the police said. Unable the bear the abuse, the victim and her husband filed a complaint with the police. Syrian War 'Worse Now Than Ever Before,' Aleppo Priest Cries Out in Midst of Suffering Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment View Photos A Franciscan priest in Aleppo, Syria, says the country's war is worse now than it has ever been before, and the remaining Christians are trying to help the suffering and share God's love in the midst of an "eerie, cemetery" nightmare. "Never, since the beginning of this terrible war, were things as bad as they are now. I have no words to describe all the suffering I see on a daily basis," Fr. Ibrahim Alsabagh told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, according to the Catholic Herald. Aleppo has been torn apart in the ongoing civil war in Syria, besieged by the government forces of President Bashar Al Assad and the various rebel groups seeking to take out his regime. The Islamic State terror group has also been battling in the area, leaving around 50,000 Christians and other civilians surrounded by dangers from all sides. Alsabagh said that while many people have fled the city, the poor and those unable to escape remain, bringing an "eerie silence" to the streets. "So many houses have been partially or entirely destroyed, and so many people killed or severely injured," the priest explained. "And when the bombs do stop falling, there is an eerie silence, like in a cemetery. The streets are as though everyone has died." He added that the Church has been helping victims and those caught up in the violence in the civil war, providing food, clothing, medicines and other necessities through the help of ACN. Many people are facing nervous breakdowns amid the chaos, however. "The nervous breakdowns are increasing, and we now have so many psychological illnesses as a result of the war. There is so much misery," Alsabagh continued. "But at least I thank God that through his grace I am able to be a good Samaritan to all the suffering people. I try to console them with the Word of God, but also with deeds of corporal mercy." Reflecting on the call of Pope Francis to help those in need, he said it is important to show the people the "tenderness of God" in times like these. "No matter how frightful this place is, yet we must still give Christian witness. We must not think only of ourselves," he asserted. The priest admitted that the cross that Christians are carrying is very heavy, but insisted that "it also creates a communion with God and with one another such as I have never seen before." Christians in Syria have been rapidly disappearing from the nation as a whole, as there were 1.5 million followers of Christ in 2011, but now only around 500,000 are left. Many of those have fled as refugees along with millions of other civilians, being sheltered at refugee camps in neighboring countries, or seeking passage into Europe and other Western states. Back in March, Antoine Audo, a Chaldean Catholic bishop in Aleppo, estimated that even fewer, or only around 40,000 Christians remain in Aleppo, and continue to have to deal with mass bombings and other hardships. "You cannot imagine the dangers that we face every day," Audo said at the time. He affirmed that while wealthier Christians have been able to flee, "the middle classes have become poor and the poor have become miserable." Le Bach Hong, former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and former General Director of the Vietnam Social Security (Photo: VNA) The defendants at the appeal trial consisted of Nguyen Huy Ban (former General Director of the VSS), Le Bach Hong (former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and former General Director of the VSS), Nguyen Phuoc Tuong (former chief accountant of the VSS), Hoang Ha and Tran Tien Vy (former heads of the general planning division under the VSSs planning-finance department). Some of them said they only committed the offence of lacking responsibility, causing serious consequences, not deliberately violating the States regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences. According to the first-instance trials verdict, the case related to the VSSs illegal lending to the Agribank Financial Leasing Company No. 2 (ALC II). In late 2018, the ALC II went bankrupt and was unable to repay the debts. The VSS has yet to recover over 1.7 trillion VND (73.1 million USD) of the loans and their interest from the ALC II. Le Bach Hong was charged with signing and directing the execution of three loan contracts with the ALC II. The loans are unable to be recovered, thus causing a loss of over 434 billion VND to the State. Meanwhile, former VSS General Director Nguyen Huy Ban was charged with signing and directing the execution of 11 contracts illegally lending the ALC II 630 billion VND, causing a loss of more than 1.263 trillion VND (including interest) to the State. At the appeal trial, the jury concluded that Ban held the main role in this case, and he was the first to decide on the illegal lending to the ALC II. Hong held the second role and directly ordered the implementation of two loan contracts which ran counter to the States regulations. However, after taking into account their contributions in the past, the jury decided to reduce the prison sentence for Hong by nine months to five years and three months, and for Ban by two years to 12 years, for deliberately violating the States regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences. The court upheld the punishment of 14 years in jail for Nguyen Phuoc Tuong for the same offence. It also reduced the prison sentence for Hoang Ha by three years to four years and sustained the penalty of three years in prison for Tran Tien Vy. Both were found to have lacked responsibility, causing serious consequences. In a meeting of the Fianna Fail parliamnetary part last Thursday, the party voted not to negotiate with Sinn Fein on forming a new government and newly re-elected Fianna Fail TD, Darragh O'Brien has explained why. Speaking to the Fingal Independent last Friday, Darragh O'Brien TD explained his party's position on talks with Sinn Fein: 'We'd been very clear about that before the election, and we've been consistent about what we said, and that's how people who voted for us knew our position. 'Sinn Fein's position two days ago was that we were their last option, and now they're writing to us looking to meet us. 'Sinn Fein is just economically not compatible at all, their manifesto makes no sense. It wouldn't stack up, and it would do untold damage to jobs and enterprise and the potential for potential prosperity.' Deputy O'Brien said: 'A lot of people voted for me on the basis that we wouldn't do business with Sinn Fein. They got 24% of the vote - 76% of people didn't vote for Sinn Fein, so we don't have to be beholding to them. We've been consistent and we are being consistent with the commitment that we gave to the people who voted for us.' According to Deputy O'Brien, Fianna Fail has already met with the Social Democrats, and will be meeting with other parties and independents for discussion, including Fine Gael. The process, he admits, will 'take time', and adds that Fianna Fail will 'do our best' to try to put together a government. Though it is 'early in the process', he adds, if it is not possible for parties to form a government, there may be another General Election ahead. Advertisement A French daredevil has broken a world record after standing and dancing on top of a hot air balloon more than 3,280 feet above sea level. Remi Ouvrard, 26, took to the skies in Chatellerault, western France, in a balloon piloted by his father to complete the epic feat. He had a metal chair on top of a board attached to the top of the hot air balloon for the challenge. Pictures and videos of the feat show Mr Ouvrard balancing on the balloon, connected by a harness, as a small aircraft flies past taking pictures. After completing the flight, Remi's twitter account posted yesterday: 'Remi is coming !! We cheat a little with a plane but we arrive.' There are no record holders for standing on top of a hot air balloon according to Guinness World Records, although a video posted by Sky Drifters Hot Air Ballooning in 2016 shows a man standing on top of a balloon. Japan-India relations are set to get a boost with increased Japanese investment in Karnataka, Japanese Consul-General in Bengaluru Takayuki Kitagawa said on Friday. Speaking at the 126th anniversary of the Japanese National Day, marking the birthday of the Japanese Emperor, Kitagawa announced the start of direct flight services from Bengaluru to Tokyo, starting March 29. The daily Japanese Airlines flight is expected to be supported by an increased movement of tourists from Japan and Tokyo. The start of the direct air service is the culmination of three years of hoping and dreaming, Kitagawa said, adding that he had helped get the service arranged after bonding with the chairman of Japanese Airlines over their mutual love of dogs. When asked if the flight would be financially feasible, Kitigawa chuckled. We hope it will be. Part of our calculations about the viability of the direct route is that San Francisco also becomes more accessible to Bengaluru. There will only be a three-hour layover in Tokyo on a connecting flight from Bengaluru to California, he said. About 200 IT workers travel between San Francisco and Bengaluru every day and we think this direct service will help them. Plus, we believe the service will also give all three cities, including Tokyo, an economic boost, the consul-general added. Cultural exchange The consul-general, who is set to step down next month, said his greatest achievement in the city has been the increase in cultural exchanges between the two countries. Our annual cosplay walk on St Marks Road has become a phenomenon in the Japanese media back home, to the point that people in Japan believe Bengaluru is a cosplay city. They dont know it is a silicon valley, he said, laughing. The new consul-general is expected to take over at the end of May. The UP Khadi Board has provided fabric samples to Raymond, which is expected to procure 200,000 metres of UP khadi annually. We will start the supply of khadi to Raymond as soon as the samples are approved, Principal Secretary of Khadi & Village Industries Board Navneet Sahgal, who is also the state trade facilitation commissioner, told Business Standard in Lucknow. He said the khadi to be supplied to Raymond would be manufactured ... 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 elections in Iran, one of the most significant in its recent history, are expected to end in a major victory for hardliners a result which will change the direction of the country and have major repercussions beyond its borders. Preliminary results of Fridays parliamentary polls, which had been shunned by a sizeable number of the electorate, indicate a severe defeat by the ruling reformists to nationalists and religious conservatives who are opposed to social liberalisation and intrinsically hostile to the west. Some of the victorious candidates are affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), accused by the US and its allies of conducting proxy wars in the Middle East and other areas. They and other hardliners were in the lead across the country, according to figures confirmed by the Interior Ministry monitoring the count. An unofficial tally by Reuters based on early returns holds that the hardliners or principalists as they call themselves had won 178 of the 290 seats, while the liberals share may have collapsed to 17 with independents comprising another 43 in the chamber. The increase in the political reach of the IRGC, already one of the most powerful institutions of the Iranian state, raises the prospect of tensions both nationally and internationally. Iranians vote to elect new parliament Show all 9 1 /9 Iranians vote to elect new parliament Iranians vote to elect new parliament Iranians queue up during parliamentary elections at the Shah Abdul Azim shrine in the southern outskirts of Tehran on February 21, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Iranians vote to elect new parliament An Iranian man displays his ink-stained finger after casting his ballot during parliamentary election at a polling station AFP via Getty Images Iranians vote to elect new parliament Voters pose for a selfie during the parliament elections at a polling station AP Iranians vote to elect new parliament Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his vote VIA REUTERS Iranians vote to elect new parliament An Iranian woman displays her ink-stained finger after voting AFP via Getty Images Iranians vote to elect new parliament Iranian voters pose for a selfie during parliamentary elections at the Shah Abdul Azim shrine on the southern outskirts of Tehran AFP via Getty Images Iranians vote to elect new parliament A woman gestures as she casts her vote at a polling station EPA Iranians vote to elect new parliament An Iranian woman casts her ballot at a polling station EPA Iranians vote to elect new parliament An Iranian woman casts her ballot at a polling station EPA Donald Trump has deemed the organisation a terrorist group and ordered the assassination of its commander Qassem Soleimani an act which brought the US and Iran to the brink of war. Inside Iran, political dissidents had attacked the power and supposed wealth of the IRGC and there had been violent clashes between the Guards and protestors. General Soleimani, however, was widely popular and there was a massive outpouring of public grief and anger after his killing. Pictures of the commander had been put up near polling stations and carried by many voters. Some hardline candidates had used the slogan: I am Qassem Soleimani, drawing protest from reformists pointing out that he himself had stayed neutral in domestic politics. Disillusioned liberal supporters stayed away from polling stations, with early unofficial estimates for the turnout in the capital as low as 25 per cent and around 47 per cent for the rest of the country. This is markedly different from the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2016 and 2017, when the moderates had been swept to power in a wave of optimism after the nuclear deal and the anticipation of social changes, the economy transforming and Iran reopening to the outside world. Press members follow the election results as vote counting for the 11th parliamentary elections continue in Tehran (Getty) (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) But Trumps attempts to dismantle the deal, pulling the US out of it and then imposing punitive sanctions, had left the economy in a parlous state and reinvigorated the hardliners who had held that national security had been compromised by the agreement which the west was sure to renege on at some time. Many people The Independent spoke to held that domestic politicians were as much at fault for the woes of the country as the US sanctions. Ali Nakhjevani, an engineer who voted for the reformists in the previous elections, said he was abstaining this time. The nuclear agreement could have survived without Trump. But there were many other things the politicians should have done to help and they failed to, he said. The politicians have lost touch with the people, so why should the people give them their votes? The principalities are now rising again but I cant see them doing any better they are part of the same system. There were claims and counterclaims on whether the outbreak of coronavirus in the country led to the low turnout. Health authorities reported that there had been a fifth death from the disease and 10 new confirmed cases in the country. Officials have said that fear of catching the virus may have kept people from the polling stations. But the claim was widely refuted in social media as an excuse to hide public antipathy towards politicians. Major General Hossein Salami, who succeeded General Soleimani as IRGC commander, had urged for a large voter turnout. Speaking on the eve of the polls he said: Every vote cast will be a slap in the face of an enemy that hopes people will not participate in the election. But the Iranian people will, as usual, frustrate the enemies and really surprise the world. One of the first moves by the conservatives, it is believed, is likely to be an attempt to curb the powers of the moderate president Hassan Rouhani and his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had been key figures in signing the agreement between international powers and Iran on the countrys nuclear programme. The first set of winning candidates for Tehran announced by Irans State TV were all conservatives led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is expected to be the new speaker and aggressively challenge President Rouhani. The shift in power also opens up questions about Irans nuclear programme. Some of the conservative candidates have stated that the agreement which Iran adheres to as long with the other signatories UK, Germany, France, Russia and China should be abandoned and whatever steps necessary for national security taken. While acknowledging that they had lost voters through a perceived failure to deliver, the liberals have complained about the decision by the Guardian Council, the powerful election supervisory body, to disqualify a disproportionately large number of their candidates. A total of 6,850 candidates out of 14,000 have been barred from contesting the polls including a third of the current members of parliament. President Rouhani has strongly criticised the council. But Ayatollah Khameini, the supreme leader, and the final arbiter in the countrys complex electoral system has backed the decision, saying there is no place in parliament for those scared of speaking out against foreign enemies. Asked by The Independent what the criteria was for disqualification and why so many liberals had been banned from standing, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaiy, a spokesman for the council, said: We follow the rules set by parliament and we apply them equally to everyone, we are not a political club. Some members were qualified once, but now they have been disqualified because their standards had fallen. But for Reyhan Farrochzad this was the crux of the matter. The student said: Democracy begins to die when you are told which candidates you can and cannot vote for. I saw no reason to take part in an election which to me simply wasnt fair. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Working to break Uttar Pradeshs backward image: Yogi Adityanath Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said he wanted to change the stereotypical image of Uttar Pradesh as a backward state. Read more Shaheen Bagh an organic protest to save Constitution, says Asaduddin Owaisi Asaduddin Owaisi said the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR) and the NRC are interlinked. Read more Meet The Beast: What makes Donald Trumps limousine the safest car in the World In a nutshell: Its not a car. Its a tank! Here is a look at some of the eye-popping safety features of the car. Read more Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia dropped from Melania Trump school event Melania Trump is scheduled to visit a Delhi government school on February 25 to interact with students who are being taught the happiness curriculum introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Read more Delhi rape convicts plea bundle of distorted lies: Tihar Jail to court Vinay Sharmas counsel, AP Singh, had told the court earlier this week that his client suffers from mental illness, schizophrenia and has failed to recognise his counsel and family. Read more Facial recognition at protests: Delhi Police says they arent using social media photos to screen crowds Delhi Police have said that they do not use photos from social media to screen crowds and only faces of criminals are retained in their databases. These responses came in a reply to a right to information request filed by Mint. Read more Ayushmann Khurrana reacts to Donald Trumps praise for Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, says I want him to work for LGBTQi rights in US Ayushmann Khurrana was a guest at Hindustans Shikhar Samagam 2020 in Lucknow. He was asked about his reaction to Donald Trumps tweet on his film at the event. Read more India vs New Zealand: Havent slept for two days: Ishant Sharma after keeping India in the game with a three-fer Three weeks back, the veteran of 96 Tests was all but out of New Zealand series after suffering multiple ligament tears in his right ankle during a Ranji Trophy game but travelled for 24 hours and arrived here 72 hours before the start of the first Test. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Arabs need an effective media strategy, one that promotes intellectual and cultural interactions between peoples, and fosters mutual sympathy and understanding Emphasising the importance of the role of the media against the backdrop of national and international developments, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi recently called for the development of a constructive national media policy that would keep pace with these developments. This has led me to consider the role of the Arab media in the US and the need to stimulate it and improve its efficacy in helping to safeguard Arab national interests. Among the most important challenges Arab media faces in the US are the need to rectify the prevailing negative image of the Arab world, and the need to find ways to encourage Washington to adopt more just policies on questions of concern to the Arabs the Palestinian cause above all. The Arab League, soon after its creation, realised the necessity of establishing Arab press offices in the US in order to address US public opinion, advocate Arab outlooks and contribute to the development of constructive, mutually beneficial Arab-US relations. The first Arab League diplomatic mission to oversee Arab media relations in the US was opened in New York in 1954, which added to the leagues presence in New York in the form of a permanent observer delegation to the UN. It subsequently opened four more missions: in Washington, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas. Some of these eventually had to close for financial reasons, but the missions in New York and Washington remained because of the centrality of these cities in US and international affairs. In my capacity as an ambassador for the Arab League and the head of its missions in both Washington and New York, I had the opportunity to participate in many of the activities organised by and for the Arab media, and I was in a position to closely observe how Arab media organisations and their representatives handled operations in the US and responded to many formidable challenges over the years. Foremost among these challenges was the USs unmitigated pro-Israeli bias and support for Israeli views and actions over Arab demands and interests. The 11 September 2001 attacks, which destroyed the World Trade Centre and caused hundreds of casualties, had a huge detrimental impact on Arab-US relations, precipitating a sudden rise in anti-Arab suspicion and hostility among the American public who saw the perpetrators of the attack as an expression of Arab extremist anti-American hostility. The Bush administrations war against an Arab country Iraq on the pretext it possessed weapons of mass destruction further intensified Arab-US tensions. It helped little that the bulk of US media is heavily influenced by Israeli outlooks due to the powerful pro-Israeli Jewish lobby and the Arabs inability to bend that medias ear to Arab concerns and viewpoints. Among the unfortunate consequences of that anti-Arab climate is that the rights and freedoms of many Arabs residing in the US and, indeed, many Americans of Arab origin were abused. Moreover, visiting Arab delegations and resident diplomatic missions were subject to legal harassment. For example, certain anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian quarters in the US brought suits in order to have the Arab League missions in Washington and New York closed on the grounds these missions were supporting Arab/Palestinian extremism. Naturally, the suits failed to hold up in court since their allegations were entirely unfounded. To confront such anti-Arab campaigns, Arab diplomatic missions in Washington teamed up with Arab American organisations which have become an invaluable stay for the Arabs and their causes. This collaboration gave rise to a pro-Arab lobby as a means to counter the influence of the pro-Israeli lobby. At the same time, more and more Americans were becoming eager to learn more about Arab positions on developments in the Middle East and our perspective on the USs role in that strategic region. As a result, I was given the opportunity to express Arab viewpoints on such matters to many and diverse forums in universities, research centres, chambers of commerce, military academies, as well as churches and synagogues. I was always warmly received by audiences in these places. Out of awareness of the role culture plays in bringing peoples together and how favourable an impact a successful cultural activity can have on US attitudes towards the Arab world, the Arab League in Washington organised, in partnership with the Kennedy Centre for Arts and Culture, the first Arab culture and arts fair in the US capital. Featuring arts and culture exhibitions and performances from 22 Arab states, the fair attracted a huge turnout and widespread press coverage. The event was attended by prominent international and American figures, including former Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa, former US first lady Michelle Obama and many members of the US administration and Congress. Our collaboration with Arab-American communities also gave rise to periodic economic encounters between US businessmen and their Arab counterparts, leading to trade deals, joint economic projects and other collaborations that work to expand the realm of shared Arab-American interests. Bearing the foregoing in mind, when considering the causes of the low impact the Arab media has in the US, we realise that it is primarily due to its failure to address decision-makers and the greater public in a language and logic tailored to the way they see and understand things. In large measure, this is because Arab media mostly pitch their messages to audiences at home in the Arab world. As for the role of Arab Americans and their organisations, as much as they share the concerns of the Arab world and understand its needs and aspirations, their efficacy in expressing and advocating Arab positions is often hampered by divisions between Arab countries and the effects of these divisions on Arab American organisations and their members. Another problem is that, when addressing the US, Arab governments and Arab media focus their message almost exclusively on official circles and ignore the many sectors of the public and civil society that influence decision makers and shape foreign policy, such as research centres, chambers of commerce, political party associations and religious groups, including moderate Jewish groups that call for peace with the Palestinians. Similarly, when Arab officials travel to the US, they generally restrict their visits to officials in Washington, rather than including visits to other parts of the country in order to meet with circles that influence US outlooks. The importance of such circles is not to be underestimated given how some of them influenced the outcome of the last presidential elections in favour of Trump. Arab countries, today, are more acutely aware than ever of the need for a media strategy that will enable Arab media to overcome the shortcomings in how it performs its role in the US and to make it a more effective instrument in the drive to safeguard and promote Arab interests. One way to stimulate and improve the performance of our media is to encourage the media to become a vehicle to address decision-makers in the US directly. This would reduce the need to rely on public relations firms, which are exorbitantly expensive yet are unable to communicate directly with decision-makers. Another means is to promote peoples diplomacy by, for example, fostering regular exchanges of visits between Arab parliament members and US Congresspersons. In addition, Arab governments need to be more proactive in contacting representatives of the US press directly order to furnish them with complete and up-to-date information and analyses on events in the Arab world, thereby ensuring that the US media have reliable sources of information. Towards this end, Arab government agencies and organisations must upgrade their official websites in a manner that makes them an easily accessible and abundant resource of information and a reliable alternative to social networking sites. An effective Arab media strategy will also include a publicity plan for showcasing all the positive facets of the Arab world and its contributions to human civilisation. One of the most effective ways to familiarise others with the Arab world and its cultural heritage is through professionally researched and written articles on the subject, the dissemination of Arab fiction and non-fiction literature in translation, the production of films on Arab history and, of course, touring exhibitions of antiquities, such as the Tutankhamen exhibit that caused a sensation when it toured the US many years ago. Another important avenue to explore is the community of Arab students abroad in American universities and other academic institutions. Already their interaction with others on college campuses has contributed to opening the eyes of younger generations of Americans to Arab points of view, especially on such questions as the rights of the Palestinian people. Ultimately, an effective media strategy is one that promotes intellectual and cultural interactions between peoples, fosters mutual sympathy and understanding, and bridges the culture gaps between our world and theirs. Such a strategy will engender a media with the power to put paid to widespread biased and misleading images of the Arabs and disseminate true, undistorted and dynamic images of Arabs as live, three-dimensional human beings, as opposed to two-dimensional stereotypes. *The writer is member of the UN International Law Commission. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The 2019 novel coronavirus has been spreading like wildfire with more than 76,000 people infected and 2,200 deaths recorded. In view of this, United States officials announced on Friday that they are already making preparations in response to the possibility of a COVID-19 pandemic through U.S. communities which may lead to force the closure of schools and businesses. According to CNN, there are now 35 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States, including 18 former passengers of the cruise ship Diamond Princess which encountered the virus while at sea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official Nancy Messonnier told reporters on a conference call that health authorities are now preparing medical personnel for the risk of an outbreak of the disease that first emerged in Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China. Furthermore, Messonnier added that if the virus begins to spread in the U.S., health authorities want to be ready for possible adoption of schools and business closures like what was done in other Asian countries' efforts to control the disease. She also said that even if the country is yet to witness the spread of the virus, it is very likely that it will happen. Messonnier also explained that the main goal of the CDC is to slow down the introduction of the virus into the country in order to buy more time for preparation. The organization has already taken steps to ensure US health workers in the frontline would have the needed supplies and protection. They already had discussions with businesses, pharmacies, hospitals, and provisions manufacturers and distributors on everything needed to battle the disease. The preparations that the US is taking is in response to the warning of the World Health Organization (WHO) that the window of opportunity to contain the spread of the killer virus is already closing since it has already spread to as much as 26 countries, including the spike of cases in South Korea and more recently outbreaks have been observed in Iran, Italy and Lebanon. Also read: Coronavirus Transmission: COVID-19 May Spread Thru Feces? In a statement released in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that if we do well, any crisis can be averted, but if we squander the opportunity to do so, then a serious problem is in our hands. The U.S. already has 14 cases of people diagnosed with the virus within the country and another 21 cases amongst the Americans who returned to the country from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess as reported by Reuters. There were 329 Americans that were evacuated from the cruise ship and 18 of them tested positive. Eleven of those who are positive for the virus are currently confined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, five are quarantined in medical facilities near the Travis Air Force Base and two are in San Antonio, Texas near Lackland Air Force Base. As of the moment, there are only three U.S. states that have the capacity to run tests for the virus locally according to the Association of Public Health Laboratories. Related article: Coronavirus Continues to Scupper Businesses, China to Take Over HNA Group @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Reuters The novel coronavirus is now spreading between countries outside China. The World Health Organization said on Friday that the "window" of opportunity to contain the virus was "narrowing." "This outbreak could go any direction," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "It could even be messy." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The World Health Organization signaled on Friday that time may be running out to contain the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus. "The window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Friday during a press conference in Geneva. "We still have a chance to contain it. But while doing that, we have to prepare at the same time for any eventualities because this outbreak could go any direction. It could even be messy." More than 1,000 people are sick with the pneumonialike illness, COVID-19, outside China, and some new cases have "no link" to China's Hubei province where the virus is thought to have originated in a wet market in Wuhan, the WHO director-general said. It's a first and "very worrisome" sign, he said, that the virus may be readying to spread broadly and independently outside the country where it originated in December. At least 12 people have died so far from the coronavirus outside China. The first case of COVID-19 was just reported in Lebanon, the 30th country to be infected. But the virus didn't travel from China's Wuhan province to get there, the illness was spread by a traveler coming to the country on a flight from Iran whose illness was spotted during an airport screening when their plane landed. "Iran in the past two days has reported 18 cases and ... four deaths," Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "Not only that, there is a case which is linked to Iran now in Lebanon and these dots are actually very concerning." Story continues Nicola Low, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern in Switzerland, said on Twitter that Iran was "not on anyone's list of expected places for COVID-19," adding that the relative risk of Iran importing a case of the new illness had been very low, according to mathematical models. Meanwhile, in South Korea, more than 200 people have caught the COVID-19 bug, the largest number of cases outside China, excluding the Diamond Princess cruise ship where more than 620 travelers caught the viral illness during a bungled quarantine. Many of the sick people in South Korea have ties to a Korean megachurch, The Wall Street Journal reported. It's a stinging reminder that COVID-19 is easily spread through close contact among people when virus droplets are released through coughing and sneezing. Health officials still stress that vigorous 20-second handwashing, along with strict hygiene measures, like avoiding touching your face with your hands and covering your cough, are some of the best ways to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. It's been three weeks now since the WHO deemed the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency to better coordinate and prepare international responses to the new virus. "We call on all countries to continue their commitment for containment measures, while preparing for community transmission," Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "If it occurs, we must not look back and regret that we failed to take advantage of the window of opportunity that we have now." The total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths now far exceeds that of the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, when 774 people died and more than 8,000 were infected. At least 2,250 people have been killed by the novel coronavirus, and 76,000 have been infected. Read the original article on Business Insider CAIRO The two sons of former President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt were acquitted on Saturday of illicit share trading during the sale of a bank four years before the 2011 uprising that ended their fathers 30-year autocratic rule. The brothers, Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, and seven others had faced charges of illegally profiting from the process of selling Al Watany Bank of Egypt to the National Bank of Kuwait in 2007. Both men, who denied wrongdoing, attended the Cairo Criminal Court session on Saturday, which was held at a police academy for security reasons, and heard the verdict acquitting all the defendants. The public prosecution has the right to appeal. The two, detained after the 2011 popular uprising on corruption charges, were sentenced to three years in jail in 2015, along with their father. In 2014, they were sentenced to four years in prison in a separate case for an embezzlement scheme that involved diverting public funds and using the money to upgrade family properties. New Delh, Feb 22 : After the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutor Sadhna Ramachandran made a surprise visit to Shaheen Bagh on Saturday morning, the protesters put forth a series of demands before her. Addressing the protesters, Ramachandran said, "If the road isn't cleared, then even we would not be able to help you. We are not saying that Shaheen Bagh should be dismantled." The protesters asked her if there was any direction from the Supreme Court about their security. They also told her that cases against Jamia and Shaheen Bagh protesters should be withdrawn. The protesters demanded that the proposed National Population Register should not be implemented and action should be taken against ministers for their controversial remarks. The families of those who died or injured during the agitation should be given compensation and the government should promise security for the protesters. Ramachandran, while leaving the protest site, said se would speak to Sanjay Hegde, the second interlocutor appointed by the top court, about her meeting with the protesters. "The agitation has been continuing for more than two months, putting at discomfort many people who live near the protest site," she said. Meanwhile, speaking to IANS, senior advocate and another interlocutor Sanjay Hegde said he would not be going to Shaheen Bagh on Saturday as he was not in town. As Australia struggles to come to terms with the killing of a mother and her three children in Brisbane, another Australian city remains traumatised by a series of deaths of young women. In a city often heralded as the planet's most livable, 2019 was one of Melbourne's blackest years for women. Courtney Herron's body was found battered and bruised under logs at Royal Park in May The body of Natalina Angok, a warehouse packager, was discovered by a tradesman at the intersection of Little Bourke Street and Celestial Avenue Aiia Maasarwe was raped, murdered and set alight in January after getting off a tram in Bundoora It was January 16 when Aiia Maasarwe stepped off a Melbourne tram after a night out. She could only say seven words to her sister in a telephone call in the moments before she was raped, murdered and set alight. Police at the time described her ordeal as a 'horrendous, horrific attack'. Victoria Police's Acting Superintendent for the North West Metro Region, Tony Ryan, said police would be out in force to try to ease community fears about safety following the atrocity. Ms Maasarwe had attended a comedy show in North Melbourne, and was a little more than a kilometre from her home when she was attacked. The murder sent shivers down the collective spines of women across the city. It seemed like only yesterday that Eurydice Dixon was dispatched in a chillingly similar way. Eurydice Dixon was murdered in 2018. Her killer, Jaymes Todd, must serve a minimum of 35 years in jail before he can apply for parole It was June 2018 when the comedian and actress had been on her way home from a comedy show. She was found murdered at Melbourne's Princes Park on June 13, 2018. As mourners gathered at the site to lay flowers at the place where Ms Maasarwe's battered body was found, police flooded the area. Codey Herrmann, 21, was jailed for 36 years with a non-parole period of 30 years over the crime. But before that, there would be more bloodshed on Melbourne's streets. Much more. Only months later the body of Natalina Angok, a warehouse packager, was discovered by a tradesman at the intersection of Little Bourke Street and Celestial Avenue. She had fled war torn Sudan for a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to Australia in 2000. Ms Angojk had hoped to forge a better life in Melbourne, but instead ended up a bloody statistic. Christopher Allen Bell has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner and aspiring dental nurse. He will go on trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria next year. Weeks later Melbourne would be stunned again when the body of another young woman was found dead in a park. Courtney Herron's body was found battered and bruised under logs at Royal Park in May. Codey Herrmann (left) arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria in October. He was jailed for at least 30 years over the murder of Aiia Maasarwe in Melbourne She was just 25. Ms Herron had been couch surfing for up to two years before her death. Like Ms Maasarwe before her, police again described her injuries as 'horrendous'. Henry Richard Hammond, 27, has been charged over her murder. In May, a court was told Hammond had a number of issues that would affect him in custody, including 'a diagnosis of possible delusional disorder, possible autism spectrum disorder and historical diagnosis of ADHD'. The Counting Dead Women project claimed Ms Herron's alleged murder was the 20th woman on their list in 2019. Police said the crime showed attitudes toward women needed to change. 'What is it in our community that allows some men to think that it's still OK to attack women or take from women what they want?' Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said at the time. 'Violence against women is absolutely about men's behaviour.' A silent vigil in honour of Dixons memory a little over a year earlier had drew more than 10,000 people to Princes Park, among them the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, who blamed the crime on mens appalling disrespect toward women. But here Melbourne was again, being preached the same sermon over the body of another slain woman. Nothing had changed, and the violence would continue. In October, a 32-year-old woman was walking a friends dog in Thornbury when a man pulled out a knife, pushed her to the ground and sexually assaulted her. A 21-year-old homeless man was later charged with rape, false imprisonment and theft. Joel Russo, 25, faces a string of charges including 10 of rape, one of attempted rape and three of sexual assault over an alleged attack along Merri Creek at Coburg Community members walk along the Merri Creek trail as part of the 'Reclaim Our Merri Creek' walk on December 8. Joel Russo, 25, faces a string of charges including 10 of rape, one of attempted rape and three of sexual assault over the attack along Merri Creek Then in December, as Christmas lights and cheer spread across a city seemingly gripped in an endless winter, a woman was raped in ways most media outlets have been afraid to report in full. The accused rapist, Joel Russo, 25, faces a string of charges including 10 of rape, one of attempted rape and three of sexual assault over the attack along Merri Creek at Coburg. Had his alleged victim not survived, her face would have become another memory scarred onto the minds of a city fed-up with the images of dead women. The woman, aged in her 20s, had been exercising in parkland beside Merri Creek, just north of the footbridge near Harding Street. Russo was arrested several hours after the alleged attack after he allegedly tried to rob a service station on Lygon Street in Carlton. Russo allegedly held the woman's head under water during the assault and tried to strangle her. Police claim she had been raped repeatedly, including with a stick. Hundreds of Melburnians marched 'to reclaim our Merri Creek' following the alleged attack. About 400 to 500 people gathered at Mayer park and listened to speeches from women before walking up along the trail to show their solidarity with all those who have survived assaults. The rally was organised by a local group of women that gather to run together along the waterway and wanted to take a stand after the assault. 'We're a group of local runners and we just enjoy running in our local community. When we heard about the assault we were obviously very upset and shocked,' rally spokeswoman Olivia Greenwell said. 'I am conscious of what's happened around this area but I think there's been attacks like this all over Melbourne and Australia. There is a big conversation that we need to be having about what causes men's violence against women.' It has been a familiar conversation among the law-abiding citizens of Melbourne. But as the conversation continued, a man who brutally bashed a female paramedic was being set free by a Melbourne court for the second time. On January 29, James Haberfield bashed paramedic Monica Woods after the four-day Rainbow Serpent Festival during which he consumed 'a cocktail of drugs' including ecstasy, ice, MDMA and ketamine. James Haberfield, 22, believed if he took enough drugs he could 'reach another dimension'. Paramedic Monica Woods leaves the County Court of Victoria in December after hearing her attacker believed he could 'reach another dimension' by taking drugs The paramedic of nine-and-a-half years told County Court of Victoria Judge Michael Tinney this month she had not returned to work since the attack and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Ms Woods said she was 'constantly feeling choked' and suffered ongoing 'distressing flashbacks'. 'I have lost all of my independence due to this assault,' she wept. Ms Woods said she feared for her life during the attack and continued to re-live it day after day. However he attacker avoided a minimum six-month jail term when Judge Tinney sided with an earlier decision to cut Haberfield loose on a treatment plan within the community. He avoided jail after a psychiatrist who had previously assessed him made an 11th-hour assessment that he believed Haberfield's attack was due to an unknown pre-existing mental illness. Outside court, Ms Woods made a familiar point. 'Violence against anyone is unacceptable. Violence against paramedics, other emergency workers and other health professionals is never okay,' she said. New Delhi: A group of Shaheen Bagh protesters on Saturday opened the Noida-Kalindi Kunj Road that had been blocked since December 15-16 last year, only to be closed soon afterwards by another group of protesters. "A little earlier today, Road No. 9 was reopened by a group of protesters, but later it was closed by another group. Again, a group of protesters has reopened a small stretch, however, still, there's no clarity if all protesters have consent on this," DCP Souteast, Rajendra Prasad Meena said. Thousands of people, the majority of them women, have been holding a sit-in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed NRC at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area since mid-December last year. Recently the Supreme Court-appointed senior advocates Sanjay Hedge and Sadhana Ramachandran as interlocutors to talk with the protesters here and urge them to clear the road. Sadhana Ramachandran has been coming to Shaheen Bagh to talk to the protesters continuously for the past three days. She arrived at Shaheen Bagh at 10:30 am and told the protesters that if the road here doesn't get cleared then the interlocutors won't be able to help them. "We were facing a problem to drop our children to the school. Now that the road has opened, it will be easy for all of us," said Akram Qureshi, a commuter who was passing by the road after the barricades were removed today. Ishu who was coming from Faridabad told ANI, "The commuters are facing problems but the protesters also have their issues. I would like to request them that blocking roads won't help. They should listen to what the Supreme Court is saying and I believe that their concerns will be heard." The two interlocutors on Friday urged the Shaheen Bagh protesters to clear the road and "make way to the hearts". The apex court will further hear the matter on February 24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not accompany the US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania during their visit to Taj Mahal in Agra on February 24, sources said. "We have seen media reports regarding PM Modi's presence in Agra in connection with the visit of President Trump. The visit to Taj Mahal in Agra by the US President and the First Lady will afford them the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably. Therefore, no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there (Agra)," government sources told ANI. President Trump is arriving on a two-day official visit to India starting February 24. He is scheduled to visit Agra the same day to see the Taj Mahal and attend a cultural programme in the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You think its tough to be a cop in that neighborhood, you ought to try being a young person, because the challenges that they face (go far) beyond what anybody that is not involved can imagine," Beck said. That was really driven home to me today, by talking to these remarkable young people. ... I wanted to make sure in my comments that they know that I heard what they said. Infection toll in China reaches 2,345 as South Korea reports a surge in cases and Iran confirms sixth death from virus. The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has intensified around the world, with South Korean cases more than doubling to reach 433 the highest number outside of China. Italy on Saturday confirmed its first two deaths from the virus as authorities moved to close schools, bars and other public spaces in 10 northern towns. Meanwhile in the Middle East, Irans health ministry reported a sixth death on Saturday, a day after Israel and Lebanon confirmed their first cases. Mainland China noted a significant fall in the number of new cases, with 397 reported on Saturday. The total number of cases in mainland China to 76,288 and there have been 2,345 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the window of opportunity to stem the deadly epidemic was narrowing amid concern about a surge in cases with no clear link to China. This blog is now closed. Read all the latest updates from Sunday, February 23 here. Saturday, February 22 Israel expands quarantine measures Israel has expanded quarantine regulations, requiring all those returning from South Korea and Japan to remain in isolation for two weeks. Quarantine was previously mandated for Israelis returning from China, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau. The move came as Israels Health ministry said nine South Korean nationals who visited Israel and the West Bank in February have tested positive for the virus. The Palestinian Interior Ministry issued a similar instruction on Saturday. All the nine tourists returned to South Korea and it is currently unknown whether they were infected with the virus before or after arriving in Israel. Is WHO mishandling the coronavirus response? More and more countries are reporting cases of the new coronavirus, with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warning that the window of opportunity for containment is narrowing. The UN health agency has been criticised for a slow response to the epidemic as well as previous health emergencies. Al Jazeeras Inside Story programme discusses whether a change in approach is needed. Read more here and watch the full video below. US raises travel advisory level for South Korea The United States has raised the travel advisory level for South Korea to Level 2: Exercise increased caution as the number of coronavirus cases in the Asia Pacific nation surged to 433. According to a statement on the US State Departments website, travellers to South Korea should avoid contact with sick people and clean their hands often with soap and water. Older adults and people with chronic medical conditions should discuss travel with their healthcare provider and consider postponing non-essential travel, the statement said. Sixth death confirmed in Iran Iranian officials have reported a sixth death from the new coronavirus. The governor of Markazi province told the official IRNA news agency that tests of a patient who recently died in the central city of Arak were positive for the virus. Ali Aghazadeh said the person was also suffering from a heart problem. It is not clear whether the sixth fatality is included in the 28 cases confirmed by Iran earlier on Saturday. Italian Serie B football match postponed A football match in Italys second division was called off around one hour before the scheduled kick-off because of fears over the spread of the virus. Italian news agency ANA said the Ascoli-Cremonese match was postponed because the visiting side are from the Lombardy region in the north of Italy where 30 cases have been reported so far. Sports site Gazetta dello Sport said both teams were already at the stadium when they were told of the postponement and that a bus with Cremonese fans was turned back. FARS: Cinemas and art events closed for a week in Iran All cinemas and art events across Iran will be closed for one week to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country, semi-official news agency FARS reported. Iranian officials mull restrictions on holy sites Irans Hajj Pilgrimage Organization has reportedly cancelled all trips for pilgrims travelling to Iraq in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari said from the Iranian capital, Tehran. She added that Iranian officials have decided to close all of Irans five land borders with Iraq and are mulling taking action to restrict visits to holy shrines in Qom where the virus has killed two people and other nearby places. Iran closes schools in two cities: State TV Iran will close schools, universities and educational centres in two central cities to prevent the spread of coronavirus, state TV reported. It said the shutdown would begin on Sunday in and last two days in Qom and a week in Arak. IMF says virus to shave 0.1 percentage points from global growth The coronavirus outbreak will likely lower Chinas economic growth this year to 5.6 percent, down 0.4 percentage points from global growth, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva presented the outlook to central bankers and finance ministers from the worlds 20 largest economies at a meeting in Riyadh but said the IMF was also looking at more dire scenarios if the outbreak lasts longer and spreads more globally. US says Russia is behind disinformation campaign Thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts have launched a coordinated effort to spread alarm about the coronavirus, disrupting global efforts to combat the epidemic, US officials told AFP news agency. False personas are being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to advance Russian talking points and conspiracies, including suggesting that the CIA is behind the virus that has claimed more than 2,300 lives, mostly in China. Russias intent is to sow discord and undermine US institutions and alliances from within, including through covert and coercive malign influence campaigns, said Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia. By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting the global health response, he said. UK passengers from virus-hit cruise ship arrive home More than 30 British and European passengers arrived back home in the United Kingdom after spending more than two weeks stuck on a quarantined cruise ship in a Japanese port due to the coronavirus outbreak, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab confirmed. They landed at a defence ministry airfield in southwestern England on a government-chartered plane from Tokyo and were being taken straight to quarantine facilities. The Diamond Princess liner was carrying 3,700 people, including 78 Britons, when it was quarantined in Yokohama on February 5. Arrived: @DominicRaab confirms that 32 British and European citizens have been brought safely home from Japan Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 22, 2020 Second coronavirus patient dies in Italy A second patient infected with the new coronavirus died in Italy, Ansa news agency reported, citing healthcare sources. The victim was a female resident in Milans Lombardy region, Ansa said. Iran reports one more death among 10 new cases Iran reported one more death among 10 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the Islamic republic to five and infections to 28. We have 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on state television. One of the new cases has unfortunately passed away, he added, noting that eight of them had been hospitalised in Qom and two in Tehran. WHO concerned about cases with no clear link The WHO is concerned about the number of coronavirus cases with no clear epidemiological link, its director general said on Saturday. Although the total number of cases outside China remains relatively small, we are concerned about the number of cases with no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing. According to available data, the disease remains mild in 80 percent of coronavirus patients, and is severe or critical in 20 percent of patients, he said. The virus has been fatal in 2 percent of reported cases. South Korea reports 87 new coronavirus cases South Korea reported 87 more cases of the new coronavirus, bringing the countrys total to 433, South Korean news agency, Yonhap, reported. Chinas Xi thanks Bill Gates for coronavirus donation Chinese President Xi Jinping personally thanked US billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates after his foundation donated $100m to fight COVID-19, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The foundation pledged the nine-figure sum towards efforts to detect the new coronavirus that causes the disease, to provide protection for at-risk populations and to develop a vaccine as well as treatment. In his letter to Gates, Xi said: I deeply appreciate the act of generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment. Last batch of Japanese passengers leaves cruise ship Some 100 passengers who were in close contact with infected people on board began disembarking from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship, local media said. They included the last batch of Japanese passengers to leave the ship while some foreign passengers were still waiting on board for chartered aircraft to be sent by their governments. Around 970 passengers disembarked earlier this week. Television footage showed a driver in a white protective suit at the wheel of a bus with the curtains drawn so that passengers could not be identified. Passengers wearing masks leave the coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters] Seven cruise ships to house Wuhan medical workers China is bringing in seven cruise ships to house medical workers in Wuhan, state media reported. The first of these ships, the Blue Whale, arrived in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, on Friday from Yichang, a nearby city down the Yangtze River. The seven ships will provide 1,469 beds in total. Australia to allow return of some Chinese students The Australian government said it will allow the return of some Chinese high school students who have been blocked from entering the country due to coronavirus restrictions. Australian officials said the targeted easing of the ban would allow about 760 Chinese high school students none from Hubei province, which is the epicentre of the outbreak to apply to return. It is incredibly important that we bring some normality back to the international student market, Education Minister Dan Tehan told reporters. It is a small step we are taking, it is a precautionary step. South Korea coronavirus cases surge due to church, hospital outbreaks South Korea reported 142 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, almost all linked to outbreaks at a hospital in Cheongdo county and a church in Daego city, bringing the national tally to 346. Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) designated both the city of Daegu, which has a population of 2.5 million people, and Cheongdo county, home to around 43,000 people, as special care zones on Friday as case numbers began to surge upwards. Cases from the Cheongdo hospital jumped in the latest daily figures, with the total rising from 16 to 108 overnight. Two cases were reported in Busan, the first in South Koreas second-largest city, while the Island of Jeju, a spot popular with domestic and international tourists, also recorded its first case. China reports 397 new confirmed cases on mainland Mainland China had 397 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections by the end of February 21, the countrys National Health Commission said on Saturday, marking a significant drop from the 889 cases recorded a day earlier. That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 76,288. The death toll from the outbreak in mainland China reached 2,345 as of the end of February 21. The central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 109 new deaths, while in the provincial capital of Wuhan, 90 people died. Wuhan woman with no symptoms infects five relatives with coronavirus A 20-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, travelled 675km (400 miles) north to Anyang where she infected five relatives, without ever showing signs of infection, Chinese scientists reported, offering new evidence that the virus can be spread asymptomatically. According to the report by Dr Meiyun Wang of the Peoples Hospital of Zhengzhou University and colleagues, doctors isolated the woman and tested her for the virus after her relatives started getting sick. Initially, the young woman tested negative for the virus, but a follow-up test was positive. All five of her relatives developed COVID-19 pneumonia, but as of February 11, the young woman still had not developed any symptoms, her chest CT remained normal and she had no fever, stomach or respiratory symptoms, such as cough or sore throat. The case study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. British passengers from virus-hit cruise ship due to arrive home Some 35 British passengers were due to arrive back home on Saturday after spending more than two weeks stuck on a quarantined cruise ship in a Japanese port due to the coronavirus outbreak. They were landing at a defence ministry airfield in southwestern England on a government-chartered plane from Tokyo and being taken straight to quarantine facilities. The Diamond Princess liner was carrying 3,700 people, including 78 Britons, when it was quarantined in Yokohama on February 5. More than 620 passengers on board have been infected with the coronavirus, the most outside mainland China. First Italian patient dies of coronavirus A patient in the northern city of Padua has died after being infected with the coronavirus, becoming the first Italian victim of the disease, Ansa news agency reported. The deceased was aged 78, it said. Read all the updates from Friday, February 21 here. 13.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard One of Donald Trumps favorite Republican henchmen in Congress, California Rep. Devin Nunes, had his phony Russia dossier lawsuit thrown in the trash by a federal judge. According to Politico, A federal judge has tossed out a racketeering lawsuit House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes filed last year against the private investigation firm at the heart of the Trump-Russia saga. More from Politico: Alexandria, Virginia-based U.S. District Court Judge Liam OGradys two-page order made short work of Nunes suit, which sought $9.9 million in damages from Fusion GPS, its founder Glenn Simpson and a nonprofit watchdog group, Campaign for Accountability. The judge also signaled that pressing on with the legal battle could result in sanctions against Nunes and his attorney, Steven Biss. The California GOP lawmaker claimed that he was a victim of active, coordinated and ongoing corruption, fraud and obstruction of justice by the defendants that stemmed from his efforts to investigate the firms role in stoking suspicions about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign. Nunes suit, filed under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, claims that after he challenged the accuracy of the dossier, Fusion GPS, Simpson and CfA morphed that effort into one targeting him with a series of ethics complaints and other adverse publicity. However, OGrady said the allegations in the complaint were too vague to meet standards the Supreme Court laid out in 2007 for the amount of detail needed to move forward with a civil case. He also suggested his Virginia courtroom might not be the right place to sue. For Nunes, this wasnt about winning a lawsuit Of course, Rep. Devin Nunes knows that these lawsuits against media outlets and critics are frivolous and hes unlikely to win any of them. But this isnt about winning lawsuits. Its about riling up the base and keeping Donald Trump his boss happy. As GOP strategist Rick Wilson said on Saturday, I suspect most of his frivolous lawsuits will end up just this way, but [Devin Nunes] is suing not to get justice but to pump his email fundraising and get booked on Fox. Outside of the MAGA bubble in which he and the president live, Devin Nunes is a joke that should be laughed out of every room he enters. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Roger Stone's stepdaughter bemoaned he convicted felon's sentencing and treatment while in trial, stating that her 'family is being destroyed' by the 'corrupt' case. Adria Stone, the family's representative, slammed the 40 month sentencing her step-father received on Thursday. He was convicted last fall for lying repeatedly to Congress and obstruction of justice. 'He has been frustrated,' Adria Stone said when asked by Fox News if Roger was in good spirits. 'He is under a gag order. We are looking at an appeal. But I don't know the process of this. I don't know what they are going to be planning. I am not part of that process. Scroll down for video Adria Stone, the family's representative, slammed the 40 month sentencing her step-father received for the slew of charges he was convicted of last fall 'He has been frustrated,' Adria Stone said when asked by Fox News if Roger was in good spirits. 'He is under a gag order. We are looking at an appeal' 'I represent the family, who is being destroyed during this entire process. Having horrible things written to my daughter who is going to have a baby in two weeks and I don't have a father or a grandfather to be present during this because we are here in Washington D.C. dealing with this trial.' She later added: 'It is unbelievably heart wrenching that we have to keep going through this. It is unfair. My daughter is having a baby in two weeks. We can't be present as parents and grandparents because we are defending Roger's life and our family name... Our family has been stretched and torn apart.' Stone was convicted last fall of lying to lawmakers over his efforts to procure stolen Democratic Party emails from WikiLeaks in 2016 to boost Trump's chances of becoming President. He was sentenced Thursday, but according to Adria, he is not nervous about heading to prison. 'I represent the family, who is being destroyed during this entire process,' she claimed. 'Having horrible things written to my daughter who is going to have a baby in two weeks and I don't have a father or a grandfather to be present during this because we are here in Washington D.C. dealing with this trial' Stone was convicted last fall of lying to lawmakers over his efforts to procure stolen Democratic Party emails from WikiLeaks in 2016 to boost Trump's chances of becoming President. He was sentenced Thursday but according to Adria, he is not nervous about heading to prison 'Roger Stone has nerves of steel,' she declared of the felon, 'and he has faith in this country, in our democracy and in our president. And I believe that he and I are hoping that more is looked into what went on in this trial. 'Because we appear to be doing things that are out of order to give a sentencing when we haven't even proven that this trial was run fairly and that it wasn't corrupt.' Roger Stone's stepdaughter claimed that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson was misleading when she expressed sentiments that the trial was not political, adding that '45 minutes' of it had been. Adria claimed that it had been proven that the Mueller Investigation was not good, calling it 'phony' and adding Roger Stone's arrest as a casualty of the investigation. 'Roger Stone has nerves of steel,' she declared of the felon, 'and he has faith in this country, in our democracy and in our president. And I believe that he and I are hoping that more is looked into what went on in this trial 'And my dad has been under a tremendous amount of pressure,' she claimed. 'To testify and bear false witness against President Trump, which he has absolutely refused and that's what this is about.' Adria felt that there were too many Democrats involved with the case and expressed annoyance that an African American man or a veteran wasn't asked to be a juror. The family rep also made claims that all of the jury members had ties to the Justice Department. Adria Stone criticized the role of the jury forewoman in Stone's trial, Tomeka Hart, who she accused of being an anti-Trumper She did also criticize the role of the jury forewoman in Stone's trial, Tomeka Hart, who she accused of being an anti-Trumper. Adria falsely said that Hart attacked Stone on Twitter twice, when the former jury forewoman has only been shown to have retweeted a post and shared emojis to news pertaining to the former Trump advisor. 'That does not seem fair to me,' she added. Stone's lawyers pointed to some social media posts written by Hart on Facebook as one of the reasons they requested a retrial for Stone. Hart posted her appreciation for the four federal prosecutors who resigned after Attorney General Bill Barr interfered in the Stone case. The prosecutors in Stone's case resigned after the Justice Department intervened and lowered the sentencing recommendation for Stone. Hart praised their work and outed herself as the jury forewoman in Stone's trial in the aftermath. ROGER STONE DID A LOT WRONG: WHAT HE WAS CONVICTED OF Roger Stone was found guilty on all charges of: 1. Obstruction of justice, lying to Congress and witness tampering by trying to get Randy Credico to lie to Congress. Sentenced to 40 months 2. Lying to Congress that he did not have emails or texts about Julian Assange. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 3. Lying when he claimed his references to being in touch with Assange were actually about a 'go-between' - Randy Credico. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 4. Lying that he didn't ask his 'go-between' to communicate with Assange. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 5. Lying that he didn't text or email the 'go-between' about WikiLeaks. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count 6. Lying that he had never discussed conversation with his 'go-between' with anyone in the Trump campaign. Sentenced to 12 months concurrent with the first count Advertisement '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,' she wrote on Facebook. Hart, it further emerged, had unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Democrat in 2012 and had participated in anti-Trump rallies and protests. She had frequently denounced Trump on social media, calling the President and his supporters racists, and posted emojis of hearts and fist pumps after finding Stone guilty last November. Hart had also re-tweeted a post by pundit Bakari Sellers dismissing Stone's claims that the FBI used excessive force when they arrested him at his Fort Lauderdale, Florida home in January 2019. A Stone juror, Seth Cousins, told CNN on Wednesday that Hart was a fair juror. 'She was probably the strongest advocate in the room for a rigorous process, for the rights of the defendant and for making sure that we took it seriously and looked at each charge,' Cousins said. 'Without her in the room, we would have returned the same verdict and we would have returned it more quickly and without looking as deeply into the evidence. I am firmly convinced of that.' At Stone's sentencing hearing on Thursday in Washington D.C., U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a stunning rebuke not just of Stone but of the president himself, saying the prosecution was not brought by 'political enemies,' and that there was no 'anti-Trump cabal' at the hear of the case. At Stone's sentencing hearing on Thursday in Washington D.C., U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a stunning rebuke not just of Stone but of the president himself, saying the prosecution was not brought by 'political enemies,' and that there was no 'anti-Trump cabal' at the hear of the case 'He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president, he was prosecuted for covering up for the president,' she said. 'There was nothing unfair, phony or disgraceful about the investigation or the prosecution.' 'He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president, he was prosecuted for covering up for the president,' she said It was unknown whether Berman Jackson was aware of his latest intervention but it came amid a case roiled by politics and mounting speculation Stone will be pardoned. Even before she spoke, prosecutors staged their own revolt against the president calling the case 'righteous' and demanding a lengthy prison sentence despite their initial call for nine years being over-ruled by Attorney General Bill Barr in one of the main acts of an unfolding constitutional crisis. She said Stone told 'flat out lies,' and that his conviction had nothing to do with whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election. He was guilty of a 'corrupt, unlawful,' campaign to stop his lies being exposed when he threatened Randy Credico, who he named as his 'go-between' to Julian Assange, to stop Credico revealing the truth, that there was another go-between. Stone was also guilty of withholding texts and emails from Congress, prompting Berman Jackson to again lash out at the president. Bengaluru, Feb 22 : Ardra alias Annapurna Narayan, the 24-year-old woman who was detained for holding a 'Free Kashmir' placard in the city a day ago, was arrested and remanded to 14-day judicial custody, police said on Saturday. "Ardra was arrested and sent to central prison for 14-day judicial custody after we booked a suo motu case against her under sections 153A and 153B of the IPC for holding a placard with anti-national slogans in Kannada at Town Hall in the city, deputy commissioner of police (central) Chetan Singh Rathod told IANS here. The police whisked away Ardra on Friday afternoon from the venue to the nearby police station and questioned her for carrying the placard with "Free Kahmir, Free Dalit, Free Muslim, Free Trans and Free Adivasi" words in Kannada. The incident occurred a day after 19-year-old student activist Amulya Leona was booked, arrested and jailed for 14 days remand on Friday for shouting 'Pakistan zindabad' at an anti-CAA rally at Freedom Park in the city centre on Thursday night. "Ardra and Amulya have been lodged in the same cell in the women's ward of the Parpanna Agrahara jail on the city's southern outskirts for their safety and security, a prison official told IANS. The police have set up two teams to interrogate Amulya and Ardra separately and ascertain reasons for their anti-national actions and investigate if they acted alone or at the behest of other individuals or organisations. "Amulya was booked under 125A for sedition and Ardra for promoting enmity between two groups and indulging in anti-national activity," said Rathod. A group of pro-Hindu activists who were at the venue (Town Hall) to stage a protest sit-in against Amulya spotted Ardra standing alone on the footsteps and holding the placard with the slogans. "A patrolling vehicle was rushed to the venue after we received a call from one of the protesters that a young woman was holding a placard with negative slogans written on it in Kannada. We rescued Ardra in time and prevented her from being assaulted by anyone there," Rathod recalled. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 21:58:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish forces renewed shelling on Syrian army positions in the western countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria on Saturday, a war monitor reported. The shelling was fired by the Turkish forces positioned on Syrian-Turkish border and targeted areas in the western countryside of Idlib province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Turkey-backed rebel groups also shot down a reconnaissance plane in the Jabal al-Zawiyeh area in the southern countryside of Idlib, the Britain-based watchdog group added. On the other side, the Syrian and Russian warplanes carried out around 75 shelling on rebel-held areas in the Jabal al-Zawiyeh area. Earlier in the day, the observatory said as many as 2,700 Turkish military vehicles have been sent into Syria over the past 19 days, as part of the Turkish tactic to send military equipment to Idlib and the northern Syrian province of Aleppo. Additionally, over 7,400 Turkish soldiers have been deployed in Idlib and Aleppo in the same period, said the observatory. The deployment of Turkish soldiers and vehicles comes as part of the Turkish plan to halt the progress of the Syrian army in the countryside of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. The knock on Carter Perrier's door came early Friday morning. It was followed by a temperature and overall health check and, finally, the government document he'd been waiting two weeks for the official authorization to leave the coronavirus quarantine. "This was my freedom slip. I'm finally good to go," said Perrier, who had just got off a bus at Toronto's Pearson airport, along with dozens of his former quarantine neighbours from CFB Trenton. They had all spent the past two weeks at the army base east of Toronto after being airlifted from the heart of the outbreak in China on a government-chartered plane. The quarantine was a safety precaution in case any had contracted COVID-19. Perrier, a 30-year-old project management consultant from Calgary, was one of the more than 200 Canadians and permanent residents who had been given the all-clear on Friday to leave the base. Government officials say none of the evacuees has shown any symptoms of the virus. "I can return to normal life and do something that I want to do," said Perrier. And what does he want most after his mostly isolated stay at the base? "A good coffee and a cold beer." Evan Mitsui/CBC For Freeman Lan, who would soon be boarding a flight to Wisconsin, where he works as a scientist, it was nice just being able to see people "and not have to wear face masks." Lan had spent most of his time in quarantine playing cards, walking around, and watching a lot of Netflix. "I am just taking it all in," said Lan. "Feels like freedom. It feels pretty good." Permission letter to leave quarantine Before leaving the base, the evacuees were each given an "Authorization to Leave a Quarantine Facility" letter from the Public Health Agency of Canada stating they had "fulfilled the requirement of the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure" to the coronavirus by remaining in quarantine for 14 days. Mark Gollom/CBC As of Friday, China has reported a total of 75,465 cases of the virus, which has led to 2,236 deaths in the country. Most of those deaths are centred in the city of Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province. Story continues The federal government had ordered its evacuees into quarantine "to protect the health and safety of Canadians." They stayed at the Yukon Lodge, CFB Trenton's 290-room motel for military personnel and family members. Each of the rooms had been equipped with high-speed wireless, cable TV with a DVD player, a fridge and microwave. Public health officials provided health checks every day, including a twice-a-day temperature check. Food was delivered to their door and their rooms were wiped clean daily by people wearing special protective gear. Ellen Mauro/CBC They were allowed to go outside in a restricted area for some fresh air and to interact with other evacuees, although they were told to stay at least two metres away from each other. Despite the "pretty cushy conditions," Perrier said he was unprepared for the mental toll of the experience. "I don't feel damaged or anything, but it was certainly more than I was expecting it to be," he said. "Just to be isolated for two weeks and not being able to do what you want to do." "It's not something that I would wish on my worst enemy now that I know what it's like." Like graduating Myriam Larouche, a 25-year-old Canadian student studying tourism in Wuhan, said she spent a lot of her time doing school work, and that receiving her government letter allowing her to leave the base "was kind of like a graduation." "It's like I'm graduating from quarantine," she said. "I just want to hug my family and my friends." But there was something else she had to do first, she said. "Right now I'm dying to have a double-double." Hours before their departure from the base, a charter plane of Canadian cruise ship passengers had landed in Trenton. They had been on the Diamond Princess ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, Japan, since early February due to an outbreak. All repatriated passengers on the chartered flight had tested negative for the virus. They were screened again in Trenton before boarding five buses destined for the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ont., where they will be quarantined for 14 days, according to Health Canada officials. Eight Canadians have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak began, with three of them based in Ontario and the rest in British Columbia. A sixth person in B.C. is believed to be infected. The US on Saturday officially confirmed that a 12-person delegation will accompany President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania during their two-day trip to India on February 24. A senior administration official said that the US Ambassador to India Ken Juster; Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross; Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette; Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney; and National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien will accompany the President. Besides, the President's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, both senior White House advisers, will also accompany him on the trip. Senior Advisor for Policy Stephen Miller; White House Director of Social Media Dan Scavino; Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds; Special Representative for International Telecommunication Policy Robert Blair; and White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham are also part of the delegation. For the bilateral meeting between the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the additional participants include Adam Boehler, Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation; Ajit Pai, Chairman of the FCC; Lisa Curtis, Deputy Assistant to the President for South and Central Asian Affairs; Kash Patel, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism; and Mike Passey, Director for India, National Security Council. Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, on Monday, where he will deliver remarks at Sardar Patel Stadium with Modi. With Modi, the President and the First Lady will then head to Agra where they will visit the Taj Mahal. Later in the day, they will fly to New Delhi and have a full programme on Tuesday. The Tuesday programme will include ceremonial events, bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister, a business event with Indian investors, with a special focus on companies that are investing in manufacturing in the US. Donald Trump will also have a meet-and-greet with the US embassy staff and a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind. To conclude the visit, there will be a state dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday evening. The state administration official said: "The President is going to India as a demonstration of the strong and enduring ties between our two countries. These are ties based on shared democratic traditions, common strategic interests, and enduring bonds between our people. And, in part, this has been exemplified by the very close relationship between the President and Prime Minister Modi." The focus will on building economic and energy ties. The two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $142 billion in 2018. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to see a boost in pre-vote polls ahead of March 2 election, analysts say. Amid the fallout from the announcement of US President Donal Trumps plan for Israel-Palestine, it was hard to avoid the conclusion that the timing and manner of its publication had much to do with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus battle for political survival. Facing an election on March 2, Israels third national vote in less than a year, Netanyahu has crisscrossed the globe to meet leaders and officials. His meeting with Trump was the most high-profile stop and saw the unveiling of the US plan which, analysts have noted, heavily favours Israel. The plan proposes the annexation of huge swaths of the occupied West Bank by Israel and falls short of offering the Palestinians many of their long-held minimum demands, which include a capital in East Jerusalem. Opinion polls in Israel, however, have shown no signs of a post-plan bounce; the average results of recent surveys are almost identical to those of the previous few weeks. Moreover, polls also point to yet another post-election deadlock that could only be broken through the formation of a unity government. Orly Noy, an Israeli journalist and political activist, believes that Netanyahu grossly overestimated the possible impact of the Trump plan on his election campaign. While concrete American actions even if symbolic, like moving the embassy to Jerusalem are being seen as a tangible victory, vague peace plans have little impact on Israeli public opinion in general, Noy told Al Jazeera. Weve seen too many of those come and go during the years. More importantly, Noy added, three elections in a year have already exhausted any actual content and became only about Netanyahu yes or no'. This bodes ill for the prime minister, who, in the words of Edo Konrad, editor in chief of 972 Magazine, essentially launched his stay-out-of-jail campaign by securing Trumps approval for endless occupation. But how much of an effect will the Trump plan have when, as several pundits say, there is a severe case not just of voter fatigue, but Bibi fatigue? Political leverage for Joint List Daniel Levy, president of the US/Middle East Project, believes that the Trump plan has had some influence on the political debate taking place in the election, including the effect of bringing issues of the future of the territories and the Palestinians front and centre when they had for so long been marginalised. Levy told Al Jazeera that this has played out in a complicated fashion for both Netanyahu and his natural right-wing allies, as well as main rival and former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz, who leads the Blue and White party. The plan has exposed the disagreements within [the Gantz-led] Blue and White, and in part led to a spat between Likud and the further right Yamina party over the timing of annexation, Levy noted. The Joint List, meanwhile, a united ticket of parties predominantly representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, will be hoping to repeat, or even improve on, its showing in last Septembers election when it won 13 seats. The Palestinian citizens vote is actually the only place where the Trump plan might have an actual impact, Noy told Al Jazeera, pointing to the documents support for a so-called population swap that would see thousands of Israels Palestinian citizens become part of the new Palestinian entity to be created on parts of the West Bank. The Joint List and the Palestinian leadership in Israel have used the plan as a political leverage very effectively by organising a series of protests and demonstrations, emphasising the population swap proposal, Noy added. Anger at the Nation State Law, which defines Israel as an exclusively Jewish homeland, is seen as a key reason for the rise in Palestinian citizens voting rate in last Septembers election, and there are those, like Noy, who hope the Trump plan will do the trick and make those numbers even higher. This just might be Trumps biggest contribution to the Israeli politics, she added wryly. On the other hand, it seems hard to imagine that a proposal in a plan that may or may not be adopted will have as galvanising an effect as Israeli legislation. The Joint List was able to make significant gains in the previous election, but it is yet unclear whether voters will come out in the same numbers we saw in 2019, and it is even less certain that the Trump plan is what will give the Palestinian leadership in Israel the electoral boost it is hoping to recreate, Konrad told Al Jazeera. Levy also noted that while racist provocations have increased Palestinian citizens turnout before, the Trump plan has also served to drive more of a wedge between the Joint List and Blue and White, thus undermining the efficacy argument when it comes to those who question whether Palestinian votes can change things. Will the plan be implemented? While it remains unclear exactly what if any effect Trumps plan will have on Israelis decision-making when they head into the voting booths, there remains the question of the fate of the plan when, eventually, a new coalition government is formed. Neither side can form a coalition which would be able to adopt that plan in its entirety, Noy told Al Jazeera. Gantz wont be able to do so because of Meretz, and Netanyahus partners wont be able to bring themselves to vote for a future Palestinian state, even if only nominally. But even if the plan may never be implemented in full, unilateral Israeli annexation of West Bank territory is a different matter. For Levy, the timing of the publication of the plan was almost certainly in part intended to create a situation in which any future Israeli government would be on board with the new terms of reference. Thus, particularly in light of Netanyahu likely being in the twilight of his premiership, the premeditated intention is to lock in annexation. In assessing the next Israeli governments likely approach to the Trump plan, observers point to the responses issued at the time of its publication by the main parties. Regardless of who is or isnt included in the next government, said Konrad, the acceptance of the Trump plan by leaders of both blocs is a reflection that Israels goal of endless military control over millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza is shared across the vast majority of the political spectrum. JACKSON, MI With the help of an app set to launch soon, The Shop Rat Foundation will bring several site tours from the manufacturers of Jackson to students everywhere. On the Job 360, which will launch Wednesday, Feb. 26, is a free, virtual reality-compatible app with a target audience of middle and high students. Using 360-degree and first-person footage, 40 videos show users different types of manufacturing work. Kelly Burr Kofflin, The Shop Rat Foundation executive director, came up with the idea for the app while brainstorming ways to show students more manufacturing in a format they would enjoy. The answer was in her pocket. The reality is thats where all of us go, Kofflin said. When we have a question about something, the first thing we do is look it up on our phone. Kofflin researched different methods of reaching students and found that most prefer to learn from videos. She teamed up with Ken Seneff and Brandon Marken at the Agile Growth Shop at Lean Rocket Lab to show different experiences using a 360-degree camera and wearable GoPro. We didnt want these to feel tremendously overproduced, she said. We wanted them to feel really accessible, so we built the app around that idea of putting career exploration for our age group in a space that they are comfortable with. The results allow for students to visit multiple Jackson manufacturers like Advance Turning & Manufacturing, Orbitform and Technique, Inc. through virtual tours and career spotlight videos with their workers. The reality is you cant get every student to a manufacturing facility and you certainly cant get them to a number of manufacturing facilities, Seneff said. Not only does On the Job 360 bring the facilities to the students, but it also shows students that manufacturing isnt a greasy environment with sparks flying, Seneff said. The reality is manufacturing is really cool, he said. Most manufacturing isnt like that. Its very advanced and high tech. Through the career spotlight videos and first-person footage, students will get an immersive experience they couldnt on a tour. They will also see examples of different manufacturing careers and skill trades they may not be aware of, like construction, programming or carpenter work. Everyone thinks they are going to stand there and push a button or grind on something, but thats not the case as much anymore, Seneff said. Students can also see machinery at work, for example, the inside of a CNC machine. Kofflin let the introductory class at The Shop Rat Foundation try the app for themselves and it was incredible to see how curious they were, she said. After the app launches, Kofflin hopes to expand the career opportunity content as time passes. Its going to be a continuously growing and evolving resource, she said. The plan is that we are going to continue capturing videos, and make sure it is as advanced as we can so that the experience is as rich as it can be. This may include expanding beyond the Jackson community to showcase other manufacturers, for students who dont want to stay in the area, Kofflin said. On the Job 360 will be available on the Google Play store and the App Store. Kofflin, Marken and Seffen intentionally made the app free without a required login so that schools could use the product and no data would be collected. Once it launches, she plans to use it within The Shop Rat Foundation, which is a nonprofit that garners interest in manufacturing careers and trades. Berlin, Feb 23 : A gunman has attacked a shisha bar in southwestern German city of Stuttgart, local media reported on Sunday. Police said there was no one in the building when the incident occurred on Saturday. The perpetrator could have escaped and nobody was injured, Xinhua news agency reported. The attack came days after a fatal shooting attack in Germany's southwestern city of Hanau. On Wednesday, a 43-year-old man killed nine people with immigrant background in two shisha bars in Hanau before killing his mother and himself. Assam NRC data back online after 10 days: Report India oi-Deepika S Guwahati, Feb 22: The data of Assam's National Register of Citizens is back online 10 days after it was reported to be inaccessible on the official website, according to reports. Major IT company Wipro has said due to the non-payment of subscription costs- Rs 3 lakh per month and another amount of Rs 70 crore by the Union Home Ministry was the reason why people couldn't check the status of their citizenship. The contract expired in October 2019, but the company continued to pay the data hosting service fee as a "goodwill gesture" until January 2020. 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. NRC, religious freedom likely to be discussed by Trump, Modi 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. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 14:32 [IST] He's the Spanish actor and director with an illustrious career spanning almost 40 years. And Antonio Banderas continued to shine as he attended the Barcelona premiere of the musical A Chorus Line at the Teatre Tivoli on Friday. The film star, 59, looked dapper in an all-black ensemble as he posed alongside Baayork Lee, 73, of whom he co-directs the production with. Looking good: Antonio Banderas continued to shine as he attended the Barcelona premiere of the musical A Chorus Line at the Teatre Tivoli on Friday Antonio appeared in good spirits as he donned black zip-up jacket with matching trousers and shoes at the event. The Mask of Zorro actor directs and stars in the Spanish version of the Broadway show, in which he plays the character of Zach. Zach, a choreographer and director, directs the audition that is the forefront of the show. Meanwhile, Baayork starred as Connie Wong in the originally 1975 production of A Chorus Line, and subsequently went on to direct and choreograph over 35 different versions of the production. Colleagues: The film star, 59, looked dapper in an all-black ensemble as he posed alongside Baayork Lee, 73, of whom he co-directs the production with Baayork was asked by Antonio to lend her expertise to his own version of the production, which premiered at his theatre Teatro del Soho Caixabank in his home town of Malaga. The debut run ended earlier this year and moved on to other cities in Spain, including Barcelona. Antonio previously spoke with The New York Times about the success of his show, and his hopes to bring the Spanish production to Broadway. 'A Chorus Line was a very frustrating thing for me. The first time I went to New York, in 1984, A Chorus Line was still at the Shubert, but the tickets were unbelievably expensive for me, so I couldn't see it. But A Chorus Line has been always a play that I love, and now I have it in my own theater. 'I am playing Zach [the director character] and having a blast. The success has been incredible. I didn't expect that. Malaga is not such a big city, but we fill the theater every night. And God help us, if everything goes right, we may just end up in New York to show that a musical like this can be done in Spanish. New role: The Mask of Zorro actor directs and stars in the Spanish version of the Broadway show, in which he plays the character of Zach Iconic: Meanwhile, Baayork starred as Connie Wong in the originally 1975 production of A Chorus Line, and subsequently went on to direct and choreograph over 35 different versions of the production 'With the legacy of A Chorus Line, they are very meticulous with the changes, but we managed to convince them, and I think we've got a very, very interesting performance. So I will be there in New York, probably playing Zach this next summer.' Meanwhile, Bayork told Sur in English that she didn't take much persuading from Antonio to come on board for the project. She said: 'Well he came to see a production of A Chorus Line at the City Center (theatre) in New York and he came backstage and he spoke to the actors. He told them that he was opening his theatre and that he wanted A Chorus Line to open it, which is for me the most exciting thing. 'After so many years of my directing it around the world, to be able to open in a new theatre, and also to have the famous Antonio Banderas in the show, is extraordinary. I dont think he had to do much to convince me.' President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed the building designed to host Azerbaijan Culture Center in Rome. The head of state and the First Lady were informed that all conditions would be created in the building for Azerbaijan Culture Center and the country`s embassy. President Ilham Aliyev gave his recommendations and instructions concerning the repair and restoration work to be carried out at the building. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Council member Kelcey Brackett discussed changing the side of the street where parking is allowed, commenting many cities have this in place. The new ordinance will allow parking on one side of the street on odd days and the other side on even days. After approving he motion, the council requested public works director Brian Stineman to report back after six months on how the change is going. Broderson commented if the alternating sides for parking doesnt work, the council can revisit it. Resident Roger Todd said he has seen situations when garbage pickups couldnt get through the roadway. He commented he didnt know why the people on the street didnt just park in their driveways. The alternate Im not sold on that, he said. Id rather see you just make a command decision and pick a side. Broderson commented this is just being done on a trial basis. Todd said no matter what the council decides to do, there would be people who would not like it. Resident Carter Nanninga said he is unable to use his driveway and parking on the street is needed. He also said he did not want to wake up at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to move his vehicle. A new book comprising selected essays by former finance minister Arun Jaitley details the many decisive measures taken by the NDA govt to prevent and combat corruption The NDAs campaign against black money is just one of many measures to eliminate corruption and tax evasion in order to clean up the system both at home and globally through international cooperation. Compare this with the Congress Party and the National Herald scandal in which they have acquired properties worth a huge amount without spending ... 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 Underlining the use of non-state actors in terror activities by Pakistan, South Western Army Commander Lt Gen Alok Kler on Saturday said the Indian army is prepared to deal with any situation. Kler, who was at the Bikaner military station to attend an investiture, said the training of non-state actors "was a part of the military design of the neighbouring country". "We clearly know where their training camps are. The Balakot strike was a very good example," he said referring to the Indian Air Force operation against terror camps across the border in February last year. He, however, said keeping round-the-clock vigil was a challenging task. "I want to assure you that from our side too new thoughts are there in our strategy to deal with this," he said at a press conference. "The military and our state administrations on borders, central police forces and the BSF in combination and with mutual understanding are prepared for any situation," he said. "But, I would like to tell that terrorist-initiated incident could happen once or twice and we have to remain prepared for that," he added. When asked about the airdropping of arms by Pakistan into the Indian territory through drones, Kler said these were small drones with limited carrying capacity. "The drones used in war and peace times are different and the activities which have happened in the border areas involved small drones, not the ones used in a military action," he said. The army commander also underlined the role of people in the fight against terrorism. Citing the example of Punjab, he said the military, police, state and central governments worked together, effectively finishing terrorism there. "It is sure that terrorism can be completely finished with combined efforts and Punjab is a fine example. The local population of state has a very large role to play. They will have to support the state administration and the government," Kler said. In the investiture, Lt Gen Kler awarded gallantry and distinguished service medals to Army personnel. One Yudh Seva Medal, 20 Sena Medals (gallantry), two Sena Medals (distinguished service) and six Vishist Seva Medals were awarded in the ceremony. Paratrooper Mukut Bihari Meena and Sepoy Mandeep Singh made the supreme sacrifice during operations and were given the award posthumously, according to defence spokesperson Col Sombit Ghosh. Twenty-one units were awarded the Sapta Shakti Army Commander's Unit Citation for their outstanding contribution to the nation and the Indian Army. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men have been indicted on murder and related charges in the stabbing death of a 31-year-old woman, who was found in a Camden park last year. Luis Colon-Molina, 36, and Wilfredo Boulones-Cruz, 50, were also charged with felony murder, carjacking, weapons offenses and resisting arrest as part of the recent indictment. Police found Hayley Steinbergs body Dec. 2 in Farnham Park, according to the Camden County Prosecutors Office. She suffered from multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. Hayley Steinberg you will be forever loved and missed by so many, my you RIP. I can not even believe this, we just... Posted by Jonathon Weirich on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Colon-Molina and Boulones-Cruz, who were dating and lived together, allegedly killed Steinberg Dec. 1 before taking her car and dumping her body in the park, according to court documents. About an hour before her body was discovered, Delaware River Port Authority police found the car Steinberg used stopped on the Ben Franklin Bridge, authorities said. Officers found Colon-Molina and Boulnes-Cruz walking in the road, and the duo said they ran out of gas. As officers helped push the car off the bridge, the pair took off running, according to the prosecutors office. They were soon arrested and officers discovered a large amount of blood in the vehicle. Investigators also recovered security camera footage that showed Steinberg pull up to the couples residence and left with both men, authorities said. Footage also showed the car at the park and leave a short time later. In court papers, detectives said the men carried Steinbergs purse and used her ATM card at a Chinese restaurant in North Philadelphia. Steinberg was remembered as a mother who fought opioid addiction while working to help others, studying addiction counseling at Camden County College. The Medford-native often posted on Facebook urging people with addiction to reach out for help. She described the best gift there is, was being a mother, an obituary for Steinberg said. She strived to make sure her daughters life would be the best life possible. Hayley wished for everyone to cherish each moment they may have with their children because time flies by too quickly. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Syria: 500,000 children among nearly 1 million displaced as fighting continues Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment At least 500,000 children are among the more than 800,000 people, including Christians, who have been displaced over the last two-and-a-half months as the Bashar al-Assad regime carries on with its attacks in the last remaining rebel-held enclaves in northwest Syria amid very cold weather and rains. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore has described the situation as untenable, even by Syrias grim standards. Children and families are caught between the violence, the biting cold, the lack of food and the desperate living conditions, Fore said in a statement released by UNICEF, which has also reported that at least 28 children have been killed and 49 injured. Such abject disregard for the safety and well-being of children and families is beyond the pale and must not go on. There are reports that regime artillery and Russian aircraft have struck rebel positions in Idlibs cities, from where residents are fleeing, mostly toward the Turkish border in the north where they are now living in tents and in the open air in extremely cold weather with little food, water and blankets. While the attacks have led to a major humanitarian crisis, Syrian President al-Assad appeared to celebrate it. We know this liberation does not mean the end of the war or the crushing of all plots or the end of terror or the surrender of the enemy, but it definitely rubs their noses in the dirt, Assad said, according to The Washington Post. This is a prelude to [the rebels] final defeat, sooner or later. Fore said it was time for the guns to go silent and for the violence to stop once and for all. Parties to the conflict must protect children and the infrastructure on which they depend, give families respite and allow humanitarian workers to respond to the massive needs, in accordance with international humanitarian law. U.S. Representative for Louisiana, Ralph Abraham, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, recently visited eastern Syria to meet with Kurdish and Christian leaders. He also visited Tel Tamr, a Christian area that has been threatened by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, according to The Jerusalem Post, which said pro-regime militias and Russian forces have attacked U.S. patrols in the area. The purpose of my trip was to express my deep concerns for the safety of Christians and other persecuted minorities in the region as well as my support for self-governance among the Kurds, Abraham told The Hill. Last month, three board members of Syrian Christians for Peace, wrote an op-ed for The Christian Post, highlighting the targeted violence against Syrians of all faiths, including Christians, which they said is a daily occurrence in the other two-thirds of the country controlled by a man whose unique sadistic tendencies have shocked the world: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assad, who is a Shia in a Sunni-majority Syria, has used his status to garner sympathy and set himself up as the protector of Christians. We know better, they wrote. In September, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, relied upon for civilian death tolls by the U.N. since it stopped counting in 2014, released a report counting the number of Christian houses of worship targeted by all parties to the conflict regime, opposition, ISIS, al-Qaeda and others, they continued. The results were damning: of the 124 churches targeted for shelling, bombing or military use since 2011, nearly two-thirds were at the hands of Assads forces, backed up by Russian air power and Iranian militias. The authors added that Christians likewise were among victims documented in the Caesar photos taken by a regime defector. His 55,000 images presented bodies of protesters grotesquely mutilated and tortured almost beyond recognition, if not for the carefully cataloguing practices of Assads machinery of death that include identifying numbers for each victim. The photos are the strongest evidence of war crimes since the Nuremberg trials of the Nazis, according to the former U.S. Ambassador for War Crimes Stephen Rapp. Christians are among those whose eyes were gouged out, bodies electrocuted, stomachs starved and throats slit. Assads leash of protection runs as long as his desire for control, and no further. In a recent essay published in the Time magazine, actor Angelina Jolie, who has visited Syria several times since 2011, wrote she had initially hoped that raising awareness of the suffering would be enough to make a significant difference. But now, nearly a decade later, it strikes me as a metaphor for the Syrian conflict itself: the shattered innocence of a generation of children; the irreversible damage inflicted upon a secular, multiethnic society; and the years of pleas for help that have gone unanswered. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentous oscillator used to identify trend reversal. It was invented by Welles Wilder Junior. The default look-back period for RSI is 14, however, this can be lowered to increase sensitivity or raised to decrease sensitivity. RSI calculates the strength of a stock trend and helps to predict their reversals. Why buy Tata Steel? There are a lot of trading strategies using RSI; below mentioned is one of the most popular among the trading community. It involves buy after completing retracement for higher movement; however the support of another momentum oscillator stochastic can give additional support. In past few days, RSI gave a breakout by trading above 50 levels from below and made a high of 75 then after it is trading lower or retracing towards centre line placed at 50 levels, this behaviour is called as 'RSI PBB' setup. RSI PBB is pull back buy setup which indicates, once RSI turns its tail upside after taking support from zone of 45-55 levels, target is previous swing high of RSI which was 75 or previous swing high of prices (Rs 505). Currently, Tata Steel is going through this setup and we expect higher price movement towards previous high Rs 500-520 levels in coming days. Figure .1. RSI PBB setup and Buy signal on Tata Steel Recent RSI gave a breakout and published swing top around 75 levels. After marking high of 75, RSI is retracing towards 50 towards mid-line standing around 50 mark. Strong bullish candle formation near the buying zone has given us confirmation of retracement complete and original trend begin. Mid-term moving average 50 DMA placed around Rs 408 levels defines mid-term trend is very well augur with bulls as prices are sustained and trading above it. Decent volume participation while forming a bullish candle will also give additional confirmation. Profit Booking Whenever price candle will be near previous swing high which is near Rs 500-520 levels. Stop Loss Entire bullish view negates on breaching of a swing low and one should exit from a long position. In the case of Tata Steel, it is standing around Rs 384 mark. Conclusion We recommend buying Tata Steel around Rs 420-430 levels with a stop loss of Rs 384 for higher targets of Rs 500 and Rs 520 levels as indicated in the above chart. The author is Head - Technical & Derivative Research, Narnolia Financial Advisors. Disclosure: Narnolia Financial Advisors/Analyst(s) does/do not have any holding in the stocks discussed but these stocks may have been recommended to clients in the past. Clients of Narnolia Financial Advisors Ltd. may be holding aforesaid stocks. The stocks recommended are based on our analysis which is based on information obtained from public sources and sources believed to be reliable, but no independent verification has been made nor is its accuracy or completeness guaranteed. The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of the analyst(s) about the subject securities or issues, and no part of the compensation of the research analyst(s) was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations and views expressed by research analyst(s) in this report. : 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. Officers responded to the area around 2:30 a.m. and saw two men walking along Higgins Road, not far from the Fairview Avenue address, police said. The two men were observed carrying items that investigators determined had been stolen from the Fairview garage, as well as other items suspected of being stolen from cars in the area, police said. Sanjuana Martinez, the general director of Notimex, the Mexican state news agency, and also a council member of the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN), recorded a video to show her admiration and support of the Chinese people in the fight against COVID-19. "We are deeply moved by your quick actions to fight the epidemic and we are amazed at the all-out efforts of the people and the government in China," said Martinez. She added that she believes China will fight this battle through to victory. Himanta Biswa Sarma The High Level Committee on Implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord will formally submit its report to the Assam government on February 25, senior state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on February 22. The committee, which is headed by Justice (retired) B K Sharma, will submit the report to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of the entire state cabinet, Sarma told reporters here. The High Level Committee (HLC), he said, had clarified in a press statement issued by Justice Sharma's office on February 20 that the report has been completed and is currently with the state government's Assam Accord Implementation Department in a sealed cover. Sarma, who is the state finance minister, said the chief minister will send the report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who will go through it and if required, call the committee members to New Delhi for further discussions. "Amit Shahji had earlier met the members of the committee twice and as legal and constitutional matters are involved, discussions may be needed with the members again," he said. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord says constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. The Accord was signed in 1985 after the state witnessed a six-year-long stir from 1979 seeking detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis. Asked whether he has any information about the features of the report, Sarma, a key BJP leader, said that the report is "under sealed cover and there is no need to speculate at this stage about what is there in the report". The office of Justice Sarma, in a release issued earlier, had said that the HLC had also intimated the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary follow-up action. The release had further said it has come to the committee's notice reports by a section of the media stating that a delegation of the HLC had gone to New Delhi recently after the completion of the report but returned to Guwahati after not getting any response from the Centre. "The above information is absolutely incorrect and not based on facts as after completion of the report all its copies are in the custody of the Assam Accord Implementation Committee in a sealed cover," Sharma had said. The release had clarified that no team member, including the HLC chairman, had visited New Delhi after February 10 for the purpose of apprising or handing over the report to the ministry of home affairs, the release added. The Union Home Ministry had in January 2019 announced the formation of the high-level committee headed by retired union secretary M P Bezbaruah, but six of its nine members refused to be part of it. Following this, the panel was reconstituted with 14 members and Sharma as its chairman. By Feb. 21, 2020 GILBERTSVILLE - The 11th Annual Polar Plunge into Kentucky Lake and 5k run, presented by Peel & Holland, will be held Saturday, March 7th.All funds raised by the event go to support the more than 10,200 children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics programs in Kentucky.This year's plunge is happening a little later in the winter, but it's not to avoid cold temperatures."February has not been very kind to us. Three out of the last four years we had some lousy (rainy) weather for the Plunge," said Chuck Williams, planning committee member for Special Olympics Kentucky for Murray and Calloway County.The Plunge works like a walk-a-thon, with Polar Bears each raising a bear minimum of $75, ($50 for those between 6-18 years old), to earn the right to plunge. Every Polar Bear receives an official Polar Plunge T-shirt and Polar Bear Club Certificate, but participants who raise more money can earn better rewards.This year's event will again feature the Polar 5k ($40 entry fee), which will run through Kentucky Dam Village State Park, also on March 7th.In addition, the Polar Triple Crown Challenge, which includes three challenges for the bravest participants: the Polar 5k, the traditional Jump-In from a dock, and a Run-In from a beach area, will be available.Participants can register and raise money on-line at the link below.Those who want to support the Polar Plunge, but not jump or run can register as a Virtual Plunger and also raise funds. They will receive the Polar Plunge T-shirt and are eligible for all other fundraising prizes.Williams said the Polar Plunge helps to provide many opportunities to the very deserving Special Olympics athletes. He added, "a moment of chill provides a years worth of thrills for our athletes."Events begin on Friday, March 6th, with Polar Plunge 5k packet pick up and Polar Plunge early check-in from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center. Participants can turn in all remaining money, get registered to participate on Saturday, (March 7th), pick up their T-shirt and select other fundraising prizes, while avoiding lines on Saturday.Polar Plunge/5k Race Day check-in will open at 8 am. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 am. The 5k will start at 10:45 and will include the lighting of the Special Olympics Cauldron. The Plunge will begin at 11:15 and should conclude at approximately 1 pm.For more information about the Polar Plunge activities, click the link below. On the Net: Sir Ridley Scott has won an award for his short film advertising a prestige cognac brand (Ian West/PA) Sir Ridley Scott has won an award for his short film advertising a prestige cognac brand. The acclaimed British director, best known for movies including Blade Runner, Gladiator and The Martian, was behind an advert for Hennessy XO. A shortened version of the four-minute film, titled The Seven Worlds, aired during the 91st Academy Awards. Sir Ridley Scott has earned an advertising award for his short film promoting a cognac brand (Yui Mok/PA) The full film has now earned Sir Ridley the lifestyle award at the Social Media Superstar Awards (SMSA) in Los Angeles. He was among a raft of British winners at the event, which was held at the Four Seasons hotel and hosted by Good Morning Britains Ross King. A British Airways advert featuring Oscar-winners Gary Oldman and Olivia Colman won campaign of the year while the airline also won in the travel category. British PR expert Sarah Robarts picked up the pioneer award for her two-decade career on both sides of the Atlantic. The SMSAs were co-founded by Brand Ambassador and the British-American Business Council LA. Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore after he took stock of the situation at a high-level meeting here on the coronavirus outbreak. "Citizens are advised to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore," Gauba said. Apart from this the central government is now also planning to start universal screening at airports for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia along with those from other countries. This universal screening will be in addition to those already being conducted as per the earlier advisories. There have been 86 recorded cases of coronavirus in Singapore till February 22, although there have been no recorded deaths in the country, according to media reports. "As on date, 21,805 passengers have been brought under community surveillance. In addition, 3,97,152 flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at sea ports have been screened," an official release said. The meeting was attended by the Secretaries of Health and Family Welfare, Civil Aviation, Defence, Information and Broadcasting, DG AFMS and representatives from External Affairs, Home Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, ITBP and Army. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19 first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since killed more than 2,200 people in that country alone, while cases have been reported in several countries across the world, including India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 06:59:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, said on Friday that the rejection of his senatorial candidacy by Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) was an "attack on democracy." "We complied with all the requirements. Afterwards, two former members of the electoral agency informed me that, by instruction of the United States embassy, they did not approve the legality (of the candidacy)," Morales said at a press conference in Buenos Aires. "They forced me not to be a candidate in these elections. I have accepted it; I am not a candidate. I accept it all for Bolivia," he said. Morales said that the rejection of his candidacy for the Cochabamba department's senatorial seat "is an attack on democracy. They don't want Evo to return to Bolivia. It's an instruction of the United States." Bolivia's electoral tribunal said on Thursday that Morales did not fulfill the residency requirements necessary to be considered for senator candidacy for the Cochabamba department in the general elections slated for May 3. The Bolivian constitution requires that candidates for the Plurinational Legislative Assembly have residency in their jurisdictions for at least two years prior to elections. Evo Morales has been residing outside of Bolivia since last November, first going to Mexico, then Cuba, and finally to Argentina, where he claimed political asylum on Dec. 12. India is expecting an increase in its apparel export as China's market has been affected due to the novel Coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak, said A Sakthivel, the chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). "Maybe there will be a 20 percent immediate increase in the exports and later it may slowly increase up to 50-60 percent," A Sakthivel told ANI. India's major garment markets include the European Union, the USA, and the Middle East. As per the data provided by AEPC, the apparel sector adds to 4.9% of India's total exports. READ | China Delaying Clearance For Third Evacuation Flight From India: Sources AEPC expects orders from the US AEPC is the official body of the Indian apparel exporters, which provides assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers or international buyers who prefer Indian garments. "Coronavirus outbreak is unfortunate but there is some opportunity for India to get some orders. Our export is the US $16.2 billion, suppose the US $10 billion is diverted to India, it will not be able to take the order immediately as we do not have the required infrastructure currently," he further added. READ | 'China Delaying Permission To India To Send Flight Carrying Relief Material To Wuhan' He also asked the Indian exporters to opt for alternatives such as manmade fibers. Indicating that Indian textiles have been underperforming in the past few years, Sakthivel said that countries like Vietnam, Cambodia have beaten India in textile export. "The export was stagnant in the last four years because other countries have come into the picture like Vietnam, Cambodia besides Bangladesh. In the last three years, our export was average while Vietnam which was doing less than us for years has beaten us now, " he said. READ | China Suspends More Penalties On US Goods After Trade Truce A drop in Novel Coronavirus cases The death toll in China from the new coronavirus outbreak soared to 109 bringing the total number of death count to 2345, according to the National Health Commission on February 22. Another 397 new cases were confirmed in China which plummeted from nearly 900 officially reported Friday, bringing the total number of infected cases to over 76,000. The drop in new cases of the novel coronavirus came as authorities in Hubei province were directed to revise figures to clear any confusion around the data. READ | China Confirms Drop In New Coronavirus Cases As Death Tally Touches 2,345 Raiders of the Lost Ark (Credit: Lucasfilm) Harrison Ford has confirmed that the long-awaited fifth movie in the Indiana Jones series will start filming in April. He dropped the nugget during an interview with CBS for its Sunday Morning show, set to go out this weekend. Asked about the challenge of coming back to a role after many years the inference being those of Han Solo or Indiana Jones Ford joked: Trying not to look silly running around in tight pants and high boots. He then added: I'll try and give you a more appropriate answer, considering that I'm going to start doing Indiana Jones in about two months. Read more: Five things you might not know about Indiana Joness whip If we have the opportunity to make another, its because people have enjoyed them. It has been some time since Ford has donned the fedora to play the intrepid archeologist, with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull having landed in 2008. Talk of the so-far untitled fifth movie began soon after, and back then there was even talk of making Shia LaBeouf's character Mutt Williams, from the fourth movie, the lead. A year lated LaBeouf said in an interview that Steven Spielberg had cracked the story for the fifth film, something Karen Allen, who plays Marion Ravenwood, later confirmed too. However, the takeover of Lucasfilm by Disney has somewhat delayed the advancement of the project, while it took on the Star Wars universe, and its now thought that Mutt Williams is not involved. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Credit: Lucasfilm) Then in 2015, in an interview with Vanity Fair, Lucasfilm boss Kathy Kennedy confirmed a fifth movie was in the pipeline, with George Lucas returning as an executive producer. Various writers have been involved too from David Koepp (who penned Crystal Skull) to Jonathan Kasdan, the latter's story rumoured to be about a fabled train full of nazi gold that was buried in a tunnel in the last days of the Second World War. Meanwhile, in case anyone was wondering, both Ford and Disney boss Bob Iger have said that the plan is not to kill off Dr. Jones (though Ford will be pushing 80 when the movie is released). However, Iger has said that a fifth film will 'not be a one-off', so perhaps the torch will be handed on to someone else. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. An Irish drug dealer who amassed illicit 55m bitcoin fortune, lost the codes to access the accounts after hiding them in his fishing rod, which went missing. In 2017, Clifton Collins printed the codes on A4 sheets and hid them in the aluminium cap of a fishing rod case. Case with the codes taken to a dump The case with the codes was kept at his rented home in Farnaught, Cornamona, County Galway. According to reports, Collins was busted on a weed charge and sent to jail in 2017. He was sentenced to five years on imprisonment after the authorities found 2,000 worth of cannabis in his car. In the meantime, Collins's landlord had all of his stuff hauled to the dump. The codes, according to reports are now missing, which means that the account and the money cannot be accessed. Reports have stated that when the Irish police questioned the workers at the dump, they told the officers that they remembered seeing a discarded fishing gear. Waste from the dump travels to China where it is incinerated. The fishing rod case has not been found. Read: Teachers Have Basic Duty To Wean Students Away From Drugs: Puducherry CM Read: US, India Stop 500 Shipments Of Illicit Prescription Drugs From Entering America In January Collins has reportedly told the officers that he has now come to terms with his loss and considers it to be karma for his own stupidity. The Dublin High Court has ruled that Collins has forfeited the accounts because the money was obtained through crime. According to reports, Collins began growing cannabis in 2005. He used rented properties around Ireland which included the house where the case with the codes was stashed, to grow cannabis. The profit from cannabis sales helped Collins buy 6,000 bitcoins in late 2011 and early 2012. While the authorities have confiscated the accounts, but they are unable to access them. The authorities, however, hope to gain access to the accounts one day. (Image Credit: Pixabay) Read: NCB Says Drugs Seizures Have Increased; Credits Heightened Vigil And Furnishes Numbers Read: Combating Drug Trafficking Conference Concludes; Govt Reiterates 'Drugs Free India' Aim YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. A Cabinet meeting was held on February 21, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan presented the results published by the State Statistics Committee, which state that GDP growth was 7.6% in 2019, totaling 6 trillion 551 billion 849 million drams. With reference to these figures, the Head of Government said: We can state that we have recorded the highest growth since 2008, and I congratulate all of us on this. I hope that as a result of our joint work, we will achieve a larger figure in 2020. The Executive endorsed the proposal to sign the following financing agreements between the Armenian government and the European Commission: Energy Efficiency and Environment, Empowering Local Stakeholders for Development, AGBU Reform Instrument. The main goal of the project is to support energy efficiency and environmental initiatives in Armenia. The project aims to increase energy efficiency in residential buildings, public buildings, non-gasified communities and low-income households, as well as to reduce pollution of Lake Sevan. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan advised that the total budget of the agreements amounts to 65 million euros. Referring to the issue of energy efficiency, the Prime Minister emphasized: Today, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, we are all spending a lot of money on heating and cooling our offices, buildings and homes. And this amount can be reduced if we make serious investments in energy saving. To put it mildly, if we spend 1,000 drams to heat our apartment, if we invest in heat savings, we would expect to spend 700 drams, and for example, potential energy price hikes would not have a significant impact on our family or our overall budget. In this regard, I do believe that energy saving is of strategic priority. AMD 3,447 million will be made available from the Government Reserve Fund to fund the preparations for and the conduct of the referendum on the constitutional amendments, scheduled for this April 5. Concerning the decision, Nikol Pashinyan said: I understand that there will be a lot of speculation and discussion about this, in general, because money is spent on the referendum. First of all, I would like to say that this money will go back into the economy, because that money will eventually lead to economic transactions. And second, yes, money needs to be spent to secure the free will of the people. Last years snap parliamentary elections, too, cost some money, and all the elections that are taking place cost some money. And in general, democracy, and not just democracy, any state government implies public spending. So the discussions and speculations here are inappropriate. I think we should note that Armenias state budget revenues have increased by more than USD 1 billion over the past 1.5 years. And I think decisions like that can step up economic activity. Funds will be allocated to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport to provide financial incentives to Armenias best athletes. An awards ceremony shall be held, at which the 10 best athletes will get AMD 5 million each. In this connection, the Premier said that the Government should change the perceptions and approaches to sport: Sport is of strategic importance to us. The Government next decided that the working day of May 29 will be moved to Saturday, May 23, 2020. Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister Eduard Aghajanyan noted that owing to this decision, the last 4 days of May will be non-working. U.S. president Donald Trump gestures as he walks offstage after speaking at a campaign rally on February 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP) Washington: U.S. president Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious freedom with prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India that is starting on February 24, the White House said on Friday. This is not very good news for India because there have been several instances of BJP ministers such as Giriraj Kishore speaking out on why Muslims should not have stayed on in India after 1947, and several cases of sedition cases being filed against Muslim or Christian protesters in some states, especially Karnataka in recent weeks. As usual, this advance intimation of U.S. intent came in an official briefing by the Trump administration to reporters in Washington with no words minced. As the briefing official said, religious freedom is especially important to this regime in Washington. The timing and nature of the White House is particularly interesting. This pointed mention of the state of religious freedom in India comes a couple of weeks after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo inaugurated a US-led initiative on international religious freedom, and US administration officials indicated that events in India were definite on that radar. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom both in his public remarks and then certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is extremely important to this administration," a senior official told reporters in a conference call. The official was responding to a question on whether the president was planning to speak to Narendra Modi on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or the National Register of Citizens. "We do have this shared commitment to upholding our universal values, the rule of law. We have great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions, and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions," the official said, requesting anonymity. "And we are concerned with some of the issues that you have raised," the senior administration official said, in response to the question on CAA and NRC. "I think the president will talk about these issues in his meetings with prime minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious minorities," the official said. "Of course, it's in the Indian Constitution -- religious freedom, respect for religious minorities, and equal treatment of all religions. So this is something that is important to the president and I'm sure it will come up," said the official. Pointing out that India has a strong democratic foundation, the official said India is a country rich in religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity. "In fact, it's the birthplace of four major world religions," the official noted. "Prime Minister Modi, in his first speech after winning the election last year, talked about how he would prioritise being inclusive of India's religious minorities. And, certainly, the world looks to India to maintain religious liberty and equal treatment for all under the rule of law," said the senior administration official. Ahead of Trump visit to India, while the Modi regime has been eager to showcase the optics side of the event, such as the Namaste Trump rally at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, the signals from Washington have been more in the nature of state craft. Trump has played hot and cold on whether he will go in for a trade deal with India during this visit or keep it for later. At any rate, he has made it clear that he intends to get India to scale back its "extremely high" tariffs on some American products. The pointed reference to religious freedom in India could well be a tactic of leverage ahead of the talk Trump will have with Modi next week. Bharti Infratel, on Saturday, said it has received FDI approval from the Department of Telecom (DoT) for merger with Indus Towers. The tower arm of Bharti Airtel said that its board will meet on February 24 to chart out its merger with peer Indus Towers Ltd. "...FDI approval for merger of Indus Towers with Bharti Infratel has been received late evening yesterday," Bharti Infratel said in a regulatory filing. With this merger, the new entity (Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers together) will become the largest tower company in the world outside China. The new entity will create a pan-India tower company with over 163,000 towers, operating across 22 telecom service areas. Bharti Infratel had said in a presentation that the new entity would have a turnover of more than Rs 25,000 crore, controlling more than a third of the tower industry in the country. It also stated that it might save close to Rs 560 crore annually. Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers have overlapping operation in four circles - Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Indus Towers is a joint venture between Bharti Infratel, UK-based Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone Idea. Bharti Infratel and Vodafone hold 42 per cent stake each in Indus. Vodafone Idea holds 11.15 per cent stake and the remaining 4.85 per cent is with private equity firm, Providence. Airtel has a majority stake in Bharti Infratel. As per the plans, the combined company, which would fully own the respective businesses of Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers, would change its name to Indus Towers Ltd and will continue to be listed on Indian stock exchanges. This latest development can help Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea that collectively owe over Rs 80,000 crore in adjusted gross revenue dues to the government. Both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea may raise funds by divesting their stakes in the merged entity to pare debt The Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers merger deal was signed last year in April. Also read: What's AGR and why are Vodafone Idea, Airtel in trouble? An explainer Also read: Infographic: How Vodafone Idea, Airtel got into trouble AGR issue: Bharti Airtel pays Rs 10,000 crore to govt as part of outstanding dues (Edited by: Mansi Jaswal) ABC News Tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is apologizing for an "error of judgement" related to an in-person interview he conducted last month after being exposed to COVID-19 as he continues to fight to stay in Australia and compete in the first major of the year. Djokovic, who is tied for first all time with 20 major wins, released a new statement Wednesday midday local time in Melbourne explaining the timeline of several public appearances around when he tested positive for COVID in December -- which he says should allow him to compete in the Australian Open despite apparently not being vaccinated. "I want to address the continuing misinformation about my activities and attendance at events in December leading up to my positive PCR COVID test result," he wrote in an Instagram post. The Delhi Police has arrested two persons who are allegedly involved in several criminal cases, officials said on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Pradeep (34) and Karim Khan (28), both residents of Gopal Nagar. A countrymade pistol and three cartridges were recovered from their possession, the police said. Pradeep is found previously involved in 10 criminal cases, while Khan was previously involved in a murder case registered at the Najafgarh police station, an officer said. "On the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, police got a tip-off and arrested the accused from Dichaun Road," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Anto Alphonse said. During interrogation, the duo revealed that they are associates of the 'Shakti Sharda' gang and they were searching for their target in the area when they were arrested, the DCP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's names have been dropped from the school event where United States First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to visit on February 25. Sources claim that both were to attend the programme since the school comes under the government of Delhi. US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit on February 24-25. Melania after reaching Hyderabad House in the nation's capital on February 25 will move to a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh to meet school children. The school is getting ready to welcome the US First Lady. Sources, who are engaged in arranging the visit of the US First Lady Melania Trump, said that she would witness the programmes organised by the children followed by a short meeting with the staff. The school, which is situated in the residential area of Moti Bagh, will have massive security arrangements as well. Multi-layered security will be provided to her apart from the security cover of the US agencies. After meeting the kids, she is expected to attend the famous Happiness Classes started by the Delhi government.The Happiness class was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children. 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Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, addresses the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on February 21. (Photo: provided by the Vietnamese mission in Geneva) In her speech at the event on February 21, she highlighted that the CD needs to affirm the important role of the disarmament mechanism toward peacekeeping and security in the world in the context that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and 50 years of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The ambassador stressed that with the role of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 tenure, Vietnam pledges to join hands with UN members efforts to promote sustainable peace, and as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, the country stands ready to boost the close coordination between ASEAN and the CD as well as other UN forums. Earlier, during a meeting with Ambassador Mai, rotary President of the CD in 2020 Carlos Mario Foradori, who is also Ambassador of Argentina, highly valued Vietnams contributions to the CD framework, especially the country's successful assumption of the CD Presidency in 2019. Ambassador Mai, for her part, said Vietnam spoke highly of the joint effort of the current CD President Ambassador Foradori and five other rotary CD presidents in 2020, in working with UN members to accelerate the conferences tasks, while affirming Vietnams continued efforts to the CD in order to boost international peace and security./.VNA Delhi police arrested four members of the notorious 'Irani Gang' who would impersonate police personnel and rob senior citizens on a false pretext from Okhla Mandi, officials said on Saturday. They told police that two of the gang members would pose as police officials and ask their targets to take off their jewellery for checking. They would then wrap the jewellery in a paper but return fake items packed in a similar paper to the victims, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ram Gopal Naik said. In the meanwhile, the other two gang members, pretending to be passersby, would also hand over their belongings to remove any doubt in the minds of the victims, Naik said. On Friday, police arrested the robbers from Okhla Mandi following a tip. About 220 gram of gold ornaments, a car and a bike were seized from them. Sadiq Kambar Jafari (25) is a resident of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, but the other three Kasim Beg (30), Khaibar Ali (23), Salim Ali (35) are residents of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, police said. They said the 'Irani Gang' tricked several people using the same modus operandi in Delhi-NCR. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Millions of Britons could be unknowingly at risk of debilitating mumps because the vaccine thats given to children to protect against it can stop working properly. The viral infection, which causes an agonising swelling in the face and groin, is sweeping the country amid a perfect storm of conditions. Last week, health chiefs sounded an alert when it was revealed that, in 2019, more than 5,000 cases had been reported in England five times the number in the year before. Cases in January alone are more than double the figure for last year. Last week, health chiefs sounded an alert when it was revealed that, in 2019, more than 5,000 cases of mumps had been reported in England five times the number in the year before. Cases in January alone are more than double the figure for last year The surge has been blamed on the vaccine scare of the late 1990s, prompted by a now discredited study which linked the childhood MMR jab the triple-shot which protects against measles, mumps and rubella with autism in children. Uptake plummeted from 92 per cent of all children, to a low of just 80 per cent in 2003 although this has since improved, with 90.3 per cent now receiving a dose before their second birthday. But the drop has resulted in the so-called Wakefield cohort named after Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced author of the study with an unvaccinated generation, many of who are now old enough to attend colleges and universities. This age group, often living in close proximity, are most at risk of transmitting the mumps virus. Public Health England estimate more than 25,000 youngsters who started university in September had not had the MMR as children. But while fears for this group grow, another worrying trend has emerged. According to figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday, half of those infected so far were, in fact, given the MMR jab. And, while many believe the vaccine offers life-long protection, research now shows that immunity to mumps wanes over time. The perfect storm needed for an epidemic Estimates vary, but some studies suggest that just 60 per cent those who are given the MMR jab as children remain completely protected against mumps after ten to 15 years. The vaccine is given in two doses, the first before the age of two, and the second a booster before a child begins primary school. This means many thousands could be at risk of mumps by late adolescence, just as they leave home and, in many cases, start university. The Wakefield cohort has helped the virus take hold again. The fact that mumps vaccine protection naturally weakens, is fuelling the current epidemic, say experts. The mumps bit of the MMR vaccine is less effective than the other components, says Professor Helen Bedford, a child public health expert at University College London. So if you are vaccinated as a young child, by the time you get to 20 you may not be so well-protected. Jaffar Altaie, 27, was struck down with mumps earlier this month despite having had both his MMR doses. He initially noticed swelling in the gland on one side of his face, which grew worse, before spreading to the other side And, while the focus has been on teens developing the illness, this newspaper has learned of dozens of young adults in their 20s and 30s who have also been affected. Jaffar Altaie, 27, was struck down with mumps earlier this month despite having had both his MMR doses. He initially noticed swelling in the gland on one side of his face, which grew worse, before spreading to the other side. I knew someone whod had mumps a few weeks before, so as soon as I noticed the swelling in my neck, I suspected it straight away, says the PR executive who lives in a shared house in West London. I locked myself in my room for about ten days. I went downstairs to fill my water bottle up, but Id wear a face mask because I didnt want to infect my housemates. I had a big neck for eight or nine days, as well as joint pain, a headache and an occasional fever. Swallowing and chewing was also really hard. Scores of similar cases have been reported online, with infected teenagers taking to social media to complain their vaccines havent worked. But experts believe there may be a simple solution another booster jab. We should be looking at a third dose, says Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, particularly where there are outbreaks. Studies in the US show that it can have a marked impact on the incidence of mumps. Wakefield report scared my parents Luke Gardner, 21, from Northamptonshire, is well aware of the toll the illness can take. He is part of the Wakefield cohort. His parents chose not to vaccinate him as baby, fearing the alleged link with autism. He didnt give it much thought until as a student he contracted not only mumps, but frighteningly rare rubella also known as German measles, as well. Luke, who studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University, says: My parents only wanted the best for me. They were forced into a difficult situation, just like other families who fell for the scaremongering. Luke Gardner, 21, from Northamptonshire, is well aware of the toll the illness can take First he caught rubella, which is characterised by a pink, spotty rash and a fever, in February 2018. At first I put feeling terrible down to being hung over, says Luke. But then I woke up and found this red rash all over my whole body. Rubella, like mumps and measles, is caused by a virus. Symptoms include aching joints, particularly the fingers, wrists and knees, a fever, a cough and runny nose, headache and a sore throat. Most patients recover with rest, but if women contract it when pregnant it can cause birth defects and miscarriages. In 2015, the World Health Organisation announced that the UK had eliminated rubella, thanks to vaccination. This still stands, but some countries are reporting new cases last week Ireland reported its first rubella infection in a decade. Thankfully, after three weeks in bed, Luke made a full recovery. But then, just over a year later, in May 2019, he became unwell again. University officials issued a message telling students that mumps was going around the campus, Luke recalls. I didnt think much of it, but then I noticed a swelling in my neck it got worse over the following days and was agonising when I ate. Then I looked in the mirror and saw one side of my face was massive. It was painful to touch and wash. I had to be really careful because one of my housemates hadnt had the jab either. Being locked away in my room was the worst part. Soon afterwards, Luke decided to finally have the jab two decades after most other Britons. He says: I was going to Europe and there was a massive outbreak of measles which, I thought knowing my luck, Id get. I wasnt going to risk it. Luke says his parents look back on their decision not to have him vaccinated, and realise it was the wrong thing to do. They felt guilty when I was ill, because it could have been prevented, he says. If they were to make the decision now it would be different because they know the fears were wrong. But at the time they didnt know any different. They thought it was for the best. Illness can harm a man's fertility MUMPS once struck around 80 per cent of people at some point in their life. But, after the introduction of the MMR in 1988, it became far less common. The infection primarily affects the salivary glands, which sit just under the ears causing the characteristic hamster-like swelling of the face. But the illness can be incredibly painful, making eating, drinking and swallowing an agonising process. It is often accompanied by headaches, joint pain and a high temperature. Mumps is unlikely to kill you, but its a nasty infection, Prof Bedford explains. Among men who catch it after puberty, one in four will experience swelling of the testicles and half suffer permanent shrinkage known as testicular atrophy. An estimated one in ten will see a drop in their sperm count, though experts say this is rarely marked enough to cause infertility. Similarly, one in 20 females who contract mumps after childhood will experience swelling of the ovaries, which can cause lower abdominal pain, sickness and a high temperature. Viral meningitis inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord is another possible complication, along with inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and loss of appetite. In extremely rare cases, the brain may even become infected a potentially fatal condition known as encephalitis. There is no cure or specific treatment: doctors usually advise bed rest and tell patients to drink plenty of fluids. Mumps is transmitted in the same way as colds and flu through contact with infected droplets of saliva, which can be inhaled or picked up from surfaces and then transferred through the mouth and nose. So halls of residence and shared accommodation, where students live cheek by jowl, are ideal conditions for transmission. An infected person is most contagious a few days before any symptoms develop and for a few days afterwards. Almost two-thirds of mumps cases in England last year were among 15 to 24-year-olds which has led some experts to suggest a booster vaccine for teens could be the best way to halt the spiralling numbers of infections. No upper age limit to get vaccinated Since 2017, a third booster MMR dose has been offered during outbreaks in the US to at-risk groups. This includes students at universities where infection is rife. Evidence suggests those who have the top-up dose are at far less risk of infection. Some have suggested the age of 18 would be an ideal time, extending protection into young adulthood. A third MMR jab has been considered in the UK before. In 2012, vaccine advisors examined the possibility of offering a booster during adolescence, or providing it during outbreaks but concluded it may not be cost-effective. Professor Jonathan Ball, an expert in viral infections at the University of Nottingham, believes evidence does now support the introduction of a third vaccine. In an outbreak situation, theres no real excuse not to offer it. I dont think theres any scientific rationale as to why you wouldnt do it. Despite this, the independent Government advisory group, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, says it has no plans to introduce an extra jab. They argue a booster would not give long-lasting protection. The two-dose MMR jab also means that if a mumps infection does develop, the chances of complications are lower than in someone not vaccinated. Prof Bedford adds: Everybody needs to make sure theyve had two doses of MMR. Theres no upper age limit for getting those doses. Jaffar Altaie believes that having his two MMR doses made his illness much milder. I felt really unlucky, he says. But my symptoms werent as bad as other people I know whove not been vaccinated, and then caught it. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: The current MMR vaccination course provides everyone with 95 per cent protection against mumps and it remains as effective as ever. It is important every child receives two doses of their MMR vaccination and anyone who is unsure whether they are fully covered should contact their GP. Post Brexit, Ireland can be a suitable alternative to the United Kingdom for Indian businesses looking at having a base in the European Union (EU), the Irish envoy here said on Saturday. Ambassador Brendan Ward also said that there has been a surge in interest by companies from India for setting up a base in Ireland, where, as of now, 100 Indian firms have a presence, even as the bilateral trade between the two countries stood around Euro 4 billion annually. "Ireland is a committed member of the EU and we work through the partnership which exists between the EU and India, while at the same time we have our own strategic approach. Sometimes India is a little overshadowed by China and Japan and part of my work here and my team here in India is to raise awareness of India in Ireland and particularly among Irish business people and investors. At the same time, Ireland is rather little known in India and an important role for us is raising that awareness," Ward told PTI. "One major factor that we have to deal with is that the United Kingdom has exited EU and for many Indian businesses thinking of a location for presence in Europe, the UK would have been the first choice. Now, a lot of them are looking at Ireland, he said, on sidelines of an education fair where Ireland promoted itself as a destination for higher studies for Indian students. The UK had on January 31 formally exited the EU, now a 27-member economic bloc, more than three-and-a-half years after the country voted for it in a referendum in 2016. The Irish envoy said Ireland and the UK have a common language and his is the only other English-speaking country in Europe besides having a common legal system. The Irish and the English common law are pretty much the same as here in India. We are one time zone closer to the American east coast in the way the UK is and of course we have all the advantages of being a member state of the EU and complete free access to the European market, Ward said. We have, in general, a business friendly environment and a very business friendly government. We are promoting all of these aspects with a view to developing relations," he added. At present, around 100 Indian companies have a presence in Ireland that ranges from companies which have a small office with half a dozen people up to companies which are employing over a thousand people as part of a global network of business links, the ambassador said. Asked if there was any surge in Indian companies expressing interest in setting up a base in Ireland ever since the Brexit was announced, Ward responded in the positive and said he, along with his investment officer, has met a number of companies in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai who have been "looking at this option". "There are both companies which are currently established in the UK which (wish) to preserve the EU base and....(those) developing their international presence and looking at an EU base," he added. The envoy said there is an annual bilateral trade of around Euro 4 billion between India and Ireland, with the balances favouring New Delhi in goods trade and Dublin in services. You have to differentiate between our trade in goods, which runs to about one billions euros per year where the balance is heavily in India's favour. India exports about 750 million euros worth of goods to Ireland each year and imports about 250 million euros worth goods every year, he said. In services, the balance is in the other direction. It's about 3 billion euros every year with about 2 billion euros being Irish exports to India and one billion being Indian exports to Ireland, he added. The opening of an Irish consulate general in Mumbai last year will further boost the growing bilateral ties between the two countries, Ward said. Projecting Ireland as a higher education destination for Indians, he said there have been concerted efforts to develop educational links since early 1990s. "Now at the moment, around five to six thousand Indian students are studying at Irish universities and colleges. This number is increasing by 10 per cent on average each year, he said. Acknowledging the enormous education cost incurred by Indian parents who send their children to Ireland, he said the Irish visa system allows students to work part time to support themselves. "This is permitted under the Ireland student visa system. Also for graduate students, who complete their masters or doctoral degrees in Ireland they have the right to remain in the country and work for an Irish or any international company for two years after graduation. In parts it helps them pay the enormous cost of education that their parents have incurred, Ward said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German car maker Volkswagen will launch the new Tiguan Allspace in India on March 6, 2020. The 7-seater version of Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace was recently showcased at Auto Expo 2020. The new version will replace the 5-seat Tiguan in the German carmaker's India line-up. The company will announce the prices for the Tiguan AllSpace during the launch event. Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a 7-seater car with a 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine compared to the current Tiguan's 143hp, 2.0-litre diesel mill. The car boasts of a large boot space and roomy interiors, and can be a good option for adventure seeking buyers. It will come equipped with full-LED headlights with DRLs, full-digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, beige 'Vienna' leather seats, a 3-zone automatic climate control for the AC, keyless entry and a touchscreen infotainment system. Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace will compete with its Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner and Mahindra Alturas G4. At the recently concluded Auto Expo 2020 in Greater Noida, the German car maker had Volkswagen Tiguan, T-Roc and Tiguan Allspace. It had also announced the start of pre-booking for Tiguan Allspace and T-Roc at the Auto Expo. "With the Indian premier of VW's SUV family, the brand is showcasing its clear direction and focus for the Indian market. Our SUV range over the next two years will cater to every customer segment. We will be launching the Tiguan Allspace and T-Roc in H1 2020 in turn giving customer a plethora of options from the VW brand," Steffen Knapp, Director VW passenger cars India, had said at Auto Expo event. According to Volkswagen, the VW T-Roc has a "progressive" design, with a coupe-style roof, and wide front-end. It is equipped with day-time running lights and LED headlights, and come with a dual tone roof top to enhance its sporty look. The car will be equipped with a TSI (Turbocharged Stratified Injection) petrol engine, which is mated to VW's 7-speed DSG gearbox. It'll consist of all standard equipment that's part of the brand's global portfolio, including panaromic sunroof, six airbags, ABS, ESC and infotainment solutions for Apple and Android users. Also Read: Auto Expo 2020: Volkswagen unveils SUVs Tiguan Allspace, T-Roc in India; pre-bookings start By Trend The state visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy is a landmark event and will undoubtedly give a serious impetus to the development and strengthening of relations between Baku and Rome, Giulietto Chiesa, a famous Italian journalist, writer, prominent politician and public figure, told Trend Feb. 21. Chiesa said that the visit by the Azerbaijani president to Italy opens a new page in the development of bilateral relations. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy has been recently developing dynamically, which indicates the mutual interest of states, Chiesa noted. Italy ranks first among Azerbaijans trading partners. Big volumes of Azerbaijani oil are transported to Italy, and Azerbaijan ranks first in oil imports of our country, and cooperation in infrastructure, construction, transport, agriculture, as well as industrial production has been established. At the same time, Azerbaijan closely cooperates with Italian companies operating in these sectors. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy, signed several years ago, gave a significant impulse to cooperation and brought bilateral relations to a higher level, the politician added. As a result of this, our countries have established reliable bilateral relations in leading sectors of the economy, particularly in the energy sector. Humanitarian cooperation is improving every year, cultural ties are developing. I believe that bilateral ties in the energy sector will be further intensified with full implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor, a large-scale project. Chiesa noted that the range of bilateral cooperation between Baku and Rome will expand and bring benefits in accordance with the interests of Italy and Azerbaijan. Further, the European politician said that Azerbaijan plays an active role in ensuring regional cooperation and security, which is an indicator of a well-considered external strategy of the state. By PTI NEW DELHI: A plea filed by one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case seeking treatment for 'insanity' was on Saturday dismissed by a Delhi court which said that he is "malingering" and "desires himself to be falsely diagnosed mentally ill". Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana rejected the plea by Vinay Kumar Sharma saying there no are objective signs of psychological distress and he did not find any occasion to refer the convict to IHBAS (Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences) or any other hospital at this stage, as sought in the plea. The plea had claimed that Sharma had sustained a grievous head injury and fracture in his right arm, and was suffering from "insanity", "mental illness" and "schizophrenia". The court said that "general anxiety and depression in case of a death row convict is obvious," as it noted that adequate medical treatment and psychological help has been provided to the condemned convict. "The jail superintendent is once again directed to ensure adequate care of the convicts as per rules," the judge said. The court noted the submissions made by Dr Vivek Rustogi and Dr Akash Narade, both working in Tihar, that although the convict has been observed to be anxious, agitated and restless, he has responded well to the supportive therapy conducted by the specialist psychiatry. "It is categorically observed that according to his psychological assessment, no behavioural abnormality was noted. It is reported that the conduct of the convict is suggestive of deliberate disruptive behaviour." "It is specifically reported that the convict was asking the specialist psychiatry for legally favouring the convict by diagnosing him mentally ill for helping him to commute his death sentence," the court noted. On mental status examination, the convict was found to have a dramatic and superficial demonstration of mental illness, it noted. "No objective signs of psychological distress were observed. The convict desires himself to be falsely diagnosed 'mentally ill'." "Overall impression of his psychological condition is reported to be that of 'malingering'. It is reported that the general condition and vitals of the inmate are stable and satisfactory," the court observed. Malingering is falsification or profound exaggeration of physical or mental illness to gain external benefits such as avoiding work or trial (law) among others. The court further noted that in the CCTV footage, the convict was seen conversing with his counsel and family members and the "apparent tone and tenor of the convict is not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour, rather it convincingly corroborates the opinion of the medical experts". In their submissions, Tihar jail authorities termed the plea as "a bundle of distorted facts" and told the court that the convict was not only being provided regular medical care but also regular supportive therapy by the specialist psychiatry. The authorities said that the CCTV footage established that the convict himself had inflicted the injuries on himself. "These all are bundle of distorted facts. Doctors attended him and found that an injury was made and they gave medicine. All injuries are self inflicted and superficial in nature. The medical records say he is not suffering from any such mental illness and his checkup in any hospital is not required. He is under regular check by the jail doctor," the public prosecutor, representing jail authorities, said. The defence counsel said the convict has a plastered hand that shows he had fractures and it was not a superficial injury. "Why did the jail conceal the fact about his injuries from the court? Why are the documents not being filed," advocate A P Singh, appearing for the convict, said. The jail authorities opposed the submission and said "it's wrong to say he had a plastered arm. It wasn't a fracture." According to prison officials, Sharma injured himself by banging his head on his cell wall in Tihar Jail. The incident happened in jail number 3 on Sunday afternoon, they said, adding that he got some minor injuries and was treated inside the prison premises. The plea claimed that when Sharma's counsel visited him in the prison on the request of his family members, he found that he had sustained grievous head injury and fracture in his right arm with plaster and was suffering from "insanity", "mental illness" and "schizophrenia". Sharma could not identify his counsel and his mother in jail, it claimed. The petition claimed that he was having "decreased sleep" for a long time and was referred to senior psychiatrist in view of drug dependence. The court had on February 17 issued fresh death warrants for March 3 at 6 am against the four death row convicts -- Vinay (26), Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. This is the third time that death warrants have been issued against them. A week-long partial truce took hold across Afghanistan on Saturday, with some jubilant civilians dancing in the streets as the war-weary country woke up to what is potentially a major turning point in its long conflict. The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called "reduction in violence" which, if it holds, will be only the second lull in fighting since 2001. It is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could, ultimately, pull American troops out after more than 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future. "It is the first morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber. I hope it continues forever," taxi driver Habib Ullah told AFP in Kabul early Saturday. A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which both the US and the insurgents have said could be done on February 29 in Doha. It also give a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN said last year that more than 100,000 people have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan in the last decade. In southern Kandahar, considered the Taliban heartland, and eastern Jalalabad, dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight. In Kabul, which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians, those who spoke to AFP were slightly more wary. "A temporary break in war is good but we want a permanent ceasefire," said government worker Fazul Rahman, adding he also wants peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul to begin "as soon as possible". Shopkeeper Emamuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, said Afghan want peace "whatever it takes". "A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye," he said. "They should find a long-lasting solution for this country's problem." Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant. The US has said there is an "understanding" for a "significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan", while Afghan security forces will remain "on active defence status" during the week. "The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence," US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Twitter. "Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added. In Kandahar, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down -- but another said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded joyfully, with Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians hugging, sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes. Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it would pull about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan out. In return, the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. On Thursday the group's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, penned an extraordinary op-ed in the New York Times in which he stated the insurgents are "fully committed" to standing by the agreement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash Canadian passengers stranded in Japan for over two weeks on board the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship began a 14-day quarantine as their plane landed in Canada earlier Friday, local media reported. The plane chartered by the Canadian government brought 129 Canadians and their families to Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario. None of them showed symptoms of the novel coronavirus upon arrival. "The returning Canadians have been through a stressful experience over the past couple of weeks," Canadian Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a statement. "During their quarantine in Canada, we will offer support for both their mental and physical well-being. We will also continue with measures to protect the general population from exposure to the virus," Hajdu said. There were 256 Canadians on the cruise ship, quarantined in Yokohama, and 47 of them have tested positive for the virus, local officials said. Only Canadians and permanent residents from the ship who did not test positive for the virus were eligible to board the chartered flight. It remains unclear why only 129 Canadians and family members boarded the plane. Canadian passengers on Diamond Princess, who chose not to return on the plane, would have to complete the quarantine being administered by Japan and follow the instructions of local authorities, said Barbara Harvey, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada. Canadians seeking to return to Canada by commercial means will be subject to the Quarantine Act upon their return, in line with a determination to be made by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Harvey added. In the meantime, the Canadians airlifted to Canadian Forces Base Trenton from China's Wuhan just completed their quarantine and began leaving the military base on Friday. Kolkata, Feb 22 : Three-time Lok Sabha member and noted educationist Krishna Bose, widow of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose' nephew Sisir Bose, died at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest on Saturday, family and hospital sources said. Bose, 89, left behind two sons and a daughter. On February 16, Bose was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat problem and hospitalised, but her condition worsened. She breathed her last at 10-22 a.m. on Saturday, the hospital said. Born in Dacca (now capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka) on December 26, 1930, Bose became a Lok Sabha member in 1996 after she won from Jadavpur on a Congress ticket. Later, she was elected from the same constituency in 1998 and 1999 as a Trinamool Congress candidate. Erudite and articulate, Bose made a mark in Parliament through her informative and insightful speeches and served between 1999 and 2004 as chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs which oversees the conduct of India's foreign policy. One of her sons and Harvard University professor of history Sugata Bose was also an MP from 2014 to 2019. A noted educationist, Bose taught English for 40 years at Sivanath Shastri College where she was also principal for eight years. She authored a number of books in English and Bengali, including the much-acclaimed 'An Outsider in Politics', and regularly contributed articles to leading newspapers and periodicals. 'Itihaser Sandhane', 'Charanarekha Taba,' 'Prasanga Subhaschandra', 'Smriti-Bismriti' and 'Netaji: A Biography for the Young' are among her notable publications. In 1955, Bose was married to Sisir, who played an important role in Netaji's escape from India in 1941. She got associated with the Netaji Research Bureau since its formation and was its chairperson at the time of her death. She was also an accomplished classical musician. Condoling Bose's death, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: "I lost someone respected, loved & admired by me." Describing Bose as the mother to the "whole Trinamool family", Banerjee said she was saddened and shocked to hear about her demise. "Being a part of Netaji's family, she was a revered social reformer, renowned poet and courageous educationalist... Her immense contribution to Indian society and Bengali culture will be revered for times to come," she said in her social media post. A grieving Nobel laureate Amartya Sen said he has learnt a lot from Bose. "People like us have learnt a lot from her not only on politics, but also social studies and civilisation, Indian and Bengali tradition. Her passing away is a matter of grave sadness. "I consider myself very lucky to have got the opportunity to mix with her," Sen said. More than two months after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality referred a host of emissions-related violations by TPC Group to the Texas Attorney Generals Office, the AG has filed a lawsuit against the company for violations of Texas law regarding clean air and water. The lawsuit, announced Friday, stems from the pre-Thanksgiving explosion at TPCs Port Neches plant as well as violations of air quality standards from January 2018 to September 2019. I appreciate the attorney generals action today, said TCEQ Executive Director Toby Baker. It is absolutely crucial that entities like TPC Group are held responsible not only for the destructive environmental pollution they cause, but also for their impact on human health. Related: TPC explosion, past violations now before state AG The state of Texas has requested that the court grant the following relief as allowed by law: injunctive relief, civil penalties, reasonable attorney fees, court costs and investigative costs. TPC spokeswoman Sara Cronin said Friday evening that the company saw that the Attorney Generals Office has filed a petition. We remain focused on safely bringing this event to an end, minimizing impact to the environment while preserving the safety of the community, she wrote in an email. We have been working in cooperation with the relevant agencies and will continue to do so. Several of the violations included in the lawsuit were sent to the attorney generals office in mid-December. TCEQ at that time also announced it already had forwarded the Nov. 27 explosion and fires to the office. Having the attorney generals office handle the case increases the potential size of the penalty the company could face. The commissioners said at the time that comments from residents actually impacted by the explosion helped them decide to support moving the cases up. Commissioner Bobby Janecka acknowledged a point made by a speaker that small violations often lead to a larger one, but no commissioner definitively said the eight violations they heard in mid-December were or were not related to the late November explosion. However, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer for Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, Isabel Segarra Trevino, said that in a 2018 violation, TPC had a power failure that forced it to flare, resulting in an unauthorized emissions release of several chemicals. Related: TPC Group has long history, spotty environmental record After the explosions last month, TPC representatives multiple times said the plant lost power at some point during the event. TPC also was scheduled to go before TCEQ again next month for eight more violations regarding the release of unauthorized volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, butadiene, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide on several occasions in 2018. Its unclear if these violations also are included in the attorney generals lawsuit. The action is part of growing calls from lawmakers and residents concerned about the increasing number of industrial disasters and the release of chemical pollutants. State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, praised the TCEQ and attorney general for filing the lawsuit, saying in a statement that this will help the state learn what caused the incident, determine how to prevent similar occurrences in the future and arrive at an adequate penalty for all violations. Phelan last week released a statement calling on the Legislature to do more to protect plant workers and residents. In an interview with The Enterprise Friday evening, he said he plans to soon have a really in-depth discussion with TCEQ and the governors office to determine what tools the agency has and what it needs to be able to better protect residents health and safety. Related: Phelan: Lege must address industrial mishaps From there, he plans to take what hes learned to bring it up as an issue in the next legislative session, something hes already heard several members of the refining and petrochemical want to be involved with. We want to keep the robust economy in Texas, he said. We want to welcome economic investment in Texas, but the health and safety of Southeast Texans needs to be of the upmost importance. Founder and CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network John Beard said the parts of Texas law being used in this case are exactly what the county should be using to take similar action against TPC and other plants found in violation. Our elected officials have a right and obligation to protect our lives and property, but there are some people who think otherwise, he said. Related: Local lawyers fight venue change for TPC case Suzanne Williamson, a Groves residents and former mayoral candidate, said she believes county officials care about their residents but havent shown them strong enough support in this situation. She said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said he wouldnt take any action unless the county finds evidence that TPC was negligent. But the Chemical Safety Board is not going to have their release of what happened for a while, at least a year or maybe more, she said. Were looking at a long time. Thats really unfortunate. Branick did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening. Adrian Shelley, director of Public Citizens Texas Office, echoed the tentative optimism. He said this is a positive first step, but urged the attorney general to assess a penalty that is sufficient to deter other polluters. A stiff penalty would show that Texas will no longer tolerate threats to public health and safety from the petrochemical industry, he said in a statement. Beard said residents need to continue speaking out and holding elected officials accountable for their response to explosions, chemical releases and other malfunctions by plants in their jurisdiction. He thinks the chance of response may now be higher, with the historic nature of the TPC explosion, the impact it had on the surrounding residential community and TCEQs decision to remand to the attorney generals office the explosion and air quality violations that preceded it. Its been said that TPC is a game changer, he said. Were going to continue to work hard and stress this isnt business as usual. Plants are going to be held responsible and accountable for what they do and we expect our local elected officials to back us up on that and make sure they do exactly what the laws allow them. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain Surat: Female trainee clerks of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) were allegedly made to stand naked together in a room for a medical test at a civic body-run hospital here, prompting authorities to order a probe. Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani on Friday ordered a probe into allegations that around 10 female trainee clerks of the civic body were made to stand naked for a medical test in the gynaecology ward of the hospital. The shocking incident comes days after students of a girls' college in Gujarat's Bhuj town were allegedly forced by hostel authorities to remove their undergarments to prove they were not menstruating. In its complaint to the commissioner on Thursday, the SMC Employees Union alleged even unmarried women were checked for pregnancy by female doctors. The alleged incident took place in the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER) hospital, run by the SMC, on February 20. Acting on the complaint, Pani on Friday formed a three-member committee to probe the allegations and submit a report in 15 days. The committee comprises former dean of the medical college Dr. Kalpana Desai, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Gayatri Jariwala and executive engineer Trupti Kalathia. As per rules, all trainee employees need to undergo a physical test to prove their physical fitness for the job upon the completion of their training period, said officials. Upon completion of their three years of the training period, some female trainee clerks came to SMMER hospital for a medical test, which is mandatory, they said. The union said though they are not against the mandatory test, the method adopted for women staffers in the gynaecology ward was not improper. "Instead of calling the women one after another in the room for the test, lady doctors made them stand naked in a group of 10. This act of compelling them to stand naked with others is highly deplorable. "This method is illegal and against humanity. It is necessary that each woman is checked separately," said the union in its complaint. According to the general secretary of the union, Ahmed Shaikh, women staffers were put in an embarrassing situation by lady doctors with their absurd questions about pregnancy during the test. "Doctors should stop asking private questions about pregnancy. Moreover, even unmarried women in that group were subjected to a physical test meant for checking if they were pregnant or not. "They were put in an embarrassing situation in front of other women. Women's respect must be maintained during medial tests," said Shaikh. Surat Mayor Jagdish Patel assured stern action against the culprits. "This issue is very serious. Such physical tests are conducted on all those employees who are getting permanent after finishing their training period. "We will take strict action against the culprits if the allegations levelled by the women staffers are found to be true," said Patel. The shocking incident comes days after students of a girls' college in Gujarat's Bhuj town were allegedly forced by hostel authorities to remove their undergarments to prove they were not menstruating. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Lundbeck A/S migraine prevention therapy, which the Danish drugmaker acquired through its near $2 billion deal for Alder BioPharmaceuticals in 2019, the company said on Friday. For Lundbeck, the approval opens doors to a lucrative but competitive market dominated by already approved rivals from Amgen, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Eli Lilly and Co. Lundbecks Vyepti belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that are laboratory-produced molecules engineered to serve as substitute disease-fighting ... Blanket Bigi Jackson has finally joined his siblings in the legal adult club and sister Paris Jackson could not be more shocked. The 21-year-old Chanel model took to social media to share several throwback photos of her sibling. I used to change his diapers. This is such a trip, reflected Paris . My brother is a legal adult today. what the f*ck, marveled Paris. The first photo in her nostalgic Instagram slideshow featured herself standing next to Blanket and her eldest brother Prince, 22, in a movie theater. They are joined by an unknown pal. She continued: [I am] proud of the handsome, intelligent, insightful, funny, and kind young man [Blanket] has become. He likes privacy thats all I gotta say. hbd lil bro, concluded the proud big sister. Another picture shared by Paris shows a much younger brother-sister duo rocking some silly facial expressions. The final snapshot was of a teenage Paris beaming down upon Blanket, who changed his name to Bigi in 2017, while playfully grasping onto his cheeks. Blanket born Prince Michael Jackson II was first introduced to the world when his late father Michael Jackson held him over a hotel balcony railing while staying in Berlin in 2002. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Florida Polytechnic University computer science major Delaney Jester connects with potential employers at the universitys annual spring career fair. As the only 100% STEM institution in the State University System, Florida Poly is fulfilling its mission through its high- demand graduates excelling in low-supply fields. Fifty companies gathered at the Innovation, Science, and Technology building in Lakeland this week for the annual spring career fair, looking to fill countless positions with the high-tech, high-skilled talent Florida Polytechnic University produces. We have many employers who started with us back in 2016, when we had only 13 companies here, and many return to campus yearly seeking more Florida Poly talent, said Dr. Kathryn Miller, vice provost for student affairs. Having alumni return to campus on a companys recruiting team is a great compliment to the university and the student experience. One of the companies that has been present at the event since its inception is Accusoft, a software development company based in Tampa, Florida. Product Manager Mark Hansen said that Florida Poly students stand apart for their readiness and adaptability to industry needs. Weve had really great success coming out here in previous years and meeting with the students, Hansen said. They bring a lot of technology and a lot of know-how that some universities dont have, and theyve been really great at coming in and getting integrated with our team quickly. Hundreds of students were ready to make a good impression with pressed suits, crisp resumes, and solid handshakes. Im excited to get my foot in the door and see whats out there, said computer science junior Paul Llamas, from Miami, Florida. I did basic casing before coming out and looked at all the companies who were going to be here to see who would be best to talk to. Llamas had a long discussion with representatives from Accusoft and connected with alum Kris Kindle 17, who now works for the company as a business intelligence analyst. Another alum at the event was Trevor Hillsgrove 18. He attended Florida Polys career fair shortly before his graduation and made a key connection with Qgiv, a provider of online services for nonprofit organizations. The encounter led to the software engineer position Hillsgrove holds today. Qgiv, based in Lakeland, was also a returning employer to the fair. We love Florida Poly. Its our number one source of talent, said Dan Bough, lead data engineer at Qgiv. The students come out with a good understanding of the real-world engineering and project management part of the software programming process. Whiting-Turner, a nationwide contracting company with offices throughout Florida, was another employer at the event represented by Florida Poly alumna Shelby Sims 18, a project engineer at the company. She said she was proud to be back and serve as an ambassador for both her school and her employer. This is an awesome job and I couldnt have asked for anything better, Sims said. I want these students to try as many fields as possible and take as many opportunities as possible, because even though you think you might like health care, as soon as you look at construction you might fall in love with it. Florida Polytechnic University was created to provide a pipeline of high-tech talent to tackle Floridas shortage of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) professionals. According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the states demand in STEM fields has gone up more than 63% since 2010, and currently Florida has more than 55,000 unfilled STEM jobs. We are connecting students with employers who are in dire need of STEM talent and our students have an opportunity to showcase what theyre capable of, said Pairris Jones, Florida Polys associate director of career services. As the only 100% STEM institution in the State University System, Florida Poly is fulfilling its mission through its high- demand graduates excelling in low-supply fields. The median starting salary for Florida Polys first class of graduates is $54,800, 50% higher than the average median wage across the system. ABOUT FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY: Florida Polytechnic University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is a member of the State University System of Florida. It is the only state university dedicated exclusively to STEM and offers ABET accredited degrees. Florida Poly is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. Connect with Florida Poly. Iran confirms two new deaths, 13 more coronavirus cases Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 2:32 PM Iran's Health Ministry has confirmed two more deaths among 13 new cases of coronavirus, putting the total number of deaths so far in the country at four. Kianoush Jahanpour, the head of public relations and information center of the Iranian Ministry of Health, said on Friday that most of the cases are either residents in the holy city of Qom or people who have traveled to Qom in recent days and weeks. He added that the new cases comprised seven in Qom, four in the capital Tehran and two in the northern province of Gilan. "Unfortunately two of them have lost their lives." The outbreak of coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - in Iran first occurred on February 19, when health authorities in Qom confirmed the death of two elderly people as a result of a first incidence of the infection in the country. Jahanpour added that two people suspected of carrying the virus had been quarantined in the city of Babol, the northern province of Mazandaran, but the test results have not been announced yet. Meanwhile, in a post on his Twitter account, Jahanpour said Iran received the fourth shipment of medical kits used for the detection of COVID-19 by Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iran Christoph Hamelmann via Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Friday. China on the same day raised the death toll to 2,236, most of them in the province of Hubei, where the virus was first detected. More than 75,000 have now been infected in China and over 1,100 abroad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 22.02.2020 LISTEN Deputy Communications Director for the Convention Peoples Party [CPP], Benjamin Nsiah, says Minority in Parliament decision to boycott the State of the Nation Address delivered by President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, February 20 is disgraceful and frivolous. According to him, the conduct of the NDC MPs is sickening and must not be tolerated in our quest to improve democracy. The NDC Minority leadership has disgraced Ghanaians, this concert party things must not be tolerated. it has disappointed its followership and it has detracted from the democracy that we all want, Benjamin Nsiah told Adu Gyamfi Marfo on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom TV We are setting very bad precedents in our democracy that have the ability to undermine the pillars of our governance. We need to be very careful not to destroy the things that uphold the state. The Minority in Parliament, the National Democratic Congress, boycotted the Presidents final State of the Nation Address, citing issues with plans to introduce a new voters register. The move created a buzz on social media, with several NPP MPs asking the NDC to apologise. The NDC insisted boycotts are part of democratic tools of protest. ---KingdomfmOnline In the summer of 2018, Harris County voters could have used a bulldog. Thats when the Harris County tax assessor-collector and voter registrar, Ann Harris Bennett, mistakenly placed more than 1,700 voters on a suspension list after a local Republican party operative challenged the registrations of 4,000 voters. Bennett was criticized for confusing voters and not following the law, which allowed voters time to respond before they were placed on any suspension list. Bennett quickly corrected the problem and she told the Editorial Board during a candidate screening that the two employees who generated the erroneous notices are no longer with her office. Her Democratic challenger, Jolanda Jones, says thats not good enough. Being a criminal defense lawyer, Jones says she has the knowledge to make sure the office follows the law. Being a bulldog, the former Houston city councilwoman and Survivor contestant says shed fight for voters, and for taxpayers, to protect their rights and their hard-earned dollars. We have to admit, Jones made such an appealing case that we were almost willing to overlook her tumultuous political career, including her contributions to a fractious Houston ISD board known for petty squabbles and so much dysfunction that its in the process of being taken over by the state. Jones points out, correctly, that a Texas Education Agency investigation into wrongdoing on the board did not take issue with her. Im going to use the same vigor, even when its not popular, like I did on the school board to fight for taxpayers, Jones told us. Im going to be a taxpayer warrior. We love her spirit. Were just not sure that the tax office, which oversees billions of dollars in property tax collections and processes millions of vehicle registrations and title transfers every year, needs a fighter as much as a diligent public servant. While Jones warrior skills may serve her well in the courtroom, the tax jobs managerial responsibilities require a leader who plays well with others and ensures the office performs the mundane duties required to fund county government. Bennett, an experienced administrator who previously served 14 years as a district court coordinator, appears to be making some progress, although more is needed. Through Harris County experienced a slight drop in voter registrations last year, registrations have outpaced population growth - just as they have on the state level. Since 2014, Harris County population has grown 4 percent while voter registration has jumped 14 percent. And we do encourage Bennett, a public official who touts herself as transparent, to walk the walk. That includes answering calls from journalists every now and then and promptly providing public information when requested. So while we recommend Bennett keep her post in the Democratic primary, we also hope some of her opponents warrior passion for helping voters and taxpayers rubbed off during the campaign. (@FahadShabbir) Nicaraguan opposition party CxL Thursday denounced the killing by gunmen of one of its leaders in the northeast of the country Managua, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Feb, 2020 ) :Nicaraguan opposition party CxL Thursday denounced the killing by gunmen of one of its leaders in the northeast of the country. "Three armed men came to kidnap the leader of Ciudadanos por la Libertad (Citizens for Freedom, CxL) Jose Lopez, 51, and kill him," the party said in a statement. It said Lopez was killed Monday night in the town of Mulukuku, 250 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of Managua. His widow Tomasa Vargas said she suspected the attack was a "political crime."CxL is part of a group of Nicaraguan parties planning to come together in an opposition coalition to be launched next Tuesday ahead of the 2021 general elections. LOCALS in Annacotty have grown so tired of repainting walls which have been destroyed by graffiti, that they have made the decision to leave the vandalism there. We are going to leave it to see what comes from it, said one local, who says that they have removed the damage and repainted the walls four or five times since Christmas. If they want to put their message out there we're going to leave it. They are aged only 13 or 14 what can be done, they cant be touched. The graffiti has been sprayed on a wall in an area known by locals as The Mural, following art work carried out by MulkearLIFE and local school children a decade ago. The pocket-park is located under the Dublin road bridge, next to the Mulkear river. The area has a mural, a number of benches and a plaque dedicated to MulkearLIFE. There is a lovely mural done by the local kids there and these idiots want to paint across it. It has happened four or five times now. In the past we painted over the damage, but if that's their message, we're gonna leave it there. They obviously don't respect what is there. The concerned local says that gardai have been contacted and that CCTV is being viewed. Read also: Hit RTE show presents Limerick family with newly renovated home We spoke to a garda sergeant this week and CCTV is being viewed and everything is being done. We want to get the message out there that we are taking this very seriously. The local kids are sick of it. They think it is disgraceful. We are exhausted, we are not doing it anymore. The graffiti includes slogans such as up the ra end British rule Raheen rats and more. It also included a number of names and social media details. Commenting on the issue, a garda spokesperson said: Gardai in Castleconnell received a report of criminal damage caused to a bridge on Saturday 15th February 2020 at approximately 6.30pm. Graffiti was discovered under a bridge in Annacotty, Co.Limerick. Investigation ongoing. 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 In South Korea, 229 new cases were reported, the largest single-day rise since late January. Japan has lost track of the path of some cases, which tripled to 90 last week. For the WHO, the situation in Iran is "very concerning with 18 cases and four deaths in the last two days. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Covid-19 epidemic is entering a new phase, as the number of cases multiply outside China. Although most coronavirus deaths are in China, the virus appears to be spreading faster in other Asian countries as well as Europe. Outside of China, 1,413 cases have been reported in 28 countries with 12 deaths. Yesterday, Italian health authorities announced the first fatality in Europe. Financial markets are feeling the pinch as investors assess the wider impact of the outbreak on economic growth and corporate earnings. South Korea reported 229 new cases this morning, the largest single day spike since late January, bringing its total number of infections to 433. The number has soared in the last few days, as the authorities traced them to a hospital in the south-eastern county of Cheongdo and a minor Christian sect in the south-eastern city of Daegu, which constitute some 80 per cent of all local infections. The situation is even more alarming in Japan, which has emerged as one of the riskiest places outside of China for the spread of the virus. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Sunday that Japan had lost track of the route of some of the cases, which have tripled in the past week to more than 90. In the port of Yokohama, the Diamond Princess cruise ship has at least 636 cases and two deaths. The situation could get worse given high risk factors like Japans elderly population and a societal work ethic that often frowns on taking a sick day. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that it was "very concerning" that Iran had reported 18 cases and four deaths in the past couple of days. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel and Lebanon yesterday confirmed their first case, whilst the United Arab Emirates reported two new cases, bringing the total to 11. In light of the latest reports from the region, the WHO has warned the international community that the window of opportunity to contain a wider spread of the epidemic is narrowing. When asked if the epidemic was at a "tipping point" after new cases and deaths from Covid-19, the WHOs director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, yesterday said that he still believed that the virus could be contained, but warned that we need to act quickly as the outbreak could go in any direction. If we do well, we can avert any serious crisis, but if we squander the opportunity then we will have a serious problem on our hands." In China, where the outbreak originated, health authorities have confirmed a total of 76,392 cases. Yesterday, 399 new cases were reported, 366 in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. With the death of another 109 patients in one day, the death toll has risen 2,348. But 2,395 patients have recovered bringing the total to 20,659. However, by the end of Friday, an additional 5,365 people were suspected to be infected after 1,361 cases were reported that day. For their part, Hong Kong has reported 68 infections, including two deaths and six recoveries; Taiwan has 26 infections, one death, and two recovered, whilst Macau has 10 cases. Turkey confirms presence of allied Syria mercenaries in Libya Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 3:13 PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed for the first time the presence of pro-Turkish Syrian militants in Libya. "Turkey is there with a training force. There are also people from the Syrian National Army," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul on Friday, referring to a group of anti-Damascus militants previously known as the so-called Free Syrian Army. Libya's internationally recognized government, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, has previously sought Turkey's support against rebels under the command of Khalifa Haftar, who receive support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Haftar's rebels have been fighting to seize the Libyan capital. Since 2014, Libya has been divided between the Tripoli-based government and a camp in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar's rebels. Peace talks to end the fighting in Libya have failed. A shaky ceasefire has been agreed but has been routinely violated. Earlier on Friday, Haftar said he would be ready for a ceasefire on the condition that Turkish forces leave Libya and Ankara stops providing the government with weapons. He called for "the withdrawal of Syrian and Turkish mercenaries, an end to Turkish arms supplies to Tripoli, and the liquidation of terrorist groups" in the capital. The Turkish president hit out at Haftar and repeated allegations that Russia had dispatched 2,500 mercenaries from the Wagner, a private security company. Moscow denies the allegation. Erdogan said Haftar was backed by "nearly 15,000 terrorists." He also referred to mercenaries from Sudan, although a United Nations (UN) panel last month refuted the presence of Sudanese paramilitaries, saying there was no "credible evidence" on the issue. Libya plunged into chaos in 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The global dirty money watchdog placed Iran on its blacklist on Friday after it failed to comply with international anti-terrorism financing norms, a move that will deepen the countrys isolation from financial markets. Paris: The global dirty money watchdog placed Iran on its blacklist on Friday after it failed to comply with international anti-terrorism financing norms, a move that will deepen the countrys isolation from financial markets. The decision came after more than three years of warnings from the Paris-based Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) urging the Islamic Republic to either enact terrorist financing conventions or see its reprieve from the blacklist lifted and some counter-measures imposed. Given Irans failure to enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, the FATF fully lifts the suspension of counter-measures and calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures, the groups 39 members said in a statement after a week-long plenary session. These would entail more scrutiny of transactions with Iran, tougher external auditing of financing firms operating in the country and extra pressure on the few foreign banks and businesses still dealing with Iran. The consequence of (Irans) inaction is higher costs of borrowing and isolation from the financial system, a Western diplomat told Reuters. The United States commended the task forces action after what it said was Tehrans failure to adhere to FATFs standards. Iran must face consequences for its continued failure to abide by international norms, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. Irans central bank chief dismissed FATFs decision. (It) is politically motivated and not a technical decision, the state news agency IRNA quoted Abdolnasser Hemmati as saying. I can assure our nation that it will have no impact on Irans foreign trade and the stability of our exchange rate. The FATF appeared to leave the door open for some engagement with Iran saying in its statement: Countries should also be able to apply countermeasures independently of any call by the FATF to do so. Its a middle solution. A sort of fudge to leave the door open for the Iranians, said one of the diplomats. Foreign businesses say Irans compliance with FATF rules is essential if it wants to attract investors, especially since the United States reimposed sanctions on Tehran in 2018 after quitting a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and other big powers. Irans leaders have been divided over the approach to the FATF. Supporters of cooperation say it could ease foreign trade with Europe and Asia, offsetting US sanctions. Hardliners argue that passing legislation to join the FATF could hamper Irans support for its allies, including Lebanons Hezbollah. Maximum pressure Washington has since pushed a policy of maximum pressure on Iran, saying a broader deal should be negotiated to encompass nuclear issues, Irans ballistic missile programme and Iranian support for proxy forces around the Middle East. France, Britain and Germany have tried to salvage the nuclear accord but have faced growing pressure from the United States to join its efforts to isolate Iran. The United States was pushing for the toughest position (by FATF), while other countries like China and Russia preferred something more flexible, said a European official. The Europeans were looking for something in between. US sanctions have crippled Irans economy, decimating its oil exports and largely sealing it off from the international financial system. Until Iran implements the measures required to address the deficiencies identified with respect to countering terrorism-financing..., the FATF will remain concerned with the terrorist financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system, the FATF said. Irans action plan to meet with the FATF requirements, implemented in 2016, expired in January 2018. By PTI AURANGABAD: Patrud village in Beed district of Maharashtra has passed a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The gram panchayat of Patrud in Majalgaon tehsil passed the resolution at its meeting held on February 2. The copy of the resolution has gone viral on social media. "There is confusion in the society over the CAA and NRC. All the people residing here are Indians, but don't have any documents to prove their nationality. Hence CAA and NRC should not be implemented in the village," the resolution says. A resident of Pathrud, Eknath Maske, said, "The population of the village is around 18,000. The villagers were against the new citizenship law and NRC. Hence we decided not to implement these things in the village and passed a resolution." Gram sevak Sudhakar Gaikwad said, "The government's move on CAA and NRC affected the social fabric of the village. Therefore, the villagers decided to pass this resolution." The day started off well like any other for her, her daughter and granddaughter. It, however, would be one of the most horrific days of her life. Looking lost and forlorn, with no hope of what the future held for her, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammad had lost everything just in a twinkle of an eye. She lost her daughter, granddaughter, her unborn grandchild, and everything precious to her when mayhem struck her village. Still shaken, she says, My daughter was pregnant and she was beaten, killed, and set ablaze in her room. Her daughter was pushed into the room to burn with her, which is what hurts the most. I did not only lose my pregnant daughter, but my granddaughter also, along with cows and foodstuff. I am devastated. Those were the sad and heart-piercing words of Hajiya Hadiza. Last weeks attack on the villages of Dankar and Tsauwa in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State was one of the deadliest and most horrifying ever recorded in the ongoing attacks on communities in the state. It left a lot of people in sadness and pain. In Dankar, nine persons were killed while at Tsauwa 21 lost their lives, out of which 15 were set ablaze and eight died from gunshots. Eye witnesses say some of those killed in Dankar were patients on admission at the village health centre where the bandits entered and shot them. At Tsauwa, the devastation was worse as over 70 houses were burnt and more than 40 animals killed. BreakingTimes learnt that the attack was also different in the sense that no one was kidnapped or foodstuff or animals reported stolen or rustled by the bandits as is the usual pattern of previous attacks in the state. This attack saw human beings massacred in the most gruesome manner. Women and the elderly were burnt alive while children were forcefully collected from their mothers and thrown into burning fires. Houses, animals and foodstuff were also burnt. The locals, while narrating their experience, said the bandits numbering over 150 on motorcycles, with two or three persons on each motorcycle, surrounded the town before the attack. They started by burning houses, and then shooting at people running out from the burning houses. Some went into houses and burnt barns, killing both human beings and animals. Some people who locked themselves in their rooms had their houses set on fire. During a visit to the towns the following day at about 2 pm alongside security operatives, the fire still smoldered in some places with some corpses still littered around. There were heaps of ashes of burnt houses, as well as dark patches of what were probably peoples belongings. A number of charred remains of children wrapped in cloth elicited tears from everyone around. The burnt remains of some children clinging onto each other were too emotional to behold, especially for parents. In one of the houses, a woman with her four children was seen burnt. The husband Ismail and his brother, Dalha, were all killed during the attack. The corpse of an old man clutching a small boy half-burnt was seen in another house. As the team moved to another house, the corpse of 50-year-old Barau was seen being prepared for burial. He had two gunshot wounds on his back. Narrating horrifying tales, some survivors said what happened was just like a scene from a movie. Alhaji Akilu Garba, who lost two children Yado, 2, and Firdausi, 6, said both of them were in the room when it was set ablaze. I came back from the mosque to find them burnt in the house. I managed to collect what remained of their burnt parts to bury. This isnt what I ever thought I would do in my life. I never thought my children would face such terrible and painful death or that I would be the one burying them. I can imagine how they must have screamed for help, he said with tears rolling down his cheeks. Malam Abdulaziz though fortunate to have escaped with his wife and four children by jumping over the fence of his house, said it was a horrifying experience. He narrated to Daily Trust Saturday that I heard noises as they came to set the house on fire so we ran away. My cows and foodstuff were all burnt but I am grateful and full of thanks that I didnt lose my wife, children or even my life. Malam Yusuf Usman said I was walking home when I heard them coming like swarm of bees, and I ran and hid behind some rocks. From the distance, I saw my house being set ablaze. Afterwards, I came back home to discover all my animals burnt, he said. Lawal Isa, while giving thanks to God, said they ran with every ounce of energy in them and were lucky to have survived because the bandits were shooting sporadically. He also noted that most of those that were killed were the elderly and sick who couldnt move. The majority of those who survived did so by running into bushes and rocks, he said. The village head of Tsauwa, Mai Unguwa Ibrahim Zangina, said motorcycles carrying two to three bandits each entered the village and shot sporadically while residents were observing their Magrib prayers. Some were shot dead while performing ablution. He said infants were taken from their mothers laps and thrown into burning fires, just as the elderly who could not run were shot at. He added that foodstuffs were burned and domestic animals used by the people to fetch water were killed. He dispelled rumours that the attacks were a reprisal as they had no previous record of any fight with any group or bandits. Speaking with newsman during on-the-spot assessment, the state Commissioner of Police Sanusi Buba said security operatives mobilised to the scene upon receiving information of the attack. The terrain is bad and theres no telecom network service there. We engaged them and they got scared and left, but before then many houses have been set ablaze. It looked like a selected manner of burning; I dont know what could have informed this dastardly act. He said even if it was a reprisal attack as speculated, the governor had done his best to ensure sanity is brought to bear on the warring communities, herders and farmers. We traversed the length and breadth of this state to ensure peace. With this development, which is sad, definitely we are going after the hoodlums. In this village, 21 were killed and most of them were the aged who could not run when the hoodlums came, he said. Governor Aminu Masari has visited the villages to sympathise with them. Masari said it was disheartening that people were killed not even kidnapped while food items were burnt not carted away, stressing that the gruesome manner of the killings where people are thrown into the fire was inhumane and uncalled for. Already, the police said they have arrested a suspect and recovered some motorcycles used during the attack. The spokesman of the state Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, said the suspect was arrested at a market with some stolen animals suspected to be from the villages, trying to dispose them. Meanwhile, the surviving villagers have all relocated to neighbouring town and villages for respite and safety. The men usually return during the day and disperse by evening since the attack, hoping that peace will once again return to their community. Hajiya Hadiza Mohammad, who lost her daughter and granddaughter had nothing to say as a parting word than: Even in war, women and children are spared. This is really sad for us. Who takes responsibility for children whose parents have been killed? I cry because it hurts but there is nothing I can do but pray for them. Budget requested for phase two of Phuket Town Flood Prevention project PHUKET: Authorities have requested an additional budget from the government to allow work to commence on the second phase of the Phuket Town Flood Prevention project. constructionenvironmentweather By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 22 February 2020, 02:11PM Construction work at Suan Luang, part of phase one of the Phuket Town Flood Prevention project. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Deputy Minister of Interior, Songsak Thongsri, being interviewed by press at the site. Photo: PR Deputy Minister of Interior, Songsak Thongsri, inspects progress of the Phuket Town Flood Prevention project at Suan Luang on Thursday (Feb 20). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub This follows a visit the Deputy Minister of Interior, Songsak Thongsri, paid to the project at Suan Luang (Kings Park) on Thursday (Feb 20) for an update on progress and to ensure everything is on track to be completed by the October deadline. This inspection is to follow up on the progress of the project and an opportunity to meet relevant people, in order to make sure the project will be finished in time, and the budget was used reasonably, commented Mr Songsak. Also present at the inspection were Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan; Public Works and Town Planning and Country Planning Department (DPT) Phuket Office Chief Sommit Somboon; Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning in Bangkok (DPT) inspector Suwapong Poonakpunt; Phuket City Deputy Mayor Thawon Jiraphattanasopon, and other relevant officers. The project started on April 18, 2016 and is scheduled to be completed on Oct 21 this year. Currently, about 44% of Phase 1 is complete. Deputy Mayor Thawon explained, The government granted Phuket City Municipality a budget of B517.6 million to solve flooding issues and to improve the drainage system in Phuket Town. On March 31, 2016, the Ministry of Interior contracted the construction company Auang Sea Heang Co Ltd to complete the works. There was a small detail change to the contract in 2018 but it is scheduled to be finished by Oct 21, Mr Thawon confirmed. Phase two Planning for phase two of the project is now underway and Deputy Mayor Thawon confirmed a request for funds has been made. We have now filed a request for additional budget for phase two which consists of eight sub-projects, he said He declined to reveal the phase two budget cost, stating only: We hope the budget will be approved. DPT inspector Mr Suwapong explained that the second phase of the project includes two parts divided into 13 sub-projects as follows: Part 1: Drainage system quality development project, including 10 sub-projects. 1. Weir building in Klong Bang Yai 2. Weir building in Klong Ruamjai 3. Drainage system building in Suan Luang 4. Drainage system building in Klong Lad 5. Drainage system building in Klong Saen Suk 6. Drainage system building in Klong Ruamjai 7. Drainage system building in the second part of Klong Ruamjai 8. Drainage system building near Amphoe Rd 9. Drainage system building in Klong Bang Yai 10. Drainage system building in Klong Thaklaeng Part 2: Water pumping station building project, including three sub-projects. 1. Water pumping station building near Klong Bangyai 2. Water pumping station building near Klong Saensuk 3. Water pumping station building near Klong Ruamjai Mr Suwapong explained that once the project was completed, people in Phuket Town will not experience flooding anymore. A total of 50 musicians from 19 countries performed a song to support China's fight against the novel coronavirus. The song, "Together," was performed by musicians from Cuba, the United States and other countries, who hoped to extend love, care and support in the form of music to Chinese people who are combating the virus. The performers included Sugar Blue, an American blues harmonica player, and Vocal Sampling, a cappella music group from Cuba. "We sent the sheet music and accompaniment to these musicians, inviting them to sing the song in their own languages and styles," said Lu Zhongqiang, the composer of the song. The audience can hear various languages such as Chinese, English, Spanish, Japanese in this song. Under the joint efforts of every musician, the song was completed in two weeks. "I really appreciate their merits because all of them performed without pay," said Lu. The song was released on various online platforms Thursday. A teen convicted for his role in a deadly robbery in Roanoke County will remain in the custody of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice until he turns 21. Judge Charlie Dorsey agreed Friday to sentence Malike Daequan Brown, 18, as a juvenile and to give him an indefinite sentence. Brown pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and felony homicide in October. Under state law, the sentencing means Brown will remain in custody in the juvenile justice system until he turns 21. Brown, of Roanoke, was 17 years old when he was enlisted by his mother and others to assist in robbing an acquaintance of money and drugs at a house on Overland Drive in Cave Spring. During the May 2018 robbery, another participant, Aaron Rashad Witcher, who was 27, had a gun and got into a struggle with the victim. The gun went off and fatally shot Amber C. Ross of Franklin County. Ross had helped orchestrate the robbery, according to prosecutors. Browns mother, Shamby Marie Walker, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of robbery in June. As part of her plea agreement, charges of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit statutory burglary, statutory burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery were dismissed. Dorsey sentenced Walker to 12 years with 10 years suspended earlier this month. Witcher pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony, robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He also saw a separate, suspended sentence revoked on an unrelated case in Roanoke for which he had been on probation. He will serve an additional five years and six months on that matter. In court Friday, Brown apologized to Ross family and said he had also suffered a loss in the incident. He said he would do better with his second chance. Upon his release, Brown will serve an indefinite amount of probation as part of his plea agreement. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Daniela Wei and Jinshan Hong (Bloomberg) Hong Kong Sat, February 22, 2020 14:01 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065fd560 2 World China,Wuhan-coronavirus,coronavirus,outbreak,e-learning,health-concerns Free The weeks-long closure of schools over virus fears across China and Hong Kong is testing kids -- and their parents. Working mom Chen Yan has taken to installing a surveillance camera at home to see what her 12-year-old son is up to during the day while shes at the office in the mainland city of Shaoguan, in Guangdong province. So far, shes caught him doing everything but studying, including napping while live-streamed lessons play in the background. We cant hear a single sentence from the teacher smoothly given the slow Internet, she said. And Im sure the teacher wont notice if my son is listening in a 60-student class. Chinas novel coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 70,000 people and shut down large parts of its economy since emerging in Hubei province in December. Its also forced millions of parents across the mainland and Hong Kong to share space with their children schooling from home as campuses from the elementary to university level extend closures through March. Its been an unexpected boon for one industry: online education, which now must figure out how to engage students accustomed to classroom interaction. While parents are suffering, Chinese online education companies are stunned at their good fortune. What was a fiercely-competitive, cash-burning market segment is now one of the few business winners from the health crisis. Moving online Eric Yang, founder of the Shanghai-based iTutorGroup, said the number of online classes taken on its platforms was three times more than the previous year during the first ten days of February. Growth was especially rapid in smaller mainland cities where more students already relied on offline tutoring classes, he said. The company is controlled by Chinas biggest insurer, Ping An Insurance Group Co. The coronavirus is redefining the online education sector, Yang said. I expected online classes would surpass physical tutoring businesses in three years, but now I think the turning point will come much earlier. Shares of Chinas education companies surged this month as the virus spread. Two of the most prominent -- TAL Education Group and New Oriental Education and Technology Group -- were up 17.2% and 13.3% at the close of trading Thursday, respectively. Coronavirus forces worlds largest work-from-home experiment The market share for online education in Chinas 463 billion Yuan (US$66 billion) after-school tutoring business was just 6.5% in 2018. That figure could jump to 35.7% by 2023, according to business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Some two million Chinese students have enrolled in online classes in the short-term due to the coronavirus, Citigroup analyst Mark Li said in a note this month. Reasonable compromise Hong Kong entrepreneur Ben Chu, 42, has a nine-year-old daughter studying at an international elementary school thats using education app Seesaw and Google Classroom to assign tasks, share materials and collect homework. Learning online is a reasonable compromise at this special time, Chu said. But it will never be a replacement for a classroom, for face-to-face learning experiences. Expats Flee Hong Kong After Double Whammy of Protests, Virus Ivan Au, 48, works in the citys insurance industry. With the mainland border largely closed, no Chinese clients are coming across these days, he said, turning him into a full-time educator for his five-year-old daughter and more tired than when he was working full-time. When shes learning, I am the teacher, he said. When shes playing, I need to accompany her. When she goes to sleep, I need to prepare for the next days teaching materials. I get no rest at all. Au was relieved when the kindergarten scheduled a session with live instruction from a teacher on video conferencing platform Zoom last week. My daughter really looks forward to meeting with other kids online after staying at home for weeks. She was excited and took many pictures of the video meeting with her Polaroid camera, he said. Not Stable There are hurdles to making an online education as impactful as real-life interaction -- even for teachers who, too, must remain home with their kids. Hu Bing, 44, a physics teacher in Beijing, steeled herself as her 16-year-old daughter restarted classes last week from home, using an e-platform to continue studying for next years all-important college entrance exam. Every so often our internet cuts out; its not stable, she said. Another foreseeable problem is the additional time it make take to cover class material when students arent convening in person. The boost to online learning platforms may also ebb away quickly after the epidemic passes. Theres no guarantee the this short-term boom can be turned into long-term growth, said Yvette Chan, Hong Kong-based managing director at consultancy Alvarez & Marsal. Companies need to have high-quality learning platforms to keep students in the virtual classrooms. And the virus impact could lead to an over-saturation in the market, as companies from new start-ups to Chinas tech giants like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. are jumping into the fray, said Chien Wong, founder of Envolve Group, an education-focused investment company. Tencent, Alibaba Apps Find Fans in Virus-Affected Schools Alibabas DingTalk, now the most downloaded free app in Chinas iOS App Store, rolled out new features for classroom settings, including live-streamed lessons for upwards of 300 participants and an online testing and grading system. At least 50 million students from elementary to high school had signed up for its online teaching programs as of Feb. 10, according to the group. For kids already steeped in the digital age, the addition of one more screen to their daily lives might be more seamless than for their bedraggled parents. Lu Yan, a 39-year-old university lecturer in Sichuan province, signed up for English classes for herself and her 10-year-old son via iTutorGroup. Personally I still prefer to talk to my students in a physical classroom. Thats what Ive been doing for the last decade, she said. But I wont be surprised more and more classes will be moved online, because our kids were born and growing up with the internet. St Peters (Church of Ireland), Parish Hall, Peters St, Drogheda are running their 12th year of a series of lunches, on each Wednesday during Lent commencing on the 26th February for the benefit of Drogheda Homeless Aid. They will be offering a choice of tasty soups, sandwiches and tea or coffee, each Wednesday between 12.30pm to 2.30pm for a suggested donation of 6 for adults and 3 for children. All ingredients for the lunches and costs are completely sponsored by businesses and individuals in the local community and as a result the entire proceeds will go towards Drogheda Homeless Aid. Honorary Treasurer of St Peters C of l, Clive Bagnall said "Last year, the Lenten Lunches held in St Peters C of I produced a magnificent result of 20,000 plus for Drogheda Homeless Aid and this year we again hope to match this figure" Organiser, Pamela Bagnall say, "The idea behind the Lenten Lunches is that we are reaching out to our local community and it is a fantastic way for people to support this worthwhile local charity" For further information on Drogheda Homeless Aid, please phone 041 983 4492. By Express News Service GADAG: A sexual harassment accused Public Instruction Department officer was thrashed by a group of six in Gadag district's Mundaragi area. While the officer has been charged under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar has asked the officials to take immediate action against the officer. According to the police, Mundaragi Block Education Officer S N Halligudi is said to have visited the girl's home in Hallikeri village as part of the department's campaign to reach out to the students appearing for the class 10 exams to help in their studies. During his visit on Thursday evening, it was alleged that the officer misbehaved with the girl and sexually harassed her as nobody was at home. Later, the girl brought it to the notice of her parents. Shocked over the development, the girl's father and a few others rushed to the residence of the BEO in Mundaragi and thrashed him with pipes. The accused officer was then taken to a hospital where he was kept for over 24 hours. While the girl's father had filed a complaint with the Mundaragi police, the BEO has also given a counter-complaint accusing the group of attacking him. Speaking to New Indian Express, the survivor's mother said that after returning from work, they found the daughter upset with the incident. However, BEO Halligudi in his complaint filed with the police, stated that allegations made against him were false. He alleged that he just visited the girls house, gave exam tips and went out. "On Thursday night a group of six villagers came to my house seeking signature for study certificate. While he asked for original documents, they accused him of sexually harassing the girl and suddenly attacked me. Injured in the attack, I went to the hospital for treatment and was there till Friday evening. The police have taken his statement at the hospital acting on my complaint," he said. Deputy Commissioner M G Hiremath said, "I have gone through the details and have ordered for a detailed investigation. If the BEO is guilty he will be punished as per the law". Even Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar has reacted to this incident and tweeted that he has directed the additional commissioner to take immediate action against the BEO. New York, Feb 22 : Two senior Indian American officials will be in US President Donald Trump's entourage during his visit to India, besides First Lady Melania Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Two members of Trump's cabinet, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, will be accompanying him, according to a list released by a senior administration official. The two Indian American officials are Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and Kash Patel, Trump's special assistant and senior director for counterterrorism. They are a part of the five-member team for participating in bilateral talks. Trump's daughter and son-in-law have the official title of assistant and senior adviser to the president and participate in negotiations and policy-making. They and the cabinet officials are members of the official 12-member official delegation that also includes National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who is leading the negotiations on a trade agreement between the two countries, is a notable absentee on the visitors' list given the failure to make a deal in time for the visit. Brouillette's presence indicates the importance of energy, the fastest-growing area in bilateral trade. The senior administration official briefing the media, said the visit will "focus on building our economic and energy ties.a Since 2016, US energy exports to India have grown 500 per cent to nearly $7 billion. The official said, "The Strategic Energy Partnership that was launched by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in 2017 has paid major dividends. It's improved energy security. It's encouraged the production of more energy. And it's facilitated Indian imports of US crude oil, LNG (liquid natural gas), and coal." The presence of O'Brian and Patel shows the importance given to counter-terrorism cooperation by both countries. The other members of the official delegation are: Ken Juster, US Ambassador to India Mick Mulvaney, Acting Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Assistant and Senior Policy Adviser who specialises in immigration issues Dan Scavino, Senior Advisor for Digital Strategy Lindsay Reynolds, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Robert Blair, Special Representative for International Telecommunication Policy and Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham, Assistant to the President and Press Secretary and Director of Communications for the President and First Lady The other bilateral meeting participants are: Adam Boehler, Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation. Lisa Curtis, Deputy Assistant to the President for South and Central Asian Affairs Mike Passey, Director for India, National Security Council Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau Sat, February 22, 2020 13:13 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065fc133 1 Business Jokowi,textile,textile-industry,Asia-Pacific-Rayon,Viscose,Industry-4-0,fabric Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo officiated on Friday a fiber manufacturer PT Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) plant in Pelalawan regency, Riau -- a site expected to improve the nations textile sector and the Industry 4.0 road map. In his speech, the President claimed he was surprised to learn that wood could be used as primary material to make textile products. The plant also has its own nursery with a total capacity of 300 million seeds. Where in the world could we find a manufacturing plant with such a huge capacity other than in Pelalawan? Jokowi said on Friday. The plant can produce around 240,000 tons of rayon annually. It can also produce 10,000 tons of yarn every year. The APR, an affiliate of major pulp and paper producer Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings, is expected to increase the production capacity to 600,000 ton per year. We should appreciate this technology. Stop thinking that [advanced] technology only exists in Europe, such as in Germany or Scandinavian countries. We also have one too in Indonesia; its located right here, in Pelalawan regency, said Jokowi. APRs capability to turn wood into fabrics and garments, the President added, had showed that Indonesia could compete with European countries or the United States. The competition is no longer between regencies or provinces [within Indonesia] but with other countries. Its not about rich countries defeating poor ones but about those that can outpace the slowpokes, the President went on to say. Read also: Viscose may give Indonesia's textile industry edge in sustainability Jokowi also appreciated APRs investment in the regency since it contributed positively to the regions economic growth and peoples welfare. The director of APRs holding company, PT Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), Anderson Tanoto, said the total investment allocated to build the viscose factory had reached up to Rp 15 trillion (US$1.1 billion). He added that the plant in Pelalawan was capable of producing 240,000 tons of rayon fiber every year. We also opened up 1,200 jobs in the region, Anderson said. The plan could also generate up to US$131 billion of foreign exchange earnings every year and reduce the countrys dependency on imported raw materials valued at up to $149 million annually. The RGE would invest Rp 20 trillion in the plant for the next three years to support its product downstreaming program in Indonesia, Anderson went on to say. The manufacturing company had exported its goods to 14 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil and several countries across Europe. We also hope to grow in supporting the domestic market with the support of the Industry Ministry. We hope the government will aid us in supporting the local textile market through the modernization and improvement of machinery, said Anderson. (dpk) Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 7400 block of Old Alexander Ferry Road at 1:05 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. Once arrived, police found two adult men suffering from gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. US intelligence told lawmakers of Russian effort to boost Trump Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 2:42 AM US intelligence officials claim that Russia is interfering in the 2020 presidential campaign by trying to boost President Donald Trump's reelection, a report says. Reuters said in a report Thursday that the officials had informed US lawmakers of the matter last week and also claimed that Moscow was attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of the vote too. "The Republicans responded as you would expect. They went nuts," Reuters quoted a person familiar with the briefing as saying. "They questioned the intelligence." The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said that Trump's Republican allies on the Democratic-led House Intelligence Committee put into the question the evaluation presented by officials of the Office of National Intelligence last Thursday. During the classified briefing, the US intelligence officials said Russia was working to throw doubt on the integrity of the Nov. 3 vote while at the same time boosting Republican Trump's election. "They (the Russians) are favoring one candidate while they do it," said the person, noting the briefers identified that candidate as Trump. Meanwhile, The New York Times has reported that Trump reprimanded acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire for permitting his staff to be present before the committee. On Wednesday, Trump said he was replacing Maguire on an acting basis with Richard Grenell, one of his strong loyalists who has worked as ambassador to Germany since 2018. In reprimanding Maguire, Trump cited the presence in the briefing of Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, the intelligence panel chairman, according to The Times. Schiff is the one who led the House impeachment proceedings against Trump on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of Congress which resulted from the president's dealings with Ukraine. Trump, however, was acquitted of the charges by the Republican-controlled Senate last month. According to The Washington Post, Trump rebuked Maguire in an Oval Office meeting after a Republican ally had told the president about the election security briefing. US officials have repeatedly claimed that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the 2020 US presidential election campaign. Russia has denied US allegations that it sought to meddle in the 2016 presidential election, which led to victory of a billionaire reality TV star. There were also allegations that Trump also colluded with the Kremlin to gain favor against political rival Hillary Clinton, triggering an investigation into the matter by special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller, however, concluded in his report that there was no collusion between Trump and the Russian government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Of all the great men of the revolutionary era to whom we owe our freedom, Washingtons greatness was the rarest and the most needed. At this remove in time, it is also the hardest to comprehend. Take, for example, Washingtons contribution to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Washingtons mere presence lent the undertaking and its handiwork the legitimacy that resulted in success. The conventions first order of business was the election of a presiding officer. Washington was the delegates unanimous choice. Presiding over the convention during that fateful summer, Washington said virtually nothing. In his excellent book on Washington, Richard Brookhiser notes: The esteem in which Washington was held affected his fellow delegates first of allWashington did not wield the power he possessed by speaking. Apart from his lecture on secrecy, Washington did not address the Convention between the first day and the last. The esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens was similarly crucial to the implementation of the Constitution during his presidency. In 1790 Rhode Island became the thirteenth state to ratify the Constitution. To mark the occasion, President Washington made a ceremonial visit to Newport when Congress recessed in August. Newport welcomed Washington with open arms. In Newport on August 18, according to James Thomas Flexner, Washington completely fatigued the company by briskly walking, fortified by the wine and punch served in four different houses along his route, from nine in the morning until one in the afternoon. In anticipation of Washingtons visit to Newport, the members of Americas oldest Jewish congregation prepared a letter welcoming Washington for presentation to him at a public event on the morning of August 18. The letter was authorized by the congregations board and signed by its president, Moses Seixas. It is Washingtons magnificent letter responding to Seixas that that has become famous as one of the classic statements of religious toleration in America. The congregations letter to Washington is not so well known, although the most prominent line in Washingtons letter echoes that letter. By far the most striking feature of the congregations letter is its expression of sheer gratitude to Washington himself and to America for the freedom and equal rights the congregants had attained as American citizens. Here is the congregations letter: Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits ~~ and to join with our fellow citizens in welcoming you to NewPort. With pleasure we reflect on those days ~~ those days of difficulty, and danger, when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword, ~~ shielded Your head in the day of battle: ~~ and we rejoice to think, that the same Spirit, who rested in the Bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel enabling him to preside over the Provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests and ever will rest, upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these States. Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People ~~ a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance ~~ but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: ~~ deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine: ~~ This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confidence and Public Virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, doing whatever seemeth him good. For all these Blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great preserver of Men ~~ beseeching him, that the Angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised Land, may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life: ~~ And, when, like Joshua full of days and full of honour, you are gathered to your Fathers, may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life, and the tree of immortality. Done and Signed by order of the Hebrew Congregation in NewPort, Rhode Island August 17th 1790. Moses Seixas, Warden Today, as we contend with the contemporary equivalent of the Babylonish empire, let us send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days for this indispensable man. (First posted February 2006.) As the nation awaited a U.S. Supreme Court decision this spring on President Donald Trumps efforts to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, participants in a conference for bilingual educators here Friday grappled with ways to support undocumented students, families and colleagues. DACA provides legal status in two-year increments to teens and adults who were brought into the country illegally as children. The average DACA recipient is 25 or younger, though the oldest eligible recipients are now 37. That means DACA has allowed many undocumented adults to work as teachers, including Karina Alvarez, a first-grade bilingual teacher in Edgewood Independent School District. It also means some children now in school have parents who fear for their futures if DACA is rescinded. Try to talk to them calmly, Alvarez advised at the annual conference of the San Antonio Area Association for Bilingual Education. Try to keep it together, right? ... Be a helping hand, or you want to be their rock, at that moment. An estimated 81,000 undocumented immigrants live in Bexar County, and 22,000 have at least one child in school who is a U.S. citizen, Viridiana Carrizales said in another session. She is co-founder of the nonprofit ImmSchools, which works with educators to create safe environments for undocumented students and families Carrizales said 92 percent of undocumented immigrants in Bexar County are from Mexico or Central America, while 6 percent are from Asia. Counting people with legal status who are in danger of losing it, about 175,000 noncitizens in San Antonio are at risk of deportation, she said. If we dont have these conversations, as a student, it makes you feel like youre the only one whos going through that and that you have no support, said Angelica Castillo, a dual language teacher at Leal Middle School in Harlandale ISD. And maybe even students knowing some of these numbers, it could make them feel at ease. Theyre not the only one, and theyre not sticking out. Both presenters encouraged teachers to help students apply for in-state tuition. Texas is one of 18 states across the country that allow in-state tuition for undocumented students, as long as they prove theyve resided in Texas for at least three years, Carrizales said. They have to submit separately notarized forms to each college, but Cafe College, a city-funded resource center, can help find free notaries, Carrizales said. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Under the Supreme Courts 1982 decision in Plyler vs. Doe, public schools must educate students regardless of their immigration status. Teachers cant ask students their status, both presenters said, and should keep it in confidence if students volunteer it. Some of Alvarezs first graders, for example, have told her they cant visit their family in Mexico. They dont know theyre undocumented, but they just know that they cant come back, Alvarez said. On ExpressNews.com: SAISD board looks for ways to reassure immigrant students, families The presenters also recommended that teachers use some of the same strategies with immigrant students as with children whove experienced crime, and distribute Know Your Rights cards or documents in school in the event of questioning by federal immigration authorities. The bilingual educators association gave its Corazon de Cultura award to Tejano musician Juan Tejeda and a community advocate award to Jesse Romero, a lobbyist for the Texas Association for Bilingual Education. The bilingual teacher of the year was Dora Urbina of Roy Cisneros Elementary in Edgewood ISD, the English as a Second Language teacher of the year was Cynthia B. Gongora of Stevens High School in Northside ISD, and administrator of the year was Veronica Arteaga, principal of Passmore Elementary in Northside. Alia Malik covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN New York The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) today signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to promote business engagement in UNDPs flagship SDG Impact initiative. The new partnership aims to leverage ICCs global network to drive a transformation in how economic growth is generated by ensuring that the private sector has the necessary tools to embed sustainability in corporate decision-making. Experts and industry leaders now widely recognize that a step-change is needed in the level of private sector investment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)with only a fraction of global assets currently invested in SDG-aligned activities and only a tiny portion of all private investments going to most developing countries. This agreement marks another milestone in uniting governments, businesses, and civil society in achieving the systemic, global change we need to achieve the SDGs, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said. Together, we are innovating and pushing the boundaries of whats possible in ways that help people everywhere pull themselves out of poverty and live with dignity and opportunity, while preserving the planet we all share. We see SDG Impact as a vital initiative to unlock the estimated US$12 trillion in new market opportunities created by the SDGs. We are delighted to put the full force of the ICC network behind the development and roll-out of standards to ensure that the private sector can take informed decisions on which investments can be SDG-enabling, ICC Secretary-General John Denton said. Simply put, we need a step-change in how private finance is deployed if we are to achieve our common goals for people and our planet. Ensuring integrity in SDG-linked investing is a much-needed foundation to enable this transformation. Steiner and Denton signed the agreement today at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, alongside a meeting of the SDG Impact Steering Group. Despite growing recognition that the SDGs are a key driver of long-term financial performance and business success, one key barrier to mainstreaming SDG-enabling investments is the lack of a widely accepted definition and standards for what qualifies as SDG-linked investments. Launched in September 2018, SDG Impact aims to bridge this market gap by providing investors, businesses, and others with unified standards, tools, and services required to authenticate their contributions to achieving the SDGs and to identify SDG investment opportunities in emerging economies and developing countries. Under terms of the new partnership between UNDP and ICC, the global business institution will provide support in engaging businesses and investors in developing and adopting new SDG Impact assurance standards and certification. The two organizations will also partner on the roll-out of country-specific reports mapping SDG investment opportunities. They will also work with investors and local businesses to facilitate key investments. Upcoming political events in the Bay Area: SATURDAY Watch party: For the Nevada Democratic caucus results. Free. 4 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. Oscar Lopez Rivera: Puerto Rican independence activist, long imprisoned by the U.S. government for alleged connection to paramilitary actions, discusses his organizing activities as the island tries to recover from 2018 hurricanes. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 5:30 p.m., La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. More information is here. Compassion in divisive times: A talk with Dr. Pilar Jennings, psychoanalyst and Buddhist teacher, on practicing the healing arts of Buddhist psychology during a time of social, racial and political divisiveness. $5. 5:30 p.m., S.F. Zen Center Conference Center, 308 Page St., San Francisco. More information is here. SUNDAY Dismantling racism: Screening of the documentary film When They See Us, followed by discussion groups focused on building bridges for the purpose of dismantling white supremacy and racism. Hosted by San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Group. Free. 1 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco. More information is here. Oscar Lopez Rivera: Puerto Rican independence activist, long imprisoned by the U.S. government for alleged connection to paramilitary actions, discusses his organizing activities as the island tries to recover from 2018 hurricanes. $20. 1 p.m., Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. Race and the election: A discussion of the presidential election as a lens for issues of race. Panelists include author, actor and playwright Brian Copeland; author, blogger and writing teacher Aya de Leon; author Mimi Lok; and law professor and commentator Ian Haney Lopez. Free. 5 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. More information is here. TUESDAY Watch party: For the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina. $10. 5 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. On Common Ground: KQED-FMs Sasha Khokha leads a discussion about how we find common ground in an age of extreme disunity. Panelists include emotional education expert Michele Borba; social psychologist Heike Winterheld and artist Shawn Lani, co-curators of the Exploratoriums Middle Ground exhibition; Make America Dinner Again co-founder Tria Chang; and Stanford political scientist Jonathan Rodden. Free. 7 p.m., Pier 15, the Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. Election and the Jewish community: A panel of political experts discusses whats at stake for the Jewish community in the 2020 elections. Free. 8 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. WEDNESDAY W. Kamau Bell: Political comedian teams up with Mother Jones to talk about the 2020 election. $15. 7 p.m., Berkeley Repertory Theater, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. More information is here. THURSDAY E.J. Dionne Jr. and Barbara Boxer: Washington Post columnist and former U.S. senator from California on how progressives and moderates can unite to win 2020 elections. $30 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $10 for students. Noon, 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. Second event with Dionne, a benefit for KPFA-FM, at 7:30 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. More information is here. FEB. 29 Watch party: For the South Carolina Democratic primary results. Free. 4 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. Climate emergency action: A roving street party featuring music, performance, art installations and visits to banks and corporations to encourage them to alter climate-changing behavior. 5 p.m., 2160 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. More information is here. Voting guide: Courage California team presents its voter guide for every district in California. $20. 6 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 1 Rep. Jackie Speier: Peninsula Democrat in conversation for KQED-FMs Live on Stage With Michael Krasny. $25. 5 p.m., Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, Hoytt Theater, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. More information is here. MARCH 3 Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states, with former Arizona Sen. Gabby Giffords. $12. 4 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states. Free. 5 p.m., IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall, UC Berkeley. More information is here. Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states. Hosted by TechEquity Collaborative. Free. 5 p.m., Starline Social Club, 2236 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Oakland. More information is here. Super Tuesday watch party: For primary returns from California and 13 other states. Hosted by the Center for Election Science. Free. 6 p.m., Tonic Bar, 895 Post St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 4 Gender issues and political identity: Rose McDermott, international relations professor at Brown University, discusses gender issues and leaders emotional manipulation of political identity. $5. 7 p.m., 518 Valencia St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 5 Rahm Emanuel: Former Chicago mayor and Barack Obama adviser on how mayors run the world. $40 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $15 for students. 6:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 6 Facebook: Author Steve Levy discusses his new book, Facebook: The Inside Story. Benefit for KPFA-FM. $12 advance, $15 at the door. 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana St., Berkeley. More information is here. MARCH 8 Politics for teenagers: Democracy Online: A Political Discourse Conference for Teens features experts in ethics, journalism and technology to discuss the role of the internet in politics. Free. 10 a.m., Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. More information is here. Spanish for activists: A session on canvassing in the Latinx community, sponsored by Democracy Action. Intended for intermediate and advanced Spanish speakers. Bring a laptop and phone. Free. 10:30 a.m., 80 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 20, Sausalito. More information is here. MARCH 11 Civility: A discussion of the increasing polarization of society and the impacts of civility and outrage as alternative ways to it. Part of the Professor of Practice Series at Pacific School of Religio. $20. 6 p.m., Bade Museum, 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley. More information is here. MARCH 12 Breaking down the primary: Political experts discuss the results of Californias primary. Panelists include Aimee Allison, founder and president of She the People; Jennifer Fernandez Ancona, co-founder of Way to Win; and pollster David Binder. Hosted by KQED and SPUR. $10 for nonmembers, free for members. SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 17 Primaries 101: An explainer on how the Democratic presidential nominee will be chosen, with Stanford University political science Professor Bruce Cain. $5-$10. 6 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. American Jews and Israel: Former Knesset member Yossi Beilin, chairman of the Geneva Initiative, on the relationship between Israelis and American Jews today and where we go from here. Hosted by Center for Jewish Peoplehood. $18 in advance, $25 at the door. 7 p.m., Osher Marin JCCs Hoytt Theater, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. More information is here. Dan Pfeiffer: Pod Save America podcast co-host on A Plan to Make America a Democracy Again. $27 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $8 for students. 7 p.m., Oshman Family JCCs Schultz Cultural Hall, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. More information is here. MARCH 21 Robert Reich: UC Berkeley public policy professor and former U.S. labor secretary talks politics and his new book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It. $32 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $9 for students. 7 p.m., 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara Convention Center Theater, Santa Clara. More information is here. Noam Chomsky: Political activist and social critic on What Hope for Palestine-and Beyond? The World After 2020. Introduced by Daniel Ellsberg; musical performance by Naima Shalhoub and Excentrik. $29-$99. 7:30 p.m., Sidney Goldstein Theatre, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco. More information is here. MARCH 27 Jesse Wegman: Journalist and editor discusses his new book on the electoral college, Let the People Pick the President. $7. 7:30 p.m., Keplers Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. More information is here. APRIL 16 Assemblyman David Chiu: San Francisco Democrat explains his support for a constitutional amendment to allow control of campaign spending. Hosted by Business for American Promise. $10. 5 p.m., Variety Club Preview Room, 582 Market St., San Francisco. More information is here. To list an event, please email Politics Editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com. New details have recently unfolded in the case of the drug ring that was exposed last month in Muharraq Governorate involving a renowned doctor, several pharmacists and a military per- sonnel. The case is being deliberated by the First High Criminal Court, which decided to ad- journ the trial of the suspects to February 23, 2019, to hear the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, while one suspect was referred to the military judiciary. The suspects are facing the charges of dispensing large quantities of addictive prescrip- tion pills known as Lyrica, using fake prescriptions issued by the prime suspect, the doctor, and illegally selling it to addicts for higher prices that are some- times more than four doubles of their original cost. The ring was exposed when the Public Prosecution an- nounced last month that the Military Police of Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) in co-operation with the Anti Narcotics Department in Interior Ministry arrested a military staff and two civilians while illegally selling the pills. Having successfully partnered with Ramoji Film City earlier, Face Of India (FOI) reiterated its continued belief in the beautiful combination of Fashion and Films, and aligned with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival for its upcoming Season 6 finale. Face Of India in association with Asia Model Festival (organized by the Asia Model Festival Organising Committee), is a platform to promote cultures between India and other countries. It's one of the largest and most prestigious platforms in Asia's fashion fraternity. Winners of the Face Of India represent India and compete with 26 other Asian countries to win the title at Asia Model Festival in South Korea. Asia Model Festival has been developed as the core icon of Asia's culture industry and a global culture platform. Its core objective is to let the world know about Asia's models, as well as, beauty and fashion The talented models that are chosen from the contest get opportunities to grow as top Asian models, moreover as world-famous models. In addition to the finale, Face Of India also organised a much trending KPOP fusion dance segment featuring the Elixir crew, and a grand finale by international fashion designer Nivedita Saboo, along with showcases from other leading designers, adding to the glamour quotient of the awards ceremony with Guru Randhawa as the show stopper. Film and Fashion in the context of our country and the world over have always been symbiotic and a great combination. While on the one hand fashion has given numerous talents to the film and has helped it better present the milieu it is portraying through its various styles and creations often iconic, the film industry has over the years emerged as one of the best-showcasing platforms for fashion talent and the at large. "Having come from a fashion background and having spent a large part of the last ten odd years of my life in the fashion industry, I had realized very early on that there were two significant challenges that faced the industry: (a) Owing to a lack of organized showcasing platforms and opportunities, for a newcomer in the Fashion Industry being able to break in and make a mark was extremely difficult just like in the film industry a couple of years ago. (b) Once a fashion talent made it to a showcasing platform unless they were able to break it into the very limited but lucrative opportunities offered through the advertising, film, and apparel world gratification and subsequently building a career was extremely challenging", said Badal Saboo, Chairman - Face of India about the association of Face Of India with Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival. "Over the years, it has thus been my endeavor to build an ecosystem that could help positively contribute if not correct these anomalies or plug the gaps as we would simply state. Earlier on itself, we were able to create the Pune Fashion Week and the World Fashion Week as quality Showcasing platforms for the entire value chain of the fashion business, but we still needed to get a good talent discovery platform where aspiring fashion talent could get an opportunity / a gateway towards their career in Fashion. It was in this context that we were fortunate to align with the Korean Government-backed Asia Model Festival initiative around seven years ago", added Badal Saboo. "One of the biggest challenges for fashion talent has always been finding the right showcase and Gratification. At Face of India, we have always strived to address this challenge. Models who won at Face Of India Season 6 names Omni Thakker, Ekta Maru, Arya Upadhay, Ranaksh Rana & Priyanka Kapil will not just get a chance to showcase their Talent on an International Platform - the Face of Asia Hunt in South Korea but also to stalwarts from the Indian Film Industry who were present at the film awards ceremony", said Badal Saboo on FOI Season 6. Face Of India also announced that it has aligned with leading fashion talent aggregator platform FashionXchange to facilitate a smooth registration process for aspiring and talented models interested in participating. FashionXchange has been designed to bring together job seekers and talent across the entire value chain of the Fashion industry through one single platform, largely eliminating the tedious process of talent scouting and discovery as well as the constant battle for finding showcasing opportunities. Being the first IP executed through this platform, Face of India has entered into multiple fashion events and celebrity job seekers to switch over to FashionXchange for their requirements. 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.) 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Prince William has three beautiful kids to adore on a daily basis, and he couldnt be more smitten with them. Since Princess Charlotte is Prince Williams only daughter, we can only imagine that their relationship is a pretty special one. Princess Charlotte is known to be quite cheeky and there have been many times when the young royal has had us laughing. There is no doubt that she is the apple of Prince Williams eye, and who can blame him? Prince Charlotte is absolutely adorable, and fans are always excited on the rare occasions when they see her alongside her busy parents at royal events. Lets talk about what happened when Prince William sweetly compared his lovely daughter Princess Charlotte to this royal. Princess Charlotte is a sassy young princess Princess Charlotte may be only 4 years old, but already she is pretty sassy. According to W Magazine, the little royal is actually known as Warrior Princess at school due to her feistiness. As fourth in line to the British throne, Princess Charlotte is already extremely poised. Whenever royal fans see her, they can count on a huge smile and a friendly wave for the cameras. She currently attends school at Thomass Battersea, and never takes her royal status for granted. In fact, she is just like the other kids and loves to run around the playground and take part in as many fun games as possible. As the middle child of the Cambridge family, Princess Charlotte has excellent relationships with both of her brothers Prince George and Prince Louis as well as with her new cousin, Archie Harrison, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Prince William sweetly compares his lovely daughter Princess Charlotte to this royal Prince William, Duke of Cambridge | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images So, what happened when Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visited a resort in South Wales? According to People, a large group of fans had gathered to get a good view of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. One woman even told Prince William that his daughter, Princess Charlotte, was her favorite of all of the members of the royal family. His response was amazing. Instead of simply thanking the fan and moving on, Prince William responded by saying that his daughter was just lovely, just like his wife. We have to say that the comparison is beyond adorable, and also that we agree both Princess Charlotte and Kate are absolutely beautiful, and Prince William certainly knows how lucky he is to have them both. Prince Williams relationship with Kate Middleton There is no denying the fact that Prince William has a lot to be happy about. Not only is he the future ruling monarch, but he has a wonderful family and a supportive, loving wife. Princess Charlottes parents have one of the best relationships around, and it shows. Together since the early 2000s, Prince William and Kate have been married since 2011, and we couldnt imagine a better future king and queen consort. Just like anyone else, their relationship had its ups and downs before they tied the knot. The couple famously broke up in 2008, however, they quickly realized just how much they loved each other and ultimately got back together. They are excellent parents, and they have a huge fan base of millions of people all around the world. Prince William and Kate always look extremely happy whenever we see them, which is only natural, considering how they have so much to smile about. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 12:18:15|Editor: ZD Video Player Close KAMPALA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday called for patience as his country's border with Rwanda remains closed for nearly a year. Rwanda closed its border with Uganda in February last year, accusing the latter of incarcerating its citizens. Uganda denied the allegations and instead accused the neighbor of infiltrating into its security circles and incarcerating Ugandan citizens. On Friday, Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame signed an extradition treaty to ease tension at the 4th quadripartite meeting held at the Gatuna-Katuna border crossing between the two countries, with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as facilitators. Museveni told people on the Ugandan side that there are ongoing talks with Rwanda to have the border reopened, and that the truth about the strained relations would soon come out with the help of the independent facilitators from the DRC and Angola, according to a State House statement. Despite Rwanda's allegation that some military members who disagree with the government are residing in Uganda, Museveni said that his country is not aware of such people on its territory and those who were arrested have been handed over to their original country. Since Rwanda closed the border last year, cross-border trade and people movement have been affected. Following the deterioration of relations between Rwanda and Uganda, Angola and the DRC offered to facilitate talks to ease the tension. Museveni and Kagame met in Angola's capital Luanda in August, where they signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at normalizing relations. In addition, an ad hoc commission, comprising ministers of foreign affairs and security officers from both countries, has held rounds of negotiations. Since Jan. 8, Uganda has released 21 Rwandan nationals who were facing charges of espionage or illegal possession of ammunition. Uganda called the release a good gesture that needs reciprocation. The talks have also led to Friday's extradition treaty, which defines a legal framework to handle alleged subversive activities by one's nationals on the other's territory. According to a communique issued at the Friday meeting, the leaders agreed that Uganda shall within one month ascertain whether Rwandan dissidents were based in Uganda to prepare for subversive activities. If the allegation proves to be true, Uganda should take measures to prevent its territory from being used for subversive moves. Once the measures are verified by the ad-hoc committee, a meeting will be called after 15 days to have the border reopened. A man has died after setting himself on fire during a tense stand-off with police. Emergency crews were called to a home in Bells Parade, in Somerset, Tasmania, after a man barricaded himself inside the property at 11am on Friday. Police attempted to negotiate with the 45-year-old, who was alone in the property and making threats, Western District Commander Debbie Williams said. After about 35 minutes the man walked outside and set himself alight. Emergency crews were called to a home in Bells Parade Burnie, in Somerset, Tasmania, (pictured) after a man barricaded himself inside the property at 11am on Friday Paramedics rushed to extinguish the flames, however, he had suffered severe burns, The Mercury reported. He was rushed to North-West Regional Hospital in a critical condition but died overnight. 'This is a distressing incident and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of everyone involved, including our officers, other emergency services workers and those who witnessed the incident,' Commander Williams said. 'Support is being provided to our members and other emergency service workers affected. As is normal practice, a Professional Standards investigation is under way and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.' The incident comes just days after a Brisbane man killed his wife and three children by burning them alive. Commander Williams said she was unsure if it was a 'copycat' incident, but that will be part of the investigation. For 24/7 confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 Alan Partridge is taking to the streets. I would man the barricades to defend the BBC, actor Steve Coogan pledged last week, before warning Ministers that theyll have a fight on their hands if they threaten it. He wont be alone. Yesterday BBC royalty, in the shape of veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby, joined the uprising. The BBC is under threat in a way it has never been before, he raged, then launched a vitriolic attack on the Prime Minister as someone who lies everywhere to everyone. He lies to his family. He just makes it up. The BBCs independence cannot be protected because it isnt an independent organisation. It is effectively a state broadcaster. Its funding is provided by the State. Yesterday BBC royalty, in the shape of veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby, joined the uprising This morning liberal Britain is mobilising to rescue Aunty from Boris Johnson and the cultural Visigoths encamped in No 10. We will whack it, one unnamed Government official has reportedly boasted, adding that the organisation faces the abolition of the licence fee and a massive pruning back of its services. They shouldnt bother. The BBC isnt going to be destroyed by its enemies, but by its friends. This is the Corporations last chance to save itself. But rather than throw a lifebelt, Coogan, Dimbleby and their allies are hurling out an anvil. The BBC is dying. Last year it finally crossed the tipping point, as BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4s viewing figures among the crucial 16-34 age demographic plunged below 50 per cent. The average age of a BBC viewer is now 61. Audiences are abandoning its content for the delights of Netflix, Amazon Prime or DVD boxsets. Alan Partridge is taking to the streets. I would man the barricades to defend the BBC, actor Steve Coogan pledged last week, before warning Ministers that theyll have a fight on their hands if they threaten it. He wont be alone I know, because Im one of them. The only BBC content I remember watching last year was the occasional episode of Match Of The Day, His Dark Materials and Elizabeth Is Missing. And I only watched the last of those because my mum was in it. But instead of facing reality, the enraged middle classes or the relatively small subset of them that still cling to Auntys apron-strings are preparing a fight to the death to save Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt for a grateful nation. Dominic Cummings, keep your hands off the BBC, roared a headline in The Guardian, echoing what will no doubt become the rallying cry for the Beebs defenders. But they are completely missing the point. Its precisely because of the BBCs ludicrous and archaic structures that Dom Cummings has his hands on the Corporation in the first place. The BBCs independence cannot be protected because it isnt an independent organisation. It is effectively a state broadcaster. Its funding is provided by the State. Its board members are appointed by the State. Its entire existence is literally in the hands of the State, which has the legal authority to terminate the company once every decade, via the Charter Review process. Actually, the State doesnt have to wait that long. Ministers are openly discussing whether to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee. Many people consider it wrong that you can be imprisoned for not paying for your TV licence and that its enforcement punishes the vulnerable, Nicky Morgan said earlier this month. Thats nice, cuddly Nicky Morgan mind, not that nasty misfit and weirdo Dom Cummings. No need for any major legislation, or even a debate in Parliament. Just the quick flourish of a ministerial pen, and the revenue stream that is the BBCs life-blood is cut off. Speaking to Ministers last week, they had the feeling that Boris was backing off the idea of radical reform of the Corporation. What people forget is that Boris is very conflict-averse, one told me. Well, if he ducks confrontation on this issue, it would be a mistake As currently incorporated, the BBC is basically just a giant hostage video. Heres the opening line of a blog written by one of its senior directors, James Purnell, at the end of the last Charter Review process: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility for renewing the Charter and the BBC has negotiated with Ministers and officials to shape the future of the BBC. In other words, the BBC has negotiated with Ministers to keep ourselves alive for few more years. And heres what Ministers thought when there was speculation that the same James Purnell himself a former Minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown might become the new BBC Director-General. If the BBCs board and [BBC chairman David] Clementi try to put someone like Purnell in, we will put in a chairman whose first job is to fire him, a well-placed Downing Street source warned. Far from protecting its independence, the BBCs current governance framework positively encourages Ministers of the Crown to put the thumb-screws on. And the BBC, purely because of its unique structure, has nowhere to hide. From anyone. Because if Steve Coogan thinks all he needs to do is see off Dom Cummings, hes deluding himself. The BBCs independence cannot be protected because its not independent and never was. And if it genuinely does want to be independent, its finally going to have to learn to stand on its own two feet. That means independent funding, not a taxpayer handout Imagine what the BBCs vaunted impartiality would have looked like if Seumas Milne, John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn had succeeded in getting their neo-Stalinist hands on it. We know what they publicly proposed, as part of their plans to democratise the Corporation. An elected board that would have been stuffed with their Momentum acolytes. The publication of equality data, that would have been swiftly followed by quotas based on race, gender and class. I think we can all guess how Andrew Neil would have fared under that regime. And if you want to know how rigorously a Labour government would have protected the BBCs impartiality, you neednt look beyond the fact that the Corporations most senior political journalist couldnt attend the partys annual conference without a bodyguard. And dont think that danger has disappeared beneath the rubble of Labours Red Wall. Last week Rebecca Long Bailey unveiled her plans for what she chillingly called A Peoples BBC. The BBCs structures and funding regime were fine for an era where everyone in the street jostled around one screen to watch the Coronation, and members of all parties abided by a gentlemans agreement to keep the organisation above the political fray. But those days are gone, and theyre not coming back. The BBCs independence cannot be protected because its not independent and never was. Dominic Cummings, keep your hands off the BBC, roared a headline in The Guardian, echoing what will no doubt become the rallying cry for the Beebs defenders. But they are completely missing the point And if it genuinely does want to be independent, its finally going to have to learn to stand on its own two feet. That means independent funding, not a taxpayer handout. An independent structure, not a board that can be appointed and bullied by Ministers of any political persuasion. And a constitution and culture dictated not by political fashion or correctness, but by those who actually enjoy, use and pay for the service it provides. Speaking to Ministers last week, they had the feeling that Boris was backing off the idea of radical reform of the Corporation. What people forget is that Boris is very conflict-averse, one told me. Well, if he ducks confrontation on this issue, it would be a mistake. Because if the BBC is going to be protected from its enemies, it first has to be saved from its friends. On track for trouble Were heading for a Spring of Discontent on the railways. I understand Ministers are putting the final touches to a Bill mandating Minimum Level Service agreements that would force unions to keep the trains running during disputes over pay and conditions. According to the Government, the legislation would maintain a level of service that ensures the public is not disproportionately affected by strike action and can conduct their personal and/or family lives, and access healthcare, education or employment. But Im told the unions are preparing to challenge this legislation by unsurprisingly going on strike. There are three main rail unions, a government insider tells me. In the past theyve all done their own thing but this is going to bring them together. Were looking at major unrest. A showdown with the unions will be the first big domestic test of Boriss premiership. The Blonde Controller had better not blink first. LAS VEGAS (AP) Just past the roulette wheel and slot machines, the smoky bars and blinking lights, Nevada Democrats are preparing to weigh in on their partys presidential nomination fight. Seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip stand among 200 caucus locations statewide that will host the presidential caucuses on Saturday, the third contest in a 2020 primary season that has so far been marred by chaos and uncertainty in overwhelmingly white, rural states. The exercise of democracy inside urban temples of excess is just one element that distinguishes the first presidential contest in the West, which will, more importantly, test the candidates' strength with black and brown voters for the first time in 2020. Nevada represents an opportunity for these candidates to demonstrate their appeal to a larger swath of our country, said state Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is not endorsing a candidate in the crowded field. Nevadas population, which aligns more with the U.S. as a whole than the opening elections in Iowa and New Hampshire, is 29% Latino, 10% black and 9% Asian American and Pacific Islander. In this Feb. 15, 2020, file photo, people wait in line at an early voting location at the culinary workers union hall in Las Vegas. The Democratic presidential contest has moved to immigrant-heavy Nevada, but the issues of immigration are seldom getting a thorough airing on the campaign trail. Candidates usually throw in a quick condemnation of President Donald Trump's hard-line policies but have shied away from outlining their own immigration positions. Immigration groups say that points to a potential vulnerability for whoever is the Democratic nominee later this year. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)AP The vote comes at a critical moment for the Democratic Party as self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders emerges as the clear front-runner and a half dozen more moderate candidates savage one another for the chance to emerge as the preferred alternative to Sanders. The ultimate winner will represent Democrats on the ballot against President Donald Trump in November. Yet on the eve of the caucuses, questions lingered about Nevada Democrats' ability to report election results quickly as new concerns surfaced about foreign interference in the 2020 contest. Campaigning in California, Sanders confirmed reports that he had been briefed by U.S. officials about a month ago that Russia was trying to help his campaign as part of Moscow's efforts to interfere in the election. It was not clear what role they were going to play, Sanders said. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign. He added: Heres the message to Russia: Stay out of American elections. Despite the distraction, Sanders enters Saturday increasingly confident, backed by strong support from Latinos and rank-and-file union workers who have warmed to his fiery calls to transform the nation's economy and political system to help the working class. In a fiery speech the night before the caucuses, Sanders lumped the Democratic establishment in with the corporate and Republican establishment, saying they cant stop him. He said the establishment was getting worried about a multiracial coalition that wants higher wages and health care. The outlook was dire for virtually everyone else. Long before voting began, there was skepticism about Pete Buttigieg's ability to win over a more diverse set of voters after strong finishes in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire. It was the opposite for Joe Biden, who struggled in Iowa and New Hampshire but looked to Nevada's voters of color to prove he still has a viable path to the nomination. FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2020, file photo, from left, Democratic presidential candidates, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate Wednesday, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. The Democratic presidential contest has moved to immigrant-heavy Nevada, but the issues of immigration are seldom getting a thorough airing on the campaign trail. Candidates usually throw in a quick condemnation of President Donald Trump's hard-line policies but have shied away from outlining their own immigration positions. Immigration groups say that points to a potential vulnerability for whoever is the Democratic nominee later this year. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)AP The two women left in the race, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, were fighting for momentum, hoping to benefit from a sudden surge of outside money from newly created super PACs. Billionaire Tom Steyer has invested more than $12 million of his own money on television advertising in Nevada, according to data obtained by The Associated Press, which details the extent to which several candidates have gone all-in ahead of Saturday's contest. The pro-Warren Persist super PAC, created in recent days, is spending more money in Nevada this week than any other campaign or allied outside group. Persist, which hasn't yet disclosed any donors and cannot legally coordinate with Warren's campaign, has invested $902,000 this week in Nevada television on her behalf, according to spending data obtained by The AP. That's more than Klobuchar's and Biden's campaigns have spent over the entire year. New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, won't be on the ballot. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month. I think right now predicting who's going to win here in Nevada would be a wild guess," former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in an interview. "And if I were a gambler, which I'm not, I wouldnt be betting on who's gonna win here in Nevada. The political world, meanwhile, hoped there would be a winner at all. Saturday's caucuses are the first since technical glitches and human errors plagued Iowa's kickoff caucuses. Nearly three weeks later, state Democratic officials have yet to post final results. Nevada Democrats have projected confidence in their process, although Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez this week refused to commit to releasing the full results on the day of the vote. He said a number of factors, including early voting and potentially high turnout, could affect the tabulation and timing of results. In addition, Nevada, like Iowa, reports three sets of data from the multistage caucus process. Were going to do our best to release results as soon as possible, but our North Star, again, is accuracy, Perez told The Associated Press this week. One potential complication: Early voting. The state party has added to its responsibilities by offering early voting something Iowa did not attempt. Nevada voters have been eager to partake, given the alternative is to spend significantly more time voting at a chaotic caucus site. The party said nearly 75,000 Democrats cast early ballots, and a majority were first-time caucus-goers. In 2016, a total of 84,000 Nevada voters participated in the Democratic caucuses. A small, but significant number of the ballots cast early were disqualified. Of the more than 36,000 ballots that were cast through Monday, 1,124 ballots were voided largely because voters forgot to sign them, according to the state party, which did not release the final numbers. Party officials said they were reaching out to these voters and encouraging them to caucus in person on Saturday. Campaigning in Las Vegas on the eve of the caucuses, Trump sought to raise doubts about the process. I hear their computers are all messed up just like they were in Iowa. They're not going to be able to count their vote," Trump charged. They're going to tell you about health care. They're going to tell you about our military and jet fighters and the missiles and rockets, but they can't count votes. Amid such concerns, Nevada Democrats tried to stay focused on the candidates and the issues they represent. Reid, who at 80 years old remains one of the most powerful Democrats in the state, predicted that Sanders' signature health care policy, "Medicare for All,: could not win support in Congress. Yet he said he thinks the fiery Vermont senator could bring Democrats together. I have no doubt that if Bernie Sanders is the nominee, the party will unite behind him and beat Trump, Reid said. PHILADELPHIA Two people have been arrested in connection with a street shooting near a Catholic school in Philadelphia that left a woman dead and three men wounded, authorities said. The suspects Charles Davis, 25, and a 16-year-old boy, both of Philadelphia were charged late Thursday with murder, six counts of attempted murder and weapons offenses. It's not clear if more arrests will be made, authorities said. The counts stem from the Wednesday afternoon attack, when two men came from around a corner and started shooting at a group of seven people, authorities said. Witnesses reported hearing roughly 20 shots overall. Yaniyah Foster, 19, and a 25-year-old man were both shot in the head. Foster died late Wednesday, while the man remains hospitalized. The two other wounded men a 23-year-old shot in the foot and a 25-year-old who was hit in the right arm were both treated at a hospital. A motive for the shooting has not been determined. Authorities believe one of the injured men returned fire and wounded one of the two shooters, but that remains under investigation. The shooting occurred shortly after students were dismissed from the St. Malachy school, but no one from the school was injured. PHILADELPHIA (AP) Two people have been arrested in connection with a street shooting near a Catholic school in Philadelphia that left a woman dead and three men wounded, authorities said. The suspects Charles Davis, 25, and a 16-year-old boy, both of Philadelphia were charged late Thursday with murder, six counts of attempted murder and weapons offenses. It's not clear if more arrests will be made, authorities said. The counts stem from the Wednesday afternoon attack, when two men came from around a corner and started shooting at a group of seven people, authorities said. Witnesses reported hearing roughly 20 shots overall. Yaniyah Foster, 19, and a 25-year-old man were both shot in the head. Foster died late Wednesday, while the man remains hospitalized. The two other wounded men a 23-year-old shot in the foot and a 25-year-old who was hit in the right arm were both treated at a hospital. A motive for the shooting has not been determined. Authorities believe one of the injured men returned fire and wounded one of the two shooters, but that remains under investigation. The shooting occurred shortly after students were dismissed from the St. Malachy school, but no one from the school was injured. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles shocking exit has cast a lot of uncertainty on the future for the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will cease being working members of the royal family at the end of March and will be spending the majority of their time in North America. Harry and Meghan have faced incredible scrutiny from the British press since they wed in May 2018, without a peep from the palace. Which begs the question, if Queen Elizabeth had stepped in, would Meghan and Harry have stayed? Prince Harry | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle under attack Since Prince Harry went public with biracial actress, Meghan Markle, she has been under attack from the British media particularly from Piers Morgan. But the palace has never once come to her defense, leading Harry to reveal that there really was no other option than for his family to seek out a more peaceful life across the pond. Royal fans can only wonder if Queen Elizabeth missed an opportunity to protect and defend the Duchess of Sussex. After they announced their exit, Her Majesty said that she was particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. But according to Vanity Fair, that was too little too late. Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Reveal New Details Of Royal Transition, Admit to 'Saddening' Aspect Of Their Exit https://t.co/JInAhZH4Ub pic.twitter.com/WUEbiytWRF 1031 KCDA (@1031KCDA) February 22, 2020 The bullying of his wife hit a little too close to home for Prince Harry, who had seen the same treatment happen to his beloved mother, Princess Diana. Ive seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person, he said in a statement announcing a lawsuit against The Mail on Sunday last year. I lost my mother, and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces. Queen Elizabeth has not said a lot about Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exit besides a few public statements, in which she really just seems to be putting her foot down about certain specifics about their exit. While she may have missed an opportunity to protect Meghan and Harry, many royal watchers think all the drama makes the royal family seem a little more relatable. Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch in British history Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne for the past 68 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in the 1,047-year-old royal family. But with Her Majesty turning 94 years old this year, it is only a matter of time before Charles takes the throne. Given the length of Queen Elizabeths reign, Charles has waited longer than anyone to sit on the throne. Although he is fully expected to be the next King of the United Kingdom, there has been a lot of talk about him abdicating in favor of William. It looks like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will no longer use the Sussex Royal brandhttps://t.co/irhS1z6fIA pic.twitter.com/GBRkgbgwIM MadameNoire (@MadameNoire) February 22, 2020 William is currently second in line to the throne and is one of the most popular members of the royal family. Charles, on the other hand, has suffered through quite a few scandals over the years, so letting William take over after Queen Elizabeth wouldnt be a bad idea. And with all the drama Prince Harry and Meghans exit has caused for the royals, they could definitely use a boost in popularity. Is this the real reason why Prince Harry left the royal family? Harry and Meghan have remained very quiet about their decision to leave the royal family. While fans continue to speculate why they left, royal expert Mike Graham has speculated that jealousy may have been the catalyst for their departure. In a recent interview, Graham pointed out that moving to North America will not take Prince Harry and Meghan Markle out of the spotlight. This is especially true if they plan on making a living for themselves in New York City or Los Angeles. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle eyeing $7M Malibu mansion once owned by David Charvet https://t.co/X4eow9JXu9 pic.twitter.com/6USws95Tmi New York Post (@nypost) February 22, 2020 For Graham, this raises questions about why the two decided to leave in the first place. What they are going to get away from is the Royal Family and this is a slightly grey area that is difficult to understand, he explained. What is it about the Royal Family that they are so very upset with? I wish I could ask them, I think this is what everybody wants to know. What is it that has driven them out? What jealousies? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not commented on the reports surrounding their shocking exit from the royal family. Former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Venus Behbahani-Clark is currently expecting her third child with husband James Nicholas Clark. It will be the first boy for the reality star, who already shares two daughters, Giselle, 10, and Sophia, six, with James. Venus recently documented her pregnancy in a stunning photoshoot taken last month, when she was 22 weeks pregnant. Baby joy! Former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Lady Venus Behbahani-Clark is currently expecting her third child with husband Lord James Nicholas Clark In one image, the lawyer poses fully nude in nothing but a blue silk robe. A large tattoo of a rose that covers her lower abdomen and extends to her hip is clearly visible in the shot. In another image, the brunette beauty poses in a lacy black bra and unbuttoned denim jeans with her growing bump on full display. Motherhood: Venus recently documented her pregnancy in a stunning photoshoot (pictured) taken last month, when she was 22 weeks pregnant Venus also shared a pregnancy selfie taken last week, when she was 26 weeks along. The cosmetics mogul officially announced her pregnancy last month on Instagram. 'A new decade! A new beginning and a new life to join our family mid 2020! James and I are so grateful,' she wrote. 'We have been blessed with a little soul! We are expecting a little angel soon,' she continued. Baby bump: In one image, the brunette beauty poses in a lacy black bra and unbuttoned denim jeans with her growing bump on full display 'Giselle and Sophia have filled places in our heart that we truly never knew were empty. Im so grateful that we are all preparing to fall in love for a lifetime yet again.' She finished: 'There is such a special sweetness in being able to participate in creation and its even sweeter when you do it with your best friend and soul mate.' Venus recently confirmed that she wouldn't be part of the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, and would instead be focusing on her growing family and returning to work as a lawyer. Glowing: Venus also shared a pregnancy selfie taken last week, when she was 26 weeks along 'I will be out of office for The Real Housewives of Melbourne season 5!' she announced on Instagram this week. 'So grateful to have worked with an amazing and unbelievably hardworking production crew @matchbox_pictures, and network @foxtel who together with the cast, work endless hours to make this show a hit!' She continued: 'This year Im hanging my heels and concentrating on my growing family and I cant wait for my little BOY to join our pack... yes its A BOYYYY and we are ecstatic!!!!!' 'James and I are so grateful': Venus recently confirmed that she wouldn't be back for the new season of Real Housewives of Melbourne, and will instead be focused on her growing family Family: The lawyer already shares two daughters, Giselle, 10, and Sophia, six, with James Earlier this week, Foxtel confirmed that Gina Liano, Gamble Breaux, Lydia Schiavello, and Janet Roach would all be back for season five of the series. They will also be joined by three brand new Housewives: former CNN news anchor Anjali Rao, yoga teacher Cherry Dipietrantonio and 'champagne educator' Kyla Kirkpatrick. Along with Venus, Jackie Gillies and Sally Bloomfield will not be returning. The new season is set to begin filming in March and will air on Foxtel later this year. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results The Nevada caucus, the third contest in the Democratic presidential race, is Saturday. Here are six questions going into that fateful vote Las Vegas: The Nevada caucus, the third contest in the Democratic presidential race, is Saturday. Here are six questions going into that fateful vote. How well does Bernie Sanders do? Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has high expectations going into the caucus. He is leading national polls and his campaign has a huge footprint in Nevada, a state he narrowly lost to Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Sanders also had lofty prospects going into New Hampshire last week because he won that state by 22 points in the 2016 primary, and he only eked out a narrow victory over former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Nothing's guaranteed Saturday, especially in Nevada, whose young caucuses (this is only their fourth iteration) are unpredictable. If Sanders wins, he solidifies front-runner status heading into South Carolina next week and, more important, into critical Super Tuesday primaries on 3 March. But if something goes wrong, or he only barely pulls out a win, it will intensify questions about whether the self-declared democratic socialist can extend his support beyond his fervent base. How will Labour flex its muscle? Sanders and Joe Biden have long held themselves out as the champions of organized labor. Nevada will offer a fresh test of their appeal. The Culinary Union, which represents many of the workers in the casino and hotel industry, is one of the most powerful political forces in the state. Its endorsement was coveted by all of the candidates, but the union decided to not endorse. In 2008, the union's decision to back Barack Obama was critical to his success in the state. Though Sanders would seem a natural ally, many union members prize the health care that comes with their jobs as a result of their membership and do not embrace Sanders' plan for Medicare for All. Biden has hammered on this point, as he critically needs union members' backing. How high is turnout? Nevada Democrats have been heartened that their experiment with early caucus voting led to nearly 75,000 people marking preference cards in four days of initial balloting before the main event Saturday. That's close to the 84,000 who voted in 2016. After a disappointing turnout in Iowa, Democrats hope Nevada shows their voters are enthusiastic enough about the election to defeat President Donald Trump in November. Some Democrats hope Nevada surpasses the 118,000 who showed up at the 2008 caucuses when Obama faced Clinton. But Democrats should be careful about declaring victory based on raw numbers. There are more Democrats in fast-growing Nevada now than in 2008, when more than one-quarter of all Democrats participated in the caucus. The number of caucus participants needed for 2020 to surpass that 2008 rate would be above 150,000. Will Nevada winnow the field? This is the musical chairs portion of the primary. Normally, at the end of each contest, at least some candidates have to drop out due to poor performance and lack of funds. It hasn't worked that way so far because the field has been so evenly split, but that can't last forever. Will Nevada be the end of one of the six main candidates? If not, will a disappointing finish in the state hasten an eventual exit? Even if someone drops out, there's another Democrat, billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, waiting on the ballot on Super Tuesday states, making it likely Democratic voters will still have numerous choices going into the busiest stretch of primary season. This is not necessarily a good thing. What do minority voters do? After two early states that are overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire Nevada may change the picture. The state is among the most diverse in the nation. And even though caucuses require a greater investment of time, which can make it harder for minorities to participate, the event will feature a far more diverse electorate. The problem is there is no reliable polling or data that will tell us how different demographic groups split. That's because highly transient Nevada is notoriously difficult to survey. Still, by studying precinct level data, analysts and campaigns will glean indications of how candidates did. Will Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar be able to broaden their appeal to Latinos, African Americans and Asians? Will Sanders, as he has been hoping, assemble a multi-ethnic coalition? Will Biden hold onto the minority voters that were once presumed to propel him to the nomination? Nevada demographically resembles the diverse array of states scheduled to vote on Super Tuesday, when nearly one-third of the total delegates in the contest are up for grabs. It may hint at what lies ahead in the race. Did the debate happen in time for Warren? Many months ago, Nevada politicos viewed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as the Democrat to beat in their state. She assembled a team of operatives to push her populist message of structural change that was expected to resonate with Nevada's working-class Democrats. But then Warren's national position began to erode, and she limped into Nevada a political afterthought. That changed on Wednesday night when Warren delivered a powerful debate performance highlighted by her skewering of Bloomberg. She saw an avalanche of money and attention. But a huge share of Nevada had already voted by then. After weathering a disappointing fourth-place showing in New Hampshire, which borders her home state, Warren desperately needs a win. Will Nevada make her the next comeback kid? Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary is facing criticism for suggesting Muslim men should be singled out for extra scrutiny at airports. The boss of the Irish budget carrier told Saturday's Times of London that families with young children should not be subjected to airport security checks because there was "zero" chance of them being bombers. He said terrorists "will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion." "Thirty years ago it was the Irish," he said. "If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat." The Muslim Council of Britain called the comments "racist and discriminatory." Tell Mama, a charity that monitors hate incidents against Muslims, said O'Leary's "flippant" comments could harm Ryanair's business. Labour Party lawmaker Khalid Mahmood said O'Leary was "being very blinkered and is actually encouraging racism." O'Leary has a history of provocative remarks that keep Ryanair's name in the headlines. In a wide-ranging interview with the Times, O'Leary branded most airport security "utterly useless," complained that airlines unfairly got the blame for climate change, and said requirements that Ryanair's Dublin offices have disabled access to all floors were "nonsense." Search Keywords: Short link: The Mahashivratri celebrations continued in the Rameswaram town of Tamil Nadu on Saturday as devotees celebrated the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati with the annual chariot procession. Large number of people thronged the Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu God. Scores of people participated in the annual chariot procession, which is a part of the 12-day long festival. Men and women, young and old, dressed up in traditional clothes and offered prayers to Lord Shiva- one of the most prominent Gods in Hindu pantheon. Mahashivratri, celebrated in the month of Phalgun (February-March) in accordance with the Hindu calendar, saw festivities in some other southern states on Friday. In the city of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, devotees thronged the Srikalahasteeswara Temple in large numbers to celebrate the 'marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati'. The holy place was decorated with bright coloured flowers and people were paying respect to the shiva-lingam inside the complex. In Karnataka's Kalaburagi, a 25-feet tall Shivling was a major attraction as the idol was covered in orange and brown colour of peas along with marigold flowers. In Odisha's capital, men and women gathered at Lingaraj Temple to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivratri. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to India, the 'Howdy Modi' team on Saturday (local time) extended its best wishes to organisers of 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad. The US President will land in Ahmedabad on February 24 and will address the "Namaste Trump" event in Motera Stadium with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We know the level of hard work that the 'Namaste Trump' event organisers must be putting in for their summit on February 24's. We look forward to seeing the results of their labour in a few days," Jugal Malani, convener of the 'Howdy, Modi' community summit in Houston, Texas was quoted as saying, in a statement. During his visit to the US in September last year, Modi along with Trump had addressed a crowd of around 50,000 Indian-Americans in Houston. "It was at the Howdy, Modi summit on September 22, 2019, with a packed crowd in attendance that Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Trump to visit India. The Texas India Forum is pleased to see that the event has continued to further US-India relations with the visit of President Trump, the first time a US President has visited India in their first term of office," the statement said. It stated that Trump's visit to India provides another opportunity for improving the bilateral relationship between the two countries and strengthening their strategic partnership, which would be a potential boon for economic prosperity and peace. "A deepened commitment to an open Indo-Pacific as well as a deal to reduce existing trade barriers that would generate new jobs in both countries and surpass the current USD 145 billion in bilateral trade will be in the interest of both countries, and Texas India Forum hopes that both the Howdy, Modi and Namaste Trump events contribute to those goals," the statement further said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Chinese government is 'deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight' which was to fly to Wuhan with medical supplies and bring remaining Indians back, sources said on Saturday. However, China continues to maintain that there is no delay, Even though on Friday, the day the flight was supposed to go to Wuhan, but inexplicably the clearance was not given. Indian Air Force's largest plane C-17 Globemaster was scheduled to fly to Coronavirus affected city Wuhan on Friday to evacuate Indians but it was delayed citing technical issues. IAF's plane was to carry medical supplies to China and then to evacuate remaining Indians from Wuhan. On Friday, the Globemaster could not fly as it could not get clearance from Chinese government. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to Chinese President Xi Jinping conveying solidarity with people and the government of China in meeting the challenges due to coronavirus outbreak. He had also offered to provide relief materials to china. Indian government then put together relief supplies in pursuance of this commitment. However, Chinese government is not giving clearance to Globemaster to take a flight to Wuhan. In the meantime, Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight which will evacuate them to India. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish. They also said while China is not giving clearance to India, evacuation flights from other countries are still going on, including by France. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 16:42:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A pharmaceutical company in east China has introduced robots to assist herbal decoction and boost the productivity of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) amid the #coronavirus outbreak. The nation's police forces and Border Force have warned that a string of tax increases on tobacco, aimed at cutting Australia's smoking rate, has encouraged organised criminals into the market just as the excise on a single cigarette is poised to hit $1. As the federal budget's dependence on tobacco excise climbs to record levels, MPs are looking at ways to stop a sharp lift in the supply and sale of illicit cigarettes that is being driven by organised criminals taking advantage of the big increase in prices. The Rudd government started a string of tobacco excise increases in 2010 that, accompanied by health initiatives such as plain packaging, have reduced the national smoking rate sharply. The most recent national accounts showed total legal tobacco consumption at an all-time low. The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), University of Ghana (UG) Chapter on Friday said it considers the suspension of Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Butakor, both UG lecturers as relatively harsh. It said considering that the core allegations of Sex for Grades could not be established against the two lecturers, their suspension for six and four months respectively without pay is relatively harsh. A statement issued and signed by Dr Samuel N. Nkumbaan, President of UG-UTAG, copied to the Ghana News Agency said what the lecturers went through from the onset of the breaking of the news to its current stage is enough punishment for them and therefore it was harsher to add additional six and four months respectively. That UTAG is of a considered opinion that the period of their interdiction and the financial implications of the interdiction constituted sufficient punishment, and expect the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee to have taken cognizance of that. In a communication to University Management, UTAG suggested a suspension with retrospective effect from the time of their interdiction, requiring them to refund financial remunerations received during the period of their interdiction (since the suspension is without pay), to lessen the sum of the economic and emotional impact that this has had on them, it added. UTAG, therefore, expresses mixed feelings concerning the suspension of the two over the alleged Sex for Grades, scandal by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The statement also noted that the University in its public and official communications on the matter had been deficient in communicating the actual findings of the Committee. This in our view has not done the University good in terms of clearing the name and image of our members and the University of the allegations levelled against them by the BBC, it said. The statement said the Association would not condone the contradiction of the statutes of the University, the Code of Conduct for its members, Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy and other policies of the University. It cautioned against the undue external interferences in the discharge of their mandate to the University and urged management to fiercely resist attempts to dilute the Academic freedom and autonomy of the institution. It said the Association would work closely with management of the University, especially in areas of continuous training and sensitization of the academic community on the codes and policies that governed relationships and conducts as members of the University. It would be recalled that the BBC, on October 2019, aired a documentary titled, Sex for Grades- Uncover in West African Universities, in which Prof. Gyampo and Dr Butakor, were implicated. Management of UG followed-up with a Facts Finding Committee to probe into the matter but found no established facts of Sex for Grades against the two lecturers. The two were, however, arraigned before the Disciplinary Committee on charges of misconduct and its recommendations have culminated in the suspension of Prof Gyampo and Dr Butakor for six and four months respectively without pay. Meanwhile, Prof. Gyampo and Dr Butakor have decided not to pursue the matter any further but serve their respective sanctions. 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 (Newser) An Ohio woman was arrested for calling 911 when her parents cut off her cellphone service, authorities said. Seloni Khetarpal was arrested Feb. 13 by Massillon police and charged with disrupting police services, a fourth-degree felony, the AP reports. Jail records show that Khetarpal, 36, repeatedly called emergency dispatchers because her parents had terminated her cellphone service, which they paid for. story continues below The Canton Repository reports that an officer contacted her and advised she call emergency services only for emergencies. Two hours later, she called again and "was belligerent and stated she believed it to be a legitimate issue," according to jail records. Court records do not list an attorney who could speak on Khetarpal's behalf. (Read more 911 call stories.) A mother is accused of abandoning her newborn baby and leaving her to die in a vacant lot in freezing temperatures. Baby Sophie Grace Hadden was found dead with her umbilical cord still attached on November 12 last year. Mum Nicole Layman, 22, from Port Jervis, New York, is now facing second-degree murder charges. The baby, who was naked except for a blanket in which she had been wrapped, was found by a passerby on the corner of Hornbeck Avenue and Brooklyn Street. It is believed that Sophie was abandoned shortly after being born. An autopsy concluded the baby was born alive but died after being left in freezing cold temperatures in the vacant lot. Layman was identified as the mother the same day but was only arrested after more forensic evidence was found. Port Jervis Police chief William Worden said: The grave nature of the crime for which the defendant is accused has emotionally touched all involved in this investigation and our community at large. Layman is due to appear at the City Port Jervis Court on Monday. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates La Crosse Community Theatre heads back into the Veterans Studio Theatre for its next offering, Proof. The winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, Proof is an unassuming family drama with deep-running themes. Those worried that the mathematical elements of the play might be tedious or akin to a return to high school algebra can breathe easy. When it comes to Proof, math is a vehicle for so much more. At its heart, Proof lays bare one of humanitys most essential drives: to solve for x, to know the unknown, says director William Garcia. We are all trying to understand our loves, our traumas, our happiness, our loss. And, in this sense, math becomes not some mystical language spoken by a select few, but another method people use to make sense of their world. Proof tells the story of Catherine, a woman who abandoned her own life to care for her brilliant but mentally unstable mathematician father, Garcia said. Catherine lives with the fear that her own mathematical ability may come at the price of her sanity. In her quest to determine the truth, Catherine struggles with the specter of mental illness, the demeaning of women in professional circles, and the pain of becoming a caregiver to those who cared for you. As she seeks to discover mathematical truths, she must also learn to discover herself. Playwright David Auburn was only 31 with just one other play in his catalog when Proof won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001. He was quoted as saying that he never set out to write an award-winning show. Speaking to Playbill On-Line about Proofs success, Auburn said: I was surprised when the play got picked up for production (by Manhattan Theatre Club), I was surprised when it (moved) to Broadway. However, the themes of the show resonated with critics and audiences alike. When asked if Auburn thought in terms of themes while writing Proof he said, I really just thought in terms of plot the first time through, trying to get the story to make sense and be clear. But he believes that people embraced the show because everyone has parents and everyone aspires to be like them in some ways and have concerns about other traits they may (inherit). Megan Bridget, who plays the lead character of Catherine, has found performing in the show to be cathartic. Being able to bring Catherine to life with the help of my own life experiences, including having a parent suffer with mental-health issues, has been the most challenging and rewarding experience in my theatre career. Megan is joined by LCT veterans Dan Radtke, Dominique Sicard and Allante Walker. The production team includes assistant director and sound designer Luke Erickson, set and lighting designer Kit Mayer, costume designer Jennifer Burchell, props master Sue Tomashek, sound technician Ryan Van Berkum, technical director Peter Suardi, and stage manager Katelyn Klieve. Audiences can expect a realistic, challenging, yet ultimately compassionate view of mental illness as they watch Proof. Its been interesting to see how the different characters respond to loved ones with mental illness, Sicard sys. Everyone thinks they have the best approach, but despite their best efforts, they still have very little influence over the final result. I think the characters who win in the end are the ones who continue to do the work both on themselves and on supporting one another. IF YOU GO WHAT: La Crosse Community Theatres production of "Proof." WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28-29, March 5-7, and 12-14, and 2 p.m. March 1, 8, and 15. WHERE: Weber Center for the Performing Arts Veterans Studio Theatre, 428 S. Front St. S WHO: William Garcia directs a cast that includes Megan Bridget as Catherine, Allante Walker as Hal, Dominique Sicard as Claire and Dan Radtke as Robert. TICKETS: $24 to $28, and $16 for students and members of the military; call 608-784-9292 or go to www.lacrossecommunitytheatre.org Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Online Desk NEW DELHI: Terrorists and corrupt people have "no right to privacy" and these people should not be allowed to abuse the internet, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Saturday. Speaking at the inauguration of the International Judicial Conference 2020 - 'Judiciary and the Changing World', Prasad said it needs to be acknowledged that people who abuse the finest creations of humankind, one of which is the internet, pose the biggest threats. He said the right to privacy has been held to be a fundamental right and the government appreciates that but "terrorists and the corrupt have no right to privacy because the right to privacy has acquired critical proportion in the wake of digital landscape expanding globally". "This is the age of information and information is power. This is the age of communication and communication is power," he explained. The minister said the right to privacy verdict of the Supreme Court has become a beacon globally as it held that the right to privacy flows from Article 21 right to life and right to live with dignity. Prasad also warned about the "sinister trend" of some people "unleashing all forces of criticism" if courts do not deliver judgments in line with their expectations. "In a democracy, we welcome dissent, we welcome populism. But we have a problem when populism impinges upon the well-settled constitutional principles. And populism also becomes the problem when those rejected in the popular mandate becomes the biggest flag-bearers of populism," he said. According to the Constitution, Prasad said, it is clear that governance must be left to those elected to govern and they need to be accountable to Parliament, in many ways to judicial decisions, and to people in elections. "But what is challenging is that populism is seeking to have a greater accountability as to what kind of judgments there should be. I am a great supporter of social media freedom. I know it is empowering but this (populism) is a dangerous trend. Judges must be left completely independent to give judgments. In accordance with the rule of law," he said. Prasad said the "sinister trend (of populism) is developing globally" and also in India, where people have started campaigning for the kind of judgment they expect. "If a judgment is not in accordance with them, they unleash all forces of criticism," he said, adding that the criticism of a judgment can be acceptable but criticising the judiciary is not appropriate. Talking about gender justice, he said India is "very proud" that the Indian women are doing so well. "You can see so many women judges sitting here of high courts and the Supreme Court, including chief justices. Our prime minister has taken a lead in empowering women in India by 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. Educate the girl child, develop the girl child," he said. Prasad, who also holds the portfolio of the Information and Technology Ministry, said half of the four million people working in the sector are women. "Our prime minister was bold enough to permit that women Indian Air Force pilot will also fly fighter planes and this was complimented by the recent judgment of the Supreme Court where Indian women Army officials were given the right to command. I think these are great initiatives of gender empowerment," he said. The Union minister, however, accepted that there exists the challenges of victimisation of women and young girls but said the government has responded to address the issue by making rape laws tougher and establishing more than 1,000 fast-track courts. "Surely this is a work in progress. We have to ensure that while we celebrate Indian women scientists joining the space programme for Mars, they should also get justice," he said. He also talked about the money saved due to Aadhaar, opening of bank accounts and the use of technology by the government. "Obviously, it has given rise to a lot of data and data is important. We need to keep the right balance and the balance is that we accord constitutional sanction to privacy but at the same time, we should not kill innovation. We should not kill the application of new technology. Our courts have recognised that exception. India today has become the third biggest start-up ecosystem in the world," he said. The minister said there should be a balance between rights and duties and everyone should work in a manner that the identity of India continues to remain strong and resilient. Omeath-based jewellery maker Garrett Mallon is wearing his heart on his sleeve as he has launched a new collection of jewellery to help raise funds for the Irish Heart Foundation. The collection, appropriately named Irish Heart was officially launched last Thursday in the Kilkenny Design Centre, Nassau Street to tie in with the IHF GO Red campaign to highlight the issue of woman's heart health. It's a cause that's close to his heart with Garrett explaining that he has created this new range as his way of giving a little bit back to the IHF as they have helped his family come to terms with being diagnosed with a genetic heart condition. His wife Sarah Mallon and their two sons Michael and Oisin have all be diagnosed with a hereditary disorder, similar to the one which claimed the life of Tyrone GAA star Cormac McAnallen. 'I was there holding hands as we were going through the process of their being diagnosed and this is my way of giving something back to the Irish Heart Foundation as you could always pick up the phone and get speaking to someone,' says Garrett. Sarah, who spoke at the launch on Thursday night, explains: 'I am the current chair of the national Long QT Support Group and we would like to help contribute to the ongoing support that is given to individuals and families learning to live with this and other conditions.' The collection consists of pendants, earrings, bracelet and tie tack and tie pin in Garrett's signature textured silver with an 18 carat gold vermeil heart. A percentage of each sale will be donated to the Irish Heart Foundation on an on-going basis. The collection is currently only on sale in Garrett's workshop in Carlingford Design House, online at garrettmallon.com and for the next month exclusively in Kilkenny store on Nassau Street and after this it will be available in other quality retail outlets throughout Ireland. There has already been a great response to the collection with people ordering items from across the country. In late February, the world remembers the victims of the Khojaly tragedy: from October 1991, the Azerbaijani city of Khojaly was surrounded by the Armenian armed forces, and after massive artillery attacks on the night of February 25-26, 1992, the armed forces of Armenia with the help of the former USSR 366th motorized rifle regiment captured Khojaly. As a result of the Khojaly genocide, 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women were killed, eight families were completely exterminated, 487 people were injured, 1275 were taken prisoners and hostages. The fate of 150 people, including 68 women and 26 children, is still unknown. For 48-year-old Durdana Aghayeva, the eight days of captivity she was subjected to by the occupying forces of Nagorno-Karabakh felt agonisingly long - more like 80 days, Bernama.com writes in the article The painful journey of an Azerbaijani war victim. She was beaten and tortured in a basement of a police station after being captured while trying to flee in the aftermath of the Khojaly tragedy. It was during the early morning of Feb 26, 1992, that the Khojaly-born woman was just 20 years old and working as a telephone operator. Like many young people, she dreamed of many things including the pursuit of tertiary education only for the war to shatter the dreams. Aghayeva is eldest in her family and she has three brothers. Her father died in 1986 while her mother died in 2017. Like any other war victims, the past still haunts Aghayeva. She was fleeing her home with some 70 to 80 people young, old, children and women, and including her family members into a forest area to find a safe place. But according to her, the painful tragedy struck when a shot wounded her right leg and she was captured. In an exclusive interview with Bernama in Baku recently, Aghayeva through a translator said that her 19-year-old brother was also injured and captured. They were separated from their mother, grandmother and brothers who managed to reach a safe zone. "Everyone was trying to flee their homes in Khojaly. And when they began firing, everyone lost each other we got separated. Many were wounded. "I felt like it was a very dark, long and cold night...we were forced to walk 3 kilometres in pain to a police station...it was harsh winter and snow. We all pleaded, cried, even scared to ask for water, and afraid of torture. I got no clue as to what was waiting for me. The only thing that came to mind was that I am going to die. We reached the police station in the early morning," she narrated between her sobbing, detailing the trauma and ordeal she went through. Aghayeva, along with her brother, was released after eight days in exchange for prisoners of war and handed over to the Azerbaijani military before being reunited with her family after she insisted that she will only go if her brother, too, is released. She was depressed following the ordeal and frequently needed hospital visits. In 1998, she married a man from Baku who she met during the course of her job in the field of communication, and gave birth to a girl in 2002. Her daughter, now 17 and in secondary school, also joined the interview. Aghayeva said that she still works in the communication field to support her family and lives in a housing area for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) provided by the Azerbaijani government. "After the capture and the incident...it was like I lost all my dreams, like getting married and having a family, until I met this person. When I started meeting him, slowly I told him all my stories. He was the first person I told my story to. He said he fully accepted me as I am. He supported me, especially emotional support. Finally, I saw a little light at the end of the tunnel," Aghayeva explained. "He encouraged me to tell the story to the outside world...if by doing so I can feel it can heal me. Finally, my story was published in a book entitled Eight Days In Armenian Captivity - Memories of a girl from Khojaly. Telling the story has a healing effect," said Aghayeva, who unfortunately lost her husband three years ago. She has visited the United States, Turkey, Italy, Russia and Iran to share her experiences and convey the message of peace. Her book was written in 2016 and published in four languages: Turkish, Russian, Azerbaijan and English. She said that she didn't have any intention to write a book at first because she only wanted to tell the story for her daughter to read in the future. "But people encouraged me to write and as a survivor of war, I feel I have the responsibility to tell the world," she pointed out. "Peace is the key to everything. I have seen the brutality of war. War is eviI, so pray for peace everywhere. I don't want any child...any women to go through what I went through. I don't wish for any woman to have to undergo what I went through. Islam is a religion of peace," she said. Aghayeva recalled the beautiful days and years prior to the conflict where there was peaceful co-existence between Azerbaijanis and Armenians. "I hope that this occupation will end so that we, the IDPs, can go back to our homes in Khojaly and other currently occupied areas...to touch once again the flowers...to experience the spring... to feel the beautifulness of our villages and our towns," said Aghayeva, her eyes in tears longing for that day. "It was a war and though I saw them (captors) as enemies, and having been tortured, I don't wish for any of them or their family members to endure what I had to go through," Aghayeva said. In 1992, war broke out between the two former Soviet states, resulting in Armenias occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijans territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. All these areas are internationally recognised, including by Malaysia, as part of Azerbaijan. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Malaysia Prof Dr Qaley Allahverdiyev said that the Azerbaijan government is working towards gaining international acknowledgment to recognise the tragedy as a genocide. He said more than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons due to the Armenian occupation. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that Egypt seeks to cooperate with African countries to achieve justice and sustainable development. Madbouly's statement came during the opening of the fourth high-level meeting of heads of African constitutional and supreme courts and constitutional councils in Cairo. Madbouly also highlighted various achievements made during Egypt's chairmanship of the African Union (AU). Convening under the patronage of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the Cairo meeting was attended by Minister of Justice Omar Marwan and Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Said El-Assar along with heads and members of various judicial bodies, 35 delegations from African countries and international experts on constitutional jurisprudence. Madbouly focused on Silencing the Guns as an example of the key initiatives to boost cooperation in Africa in addition to the AU institutional reform which was carried out during Egypt's chairmanship of the pan-African body. He also tackled Egypt's efforts in promoting the aspirations of African countries at various international forums including Munich Security Conference and Beijing forum. Search Keywords: Short link: In the mid-'80s a couple who owned 37 acres in the high Arizona desert wanted to build something a little different. Employing a Swedish mining technique, they carved a comfortable modern home into a mountainside in the former mining town of Bisbee. Their ingenious idea created a weatherproof home unlike any other in the world. Now, the one-of-a-kind cave house is on the market for $998,500. It awaits new owners who totally dig adventurous, beautiful, underground living. The cave dwelling has been featured on HGTV and Forbes, and we even covered it way back in 2013. The current owner purchased the three-bedroom, four-bathroom, 2,500-square-foot home in 2018 for $987,000. But after just a couple of months of ownership, he decided to sell the property so he could travel the world, according to listing agent Krystal Winters. The main house includes a jaw-dropping tropical bathroom, a kitchen, dining area, spiral staircase, and loft bedroom. The property is fed by natural hot springs, which fill pools and a hot tub located throughout the property. The boulders surrounding the home keep temperatures constant throughout long, hot desert summers and chilly winters. Above ground is a detached two-story guesthouse with an office, library, workshop, and carport. Living space realtor.com Kitchen realtor.com Dining room realtor.com Tropical bath realtor.com Hallway realtor.com Loft bedroom realtor.com Another bedroom realtor.com Patio realtor.com Guesthouse realtor.com Springs realtor.com Bisbee sits in Southern Arizona among the Mule Mountains. During the early 1900s, it was a booming mining town. After the mine closed in the 1970s, the town was reinvented as a haven for artists looking for an inexpensive place to settle down. The cave home is an ideal representation of the arearugged and fiercely individual. And considering the home was listed for $1.5 million in 2013, the current list price makes this quirky abode a bargain to boot. The post Could You Live in a Cave? Arizona Home Carved Into a Mountain Beckons Intrepid Buyers appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Olatoye Babatunde Olatoye Babatunde, a Nigerian student in China, has reportedly volunteered to partake in ongoing efforts towards combating the coronavirus in the Asian country. Coronavirus has killed at least 2,224, infected a staggering 76,775 people, and spread to about 28 countries across the globe, ever since the zoonotic disease broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Babatunde, 24, was said to have volunteered after deciding he could contribute his little part, having been touched by the efforts of medical workers who fight against the disease at the frontline. According to Ecns, Babatunde, who lives within East Chinas Jiangsu province, helps record the travel information of residents of the community and takes their temperatures in Nanjing. Ever since he started his volunteering on February 6, pictures of him going about his duties amidst kitted Chinese medical experts have been making the rounds on social media. I was scared. Countless cases were piling up on the desks, and every single doctor was wearing protective clothes, something Id never seen before, the young volunteer was quoted to have said. According to reports, Babatunde had suspected he caught the virus on January 21, after he started running a fever and could not finish his dinner on account of feeling weak. However, doctors had dismissed his cases as a minor one, advising that he goes home, only for the pain to deteriorate, with some members of his family later showing symptoms of the disease. Babatundes test results were negative as Chinese medical experts warned of the possibility that uninfected people may suffer the paranoia that accompanies the fear of contracting the disease. TheCable had earlier reported that Lai Mohammed, Nigerias minister for information, said citizens in Wuhan, a Chinese city where the virus is more prevalent, were unwilling to return home. Kem Daryl, Africas first coronavirus patient, who was in the Chinese city of Jingzhou during the outbreak, said he decided to remain in the Asian to avoid bringing the disease into the continent. Amid the scramble for vaccines, clinical evidence recently suggested that Chloroquine Phosphate, a widely-used antimalarial and autoimmune disease drug, can be effective in tackling the disease. Coronavirus has been confirmed in Singapore, UK, Malaysia, Taiwan, Spain, Vietnam, Germany, UAE, France, Japan, with the World Health Organisation declaring a global emergency. Other countries where cases of the disease have been reported are Thailand, Canada, Australia, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Cambodia, and the United States. Photo credit: (China News Service/ Yang Bo) *** Via TheCable ALTON The cityscape and residents of Alton are providing the focus for Scrape the Rust from Your Knees, a book project by photographer Los Angeles photographer Jenna Carlie. Chronicling Alton and its people, Carlie started photographing subjects roughly two years ago loosely using the stylistic and systematic approach of photo typology. Starting with the Alton cityscape and following with local artists and creatives, her goal is to illuminate peoples commonalities while retaining the variations inherent in each individual. I have photographed over 40 artists with a similar stylistic approach and purpose in mind, said Carlie. Although each subject is vastly unique makes different work, thinks differently and has different experiences what connects them is that they are artists. The underlying concept is that everyone has commonalities that can connect us to one another and also traits that make us unique and special, she said. Originally from St. Louis, Carlie took an interest in photography as a young girl, attending schools in Paris, Rhode Island and Los Angeles before working for renowned artists such as Annie Leibovitz, Lauren Greenfield and Alexa Meade. An artist and storyteller, she uses her skills in documentary photography and her interest in contemporary issues to express herself both visually and verbally, creating stories about people and places traditionally underrepresented. She currently lives in Los Angeles and visits Alton to work on the project and said she has considered moving to the area. I think Alton is a really amazing small town that a lot of people dont know exists, Carlie said. I have met some really incredible people in Alton, and whenever I come into town I feel at home even though it is not my home. Finding raw beauty in the ordinary and imperfect while exploring relationships between people and their surroundings, Carlies work is a juxtaposition between light and shadow, differences and similarities, and those underrepresented and represented. My images arent about making people or life look perfect, she said. My images are about telling a story. There is so much beauty in the imperfect, raw, honest and natural, she said. I try to avoid photographing people posing for the camera. Instead, I try to photograph them when they are in their true essence of just being. Carlie said the most important aspect of her work is keeping an open mind and practicing acceptance. By getting to know her subjects before photographing them, she believes she connects with them and more accurately represents them. I want to get to know the person and what their background is, learn about the experiences theyve had, whats important to them, what drives them, what makes them who they are, she said. When I make really good work that means something to me, and its usually when I have taken the time to get to know the person on a more personal level. I think the reason people feel comfortable opening up to me is because I am not judging them and most of my subjects feel that right away, she said. She said her goal as an artist is to be genuine, make a difference in the world and create works about which she is passionate. Rather than chase stories or styles for money, she said she prefers to risk self expression and doing what she loves without worrying what others think. You just have to focus on what you are truly passionate about and trust that there will be people out there who will respond to your work and appreciate it, she said. I also always try to make work that tells stories about people or things that are underrepresented or overlooked. My photos are meant to encourage people to slow down and give others a chance (especially before judging them) to share stories that are not commonly told, discuss issues that are not openly discussed, give a voice to minorities and hopefully allow viewers to open up to someone elses experience, perspective and story, she said. Financing her project has been a challenge. So has been finding a gallery, agent and book publisher. But she trusts shell meet her end goal of publishing a fine art photo book and having her own photo exhibition. This is an independent project that I am self-funding from money I made doing other photography jobs, Carlie said. She also is seeking grants and other opportunities to help with the project. Carlie said she is seeking photo subjects in the Alton area who identify as female, transgender and non-binary and are in a line of work that deals with contemporary issues. I am inspired by peoples stories, and when I hear about the things others have gone through, it inspires me to make work about those things, she said. I have learned along the way that there are a lot more shared experiences and commonalities among people than most of us realize. With one of the hottest congressional races in Texas on the ballot, turnout has more than doubled in the first three days of early voting in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties, compared with the same period in 2016. Those two counties combined have already seen more than 27,000 people vote in early voting or through absentee balloting. Four years ago, those counties combined to have just over 11,000 early votes in the same period. That amounts to a 149 percent increase over 2016, outpacing all other big counties in Texas. And its not just one party. In Fort Bend County, Republicans have seen their turnout jump 156 percent. Democrats went up 140 percent. In Brazoria County, Republicans were up 150 percent, while Democrats were up 140 percent. A big driver in both counties is the 22nd Congressional District race, in which 15 Republicans are battling in a wide-open primary. There are also four Democrats running in a primary in that district, as well as competitive primary races for the White House and the U.S. Senate. Know the candidates: San Antonio Express-News 2020 primary election voter guide; Houston Chronicle 2020 primary election voter guide More Information First three days of early voter turnout in large counties by party, compared to 2016 Harris County Democrats: 28,264, up 54 percent Harris County Republicans: 28,461, up 10 percent Dallas County Democrats: 16,020, up 50 percent Dallas County Republicans: 9,346, down 14 percent Tarrant County Democrats: 13,392, up 27 percent Tarrant County Republicans: 15,746, down 11 percent Bexar County Democrats: 18,631, up 50 percent Bexar County Republicans: 10,510, up 8 percent Travis County Democrats: 17,656, up 47 percent Travis County Republicans: 5,360, up 1 percent Collin County Democrats: 6,012, up 101 percent Collin County Republicans: 8,430, down 4 percent Denton County Democrats: 5,788, up 138 percent Denton County Republicans: 5,788, up 13 percent El Paso County Republicans: 2,525, up 126 percent El Paso County Democrats: 8,188, up 120 percent Fort Bend County Republicans: 10,706, up 156 percent Fort Bend County Democrats: 6,851, up 140 percent Hidalgo County Democrats: 14,705, up 13 percent Hidalgo County Republicans: 1,735, down 2 percent Montgomery County Democrats: 2,156, up 120 percent Montgomery County Republicans: 9,164, up 12 percent Williamson County Democrats: 4,797, up 111 percent Williamson County Republicans: 4,644, down 28 percent Brazoria County Republicans: 8,050, up 150 percent Brazoria County Democrats: 2,069, up 140 percent See More Collapse While it is impossible to draw sweeping conclusions based on three days of early voting, the numbers are a loose indicator of voter enthusiasm as Texans began casting votes this week. Nevertheless, Texas Republicans have fewer close races at the top of the ballot, with President Donald Trump and Sen. John Cornyn virtually certain to win the partys nominations. Overall, Democrats are seeing more of an early voting increase than Republicans in most big counties. Two of the biggest counties in Texas, Harris and Bexar, have seen Democratic turnout 50 percent higher than it was in 2016 in that partys primary. Republicans in those two counties have increased turnout by less than 10 percent. For Republicans, turnout has dropped in several big counties. In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, for instance, Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties have seen fewer Republican voters in primaries than four years ago. Of course, four years ago Republicans had a much more competitive presidential primary, in which Donald Trump was still battling U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for the GOP nomination. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The Democratic surge of voting comes even with an unsettled field of candidates running for president that has some voters saying they are waiting until they see how early states such as Nevada and South Carolina play out before they vote. Justice Arun Mishra said under the 'stewardship' of Narendra Modi, India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community. New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra on Saturday was all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and termed him as an "internationally acclaimed visionary" and a "versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally". Complementing the prime minister and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for doing away with 1,500 obsolete laws, Justice Mishra said India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the "stewardship" of Modi. Delivering the vote of thanks at the inaugural function of the International Judicial Conference 2020 'Judiciary and the Changing World' at the Supreme Court, Mishra said challenges faced by the judiciary at the national and international levels are common and judiciary has a "significant role" in the ever-changing world. "Dignified human existence is our prime concern. We thank the versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally, Shri Narendra Modi, for his inspiring speech which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference," Justice Mishra, who is third in seniority in the apex court, said while expressing gratitude to the Modi for inaugurating the conference. He said India is the biggest democracy in the world and "people wonder how this democracy is functioning so successfully". "India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of internationally acclaimed visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. "India is committed to constitutional obligations and dedicated to a peaceful and secure world, free from terrorism. In the process of development, preservation of environment is considered supreme," he said. Justice Mishra also emphasised on the need to strengthen the judicial system saying, "Now we are in the 21st century. We are looking for modern infrastructure not only for the present but also for future. To strengthen judicial system is the call of the day as it is the backbone of democracy whereas legislature is the heart and executive is the brain. All these three organs of the state have to work independently but in tandem to make democracy successful.". Referring to globalisation, he said, "but there is growing concern among masses of being left out and deprived of the gains of globalisation". "The sense of injustice and inequality being created by the same looms large on us," he said, adding, "It has to be taken care of by all of us alike before it becomes lethal like coronavirus". He also referred to the contribution of an independent and robust bar and said there is no denying the fact that "bar is the mother of judiciary". Judges from over 20 countries are attending the conference in New Delhi. LAS VEGAS - The Nevada caucus, the third contest in the Democratic presidential race, is Saturday. Here are six questions going into that fateful vote. HOW WELL DOES SANDERS DO? Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has high expectations going into the caucus. He is leading national polls and his campaign has a huge footprint in Nevada, a state he narrowly lost to Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Sanders also had lofty prospects going into New Hampshire last week because he won that state by 22 points in the 2016 primary, and he only eked out a narrow victory over former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Nothings guaranteed Saturday, especially in Nevada, whose young caucuses (this is only their fourth iteration) are unpredictable. If Sanders wins, he solidifies front-runner status heading into South Carolina next week and, more important, into critical Super Tuesday primaries on March 3. But if something goes wrong, or he only barely pulls out a win, it will intensify questions about whether the self-declared democratic socialist can extend his support beyond his fervent base. HOW WILL Labour FLEX ITS MUSCLE? Sanders and Joe Biden have long held themselves out as the champions of organized labour. Nevada will offer a fresh test of their appeal. The Culinary Union, which represents many of the workers in the casino and hotel industry, is one of the most powerful political forces in the state. Its endorsement was coveted by all of the candidates, but the union decided to not endorse. In 2008, the unions decision to back Barack Obama was critical to his success in the state. Though Sanders would seem a natural ally, many union members prize the health care that comes with their jobs as a result of their membership and do not embrace Sanders plan for Medicare for All. Biden has hammered on this point, as he critically needs union members backing. HOW HIGH IS TURNOUT? Nevada Democrats have been heartened that their experiment with early caucus voting led to nearly 75,000 people marking preference cards in four days of initial balloting before the main event Saturday. Thats close to the 84,000 who voted in 2016. After a disappointing turnout in Iowa, Democrats hope Nevada shows their voters are enthusiastic enough about the election to defeat President Donald Trump in November. Some Democrats hope Nevada surpasses the 118,000 who showed up at the 2008 caucuses when Obama faced Clinton. But Democrats should be careful about declaring victory based on raw numbers. There are more Democrats in fast-growing Nevada now than in 2008, when more than one-quarter of all Democrats participated in the caucus. The number of caucus participants needed for 2020 to surpass that 2008 rate would be above 150,000. WILL NEVADA WINNOW THE FIELD? This is the musical chairs portion of the primary. Normally, at the end of each contest, at least some candidates have to drop out due to poor performance and lack of funds. It hasnt worked that way so far because the field has been so evenly split, but that cant last forever. Will Nevada be the end of one of the six main candidates? If not, will a disappointing finish in the state hasten an eventual exit? Even if someone drops out, theres another Democrat, billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, waiting on the ballot on Super Tuesday states, making it likely Democratic voters will still have numerous choices going into the busiest stretch of primary season. This is not necessarily a good thing. WHAT DO MINORITY VOTERS DO? After two early states that are overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire Nevada may change the picture. The state is among the most diverse in the nation. And even though caucuses require a greater investment of time, which can make it harder for minorities to participate, the event will feature a far more diverse electorate. The problem is there is no reliable polling or data that will tell us how different demographic groups split. Thats because highly transient Nevada is notoriously difficult to survey. Still, by studying precinct level data, analysts and campaigns will glean indications of how candidates did. Will Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar be able to broaden their appeal to Latinos, African Americans and Asians? Will Sanders, as he has been hoping, assemble a multi-ethnic coalition? Will Biden hold onto the minority voters that were once presumed to propel him to the nomination? Nevada demographically resembles the diverse array of states scheduled to vote on Super Tuesday, when nearly one-third of the total delegates in the contest are up for grabs. It may hint at what lies ahead in the race. DID THE DEBATE HAPPEN IN TIME FOR WARREN? Many months ago, Nevada politicos viewed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as the Democrat to beat in their state. She assembled a team of operatives to push her populist message of structural change that was expected to resonate with Nevadas working-class Democrats. But then Warrens national position began to erode, and she limped into Nevada a political afterthought. That changed on Wednesday night when Warren delivered a powerful debate performance highlighted by her skewering of Bloomberg. She saw an avalanche of money and attention. But a huge share of Nevada had already voted by then. After weathering a disappointing fourth-place showing in New Hampshire, which borders her home state, Warren desperately needs a win. Will Nevada make her the next comeback kid? (Alliance News)A - Ryanair Holdings PLC chief Michael O'Leary has said that Boeing Co aircraft will be the "safest, most checked planes" once the manufacturer overcomes its issues with its 737 MAX models following two deadly crashes. Speaking to the Times, the Irish businessman criticized the US manufacturer for doing a "seriously bad job of explaining their new planes," but also cast a vote of confidence in the company's new aircraft. "People will love the plane when it's back, but we have a customer confidence issue," the budget airline boss told the newspaper in an interview published on Saturday. "We will deal with that by hopefully having lower fares onboard the plane while trying it out. "And if someone decides they don't want to fly for a period of time we will say, 'Fine, you can offload yourself and we will refund you.' That's how much confidence we have in the plane," the famously refund-averse O'Leary said. The Irish budget airline did not cancel a contract with Boeing to order up to 210 of its 737s, including MAX models, despite the US company's grounding of the 737 MAX series last March after crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia killed 346 people. The primary cause of the crashes in October 2018 and March 2019 is thought to be a fault in the flight control software, which Boeing had wanted to fix with an update more than a year ago. In the most recent setback for Boeing, whose grounded 737 MAX airliners created a backlog in orders, foreign object debris was found in fuel tanks of some of the aircraft during maintenance work, the aviation giant said on Tuesday. O'Leary faced criticism for claiming in the Times interview that terrorists "will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion". The airline boss has been accused of making "racist and discriminatory" remarks, PA reported. The Muslim Council of Britain said the comments amounted to discrimination against Muslim passengers, while hate-crime monitoring group, Tell Mama suggested his "flippant" words could end up having serious consequences for the business. The 58-year-old told the Times that families with young children should be waved through airport security because there was "virtually" zero chance of them being bombers. O'Leary also criticised UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the decision to rescue Flybe, with the 58-year-old questioning why taxpayers were left to foot the bill for a company owned by three of the industry's richest billionaires. Flybe is owned by Connect Airways, a consortium made up of Cyrus Capital Partners, Stobart Group and Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic a which itself is half-owned by US giant Delta Airlines. "If Branson and Delta won't put their hands in their pockets, why should the taxpayer?" O'Leary told The Times. O'Leary said he believes the aviation industry has been treated unfairly over environmental issues and pointed out Ryanair is spending GBP25 billion over the next eight years to make its fleet greener. Source dpa and PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. He's usually seen fighting crime in the corrupt city of Gotham. But Batman descended upon drizzly Glasgow in full black body armour as he filmed high-speed chase scenes on a motorbike on Saturday. The Scottish city is standing in for the fictional metropolis of Gotham in the upcoming film The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson. Is that you Batman? Robert Pattinson's stunt-double was clearly ready for action with medieval looking arm gauntlets loaded with silver darts as he rode through Glasgow on Saturday The caped crusader- Robert's stunt double- tore down hills and through the tombstones of Glasgow's Victorian Necropolis wearing the full Bat-Suit, complete with the iconic pointy-eared cowl and sculpted armour plates made to resemble muscles. The skintight suit featured silicon shoulder pads, and a chest plate which bore the signature bat symbol. Pattinson's stunt-double was clearly ready for action with a medieval looking arm gauntlets loaded with silver darts. On set: Producers and set assistants attend to the stunt double's needs as he rides in the drizzly Glasgow weather I'm looking at you! Glasgow was also used to shoot high-speed chase scenes for Fast and Furious Nine as it's grid system makes it easier to close down sections of road The Batman character was also sporting the integral utility belt around his waist which bore multiple pouches and holsters. A source told the Sunday Mail Glasgow was selected for its gothic architecture and winding streets. Glasgow was also used to shoot high-speed chase scenes for Fast and Furious Nine as it's grid system makes it easier to close down sections of road. High-speed: The caped crusader- Robert's stunt double- tore down hills and through the tombstones wearing the full Bat-Suit Glasgow: The Scottish city is standing in for the fictional metropolis of Gotham in the upcoming film The Batman, starring Robert Road closed: A stunt double in black leathers was seen zooming through the streets of Glasgow on Saturday For the silver screen: A film car caught up with the high speed action, capturing the chase from a low angle Set designers were seen out on the streets of Glasgow transforming the area they were set to film in into the dark city of Gotham, on Saturday. The crew could be seen muddying up the road to cover up parking spaces and white lines, erasing all signs that the film was being shot in the Scottish city. Other set designers were seen putting Gotham City number plates on the cars that were lined up on set. Adding to the gritty atmosphere, the cars that were being used were also covered in dirt to suggest they had been left there for a long time. Robert Pattinson's stunt double was then seen on set, filming in the city's Necropolis cemetery and driving around on a motorbike in full Batman costume. Rainy: A coat is used to protect a stunt double from the rain as they filmed in wet and windy conditions over the weekend Camera, action! Cameras were waterproofed using plastic covers as the crew attempted to get the fast moving shots for The Warner Bros and DC Comics movie The Batman: Glasgow transformed into dark city of Gotham as set designers muddied-up the streets and put in fake number plates on cars to create the iconic location Attention to detail: The crew were also seen putting Gotham City number plates on the cars that were lined up on set. Careful: The set designers made sure that every single car on set had a Gotham number plate Dark look: Adding to the gritty atmosphere, the cars that were being used were also covered in dirt to suggest they had been left there for a long time Not bothered: The crew were happy to work despite the poor weather, as it drizzled On Friday, Batman descended upon drizzly Glasgow in full black body armour as he roared around a cemetery on a motorbike during filming. The Scottish city is standing in for the fictional metropolis of Gotham in the film The Batman, which is being directed by Matt Reeves. Robert's stunt double- tore through the tombstones wearing the full Bat-Suit, complete with the iconic pointy-eared cowl and sculpted armour plates made to resemble muscles. Filming: Robert Pattinson's stunt double was then seen on set, filming in the city's Necropolis cemetery and driving around on a motorbike in full Batman costume Ready to go: The street was ready to go for when filming began Exciting: The stunt performer looked great as he sat atop the motorbike, raring to go The skintight suit featured silicon shoulder pads, and a chest plate which bore the signature bat symbol. Pattinson's stunt-double was clearly ready for action with a medieval looking arm gauntlets loaded with silver darts. The Batman character was also sporting the integral utility belt around his waist which bore multiple pouches and holsters. There he is! On Friday, Batman descended upon drizzly Glasgow in full black body armour as he roared around a cemetery on a motorbike during filming Figure hugging: The skintight suit featured silicon shoulder pads, and a chest plate which bore the signature bat symbol Dream role: Pattinson, 33, who found fame in The Twilight Saga movies, was officially cast as the Caped Crusader in May last year, but has yet to be seen on set A source told the Sunday Mail Glasgow was selected for its gothic architecture and winding streets. The source said: 'Glasgow will be turned into Gotham City and, with the citys architecture, its expected to look great in the new film.' The crew seemed to be struggling with the weather during the scene as filming had to be paused several times. Ready for action: The Batman character was sporting the integral utility belt around his waist which bore multiple pouches and holsters Dabbing: The Batman double was seen dabbing beneath his cowl with a green cloth as rain had clearly gotten under his mask The Batman double was seen dabbing beneath his cowl with a green cloth as rain had clearly got under his mask, making it difficult to see. Fellow cast members were also seen patting themselves down and one biker had to have their helmet visor dried off before continuing. Filming has only just begun on the newest chapter of the Batman franchise, with the first scenes being filmed in London in January. Dark Knight: Pattinson's stunt-double was clearly ready for action with a medieval looking arm gauntlets loaded with silver darts Rolling: The Batman character tore through the gravestones in the Glasgow cemetery during filming for The Batman set for release in 2021 Director Matt Reeves shared a camera test of the actor in the new Batman suit via Vimeo. The 56-second clip slowly brings the Bat motif on the front of the suit into focus before panning up to show Pattinson in profile as he flexes his armored shoulders. The footage, set to a dramatic score by composer Michael Giacchino and bathed in red light, ends with Pattinson turning towards the camera revealing the mask that covers his eyes and nose. Drying off: The caped crusader tore through the burial ground wearing the full Bat-Suit, complete with the iconic pointy-eared cowl and sculpted armour plates Making a movie: The Batman, which is due for release on 25th June 2021 in both the UK and USA, is the ninth film starring the complex crime-fighter The caped crusader: The stunt double tore through the tombstones wearing the full Bat-Suit, complete with the iconic pointy-eared cowl and sculpted armour plates resembling muscles The Batman which is due for release on 25th June 2021 in both the UK and USA is the ninth film starring the complex crime-fighter. The new film is directed by Matt Reeves who achieved notoriety for his apocalyptic Planet of the Apes sequels. Reeves, whose credits also include 2008's Cloverfield, took over the project at Warner Bros. from Ben Affleck. Self-care: Ben Affleck, 47, revealed in a New York Times interview, that his drinking issues played a part in his announcement he would stop playing and directing Batman early last year Affleck donned the Bat-Suit twice in Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 and 2017s Justice League. The Good Will Hunting star recently revealed in a New York Times interview, that his drinking issues played a part in his announcement he would stop playing Batman early last year. The latest Batman offering has attracted a stellar cast, with Paul Dano confirmed as the Riddler and Zoe Kravitz will playing the legendary feline anti-heroine Catwoman. British actor Robert, 33, will be donning the famous cowl as he plays tortured millionaire Bruce Wayne and his vengeful alter-ego Batman. Soggy: Fellow cast members were also seen patting themselves down and one biker had to have their helmet visor dried off before continuing Atmospheric: A source told the Sunday Mail Glasgow was selected to stand in for Gotham for its gothic architecture and winding streets The former star of The Twilight Saga was officially cast as the Caped Crusader last May. Pattinson had actively pursued the role in The Batman, telling Variety last September: 'Id had Batman in my mind for a while. Its such an absurd thing to say. 'I sort of had an idea to do it, and Id been prodding Matt. He didnt accept any prods. I kept asking to meet him.' A rental industry group and two landlords they represent sued the City of Portland Thursday to block new housing screening and security deposit rules from taking effect, claiming theyre unconstitutional. Multifamily NW, Nevada resident Janet Newcomb and Oregonian Jerry Mason are seeking a federal judges order to first temporarily stop the two Fair Access in Renting ordinances from going into effect March 1 and to later overrule the regulations entirely. The ordinances passed by the Portland City Council last June violate free speech protections by requiring landlords to use certain language when advertising units and send notices issued by the city to applicants and tenants and prohibiting them from speaking to prospective tenants before processing applications, according to the lawsuit. The policies are also too vague and dont completely inform housing providers on how to stay in compliance, have penalties that are too steep and appear to conflict with existing statewide landlord-tenant regulations, said attorney Jill Gibson, who represents the group. She said the lawsuit resulted from at least a year of trying to negotiate with city officials to make the rules more understandable and more fair. We want to slow this down so the judge has a chance to look at it and really absorb what the changes are going to bring, Gibson said Friday. [Read the lawsuit] Multifamily NW, represents residential property managers, owners and vendors throughout the state and parts of Washington. The group said its members own 30,000 rental units in Portland alone. Newcomb owns 19 rental units in Portland and Mason owns 62, according to the lawsuit. The Portland City Attorneys Office and Office of Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who led the effort for the new regulations, declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday. The ordinances are the first of their kind in the country. The Portland City Council voted 3-1 last year to change the city code revising the screening criteria for landlords to use when evaluating a renters application. The changes include requiring landlords choose renters for open units via a first-come, first-serve application process and to give 72 hours notice before accepting applications. Landlords would no longer be allowed to check for felony convictions older than seven years or misdemeanors older than three years. The new rules also limit the grounds on which landlords can reject prospective renters. The ordinances call for renters to no longer be rejected for credit scores lower than 500, a court eviction order older than three years or insufficient credit history. Landlords also could no longer reject a tenant whose income is between 2 and 2.5 times the rent, and if landlords decide to use their own screen criteria, the new policy requires them to explain in writing why they rejected a prospective tenant. The city code was also changed to requires landlords to more thoroughly account for security deposit funds withheld for repairs and allow tenants to pay security deposits in installments over three months. Eudalys office has said the policies were intended to increase access to housing for people who have been locked out of the conventional market because of years-old convictions or financial defaults. They said research showed screening barriers, including credit history and criminal history, disproportionately impact people of color and that renting to people with past criminal convictions didnt put housing providers or rental properties at risk. Eudaly, Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Nick Fish voted yes on the ordinances at the time. Commissioner Amanda Fritz voted no. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was absent. The lawsuit said landlords are required to pay $250 per violation of the screening criteria ordinance or pay double the amount of the security deposit if found in violation of the other. They would also have to pay attorney fees in both cases. Gibson referred to the ordinances as poorly crafted laws that further exacerbates the housing crisis in Portland. She claimed its already caused some landlords to sell their properties. The Portland Housing Bureau has been offering free training for landlords on the ordinances. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar was sworn in as first vice president on Saturday, formally rejoining the government in the latest bid to bring peace to a nation ravaged by six years of war. "I do hereby swear that I shall be faithful and bear diligence to the Republic of South Sudan," Machar said in his oath in front of a room packed with diplomats, the leader of Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and other regional representatives. Machar embraced and shook hands with his bitter rival President Salva Kiir, with whom he will be attempting to govern for the third time since the country's independence in 2011. The pair finally agreed this week -- under strong pressure from the region and abroad -- to go ahead with a unity government which was the cornerstone of a September 2018 peace deal. Kiir on Friday dissolved his government ahead of the formation of the new government on Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To stay in Grey List or downgrade to Black List: Key FATF decision on Pak this week Act or get ready for the black list, FATFs stern warning to Pakistan on terror funding India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 22: The Financial Action Task Force on Friday warned Pakistan that it would be downgraded to the black list and face greater scrutiny if fails to implement an action plan to counter terror financing and money laundering. All deadlines for the 27 point action plan had expired, the FATF said while expressing concerns at Pakistan's failure to implement the plan according to the agreed timelines. "All deadlines in the action plan have expired. While noting recent and notable improvements, the FATF again expresses concerns given Pakistan's failure to complete its action plan in line with the agreed timelines and in light of the [terror financing] risks emanating from the jurisdiction," the FATF said in a statement. "The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by June 2020. FATF: Now China, Saudi Arabia set new deadline for Pakistan Otherwise, should significant and sustainable progress especially in prosecuting and penalising [terror financing] not be made by the next Plenary, the FATF will take action, which could include the FATF calling on its members and urging all jurisdiction to advise their [financial institutions] to give special attention to business relations and transactions with Pakistan," the statement further read. Meanwhile Pakistan will stay in the grey list until June 2020. This was decided at the plenary of the FATF, which concluded on Thursday at Paris. Pakistan was told that it could end up in the black list if it failed to complete its 27 point action. On Wednesday China joined India and the US to send a strong message to Pakistan to act on terror funding. Saudi Arabia too has joined the above mentioned countries and has told Pakistan to complete its commitments on action against terror funding and money laundering given by the Financial Action Task Force. Sources tell OneIndia that only Turkey held out in the end. This is an important development as China too has spoken out against Pakistan. This development clearly means that Pakistan would remain on the grey list of the FATF. This comes in the back drop of the global terror financing watchdog asking Pakistan to further tighten its laws to bring individuals involved in money laundering and terror financing to task, media reports said on Tuesday. The International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG), a sub-group of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), evaluated the performance of Pakistan during its ongoing meeting in Paris which would continue until February 21. "The FATF has expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by Pakistan to curb terror financing and demanded that the country further tightens its laws to bring individuals involved in money laundering and terror financing to task," The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Citing the recent conviction of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistani officials said that the judicial system in the country was fully independent and the courts were taking decisions on merit, which were being implemented. The Paris-based FATF observed substantial progress made by Pakistan in the implementation of 14 of the 27 recommendations about the country's anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) mechanism, Dunya News TV reported. "Pakistan has adopted an effective strategy in the financial sector to curb terror financing and enhanced cooperation between institutions to combat transfer of funds to terrorists," it reported. Tighten laws against terror funding, FATF tells Pakistan The meetings of Paris-based FATF began on Monday but the plenary session, which will decide whether to keep Pakistan on the grey list, begins on Wednesday. Pakistan was placed on the 'grey list' by the FATF in June, 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October, 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the 'black list' along with Iran and North Korea. Pakistan needs 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'grey list' and move to 'white list'. To avoid 'black list', it needs support of three countries. In the last month's FATF meeting in Beijing, Pakistan got support of Malaysia and Turkey besides FATF current chair China. Local media suggested that FATF will make the final decision about Pakistan on Friday but it is likely to retain it on the current grey list. In the previous FATF review held in October, it was found that while Pakistan has made significant improvements, but it will have to take "extra measures" for "complete" elimination of terror financing and money laundering. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 5:26 [IST] PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-22 13:36:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1060 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WURSELEN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2020 / The energy market is dominated by big energy companies that pretty much dictate the prices and the conditions for the end consumer. Because of the importance of fuels and most importantly oil to the whole industrial sector, some companies possess immense power and even influence the political decisions that directly affect them by lobbying politicians.Although not as powerful as oil companies, big providers of electricity can also have a high degree of economic power, resulting in local and sometimes national monopolies. The fact is that due to the substantial market barriers of the energy sector in the form of strict legal requirements, huge initial capital investments and high expertise, new players find it immensely difficult to enter the market, let alone compete with the leaders.From an economic standpoint, a monopolistic market is not driven by the invisible hand, the un-observable market force that helps the demand and supply of goods in a free market to reach equilibrium automatically. The monopolistic structure prevents the element of the "free market" by eliminating competition and the invisible hand no longer controls the market as it should. Oil companies, for example, control the supply and dictate the prices of oil, which allows them to acquire a significant profit from changes in the oil prices. Industries that are prone to such monopolies (like the energy sector) are regulated by federal and local governments in order to protect the consumer. However, sometimes the regulation is not enough and the end consumer is forced to pay higher than normal prices for the value they acquire. Overall monopolies are perceived to be bad because not only a one-sided power exists (most often on the expense of the consumer), but it allows the supply side to become "lazy" because of the lack of competition. Competition is known to drive progress the most and in a monopolistic market situation, there are fewer incentives for the supply side to invest in innovation.With environmental issues taking their toll, the energy industry and the whole industrial sector are facing tremendous pressure to cut down the negative impact they are inflicting on nature. Governments and environmental organisations are stressing on the importance of adopting efficient and eco friendly ways of energy production and the optimization of current energy processes. As a result, the sector is forced to invest in innovation, research and development, however, the issue with the monopolistic market persists and the increased cost is carried over to the end consumer. This is evident in the electricity prices that have surged over the course of the past 10 years - in Germany, the cost surpassed 33 cents / kWh last year, positioning the country as the leader for the most expensive electricity in the world.So, considering that federal and local governments are not always efficient at designing market conditions that are fair for both the demand and the supply side, what is the right way to achieve fair market conditions in a market that is prone to monopolistic structures? The answer is digitalization and above all - blockchain technology.Digitalization and blockchainThe first step towards a sustainable and efficient future for the energy industry is digitalization. In fact, energy companies are among the pioneers of the digitalization era - they first started to research and adopt it in 1970, almost 50 years ago. It was evident how much value digitalization can offer to the sector - more efficient ways of data transfer, storage and analysis were explored, leading to improvements all across the supply chain.With the recent advent of blockchain technology, new doors were opened for the energy sector. The current monopolistic situation on the market can now potentially be resolved thanks to the power of blockchain to disrupt centralized structures. Furthermore, due to the immutability and transparency of distributed ledgers, blockchain-based transactions cannot be manipulated and are disclosed only to the parties that are engaging in them. This is a crucial condition for the prevention of the issue with the one-sided power of big energy companies we discussed above - not only are the consumers protected against overpricing by the supplier, but with the implementation of the right regulations, energy companies will no longer be able to manipulate the prices and distribute the higher portion of their cost to the customer.The question is, are energy supply companies keen on adopting blockchain for their operations and do they believe they can also benefit from the fair market conditions the technology can establish? The answer is yes - one licensed electricity provider and energy contractor on the German market with over 10 years of market experience and an existing customer base of over 50.000 people is about to become a pioneer in the sector.The LCG Energy ICOLCG Energy was founded in 2008 and quickly established itself as one of the few independent electricity providers on the German and Austrian markets after acquiring licensing by the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway.LCG Energy is planning to create a full-fledged energy ecosystem that offers its users a wide array of energy-related services through a blockchain-based platform known as the LCG platform. Initially, the platform will give the existing customers of LCG Energy the option to pay for their electricity bills using the LCG token.Users who do not have direct access to the services of company will have various options made available to them, such as investments with LCG tokens in renewable energy projects that are carefully evaluated by the company and enlisted in land registers and other services through the wide partner network of more than 1000 providers and suppliers of LCG Energy.LCG plans to go a step further and integrate the Smart Meters the company has been installing for the past years with blockchain technology. Smart Meters are innovative electricity meters that transmit data digitally. With their help, LCG Energy managed to reach an average energy optimization of 20% per customer and lower cost due to manual readings on site being a thing of the past. The integration of blockchain technology to the innovative electricity meters will enhance their functionality and become a potential breakthrough in the energy sector. With the integration of the Smart Meters to the LCG platform, users will have full information about the consumption and the cost of energy consumed. What is more, the aggregated da Turkey welcomes US-Taliban de-escalation deal US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday announced the US and Taliban had reached an agreement to reduce violence across Afghanistan, with a deal set to be signed on Feb. 29. Turkey on Saturday welcomed the seven-day reduction in violence in Afghanistan prior to a peace deal between the US and Taliban. "We hope that the agreement, which is foreseen to be signed between the United States and Taliban, will pave the way to lasting peace that will be attained through inter-Afghan negotiations," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. DEAL GIVES THE TALIBAN SEVEN DAYS TO REFRAIN FROM ALL VIOLENCE "We once again stress that for this process to be successfully completed, it must be inclusive in nature encompassing all segments, and everyone should demonstrate a constructive approach," it added. Ankara invited all international actors, first and foremost regional countries, to provide the necessary support for ensuring peace in Afghanistan. "In this direction, Turkey will continue to support the friendly and brotherly people of Afghanistan," it added. A criminal complaint has been filed in a Bihar court against AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his party leader Waris Pathan over the latter's controversial remark made in Karnataka recently that '15 crore Muslims can be heavy on 100 crore'. The complaint was lodged by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha in the court of Muzaffarpur Chief Judicial Magistrate Mukesh Kumar, who posted the matter for hearing on March 4. In his petition, Ojha alleged that Pathan's "inflammatory remarks promote enmity between two communities on grounds of religion" and a stern punishment should be given to him. Owaisi has been made "accused number 2" as he was present on the stage when Pathan made the remark, he said. Pathan made the statement while addressing an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Kalaburagi on February 16. "We have to move together. We have to take 'azadi' (freedom), things that we don't get by asking, we have to take it by force, remember it... (We may be) 15 crore but are heavy on 100 (crore), remember it," Pathan can be heard saying in a video that has gone viral. Ojha said his religious sentiment was hurt by Pathan's remarks. AIMIM gained a foothold in Bihar politics last year, winning the Kishanganj seat in a bypoll, defeating BJP candidate Sweety Singh by a margin of over 10,000 votes. Meanwhile, its Maharashtra unit chief Imtiyaz Jaleel said AIMIM does not support Pathan's statement. "The party will seek an explanation from him over the remark. If needed, we will come out with a set of dos and don'ts for AIMIM workers while giving speeches," he said in Aurangabad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jigsaw puzzles for adults are becoming more popular in America. The puzzles have pieces of different shapes that, when put together, form a picture. People attend puzzle nights at coffee shops and libraries. Manufacturers design puzzles that have original artwork or even family photos. A.J. Jacobs is working on a book about puzzles, including jigsaws and crosswords. I was not as passionate about jigsaw puzzles at first, but once I started doing them, I saw the loveliness of these puzzles, he said. Jacobs added, Puzzles are a very soothing and joyous way to spend a couple of hours. Jigsaw fans say the puzzles help ease daily stress. In addition, the puzzles give them a chance to step away from electronic devices. Abby Matson, age 37, found puzzles helpful after the death of her dog three years ago. The puzzle was the only thing I could do to keep from crying, she said. Matson and her friend Abby McDaniel started a puzzle group that now has six members. Members send photos of a completed puzzle before mailing it to the next person. It brings out an inner competition, McDaniel said. Many puzzlers - a name for people who like playing puzzles - prefer cardboard puzzles. But some like wooden ones. Some fans buy special frames, glue and other tools to preserve finished jigsaw puzzles. Stave Puzzles, a company based in the state of Vermont, makes many kinds of wooden puzzles. Speaking with the Associated Press, company founder Steve Richardson described an increase in sales in recent years. Our sales are up 25 percent in the last decade, he said. Richardson added We are now seeing orders from the children and grandchildren of some of our original customers. Shelby Comstock Britten attended the launch of Jiggy Puzzles, a New York-based puzzle company. Britten, who is 29 years old, said a puzzle night with drinks sounded perfect. She said she liked the idea of puzzles that are made for adults. Ive always loved puzzles and will occasionally get a CVS puzzle, but its kind of a bummer because its made for an 8-year-old, she said. I cant Instagram that. Im John Russell. Tracee M. Herbaugh reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story Jigsaw puzzle n. a puzzle made of many small pieces that are cut into various shapes and can be fit together to form a picture soothing adj. producing feelings of comfort or relief cardboard n. a stiff and thick kind of paper that is used especially for making boxes frame -- n. an open structure that holds something (such as glass or a picture) decade -- n. a period of 10 years original -- adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning CVS n. an American retail and drug store bummer n. something that is unpleasant or disappointing (informal) We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. A two-year-old girl has died after she fell 15 feet down a septic tank and drowned at an RV park in Texas. The tragic incident occurred Wednesday evening at Paradise Lagoons park in Aransas Pass, a short distance from the city of Corpus Christi. According to eyewitnesses, little Charleigh Nicole Nelson was standing on top of the tank before it suddenly gave way beneath her. Several family members and neighbors rushed to help, and threw a rope down into the tank, but it was too short to reach her. Fire crews quickly arrived on the scene, but were unable to retrieve Nelson's body for more than an hour as the tank was extremely narrow. Charleigh Nicole Nelson (pictured) died Wednesday evening at an RV park in Texas after the septic tank she was was standing on gave way The septic tank at Paradise Lagoons RV park is pictured. Nelson fell down its hole which is just two feet in width 'Initial attempts were made to dig, and then we actually were assisted by the Ingleside Volunteer Fire Department's rope rescue team,' authorities told Kris 6 News. 'We were able to lower a firefighter down into one of the small holes - it was a less-than-two-foot diameter - that a member had to go into and was able to reach the body where we were able to get her up.' Nelson was visiting Aransas Pass from out of town with her mom, Brittney Nelson, and her older siblings. The toddler's father, Ethan Nelson, works in the area. Brittney took to Facebook on Thursday to thank her friends for their outpouring of support. 'We truly need and appreciate everyone praying,' she wrote. 'We are in such disbelief but can feel God's spirit around us. We are clinging to each other tonight and have faith that God is going to strengthen us, comfort us and bring us through this.' Charleigh was with her mom and older siblings visiting her father, who works near Aransas Park By William Hollingworth, KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2020 - 08:51 | Feature, All, Japan Japan needs to increase provisions for foster care and stop putting children in institutions, according to British-based experts on the welfare and rights of vulnerable children. Japan places around 85 percent of children and babies who need care in institutions, according to government statistics. This rate is one of the highest among developed countries, according to international studies, and Japan's outlier status contrasts with most other industrialized nations where fostering is the norm rather than the exception. Although fostering takes place in Japan, often this is when there is little likelihood of the child being returned to their birth parents and seen as a proxy for adoption. While the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare argues local authority child guidance centers should, as a default, use foster care, they are under no obligation to do so, according to Michael Rivera-King, who has a doctorate from the University of Oxford and will publish a book on foster care in Japan this year. (Michael Rivera-King) Deep-seated beliefs among social services staff in local prefectures are one of the key reasons why reform is slow, he said. Rivera-King found staff are wary of placing children in foster care due to fears they will develop bonds with foster parents at the expense of their relationship with birth parents. However, most experts dispute this. The widely acknowledged Attachment Theory states that if a child forms a secure attachment with one adult, they develop the ability to form attachments with other adults. This shows, therefore, foster care placements can help children's relationships with birth parents, according to Rivera-King. He also thinks Japan's public registration system -- which says a child can only be part of one family -- creates a mindset where the idea of having a "second" set of "parents" is problematic. He says the legal system works against fostering as well. Social services generally need parents' permission before putting their child in care -- and parents are more likely to grant permission if the child is going to an institution staffed by professionals, rather than "amateur" foster parents who might form a "natural" bond with the child and become a potential rival, he said. As a result, child guidance center staff -- many of whom Rivera-King found to be "just about coping" with heavy caseloads and dealing with day-to-day emergencies where children are at risk from abuse -- often perceive fostering as riskier and more complicated than using the "tried-and-tested" large institutions that often have plenty of capacity and cultivate close links to officials. Rivera-King describes as "mindboggling" how Japan still has many of these institutions, particularly for babies. The United Nations and World Health Organization have said children under the age of three should not be in institutional care. While cases of physical abuse have decreased in institutions, Human Rights Watch has noted children still suffer bullying and harassment from peers both within and outside institutions. Rivera-King, who previously set up a charity for Japanese orphans and who now heads up Ashinaga UK, which provides scholarships for African orphans, said central government needs to invest heavily in foster carers. "If foster caring was seen as professional, then it would no longer be perceived as a riskier option and also as a potential threat to the child's relationship with their parents," he said. All foster carers are given "basic" training, which tends to focus on the legal aspects of caring. A few prefectures are now offering workshops on practical parenting skills, and Rivera-King believes this needs to be rolled out nationwide. David Berridge, emeritus professor of child and family welfare at the University of Bristol, said England currently has one of the highest foster rates in Europe, with about 75 percent of children in care living with foster families. He said, "Over the past 50 years England has moved away from residential care for several reasons: there was research evidence that it is harmful for young children to be brought up in large institutions with inconsistency in their care; well-staffed residential placements are expensive; and there have been many scandals involving physical and sexual abuse of children living in residential institutions, often the larger and more remote placements." He said that, by and large, foster care has worked well with most children feeling cared for and secure. Attempts are always made, where possible, to maintain contact with the child's birth parents, siblings and other relatives. Berridge added, "My view is that, generally, I feel that countries should move toward a position where the majority of children in care live with foster families rather than residential homes. But such developments often take time and depend on cultural attitudes to parenting and other matters." "Children should also have a say in where they live and what happens to them." Kanae Doi, Japan director at Human Rights Watch, told Kyodo News that "budgets need to be shifted from institutional to foster care." "Institutions are paid on a per-child basis and, in order to keep them open, this provides an incentive to place kids there rather than with foster parents." Doi added the situation in Japan conflicted with international human rights law, which recognizes the importance of family settings for children. Related coverage: Japan Inc. urged to make paternity leave no longer pie in the sky Record 1,957 child abuse cases probed by police in 2019 Fine line between neglect and independence for Japanese kids Japan sees record low number of babies born in 2019 The EU's post-Brexit budget meeting erupted into rows with poorer countries demanding more aid while their 'frugal' peers were determined to rein in spending. Brexit left the EU short of around 62 billion when Britain left the bloc last month. On Friday - after nearly 30 hours of discussions - the 27 remaining EU countries failed to agree on the overall size of the bloc's 2021 to 2027 budget or how to spend it. The EU's post-Brexit budget meeting erupted into rows with poorer countries demanding more aid and their 'frugal' peers determined to rein in spending. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel Speaking after the talks in the EU's Brussels hub, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: 'We have to acknowledge that the differences are too big still to find agreement.' Setting the budget has always been a tug of war, but was fiercer than ever this time because Britain's exit from the bloc last month came amid costly new challenges, from climate change to managing migration and a growing digital economy. The standoff has exposed rifts between countries in the north and south, between east and west, and between more developed and less advanced economies. Brexit left the EU short of around 62 billion when Britain left the bloc last month. Pictured left to right: Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Angela Merkel at the meeting Net payers dubbed the 'Frugal Four' - Austria, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands - dug in their heels, demanding that the budget is capped at 1 per cent of the bloc's economic output. Beneficiaries of the generous handouts opposed deep cuts in development aid and farming subsidies compared to those they get under the current 2014 to 2020 plan. 'Nobody was really pleased,' said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic of Croatia, one of the countries seeking more aid. Net payers dubbed the 'Frugal Four' - Austria, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands - dug in their heels, demanding that the budget is capped at 1 per cent of the bloc's economic output. Left: Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. Right: Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte The feud also underlined the fact that, following the turmoil of Brexit that brought them together, the bloc still has many issues that divide it. French President Emmanuel Macron said: 'These divisions are there. We don't need Britain for that. 'They were playing out during the financial crisis a decade ago, during the migration crisis, we're now seeing them on budget issues.' The 'Frugal Four' stood firmly against a scheme that would allocate one-third for development aid to help poorer regions grow and another third on support for farmers, a key priority for Paris. Pictured: Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (left) and Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (right) are two of the frugal four Speaking after the talks in the EU's Brussels hub, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: 'We have to acknowledge that the differences are too big still to find agreement' After complex negotiations, the leaders were no closer to a deal than when they first convened on Thursday with a proposal to set the budget at 1.074 per cent of the continent's gross national income, or some 1.09 trillion euros (around 900 billion). A new blueprint of 1.069 per cent equally failed to impress and was dubbed by one EU official as 'a Frankenstein proposal'. The 'Frugal Four' stood firmly against a scheme that would allocate one-third for development aid to help poorer regions grow and another third on support for farmers, a key priority for Paris. Germany, the EU's powerhouse and biggest net contributor, was upset about taking the brunt of the Brexit shortfall and coming out worse off than France. Berlin, Vienna and others wanted to see more focus on border management following Europe's migrant crisis of 2015-16, tackling climate change, beefing up security and modernising the bloc's economy through digital investment. There will have to be a further summit - or summits - to get a deal over the line but no date was set for now. Without an agreement by the end of the year, the bloc will have to freeze much of its projects from 2021. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said: 'In the past it has always taken two or three meetings to reach a result.' B. Eshwar, who earlier announced his two-bedroom apartment was available for rent, quietly told this reporter that he would not give it to a Muslim. Hyderabad: Renting a house out is no longer based on ones finances but on the kind of food they eat. Maybe that is why landlords in Saifabad and Sitaphalmandi choose to give vegetarians a roof over their heads. Privately, they confess that they are not willing to share that roof with Muslims. For instance, B. Eshwar, who earlier announced his two-bedroom apartment was available for rent, quietly told this reporter that he would not give it to a Muslim. If we give the house on rent to a Muslim, they will cook non-vegetarian food, he said. This might be unappealing to the neighbours. That is why we insist on a Hindu family to take the house on rent. Similarly, in Sitaphalmandi, owners were coy about giving the house out on rent to a Muslim, for reasons they did not wish to specify. They merely said the room had already been rented out, or that it was simply not available at the moment. We have been turned away from at least 10 houses, says Faroouq (name changed), an IT employee house-hunting in Saifabad. What can we do to get a new residence? The predominant but unspoken fear is of non-vegetarian food. This is despite the state trumping all other states with the highest consumption of meat and spices: 1.3 kgs of meat per capita, according to Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University. For Christians, it is the same story. We usually do not encourage Christian tenants as they would conduct prayer meetings on Sunday. Sometime they have people over, giving out pamphlets, which look to convert people, said Chandrasekhar (name changed), of Sitaphal-mandi. Bhartiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday said that Indian Government doesn't influence the US government on whom to invite and whom to not when asked about the allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party on names of Delhi Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister getting dropped from the US first lady Melania Trump's school visit event. He further stated that petty politics should not be played on important government occasions. "Petty politics should not be played on important occasions. The Indian Government doesn't influence the USA on whom to invite and whom to not. So, we don't want to get into any arguments," Patra said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's names have been dropped from the event where US First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to visit a school on February 25. Sources claim that the two were earlier scheduled to be part of the event as it was a Delhi Government school. US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit on February 24-25. Melania after reaching Hyderabad House here on February 25 will move to a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh to meet school children. The school is getting ready to welcome the First Lady of the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The board gives points to a candidate on various parameters, such as if they have done high-altitude postings. The Indian Army Corps of Signals contingent led by Captain Tanya Shergil marches during the 71st Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi (Photo: PTI) The Supreme Court just levelled the playing field for Indian servicewomen by introducing permanent commission and non-combat command postings for them. Though some sticking points need to be addressed, a roadmap has been prepared and change is very much in the air. The Supreme Courts judgment making women officers from the short service commission (SSC) eligible for permanent commission (PC) and holding of command in non-combat heralds a new era in gender equality in the male-dominated Indian Army. Women officers form just four per cent of the total commissioned officers in the Indian Army despite being inducted since 1992. There are only 1,653 women officers in the Indian Army against close to 39,000 male officers. After the Supreme Court order, the number of women officers in the Indian Army is expected to rise. In 2008, women officers were given permanent commission in only two non-combat streams the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and the Army Education Corps. In March last year, the defence ministry said that PC will be allowed in eight non-combat branches (signals, engineers, army aviation, army air defence, electronics and mechanical engineers, army service corps, army ordnance corps and intelligence) where women are inducted for SSC, taking the number of branches where women could get PC to 10. But the defence ministry order restricted women to just staff positions and they were not allowed command position. Now, the Supreme Court has struck down this provision, making them eligible for command positions. Moreover, the Court said that even women officers currently serving in these 10 branches will be eligible for PC and it must not be restricted to those who were recruited after the defence ministrys order was issued. In a hard-hitting order, the Supreme Court said the time has come for a realisation that women officers in the Army are not adjuncts to a male dominated establishment whose presence must be tolerated within narrow confines. Women officers could now get command position in various non-combat postings like NCC battalions, record officers, training regiments and commandants of Sainik and military schools. However, the road ahead is still full of challenges. The men who join the Army as SSC officers can opt for PC after 10 years of service if they want to continue in the Army. The Supreme Court order has said that some 255 women officers who are in service for 14-20 years and some 77 women officers who have above 20 years of service would be given the option of PC within three months. Then there are women officers (600, by some estimates) who have completed 10 years of a total of 14 years of SSC. Indian Army chief Gen. M.M. Naravane has said that the Army will be sending letters to all eligible officers asking if they want PC. But some officers said that there are difficulties for women officers to clear boards if judged on the same yardsticks as men because they were never groomed for PC. They explain that the board gives points to a candidate on various parameters, such as if they have done high-altitude postings. As per the number of vacancies for PC, only those who secure top marks get qualified. But since women officers were not to get PC, their commanding officers usually did not give them postings where they could get more marks. These postings usually went to male officers and COs would also give more marks to male officers compared to women officers thinking that men will need them during their boards, said an officer. He said that many women officers also did not go for junior commands that their male counterparts go for after 6-7 years of service and which is important to get promotions. So the thing is that within the current parameters how will these women will pass the boards to get PC? The only option will be to dilute these parameters and judge men and women officers differently, said the official. The court order says that those officers who have more than 14 years of service will continue to be in the Army till they complete 20 years of service in order to be eligible for pension even if they didnt opt for PC or did not qualify for PC. The SC order said women officers with over 20 years of service who are not granted PC will retire and avail pension. It is the women officers with service between 10 years and 14 years who will bear the brunt of the changed circumstances, said another officer. He said that since they were not eligible for PC they never cared about their annual confidential reports that carry the most marks in boards. There is a possibility that these officers may go to the Supreme Court, said the official. Gen. Naravane has said that the Army has prepared a roadmap for granting PC to its women officers. The road ahead For the new women officers, physical training, posting and service courses will be changed and will be similar to those taken by male officers. Women officers will be eligible for various courses just like their male counterparts in junior command that will allow them to progress in the service. They will be eligible for competitive exams for Staff College which is for Major rank officers. The women officers will now have to go to difficult postings if they want to opt for PC, said a senior officer. He said that some postings that are considered as peace postings for male officers have currently been nominated as field postings for women officers. This will also change in the future. Meanwhile, there are some apprehensions among male officers that the Supreme Court order may impact their peace postings. After being in difficult postings like Kashmir, forward areas and Siachen, male officers are usually put in peace postings where they can be with their families. It should not be that women will keep getting peace postings by giving various excuses like they have small children and only male officers suffer, landing up in tough postings, said an officer. However, defence sources point out that women have proved their mettle and under tough conditions. There are many women who are posted in Kashmir, including female doctors risking their lives, said another senior official. Last year, Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal was awarded the Yudh Seva medal for distinguished service in wartime. She was one of the fighter controllers when Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft entered Indian air space on February 27 post the Balakot air strikes. She had kept her cool in a trying situation and played a crucial role in repulsing the attack. The Supreme Court, in its order, said the engagement of women officers in the Army has been an evolutionary process. Women officers were initially inducted in 1992 for just five years, which was extended for another five years. On incorporation of the provision for SSCs for women officers, they were allowed to become SSC officers and their tenure extended to 14 years. The SC order on PC and command is another milestone. Since last year, the Army has, for the first time, started recruiting women in military police. The all-boys Sainik Schools in the country will start offering admission to girl students from the 2021-22 academic session. This will help in the creation of future women officers. The next crucial move will entail the storming of another male bastion allowing girls to take admission in the prestigious National Defence Academy. Will Arnett and his girlfriend Alessandra Brawn are expecting their first child together. The news of 'The Lego Movie' actor and his girlfriend's pregnancy was confirmed by the Us Weekly. "They are very happy and thrilled," an insider told the publication. The 49-year-old star is the father of two, 11-year-old Archie and Abel, 9, with ex-wife Amy Poehler. It is the second child for Brawn, a businesswoman who's been dating Arnett since 2019. "There's nothing like [being their father]," the Canadian actor gushed to Us in June 2018 about being a parent to his boys. "It's the greatest thing ever. There is no other single thing in my life that is even in the same category," he added. Earlier in 2019, the publication broke the news in May 2019 that the couple had been dating for several months. The 'Arrested Development' star and New York-based executive were spotted out together on both the East and West Coasts as early as March 2019. As reported by the publication, Brawn worked as a public relations and marketing director at the luxury lingerie company Kiki de Montparnasse before becoming the CEO of Chapel, which was a clothing brand that sold vintage T-shirts, in 2016. She was previously married to restauranteur Jon Neidich from October 2014 to summer of 2018, a source previously told the Us Weekly. Brawn and Neidich share a son named Nash. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An activist of the right wing group Sri Ram Sena has announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for killing Amulya Leona who shouted pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA event here recently. In a video footage, the activist Sanjeev Maradi is heard asking the government not to release the woman or else he will kill her. Maradi is heard saying "The state and the central government should not release her under any circumstances. If she is released, we will kill her in an encounter," Maradi is heard saying at a protest rally organised by the outfit in Ballari against Amulya Leona on Saturday. "We on behalf of Sri Ram Sena will give a bounty of Rs 10 lakh to the person who kills her," he added. Ballari Superintendent of Police C K Baba said he has not seen the video or heard about any such "announcements." "Let me go through it. I haven't seen what he has said. I will have a look..," the official added. At an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act event in the city on Thursday, Amulya Leona, who has been arrested on sedition charges and remanded to judicial custody, had raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogan thrice in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi who denounced her act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's first international collaboration on cannabis medicinal project will produce and export quality medicinal drug for pain relief in cancer, diabetic and neuropathy at a facility here, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday. The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, signed an agreement on cannabis research with IndusCann, a Canadian company, here in the presence of the Union minister and R R Bhatnagar, the adviser to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor G C Murmu. "This is the first-of-its-kind project in India and a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir. Till now, we only have the misuse and abuse of this ancient plant having lot of medicinal values and with the signing of this agreement, we are reintroducing this ancient product with all good properties," Singh said addressing the gathering after the signing of the agreement. "This project will yield international standard, export quality medicinal drug for pain relief in cancer, diabetic and neuropathy. The scientific-cum- commercial project will simultaneously generate revenue, research and jobs," Singh said. The minister said to partner in this scientific research and clinical development programme, the Canada based company has come through its Indian subsidiary IndusCann by contributing funds in phased manner. Knowledge and IPR generated through collaboration will be shared between the institute and the company, he said. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office shared the efforts made by IIIM Director Ram Vishwakarma over the past two years to get a nod from the government for the project. He said when a patent developed from this, it would be a major source of revenue for the UT and India as a whole. "Incidentally, it is happening at a time when the UT government is trying hard to attract investors from outside," he said. "Other investors are yet to come but one of the first major foreign investment is happening in Jammu and Kashmir," Singh said. He said the IIIM had remained under-utilised. "I am sure today, it will mark the beginning of a new journey when it will get the deserved recognition and glory. The new dawn is unfolding for Jammu and Kashmir," the minister said referring to scrapping of J-K's special status. He also referred to the upcoming bio-technology park in Kathua, saying it will be completed in the next six months. Vishwakarma said the cannabis had been associated with the Indian culture and medicine since centuries but due to its misuse as psycho-active substance, it was banned worldwide in 1980s onwards and put under narcotic list. "The current scientific collaboration between the CSIR-IIIM and IndusCann on cannabis research will totally transform the uses and application of cannabis," he said. PTI TAS ACB RDK SMN SMN A Brooklyn woman has been charged with operating a house of prostitution in Egg Harbor Township, the Atlantic County Sheriffs Office said Friday. After a five-month investigation, detectives and agents from the Sheriffs Office, Egg Harbor Township Police Department and the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force searched a Delilah Road residence that was suspected of operating as a brothel for at least two years, Undersheriff Mike Petuskey said in a news release. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The establishment had been entertaining as many as 10 customers per day, Petuskey said. The investigation was initiated after authorities received a tip from a concerned citizen about prostitution activity at the residence. Detectives seized evidence of prostitution and cash from the residence, Petuskey said. Heng Wan, 42, of Brooklyn, was arrested and charged with operating a house of prostitution and released on a summons pending court, Petuskey said. No additional information is available at this time, he said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sonia Deasy, winner of the 2019 National Enterprise Award, will be the guest speaker at the Louth County Final of the National Enterprise Awards which will be hosted by Gerry Kelly Local Enterprise Week Louth is now just two weeks away. It features a number of free events hosted by Louth County Council's Local Enterprise Office (LEO), which are designed to meet the needs of the local business community. The highlight of the week is always the National Enterprise Awards lunch, which takes place on Friday March 6. Louth's Head of Enterprise, Thomas McEvoy has extended an invitation to business owners to join him and the Local Enterprise Office team at this celebratory lunch at the Monasterboice Inn. Hosted by LMFM's Gerry Kelly, this event will feature a keynote address by Sonia Deasy of Pestle and Mortar. Overall winner of the National Enterprise Awards 2019, Sonia has an incredible business story to tell and great insights to share. 'The event truly is a showcase for enterprise in Louth,' says Thomas. The three Louth category winners of the National Enterprise Awards will be announced at the lunch. These companies are emerging businesses that have already demonstrated excellence or have a concept that is destined for greatness and will represent Louth in the National Enterprise Awards Finals in The Mansion House, Dublin next May." 'Enterprise is the backbone of County Louth,' says Louth County Council chairman Cllr Liam Reilly. 'We see it everywhere, from big industries to artisan producers and all the SMEs in between. Louth County Council are committed to supporting enterprise in Louth through the services that we provide and the work of our Local Enterprise Office team.' To book a place at the awards lunch visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Louth. Stray and roaming dogs are not a uniquely First Nations issue but, often, a lack of resources in the community can lead to serious safety concerns. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/2/2020 (691 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Chairperson Rachelle Levesque (foreground) and volunteer Sanna Innes with Strays that can't Pay set up dog collars, leashes and dog food at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation for anyone who wants or needs the pet items. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) Stray and roaming dogs are not a uniquely First Nations issue but, often, a lack of resources in the community can lead to serious safety concerns. Birdtail Sioux First Nation is one community actively taking this issue on through a partnership with animal rescue Strays That Cant Pay. The relationship between the rescue and Birdtail began a few years ago as individual owners asked for assistance after outreach by founder Alicia Hoemsen, who has been working with First Nations since 2012 "But last month, chief and council recognized that they had a problem with stray animals," said the organizations volunteer chairperson Rachelle Levesque. Levesque said poor communities have higher priorities, such as education and mental health. "For animal welfare, we can fundraise." By enlisting Strays that Cant Pays aid, the community avoided a dog cull, which means shooting dogs without apparent owners. Dog culls are not unusual in underserved remote communities. The rescue is in the process of developing a similar relationship with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. During the course of two and a half weeks, the rescue removed a total of 35 dogs and three cats from the two communities. The animals are vetted within 24 hours, tested for various diseases, vaccinated and treated for any other medical issues. If an animal shows aggression, its determined whether they are truly aggressive toward humans or aggressive due to lack of resource. Unclaimed animals are fostered or adopted. Strays that Cant Pay only goes into communities if it is invited by leadership or an individual. Levesque introduced herself and the rescue at Sioux Valley last week. She brought collars and leashes, as well as free dog food. Residents immediately approached her, curious. And as she shared the goods, she also asked residents questions about their own experiences and ideas, to better understand the requirements of the community. One woman explained two large dogs confronted a relative. Roaming dogs are a problem, especially when they pack together due to lack of resources. The danger they pose to children is especially acute. Strays That Cant Pay also provides spay and neuter services, as well as vaccinations. But Birdtail is looking at taking it one step further, while Sioux Valley is paying attention to the discussions between the leadership and the rescue to work toward education and prevention rather than applying Band-Aid solutions. "Discussions turned to How can we progress and move forward? How can we prevent the problem?" Levesque said. On the table are: implementation of a bylaw, retrofitting a building into a pound, and training and employing a member of the community as an animal control officer. Levesque hopes to form partnerships with the federal and provincial governments for funding opportunities. The organization also currently responds to individual calls from Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation, Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation and Waywayseecappo First Nation. Strays That Cant Pay is a volunteer organization, with a core group of 10 and approximately 20 to 50 volunteers in total. Volunteers handle fundraising, dog adoption, cat adoption, foster adoption and front-line rescuers. "People truly, truly care about their animals and being able to bring resources to them means a lot," Levesque said. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! The Auschwitz museum called Friday on US e-commerce billionaire Jeff Bezos to remove Nazi era anti-Semitic children's books featured on his Amazon global digital sales platform. "Hateful, virulently antisemitic Nazi propaganda is available for sale not only on @AmazonUK," the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted Friday on its official account. "Books by authors like Julius Streicher can be found also on @amazon & @AmazonDE. Such books should be removed immediately. | @JeffBezos @Amazon," it said in a post that also featured screen-grabs of the books for sale on the platform. Among them is an anti-Semitic children's book titled "The Poisonous Mushroom" authored by Nazi party member Julius Streicher and originally published in 1938. The book is offered on Amazon for sale in its original German (Der Giftpilz) as well as English, French and Spanish, AFP confirmed with an online search. Last year, Lithuania called on Amazon to stop selling Soviet-themed goods online, saying the hammer and sickle symbol offended victims of totalitarian communism. Over the last 18 months Amazon has pulled several books by far-right authors including David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, and George Lincoln Rockwell, the founder of the American Nazi Party, according to the New York Times. Amazon also banned other books that were anti-Semitic in nature, the NYT reported earlier this month. Holocaust survivors returned last month to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp to mark 75 years since its liberation and to sound the alarm over a surge in anti-Semitic attacks on both sides of the Atlantic, some of them deadly. Operated by Nazi Germany from 1940 until 1945 in then occupied Poland, Auschwitz was part of a vast and brutal network of camps across Europe set up as part of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's "Final Solution" of genocide against an estimated 10 million European Jews. Nazi Germany killed more than 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, most of them Jewish. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Jaipur-based cutlery designer, Arun Pabuwal, has designed an exclusive set of gold and silver-plated tableware for the personal use of US President Donald Trump and wife Melania during their India. He has named it 'The Trump Collection'. "Special cutlery has been made for US President and his wife. This 'Trump Collection' has some new designs. Such special cutleries were also made for the then US President Barack Obama when he visited India in 2010 and 2015," Pabuwal told ANI. The designer said there is always a different design of cutlery for the visiting US Presidents. This is the third time in a row that Pabuwal has made exclusive tableware for the personal use of visiting American presidents. "In this, non-ferrous metals are used to make the cutleries which include copper and brass. Later, a layer of pure gold and silver is put on them. We got the order three weeks back," the designer said. He said the tableware is likely to be used during President's stay in New Delhi. Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: Delhi's Patiala House Court on Saturday (February 22, 2020) dismissed the petition of convict Vinay Sharma, seeking direction to provide high-level medical treatment to him, claiming that he suffers from mental illness. Vinay Sharma is one of the four death-row convicts in the 2012 Delhi rape case and has claimed that he is mentally ill and suffering from schizophrenia and head and arm injuries. During the hearing of Nirbhaya gangrape case, the court observed, ''General anxiety and depression in case of a death row convict is obvious. In the case at hand, evidently, adequate medical treatment and psychological help have been provided to the condemned convict''. The incident happened in jail number 3 on Sunday afternoon. He got some minor injuries and was treated inside the prison premises, the jail officials said. On February 16, Vinay had tried to hurt himself by banging his head against a wall in his cell, said Tihar Jail official on Thursday. The official added that Vinay had received minor injuries and he was taken to hospital for treatment. Sources also claimed that Vinay tried to injure himself in order to delay his hanging. A Tihar jail official said, "Vinay Sharma got hurt inside his cell after he banged his head against the wall, security personnel saw him, stooped him immediately and called the doctors.'' Earlier this week, the court directed that the four convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape case - Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) - be executed on March 3 at 6 am. Notably, it is for the third time that the court has issued death warrants against the convicts. Reacting to courts order, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi, said that the convicts are only trying to delay the execution by making false claims. She said, ''There no such requirement of treatment, the convicts are just trying to create a tactic delay to the execution process, they are only trying to mislead the court in the matter.'' Believing that the convicts will be hanged on the prescribed date, Asha Devi asserted, ''They have exhausted almost all legal remedies and I believe that they will be hanged on March 3.'' The case pertains to the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later to the incident. One of the five adults accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case. Stephanie Hodge (left) and Katie Kleiger in Philadelphia Theatre Company's Philadelphia premiere of "Everything is Wonderful." Read more In Everything Is Wonderful, a beguiling new play at Philadelphia Theatre Company through March 8, silence permeates. Sometimes it cuts through a scene with the force of a freshly sharpened blade. Elsewhere, it hangs in the air like grief. Chelsea Marcantels exploration of tragedy and its aftermath is at its most eloquent in its quietest moments. These moments reveal the true nature of the story. The word forgiveness is often spoken, and the dramas structure resembles many similar traversals of a familiar, weighty subject. Eric (J. Hernandez), a wayward young man struggling with addiction, arrives on the doorstep of Jacob and Esther (William Zielinski and Blair Sams), an Amish couple whose two sons he killed in an automobile accident. He demands the family press charges. Instead, they set a place for him at their table, alongside surviving daughter Ruth (Stephanie Hodge, whose performance brims with a gentle, unforced innocence). The misfortune brings another lost soul back to the hearth, which scenic designer Daniel Ettinger renders with rustic authenticity: Miri (Katie Kleiger), Jacob and Esthers eldest child, excommunicated five years before the events of the play began. She carries her own bone-deep trauma, the experience of which drove her out of the community and into the English world. Despite the heavy price placed on absolution, Marcantel seems more interested in endurance and acceptance far more interesting characteristics than the fetishized and commodified F word forgiveness. Right up until a finale that represents the scripts one true misstep, the individuals depicted dont feel much less wounded or weary than they did at the start. This is a daring choice, a decision to present life and pain not in some idealized manner but as it is often actually experienced. This subtext penetrates the performances offered under Noah Himmelsteins finely wrought direction. Hernandez, a local actor best known for his work in classical theater, brings the same sense of tragic weight to Eric that he does to Shakespeare. He also intimates that his characters newfound enlightenment in the company of Jacobs family, which momentarily allows him to find sobriety, may be fleeting. Sams presents Esther as a woman who clings to the tenets of her faith and way of life because she might cleave in two without them. She also hints at a roiling within. Zielinski, with a slightly impenetrable Pennsylvania Dutch accent, shows how expectations placed on elder men in a rigid community caused Jacob to falter as a father. But the production belongs to Kleiger. Beneath the contemporary costumes (by Janus Stefanowicz) that physically mark her separation, she staggeringly suggests the anger and hurt Miri feels at being wrested from a place she truly loved through no fault of her own. Her charged interactions with Abram (Lucky Gretzinger), the young man who played a part in her departure, crackle with understandable indignation. Gretzinger projects a darkness beneath Abrams nice-guy exterior. The wrong that Abram perpetrated toward Miri, along with the communitys acceptance of his confession, once again points to how facile forgiveness can be. Thankfully, Everything Is Wonderful wades much deeper than empty expressions of contrition. It shows the real work people from all walks of life must do to endure quiet, faltering, human. THEATRE REVIEW Everything Is Wonderful Through March 8 at Philadelphia Theatre Company, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St. Tickets: $25-69. Information: 215-985-0420, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org. A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed a plea by Vinay Sharma one of the four convicts in the December 16 gang rape case who had sought treatment in Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS). The court stated that on a mental status examination of Sharma, he was found to be dramatic, superficial and malingering. Additional sessions Judge Dharmender Rana rejected Sharmas plea for treatment claiming insanity, mental illness and schizophrenia filed through advocate AP Singh, who had also contended that his client was unable to recognize his family and lawyer. The court said no objective signs of psychological distress were observed while also adding that the apparent tone and tenor of the convict is not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour. The convict desires himself to be falsely diagnosed mentally ill. Overall impression of his psychological condition is reported to be that of malingering. It is reported that the general condition and vitals of inmate is stable and satisfactory, the judge said. It is evident that the convict is not only being provided regular medical care but regular supportive therapy/sessions is being conducted for him by a specialist psychiatrist. I do not have any plausible reasons to disbelieve the report of two responsible medical experts, the judge added. The court also said that it had perused the CD given by the jail authorities containing the CCTV footage wherein Sharma is seen conversing with his counsel and family members. On Saturday, the jail authorities, represented by Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed, gave the CD with the footage and stated that the application is a bundle of distorted facts. Opposing Sharmas application, the public prosecutor said that the condemned convict himself struck his head on the wall and it is a self inflicted injury. He also said that the CCTV footage in the barrack showed that the injury was self inflicted. The convict is being analyzed and his vitals are intact and all the injuries are superficial. The examination by jail doctors, and their medical history reveals that the convict is not suffering from such disease. So his examination at any hospital is not required, Ahmed said. However, countering such submissions, Singh said that the jail authorities had concealed the fact of his clients head injuries and did not inform the court about the same during the hearing on February 17, even though the incident where Sharma received head injuries took place in the intervening night of Feb 16 and Feb 17. While making his submissions, Singh even broke down when the judge offered him water and said that he might leave the case for once and all. The court while rejecting the claims of the convict said, The apparent tone and tenor of the convict is not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour, rather it convincingly corroborates the opinion of the medical experts. General anxiety and depression in case of a death row convict is obvious. In the case at hand, evidently adequate medical treatment and psychological help has been provided to the condemned convict. In these circumstances, I do not find any occasion to refer the convict to IHBAS or any other hospital at this stage. The application is accordingly dismissed, the judge said. AP Singh said that he would appeal against the judgment in high court . Asha Devi, the mother of the 23-year-old paramedic student who was brutally gang raped and murdered, however, expressed happiness and said that the convicts should now accept the facts and come to terms with reality. She said that the courts have understood the delaying tactics and the convicts would be now hanged on March 3. Now when the convicts are talking about their mothers and sisters, they should realize my pain also. Even I lost my daughter and here I am visiting courts from the past so many years, Devi said. In his new application, AP Singh claimed that jail records would prove that Sharma had attempted suicide thrice so far and been under treatment for depression. In jail, he said, Sharma had also sustained a grievous head injury and fracture in his right arm. Sharma has been on death row along with three other convicts -- Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur. They were sentenced to death by a Delhi court in 2013 after they were found guilty of brutally raping and murdering the 23-year-old paramedic student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012. Their hanging, as ordered by a city court, has been postponed twice. On February 17, a Delhi court had issued fresh warrants, for the third time, to hang the convicts till death on March 3 at 6am. In recent years, Portland has been the site of white supremacist rallies and Antifa counterprotests. It has also seen a white man try to sic a pit bull on an African-American man who he said was in the wrong neighborhood; a driver screaming at a pregnant Muslim woman to remove her hijab; and the conviction of a white supremacist who deliberately plowed his Jeep into a black teenager. (He was sentenced to at least 28 years in prison, in what was believed to be Oregons first hate-crime murder conviction in more than three decades.) The incident aboard the MAX train on May 26, 2017, left a deep wound in our community, a community that rejects hate, racism and violence in any form, Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, a Democrat, said in a statement after the verdict. The conviction wont fully take away the pain inflicted on the families, friends and loved ones of the victims in the MAX attack, but the hope is that they find relief in the legal justice that was served today. Even so, civil rights advocates say they have seen few signs that Portland has reckoned with its racist history or is taking the necessary steps today to eradicate bigotry. Ive been in situations where Ive been humiliated in public, and no one responds, said Teressa Raiford, an African-American community organizer and mayoral candidate whose family has lived in Portland for four generations. They are conditioned to feel safe, and we arent, she said of white residents. Some observers have said that if the city took a more forceful approach to racist attacks, the train attack might have been avoided. The day before the attack, an African-American woman, Demetria Hester, reported that a man had harassed and assaulted her in an incident that began on a light rail train. Prosecutors later said that man was Mr. Christian. In his murder trial, the woman testified that Mr. Christian had been shouting epithets on the train, and she had asked him to lower his voice. When he followed her off the train, she said, the incident escalated: She pepper-sprayed him, and he threw a full bottle of Gatorade, hitting her right eye like a bullet, she testified. Mr. Christian did not testify during his trial. His lawyers argued that he acted in self-defense when he felt threatened by the men confronting him, and that his words, vile as they may have been, were protected by the First Amendment. Forty-six years ago, author Chris Ahrens sold his first story. Hes been earning a living as a writer ever since. But the 69-year-old Cardiff resident is pleased to say that he wont make a penny off his latest book, God & Gangsters. The self-published paperback features interviews with 21 hardcore and notorious criminals who turned their lives around by embracing Christianity and getting sober. Last month, Ahrens printed the first 500 copies of his book with the mission of giving every copy away for free. The target audience for God & Gangsters is juvenile offenders who Ahrens hopes may learn from the hard-earned wisdom of these reformed gang members, drug dealers, murderers and Mafioso. I see it as my mission, said Ahrens, a grandfather of two and whose wife, Tracy, is a private school administrator. I was looking for something meaningful to do and I thought that if I could get these stories into the hands of young people, they could learn from others mistakes. Advertisement In April, Ahrens will co-host a book-release party at the high-security Calipatria State Prison in the Imperial Valley, where many of the books subjects served time. That will be followed by visits to Chuckawalla Valley and Donovan state prisons. Hell be joined by Dennis Martinez, 58, a onetime world champion freestyle skateboarder who relates in the book how he lost everything to drugs in his 20s. He found God and sobered up 21 years ago and now runs the San Diego Training Center, a faith-based drug rehab center in Spring Valley. Ahrens first told Martinezs story in his 2008 documentary D.O.P.E, an acronym for Death or Prison Eventually. Narrated by actor and ex-con Danny Trejo, the film chronicled the rise, fall and redemption of four skateboard superstars: Martinez, Christian Hosoi, Bruce Logan and the late Jay Adams. For many years, Ahrens has been part of a ministry program that visits men in prisons for conversation and support. He said the experience of hearing these stories left him a changed man. I started seeing these people who are no different from me or anyone else, Ahrens said. I know people who may have just had a knife in their hand when things went wrong and they went to prison for life. Chris Ahrens holds a copy of God & Gangsters, a book hes distributing free to youth offenders about ex-cons whove turned away from crime and drugs through faith. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune ) Ahrens grew up in Los Angeles, attending Catholic schools and hitchhiking to the beach on weekends to surf. Religion didnt take with him as a boy, but he often encountered a street preacher under the Huntington Beach Pier who gave him food for thought. I wasnt the kind of kid who enjoyed sitting in church every Sunday being told to be a good boy, he said. When I was 19, I remember going home one night thinking about what that (beach) preacher said, and I took my own spiritual journey. Id call myself a nondenominational Christian. Two years later, Ahrens moved to Australia for the waves. He supported himself doing odd jobs, including taking pictures of surfers. But when his camera got stolen, he went to a local newspaper and asked if theyd instead buy a freelance article. Forty dollars later, he was a professional writer. During the 1970s, he wrote for several surfing magazines and then ran a state-sponsored journalism program teaching newspaper skills to residents on the Rincon Indian reservation. He served for a time as editor of Longboarder Magazine and he freelanced for major newspapers, television and radio stations. In 1994, he published his first of four books of short stories. And in 2003, he launched Risen, a magazine that offered in-depth interviews with celebrities that touched on spirituality and faith. It was during that time that Ahrens said he began noticing the toll drugs had taken on his community. He was also disturbed by how pop culture glamorized gang and prison life. That led to the making of D.O.P.E. I felt a responsibility to make that film, he said. After going through the 60s and seeing so many good, intelligent people die, I needed to do something. Too many kids were getting the wrong message from exploitative films that played to their vices and weaknesses. After the film, Ahrens helped write a HarperCollins autobiography of Hosoi, who found God while serving a four-year prison sentence for possession to sell $65,000 of methamphetamine. Today, Hosoi runs a skateboard shop and is a part-time pastor in Huntington Beach. In doing interviews for the book over the past year, Ahrens said he found many commonalities. Most of the subjects 19 men and 2 women had difficult childhoods with absent, cruel or criminal fathers and drugs, physical abuse and sexual abuse in the home. Many joined gangs around the age of 14 for the adrenaline rush and sense of belonging. All of the addicts say their drug use began with marijuana and that their addiction motivated and intensified their crimes. The interviews are mostly presented in a Q&A format and cover the subjects childhood, crime and prison experiences and journey to faith and sobriety. Each chapter ends with their favorite Bible verse. Most chose scriptures from the Apostle Paul, Ahrens said, because he turned away from violent extremism when he met Jesus. Among the diverse subjects are San Diego residents Nadine Goddard and Raylene Brooks, who both spent more than 20 years in prison as accessories to murders committed by their boyfriends. There are also interviews with Manson Family killer Randall Tex Watson; mobsters Michael Franzese and Rocco Morelli; rapper Matthew Emcy Conant; and surfers Jack Murf the Surf Murphy and Shawn Briley. All of the interviewees are now sober, most of them have served their time and many are pastors who counsel prisoners, ex-cons and the poor, like cover subject Jake Sellers. The onetime drug dealer and armed robber credits prayer with saving him from suicide in prison. He now ministers to the poor and deportees in Tijuana. Most of the subjects offer gritty and unvarnished descriptions of their drug battles and crimes. San Diego pastor Jon Lowry spent 17 years in prison and tells his story in raw detail to deflate the myth of glory and glamour in prison. Young people ... think in prison they can get a name for themselves by being aggressive, violent. But all those guys that have lived and died in prison, nobody knows their names, Lowry said. When they die, theyre shipped home in a cardboard box to their families. Their bodies arent even washed off theyll still have blood on them. The first printing of Gods & Gangsters was underwritten by Oregon artist Michael Cassidy, and all 500 books have already been given away. Ahrens is now raising money for a second printing. He said all the subjects interviewed are happy with the book and hope their honest confessions will have a positive impact on young people. The final advice in the book comes from Timothy Jackson, a onetime Oceanside gang member who now runs his own cleaning business. Know who you are, he counsels. Youre made in Gods image; youre not born as a gang member. Thats a costume some people will wear for the rest of their lives. If you take that off, you can be yourself. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian officials Saturday reported a sixth death from the new virus that emerged in China. The governor of Markazi province told the official IRNA news agency that tests of a patient who recently died in the central city of Arak were positive for the virus. Ali Aghazadeh said the person was also suffering from a heart problem. Earlier on Saturday, health authorities reported a fifth death from the coronavirus and said the fatality was among 10 new confirmed cases in Iran. It was not immediately clear whether the sixth fatality was among those 10. So far, 28 cases have been confirmed in Iran, including at least five of the six who died. People are being treated for the virus in at least four different cities, including the capital, Tehran, where some pharmacies had already run out of masks and hand sanitizer. Other cities are Qom, Arak and Rasht The virus loomed over a nationwide parliamentary election in Iran on Friday. Many voters went to the polls wearing face masks. Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour, who spoke earlier on state TV did not specify when the fifth death occurred. Two people had died Friday from COVID-19, the illness caused by virus. Authorities reported two deaths previously this week. Jahanpour said that of the 10 newly detected cases, two were in the capital of Tehran and eight were in the city of Qom. Thats where the first two elderly patients died on Wednesday. He said the two patients in the capital had visited Qom or had links with the city. Minoo Mohraz, an Iranian health ministry official, had said Friday that the virus possibly came from Chinese workers who work in Qom and travelled to China. She did not elaborate. A Chinese company has been building a solar power plant in Qom. World Health Organization officials have said that Chinas crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. But as hot spots emerge around the globe, including in South Korea and Iran, there has been trouble finding the first patient who sparked each new cluster. Qom is a popular religious destination and a centre of learning and religious studies for Shiite Muslims from inside Iran, as well as Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. As a preventive measure, Iran has closed schools in Tehran, Qom, Arak and three other provinces. Also, the city of Tehran closed down all bistros and water fountains in the citys subway stations until further notice. Authorities also suspended popular football matches for 10 days and additional measures include daily cleanings of metro train cars and city buses. Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia announced that citizens and residents of the kingdom are not permitted to travel to Iran following the spread of the virus there. Anyone previously in Iran will only be permitted entry to the country after the 14-day incubation period of the virus has passed. The decision, while not specifically mentioning Iranian nationals, directly impacts thousands of Iranians who travel to Mecca and Medina for Islamic pilgrimages, effectively barring them from entry to Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has already barred its citizens and residents from travel to China. (TNS) About 8.8 million licensed Ohio drivers and state ID holders will have their photos uploaded to a state database used by law enforcement officers and federal immigration officials.Attorney General Dave Yost and Gov. Mike DeWine plan to fill the state's facial recognition system with updated and new mug shots of every licensed Ohio driver.A task force formed by Yost recommended the step Thursday while advising him on use of the facial recognition system as an effective law enforcement tool while protecting Ohioans' privacy and civil liberties.The Bureau of Motor Vehicles turned over all driver's license photos in 2011 to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation part of the attorney general's office but since has not provided any new images for the facial recognition system.The pending import of driver's license photos into the system would generate updated mug shots of Ohioans already in the database while adding the photos of all additional drivers licensed since 2011.Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union worry that facial recognition systems are ripe for misuse, such as public surveillance in a bid to identify people not suspected of wrongdoing.DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor, who is the immediate past attorney general, "supports moving forward" on adding the updated and new BMV mugs to the state system.Yost said "guardrails" will be erected to prevent misuse of facial recognition by police agencies and to forbid its use for active surveillance of any public gatherings to potentially identify people.The system should only be used with reasonable suspicion the person to be identified has committed a crime or his or her actions would pose a danger of killing or hurting people, the task force said in its report to Yost "Facial recognition technology is a tool to develop leads it's a place where police work begins, not where it ends," Yost said. Yost's office conducted a review and appointed the task force last summer after news reports that federal law enforcement officials have mined the photo databases of state bureaus of motor vehicles nationwide without the approval of Congress or state legislatures.Of the 10,652 searches of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway's database of 24 million photos between 2017 and mid- 2019, 418, or 3.9%, involved federal agencies, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Yost's review found. Columbus police conducted 768 searches, the fifth-most in the state. The database includes photos of every prisoner in the Ohio penal system, too.Yost said he found no abuse of the technology by law enforcement, but suspended, and plans to continue for now, direct police access to the facial recognition database. Searches must be conducted by Bureau of Criminal Investigation staff.The attorney general said the state will see "quantum improvement" when a new $21 million facial recognition software system comes online next year to replace the antiquated system, which can have difficulty correctly matching photos of women and African Americans.The system now contains more than 24 million photos, including state prisoners, sex offenders and millions of police booking mugs, in addition to the driver's license and state ID photos. American, United push back 737 MAX return amid new approval delays An American Airlines jet taxis from the new Central Deicing Facility (CDF) at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago By Tracy Rucinski and David Shepardson CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines Holdings Inc are pushing back the return of Boeing 737 MAX flights until August and September, respectively, a fresh delay that comes after sources told Reuters that the timing of a key certification flight may not occur until at least April. American is cancelling 737 MAX flights until Aug. 18 and United until Sept. 4, the two said in separate statements on Friday. The other U.S. 737 MAX operator, Southwest Airlines Co , has extended its flight cancellations until Aug. 10. The new timelines mean that the three carriers will be flying without the 737 MAX for the second straight U.S. summer, an issue that hit their profits during last year's peak travel season. Boeing's 737 MAX was grounded worldwide last March after two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people. The U.S. planemaker has spent months updating software believed to have played a role in both crashes, but fresh issues have surfaced, complicating regulators' efforts to reapprove the plane. The timing of a certification flight, a key step in the approval process, has been delayed repeatedly. The latest unofficial guidance was for the flight to happen this month, but now it is unlikely to occur while Boeing tries to resolve the new problems, sources said this week. American, Southwest and United had been planning to fly the jets in early June if regulators had approved the plane in the first quarter, but that now looks unlikely. One key issue yet to be resolved is whether Boeing must separate two wiring bundles that may be too close together, which could lead to a short circuit and crash if pilots do not respond appropriately. Boeing has told the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration it does not believe it needs to separate wiring bundles, people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Story continues Once regulators approve Boeing's fixes, airlines will still need around 30 days or longer to prepare their fleets and pilots before using the planes for commercial flight. The longer the 737 MAX is grounded, the more Boeing will ultimately have to compensate its customers. Boeing spent $1.4 billion (1.1 billion) on compensation for 737 MAX customers last year and Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said this week the company expects "a good portion" of additional settlements to take place this year. Meanwhile, carriers including Delta Air Lines that do not operate the 737 MAX are picking up travel demand that United, Southwest and American have been unable to meet given their reduced fleets. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Matthew Lewis) Trump's Acting Intelligence Appointee Doesn't Expect To Be Named For Permanent Post February 21, 2020 Richard Grenell, who was named U.S. President Donald Trump's acting director of intelligence, says he does not expect to be named to the post permanently. "The President will announce the Nominee (not me) sometime soon," Grenell wrote on Twitter on February 20, a day after Trump announced his selection to lead the nation's intelligence agencies in an acting capacity. As acting director of national intelligence (DNI), Grenell will not require Senate confirmation, as would a permanent appointee. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told U.S. media that Grenell will remain U.S. ambassador to Germany while serving as acting DNI. Grenell, a fierce Trump loyalist, also serves as the administration's special envoy for normalization efforts between Western Balkan rivals Kosovo and Serbia. Trump's decision to name Grenell to the DNI post ignited vocal criticism by leading Democrats in Congress. "Sadly, President Trump has once again put his political interests ahead of America's national security interests by appointing an Acting Director of National Intelligence whose sole qualification is his absolute loyalty to the President," House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. The White House insisted Grenell "is committed to a nonpolitical, nonpartisan approach as head of the Intelligence Community." Grenell angered many in Germany following his appointment as U.S. envoy to the NATO ally. Shortly after arrival 2018, he drew condemnation for an interview with the right-wing Breitbart website in which he said, "I absolutely want to empower" European conservatives who are "experiencing an awakening from the silent majority." The DNI post was created after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. It oversees the 17 U.S. civilian and military intelligence agencies. Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa, and The New York Times Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-s-acting-dni -appointee-doesn-t-expect-to-be-named -for-permanent-post/30446880.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Tennessee Court of Appeals has upheld Hamilton County Chancellor Jeff Atherton's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by state Democrats seeking to keep Republican Robin Smith off the ballot for the House District 26 race. Chancellor Atherton acted in September 2018, and the Appeals Court ruled this week. It said the issue was moot since Ms. Smith won and has been serving. Democrats had claimed that longtime Rep. Gerald McCormick's late withdrawal from the race was invalid. He said his employer was requiring that he take a new position in Nashville. Rep. McCormick and his wife, Kim, earlier bought a house in Nashville and put their home in Middle Valley up for sale. The Appeals Court said, "Political party filed suit against the county election commission and the State election coordinator requesting injunctive relief to prevent a county election commission from allowing a replacement for a candidate in another partys primary election for the office of state representative who had withdrawn from the race after the qualifying deadline; the plaintiff party also sought a declaration that the withdrawal of the original candidate did not allow for a replacement under the circumstances presented. "The primary election ensued, and the replacement candidate advanced to the general election; thereafter, the trial court denied the injunction and granted the defendants motions to dismiss the action. After the appeal was filed but before argument, the general election was held and the other partys candidate was elected. We have determined that this case is moot and, accordingly, dismiss the appeal; we deny the request for damages for a frivolous appeal." Another cargo plane of the United States air force landed at the Ahmedabad international airport on Saturday ahead of the February 24 visit of US President Donald Trump to the city. The C-17 Globemaster cargo plane, fourth in the last few days, carried security equipment and a special vehicle that is likely to be part of Trump's convoy, sources said. The three cargo planes that had landed in recent days mainly carried various equipment for the US president's security during his maiden visit. Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a less that 36-hour visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including First Lady Melania Trump, the president's daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in- aw Jared Kushner and a galaxy of top US officials. According to sources, the 'Marine One' helicopter of the US was part of the cargo which had landed a few days back. After landing of the first C17 Globemaster on last Monday carrying various equipment and an SUV, two more such cargo planes had landed in the last few days, they said. One of the planes carried a giant SUV -- White House Communications Agency Roadrunner -- which could be part of Trump's cavalcade during his 22-km long roadshow on February 24. The WHCA Roadrunner, also known as the MC2V (mobile command and control vehicle), serves as the communications hub for the motorcade by encrypting duplex radio and streaming video, which in turn is beamed to a military satellite that sends the data back to the ground. The US president will attend the "Namaste Trump" event along with Prime Minister Narnedra Modi at the newly-constructed Motera Stadium, which has a seating capacity for 1.10 lakh people. More than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed as part of security arrangement for the programme and the roadshow. 22.02.2020 LISTEN Members of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) in Wuhan say they are convinced by President Akufo-Addo assurance that government will evacuate stranded students from China. According to them, they did not get any positive assurance from President Nana Akufo-Addos State of the Nation Address in Parliament last Thursday. The students have been calling for evacuation since the outbreak of the disease but the Ghana government has indicated that it will only evacuate them when necessary. Vice President of NUGS- Wuhan, Michael Adney told Citi News that no concrete assurances were given to restore their hopes. On Thursday, we keenly watched the State of the Nation Address as delivered by His Excellency. Despite the assurance that they are still monitoring the situation and putting in place mechanisms to see if it becomes possible to evacuate us, we feel like the evacuation is not going to happen especially after the financial support and food they are providing. Because as of now, the situation is at its peak and we believe that the longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are to possibly get infected with the virus. And the more we stay here, the more difficult it becomes for us to be evacuated. We are basically coming into terms with it. But if the government assesses the situation and they feel they will come for us, we will accept it but we want it to be done in a fast manner, he pleaded. Akufo-Addo in Parliament President Nana Akufo Addo made it known while delivering the 2020 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 20, 2020 that the government will evacuate Ghanaians students from China if the need arises . According to him, the government will evacuate students from China if other options aimed at confining the disease to the area of origin fails. The government is in constant touch with experts on the subject who have advised that the basic principle of public health is to confine the disease to the area of origin but we have not ruled out the option of evacuating the students from Wuhan if that becomes necessary. We have put in place measures to ensure that if the evacuation happens, it will not lead to the dissemination of fear and panic amongst the general population, the President said. Govt not willing to evacuate us Students On Tuesday, February 19, a delegation from the National Union of Ghana Students met the Foreign Affairs Minister , Shirley Ayorkor Botchway to discuss the situation of the 151 Ghanaian students currently residing in Wuhan. The Minister promised them among other things that food items and other needs had been dispatched from Ghana to sustain them in Wuhan. But reacting to this, the students in Wuhan who have been pleading for evacuation as the disease gets serious said the government's decision to send them food is not a solution to their current situation. According to them, the move proves that the government has no intention of evacuating them from the coronavirus-infected country. ---citinewsroom Seth & Nirva's new song cries out for 'mercy' for America: We've crossed into the danger zone Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Acclaimed husband/wife duo Seth & Nirva released the new single Mercy off of their long-awaited album. As well as being a personal prayer, the song is a cry of repentance on behalf of America. The duos anticipated album, One Voice, will be released on March 13 and features 13 tracks of both music and spoken-word vignettes. Seth & Nirva, who have tackled real-life topics head-on in the past as a biracial couple and ministers of the Gospel, continue to provide content that is vulnerable and personal. Their new single, Mercy, models the book of Psalms from the Bible as the psalmist cries out for God to show up and have mercy on the land. The couple said God continues to remain merciful although we as a people deserve wrath. The following is The Christian Post's premiere of their video, Mercy, and an edited transcript of CP's interview with Seth & Nirva, who discuss the concept and reason behind the new single. Christian Post: Mercy is a message so many need to hear right now. We live in a time where there is not much self-reflection and blessings is what people pray for instead of God's mercy. Can you talk about that? Seth & Nirva: Yeah, you said it. Theres definitely a tendency toward entitlement, and we have also largely lost the concept of the holiness of God. Many are not even aware how far we have fallen short of the glory of God collectively and individually. So one aspect of this song does have to do with repentance. Theres an old prayer called the Jesus prayer that many have used through the ages that basically says, Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. This informs the song as well as some of the Psalms where the writer is crying out for Gods mercy for everything from forgiveness, to healing, financial help, perseverance, and justice. There are a variety of reasons to seek God for His mercy and thats what we tried to capture in this song and video. CP: Americas in need of God's mercy as its now actively promoting things the Bible calls evil as good, such as redefining identity, killing the innocent, political corruption, social injustice. What inspired you to pen this song? Seth & Nirva: For sure, we have definitely crossed into the danger zone that the prophet Isaiah warned us about long ago of calling evil good, and good evil. When you think of the 60 million plus innocent human beings we have legally killed in the womb since Roe vs. Wade, and how we are indoctrinating elementary school kids with the sexual anarchy propagated by radical LGBTQ activists, its a wonder God hasnt blown us off the map. When we wrote this song, we did get the sense that although the lyric literally refers to an individual person praying, at a deeper level it represents the land itself crying out for mercy. In this sense, we arent just asking for forgiveness, but we are asking God to come and bring correction and justice to draw the leaders responsible for this evil to repentance, or to remove them and bring judgment upon them if they refuse. CP: The song is God-breathed and is an emotional listening experience. Can you share your personal experience with it? Seth & Nirva: This song definitely feels like the centerpiece of the album for us, and the one we resonate most with. It felt like Gods grace was on it from beginning to end. Every now and then as an artist, you connect deeply with a song and inspiration seems to keep coming right up until you finalize the master. This happened on this song. Months after we recorded it and thought we were finished we added the whole fall like rain part that ended up becoming a reprise on the album and that we used at the end of the video. We often find ourselves singing the song as a devotional prayer, and we hope it inspires others to pray for mercy for themselves and for their land. CP: The video features a number of people. What was the message and story behind that? Seth & Nirva: We wanted to capture people from all different walks of life, as we know that tragedy hits us all no matter our race, gender, or economic status. We all need the mercy of God! As we were filming that day, we actually got to sit down with many of them and hear their stories. Quite a few of them had been through some incredibly difficult circumstances. The first lady highlighted in the video, for instance, lost her legs to a debilitating disease that she continues to fight. Yet she had so much joy in the Lord as she recounted how He had been with her and seen her through it all. Another guy had almost lost his life in a motorcycle accident, but God miraculously restored his health and mobility. It ended up being something of a testimony service that day that was really encouraging. CP: Tell us about the new album and what else is to come from Seth & Nirva? Seth & Nirva: Our album One Voice is set to release March 13. It is a mix of songs and spoken word vignettes (sermons, prayers, and monologues) on the topic of unity. In our culture, we often hear calls to unity, love and inclusion. Unfortunately, these words are typically understood or defined in unbiblical and incoherent ways. We wanted to make sure these songs werent interpreted through these lenses, so we put in the spoken-word vignettes to act as sort of an interpretive key. We hope this album will encourage the Body of Christ to rise up as one and stand for the ways of God in a culture increasingly set against biblical Christianity. We also have a podcast called Freemind where we address cultural issues from a biblical perspective with an emphasis on apologetics. We started the podcast last year and have had the privilege of interviewing leading Christian thinkers such as John Stonestreet, Nancy Pearcey, Sean Mcdowell, and JP Moreland on topics ranging from LGBTQ activism, critical theory, abortion, and many other hot-button issues. We are up to 58 episodes, and we plan on putting out one per week this year. We also plan to continue traveling and speaking and singing. We recently accepted positions on staff at New Life Church in the San Francisco Bay area and are in the process of moving out there from our current home in Lakeland, Florida. So quite a full plate at the moment, but we are excited about this next season. A curious aspect strikes passersby in Hyderabads upscale Jubilee Hills area. Lanes upon bylanes, villas on sizeable estates once occupied by bustling families today lie vacant. In exchange for a meagre wage, a small family or an individual maintains the grounds, and lives in a tenement on site. In adjacent Banjara Hills, more such properties are being replaced by builder apartments and exclusive gated communities priced at crores of rupees. This phenomenon has swept most of Indias metropolitan cities, and is especially visible in New Delhi, where every third residence is under remodelling for sale or lease. As influential families with generational wealth from pre-Independent India, or ones that acquired it in the years post-liberalisation and the information technology boom have turned global, with members migrating and settling abroad in pursuit of a better life, their movement and behaviour is starkly altering the politics of land back home in India. These properties largely retain their original ownership, or are replaced with complexes where the plot owner retains one or several flats. They may have invested in more realty in what was once suburbia, now swallowed by cities and soaring property value. With their families (some second generation) occupying the upper classes in the global north, the new landed gentry of India divides its time abroad, and drops in to maintain these properties and settle pending matters on leases. Not much binds them to modern India, save nostalgia, a handful of relatives and remaining friends. With exceptions, the relationship between landlords and tenants remains feudal. In exchange for regular payments, shelter alongside small favours such as bare minimum repairs are extended by someone with significant power and control over a major portion of an individual or a familys life at constant threat of eviction, or the loss of security deposit. Similarly, salaries disbursed to the staff for upkeep are just enough to keep them locked into dependence. The landed class rewards loyalty and descendants are employed by families over eras. Individuals with generational income continue to own either crumbling or restored ancestral mansions flung across cities and towns. Chettinadu or Kolkata immediately spring to the mind several retained for the owners regional or cultural affinity, few for architectural details and historical familial legacy, but almost all as a marker of influence and status quo as the locations reveal. Residences form the surface, but influential families of the upper strata across the country and the erstwhile aristocracy have managed to pass on havelis, temples, palaces down the family tree. Our current Prime Minister and his colleagues in so many ways reflect the interests of this well-heeled, well-educated group. Largely abroad, back home occasionally to tend to matters, ensure the bare minimum to keep ones head above water, and then onward to peregrinations. India then is a plot or a property to be managed; Indians are paltry tenants. The link between overseas Indians with the funding and rise of fascist groups back home are well documented. The inimitable journalist Ravish Kumar, speaking at the University of California (Berkeley) in November 2019, noted how the very people who managed to use welfare systems to rise and establish themselves abroad, funnel resources to ensure these routes never appear in India, and if they do, are corrupted or destroyed. The recent abolition of the Dividend Distribution Tax makes real estate investments lucrative for non-resident Indians and further rewards them for their pro-establishment choices. The intent to retain land at all costs within families or clans swings votes conservative. The global landed gentry of India, despite their semi-feudal or significant open outlook in other realms, chooses politics which ensure the status quo as it identifies the consequences of owning multiple fixed assets. Personal biases or ideological politics drive owners to rent to individuals of favoured communities or financial ability, indirectly aiding ghettoising and gentrification. If they choose to sell, it is largely to wealthy companies, and influential individuals and families who inevitably hail from the dominant classes and castes. As people are pushed together in ghettoised neighborhoods, the local government reduces access to civic amenities, and further isolates citizens from crucial contributors to mental health such as community parks. Property value speculation and impacting factors further drive individuals to band together towards the kind of politics that erases or dissuades settlements of oppressed communities and migrants, many employed in the very construction of the highrises that the landed groups invest in. The land is seen as rightfully belonging to the upper classes and castes, and illegal were anyone else to occupy it. Over time, realty will move into the hands of a generation settled abroad that will not be invested in the well-being or concerns of a large population largely alien to them. The landholdings only form a cross-continental financial safety net, as we see with the former royal families of India, who slip in and out, maintaining palaces left to them by ancestors as high-end hotels serving to network with the global elite. We have effectively created a colonising class populated by our own fellow citizens. As the nation enters its third month of dissent provoked by the brute forces of right-wing extremism, and grows increasingly disenchanted with capitalism, how a polarised India tackles the ravages of a new zamindari system will shape democracy, and the fortunes of its citizens, for decades to come. Manipur University Vice Chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey was dismissed by the government following complaints of financial and administrative irregularities, according to an HRD Ministry order. The human resource development (HRD) ministry on Friday dismissed Pandey after an inquiry. In an inquiry report, he was found indulging in "financial and administrative irregularities, including misconduct, dereliction of duties, abuse of power and lack of commitment, causing great harm to the academic environment and bringing the varsity into disrepute", the order stated. Pandey was placed under suspension in 2018 after violent protests erupted on the varsity's campus which led to prolonged shutdown of the institute. "The President of India, on consideration of facts and materials available on record and reply submitted by Adya Prasad Pandey... in exercise of the power conferred upon him in terms of sections 13 of Manipur University Act, 2005, has been pleased to dismiss him from his post with immediate effect," the order stated. Pandey was not available for comments on the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JP McManus, Kayleigh Clare-Malone, former Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell-OConnor and Padraig Donoghue of Colaiste Chill Mhantain Wicklow student Kayleigh Clare-Malone was awarded a JP McManus Award in the University of Limerick for achieving 590 points in her Leaving Certificate. Kayleigh was one of 125 students in the country from non-fee paying schools who received this award. She sat her Leaving Certificate last year as a student of Colaiste Chill Mhantain and is currently studying Science in UCD. The then Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell-O'Connor presented the awards along with JP McManus. Former Irish rugby manager Joe Schmidt was a special guest at the ceremony. The scholarships are valued at 6,750 per annum and will last for the duration of the undergraduate programme. Kayleigh, her mother Ann and Padraig Donoghue, Principal of Colaiste Chill Mhantain, attended the ceremony in the UL's University Concert Hall. In November last year, Kayleigh was also presented with an Academic High Achiever award at the UCD Entrance Scholar Awards Ceremony. Dilip Buildcon on Saturday said it has executed an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) agreement for construction of a new greenfield airport at Rajkot in Gujarat. "...the company has executed an EPC agreement with the Airport Authority of India for an EPC project in the state of Gujarat," Dilip Buildcon said in a BSE filing. The project cost is Rs 570.06 crore and completion period is 30 months, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He was taken to a hospital and provided with qualified assistance. One Ukrainian soldier was injured in a booby-trap blast in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, on Saturday, February 22. Read alsoRussian-led forces try again to penetrate contact line in Donbas, get fitting rebuff "One Ukrainian defender has been injured today after an unidentified explosive device exploded. He was taken to a hospital and provided with qualified assistance," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in an evening update. In total, Russia-led forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, seven times from 00:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time. Enemy troops opened fire from proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns, and rifles to attack Ukrainian positions near the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Novomykhailivka, Starohnativka, Krymske, and Novoluhanske. For Nguyen Tu Anh, books are everything. In his hundred-square-metre rented house in HCM City, books can be found literally everywhere. They line metal shelves from floor to ceiling, with stacks piled up on the floor waiting to be classified. Bibliophile brings books to children Helping many children turn the page FUN TIMES: A group of Stieng ethnic minority children take part in outdoor activities with the volunteer group during their trip to Vung Tau Beach last July. Photos courtesy of Nguyen Tu Anh Stashed between the shelves are boxes of neatly packed children's books. These boxes will be sent to schools in remote mountainous villages for ethnic children next month. Anh, 35, is a co-founder of the Chu Nhat Yeu Thuong (Beloved Sunday) volunteer group in HCM City. He, together with his fellow volunteers, spends every Sunday purchasing children's books, then classifying, packing and sending them to remote areas. With the hope of cultivating and maintaining a reading habit among ethnic children, Anh and his team have been dedicated to their work for more than 13 years. My goal is to bring as many books as possible to children in remote and impoverished areas across the country. This years target is one million books, he said. Already this year, more than 25,000 books have been donated to create community libraries for children in disadvantaged areas. We need more books a lot of books. We believe children should have access to good books. MORE THAN WORDS: Nguyen Tu Anh talks to children during a visit to donate books in the northeastern mountainous area last November. I choose books Anh was born into a poor family in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. He and his two siblings spent their childhoods in poverty. The family often didnt have enough food, but the children were always encouraged to study. My parents always told me they would do everything they could, including selling what little they had, to ensure I could continue my studies. They nourished a learning spirit in me, and helped me realise that people would be forever stuck in poverty without a good education, he said. The most effective and cheapest way of doing this was books. When he was a kid, Anh had limited access to books as his school did not have a library. When he was at college in HCM City, he used to stay behind during big holidays to work and earn money to buy books. Books have changed my life. They made me dream of going beyond my village and finding a better life, and helped me fully understand what I truly desired and how to be a better person, he said. Thats why I decided to help children who are growing up in similar conditions. I believe books can do the same thing for them, he added. READING IS LEARNING: Ethnic minority children read books donated by the Chu Nhat Yeu Thuong (Beloved Sunday) volunteer group. Anh recalled the first time he went to visit ethnic people in Yen Bai in the spring of 2007. Seeing children wandering around aimlessly in front of their worn-out wooden houses and playing games with them, Anh realised they needed more than warm clothes and sweets. Most people feel sorry for them running around in threadbare clothes and bare feet in the cold weather, so they donate rice, noodles and clothes. This is not a bad thing, but it's not the solution because they will become dependent on handouts," he explained. Several months later, Anh started bringing the first books to children in the province. He, together with some friends, contacted teachers in remote villages to establish reading rooms for children. He also set up libraries in village communal houses. The more he visited remote villages, the more he realised children face a serious shortage of books. Thats when the Beloved Sunday volunteer group was established. Every Sunday, Anh and his volunteers go to second-hand book stores in HCM City to buy books for children. Cultivating hope Over 13 years, the group has set up 504 libraries with thousands of books for ethnic children across the country. Last year, 500,000 books were sent to remote villages to promote reading among children. Funding for the project comes from various sources, including publishing houses and book companies. Anh said it was worth the effort when he saw children developing an interest in books. Teachers send me pictures of students reading books, and ask me to bring more books for them. This is a good sign, he said. Anh chooses books with lively cartoons for beginners and quality books for young readers. The children who finish their books are given crayons, reading lamps or globes as a reward. In addition, Anh tried to cultivate hope. He, with support from the group, holds BBQs with fresh shrimp, squid and fish for children in mountainous areas, and tells them stories of the ocean. He also organised a summer camp for 21 children from the Stieng ethnic group in Bu Gia Map District in Binh Phuoc Province. The children were taken to historical sites in HCM City to offer them a glimpse of what they had been reading about. Pham Thi Ut Mai, a volunteer in the group, said she found life more meaningful now thanks to her efforts to support children in remote areas. Unlike children in big cities, they face shortages of everything food, clothes, school equipment but they thirst for new things from books. Be it a beautiful book or a plastic globe, now they have something to study at home, which is a first in many cases, she said. Anh has a dream. His dream is to see a country where every child wants to read, is able to read and has access to good books. It may take me another 20 years to help children in remote areas have access to books. When we achieve that, I will be ready to retire, he said. VNS By Khanh Linh Community projects help spread knowledge Since August last year, an old house in Hanois Hai Ba Trung District has been a familiar destination for students, children and even retirees living near and far. The Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Paul Bell was on hand to officially reopen Lidl's store in Drogheda's M1 Retail Park. The store is the second Lidl in the town to be rebuilt in the last few years, demonstrating a significant investment in the Drogheda area by the retailer. The state-of-the-art store creates eight new jobs in the locality, bringing the total store team up to 26. Lidl's Donore Road location was rebuilt in 2017 and was one of the first Lidl stores in Ireland to boast an array of sustainable features including natural refrigeration systems, efficient LED lighting and sustainably sourced wooden building materials. The store is open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 9pm on Sundays, offering Drogheda customers flexible shopping hours to suit their needs. Shoppers can also avail of 162 car parking spaces along with two electric vehicle charging points ensuring a hassle free trip. A solar photovoltaic system will be installed within six months after opening, ensuring the store is powered using only green energy. In the new state of the art store, Drogheda customers will be able to avail of a Lidl to Go coffee machine and a larger fresh bakery area offers customers an extended range of delicious, freshly baked goods. Improved facilities for store employees include a larger canteen and welfare area and shower facilities. Store Manager, Donal Byrne commented; "It was an exciting morning here in Drogheda as customers queued up to see our second store in the area reopen. We have had huge loyalty from the shoppers in Drogheda and want to thank them for their ongoing support. 'We are delighted that we are able to offer our loyal customers a superior shopping experience while serving our multi-award winning products at the same great value to the local community. 'We would like to thank our colleagues for their hard work and commitment in the run up to the big day and a special thanks to our fantastic customers who were patient while we worked on the new build. We were also honoured to have the Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Paul Bell join us at the opening. To celebrate the opening, Lidl welcomed representatives from St. Vincent de Paul Drogheda to collect a donation of 1,000. Elizabeth Coppin from Listowel, who is taking a case to the UN following her detention in a Magdalene Laundry. Photo by Dominick Walsh (2013). A Listowel woman who says she was 'imprisoned' in a Magdalene Laundry by the State and denied justice is going to have her case investigated by the UN. Elizabeth Coppin (70) has spent her entire life fighting for justice over what she says was the 'imprisonment' and 'trafficking' of women by the Irish State. "The Irish judiciary, the church and the Irish Government all have one thing in common: not to hear the voices of the suppressed women whose human rights were violated," said Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who is originally from Listowel, was born in the 'county home' in Killarney in 1949. She was then sent to an Industrial School in Balloonagh, Tralee where she remained most of her life before being transferred to St Vincent's Magdalene Laundry in Peacock Lane, Cork, after her 14th birthday. This transfer came in spite of a court order in place allowing her to remain in the school until the age of 16. The transfer, she also says, was sanctioned by the Department of Education and shows the state's involvement in her detention. She was subsequently detained in two further Magdalene Laundries before she was released prior to her 19th birthday in April 1968. Elizabeth attempted to take a criminal case, giving a statement to gardai in Tralee, as well as taking a civil case, but neither was progressed, in part due to the statute of limitations. The State also refused to allow her to access any of the evidence gathered by the McAleese Committee, which in 2013 produced a report on State involvement with the Magdalene Laundries, she also says. Elizabeth - who says she was 'persecuted' at the hands of the religious order, forced to work without pay and denied access to education - says she is still angry at her treatment at the hands of the state and the lack of justice she has received. "The message is still that Ireland is not ready to hear the truth. The judiciary and the religious orders had an understanding to overlook the misdemeanours to our own Irish citizens. The Government as well." During her time at the Magdalene home, Elizabeth was locked in a padded cell for three days and nights over a theft allegation, and every night she and the other women were bolted into cells to sleep. Elizabeth managed to run away from one of the laundries but was returned by the Irish Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). In another laundry, she was forced to change her name. "Sometimes I think they wouldn't do this to another human being. I think, 'did it really happen?... But it did, and they did. Yes they did do it." Mrs Coppin alleges that Ireland has broken its obligations under the Convention against Torture by not investigating complaints into her treatment The state have argued that Mrs Coppin was detained prior to Ireland becoming a party to the UN Convention Against Torture in 2002. The State also argued that she should be barred from bringing her complaint because she had not first complained to the Irish courts. However, United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) has given the state four months to give their views on her claims, and Mrs Coppin will then be allowed to reply before a ruling is made. She has welcomed the step forward for justice. "It is a chance to breathe. I never thought this would happen. I am relieved and shocked. The Irish Government and the Church are against me. As long as Ireland doesn't address its mistakes, it will never learn. "It feels like the state is still abusing us today as they will not come out openly and honestly about what happened." Elizabeth says she will continue her fight for justice, no matter what it takes. The UN decision is only one step in the fight for justice for her and for all the other woman mistreated at the hands of the State, the religious orders and the judiciary, she says. "I will never stop the fight for justice. Today is a positive day, but how positive remains to be seen," she told The Kerryman. She says that so much 'lies and rhetoric' have been told when what happened is that "women were trafficked" for financial gain and mistreated while under their care in breach of their human rights. "They did this to citizens of Ireland." A bus conductor was arrested by police in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district on the charges of attempting to murder a 25 year-old married woman by dousing her body with petrol and setting her ablaze after she refused his proposal. Representational Image The victim, mother of two girls, has been working in a private firm after completing her nursing degree at Valadur, police said. The husband of the victim is an Army jawan who is currently posted in West Bengal. The woman used to commute to her office in a private bus every day. The conductor, identified as R Sundaramoorthy, befriended her and the two used to chat regularly during the journey. Police said when the conductor confessed his love to the victim, she stopped talking to him three months ago. Reuters After failing to woo the woman, he decided to take revenge on her. Sundaramoorthy came to her office on Friday with a bottle of petrol. He invited her for a brief chat and when the woman came out, he doused her with petrol and set her ablaze. The woman suffered burns on the head, left upper limb and left thigh. When she screamed for help, her colleagues and passersby caught the man and handed him over to the Vadalur police. Representational Image Police have registered a case against him under Section 294 B (obscene acts and songs), 354 (T) (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian penal code and arrested him. The women was later referred to the goverment hospital in Cuddalore where doctors said she had sustained 20% burn injuries. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. The former New Juaben South constituency chairman for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region, Mr. Michael Oteng-Adu has said party internal election is not about noise making rather, the actual work must be done underground. According to him, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah has distinguished himself to be the rightful person to lead the constituency hence deserves another term in parliament. He indicated that is imperative for the delegates to give Mr. Assibey- Yeboah another chance has proven to be one of the natural parliamentarians Ghana has ever produced bearing in mind his maturity in a debate on the floor of parliament and also have worked hard and served as chairman for the finance committee in parliament. Mr. Oteng Adu told the media after he presented 100 plastic chairs and 100 pieces of a bedspread with pillows on behalf of the legislature to the medical ward of the Eastern Regional Hospital after he had successfully filed his nomination forms to contest the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries election. Mr. Oteng Adu who is the campaign manager described the upcoming contest as cool chop, stating that internal elections are not for funfair rather, it is a target of the delegates who will be casting their votes. He said, out of a total of 582 qualified delegates in the constituency, 569 are expected to partake in the parliamentary voting, adding that the camp of Mr. Assibey- Yeboah can confidently disclose the number of delegates that will be voting in their favor on the election day. We are confident that this election will be the easiest one for us because MP is a very solid parliamentarian and his works have also been clearly seen by the constituents, he said. He said education has been one of the priorities of the MP and has since awarded scholarships to students to pursue higher education as well as provided educational infrastructure to many basic schools in the constituency. He indicated that for the sake of national and party interest, the country needs solid representations in parliament which the incumbent MP for New Juaben South, Mr. Assibey Yeboah is one of the few to mention. Mr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament who also doubles as the chairman of Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee has represented the New Juaben South Constituency since 2013. He is expected to face a very keen contest by the Chief Executive of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Mr. Okyere Kofi Baafi who lost the primaries to the incumbent MP in the 2016 election. Receiving the items, the Deputy Director Nursing Service (DDNS) at the medical department, Ms. Dorothy Gyapong Takyi commended the MP for responding to their request. She called on other benevolent individuals and organizations to emulate the kind gesture of the MP and come to support the hospital to enable it to provide quality health delivery for all. judge Justice Arun Mishra on Saturday was all praise for Prime Minister and termed him as an "internationally acclaimed visionary" and a "versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally". Complementing the PM and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for doing away with 1,500 obsolete laws, Justice Mishra said India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the "stewardship" of Modi. Delivering the vote of thanks at the inaugural function of the International Judicial Conference 2020 - 'Judiciary and the Changing World' at the Supreme Court, he said challenges faced by the judiciary at the and international levels are common and judiciary has a "significant role" in the ever-changing world. "Dignified human existence is our prime concern. We thank the versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally, Shri Narendra Modi, for his inspiring speech which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference," Justice Mishra, who is third in seniority in the apex court, said while expressing gratitude to the PM for inaugurating the conference. He said India is the biggest democracy in the world and "people wonder how this democracy is functioning so successfully". "India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of internationally acclaimed visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi," he said. "India is committed to constitutional obligations and dedicated to a peaceful and secure world, free from terrorism. In the process of development, preservation of environment is considered supreme," he said. Justice Mishra emphasised on the need to strengthen the judicial system saying, "Now we are in the 21st century. We are looking for modern infrastructure not only for the present but also for future. "To strengthen judicial system is the call of the day as it is the backbone of democracy whereas legislature is the heart and executive is the brain. All these three organs of the state have to work independently but in tandem to make democracy successful...". Referring to globalisation, he said, "but there is growing concern among masses of being left out and deprived of the gains of globalisation". "The sense of injustice and inequality being created by the same looms large on us," he said, adding, "It has to be taken care of by all of us alike before it becomes lethal like coronavirus". He also referred to the contribution of an independent and robust bar and said there is no denying the fact that "bar is the mother of judiciary". Judges from over 20 countries are attending the conference here. Love Island viewers are convinced they witnessed Paige and Finn having sex under the covers for the second time during Friday's episode of the hit ITV2 dating show. At the end of the episode, Paige and Finn shared a passionate smooch before disappearing under the duvet and viewers are sure they were doing the deed. In recent series producers have refrained from showing the Islander's more intimate moments, however fans believe they have seen Paige and Finn getting cosy twice. Steamy: Love Island viewers are convinced they witnessed Paige and Finn having sex under the covers for the second time during Friday's episode of the hit ITV2 dating show After the couple made their romance official fans believed they witnessed the celebratory moment spill over into the late hours, when they were seen cosying up under the covers as they shared a kiss. And following the most recent episode of the show, they believe it happened again, with one fan suggesting: 'Paige and Finn having sex!?!' While another added: 'That quickie underneath the covers, I saw pants near their foot [crying laughing face] Finn and Paige! #LoveIsland.'[sic] Cosy: At the end of the episode, Paige and Finn shared a passionate smooch before disappearing under the duvet and viewers are sure they were doing the deed Could it be? The camera panned to a pair of underwear lying at the foot of the bed A third noted: 'Finn and Paige having sex just like that? With everyone wide awake? #LoveIsland.' One person said: 'Paige and Finn rly can't wait a couple of days lmaooo I'm ded.'[sic] Fellow Islander Ched appeared to confirm fans suspicions after all of the inquisitive Islanders poked their heads up and he shouted: 'They're 's***ing!' Bosses have previously cracked down on sex scenes being aired and began censoring them in a bid to make the show more about romance than romping. Shocked: Fellow Islander Ched appeared to confirm fans suspicions after all of the inquisitive Islanders poked their heads up and he shouted: 'They're 's***ing!' Reaction: And following the most recent episode of the show, they believe it happened again, with one fan suggesting: 'Paige and Finn having sex!?!' Doing bits? Their first round of nocturnal antics caught the eye of a number of viewers, who were convinced that hunky Finn and blonde beauty Paige had become the first couple of this year's edition of the show to have sex Their first round of nocturnal antics caught the eye of a number of viewers, who were convinced that hunky Finn and blonde beauty Paige had become the first couple of this year's edition of the show to have sex. Ladies and gentlemen, the first members of the Do Bits Society of 2020 are Finn and Paige,' tweeted one fan, moments after seeing their duvet covers shift in the dark. 'That quickie sex underneath covers, I saw pants near their foot,' wrote another viewer on the micro-blogging site. However, their obscured activities left a number of Love Island fans confused as to what had taken place, with one asking: 'Who else is confused over whether Paige and Finn "did it"?' The following morning, Finn made his way to the kitchen where he initiated a conversation with Luke T and Luke M about how far they'd gone in the house with bread, tomatoes, and avocados representing how far they'd gone. On confirming that 'bits' had, indeed, been done on his part, Finn was asked by his pals how the experience went, prompting him to admit: 'It was banging. It was a lovely evening.' ASIO expects global terrorism to remain a destabilising force for the next generation. It warns authorities may not be able to prevent further mass casualty attacks. The intelligence agency's grim assessment came in a rare public speech by its boss Paul O'Sullivan, who said there was no room for complacency in Australia's region while terrorist mastermind Noordin Mohammad Top remained at large. "On current indications, terrorism around the globe is likely to be a destabilising force for the next generation," ASIO's director-general told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Sydney. "It is dynamic, difficult to predict and there is no guarantee we will be successful in preventing further mass casualty attacks or stopping its growth." KABUL, Afghanistan The United States and the Taliban will start the clock early Saturday on a plan to end Americas longest war after more than 18 years, beginning with what they hope will be seven days of greatly reduced violence in Afghanistan. If the weeklong, partial truce holds, the two sides have agreed, they will meet on Feb. 29 to sign an agreement laying out a timetable for the U.S. to withdraw its troops. The pact is also meant to clear the way for peace talks involving the Taliban and the government in Kabul, and U.S. officials point to the reduction in hostilities as the first link in a fragile chain of events that could deliver peace in Afghanistan after more than four decades of conflict. But the Afghan government is deep in a political crisis after a bitterly disputed presidential election, with both sides declaring victory. With rival claimants to legitimacy, it is unclear who would negotiate with the Taliban, whether they would be prepared to enter talks while struggling to control the government, or what kind of mandate they would have. U.S. negotiators demanded the seven-day reduction in violence, scheduled to go into effect after midnight Saturday, as a public show of the Talibans good faith and its ability to control its fractious and scattered forces. Now it is the government in Kabul whose cohesion and command are more in doubt. I call on all Afghans to seize this opportunity, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter on Friday. A previous attempt at a deal between the Taliban and the U.S. fell apart on the verge of completion in September, with a new outbreak of violence, and the same risk hangs over the latest try. And even if the carefully choreographed rollout of the agreement does presage the end of the American phase of the war, the plan might not spell the end of the war itself. President Donald Trump is determined, one way or another, to reduce U.S. involvement in Afghanistan to a minimum, and the Talibans long-term commitment to compromise and power-sharing remains open to question. The U.S. is expected to keep a small special operations and intelligence force in Afghanistan after most troops have left. Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief U.S. negotiator, recently arrived in Kabul to prepare for the announcement of an agreement, to find a government that was threatening to split apart. He has been shuttling in a convoy of armed vehicles between the heavily guarded homes of the divided elite in Kabul, trying to keep the peace. In September, Afghanistan held a presidential election marred by Taliban attacks and allegations of fraud and mismanagement. It was not until Tuesday after nearly five months of delays, acrimonious disputes and a partial audit of the results that the election commission declared that President Ashraf Ghani had won another five-year term. His main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, also declared victory, accusing the election body of favoring the incumbent, and called on his supporters to form their own government. The U.S. government still has not acknowledged Ghanis victory. The only public comment it has made on the results hinted at concern that the electoral mess might make matters worse. It is likely that these developments could add to the challenges Afghanistan faces, including the challenges of the peace process, Molly Phee, Khalilzads deputy in negotiations, said Tuesday at the United States Institute of Peace, a government-funded policy group in Washington. Our priority, and what we believe to be the priority of most Afghans, remains peace and the peace process. After U.S. officials tried and failed to persuade Ghani to postpone the election, the yearlong talks with the Taliban, primarily in Doha, Qatar, became a race against Afghanistans political calendar. Election after election has been so tainted that U.S. diplomats were essentially trying to rush through a peace deal with the Taliban before Afghanistans latest political crisis could complicate the equation. They almost finalized a deal with the insurgents last summer that would have pushed back the election, but Trump called off the talks on the eve of the signing, and the vote went ahead. The political showdown pits technocratic Ghani and his circle of young advisers against some of the most hardened figures of recent Afghan history, survivors of years of battle and deal-making. One of Abdullahs key supporters is Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, who has been accused of an array of violent acts, and until recently served as Ghanis vice president. Dostum, who has one of the most unified bases of support in the north, was the first to call for a parallel government, and to urge protests and the announcement of governors in northern provinces. Abdullahs fate could turn on how willing the general is to push the crisis, and how receptive he is to a deal with Ghani. Khalilzad, who was expected to return to Doha to prepare for the signing ceremony, has extended his stay in Afghanistan to manage the political tensions, meeting repeatedly with Ghani, Abdullah and other key political players. Late Thursday, Khalilzad told a meeting of Dostums party that the announcement of election results had caught him by surprise, according to one participant. He and Gen. Austin S. Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, urged the participants to make sure that political rallies dont turn to violence. Analysts said the conflict was unlikely to affect the first steps of the peace process, as U.S. officials had made it clear to everyone that their priority was starting the violence reduction. But the high-stakes political showdown would make it difficult to move on to the next phase, when a unified negotiating team that includes the Afghan government is expected to sit across from the Taliban. The U.S. has clearly put its weight on the peace issue, and that message is clear to all sides with President Ghani agreeing to reduction of violence there is a consensus among the parties, said Omar Sadr, an assistant professor of political science at the American University of Afghanistan. But the election issue has created a huge gap between the political sides and that needs to be bridged in a very short time for this process to move forward, he added. And I dont know how that can happen without Khalilzad and the U.S. stepping in. Sadr said the Americans remaining quiet on the election results gives them maneuver room to broker a settlement to the political crisis which could provide leverage to make sure the peace process doesnt fall apart. The seven-day violence reduction being rolled out closely resembles a cease-fire, barring some exceptions, officials said. The Taliban has agreed to hold back attacks on cities, highways, and major security outposts throughout the country. In return, Afghan government forces and the U.S. military, which has stepped up airstrikes in the last year, have agreed to hold back their operations. In preparation for the start of the violence reduction, Ghani has been meeting all provincial security and political leaders in recent days. He told one group that the Taliban currently carry out about 80 attacks a day, and that a reduction to about 10 attacks would be seen as a successful implementation. Our brave security and defense forces will only act in defense of themselves and the honorable people of Afghanistan, he said in a televised address late Friday. Taliban leaders scrambled to get their message of minimizing violence to the lowest units of what has increasingly been a decentralized force. In private WhatsApp messages, Taliban commanders can be heard taking pains to strike a nuance: they want fighters to hold fire and not attack, but to stay vigilant in their positions and not venture into cities and government territory. The group has long feared that a full cease-fire could divide its ranks and make remobilizing difficult if the peace process crumbled and all-out fighting resumed. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Award-winning musician John Legend will campaign for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, in South Carolina days before that states Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 29. Legend, one of a dozen or so stars to have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, will appear at events in Orangeburg and Charleston on Wednesday, according to WCIV-TV, ABC News 4, in Charleston. He is also expected to perform. Warren is trailing in the polls in South Carolina. The 41-year-old California resident tweeted last month that he would be casting his vote for Warren on Super Tuesday. In a December 2019 cover story in Vanity Fair, Legend said he and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, were backing Warren, calling her the best candidate running today." Honestly, I dont comprehend why guys hate women so much sometimes, Legend said of Warrens critics. You see someone as transparently competent and eloquent and on fire as Elizabeth Warren and then you hear some guys just are not into voting for a woman. Why do guys feel so threatened by the idea of a woman president? Legend is not the only entertainer to campaign for Warren. Actress and activist Ashley Judd appeared at Warren rallies in New Hampshire last month. Days after a far-right massacre on European soil, activists cautiously welcome efforts to prevent a march in Bulgaria. Sofia, Bulgaria Days after at least nine people were killed in Germany in a far-right attack, neo-Nazis from across Europe were stopped from marching in Sofia, Bulgarias capital, as they had done every year since 2003. Hundreds of far-right activists from across the continent had started arriving in Sofia in advance of the weekend for Saturdays planned Lukov March to honour a Nazi collaborator, expecting to take part in a torchlit rally. But on Friday, a higher court ruling upheld Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandakovas ban; in previous years, her attempts to halt the march were overturned. While anti-fascist activists and observers welcomed the development, they warned that Bulgarias far-right problem goes far beyond a single February march. 200207083707437 In the wake of Wednesdays massacre in Hanau, which saw white supremacist gunman Tobias Rathjen kill nine people all of whom had migrant backgrounds at two shisha lounges, before turning the gun on his mother and himself, German authorities did manage to prevent at least nine people from boarding a plane to Bulgaria to attend the event. Some were subsequently allowed to travel. But hundreds of others came to participate in the Lukov March, which commemorates a pro-Nazi Bulgarian general and head of a wartime fascist movement. Hristo Lukov, who had close ties to Nazi German leadership, was assassinated by communist partisans in February 1943. The march is organised by the Bulgarian National Union (BNS), a fringe far-right organisation that consider themselves heirs of Lukovs fascists. But on Friday, the eve of the march, BNS announced it had been informed of the higher court ruling. The Lukov March has emerged as a key gathering for Europes far-right and neo-Nazi fringes. This march is a recruitment activity, Radoslav Stoyanov, an activist with the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee rights group, told Al Jazeera. Right-wing radicals try to recruit young people into ultra-nationalist ideology through it. Because of the court order this year, neo-Nazis were only permitted to gather on Saturday in front of Lukovs former house in central Sofia to lay wreaths. Late on Friday, a number of them gathered at a Sofia bar for a concert featuring German neo-Nazi musician Philipp Neumann. Meanwhile, the only people demonstrating through the capitals central streets, protected by dozens of police officers, were about 300 activists opposed to the far right, chanting Sofia is not a Nazi city under the banner, No Nazis in our streets!. Anti-fascist activists marched and chanted no to the Lukov March, no to neo-Nazi marches [Michael Colborne/Al Jazeera] Some activists urged caution, however, and doubted a ban had been issued at all. The [Lukov March] is not actually banned, activist Stoyo Tetevenski told Al Jazeera, adding that Bulgarian authorities have failed to combat racism. Its just a legal trick that allows them to protest and gather instead of march. Its (the court order) a publicity stunt. BNS claimed the court upheld Fandakovas ban, but Stoyanov said that documentation suggests it was not legally binding. What Sofias mayor gave, Stoyanov said after reviewing court documents, was not an order but rather a proposal. Fandakova proposed to turn Lukov March into a stationary event outside the Nazi collaborators former house, Stoyanov explained. BNS appealed, and the higher court dismissed their motion. This means, according to Stoyanov, that the mayors proposal was toothless and that had they wanted to, BNS could have attempted to march. On Saturday, there was a significant police presence in central Sofia, including crowd control barriers and lines of police guarding the park from where the Lukov March was meant to start; the increased security acting as a deterrent. Bulgarian authorities have recently been turning up the heat on the organisation. In January, Bulgarias general prosecutor announced an investigation into BNSs activities. Earlier this month, Sofia prosecutors asked a local court to cancel the far-right groups registration as an NGO under Bulgarian law. In Bulgaria, any person who promotes fascist or another anti-democratic ideology can be punished under the countrys criminal code. Gypsies, Turks, Armenians and Jews are guests in Bulgaria and if they are good guests, they can live peacefully here, BNS leader Zvezdomir Andronov told a Bulgarian talk show in 2019. Andronov is now under investigation by Bulgarias anti-discrimination body for those comments. BNS claims their activities are in accordance with the law and that they are subject to repression from the Zionist lobby. We are driven not by hate to anyone, but by love for our people and sense of duty to honour our ancestors and our heroes, a BNS spokesperson told Al Jazeera. In the wake of the bloodshed in Germany and a growing far-right threat across Europe, observers warned that Bulgarias government needs to look closer to home to address its challenges, and adopt a strategy that goes further than cancelling one rally or investigating a single group. Appearing to symbolically crack down on neo-Nazis for a one-day event while mainstreaming far-right ideas and embracing stronger far-right parties in government is not the best strategy to deal with the far right, historian Tom Junes told Al Jazeera. Three small far-right parties are currently part of Prime Minister Boyko Borisovs coalition government The largest of these, VMRO, is notorious for its anti-Roma rhetoric. Party leader Krasimir Karakachanov is the countrys minister of defence and a deputy prime minister. Last year, Karakachanov reportedly said: The truth is that we need to undertake a complete programme for a solution to the Gypsy problem. VMROs candidate for mayor of Sofia in last years elections, Angel Dzhambazki, supported the Lukov March. International Tiger Day: Did you know that this beast is not only the national animal of India Save our Tigers: Here is how many are left in the world International Tiger Day 2021: Did You know? No two tigers have the same stripes Tiger population in Assam jumped from 200 from 159 in 2018 The curious case of 'missing' Tigers from Ranthambore India oi-Deepika S Jaipur, Feb 22: 26 tigers have gone "missing" in the Ranthambore National Park (RNP), sending alarm bells ringing for forest department in Rajasthan. Claiming that 26 tigers were missing from Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, BJP MP and member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Diya Kumari has written to the Union environment minister, demanding a high level inquiry in the matter. Kumari said a report has been submitted to the state government, stating that 26 tigers are missing from the park, which is located in Sawai Madhopur district. The MP also stated in her letter that the attitude of officials concerned and authorities of the park was "half-hearted and lackadaisical". "A national park is supposed to conserve the endangered animals and not lead to the decrease in their numbers," she said in her letter, written on Wednesday. She also said the poachers must be identified, caught and strict action must be taken against them to prevent recurrence of incidents. Explained: Why Pakistan remained in the grey list Earlier, on Monday, BJP MLA Chandrabhan Singh Aakya had also raised the issue of missing tigers in Ranthambhore during Zero Hour in the assembly. 6 tigers go missing in 2018 In 2018, the authorities reported that it couldn't track the tiger cubs litter of tigress T-83 known as Lightning. Prior to that another missing report was filed regarding the missing T-77, a sub-adult male tiger from zone 10, taking the total tally of missing tiger to be 6 in the year 2018. Capacity of 50 Tigers but houses 71 Tigers The Ranthambore forest has a capacity of 50 tigers but currently houses 71 tigers. In such a situation, either the tigers will have a mutual conflict or they will come out of the forest into the human populated areas. The simple solution to this is that corridors should be built for tigers. Not enough space for male tiger in Ranthambore Reportedly, Ranthambore does not have enough space for a male tiger. A tiger should have at three tigresses, but a deteriorating male tigers has also caused concern in the region. Need to build tiger corridors India has a total of 50 tiger reserves, spanning an area of 71,027 square kilometres. Of this, only 40,340 square kilometres is the core tiger habitat, while the rest of the area are 'buffer' forests. A tiger corridor is a stretch of land linking tiger habitats, allowing movement of tigers, prey and other wildlife. India's tiger count In July last year, the Narendra Modi government had announced that India's tiger population had increased by 33 per cent since the last estimation. According to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the country has an estimated 2,967 tigers - which is about 70 per cent of the global tiger population. Ranatambore- popular destination for tigers Being considered as one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife lovers in this destination. PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. (AP) An 80-year-old man who spent nearly 60 years in prison after being convicted of killing one of three suburban Chicago women whose brutalized bodies were found in a state park walked out of prison Friday. Chester Weger emerged from Pinckneyville Correctional Center much older than when he was sent to prison in 1961, but he was the same in one respect maintaining that he was innocent and had been framed by detectives and prosecutors. They ruined my life," Weger said outside the prison gates, the Chicago Tribune reported. They locked me up for 60 years for something I've never done. Weger was convicted in the 1960 slayings of 50-year-old Lillian Oetting, 47-year-old Frances Murphy and 50-year-old Mildred Lindquist. The women were hiking together in Starved Rock State Park in northern Illinois when they were attacked. Their remains were found in the park's popular St. Louis Canyon, which is framed by a scenic waterfall and a 100-foot wall. Each of them had been bludgeoned more than 100 times. A break in the investigation came when detectives determined that the cord used to bind the women's hands matched twine from a spool in the kitchen of the Starved Rock Lodge, where Weger, then 21, worked as a dishwasher. Wegner initially confessed to beating the women to death with a frozen tree branch during a botched robbery attempt and even took detectives to the park to reenact the killings. But he later recanted, claiming he was innocent and that prosecutors had coerced him into confessing. Weger was only convicted in Oetting's killing. Prosecutors chose not to try him for the two other women's deaths after he was sentenced to life in prison in 1961. Weger was granted parole in November on his 24th try. His release was delayed for 90 days because Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raouls office sought to have him evaluated under the states Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. That law allows the state to hold people indefinitely in a secured facility in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services for sex offender treatment if an evaluation deems that necessary. Granddaughters of the slain women have spoken out publicly against Wegers release, as has the LaSalle County states attorney. But Weger's supporters have insisted that he poses no threat to public safety and experts who conducted Weger's evaluation concluded that Weger did not meet the legal criteria for the law to apply, One of Weger's lawyers, Celeste Stack, said Weger could hardly believe he was free. Rumors had been floating around that things were going to be delayed, Stack told the Tribune. I don't think even Chester believed it until he stepped outside in this cold sunshine this morning. Weger was expected to be reunited with family members later in the day on Friday and then check in to St. Leonard's Ministries in Chicago. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will not be present during US First Lady Melania Trump's visit to a Delhi government school in the city on Tuesday as their names were dropped from the guest list for the event, sources said. Melania, wife of US President Donald Trump, is scheduled to visit the school to watch "happiness classes" and interact with the students. Sources in the Delhi government said the US embassy communicated to the city administration on Saturday morning that names of Kejriwal and Sisodia do not figure in the list of invitees for the event. When contacted, a US embassy spokesperson referred the query to Delhi government on the matter. According to the original schedule, Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about rationale behind introduction of happiness classes as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the education sector, officials in the city said. "Names of Kejriwal and Sisodia have been dropped from the list of invitees for the event. We do not know who will receive and brief the First Lady about happiness classes when she visits our school," said a Delhi government official, who wished not to be named. Though there was no official reaction from the Delhi government on the issue, a series of tweets by Sisodia, credited with educational reform in Delhi schools, indicated the AAP dispensation's unhappiness over it. He said "happiness class" is "the solution to all hate and narrow mindedness". "Education is meaningless without happiness. I am happy that Delhi govt schools are showing a path to the world. And the world is curious to know what we are doing in happiness class," he said. Earlier in the day, the deputy chief minister told reporters that the Delhi government had received a request about Melania's visit to a government school. '"If she (Melania) wants to come (to a government school), we welcome her," he said. An AAP functionary argued that in absence of the chief minister and his deputy, who will brief Melania about the 'happiness curriculum'. "Delhi government's happiness curriculum has been lauded across the globe. Who will brief Melania Trump if the chief minister and the deputy chief minister are not present during her visit," he asked. Expressing anguish over exclusion of names of the two leaders from the event, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said it has been a "protocol" and "convention" that the state leaders are present when any foreign dignitary attends events in their states. He also alleged that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia have been dropped from the guest list at the behest of the BJP-led central government. He referred to a press conference by a BJP spokesperson to clarify the saffron party's stand on the issue. "The BJP is claiming that it (Centre) did not ask the US Embassy to drop the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia from the guest list. The comments actually indicated that there is something fishy," Bhardwaj claimed. "If it (the Centre) has not asked it (the US Embassy) to drop names of the CM and deputy CM, then it could have simply requested the embassy to include their names," he said. "Instead of asking the US embassy for the same, holding press conference by a BJP leader is a clear indication that it (BJP) is involved in the entire matter," Bharadwaj said when asked about the issue. On Kejriwal not being part of the guest list for Melania's visit to the Delhi school, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that there shouldn't be any "low-level or petty politics" on issues which are of national interest. "India comes under disrepute if we start pulling each other's legs. The Modi government doesn't influence the US, as to whom they invite or not," he said. The Delhi government introduced the happiness curriculum in July, 2018. According to the curriculum, students studying in classes 1-8 at Delhi government schools spend 45 minutes every day to attend "happiness classes" where they participate in activities like storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions. Similarly, for nursery and kindergarten students, the classes are held twice a week. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has been spending a large chunk of its budget on education in the city in the last several years. In its last budget, the Delhi government had set aside 25 per cent of its total budget for the education sector, perhaps highest among other states. Kejriwal led AAP to a spectacular victory in the assembly elections earlier this month primarily riding on his development agenda including reforms in the health and education sectors. The reforms initiated by the AAP government have been lauded by several prominent personalities. On Friday, Kejriwal said his government will provide all possible help to the Maharashtra government to implement education reforms which he said reflected "cooperative federalism at its best". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Investors in Auckland International Airport Limited (NZSE:AIA) had a good week, as its shares rose 3.6% to close at NZ$8.65 following the release of its half-year results. Revenues of NZ$375m fell slightly short of expectations, but earnings were a definite bright spot, with statutory per-share profits of NZ$0.43 an impressive 87% ahead of estimates. Analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what analysts' statutory forecasts suggest is in store for next year. See our latest analysis for Auckland International Airport NZSE:AIA Past and Future Earnings, February 22nd 2020 Taking into account the latest results, Auckland International Airport's eight analysts currently expect revenues in 2020 to be NZ$741.9m, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to dive 48% to NZ$0.22 in the same period. Before this earnings report, analysts had been forecasting revenues of NZ$754.8m and earnings per share (EPS) of NZ$0.22 in 2020. So it's pretty clear that, although analysts have updated their estimates, there's been no major change in expectations for the business following the latest results. There were no changes to revenue or earnings estimates or the price target of NZ$8.16, suggesting that the company has met expectations in its recent result. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. The most optimistic Auckland International Airport analyst has a price target of NZ$9.40 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at NZ$6.90. This shows there is still quite a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation. In addition, we can look to Auckland International Airport's past performance and see whether business is expected to improve, and if the company is expected to perform better than wider market. It's pretty clear that analysts expect Auckland International Airport's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 0.5%, compared to a historical growth rate of 9.0% over the past five years. Compare this against other companies (with analyst forecasts) in the market, which are in aggregate expected to see revenue growth of 3.6% next year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that analysts still expect Auckland International Airport to grow slower than the wider market. Story continues The Bottom Line The most obvious conclusion from these results is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with analysts holding earnings per share steady, in line with previous estimates. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although analyst forecasts imply revenues will perform worse than the wider market. The consensus price target held steady at NZ$8.16, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on analysts' estimated valuations. With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Auckland International Airport going out to 2023, and you can see them free on our platform here.. You can also see whether Auckland International Airport is carrying too much debt, and whether its balance sheet is healthy, for free on our platform here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. SAN DIEGO, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS (SDAR) and San Diego MLS hosted back-to-back candidate debates on Friday, February 14, for California's 50th Congressional District and City of San Diego Mayor. Matthew T. Hall, editorial and opinion director at The San Diego Union-Tribune, moderated both debates in front of a packed room of more than 300 people at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. SDAR hosts California's 50th Congressional District and San Diego Mayoral debate. With the March 3 primary election less than two weeks away, candidates in these high-profile races discussed issues most important to their region, including the housing supply, rent control and homelessness. "The Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS (SDAR) and SDMLS are proud to have supported this dialogue on the most important issues to our region, including housing and other property issues that are relevant to our members," said SDAR president Carla Farley. The first debate featured 50th Congressional District candidates Ammar Campa-Najjar (D), business owner/educator; Carl DeMaio (R), taxpayer advocate/businessman; Helen Horvath (NPP), organizational development consultant; Darrell Issa (R), retired Congress member; Brian Jones (R), State Senator/business owner; and Henry Alan Ota (NPP), loan officer/farmer. The hot topics of discussion included affordable housing, homelessness, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The moderator, Hall, opened the debate with the question, "What would you do to make housing more affordable for the residents of your district, and be specific?" DeMaio responded, "We're going to fight Prop. 13's repeal, the split roll initiative, in November, because don't make any mistake about it, they're not going to end with the industrial commercial properties -- they're coming after single-family residential. I'm going to fight to make sure that our gas tax money is actually going to the infrastructure to support housing projects. I'm going to look at the effort as I'm doing right now against restrictive mandates being imposed at the ballot box by defeating Measure A on this year's ballot." After the Congressional candidate debate, the City of San Diego's nonpartisan Mayoral candidates Gita Appelbaum, family nurse practitioner; Barbara Bry, City Councilmember/businesswoman; Todd Gloria, Assemblymember; Rich Riel, computer tech; Scott Sherman, City Councilmember; and Tasha Williamson, nonprofit executive, took the stage in the second debate on issues surrounding middle-income housing, law enforcement's role in homelessness, rent control and Measure A. Hall asked the candidates about what they would do beyond attempting to build more units to make homes and apartments more affordable. Gloria said, "I think that what we can do is legislation I've done at the state level, is to go from a per-unit basis of assessing the fees to a square-footage basis. I think that would incentivize the construction of more homes that are smaller." Hall then brought up the controversial Measure A, a ballot measure that would require an election to approve housing developments of six or more units in parts of San Diego County. Bry was undecided while Gloria declared he opposes Measure A. Sherman weighed in, saying he was absolutely against the measure, and added, "We have a housing crisis. We have a housing affordability crisis. And if you really want to put anything with six units or more in front of the voters to be approved, that's just going to increase the cost even more. It doesn't make any sense to me. It's just going to increase costs on housing." Media Contact: Scott Sorensen, (858) 715-8000, [email protected] Related Files 2020.02.19 Press Release - SDAR Debates.pdf Related Images californias-50th-congressional.jpg California's 50th Congressional District debate SDAR hosts California's 50th Congressional District and San Diego Mayoral debate. SOURCE Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS PARADISE, Calif. - The smell of smoke is causing new concerns in Paradise. These days, it's from control-burn piles from Camp Fire damaged trees, but getting rid of debris comes with new concerns. Homeowners have two options: they can burn the damaged trees or chip them. One homeowner in Paradise, Ron Drews tells Action News Now why he chose to burn the wood rather than chip it. It's a lot more work to chip," Drews said. "The fire burns clean and easy. There is very little smoke. I keep track if its a burn day or not so that the air quality is good. So I'm doing my hazardous tree removal and the brush attached to the trees, Ron Drews said. One business owner in Paradise, Tamara Fairweather said the constant burning worries her. I think its a bad thing, what if it gets out of control and starts another fire, this fire has brought PTSD to a lot of people... I would say almost everybody, Fairweather said. The owner of a logging company in Paradise, Cody Cade said that they monitor the fires and always have water on hand. What it does is it helps me to reduce the cost for the landowner rather than having to chuck it and having to pay for removal of vegetation, we can just burn it right here on-site and get rid of it," Cade said. Another logger, Joshua Gilbertson said that burning the wood actually helps prevent future fires, but he understands why people have concerns. "I know some people that still have some issues because they went through the flames as I did, but unfortunately we need to deal with the brush and the most cost-effective way to do it is to do it during the winter when it's safe, Gilbertson said. Anyone who wants to burn on their property will need to get a permit from the Paradise Fire Department. Cade told Action News Now that they only burn on days where there is no burn restriction from the County Air Quality District. RTHK: South Korea reports 142 new coronavirus cases South Korea reported 142 more coronavirus cases on Saturday morning, bringing the nationwide total to 346. An additional death was also reported, bringing the total to two, the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. Among the latest cases, 92 were connected to a hospital in Cheongdo, a southern city connected to a religious sect. More than 150 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus have now been infected, starting with a 61-year-old woman who developed a fever on February 10 but attended at least four church services in Daegu before being diagnosed. Cheongdo, some 27 kilometres south of Daegu, is the birthplace of Shincheonji's founder Lee Man-hee. County officials said on Friday that a three-day funeral was held for his brother three weeks ago at a hall owned by the hospital, where 92 new cases were confirmed on Saturday morning. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A special aircraft of the US Army carrying top officials arrived on Saturday at Jaipur International Airport to take stock of security arrangements ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India, an airport official said. "The aircraft landed at the airport at 9 am and flew out at 11 am. US Embassy officials took stock of the security measures at the airport. There is no scheduled programme at the airport but precautionary measures are being taken," Jaipur International Airport Director J S Balhara said. Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 to 25 and Jaipur airport will be the first alternative for landing his aircraft in case of bad weather, the official said. Donald Trump may land in Jaipur if Delhi weather is poor India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 22: A special aircraft of the US Army carrying top officials arrived on Saturday at Jaipur International Airport to take stock of security arrangements ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India, an airport official said. "The aircraft landed at the airport at 9 am and flew out at 11 am. US Embassy officials took stock of the security measures at the airport. There is no scheduled programme at the airport but precautionary measures are being taken," Jaipur International Airport Director J S Balhara said. "The airport is well-equipped to handle the VVIP flight as we have a reserved bay for the purpose. We shall use all standard operating procedure necessary for the safe landing of such flights," he added. From vision to spectacle: Why US president's India visit may not just be about Modi-Trump optics Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 to 25 and Jaipur airport will be the first alternative for landing his aircraft in case of bad weather, the official said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 15:16 [IST] CLEVELAND, Ohio High school students wont have to be proficient in either math or English to graduate, under minimum required test scores proposed by State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria. They will just need to know enough to do the most basic of jobs. New high school graduation requirements passed this summer require most students to show competency in math and English through scores on Ohios Algebra I and English II tests to qualify for a diploma. The new requirements start with the class 2023, this years high school freshmen. The legislature left it to DeMaria and the Ohio Department of Education to set minimum scores on those tests by March 1, in consultation with the state Department of Higher Education and Office of Workforce Development. With that deadline approaching, DeMaria told the state school board this month he plans to require scores of 684 on both exams, scores that are above the states Basic level of minimal skills, but short of its higher Proficient bar. DeMaria plans to officially set those scores after another round of discussions with the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Transformation. DeMaria said the competency scores are not meant to show readiness for college, or even a career, only that a graduate knows enough to do the basics of an entry-level job. The competencies that were describing are meant to be about that high school-only job position, he said. Graduates can then learn more on their own. How those scores might affect graduation rates is unclear. About 82% of the high school class of 2019 earned 684 or above in Algebra when they took the test, and 85% met that score in English. There are other paths to a diploma for students who cant earn those scores, including earning college credit in English and math while in high school, taking steps toward career credentials or enlisting in the military. Lisa Gray of Ohio Excels, a partnership between chambers of commerce and suburban districts, isnt sure DeMaria is setting the bar high enough. Her group proposed the new graduation requirements the legislature adopted. She said students need to know enough to adapt in a constantly-changing workforce. Others, like State Rep. Don Jones, chairman of the House Education Committee, said college-level scores are not needed since not every student goes to college. It needs to be realistic, said Jones, a Freeport Republican. In addition to proving competency on the Algebra I and English II end-of-course exams, students from the class of 2023 onward must show advanced skills in other areas of their own choice. DeMaria said the legislature did not define competency, so he created a list of jobs that require just a high school diploma and looked at help wanted ads to see what skills employers want. He said he also found supervisors of a few jobs that require just a high school diploma and asked which specific math skills employees need at work. Those included ratios, proportions and percentages; scale drawing and conversions; reasoning and problem-solving. He also asked for examples of what those employees would have to read and understand for work and was told they would need to read informational text instructions or forms more than literature. They also needed good grammar and should clearly communicate, but understanding descriptions matters more than analysis. He then used that feedback to establish the required minimum scores. He cautioned, however, that test scores dont really tell which particular skills students have mastered, only their overall knowledge in a subject. Board member Sarah Fowler, of Rock Creek, said she was bothered that scores cant tell employers that students have specific skills and that the state is just approximating competency. If we dont have a definition beyond this particular word, what does it actually mean to employers? she asked. Chad Aldis of the Fordham Institute, which developed the graduation plan with Ohio Excels said there is no magic number. He agreed with DeMarias process of asking employers to help set the scores. There needs to be some respect given to that, Aldis said. Over time, well see if our students end up not being prepared. India and the US have been negotiating a trade pact for over a year now and sources say that United Stated Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and commerce minister Piyush Goyal have developed a good understanding. After weeks of speculation, it is now clear that no trade deal would be signed during US president Donald Trump's first visit to India next week. However, during negotiations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump are likely to make a commitment to a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA). A senior diplomat privy to trade negotiations said, "We do not want to rush into a trade deal during this visit. Any deal between India and the US will have a long-term impact. We would rather look to the future and seek win-win solutions". India and the US have been negotiating a trade pact for over a year now and sources say that United Stated Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and commerce minister Piyush Goyal have developed a good understanding. Sources confirmed that in the ongoing negotiations, India has asked for the restoration of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefits and greater market access for Indian products. India has also offered tariff concessions on Harley Davidson motorcycles as part of the trade talks. Reacting to Trump's remarks about unfair treatment, a source said, "Our tariffs are not higher than other developing countries. Countries such as South Korea and Japan have higher tariffs. India is a developing country which will have other requirements." Defence pacts likely India and the US could sign a deal worth $2.6 billion for 24 MH60 Rome multi-mission helicopters for the Indian Navy. At least 8-10 deals including a $1.8 billion deal for NASAM air defence system for Delhi and a $930-million deal for six Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Air Force are also in the final stages of negotiations. "These deals are part of ongoing talks and cannot be linked to the outcome of the visit. However, some of them like the deal for navy helicopters may come through during the visit," said a source. Trump would arrive in India with a large delegation that includes Lighthizer, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner. Trump would be in India for only 36 hours. While addressing the media ahead of Trumps visit, India's Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla said: "The US is Indias largest trading partner in goods and services combined, and the overall bilateral trade increased by over 10 percent per annum over the past two years to reach $142 billion in 2018; it is expected to cross $150 billion for the first time this year." Hydrocarbon imports from the US have risen to $7 billion in the last two years. The US is India's sixth-largest source of crude oil imports. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump would receive a grand welcome at Ahmedabad and the 22-minute-long roadshow to the Motera stadium would be full of cultural performances. "As many as 28 stages representing the various parts of the country are being set up along the route, in what is being called the India Road Show. The route will also feature decorations depicting different events in the life of Gandhiji," the foreign secretary said. Sources told CNBC TV18 that India and the US will sign a joint vision document that will guide relations in the months to come but there will be no deals or agreements signed during the visit. Incumbent took office in 2005 after death of his father who led country for 38 years after seizing power in 1967 coup. Voters in Togo have cast ballots in a presidential election expected to extend incumbent Faure 15 years in office, and his familys rule of more than half a century. Polling stations opened at 07:00 GMT on Saturday and closed at 16:00 GMT, with provisional results expected in six days. Some political analysts expect Gnassingbe to win the election outright in the first round. The 53-year-old leader took office in 2005 after the death of his father, Eyadema Gnassingbe, who led the country for 38 years after seizing power in a coup in 1967. Gnassingbe faces six rivals from a divided and historically weak opposition, including Jean-Pierre Fabre, a former journalist and human rights campaigner who came second in elections in 2010 and 2015, and former Prime Minister Gabriel Messan Agbeyome Kodjo, who represents a coalition of opposition and civil society groups. Candidates home surrounded by security forces Hours after polls closed, Kodjos house in the capital, Lome, was surrounded by security forces, AFP news agency reported. It said that the government had confirmed the move, saying it was for his own safety. We are largely in the lead everywhere, my house is surrounded by soldiers, Kodjo told AFP. A large contingent of security forces were blocking all access to the property, according to AFP journalists at the scene, while military roadblocks were being put up in Lome. Earlier on Saturday, Gnassingbe said he was pleased with the turn-out. Im confident. Ive been supported by my campaigners and sympathisers, he said after voting. The president pushed through constitutional changes last year allowing him to stand again this year, and potentially stay in office until 2030. The constitutional change caps the presidential mandate to two five-year terms, but does not take into account the three terms Gnassingbe has already served. Many in the West African country of about eight million people say they are fed up with the Gnassingbe dynasty and their persistent poverty during their tenures. But the family has fended off various challenges to its rule, including protests that were met with deadly crackdowns in 2005 and 2017. There were long queues outside some stations in Lome, which Gnassingbe has tried to turn into a regional transport and finance hub. The vote was held against the backdrop of rising prices for basic necessities, weak health systems and an education sector in which teachers continually threaten strikes. Unemployment among young people is increasing. Like many Togolese, I voted for change. Heres to a new president coming to power, car mechanic Edoh Komi, 47, told Reuters news agency after voting in Lome. Divided opposition Opposition groups have chosen not to support a single candidate in hopes that voting goes to a second round. Reporting from Lome, Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris said the opposition faces a very tough job to unseat the president, given how the Gnassingbe dynasty has entrenched itself in the political and socioeconomic life of the country. Were talking about a political establishment, a dynasty thats been in power for more than half a century, Idris said. They have the structures on the ground and they are also capitalising on the inability of the opposition to present a common front to challenge the leadership of the ruling class in Togo. Analysts say Gnassingbe already weathered the most serious challenge to his political survival during the 2017 demonstrations when he resisted protesters calls to make a two-term limit of the presidency retroactive. His concession in allowing at least some form of term limits was reminiscent of his father. Eyadema Gnassingbe was absolute ruler of the former French colony for 25 years before agreeing in a 1992 constitution to notional multi-party democracy and a limit of two presidential terms. However, legislators amended the constitution 10 years later to allow him to run again. When he died in 2005, the military installed his son as interim president, ignoring a law that said the head of the national assembly should take over. If no candidate secures a majority of the vote on Saturday, there will be a runoff vote next month. The opposition candidates say a centralised counting system will help Gnassingbe cheat, a charge his government denies. But some observers worry that Saturdays vote will not be transparent and fair. Lets be realistic! None of the candidates can win this presidential election in the first round if the election is truly transparent. But it is up to opponents to work to minimize fraud, Spero Mahoule, a member of the Collective of Associations Against Impunity in Togo, told The Associated Press news agency. If elected, Gnassingbe has said he will continue reforms that have helped achieve annual economic growth of about 5 percent in recent years. More than half of the population lives in poverty, according to the African Development Bank. Chandigarh, Feb 22 : Three girl students -- aged around 20 years -- were killed and two others got injuries on Saturday in a major fire in their paying guest accomodation in a residential area in Chandigarh's Sector 32, police said. The cause of the fire is believed to be short-circuiting. The fire occurred on the first floor of the house that was housing more than 20 students in makeshift rooms. At the time of the incident, most of the students were out of the house. Two students jumped from the window of a bathroom to escape themselves, the police said. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian president Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan 28 June 2019: Susan Walsh/AP US intelligence officials warned Congress that Russia plans to interfere in 2020 Democratic elections and challenges in November, but officials in Moscow are dismissing the allegations as "paranoid" while Washington leaders condemn Donald Trump's reported efforts to dismiss the threat. Following a 13 February briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, the president reportedly berated the national intelligence director for allowing the hearing to take place, which allowed his Democratic impeachment foes to hear testimony about foreign interference similar to the Russian efforts at the centre of an investigation in 2016. That investigation led to the indictments and prosecutions of several of the president's aides and associates, as well as several Russians and Russian companies. According to the New York Times, the president's allies defended Mr Trump at the hearing as acting intelligence director Joseph Maguire laid out Russian plans to sow chaos and undermine US elections through social media and cyber attacks, among other tools, intended to disrupt the electoral process and stir division among voters preparing to elect the next president and other seats across the US. On Wednesday, the president announced that Richard Grenell, the current US ambassador to Germany and a staunch supporter of the president, will replace Mr Maguire as acting director. The president suggested that Georgia Republican Congressman Doug Collins - who invoked a fierce defence of the president during his impeachment - could be considered for the permanent job. Mr Trump announced on Twitter: "I will be nominating a terrific candidate for the job very soon ... Stay tuned! House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "American voters should decide American elections - not Vladimir Putin". She urged congress to "condemn the president's reported efforts to dismiss threats to the integrity of our democracy [and] to politicize our intel community". Story continues In a message on Thursday night, California congressman and impeachment prosecutor Adam Schiff said: "We count on the intelligence community to inform Congress of any threat of foreign interference in our elections. If reports are true and the President is interfering with that, he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling. Exactly as we warned he would do." Congress will hold a briefing on election security on 10 March. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov brushed off the allegations, saying that intelligence officials' warning are "more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the election". "They have nothing to do with the truth", he said. Read more Pentagon official leaked top secret material to journalist girlfrien Trump fires spy chief over claims Russia wants him re-elected Russia 'trying to get Trump re-elected', US spy chiefs reportedly say Trump friend and ally Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison Alton Towers Smiler crash survivor Leah Washington has returned to the resort for a 'girls weekend' in a luxury tree house. The brave amputee, 22, lost her leg when the rollercoaster carriage she was travelling on with her boyfriend, Joe Pugh, smashed into a stationary one in front in 2015. Ms Washington has garnered nearly 20,00 Instagram followers by sharing her progress since the shocking incident. And on Saturday she shared Instagram videos and images of her with friends at the Alton Towers Enchanted Village. Alton Towers Smiler crash survivor Leah Washington (far left) has returned to the theme park for a girls weekend One picture, which she captioned 'hey babies', showed her wearing a spa gown alongside friends as they posed outside a 'treehouse' log cabin. Another showed her walking into one of the cabins, while a third showed a large gin and tonic at the theme park's spa, alongside a caption which read: 'My excuse for a gin!' The plush log cabins are set across two floors and boast double bedrooms set across two floors. The resort is located next to the theme park. The brave amputee, 22, who lost her leg when the rollercoaster carriage she was travelling on with her new boyfriend Joe Pugh smashed into a stationary one in front Ms Washington has garnered nearly 20,00 Instagram followers by sharing her progress since the shocking incident. Pictured: Ms Washington (second from right) enjoys champagne in a hot tub at Alton Towers on Saturday It comes after Ms Washington revealed in July her heartbreak at the loss of her great grandmother, just months after she lost her grandfather. The brave amputee, 22, from South Yorkshire, who has garnered an almost 20,000-strong following on Instagram by sharing her progress since the shocking accident, shared a tribute to mark her loss online. Posting a touching picture as she planted a kiss on her late relative, Leah wrote: 'My beautiful and loving great grandma we will miss you forever thank you for everything you ever did for me. You were so generous, kind and gave the best advice. I love and miss you lots'. The 'treehouse' log cabins at Alton Towers Enchanted Village where Ms Washington is staying with friends The plush log cabins are set across two floors and boast double bedrooms set across two floors The sad post came just months after Leah lost her grandfather in January. Sharing a snap at the time, Leah wrote: 'My loving and caring granddad! I will miss you so much. You can now rest in peace and out of pain. I will always be your little princess thank you for being the best granddad'. Leah's posts were inundated with messages of support from her followers expressing their condolences. Leah was on her first proper date with boyfriend Joe Pugh when the Smiler rollercoaster carriage smashed into a stationary train at Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, during June 2015. On Saturday she shared Instagram videos and images of her with friends at the Alton Towers Enchanted Village Ms Washington, from Barnsley, was one of two young passengers who lost a leg while Mr Pugh suffered devastating injuries himself including two shattered kneecaps. In spite of the trauma of the crash, the pair have stayed together and often post pictures of their days out on social media. Despite having a state-of-the-art 60,000 prosthetic leg which allows her to walk unaided, the teenager still suffers crippling pain and fatigue after standing for long periods. Another picture showed her walking into a 'treehouse' log cabin at the venue A glass or two: Leah (third from right) was also seen enjoying a glass of champagne with friends An investigation into the 2015 accident concluded that the crash was due to human error; an engineer had wrongly restarted the ride while a stationary carriage was on the track in front of it. Alton Towers owner Merlin Attractions were fined 5million for health and safety breaches which were blasted by Judge Michael Chambers QC as a 'catastrophic failure'. They were fined an initial 5million, and interim payments have covered Leah and Joe's medical and physio bills to date - but the pair have also submitted a 'substantial' compensation claim. Leah's 60,000 prosthetic leg - which contains a microprocessor knee - will need replacing every few years, which will amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds over her lifetime. KABUL - A United Nations report says Afghanistan passed a grim milestone with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the last 10 years since the international body began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years. The report released Saturday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan comes as a seven-day reduction of violence agreement between the U.S. and Taliban takes effect, paving the way for a Feb. 29 signing of a peace deal Washington hopes will end its longest war, bring home U.S. troops and start warring Afghans negotiating the future of their country. Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence, said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the secretary-generals special representative for Afghanistan. It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway. Last year there was a slight decrease in the numbers of civilians hurt or killed, which the report says was a result of reduced casualties inflicted by the Islamic State affiliate. The group was drastically degraded by U.S. and Afghan security forces as well as the Taliban, who have also bitterly battled the Islamic State. According to the U.N. report, 3,493 civilians were killed last year and 6,989 were injured. While fewer civilians were hurt or killed by Islamic State fighters, more civilians became casualties at the hands of the Taliban and Afghan security forces and their American allies. The report said there was a 21% increase in civilian casualties by the Taliban and an 18% rise in casualties blamed on Afghan security forces and their U.S. allies who dropped more bombs last year than in any year since 2013. All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties, said Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights. Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable. The seven-day reduction in violence began at midnight Friday. If it holds it will be followed by the signing of a long sought peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office. U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has spent the past 18 months negotiating the deal with the Taliban after his appointment in September 2018 by the White House, will sign the deal on the behalf of Washington. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants American troops brought home from Afghanistan. He says they have become a police enforcement force, which is not what they are there to do. The peace deal will also include Taliban guarantees that Afghanistan will not be used as a staging arena for attacks against the U.S. or its allies. The most difficult phase is expected to be the intra-Afghan negotiations as Kabul still struggles to come up with a unified position opposite the Taliban. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner of a presidential race held five months earlier, followed by his political rivals refuting the results and calling the polling fraught with fraud. The negotiations among Afghans, which will also hammer out an eventual permanent cease-fire, are to begin around March 10. Both Germany and Norway have offered to host the negotiations but until now a venue has not been chosen. ___ Gannon reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. United States President Donald Trump is encouraging a cooling of tension between India and Pakistan, the White House said on Friday, pointing out that successful dialogue between the two nations would be possible if Pakistan cracks down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," a senior administration official said, when asked whether Trump would offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue again during his upcoming Indian visit. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will lead a 12-member American delegation to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. "We continue to believe a core foundation of any successful dialogue between the two (Indian and Pakistan) is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. So we continue to look for that," the official said. "But I think the president will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region," said the official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. Responding to a question on the Afghanistan peace process, the official said the United States would just encourage India, as it does with regional countries, to do whatever it can to support this peace process so that it can be successful and can potentially end 19 years of military, diplomatic, economic engagement. "You know, that we can end the military engagement. We will be continuing our diplomatic and economic engagement, which has been there over the last 19 years. But we certainly would look to India to support this peace process -- an important country in the region, important to the overall stability of the region. So I think if the issue comes up, that is what would be the request from the president," the official said. Bernie Sanders warns Moscow to stay out of American elections after reports of Russian attempts to boost his run. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has warned Russia to stay out of the 2020 presidential elections after US officials had told him Moscow was trying to aid his campaign. The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections, Sanders told reporters on Friday in Bakersfield, California. Sanders, 78, a self-described democratic socialist senator from Vermont, is considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination and is favoured to win the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. The Washington Post on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, said US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort and had also informed Republican President Donald Trump and US legislators. It was not clear what form the Russian assistance took, the paper said. Sanders said he was briefed about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign, Sanders told reporters. Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections. What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing and Ive seen some of their tweets and stuff is they try to divide us up, he said. They are trying to cause chaos. Theyre trying to cause hatred in America. Moscow denial The Kremlin on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the US presidential campaign to boost Trumps re-election chances, following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week. These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the (US) election, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. They have nothing to do with the truth. Facebook declined to comment on whether it has seen any evidence of Russian assistance to Sanderss campaign. Last October, the company took down Russian-backed accounts that pretended to be from political battleground states. Some of those accounts used Instagram to praise Sanders. Another used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and faulted Biden on race issues. US intelligence agencies concluded that the Kremlin used disinformation operations, cyber-attacks and other methods in its 2016 operation in an effort to boost Trump in his presidential run, an allegation that Russia denies. Trump, sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticised US intelligence agencies. Russias alleged interference sparked a two-year-long US investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. He also pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to obstruct his investigation, as Democrats alleged, but left any finding of obstruction to Congress. Trump slams Democrats Of the eight contenders still seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, Sanders leads in polling in Nevada and nationally by about a dozen points over second-place Joe Biden. Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose campaign has stagnated, hopes her standout performance in Wednesdays Democratic debate in Las Vegas where she went on the offensive against billionaire newcomer and former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg over his companys use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of sexual harassment will earn some respect from Nevadans. On Friday, Trump rallied his supporters in Las Vegas, where he attacked the sick and radical socialist contenders for his job. Bloomberg was left gasping for breath after his debate debacle, Trump said, to loud cheers. Sanders is crazy, Warren is a mess, Biden has been angry and billionaire activist Tom Steyer is a schmuck, the president added. Trump nonetheless sought to sow doubt in the ballot. I heard their computers are all messed up just like Iowa, he told his rally, citing no evidence. They say theyre going to have a lot of problems tomorrow. A day after Amulya Leona, the 19-year-old woman was remanded in judicial custody for saying Pakistan Zindabad during an anti-CAA event on Thursday, a Sri Rama Sene leader announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for killing her. Meanwhile, a video, where the head of a religious mutt says those opposing Narendra Modi will meet the fate of journalist Gauri Lankesh, went viral on Saturday. The bounty announcement was made by Sri Rama Sene Ballari district unit president Sanjeev Maradi. We will give Rs 10 lakh award from Srirama Sene to anyone who kills Amulya Leona, the student who said Pakistan Zindabad, Maradi said. The video clip of his announcement quickly went viral on social media. Maradi goes on to state that Amulya should not be given bail. She should not get bail for any reason. If she is released, we will stage an encounter. We will give Rs 10 lakh award to anyone who stages the encounter, he said. Meanwhile, Siddalinga Swami of Andola Karuneshwara Mutt courted controversy for stating that 14 or 15-year-old girls who speak ill about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will face the fate of journalist Gauri Lankesh. Though the speech was made at an event organised by Yuva Viveka Bharat Sangha at Shaktinagar of Raichur on February 2, it went viral on Saturday, with many linking it to Amulya. The swami is said to have been referring to a girl who criticised Modi and Shah during a protest in New Delhi. The swami was taking part in the event with Sri Rama Sene president Pramod Muthalik and said the girl speaks ill about Modi and Shah. She will meet the same fate as Gauri Lankesh if she continues to speak ill of the leaders, he said. However, the swami did not respond to repeated phone calls for a comment. By IANS NEW DELHI: India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday strongly disapproved politics of communalism and rejected the notion that the Modi government is against religious minorities. In an exclusive interview to IANS, Singh reprimanded "vested interests" and politicians, including some of his own party members for indulging in communal politics. Since the BJP government enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which fast tracks citizenship of persecuted religious minorities of three neighbouring Islamic theocracies, the opposition and a huge number of Muslims have been protesting in several cities of India, calling the law discriminatory against Muslims. He said that the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "from the very beginning attempted to replace a sense of fear which prevailed among Muslim citizens earlier, with a sense of confidence". "There are forces which are trying to mislead them. But BJP can in no circumstances go against minorities of India. Prime Minister Modi from the very beginning gave us the slogan, 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka saath, sabka vishwas (inclusive development and confidence). "There is no question of discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour or religion. We can't even think about it," the defence minister said. Blaming "vested interests" for communal politics, Singh said: "There are forces which think only about vote banks." Warning politicians against communal politics, he said, "Politics is not supposed to be done merely for votes. Politics is done to build a nation." Singh recalled that in his two massive public rallies at Meerut and Mangaluru, attended by thousands of people, he repeatedly said this. "Muslim citizens of India are our beloved brethren," the defence minister said adding, "No one can touch them, let alone assault them." Even those who believe in Hindutva ideology cannot discriminate on the basis of identity because Hindutva itself means 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family -- the philosophy in Hindu scriptures), the defence minister said. However, ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections early this month, the political discourse in the country turned extremely communal with some of the BJP ministers and legislators issuing violent threats and communally provocative statements too. "No one, absolutely no one, should make statements which are against our ideology of 'the world is one family'. Period," the defence minister said. Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 4 days time. You will need to purchase shares before the 27th of February to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 20th of March. Dominion Energy's next dividend payment will be US$0.94 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$3.76 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Dominion Energy has a trailing yield of 4.2% on the current stock price of $89.38. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to investigate whether Dominion Energy can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. Check out our latest analysis for Dominion Energy If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. An unusually high payout ratio of 205% of its profit suggests something is happening other than the usual distribution of profits to shareholders. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:D Historical Dividend Yield, February 22nd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. That's why it's not ideal to see Dominion Energy's earnings per share have been shrinking at 4.5% a year over the previous five years. We'd also point out that Dominion Energy issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend while issuing large amounts of new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Dominion Energy has delivered 7.9% dividend growth per year on average over the past ten years. That's intriguing, but the combination of growing dividends despite declining earnings can typically only be achieved by paying out a larger percentage of profits. Dominion Energy is already paying out 205% of its profits, and with shrinking earnings we think it's unlikely that this dividend will grow quickly in the future. Story continues To Sum It Up Should investors buy Dominion Energy for the upcoming dividend? Not only are earnings per share shrinking, but Dominion Energy is paying out a disconcertingly high percentage of its profit as dividends. It's not that we hate the business, but we feel that these characeristics are not desirable for investors seeking a reliable dividend stock to own for the long term. All things considered, we're not optimistic about its dividend prospects, and would be inclined to leave it on the shelf for now. Wondering what the future holds for Dominion Energy? See what the 11 analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A unique program at Springfield High School is getting students ready to be trained nurses. The Health Occupations Career pathway gives students hands-on experience. The students wear scrubs and take classes on Anatomy, Physiology, medical office management, and more. They also work with trained professionals that help teach the classes. Program coordinator and teacher Leslie Watson said they work directly with Lane Community College and their program is the only one in the state that allows students to get the needed state certification to be a nurse or medical assistant. "This is the biggest joy of my entire career," Watson said. "To be part of such an amazing program and to actually walk out of high school with real skills that will allow them to be employable." Senior Daniela Ramos said she decided to become a nurse after her dad suffered a stroke while she was in the 8th grade. With her certified nursing credentials, she plans on working at a nursing home while she goes to LCC to become a registered nurse. "It's really hands-on, the teachers really help you through," Ramos said. "It's not like they're talking to you, they really communicate with you." The Eugene 4J School District has similar classes, including their medical pathway program at Churchill High School. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be a nationwide deficit of one million nurses by 2022. RIO DE JANEIRO - A violent police strike in northeastern Brazil has shed light on dissatisfaction among cops elsewhere in the country, with some forces threatening to protest as rowdy Carnival celebrations start. The strike by military police demanding higher salaries in the state of Ceara, and which led to a senator being shot, is a headache for President Jair Bolsonaro, a staunch supporter of police forces who has pledged to curb violent crime. Of course, police strikes could spread, said lawmaker Guilherme da Cunha of the state of Minas Gerais, where police obtained a 42% salary increase this year after threatening to strike. From the moment people who have a monopoly on firearms discover the strength it has, there is a risk. In Ceara, violent crime has risen sharply during the police strike, with at least 88 people killed over three days, according to online news site G1, citing state officials. Bolsonaro has sent hundreds of national guard forces and 2,500 soldiers to maintain order. During the strike, Sen. Cid Gomes was shot in the chest as he tried to drive a backhoe through a police protest. He is in stable condition. Earlier that day, masked officers forced businesses to close, occupied barracks and damaged police vehicles. Mayors in several of the states small cities 30,000 inhabitants or less cancelled Carnival celebrations. In Paracuru, where authorities were expecting 40,000 revelers a day, the mayor said he was no longer able to ensure security in his citys streets. Even though police strikes are illegal in Brazil, other states are at risk of seeing similar protests, lawmakers and public security experts told The Associated Press. In Alagoas state, civil police, in charge of investigating crimes, have been on strike for two weeks. The governor has made a lot of empty promises to the military police. At some point, that bomb can explode, said lawmaker Davi Maia, who has met police in Congress to discuss their demands. In Paraiba, military police organized a 12-hour strike on Feb. 19. In Santa Catarina, public security agents threatened to slow work to a bare minimum, paralyzing operations to an extent but avoiding illegal strikes. In Rio, one association of municipal guards, who police city parks and properties, began a strike Saturday, during Carnival. Police strikes arent new, according to Ilona Szabo, co-founder of a security research centre, the Igarape Institute. A study by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul showed that between 1997 and 2017, Brazil had 715 police strikes, but only 52 by military police. More than ever Brazil needs to democratize and professionalize its police forces, Szabo said. Many believe police officers are emboldened by the 2018 elections, in which Bolsonaro and other fervent law-and-order supporters were elected. A former army captain, Bolsonaro supported the armed forces during his 30-year legislative career and has said police who kill on duty should be decorated. Many Brazilians states finances are in the red, with public servants often receiving partial or delayed salaries. Carnival celebrations often prove a good opportunity for public servants, including police, to pressure authorities, who fear violence and looting during the festivities. Tourists and party-goers at Carnival are often targeted by pick-pockets. In the state of Sao Paulo, police have arrested 240 suspects as part of a carnival security operation. Last year, public security officers in Minas Gerais also chose February to threaten the newly elected administration of Gov. Romeu Zema Neto with strikes if he didnt readjust their salary. The government was pressured to choose between a terrible, and least worst option, said state lawmaker da Cunha. Police shut down a motorway and armed men attempted to invade the governors office, according to witnesses who asked that their names not be used because of safety fears. As part of the negotiations, the governor obtained an agreement that the increase be postponed one year, meaning the proposal only landed this month in the states legislative assembly. The news of a 42% salary increase spread rapidly, boosting similar requests in Ceara and other states, and angering governors who have resisted threats of illegal protests. Minas Gerais granted this increase, in a state that is not paying salaries, and is in a situation of bankruptcy, said Ignacio Cano, co-ordinator of the Violence Analysis Laboratory at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. It says a lot about the moment the country is going through, and the strength that public forces are acquiring, he said. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico will remain the only state in the nation that doesnt pay salaries to its legislators at least for now. But Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told a post-session news conference that she supports paying lawmakers, suggesting that even a modest salary would broaden the candidate pool. New Mexico needs to take a hard look, the Democratic governor said in response to a question on the issue. We make it nearly impossible for people to serve. Several proposals dealing fully or in part with paying New Mexico legislators have been introduced at the Roundhouse in recent years but have fallen short of winning approval. During the 30-day session that ended Thursday, a plan that would have authorized the new State Ethics Commission to review and establish the salaries of elected officials including legislators ended up stalling in the Senate without a final vote being taken. Although that proposal would have gone to statewide voters and not the governor if it had won legislative approval, Lujan Grisham said she supports the idea. Flanked by top-ranking lawmakers just an hour after this years session ended, Lujan Grisham said its tricky for legislators to pass measures dealing with their own salaries. They cant answer that question. I can, the governor said. In Pennsylvania, more than a dozen lawmakers were ousted in the states 2006 primary election for increasing their salaries the previous year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham also said the Legislatures structure makes it difficult for many New Mexicans to serve in the House or the Senate, because they typically have to either be retired or work in jobs that allow them to take extended time off. We make it impossible for them to do their work outside of the legislative session, Lujan Grisham said. The state, in my view, has to take a hard look by an independent body at whether the Legislature should be paid to ensure its work is top-quality, she said. Although New Mexico lawmakers are not paid salaries, they do receive some financial compensation. That includes per diem payments currently set at $167 per day intended to cover meals and lodging, along with other types of reimbursement and a pension plan that vests after 10 years of service. Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, one of the sponsors of this years proposal to have the Ethics Commission set salaries for legislators and other elected officials, said Friday that he absolutely plans to bring the idea back during next years 60-day session. Although some lawmakers balked at giving an appointed body the power to set elected officials salaries, because that is usually the Legislatures duty, Ivey-Soto said the approach would help legislators steer clear of possible political and ethical fallout. What the public is rightly concerned about is whether we are self-dealing, Ivey-Soto told the Journal. He also said the Ethics Commission would be able to review data, including from other states, in considering whether, and how much, legislators should be paid. But backers of the current system have long said theres value in the citizen legislature model, as teachers, farmers, doctors, insurance agents and more each bring their own expertise to the Roundhouse. By Laman Ismayilova International Mugham Center will host a poetry evening in honor of Khojaly Genocide victims on February 25. The evening is organized as part of "Soz" project, aimed at uniting young poets. Headed by poetess Nigar Hasanzade, the project is supported by the Azerbaijan Cultural Ministry. The art program "We Remember!" will be presented as part of the event. The finalists of the poetry contest will read out their poems dedicated to Khojaly tragedy, which took lives of many people. The evening will be followed by performance of local musicians. On the night of February 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, directly supported by the 366th regiment of the former USSR, stationed at that time in the town of Khankendi in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan attacked, from five directions, the town of Khojaly. About 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday constituted a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police-rank IPS officer, to conduct a comprehensive probe into alleged irregularities, particularly land deals in the Amaravati capital region, during the previous Telugu Desam Party regime. The report of a Cabinet Sub-Committee on the "procedural, legal and financial irregularities and fraudulent transactions concerned with various projects, including issues related to land in the CRDA region" will form the basis for the SIT probe, according to an order issued by General Administration Department Principal Secretary (Political), Praveen Prakash. The SIT will enquire, register, investigate and conclude the investigation according to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code on the subject matter, the order said. The SIT, which has two other IPS officers and other police officials, will also function as a nodal single point contact, including for sharing of information and coordinate with the state and Central investigating agencies,if required. The Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted by the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government in June 2019 to "review major policies, projects, programmes, institutions established (Corporations, Societies, Companies,etc) and key administrative actions since bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh on June 02, 2014" impacting the states development. The Sub-Committee presented the first part of its report to the government in December last, highlighting the various procedural, legal and financial "irregularities and fraudulent transactions" concerned with various projects, including the issues related to land in the CRDA region. The report was tabled and discussed in the state Assembly after the Cabinet accepted it. Subsequently, the government decided to get the issue inquired by a specialised agency and thus constituted the SIT. Intelligence DIG Kolli Raghuram Reddy will head the SIT, which also has SP-rank IPS officers Babujee Attada and V Appala Naidu. The SIT will later be notified as a 'police station' as per provisions of the CrPC. Among other things, the SIT will investigate "insider trading" of land committed by several individuals having prior knowledge of location of the new capital and alleged manipulation of boundaries of the capital under Land Pooling Scheme for monetary gains through appreciation of land value. No time frame has been set for the SIT to complete the investigation and file a charge-sheet. William Hale, H.H. Dow's son-in-law, wanted to talk chemistry, and had an idea. "I reasoned that if we could get our chemists assembled from time to time to hear an outside speaker, we might stir up keener interest in life and encourage argumentative discourse," he had said. "Within a few months, we had organized a group of some 20 or more chemists into what was called the Midland Section of the American Chemical Society." Midland ACS was founded in 1919, and has just finished its centennial year, a focal point of which was the seven-month run of a history exhibit that ended in December. How do a bunch of chemists develop an impactful history exhibit that appeals to the public? The story began with the creation of a Midland ACS ad hoc Centennial Committee in 2016. Representatives from the Midland Center for the Arts and the Midland Historical Society were involved, and Dr. Gina Malczewski became chair. Designer John Metcalf, of Good Design LLC, was brought onboard to provide guidance on exhibit production. Funding was provided by local benefactors that included the H.H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and the Doan Family Foundation. The latter helped in a special way, by supporting assistance from the Central Michigan University Museum Studies program, led by Dr. Jay Martin, whose students assisted with content development, helped install and disassemble, served as weekend docents, maintained the website, and facilitated publicity. "I embraced the project as an ideal way to inspire our CMU Museum Studies students by participating in a unique collaborative project," Martin said. "An added benefit was building a new strategic partnership that involved community engagement and work with STEM professionals." The exhibit was composed of six sections that, among other things, addressed the history of the section, which is intertwined with that of Midland, Dow Chemical and H.H. Dow himself. The city became what it is today due to the successful chemical enterprise located here. In addition, the communications vital to chemistry (patents and publications), and the ACS role in education (outreach, chemistry at local colleges, and teacher workshops) were featured. Some of the many philanthropic and scientific giants who were ACS members were celebrated, too. A section called "Unintended Consequences" addressed some of the positive and negative impacts of local chemistry, the practice of which, like other human pursuits, is a learning process. At the center of the exhibit was a six-sided tower that featured four globally-known products that were invented and patented by Midland ACS members: silly putty (Earl Warrick), SaranTM (Ralph Wiley and Wilbur Stephenson), Styrofoam (O. Ray McIntire) and diaper polymer (Fred Buchholz). Midland ACS was, and is, all about communication -- both among scientists themselves, and with the public. When Dow first arrived in Midland, the lumbering industry was dying, and there were few amenities. Phones and electricity were not ubiquitous, and travel to Midland was not easy. Without internet and easy access to the outside world, sharing information to advance the study of chemistry required a lot of reading and fruitful personal discussion. Midland ACS hosted many prestigious scientists and some Nobel prize winners at its meetings. Far from being just "down to business," these sometimes featured musical performances, skits, and films. Communication between Midland ACS and the public has been occurring with increasing frequency, and in the form of many events and visits each year. The group has celebrated National Chemistry Week (NCW) and Earth Day for more than 20 years with public programs, and more recently, with Illustrated Poem Contests for children. Many Great Lakes Bay students have seen ACS volunteers in their classrooms, offering hands-on curriculum-related science experiences. Families also enjoy interactive chemistry at Kids Day the Midland Mall and River Days; teacher workshops offering continuing professional education credits for educators have also been offered by Midland ACS locally and across the country. Local ACS members have also broken barriers. Sylvia Stoesser was the first female chemist at Dow; Linn Dormann, was an outstanding African-American chemist and inventor, who won the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers' prestigious Percy C. Julian Award in 1992. Midland is the home of two national ACS presidents (E.C. Britton and Thomas H. Lane), and three Perkin Medal winners (H.H. Dow, E.C. Britton and James C. Stevens.) Two members of the National Inventors Hall of fame, O. Ray McIntire and J. Franklin Hyde, were also Midland ACS members. The exhibit was designed to honor these Midlanders and to offer something for everyone. Senior visitors were drawn to mobile tiles in a Periodic Table of select members, which enumerated some of their accomplishments. Children preferred the Tower table where molecular models were available to recreate some of the large "molecules" hanging from the ceiling. "Puzzles for prizes" were also available, as was free silly putty. A beautiful quilt made from shirts worn for Outreach events was also featured, made by former member Marcelle Molzahn. There were also historic chemistry sets to engage those who may have been inspired by one in times past, and three videos were available to provide more information about outreach, the breast implant controversy, and even the relevance of chemistry itself. For visitors in search of "special events," the exhibit offered those, too. Several hands-on programs were offered during its run to acquaint attendees with materials like Saran wrap, learn about "Ho-Ho-Holiday Science" or have "Fun with Foam." Sam Kean, the best-selling author of popular chemistry books like Caesar's Last Breath, was at the Doan Center Nov. 5, 2019, to talk about the Periodic Table and sign books. A senior luncheon was held at the exhibit, and on Oct. 27, 2019, National Chemistry Week and Halloween were celebrated together at the Doan with "Marvelous Metals" activities that included a Haunted Mine, alternative trick-or-treating, experiments with batteries, a pumpkin toss, a photo booth, and some friendly tarantulas. "Midland ACS was very proud of the final exhibit, and pleased to be able to offer it to other locations," stated Dr. Amanda Palumbo, chair of the Midland Section in 2019. "It is an effective and entertaining way to reflect on Midland's great scientific contributions to the world -- from Saran Wrap to Silly Putty. The section is happy to be a part of a community that is so eager to embrace innovation." Portions of the exhibit are now available for display at other locations; it is expected to be completely reconstructed at another local site later in 2020 or 2021. You can follow its journeys on our centennial website www.midlandacs.org, and contact Gina Malczewski (reginamalczewski@gmail.com) for further information. Check the Midland ACS website (www.midlandacs.org) for all the new ACS programs coming in 2020. Palace Theatre / Contributed photo Stamfords Palace Theatre is hosting An Evening with C.S. Lewis, a one-man show starring David Payne, on Saturday, April 4. The show is set in 1963 and the famed British author Lewis is hosting a group of American writers at his home near Oxford. They are about to experience a captivating evening with a man whose engaging conversation and spontaneous humor made him one of the great raconteurs of his day, the theater says of the production. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Syrias Idlib region to end the humanitarian catastrophe and now also to avoid an uncontrollable escalation, Reuters reports. For almost a year we have seen a series of Syrian government ground offensives supported by Russian airstrikes. This month there have been repeated deadly clashes between Turkish and Syrian Government forces, Guterres said. This man-made humanitarian nightmare for the long-suffering Syrian people must stop. It must stop now, he told reporters in New York. Thousands of dangerous, old and damaged lifejackets have been removed from communities across the country again this summer thanks to Coastguards Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Campaign. The campaign proved to be as popular as ever when it toured the country for ten weeks over summer. In 61 communities across the country Kiwis turned out in droves to upgrade their old, damaged and ill-fitting lifejackets for brand new Hutchwilco models at a discounted price. Old4New Community Ambassador, Sue Tucker, said that even in its sixth year Old4New still generates buzz in communities around the country. Support for Old4New continues to grow. People wait for the campaign each year, not for the discount, but to get boating advice and assistance from Coastguard personnel, says Sue. On Waiheke Island boaties could not get enough of the campaign. We sold over 100 lifejackets in just three hours, we barely came up for air, recalls Sue. Christchurch was similar. When I arrived at the location there was a long line of people queued up ready to upgrade their lifejackets. It was absolutely amazing. Sue Tucker and local boaties in Houhora. Old4New is a vessel of delivery that takes education to the people, encourages safer boating and starts important conversations about preparedness and wearing the right lifejacket for specific types of boating. More Kiwis are now looking to buy fit-for-purpose lifejackets which is a huge shift in the attitudes surrounding lifejacket wearing and use, says Sue. Many of the lifejackets traded in were 40 years or older. Whilst the average age of upgraded lifejackets was worrying, what is even more concerning was that a percentage of those were also filled with kapok a fluffy plant fibre similar to cotton which can absorb water, seriously effecting a lifejackets ability to float and keep the wearer safe in an emergency. If Kiwis could not make it to the van, the Old4New discount was once again honoured in 24 Boating and Outdoors retail stores across New Zealand. Coastguard New Zealand CEO, Callum Gillespie, says the convenience of the campaign has continued to encourage people to make the most of the Old4New upgrade, but there is still a long way to go before Kiwis are making smarter and safer boating choices every time they go out on the water. Whilst we see boaties of all ages making the most of the initiative, this year we saw more men aged between 35- 50. Statistically this is the demographic most likely to get into trouble on the water, so our messages are getting through. However, there is still more to be done, we want to get to a place where wearing your lifejacket when boating is as natural as wearing your seatbelt when driving. Thanks to Coastguards key campaign partners Maritime New Zealand, Hutchwilco, Giltrap Volkswagen and Boating and Outdoors, over 15,000 Kiwis have become safer on the water over the last six years of the Old4New Campaign. Old4New by the numbers: 2,729 new lifejackets 10 weeks 61 van stops 8,970 kms travelled 24 Boating and Outdoors stores Over 15,000 Kiwis safer on the water since 2014 Police Forcefully Break Up Postelection Protest In Azerbaijan 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. INCIDENTS AND THREATS Ukrainian Police Charge Major, Ex-Convict, In RFE/RL Arson Attack Ukraines Prosecutor-Generals Office in Lviv has announced that an underworld criminal and a police major are suspected of collusion in the January 30 arson of a vehicle belonging to RFE/RL correspondent Halyna Tereshchuk. Russian Investigative Journalist, Rights Lawyer Attacked In Grozny Well-known Russian investigative journalist, Yelena Milashina, and human rights lawyer Marina Dubrovina were attacked in Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya on February 6. Milashina, who works for the Moscow-based newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Dubrovina were in the Chechen capital, Grozny, to attend the trial of a well-known blogger, when they were attacked by a group of unknown assailants at a hotel entrance. Chechen Blogger Is Latest Kadyrov Critic To Die Abroad Imran Aliyev, a 44-year-old blogger from Chechnya, was found dead on January 30 in a hotel room in the city of Lille, France. Police have made no arrests but suspect the killing could have a political motive. Known on-air as Mansur Stary, Aliyev regularly produced and published YouTube videos critical of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov since 2007. Ukrainian Security Service Raids On TV Channel Investigative Reporters The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has been targeting TV channel 1+1s investigative journalism program Sekretni Materialy (Secret Documents) ever since it broadcast an audio recording of the prime minister that led him to offer his resignation on January 15 this year. On February 5, the SBU searched the channels headquarters and the homes of journalists belonging to its investigative unit. The SBU claimed to be looking for illegally obtained material, although the journalists insist they obtained the leaked audio recording legally. (In Ukrainian) Latvian President Proposes Law To Reduce Russian Language Digital Content Latvian President Egils Levits has proposed revising a law on electronic media to increase the proportion of television programs broadcast in the official languages of the EU and the Eurozone to 80%. The proposal would have the effect of decreasing Russian-language content by about 20%. The president has said that similar requirements should apply to cable television service providers. Georgian TV Channel's Deputy Director Resigns Due To 'Political Pressure' Natia Zoidze, deputy director of Georgian regional public TV channel Ajara TV, resigned on February 2, as a result of a "political process." She has accused the TV channel's new director, Georgi Kokhreidze, of applying pressure for a change in editorial policies. Reporters Without Borders has stated that the resignation is "indicative of the growing political pressure on state-owned media in Georgia." Tajik Private Broadcasters Instructed To Vet Content With Authorities Tajikistans communications watchdog has instructed private radio and television companies to report about their weekly broadcast plans each Monday. The letters, seen by RFE/RL, warn broadcasters that "measures would be taken" against them if they do not provide their weekly broadcast plans by 8.00 a.m. each Monday. Independent Tajik Journalist Detained On Extremism Charges Independent journalist Daler Sharifov, who often writes about domestic politics and is known for his criticism of Tajik authorities, was detained on February 1 and has been charged with inciting ethnic, racial, and religious hatred. The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to five years. A Dushanbe court denied his lawyers request to release him from custody during the investigation. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called the charges "absurd." Afghan Media Protest Lack Of Access To State-Held Information Thirty Afghan media outlets issued a joint statement on February 4 denouncing the "deterioration" of access to government-related information in the country and the "carelessness" of the government in endangering media freedom in recent years. Iran 'Muzzling' Journalists Ahead Of Parliamentary Elections The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran 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 parliamentary elections on February 21. The group said in a February 11 statement that at least 10 journalists have been targeted by the intelligence arm of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps over the past two weeks. RFE/RL IMPACT CURRENT TIME/CORONAVIRUS: The networks disinformation program Footage Vs. Footage took on Russian state-run medias campaign to present the coronavirus as the brainchild of U.S. President Donald Trump, George Soros, and the CIA. A social video debunking the claims has attracted 672,000 views since February 6 on VKontakte (313,000 views), Facebook (168,000 views), Instagram, Instagram Current Time Asia, and Twitter. One viewer compared the claims to Soviet propaganda, writing, Then as well, everyone was guilty, except for in the USSR. RUSSIA: RFE/RLs Russian Service project Siberia.Realities won two prizes in the all-Russia annual Media Together contest for journalists and bloggers. One award went to a social video about a pensioner in the Kemerovo region who, without spending a ruble, took the initiative to resurface his street. A long-form report about the 1994 crash of an Airbus A310 airliner flying from Moscow to Hong Kong was also recognized. Ivan Golunov, the prominent Russian investigative journalist who was the subject of a fabricated court case last year, headed the jury. AZERBAIJAN: With RFE/RLs Baku bureau forcibly closed by the Azeri government in 2014, the Azerbaijani Service trained amateur journalists to provide user-generated content from their mobile phones to cover the February 9 snap elections. The approach helped fill the information vacuum left by regulations that excluded most traditional journalists from the polling stations. The Services videos received 1.3 million views on Facebook and Instagram. TODAY IS WORLD RADIO DAY: Congratulations to Radio Farda, RFE/RLs Iranian Service, which relies on short wave and web broadcasts to reach over 9% of its 15% audience share in Iran. In 2019, Radio Farda recorded an average of 10.6 million live listening sessions per month and 241.3 million megabytes of live-streamed audio. PRESSROOM: RFE/RL Seeks To Expand In Russia, Despite Foreign Agent Law PRESSROOM: RFE/RLs Bulgaria Service 1 Year Old Hits Ground Running The White House is concerned about the possibility that there could be a large coronavirus outbreak in the United States that could sicken thousands and how that could affect the possibility of President Donald Trump being reelected. The increased concern comes as the World Health Organization is increasingly using more ominous language to refer to the new virus that suggests it is spreading more quickly and widely than previously realized and could be on the verge of reaching a pandemic. Advertisement A pandemic essentially refers to a stage in which epidemics break out in several countriesand even continentsat the same time. The new coronavirus that causes the disease that has been named covid-19 is on the verge of reaching that stage. The CDC is getting ready for that possibility as it prepares for the virus to start spreading much more quickly in the United States. Were not seeing community spread here in the United States, yet, but its very possible, even likely, that it may eventually happen, Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters. Our goal continues to be slowing the introduction of the virus into the U.S. This buys us more time to prepare communities for more cases and possibly sustained spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Health Organization has not officially declared a pandemic yet but makes it sound like its pretty much inevitable. The window of opportunity is still there, but the window of opportunity is narrowing, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday. We need to act quickly before it closes completely. Concern has grown particularly afer three countries have reported that untraceable coronavirus cells have emerged. Doctors have not been able to identify the source of outbreaks in South Korea, Singapore, and Iran. A number of spot fires occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic, said Ian Mackay, a researcher at Australias University of Queensland. Advertisement In South Korea, 229 an additional cases were reported on Saturday, taking the total to 433 with three people dying from the virus. Iran, meanwhile, reported its fifth death from the virus with total cases numbering 28. In Italy, there have been 54 cases with two deaths. What seems particularly concerning about these new numbers is that many of these cases appear to have no direct link to travel to China. For now some 78,000 cases have been reported around the world across 29 countries and more than 2,300 have died. The WHO is particularly concerned about how quickly the virus could spread in countries with weak health systems, particularly in Africa. Advertisement In the White House, meanwhile, there is increased concern about what a pandemic could mean for the presidents chances of reelection. The biggest current threat to the presidents reelection is this thing getting out of control and creating a health and economic impact, said Chris Meekins, a Raymond James financial analyst. For now, only 34 cases have been confirmed in the United States, but that is a number everyone expects will grow. Even if the United States is spared from a huge outbreak though, the virus could still translate into economic risks since a pandemic could slow global markets and upend a strong U.S. economy that has been central to Trumps political pitch, notes Politico. The high court also directed the special court to complete the trial within a period of ten months. Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday refused permission to three women doctors accused of abetting the suicide of their junior colleague Payal Tadvi to complete their post graduation at BYL Nair Hospital. Justice Sadhana Jadhav noted that the three doctors Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehare and Ankita Khandelwal are graduates and can pursue post graduation after trial in the case is complete. The high court also directed the special court to complete the trial within a period of ten months. The court was on Friday informed by special public prosecutor Raja Thakare and head of Nair Hospital gynaecology department Ganesh Shinde that the staff and other junior doctors are sceptical and not comfortable with the return of the three doctors to the hospital. There is hostility. Today if accused doctors are allowed to go back to the same college, then a wrong message will be sent that no matter what you do, you will face the heat only for a few months, Mr Thakare said. Replying to a suggestion made by the accused doctors counsel Aabad Ponda that the trio could be shifted to another unit of the gynaecology department, Mr Thakare said it would not be possible, as the staff, who are important witnesses in the case, are the same across all units. Justice Jadhav accepted this statement and said permission to enter the Nair hospital premises to complete post graduation course cannot be granted and disposed of the trios petition. The high court had, in August 2019, while granting bail to the three doctors, directed them to not enter the civic-run BYL Nair hospital where the incident took place and had also suspended their medical licence till the end of the trial. Payal Tadvi, a second-year postgraduate medical student attached to BYL Nair Hospital, had committed suicide on May 22, 2019 inside her hostel room in the hospital premises. Tadvi in her suicide note held the three senior women doctors responsible for her condition and for harassing her. On May 29, 2019, the police arrested the three under IPC sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 201 (destruction of evidence) and provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Big changes to the way Pennsylvania has conducted elections and counted ballots for many decades are underway in county election offices throughout the commonwealth. Those changes are the result of a historic election reform bill signed into law last fall that was designed by state lawmakers to increase access to the ballot box. The new law, in effect now for the primary on April 28, allows registered voters to cast ballots from the convenience of their home in every election without having to provide an excuse as to why they cant make it to the polls on Election Day; allows people to register to vote as late as 15 days before an election; and allows voters to submit their mail-in or absentee ballot until the day of the election. Supporters say the changes will improve voter turnout across the state. List of changes Permanent absentee ballot list Before: Voters could qualify for an absentee ballot only if one the following would keep them from the polls for a primary or general election: an illness or physical disability, duties related to elections or the celebration of a religious holiday. Now: Those rules are still in place. But voters will now be able to request absentee ballots for all primary, general and special elections held in a given year, creating a permanent list. No-excuse mail-in voting Before: There were no alternatives for voters who failed to meet the requirement for an absentee ballot but found it difficult to get to the polls on Election Day. Now: The law created a new option to vote by mail without providing an excuse. And voters will be able to request mail-in ballots for all primary, general and special elections held in a given year, creating a permanent list. Pennsylvania joins 31 other states with mail-in voting that removes barriers to voting this way. Extended mail-in and absentee submission deadlines Before: Pennsylvania had the distinction of having the earliest deadline in the country for voters to submit absentee ballots, requiring them to arrive by the Friday before an election to be counted. Now: Voters can submit mail-in and absentee ballots until 8 p.m. on Election Day. 15 more days to register Before: Pennsylvanians had to register to vote by 30 days before an election. Now: The deadline to register to vote is 15 days before an election. The more flexible deadline provides more time to register to vote than 24 other states. Montco preparedness For Montgomery County, preparation for the upcoming primary and general elections is key, county election officials say. Lee Soltysiak, the countys chief operating officer, said the commissioners allocated funding in a budget passed in December 2019 to hire 16 employees for the voter services department. There would be one full-time employee and 15 other part-time employees specifically for the 2020 election season, he said. Were doubling the size of the office for whats expected to be a lot of volume, Soltysiak said. In addition to increasing personnel, the county will have more staff and resources to account for the anticipated amount. Expect the numbers of mail-in ballots to be significant, he said. We will have additional folks on hand compared to years past for the handling and the opening of those ballots, Soltysiak said. Well be investing in high speed commercial letter openers to get those letters opened as quickly as possible. And also additional high speed scanners to actually scan and tabulate the vote. When asked if the volume could be overwhelming, Soltysiak replied, Not if we plan for it. These changes were made just this year, but I think weve got the time to put in place what we need to be prepared to accept those ballots and to count them in an orderly fashion. Soltysiak emphasized that absentee ballot policies are still in effect, but the mail-in ballot is another option. Absentee balloting will still exist going forward, and if you qualify for an absentee ballot you should apply for an absentee ballot, he said. There is also a voting practice specific to Montgomery County: voter marked paper ballots. The system was in use at polling places for the past two elections, according to Soltysiak, but its something that not all voters are accustomed to. The majority of the people showing up on election day this year will be experiencing our new voter marked paper ballot system for the first time, he said. Additionally, voters will be able to complete and submit their applications for mail-in or absentee ballots at the voter services departments office beginning in mid-March, according to John Marlatt, solicitor for the countys election board. The office is located in Suite 602 of One Montgomery Plaza on 425 Swede St. in Norristown. Marlatt said this option will be available during normal business hours. He added county officials also plan to hold extended hours for voters as we get closer to the election. The extended hours for weekends are as followed: 9 a.m. to noon on April 4 1-4 p.m. on April 5 9 a.m. to noon on April 18 1-4 p.m. on April 19 Marlatt added the office will also be open until 7 p.m. on April 14 and April 16. Soltysiak also encouraged prospective voters to complete forms online and to get informed about the various new voting policies and resources on the county voter services department website. For more information, visit www.montcopa.org/753/Voter-Services. Karen Shuey, kshuey@readingeagle.com contributed to this report. Earlier this month, the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba named Greg Crisanti as its next president, replacing outgoing president Brent Miller. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Earlier this month, the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba named Greg Crisanti as its next president, replacing outgoing president Brent Miller. "Im thrilled and honoured," Crisanti told the Sun over the phone on Friday. "Its a huge privilege for me to be on the list as one of the presidents." Greg Crisanti, incoming president of the Manitoba Provincial Exhibition, with his family during the 2019 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon. (Courtesy of Crisanti's Twitter account) The Provincial Exhibition runs several annual events including the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, the Manitoba Summer Fair and the Manitoba Ag Ex. Crisanti, a local businessman who co-owns several Tim Hortons franchises in Westman with Rhonda Pardy, has been involved with the exhibitions board of directors for approximately eight years. However, his connection to the exhibition runs deeper than that, having grown up in Brandon. Of all the events the exhibition puts on, the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is closest to his heart. "My father was the trade show vendor so of course. ... I spent every spring break for as far back as I can remember roaming the halls of the Keystone Centre," Crisanti said. "My grandfather was a long-time sponsor as well as a director on the Provincial Ex. He sponsored the Canadian Tire six-horse team, so myself as well as my cousins and my sister, we always did the victory lap with my grandpa." As part of his work with Tim Hortons locally, Crisanti has arranged for the business to sponsor that very same event. "Im thrilled to be able to bring my children out with me and hopefully one day pass it on to them." During Crisantis term, the Winter Fair will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II giving it royal designation. This years Winter Fair runs from March 30 to April 4. He said that his priorities during his term are to increase traffic to the fairs and keep them financially viable. "Were going to keep doing what we do best and put smiles on faces during events," he said. Crisanti hinted that the organization is looking into bringing another event to Brandon to bring in more money, but said he couldnt divulge specifics at this time. The first big event of his tenure was the annual Presidents Dinner on Thursday, which serves as a fundraiser for the organization. This years dinner had a bit of extra excitement added to it by a visit from the Grey Cup during the Winnipeg Blue Bombers trip to Brandon this week. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh told the state assembly Friday that his government was considering legalizing cannabis (ganja) plantation. The Chief Minister was responding to a question on the legalisation of the cannabis plantation by opposition congress MLA Khumukcham Joykishan who represents Thangmeiband assembly constituency during the question and answer session of the ongoing assembly on Friday. The main purpose of the legalisation will be solely for medicinal and industrial purposes besides earning revenue even if it was implemented in the state, Singh said. The government, however, will not take any hasty decisions in this matter, and will carefully check the merits and demerits before coming to a conclusion, he said. The government is also studying the relevant reports from other states, the CM added. On questions relating to action taken against poppy plantation, Biren Singh said that 1952 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in seven districts of the state were destroyed between September 2019 and February 16, 2020 jointly by the police and other agencies. Thirty two cases have also been registered in this connection, he said. At the same time, the government is also planning to address the issue of illegal poppy plantation in the state by providing alternative livelihood to the needy villagers, he said and sought support and cooperation from the members of the legislative assembly. Joykishan also urged the Chief Minister to also include those involved in selling local liquor too in the government program. The CM had mooted the idea of legalising of cannabi plantation at a press conference in September last year for medicinal and industrial purposes and also to boost the states revenue. He had then said that the states tax revenue has steeply increased from 587 crore in 2016-17 to more than 1000 crore in 2018-19. We stay motivated because of Netanyahu, said Topaz Luk, the prime ministers head media adviser and strategist, explaining how the prime ministers campaign and information advisers have kept on through multiple rounds of elections. He is an energy bomb and always wants to find new ways to tell the story. The Israeli media does not present his achievements, so we use social media to show what he has been doing, and we are always finding new and creative ways to tell the story. A: Virtually all sellers when they decide to put a property on the market hope for the highest attainable price, ideally from the result of multiple bids. Effective marketing and correct pricing are key components of a successful sales strategy. Choosing the right Realtor is the first step. Make sure that your Realtor is knowledgeable and keeps your best interests at heart. I make it a point of personally doing all the open houses and showings for my clients because I am the top cheerleader for their property. Avoid overpricing your property. An experienced Realtor can estimate an accurate value for your home based on comparables and market trends. Realtors who are tempted to inflate the listing price in order to secure the listing do a disservice to the seller and seldom achieve the best price outcome. Listing a property through the Multiple Listing Service is highly recommended because it exposes a property to all Realtors in the area and potential buyers, thus enhancing the chances of receiving multiple bids. In the last few years, savvy buyers increasingly are using the internet to review properties. A clean and attractively staged home shows effectively in photos/videos and sells well. You also want potential buyers to feel at home and imagine living in the property when touring. Selling a home should be a partnership between the seller and the Realtor. It is my endeavor as a Realtor to attract many qualified buyers who competitively bid for the property. Grazia Bennett, Sothebys International Realty, 415-823-5515, grazia.bennett@sothebyshomes.com. A: Maximum opportunity for multiple offers requires maximum exposure and a home presented in its most advantageous way. Youve heard the saying You must spend money to make money. It is often true, so hire an experienced Realtor to market your home. Theyll expose it through a variety of avenues like traditional newspaper and magazine ads, open homes and broker tours, as well as internet sites like HomeSnap, Realtor.com, FACEBOOK and Instagram. Realtors also have extensive networking channels marketing to specific agents with clients searching for a home like yours. Staging costs money yet provides a substantial return in most cases. Prior to staging one of my San Francisco listings, an agent showed it to buyers who werent interested. Admittedly, the home looked dated. The sellers agreed to stage for less than $7,500. These same buyers came back and immediately fell in love with the home. They ended up paying $125,000 more than they could have bought the property for prior to staging. This was definitely a great return on investment for the sellers. The true adage is Spend money WELL to make money. Jill Gumina, Compass, 415-265-1717, jkgumina@gmail.com. A: Maximizing value when selling a home comes down to preparation and exposure Bay Area homebuyers are busy and will pay a premium for a move-in ready home. While painting inside and out and refinishing hardwood floors goes a long way, it can be prudent to renovate bathrooms and kitchen. Once renovations are complete and the property is appropriately staged its time for photo and video. Investing in top notch photos and video are essential. Next your Realtor must tastefully market your home across different mediums. This includes marketing to local real estate agents, through direct mail and print, but most importantly on major online web portals and social media platforms. Cast the widest net for potential buyers as a high number of offers often correlates with the highest potential selling price. For an expanded version of this article including our extensive marketing plan visit www.ratooshgroup.com/blog Devin Ratoosh, Ratoosh Group East Bay, 510-919-5499, devin@ratoosh.com. LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of people including Roger Waters, co-founder of the Pink Floyd rock group, and designer Vivienne Westwood, marched through central London on Saturday demanding that jailed Wikileaks founder Julian Assange be released. A London court begins hearings on Monday to decide whether the Australian-born Assange should be extradited to the United States, almost a decade after WikiLeaks enraged Washington by publishing secret U.S. documents. The 48-year-old, who spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's London embassy before being dragged out last April, is wanted by the U.S. on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law and could spend decades in prison if convicted. A hero to admirers who say he has exposed abuses of power, Assange is cast by critics as a dangerous enemy of the state who has undermined Western security. He says the extradition is politically motivated by those embarrassed by his revelations. Waving placards declaring "Journalism is not a crime" and "The truth will set you free", the protesters on Saturday marched from Australia House to Parliament Square where they were addressed by Assange's father, John Shipton. Shipton has said Assange's long confinement indoors has damaged his health and fears that sending his son to the United States would be akin to a death sentence. On Thursday, Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, said Assange should not be extradited because it would have a chilling effect on press freedom. On Friday, Assange lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti told Europe 1 radio that Assange's legal team would be in contact with French President Emmanuel Macron to make the case for Assange to get asylum in France. Assange has said his youngest child and the child's mother are French but a previous asylum request was rejected by France in 2015. Hopes briefly rose among Assange's supporters this week on reports that he might even get a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. Story continues But the White House was quick to deny that Trump had offered to pardon Assange if he were to say that the Russians were not involved in an email leak that damaged Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign against Trump. The extradition hearings at Woolwich Crown Court will be held in two parts, with the second section not starting until May to allow both sides more time to gather evidence. (Reporting by Stephen Addison; Editing by Ros Russell) Disinfection workers wearing protective gears spray anti-septic solution against the coronavirus (COVID-19) at the subway station on February 21, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images Global coronavirus cases are spiking and the World Health Organization warned that "the window of opportunity is narrowing" to contain the deadly coronavirus. South Korea admitted it failed to stop the virus coming into the country. It now says it is trying to contain the virus. South Korea now has more than 430 cases compared to 156 on Friday, while Iran reported four deaths and countries like Israel and Lebanon are reporting their first cases. Chinese researchers have also confirmed that people can spread the virus without showing any symptoms. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The World Health Organization warned that "the window of opportunity is narrowing" to contain the deadly coronavirus that originated in China as cases in other countries soar. The virus first originated in the city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, and has gone on to kill at least 2,360 people and infect more than 77,700 people around the world. It has also spread to at least 30 other countries, though the vast majority of cases and deaths have remained in mainland China. But some other countries reported soars in the number of cases at the end of this week, particularly in South Korea, where cases ballooned over four days, making it the country outside of China with the most cases. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that there was still a chance to contain the coronavirus, but said "but the window of opportunity is narrowing." He said: "We must not look back and regret that we failed to take advantage of the window of opportunity we have." Workers in protective gear spray an anti-septic solution to fight the coronavirus in a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, on February 21, 2020. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images He said: "This outbreak could go in any direction." "If we do well, we can avert any serious crisis, but if we squander the opportunity then we will have a serious problem on our hands." As of Saturday morning, 15 deaths and more than 1,500 cases of infection had been recorded outside of China. Story continues South Korea recorded a total of 433 confirmed cases as of the end of Friday, rising by 229 in just one day. Two people with the coronavirus have now died in South Korea, and the country on Friday accepted that its efforts to stop the deadly coronavirus from taking hold in the country had failed. It said it would switch its strategy to containment. The government has taken steps including urging the 2.5 million people in the city Daegu to stay in their homes and banning some public gatherings. Officials are testing more than 9,000 of a religious groups at the heart of one of the outbreaks in South Korea, meaning the number of infected could climb much higher. A member of a medical team takes a the temperature of Iraqi at the Shalamjah border crossing between Iran and Iraq on February 21, 2020. Hussein FALEH / AFP) (Photo by HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images And four people have now died of the coronavirus in Iran, where health authorities say it has spread to multiple cities. Italy also reported its first death from the virus on Friday, while Israel and Lebanon both confirmed their first cases on Friday. Cases have now been recorded across Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. China locked down millions of people by imposing quarantine measures on cities, and imposed travel restrictions on more than 700 million people in its bid to stop the virus spread. Some airlines have cancelled flights to parts of China, while airports around the world imposed screening and quarantine measures to try and stop the virus spreading. Chinese researchers have also now confirmed that people can spread the virus without showing any symptoms. A woman who had clear CT scans but no symptoms passed the virus to five of her relatives. Read the original article on Business Insider STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A man tried to swap a bogus Georgia drivers license for a valid New York license at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Travis, authorities allege. Florencio Cortes-Rios, 33, of Union Avenue, Mariners Harbor, was arrested on Feb. 12 in connection with the incident on Feb. 6 at about 10 a.m. at the DMV office at 1775 South Ave., according to the criminal complaint and police. A DMV employee spotted the fake license and an investigator from the DMV participated in the probe, police say. Flaws in the counterfeit license were that the coloration of the ghost image was wrong, the hologram was missing and words were misspelled, on the back of the license, the complaint states. The license number was not on record when authorities ran it through a computer verification program, according to the complaint. The suspect allegedly admitted through a Spanish interpreter that he paid $1,200 for the Georgia license, even though he didnt take a written or road test to qualify for that form of identification. I am desperate for work, the complaint quotes Cortes-Rios as saying. Cortes-Rios has been charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, offering a false instrument for filing, making a punishable false written statement and falsifying business records. He is out on supervised release and is due back in Criminal Court on April 14, according to public records. An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Met Eireann has issued a weather warning for heavy rain for Sunday evening and into Monday for most of Ireland. The yellow rainfall warning is for Longford, Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare and Tipperary. Also read: Cannabis grow house and 23,000 worth of other drugs discovered during Arva bust Rain on Sunday night into Monday morning will lead to accumulations of between 20 to 25mm quite widely, with higher totals possible in upland areas. According to Met Eireann, the rain is likely to be preceded by a period of snow in parts of Connacht, Ulster and north Leinster, before turning to rain later in the night. As the ground is saturated at the moment and river levels are elevated the combined effect of rainfall and snow melt may lead to some localised surface and river flooding. The warning is in place from 8pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday. Also read: Two people have died following fatal road traffic collisions The weather forecast for Saturday for Ireland from Met Eireann is for a mix of bright spells and scattered blustery showers today. Some of the showers will be heavy with hail and risk of thunder, with some sleet possible in northern parts of the country. Daytime highs will range 4 to 7 degrees generally, but reaching 8 or 9 degrees near the south coast. Winds will be fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest, with gales or strong gales on north and northwest coasts. Cloud will thicken countrywide this afternoon. According to Met Eireann, outbreaks of rain will push into the southwest this evening, spreading countrywide tonight. Some persistent, and at times, heavy falls, will occur through parts of Munster and south Leinster overnight, with accumulations leading to local spot flooding in these areas. Minima will range plus 1 and plus 3 degrees in the north to between 4 to 7 degrees further south. Southwest winds will ease and back southerly before falling light over much of the country, however a strong and gusty westerly wind will affect southwest Munster and the south coast. Also read: Longford mum tells of massive help Jack & Jill have been to her and three-year-old daughter The weather forecast for Sunday for Ireland from Met Eireann is for a damp or wet start to the day. This will soon give way to sunny spells and scattered showers extending from southwest during the morning. Becoming largely dry for a time during the afternoon, before cloud thickens from the southwest once again on Sunday evening, bringing outbreaks of rain. Highs of 5 and 7 degrees, generally, but 8 or 9 near the south coast. Gusty northwest winds at first, will ease and back southeast in the evening. On Sunday night rain will become widespread, falling as sleet and snow in the north initially but turning to rain as the night goes on. Temperatures will be as low as zero or plus 1 degrees in the early part of the night in the north, but will rise to 10 or 11 degrees through the night as strengthening southeast winds veer southwest and bring milder air over the country. Also read: Torrential rainfall and flooding forces postponement of Longford parkrun Rain will clear early on Monday morning with showers following. The westerly winds will be very strong through Ulster with showers there turning wintry. The strong southwest to west winds will gradually ease by Monday evening. Day time temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees early on will fall quickly through the afternoon and will bottom out at plus 1 or 2 degrees overnight Monday night. Status Yellow - Rainfall Warning for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare and Tipperary More information here: https://t.co/juduxcKda8 pic.twitter.com/VuHqMqiqDB Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 22, 2020 To meet shortage of skilled nursing staff, private hospitals in South Africa are recruiting senior Indian nurses for their good work ethics and ability to become efficient trainers for the local staff, according to a media report. A report at a 2018 jobs summit indicated that the country had a shortage of more than 47,000 nurses. The shortage of the skilled nursing staff has been attributed to several factors, including preference of highly qualified nurses to emigrate or take up contract employment in countries such as the UK, the United Aarb Emirates, Saudi Arabia or New Zealand for want of higher salaries, a report in the weekly Business Times said. Mediclinic, one of South Africa's largest private hospital groups, confirmed that it is recruiting 150 nurses from India this year. To supplement our training, as an internal strategy, we will continue to recruit senior registered nurses from India, a Mediclinic spokesperson told the Business Times. Mediclinic started recruiting nurses from India in 2005 but could not provide details about how many among the more than 8,800 nurses it employs at its hospitals are from India. Another company, Life Healthcare SA, said it employed 135 Indian nurses between 2008 and 2014. Top managements at the hospital groups lauded senior Indian nurses as being very efficient trainers for local staff. But we find that many of them prefer coming here on short-term contracts due to family commitments," a hospital executive said on the basis of anonymity. The official said that the few who apply for long-term positions are usually young newly-qualified nurses, which is not the group in demand. They work hard, with a patient-oriented work ethic, and do not have the nine-to-five approach of many local nurses, especially those who are unionised," the official said. We would be very happy to take in more nursing staff from India," the official added. In order to further ease out the shortage, a new general nursing qualification is expected to start this year when the first group qualifies after a four-year university degree. An initiative between the Hospital Association of South Africa and Business Unity South Africa to train 50,000 nurses over the next eight years is also in the pipeline. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 21, 2020] The Smart Lighting Industry to 2026 - Key Players are Acuity Brands, Cisco Systems, Cree, Eaton, Deco Lighting, Dialight, General Electric, Honeywell Int'l, Koninklijke Philips, and Syska DUBLIN, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Smart Lighting Market by Offering, Connectivity, Technology, Lighting, Technology, and Industry Vertical: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report projects that the global smart lighting market size is estimated to reach $38.68 billion by 2026. In 2019, North America dominated the market, contributing more than a 33% share of the overall revenue, followed by Europe. Emerging advancements in smart lighting; rapid adoption of residential, commercial, and industrial automation; and rise in penetration of smart infrastructure fuel the global smart lighting market growth. Smart lighting is designed to manage luminance remotely. It ensures energy efficiency and includes automated controls and highly efficient fixtures that can adjust depending on conditions, such as occupancy and external lighting. Lighting is an intentional use of light to add practical and aesthetic effect to a space. Furthermore, these systems include general, accent, and task lighting. Besides this, smart lighting systems ensure lower energy usage and high cost savings. Recent years have witnessed fast adoption of Zigbee wireless technology in the IoT market. Most smart devices used for residential and commercial purposes are equipped with Zigbee technology. It offers consumers easy-to-use control over installed LED light bulbs, LED fixtures, switches, and remotes, which creates lucrative smart lighting market opportunity globally. According to smart lighting market, DALI has a major adoption in buildings as it provides manufacturers with reliable low-cost solutions. In addition, benefits of reconfiguration, switching of individual lights as per the need ofillumination, and other remote access features drives the demand for DALI system in large space premises. Among various regions, North America was the highest revenue generator in 2018 and maintain its dominance in the future. This is attributed to the rise in adoption of automation, which creates lucrative opportunities for smart lighting market forecast. Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the fastest rate throughout the smart lighting market analysis period, China in this region witnessed the highest demand for smart lighting in 2018, due to wide adoption of autonomous infrastructure and stringent government regulations associated with sustainable development. Moreover, enhancement in industrial autonomy and increase in expenditure in emerging markets such as Latin America and the Middle East to meet the demand for exponentially growing economies in these countries have strengthened the smart lighting market. The smart lighting market is segmented on the basis of offering, connectivity technology, lighting technology, application, and industrial vertical. On the basis of offering, it is bifurcated into hardware and software. By connectivity technology, it is categorized into Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi, and DALI. On the basis of lighting technology, it is classified into LED, halogen, incandescent, Fluorescent, and CFL. The applications covered in the study includes indoor and outdoor lighting. By industrial vertical it is divided into commercial, residential, industrial, automotive and others. Region wise, it is analyzed as North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , and LAMEA. Market Dynamics Drivers Growing Demand of Street Lighting System Increasing Need for Energy-Efficient Lighting System High Penetration of LED Bulbs & Lightnings Globally Restraints High Installation and Maintenance Cost in Smart Lightning System Opportunities Emergence of IoT & AI Technology for Smart Lightning Growing Developments in Smart City Projects, Especially in APAC Key Findings The DALI segment accounted for the highest smart lighting market in 2018, with $2,075.59 million , growing at a CAGR of 15%, from 2019 to 2026. , growing at a CAGR of 15%, from 2019 to 2026. The automotive industry generated the highest revenue, accounting for $1,398.08 million in 2018. in 2018. Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the smart lighting market share, garnering 23.7% of the total share during the forecast period. is expected to dominate the smart lighting market share, garnering 23.7% of the total share during the forecast period. Key players analyzed in the report for smart lighting industry are Acuity Brands, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Cree, Inc., Eaton, Deco Lighting, Inc., Dialight, General Electric, Honeywell International Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V. and Syska. The key players adopted various key strategies such as product launch, collaboration, partnership, acquisition, and agreements to drive the market. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/glwan9 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 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-smart-lighting-industry-to-2026---key-players-are-acuity-brands-cisco-systems-cree-eaton-deco-lighting-dialight-general-electric-honeywell-intl-koninklijke-philips-and-syska-301009218.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Saturday said that freedom is a precious gift that must be treated with great reverence and a great sense of responsibility. "It is our sacred duty to ensure that names of heroes and their memory are not lost or dulled with the passage of time. Freedom is a precious gift that you must treat with great reverence, respect and a great sense of responsibility," the Navy Chief said here. Earlier, Admiral Karambir Singh laid wreath to pay homage to martyrs at Shaheed Smarak in Sector 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) District Magistrate (DM) Devendra Pandey was suspended on Saturday for alleged irregularities in grants meant for the schools in the district. "In the investigation of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner, Devendra Kumar Pandey, District Magistrate, Unnao has been found guilty prima facie for irregularities. He is suspended as per All India Services (Discipline and Appeal), rules 1969," as per an official order. As per the order, Pandey is accused of deviating the compulsory works issued by the State Project Council. He is also accused of removing the mandatory tasks set by the state project council. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was arrested in Handwara of north Kashmirs Kupwara district on Friday for spreading rumours on social media, police have said. This comes two days after the arrest of a man in Srinagar who had uploaded photographs on Facebook last year falsely accusing security forces of vandalism in Kupwara district. Handwaras superintendent of police, GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, said they have arrested Waseem Majeed Dar, a resident of Waskura in Handwara. A police spokesperson said Dar was arrested after they received information that some youth are circulating fake news and spreading rumours and hatred through social media platforms. On the receipt of this information, case FIR 25/20 U/s 153-153A/505 RPC was registered and an investigation was taken up at Police Station Handwara. After strenuous efforts the culprit namely Waseem Majeed was apprehended, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also appealed people not to pay heed to the rumours and fake news and not to fall prey to the propaganda of such elements inimical to peace. Police are committed to taking strict legal action against the rumour-mongers and any person spreading hatred among various sections of the society, he said. Imtiyaz Ahmad Kawa, a resident of Saida Kadal in Srinagar city, was arrested on Thursday for rumour-mongering by Kupwara Police from his home. Kupwaras senior superintendent of police, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, said Kawa had uploaded a false Facebook post last year alleging security forces had damaged property worth lakhs of rupees in Kupwara. The arrests come amid police apprehensions that trouble makers were going around the ban imposed on the use of social media sites to fan trouble in the region. On Monday, Jammu and Kashmirs cyber police station had registered a general FIR for the alleged misuse of social media platforms using virtual private networks (VPNs). Social media has been banned in Jammu and Kashmir after low-speed mobile internet was restored on January 25 more than five months following curbs on communication were placed following the revocation of J-Ks special status and its bifurcation on August 5. Director general of police, Dilbag Singh, had said on Wednesday that those using VPNs for misuse of social media were being apprehended. Kashmirs inspector general of police, Vijay Kumar, also said that many were using social media to flare up trouble. Some miscreants are spreading rumours, instigating people and some are even facilitating militants to throw grenades and (open) fire at particular places. We have proof of that, Kumar had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Kwara State Government has announced that commercial motorcyclists in the state (okada riders) would begin the payment of road tax and use of identity cards with barcodes. The state commissioner for works, Suleiman Rotimi, stated this in a statement on Saturday, after a meeting with relevant outfits on Thursday. In the statement, he said all factions of Okada unions in the state would henceforth wear a single uniform. Mr Rotimi explained that the new single uniform is to beef up security in the state and screen out unscrupulous elements who use okada to perpetrate criminal acts. He added that the government would introduce identity cards with barcodes for riders in the state. The commissioner mentioned that as part of the strategy to improve security, a censor of all Okada riders would be conducted and population of registered Okada riders would be ascertained. Equally, the commissioner stresses the need for road tax payment and urged the riders to fashion out a realistic amount and mode of collection, the statement partly read. Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reporting the meeting of Thursday, noted that the permanent secretary in the ministry, Yusuf Manjo, commended the joint motorcycle union for accepting the proposal for introduction of a single uniform, stickers, IDs/bar codes. Mr Manjo reportedly assured that necessary mechanism would be set in motion to make the proposal a reality within the shortest possible time. He urged them to embrace the proposed road tax as highlighted by the commissioner. Lagos State, also in the South-west, recently banned the operations of okada and keke (tricycle) operators due to security concerns. This led to a conflict between the authorities and residents that has since abated. On Feb. 25, six Democratic presidential candidates are expected to take the stage in Charleston, South Carolina: Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. These candidates have proposed reforms to Social Security, taxes and campaign fundraising laws, but despite belonging to the same party their ideas about these three pressing financial topics dont always align. Heres exactly what each of these candidates is proposing and what theyve said about their opponents plans. Last updated: Feb. 21, 2020 Social Security As it stands, the Social Security program is set to face a funding shortfall by 2035, CNBC reported. The House Democrats are currently pushing for reform through the Social Security 2100 Act, but many of the presidential candidates have their own ideas for how to fix the program before it runs out of funds. Joe Biden Biden has outlined a Biden Plan that includes a number of action items to preserve and strengthen Social Security. His plan calls for the following: Increase taxes on the wealthy to put Social Security on a path to long-run solvency Keep Social Security public Provide a higher monthly benefit for older Americans who have been receiving retirement benefits for at least 20 years Provide Americans who have spent 30 years working with a benefit of at least 125% of the poverty level Protect widows and widowers from steep cuts in benefits by allowing the surviving spouse to keep a higher share of the benefits Eliminate penalties for teachers and other public-sector workers Mike Bloomberg Bloomberg has proposed introducing a new minimum benefit in Social Security. He also wants to provide a government-backed savings plan that has low fees and also provides a matching contribution for low-income workers. Pete Buttigieg Buttigieg has proposed working with Congress to automatically adjust tax rates for high earners to protect Social Security in perpetuity. He has also proposed increasing Social Security benefits and counting years spent caring for a child, elderly or disabled dependent toward Social Security benefits. Story continues Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar wants to extend the solvency of Social Security by lifting the Social Security payroll cap from $133,000 to $250,000. She also proposes strengthening and improving Social Security benefits for widows and caregivers. When Social Security Runs Out: What the Program Will Look Like in 2035 Bernie Sanders Sanders hasnt specifically called out any of his fellow Democratic candidates on their Social Security proposals, but he has criticized the Republican party. My Republican colleagues want to cut Social Security, but we have some bad news for them. Were not going to cut Social Security benefits. Were going to expand them, he states on his official campaign website. Sanders Social Security plan involves applying the payroll tax on all income over $250,000 to accomplish four main goals: Ensuring Social Security remains funded for the next 52 years Expanding all benefits, including a $1,300-a-year benefit for seniors with an annual income of $16,000 or less Increasing the minimum benefits paid to low-income workers when they retire Establishing a Consumer Price Index for the Elderly to ensure that cost-of-living adjustments keep up with the rise in costs of healthcare and prescription drugs Elizabeth Warren Warren has announced a plan to provide the biggest and most progressive increase in Social Security benefits in nearly half a century. She wants to increase benefits immediately by $200 a month, and specifically increase benefits for lower-income families, women, people with disabilities, public-sector workers and people of color. Warren said she will finance these changes by increasing mandated Social Security contributions for the top 2% of earners. Taxes Tax policies proposed by the Democratic presidential candidates include raising taxes on the wealthy and eliminating subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. Here are the tax plans outlined by each of the six candidates who are expected to be a part of the Feb. 25 debate. Joe Biden Biden unveiled his tax plan in December 2019, proposing a $3.2 trillion increase in taxes which is less than the increases proposed by his fellow candidates, Politico reported. His plan includes raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, placing a minimum tax on companies pretax income, sanctioning countries that facilitate tax avoidance to curb the ability of corporations to shift their profits offshore, and doubling the global minimum tax on offshore corporate income from 10.5% to 21%. He proposes raising the highest individual income tax rate from 37% to 39.6%, taxing capital gains and dividends at the same rate as ordinary income for those earning at least seven figures and capping tax breaks for the wealthy at 28%. Bidens camp said he unveiled his plan to be transparent with voters about how he would pay for his policies to fight climate change and expand access to healthcare and education. He has accused his rivals of lacking transparency about how they would pay for their proposed policy changes. Mike Bloomberg Bloomberg believes that the current U.S. tax system isnt fair, and he has outlined a plan that he said would make taxes simple and more equitable. His tax plan calls for the following: Reversing Trumps tax cut on high-income earners and raising the top rate back to 39.6% Imposing a new 5% surtax on incomes above $5 million Taxing capital gains at the same rate as ordinary income for taxpayers above $1 million Introducing new measures to prevent tax avoidance Closing loopholes like the pass-through 20% deduction and the like-kind provision Raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% Tightening restrictions on the use of tax havens Although Bloomberg believes in raising taxes on high-income earners, he spoke out against Warrens proposed wealth tax during the Feb. 19 debate: I disagree with the senator on the wealth tax but I do agree with her that the rich arent paying their fair share, he said. We should raise taxes on the rich. I did that as mayor in New York City. Pete Buttigieg At the December 2019 debate, Buttigieg called out Warrens wealth tax proposal for being extreme, The Hill reported. Were being offered a false choice: You either go all the way to the extreme, or its business as usual, he said. Yes, taxes on individuals and on corporations are going to have to go up. We can also be smart about the promises were making, make sure theyre promises we can keep without the kind of taxation economists tell us would hurt the economy. Buttigiegs campaign told the IndyStar that he plans to raise $2.1 trillion by reforming the capital gains tax on the top 1% of earnings and an additional $2.2 trillion by eliminating tax cuts and reforms implemented by President Donald Trump that benefit the wealthy. Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar supports an increase in the capital gains tax rates, wants to raise corporate taxes but keep rates lower than before 2017, plans to expand the earned income tax credit and supports increasing existing taxes on high-income earners, Politico reported. She also wants to implement tax credits to help retrain workers who lose their jobs to automation, AP reported. Bernie Sanders At the debate on Feb. 7, Sanders said, The way you bring people together is to make it clear that were not going to give tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations; theyre going to start paying their fair share of taxes. Sanders has outlined a tax plan to help ease income inequality. He would increase corporate taxes based on the companys compensation ratio between the CEO and the median worker. Under this plan, corporate taxes on every private and publicly held corporation with annual revenue of more than $100 million would rise between 0.5% and 5%. Sanders also wants to establish an annual tax on the extremely wealthy those with a net worth of $32 million or more. In addition, he wants to implement a plan to ensure the wealthy are paying their fair share of taxes. This plan includes: The For the 99.8 Percent Act to establish a progressive estate tax on multimillionaire and billionaire inheritances The Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act to eliminate offshore tax scams The Inclusive Prosperity Act to tax Wall Street speculators The Social Security Expansion Act to eliminate the income cap on Social Security payroll taxes Ending special tax breaks on capital gains and dividends for the 1% Increasing the tax rate on income above $10 million Elizabeth Warren During the Feb. 7 debate, Warren said, Let me tell you just one of the things we can do with a two-cent wealth tax. We can cancel student loan debt for 43 million Americans, and because African Americans have to borrow more money to go to college, borrow more money while theyre in college and have a harder time paying it back when they get out, that one law is going to help close the black-white wealth gap for people with student loans by about 20 points. Warren proposes implementing an Ultra-Millionaire Tax that would apply to households with a net worth of $50 million or more. The new tax would require households to pay an annual 2% tax on every dollar of net worth above $50 million and a 6% tax on every dollar of net worth above $1 billion. She also proposes an Excessive Lobbying Tax that will apply to corporations and trade organizations that spend over $500,000 per year lobbying the U.S. government and a Real Corporate Profits Tax that would implement a 7% tax on every dollar of profit above $100 million that a corporation earns. Warren also wants to raise taxes on gun manufacturers in an effort to prevent gun violence. Find Out: What Can I Write Off on My Taxes Campaign Fundraising Democrats have long called for campaign finance reform, with most of the remaining candidates agreeing that unlimited spending should not be allowed in politics. Some candidates have set their own limits on how they are raising money for their campaigns, with the leading candidates swearing off taking any funds from corporate PACs, Politico reported. Heres what the candidates have said about campaign fundraising. Joe Biden Biden has outlined a number of measures he wants to introduce to reduce the influence of money on politics: Implement a constitutional amendment that requires candidates for federal office to solely fund their campaigns with public dollars Enact legislation to provide voluntary matching public funds for federal candidates receiving small-dollar donations Establish disclosure agreements that mandate that any online electioneering communication that originates abroad is identified and flagged, to keep foreign money out of U.S. elections Restrict Super PACs Require ads and other communication that advocates for or against a candidate for federal office to disclose funding sources Bar dark money groups from spending in elections Ban corporate PAC contributions to candidates Make national party conventions publicly funded Close the loophole that allows officers and directors of federal contractors to contribute to federal candidates Mike Bloomberg Bloomberg has famously funded his own campaign. As of Feb. 14, he had spent $386 million on advertising alone, CNN reported. Hes defended his unprecedented campaign spending, stating at a stump speech in Arizona last November that his use of his own funds makes him less susceptible to corruption. I will be the only candidate in this race who isnt corruptible, who isnt going to take a penny from anyone, and will work for a dollar a year, he said, according to Newsweek. Sanders, however, has said that he feels Bloomberg is trying to buy his way into the White House. We believe in old-fashioned democracy: one person, one vote, not billionaires buying elections, Sanders said at a recent rally in North Carolina, NBC News reported. Pete Buttigieg Warren has criticized Buttigieg about his willingness to hold closed-door fundraisers with wealthy donors. The mayor just recently had a fundraiser that was held in a wine cave full of crystals and served $900-a-bottle wine, she said during the December 2019 Democratic debate. Think about who comes to that. We made the decision many years ago that rich people in smoke-filled rooms should not pick the next president of the United States. Billionaires in wine caves should not pick the next president of the United States. In response to the criticism Buttigieg received from Warren and others, his campaign announced that it would allow the press to attend all future fundraisers, as well as identify the individuals who were raising funds for him. Despite this, Sanders doubled-down on criticisms of Buttigiegs billionaire donors during the Feb. 19 debate: What we are saying, Pete, is maybe its a time for the working class of this country to have a little bit of power in Washington, rather than your billionaire campaign contributors. Buttigieg responded that his campaign is fueled by hundreds of thousands of contributors. Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar proposes an overhaul to the current campaign finance system that includes overturning Citizens United. She also wants to establish a multiple matching system for small donations to increase the power of small donors. Bernie Sanders Sanders famously has a grassroots-funded campaign and plans to implement new policies to take the money out of politics. He wants to ban all corporate contributions to the Democratic Party Convention and related committees, ban all corporate donations for inaugural events, cap individual donations at $500, replace the FEC with a Federal Election Administration and enact mandatory public financing laws for all federal elections. Elizabeth Warren Warren has pledged not to take money from federal lobbyists or PACs although she recently did not discourage a new super PAC from boosting her message, stating now that shell get rid of super PACs if all the other candidates are willing. She also has limited contributions from fossil fuel and pharmaceutical companies, as well as executives from big tech companies, big banks, private equity firms and hedge funds to $200. She also wants to propose a number of changes to campaign fundraising: Ban corporate PACs from contributing to federal candidates Ban foreign-controlled and -influenced companies from spending in American elections Prohibit campaign donations and political spending from being a consideration in the selection of an ambassador Close loopholes to prevent unlimited donations from single-candidate Super PACs Ban lobbyists from donating, bundling and fundraising for candidates Ban corporations and lobbyists from donating to inaugural committees and place contribution limits on donations Require disclosure of major donors, bundlers and finance events in presidential campaigns Force dark money groups to reveal the sources of their funds Establish small-dollar matching fund programs for candidates and parties Lower contribution limits to individuals and political parties Establish public financing for national party conventions Restructure the FEC to improve enforcement More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: All the Fights Between Debate Candidates on Social Security, Taxes and Campaign Fundraising Re: Prayers for Trump can be sincerely offered Feb. 16: Many thanks to Washington Post columnist Colbert I. King for restating a long-established Christian practice of praying for those selected to control our temporal governance. Even for those whom we do not support, Christ instructed us to pray for our enemies. Many of Colberts comments are political and anti-Trump. I could take issue with many of his claims, such as: Candidate Trumps behavior throughout the campaign clashed with Christian notions of compassion, love and respect for human dignity. I believe that President Donald Trump was characterized in such a way by his political foes prior to the 2016 election; however, his actions since his inauguration have more than dispelled those concerns. The huge economic gains in the past two years have been spread evenly amongst all Americans, and no president has been more forward in supporting love and respect for human dignity, by making an appearance at the 2020 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Edward J. Baznik, Independence Tehran, Feb 22 : Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that the new move by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to keep the country on its blacklist is a "politically-motivated" decision. On Friday, the FATF said that Iran will remain on its blacklist, calling on member states to impose sanctions on the country, reports Xinhua news agency. The Paris-based monitor had given Iran a February deadline to approve anti-terrorism legislation or remain on the blacklist. "Unfortunately, this is also part of the politicization of international mechanisms by the US, Saudi Arabia, and the Zionist regime (of Israel)," said Mousavi. "International mechanisms have advantages and disadvantages and placing Iran on FATF's blacklist came despite all efforts we have made inside the country and all regulations we have tried to observe," he added. FATF is a Paris-based watchdog for money laundering and terrorism financing worldwide. It has long urged Iran to implement legal reforms to meet its global standards. Iran has already enacted amendments to its counter-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering acts. However, bills to ratify the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing Convention have been passed by the parliament but not yet endorsed by higher legislative authorities. The two remaining bills failed to win the approval of Guardians Council of Constitution, the highest legislative body in Iran, and was sent to the Expediency Council of Iran for final decision. State security agents have arrested at least 47 people in Zimbabwe suspected to have participated in anti-government protests over the southern African nations worsening economic and political situation. According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, police say all the people who were arrested Friday allegedly participated in protests, some of them linked to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa. In a statement, the lawyers group said in Harare, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) first arrested seven students at Allan Wilson High School, who were detained at Harare Central Police Station for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration which was held in the capital city early this month. But when the students lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) arrived at Harare Central Police Station, where law enforcement agents were taking finger prints from them, challenged the treatment of his clients as accused persons, ZRP officers then indicated that they were now treating them as state witnesses in a matter in which a yet to be identified person will be brought to court charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The seven students were later released after the recording of the witness statements. The lawyers group also said the ZRP also arrested 34 people including pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruzivishe and charged them with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Police claimed that the 34 people, who were represented by Obey Shava, participated in a demonstration allegedly staged by some MDC Alliance party youths last Wednesday in Harare. However, 32 of the people were released from police custody and only Haruzivishe and Allan Moyo were detained overnight. The two were expected to appear in court on Saturday. In Mutoko in Mashonaland East province, ZRP also arrested seven women, including a six month-old baby, and charged them with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. In court, prosecutors alleged that the seven women, who were represented by Nontokozo Tachiona-Dube of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, staged a demonstration on last Thursday, where they handed over a petition at Mutoko District Council protesting against the countrys poor education standards. The seven women were set free on $100 bail after Tachiona-Dube applied for their release and were remanded to Thursday, March 5, 2020. Tachiona-Dube also secured freedom for four Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe officials, including secretary-general Robson Chere, who had been summoned to appear at Mutoko Police Station in connection with a public protest allegedly held last Thursday in Mutoko. Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. ZRP officers advised the four people that they will be summoned to appear in court if they intend to proceed with prosecuting them for allegedly failing to notify police officers about the demonstration. China reported a sharp decrease in the number of new deaths and new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, saying the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in the country has preliminarily been contained. China's central bank, meanwhile, predicted a limited short-term economic impact and said the country was confident of winning the fight against the epidemic. Mainland China had 397 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Friday, down from 889 a day earlier, with the vast majority of those in the epicenter of Hubei province, a Reuters report quoting the National Health Commission said. The 31 new infections recorded in the rest of the country was the lowest since the commission started compiling nationwide data on January 20, and sharply down from 258 new cases the previous day. The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China rose to 76,288, with the death toll at 2,345 as of the end of Friday. Hubei reported 106 new deaths of which 90 in Wuhan. But the numbers continued to rise elsewhere, with outbreaks worsening in South Korea, Italy and Iran and Lebanon, prompting a warning from the World Health Organization that the window of opportunity to contain the international spread was closing. South Korea saw another spike in infections with 142 confirmed cases, taking its tally to 346, about half related to people who attended a church service. Meanwhile, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee also held a meeting on the prevention and control of COVID-19. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting. According to the meeting, there is the overall declining trend of the new confirmed and suspected cases across the country and the rapid increase of the number of cured patients, especially big drops in the new cases outside the epicenter Hubei Province. A release following the meeting said the nationwide inflection point of the epidemic has not yet arrived, and the situation remains grim and complex in Hubei and its capital city Wuhan. It demanded unremitting efforts of party committees and governments at all levels to secure a full victory in the people's war against the epidemic. RESILIENCE OF ECONOMY The meeting underlined the tremendous resilience and potential of China's economy despite the notable impact brought about by the epidemic. The long-term trend of steady growth with a sound momentum will not change, according to the meeting. With more positivity in proactive fiscal policy, prudent monetary policy should be more flexible, and precise financial services should be provided for the resumption of business and the growth of the real economy. The virus has spread to some 26 countries and territories outside mainland China, killing 11 people, according to a Reuters tally, and among the WHOs biggest concerns was cases without links to China. We still have a chance to contain it, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said on Friday. If we dont, if we squander the opportunity, then there will be a serious problem on our hands. An outbreak in northern Italy worsened with its first death, an elderly man, among 17 confirmed cases including its first known instance of local transmission. Japan confirmed four new coronavirus cases on Saturday, among those a teacher who had shown symptoms while working at her school. Former Black Sabbath frontman, who recently called off his 2020 solo tour, has told a British newspaper he is in unbelievable pain 24/7. A fall last year aggravated neck injury he sustained in a 2003 quad bike accident, he told The Sun. The British rocker also suffers from Parkinsons. The pain has forced him to call off his 2020 concert plans, including a June 20 show at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville Conn. Refunds are available at the original point of purchase, according to the promoter. All refunds, including fees, will be returned directly to the credit card used. Additionally, ticket holders who purchased No More Tours 2 tickets will have first access to tickets when the next tour is announced. Washington, Feb 22 (IANS As US presidential election inches closer, the manipulated video war on Twitter intensified with the micro -blogging platform -- after suspending 70 accounts posting pro-Michael Bloomberg content - on Saturday censored an official video released by RNC Research, managed by the Republican Party in the US. In the Republican video titled "I've seen it getting better and better," manufacturing workers in the "blue collar room" are seen praising President Donald Trump for his work to strengthen the US economy. The Twitter moderation team flagged the video as containing "potentially sensitive content," reports The Post Millennial. This is a disgrace. Something we should be celebrating the social media masters are censoring such bullshit! https://t.co/eRA5zgFXmq Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 21, 2020 The Twitter action irked Donald Trump Jr who immediately tweeted: "This is a disgrace. Something we should be celebrating the social media masters are censoring such bull****!"The censorship was first raised by Steve Guest, the GOP's Rapid Response Director. "Give me a break. Twitter is censoring the @RNCResearch video on the "blue collar boom" under @realDonaldTrump for "potentially sensitive content," tweeted Guest. The US goes to election on November 3 to elect the new president but the fake news and manipulated media has already begun circulating on various social media platforms, including Twitter. Twitter on Friday suspended 70 accounts that were posting pro-Michael Bloomberg content for allegedly violating its online policies. According to a report in The Los Angeles Times, the Democratic Party contender's campaign deployed a large number of Twitter accounts to push out identical messages in the US presidential election this year. "We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam," a Twitter spokesperson was quoted as saying. The Bloomberg campaign has allegedly hired hundreds of temporary employees to pump out campaign messages through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Twitter said some of the account suspensions would be permanent, according to the report. Earlier, a video posted by Bloomberg left Facebook and Twitter divided on whether it violates their policies. While Twitter said the video would be labelled as manipulated media under the platform's new deepfakes policy, Facebook said the same video would not violate the platform's deepfakes rules. Earlier this month, Facebook, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube refused to pull down an edited video posted by US President Donald Trump that showed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripping up a copy of the former's State of the Union address. -- Syndicated from IANS It will be at least a couple more months before the city knows whether it can suspend outside monitoring of about a quarter of the requirements in the settlement agreement laying out the reform of the police department. Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said the city has asked a federal judge to re-schedule a hearing deciding the issue to early April. The extension will allow community groups more time to provide input on the Self-Assessment Plan, Gallegos wrote in a statement. The motion to suspend outside monitoring and move the department into sustained compliance for a number of requirements was announced by Mayor Tim Keller at his State of the City address in early January. It was initially going to be decided at a Feb. 11 meeting, but the city did not finalize its self-assessment plan in time so it was pushed back to late February. Now it is scheduled to be heard in April. Community groups including APD Forward, the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee, community policing councils, the Citizen Police Oversight Agency and others wrote in statements that they were pleased with the decision to postpone the hearing. Good dog. Photo: Photo: Instagram When YouTube vloggers Jake Paul and Tana Mongeau announced earlier this year that they were taking a break from their five-month-long open marriage, which may or may not have been fake, we let out a long, purifying sigh. While both give off deranged energy on their own Jake is best known for terrorizing West Hollywood with elaborate video pranks, and Tana for throwing a disastrous vlogger convention called TanaCon together, their chaotic energy was off the charts. But, distressingly, our celebration was premature. On Monday, Mongeau was spotted on what Hollywood Life called an intimate lunch date in Los Angeles with a person who has taken this relationship to historic levels of cursedness: Logan Paul, as in Jakes older brother, who also happens to be a YouTube star. While the two seemingly didnt engage in any sloppy lip-locking or hand-holding typically incontrovertible proof of a budding romance this shared meal certainly looked romantic. In photos of the lunch, Mongeau can be seen hugging Logans towering body, while he hunches to give her a kiss on the head. And thats not the only disturbing photo of Mongeau and Logan that emerged this week. On Wednesday, Jake posted his and Mongeaus wedding ceremony photo, with his brothers face Photoshopped unsettlingly onto his. Soon after Jake posted that haunting Instagram, Logan uploaded a video to YouTube titled Dating My Brothers Ex-Wife , in which he convinces Mongeau to get into a fake relationship in front of the paparazzi and troll the entire Internet. And then the video devolves into a horrible series of pranks involving Mongeau and the brothers, ending with the Pauls commending each other on their commitment to getting views. So, there we have it: The Tana-Logan relationship is fake we think? Sydney, Feb 22 : An Australian fusion startup called HB11 which is a spin-off from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, has secured patents for its ground-breaking, laser-driven technique for fusion energy generation that promises clear, safe energy. Unlike earlier methods, the laser-driven technique for creating fusion energy is completely safe as it does not rely on radioactive fuel and leaves no toxic radioactive waste, the university said in a statement on Saturday. HB11 Energy secured its intellectual property rights in Japan last week, following recent grants in China and the US. Conceived by UNSW Emeritus Professor of theoretical physics Heinrich Hora, HB11 Energy's concept differs radically from other experimental fusion projects. "After investigating a laser-boron fusion approach for over four decades at UNSW, I am thrilled that this pioneering approach has now received patents in three countries," said Professor Hora. "These granted patents represent the eve of HB11 Energy's seed-stage fundraising campaign that will establish Australia's first commercial fusion company, and the world's only approach focused on the safe hydrogen - boron reaction using lasers," Hora added. The preferred fusion approach employed by most fusion groups is to heat Deuterium-Tritium fuel well beyond the temperature of the Sun (or almost 15 million degrees Celsius). Rather than heating the fuel, HB11's hydrogen-boron fusion is achieved using two powerful lasers whose pulses apply precise non-linear forces to compress the nuclei together. Most other sources of power production, such as coal, gas and nuclear, rely on heating liquids like water to drive turbines. In contrast, the energy generated by hydrogen-boron fusion converts directly into electricity allowing for much smaller and simpler generators. The two-laser approach needed for HB11 Energy's hydrogen-boron fusion only became possible recently thanks to advances in laser technology that won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics. "The clean and absolutely safe reactor can be placed within densely populated areas, with no possibility of a catastrophic meltdown such as that which has been seen with nuclear fission reactors," Professor Hora noted. According to Dr Warren McKenzie, Managing Director of HB11 Energy, the approach could be the only way to achieve very low carbon emissions by 2050. "As we aren't trying to heat fuels to impossibly high temperatures, we are sidestepping all of the scientific challenges that have held fusion energy back for more than half a century," McKenzie said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Josa Lukman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22 2020 Bird meets girl: Emu Runner tells the story of Gem (right), a 9-year-old Indigenous girl who makes friends with one of the flightless birds after the unexpected death of her mother. (Courtesy of Imogen Thomas Films) The life of a young Aboriginal girl dealing with her mothers unexpected death is the subject of Thomas debut feature film Emu Runner, which was screened at various festivals before arriving in Jakarta for the 2020 Australia Indonesia Cinema Festival. Some may know Australian cinema through The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the Mad Max franchise, but there is so much more to the countrys culture that you can discover through movies, as filmmaker Imogen Thomas can attest. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22 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 Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Feb. 22. 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. Employees of Roffar Holding Group deliver daily necessities to senior residents and staff members in nursing homes. [For Women of China] All the employees of the Roffar Holding Group, which is headquartered in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, have joined Cui Ronghua, president of Roffar, in anti-virus combat. Cui, also Executive President of the China Women's Chamber of Commerce under the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, has devoted herself to the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since the first suspected case was found in the province on January 23. Roffar is a comprehensive private enterprise engaging in estate management, nursing home, ecological agriculture and financial investment. As the top leader of the company, Cui established a leading team of community service amid the fight against COVID-19. The company has donated supplies and money now totaling 2.2 million yuan (US $313,364) to the senior residents in nursing homes and local communities as well as nursing workers on the frontline since January 28. The donations include vegetables, fruits and nutritious food for elderly people. She has also organized volunteers from the company to deliver vegetables and fruit to the communities every day, trying to better serve local residents amid the outbreak. On February 5, Roffar sent 12,500 kilograms of pears to a command headquarters of the COVID-19 prevention and control unit of the General Hospital of the Central Combat Zone of the People's Liberation Army. Cui has also been busy seeking channels to purchase protective gear for grassroots workers. As one of the leaders of the China Women's Chamber of Commerce, she called on more women entrepreneurs to join in the work of the COVID-19 prevention and control. The ongoing outbreak puts small and medium-sized enterprises under great pressure, and the elderly care industry also encounters difficulties. Faced with such a challenge, Cui does not advocate layoffs or salary cuts, but tries to find new driving force and opportunities amid the pressure and difficulties. Thanks to an early warning and timely response mechanism, as well as scientific management and joint efforts of all employees, the company has gained praise from the senior citizens at its nursing home during the epidemic outbreak, according to her. "The elderly people feel warm and safe here," Cui said. However, there are still practical difficulties and problems, such as shortages of supplies and labor. Cui suggested that the "Internet medical plus" model may become a new driving force for the integration of medical care and elderly care, calling on elderly care providers to give play to their role in daily health management and to integrate the advantages of the Internet and medical care so as to build a bridge of communication between patients and medical experts. Meanwhile, Cui is considering how to offer high-quality services during the epidemic outbreak through combining intelligent estate management, community-based nursing services and intelligent agriculture after analyzing public needs. "I firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and with the concerted efforts of all Chinese people, the battle against the epidemic will surely be won, and China's economy will enjoy sustainable and sound development," said Cui. (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) New Delhi had earlier operated two evacuation flights to Wuhan. Government sources said, China is yet to grant clearance for the flight with relief supplies which will fetch the remaining Indians. New Delhi: China has been deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the third evacuation flight for Indian citizens from Wuhan in view of the Coronavirus outbreak, government sources said on Saturday. The inexplicable delay is causing anguish to Indians stranded in Wuhan and other parts of Hubei province. New Delhi had earlier operated two evacuation flights to Wuhan. China swiftly denied that the delay was deliberate, claiming that the current situation in Hubei is complicated and that prevention and control of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) entered a critical stage. Government sources pointed out that Beijing granted permission for Ja-pan, Ukraine and France to evacuate their citizens on February 16, 19 and 20 respectively, while sitting on the Indian request. New Delhis request for the third flight was submitted on February 13, the flight plan on February 15, and the proposed flight date was February 20, constituting five days notice, adding that the delay therefore appears deliberate. Government sources said, China is yet to grant clearance for the flight with relief supplies which will fetch the remaining Indians. The Chinese maintained there is no delay even on Friday, when the flight was supposed to go. The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi stated: There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying flight permission. Competent departments of the two countries are coordinating in this regard. Rubbishing the Chinese claims, sources said, Evacuation flights from other countries are still going on. Why are they creating roadblock in evacuating Indians? Our request for third flight was submitted on February 13. The flight plan was submitted on February 15. The date of flight proposed originally was February 20. That is five days notice. The delay therefore appears deliberate. In between the following flights have taken off from Wuhan. Japan on February 16, Ukraine on February 19, and France on February 20. Asking some hard questions, sources said, If the work was not critical enough to stop or delay these flights, how did it suddenly become critical for the Indian flight? There are relief and evacuation flights from other countries which are still going on, including by France. Why is the Chinese government delaying clearance for the relief flight? Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony? Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight which will evacuate them to India. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish. ...Indian nationals are waiting to be brought back from Wuhan. The uncertainty is causing anxiety and mental stress. China should grant clearance to the relief flight which can bring the Indian nationals back. Indian government sources added, It may be recalled that Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping conveying solidarity of India with China in meeting the challenge of coronavirus outbreak and had offered to provide whatever assistance we could to China. The Government of India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of this commitment as a token of our solidarity, particularly in this 70th year of anniversary of diplomatic relations. These supplies have been offered even as India faces tremendous shortage itself, given our ethos of helping others, especially neighbours in their hour of need. Items being supplied are gloves, surgical masks feeding and infusion pumps and defibrilators based on the requirements as indicated by the Chinese side. On the anniversary of Algerias Hirak Movement, a poet and former political prisoner explains why the protests continue. Mohamed Tadjadit is a busy man these days. As Algerias country-wide popular protest movement enters its second year, the former political prisoner is always in demand. Between taking part in gatherings in solidarity with others still in prison, attending preparations for anniversary protests and giving media interviews, he is sometimes stopped by people who want to have their photograph taken with him. I hate pictures, it feels like giving away a part of your soul, the 26-year-old poet explains. But I have to do it. We have to keep people motivated. It was not always like this. Former political prisoner Mohamed Tadjadit, left, speaks with a protester. [Lydia Saidi / Al Jazeera] Just trying to get by Before the weekly protests began last February, in response to an announcement that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika would seek a fifth term in office, Tadjadit was working as a fruit seller and did not have much interest in politics. I was just trying to get by, he admits in a hesitant, almost shy, voice. He was born and raised in the Casbah of Algiers, although his family was relocated to the outskirts of the capital when the building they were living in collapsed two years ago. Tadjadit dropped out of school when he was 14 and took on various jobs selling umbrellas and knock-off jewellery, working at a fishery and a tannery. He started writing poems at the same age, but there was nothing political about them. I used to write what I felt, he says. Tadjadit started writing poetry at a young age. Now many of his poems include a political message [Lydia Saidi / Al Jazeera] He checks his phone as he talks, reading messages from other activists inviting him to one event or another, and walks too close to the edge of the pavement for the liking of his friends. He is now the author of more than 50 poems, many of which contain powerful political messages. And, while he may not have given much thought to politics while he was growing up, he felt the consequences of his countrys politics as forcefully as many other young Algerians. With no opportunities at home, when he was 22, he tried to illegally immigrate to Europe. He first went to Turkey, then tried to reach Western Europe. He was arrested in Greece and sent back to Algeria. When the protests started, Tadjadit began reciting his poems at them. He became well known when videos of him started making the rounds on social media. But he became even more famous after he was arrested on November 14 and charged with undermining national unity. Clean their nation In early April, when Bouteflika was forced, under pressure from the countrys powerful military, to tender his resignation, the story of Algerias protests unprecedented in its modern history fell off the international news agenda. But the protests did not stop. Friday marked the 53rd straight weekend of peaceful demonstrations demanding full regime change. Protests will also take place on Saturday, the first anniversary of the movement that became known as the Revolution of Smiles or the Hirak Movement. On December 12, former prime minister and Bouteflika loyalist Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected president amid ongoing, widespread protests. Only 40 percent of the 24 million people eligible to vote did so. Among the protesters, it is widely believed that the military made him head of state in order to give a civilian facade to the ruling regime. The military rule will be removed / And the mafia State will fall / The people are proud and will never be broken / They only want to clean their nation, wrote Tadjadit in one of his poems, echoing one of the protest movements main slogans: A civil state, not a military one. Imprisoned On December 19, the same day that Tebboune was inaugurated, promising to satisfy all the demands of the protesters, Tadjadit was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was detained in the El Harrach prison in Algiers, in conditions he describes as inhumane. He recalls one occasion when there was no water for four days. When he asked the prison director about it, he says he told him the water supply was disrupted, even outside of the prison. When youre outside, you go out and you buy water. Were in prison here! Tadjadit replied. The countrys new president made promises that ranged from solving the housing crisis to proposing a new constitution that will pave the way for a new Algeria. He formed a government and chose a minister of commerce, Kamel Rezig, who picked the price of milk as his first battle. But, says Tadjadit: This is not about milk or housing. This is about building a nation. Tadjadit was detained in El Harrach prison in Algiers [Lydia Saidi / Al Jazeera] We are not satisfied and we will never be, whatever they try to do. The whole regime is corrupt and they need to go away. Even though, in early January, Tadjadit and 66 other detainees were freed pending an appeal against their convictions, the contrast between an official government discourse that praises the protesters on Thursday, Tebboune commended the blessed Hirak while seemingly trying to stifle them via police pressure and a media blackout, has done little to persuade people that real change has taken place. Tadjadits appeal trial was scheduled for mid-February, but he postponed it until the end of the month so as not to miss the anniversary commemorations. I dont care if they send me back to prison, he says. I just want to be free on February 22nd and I want the Hirak to intensify its action. A leaderless movement for freedom Hundreds of thousands of people showed up to the protests in Algiers on Friday, a number comparable to the first weeks of the movement. Like Tadjadit, many of the protesters are adamant that their movement will continue until their goals are met. For Amel Boubekeur, a researcher of sociology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, two things are keeping the protesters motivated. The first is the knowledge that they are taking part in something of historical importance that may never happen again. The second is an incentive that has been provided by the government itself. Even though the demonstrations have remained peaceful, the researcher believes the authorities are afraid of the protesters. They keep viewing the Hirak as a security problem and it prevents them from thinking in political terms. Its not a very smart strategy, she explains. As long as there is a duality between formal reforms, like amending the constitution, and informal practices of management, the Hirak will have fuel to continue. Tadjadit, like many others who have become well known during the protests, may hold a degree of influence, but most protesters reject any form of representation. The movement began with anonymous calls to protest and has continued without any formal leadership since. The protesters have also rejected overtures from opposition parties, whom they consider to be in cahoots with the government. The protests draw women, men and children of all ages. They may hold different political views but all agree on the need for democratic change. Freedom is a word that comes up often in their chants and slogans. Tadjadit meets and speaks with Algerian protesters [Lydia Saidi / Al Jazeera] The protests continue to be one of the few spaces where Algerians can exchange ideas and debate freely. For me, the Hirak is like a big school, says Tadjadit. I met a lot of people with different experiences during this year and they taught me a lot. The protesters political goals may not have been fully met yet but Tadjadit believes there has been a change in Algerian society. We became united, he says as he lights a cigarette. There is solidarity among people more than ever and I think this is very important. The Hirak gave hope to large sections of the population. In the early weeks of the movement, an image of graffiti was widely shared on social media. It said: For the first time, I dont want to leave you, my Algeria. Tadjadit says he would only leave if the Hirak fails. If we dont succeed, if we dont free the country, lots of people are going to leave, he says. Still, he adds, If we have to march for another year to snatch our freedom, we will do it. No problem. Mick McCarthy has more injury concerns to contend with ahead of next months Euro play-off in Slovakia with after his regular left-back Enda Stevens suffered a calf injury on Saturday. Stevens fired Sheffield United into the lead against Brighton and Hove Albion with a rasping volley on 26 minutes, only to be withdrawn at the break. Speaking after the 1-1 draw, Blades boss Chris Wilder confirmed the substitution was injury-related. Enda had a tight calf before half-time, he said. We will assess him and hopefully he wont be out for too long. McCarthy will be hoping Stevens is back from his lay-off in time for the trip to Slovakia on March 26. After mising out on direct qualification through the group stage, Ireland must emerge from a four-nation Nations League play-off for the finals, in which they'll have two of their four games in Dublin. The Ireland boss looks certain to be without another defender, Ciaran Clark, after the Newcastle United hobbled out of the Emirates Stadium last Sunday on crutches. Magpies boss Steve Bruce described the ankle injury as a bad one and expects to be without him for several weeks. Another left-sided player, James McClean, is also extremely doubtful. The winger sustained a medial knee ligament during Stoke Citys defeat to Preston North End last Tuesday week. State Sen. Bill Dodd introduced legislation Friday that would renovate congested, flood-prone Highway 37 by turning it into a toll road to help generate the necessary money. Dodd, D-Napa, made the announcement while standing on a hill at Sonoma Raceway overlooking the highway. He said the mere mention of Highway 37 to users creates angst and conjures up images of brake lights and flooding. Were here today because commuters deserve better, said Dodd, flanked by transportation officials and other leaders from North Bay counties. Dodds bill would create a tolling authority that would hold public meetings to flesh out the details of a toll. Among those details is how much the toll would cost, with Dodd saying he envisions something in the $5-to-$6 range. No one, including himself, is enthusiastic about having a toll, Dodd said. The fact is, without taking this step, this highway (renovation) would not be finished in our lifetimes, he said. Dodd estimated conservatively that a toll might raise $650 million over 20 years. Fixing Highway 37 could cost a few billion dollars. Dodd said Highway 37 commuters wouldnt pay the entire cost, with state and federal funds to also be used. A toll could be charged one direction only or, if both directions, half of the suggested amount, he said. He doesnt intend commuters to pay $10 daily for a round trip commute. Tolls could be collected electronically. The law requires that a tolling authority be established on behalf of the state to operate and collect tolls. Dodd said voter approval would not be needed for a toll. Highway 37 runs 21 miles from Vallejo to Novato. It passes through Solano, Sonoma and Marin counties, with a section brushing the southwest edge of Napa County. The 9.5-mile section between Vallejo and Sears Point passes over the Napa-Sonoma marshes on berms and bridges. It is mostly two lanes and experiences rush-hour traffic jams. Researchers with the University of California, Davis have said sea level rise could swamp the lowest-lying section by 2050. Napa County transportation officials have been particularly interested in this section. Problems on Highway 37 can divert traffic to Napa Countys Highway 29 and Highway 121 as a detour, adding to local traffic problems. Thats the go-around, Napa Valley Transportation Authority Executive Director Kate Miller said. North Bay counties, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans have for four years explored creating a four-lane road on embankment or causeway at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion to $2.5 billion. Complicating any construction project are wetlands that are home to such protected species as the salt marsh harvest mouse. In addition, other sections of Highway 37 that are already four lanes to the west are prone to flooding during large storms. Renovating the entire length of Highway 37 could cost $1.5 billion to $4.5 billion, according to a 2018 estimate. The cost to renovate has been a major roadblock. The idea of using tolls as a funding source came up in 2016. Highway 37 has been a toll road before. In fact, thats how it began life. The then-private roadway opened on midnight, July 4, 1928, as a shortcut. Travelers from Solano County to Sonoma and Marin counties would no longer have to take the long way through Napa. They could instead take this new, 10-mile route traversing the wetlands between Vallejo and Sears Point. Travelers paid 35 cents per car and driver and an additional 5 cents per passenger. The road cost about $900,000 to build, according to Napa County newspaper reports from the era. But the road didnt stay a toll road. In 1939, California bought it for $200,000 for the state highway system. Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin said on Friday that several years ago the idea came up to abandon Highway 37 because of predicted sea level rise. North Bay leaders protested, saying the highway is a critical mover of employees, visitors, residents and goods. We cannot abandon it, she said. Highway 37 daily traffic is forecast to rise from 40,000 vehicles daily to 58,000 vehicles daily in 20 years. Flooding resulted in full or partial closure of the road for 27 days in 2017 and eight days in 2019, according to a fact sheet distributed by Dodd. Dodd described the proposed Highway 37 renovation as responding to both congestion and climate change. Simply put, the status quo is unacceptable and without bold action, it will get worse, Dodd said. Miller had a suggestion for those already weary of Highway 37 traffic try carpooling. The Napa Valley Transportation Authoritys V-Commute program helps people find solo-commute options and matches users with others who have similar travel plans. Go to https://nvta.rideamigos.com/#/ for more information. You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- PGA TOUR rookie Viktor Hovland shot a 6-under 66 on Friday at windy Coco Beach for a share of the Puerto Rico Open lead. Related: Leaderboard | Brotherhood of the slump: How TOUR pros found their way back The 22-year-old Norwegian eagled the par-5 second and rebounded from a late bogey on a par 5 with a birdie to join first-round leader Kyle Stanley, Josh Teater and Emiliano Grillo at 10-under 134. "I feel like the wind is blowing out of the same direction here every day, so I think we'll see the course playing very similar to the first couple days," Hovland said. "I'm sure the pins are going to be a little more tucked in the corners the next two days, so it will be interesting to see how it plays.": Hovland dropped a stroke on the par-5 15th, then got back to 10 under with a birdie on the par-4 17th. The former Oklahoma State player won the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, then became the first player since Matt Kuchar in 1998 to sweep low amateur honors at The Masters and U.S. Open. "It's been pretty windy, which I'm kind of used to in Oklahoma," Hovland said. "I've just been playing good the last couple weeks. Not as good as I would have liked, but I'm definitely trending in the right direction, so it will be fun to play the weekend." Stanley followed an opening 64 with a 70. More than 100 people planning to attend opposition rallies in Nur-Sultan and other Kazakh cities on February 22 were detained by police, who were deployed in large numbers in a show of force to halt the unsanctioned events. Activists of the outlawed opposition movement Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) told RFE/RL in the Kazakh capital that they came out to draw attention to low standards of living and growing inequality. Earlier, the Prosecutor-General's office had urged citizens not to take part in what it called "illegal" rallies planned by the DVK. The DVK was banned by a Kazakh court as extremist in 2018. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Xinhua) Beijing, China Sat, February 22, 2020 14:40 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065fef68 2 Science & Tech big-data,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,spreading,outbreak,COVID-19 Free A big data analysis platform used to find close contacts of novel coronavirus patients or suspected cases has received more than 150 million checks since it was launched on Feb.8. By inputting names and ID card numbers after scanning QR codes, individual users can check whether they took the same flights, trains or buses as those with confirmed or suspected cases. Receiving data support from the National Health Commission, Ministry of Transport, China Railway and Civil Aviation Administration of China, the platform has also served more than 80 organizations. Information security and privacy are protected on the platform, said Wu Manqing, general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. A big data analysis platform used to find close contacts of novel coronavirus patients or suspected cases has received more than 150 million checks since it was launched on Feb.8. By inputting names and ID card numbers after scanning QR codes, individual users can check whether they took the same flights, trains or buses as those with confirmed or suspected cases. Receiving data support from the National Health Commission, Ministry of Transport, China Railway and Civil Aviation Administration of China, the platform has also served more than 80 organizations. Information security and privacy are protected on the platform, said Wu Manqing, general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. Two Irish musical greats join forces for an unmissable concert at Moyvane's Church of the Assumption early next month. Killarney-based Liam O'Connor, described as the 'Jimi Hendrix of the Accordion' will share the billing with the hugely-popular performer Brian Kennedy - with whom he has gigged regularly in the past. Taking place at the Church on Tuesday, March 10, from 8pm, it is set to electrify the North Kerry village and draw music fans from far and wide to see both men belting out the music. Multi-instrumentalist O'Connor is widely regarded as a virtuoso of the Accordion with 'explosive' an appropriate adjective for his approach to performance; raising the traditional form to new energies. Though rooted in the Irish tradition, O'Connor is also accomplished in everything from blues and jazz to cajun, reggae and samba and much else. The way he fuses them with trad Irish is another of his distinctions. Brian Kennedy needs no introduction to Irish audiences having performed with everyone from fellow Belfast native Van Morrison to Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan; and notched up hit after hit with songs such as Put the Message in the Box, A Better Man and You Raise Me Up. The concert is the brainchild of Moyvane Parish Priest Fr Kevin McNamara and the latest in a series of big name acts he has brought to the Church in aid of its restoration, from Phil Coulter to The Three Tenors and Aonghus McAnally. Tickets cots 25. Contact the parish office on (068)49308 or mobile (087)3516833. Japans health minister said Saturday that 23 passengers were released from the Diamond Princess cruise ship without being tested for the new virus due to procedural mistakes, another sign of sloppiness in the quarantine of the ship, where more than 600 people were infected. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the 23 were tested before the quarantine began Feb. 5, but were allowed to leave the ship on Wednesday and Thursday without being tested again. Three of them have since tested negative, and most of the others have agreed to be tested, he said. He said officials have all tracked the 23 passengers down and asked them to self-quarantine at home for 14 days. We deeply regret that there was an operational error, Kato said at a news conference. We will examine what went wrong so we will not repeat the same mistake. The rest of the hundreds of Japanese passengers who returned home and foreign visitors staying in Japan all fulfilled the triple requirements they tested negative for the virus, showed no symptoms and had been isolated for 14 days, Kato said. So far, the health ministry was not aware of anyone developing symptoms after returning home, he said. Japan has confirmed more than 750 cases of the new virus, which first emerged in China, including 634 from the Diamond Princess, which docked and was quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo. The ship initially carried about 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew members. Most of the passengers were either taken to hospitals, disembarked or took chartered flights home. About 100 others who had infected roommates or contact with other passengers during the quarantine period were taken to a government facility to complete the 14-day quarantine. Meanwhile, 18 Americans, six Australians and one Israeli passenger from the cruise ship have tested positive after returning home on their respective chartered flights, including some who had tested negative earlier, Kato said. He said the results were understandable because they did not fully meet the stricter requirement for release from the ship. Some of them had close contacts with patients while on the ship and may have been tested just before getting infected. Kato, however, said Japanese officials were closely working with their respective countries health officials to follow up the cases. Some experts and former passengers have criticized the quarantine, saying anti-infection measures were inadequate. Wildlife activist Chris Packham has lashed out at vile 'bullies' who strung up a dead badger outside his home, the latest rotting animal to be dumped at his door. The TV presenter, who has railed against badger culling, was sickened to see the female sow hanging by the neck from a wooden gate at the front of his house. Packham's animal rights campaigning has made him a repeat target for thugs, who in the past have also left dead birds and a snared fox corpse outside his Marchwood, New Forest, property. He arrived home at 12.30am on Thursday night to encounter the grim animal. But the BBC Springwatch presenter, who was disturbed to find the badger had recently given birth, refuses to be cowed even in the face of death threats and posted human excrement. The 58-year-old Packham today said: 'My heart sank, I was hoping we had got over this. I'm not going to be intimidated by this. Wildlife activist Chris Packham has lashed out at vile 'bullies' who strung up a dead badger outside his home The TV presenter, who has railed against badger culling, was sickened to see the female sow hanging by the neck from a wooden gate at the front of his house 'I have made it very clear that this is not going to stop me from doing what I do, which is making the countryside a better place for wildlife. 'It was tied up in the middle of the gate... It looks like it died in a road traffic accident - the injuries are not consistent with shooting. 'There are not any broken limbs, which you would normally see in a badger that has been run over. 'It did not have rigor mortis last night. It was very muddy. At least, it was not killed deliberately to torment me.' Packham said he now believes the culprit tormenting him with dead animals lives nearby. He said: 'We are pretty certain this is local people. I don't think this is someone who has come from the other side of the country to do this. 'They know where I live. It's been going on for some time. I think the message isn't getting through. Packham's animal rights campaigning has made him a repeat target for thugs, who in the past have also left dead birds and a snared fox corpse (pictured) outside his Marchwood, New Forest, property Packham said he now believes the culprit tormenting him with dead animals lives nearby 'I'm carrying on what I'm doing and I'm continuing to do so because I think it's the right thing to do. 'My partner Charlotte is cross about it. She just thinks "get a grip, it's not the way to behave, it does not do anyone any favours". 'My step-daughter Megan is upset about it. She sees that we need to make progress in the countryside. 'The number of animals are rapidly declining and habitats are disappearing and we need to protect those that remain.' Packham said he would rather critics write him letters to vent their opposition or invite him to debates. He added: 'Some people are so resistant to change. They have to lash out like this - it's bullying. In April last year, Packham involved police after finding dead birds hanging outside his house Packham said his partner Charlotte (right) is cross about the targeting and urged the thugs to 'get a grip' 'I'm worried about security - I don't own this house, I rent it. Honestly, I see it as part of a process. 'I have just got to accept that not everyone will behave in a reasonable and rational way when they are being challenged. 'I have not been on the badger cull soapbox recently and I have not been speaking about fox hunting since after Christmas and New Year. 'It was a bit of a surprise. It's such a destructive thing to do.' Hampshire Constabulary confirmed officers were investigating the latest dead animal dumping. A force spokesman said: 'Officers are making enquiries following a report of an incident at a property in Marchwood. 'It was reported that a dead badger had been left outside the property. It was found in the early hours of Friday. Enquiries are ongoing.' Celebrities, corporate sponsors, dignitaries, and leaders join at one of Dallas premier social events of the year in efforts to benefit deserving students and historically black colleges and universities Dallas, TX, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The UNCF Dallas Mayors Masked Ball, a signature black-tie gala, will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, featuring a VIP reception, seated dinner, silent auction and music by local favorite, The David Whiteman Band. UNCF will also host the Mask Off after-party, an event for young professionals to celebrate for a great cause, immediately following the main event. This unique experience will be a way for young emerging leaders to have fun while giving back to the community. We are delighted to have Mayor Eric Johnson participation in his first year in office. He will serve as host of the 2020 Ball, said Matilda Louree, area development director, UNCF. This year, UNCF will honor the Honorable Royce West, Senator, State of Texas and The Honorable Helen Giddings, Retired Texas State Representative with UNCFs cherished awards, the 2020 MASKED Award. On behalf of the City of Dallas, I am delighted to serve as the Host of the 2020 UNCF Mayors Masked Ball, said Mayor Eric Johnson. This event is important because it supports education for minority students. Many sponsors have invested in the work of UNCF to ensure that more students from North Texas can receive a college education at a historically black college or university. and for this, we are very excited to take part in this event, said Erika Salter and Tommy Jones, Ball Co-Chairs. Benefitting HBCUs and students of color, events like the North Texas Mayors Masked Ball helped UNCF gain the resources to provide more than $9.5 million in scholarships last year to students from Texas. For every scholarship, UNCF gives a student, there are nine other students we must turn away, said Matilda Louree, UNCF area development director. Story continues Anchor and reporter Clarice Tinsley will serve as mistress of ceremonies for the evening, along with KDFW Fox 4 News as a media sponsor. Long-time supporter of UNCF, Hunt Consolidated, Inc., also returns as presenting sponsor, joining a host of other generous sponsors such as H-E-B, Toyota of North America, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Kayser Foundation and Locke Lord and others. In its 76th year, UNCF (United Negro College Fund) has empowered nearly half a million students to earn college degrees. As the largest and most effective minority education organization in the United States, UNCF also actively supports 37 private historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and advocates for minority higher education. During the 2018-19 school year, UNCF awarded nearly $600,000 in scholarships to students in the North Texas Area. Proceeds from the Masked Ball will allow UNCF to help even more students in 2020. To purchase tickets, go to UNCF.org/DallasMMB or call 972.234.1007. Follow this event on social media @UNCF #UNCFDallas #UNCF #UNCF75. ### About UNCF UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 17 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF Florida Region on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNCF. Mashari Grissom United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF) 202-854-0007 mashari.grissom@uncf.org A WOMAN from Wargrave has made her mark on the sport of paddleboarding. Alexandra Tyrer was the first Briton to finish in the annual GlaGla Race in France and the eighth fastest woman overall. Now she hopes to take part in more competitions and improve her ranking. Miss Tyrer, 41, was among more than 600 competitors in last months race at Talloires on Lake Annecy in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of south-eastern France. They all had to paddle 14.5km while standing on their paddleboard in freezing conditions. Miss Tyrer, a paddleboarding instructor at Bray Lake, said: This was my first international race and I was very surprised to do as well as I did, especially as there were professional paddlers there and some of them had world titles. It was also my first overseas event, so it took a little more planning but that was the perfect excuse to make a mini-holiday out of it. When she arrived on the morning of the race, she found a layer of ice on her board bag but the water on the lake was calm. She said: I kept my cool and stuck to my race plan, which was to get around the first marker buoy at 1.5km intact and avoiding a dip. Many people took the plunge, including the pros. For the 5km stretch up the western side of the lake, I found my rhythm and started to move up the field, picking up a few other paddlers in a chain gang behind me. I held my line and paddled strong before turning right and hugging the east coast for the final 4.5km back to the finish line. My aim here was not to get passed and it worked. I finished strong and crossed the finish line in 1 hour 43 minutes and three seconds, placing me 81st overall. It was also rather nice to be the first Brit home. I was beyond chuffed. Miss Tyrer, a programme manager, grew up near Manchester and moved to Henley in 2009 after several years of living in Denmark and then moved to Wargrave in 2016. She used to be a keen cyclist and in 2013 rode the route of the Tour de France for charity. She also rowed at Upper Thames Rowing Club in Henley, which she found was good for strength and conditioning but preferred paddleboarding. Miss Tyrer said: Bray Lake is a brilliant place to get into it because they have a very active paddleboard racing community. I have also met some great friends through it. It is an easy sport to learn, although there are certain safety aspects and there are ways to be more efficient. Her next big challenge will be to take part in the Stand Up Paddleboarding 11-City tour in the Netherlands in September, which involves paddling 220km in five days. Guests in hotels, bed and breakfasts and Airbnb should pay a tourist tax of up to 5 a night, local councils have said. The 'tourist levy' would generate money to boost visitor attractions. But it would be paid by everyone staying in a hotel, guest house or rental including business travellers and British residents. The plans were sent to Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) by the Local Government Association, the umbrella body for councils, which claims a majority of the public back the idea The plans were sent to Chancellor Rishi Sunak by the Local Government Association, the umbrella body for councils, which claims a majority of the public back the idea. Mr Sunak is under pressure to find ways of raising cash in next month's Budget but ideas including cuts to pension tax relief or a mansion tax have been poorly received by Tory MPs. A hotel tax would come on top of a 4 per cent council tax rise the largest allowed without a local referendum likely to be imposed from April in almost every area. It would add 70 to this year's average bill in England of 1,750. A 2 a night levy in Edinburgh is waiting for approval from the Scottish Government. In London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for powers for a similar tax. Gerald Vernon-Jackson of the LGA said yesterday: 'Giving councils the ability to introduce a local tourism levy means they could reinvest some of the tax income generated by this tourism into services that are attracting visitors.' The LGA suggested a 1-a-night hotel tax could raise up to 7million a year for a council, depending on its hotel industry. The organisation has also been looking at European cities that charge much more, such as Amsterdam which has a 7 per cent tourist tax on hotel rooms. In Venice (stock image), guests in the most expensive hotels pay a five euro levy The organisation has also been looking at European cities that charge much more, such as Amsterdam which has a 7 per cent tourist tax on hotel rooms. In Venice, guests in the most expensive hotels pay a five euro levy. The document says town hall spending on tourism has halved over the past decade. But any move to bring in a hotel tax is likely to meet fierce resistance from the tourist industry. Hotels already protest they have to meet costs in business taxes and safety regulations that don't apply to those letting homes on Airbnb. Comedian David Walliams joked 'I think it might be me' after police released an e-fit for an armed robbery suspect - with an uncanny resemblance to him. Officers released an e-fit image of a man - described as white, in his late 40s, with a round, clean shaven face and short brown hair - in relation to an attempted robbery in Doncaster last November. Twitter and Facebook users were quick to pick up on the likeness to the Britain's Got Talent judge. Comedian David Walliams joked 'I think it might be me' after police released an e-fit for an armed robbery suspect - with an uncanny resemblance to him Danny Campbell commented on the South Yorkshire Police facebook page: 'Pretty sure that's David Walliams.' While Mark Green said: 'Old David Walliams on rob in donny.' The actor himself then tweeted early this morning: 'I think it might be me.' The David Walliams lookalike is suspected to have attempted to rob a 70-year-old man as he was getting into his car on 27 November 2019. Police have asked anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident 468 of 27 November 2019. NAIROBI - Warring sides in South Sudan formed a "unity government" Saturday with rebel leader Riek Machar as vice president, launching the most serious bid in years toward ending a merciless civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and left millions homeless. The agreement between Machar and South Sudanese president Salva Kiir comes after two failed attempts that resulted in a return to war. International pressure had mounted on the two leaders after deadlines to reach a peace agreement over the past year. But key concessions were made in the past week clearing the way for a deal. "This action signifies the official end of the war and we can now declare a new dawn in South Sudan," Kiir said at the ceremony. "Peace has come to stay, not to be shaken ever again in this nation." Almost as many people have died in South Sudan's civil war as in Syria's, and in less time. Conflict has plunged parts of the country into famine, and driven more than 2.2 million people into neighboring countries, left 1.4 million without homes with South Sudan, and 190,000 living under direct U.N. protection. "This agreement marks a turning point in our history," said South Sudan's foreign minister, Awut Deng Acuil, in a telephone interview. "The suffering of our people is going to end. We will facilitate the return of people from neighboring countries." The agreement hinged on two key sticking points. The first was Machar's demand that South Sudan reduce its number of states from 32 to 10, contending that new borders had essentially been gerrymandered in a way that favored the Dinka ethnic group of president Kiir. Kiir insisted that Machar not be allowed to bring his own personal security forces into the capital, Juba, fearing a repeat of violence that rocked the city in July 2016 after the last peace deal failed. "This was the only foreseeable path forward. It is a momentous day," said Alan Boswell, an analyst focusing on South Sudan at the International Crisis Group, who was in Juba for the ceremony Saturday and recently returned from areas where Kiir and Machar's security forces were attempting to integrate into one unified army. "In other ways, though, it is a crawling step forward and doesn't drastically change the situation in the country," he added. "South Sudan isn't going to emerge from being a failed state overnight. It will take the work of generations to put its shattered pieces back together - even to get it back to where it was at independence." South Sudan became the world's newest country in 2011 after a bloody conflict to secede from Sudan, now its neighbor to the north. In 2013, the rivalry between Kiir and Machar, who was also vice president at that time, turned violent and spiraled into a full-blown war. Countless atrocities committed by both sides have been documented by journalists, human rights observers and the United Nations. A U.N. report released this week details how despite moves toward peace, war crimes are likely still being committed by both sides. The people of South Sudan have been "deliberately starved" in different parts of the country for ethnic and political reasons, and sexual violence against women and men as a weapon of war is ongoing, the authors of the report said on Thursday. Their report also details the siphoning off millions of dollars from government coffers by officials in Kiir's administration. In recent months, regional leaders, especially from South Sudan's neighbors - Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan - have met with Kiir and Machar to iron out the agreement. The United States, which played a pivotal role in South Sudan's independence, took a more punitive approach, imposing sanctions on members of Kiir's government in an effort to move the process forward. Even Pope Francis got involved last year, kissing the feet of Kiir and Machar in a moment that was reproduced in photos that the two leaders were presented with at the start of Saturday's ceremony in Juba. "While much work remains to be done, this is an important milestone in the path to peace," the U.S. Embassy said in a message of congratulations. Deng, the foreign minister, said that South Sudan and the United States "are not enemies" and that "relations have to be normalized to ensure South Sudan can recover fully." Unlike past agreements between Kiir and Machar, the current one is expected to last, even if contentions remain. Machar has accused Kiir of carving out an oil-rich zone from his home state and turning it into a federally administered zone, effectively keeping it under his control, for instance. Kiir also fired all 32 state governors and their staffs, some of whom control their own militias. "There will be losers from this, but I wouldn't go so far as to say they will be spoilers to the peace," said Boswell. "Still, no one should doubt how painful this is for everyone involved, including Kiir." Kiir and Machar will now work together to fundraise for recovery efforts, meld their security forces into a single army, and set the stage for national elections, which would still be years away. They will likely face each other as candidates for president. The U.S. military officially ceased offensive operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan early Saturday morning, The Washington Post reports. Why it matters: This is the first step in the U.S.-Afghanistan peace process. If the "reduction of violence" for the next seven days is effective, the U.S. government and Taliban will likely sign a peace deal at the end of February. Gen. Austin "Scott" Miller told reporters in Kabul our operations are defensive at this point, we stopped our offensive operations as part of our obligations, but we remain committed to defend our forces," per the Post. The big picture: The peace deal between the U.S. and Taliban is finally moving forward just as the United Nations releases a report more than 100,000 civilian casualties have been counted over the past 10 years, AP reports. The United Nation's secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, told AP, Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence. It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway. Go deeper: U.S. and Taliban announce first step in Afghanistan peace process Chief Minister and his deputy are unlikely to be present when US First Lady visits a Delhi government-run school in the capital on February 25, according to sources. As per the original schedule, both Kejriwal and Sisodia were to accompany during her visit to the school, people familiar with the matter said. Kejriwal and Sisodia were also to brief the US First Lady about the "happiness curriculum" introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, sources said. When contacted, a US embassy spokesperson referred the query on the matter to the Delhi government. There was no immediate reaction from the Delhi government. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushnerand a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a less than 36-hour-long trip to India. From Ahmedabad, the delegation will travel to Agra before arriving at the capital for the main leg of the visit. San Francisco, Feb 22 : After several top-notch companies decided to withdraw from the Libra Association, the cryptocurrency project championed by Facebook has got a major new entrant -- Canadian e-commerce major Shopify. Shopify said it would work with other members of the association to collectively build a payment network that makes money easier to access and supports merchants and consumers everywhere. "Our mission is to make commerce better for everyone and to do that, we spend a lot of our time thinking about how to make commerce better in parts of the world where money and banking could be far better," the company said in a statement on Friday. "That's why we decided to become a member of the Libra Association. This is one step, but not the only step we'll be taking to be a part of the solution to this global problem," it added. The Libra Association last year said that that over 1,500 entities indicated interest in joining the Libra project effort since the project was announced on June 18, 2019. Facebook and 20 partner organisations formally joined the digital currency project during a meeting in Geneva in October. The stated mission of the association is to build a better payment network, broadening access to essential financial services, and lowering costs for billions of people who need it the most. However, the project courted controversies and telecom major Vodafone, which was one of the 21 organisations which signed onto the Libra Association charter in October, decided to exit the project last month. Earlier, companies including PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, Mercado Pago, eBay, Stripe and Booking Holdings withdrew from the project. Several US senators have opposed Facebook's digital coin, arguing that the social networking giant has been irresponsible with user data privacy. They have even called the digital cryptocurrency Libra "delusional" and "dangerous". Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the Congress last October about Libra, defending the idea, but acknowledging the struggles left to overcome. Shopify said its decision to join the Libra Association was in line with the company's mission to create an infrastructure that empowers more entrepreneurs around the world. "Our mission has always been to support the entrepreneurial journey of the more than one million merchants on our platform. That means advocating for transparent fees and easy access to capital, and ensuring the security and privacy of our merchants' customer data," the company said. A 'Trump platter', comprising signature dishes from ITC Maurya's restaurant Bukhara with a little customisation, is likely to be laid out for US President Donald Trump during his maiden visit to India, sources said. The Bukhara restaurant, which has hosted several heads of states, including former US presidents, and has not altered its menu for the last 41 years. Like his predecessors, Trump is likely to dine at the iconic restaurant where a 'Trump platter' is likely to be laid out for him. It will be customised according to his taste, the sources said. The hotel, however, has not revealed anything about the arrangements made for Trump, including the food. Barack Obama had visited India twice in 2010 and 2015 as the president and he was served the 'Obama platter'. Since then, the dish has become a part of the menu and is also very popular among the guests. The Obama platter consists of tandoori jhinga, machhli tikka, murg boti Bukhara and kebabs. When Bill Clinton had visited Bukhara as the president, the hotel had introduced "Clinton platter" and "Chelsea platter". Bukhara's dishes are mainly tandoor based and has an assortment of kebabs, the signature 'Dal Bukhara' and breads like 'Khasta Roti', 'Bharwan Kulcha'. Trump is also likely to be gifted an apron with a painting of M F Husain. Legend has it that Husain was so impressed with Bukhara that he painted his trademark horse on his canvas while having food at the restaurant. This trademark horse has been replicated on the aprons that are given as mementos to the guests. These aprons will also be presented to the Trumps, the sources said. When Obama had stayed at the ITC Maurya in 2015, he was served food from the hotel's roof top European restaurant WestView where he dined with top CEOs from India and US on January 26. The dinner was hosted at the Grand Presidential Floor. First Lady Michelle Obama chose to experience the famed Bukhara cuisine and had a private dinner with select members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a searing op-ed, the former head of US Special Operations Command, who supervised the 2011 Navy Seal raid in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden, has slammed Donald Trumps reckless attitude towards the intelligence community saying that Americans should be afraid of the presidents actions. Retired navy admiral William McRaven, writing in The Washington Post about the dismissal of director of national intelligence Joe Maguire, decries the fact that Mr Maguire was apparently ousted simply for doing his job the dissemination of intelligence to elected officials. He writes: As Americans, we should be frightened deeply afraid for the future of the nation. When good men and women cant speak the truth, when facts are inconvenient, when integrity and character no longer matter, when presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil. Admiral McRaven opens with the famous quote from Irish statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. He lists the good men and women that have come and gone in the Trump administration: Jim Mattis, John Kelly, HR McMaster, Sue Gordon, Dan Coats, and now Joe Maguire, and later mournfully says that in this administration, good men and women dont last long. 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 Mr Maguires extensive career, including 36 years as a Navy Seal, is described in detail by Admiral McRaven who paints a picture of a patriot and a man of integrity. When caught up in the Ukraine whistleblower case, Mr Maguire told the White House he would testify if asked and would tell the truth and he did, says Admiral McRaven. He earned the respect of the entire intelligence community. They knew a good man was at the helm. A man they could count on, a man who would back them, a man whose integrity was more important than his future employment. Former CIA director John Brennan has also sounded the alarm about the Trump administrations alleged interference in the operations of US national security. Mr Brennan referred to the dismissal of Mr Maguire as a virtual decapitation of the intelligence community. Mr Maguire has been replaced in an acting capacity by Trump loyalist and US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell a move widely criticised due to Mr Grenells complete lack of experience in the field of intelligence. The president has said that he will nominate a permanent appointee to the role of director of national intelligence. The New York Times reports that Mr Grenell has already installed his own leadership team. He has also requested the intelligence behind the classified briefing Mr Maguire gave to the House Intelligence Committee last week, in which he informed lawmakers that Russia is interfering in the 2020 presidential election in Mr Trumps favour. When news of the briefing reached Mr Trump, he was reportedly livid and complained that Democrats would use it against him. Mr Maguire was dismissed shortly afterwards. Are vehicles banned in Karnataka? Yes and it no April Fools prank says DGP First cameras, now journalists banned from entering Karnataka Legislators House India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bengaluru, Feb 22: In what comes as a shocker to the media houses in the state, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has issued a notification on banning the entry of journalists in the Legislators House. A letter, released by the Speaker's office read, "Electronic media and print media cannot enter the Legislators House any time. The notification that was issued on February 18 said, "The legislators come to Legislators House from their constituencies during the assembly session. It is their private time when they stay there. When journalists come to Legislators House to meet them, it's an invasion of their privacy." "Arrangements will be made for journalists to speak to MLAs outside the gate. No journalist or camera person will be allowed inside the gate," the letter added. 'Disgruntled' Karnataka BJP leaders call for 'late-night meeting' with HD Kumaraswamy In October 2019, Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has said that cameras from private channels will not be allowed to enter the Assembly to cover the proceedings live. Reporters can still enter to observe the proceedings but bags and mobile phones, which were permitted earlier, would be left outside the Assembly hall. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 11:31 [IST] As one of nearly 700 attorneys in the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) who either did not take the time to vote or was inadvertently not attentive enough to exercise my right and "privilege" to praise or take anonymous cheap shots at judges I am a little reluctant to comment on said process ---- but I will. In the four adjoining counties of Hamilton, Rhea, Bradley, and Marion there ... (click for more) A week before its release, Anubhav Sinhas Thappad has made inroads into intellectual minds in several parts of the country. In an unprecedented show of confidence in his artistic creation, the filmmaker has arranged a special preview of the film in four cities, to be hosted by four of his filmmaker friends. The special screenings are in Delhi, Bhopal, Jaipur, and Mumbai. Four of my colleagues are hosting these special screenings. In Delhi, it was Vishal Bhardwaj and in Bhopal, it was Sudhir Mishra. In Jaipur, it will be Hansal Mehta and in Mumbai, Anurag Kashyap will be hosting the special screening of my film, an elated Anubhav reveals. Such confident unveiling of a film is rare in these days of media bashing when filmmakers want to protect their creation from the critical gaze for as long as possible. I believe Ive made a good film. In fact, I consider Thappad to be my best work to date. It is the one I am most proud of. Its the one where Ive made the least mistakes, the director asserts. Journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted after watching Thappad that she wept all through the film. I am getting a lot of that. Many people who have watched Thappad are moved to tears. I didnt even know Barkha properly, I didnt even have her number. When I invited her, she immediately agreed to come to see my film, says Anubhav, who wants the film to reach out to the right audience-profile. Meanwhile, Tapsee Pannu, who rips the screen apart with her unquestionable commitment to her character, says she is confident but nervous about Thappad. So far, the response to Thappad is too to good to believe. I am feeling overwhelmed. I am trying to hold on to my horses until February 28, when the film releases. I will rejoice fully only after the audience gives the film the same love that they did to my earlier films, she hopes. When asked about her secret formula for success in the socially relevant space of cinema, the actress stops to think before explaining Hone stly, it is just fearlessness. I am not afraid to stumble in the dark. I just think about what might happen in the worst-case scenario and then I take my leap of faith. I have worked with Anubhav sir before, so I knew I was in safe hands. As for her Thappad director transforming into a different filmmaker with Mulk, Taapsee says, I had the privilege of being a part of Mulk, the film that started his Version 2.0 journey as a filmmaker. As the Democratic presidential primary advances toward Super Tuesday, Joe Biden wants voters to choose a loyal Democrat. Preferably him, of course, but mostly just not Bernie Sanders or Mike Bloomberg.The former vice president, needing a boost after disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, framed both primary rivals as insufficient Democrats during an interview Friday on the eve of the Nevada caucuses. Sanders, who claims the label of democratic socialist, once toyed with running in a primary against then-President Barack Obama in 2012, Biden noted. Bloomberg is the mega-billionaire and former New York mayor who was a Republican and then independent before finally declaring himself a Democrat. Both men, Biden told The Associated Press, misrepresent their relationships with Obama, the nations first black president who tapped Biden, then a Delaware senator, to be his running mate in 2008. You can spend a billion dollars, and I guess he spent but what $400 million so far, whatever it is, Biden said of Bloombergs eye-popping personal investment in his White House bid. But you can't hide your record, Biden continued, pointing specifically to Bloombergs stop-and-frisk policy that, when he was mayor, effectively allowed New York police to detain disproportionate numbers of non-white residents, mostly young men, without probable cause. On Sanders, Biden cited a recent Atlantic magazine article that cast Sanders consideration of a primary campaign against Obama as serious enough that Harry Reid, the powerful Nevada Democrat who was then Senate Democratic leader, stepped in personally to shut Sanders down. I knew he talked about someone should primary Barack for a second term, like he thought Barack wasnt, I guess, socialist enough or whatever, Biden said, adding that he didnt previously know about Reids apparent move to step in. The paint is being peeled back here a little bit, Biden said. And I think they're entitled to those opinions. I don't mean theyre bad because of that. But the idea that We really loved Barack, man. He did a great job, is simply not turning out to be the case. Sanders has led all candidates in the first two nominating contests and appears to have strong support in Nevada. Bloomberg isnt competing in any February contests, instead directing his unprecedented personal spending in the 14 states that vote on March 3. His Super Tuesday strategy hinges on Biden, once the national front-runner, slipping out of contention. That makes Nevada critical for Biden after he finished fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire. I think well do well in Nevada, Biden said Friday, forgoing a detailed assessment of where he must finish. Though Bloomberg is not on Saturday's ballots, Biden relished that his fellow candidate had a rough experience in his first debate this week in Las Vegas. Biden said the debate exposed the irony of the stop-and-frisk policy alongside Bloomberg's ubiquitous ads depicting the former mayor alongside Obama. The former president, still wildly popular among Democratic voters, hasn't endorsed any candidate, including Biden. Obama has been mentioned prominently in several candidates ads and arguments, though no one has matched the breadth of Bloombergs recent Obama ads. Bloomberg did not support Obamas election in 2008; he wrote a relatively tepid endorsement late in the 2012 campaign, and former Obama aides have noted that Bloomberg often criticized Obama, including his 2010 health insurance overhaul. The former presidents aides say he's talked to any of the candidates who've sought his counsel and plans to support the eventual nominee enthusiastically. Biden has said he speaks regularly to Obama, but he declined Friday to say whether he asked the former president to publicly clarify that he has not endorsed Bloomberg. Nevada and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 have always been key to Bidens path to the nomination. Iowa and New Hampshire are both overwhelmingly white and not heavily unionized. Bidens base within the Democratic coalition is union members, older African Americans and older Latinos. Nevadas caucus electorate could still be majority white, but narrowly so, and its heavily unionized, especially in the casino and tourism industry. South Carolinas electorate, meanwhile, could be as much as two-thirds African American. Biden's connection to Obama, in turn, is part of his pitch to African Americans, especially. What happens in Nevada will determine what ultimately happens in South Carolina, and so forth through Super Tuesday, said Amanda Loveday, a prominent South Carolina Democrat who helps run a super PAC supporting Biden. I mean, he's said it: He has to get first or second in Nevada to be seen as viable coming into South Carolina. And I think he will. Those dynamics have made Biden simultaneously more aggressive and more comfortable over the last week of campaigning in Nevada, aggressive out of necessity, more at ease with clearly friendly audiences. His schedule is peppered with back of the house tours where he meets with casino workers along Las Vegas Strip. He's regularly hammered Sanders' Medicare for All single-payer health insurance plan as a threat to the insurance plans the powerful Culinary Union secured via collective bargaining. He's punched at Sanders for backing a 2005 law that granted civil immunity to gun manufacturers, a notable provision to Nevadans who recall the worst mass shooting in modern American history, which occurred in Las Vegas in 2017. Speaking to Latino campaign volunteers, Biden noted that 99% of Latinos havent voted yet. At an African Methodist Episcopal church in North Las Vegas earlier this week, Biden recalled his mother once chiding him for wavering when Obama offered him a spot on the ticket in 2008. I have a very persuasive mother, he said. Later, at a Black History Month festival, he promised an emcee a role in inaugural festivities if he wins. And then, at a legislative Black Caucus gala, he grew serious. Look me over, folks, he said. Gimme a shot. Im with you. I love you. (Image Credit: AP) A former South Texas police official is accused of attempting to smuggle three undocumented immigrants through the Laredo North Border Patrol Checkpoint earlier this month. Rausel Andrei Fonseca-Saldivar, who served as interim chief of the Dilley Police Department, was arrested while attempting to pass through the checkpoint Feb. 7, a federal affidavit states. Border Patrol agents said Fonseca-Saldivar of Laredo was driving a tractor-trailer when it arrived at the checkpoint for inspection at about 8:40 p.m. Agents asked him if there were any other occupants inside, to which Fonseca-Saldivar is said to have responded: Im the only person in here. Fonseca-Saldivar then agreed to let agents search the trailer, the affidavit states. As they searched the cabin, Fonseca-Saldivar uttered, Theres only three, to one of the agents, the affidavit states. Agents found three people. One was under a blanket, a second was behind the drivers seat, and a third was in a hidden compartment. They each admitted to being in the country illegally, investigators said. Fonseca-Saldivar told agents that he was driving to San Antonio. One of the immigrants, identified as Jonathan Antillon-Salgado, told investigators he made agreements to be smuggled into the country for $3,000. He said that three days after entering, he was taken to the truck and told to find space in the back. Antillon-Salgado said 30 minutes later, a driver entered the truck. The driver told the people inside not to make any noise, according to the affidavit. It is unclear when Fonseca-Saldivar served as Dilleys interim chief or when he departed the force. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Many readers will be familiar with the notorious Fox Butterfield effect, after the typically clueless New York Times journalist who wondered why crime was falling even though the number of inmates in prisons was going up. As they saying goes, theres no fixing certain kinds of stupid (and note that the Butterfield Effect about crime is now Democratic Party orthodoxy). I think the Butterfield Effect can be better generalized than its cousin, the Butterfly Effect (A butterfly beats its wings in Indonesia and a hurricane results in Florida), as follows: The Butterfield Effect is when a New York Times journalist bleats his wings in the Grey Lady and a hurricane of confusion reigns in newsrooms throughout the land. Anyway, The Economist is having its own Fox Butterfield moment just now about immigration, with a story last week entitled Immigration to America Is Down; Wages Are Up. Are the Two Related? In both 2018 and 2019 nominal wages rose by more than 3%, the fastest growth since before the recession a decade ago. Americans at the bottom of the labour market are doing especially well. In the past year the wages of those without a high-school diploma have risen by nearly 10%. Intriguingly, this has come as America has turned considerably less friendly to immigrants, who are assumed by many to steal jobs from natives and lower the wages of less-educated folk. . . There are nonetheless scraps of evidence that some workers are benefiting from Americas growing antipathy to immigrants. Gordon Hanson of Harvard University suggests that if the impact of reduced low-skill migration is showing up anywhere, it will be in three particular occupations: housekeepers, building-and-grounds maintenance workers, and drywall installers. These occupations rely heavily on immigrant labour and the services they provide cannot be traded internationally. Average wages in those occupations are rising considerably faster than wages in other low-paid jobs, according to calculations by The Economist. Intriguing evidence also shows up geographically. According to research by William Frey of the Brookings Institution, a think-tank, five big metro areas saw absolute declines in their foreign-born populations in 2010-18. Wages in those areas are now rising by 5% a year, according to our calculations. . . Of course, like their Butterfield model, the rest of the story labors mightily to take it all back, ending with this: As America ages, it will need a lot more people willing to work in health care. Study after study finds a positive association between immigration and long-run economic growthand therefore, ultimately, the living standards of all Americans. The Trump administrations immigration restrictionism may achieve a temporary boost in wages of the low-paid now, but at a cost to the countrys future prosperity. Well, at least we should give The Economist a participation trophy for trying. EDWARDSVILLE Mary Westerhold is officially retired from the Madison County Archival Library after 19 years as the research manager, but her love for history hasnt changed. Westerhold, who joined the staff at the archival library in December 2000, retired on Feb. 7. She started as a volunteer in the fall of 1999. Any time you leave a job youve been at that long, its hard to do, but a lot of things have changed in that time, said Westerhold, who spent more than 20 years in the insurance industry and holds a degree in actuarial science. I had never stayed at any other job this long. It was a perfect storm of events and it was time for me to go. Im leaving with mixed feelings and Ill miss the people I worked with. It was always fun, and we had a good time. The library is part of the Madison County Historical Museum complex. Westerhold is working part-time at the Edwardsville Public Library and staying busy wont be a problem for her. She will also be babysitting her granddaughter and working on various projects for the Madison County Genealogical Society. Working at the archival library was a labor of love for Westerhold, who has a special interest in genealogy and local history. When I first started, the people who were there before me were patient in answering all my questions, Westerhold said. I have an obsession with cemeteries, and I did a lot of research on that. Those people did a tremendous job of indexing our resources. People would come in and do research and the majority was either family history or the history of their house, and a lot of the history of their house was also about their families. We would help them with the resources we had at the library and we have a great collection of photos and scrapbooks. It was a reference library, so they couldnt take anything out. There may not be anyone who knows more about the history of Edwardsville and Madison County than Westerhold, but she realizes there is always much more to learn. The more you do research, the more you learn and the more you can help people with their research, Westerhold said. Im not sure if I know that much more than anybody else, but I know where to find things or who to turn to ask questions. Genealogy is more popular than ever, and Westerhold has seen a corresponding increase in the number of people coming to the Madison County Archival Library to search for their family history. Thats what sparked my interest in cemeteries, and I do a lot of family history research for my own family, Westerhold said. You cant do genealogy or history without doing both of them because theyre all connected. One of Westerholds projects was Voices of the Past, which was held for several years at Woodlawn Cemetery. The event featured costumed graveside actors discussing the history of the cemetery and focusing on the lives of Edwardsville residents in the mid-1800s. The stories were written and researched by Westerhold, who examined census records, newspaper articles, obituaries, centennial books and especially the social columns from early newspapers that described parties, travels and what people were wearing to events. We stopped doing it for a couple of years with all the construction on St. Louis Street and the roads in the cemetery, but I would like to get back into it, Westerhold said. A good friend of mine helped me get all the actors and all the clothing. We had great actors and actresses who really got into it and it was a lot of fun to do. Westerhold was also involved with the Madison County Historical Societys Dining in History event at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville in November 2018. The event included dinner, a program by Westerhold and a self-guided tour of the church. Westerhold also did a history book for St. Boniface. Ive done a lot of presentations for different groups and I always enjoyed those, Westerhold said. I did a history book for the 200th anniversary of Madison County and we worked on a display that was set up in the administration building. Any presentation Ive done, Ive always learned as much as I feel like Ive given to other people. The Madison County Archival Library is located at 801 N. St. in Edwardsville, next door to the Madison County Historical Museum at 715 N. Main St. The museum is currently closed for renovation. The county leases the societys assets and operates the museum and archival library, providing salaries for staff, utilities and other operating expenses. The historical society owns all of the buildings and artifacts located in the museum and archival library and pays for materials required to properly archive items in the collections, housekeeping, and various other regular expenses, but its primary financial obligation has been to obtain large donations required to obtain buildings and make any major repairs to those buildings. I dont know of any other county that does it this way, Westerhold said. It started a long time ago because the historical museum originally was one room in the county courthouse. When the historical society purchased the warehouse for the museum, the situation changed a little bit. The county government was still supporting it, but as it expanded, it was totally different. The county has always been very supportive of the historical society. It is co-funded, but the majority of funding for our (library) staff comes from the county. The historical society does other things as well and they purchase all of our preservation supplies because our job is to preserve the items that are donated to us. Compared to the Edwardsville Public Library, the Madison County Archival Library may not be as familiar to most people. For anyone looking to dig into family history or local history, it is an invaluable resource. The archival library is a hidden gem because a lot of people dont realize the information that is there, Westerhold said. The photo collection is amazing. The information has been gathered over the years and has been indexed by previous librarians. We have scrapbooks and everything is easy to find. Even though Im gone, there are plenty of people there who can help them out. Nobody is irreplaceable and we still have a great staff. Reach reporter Scott Marion at smarion@edwpub.net Miyetti Allah Kautel Hore socio-cultural organisation, has said that it may be pushed to set up its own security operation in the country, adding that if that happens, no one can control it. Speaking through its National President, Abdullahi Bodejo , in an interview with the Sun, the organization also declared that Nigerias breakup wont affect the Fulani in any way. Bodejo said he is so afraid the way regions are coming up with illegal security outfits, One group calls its own, Amotekun; another group calls its own Shege ka fasa, declaring that he does not support anything illegal. The Fulani leader pointed out that it would be a disaster for the country if all the groups are allowed to form their own security. He explained that the Fulani are in every corner, if the Fulani should set up its own, how many countries will that be; how many countries do they not have brothers- Our brothers are in Cameroun, Niger, Chad, Mali etc. Some migrated to Ghana to rear their cows and other parts of the world. He said his organization is looking at the response of the government and security agencies to the formation of these illegal security outfits, because if it comes to our side. I dont think it is something that anybody can control. If we are pushed to set up our own security outfit, nobody can control it because nobody knows how many Fulani in Nigeria; we are more than every tribe in this country, we are in every corner, Bodejo warned. If anything happens to this country whether break up, nothing can affect the Fulani. Nothing can affect the Fulani, he added. He said, however, that Fulani are blessed people who are managing themselves, but are hated by Nigerians who do not want to take their eyes off them. By PTI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, the White House said on Friday, emphasising that any successful dialogue between the two neighbours would be possible only if Pakistan cracks down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 2019. India's decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian envoy. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," a senior administration official said, when asked whether Trump would offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue again during his upcoming maiden visit to India. ALSO READ | No improvements: FATF jabs Pakistan over lack of action against terror funding Trump had last month again offered to "help" resolve the dispute between India and Pakistan, saying that the US was watching the developments between the two countries over Kashmir "very closely". Although Trump offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue in the past, New Delhi has told Washington that it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and there is no scope for any third-party mediation. "We continue to believe a core foundation of any successful dialogue between the two (Indian and Pakistan) is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. So we continue to look for that," the official said. The White House official's comments came after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) retained Pakistan for four more months on the 'Grey List' with a stern warning from the global anti-terror financing watchdog to complete the 27-point action plan it has been given by June 2020 or face being put on the 'Black List'. "But I think the president will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control (LoC) and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region," said the official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. ALSO READ | China commends Imran government's 'efforts' against terrorism after FATF retains Pakistan in grey list India has defended its move on Kashmir in August, saying the special status provisions only gave rise to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was its "internal matter". New Delhi has also asked Islamabad to accept the reality and stop its anti-India rhetoric. Responding to a question on the Afghanistan peace process, the official said the US would just encourage India, as it does with regional countries, to do whatever it can to support this peace process so that it can be successful and can potentially end 19 years of military, diplomatic, economic engagement. "You know, that we can end the military engagement. We will be continuing our diplomatic and economic engagement, which has been there over the last 19 years. But we certainly would look to India to support this peace process -- an important country in the region, important to the overall stability of the region. So I think if the issue comes up, that is what would be the request from the president," the official said. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will lead a 12-member American delegation to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. It's been a dramatic first week as Fingal's newest TD for Duncan Smith of Labour who after waiting two long and tense days to finally grab the fifth seat in Dublin Fingal, saw his party leader resign after a disappointing performance nationally, for Labour. Speaking to The Fingal Independent last week, Deputy Smith recounted the tense election count, and the turbulent few days that followed. He said: 'I was very relieved because there was an awful lot of pressure on me because this wasn't a new seat for Labour. This seat had been held by Brendan Ryan for eight years and it had been held by Labour for the guts of 30 years, so I felt an awful lot of pressure to hold onto the seat so I was delighted that we finally did it.' Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin announced his intention to step down from the leadership just days later and Smith was sorry to see him go. He said: 'I was surprised at the timing of it, and I had a personal kind of sadness because Brendan Howlin has been very good to me over the last four years. I got to know him very well and he's such a good and thoroughly decent man and he had the hardest job of Labour party leader in the history of the party. 'We had a very good local election last year where we increased our seats and he made a solid platform from which we can grow. If it wasn't for the Sinn Fein surge which was incredible, I think we'd have gained a few more seats and I would have credited Brendan Howlin with putting in the foundations for that.' Deputy Smith says he will wait to see who presents themselves for party leadership before considering who he believes should bring the party forward. Whoever it may be though, he says, they will have his full support. Deputy Smith says that given the party's disappointing result, Labour does not now feel it has the mandate to enter government as a full coalition partner. What the party plans, however, is enter talks with other like-minded left-wing parties with a view to supporting policies and policy platforms and to do 'whatever it takes' to deliver on key issues. The new TD said: 'It's always nervous when you start any new job, but I'm also exited and I think that's the overriding emotion I have at the moment. I've lots of energy that I intend to use for the good of the people of Fingal, and hopefully I can meet the standards set by Brendan Ryan and all Labour representatives past and present that we've had in the constituency.' BRONX, N.Y. -- After a Manhattan College student said she was sexually assaulted in her off-campus dorm, the college has been put on high alert, multiple published reports say. A female student told authorities she was attacked in her Bronx apartment in the off-campus dorm, Overlook Manor, last month, according to CBS. Police believe the same alleged attacker was involved in another assault on a different student two weeks later, the report says. For this reason, students at the college have been put on high alert by authorities and are encouraged to walk to the off-campus dorm in pairs, the report says. No arrests have been made, according to CBS. There has been a beefed up police presence in and around the campus, published reports say. Were all kind of scared in there. We dont really know whats going on, said dorm resident Miranda Gonzalez to CBS. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER An employee with the Midland County Sheriffs Office filed a lawsuit last week alleging her phone calls were intercepted and recorded at least 262 times over a three-month period, according to a copy of the suit obtained by the Reporter-Telegram. The suit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court names Chief Deputy Rory McKinney, Sheriff Richard Gillette and Midland County as defendants in the case. It alleges the defendants violated the Federal Wiretap Act and the Texas Wiretap Act. It states the plaintiff in the case, Debbie Nichols, was hired as an administrative assistant with the sheriffs office in 2012. Nichols suspected her calls were being intercepted because McKinney and others seemed to possess confidential knowledge about matters personal to Nichols and other employees, according to the suit. Nichols at one point contemplated requesting leave to care for a sick family member, according to the lawsuit. Before she submitted the request, an employee told her that McKinney was aware of her plans and had said he would do something about her job if she was gone long, according to the suit. Nichols then asked an information technology employee if phone calls were recorded. That employee confirmed calls were recorded and had been recorded for some time, the suit states. Nichols filed an Open Records Request in September for an access log of her phone calls, according to the lawsuit. That log allegedly showed her calls were intercepted and recorded 262 times between March and June 2019 by an individual with the username mckinner, who she believes to be McKinney. The log also allegedly showed the user listened to one phone conversation up to 56 times. According to the suit, Nichols was not told her conversations were being monitored or recorded and did not consent to having her conversations monitored or recorded. The suit states she believes the alleged wiretapping has occurred for several years. More for you MCSO confirms Rangers are conducting additional investigation During this time period, potentially tens of thousands of calls have been recorded, with the privacy interests of thousands of employees and outside citizens having been violated, the suit states. The extent of the violation will only become known during discovery in this case. Nichols made a second Open Records Request a month after the first one, according to the suit. She requested telephone records for a longer time frame but has not received those records. The suit states Nichols submitted a complaint to the Texas Rangers, and they have initiated a criminal investigation into the allegations. Nichols is seeking monetary damages for no less than $10,000 on one count and no less than $262,000 on a second count, as well as exemplary damages against McKinney, according to the suit. McKinney was not immediately available for comment. Gillette declined to comment when reached by phone, citing the pending litigation. An employee with the Midland County Sheriffs Office filed a lawsuit this week alleging her phone calls were intercepted and recorded at least 262 times over a three-month period, according to a copy of the suit obtained by the Reporter-Telegram. The suit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court names Chief Deputy Rory McKinney, Sheriff Richard Gillette and Midland County as defendants in the case. It alleges the defendants violated the Federal Wiretap Act and the Texas Wiretap Act. It states the plaintiff in the case, Debbie Nichols, was hired as an administrative assistant with the sheriffs office in 2012. Nichols became suspicious her calls were being intercepted because McKinney and others seemed to possess confidential knowledge about matters personal to Nichols and other employees, according to the suit. According to the lawsuit, Nichols at one point contemplated requesting leave to care for a sick family member. Before she submitted the request, an employee told her that McKinney was aware of her plans and had said he would do something about her job if she was gone long, according to the suit. Nichols then asked an information technology employee if phone calls were recorded, and that employee confirmed calls were recorded and had been recorded for some time, the suit states. It states Nichols filed an Open Records Request in September for an access log of her phone calls. That log allegedly showed her calls were intercepted and recorded 262 times from March to June 2019 by an individual with the username mckinner, who she believes to be McKinney. The suit states Nichols submitted a complaint to the Texas Rangers, and they have initiated a criminal investigation into the allegations. Nichols is seeking monetary damages as well as exemplary damages against McKinney, according to the suit. McKinney was not immediately available for comment. Gillette declined to comment when reached by phone, citing the pending litigation. EU Seen Turning Tough Rhetoric Into Action on Abuses Against Muslim Uyghurs in China By Roseanne Gerin 2020-02-21 -- Rights groups rejoiced when the European Parliament passed a resolution in December strongly condemning the large-scale incarceration of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwestern China, laying out a blueprint for action against Beijing should it not stop its harsh treatment of the Muslim minority group. The resolution gives the EU a mandate to take concrete measures by allowing the adoption of targeted sanctions and asset freezes against Chinese officials responsible for the repression and mass detentions in Xinjiang where more than 10 million Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims live. The resolution notes the rapid deterioration of the situation in Xinjiang during the last few years with the mass internment of up to 2 million people, intrusive digital surveillance, political indoctrination, and forced cultural assimilation. It calls on the Chinese government to immediately shut down the detention centers, unconditionally release detainees, and give independent journalists and international observers unfettered access to the region. At the time the resolution was passed, the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) called it "a turning point in the EU's attitude and position on the crisis in East Turkestan," the name by which many Uyghurs refer to Xinjiang. "While the EU has been among the loudest voices calling for the camps to be closed, it had yet to take strong and concrete action to realize this goal," the WUC said in a statement. Though it could take months before the EU as a whole moves to implement specific measures against China, rights groups say they have high expectations that something will occur soon. "It's just one step in the larger process of getting the European Union to take further action," said Ryan Barry, WUC's project coordinator and researcher. "It gives the EU a mandate to take some very concrete measures, including suggestions to take sanctions, which is something we've been calling for for a long time." The December 2019 resolution is the third such measure to be passed by EU lawmakers in the last 18 months to address the Uyghur crisis and demonstrate the body's resolve to take substantial action to stop China from violating human rights in Xinjiang. Going beyond the other two measures, the new resolution calls on EU companies to monitor their involvement in the Uyghur region to ensure they are not complicit in or responsible for crimes against humanity taking place there, Barry said. "Each one has gotten progressively more concrete and more specific in what they are trying to address, so we think this is a very important part in the overall scheme to try to address this issue, but what matters now is to implement the measures in this resolution," Barry said. A sense of urgency Others indicate an urgency for concrete action because they say China may not take the December resolution or other measures seriously. So far, the situation in Xinjiang, where authorities are believed to have held 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017, hasn't changed. "The resolutions may be ignored, but the EU has to be ready to follow up and impose necessary actions/measures in accordance with international law," Bahtiyar Omer, chairman of the Norwegian Uyghur Committee, wrote in an email to RFA. "We cannot stop fighting for basic and universal values just because China might ignore it." Norway is not a member of the European Union, but rather a member of the European Economic Area that allows for the extension of the EU's single market to non-EU member states. Gheyur Qurban, WUC's Berlin-based youth committee director, told RFA in 2019 that China believes it can afford to ignore accountability on the Uyghur crisis because of its economic superpower status. "Regardless of this human crisis there, what governments can do is not far enough," he said. "There is emphasis and attention, but there is only a war of words because China is now a superpower, so it just doesn't care about these human rights [issues]." Rights groups say that pressure must be sustained on bodies like the EU to keep the Uyghur crisis out in front so that lawmakers and others will decide to implement concrete measures against China sooner rather than later, but challenges remain. Ralph Bunche, general-secretary of the Brussels-based Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), notes that unlike the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, a legally binding measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2019, the EU Parliament's latest resolution is a nonbinding statement that is asking EU institutions to act. "So, you're not looking at something that will immediately jump into action, but what you can really ask for is the European Union as a whole to take this resolution and use it to create a policy movement to ensure that some of the things mentioned in the resolution actually happen." he said. The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, which still must clear the U.S. Senate, requires President Donald Trump to condemn Chinese abuses in Xinjiang and call for the closure of mass detention facilities. The passage of the act by the House was followed by calls from U.S. lawmakers for Global Magnitsky Act sanctions against Xinjiang Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, the architect of the internment policy, and other Chinese officials, and for efforts to prevent U.S. companies from buying Chinese products made with forced labor in the Xinjiang camps. The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act was crafted initially to deal with alleged human rights abuses and corruption in Russia, freezing the US. assets of rights violators and banning them from entering the country. Other rights activists say that economic factors in recent years have complicated EU action on China and the Uyghur crisis, as member states became more involved in infrastructure projects under China's massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). "We observe that often economic interests have overcome the universal and democratic values we are talking about so often, [but] the ongoing crisis in East Turkestan unfortunately reached a point where it was not possible to ignore any more," Bahtiyar Omer said. Efforts paying off Nevertheless, efforts by rights groups and individuals within the EU for lawmakers to acknowledge and address the Uyghur crisis as part of the bloc's greater engagement with China have gained traction. "At the beginning, nobody really wanted to meet with us, but then they became keener and keener to do so," said Lucia Parrucci, the UNPO's advocacy and training coordinator. In October 2017, some EU lawmakers formed a Uyghur Friendship Group, an informal network of legislators from different political groups and delegates from EU member states who meet regularly to discuss the challenges the Uyghur community faces, including the mass detentions in Xinjiang. "Attention was high because these people were committed to the issue and talking about it," Parrucci said. The parliamentary group also drew attention to the plight of Uyghur economics professor Ilham Tohti, who is serving a life sentence in prison in China on "separatism" charges. A day before the passage of the EU's latest resolution on the Uyghur crisis, Tohti was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his efforts to foster understanding between Uyghurs and majority Han Chinese and to highlight the human rights conditions of the Uyghurs. During a public hearing in Strasbourg on authoritarianism and the shrinking space for freedom of expression and human rights defenders on Tuesday, Yang Jianli, founder and president of Initiatives for China/Citizen Power, discussed what he called the "totalitarian" policies of Chinese President Xi Jinping who is "intent on controlling every aspect of people's lives" through extensive surveillance systems. "No doubt, China has become a high-tech digital surveillance superpower since Xi took power, and now its surveillance long arm is reaching out to the world," he said. "The overriding grand goal of China's rejuvenation and the China dream allows the Party state to continue denying the rights of China's people as well as people in Hong Kong and to continue to oppress the Tibetans and Uyghur Muslim minorities." The EU has also been one of the most vocal actors on the Uyghur crisis during the last eight or nine Human Rights Council sessions at the United Nations and during the annual EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, Barry said. "The EU delegation has consistently raised this issue whereas many other states have not for the last three EU-China Human Rights Dialogues the camps, Uyghur issues, and Uyghur rights issues in particular have been priorities," he said. "What's been missing is concrete action, which is what this resolution really calls for." "This most recent resolution calls for precisely this targeted sanctions, passing Magnitsky-style legislation that the EU can use to impose these assets freezes, visa bans, and targeted measures," Barry said. "That is very necessary from the EU. That's the next big step in the process." Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Outspoken: Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary The boss of Ryanair has launched a scathing attack on the Government's rescue of the rival airline Flybe in the national media today. Criticising Boris Johnson over last year's bailout in an interview with the The Times, Michael O'Leary questioned why taxpayers were left to foot the bill for a company owned by three of the industry's richest billionaires. Flybe is owned by Connect Airways, a consortium made up of Cyrus Capital Partners, Stobart Group and Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic which itself is half-owned by US giant Delta Airlines. 'If Branson and Delta won't put their hands in their pockets, why should the taxpayer?' Mr O'Leary told The Times. The 58-year-old also took aim at millennials and the obese, as well as arguing that male Muslims should be the focus of airline security checks, while families should be waived through. Mr O'Leary said he believes the aviation industry has been treated unfairly over environmental issues and pointed out Ryanair is spending 25billion over the next eight years to make its fleet greener. He also claimed broadcasters only use images of planes taking off when they want to illustrate the world heating up, even though 'aviation only accounts for two per cent of CO2 emissions'. The businessman also criticised millennials when asked for his thoughts on gender fluidity, adding it was only a matter of time until his male air stewards started 'wearing skirts'. 'It's the way of the world,' he said. 'We are Europe's largest airline carrying many millions of millennials, so we have to pander to all that nonsense.' Mr O'Leary also raised concerns about obesity but said problems were worse in the US and the UK. 'If you have complete monsters you may need to buy two seats,' he said, 'but we are not in Europe the way they are in North America, where it's a huge issue.' The Ryanair owner has already received criticism for comments made in the interview in which he called for Muslim men to be profiled at airports as a measure to prevent terrorism. Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said Mr O'Leary was 'encouraging racism'. 'If he can tell me what colour Muslims are then I'd be very happy to learn from him you can't judge a book by its cover,' he told the Times. Vietnam has reported no new confirmed cases of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) since February 13, heard at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi yesterday. A worker sprays disinfectant at a classroom of the Viet Duc High School in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district on February 2 Healthcare facilities at the district level and higher levels are capable of treating patients infected with COVID-19. As of February 21 afternoon, 15 of the 16 patients with COVID-19 in Vietnam had been cured and discharged from hospital. The 15th case, a Vietnamese American, at HCM Citys Tropical Diseases Hospital repeatedly tested negative from February 12 17 and was discharged on February 21. Vietnam still has 28 suspected cases and nearly 5,650 people in close contact with those who may have the virus or those returning from epidemic areas. All of them are under quarantine. By February 21 noon, there are 76,727 confirmed cases in 29 countries and territories worldwide and the number of deaths reached 2,247. In China alone, 75,465 cases have been reported with 2,236 deaths. New cases may be appeared in the coming time, but with the rising temperature and effective treatment plans in place, Vietnam is capable of containing the outbreak and ensuring safety for economic and cultural events, said Tran Dac Phu, former director of the Health Ministrys Preventive Health Department. Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung noted the World Health Organisation (WHO), international organisations and diplomatic corps have recommended that in the current situation, Vietnam can soon think about reopening schools. Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said the ministry is considering to allow students to go back to school starting from March 2, given that longer shutdown would causing difficulties for teaching and learning in this 2019-2020 academic year. The ministry will accelerate communication campaigns to educate students on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, Do added. He moved on to say that the ministry will work with the Peoples Committees of HCM City and Hanoi on February 22 to discuss HCM Citys proposal to extend school break until the end of March. US lauds Vietnams medical capacity The US stands ready to cooperate with Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the fight against the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), US officials said at a recent meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country. The meeting, which took place on February 19, saw the participation of Erika Elvander, Director of the Asia-Pacific Office under the US Department of Health and Human Services, and Mitchell Wolfe, Chief Medical Officer of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The US officials applauded Vietnams medical capacity, especially in the control of the epidemic. Vietnamese leaders, from central to grassroots levels, have issued timely instructions and taken comprehensive, drastic measures to combat the disease, they said, lauding Vietnams efforts in improving public awareness of the virus. The US side expressed its belief that with a good medical infrastructure system and a widespread vaccination network, Vietnam will effectively combat the epidemic. The US officials also praised Vietnams close, effective cooperation in the work as the country has regularly exchanged relevant information and experience. US scientists are joining efforts in the study of COVID-19 to seek preventive measures, they said, adding that some US laboratories have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that could be ready for human testing within two months and for use within six months to one year. Regarding ASEAN-US cooperation, the US side said Vietnam, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, has promptly responded to COVID-19 and raised initiatives in regional cooperation against the illness. The US Department of Health and Human Services is willing to step up medical collaboration with the ASEAN, particularly in the virus fight, through the ASEAN-US mechanism and at international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). The CDC plans to send a working group to Vietnam in March to discuss cooperation and the establishment of a CDC office in the Southeast Asian nation, the US officials said. They added that US offices, including the International Reagent Resources, is ready to share their COVID-19 research outcomes, exchange experts and provide test kits and personal protection equipment for Vietnam to help the country improve is capacity to fight the disease. At the meeting, the Vietnamese side briefed the US officials on Vietnams prevention and control of COVID-19, and thanked the US for its cooperation over the past time. The Vietnamese officials suggested the US implement more projects to help Vietnam and ASEAN enhance their medical capacity, while further facilitating economic and trade ties as well as people-to-people exchanges, especially at a time when Vietnam and the US are celebrating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1995-2020), and Vietnam serves as ASEAN Chair 2020. 15th Covid-19 patient in Vietnam discharged from hospital browser not support iframe. The 73-year-old patient was admitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases in District 5 on January 31 with symptoms including a fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Tests later showed he was positive for the novel coronavirus, making him the seventh confirmed case in Vietnam. The man is the oldest covid-19 patient in Vietnam and the third confirmed in Ho Chi Minh City. Earlier, two Chinese patients, who are father and son, were cured and discharged from hospital. By Feb. 21, 15/16 covid-19 patients in Vietnam have been released from hospital. In Ho Chi Minh City, 30 people were in quarantine at a makeshift hospital in the suburban district of Cu Chi. No confirmed or suspected cases have been reported. COVID-19: Quang Ninh allows the eligible to go home for further quarantine People entering Vietnam via the Mong Cai International border gate in the northern province of Quang Ninh are allowed to return home for further quarantine as they tested negative for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after three-day quarantine in Mong Cai city. The provincial Peoples Committee has ordered the local Military Command to join hands with the Health Department and Mong Cai city Peoples Committee to bring the people home on February 21. Most of the citizens come from northern localities. Earlier, Quang Ninh province sent a document to cities and localities in the north, asking for coordination to receive those eligible for home quarantine. According to the provincial Health Department, as of 7:00 on February 21, the total number of people under observation for COVID-19 testing in Quang Ninh province was 165, all of whom tested negative for the novel virus. Currently, there are 299 people put in quarantine in the locality. Around 15-20 Vietnamese citizens make their entry into the country through the Mong Cai border gate./. VNA Covid-19 could lead to restructuring of Vietnam tourism industry The Ministry of Planning and Investmetn (MPI) estimates that Vietnams tourism sector may lose $2.3 billion worth of revenue from foreign investors if Covid-19 lasts until the end of Q1 and $5 billion if it continues through Q2. One of Premier Daniel Andrews cabinet ministers is white-anting the Labor leaders authority, with the party in Victoria overwhelmed by chaos and turmoil, the ALPs longest-serving senator has warned. Senator Kim Carr says Mr Andrews government risks being swamped by the escalating internal brawling and the shenanigans of factional warlords with the senator warning disunity is death. The ALP veteran left-wingers explosive comments are aimed squarely at Local Government Minister and powerbroker Adem Somyurek, whose Right faction is warring with Senator Carrs Socialist Left. Senator Kim Carr has accused his factional Labor rival Adem Somyurek of causing disunity for the party's Victorian branch. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The conflict is causing serious tension among members of the cabinet of Mr Andrews, himself a member of the Socialist Left but who has so far refused to get involved in the row. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I have pretty clear memories of my first visit to a cafeteria. I was five years old, and my parents wanted our family to experience a Morrisons Cafeteria in Montgomery, Alabama. It was amazing. I saw untold numbers of dishes of meats, vegetables, salads, fruits and, of course, desserts. I had never seen anything like it. Mom and Dad had already given my brother and me strict instructions on how much we could choose. But, for a small-town kid who had never seen such a feast, I was amazed. The concept was basic. If you paid your money, you could choose whatever you wanted. Your preferences were paramount. It was all about you. It sounds like some churches we know. Though we dont have the numbers of cafeterias we once had, the lessons are instructive. Simply stated, your church is not a cafeteria. Here are seven differences. In a cafeteria, you pay for your preferences. In a church, you should give abundantly and joyfully without expecting anything in return. If you ever hear someone say, We pay the bills in this church, you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. In a cafeteria, the focus is on you. In a church, the focus should be on God first and then others. If you ever hear someone say, Im not getting fed in this church, you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. In a cafeteria, you demand to have things your way. In a church, you should sacrifice your own needs for others. If you ever hear someone say, I want the order of service to be like its always been, you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. In a cafeteria, the business must continue to make things more appealing and attractive for you to return. In a church, you should not expect to be entertained to get you to come back. If you ever hear someone say, Im going to a church where the music is more exciting, you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. In a cafeteria, if the customer does not get his or her way, the business must make every effort to address and remedy his or her complaint. In a church, we should be so busy doing for others and serving Christ that we dont have time or the desire to whine or complain. If you ever hear someone say, People are saying . . ., you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. In a cafeteria, you have a full staff serving you behind the glass partitions, indulging your every desire. In a church, you should not expect the staff to do all or most of the ministry or service; instead, the members are to do the work of ministry. If you ever hear someone saying, Pastor, you should . . ., you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. In a cafeteria, you will likely complain to others in person or on social media if you are not fully satisfied. In a church, you should not have a gossiping or complaining spirit; instead, you should be building others up. If you ever see someone complain about their church on social media, you know they act like the church is a cafeteria. Cafeterias were fun when I was a kid. But Morrisons went out of business and the pieces were picked up by Piccadilly Cafeterias. And Piccadilly declared bankruptcy in 2012. The big cafeteria chains have not fared well. And neither will churches if they keep acting like cafeterias. Originally posted at thomrainer.com Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders warned Russia on Friday to stay out of 2020 White House elections after US officials had told him Moscow was trying to aid his campaign. 'The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr. Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections,' Sanders told reporters in Bakersfield, California. Sanders, 78, a democratic socialist US senator from Vermont, is considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and is favored to win the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. The Washington Post on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, said US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort and had also informed Republican President Donald Trump and US lawmakers. US officials have told Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders that Russia is trying to help his campaign, the Washington Post reported on Friday It was not clear what form the Russian assistance took, the paper said. A congressional source confirmed intelligence officials have told lawmakers Russia appears to be engaging in disinformation and propaganda campaigns to boost the 2020 campaigns of both Sanders and Trump. The source, however, cautioned that the findings are very tentative. Sanders said he was briefed about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified. 'We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign,' Sanders told reporters. 'Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections.' 'What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing - and I've seen some of their tweets and stuff - is they try to divide us up,' he said. 'They are trying to cause chaos. They're trying to cause hatred in America.' Sanders' campaign put out a statement which read: 'Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. 'He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia. 'Lets be clear, the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts, and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election.' The Kremlin on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the US presidential campaign to boost Trump's re-election chances, following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week. 'These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the (US) election,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 'They have nothing to do with the truth.' US intelligence officials told members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of November's election, as it did in 2016, a person familiar with the discussion told Reuters on Thursday. Russian president Vladimir Putin was described as an 'an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent' by Sanders when he was told of the reports Since that briefing, Trump has ousted the acting intelligence chief, replacing him with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as Democrats and former US officials raised the alarm over national security concerns. A senior administration official said the nation was better positioned than in 2016 to defend against foreign attempts to influence elections. 'President Trump has made clear that any efforts or attempts by Russia, or any other nation, to influence or interfere with our elections, or undermine US democracy will not be tolerated,' the official said. Some of Sanders' rivals for the Democratic nomination said they had neither received similar briefings nor word that Russia was working to boost their campaigns. Former Vice President Joe Biden told CNN on Friday: 'I know Russia doesn't want me to win. It's really clear that Putin doesn't want me to be the nominee, and Donald Trump doesn't want me to be the nominee.' Senator Elizabeth Warren, while campaigning in Las Vegas, said there should be 'as much transparency as possible' to block Russia from having 'too much influence' in US elections. 'This is about disinformation and the way to fight disinformation is to call it out, show what it is and give everyone full information as quickly as possible,' Warren told reporters. Facebook declined to comment on whether it has seen any evidence of Russian assistance to Sanders' campaign. Donald Trump said reports that an intelligence community aides warned Congress that Russia wants him to win reelection is a 'misinformation campaign' and another 'hoax' created by Democrats In October, the company took down Russian-backed accounts that pretended to be from political battleground states. Some of those accounts used Instagram to praise Sanders. Another used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and faulted Biden on race issues. Jessica Brandt of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, an organization that monitors foreign interference in US politics, said Russian state media and official social media accounts have been working to help Sanders by amplifying conspiracy theories that his Democratic rivals, the Democratic National Committee and the 'corporate media' have been 'rigging the system' against him. 'We can say with certainty that this is what the Russian government is pushing,' she told Reuters. 'We've seen for some time Russian official channels promoting division within the Democratic Party.' Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which works with Facebook to analyze state-backed information operations, said 'Russian influence operations are equal opportunity hyperpartisan, with the overarching goal to drive Americans further away from each other.' Meddling? A senior intelligence official told the House Intelligence Committee, which is headed by Trump's impeachment rival Adam Schiff, that Vladimir Putin's Russia is interfering in the 2020 election to secure a second term for Donald Trump US officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the November 3 presidential election, following Russia's meddling in the 2016 campaign that ended with Trump's surprise victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. US intelligence agencies concluded that the Kremlin used disinformation operations, cyber attacks and other methods in its 2016 operation in an effort to boost Trump, an allegation that Russia denies. Trump, sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticized American intelligence agencies. Russia's alleged interference sparked a two-year-long U.S. investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. He also pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to obstruct his investigation, as Democrats alleged, but left any finding of obstruction to Congress. A third consecutive weekend of stormy weather is bringing further flooding misery to already sodden communities. With swathes of South Wales and northern and central England still trying to cope with the impact of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis, heavy showers have brought new flooding plus warnings of more to come. The Met Office said more belts of heavy rain were due on Saturday night and again on Sunday night, accompanied by warnings of high winds and snow in Scotland. It will be another unsettled morning, with a #wind warning in force for the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. #Snow also likely on hills in the north pic.twitter.com/rI47J7SfWb Met Office (@metoffice) February 22, 2020 On Saturday morning, the Environment Agency had 90 flood warnings in place, as well as 153 flood alerts, covering areas from Wiltshire to Cumbria. And two severe flood warnings meaning an imminent danger to life remain in force for the River Lugg at Hampton Bishop, near Hereford. Flooding was reported across the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales on Friday night, with the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale cut off by rising water. We have two crews from #Settle, #Grassington and a water rescue team from #Ripon in Horton in Ribblesdale which is currently surrounded by floodwater. Crews are checking residents and ensuring everyone is safe. Please avoid the area and do not attempt to drive through floodwater North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) February 21, 2020 North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said on Twitter: We have two crews from Settle, Grassington and a water rescue team from Ripon in Horton-in-Ribblesdale which is currently surrounded by floodwater. Story continues Crews are checking residents and ensuring everyone is safe. The service also said it had helped four people to safety from a stranded vehicle in Skipton as well as helping with flooded properties in the village of Giggleswick. North Yorkshire Police said the A65 between Gargrave to Settle was impassible due to flooding on Friday night and West Yorkshire Police reported problems on the same road between Ilkley and Burley on Saturday morning. Motorists have also been warned to avoid Billams Bridge, in Otley, on Saturday. There are 2 severe flood warnings in place on the Rivers #Lugg and #Wye. Stay safe and continue to follow the advice of emergency services. Check your flood risk:https://t.co/6sQvhuceBP#floods #flooding pic.twitter.com/zb1YCyAYEw Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) February 21, 2020 The damage wreaked by Storm Dennis last weekend and Storm Ciara the week before is projected to run into the billions to repair. Although this weekend will bring bouts of rain, high winds and even snow in places, the Met Office said on Saturday the conditions did not merit classifying the weather as a named storm. Forecaster Marco Petagna said Saturday would bring a respite from the rain in some areas but there was a warning for high winds in the north and another band of stormy weather would sweep in from the South West on Saturday night. Mr Petagna said a yellow weather warning had been issued for rain in parts of Wales on Sunday with 60mm in total expected in some upland areas. He said another storm system would move across the whole of the UK on Sunday night with high winds, rain and snow across Scotland and parts of northern England. Prince Charles visited Pontypridd in South Wales on Friday which has been badly hit by the floods. The Prince of Wales during a visit to Pontypridd (Chris Jackson/PA) It is estimated that 1,100 properties both residential and commercial have been affected in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area. Charles walked down Pontypridds high street, where many shops are closed due to flood damage. Caroline Douglass, director of incident management at the Environment Agency (EA), said on Friday: This will be the third weekend of exceptional river levels and stormy weather. With the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this. People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through floodwater. The EA said that river levels have exceeded existing records with the Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg and Derwent among the many rivers where records have been broken. But the agency said that, even with record river levels, the number of homes flooded has been lower than in other major flood events of the last 20 years. Your browser does not support the audio element. A Chinese man and his son have sent a letter to extend their gratitude toward the Vietnamese doctors at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City who played a significant part in their recovery from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Li Ding, a 66-year-old Chinese national, and his son, 28-year-old Li Zichao, recently sent the letter, in both Chinese and English, to doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The father and son were confirmed as the first two cases of COVID-19 in Vietnam after their hospitalization on January 22. Following their treatment, Li Zichao was discharged from the infirmary on February 4, while Li Ding was released over a week later on February 12. It was Vietnamese doctors and nurses medical treatment with their all strength that finally healed us, the Chinese citizens wrote in their English version of the letter. They went on to thank all the medical practitioners at Cho Ray Hospital who took good care of them. We agreed that we will be back to the beautiful Vietnam [sic] again at an appropriate time in the future, and will be back to Cho Ray Hospital again to express our most sincere thanks to our distinguished friends, the letter reads. The letter that Li Ding and his son Li Zichao sent to doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City Dr. Le Quoc Hung, head of Cho Rays tropical diseases department, has posted the letter on his Facebook account, considering it encouragement for all medical staff in Vietnam and the world to battle the COVID-19 epidemic. Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, director of the infirmary, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he felt a little proud to be able to help the patients recover from the disease, but the biggest joy of all is contributing to the success of Vietnams healthcare sector in the fight against the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 has killed 2,360 people and infected nearly 77,700 globally since it first hit the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, according to the South China Morning Post. Vietnam has so far confirmed 16 cases of the viral infection, including 13 Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese. Among them, 15 have fully recovered and been released as of Friday afternoon. The only remaining patient is receiving treatment at a general clinic in the northern province of Vinh Phuc and expected to be discharged next week. The country has recorded no new infection since Thursday last week. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Posing in her superhero costume, Robyn Orfitelli is a hero to striking academics but a dastardly villain to the countrys university bosses. The 35-year-old from Alaska, who is the chief pay negotiator for the University and College Union, has led the charge in demanding more pay and better pension deals for staff, declaring: Solidarity and comradeship are worth everything. She has taken to picket lines wearing a mask and a black leather ensemble with a yellow lightning bolt across the front. The former Harvard student has also posted encouragement for striking tutors from her black cat, named Max, on Twitter, writing: Max sends everyone good luck in fighting for better employment rights and better government. Robyn Orfitelli, 35, (left) who is the chief pay negotiator for the University and College Union, has led the charge in demanding more pay and better pension deals for staff. She is the side-kick of UCUs glamorous boss Jo Grady (right) She may look like the hero, but Orfitelli is actually the sidekick to UCUs glamorous boss Jo Grady, a miners daughter who gave up her job as a senior lecturer in employment relations at Sheffield University last year to run the campaign of strikes. Grady, 36, has been vocal in recent days, pushing for coverage of the strikes and criticising university heads for their high earnings. She has condemned the high pay packages handed to vice-chancellors, but takes home a six-figure salary herself as general secretary of the UCU. The UCU refused to reveal her salary but her predecessor Sally Hunt was paid 170,448 and took home benefits of 23,339 last year. Grady, 36, has been vocal in recent days, pushing for coverage of the strikes and criticising university heads for their high earnings (pictured are members of the University and College Union at the University of Bristol on Thursday) Miss Grady, who is in a relationship with the Leicester UCU pensions officer Chris Gracott, was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, into a mining family. She later helped out at her fathers pub on Saturdays, before going to college. She finished a degree in industrial relations at Lancaster University and landed a job at Leicester University before moving to teach at Sheffield. Last week, Grady joined thousands of lecturers manning picket lines outside university campuses, where there have been impromptu lectures about the history of trade unions and even some knitting workshops. A man (L) disembarking from a Xiamen Airlines plane at the Tianhe airport in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Jan. 31, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Two-Thirds of Virus Carriers From China Werent Detected by Countries, Study Estimates A new study estimates that two-thirds of coronavirus cases exported from mainland China remain undetected worldwide. In less than two months, the virus has spread to 29 countries and territories outside of mainland China, with a total of more than 1,000 confirmed cases. However, a Feb. 21 study (pdf) by researchers at the Imperial College London, which collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) in infectious disease modeling, analyzed flight data from the virus epicenter Wuhan City, and found that some countries have detected significantly fewer than would have been expected based on the volume of flight passengers arriving from Wuhan. Researchers found that countries including Singapore, Finland, Nepal, Belgium, Sweden, India, Sri Lanka, and Canada have been more effective in their virus detection efforts. After taking into account these countries air traffic from China, they appear to have detected relatively more cases of the virus carried by people from mainland China, the researchers said. Using Singapore as a benchmark, the researchers estimated that there were likely 426 cases of the virus being exported from mainland Chinaas opposed to local cases of human-to-human contagionleading them to conclude that worldwide, two-thirds of COVID-19 cases exported from mainland China have not been picked up by surveillance programs, study co-author Christl Donnelly said in a press release. Globally, the current confirmed total of virus cases exported from mainland China is 156. This potentially leaves sources of human-to-human transmission around the world unchecked, the study concluded. We are starting to see more cases reported from countries and regions outside mainland China with no known travel history or link to Wuhan City, co-author Natsuko Imai said. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of surveillance and case detection if countries are to successfully contain the epidemic. Chinese authorities locked down Wuhan on Jan. 23, when many experts said it was too late to stem the spread of the disease. Before then, 5 million residents had already left the city, serving as potential carriers of the virus to other cities and around the world. Since then, dozens of countries have enacted travel restrictions and measures to screen for the disease among passengers arriving from mainland China. The United States has barred foreign nationals who have visited China for the past 14 days from entering the country. Screening and quarantine measures apply to U.S. citizens, residents, and their family members who have been in China within 14 days. Outside of China, South Korea has the most confirmed infections with 204 cases. In the United States, 34 patients have tested positive for the virus. Terrorists and corrupt people have 'no right to privacy' and these people should not be allowed to abuse the internet, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Saturday New Delhi: Terrorists and corrupt people have "no right to privacy" and these people should not be allowed to abuse the internet, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Saturday. Speaking at the inauguration of the International Judicial Conference 2020 - 'Judiciary and the Changing World', Prasad said it needs to be acknowledged that people who abuse the finest creations of humankind, one of which is the internet, pose the biggest threats. He said the right to privacy has been held to be a fundamental right and the government appreciates that but "terrorists and the corrupt have no right to privacy because the right to privacy has acquired critical proportion in the wake of digital landscape expanding globally". "This is the age of information and information is power. This is the age of communication and communication is power," he explained. The minister said the right to privacy verdict of the Supreme Court has become a beacon globally as it held that the right to privacy flows from Article 21 right to life and right to live with dignity. Prasad also warned about the "sinister trend" of some people "unleashing all forces of criticism" if courts do not deliver judgments in line with their expectations. "In a democracy, we welcome dissent, we welcome populism. But we have a problem when populism impinges upon the well-settled constitutional principles. And populism also becomes the problem when those rejected in the popular mandate becomes the biggest flag-bearers of populism," he said. According to the Constitution, Prasad said, it is clear that governance must be left to those elected to govern and they need to be accountable to the Parliament, in many ways to judicial decisions, and to people in elections. "But what is challenging is that populism is seeking to have greater accountability as to what kind of judgments there should be. I am a great supporter of social media freedom. I know it is empowering but this (populism) is a dangerous trend. Judges must be left completely independent to give judgments... in accordance with the rule of law," he said. Prasad said the "sinister trend (of populism) is developing globally" and also in India, where people have started campaigning for the kind of judgment they expect. "If a judgment is not in accordance with them, they unleash all forces of criticism," he said, adding that the criticism of a judgment can be acceptable but criticising the judiciary is not appropriate. Talking about gender justice, he said India is "very proud" that the Indian women are doing so well. "You can see so many women judges sitting here of high courts and the Supreme Court, including chief justices. Our prime minister has taken a lead in empowering women in India by 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. Educate the girl child, develop the girl child," he said. Prasad, who also holds the portfolio of the Information and Technology Ministry, said half of the four million people working in the sector are women. "Our prime minister was bold enough to permit that women Indian Air Force pilot will also fly fighter planes and this was complemented by the recent judgment of the Supreme Court where Indian women Army officials were given the right to command. I think these are great initiatives of gender empowerment," he said. The Union minister, however, accepted that there exist the challenges of victimisation of women and young girls but said the government has responded to address the issue by making rape laws tougher and establishing more than 1,000 fast-track courts. "Surely this is a work in progress. We have to ensure that while we celebrate Indian women scientists joining the space programme for Mars, they should also get justice," he said. He also talked about the money saved due to Aadhaar, the opening of bank accounts and the use of technology by the government. "Obviously, it has given rise to a lot of data and data is important. We need to keep a right balance and the balance is that we accord constitutional sanction to privacy but at the same time, we should not kill innovation. We should not kill application of new technology. Our courts have recognised that exception. India today has become the third biggest start-up ecosystem in the world," he said. The minister said there should be a balance between rights and duties and everyone should work in a manner that the identity of India continues to remain strong and resilient. The ruling Biju Janata Dal has protested against the directive of Bhubaneswar AIIMS authorities to its employees to speak and write in Hindi calling it the imposition of the language on the state. Odisha happened to be the first state in the country to be formed on linguistic basis, according to the party. Chief of BJD Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha, Pinaki Mishra said his party would lodge a strong protest with union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan over the AIIMS Bhubaneswar directive making it mandatory for its employees to sign, write names and subject in files in Hindi. We would not like to allow anybody sidelining our mother tongue, particularly by any institution that is working for the people of our state. We will insist on Odia being used since our people are familiar with it and that will make their task of availing services at AIIMS easier, said Mishra. AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Thursday had brought out a notice asking all its employees to sign in Hindi as well as write names and subjects in all files in Hindi language. All the officers in administration, academic section, hospital administration, finance and accounts are hereby informed to do their work in Hindi and it should be ensured that the staff members working with them are doing their work in Hindi as per Official Languages Rules, 1976. Discussions may be in Hindi in all adminstrative meetings and the minutes are to be prepared in Hindi as far as possible, the directive said. Employees were asked to write at least 30 per cent of their notes and drafts in Hindi, write at least 55 per cent of all correspondence in Hindi, fill up all bi-lingual forms used in offices in Hindi, reply to all letters in Hindi. Earlier in the day, Congress MP from Koraput, Saptagiri Ulaka too had protested the directive saying it was another attempt by the Centre to impose Hindi at the cost of Odia. Dillip Dashsharma, president of Utkal Sammilani, a body promoting Odia language said the AIIMS directive was an insult to Odia language that is one of the 22 languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. Every language must be given respect and no one should force any language on anybody. Rather, the Odia language should be made compulsory as per the Odisha Official Language (Amendment) Act, he said. 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. The United States has tried to persuade other countries not to use Huawei equipment in emerging 5G networks. But the effort has faltered because of a lack of competing technology. Attorney General William P. Barr suggested recently that the U.S. government or American companies should consider investing in Huawei competitors Nokia of Finland and Ericsson of Sweden to try to prevent the Chinese companys technology from being widely adopted. Jammu, Feb 22 : Advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, Farooq Khan, has reiterated that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will flourish in the times to come and in this regard the Global Investors' Summit is the first step. Addressing a conference of the Confederation of India Industry (CII) titled Re-Imagine J&K - "Turning Potential to Opportunities", Khan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, appreciated the efforts of the CII in organising the event on this theme. The aim of the Conference was to accelerate the development process besides promotion of key sectors. The Conference was also attended by business entrepreneurs, industrialists, government officials, financial institutions, academic institutes, researchers and policy planners. On the occasion, Khan also shared ideas with young entrepreneurs on the significance of branding of local products to attract the consumers globally thereby creating new avenues. Speaking on the occasion, Sameer Gupta, Chairman, CII Northern Region and Managing Director, Jakson Limited, congratulated the government for a new version of J&K after its reorganization, adding that employment creation needs a strategic boost and the key sectors to be propelled for more job generation include the tourism ecosystem, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, Information Technology and agriculture and food processing. Ravi Shankar Sharma, Additional Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, discussed the need for infrastructure development in J&K while emphasizing on investments in the housing and urban sectors. Sajad Hussain Ganai, Director Technical Education, said Industry has a close connection with technical education which is an interface between industry and academia supplementing human resource for the industrial world. Chairman of CII J&K Council, Farooq Amin, said Jammu and Kashmir has immense potential to become the economic power house of the country. (Island Government is a periodic roundup of Staten Island political and civic events.) STATEN ISLAND -- Former Richmond County Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis in the running for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis seat won the Brooklyn Republican Partys executive committee endorsement this week. Michael will do a great job representing all of the community, especially at this time in New York City's history when crime, drug use and homelessness are on the rise, and far too many policies are being put forth that hurt small businesses, discourage school choice, punish academic and business success, encourage criminality and which discourage the hard working principles of so many people regardless of political affiliation, a statement from the boroughs Republican Party said. Tannousis has also won the endorsement of the Island Republican Partys executive committee as well as Brooklyn and Staten Islands Conservative Parties over his GOP primary rival Marko Kepi. Kepi has close ties to former Rep. Michael Grimm, who initially served as Kepis campaign chairman and former GOP Rep. Joseph DioGuardi, who was initially set to work as his campaign treasurer. I am honored to have the endorsement of the Brooklyn Republican Party, said Mike Tannousis. Together, we will work to stop the radical agenda that has been coming out of Albany and to give the residents of Bay Ridge and Staten Island the quality of life they deserve. I thank Chairman Ghorra and the Brooklyn GOP for their support. ISLANDS DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW LEADERS Staten Islands Democratic Association (SIDA) recently elected a slate of new officers to lead the boroughs progressive Democratic club. Radhakrishna Mohan, was re-elected as the president of SIDA; Liz Price, the vice president; Bonnie Rothman as vice treasurer; Dennis Brown as executive secretary; and Marie Dwyer as recording and corresponding secretary. At large executive committee members include Roy Moskowitz, Clara Ogburn, Jasmine Robinson and Sharon Santana. And newly elected to the executive committee were Olusoji Oluwole, Charles Rolland, and Tom Shcherbenko. CHARLES FALL TRAVELS TO ISRAEL ON ASSEMBLY DELEGATION TRIP Assemblyman Charles Fall is on a weeks long trip to Israel this week with fellow Assembly members, his office confirmed Friday. Fall was the only local lawmaker missing from the slate of Democrats the local party endorsed at its party convention on Wednesday evening. On Thursday his office said Fall was out of the country attending to legislative responsibilities, but initially declined to say where exactly he was and for what purpose until a day later when pressed. Falls Chief of Staff Setonji Agosa said the assemblyman will return back for the legislative session by next week. ROSE CALLS ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO NOT AWARD EXECUTIVE LICENSES FOR PRODUCTION OF POTENTIAL CORONAVIRUS VACCINE Rep. Max Rose is calling on the Trump administration to not award executive licenses for the production of a potential coronavirus vaccine treatment that could potentially allow drug manufacturers to monopolize drugs that have been funded by millions of taxpayer dollars. The American taxpayer has already invested hundreds of millions of dollars into developing urgently needed Coronavirus vaccines and treatments, Rose said. We cannot then turn around and allow big drug manufacturers to exploit this public health emergency to price gouge and rip off consumers. We write to ask you to ensure that any vaccine or treatment developed with U.S. taxpayer dollars be accessible, available, and affordable, wrote Rose and 45 fellow Members of Congress in a letter to the President. That goal cannot be met if pharmaceutical corporations are given authority to set prices and determine distribution, putting profit-making interests ahead of public health priorities. Americans deserve to know that they will benefit from the fruits of their public investments. Specifically, we urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) not to provide an exclusive license to any private manufacturer for a coronavirus vaccine or treatment in any government grants, contracts, or licensing arrangements, the lawmakers continued. The United States on Friday said it was unlikely that a trade deal would be inked with India during President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the country, saying that concerns that led to India's removal from the Generalized System of Preferences persisted. "The concerns that led to the revocation, suspension of India's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) access remains a concern for us. And to remind, it was really the failure of the Indian government to provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors," a senior administration official told reporters during a conference call. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. There have been talks about India and the United States agreeing on a trade package as a precursor to a major trade deal. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who has been negotiating a trade deal with India, is not travelling with Trump on the India trip. In fact, he had cancelled his earlier trip to India as well. "We continue to talk to our Indian colleagues about addressing these market access barriers. Our trade teams, led by the USTR, have been in touch with their counterparts over the past several weeks. That engagement will continue," the official said. "The trade and economic relationship with India is critically important to the United States, and I think also access to the United States market is critical to the Indian government. We do want to make sure that we get this balance right. We want to address a bunch -- a lot of concerns, and we're not quite there yet," the official said in response to a question. The high-powered American delegation led by Trump will likely have discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about these concerns and continue the discussion beyond this visit, said the senior administration official. The official said a number of announcements coming from India in the past several weeks, are making the discussions a bit more difficult perhaps. "Recent announcements on Make in India have made the protectionism concerns in India even greater. So we will be discussing those concerns. And what we see as an increase in barriers, not a decrease, this will certainly come up among the leaders," the official argued. "Whether or not there will be announcement on a trade package is, really, wholly dependent upon what the Indians are prepared to do. That said we have a number of significant commercial deals, which are of great significance that we're very pleased to announce in a number of key sectors," said the senior administration official. The senior administration official said "the Make in India push of the Indian government, has made the protectionism concerns" even more of a concern to the United States. "We've seen India's budget process recently used to raise tariffs on products of interest in the United States. We continue to see important divergences on e-commerce and digital trade. So it's a pretty wide scope, frankly, of important service and goods access barriers that we need to address," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DEAL OF THE WEEK Former Assistant Ed Snags Seven Figures for Debut Zakiya Dalila Harris, a former Knopf assistant editor, sold her debut novel to Atria in a seven-figure deal. Lindsay Sagnette won North American rights to The Other Black Girl, after a 14-bidder auction, from Sanford Greenburgers Stephanie Delman. The novel, about a young black assistant at a publishing house who becomes excited and then unmoored by the rare hire of another young black woman, is a cheeky, occasionally searing send-up of the publishing industry, with nods to speculative fiction and horror. Delman said she pitched the novel as Get Out meets Younger. At press time, the novel had been preempted in Brazil and France, with a U.K. auction underway. The Other Black Girl is also out for film/television, with United Talent Agency handling those rights. Harris, who is 27 and quit her job at Knopf about a year ago to write the novel, has an MFA in nonfiction from the New School. FROM THE U.S. Hoover Does Double at Montlake Bestselling author Colleen Hoover inked a new, two-book deal with her current publisher, Montlake, for six figures. Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the world English rights agreement for the author, whose last novel, 2019s Regretting You, was a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestseller and earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Anh Schluep at Amazon acquired the currently untitled books, which are slated for 2021 and 2022. Levins Cult Memoir to Duggan One of the subjects of a 2019 New York magazine cover story, Daniel Barban Levin, sold a currently untitled memoir to Tim Duggan at auction. Levin was among those profiled in the magazines The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence story, about a group of students at the college who fell under the sway of the ex-con father of one of their classmates, Lawrence Ray, and wound up in a cult. The book will be published by Duggans eponymous imprint at Penguin Random House, and was acquired with Will Wolfslau. Chris Clemans at Janklow & Nesbit handled the world rights deal. Ecco Joins Sos Afterparties After an eight-house auction, Helen Atsma at Ecco won North American rights to two bookzAfterparties and Straight Thru Cambotownby Anthony Veasna So for mid-six figures. Rob McQuilkin at Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents represented the author, who is a New Yorker contributor. Afterparties, the agency explained, a collection of linked stories that follows young Cambodian-Americans grappling with race, sexuality, and their inherited traumas from the Khmer Rouge genocide, even as they carve out lives in the California Central Valley and Bay Area. Straight Thru Cambotown is, the agency went on, a sprawling, seriocomic novel about three Cambodian-American cousins who inherit their late aunts illegitimate loan shark business and then become embroiled in a Hollywood conspiracy. Afterparties is scheduled for summer 2021. McManus Re-ups at Delacorte Karen M. McManus, author of the bestseller One of Us Is Lying (Delacorte, 2017), sold North American rights to Youll Be the Death of Me to Delacorte Press. Krista Marino took North American rights to the YA novel from Rosemary Stimola and Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio. The publisher said the book was pitched as Ferris Buellers Day Off meets a murder mystery and features the alternating perspectives of three friends who skip school and witness a crime they can only solve by facing what theyve been hiding from one anotherand themselves. Included in the deal is a second, currently untitled, YA novel. Death is scheduled for fall 2021, and the second book is set for fall 2022. Stanford Student Sells Clues to Quill The middle grade debut by 20-year-old Christina Li, Clues to the Universe, was acquired in a North American rights deal by Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollinss Quill Tree imprint. Li, an undergrad at Stanford, was represented by Jessica Regel at Foundry Literary + Media. Regel said the novel is about a budding rocket scientist named Ro who becomes friends with an introverted artist, Benji; the two then set out to build a rocket and search for Benjis long-lost father using clues in his bestselling space comics. Regel added that the book, which is told in alternating perspectives, is about finding your place in the world and the lengths one will go to get the people they love back. The novel is slated for winter 2021. Middle Grade Graphic Novel Goes to First Second For First Second Books, Kiara Valdez preempted Tiffanys Griffon, a middle grade graphic novel by Magnolia Porter Siddell and Maddi Gonzalez. The book, set for 2022, is, the publisher said, about a girl whose favorite fantasy book series comes to life, leading her to lie about her identity in order to steal the destiny of the Chosen One from a popular girl in her grade. Susan Graham at Einstein Literary Management represented the authors, selling world rights in the agreement. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Anthony Veasna So's Afterparties is a collection of linked stories, not a novel. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the New Hampshire presidential primary, the contest that really mattered was for third place. In the Democrats Nevada caucuses on Saturday? Whoever finishes second is likely to get some hype. Thats assuming Bernie Sanders wins. Its not certain he will, but Nate Silvers forecast model thinks the Vermont senator has a 3 in 4 chance of doing so. The media rewards surprises, so unless Sanders wins by an unexpectedly large margin, hes only likely to receive relatively modest amounts of coverage. Second place, on the other hand, is a total toss-up. The polling estimates by FiveThirtyEight find fewer than five percentage points separating Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Tom Steyer and Amy Klobuchar. Theyre close enough that no order of finish among the five of them would be even a mild surprise. And whoever places second in the first state with an ethnically diverse electorate will in fact be a viable contender for the Democratic presidential nomination (unless its Steyer, whose overall polling numbers are awful and who has few signs of support from party actors). As for the others, its hard to see those finishing sixth, fifth or even fourth having much of a path forward. For Biden, it would mean three consecutive finishes below third. Warren and Klobuchar would be out of the top three in two of the three events so far. And even Buttigieg would look like a candidate without much chance in the primaries in the large, diverse states to come. In the old days, candidates in that kind of shape would almost always drop out. Whether they will this time is an open question. Money is much easier to raise today. Still, we can assume all the candidates are spending what they have, so none of them will be in great shape if the money dries up. For party actors who are concerned about nominating Sanders and about a contested nominating convention, the obvious path is to put pressure on whoever does poorly in Nevada (and then next week in South Carolina) to drop out. That could take the form of public statements by senior party leaders or it could come from behind the scenes. Story continues No one has the authority to order losing candidates out of the contest. But Warren, Klobuchar, Buttigieg and Biden are partisan politicians with strong links to the party. They may not feel comfortable opposing the party as a whole. They also are politicians usually rooted in reality, and if the money does dry up they will likely realize the futility of remaining in the race. To be sure: Theres no guarantee that Bernie Sanders wont capture plenty of the votes that would become available if the field of candidates is winnowed further. But without winnowing, a contested convention would become far more likely, as would the nightmare scenario for the party if Sanders wins a small plurality of the delegates in the primaries and caucuses but gets nowhere near 50%. The truth is the nomination system works it produces a winner, and usually one with a coalition-style campaign because candidates without a solid chance drop out. If they dont, the odds of party-destroying chaos start increasing dramatically. Some weekend reading: 1. William Adler at the Monkey Cage on Trump and the Justice Department. 2. Dan Drezner on Trumps latest unqualified choice for a top administration position. 3. Augusta Dell'Omo at Made in History on foreign interference in U.S. elections. 4. Nate Silver on Michael Bloombergs chances. 5. And my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Noah Smith on poverty. (Disclaimer: Michael Bloomberg is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. He is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.) To contact the author of this story: Jonathan Bernstein at jbernstein62@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Katy Roberts at kroberts29@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. He taught political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University and wrote A Plain Blog About Politics. 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. MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) Police have arrested a man they say used an ax to break into a Connecticut military museum. Middletown police announced Thursday that Isaiah Nemecek, 22, faces third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny and other charges in connection with a break-in Tuesday night at the Greater Middletown Military Museum. Surveillance video posted on Facebook shows a hooded and masked person swinging the ax several times at a rear door lock mechanism to break into the museum. Museum officials said the suspect took a replica .45 caliber automatic pistol from a Vietnam War display. Police say an item from the museum was recovered. Nemecek, a Middletown resident, was also connected to another burglary at a home the same night as the museum break-in. He was held on $100,000 bond. Its not clear if he has an attorney. He said Afghan forces have the right to defend themselves. We are working to find out its cause, he added, referring to the Balkh attack. Maybe the message was not sent to them [The Taliban] on time or whatever the cause may be, it will become clear. The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime. A biological material for coronavirus has been taken from Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China who are currently being observed at the National Guard's Novi Sanzhary health center in Poltava region. Read alsoNSDC Secretary Danilov leaves for Novi Sanzhary "Epidemiologists have arrived at the National Guard health center. They're taking material for coronavirus from the nasal cavity of aircraft passengers and crew members of the rescue mission," journalist Oleksandr Makhov wrote on Facebook. Medical tests will be checked in a laboratory in the capital city of Kyiv. As UNIAN reported earlier, local residents in Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, on February 20 protested against the arrival of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China and accommodated at a local medical center, which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's jurisdiction. Protesters threw stones at buses with the evacuees. During the clashes, nine law enforcement officers were injured. The police opened two criminal cases on the fact of mass riots in Novi Sanzhary and violence against law enforcement officers. On February 21, the police released 23 of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during the protests; one person remained under arrest. The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime. Will Arnett and his girlfriend Alessandra Brawn are expecting their first child together, according to Us Weekly. The child will be the third for the Arrested Development actor, 49, who shares sons Archie, 11, and Abel, nine, with ex-wife and Saturday Night Live alum Amy Poehler. 'They are very happy and thrilled,' an insider revealed to the publication. Congrats! Will Arnett and girlfriend Alessandra Brawn are expecting their first child together; they are pictured together in September 2019 'Theres nothing like [being their father],' the Canadian actor gushed of his sons to Us in 2018, adding: 'Its the greatest thing ever. There is no other single thing in my life that is even in the same category.' This will be the second child for Brawn, who's a New York-based businesswoman. She shares a son Nash with her ex-husband and restaurateur Jon Neidich, to whom she was married from 2014 to 2018. Parents again: This will be Arnett's third child, and second for Brawn; they are pictured at the CreativeArts Emmy Awards in September 2019 Arnett and Brawn were first spotted out and about together on the East and West Coasts beginning in early March of 2019, which included packing on the PDA, holding hands and kissing, in Venice, California. Brawn studied Communications at Emerson College before working as public relations and marketing director at the luxury lingerie company Kiki de Montparnasse from May 2010. She attended Columbia University in the City of New York from 2005 to 2007. Proud papa: Arnett shares two sons with ex-wife Amy Poehler; the Canadian actor just ended his six-year run on BoJack Horseman in January 2020 Arnett was married to comedian-actress Poehler from 2003 to 2016 and to actress Penelope Anne Miller from 1994-1995. He is best known for his television roles on Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013, 2018-2019), BoJack Horseman (2014-2020), as well as films Southie (1999), Monster In Law (2005), Blades Of Glory (2007), The Lego Movie (2014) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). Most recently Arnett has has also served as host and executive producer for the reality competition show LEGO Masters. Speaker Barry Lacey and librarian Jarlath Glynn at the Wexfords War of Independence 1919-21 lecture in Enniscorthy Library Enniscorthy library was packed last week for an event that focused attention on the Irish War of Independence. In particular, the talk by Barry Lacey highlighted the war from a Wexford perspective and he looked at activities of the north and south Wexford brigades of the IRA during that turbulent period in Irish history. Many significant events took place in the Enniscorthy area at the time, and Mr Lacey spoke of some of these during his talk. In the wake of Sinn Fein's surge in support during the recent General Election, the subject of republicanism and nationalism has come to the fore on TV and in some sections of the national media. With that in mind the talk in the library was very timely. The title of the talk was 'Wexford's War of Independence 1919-21; Exploring the activities of the North & South Wexford Brigades IRA'. The war in Wexford is remembered as being one of the most difficult periods in the history of the county and the country. The war was fought by the IRA in an attempt to end British rule of Ireland, with the overall purpose of establishing an independent Irish state. The focus of a lot of attacks in the Model County was based around RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) barracks. Many of those barracks were located in the Enniscorthy area, including in locations such as Ferns, Oylegate and Castlebridge. The barracks in Ballywilliam was burned in April 1920. Some post offices were also attacked during the war and occasional attacks took place on railway lines. One of the most high-profile deaths during this period was an RIC district inspector, Percival Lea-Wilson, who was shot dead in Gorey but Enniscorthy men were among the six IRA men involved in his killing. The library talk was very informative and the large crowd in attendance was treated to an enlightening talk by Mr Lacey who is an authority on the subject matter. The organisers of the talk were absolutely delighted with the turnout of people on the night and they thanked Mr Lacey for providing a very enjoyable event. (Natural News) That is all that can be said now An environmental group at Harvard University has promised an escalation to its tactics if its demands to the institution are not met, though a group member declined to elaborate on what that escalation would look like. (Article by Brianna Kraemer republished from TheCollegeFix.com) Last Thursday the Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard coalition staged a protest criticizing the universitys lack of effort towards divesting its funds from fossil fuel concerns. The protest took place inside University Hall, an administrative building. At the demonstration, activists handed out packets with statements from supportive Harvard faculty and poems about divestment. The group also chanted multiple slogans such as When our air is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back, and Harvard, step off it, put people over profit. The Crimson reported that Joseph Winters, one of the protesters, stated that the university has a deadline of April 22 to take action. The paper did not elaborate on what would transpire if that deadline was not met. Group member Jordan Barton elaborated, barely, on that assertion in an email interview with The College Fix. If our university does not divest by Earth Day, 2020, FFDH is committed to escalation of our strategy. This is all that can be said now we have always been and will remain a grassroots movement, he said. [W]edemanded directly to our Dean of Students that we see a commitment soon. This is how it shall remain if Harvard does not divest by Earth Day, we will realize its failure. It is failing now, but has not quite failed. We believe that the collective faith in our administration to make positive change after this point will be near impossible from which, we will continue our action, he added. Barton did not respond to a followup query asking how exactly the group would escalate its strategy. Campus spokesman Jason Newton did not directly respond to a query about the groups threat to escalate its tactics, though he cited the universitys commitment to going fossil-fuel-neutral in the next six years and fossil-fuel-free by 2050. Disclose, divest and reinvest The Divest Harvard website explains the three demands the group has presented to the university: disclose its investments in fossil fuel concerns, divest from those concerns, and reinvest in sustainable industries. The group claims that Harvard invests its $41 billion endowment into corporations that are contributing to an ongoing climate crisis. Visitors to the site are given the option to sign a letter sent to the the universitys president, Lawrence Bacow, urging him to pursue real climate leadership in an unparalleled emergency situation. Group member Jordan Barton provided The Fix with a press release from the activist group, in which the organization estimates that around $560 million [of the Harvard endowment] is invested in coal, oil, and natural gas, though its likely much greater. Barton said that the group has gained unprecedented support from faculty, alumni, and student organizations on campus. We here at FFDH are aware that not only is fossil fuel investment economically and socially preposterous but we also recognize its intrinsic relationship to economic and social justice, and how those first affected by climate change will be those communities already drastically underserved and marginalized, he said. Calls for divestment at Harvard have spread beyond undergraduate university activists. Earlier this month both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Medical School Faculty Council voted to support fossil fuel divestment at the university. Read more at: TheCollegeFix.com Kerala Labour and Skills Minister T P Ramakrishnan on Saturday said there is a need to promote a culture where students earn while studying and to this end will soon bring out a state Skills Policy. "Kerala will soon bring out a state Skills Policy and also a Career Policy considering the recent surge in the importance of technology in the new age," he said here at the inaugural of India Skills Kerala 2020, an endeavour to showcase the technical proficiency of the youth. "We must promote a culture where students earn while studying. The state needs its youth in educational institutions to do part-time jobs," the Minister added. He said the government had initiated several skill development programmes and added, "India Skills Kerala is part of that mission." The three-day state-level round of India Skills Kerala which began here today, offers total prize money of around Rs 78 lakh. The event features 253 participants who will be showcasing their skills in 39 disciplines with several prizes and a ticket for an international-level competition in China at stake. India Skills Kerala gives the winner of each skill Rs one lakh, while the runner-up will receive Rs 50,000. Those finishing in the subsequent four ranks get Rs 10,000 each. "Kozhikode has a history of popularising peoples festival," Ramakrishnan said. "Let genuine and extraordinary skills lead the youth to greater heights," he added. Kozhikode North MLA A Pradeepkumar, who is chairman of the event's organising committee, in his presidential address, said events focused on the skill development of youth are a welcome sign. India Skills Kerala comes as a result of its district-level competitions held last month, with 4,298 contestants. The 1,278 winners among them subsequently qualified for the zonal rounds held separately for the north, central and south regions of the state. While the state-level winners qualify for the national competitions, the prize-winning performers in that round will represent the country at World Skills 2021 in Shanghai. That global round next year will have youngsters from 83 countries vying for honours and prizes in 54 skills. The event is being organised by the Industrial Training Department (ITD) and Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), both under the Labour and Skills Department. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed the application of Vinay Sharma, one of the death-row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, seeking high-level medical treatment for the convict claiming head injury, arm fracture, insanity, mental illness and Schizophrenia. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana dismissed the application after hearing arguments from both the sides in the matter. Earlier today, the court had reserved its order. During the hearing, advocate AP Singh, representing the convict, alleged that there has been concealment of facts by the authorities and said that only the facts which suited their (Tihar's) case have been provided. He claimed that Vinay's arm was fractured and that there was a plaster on his arm when he met with him on the day. "If the mental illness had been properly treated, the health condition of the convict would have been better," the lawyer said. Public prosecutor Irfan Ahmad, appearing for Tihar Jail, appraised the court that the convict injured himself and said that there is no medical history of mental instability. Vinay, through his lawyer, had filed an application which sought high-level medical treatment after he allegedly sustained a "grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm, insanity, mental illness, and Schizophrenia". "At the time of a legal meeting with counsel and convict, and family meeting with the convict, it was a very serious matter that the convict -- Vinay Sharma -- could not identify his counsel and mother in jail," the application said. Meanwhile, a fresh death warrant has been issued for the four death row convicts -- Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh -- in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case for their hanging at 6 am on March 3. The case pertains to the brutal gang-rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Time to Purge Bloated Sex-Offender Registries Commentary Those who fight for a more equitable way to keep track of sexual predators won a big victory in Michigan last week. Thats a state with some 44,000 names on its sexual-offenders registry. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland put his foot down and gave the Michigan legislature 60 days to rewrite its current unconstitutional registry statute. Last spring, Cleland set a 90-day deadline for lawmakers to rework the law, but he was ignored. This time, hes serious. Everyone agrees we need to keep track of career sex criminals after they are released from prison. Once theyve been convicted of violent sex crimes, its possible theyll re-offend. A public safety monitoring system makes sense. But understand that these state registriesthere is one in every stateare bloated beyond belief with many names that shouldnt be there. Registries were mandated by federal law in the mid-90s to keep watch over ex-convict pedophiles who sexually targeted children. Somewhere along the line, we lost our way. Included in the registry over the years have been: a 10-year-old female caught play-acting sex and then branded with criminal sexual conduct charges; a 19-year-old boy caught with his 15-year-old girlfriend; drunks discovered urinating or streaking in public; average citizens unjustly accused of sex crimes during ugly divorces; and men duped into believing that an intimate partner was not a minor when she was. Many of these people, often caught up in a moment of normal human passion, have been forced to register as sex criminalsfor the rest of their lives. Do we really want to lump these kinds of criminals in with hardcore sexual predators? Cleland found that the 2006 amendments to Michigans Sexual Offenders Registration Act illegally clawed onto the registry citizens who had committed offenses and served their time years before the law was ever enacted. He also concluded that a 2011 amendment to the act, which added confusing rules for juveniles, was unconstitutionally vague and overreaching. Among other things, the 2011 amendment allowed juveniles (who met certain criteria) to apply to escape the registrybut only after 25 years. While the requirements and restrictions vary from state to state, it is undeniable that this system is destroying lives and taxing both public safety and social welfare programs. Its a lifelong sentence, straight out of The Scarlet Letter. Registrants must check in with law enforcement for decades after the offense. Their case details and personal information is shared with the public, including where they work and live. This, of course, is information any employer or landlord will see. The registrant cannot travel without checking in with another police department, nor can he or she be anywhere near where a child might be (even if their offense didnt include a child). This can include their own home, a school, a fast-food restaurant, a church, a theater, or a mall. This can greatly restrict where a registrant can work or live. It can also make them targets of vigilante justice. In 1999, a high school student in Oklahoma jokingly flashed female classmates and was arrested for indecent exposure. He was jailed for four months and ordered to register as a sex offender for at least a decade. The kid committed suicide a month before his 20th birthday. In 2002, a woman in Georgia was convicted of sexual offenses for allowing her 15-year-old daughter to have sex in their home. She was not sentenced to jail, but she was forced onto the sex-offenders registry. Three of her children were put in foster care, and she had to leave the family home to live in a trailer way off on a dirt road. In 2016, Ernest Leap of Oakview, Missouri, finally won a gubernatorial pardon for a crime both he and his two sons insisted never happened. For 27 years, Leap had to live with the moniker child molester, following a most-ugly divorce. Ernest had won custody of his young boys, but they would later tell the court their mother had forced them to lie about their fathers molestation. Its cases like these that make it clear every state needs to follow Michigans lead and check the fairness of their sex-offender registries. Cut the bloat, and focus monitoring on the most dangerous sex criminals among us. Diane Dimond is an author and investigative journalist. Her latest book is Thinking Outside the Crime and Justice Box. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. OYO jumped into the Vietnamese market last July, pledging to invest $50 million next years. Photo: OYO financials (TechCrunch) Recently in a Facebook group for startups, the account named Binh Thai Nguyen complained about OYOs unprofessional business manner. Accordingly, Binh Thai Nguyen who claims to be OYOs partner in Vietnam encountered a number of problems where he continuously emailed and dispatched documents to both OYO's country head for Vietnam, Dushyant Dwibedy, and OYO Vietnam director Dao Thi Bich Tram. However, responses were a long time coming, sometimes even taking more than a month. Previously, another hotelier in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 1, Dung, also complained of similar issues. As contracted, the hotelier was charged by OYO 25 per cent commission on each transaction made. However, Dung's hotel currently had four rooms for long-term lease which had been occupied before his contract with OYO, but the franchiser included these rooms in its calculations. The hotel owner repeatedly complained but to no avail. Dung also noted that though OYO committed to provide free management training courses for employees during the co-operation, there was nothing done. After a few months, Dung decided to terminate the contract with OYO. OYO has drawn its partners' ire not only in Vietnam but in the startups other markets, too. Reuters has also interviewed a number of hotel owners in 10 cities in India to find that there are more and more hoteliers who are not satisfied with the company's fee policy. Eager to be a real rising star with sky-high growth and the wild valuation of $10 billion, the technology hotel franchise company has reached out to more than 800 cities, with more than 23,000 hotels worldwide, seizing the title the third-largest and fastest-growing hospitality chain by room count. On the other hand, during the 2018-2019 fiscal year, its net loss mounted to $335 million, a nearly seven-fold jump on-year, while its profit reported a fourfold increaseto reach $951 million. Most of the punches came from China, OYOs main and biggest market where it is diverting 40 per cent of the funds. In addition, OYO welcomed 2020 with a global downsizing campaign, cutting down thousands of employees in China, the US, and its home market India. The thunder-paced expansion pressure from being a unicorn has led to OYOs inadequate operation, management, and personnel systems with dramatic losses. As OYO is very much threatened to become the next unicorn to pass into oblivion, after Uber and WeWork, SoftBank Vision Fund is starting to look like a bad streak, with all three of these companies and other startups like CloudMinds, Bird, or Lyft turning out to be pyres for its cash and contributed to dragging down SoftBank Group's profitability by a whopping 99 per cent in the last quarter. This also raises questions about the fortune of VNLIFE, the first Vietnamese firm to make it into Softbank Vision Funds portfolio with a $200 million deal. VNLIFE is the parent company of fintech VNPAY, the leading Vietnamese digital payment firm established in 2007. After receiving this historic investment, VNPAY officially made it into the select group of unicorns. Were going to get back to living life, even if it kills us The 55th Annual Go Texan parade on Saturday featured more than 100 participants who rolled through the cheers of hundreds of people gathered for the annual event in downtown Conroe. This years parade included dignitaries, life time presidents and the Conroe High School Marching Band among several other school organizations, along with horses, classic cars and more. This years Grand Marshals were Ed McMahon and Chris Richardson, who both serve as executive committee members with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Photos by Gustavo Huerta. Top health experts from around the world are mobilizing to combat the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 77,000 people worldwide. The global health threat posed by the coronavirus has kicked the world's scientific community into overdrive as it races to develop a life-saving vaccine to fight the epidemic that has killed more than 2,300 people to date. "It's a kind of race, not against other scientists, but against the virus itself," said Olivier Schwartz, the head of viruses and immunities at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. The institution was the first in Europe to isolate the strains of the coronavirus and sequence its genome after the virus emerged late last year in central China. MORE: One man's account of what it's like to have novel coronavirus Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIAID), confirmed that a Phase 1 trial of a candidate vaccine would likely begin in early April, in an interview with ABC News. "Going into a Phase 1 trial does not mean you have a vaccine," Fauci said. "It means you have taken the first step towards the vaccine, which by anybody's calculation is going to be at least a year to a year and a half at best, and that is if we proceed under the emergency authorization of the regulatory agencies." Institutions in China, the U.S., Europe and Australia are all working on a vaccine for the current outbreak of coronavirus disease that the World Health Organization has christened COVID-19. MORE: New cases of coronavirus double in 24 hours in South Korea Rachel Grant, the director of communications and advocacy at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said in a statement to ABC News Friday that the organization was working with partners to deliver a vaccine for broader use within the next 12 to 18 months. The Norwegian association, which has an ongoing relationship with NIAID, has so far provided funding to Moderna, Inc. for the manufacturing of vaccine materials that will be used in the Phase 1 trials run by NIAID. Story continues "Of course, there are no guarantees of success," Grant said. "Even to propose such a timeline at this point must be regarded as hugely aspirational." PHOTO: A woman wearing a protective facemask pushes a stroller with two dogs wearing masks along a street in Shanghai on Feb. 19, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Researchers like Schwartz say the aim is to team up as quickly as possible to tackle the problem. At the Pasteur Institute in Paris, the organization is bringing together researchers and specialists with different expertise in areas such as virology and immunology to address the threat presented by the new coronavirus. The head of the vaccine labs, Frederic Tangy, said researchers there are working on using the Measles vaccine as a shell in order to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine into the human body. While much remains unknown about the pathology of COVID-19, the Pasteur Institute is uniquely equipped to battle the new disease. It operates within a global network of 32 institutions worldwide that, while autonomous, have collaborated with each other during every global epidemic in recent history, including SARS, MERS and the Ebola virus. The organization maintains an outpost in the heart of the current coronavirus epidemic at the Pasteur Institute of Shanghai, a joint venture between the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It also has a presence in other regions that are particularly vulnerable to the new virus, such as Africa, where it has the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal. MORE: To stop the novel coronavirus from spreading, 'We need to act quickly,' WHO says The new coronavirus has now spread to nearly 30 countries, most recently with a worrying surge in South Korea where the number of confirmed cases multiplied in days. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Africa was announced last week in Egypt, raising concerns that the world may be moving closer to the verge of a pandemic. "You have more concerns about [a pandemic] when you're dealing with countries that don't have a healthcare system that is capable of containing it in a way that a country that has a good health care system is able to do," Fauci said of the new case in Africa. PHOTO: Medical worker Feng Limin makes the testing reagent at the Diagnostics Virology and Transformation Center of the Guangzhou KingMed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Xinhua via Newscom) In the United States, multiple arms of government health agencies are engaging with the health care community and private sector partners to prepare for the further spread of COVID-19 within the country. Fauci called the interest from pharmaceutical companies in developing a vaccine for the novel coronavirus "much more intense" than it had been for the global SARS epidemic, which occurred in 2002-2003. Still, the development of a vaccine is not the only hurdle in the process of combating a disease outbreak like COVID-19. MORE: Iran reports 2 novel coronavirus deaths, the country's 1st cases "One of the things that people don't take into account is how long it's going to take to manufacture hundreds of millions of doses that the world is going to need," Fauci told ABC News. The production component will present a challenge for scientists and institutions. Even if a candidate vaccine is created within the anticipated timelines, Fauci said pharmaceutical companies may not be ready to scale the production of those life-saving therapeutics. "You could find yourself where you have a vaccine candidate in a year and half, a year and three quarters, but it takes another year to scale up to get enough doses to be meaningful to anyone," Fauci said. Although the WHO has not yet designated the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic, that may soon change. In a press briefing on Friday, WHO officials warned that time was running out to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. MORE: China revokes press credentials for 3 Wall Street Journal reporters amid coronavirus crisis "Our window of opportunity is narrowing," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "We need to act quickly before it closes completely." In the event the WHO declares the novel coronavirus a pandemic, the number of doses needed to fight it would be staggering. Fauci says the U.S. would need hundreds of millions of doses, and more so for around the world. "If it's really a global pandemic," Fauci said, "you're going to need billions of doses." ABC News' Erin Schumaker, Eden David, Matthew McGarry and Joseph Simonetti contributed to this report. Health experts warn life-saving coronavirus vaccine still years away originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has a question for those setting up rail blockades in support of the B.C. hereditary chiefs challenging a natural-gas pipeline: Whats your idea to make the process better? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has a question for those setting up rail blockades in support of the B.C. hereditary chiefs challenging a natural-gas pipeline: "Whats your idea to make the process better?" For more than 20 minutes in his office at the legislative building Friday, the premier vented his frustrations to reporters about the standoff thats temporarily forced many Canadians out of work and caused untold financial losses. Pallister called the economic consequences, "extremely damaging (and) extremely hurtful." He wouldnt go as far as to advocate the forcible removal of the blockades, but he said any discussion intended to bring about a resolution to the situation must be framed properly. "We cant frame a discussion with people who believe that they have the right to stop everything, all of the time," he said. Pallister encouraged the media to ask pipeline protesters why theyre doing what theyre doing. "What is it that youre against? What is it that youre for?" he said, adding Canada already has some of the most demanding approval processes for resource projects. "Other countries dont make consideration for Indigenous peoples at all. Other countries dont have extensive rights of participation," he said. "I have to ask: Whats your idea to make the process better? "And I think, subsequently, if the answer is, We dont care about the process, we dont know what the process is, we didnt participate in it. Were just here because we think that you should be able to stop this project, thats a veto. And I think we have to say, no." The Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs are opposing construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the First Nations unceded territory that would bring natural gas to a liquefaction facility and export terminal on the West Coast. Those who are supporting the blockades on environmental grounds ignore the fact the pipeline would boost exports to Asian markets to replace coal with natural gas, Pallister said. "Thats a significant reduction in impacts on climate change," he said of the fuel switch. 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. "And if youre advocating for Indigenous rights," the premier added, "recognize that this entire line across Wetsuweten property will use less than three-10,000ths of the land that is in the Wetsuwetens claimed territory." Pallister pointed out many in the Indigenous community in B.C. support the project, including 20 First Nation governments along the route. "So why are you advocating for Indigenous rights on the one hand, when youre also advocating against Indigenous advancement and equality of opportunity with jobs and social betterment on the other?" he said. Pallister said he made several of these points during a conference call late Thursday with his fellow premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He said hes also addressed the issue in separate calls with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Pallister did not reveal what others said during the call. However, he said among some premiers, theres "extreme frustration" at the situation. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Hemlock Public School District recently hosted its first Senior Citizen bingo event at Hemlock Middle School. The bingo event included prizes, concessions, and school information regarding the upcoming Sinking Fund election on March 10. "This was a wonderful event to break up the winter and come together in fellowship with our senior community," said Superintendent Donald Killingbeck. Our district has major and significant work on the horizon, including new roofs, new windows, more efficient HVAC systems, safety & security improvements, and technology replacements. Hemlock Public School District's Board of Education is asking for voter's consideration of a proposal to create a Sinking Fund on the March 10 ballot. Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images From Harper's BAZAAR The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed that they will stop using their Sussex Royal brand from spring this year. Following their decision to step down from royal duties this year, the couple have been in ongoing discussions over the matter with senior royals and aides at Buckingham Palace. Meghan and Harry released a statement on their website, pointing out that the Queen has no jurisdiction over the use of the word royal overseas, but explaining that they had agreed not to use it in their branding. "While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word "Royal" overseas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use "Sussex Royal" or any iteration of the word "Royal" in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020," it read. "While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place." "Per the agreement the Duke and Duchess of Sussex understand that they are required to step back from royal duties and not undertake representative duties on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen." A spokesperson for the couple confirmed that an agreement had been reached, and the word royal could not be used as it would be in conflict with government rules, BBC reports. The couple have withdrawn their application to trademark the Sussex Royal brand, which is used on their Instagram account and website. The spokesperson said the couple were focused on establishing their new organisation this spring but had agreed not to name it the Sussex Royal Foundation. Photo credit: Getty Images While the duke and duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this spring, will no be named Sussex Royal Foundation, the spokesperson said. The Duke and Duchess do not intend to use SussexRoyal in any territory post-spring 2020. Story continues Earlier this week, it was announced that the Sussexes royal duties would officially end on 31 March. This means the couple will no longer carry out duties on behalf of the Queen. However, these arrangements will be reviewed after 12 months. The couple, who have been in Canada with their son Archie for much of this year, will return to the UK for sex events in February and March, including the Commonwealth Day Service on 9 March, according to the BBC. Photo credit: AARON CHOWN - Getty Images Harry is also expected to attend the London Marathon in April and the couple will attend the Invictus Games in May. Harry and Meghan will aim to carry out a progressive new role within the institution with their decision to step down, and provide their family with the space to focus on the next chapter. Before announcing their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family, the couple revealed that they had struggled under the media spotlight. You Might Also Like New Delhi, Feb 22 : After Lord Hanuman hogged the limelight in the Delhi elections, the Samajwadi Party is trying hard to prove that Lord Ram was the biggest socialist of his time. This is after UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath during his speech in the assembly, advocated 'Ramrajya' instead of socialism, saying not everyone can understand what 'Ramrajya' is and socialism has become irrelevant and impractical. Calling the CM ignorant, the Samajwadi Party quoted some couplets of the 'Ramayana' by Tulsidas to prove its point that Lord Ram was the biggest socialist. I.P. Singh, the national spokesman of the SP, told IANS, "CM Adityanath was saying that he wants Ramrajya instead of socialism. If he had understood the life and times of Lord Ram, he would not have said this. Rather, Lord Ram was the biggest socialist of his time. Lord Ram, after taking over the reigns of Ayodhya, had devised such policies on health, education and even taxes that narrowed the gap between the rich and the poor." Citing a couplet of the Ramayana, Singh said, "the couplet means that when the king ia giver, he gives to all equally and when it has to take from the people, it is like the sun soaking rain's water as nobody sees it." "What kind of saint Yogi Adityanath is. He has not understood Lord Ram who was the biggest socialist of his time. He is totally ignorant," Singh added. Chandigarh, Feb 22 : Almost two weeks after Punjab ordered ban on the movie 'Shooter', which is based on the life of gangster Sukha Kahlwan, Haryana too has imposed ban on its screening, officials said on Saturday. As per the Haryana government order, the suspension of screening and exhibition of the movie in the state shall remain in force for two months. Punjab Police has registered a case against producer-cum-promoter K.V. Singh Dhillon and others for allegedly promoting violence, heinous crimes, gangsterism, drugs extortion, threats and criminal intimidation. According to the first information report (FIR), the movie is likely to instigate youngsters to take up arms and disturb peace and harmony. The FIR came after the Punjab Chief Minister asked Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to look into the possible action that could be initiated against Dhillon, who had reportedly promised in writing, back in 2019, that he would shelve the movie, originally titled 'Sukha Khalwan'. The DGP had also been asked to look into the role of the promoters, directors and actors of the movie. Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked Chandigarh and Haryana to take a decision on banning the movie. SUNBURY The impact of the Diocese of Harrisburg declaring bankruptcy extends beyond those claiming to have been abused by priests as youngsters. It puts on hold the suit against the diocese by Naiad Reich, the Catholic school teacher fired because she was pregnant, unwed and with no immediate plans to marry the father. I believe we are at least at a standstill during the temporary stay that comes with a bankruptcy filing, her attorney Timothy A. Bowers said Friday. The diocese Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy saying the move will help it to better atone for the sins of the past. Diocesan leaders said bankruptcy protections will give the church financial breathing room as it deals with potentially hundreds of complaints of child sex abuse by predator priests. It is too early to say what will happen to cases like Reichs, according to Bowers, who has not received formal notification of the bankruptcy petition. Reich, who is not Catholic, was fired verbally Nov. 30, 2018, from Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School outside Shamokin where she taught English. She later received a letter advising her she had violated the Catholic policy that states an employee respects the dignity of the marriage doctrine on human sexuality. Reichs attempts through the courts to be reinstated have been unsuccessful to date. In January, Northumberland County Judge Hugh A. Jones found the one-year contract she signed June 14, 2018, provided no guarantee of future employment. However, he found Reich had alleged sufficient facts at this stage of the litigation to support her civil rights claim she was discriminated against by virtue of her pregnancy. She gave birth to a daughter since being terminated and still is with the babys father but they have not wed, Bowers said. Reichs suit that seeks unspecified damages accuses the diocese of discrimination by firing a female, qualified teacher employed in a non-ministerial capacity. Defendants besides the diocese are Bishop Ronald W. Gainer and Sister Mary Anne Bednar, the school principal. Intentionally conceiving a child out of wedlock and refusing to marry constitutes serious and public immorality, public scandal and rejection of the official teaching, doctrine or laws of the Catholic church, was the defendants response to the suit. -- Recent John Beauge stories on PennLive Lock Haven lifts fraternitys probation imposed after November death Ex-Snyder County postal clerk admits misappropriating more than $12,000 Railroad employee loses an arm, leg when run over by rail car in Williamsport Ex-Sullivan County deputy sheriff admits embezzling nearly $200,000 Woman who ran over and killed her boyfriend near Trout Run enters no contest plea Design work progressing on schedule for thruways southern section in Snyder County The same California senator whose bill downgraded the knowing transmission of HIV from a felony to a misdemeanor is now leading a which may make LGBT statutory rapists exempt from having to be put on a sex registry. (Natural News) (Article by Lionel Du Cane republished from NationalFile.com) Senator Scott Wiener, who in 2017 propelled himself to international headlines over his controversial bill which downgraded the knowing transmission of HIV to a misdemeanor, has proposed Senate Bill 145 or LGBTQ Young People Nondiscrimination in the Sex Offender Registry Act, which would leave registration of a convicted offender up to the prerogative of the individual judge. According to Bay Area Reporter: Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is the lead author of the legislation, Senate Bill 145. It would grant judges discretion to decide if a person should have to register as a sex offender if that person is within 10 years of age of a consensual sexual partner between the age of 14 and 17 and engages in oral or anal intercourse with the younger person. Under current law, the person would automatically be added to the states sex offender registry. Yet, in cases where the consensual sex involved vaginal intercourse between an adolescent heterosexual couple, judges have the discretion to decide if listing on the sex offender registry is warranted. EQCA said Friday that it would continue to work with Wiener and other backers of SB 145 to pass it in 2020. According to Freedom Project, California currently decides on a case-by-case basis by judges whether a rapist, who is within ten years of the age of the victim, should be added on the sexual offenders registry. Democrat Assemblyman Lorena Gonzalez initially blocked the proposal, saying, No sex between a 24 and 14 year old is consensual. Activist group, Equality California, was irate at the bills blocking, and the proposal has taken on the form of a Civil Rights issue. Loading Rick Zbur, Equality Californias Executive Director, said, Today, we are extremely disappointed with Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Lorena Gonzalez for allowing an outdated law that discriminates against LGBTQ people to remain on the books. Law enforcement, sexual assault survivors and civil rights groups alike support this bipartisan bill because it would make Californias sex offender registry more effective and end blatant anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Since the bill was struck down, Wiener has signaled his discontent at the extreme discrimination continued to be suffered by the LGBT community. In addition to the controversial bills proposed by Sen. Wiener, last year, the California Senator wished to allow illegal immigrants to run for Democratic Party seats. Read more at: NationalFile.com Bernie Sanders Responds After Reportedly Being Told Russia Is Helping Him in Election Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Friday warned Russia to stay out of U.S. elections after The Washington Post reported, citing anonymous sources, that U.S. officials had told Sanders that Russia is trying to aid his presidential campaign. The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr. Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections, Sanders told reporters in Bakersfield, California. It was not clear what form the Russian assistance took, the paper said. I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend, Sanders said in a statement released following the Washington Post report. He [Putin] is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia. Lets be clear; the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up I stand firmly against their efforts and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election. Some of the ugly stuff on the internet attributed to our campaign may well not be coming from real supporters, he added. Sanders, in his statement, attributed the extraordinary grassroots organization, grassroots fundraising and agenda that speaks to the needs of working-class people as contributing to the strongest campaign to defeat Donald Trump. The 78-year-old democratic socialist from Vermont is considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and is favored to win the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. Sanders said he was briefed about possible interference about a month ago. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign, he told reporters, according to Reuters. Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections. What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doingand Ive seen some of their tweets and stuffis they try to divide us up, he added. They are trying to cause chaos. Theyre trying to cause hatred in America. The Kremlin on Friday denied that Russia was interfering in the U.S. presidential campaign to boost Trumps re-election chances, following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week. These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the [U.S.] election, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, reported Reuters. They have nothing to do with the truth. On Friday, President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that [a]nother misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress that Russia has interfered in elections on his behalf. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 23:14:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HANGZHOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Wang Lifeng (pseudonym) could not feel luckier when he looked back at some decisive options he made seven weeks ago. "What I did has indeed saved my whole family," he said from his home in Ruyang Village in Rui'an, a coastal city under the jurisdiction of Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Wang, 51, sells glasses in Wuhan. He has been there doing the business for 15 years. His youngest child was born in the city. He is one of more than 100 merchants who run a business on the second floor of the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. Wang remembers the first day he wore mask was Dec. 31, after he read messages circulated on the WeChat claiming that some SARS-like cases have occurred in Wuhan. "After all, having experienced SARS in 2003, I was vigilant and began to think about what to do," he said. The rumor was refuted, however, the next day. "It was not SARS. Experts said there was no transmission for the time being. How could ordinary people like us know more than that? So we believe it may be just general pneumonia," Wang said. The first cases of novel coronavirus infections were reported in December in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province. These cases were mostly related to the seafood market in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. On Dec. 31, Hubei announced cases of pneumonia with unknown causes to the public for the first time. "We were alert early and began to wear masks to protect us," he said. "I heard that several Wenzhou merchants were slightly infected in the market and went to hospital in time for treatment. Now they have all recovered." Wang recalled that when the seafood market was closed on New Year's Day, businesses upstairs were still as normal. "Some went downstairs to see how they cleaned up and inquire about the epidemic," he said, adding that many cared more whether the market would be reopened before the Spring Festival, which fell on Jan. 25 this year. Wang felt something must be wrong when he and other merchants received a notice that the second floor of the market would be closed one week ahead of schedule. The actual closure date was later updated as Jan. 11, about 10 days earlier than the normal schedule. "People in the market were saying that several merchants have been infected and hospitalized. As more and more gossips poured in, the fear began increasing," he said. There are three hospitals near the seafood market. Wang learned from some doctor friends that people were infected every day. "It was not the same as the official announcement," he said. He closed his own store on Jan. 10, one day ahead of the required deadline. "I became more cautious than others since I'm from a sensitive location," Wang said. Apart from accompanying his son to school, Wang and his wife stayed at home most time of the day. His son was the only one in his class who wore a mask. "Why should I wear a mask? No one does so. That makes me look weird," complained the boy. "Just wear your mask. Don't mind what others think," Wang replied. On their way to school, Wang noticed that unlike the cautious people living in the compounds near the seafood market, most people had no sense of what was happening. "People seldom wore a mask in the metro, on the buses, in the streets, or in the supermarkets," he recalled. Before going to bed on Jan. 19, Wang checked the tickets for the flight to Wenzhou and found they were available right the next day. "Let's go. I will call my son's teacher to ask for a leave," Wang told his wife. A relative of Wang drove the masked three to catch the flight. To Wang's surprise again, few people he met at the airport wore a mask. "It seemed that they were quite relaxed about the epidemic," he said. After boarding, a flight attendant told Wang: "You've done a really good job of protection. I wish I could wear a mask." Wang said he could read worry from her eyes. But wearing a mask in public is not a private decision for service personnel like her. "At that time, many passengers and airport staff did not wear masks. It was no different from usual. Obviously, the epidemic situation has not attracted enough attention," he said. Fortunately, Wang and his family were among those who first wore a mask. And they deliberately kept a distance from others in public places. The Wang's went straight home once they landed in Wenzhou. Wang canceled all planned housewarming parties, visits, banquets and get-togethers with relatives and friends, and declined theirs. "I'm quite conscientious about being back from the Wuhan seafood market, though others might not have an idea about what this may mean," Wang said. Also being vigilant was the local government. Wang recalled that the next day Rui'an government asked local people not to contact those with a travel history in Wuhan. "In contrast, Zhejiang has reacted promptly by taking prevention and control measures early. Soon, weddings were not allowed in my village. And most banquets were canceled," Wang said. On Jan. 23, two days ahead of the Lunar New Year, China locked down the megacity of Wuhan to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The culture hall in Wang's village has been closed since the first day of the Spring Festival. It used to be the venue for the whole village to attend festive activities. Village cadres visited each household to tell them about dos and don'ts. Then all the villages began to block roads. "Although it brings inconvenience to our life, we can't help it during the emergency period," Wang said. He and his family were at home in isolation. Sometimes he went downstairs for a walk after 9:00 o'clock at night when there were few people outside. "There are more than 30 people in our village who came back from Wuhan. Fortunately, we all have not been infected," he said. "Several people who also sell glasses in the seafood market were not able to return before the Spring Festival. And some others could not make it since they got mild infections," he said. Wang's main concern at present is his son's schooling. As for his business, there was little he could do. "I'll just take it as a long vacation since I've been working for most of my life," he said. "In Wuhan, the patients and the frontline medics are those who suffer most," he said. "I watch the news every day. It makes me very sad." "We all feel like that this is a tough year for business. I hope the epidemic situation will be brought under control as soon as possible and the market will slowly return to normal," Wang said. In 2006, the superintendent of Long Islands Roslyn school district, Frank Tassone, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison after helping to drain $11.2 million from the schools, which were in the fourth best school district in the country at the time. How and why Tassone thought he could get away with embezzlement, and what happened when the scandal came to the light, is the subject of HBOs latest docudrama, Bad Education. Hugh Jackson stars as the beloved school chief, while Alison Janney plays Pam Gluckin, his assistant on the job and in the grift. Per the networks description of the film, which is directed by Cory Finley, a student reporter starts to trace embezzlement at the Roslyn School District in Long Island after the assistant superintendent makes a crucial mistake that hints at corruption that spans over a decade. And they would have gotten away with it too, if it werent for these meddling, anti-embezzlement kids! Bad Education premieres on April 25. A frozen bird found on the ground in northeastern Siberia by the fossil ivory hunters is believed to be nearly 46000 years old which works as an important piece for the researchers to study more about the end of the ice age. The 'exceptionally well preserved' was discovered in 2018 and was sent to the researchers at the Center for Paleogenetics at Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Researchers revealed that the remains of the female lark were around 44,000 to 49,000 years old. READ: Scientists Decode What Caused Extinction Of Animals In The Ice Age Bird carcass from ice age They noted that it is the first bird carcass obtained from ice age permafrost deposits. Their findings were published on February 21 in journal Communications Biology. Nicholas Dussex, a researcher at Stockholm University said in a statement that lark is also an ancestor of two different lark subspecies. He added that one is found in Mongolia and the other one is found in Siberia. Scientists believe that the larks lived in during the last Ice Age and it provides further details to the ecosystem. The long term aim is to map the lark's genome and figure out comparing it to the modern subspecies for horned larks. Dussex further added that it helps them to understand how the diversity of subspecies progressed. READ: Rome Unveils Ancient Tomb Dedicated To City's Mythical Founder Romulus Fossilised footprints revealed Meanwhile, researchers from Cornell University, with the help of a special type of radar, recently discovered footprints that were hidden since the last ice age and what lied underneath them. The fossilized footprints revealed a great deal of information in relation to how human beings and animals co-existed around 12,000 years ago. The researchers said that they initially never thought of looking under the fossilised footprints but it turned out that the fossil had recorded the effect of the animal's weight and momentum. The researchers also added that the study gave them the chance of studying the biomechanics of animals that went extinct millions of years ago. READ: Electricity Generated By Scientists Using Just Bacteria And Air READ: 'Ghost' Footprints From The Last Ice Age Could Help Track Movement Of Dinosaurs 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. Anti-Terror Agency Keeps Pakistan on 'Gray List' By Ayaz Gul February 21, 2020 A global agency leading the fight against the financing of terrorism and money laundering has kept Pakistan on its "gray list" of nations with inadequate mechanisms to curb funding sources to terrorist groups. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) met Friday at its headquarters in Paris and reviewed Islamabad's commitments under an action plan agreed to with the international agency. It decided to keep Pakistan off its blacklist in the wake of "recent and notable improvements," giving the country four months to deliver on its remaining commitments. In a post-meeting statement, however, the FATF said that while it recognized progress made by Islamabad, it was concerned about the failure to complete the action plan to reduce money laundering and terrorist financing risks. "The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by June 2020," said the global agency. "Otherwise, should significant and sustainable progress, especially in prosecuting and penalizing TF [terrorism financing] not be made by the next plenary, the FATF will take action." Call for special scrutiny The watchdog group said punitive action could include the FATF calling on member states and urging all jurisdictions to give special attention to investment-related business relations and transactions with Pakistan. "FATF members agreed to maintain Pakistan's status on FATF's Compliance Document, normally referred [to] as the gray list," the Pakistani government said in a statement issued after the Paris meeting. Pakistan was placed on the "gray list" in 2018 for a lack of adequate controls over terrorism financing, which made foreign firms more cautious about investing in the South Asian nation. Islamabad has long been accused of harboring and supporting Islamist militant organizations allegedly orchestrating terrorist attacks in neighboring Afghanistan and India. Pakistan rejects the accusations and has been able to avoid being blacklisted because of support from close allies, including China, Malaysia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Finance Ministry adviser Abdul Hafeez Shaikh hailed Beijing's continued "massive support" in FATF meetings. 'Brotherly' assistance "China and other brotherly countries have supported Pakistan throughout the process in terms of guiding the country to improve its frameworks," Shaikh said in a statement his office issued Friday. The Pakistani government maintains it has taken "significant" steps in recent months to address terrorism-financing-related deficiencies under the FATF action plan. Just days before Friday's meeting in Paris, a special court in Pakistan convicted a radical cleric, Hafiz Saeed, and an associate in terrorism-related cases, giving Saeed two 5-year prison sentences that will run concurrently. The Pakistani cleric became a known figure worldwide when the group he headed at the time, Lashkar-e-Taiba, or LeT, was blamed for a series of coordinated attacks lasting almost four days in Mumbai, India's financial capital, in November 2008. The attacks killed 166 people, among them, Americans, Canadians and Europeans. The United States has offered a financial reward for bringing Saeed to justice. Senior State Department diplomat Alice Wells swiftly hailed the February 12 Pakistani court ruling. "Today's conviction of Hafiz Saeed 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," tweeted Wells, the State Department's principal deputy assistant secretary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Addressing press conference at BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said Trump's visit will be landmark moment in India-US relationship New Delhi: Hitting out at the Congress over its scepticism about US president Donald Trump's visit to India, the BJP on Saturday asked the opposition party why it is unhappy when the country's stature is being raised globally. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said Trump's visit will be a landmark moment in the India-US relationship and advised the Congress to "start taking pride in the nation's achievements". "This is a meeting of the world's largest and oldest democracies and it should be celebrated," he said. Underlining that Trump himself has said multiple times that India is a hard bargainer, Patra said the Congress should not be worried about India's interests. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hardwork, India's relations with other countries have further strengthened from Sochi to Mallapuram, he said. Mark Ruffalo is angry. Donald Trump is public enemy number one, says the man who plays Hulk in the Avengers films, leaning forward in his chair. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie. This dude is standing in the way of anything significant happening in the world as far as climate change is concerned. Its f***ing terrifying and it keeps me up at night. Most people dont realise whats coming. Countries are freaking out about Syrians coming, a few thousand Syrians. We are approaching mass extinctions, food systems failing, hundreds of millions of displaced people looking for places that are hospitable. He pauses, breathes. In my country, half of the political system doesnt believe in [climate change], in science. Im inviting the rest of the world to get involved in our next election, because the fate of the world is in the f***ing balance. And you can print that. Lacking the protective carapace that film stars tend to bring to interviews that mix of rehearsed anecdotes and smiling reticence Ruffalo is as passionate and politically minded as he is charming. At 52, he looks great. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, his hair tousled and peppered with grey, he is trim and tanned, with a kind, crumpled face and dark penetrating eyes that are at once concerned and unsuspicious. He hasnt shaved. Were in a hotel in central London to discuss his excellent new film Dark Waters. Based on a New York Times long read, this is the true story of corporate defence attorney-turned-environmental activist Robert Bilott and his struggle to expose the DuPont chemical company, which used toxic materials in a number of its products despite knowing full well how harmful they were. Ruffalo, a long-time environmental activist himself, not only stars as Bilott, but is also the films producer. Robs journey was really interesting to me, says Ruffalo, who recruited the feted auteur Todd Haynes as director. The fact that he was a criminal defence attorney for a chemical company. What was it like for a guy to be on the inside of that culture swimming against the stream? He knew all the tricks that defence attorneys know and he had the time and the budget and the expertise to win. Ruffalo spent a lot of time with Bilott trying to understand what makes him tick. Robs a very emotionally withdrawn person, he explains. Hes not what you imagine as a hero. Every other person trying to save the world has so much ego; theyre gregarious, theyre charming. Theres almost no ego in him. As played by Ruffalo, Bilott is dogged and self-effacing, a crusading everyman with a jutting lower lip and awkward posture. Its the kind of role Ruffalo excels in. Although he first made his name as a loveable slacker in romcoms such as 13 Going on 30 (2004) and Just Like Heaven (2005), he has since become the master of empathy, capable of peeling characters back to reveal a wounded vulnerability. Think of him as the tired, dishevelled homicide detective in David Finchers Zodiac (2007). Or the doomed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in 2014s Foxcatcher. Or the twitchy, terrier-like reporter in the Oscar-winning smash Spotlight (2015). Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher Show all 10 1 /10 Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 10. Infinitely Polar Bear (2014) In the wake of The Avengers, Infinitely Polar Bear marked a further attempt to launch Ruffalo as a studio-movie leading man, following the 2013 musical drama Begin Again. He rises to the challenge even if the rest of the film is very indie-by-numbers. Playing a bipolar father to two young girls, Ruffalo sources a compelling unpredictability, flipping between deadpan eccentricity, casual cruelty and unbridled joy. His lovely, textured humanity remains his greatest on-screen weapon. Sony Pictures Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 9. XX/XY (2002) Potentially the greatest test of Ruffalos likeability occurred in this 2002 indie, which cast him as a lusty narcissist incapable of recognising his own failings. Playing one third of a spectacularly wrong-headed trio of lovers which slowly implodes over the course of a few weeks, Ruffalo refuses to embody total villainy but instead a very naturalistic kind of ignorance. He plays his character as every well-read asshole youve ever met at a university party, and its a performance that proved early on the depths of his range. IFC Films Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 8. Foxcatcher (2014) Ruffalo has arguably the least interesting role of the trio at the centre of Foxcatcher. That he somehow delivers the films most fascinating performance then qualifies as a major victory. As the murdered Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz, Ruffalo radiates goodness a man raised to be respectful and kind and work hard for great rewards. He is therefore someone incredibly uneasy about ever stepping out of line. Alongside Steve Carells inexplicably Oscar-nominated scenery-chewing performance as the convicted killer John du Pont, Ruffalos natural subtleties were even more powerful than usual. Sony Pictures Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 7. My Life Without Me (2003) It feels notable that the filmmakers who have most often cast Ruffalo as scruffy, troubled and sexually attractive characters are women. Isabel Coixets tender weepie My Life Without Me is no exception. Playing an open-hearted loner who falls in love with a woman he doesnt know is dying (played by the wonderful Sarah Polley), Ruffalo is the films secret star. Theres a weighty surliness to his performance here that is also oddly exciting, Ruffalo perfectly in tune with the complexities of Coixets movie. Sony Pictures Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 6. Zodiac (2007) The real-life detective portrayed by Ruffalo in this David Fincher classic served as the inspiration for Dirty Harry. He plays him with a similarly brusque masculinity all snark, cigarettes and fatigue. Its one of Ruffalos most charged performances, with much of its power stemming from how the character gradually spirals outward. He transforms from somebody doggedly by-the-book into someone tortured by a mystery he cant solve, and its thrilling to behold. Warner Bros Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 5. 13 Going on 30 (2004) Considering his innate agreeability and non-threatening masculinity, its no surprise that Ruffalo had a romcom phase. It is surprising, though, when glancing at his career in totality. Ruffalos romcoms were by and large of the C-list variety cast alongside genre queens at their least interesting (the Reese Witherspoon vehicle Just Like Heaven, or the Jennifer Aniston bomb Rumour Has It), or romancing not-very-funny actors struggling to diversify their filmography (as in the infamous Gwyneth Paltrow airplane comedy View from the Top). But then theres 13 Going on 30 a candy-coloured femme spin on Big, with Ruffalo at his most endearing. He plays spectacularly well off Jennifer Garners dizzying, all-limbs portrayal of a 13-year-old stuck in the body of a grown woman, and has never been more warm and natural. Columbia Pictures Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 4. Dark Waters (2019) Dark Waters finds Ruffalo at his Ruffalo-iest, playing a righteous, determined attorney standing on the right side of history and determined to make a difference. It would be a mistake to also suggest its not therefore a brilliant bit of acting. Ruffalo feels smaller than usual here, playing a man doggedly fighting a corrupt system that dwarfs him in scale, yet he is also angrier and more empowered at the same time. In a flashier movie, he would have earned awards attention. But a flashier movie would also take away from the earthy beauty of his work. Focus Features Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 3. You Can Count on Me (2000) Ruffalos star-making role, at least in critical circles, was this beautifully small-scale drama of siblings and tiny disappointments. He plays a character that should be insufferable a damaged, irresponsible man-child endlessly looking to his older sister (Laura Linney) for advice, money and safety. But Ruffalo plays him with such self-loathing and timid naivety that its impossible not to want to take care of him, too. Paramount Pictures Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 2. In the Cut (2003) Jane Campions masterful erotic thriller grants Ruffalo the kind of role typically given to femme fatales in these sorts of movies. He is an irresistible enigma here a cop with a thuggish, seductive presence, whose sexual allure and suave aggression could mask either a troubled soul or a sadistic killer. A notorious flop upon release, In the Cut has only grown in admiration since, partly assisted by Ruffalos performance. He is graceful and effortlessly sexy, while simultaneously volatile and threatening. He and co-star Meg Ryan, herself disgracefully maligned back then for having the temerity to be in such a dark and sexual film, create an explosive spark like few others before them. Pathe Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 1. The Kids Are All Right (2010) Ruffalos character in The Kids Are All Right feels like what would happen if his You Can Count on Me character grew up, grew a beard and went vegan. He plays the anonymous sperm donor to a lesbian couple (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore), who is surprised by the arrival of two children he didnt know existed. Theres a lovely sleepy energy to his performance here, but also significant trauma. Heres a character magnetised to screw-ups, someone charming and sweet but perpetually sabotaging his life and relationships. In a film filled with incredibly difficult characters that often stretch the limits of your empathy, Ruffalo is its most haunting and loveable protagonist. Its no wonder it earned him an Oscar nomination, the Academy finally waking up to Ruffalos brilliance, nearly two decades after he started acting. Better late than never. Focus Features When you consider what Ruffalo himself has been through, its no surprise hes able to plumb such emotional depths. While filming 2001s The Last Castle, the actor was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It turned out to be benign, but the operation to remove it left one side of his face paralysed for a year (hes still deaf in his left ear). Then, in December 2008, he suffered the tragic loss of his 39-year-old younger brother, Scott, who was found shot dead in his Beverly Hills apartment. The murder remains unsolved. I dont know what Id be without those experiences, says Ruffalo. Something like that happening or any kind of tragedy just opens the world in a different... you realise human beings fallibility. I have my own deep insecurity. And so Im not that certain about anything. None of us know the ending of the story. All of us are walking around with an enormous amount of uncertainty and so maybe I bring that uncertainty to the parts I play. Im painfully aware of that vulnerability of us as human beings. And in the end we are f***ing toast. No one gets out of here alive, no one gets out of the real struggle and the suffering. In the aftermath of his brothers death, Ruffalo decided a change was needed. Born in Wisconsin to an Italian-American, working-class family in 1967, Ruffalo had moved as a young man to San Diego, California, where he surfed and got stoned before joining the Stella Adler drama school in Los Angeles. Now he parted ways with his agent and publicist, sold his place in LA and moved to upstate New York with his wife, the actor Sunrise Coigney, and their three young children. Looking back, I think there was a little grief-driven madness in what I did, Ruffalo told The Sunday Telegraph in 2011. They say youre not supposed to make any major decisions while you are grieving but I did the opposite. Not what you imagine as a hero: Ruffalo in Dark Waters (Focus Features) He stands by those decisions. Something like that never really leaves you, he says. Its always there. I find myself being attracted to certain materials based on those relationships and the power of that relationship and that loss. You know, he continues, there is a gift in everything tragic if you survive it. You dont go through that without the person who left you. They leave you a gift that only their passing can give you. Thats the only grace that we have as human beings, that through the suffering we actually gain something that couldnt be attained any other way. After he left LA behind him, Ruffalos career began to accelerate. First, he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his part in The Kids Are All Right, Lisa Cholodenkos beautifully acted tale of a lesbian couple, and the sperm donor who fathered their children. Then came The Avengers (2012). If the nod from the Academy hoisted him up into the big leagues, then the Marvel franchise made him a star. As Bruce Banner/Hulk, hes now appeared in five Avengers films and has used his power for good. A fierce supporter of Bernie Sanders, hes been particularly vocal when it comes to abortion rights. Hes also used his clout to campaign against fracking, and to spearhead a 3 million-strong petition calling on leaders to commit to renewable energy. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Recently, Boris Johnson was in the firing line after he misappropriated the Hulk in an interview, saying he would break off the manacles of Europe. The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets, said the prime minister. Ruffalo replied on Twitter: Boris Johnson forgets that the Hulk only fights for the good of the whole. Mad and strong can also be dense and destructive. The Hulk works best when he is in unison with a team, and is a disaster when he is alone. As a white man, he feels a responsibility to speak about the dearth of women and people of colour in the film industry. Its like Joaquin Phoenix was saying at the Baftas, this is systemic and it has to start with us, he says. I ask if hes part of the problem. Yes, we are actors shouldnt be flying around in private jets. We dont have to do that. Its going to take some sacrifice, we all have to be a little bit uncomfortable you can no longer think, Its just about me. You have to see that it has impact in all other directions. No other studio is being that inclusive: Ruffalo alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr and Benedict Wong in Avengers: Infinity War (Disney/Marvel) So yes, Hollywood, it is systemic, but its like asking a fish about water. Theyve been swimming in it their whole lives. This is a hundred years of a certain culture, starting with vilifying Native Americans in film and making them the villains for years and years, moving to black people and villainising them and then a homogenous culture of white supremacy, really. And until we start, consciously as a whole industry, making those changes that includes actors also saying, Hey, we need diversity on our sets, its not going to change. Its just passing the buck. I mention how Marvel has been criticised in the past for its lack of LGBT+ representation. He begins to tell a story. When we did the first Avengers, [Marvel supremo] Kevin Feige told me, Listen, I might not be here tomorrow. He was going to talk to Disney about the issue of why there were no female superhero movies, which they had been discussing while preparing for Thor: Ragnarok. And hes like, Ike [Isaac Perlmutter, Disneys largest shareholder at the time] does not believe that anyone will go to a female-starring superhero movie. So if I am still here tomorrow, you will know that I won that battle. That, says Ruffalo, was the turning point for Marvel. Because Kevin wanted black superheroes, women superheroes, LGBT superheroes, he explains. He changed the whole Marvel universe. We now have a gay superhero on the way, we have black superheroes, we have female superheroes Scarlett Johansson has her movie coming out, we have Captain Marvel, they are doing She-Hulk next. No other studio is being that inclusive on that level. He smiles. They have to, though. This is the f***ing world. Dark Waters is out in UK cinemas on Friday 28 February A man has admitted to threatening to shoot a Rapid City-based federal prosecutor in the head, according to court documents. Steven McCann pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening to assault, kidnap or murder a federal official, court records show. Two charges of contempt of court will be thrown out as part of the plea deal. The threatening crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Wyoming who are handling the case to avoid a conflict of interest said they will recommend a punishment on the low end of sentencing guidelines. McCann threatened Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman at the federal courthouse in Rapid City on Dec. 21, 2018, according to the factual basis document he signed. McCann, who was on supervised release after serving prison time for being a felon in possession of a gun, was in court that day for a revocation hearing where a judge would decide if he broke his supervision conditions and if his release should be revoked. During the hearing, McCann "became agitated" with Kelderman and Judge Karen Schreier, who decided to revoke his release and sentence him to 14 months in prison, the document says. U.S. Marshals then transported McCann to a cell where he began yelling at the other inmates, the document says. At one point he yelled, "When I get out I'm going to put a bullet in Kelderman's (expletive) head." McCann was arrested in Colorado before being brought to Rapid City. During a hearing in that state, a defense lawyer admitted that McCann made the statement about Kelderman but said his client has serious mental health conditions and had no intent or means to carry out the threat, court records show. The Colorado judge said the comment "not only contained a true threat of violence, but manifested an intent to retaliate against the prosecutor for performance of his official duties. The defendants focus on the prosecutor as the source of his evils was certainly not unrelated to Mr. Keldermans role in the proceedings." 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 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. said Friday it suspended 70 accounts for spam-like posts supporting Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg, whose campaign has hired hundreds of people to promote him on "We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam," a spokesperson for the platform said. Some of the accounts are now banned while others can be re-authorized once the users behind them verify they are in control, said. The Wall Street Journal revealed Wednesday that the billionaire former New York mayor has hired around 500 people in California at $2,500 a month to regularly post messages supporting him on and to send text messages to their friends. The technique blurs the lines between political advertisement and promotion by ordinary activists on networks, which are grappling with how to handle political content and prevent abuse. ALSO READ: Michael Bloomberg formally announces US presidential candidacy prohibits sending identical tweets from multiple accounts, as is often the case with spam, and "coordinating with or compensating others to engage in artificial engagement or amplification." It also bans creating "fake" engagement with "duplicative" content. The policies were triggered by Russia-backed accounts used in an effort to sway the outcome of the US presidential race in 2016. Facebook is also planning a response to Bloomberg's online campaign methods, according to US media. has shattered the record for campaign advertising, spending a staggering USD 364.3 million and counting, ad tracker Advertising Analytics reported. On Friday, the candidate mocked Donald Trump with a giant billboard on the Las Vegas Strip as the president visited the city for a rally. "Donald Trump lost the popular vote," read one slogan, while another said "Donald Trump's wall fell over. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Shaun Tandon and Arthur MacMillan (Agence France-Presse) Washington United States Sun, February 23, 2020 03:13 689 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206608fb8 2 World #Russia,#coronavirus,disinformation,USA Free Thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts have launched a coordinated effort to spread alarm about the new coronavirus, disrupting global efforts to fight the epidemic, US officials say. The disinformation campaign promotes unfounded conspiracy theories that the United States is behind the COVID-19 outbreak, in an apparent bid to damage the US image around the world by seizing on health concerns. State Department officials tasked with combating Russian disinformation told AFP that false personas are being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to advance Russian talking points in multiple languages. "Russia's intent is to sow discord and undermine US institutions and alliances from within, including through covert and coercive malign influence campaigns," said Philip Reeker, the acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia. "By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting from the global health response," he said. The claims that have been circulating in recent weeks include allegations that the virus is a US effort to "wage economic war on China," that it is a biological weapon manufactured by the CIA or part of a Western-led effort "to push anti-China messages." US individuals including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a philanthropist who has spent billions on global health programs, have also been falsely accused of involvement in the virus. The disinformation campaign was identified by US monitors in mid-January after Chinese officials announced a third death from the new coronavirus in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. More than 2,340 people have since died, mostly in China. The number of cases exceeds 76,000 and the virus has reached around 25 countries. Among them is Iran, which on Saturday ordered the closure of schools and universities in two cities, after a fifth death. - Close coordination observed - Several thousand online accounts -- previously identified for airing Russian-backed messages on major events such as the war in Syria, the Yellow Vest protests in France and Chile's mass demonstrations -- are posting "almost near identical" messages about the novel coronavirus, according to a report prepared for the State Department's Global Engagement Center and seen by AFP. The accounts -- run by humans, not bots -- post at similar times in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French and can be linked back to Russian proxies, or carry similar messages to Russian-backed outlets such as RT and Sputnik, it said. Russian state-funded media started pushing anti-Western messages about the cause of the epidemic on January 20, with operators of the social media accounts beginning to post globally the following day, US officials say. "In this case, we were able to see their full disinformation ecosystem in effect, including state TV, proxy web sites and thousands of false social media personas all pushing the same themes," said Special Envoy Lea Gabrielle, head of the Global Engagement Center, which is tasked with tracking and exposing propaganda and disinformation. During many past news events, the accounts would post actively for up to 72 hours. But messages about the new coronavirus have been uploaded every day over the past month -- a sign, US officials said, of Russia's investment in a story unlikely to disappear soon from the headlines. "In the Russian doctrine of information confrontation, this is classic," said another official from the Global Engagement Center. "The number of coronavirus cases globally hasn't reached its apex, so the Russian strategy is to very cheaply but very effectively take advantage of the information environment to sow discord between us and China, or for economic purposes." Experts saw parallels with previous conspiracy theories traced to Moscow, including a KGB disinformation campaign in the 1980s that convinced many around the world that US scientists created the HIV virus that causes AIDS. US intelligence has also said that Russia interfered through social media manipulation in the 2016 election and seeks to do so again in 2020. The Kremlin has denied the charges and President Donald Trump has scoffed at suggestions of Russian help. - Risks seen in response - Scientists believe the COVID-19 illness originated in late December in Wuhan at a market selling exotic animals for human consumption. Bats are known carriers of this strain of the coronavirus, whose official name is SARS-CoV-2, but scientists think it spread to humans via another mammal species, possibly pangolins. The US believes the latest Russian disinformation campaign is making it harder to respond to the epidemic, particularly in Africa and Asia, with some of the public becoming suspicious of the Western response. The World Health Organization warned Friday that the window to stem the outbreak was narrowing, voicing alarm at a surge of cases with no clear link to China. A State Department official said that Russian operatives appeared to have been given "carte blanche" to attack the US reputation. "Whether or not a particular theme is being directed at the highest levels doesn't matter. It's the fact that they have freelance ability to operate in this space to do whatever damage they can, which could have seismic implications." President Trump said Friday that a disclosure by American intelligence officials that Russia was again meddling in a presidential election in his favor was merely another partisan campaign against him, dismissing the warning as a hoax cooked up by rivals. Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa, Trump tweeted. Hoax number 7! The intelligence assessment, delivered last Thursday to lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee, determined that Russia is planning to interfere in the 2020 primaries as well as the general election. But the way it was delivered angered some Republicans, and the attendance of Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, the chairman of the committee who led the impeachment proceedings, particularly angered Trump. The presidents decision to remove Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, and install Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany and a fervent loyalist, was also seen as a direct outcome of the briefing. On Thursday evening, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, an ally and a vocal opponent of impeachment, was one of the candidates under consideration as a permanent successor. By Friday morning, Collins said he was not interested. Trump has a long history of discarding assessments made by intelligence agencies that he has deemed unfair or unflattering. Multiple intelligence groups have determined that Russia meddled in the 2016 election, and, before the 2018 midterms, delivered warnings that Russia was prepared to do it again. Early in his presidency, Trump grudgingly accepted those assessments before falling back on personal assurances from President Vladimir Putin of Russia. He said he didnt meddle, Trump said in November 2017. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times. Every time he sees me, he says, I didnt do that. And I believe, I really believe, that when he tells me that, he means it. Since then, Trump, with the assistance of his Justice Department, has moved to retaliate against the intelligence community rather than Putin: A federal prosecutor is scrutinizing how the intelligence officials assessed Russias 2016 election interference, targeting the former CIA director John Brennan in particular. On Friday, Trump tweeted that he had a list of four candidates to succeed Grenell, and that he would announce a decision in the coming weeks. Katie Rogers is a New York Times writer. It was 1982 in the remote desert town of Marfa, Texas, and Rainer and Flavin Judd, daughter and son of artist Donald Judd, had just moved into rooms of their own. Don, as they call him, made each of them a desk, but as Flavin explains, Once you have a desk, you need a chaira place to sit and do your homework. In no time, their father sketched one (actually, there were 10 variations) and took the plans to a carpenter to have seats hewn in pine from a lumberyard. The design couldnt have been simpler, made entirely from flat pine boards. But in that cubic volume beneath the seat, the artist experimented: In one version he placed a shelf, in another a slanting board; another was solid on the front but recessed on the sides. Photo by Douglas Friedman. Photo by Giancarlo Gardin. Soon the chair showed up in several of Judds homes, newly documented in Donald Judd Spaces, which is published this month by Judd Foundation and DelMonico Books/Prestel. A group gathered at La Mansana de Chinati, in Marfa, and 14 surrounded the dining table in his SoHo loft. In 1991, Judd began realizing them in plywood, for which a range of colors could be specified, and several of those punctuated his Architecture Office in Marfa. Only in 1993, when the chairs were numbered in an exhibition catalog for the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, did they get an official name: Chair 84. Photo by Matthew Millman for SFMOMA. Judd Foundation. Donald Judd. 2020 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo by Oleg Covian. While the seat might bear some resemblance to his sculptures, Judd was always clear: This was a chair, not art. A work of art exists as itself, he wrote in 1986. A chair exists as a chair itself. Still, for decades collectors have snapped up the designs, old and new (from $3,500 through Donald Judd Furniture). People recognize the honesty behind his work, says Manhattan dealer Cristina Grajales, who has sold several Judd furnishings. With Chair 84 he gets to the essence of design. Its about lines and functionality. Accordingly, in Judd, a retrospective opening at New Yorks MoMA this month, the furniture sits outside the exhibition proper, in a sixth-floor communal reading room, where, just as the artist intended, it can be put to good use. judd.furniture Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest In the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the Centre is now planning to start universal screening at airports for flights from Kathmandu (Nepal), Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia along with those from other countries, this decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday. This universal screening will be in addition to those as per the earlier advisories. Gauba chaired the high-level meeting to review the status, actions taken and preparedness of states and union territories, amid the scare caused by Novel Coronavirus outbreak. According to a release by the PIB, Secretaries of Health and Family Welfare, Civil Aviation, Defence, Information and Broadcasting, DG AFMS and representatives from External Affairs, Home Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, ITBP and Army were also present in the meeting. During the meeting, citizens have also been advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore. "As on date, 21,805 passengers have been brought under community surveillance. In addition, 3,97,152 flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at seaports have been screened," the release added. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 2,200 people in that country alone, while cases have been reported in several countries across the world, including India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) David Dimbleby has launched an attack on Boris Johnson, branding him a 'liar'. (Picture: Richard Blanshard/Getty Images) David Dimbleby has launched a scathing attack on Boris Johnson, branding him a liar and accusing him of apeing Donald Trump. The comments come as part of an interview with Germany's ARD state TV channel though some were not broadcast and were later obtained from a transcript by the Daily Mail. In the comments broadcast by ARD, veteran broadcaster Dimbleby said: The BBC is under threat in a way it has never been before. The pernicious route they [the Government] are using is to say the licence fee is wrong or unfair. I don't believe it is wrong or unfair. But comments that reportedly appeared in the transcript went one step further, with Dimbleby saying: Nobody trusts Boris Johnson. Who could trust Boris Johnson? He lies everywhere to everyone. He lies to his family. He just makes it up, you know. He also accused the Prime Minister of apeing Donald Trumps attitudes. Dimbleby slammed the Government's "pernicious" attack on the BBC. (Picture: PA) Dimblebys comments are the latest chapter in an ongoing stand-off between the government and the BBC, which on Friday saw senior Tory MP Huw Merriman criticise the ideological trench warfare against the BBC. The Government is already consulting on proposals to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee and ministers have suggested it could be abolished altogether when the BBCs charter comes up for renewal in 2027. Read more: Michael O'Leary suggests Muslim men 'are more likely to be terrorists' Read more: Drivers windscreen was so frosty he 'may as well have been blindfolded' But comments revealed last week also suggested that Downing Street wants to replace the licence fee with a subscription model, sparking a backlash. Merriman, who is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the BBC, also blamed top aide Dominic Cummings seen as the driving force for the move for a nasty streak running through Downing Street. His criticism of Cummings was echoed by Dimbleby in his ARD interview, when he reportedly said: Johnson's never governed anything, Cummings has never governed anything. They're ignorantfloundering. I don't think they have a strategy. The 51-year-old, who Watkins said was his neighbor, was unresponsive and bleeding inside a blue sedan with both front windows shot out. Watkins, feeling fear the assailant was lurking nearby and urgency to save the woman, ran back inside the house to call 911. But police, having responded to a ShotSpotter call, were already pulling up. Nemes said he shares those slippery slope concerns. To assuage those fears, Nemes invited Block to testify in committee that the bill would contain enough regulations to prevent it from being abused. The bill is intended to only allow edibles or pills it prohibits smoking the marijuana and forbids colorful packaging that could attract children. It does not allow people to grow marijuana in their homes, but does allow for sale of the marijuana flower, which is often used to smoke. Work has begun on major safety improvements to a treacherous bridge on the main Kilkenny to Thomastown road. Killarney Bridge, a bridge over the railway line just north of Thomastown, has been the scene of numerous road accidents over the years. Its a very tight bend on a busy main road. The most recent accident on the bridge occurred when a car hit the bridge wall, demolishing part of it. The driver was lucky her vehicle didnt go over the bridge and on to the rail line below. Very soon after that incident local Councillor Deirdre Cullen brought up the need for emergency safety works on the bridge, at the January meeting of Callan Thomastown Municipal District Council meeting. She was very pleased to welcome an updated report at last weeks February monthly meeting of the council, announcing major works. The works got underway last Thursday. Area engineer Declan Murphy announced the details. Kilkenny County Council will work with Irish Rail on the project. The first part of the work is to rebuild the wall that was damaged. Crash barriers are to be designed and installed when the wall is complete. There will also be LED motion-activated chevrons on the approach to the bridge from the Thomastown side. Mr Murphy told councillors he had a meeting with Irish Rail about the bridge. They will rebuild the wall and the County Council have committed to funding the chevrons and doing the road markings. District Chairman Patrick ONeill said accidents were happening at this point on the bridge once or twice a year and welcomed the news. Cllr Cullen thanked Mr Murphy, the County Council and Irish Rail for the huge progress they had made in a few short weeks and said she looks forward to the permanent safety measures being put in place on the treacherous stretch of road. Armenian Environmental Front revealed Lydian mining company provided false information to the Canadian court about Amulsar project. In January 2020, a number of documents and information about Lydian International became accessible to the public. The reason why this was possible is that in December 2019 Lydian applied for and was granted protection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) which provided that no proceedings may be commenced or continued against or in respect of Lydian International and its subsidiaries (now extended till March 2, 2020). This basically means that during this period, Lydians creditors are not able to take the assets of the company in return to its unpaid loans, the statement issued by environmentalists reads. The court protection period also give Lydian time for selling the Amulsar gold project or for raising money to sue Armenia in the corporate arbitration tribunals. Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc. was appointed monitor of the Lydian in the CCAA proceedings, and so a large number of documents became available on their website, including the Motion Report and affidavit of Lydians chief executive. Armenian Environmental Front read those documents and found out that particularly the affidavit is full of false factual information and distorted or manipulative presentation of facts, which we would like to present to the public part by part. This first part concerns the Police and the Government of Armenia. Edward Sellers, the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Lydian International Limited writes in his affidavit to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice: Police forces in Armenia have not acted on orders made by Armenian courts requiring the removal of blockaders and the commencement of criminal proceedings against them, and the GOA [Government of Armenia] has failed to cause the police to enforce court orders, further extending the illegal blockades. (Affidavit of Edward Sellers, sworn December 22, 2019, para. 9.b; similar statements available in para. 44, 74-78) We were, certainly, following the court proceedings against the Police of Armenia and the results of the court orders, but in order to confirm the information we had, we filed an official request for information to the Police or Armenia asking them to clarify the situation. Their response, basically, confirmed what we already knew: Lydian Armenias court complaint was not about removal of blockades but about removal of the protestors house-trailers from the territory of the real estate in the ownership of the company. The company had also clarified the geographical location details which were in its ownership. Police officers have negotiated with the protesters and moved the house-trailers out of the territory in the ownership of the company and placed them at the roadside. The company filed an objection to the police claiming that the house-trailers have remained in the area of its ownership. However, the Police officers, accompanied by other relevant officials and professionals, conducted relevant land measurement actions and ascertained that the mobile house-trailers were not situated in the territory of the units of the real estate under the ownership of the company as well as there were no natural persons in those land plots, hence there was not any trespassory entry. Requirements under the court order VD/9786/05/18 have been adhered in full. The above mentioned affidavit and other documents presented to the Ontario Court are full of similar wrongful data, and unfortunately, relevant public bodies of Armenia are undertaking no visible steps to confront or at least to voice out misinformation about their actions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 22:34:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak has not contaminated China's environment as the quality of urban air, surface water and drinking water sources are all kept stable, monitoring results from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) showed Saturday. Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 19, Chinese environmental authorities have monitored the country's more than 6,900 drinking water sources and did not find any impact from the epidemic on the quality of the sources, the ministry said. The quality of drinking water sources in Hubei Province, where the epidemic first broke out with the largest number of infections, have all been up to standards, the MEE said. In the same period, the share of good air quality days in China's 337 cities monitored by the ministry, stood at 87.1 percent, up 9.3 percentage points year on year, MEE data showed. Meanwhile, the proportion of surface water with a national quality rating of Grade III or above was 87.3 percent. The rate was stable from the level in the same period last year, indicating relatively good quality. Local authorities have also monitored the quality of wastewater from designated hospitals and urban sewage treatment facilities in key regions, including 63 designated hospitals in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei and the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. Effluent quality at all the designated hospitals and sewage treatment facilities have all been disinfected in accordance with official requirements, the ministry said. Quad going to be vital arena for cooperation in Indo-Pacific: Joe Biden Here is why an opposition delegation will not meet with US President Donald Trump India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 22: For the first time, no Opposition delegation will officially meet a US President during his visit to India, Congress sources said, as no such meeting is scheduled with Donald Trump. According to sources, this will be the first time no delegation of the principal opposition party will be meeting a visiting US President. Trump is visiting India on February 24 and 25, and is expected to participate in a number of events during his less than 36-hours stay. His planned events include an official banquet hosted by the President of India, which some opposition leaders are likely to attend. Sources said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad may attend this banquet, but no official meeting of the visiting president has been planned with the opposition leaders. Donald Trump India visit: Trade deal unlikely, says White House "When (visiting) Prime Ministers and Presidents have to meet Congress leaders, they make proposals directly. There is no proposal before the Congress to meet US President Donald Trump," senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said, when asked whether any Congress delegation will call on the US president. This is for the first time that a visiting US President will not hold discussions with the principal opposition party, sources said. Sources in the Congress said that during the UPA, a slot used to be kept for the opposition to meet the visiting US president or other dignitaries. A Congress delegation including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had met former US President Barack Obama during his official visit to India. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 10:04 [IST] Canadian actor Keanu Reeves and his girlfriend American visual artist Alexandra Grant were seen together for the first time since going public with their romance on Thursday (local time). According to Us Weekly, the 55-year-old actor was spotted walking with Grant outside of the Omni hotel in photos obtained by the Daily Mail. Reeves was seen sporting a black coat, brown shirt and black pants, while Grant wore a leopard print coat and black leggings. The 46-year-old painter visited Reeves in San Fransisco where the actor is filming 'The Matrix 4'. In November 2019, Reeves and Grant went public with their relationship at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles. At that time an eyewitness to Us Weekly told, "They were standing next to each other and laughing by themselves towards the beginning of the cocktail hour, and then even when they were standing talking to others, they still stood next to each other." A source to the outlet told Us Weekly that although people weren't aware that Grant and Reeves were dating, the couple weren't hiding their relationship. The source added, "It wasn't a secret, they have been dating since at least summer of 2017." The source further revealed that the actor attended Grant's most recent art opening. The source recalled, "[He] was there, and she was introducing him to people. They weren't openly affectionate, but they aren't a couple like that. They're low-key and cool" Over the past few years, the pair have been spotted together numerous times including at the UNAIDS Gala during Art Basel in June 2016. In November 2017 at the X Artists' Books launch in Paris, the MOCA Benefit in Los Angeles in May 2019 and also in June 2019, at the Saint Laurent Men's Spring-Summer 2020 runway show in Malibu. Grant, prior to this relationship with Grant, Reeves dated American actor Jennifer Syme from 1998 to 2000. The former couple suffered a miscarriage in 1999. Syme passed away in a car wreck at the age of 28 in 2001. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, in Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 16, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) Young Woman Infected With Coronavirus Forced to Make Confession After Exposing Hospitals Negligence A female college student in Tianmen, Hubei Province became an internet celebrity for exposing the lack of care she received at a hospital while being treated for the coronavirus. However, her social media posts were later removed by authorities, and netizens believe that she was coerced into making a confession video in which she told her followers not to spread false rumors and to respect the country and its communist leaders. The video angered many social media users. Hubei, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has the most number of infections and deaths in China and remains under lockdown. Chinese netizen Bomaner was infected with the coronavirus on Jan. 24. She revealed in her blog post that she was diagnosed after being hospitalized with a fever. Bomaner disclosed through live videos on Chinese video app TikTok and the Twitter-like social media platform Weibo on Jan. 29 that, despite her high fever and pain, medical staff at Tianmen hospital only offered two pills of oseltamivir every day. Oseltamivir, also known as tamiflu, is a common oral antiviral drug used to treat the symptoms of influenza. The hospital did not arrange for a CT scan and blood test. She began to feel physically weak and started to vomit and have loose bowels. On the brink of collapse, she even penned a farewell letter. That same evening, Bomaner revealed in another post that police went to talk to her parents, accusing her of spreading negative information (on the coronavirus) on social media. I was in the hospitals isolation ward when this happened. Every word I said on social media was true. I really dont know which of my statements is considered a wrongdoing. Please come talk to me, instead of talking to my parents, she wrote. At midday on Feb. 1, Bomaner again updated her post: The doctors joined together to murder me by cutting off my oxygen supply. My parents still have no idea about this. The doctors promised to provide the best treatment solution for me, yet they did nothing I am sincerely asking for help desperately. I shall turn in my grave if I die! Bomaners plight got a lot of attention on the Chinese internet. Her parents revealed on WeChat that they were threatened by authorities as a result of her post. The Chinese regime has ramped up censorship measures to suppress information on the virus outbreak, and has hired trollsknown as the 50-cent army in Chinato monitor online speech 24/7. This has led to local authorities cracking down on people for spreading rumors on the internet about the outbreak. On Feb. 12, Bomaner posted a confession video as she laid down on a hospital bed. In front of the camera, she said, I hope my followers on social media will not spread rumors. My family is waiting for me to go back home [after I fully recover from the virus]. She continued, We should also believe in our country and our government. Chinese netizens expressed outrage when the video went viral. One netizen shared the video on Twitter and commented: She [Bomaner] was persecuted and forced by the Chinese Communist Party to pledge allegiance to the party and to the country, otherwise she would not be given medical assistance. She only said those things out of despair. Another netizen believed that she was forced by authorities to make the confession video. She [Bomaner] mentioned previously on her Weibo blog that she was under threat as a resident in the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, I understand how hopeless and desperate she was in struggling to survive. The authorities deleted most of her social media posts. These sweet, fluffy Polish doughnuts put the fat in Fat Tuesday (or Thursday) Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is nearly upon us. The festival represents one last hurrah before the solemn Christian season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Week and Easter. In many traditions, Lent is a period of fasting, and thus the days leading up to it are filled with conspicuous consumptiona sort of eat, drink, and be merry moment. One celebratory sweet that puts the fat in Fat Tuesday comes to us from Poland: paczki. Paczki, hand-filled and dusted with powdered sugar. (Shutterstock) Lost and Found in Translation The uninitiated might mistake these yeast-raised, deep-fried, filled pastries for jelly doughnuts, but paczki dough calls for more milk, more butter, and more eggs and egg yolks, making them a bit richer in flavor. Paczki is actually the plural form of the name, though in English it is commonly used for both plural and singular. Paczek is the correct form for just one and comes from the diminutive of pak, a bud. (Take out that special character and the unrelated Polish word paczki means packages. Fair enoughdough packages of deliciousness?) While the Polish pronunciation is trickyPOHNCH-key, where that special a sound ends in your nose like a not-quite n, almost like the nasal vowel sound of someone lampooning a Frenchmans laughit can be done with practice. I hear many call it POONCH-key, which is not Polish at all. But a paczek by any other name would still taste as sweet. Frying paczki. (Shutterstock) The Evolution of Paczki While many Polish-American communities celebrate with paczki on Fat Tuesday, Joseph Mikolaj Rej Jr., president of The General Pulaski Association in Buffalo, New York, tells us that back in Poland, its Tlusty Czwartek, or Fat Thursday. This was a day to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs, and jam that you had in your house, because getting rid of all these things made it easier to fast during Lent, he wrote in an email. Why Thursday? There is a good chance you will have leftovers the next day. If you decided to prepare all of this for Fat Tuesday, you would allow a lot of very desirable food to go to waste. The tradition is old, but paczki have evolved. Once they were made with a pork fat filling and deep-fried in lard; in the 16th century, they became sweet. When French chefs infiltrated Polish cookery in his time, Jedrzej Kitowicz, an 18th-century parish priest and chronicler of Polish life and culture, wrote of both his nostalgia for old traditions and a humorous and almost begrudging fascination with the new, improved recipes: If an old-fashioned paczek were to hit you in the face, you could get a black eye from it. But the new paczki were so plump and light that you could squeeze them in your hand and they would swell and ooze like a sponge, so light that a mere puff of wind might whisk them off the plate. My Slovak grandmother, whose family came from a village close to the Polish border, and unsurprisingly ate pierogi and cabbage rolls, made paczki. My mother recalled, She didnt want us anywhere near the wood stove because she was deep-frying. Shed make them with prune filling with the idea of it being healthier for us, she added with a laugh, and reminded me that these were deep-fried in home-rendered lard. One clogs you up (the doughnut), the other one makes everything work (the prune). They are raised doughnuts, and my grandmother would put a damp rag over them to keep them from drying out. When it came time to fill them, she had me and my brothers in an assembly line so we wouldnt fight, my mother said. One of us would cut the donut, another would fill it, and the next one would roll it in sugar. While traditionalists may abound, paczki never stopped evolving, or rather, expanding their range. Surely lard in the fryer isnt very common anymore. A stewed plum jam or a wild rose hip jam are the most traditional fillings, but even in Poland you can find chocolate or Nutella-filled paczki, along with vegan recipes. Bakery lines wind around the block on Fat Thursday in Poland. (Janke Skarzynski/AFP via Getty Images) Paczki Day in America New York and Illinois are home to the largest Polish-American populations in the country, with Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Jersey not far behind. Nearly one in 10 residents in Milwaukee, Toledo, and Buffalo claim at least some Polish ancestry, and numerous towns in Wisconsin and Michigan have even higher percentages. You can find a paczek infused with a shot of vanilla vodka at Smalls, a bar in Hamtramck, a city outside Detroit settled by abundant Polish immigrants in 1914. They celebrate Paczki Day on Shrove Tuesday but also organize a 5K run the Saturday before, apparently burning off old calories before bringing in some new ones at the finish line. (Seriously, beer and paczki for finishers.) Anna Niziolek, originally from Warsaw, worked 38 years at Old Warsaw Buffet in Chicago before opening Polish Paczki Cafe with a business partner in 2018. She learned her paczki recipe from her mother and describes it as a two-hour process per batch. The dough rises twice before being shaped into paczki to rise yet a third time before going into the deep-fryer. Her paczki have a wonderful chewiness to them, with a darkly fried exterior and modest spoonful of a tangy mix of stewed plum, rose hip, and raspberry jams. Hand-filled. Never injected like a jelly doughnut, she told me, with pride and a trace of disdain. Powdered sugar with lemon juice and a bit of orange zest graces the top, and thats it. I asked her if she sells a lot of paczki on Fat Thursday or Fat Tuesday, but she told me they sell out every day. On the holiday, however, theres about a four-hour wait in line. The queues go round the block in Poland as well, even though bakeries there also sell them year-round. The sudden spike in demand may be chalked up to Polish wisdom: not eating paczki on Fat Thursday will bring you bad luck, or as a proverb says, an empty barn and fields eaten by mice. Another proverb, zyc jak paczek w masle, means live like a doughnut in butterbe happy as a pig in the mud, a cow in the clover. Perfect advice for Fat any day. This year, Fat Thursday is Feb. 20 and Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 25. Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler and the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and several outdoor and brewery guidebooks. He is based in Madison, Wis., and his website is TheMadTraveler.com FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A report from doctors battling China's coronavirus outbreak raises concern that people who have no symptoms and initially test negative on medical tests might still harbor and spread the COVID-19 virus. The case involves an asymptomatic 20-year-old woman who appears to have spread the illness to five relatives who later became ill. If similar reports are found elsewhere, "the prevention of COVID-19 infection would prove challenging," warned researchers led by Dr. Meiyun Wang of Henan Provincial People's Hospital in Zhengzhou, China. While the rate of new cases in China appear to be slowing, outbreaks in countries such as South Korea and Iran have experts worried that COVID-19 could go global. As of Friday, a total of more than 75,000 cases and 2,236 deaths were reported in mainland China. For many infectious respiratory illnesses, people have to be symptomatic to transmit the infection to others. But the new report suggests that might not always be the case for COVID-19. As Wang's team explained, five members of a family in the Chinese city of Anyang came down with coronavirus about 10 days after meeting up with a 20-year-old female relative. The young woman had traveled to Anyang from her home in Wuhan, thought to be the origin of the coronavirus outbreak. The woman arrived in Anyang on Jan. 10, and met with the five family members over the next three days. All of the five became symptomatic for COVID-19 between Jan. 17 and Jan. 26. Importantly, "none of the patients had visited Wuhan or been in contact with any other people who had traveled to Wuhan" -- except their 20-year-old relative. What's troubling about this case is that the young woman never developed symptoms of coronavirus infection, nor did any signs of infection show up on multiple tests, Wang's group reported Feb. 21 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "As of Feb. 11, she had no elevated temperature measured or self-reported fever and no gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms, including cough or sore throat, reported or observed by physicians," Wang and colleagues noted. Furthermore, highly sensitive throat-swab tests gave inconsistent results: One came back negative on Jan. 26, another was positive two days later, but two more (Feb. 5 and Feb. 8) came back negative. As well, "chest CT images on Jan. 27 and 31 showed no significant abnormalities," the Chinese researchers reported. In contrast, all of the five symptomatic patients developed pneumonias, although none have died. Wang's team pointed out that a prior case of an infected but symptom-free person transmitting COVID-19 has been reported. That case involved a 10-year-old boy, but he at least gave hints of infection due to "abnormalities on chest CT," the researchers said. And if the young woman implicated in the new cluster of cases had no symptoms, it also begs the question of how she might have spread COVID-19 to others. Right now, "the mechanism by which asymptomatic carriers could acquire and transmit the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 requires further study," Wang and colleagues noted. One expert in the United States believes more study is warranted, and he stressed it's too early to press the panic button based on this case alone. For example, "it's unclear if the first [throat swab] test was falsely negative from improper sampling, a defective test kit, or an inadequate sampling of the nose and throat secretions," noted Dr. Robert Glatter. He is an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "We will have to see if additional cases of asymptomatic transmission are reported, along with virologic data and contact tracing, before making any conclusions regarding the case presented in this report," Glatter said. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus. A 64-year-old man took Coles to court for discrimination after the supermarket giant allegedly stopped packing the single-use shopping plastic bags he washed at home. Lance Tyrrell has been a regular customer at Coles' Greenacre store, in Sydney's south-west, for many years and the staff would pack his groceries into their supplied small single-use plastic bags. But the supermarket giant stopped giving out small grey bags free of charge in 2018 and shoppers were required to buy larger reusable plastic bags for 15 cents per bag. Mr Tyrrell kept a collection of the small grey bags and continued to use them for his shopping after the policy change. A 64-year-old man took Coles to court for discrimination after the supermarket giant allegedly stopped packing the single-use shopping plastic bags he washed at home (stock image) The 64-year-old claimed Coles staff began to refuse packing the groceries into his plastic bags and suggested they were not 'clean'. He claimed Coles' decision to avoid packing his bags 'amounts to indirect discrimination on the ground of his disability and/or his age'. Coles denied Mr Tyrrell's claims and said it will pack a customer's groceries into any bag permitting they are clean. Mr Tyrrell lodged his complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Board on November 30, 2018. He alleged discrimination on the grounds of age and disability in the area of goods and services. Mr Tyrrell, who uses a walking stick, said the new bags are so big he can fall over as they are 'flopping around'. 'I feel like I'm being discriminated against because people of other ages and races and everything else are using other bags and they're dirty or broken but the staff are still filling their bags for them,' he said. 'There are people without disability, and people of all age groups, you know, from about 20 and up and they're bringing in not only dirty, broken, damaged Coles bags, but Woolworths and other bags, canvas bags, all sorts of bags of their own.' A statutory declaration in defence of Mr Tyrrell said: 'I have seen Mr Lance Tyrrell's grey plastic bags which are clean and smell of lavender.' Lance Tyrrell has been a regular customer at Coles' Greenacre store, in Sydney's south-west, for many years and the staff would pack his groceries into their supplied small single-use plastic bags (stock image) 'He reuses them and are free of damage with no holes. He washes them each time he uses them.' In a letter tendered to the Anti-Discrimination Board, Coles said bags must be kept in a 'clean state'. 'Please keep your plastic bag alternatives in a clean state the bags are easy to care for and most are hand or machine washable.' 'For health and safety of you and our Coles team members, checkout operators will not pack bags that are excessively dirty.' The tribunal acknowledged that Mr Tyrrell had a disability but ruled with the supermarket giant. 'We are not satisfied that the acts of individual staff members at Coles Greenacre where they have refused to pack his grey plastic bags for reasons other than the state of cleanliness or repair of the bags was done with the authorisation, either express or by implication, of Coles,' it said. 'We are not satisfied in the absence of evidence that it could be said that a substantially higher proportion of shoppers who do not have Mr Tyrrell's disability are able to comply with the requirement or condition that they present with a bag other than the small grey bags. 'Accordingly, this claim of indirect disability discrimination is dismissed.' This week, five years ago, 2,400 athletes and coaches, 4,800 volunteers and about 8,000 spectators came together for the Canada Winter Games in Prince George. At the time, it was the largest sporting event ever held in the northern B.C. city, and the first Canada Games to have an official First Nations host, the Lheidli T'enneh. The Canada Games are one of the largest national multi-sport events held in the country, alternating every two years between Summer and Winter. The 2015 Canada Games saw Quebec top the rankings with 141 medals, Ontario with 110, and host B.C. with 88 medals, including 22 gold. Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press "It was a whirlwind," said Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall. He had come to office a few months earlier in November 2014 and he said watching the community come together with such enthusiasm was a delight. "We're a much, much better city for having the games," he said. "From my perspective there was no downside for having the games." Listen to Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall on his memories of the games: An Indigenous first Andrew Kurjata/CBC The 2015 Games in Prince George marked the first time there was a host First Nation, Lheidli T'enneh. Joshua Seymour, a councillor with Lheidli T'enneh, said the First Nation was involved right from the beginning, during the creation of the bid video. "We kind of thought, 'How can we make these games different from the other games?" he said. "With Lheidli T'enneh's support, we became the official host First Nation." The nation was involved in many aspects of the event. For example, Jennifer Anais Pighin, a local teacher, artist, and Lheidli T'enneh band councillor, designed the medals. But the moment that sticks out to Seymour is hearing the national anthem sung in Dakelh, the language of Lheidli T'enneh. "I can't actually listen to that song without tearing up," Seymour said. "As a child myself growing up, people never really knew who I was ... So having our language and having our culture tied to a national moment like that ... to hear my language, singing my national anthem. I'd never felt so connected until that moment. People knew who Lheidli T'enneh was. I knew that I'd never have to explain it again." Story continues Listen to Lheidli T'enneh's Joshua Seymour: 'Like a mini-Olympics' Andrew Kurjata/CBC The Canada Winter Games have also left an important legacy on the city, according to Kevin Pettersen, who was the president of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club during the Canada Winter Games in 2015. "It was really exciting," he said. "We've held national events before but this was quite different because the whole city was into it. It was kind of like a mini-Olympics." Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press The club, with ski trails winding through the Prince George forest, hosted the biathlon and cross-country ski events to great fanfare. It propelled the venue to the international stage, eventually hosting the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships in 2019. "I think it really instilled that community pride and everyone really wanted to show off what we had here," he said. Listen to Kevin Pettersen of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 00:51:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Taliban fighters attend a surrender ceremony in Jalalabad city, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2020. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State said on Friday that the United States and the Afghan Taliban are set to sign an agreement on Feb. 29 after the implementation of a week-long violence reduction in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that on the condition of a successful implementation of the reduction in violence across Afghanistan, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign an agreement on Feb. 29, but he did not announce the location of the signing. According to the statement, intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon after the signing of the agreement. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," the statement said. The Taliban also confirmed a peace accord will be signed with the United States later this month. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, wrote on Twitter that following lengthy negotiations, "both parties agreed to sign the finalized accord in the presence of international observers" on Feb. 29. Earlier on Friday, an Afghan official said a week-long reduction of violence period during which the Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents will refrain from operations and attacks would start by early Saturday. The deal between the United States and the Taliban is expected to include a timeline for the reduction and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops, assurances by the Taliban that they will prevent terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire. President Donald Trump has long grumbled about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan that started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous." Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban began in 2018 but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on U.S. military personnel last September and December. The United States maintains roughly 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which mostly provide training missions to local Afghan forces while conducting counterterrorism operations. The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in U.S. history. The death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Whether youre selling cereal or insurance, you need a memorable message. Think Tony the Tiger or Jake from State Farm. When youre selling an idea, you have to make it believable. Just ask any Nigerian prince. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald insists 'the war is over' despite Garda Commissioner Drew Harriss comments linking the party to the Provisional Army Council. The war is over and I run the party, she told reporters questioning her about PSNI intelligence which claims the party is still being run by the army council. Speaking at an event in Dundalk, Co Louth, she was asked if the IRA still exists. The war is over, the IRA has gone away and democracy is the order of the day and there's no dispute around that, she said. "Republicans are absolutely committed to democracy and to the peace process. The war is over and the IRA is off the stage. Martin Ferris, a former hunger striker who has convictions for IRA membership and gun-running, dismissed Commissioner Harris comments as pure rubbish. The former Sinn Fein TD, who has always disputed claims by former Minister of Justice Michael McDowell in the Dail in 2005 that he was a member of the IRA Army Council, said: This is absolute rubbish. The IRA went out of existence 15 years years ago. Asked why Commissioner Harris said what he said, he added: Its amazing. I dont want to speculate but it stinks like a deliberate attempt to keep Sinn Fein out of government. Answering questions about PSNI intelligence reports into paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, Commissioner Harris hinted he has the same intelligence the PSNI claims to have. He said: On national security matters and matters around security of the State, it is my obligation to report those to the government. We have contributed and continue to contribute to the Independent Reporting Commission reporting on the status of various paramilitary organisations groups. We would hold with their opinion in these matters." But also I am aware of the PSNI and the British security services assessment and we do not differ from that view. He was asked if this would create a problem for him in a Sinn Fein-led government in general, and with a Sinn Fein Minister of Justice in particular. He replied: "I am a public servant. I will work with the government. I have in law heavy responsibilities in terms of protecting the people of Ireland, preventing and detecting crime and will work with whatever Minister to achieve those aims. Outgoing Justice Minister, Charlie Flanagan, who attended a graduation ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore with Commissioner Harris, stopped short of agreeing with him. Asked about the PSNIs analysis, he said he is satisfied about facts within my own knowledge. And he reiterated that Fine Gael would not be part of any government involving Sinn Fein. He said: Im not satisfied with the disposition of that party towards the democratic process. I believe its important whatever ministers serve in the next Government that they do so in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Ireland and are not subject to any direction from outside forces. I dont believe any members of any Government in Ireland at any time should be subject to direction from people whose engagement with democracy is questionable. The row centres around a 2015 report written by the PSNI and British intelligence service MI5. It stated that the Provisional Army Council still existed, as did the Provisional IRA, though in a smaller form and committed to the peace process. The report further stated that the Provisional Army Council still supervised both the IRA and Sinn Fein. The PSNI has recently reiterated its view set out in the 2015 report and according to a report by Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally stated that its analysis has not changed in the five-year period since the report was drawn up. Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, said: As I told the Dail recently, there are substantial issues that Sinn Fein needs to categorically address. These are genuine issues that the party needs to address. But rather than addressing these issues, Sinn Fein continues to dismiss them and continues to dismiss anybody who dares to raise a question about them. People have not got the considered response they should have got from Sinn Fein. All that one gets instead is aggressive attacks and denunciations, personal attacks and trolling." Paswan was referring to differences within the Bihar NDA over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, that is likely to be followed by a countrywide NRC. New Delhi: With Bihar the next big electoral battle after Delhi, Union minister and NDA constituent Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) founder Ram Vilas Paswan has set the rules, asserting that political parties with different ideologies can come together to fight elections, but a government can be run only on the basis of a common minimum programme (CMP), like in Maharashtra. Mr Paswan was referring to differences within the Bihar NDA over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, that is likely to be followed by a countrywide NRC. It might be recalled that the Union minister had recently said that if certain questions, including those pertaining to parents birth dates, are asked in the National Population Register (NPR) or the National Register of Citizens, he would not be able to remember. Even I dont know the date of birth of my parents, forget about producing documents proving the dates, he had said. However, he said, that the Prime Minister has clarified the position of the government on CAA-NRC and there should be no further doubts. You have to rely on the words of the Prime Minister, Mr Paswan told this newspaper. Questioned on whether there were differences within the Bihar NDA over these issues, he said even if parties have divergent views, these can be kept aside for the sake of running a government. Scenarios have changed in all states. There should be flexibility on ideological positions and the aims and objectives of the parties should remain the same while working in the government. He added that like in Maharashtra, governments should run on a Common Minimum Programme, including in Bihar post polls. When pointed out that there was no CMP in Bihar right now, he said one has to understand that the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) joined the government later and was part of the Grand Alliance in 2015 while fighting the Assembly polls. Mr Paswan maintained that as stated by home minister Amit Shah, Mr Kumar would remain the chief ministerial face of the NDA in Bihar, however, as his own party, the LJP, is looking to better its seats tally, his son and LJP chief Chirag Paswan has already hit the road. Chirag has already said it is Bihar first and will soon spell out a five-year roadmap for the state, he said adding that his party has also launched a membership drive. On March 14, a massive rally is scheduled to be held at Patnas Gandhi Maidan where the party will officially launch its campaign. Saudi Aramco has announced regulatory approval for the development of the Jafurah unconventional gas field in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Jafurah is the largest unconventional non-associated gas field in the kingdom running 170 km long and 100km wide. The volume of gas resources in the field is estimated at 200 trillion cu ft of rich raw gas, which will provide a valuable feedstock for the petrochemical and metallic industries. Thanking HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Hydrocarbons Affairs, the Saudi Aramco Board Chairman Yasser bin Othman Al Rumayyan said the development of Jafurah was expected to enhance the companys position in the global energy sector, and help achieve its goal of being the worlds pre-eminent integrated energy and chemicals company. President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said the development of Jafurah was meant to support the companys diverse resources and the kingdoms economic development. Saudi Aramco said it expects the fields production, to commence early 2024, to reach approximately 2.2 billion standard cu ft per day of sales gas by 2036, with an associated approximately 425 million standard cu ft per day of ethane, representing about 40 per cent of current production. Nasser said Saudi Aramco plans to develop Jafurah in accordance with the highest environmental standards. It expects that the development of Jafurah would have a positive financial impact in the long term, which will start to show on the companys financial results in phases concurrent to the fields development. The company also expects the field to produce approximately 550,000 barrels per day of gas liquids and condensates, he added. Paris: In a bid to crack down on what he calls the risk of "Islamic separatism", French President Emmanuel Macron said he will curb the practice of foreign nations sending imams and teachers to the European country. Macron has so far been keeping silent on the affairs of the Muslim community in the country but he first referred to the issues at a time when Paris is gearing up for mayoral polls. "This end to the consular Islam system is extremely important to curb foreign influence and make sure everybody respects the laws of the republic," Macron was quoted as saying by AlJazeera. Macron was quoted as saying by the news channel that 300 imams were sent to France every year by these countries (Algeria, Morocco and Turkey) and that those who arrived in 2020 would be the last to arrive in such numbers. The French President said his government had asked the body representing Islam in his nation to find ways to train imams on French soil instead and make sure that they can speak French. He said it should be ensured that they do not spread "Islamist" views. "I won't let any country, whatever it is, feed separatism," Macron said. "You can't have Turkish law on French soil. That can't be." According to Financial Times, in some of his most explicit comments on Islam and France, Macron said it was unacceptable for anyone to disobey the laws of the French republic in the name of a religion or a foreign power. The republic must keep its promises, we must fight against discrimination, we must put meritocracy everywhere, he said, reported FT. But on the other side we must fight against separatism, because when the republic does not keep its promises, others try to replace it, the reported quoted him. Muslims form roughly 8 percent of the population in the country. After the 2015 attacks in Paris, the deadliest shooting in French history that killed 130 people, scores of mosques have been closed down under anti-terror laws, reported Al Jazeera. A Cambridge University graduation ceremony has been moved to a secret location today amid fears Extinction Rebellion will try to ruin it. The university said it had received 'credible intelligence' that protesters connected with the environmental group 'may disrupt the congregation'. Students from several colleges have therefore been told the event which had been booked for the historic Senate House will instead be at an 'alternative venue in central Cambridge with a revised timetable'. Students from several colleges have therefore been told the event which had been booked for the historic Senate House (pictured) will instead be at an 'alternative venue in central Cambridge with a revised timetable' The precautionary measure has been taken 'on the advice of the university's security and safety team', according to an email send to students on Monday. They have also been advised not to walk to the ceremony in their gowns and hoods, as is customary at Cambridge graduations. Attendees will be informed of the new venue after noon, ahead of the ceremony at 2pm. A US student graduating with a PhD in medical science told the Varsity student newspaper she was 'really upset' about the last minute change', labelling it 'extremely unfair'. She said she 'spent many months' worth of savings' on the trip to Cambridge, only to find out she would not graduate from the traditional venue an hour-and-a-half before her flight. A Cambridge University spokesman told Varsity: 'On the advice of the University's security and safety team, the Congregation will now take place in an alternative venue. 'The University has not taken the decision to put these alternative arrangements in place lightly, and appreciates that many Graduands will have been looking forward to graduating in the Senate House, and that they and their guests will have made travel arrangements. 'The University's primary concern is to offer Graduands and their guests a fitting celebration of their achievements while mitigating any serious risk of disruption. They have also been advised not to walk to the ceremony in their gowns and hoods, as is customary at Cambridge graduations (stock image) A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Cambridge said 'nothing was planned, and we have no intention of disrupting graduation'. Extinction Rebellion sparked outrage this week after destroying the lawn outside Cambridge's Trinity College. Protestors returned to the dug-up lawn yesterday and handed out wildflower seeds in order to 're-wild the planet and grow something new'. Activists attempted to justify tearing up the lawn at Trinity College on Monday, citing 'the destruction of nature' at Innocence Farm in Trimley St Mary, Suffolk. The college owns the farm, where plans were submitted for a lorry park. The scheme was rejected. Police came under fire for failing to stopping the stunt, with no arrests made on the day. South Cambridgeshire Tory MP Anthony Browne said he was 'horrified' by the officers' inaction. Three people were later arrested. Four other people were held following further acts of criminal damage in the city on Tuesday. No one was injured after a fire at the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor steel mill in East Chicago Friday night. United Steelworkers Union District 7 Director Mike Millsap and USW Local 1010 President Steve Wagner said no steelworkers were hurt after a fire Friday night that forced an evacuation of workers at the 80" hot strip mill at ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor East, formerly the Inland Steel mill. ArcelorMittal spokespeople did not immediately respond to request for comment. The hot strip mill known as "the Mighty 80" stretches half a mile long, turning red-hot slabs of steel into rolls of steel coil after dumping Olympic pool's worth of water from Lake Michigan on the super-heated metal to cool it off in a few seconds. The hot strip mill on the east side of ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor, the largest integrated steelmaking facility in North America, can product up to 5 million tons of steel per year. ArcelorMittal recently invested $32 million to rebuild the walking beam furnaces at the 80-inch hot strip mill and invested in significant upgrades to improve the reliability of the overhead cranes there. WASHINGTON Two other Democratic senators participated in a recent meeting held by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. The meeting received significant attention after President Donald Trump accused Murphy of violating a law that prohibits U.S. citizens from negotiating with foreign nations. U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland joined Murphy and Zarif in the Feb. 15 meeting, Senate aides confirmed. Speaking to reporters and in tweets, Trump this week said Murphy engaged in illegal negotiations with a foreign government for holding the meeting. Most recently, on Thursday Trump said Murphy and former Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with Zarif after he left office, violated the Logan Act, an obscure law that no one has ever been convicted of breaking. If a Republican did what they did, there would be very serious ramifications! Trump wrote. The Feb. 15 meeting was Murphys fourth with Zarif, including two others in Munich, Germany and one in New York City. Murphys office used a back channel facilitator to set up the meeting with the Iranian leader, but the U.S. State Department was aware of Murphys interest in the meeting, a Murphy aide said. During a planning call, Murphys office informed the U.S. Embassy in Germany that Murphy was potentially interested in meeting with Zarif in Munich. The embassy said it could not set up the meeting and Murphy would need to find another facilitator, Murphys staff said. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment about this claim. Members of Congress meet with foreign leaders all the time, even when we disagree with the Presidents policy toward that nation, and even when that nation is an adversary, Murphy said in a statement. I met with the Iranian Foreign Minister to underscore the importance of protecting the safety of U.S. troops in Iraq, releasing unlawful detainees, and delivering humanitarian aid in Yemen. These are all apolitical priorities. Among several American detainees in Iran is Morad Tahbaz, a 64-year-old environment activist who lived in Weston, Connecticut. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said Friday he has had three or four meetings with Iranian officials, including Zarif, to advocate for the release of Tahbaz, who was taken prisoner in 2018. Tahbaz is a British-born citizen of the United States and United Kingdom, Himess spokesman said. Himes dismissed the idea that Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and ranking member on its Middle East subcommittee, meeting with Zarif was improper or unusual. The idea that he shouldnt meet with foreign leaders is absolutely absurd, Himes said. We all meet with foreign leaders all the time. The senators and Zarif met in a hotel suite in Munich, Germany, after the senators attended a global security conference in the city, Murphy wrote in a blog post on Medium. Himes, who also attended the conference along with many other Republican and Democratic lawmakers, said members of Congress and foreign leaders were having discussions all throughout the conference. Murphy also spoke on a panel with ministers from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Turkey. Himes said he and other House members met with ministers from Norway and Germany while in Europe. Other lawmakers knew about the senators meeting with Zarif, he said. There was nothing secret about it, Himes said. The meeting came after a month of enormous tensions between the U.S. and Iran, following Trumps decision to assassinate a top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in early January. The killing prompted a counter-strike from Iran, sparking fears that the two nations were edging toward war. The Trump administration is engaged in a maximum pressure campaign against Iran, said Daniel Serwer, director of American Foreign Policy at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a former counselor in the U.S. State Department. The two nations are in a face-off over nuclear weapons and economic sanctions, among other issues. If there was any reason for them being upset with Murphy, its because his talks with Zarif is inconsistent with maximum pressure, Serwer said. But hes not in the executive branch, hes not obligated to follow the policy of maximum pressure, with which he clearly doesnt agree. In 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from an international agreement that restricted Irans nuclear ambitions. When the deal was being negotiated by former President Barack Obama, 47 GOP senators sent a letter to Iran warning the nation that the deal could expire the day Obama left office. If there was ever a violation of the Logan Act, that was it, said Serwer. He called allegations the Murphy violated the law stupid and absurd. Senators see foreign officials all the time, he said. They talk to them on the phone all the time. Former Secretary of State Kerry also defended his meetings with Zarif on Fox News Thursday. He said Trumps allegations that he violated the Logan Act were a presidential lie. I did what any senator and secretaries of state in history have done, which is continue to go to conferences abroad or have meetings in order to be well-informed, Kerry said. We engaged in no negotiation. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New Delhi, India Sat, February 22, 2020 14:38 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065fe330 2 People Dalai-Lama,Tibet,Buddhism,China,tension,India Free The Dalai Lama on Saturday marked the 80th anniversary of his enthronement as the spiritual leader of Tibet, a position held almost entirely in exile and as a target of constant vilification by the Chinese state. Hundreds of miles from Lhasa's imposing 1,000-room Potala Palace, the sandal-wearing monk now ministers to his fellow Tibetan exiles from Dharamsala in the foothills of the Indian Himalaya. He remains the universally recognized face of the movement for Tibetan autonomy, but the global spotlight he enjoyed after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 has dimmed and the deluge of invitations to hobnob with world leaders and Hollywood stars has slowed. Partly because the ageing leader has cut back on his punishing travel schedule, but also due to China's growing economic and political clout. Beijing accuses the 84-year-old Dalai Lama of wanting to split China, and regularly refers to him as a "wolf in a monk's robe". His office said there would be no commemoration of the anniversary and a teaching event scheduled for March -- that usually would attract devotees from across the world -- has been cancelled over coronavirus fears. Born into a peasant family in the Tibetan village of Taksar on July 6, 1935, he was identified as the incarnation of Tibetan Buddhism's supreme religious leader at the age of two after picking out objects that belonged to his predecessor. He was given the name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso -- Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate Defender of the Faith and Ocean of Wisdom -- and two years later arrived in Lhasa where he was formally enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama. In 1950, aged 15, he was hastily enthroned as head of state after the Chinese army invaded Tibet. For the next nine years he tried to keep Tibetans out of harm's way. But the effort failed in 1959 when China crushed a popular uprising. Fearing for his life, the young monk trekked through the Himalayas accompanied by a 37-strong entourage, and crossed into exile in India. There he set up a government-in-exile and launched a campaign to reclaim Tibet that gradually evolved into an appeal for greater autonomy -- the so-called "middle way" approach. - Successor? - It is unclear how, or even whether, the current Dalai Lama's successor will be named, but few religious leaders have had to give the matter as much thought. The centuries-old practice requires senior monks to interview sometimes hundreds of young boys to see whether they recognize items that belonged to the Dalai Lama and pick one as a reincarnation. But the 14th Dalai Lama announced in 2011 that he may be the last, seeking to preempt any attempt by China to name its own successor. Formal negotiations with Beijing broke down in 2010 after making no headway. The following year the Dalai Lama announced he was retiring from politics, ending centuries of Tibetan tradition to make way for a new leader elected by exiled Tibetans around the world. In his India exile he has been treated as an honored guest -- an official policy stance that has been a source of tension with Beijing. BERNALILLO The Sandoval County Commission unanimously approved the creation of an in-house investigator position under the Sandoval County Attorneys Office. This person would be mainly responsible for internal investigations within Sandoval County. The request was postponed at the last county commission meeting due to a lack of information. With a job description and information about costs presented to commissioners, they made a decision on Thursday night at the Sandoval County Administration Building. The county spent about $50,000 in time, resources and contract private investigators during the 2018-19 fiscal year. This investigator would be housed within the administration building and potentially serve as security. When we hire outside investigators, one, they dont know the structure of the county; it takes them time to learn it. And two, there arent that many private investigative companies that work both for the association of counties, municipal leagues and various municipal state agencies, said County Attorney Robin Hammer. There is often a delay between a complaint being reported and an outside investigator being hired to investigate, she said. By having someone on staff, we can address it quicker, Hammer said. Not having someone readily available makes the county liable, sheriffs office Capt. Allen Mills said. And courts are heading in the direction of penalizing for failure to investigate quickly, Mills said. The sheriffs office has conducted internal investigations for the county, he said. You are using a captain and undersheriff or an administrative sergeant for this. We do have other jobs to do that we are not doing when we are conducting one of these huge investigations. Its very specialized; you have to have certifications and only three or four of us have those certifications, Mills said. An investigative position was frozen at the Sandoval County Detention Center. County Manager Dianne Maes said there was such a position in the past and salary savings in the Human Resources Department can be utilized in moving forward. We would be updating the job description; we do have funds to take us to the end of this fiscal year and therefore we would move forward with the hiring and have the ability to retain the integrity of whatever investigation needs to happen, Maes said. In the past, I dont think the county took the appropriate actions in my opinion as a professional law enforcement officer of 38 years experience and I think we need to move in that direction, Mills said. Director of Human Resources Patricia Miller like the county attorney spoke about what complications a delayed investigation can cause. When there is a delay, there is an automatic perception that the complaint is not being taken seriously, that they are being blown off. But there are day-to-day complaints that dont merit a full-scale investigation and those are addressed, Miller said. We dont not look at complaints when they come to us. Sometimes they are fact-finding or its informal, or a small issue that can be addressed very quickly. Miller said for the instances a larger investigation is needed, the county needs to move quickly to ensure quality evidence is obtained. In the draft job description submitted to commissioners, the salary amount was left blank. Commissioner Jay Block, District 2, asked the county attorney if $50,000-$55,000 would be the investigators estimated salary. The county attorney said most likely. The next county commission meeting will be March 5. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Saturday slammed DGP Dinkar Gupta's remark asserting it to be highly unacceptable and demanded his suspension. The Punjab police chief, Dinkar Gupta in an interview with a media house, questioned the intent of Pakistan to open the doors to the Indian Sikh devotees wishing to visit Kartarpur. The SAD leader said that Sikhs visit the place with a lot of devotion and such a statement coming from the DGP of Punjab is highly unacceptable. Demanding an apology from Dinkar Gupta, he said that the statement reflects the mentality of the Congress party. "The party holds an anti-Sikh mentality, they are now influencing the officers to think the same way," he said. READ | SAD's Majithia Slams DGP Dinkar's 'Kartarpur' Remark; Accuses Cong Of Being 'anti-Sikh' 'Punjab police lost its credibility' Reacting to the DGP's statement, another SAD leader said that he has no right to make such dangerous and atrocious statements. "I feel there is a deep-rooted controversy behind the statement, to torpedo the pilgrims of Kartarpur corridor." He further said that the Punjab police have no credibility remaining. "Dinkar Gupta poses a strong threat to the unity and integrity of the country. Now it is a litmus test for CM Capt. Amarinder Singh, to choose between the DGP who has painted the Sikhs as terrorists and the Kartarpur devotees," he said. READ | Manjinder Sirsa Slams DGP Dinkar's Statement Calling Kartarpur Pilgrims Terrorists DGP Dinkar Guptas controversial statement The Punjab police chief, Dinkar Gupta in an interview with a media house, questioned the intent of Pakistan to open the doors to the Indian Sikhs wishing to visit Kartarpur. He stated that visa-free entry for Sikh pilgrims was a huge security challenge from terrorisms point of view. Adding to this, he further said, Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back as trained terrorist actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED. READ | Nearly 45,000 Pilgrims Visited Kartarpur Sahib Since Nov 2019 One of four Grade Twos down for decision at Kempton today, the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Adonis Juvenile Hurdle has previous for revealing an 11th hour contender for the Triumph Hurdle. In 2010, the Nicky Henderson-trained Soldatino won the Adonis on his first start in Britain before following up in the Triumph, a feat emulated by the Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkadar a year later. The Adonis hasnt produced a Triumph winner since but Fusil Raffles would surely have gone close had he not sustained a cut in routing his Kempton opposition last year, a wound that ultimately ruled him out of Cheltenham. Like Soldatino, Fusil Raffles is owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and their Adonis record heightens interest in Irish raider Fujimoto Flyer. Trained by Emmett Mullins, Fujimoto Flyer was nothing special on the Flat but she looked a different beast entirely when demolishing her opposition on her first start over hurdles in Killarney last August. A month later, Mullins sent Fujimoto Flyer to France where she was again a class apart. What the form of both races amounts to is open to debate but encouragement can be taken from the fact Auteuil runner-up Want Of A Nail has won three of his four starts since. Fujimoto Flyer hasnt been seen since that successful French raid but the fact connections are sending her to Kempton today suggests they think a fair bit of her. That hint should be taken. Elsewhere at Kempton, Buzz can complete a hat-trick by landing the spoils in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices Hurdle. Formerly trained by Hughie Morrison, Buzz made a winning start to life at Nicky Hendersons when scoring at Taunton last month before following up at Doncaster 16 days ago. On both occasions he showed a willing attitude to run out a narrow winner and that willingness to dig in should see him home in front again today. Song For Someone has decent prospects in the Betway Kingwell Hurdle rearranged from last weekends abandoned meeting at Wincanton. The selection has run consistently well this season, most recently when finding only Thomas Darby a live Champion Hurdle outsider too good at Ascot last month. On paper, this is a step up in class but its a weak enough contest for the grade two and, unlike most of todays rivals, Song For Someone is on the upgrade. With the Paul Nicholls-trained Master Tommytucker a dodgy jumper, stablemate Southfield Stone can provide the answer in the Betway Pendil Novices Chase. The selection sprang a surprise when getting the better of Angels Breath over hurdles on this card last year and got back to winning ways with a dominant victory at Musselburgh at the start of the month. He probably lacks the raw potential of Master Tommytucker but, right now, he looks a more reliable option. The Grade Three Betway Handicap Chase looks wide open but Harry Frys Just A Sting won over course and distance at Christmas and may be able to follow up. Newcastles feature, provided the meeting survives an early-morning inspection, is the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase and Donnas Delight looks an appealing each-way price at around 10-1. Sandy Thompsons charge showed little in his first two starts this season but a wind operation seems to have done the trick and the way he won at Ayr over 3m3f on heavy ground at Ayr last month suggests hell handle this extreme test of stamina better than most. The Olly Murphy-trained Calipso Collognes could be his biggest danger. With Cheltenham just around the corner it feels odd to be thinking about the Flat but theres a decent card at Lingfield where the Group 3 Betway Winter Derby Stakes is the feature. This looks a match between the Andrew Balding-trained Bangkok and John Gosdens Dubai Warrior. Of the pair, marginal preference is for Bangkok who should have a match-fitness edge having broken the course record at todays venue when winning decisively at the start of the month. Elsewhere at Lingfield, Good Effort should deliver for favourite backers in the Betway Hever Sprint Stakes. Selections Kempton 1.15: Southfield Stone Kempton 1.50: Fujimoto Flyer (Nap) Lingfield 2.05: Good Effort (NB) Kempton 2.25: Song For Someone Newcastle 2.45: Donnas Delight(Each-way) Kempton 3.02: Buzz Lingfield 3.15: Bangkok Kempton 3.35: Just A Sting Three men, one of whom was armed with a hatchet, have ransacked a house in a "terrifying ordeal" on Talbot Street in Newry on Friday night. The men demanded money from a man and a woman after forcing their way into the house before fleeing on foot. Detective Sergeant Johnston said: "The male occupant ran upstairs in an attempt to get away and, when the men followed him, jumped out a first window floor, injuring his ankle as a result. "At the same time, a female, who was in the house, ran out onto the street to shout for help. "This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the two, who have been left visibly shaken. We are appealing to anyone who was in the area around that time and who noticed any suspicious activity to get in touch. Please contact detectives at Ardmore on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1834 of 21/02/20. "Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime." FORT VALLEY, Ga. - The boyfriend of a slain university studentin central Georgiawas charged with malice murder in her death Friday evening, authorities said. DeMarcus Little, 23, previously was arraigned midday Friday on charges of criminal damage to property and was granted $10,000 bail.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation subsequently announced the filing of the murder charge hours later. GBI Assistant Special Agent Todd Crosby told news outlets evidence developed after Littles arraignment led to themurder charge in thedeath of Anitra Gunn, 23.Crosby declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. Fort Valley police previously said Little was arrested Tuesday and accused of smashing the windows in Gunns home and slashing her car tires on Feb. 5. Gunn went missing on Valentines Day and her remains were found Tuesday afternoon in Crawford County, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) south of Atlanta,according to investigators.Her death was ruled a homicide on Thursday, the GBI said. Little is a U.S. Army soldierstationed at Fort Gordon. His next court date wasnt immediately scheduled. Its unclear whether he had an attorney whocouldcomment on his behalf. Gunn was an agriculture student at Fort Valley State University. A cause of death is pending toxicology tests, the GBI said. The university is planning a candlelight vigilon Monday to honour Gunn. World Health Organisation has recently expressed its concern on the rising number of coronavirus cases in Iran. Meanwhile, the deadly virus has reportedly infected over 77,700 people globally and killed nearly 2,300 with all but 15 deaths outside mainland China, So far, nearly 18 cases have been confirmed in Iran, including the four who died. " has now reported 75,569 #COVID19 cases to WHO, including 2239 deaths. The data from continue to show a decline in new cases. This is welcome news, but it must be interpreted very cautiously. Its far too early to make predictions about this outbreak"-@DrTedros #coronavirus World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 22, 2020 According to international media reports, WHO said that although the total number of positive cases outside China remains relatively small, the health organisation is concerned about those people who had no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case but still got infected. Read: Iran Reports 2 More Deaths, 13 New Cases Of New Coronavirus Especially concerned about Iran The UN agency further said that it was now especially concerned about escalating cases in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In an unprecedented development, the Islamic nation witnessed four deaths due to the deadly virus in the past two days. WHO has reportedly supplied testing kits to Iran. In addition, they continue to provide further support in the coming days & weeks, a news agency reported. Read: Italy Confirms First Death From Coronavirus, Towns Under Lockdown Read: Indian Nationals Still On Cruise Ship To Be Tested For Coronavirus: Embassy Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Iranian health ministry, Kianoush Jahanpour, said the newly detected cases are all linked with the city of Qom where the first two elderly patients died earlier. Jahanpour said the new cases were either from Qom or had visited the city recently. He said four of them are hospitalized in the capital, Tehran, and two in the northern province of Gilan. Concerns over the spread of the virus, which originated in central China, prompted authorities in Iran to close all schools and Shiite seminaries in Qom. Read: Coronavirus: 'Window Of Opportunity To Stem Virus Narrowing', Says WHO (With inputs from agencies) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here The legal marijuana industry has grown by leaps and bounds in a relatively short period of time. Worldwide sales of cannabis more than tripled between 2014 and 2018, and Wall Street believes they'll essentially quintuple, at minimum, by 2030. This means long-term investors in pot stocks still have an opportunity to bask in the rewards of the green rush. But this isn't to say that there won't be growing pains or a steep learning curve for the industry to contend with, especially in the most lucrative marijuana market in the world by sales: the United States. Marijuana's Schedule I classification is a major impediment in the U.S. As you're likely well aware, marijuana firmly remains a Schedule I substance at the federal level. This means it's considered illicit, prone to abuse, and isn't recognized as having any medical benefits. In spite of this classification, it hasn't stopped 33 states from legalizing medical marijuana since 1996 or kept 11 of those states from also approving the consumption and/or sale of adult-use weed since 2012. Although the Obama and Trump administrations have taken a hands-off approach to state-level cannabis regulation, it doesn't mean that the U.S. pot industry is set up to succeed. For example, profitable U.S.-based businesses that predominantly rely on marijuana to generate revenue are subject to Section 280E of the U.S. tax code. Though this tax code was implemented in the early 1980s to stop drug smugglers from writing off their "business expenses" on federal tax returns, today it's responsible for not allowing cannabis companies to take normal income-tax deductions, save for cost of goods sold. The result is that profitable pot companies are paying very high effective tax rates. The other problem with the Schedule I classification is that cannabis companies typically have limited or no access to basic banking services. Since banks and credit unions report to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the FDIC is a federally created agency, these financial institutions fear possible criminal and/or financial penalties for providing basic banking services to marijuana businesses. As a result, most U.S. pot stocks have struggled to find traditional (i.e., nondilutive) forms of financing. The SAFE Banking Act looks to shake up the cannabis industry Knowing that these impediments are in place, and understanding that the vast majority of the public appears to be in favor of legalization, a number of lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation that's designed to protect the cannabis industry and allow it to flourish. Easily the most standout piece of legislation, thus far, is the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. The SAFE Banking Act was introduced in July and is designed to completely protect financial institutions in states that've chosen to legalize weed from the possibility of federal prosecution. In other words, if the SAFE Banking Act were to become law, banks and credit unions would be free to offer loans, lines of credit, and checking accounts to marijuana businesses without the fear of facing criminal or financial penalties from the Justice Department. What's most notable about the SAFE Banking Act, aside from it being the first stand-alone piece of cannabis legislation to reach a congressional floor for vote, is that it passed in an absolute landslide in the House of Representatives in September. Although Democrats hold a majority in the House -- Democrats have a more positive view on cannabis than Republicans -- the final vote of 321 in favor of the SAFE Banking Act to 103 opposed demonstrates that this is an issue that can transcend the political aisle. Furthermore, major financial institutions are already providing access to basic banking services, even if it is on a piecemeal basis. Online journal American Banker found that 34% of medical cannabis companies in Massachusetts had an account with one of the United States' four biggest money-center banks between June 2015 and September 2016. In fact, a little more than half of all medical pot operators in Massachusetts had an account with Bank of America over this time span. The demand is clearly there from cannabis businesses and banks. It's merely up to the Senate to act. Sorry, folks, but the SAFE Banking Act has no chance of passage in 2020 Unfortunately, the Republican-led Senate doesn't view the SAFE Banking Act to be a necessary game changer. For one, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has made it pretty clear that stand-alone cannabis legislation won't reach the floor for vote. McConnell has also made efforts to block cannabis reform riders from being added to other bills or proposals. With the exception of hemp or cannabidiol (CBD), McConnell has no intention of reforming the marijuana industry. The bigger roadblock, though, might just be Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Crapo is Senate Banking Committee Chairman, which essentially gives him and his committee the first say on the SAFE Banking Act in the Upper House. Back in December, Crapo tore into the SAFE Banking Act and offered up a proposal of his own that would, effectively, render it useless. Crapo suggested that banking provisions be provided only to those businesses that retail products containing less than 2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid that gets users high. This would remove practically all pot businesses from being eligible to access basic banking services. Additionally, Crapo received a letter this past week that was signed by 12 GOP lawmakers in the House who opposed the SAFE Banking Act. These Republican lawmakers called on the Senate and its Banking Committee Chairman to think long and hard about the impact cannabis has on adolescents, the health of consumers (e.g., the recent vape-related health crisis in the U.S.), and the effect it can have on drivers. While it's possible a political shake-up in Congress could tilt the pendulum in favor of Democrats or Independents in the upcoming election, it doesn't appear as if the SAFE Banking Act has any chance of passage in 2020 or while the 116th Congress is in session. Some U.S. pot stocks have been lucky, but financing remains a major concern As for the companies behind this proposed legislation, a few have gained access to much-needed capital. But when taken as a whole, financing remains a big concern for U.S. cannabis businesses. On the bright side, both Curaleaf Holdings (OTC:CURLF) and Cresco Labs (OTC:CRLBF) were able to secure nondilutive funding. Curaleaf closed on a $300 million loan in January, which was actually upsized by $25 million from $275 million due to investor interest. Curaleaf currently has more open dispensaries than any other multistate operator and will expand its reach to 19 states once the all-stock acquisition of Grassroots closes. Meanwhile, Cresco Labs tapped a senior secured loan totaling $100 million last month, with a mutual option to double the loan amount to $200 million. Cresco recently closed on its all-stock purchase of Origin House and wants to put its capital to work in core cannabis markets, such as California and Illinois. However, these success stories in accessing traditional financing have been far from the norm. Multistate operator MedMen Enterprises (OTC:MMNFF) looks to be running on fumes. After losing almost $232 million on an operating basis in fiscal 2019, MedMen announced in December that the final $115 million in financing (of an original $280 million) offered to the company by private equity firm Gotham Green Partners could no longer be accessed. In recent weeks, MedMen has confirmed that it's attempting to pay off some of its vendors with its own common stock. Without access to basic financial services, MedMen's story could become quite common for U.S. pot stocks and privately held cannabis businesses. Advertisement A storm carrying clouds of red sand from the Sahara has hit the Canary Islands, shrouding the region in a haze of orange. The conditions have forced Spain's airport operator AENA to suspend all flights in and out of Gran Canaria and all flights leaving Tenerife on Saturday evening amid severely reduced visibility. At least 19 flights to Gran Canaria were diverted, a spokeswoman for AENA said. She did not specify which airlines had been affected. A view of the runway during a sandstorm blown over from North Africa at Las Palmas Airport, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria on Saturday Grounded planes are seen parked on the tarmac during the sandstorm. The conditions have forced Spain's airport operator AENA to suspend all flights in and out of Gran Canaria and all flights leaving Tenerife on Saturday evening amid severely reduced visibility. Control tower is pictured amid clouds of red sand blown over from the Sahara Budget carrier Vueling, a subsidiary of IAG, said some of its services had been hit and advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. Spain's national weather service warned that winds of up to 75 mph (120 kph) are set to buffet the Canaries until Monday. Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are likely to be the worst hit, the weather service said. Fuerteventura airport. Budget carrier Vueling, a subsidiary of IAG, said some of its services had been hit and advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport Planes grounded at Gran Canaria airport. Spain's national weather service warned that winds of up to 75 mph (120 kph) are set to buffet the Canaries until Monday. Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are likely to be the worst hit, the weather service said A woman covers her mouth during the sandstorm at Las Palmas Airport, Canary Islands on Saturday The regional government declared a state of alert and advised people to keep doors and windows closed across the archipelago, while authorities in Lanzarote's capital Arrecife, cancelled all outdoor activities, including some carnival celebrations. Located around 60 miles off the coast of Morocco, the Canaries are a popular tourist destination for northern Europeans in search of winter sun. File Image Praveen Swami From a distance, it might have been mistaken for an early autumn snowfall: torn leaves of a Quran fluttered all around the famous Rozabal ziarat in Srinagar; the grave of the saint Yuz Asaf, believed by some to be the resting place of Jesus, had been dug up. In the small village of Wutligam, a woman charged with promiscuity had been marched to the village square, and then shot through the back of the head. In Arigam, jihadists looted the store of Hindu grocery-store owner Raj Nath; in Arizal, they tried to assassinate the pro-India politician Ghulam Qadir. In August, 1965, Hayat Mira crack intelligence operative with special forces training had crossed the Chor Panjal pass with the columns of advancing Pakistan army troops. Then, perched on the mountains near the Baba Reshi shrine, he abandoned his uniform: Mirs job was to provoke a mass Islamist insurgency against Indian rule. Two years earlier, sitting in his office in Washington, DC, Central Intelligence Agency officer-turned-diplomat Robert Komer had watched the unravelling of a secret United States effort to mediate on Kashmirand predicted it would end in just such bloodshed. Everybody from [Field-Marshall] Ayub [Khan] down is on a new hate-India jag, he observed in a terse October 22, 1963 missive to President John F Kennedys National Security Advisor, McGeorge Bundy. The Pakistanis, he noted, appear to be deliberately building up tensions over Kashmir. I cite this not because I lack sympathy for the Paks but because until we do give them a cold shoulder on this sort of business well continue to have all sorts of problems. Four weeks later, President Kennedy was assassinated. The prospect of peace in Kashmir was buried with him. Indeed, the failed effort of 1961-1963into which declassified documents now give historians granular insighthelps understand why the road to peace in Kashmir has so often led, paradoxically, to war. When the folk-dances and hugs celebrating the India-United States relationship are done, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump will get down to the real businessbackstage. Theres little doubt Kashmir is high on President Trumps mind. Last summer, President Trump outraged Indias foreign policy establishment by asserting Prime Minister Modi had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir conflictand then brushed off New Delhis denial, to repeat his claim. Early this year, Trump went even further, saying that he and Prime Minister Imran Khan were working together on some borders, and were talking about Kashmir. The reason for Trumps interest isnt opaque. Hoping to pull out of the endless war in Afghanistan, President Trump has negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban. Theres even odds, though, that the Taliban might use a drawdown in United States troop levels to overrun major Afghan cities. That would be a disaster for Trumps re-election prospectsand he needs the Talibans patrons, Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, to keep them to their word. Islamabads support, however, comes with a price-tag: support on securing concessions in Kashmir. President Trump also has other other reasons to intervene on Kashmir. Like President Kennedy, he sees India as a strategic buffer against Chinabut the conflict over Kashmir gives Beijing leverage across South Asia. He is also apprehensive, with good reason, about the conflict escalating into a large-scale war, even a nuclear conflagration with catastrophic impacts on the region. For these very reasons, President Bill Clinton had offered to mediate over Kashmir in 2000, while President Barack Obama had hoped his Afghanistan envoy, Richard Holbrooke, would be able to engage Islamabad and New Delhi on the issue. New Delhi, in turn, has often sought international helpthough it doesnt like the word mediation. United States mediation helped bring a rapid end to the Kargil war in 1999, and since 26/11, its played a key role in tempering Pakistans use of jihadists against India. Following the Balakote air-battles, which mercilessly exposed gaps in Indias military preparedness, New Delhi has also lobbied hard for Washington to hold back Pakistan from staging terrorist attacks which could force it to risk another crisis. This all makes mediationconducted in secret, so it doesnt appear to be mediationseem like an excellent idea to many in Washington, Islamabad, and even New Delhi. Except, it isnt. In the autumn of 1961, Komer floated the idea of a grand India-Pakistan bargain that read like a Wagah candle-wavers dream: a common air-defence system; a customs union; even joint management of agriculture in Punjab. This, he hoped, would allow India and Pakistan to negotiate a new relationship in Kashmir: perhaps New Delhi could be persuaded to give up a little more wasteland up in Ladakh, and some minor territorial concessions alone the ceasefire line of 1948; perhaps there could even be joint tenancy in the Kashmir valley. The China-India war of 1962 gave traction to Komers proposals: New Delhi now desperately needed United States military aid, and Washington thought it could use the opportunity to push for progress on Kashmir. Late in 1962, the United Kingdoms secretary of state for Commonwealth relations, Duncan Sandys, and the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, Averell Harriman, were dispatched to South Asia to determine what military assistance India needed. Lord Louis Mountbatten travelled with Sandys on this mission, hoping to persuade Nehru to agree to a demilitarised and independent Jammu and Kashmir. Indias Cabinet, however, shot down the idea. The diplomats did, however, succeed in pushing Nehru and the Pakistani military dictator General Ayub Khan, who had taken power in 1958, to the negotiating table. After two rounds of talks, an event took place which, for all practical purposes, destroyed the prospects of an accord. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had taken over as Pakistans Foreign Minister, travelled to Beijing in March 1963 and ceded parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to China. To the President, Komer was blunt. I wonder if we arent doing ourselves a disservice by our continued pressure on Kashmir, he wrote in a May 14, 1963, note forKennedy. There is no denying the great value of a Kashmir settlement to us, he recorded, and until recently, I was as much of a hard-liner as anyone on this issue. I would be still if I saw a sporting chance. In reality, Komer argued, the prospects of a deal had been dimmed by Pakistans own excessive appetite and misguided tactics, such as trying to use the Chicoms [Chinese communists]. Talk of Indian concessions on Kashmir, he went on, would engender a dangerous Pak emotional reaction. The longer we nurture Pak illusions, Komer told Kennedy, the more a head of steam is built up in Pakistan, and the harder such a reaction will be to head off. From the memoirs of Lieutenant-General Gul Hasan Khan, we know just how high that head of steam had built up: hoping to pressurise India into making the concessions President Kennedy sought, it prepared to use force. There was, General Khan wrote, to first be an intensification of the firecracker type of activity that was already current, a reference to terrorism. Then, the Pakistan Army was to train guerrillas like Hayat Mir, who would be tasked with arming the locals and helping them rise against the Indian Army of occupation. Then, on August 29, 1965, Pakistans army chief, General Mohammad Musa received secret orders to initiate full-scale war: a general rule, the orders read, Hindu morale would not stand for more than a couple of hard blows delivered at the right place and the right time. New Delhis own position in Kashmir hardened in the build-up to the war, with Prime Minister Nehru moving to tie the territory closer into the Indian union. In 1963, with political patriarch Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah in jail on charges of seeking independence, Nehrus hand-picked regional strongman, Ghulam Muhammad Bakshi, ceased to call himself Kashmirs wazir-i-azam, or prime minister, and picked the standard title of chief minister instead. The arrangement would be formalised by the legislature in 1965. In late 1964, an order issued by the President of India allowed the central government to take charge of Jammu and Kashmirs administration in the event of the collapse of the constitutional machinery. Prior to this order, the imposition of emergency powers required the concurrence of the state legislature. A wide variety of central legislation was made applicable to Kashmir; high officials and candidates contesting elections now had to vow to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Then, in January, 1965, the Indian National Congress amended its party constitution, and enabled the setting up of a state unit in Jammu and Kashmir which in turn simply subsumed the National Conference, then led by chief minister GM Sadiq. For both Islamabad and New Delhi, there are important lessons in those events. Pakistans efforts to seize Kashmir failed spectacularly: far from rising in support of jihad, the villagers of Wutligam and Arizal were repelled by jihadists like Hayat Mir, and betrayed them to police. New Delhis integrationist efforts, in turn, failed: incarcerating Sheikh Abdullah in jail, and the National Conference-Congress merger, left the state without legitimate political opposition, strengthening the Islamist tendencies that would exploded in the 1980s. Theres an even more important lesson for the United States. Kennedys peace efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, had led both India and Pakistan to sharpen their swords, not beat them into ploughshares. Either hoping to secure concessions or to avoid having to make them, both nations hardened the status-quoa process that led on, inexorably, to war. Late on the afternoon of November 17, 1965, Hayat Mir walked into the lunch-room at Srinagars Ahdoos Hotel, to discuss plans to take forward the jihad in Kashmir after Pakistans military defeat. Plain-clothes police personnel were waiting. This is the first time in my life I have failed, police files record him as saying. Everybody failed: Washington, Islamabad, and New Delhi alike. Leaders who dont read history are condemned to repeat its errors. The path President Trump is now embarked on with Prime Minister Khan leads to the same destination so many other leaders found themselves at: a grim, blood-soaked place called impasse. According to an article from Time, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro were just some of the well-known European influences of Jackson Pollock. However, more often going unnoticed is the time spent of the artist at New York's Experimental Workshop. It was founded by David Alfara Siqueiros in 1936. Siqueiros, alongside Jose Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera established 'Los tres grandes'. They had led the start of the post-revolution Mexican muralism movement. New York's Experimental Workshop Siqueiros discovered the Workshop in New York in 1936. He was guided by the idea that to create true radical art, artists should throw away old practices and start with totally new techniques. As a sensitive young artist, Pollock was exposed to the method of pouring and dripping paint in canvases. This was more than 10 years before he would launch his first 'drip paintings in 1947. Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art (1925-1945) was a new art exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The exhibit aims to correct some mistakes. The show will start from February until the middle of May. It aims to enlighten Mexican artists whose artworks had significantly affected 20th Century American artists such as from Pollock to Philip Guston. The exhibit puts the artworks of Mexican artists next to the masterpieces of Americans. American artists often borrowed art methods and themes from these people. According to Marcela Guerrero, the assistant curator of the exhibit, the borders created for Mexican and American arts are fictitious and inexistent. The Muralism Movement The muralism movement started in 1920 during the end of the Mexican revolution. However, some experts claim that the revolution ended at an earlier date while others believe that it ended a bit later). The movement started when the leadership of President Alvaro Obregon adopted a cultural renaissance through commissioning multiple public murals by Mexican muralists with the plan of uniting war-torn nations. The artworks made by Mexican muralists during that time helped create a cohesive identity for Mexicans. Also, it leads to a different way of European modernism. Afterward, American journalists and artists filled Mexico to witness the resulting artworks. However, the exchange resulted in a crossing of borders and a conclusion. The leadership of Obregon ended in 1924 and the commission stopped being active. Also, many Mexican muralists left in search of better opportunities in America. The artists established exhibitions, made big-scale mural artworks, and experimented on many artistic techniques. Their influence had reached coast to coast. Los Tres Grandes and Their Influence on American Artists In 'Los tres grandes,' Orozco was one of its first members who came to the United States in 1927. Later, Rivera also went to the US in 1930, then Siqueiros after two years. In the coming years upon the three artists' arrival in the US, they had become a significant force that has impacted American artists. During that time, American artists were looking for alternatives to European art styles. Also, they were in search of a cure to materialism and isolation brought by the modernized industrialized lifestyle. Upon reviewing a huge number of American reports about Mexican muralism, American artists started to romanticize a simpler vision of Mexico. California: Google announced that it took down hundreds of apps from its official Play Store for violating its ad policy. As the official blog notes, nearly 600 apps have been removed from the Google Play Store and banned from ad monetisation platforms, Google AdMob and Google Ad Manager, over mobile ad fraud. These apps displayed 'out-of-context' disruptive ads to users in unexpected ways, including impairing the usability of device functions. Google developed a machine-learning based approach to detect when apps show out-of-context ads. Some members of the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) have kicked against what they say is outrageous filing fees being charged by the party for various national leadership positions. Mr. Kweku Quansah, aspiring to the National Chairman position, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that, the nomination fees were outrageously high for a socialist democratic party. He cautioned that, it could prevent many otherwise capable CPP members from contesting for elective positions. Mr. Quansah, who was the party's 2016 Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, said this is unacceptable and we must all kick against it. Most of the aspirants oppose these whopping fees on the grounds that it defeats CPP's central commitment as a socialist democratic party. He said leadership positions in the party should not be up for the highest bidder that was inconsistent with what Nkrumaists stood for. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's mission was to empower those marginalised by the elitist ideology and philosophy; create room for the ordinary Ghanaian to play active roles in political leadership in ways that strengthen productivity and solidarity, we as a party must not lose sight of our fundamental principles. Filing fees The CPP has fixed a filing fee of GH170,000.00 for presidential aspirants with that of the National Chairman position going for GH70,000.00. National Vice- Chairperson, Treasurer, and General Secretary aspirants are to pay GH50,000.00, while the filing fee for the National Organizer has been pegged at GH30,000.00; with that of Women Organizer, GH20,000.00 and Youth Organizer GH20, 000.00. They would also have to pay GH2,000.00 for nomination forms. Mr. Quansah called for a downward review of the fees to provide space for more people to enter the race for various positions in the party. He cited the case of Mr. Ebenezer Agbenya, a teacher, who has picked forms to contest for the General Secretary position; and has taken to social media Facebook, to raise funds because of the high filing fees. Professor Kwaku Asare a seasoned lawyer and accountant, has also spoken against what he described as the unreasonably high filing fees. Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna, the Acting National Chairperson, is however, defending the fees, saying, it would help to mobilise funds to finance the party's activities. She added that the amount involved showed how serious and important these positions were to the Party. The CPP Central Committee has fixed Friday, March 27 and Saturday 28 as the tentative dates for the party's National Delegate Congress at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Information available to GNA shows that, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna; Mr Kweku Quansah, and Mrs. Araba Bentsi Enchill, have picked forms to contest for the National Chairmanship position. Mr John B. Daniels, Acting Deputy General Secretary has picked a nomination form for Vice Chairman, with Mr. Agbenya, and Nana Yaa Jantuah, a Communication Specialist, having picked forms for General Secretary. Mr. Moses Yirimambo Ambing and Mr Rashid Alao, have picked National Organizer forms, while Mr Nabila Basiru and Mr Osei Kofi Acquah, have also picked forms to contest for the National Youth Organiser, with Hajia Aisha Futa and Mrs. Rose Austin Tenadu, having bought forms to contest for the National Women Organiser slot. The party opened its nominations on February 6th and this is expected to end on Friday February 28th. ---citinewsroom Death Toll Rises While Outrage Boils Over Conditions at Mississippis Parchman Prison The crisis at Parchman Prison, the former slave plantation where more than two-thirds of inmates are African American, continued with the February 16, 2020, death of David Lee May. The death was the 18th at the penitentiary since December 29, 2019, and it was the second in 24 hours. Inmate Bobby Vance, 54, died a day earlier from what officials called natural causes. May, 42, was found unresponsive in his cell and was pronounced dead after prison officials said they said attempts to resuscitate him failed. ADVERTISEMENT I dont suspect foul play, Rankin County, Mississippi, Coroner David Ruth said in a statement about May, who had been housed in a cell by himself. Serving a life sentence for two aggravated assault convictions, May escaped in January but police captured him two days later. Ruth stated that hes awaiting results from an autopsy to confirm the cause of Mays death. For some time, concerns about Parchman have rankled inmates, family members, and others, including hip-hop superstar Jay-Z who is suing the state demanding better conditions at the prison. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and others, have lobbied for officials to shut down the controversial prison. The conditions at Parchman, which once was a plantation that contained hundreds of slaves, were highlighted in January when cell phone video made its way to the internet displaying a cache of problems. Reform advocates and human rights organizations have labeled the prison one of the worst detention facilities in the world. Reports indicate that death and violence are rampant, many inmates are without beds, and electricity, plumbing, and fundamental human rights are absent. At the same time, mold, roaches, mosquitos, and rodents far outnumber the more than 5,000 inmates. ADVERTISEMENT This is unacceptable, rap star T.I., who is among those calling for the prisons closure, wrote on his Instagram page. The conditions in the prisons operated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections are absolutely inhumane and unconstitutional, Yo Gotti wrote in a letter to the governor Phil Bryant, a Republican. To see this happen so close to my hometown of Memphis is truly devastating. Thats why were calling on Mississippi state leaders to take immediate action and rectify this issue. If they dont right this wrong, were prepared to take legal action to provide relief for those that are incarcerated and their families, Gotti stated. In an alarming 2019 report on Parchman and other Mississippi prisons, The Marshall Project found that gang activity isnt limited to some of the people incarcerated. They discovered that some prison employees, including some high ranking officers and managers, are affiliated with one of two gangs, the Vice Lords or Gangster Disciples. The reasons vary. Some staffers said gang loyalty gives some officers a measure of protection; since gangs have a lot of control, they can prevent certain attacks, The Marshall Project reported. Others say gang affiliation began before employment; according to lawsuits, testimony, and interviews, gangs directly recruit women to apply for correctional officer jobs. In a tweet, Pro Publica officials stated, Understaffed and underfunded, Mississippis #ParchmanPrison recently received media attention for its grisly violence, gang control, and subhuman living conditions. Lawmakers have known about these issues for years and have done nothing to fix it. In addition to the deaths of May and Vance, James Allen Brown, 54, and Jesus Garcia, 39, have also died this month at Parchman. Each of those deaths was characterized as being of natural causes. In January, Nora Ducksworth, 53, died of apparent natural causes at the prison. Two days earlier, Limarion Reaves, 28, collapsed and died while talking to a relative on a prison phone. On January 26, Joshua Norman, 26, was found hanging in his cell during a security check. One day earlier, Jermaine Tyler, 38, was found unresponsive in his housing unit and, on January 22, Thomas Lee, 49, died of an apparent suicide. James Talley, 36, and Timothy Hudspeth, 35, both died on January 21, due to injuries suffered during an altercation with other inmates. Authorities said Gabriel Carmen, 31, was found hanging in his cell at Parchman on January 18, while A.D. Mills, 42, died of natural causes on January 8 after being taken to a local hospital. On January 3, Denorris Howell, 36, died of neck injuries after an altercation with his cellmate. Gregory Emary, 26, was reportedly killed in a fight on January 2, while on the same day, Roosevelt Holliman, 32, was stabbed to death in what officials called a gang fight. Walter Gates, 25, died of multiple stab wounds on January 1, and Terrandance Dobbins, 40, was killed during what authorities called a major disturbance at the prison. We have been treating these people like animals for decades, Paloma Wu, a senior staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center, told reporters after visiting a client at Parchman. Worse than animals, in fact. It is no exaggeration to say more lives will be lost absent immediate intervention. Karen Butler, Anne Harper and Jennifer Horan, all graduates of the DDLETB Balbriggan Education Service at the launch of the forthcoming Balbriggan Loves Learning Festival in the Bracken Court Hotel. Pic: Brian Connolly Balbriggan residents are being asked to illustrate their love of learning in a competition to launch a three-day festival to celebrate education in Ireland's youngest town. To encourage local people to get involved in the Our Balbriggan Loves Learning Festival, the organisers are challenging everyone to engage their creative juices in a photography and art competition to win one of five 100 vouchers. Anyone who lives, works or learns in the town is invited to capture a picture, an image or create a piece of artwork that reflects the theme Our Balbriggan Loves Learning. An exhibition of the winning competition entries will be the opening event of the three-day festival on Tuesday, March 31 in Flemington Community Centre. 'Balbriggan loves learning so much that we have launched a festival to celebrate it, which is one of the actions identified in the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan,' said Siobhan Lynch, Adult Education Officer of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board. 'The work created can be personal, reflecting the individual's love of learning, or learning within the community or a specific setting. 'An image might represent what an individual learned such as new chords on a guitar, a new dance move or a collective image of people learning at sport, cookery class, choir and more. 'Alternatively, it could be the tools of learning or a graduation. Whatever signifies your love of learning.' The innovative festival will feature an art exhibition, CV training and workshops and chances to meet with employers and education providers and guidance counsellors as well as showcasing the best in education and learning in the area at a number of events. More information on the festival can be found on balbriggan.ie. Entries for the competition will be divided into three categories - primary school, secondary school and over 18s. The artwork can be a poster, a collage or mixed media, no larger than A3 and must be submitted to Adult Education Service Balbriggan, Sarsfield House, Mill Street, Balbriggan, K32 KX 82 by 1pm on Thursday, March 13. President Trump praises a strong, sharp and powerfully focused Chinese President Xi Jinping for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation, Trump said. This offended some Americans. At a time when many Chinese are criticizing Xi for initially covering up the outbreak, should Americas president really side with a dictator who punished doctors rather than listening to them? That critique seems right to me. But a focus on Chinas failures or on Trumps praise risks distracting from our own failures in health care and this is where Trumps actions have been more destructive than his words. He has proposed enormous budget cuts for Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; if carried out, these would leave the U.S. more vulnerable to a pandemic. But whatever happens with the coronavirus, Americas health system is a mess. That is a consequence of failures that go way back, and Trump is now compounding them. In particular, his lawsuit to destroy Obamacare without offering anything to take its place is the height of irresponsibility; its not policy but vandalism. Two of the 144 evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who are under quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are infected with the novel coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a call with reporters that the agency has confirmed the virus, known as COVID-19, in a total of 18 people brought to the U.S. from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. She's no stranger to making a style statement at many a showbiz event. And Lady Kitty Spender was at it again as she put on a showstopping turn at the Bulgari FW 20 Leather Goods and Accessories Collection Party in Milan, Italy on Friday. The socialite, 32, oozed glamour in a black sequin midi dress as she posed up a storm at the swanky bash during Milan Fashion Week. Stunning: Lady Kitty Spender put on a showstopping turn at the Bulgari FW 20 Leather Goods and Accessories Collection Party in Milan, Italy on Friday The niece of Princess Diana looked sensational in the plunging gown, which cinched her in at the waist, highlighting her hourglass figure. Boosting her height, Lady Kitty donned a pair of black sandals with an elaborate gold heels, and carried her essentials in a sparkling silver clutch bag. She allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in loose curls, and accentuated her pretty features with a sleek palette of make-up. The beauty has been making quite the style statement during fashion week in the Italian city, having wowed in a ravishing scarlet gown at the Alberta Ferretti bash on Wednesday. All that glitters: The socialite, 32, oozed glamour in a black sequin midi dress as she posed up a storm at the swanky bash during Milan Fashion Week 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. 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. Finishing touches: Boosting her height, Lady Kitty donned a pair of black sandals with an elaborate gold heels, and carried her essentials in a sparkling silver clutch bag Radiant: She allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in loose curls, and accentuated her pretty features with a sleek palette of make-up '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. Ravishing: Spanish model Nieves Alvarez wowed in a daring black cut-out dress with a sheer lace overlay Oh so glam: The beauty smoldered into the camera as she posed at the event, accessorising her look with a dazzling pair of silver drop earrings Sizzling: The model looked into the distance as she posed up a storm at the bash Pose: She later posed for a snap with fellow Spaniard Jon Kortajarena, who pulled out all the stops in a hot pink blazer Meanwhile, the Bulgari party saw a number of other stylish attendees arrive. Spanish model Nieves Alvarez wowed in a daring black cut-out dress with a sheer lace overlay. The beauty smoldered into the camera as she posed at the event, accessorising her look with a dazzling pair of silver drop earrings. All white on the night: Anna Cleveland meanwhile dared to bare as she went braless beneath a plunging white lace blazer and matching trousers Lovely: While Nataly Osmann cut a cute figure in a baby pink and blue off-the-shoulder number, which she jazzed up with a plethora of glittering jewellery Group shot: (L-R) Giorgia Tordini, Gilda Ambrosio, Jon Kortajarena, Nieves Alvarez and Candela Pelizza posed at the bash She finished her look with a quirky clutch and added sheer pointed heels. She later posed for a snap with fellow Spaniard Jon Kortajarena, who pulled out all the stops in a hot pink blazer. Anna Cleveland meanwhile dared to bare as she went braless beneath a plunging white lace blazer and matching trousers. Lady in red: Faith Lynch meanwhile looked sensational in a plunging red puffball dress Performance: She later took to the stage to perform at the party, after recently embarking on a music career While Nataly Osmann cut a cute figure in a baby pink and blue off-the-shoulder number, which she jazzed up with a plethora of glittering jewellery. Faith Lynch meanwhile looked sensational in a plunging red puffball dress. She teamed the jazzy thigh-skimming number with a turquoise handbag, black heels and a silver snake necklace. She later took to the stage to perform at the party, after recently embarking on a music career. Angelic: Yasmina Muratovic and Naomi Ackie (R) cut ethereal figures in dazzling white outfits Clint Eastwood thinks former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg should be the next president and that he wishes President Trump would change his behavior. The 89-year-old Dirty Harry actor and self-proclaimed libertarian told The Wall Street Journal that while he supports certain things that Trumps done, he thinks the president should act in a more genteel way, without tweeting and calling people names. I would personally like for him to not bring himself to that level, the Academy Award-winner told the Journal. He then said: The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there. Bloomberg, the former Republican who later became an independent, made a late entry into the race for the Democratic party nomination. 'The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there. Dirty Harry actor Clint Eastwood said in a recent interview. Eastwood is seen left in Atlanta in December and Bloomberg is seen right in New York last month Eastwood said that he agreed with some of President Trump's policies, he wishes he acted more 'genteel'. Trump is seen above in Las Vegas on Friday The media mogul whose net worth is said to be more than $63billion has so far spent hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money on ads across the country. The ad blitz appears to be working as polls show Bloomberg within striking distance of the front-runner, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The former New York City mayor has also secured several endorsements from prominent Democrats in Congress. On Wednesday, however, Bloomberg appeared unprepared and performed badly during a debate with the other candidates in Las Vegas. Bloomberg has also had to fend off criticism about his past support for controversial policies like stop-and-frisk as well as his companys handling of sexual harassment allegations by women employees. Eastwood has not been shy about making his political views known. In 2012, Eastwood gave a speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa endorsing Mitt Romney for president. He famously stood on stage and spoke to an empty chair that represented then-President Barack Obama. Eastwood has also held public office. In 1986, he was elected as the nonpartisan mayor of his hometown of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, an office he held for two years. In the interview with the Journal, Eastwood also weighed in on the #MeToo movement. 'The #MeToo generation has its points,' the filmmaker said, praising women for 'standing up against people who are trying to shake you down for sexual favors.' Eastwood acknowledged that women in Hollywood have been victimized by powerful men for decades. 'It was very prolific back in the 1940s and 50s,' he said, adding, 'and the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s' Film producer Harvey Weinstein leaves New York Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial in Manhattan on Friday. Eastwood thinks that the #MeToo movement has had a negative effect on 'the presumption of innocence' Eastwood said that while he doesn't defend Harvey Weinstein, he is worried that accusations against men might impact 'presumption of innocence, not only in law, but in philosophy.' Weinstein is the film mogul who is currently on trial for sexually assaulting women. He has been accused of various sex crimes against scores of female figures in Hollywood. Eastwood also defended himself against accusations involving his film about the late Richard Jewell. Eastwood held firm and dismissed criticism from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the local newspaper outraged over his portrayal of late journalist Kathy Scruggs. Scruggs - who died in 2001 - was the reporter for the newspaper who was the first to publish that the FBI was treating Jewell as a suspect. Jewell, played by Paul Walter Hauser, who was wrongfully treated as a suspect after finding a bag of explosives planted by Eric Robert Rudolph at the 1996 Olympics and saving thousands of people's lives. The AJC accused Eastwood and Warner Bros., the film studio behind the movie Richard Jewell, of inferring that Scruggs traded sexual favors for journalistic tips. The AJC claimed in a legal letter that the motion picture falsely depicts Scruggs, who was played in the film by actress Olivia Wilde, as trying to sleep with an FBI agent, played by John Hamm, for information. In the interview with the Journal, Eastwood says that he invoked cinematic license. Well, she hung out at a little bar in town, where mostly police officers went, Eastwood said of Scruggs. And she had a boyfriend that was a police officer. Well, we just changed it in the story. We made it a federal police officer instead of a local. Eastwood also rejected criticism from those who say his new film Richard Jewell, suggests journalist Kathy Scruggs (left, portrayed by Olivia Wilde, right) traded sex for tips about the case Richard Jewell was a security guard who saved lives at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta by discovering and then reporting a backpack containing pipe bombs. He was wrongly treated like a suspect for a brief period by the FBI and details of the investigation were leaked to the media - namely Scruggs. After he was cleared, he sued multiple media outlets. Jewell died in 2007. He is shown with his mother Barbara in October 1996 Eastwood accused AJC of trying to hide its guilt for a reckless story. The director said that the newspaper was ultimately responsible for Jewells death in 2007. The former security guard, who was exonerated of any wrongdoing, died at the age of 44 due to heart failure and complications of diabetes. Eastwood dared the newspaper to sue, saying that he wished Warner Bros. told the AJC to go screw themselves. The studio has said it would fight any lawsuit. Make my day! Eastwood said, invoking the line made famous by his Dirty Harry character. If you want to just go call more attention to the fact that you helped kill the guy, go ahead and do it - if youre dumb enough to do that. Global Terrorism Finance Watchdog Blacklists Iran, Grants Reprieve To Pakistan February 21, 2020 A global financial watchdog has blacklisted Iran for failing to take measures against money laundering and the financing of terrorist groups. The Paris-based task force, an inter-governmental organization that underpins the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, made the announcement on February 21. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also granted a temporary reprieve to Pakistan, keeping the country on its "gray list." In a statement, the FATF said it was lifting a sanctions suspension it granted in 2016 to give Iran time to work on reforms. It also called on FATF's 38-nation members and "all jurisdictions to apply effective countermeasures." Iran's blacklisting will deepen the country's isolation from financial markets. Abdolnasser Hemmati, the head of the Iran's Central Bank, said the FATF's decision was "political" and it would not impact foreign trade. Iran and North Korea are on the agency's blacklist. The FATF said it was granting Pakistan an extra four months to meet anti-terrorism financing norms, keeping Islamabad for now on its list of countries that do not adequately comply with its rules. Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/global-terrorism -finance-watchdog-blacklists-iran-grants- reprieve-to-pakistan/30447712.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The number of men seeking help to stop committing domestic violence in Queensland has surged after the horrific death of a family burned to death at Camp Hill in Brisbane's east. Rowan Baxter killed Hannah Clarke, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, when he doused them in petrol and set their car alight in a street on Wednesday morning. He died shortly after stabbing himself in the abdomen with a knife. Police investigate the murder-suicide at Camp Hill. Credit:Toby Crockford The shocking attack has seen more people turn to domestic violence services for help, Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Di Farmer says. Meeting Brendan Howlin in his political heartland of Wexford town last Friday morning, was like spending time in the company of a celebrity. In Button and Spoon Cafe where it was too busy to conduct an interview in peace, people kept coming up to the table as he enjoyed a home-made lemon and blueberry scone and a brief sigh of relief after a round of media engagements following the announcment of his decision to step down as leader of the Labour Party. Having travelled the length and breadth of the country on the general election canvass, he was due back in Dublin the next day for party executive meetings ahead of a leadership contest, and was relishing a short interlude in his home town comfort zone. One of the most frequently asked media questions in his step-down interviews was 'what do you regret the most' but there was no such query on the minds of those who excused the interruption to shake his hand. Cafe customers variously offered their congratulations, telling him he got their Number One, 'as always', saying how proud they were of him and wishing him well in his retirement. 'You'll be missed', said one. 'I'm not actually retiring, I'm just stepping down from one of my roles,' he corrected politely, with an smile. Have some people confused his passing on of the leadership baton after four years at the helm, with a decision to retire altogether from politics? 'Rumours of my retirement are greatly exaggerated', he laughed, in the foyer of Clayton Whites Hotel, where the interview resumed, before adding: 'I think that I've been a national politician for so long that standing down from my national role as leader, people think I'm standing back from all my political roles which is not the case.' 'I will, in fact, have much more time now to devote to defending the interests of Wexford. I have a number of Wexford priorities that will now have my undivided focus and attention. 'I want to be a champion for Wexford General Hospital. It needs a champion. Every time I go out of government, it seems to be under threat. Having A&E and maternity services is important but we need the proper staffing in place. When there is not a champion in Wexford it seems to be always under threat. 'I want to develop mental health services. There was an understanding that there would be an acute psychiatric unit in Wexford which is something we absolutely need, in a developed General Hospital. 'The second big issue that I will be focusing on, which I had hoped to have achieved by now, is a campus for a Technological University of the South East. Until Wexford gets a fully-fledged campus with thousands of students here, we will always be behind the curve in attracting industry and holding on to our young population here. 'They are considering sites at the moment. I allocated money for a site before I left office, that's four years ago. It's crazy that they haven't finalised it. The optimum site, in my judgement, close to the County Hall, was not taken in the beginning. I've never been given a satisfactory explanation of why that deal wasn't closed. Anyway, we move on and there are other options now. 'There is one site I'm hoping will be finalised. I'm going to be on the case now. If it's not, I will be insisting that a suitable site is found quickly and that we complete the negotiations for a University of the South East.' 'It was earmarked to be the first one but now it is likely to be the third. Dublin is already done and Cork is well advanced. We need to get into the frame on this very quickly. 'There will be a multi-campus and I will insist that a significant campus is located in Wexford. It will require a significant capital investment. I hope the political strength exists for that to be found. The Labour TD of 33 years standing said nobody, not even Sinn Fein foresaw the scale of the Sinn Fein victory in Wexford and around the country, with Enniscorthy candidate Johnny Mythen capturing a record 18,000 first preference votes, the highest ever in the constituency. The Sinn Fein surge is not dissimilar to the 'Spring Tide' of 1992 or the 'Gilmore Gale' of 2011, when the Labour Party won 37 seats, compared to a much reduced six seats (down from seven, including three new TDs) in the recent election. 'Any odds you like on any candidate getting 18,000 votes, was beyond anyone's expectations. Fair play to them and I congratulate them' he said. The election of Verona Murphy also caused political upset locally, giving the four parties and one Independent a seat each. 'It remains to be seen how effective they are. You only have to look at my record of delivery to the county. I'm very proud of it and I'll stand it against anyone that ever represented this county. We'll see if anyone else from government can produce anthing that is close to that level of delivery.' In relation to the negotiations for government, he said: 'There is a lot of shadow dancing going on and it will still be going on when this is printed. The mathematics of it are clear. There are three blocks of TDs in the incoming Dail, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein. 'Two of these blocks have to form a Government. The only likely Government is Fianna Fail and Fine Gael or one of those with Sinn Fein and that is where we will end up when we have gone through all of the pretence.' He doesn't have a preference but would ideally have liked the Labour Party to be central to policy formation. 'I think the people have demanded a change of course from whoever is in Government, in health and housing in particular, and if whoever forms the Government doesn't deliver on those, they will be punished severely. 'The bottom line is we went into government when the economy was on its knees and we left it after five years in a much better place than we found it. 'It would have been politically opportune to stay out of government, like Sinn Fein and everyone else, to let the country collapse and allow someone else to take the blame. 'But that is not Labour's way. We take our responsibilities to the country and to the people seriously. Fianna Fail and the Greens in Government set fire to the country, we were called in as the Fire Brigade but it was the Fire Brigade that were blamed for the fire, not the arsonists.' He is hopeful of the Labour Party's chances of recovering public support. 'I think we are in good stead. The local elections gave us an array of new candidates who will be contesting the general election next time out. They need to bed themselves in. We have deep roots in many communities that have always been Labour and it will certainly be possible to win that support back. It will mean reconnecting on the ground, in communities, in housing estates and in workplaces, doing the hard graft of politics.' Resigning as leader from a role he felt he had no choice but to take on, was not an easy decision. 'Of course, it was difficult. It's a great privilege to lead your party but it's right in terms of the page turner, to allow this new generation to take the party on to its next phase and it's right for me. I need to refocus myself as well in terms of how I want to represent Wexford. It's been a challenge for the past four years. It's been busy and challenging and emotionally draining. I've given it my all. I need a break too.' Some have suggested he would make a good Ceann Comhairle in the Dail but he has no interest in the position. If he became Ceann Comhairle for a term, it would guarantee him automatic re-election, leaving George Lawlor potentially to take the Labour seat. 'I don't think I would like to sit in a neutral position in the next Dail. I want to express myself without any restraint.' He doesn't have a specific retirement plan or at least one that he is willing to reveal at this stage. 'We have to see how this settles. We have to see how long the 33rd Dail lasts. It could be five weeks for 15 weeks. First of all, we'll see what kind of horizon we have, whether it's long or short term plans'. He described Cllr. Lawlor, the current Mayor of Wexford (who polled 8,112 first preferences in the recent by-election) as his 'natural successor who would be 'an extraordinary, able and competent TD for Wexford, which he will be, and I will do everything I can to ensure that comes to pass.' On the walk from Button and Spoon to Whites Hotel, he was stopped several times on the street by people eager to offer good wishes and encouragement, and again in the hotel. 'This is rude, excuse me. I'll shake your hand. I'm a Labour supporter and I want to thank you for everything you've done. You were a wonderful leader and thank you for your insight', said one woman. How does he feel when people speak to him like that. 'I'm very grateful. People recognise that I deliver for Wexford and they like what I say on a national level as well. I'm very proud of this county and people know that too.' President Akufo-Addo is taunting his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, for having 'no policy' to campaign on as the 2020 general election gathers momentum. He said Mr. Mahama, who is staging a comeback on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) after being defeated massively in 2016, is only going about criticizing his (Akufo-Addo) good policies. No Vision Till today, we have not heard about his vision for the country; he is only criticising my policies. Is that how we rule a country?President Akufo-Addo, who appeared fired up for the 2020 election, said after submitting his nomination to the NPP to enable him to go for a second term. Right after the filing, he held a mini gathering at the party's headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra to introduce his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as his running mate once again, an indication that the ruling party is ready for the 2020 election battle. No Running Mate Bizarrely, close to a year after Mr. Mahama was elected by the NDC as flag bearer, he has still not been able to name his running mate, thereby feeding into the perception that the NDC members are struggling to find a candidate to partner the former President for the 2020 presidential election. It is believed that they are looking for somebody who can match the economic prowess of Vice-President Bawumia, but it appears they are having a hectic moment in their search. President Akufo-Addo who is running on the NPP's new theme: '4 More For Nana To Do More' jabbed the ex-President, saying you don't say what you can do, you only focus on someone's policies. He said someone says he has unfinished business to complete so he is coming back to complete his works. We shall ask Ghanaians what works is he talking about? What work did he do? During his tenure, Ghana retrogressed in every sector. We shall not allow him to draw us back again. We are going forward. We shall not go back today; we shall not go back tomorrow. Ghanaians are wise and discerning, he stressed. NPP Hope The President said Ghanaians look to the NPP for hope because they know we can do the work and bring prosperity and development to the citizenry. We have done well but we still have more to do, because we have not done it all. We have more to do for Ghana and that is exactly what we shall do. My appeal to you is simple: please help me so that Ghanaians will give me four more years to do more, he stated. He said on December 7, we shall use our energy, wisdom, and in total unity we shall collectively win the 2020 elections with a wider vote margin than what we used to win the 2016 elections. Bawumia Factor He said, I also want you to understand that our party rules states that our flag bearer should select his/her running mate. This is not a difficult task for me. If I am officially endorsed as flag bearer, I am going with Dr. Bawumia. Still maintain no change, no curve no bend, we are going straight to victory. Voters' Register He urged Ghanaians, particularly NPP members, not to joke with the upcoming voter registration exercise, saying anyone that qualifies to register, please urge them to register. Everyone should register because you will not be allowed to vote if you fail to register. My party people across Ghana, during the 2016 presidential elections, 5 million people voted for me to win the polls and become the president and we are expecting these people to register and vote massively for me again, he appealed. The President also entreated the party members, particularly those vying to be parliamentary candidates, to conduct their campaigns devoid of rancour, saying as a party, we always vote to elect our leaders so I am pleading with you to make this important party process peaceful, without any rancour that will destroy our party. ---Daily Guide As the energy industry faces a time of reckoning pressured by consistently low oil prices, high operating costs and a growing sustainable investing movement oil and gas companies are increasingly turning to Silicon Valley for help streamlining operations and boosting efficiencies. By some estimates, the addressable market for digital oil and gas solutions could grow 500% over the next five to six years, saving oil producers roughly $150 billion, while creating an ever-larger market for tech companies in the highly competitive and high margin business of cloud computing. Opportunities for savings include cutting capital expenditures as well as selling, general and administrative operating costs and transportation operating costs. "The digital age is finally dawning for Oil & Gas We see a market poised to erupt over the next five years," Barclays said in January in a note to clients. "The last 12 months has seen a dramatic shift in adoption, with numerous announcements of cloud and digital-platform partnerships that we think are just early signs of things to come," the firm added. In the last year, Microsoft has announced partnerships with Exxon and Chevron, among others, while in May Google parent company Alphabet renewed and significantly expanded its partnership with Schlumberger. Amazon Web Services offers digital services to the industry through its oil and gas division, and counts BP and Shell among its clients. Energy giants have, of course, been using tech companies' enterprise software for years, and oil and gas companies' highly complex operating systems including precise drilling techniques and rig management operations have depended on sophisticated, data-based decision-making for decades. But oil companies were traditionally somewhat reluctant to hand over their treasure troves of valuable data, thanks to cyber security concerns and wanting to maintain competitive advantages, among other things. This meant that, for the most part, software was developed in-house or by companies within the oilfield services sector. Amazon Web Services at the 2019 CERAWeek in Houston, TX. Mary Catherine Wellons | CNBC Now, however, driven by lackluster returns in the energy space and rapid advances in the tech space, the two sectors are increasingly coming together, creating partnerships between two industries that in other ways are very much at odds with one another. "The magnitude of the capacity for processing and storage makes it possible to do things we didn't dream of within the industry," said John Gibson, Flotek chairman and CEO and former chairman of energy technologies for energy investment bank Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. "The whole industry needs an uplift in performance, profitability and free cash flow, so working together with the data to improve industry performance has become a mandate We need the tide to rise for everybody," he added. Why now? A number of factors are driving the transition, including years of lagging returns in the energy sector. As recently as six years ago, when oil fetched more than $100 per barrel, producers' costs weren't looked at under a microscope. U.S. West Texas Intermediate began a downward trajectory in 2014 and, while prices have rebounded from the extreme lows of 2016, WTI remains far from its prior highs, meaning oil and gas companies have had to adapt. "The oil business here [North America] has gone from gold rush to austerity in a very short period of time," Shaia Hosseinzadeh, founder of energy-focused private equity firm OnyxPoint Global Management, said. "In this new world, there are a lot of demands being placed on the oil industry. The entire ecosystem is being asked to do more with less." Energy's continued under-performance it now accounts for less than 4% of the S&P 500, compared to more than 11% in 2010 has coincided with major advances in the tech space, including rapid iterations in areas like machine learning and data processing. At the same time, widescale adoption has led to steep cost declines for things like data storage. Tech companies can harness insights from applications refined and tested across sectors. It's difficult if not impossible for individual companies to fully replicate what they offer. In other words, partnerships where applications and technologies are co-developed can be the only choice. "They [energy companies] are realizing that they're not IT companies. They're not software developers, but they are users of it," IHS Markit director Carolyn Seto said to CNBC. "They are partnering with these [tech] companies to be able to gain access to these new technologies, as opposed to taking the development costs themselves of building out capabilities within their organization." Reid Morrison, oil and gas advisory leader at PwC, noted that as oil prices rebounded from 2016 lows an opportunity emerged for energy companies to advance these technologies from proof-of-concept to actually moving them into the mainstream, where they can hit the companies' bottom line. Barclays also made this point, noting that "value creation over the next five years hinges on scalability as Digital moves beyond discrete applications to organization-wide implementation." Biggest beneficiaries As big oil looks to data services and cloud computing to help its performance and profitability, companies that provide these services could be in for a big payday. Barclays estimates that the digital services market could grow to $30 billion annually over the next five years, from less than $5 billion today, with the potential market for cloud providers also growing to $30 billion annually. Given the potential size, tech companies are vying for market share. Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov said in a 2019 note to clients that while the cost savings might not be all that pronounced for energy companies, "the sale of these products and services - to energy and other verticals, taken in aggregate can be quite needle-moving for technology providers." "There is an enormous opportunity to bring the latest cloud and AI technology to the energy sector and accelerate the industry's digital transformation," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement in June while announcing the company's three-party collaboration with Schlumberger and Chevron. On the energy side, Barclays estimates that greater efficiencies will save producers roughly $150 billion annually, which translates to shaving $3 per barrel from the production price of oil. Besides the oil producers themselves, Barclays said there's a "golden opportunity" for oilfield services companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes to "regain relevancy." These companies have deep industry experience, and also have their own digital offerings. The firm said that in the near-term Schlumberger is best-positioned, but that Baker Hughes "may have the greatest upside of all." The firm noted that these numbers are just estimates since it's difficult to quantify given the secrecy surrounding the field. Longer term, technological advances will also be a way for energy companies to stand out in a cutthroat industry, said Rebecca Fitz, senior director at BCG's Center for Energy Impact. "In an unhelpful oil price environment, companies could competitively differentiate themselves by growing their margins more than their peers. And that's where technology becomes interesting." The ESG factor For obvious reasons, oil and gas companies are particularly vulnerable to the growing ESG movement, which is when environmental, social and governance factors are prioritized when making investing decisions. Against this backdrop, energy giants are leaning on tech companies to help them make operations cleaner and safer. Remotely monitoring operations can help companies quickly identify leaks and therefore lessen the environmental impact, for example. This also means that fewer personnel are exposed to dangerous conditions. Additionally, the very act of moving data to the cloud means that oil and gas companies can reduce the number of energy-intensive data centers needed. If tech's involvement helps to boost energy companies' ESG ratings, it could still come at the expense of the tech companies' ratings. Some argue that since the world is still dependent on fossil fuels, tech companies should help oil and gas companies be as energy-efficient as possible. Others say that making the industry more cost-effective will delay the widespread adoption of renewable energy. When Exxon and Microsoft announced their partnership last February, the oil giant said it could lead to an additional 50,000 oil-equivalent barrels of production per day in the Permian by 2025, generating "billions of dollars in value over the next decade." Amazon and Microsoft have recently unveiled ambitious plans to become carbon neutral and carbon negative, respectively, and relying on power generated from renewable sources is just one of the ways in which they've sought to make their operations more environmentally friendly. But still, the tech companies have faced backlash most notably, perhaps, from employees for their involvement in the oil and gas industry. What happens next? Disneyland bills itself as the happiest place on earth. But Albany's Historic Carousel & Museum surely owns that title this weekend, as staff and volunteers celebrate something old and something new. It definitely put a broad grin on executive director Peggy Burris face. The "something new" is Marcy, a colorful unicorn who will become the 37th member of the carousels family of animals at a 10 a.m. reception Saturday. She is absolutely beautiful, Burris said. Weve needed a unicorn for a long time. Every little girl is going to love riding her. Marcy, who Burris said was 10 years in the making, boasts a gleaming white coat and bracelets of flowers on her head and tail. A fairy on her neck also carries a flower. She was carved by Mike Edson and Bill Mickelberry, who passed away in January, and painted by Ginny Knight, Nancy OHearn and Erin Montoya. The unicorn was made in honor of Bill and Nancy Mickelberrys daughter, Marcy, who was killed in a 1988 traffic accident when she was 16 years old. Its chest plate features Bill Mickelberrys Navy insignia. Members of the Mickelberry family will take the first ride Saturday. Guest speakers at the reception will include Burris, Mayor Sharon Konopa, Patrick Mickelberry and carousel founder Wendy Kirby. According to Burris, the carousel has room for 14 more carvings. The "something old" is a $30,000 donation from the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, which will help fund the development of an 800-square-foot museum to house nearly $500,000 worth of antique carved animals. About two-thirds of the collection are on loan from the Dentzel Family of Port Townsend, Washington. German emigrant Gustav Dentzel founded the Dentzel Carousel Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1870. The carousels main mechanism was donated by the National Carousel Association through Dentzels great-grandson, William Dentzel III. The goal, according to volunteer Burl Wheaton, is for visitors to enter the museum via elevator. When the doors open," he said, "they will be surrounded by the museum." The animal carvings some of which date to the late 1800s have already been moved into another storage area and volunteers have put finished plywood panels on the walls. We have more and more people who want to donate antique carvings to us, Wheaton said. I ask them to send us photos and then I take information to the museum board. He estimated the project's total cost at $40,000. WVVA Development and Industry Relations Manager Tori Middelstadt said the group's funding comes from Travel Oregon. Grants are funded by the states 1.8% transient lodging tax. We know how important the carousel is to Albany and we wanted to embrace this museum project, she said. This money is in keeping with the carousels mission of offering something for people of all ages. According to Middelstadt, having carousels in Salem, Albany and Cottage Grove gives travelers opportunities to enjoy such attractions within easy driving distance of each other. Its really nice having so many carousels in this region, she said. Upcoming events at the Albany carousel include sensory-friendly rides at $2 apiece from 10 a.m. to noon on April 4. We will slow the mechanism down and there wont be any music, Burris said. An adults-only Kentucky Derby fundraiser for the carousel is set for May 2. Admission is $50 per person or $75, which includes a souvenir glass. The first drink is courtesy of the Natty Dresser, Burris said. Tickets are available at www.albanycarousel.com. Were super excited about this, Burris said. There will be mint juleps and a southern-style buffet. Guests will be able to bet on our ponies and can turn their winnings into Derby Dollars that can be used in our silent auction. The 22,000-square-foot Historic Albany Carousel & Museum opened in August 2017 after 14 years of development. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit https://albanycarousel.com/ or 541-497-2934. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. YEREVAN. The Armenian authorities first tried to persuade the Constitutional Court judges to resign, son of ex-Armenia president Robert Kocharyan said. The authorities started an unlawful and illegal process, the sole purpose of which is to have their own people in the Constitutional Court so that they could push any decision there, Levon Kocharyan told Sputnik Armenia. There is an attempt to link No campaigners with Robert Kocharyan, but No campaign has no relation to the former president, he assured. If you look at first ten lawyers in the list of No supporters, they are lawyers who used to work with Nikol Pashinyan and the opposition, he added. Video PlayerClose Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits members of medical teams from Henan, Guangxi and Gansu in a hotel in the Hankou District of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, Feb. 21, 2020. The central government team leading by Sun Chunlan, has studied the rotation of medical workers, strengthened guidance on hospital infection protection and improved psychological counseling in the COVID-19 epicenter to better care for frontline medical workers. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua] BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) A central government team has studied the rotation of medical workers, strengthened guidance on hospital infection protection and improved psychological counseling in the COVID-19 epicenter to better care for frontline medical workers. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who leads the team, on Friday visited members of medical teams from Henan, Guangxi and Gansu in a hotel in the Hankou District of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. "The vast number of medical workers are the most admirable people," Sun said. The guiding team expressed respect and gratitude to medical workers on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Sun also called for better protecting and caring for policemen, sanitation workers, community workers and volunteers, who also contribute to the normal operation of the temporary hospitals. Currently, over 40,000 medical personnel, including military medics, have been sent to Wuhan from across the country. The team has prepared daily necessities for each of them. Visiting a temporary hospital converted from a gymnasium in Wuhan, Sun inspected the testing work of the mobile P3 laboratories and patient treatment of the hospital, and talked to medical workers from Jiangsu and Guizhou via video links, who are currently working in the temporary hospital. The guiding team also visited the headquarters of Wuhan Union Hospital, where 516 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized. Visiting maternity wards and other wards, Sun stressed the need to make overall arrangements for the treatment of other patients during the fight against the novel coronavirus, to meet people's daily medical needs. Video PlayerClose Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, talks to medical workers from Jiangsu and Guizhou via video links in a temporary hospital converted from a gymnasium in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, Feb. 21, 2020. The central government team leading by Sun Chunlan, has studied the rotation of medical workers, strengthened guidance on hospital infection protection and improved psychological counseling in the COVID-19 epicenter to better care for frontline medical workers. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua] Video PlayerClose Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the headquarters of Wuhan Union Hospital in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, Feb. 21, 2020. The central government team leading by Sun Chunlan, has studied the rotation of medical workers, strengthened guidance on hospital infection protection and improved psychological counseling in the COVID-19 epicenter to better care for frontline medical workers. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua] (Source: Xinhua) 1 of 1 khaskhabar.com : , 22 2020 6:27 PM MUSIC Zoo Twilights with 10cc, Russell Morris Melbourne Zoo Friday, February 21 In the late 1960s when Englishman Graham Gouldman was honing his writing skills, a young Australian guitarist called Russell Morris was about to drop his debut, breakthrough song, The Real Thing, on an unsuspecting public. Fast-forward a mere 50 years and Gouldman, with his current incarnation of 10cc, and Morris, with his crack blues band, proved the twilight of music careers can be just as thrilling as the early years, when inspiration comes with a rush. 10cc's Graham Gouldman (right) and Rick Fenn, on stage at Zoo Twilights in Melbourne. Credit:Rick Clifford This night at the hugely popular Zoo Twilights it was Morris throwing down a classic, albeit reworked live version of The Real Thing along with tracks from his more recent albums, including 2012's Sharkmouth, bringing many in the relaxed crowd to their feet. Cheese platters and glasses of wine were briefly pushed to one side as the sun set, the amps cranked up and folks found their dancing feet. One person was killed as the local government primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi turned bloody on Friday with pockets of violence recorded in some parts of the state. The victim, Enyinnaya Ibiam, who was a Staff of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Uwanna, Afikpo North Local government area, was shot to death by an unknown member of a rival group of the party in the area. Though reports were sketchy at the time of this report, it was, however, gathered that the victim was shot by accident. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Awosola Awotinde, confirmed the killing. He said the police are on the trail of the shooter and would soon arrest him to answer for his crime. He, however, did not say the name of the shooter. However, a witness said the shooter was a Development Centre Coordinator for one of the Development Centres in the council. The witness, who spoke to on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said there was a clash between two groups at the venue of the councillorship election at Uwana where armed thugs shot sporadically into the air to scare away voters. He added that it took the intervention of the police who stormed the area and stopped them. There was a serious problem but the police came and teargassed them and the boys were disparsed, she said. But later when the police left, the coordinator was said to have pulled out a gun and shot at his brother who is opposing his preferred candidate but fortunately he dodged the bullet and the bullet hit Ibiam who was standing at his back. Meanwhile, a wife of a journalist, one Ogochukwu Nweke, was allegedly attacked and stripped naked by some armed thugs in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State. The husband of the victim, Chukwudi Nweke a worker at the Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC, who spoke to journalists said a youth leader in Ishielu local government led the attack on his wife. Mrs Nweke contested the councillorship position in Ogboji Ward in Ishielu. They beat her up, stripped her naked and collected all her belongings including the originals of her credentials, her PDP nomination form, my laptop and many other personal things including N110,000, Mr Nweke said. This happened at Aristocrat Hotel where the Local govt party executives invited her for her clearance. I need the assistance of all to help me recover my wifes original 1academic credentials. I most humbly call on the passionate father of the state, David Nweze Umahi and the wife to wade into this matter . My house is under siege and we have been in the bush since yesterday as they are still trailing us. My wife and my entire family are under threat and fear. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, February 21, 2020 There will be positive and negative impacts from Google's decision to end support for third-party cookies in the Chrome browser, especially in videos -- not only for Google, but also for publishers and advertisers, says Sunil Karkera, global head of TCS Interactive, a business unit of Tata Consultancy Services focused on marketing and advertising. In the short term, advertisers will see a decline in ad inventory, Karkera said, but in the long term the change is positive because they will have an audience to target. The move will also slow the adoption of ad blocking. In parts of North America and Europe, ad blocking has been reduced, especially on desktop. Cookie tracking in browsers slows content and creates too much noise -- noise that creates distractions in browsers when trying to view videos, Karkera said. The ad may only run for 15 seconds, but it takes away the focus. advertisement advertisement Google came to this realization five years ago. Now Chrome has become more important for the company, Karkera said. For the first time last quarter, Google disclosed that YouTube generated about $15 billion last year -- to prove their business model. They are making more of an effort to tell investors and marketers their business is okay, Karkera said. Karkera cites a recent phone call with a product manager with Chrome at Google, in which the two spoke about contextual ads injected into the video content. Cookie deletion in Chrome will come to pass in two years, he said. Blocking interstitial ads will remain part of the strategy until Google and others find a way to innovate around it. This is a positive move for consumers because they will consume content with less distraction and marketers will begin to rely less on first-party and third-party tracking, he said. It will also reduce data and privacy leaks. Third-party cookies are the ID bridge that connects 1st party data with visitor data on desktop, said Charmagne Jacobs, VP head of global marketing at Adslot, an advertising technology company that automates the trading of guaranteed placement of ads. Mobile uses a user ID, and thats what the industrys trying to work out. Without the cookie to connect the data, what will be the new universal ID solution? Microsoft also now runs on Chromium, created by Google for the Chrome browser. Google open-sourced the project, allowing companies like Microsoft to build on the technology. Karkera said Microsoft is trying to double down and one-up Google and Apple. They are trying to innovate on privacy and expand the reach on every platform and use their cloud as the powerhouse. "It doesn't seem like Microsoft thinks Google's engineers are innovating on the speed of the browser," he said. "Microsoft has taken JavaScript engine called V8 to make it run much faster." Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, with his wife Jane, raises his hand as he speaks during a campaign event in San Antonio, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Sen. Bernie Sanders will win the Nevada Democratic caucus, NBC News projected Saturday, strengthening his early pole position in the race for the presidential nomination. Nevada Democrats chose their presidential favorites in a test of whether 2020 White House hopefuls could extend early success or earn enough support to even stay in the race. Sanders will win at least 22 of the state's 36 pledged national delegates, according to NBC. Former Vice President Joe Biden will get at least seven, and Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg will win at least three. The Vermont senator had a wide lead in the share of county delegates won with 100% of results reported. No other candidate came near Sanders at about 47%. Biden will finish second, followed by Buttigieg in third, according to NBC. Biden came in at about 20%, while Buttigieg trailed at roughly 14%. Biden, considered the front-runner early in the primary, has staked his hopes on next week's South Carolina primary, where strong support among black voters has fueled leads in most polls. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., trailed in fourth place with about 10% of county delegates. Nevada, the third Democratic primary nominating state, allocates national delegates proportionally based on congressional district level and statewide results. Including their projected delegates from Nevada, Sanders leads Buttigieg 43 to 26 in the 2020 delegate race. Biden follows with 13. The Buttigieg campaign on Sunday asked the Nevada Democratic Party to delay releasing final tallies as it alleged irregularities. The party responded that it would not change its reporting process. Sanders, who has pledged to implement single-payer health care, cancel student debt, fight income inequality and take on what he calls corporate greed, saw the Nevada results as more evidence that his populist movement has gained traction around the country. Highlighting his agenda during a sweep through Texas on Saturday ahead of the state's March 3 primary, he predicted he would enjoy similar success nationwide. "Let me thank the people of Nevada for their support," he told supporters in San Antonio. "In Nevada, we have just put together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition which is not only going to win in Nevada, it's going to sweep this country." Vietnam is planning to develop a master plan on an environment and natural resource monitoring system to better prevent natural disasters and protect the environment. A smoggy morning in Hanoi. In a decision approved by the Government on February 14, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung agreed on the national master plan on environment and natural resource monitoring system needed to be built in 2021-30 with a vision to 2050. The master plan will focus on building an environmental quality monitoring programme in inter-provincial river and lake basins in key economic regions and areas exposed to many sources of waste. Cross-border environmental monitoring and biodiversity monitoring programmes will also be set up to provide information for timely alerts, forecast environmental quality and disclose information to the community. Dung asked that the master plan cover the development of points, parameters, frequency of environmental monitoring of land, water and air at automatic monitoring sites nationwide. The development of laboratory systems and their capacity for monitoring and analysing the environment should be included. Links among environmental data from localities must be set up. Other tasks such as investment in automatic monitoring stations and enhancing the capacity of environmental monitoring should be implemented. The master plan will cover all of Vietnam, including land, water, airspace and underground. Separate monitoring on each environmental component will be implemented to develop a master plan for the whole environment. The funding for the plan will come from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments public investment fund. VNS Environmental monitoring systems delayed in Formosa incident-impacted provinces Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue have asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to postpone the construction of marine environmental monitoring and warning systems by 2021, citing a lack of budget. Ever since 1999, Indian policies in Kashmir have been predicated on the assumption that New Delhi and Washingtons regional interests converge: reining in Pakistans jihadist proxies, it seemed, was a common interest. President Trumps Afghan deal makes that not necessarily true. In the summer of 1999, a young United States diplomat found himself inside a safe house in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, face-to-face with the patriarch of Afghanistans Islamist jihad. The Talibans minister for borders, Sirajuddin Haqqani turned out to have a well-developed sense of irony: it was, he said, good to meet someone from the country which had destroyed my base, my madrassa, and killed 25 of my mujahideen. Haqqanis assistants glared sullenly, a diplomatic cable records. Less than a year earlier, Al-Qaeda had bombed the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing more than 200. The United States responded by firing cruise missiles at jihadist camps in eastern Afghanistan. The diplomat warned that more strikes could follow unless the Taliban expelled Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Even though the Taliban would not expel Bin Laden, Haqqani responded that they had him under control. William Milam, the United States Ambassador in Islamabad, exulted: his countrys threats of violence, and moves to isolate the regime, were indeed pinching the Taliban. Lethal as missiles are, self-delusion is even more dangerous: In the months before that meeting took place, we now know, Bin Laden had summoned the head of al-Qaedas military committee, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to Kandahar, and green-lit the 9/11 plot. Ahead of his visit to India, President Donald Trump signed off on a reduction in violence agreement with the Taliban, the first in a series of steps meant to prepare the way for the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan. For India, the deal is exceedingly bad news. The Talibans second sunrise will energise jihadist movements in Kashmir, and across the region, just as the Afghan mujahideens defeat of the Soviet Union did in 1989. Theres little New Delhi can do but prepare for the rising storm. India has neither the military capacities nor diplomatic heft needed to influence the course events will take in Kabul. History, though, leaves no room for illusions about what lies ahead. In 1992, almost a decade before 9/11, the Pakistani Islamist politician Fazlur Rahman laid out a road map for the global jihadist magazine. The Afghan jihad, he told the Pashto language Manba al-Jihad magazine, "which was spearheaded by Maulana Haqqani and other truthful leaders, defeated the Soviet Empire. But now there is another enemy to this jihad. That is America, and its conspiratorial policies that are intended to bring Afghanistan, the centre of jihad, under American attack. Fazlur Rahman concluded: We are sure that people like Haqqani will fuel the flames of jihad worldwide. Kashmir was one of the new theatres. A small nation with a small population, with limited resources and weapons rose in revolt against the Soviet onslaught, the jihadist-turned-politician Altaf Khan, also known as Azam Inquilabi recalled, to the extent that the Soviet Union ultimately disintegrated into fragments.So we got inspired, he proceeded, if they could offer tough resistance to a super power in the east, we too could fight India. Faced with these threats, though, the United States sought accommodation. In 1994, then president Bill Clintons administration began working to facilitate energy giant Unocal's plans to build an ambitious pipeline linking Central Asia's vast energy fields with the Indian Ocean. Muhammad Ghaus, the Talibans then foreign minister, led an all-expenses paid delegation to Unocal's headquarters in Sugarland, Texas, at the end of 1997. The clerics, housed at a five-star hotel, were taken to see the NASA museum, several supermarkets and the local zoo. In April 1996, Robin Raphel then assistant secretary of state for South Asia, and later Barack Obamas ambassador for non-military aid to Pakistan visited Kabul to lobby for the project. Later that year, she was again in Kabul, this time calling on the international community to engage the Taliban. The Taliban does not seek to export Islam, only to liberate Afghanistan, she said. Even as the a state department report described Bin Laden as one of the most significant sponsors of terrorism today, the regime which sheltered him was never declared a State sponsor of terrorism. The truth, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright later wrote, was that those [attacks before 9/11] were happening overseas and while there were Americans who died, they were not thousands and it did not happen on US soil. For Prime Minister Imran Khan, and General Qamar Bajwa, the army chief who underpins his authority, President Trumps Afghan deal will prove a gift just as 9/11 was for General Pervez Musharraf, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate will have to guarantee that the Taliban does not attempt to seize Afghan cities like Kunduz before the United States presidential elections are complete, and for that there will be a price. New Delhi can, thus, expect greater United States pressure to negotiate with Pakistan over Kashmir, and to temper its reactions to acts of terrorism. Already, Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps, shut down after last years Balakot air strike, have reopened. From the Doha Accord, the road map for the Afghan peace talks signed last year, it's clear Afghanistan is headed towards a dismantling of its fledgling, post-9/11 republican order. The parties agreed to institutionalise [an] Islamic system in the country for the implementation of comprehensive peace; clearly, the Afghan constitution itself is an inadequate framework for the Taliban. Last year, Taliban delegates at a dialogue in Moscow described the current Afghan constitution as un-Islamic, and labelled womens rights immoral. And Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada vowed in an Eid message to continue fighting until ending the occupation and establishment of an Islamic system. From President Trumps optic, the case for withdrawal is simple: the payoff from the expensive, murderous war of attrition in Afghanistan just doesnt justify its costs. Even if jihadists seize power in Afghanistan, the argument goes, the United States massive counter-terrorism capacities give it a formidable shield, and Pakistan can be paid to play policeman. Plenty of President Trump aides are well-aware of how the road to 9/11 was paved disagreed with this line of argument, among them former secretary of defence Jim Mattis and national security advisors HR McMaster and John Bolton. They found their boss determined to fulfil his election promise to pull out of foreign wars. Back in 1989, as the Kashmir jihad rose, New Delhi was caught unawares: the states political system was in disarray, the consequence of elections rigged by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi; its administrative structure in ruins; its economy incapable of accommodating the aspirations of young people. Islamists were able to fill these voids, with devastating consequences. Ever since 1999, Indian policies in Kashmir have been predicated on the assumption that New Delhi and Washingtons regional interests converge: reining in Pakistans jihadist proxies, it seemed, was a common interest. President Trumps Afghan deal makes that not necessarily true. Time no longer on its side, New Delhi needs to act now to reestablish not just its authority, but Indias legitimacy in Kashmir. The United States is concerned about the rights of minorities in India and President Donald Trump will raise these issues, especially religious freedom, when he meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a senior administration official. Asked about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) at a briefing on Friday on Trump's India visit next week, the official said, "He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is extremely important to this administration." The reporter, who posed the question erroneously claimed that the CAA is the Indian "government's attempt to keep Muslim migrants from being able to gain Indian citizenship," which it does not do but only provides expedited citizenship for non-Muslim refugees fleeing religious persecution in officially Islamic Pakistan and Afghanistan and Muslim majority Bangladesh. The official said, "We are concerned with some of the issues that you have raised. And I think that the President will talk about these issues in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious minorities." "This is something that is important to the President and I'm sure it will come up," the official added. At the same time, the official spoke of the shared commitment of the US and India to "to upholding our universal values, the rule of law" and said, "We have great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions, and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions." The official added, "Of course, it's in the Indian constitution -- religious freedom, respect for religious minorities, and equal treatment of all religions in India." In the US, Trump has signed the budget bill passed by Congress which has a provision similar to the CAA: The Specter Amendment excludes Muslims from the special preference given to religious refugees from Iran. The Trump administration has advocated strong action to exclude illegal in the US. _SHOW_MID_AD__ Last week, chief Brexit negotiator David Frost made an impassioned defence of Britain's decision to leave the EU, issuing a rapier challenge to Brussels. In a major lecture he made it clear the UK won't be bullied by Europe, and how optimistic he is about our future. This is an edited extract One of this country's great political philosophers, Edmund Burke, wrote a famous pamphlet in 1790 titled Reflections On The Revolution In France. Two centuries later, we are now looking at two revolutions in Europe. The first was the creation of the European Union itself the greatest revolution in European governance since 1648. The second revolution is the reaction to the first the reappearance of the wish for national decision-making and the revival of the nation state. Chief Brexit negotiator David Frost (pictured) delivered a major lecture that made clear the UK will not be bullied by Europe and stated that he was optimistic about the future Brexit was surely part of a revolt against the first system an 'authorised version' of European politics in which there is only one way to do things. That is why the slogan of the Leave campaign in 2016 'Take Back Control' became so powerful and had such resonance. This still does not seem to be understood in Brussels. The Brussels establishment failed to see Brexit coming and still appears to view it as some kind of horrific, unforeseeable natural disaster, like the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs. It saw British Euroscepticism as a form of irrational false consciousness, a fundamentally mistaken way of looking at the world. As a result, the Brussels establishment failed to take it seriously. I believe that is also why so many commentators seem to find it odd for someone of my background to support Brexit. I recognise I am unusual. Media profiles regularly say I am 'one of the few Brexit-voting diplomats'. I began my time as a diplomat in Brussels in 1993, as the UK's First Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs. I guess I was a typical pro-European. That view did not long survive my exposure to the institutions in Brussels and I rapidly became a persistent private critic of them. I saw the EU's institutions as abstract and distant and Britain as never really committed to the same goals. The constant series of opt-outs, the unambitious and botched renegotiation and finally the 2016 referendum, look more like inevitable staging posts on the way out than a random series of unfortunate events. DAVID FROST: 'Brexit was surely part of a revolt against the first system an 'authorised version' of European politics in which there is only one way to do things' Indeed, Britain was more like a guest who has had enough of a party and wants to find a way of slipping out. By 2016, we had already found our way to the hallway without anyone really noticing. It was only when we picked up our coat and waved goodbye that people suddenly said: 'Oh, are you going?' Our behaviour over the last two decades made it all too clear we never knew what we wanted to achieve in the EU, other than stopping other countries from doing things they wanted to do. It is bizarre that so many people can have told themselves, 'Britain is winning the arguments', and that 'the EU is in many ways a British project'. If anything is a form of false consciousness, believing those arguments is. The truth is that Brexit is a re-establishment of underlying reality, not some sort of freakish divergence from it. 'Take back control' was so powerful as a slogan because we had clearly lost control. That is why, when I returned to Government to lead the Brexit negotiations in 2019, it was a relief to be clear about what I thought, to have a government that was aligned to it and to help take the UK out of the European Union finally, too. So much for the politics. What about the economics? There have been many economic studies of Brexit, including famously the 2018 studies from the British Government and from the Bank of England. Led Zep fan with brain the size of Britain On paper, David Frost is your quintessential diplomat an Oxford education, 20 years in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and a CMG the top Civil Service gong. But for all his establishment credentials, it was Frost's outspoken Euroscepticism that earned him the key job of Boris Johnson's Europe adviser. Born and raised in Derby, the 55-year-old was educated at Nottingham High School as a free scholar and read French and History at St John's College, Oxford. A glittering career at the FCO followed, including stints in New York, Paris and Brussels, before he was made Britain's Ambassador to Denmark in 2006. He left the Civil Service in 2013 to become the CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association, winning plaudits for successfully lobbying Ministers to cut punishing spirit duties. Following the EU referendum in 2016 he became special adviser to the FCO under the then Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson, who is said to hugely respect Frost's intellect and knowledge of EU affairs, with insiders claiming 'he has a brain the size of Britain'. After Johnson resigned as Foreign Secretary in 2018, Frost worked for the London Chamber of Commerce, where he gained respect for being unafraid to hit back at businesses critical of Brexit. He returned to Downing Street with Mr Johnson in July. A fan of Motorhead and Led Zeppelin, Frost once named A Farewell To Kings by Canadian rock band Rush as best album of the 1970s. He's also a keen history buff and his reference to Charles de Gaulle in last week's seminal Brexit lecture was no throwaway line Frost recently completed reading a weighty 928-page biography of the French leader. Advertisement The iron of those studies seems to have entered the soul of Britain's political class in a distorted form. Speculative predictions about the economy in 15 years' time have somehow become an unarguable depiction of inevitable reality next year. I question some of the specifics of all those studies. All exaggerate in my view the impact of non-tariff barriers and customs costs. They also assume that any decline in trade will have implausibly large effects on Britain's productivity. There is obviously a cost from the introduction of friction at a customs border, but I am not convinced it is on anything like the scale these studies suggest. All this explains why the British Government is confident in the strategy we have chosen. We are clear that we want the Canada Free Trade Agreement-type relationship which the EU has so often said is on offer even if the EU itself now seems to be experiencing some doubts about that. Some argue that sovereignty is a meaningless construct in the modern world, that what matters is sharing it to gain more influence over others. We take the opposite view. We believe sovereignty is meaningful and what it enables us to do is to set our rules for our own benefit. I struggle to see why it is so controversial to say that we might diverge from EU rules. The proposition that we won't is equivalent to the proposition that the rules governing us are the most perfect possible and need not be changed. That is self-evidently absurd and we should dismiss the 'divergence' phantasm from sensible political debate. I am convinced we are going to have a huge advantage over the EU the ability to set regulations for new sectors, new ideas, and new conditions quicker than the EU can, and based on sound science not fear of the future. It's a personal view, but I also believe it is good for a country and its people to have its fate in its own hands and for their own decisions to matter. That is why we must have the ability to set laws that suit us. We merely claim the right that every other non-EU country in the world has. That is not a negotiating position which might move under pressure: it is the point of the whole project. To think that we might accept the EU's right to control our laws simply fails to see why we are doing what we are doing. That's also why we will not extend the transition period beyond the end of this year. At that point, we will recover our political and economic independence in full why would we want to postpone it? And that is why we approach the upcoming negotiations in a confident fashion. We know about the trade-offs, we have factored them in, and we look forward to the gains of the future. Finally, I draw inspiration from three sources in believing things will go well for Britain this year. First, we can do this quickly. The original Treaty of Rome only took nine months surely we can do that, too? The second source of inspiration is from President de Gaulle of France. He believed in a Europe of nations, and always behaved as if his country was a great country even when it seemed to have fallen very low, and thus made it become a great country yet again. And the last source of inspiration is from Edmund Burke once again, who urged his voters to 'applaud us when we run, console us when we fall, cheer us when we recover!'. In 2016 we ran; in 2018, we fell; so cheer us now as we in Britain recover, and go on, I am sure, to great things. The grounds of Mallow General Hospital are being proposed as the location for Corks planned new elective hospital County councillors in North Cork are to put a case to the HSE and incoming government for locating the proposed new elective hospital for Cork in Mallow during a special meeting set to take place next month. While sites in St Stephen's Hospital in Glanmire and sites in Curraheen and Cork's Docklands have been mooted as possible locations for the hospital, local councillors believe there is a strong case for the hospital to be built in Mallow. Speaking at a council meeting in January Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said there were a number of sites in Mallow, including the Mallow General Hospital (MGH) campus that could easily accommodate the new hospital "Given that there are plans in place to expand the number of elective procedures at the MGH, and given the hospitals strategic geographical location and Mallow's large catchment area, it would make sense to locate the new hospital in Mallow," said Cllr Hayes. "Therefore, I would ask that this committee write to the HSE to consider locating the new hospital in Mallow," he added. At a recent meeting of the Kanturk/Mallow area committee its chair, Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF), accused Minister for Health Simon Harris of "going into hiding" after a reply to the letter merely noted that the correspondence had been received. Cllr Moynihan said that in any case there would be little point in following up the issue with Minister Harris as there would soon be a new Minister for Health. He said the committee now needed to prepare a solid case for the new hospital to be located in Mallow that could be presented to the new Minister. "It's urgent now that we be super prepared. There is plenty of space on the grounds of the existing hospital to build a new one," he said. Cllr Hayes reiterated his earlier position, saying Mallow was ideally suited for the hospital as it is situated on the crossroads of Munster and has very good rail and roads links. "We need to make the strongest possible case for Mallow that we can now," said Cllr Hayes. Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) said Mallow would be a sensible option as it would ease pressure on the existing city hospitals, while other councillors said it was an issue that had been raised on doorsteps ahead of the recent general election. Cllr Moynihan urged his council colleagues to "go away and do their homework" on the issue in preparation for a special meeting they intend to hold on the issue at Annabella House in Mallow on Friday, March 6 at which a plan of action on the issue will be formulated. Kabul: A United Nations report says Afghanistan passed a grim milestone with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the last 10 years since the international body began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years. The report released Saturday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan comes as a seven-day reduction of violence agreement between the U.S. and Taliban takes effect, paving the way for a Feb. 29 signing of a peace deal Washington hopes will end its longest war, bring home U.S. troops and start warring Afghans negotiating the future of their country. Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence, said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the secretary-generals special representative for Afghanistan. It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway. Last year there was a slight decrease in the numbers of civilians hurt or killed, which the report says was a result of reduced casualties inflicted by the Islamic State affiliate. The group was drastically degraded by U.S. and Afghan security forces as well as the Taliban, who have also bitterly battled the Islamic State. According to the U.N. report, 3,493 civilians were killed last year and 6,989 were injured. While fewer civilians were hurt or killed by Islamic State fighters, more civilians became casualties at the hands of the Taliban and Afghan security forces and their American allies. The report said there was a 21% increase in civilian casualties by the Taliban and an 18% rise in casualties blamed on Afghan security forces and their U.S. allies who dropped more bombs last year than in any year since 2013. All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties, said Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights. Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable. The seven-day reduction in violence began at midnight Friday. If it holds it will be followed by the signing of a long sought peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office. New York The jury in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial sent a note to the judge Friday afternoon suggesting that it was deadlocked on the most serious charges in the indictment but that it might have reached a verdict on three other counts. In their note, on the fourth day of deliberations, the jurors asked if they could return a unanimous verdict on one of the lesser charges of rape or criminal sexual act but remain split on two charges of predatory sexual assault, which carry a possible life sentence. "We the jury request to understand if we can be hung on 1 and/or 3 but unanimous on the other charges," read the note, which was entered during the lunch break. Weinstein's lawyers said they would accept a partial verdict, but prosecutors said they were not yet willing to do so. Justice James M. Burke of state Supreme Court in Manhattan told the jurors to continue deliberating. Minutes later, at 3 p.m., he adjourned the proceedings and sent the jurors home for the weekend because one of the defense lawyers had a funeral to attend. Deliberations resume Monday. The jury did not say what it had decided on the lesser counts. The predatory sexual assault count requires prosecutors to prove that Weinstein committed a serious sexual felony against at least two people. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The case against Weinstein, 67, was built primarily on the accusations brought by two women: Miriam Haley, 42, a former production assistant who testified that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006; and Jessica Mann, 34, an actress who said Weinstein raped her in a midtown Manhattan hotel room in 2013. In weighing the predatory sexual assault charges, the jury was also asked to consider testimony given by actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s. Prosecutors were barred by New York state's statute of limitations from bringing charges in the incident involving Sciorra, 59, who was the prosecution's strongest witness. The jury's note suggested that one or some jurors did not believe Sciorra. In previous notes, jurors have asked to review testimony given by both she and Haley, as well as to review communications and emails related to the two women. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and claims all his sexual encounters with his accusers were consensual. He did not respond to reporters' questions as he left the courthouse Friday. The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. Importantly, Intron Technology Holdings Limited (HKG:1760) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky. When Is Debt A Problem? Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together. Check out our latest analysis for Intron Technology Holdings What Is Intron Technology Holdings's Net Debt? As you can see below, at the end of June 2019, Intron Technology Holdings had CN486.6m of debt, up from CN312.3m a year ago. Click the image for more detail. But on the other hand it also has CN579.9m in cash, leading to a CN93.3m net cash position. SEHK:1760 Historical Debt, February 21st 2020 How Healthy Is Intron Technology Holdings's Balance Sheet? According to the last reported balance sheet, Intron Technology Holdings had liabilities of CN1.04b due within 12 months, and liabilities of CN20.5m due beyond 12 months. On the other hand, it had cash of CN579.9m and CN763.1m worth of receivables due within a year. So it can boast CN281.7m more liquid assets than total liabilities. This short term liquidity is a sign that Intron Technology Holdings could probably pay off its debt with ease, as its balance sheet is far from stretched. Succinctly put, Intron Technology Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! Story continues And we also note warmly that Intron Technology Holdings grew its EBIT by 15% last year, making its debt load easier to handle. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Intron Technology Holdings's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting. Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. While Intron Technology Holdings has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. Over the last three years, Intron Technology Holdings saw substantial negative free cash flow, in total. While investors are no doubt expecting a reversal of that situation in due course, it clearly does mean its use of debt is more risky. Summing up While it is always sensible to investigate a company's debt, in this case Intron Technology Holdings has CN93.3m in net cash and a decent-looking balance sheet. And we liked the look of last year's 15% year-on-year EBIT growth. So we are not troubled with Intron Technology Holdings's debt use. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Take risks, for example - Intron Technology Holdings has 5 warning signs (and 2 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about. When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Two male patients include a 34-year-old from Philippines and a 39-year-old from Bangladesh Dubai: Two more people in the UAE have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, taking the total number of such cases to 11, health authorities said on Saturday. The two male patients include a 34-year-old from Philippines and a 39-year-old from Bangladesh, who got infected as they were in direct contact with the Chinese patients recently diagnosed with coronavirus, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said in a statement. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus climbed to 2,345 with 109 more deaths reported, while the confirmed cases rose to 76,288. A team of WHO experts, currently in China to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak, is expected to visit the worst-affected Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak. UAE's health ministry said that all people in direct contact with the coronavirus patients are being checked to ensure the safety of the community, Gulf News reported. "The ministry emphasised that it is taking all necessary and precautionary measures, including investigating, examining and following up on those who were in contact with the patients, in cooperation with health authorities in the country," it said. The ministry has urged the public to follow the preventive procedures and to read the virus-awareness instructions, available on its website and the official websites of health authorities in the UAE. For the militant wing of the transgender lobby, she has become an unlikely hate figure. Nicole Gibson, according to the keyboard warriors of social media, stands for exactly the sort of old-fashioned and reactionary views that are blocking the long-overdue gender revolution. They're not slow to tell her in the most rancorous terms 'You don't know what you're talking about.' Yet the irony is that Nicole is uniquely qualified to discuss transgender issues. For she began life as Glenn and was an awkward and effeminate boy tormented every time he saw his own body in the mirror. After years of misery and uncertainty, he decided to undergo gender-reassignment surgery blossoming into Nicole, a woman so confident that she was able to take a job as a lingerie model. In a thought-provoking interview, Nicole Gibson (pictured now) argues that, while much still needs to be done to promote acceptance of trans-men and trans- women, the noisy demands of transgender extremists are actually promoting division With blonde shoulder-length hair, bright eyes and a radiant smile, she has carried out numerous modelling jobs, taken on TV acting roles including in the crime drama Silent Witness and guested as an occasional pundit on Good Morning Britain. Last September, she discussed with the show's presenter Piers Morgan a controversial series of videos, claiming there are more than 100 'gender identities', which were to be used as a resource in primary schools. Nicole's opinion 'There are only two genders. Male and female' although common sense to many, drove the online activists into a frenzy, branding her an enemy of the trans cause. Now, however, Nicole has hit back. In a thought-provoking interview, she argues that, while much still needs to be done to promote acceptance of trans-men and trans- women, the noisy demands of transgender extremists are actually promoting division. This month, she has been unveiled as one of the faces of a new campaign by global coffee chain Starbucks calling for greater tolerance. But at the same time, she believes that angry protests and demands from hard-core transgender activists will backfire and only lead to resentment from the wider public. The 39-year-old told The Mail on Sunday: 'It is wonderful that there is a trans community where people look after each other, but there also has to be integration into society without angering everyone. She began life as Glenn (pictured) and was an awkward and effeminate boy tormented every time he saw his own body in the mirror 'The militants are ramming it down everyone's throats. People turn on the TV and see someone from the trans community having a moan and isolating themselves further from society. They think they are making this apparently 'awful' world we live in better for us. 'But I don't necessarily think they're going about it the right way. I want to tell them, 'Please put a smile on your face and be likeable.' 'I'd rather be relatable to people so that if a child comes to a parent seeking advice, they won't only know about the angry, militant trans person the parent has seen on TV. 'They will also be able to look to someone like me who is pretty average and goes about their life in a similar way to them.' Nicole has bravely steeled herself against the brickbats. She said: 'The only grief I got from being on Good Morning Britain came from the trans community. We are all fighting the same cause, but they don't like my style.' Becoming a glamorous and successful woman strong enough to put forward her views in the face of such a barrage of criticism has not been easy. Born and raised near Horsham in West Sussex, his earlier self, Glenn, was ill at ease gender-wise right from earliest childhood and enjoyed playing with his sister's My Little Pony toys and combing her Sindy doll's hair. Unhappy in the company of boys and feeling more like one of the girls, Glenn was bullied at secondary school, Tanbridge House, and cruelly taunted as 'Glenda the Bender'. Fellow students were more welcoming at Collyer's, the sixth-form college where Glenn studied English literature, theatre studies and performing arts. A contemporary was Holly Willoughby, now one of TV's best-loved faces. Nicole explained: 'Holly and I were friends. She was part of the supportive group of girls who were brilliant about my situation. Outside, I wasn't a girl. Inside, I was, but I was welcomed into the group without the batting of an eyelid. I was one of them. 'It was a time in my life when I was talking to Holly and all my other girlfriends who showered me with love. 'There was no bigotry. These open-minded women were kind to me.' Although they have drifted apart, Nicole was not surprised to see Holly comforting her co-presenter Phillip Schofield earlier this month when he came out as gay and wept on live TV. Nicole's opinion 'There are only two genders. Male and female' although common sense to many, drove the online activists into a frenzy, branding her an enemy of the trans cause Nicole said: 'He couldn't have wished for a better person to be there for him. 'Holly comforting him wasn't for show. That's who she is. From my experience, she will be the perfect friend to see him through it all.' Confused about her then male identity but supported by friends, Glenn came out as gay but still could not shake off the sense of being born in the wrong body. After psychologists diagnosed gender dysphoria a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there's a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity Glenn's feminine side became more pronounced, and he began wearing mascara, then full make-up. In private and in public, he became she. Having registered at a gender identity clinic in London, he had a course of hormone treatment and began to live as a woman. In 2013, Glenn underwent gender reassignment surgery on the NHS to remodel his male body as female. It's an operation that, even years later, still prompts prurient questions. Nicole said: 'A lot of people, when you tell then you're trans, think it gives them free range to ask about your genitalia. 'But it's just rude: I'm a girl and I don't want to be asked about that all the time.' She is, however, happy to discuss her 'home-grown' cleavage and set the record straight for the people who wrongly assume she's had breast-enlargement surgery. She said: 'Often it's women who have a go at me, saying I'm flaunting my fake boobs. 'But I've never had breast surgery. I've had hormones and HRT and I've grown to a Double D. Some women moan about me having spent 8,000 on my breasts. But these are all home-grown.' As part of her new identity, Nicole also had to decide what she wanted to be called something she discusses in the Starbucks online video campaign promoting inclusivity called What's Your Name? She explained: 'I decided to open a magazine at random and go with the first name I saw, because otherwise I couldn't start my treatment properly. 'The names Nicole Kidman, Nicole Richie and Nicole Scherzinger were all mentioned on the same page. The rest is history. Not everybody gets to choose their name. With transitioning, almost everything else is out of your hands, what with waiting-lists and the whole process. 'I was so chuffed that in the Starbucks campaign I get the opportunity to share a positive side.' Fully transitioned, she's modelled lingerie for the designer Sonata Rapalyte, done bridalwear shoots and taken to the catwalk in London Fashion Week. TV roles have included the 2015 domestic comedy series Catastrophe and Channel 5's Borderline in 2017, which featured transgender storylines. Last week, the DIVA awards, which celebrate the achievements of gay, bisexual and trans women, announced she had been shortlisted in the Actor of the Year category for her performance in the TV comedy drama Flack. Her public profile has allowed her to become a spokeswoman for gender politics but this has inevitably put her at odds with activists with more extreme views. One of the most controversial demands of some in the transgender lobby is that people, even young children, should be able to self-identify as whatever gender they choose and that the law and society should unquestioningly accept it. However, Nicole insists that people should have to demonstrate a commitment to their new chosen gender. She said: 'I knew at 14 that I should have been a girl. But that doesn't mean I was mentally OK to self-identify. 'Self-identifying is problematic which is why, to undergo surgery on the NHS, you have to go through so many assessments. 'I saw different psychologists. I had to wait a few years for my surgery. I've never understood why someone goes to a clinic wearing male clothes and with a beard saying they want to be a woman. 'If you've got a beard and your name is Dave and you've just stuck a skirt on, I think everybody would appreciate that's not trans. In 2013, Glenn underwent gender reassignment surgery on the NHS to remodel his male body as female 'That's not how it works. I'm not saying you have to look like Cindy Crawford but, come on, make an effort.' Among the most heinous crimes, in the eyes of some extremist transgender activists, is the practice of 'dead-naming' where a trans-person's birth name or gender are used instead of their chosen name or gender. Some even insist they should never be mentioned. But Nicole is not offended by such reminders that she was once a boy called Glenn. She said: 'I don't like to use the term 'dead-name'. I don't like saying that because I didn't 'die' instead, I feel more like I evolved. I'd hate to think of myself before then as being dead and I'm sure my parents would as well.' She also explains why she hasn't undergone any facial feminisation surgery. 'I never wanted to not look like me. I wanted people to still recognise me because I wasn't a bad person. I was a nice person. I just happened to be born in the wrong body.' Another debate sparked by the growing awareness of transgender issues is whether trans-women should be allowed to compete in women's sport. For Nicole, this is complicated but in her own experience, gained while she was shooting a film about the superhero Wonder Woman, trans athletes don't always enjoy an advantage. 'There's an assumption that because I'm trans, I will be naturally stronger than some other women. But I was the only trans woman cast as an Amazonian female warrior in Wonder Woman. I trained at Warner Bros for four weeks in preparation, and days before we were due to go to Italy to film, I was dropped because I wasn't strong enough. 'We had to be physically strong enough to act while swinging a sword around all day and I couldn't keep it up. I had transitioned from male to female but there were all these other women who were a lot fitter and stronger, even though I'm broad-shouldered and quite Amazonian in appearance. 'So on one hand, I understand that if you are built like a brick outhouse, that would be an unfair advantage. But at the same time, my personal experience was that I had been through all of that and I wasn't as strong as these women.' Aside from debating the roles of transgender women, Nicole is keen to stress how ordinary her life is. She is about to start work in a cafe, which will provide her flexibility to audition for modelling and acting assignments, and is in a 'normal' relationship. She said: 'I'm dating, but not someone in particular. 'I'm nearly 40, so I've had a fair few relationships but I get bored quickly. I date in a very normal fashion. 'For example, I've dated somebody that I met in a bar and somebody that I met in a supermarket. I've dated someone that I've met on Tinder. On Tinder, I've always put in my bio that I've transitioned, but I don't tick the trans box, though perhaps I should in support of the trans community. 'I just put 'woman'.' Falcone, CEO and chief investment officer for Harbinger Capital Partners, participates in a panel discussion during the Skybridge Alternatives Conference in Las Vegas By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former hedge fund manager Philip Falcone has been sued for more than $65.8 million after he allegedly defaulted on a series of loans and improperly sold some of the underlying collateral, including an Andy Warhol painting. In papers filed on Friday with the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Melody Business Finance LLC said Falcone and several business affiliates have reneged on their obligations to repay the loans, which date from 2013 to 2017. Melody said Falcone has cited obligations to other creditors, including New York's attorney general and New York City, for his inability to repay the loans or turn over the collateral, which also includes millions of dollars in jewelry. Falcone previously ran Harbinger Capital Partners, which once oversaw $26 billion of assets. He is now chief executive of New York-based HC2 Holdings Inc, which has businesses in construction, marine services and several other sectors. HC2 is not a defendant. Alex Spiro, a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan representing Falcone, said in an statement: "This is a personal dispute without merit. We will fight this." According to court papers, the pledged collateral also included works by Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Camille Pissarro, as well as several Warhols. Melody said Falcone mentioned last fall that he sold a Warhol and a painting by Japan's Yayoi Kusama that were among the collateral at Christie's. In April 2017, Alabama-based Harbert Management Corp, which had sponsored Harbinger, reached a $40 million settlement with the New York attorney general's office for nonpayment of taxes. Then in September 2018, an offshore hedge fund firm once led by Falcone agreed to pay $30 million to resolve New York state and city tax claims. Falcone agreed in 2013 to a five-year industry ban related to Harbinger, including for favoring some investors over others and borrowing $113 million to pay personal taxes. The case is Melody Business Finance LLC v Falcone et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 651155/2020. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) TAPACHULA, Mexico Like thousands of migrants yearning for refuge in the United States, a Honduran bricklayer who uses only his first name of Oscar, his wife and their two young children are stranded here on Mexicos southern border. Oscar, 30, said the family hit the road from Honduras after months of death threats from a local gang, which targeted him because he was a meter reader for the countrys widely hated electric utility. Wading across the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass in early September, the family turned themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents. They expected to be given a date for an immigration court hearing and then set free. Instead, they were jailed for two nights, then marched south across the border to await their chance to plead their case. Rather than face the threat of kidnapping or worse from gangs in northern Mexico, they took a 1,300-mile bus ride courtesy of the Mexican government and wound up here in Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border. Now, their Mexican visas having expired, theyre unable to make it to court appearances in South Texas. That threatens their long-shot bid for asylum. If they did something to me, I was going to leave my family defenseless, Oscar said of the gangs in Honduras. With so much fear, how can a person imagine returning to his own country? In the nine months since Mexico began cooperating with the Trump administrations policy to make asylum-seekers wait on the other side of the border while their cases are processed, some 10,000 migrants have returned to the comparative safety of Mexicos southernmost Chiapas state. At the same time, the shallow Suchiate River, which serves as the countrys border with Guatemala, has become an ever more formidable barrier to migrants heading north. Mexican National Guardsmen and immigration agents have stepped up efforts to tighten control over the frontier, driving up the fees charged by smugglers. As a result, tens of thousands more migrants mostly Central Americans, but also Haitians, Cubans and West Africans face months-long waits to obtain either asylum in Mexico or the temporary residency that would allow them to live and work legally in the country. The result has been double-barreled. Far fewer migrants are reaching the U.S. in search of asylum, and of those who do, many are failing to show up for their immigration court hearings. It suggests that the Mexican governments main interest, like that of the United States, is to make the conditions so difficult for asylum-seekers either in northern or southern Mexico that they will opt to return home, many times to the very dangers they were fleeing, said a December report by the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights nonprofit. Thousands of Central Americans, Haitians, Cubans and Africans have jammed into Tapachula, a city of 340,000 that has become the operations center for Mexicos border enforcement. With detention centers and privately funded shelters overwhelmed, thousands pack into overcrowded houses and apartments. Its become the Trump Wall, said Olga Sanchez, 63, founder of a Tapachula migrant shelter called Jesus, the Good Shepherd, where 700 men, women and children are crowded into a space intended for a third that many. But it was the U.S. that made it so, not Mexico. No longer welcome Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador embraced the tougher border enforcement and agreed to accept those awaiting asylum hearings in the U.S. after President Donald Trump threatened to impose steep tariffs on Mexican goods. The U.S. buys 80 percent of Mexicos exports. The effect has been dramatic. The nearly 37,000 people apprehended by the Border Patrol or refused admission at official border crossings last month marked a 74 percent decline since the peak last May. Under the so-called Remain in Mexico program, U.S. officials have pushed 70,000 people awaiting asylum hearings into Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and other Mexican border cities to wait out court processes that can take several years. Similar programs are being implemented in Guatemala and Honduras. Kidnappings, extortion and violence by criminal gangs in those cities have forced many migrants to flee deeper into Mexico. In the Texas border cities, where nearly three-quarters of the asylum claims are being decided, as many as 44 percent of petitioners most of whom lack lawyers failed to show up for their most recent hearings, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a research organization at Syracuse University in New York that collects data on the activities of federal agencies. In contrast, the data suggest that nearly all petitioners living in the U.S. show up for their immigration hearings, according to a January analysis by the news site Vox. Lopez Obradors hard tack has been aided by Mexicans quickly souring opinion of migrants and migration in the face of the many migrant caravans entering the country from Central America. If the government doesnt enforce the border well, we will have all these people coming in here, said Henry Canel, 33, assistant pastor of an evangelical church that hosts a handful of the estimated 3,000 Haitians in Tapachula. When the government wants to, it can do it. Local attitudes toward migrants hardened further in late January, when some 3,000 tried to push their way into Mexico. Turned back at a bridge at the border town of Ciudad Hidalgo, some the migrants forded the river and were met with violence by National Guard troops. Most of the migrants were sent back to Honduras and other countries. Rumors spread that an even bigger group, dubbed The Devils Caravan, was on the way, but it never appeared. Gods word teaches us that we have to help the foreigner, said Canel, who formerly worked as a customs official in a city bordering South Texas. The problem is that there are bad people mixed in with all the good ones. Soul-destroying task Migration, especially for the poor, often proves soul-destroying. Every migrant has a reason for leaving; few if any of those reasons are frivolous. Poverty and corruption grinding and remorseless plague most of the migrants. Central Americans also suffer at the hands of criminal gangs, West Africans from ethnic hatreds, Haitians from their countrys perennial economic and political crises, and Cubans from a suffocating Communist regime. For nearly every migrant who reaches Mexico, many penniless after being robbed or cheated on the way, there seems only one objective. Everyone has the United States in mind, said David Lopez, who runs the Good Shepherd shelter in Tapachula. No one wants to stay here. The migrant flow is never going to stop. Even the children say they are going to the United States. Its the mentality they have. Many of the Central Americans arriving here have ridden buses, hitched rides or walked for several days. Africans, Cubans and Haitians have spent months on the trail, often working for a time in South America before making their way north by bus or boat and on foot. In Tapachula, many are waiting for the overwhelmed Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) to approve their requests for refugee status. As the agency adapts to the crush of migrants, what was a humanitarian crisis a year ago has become a better-managed bureaucratic slog. Many migrants wait months, some even a year, for approval. The situation is very complex, said Andres Ramirez, COMARS director general. Its a huge challenge. Still, in most of the cases decided in the past year, applicants were granted asylum, Ramirez said. Settling in for the long haul In the meantime, many are settling in and postponing plans for going to the U.S. Municipal governments are hiring many of them, for about $50 a week, to sweep streets and do other menial tasks. Others find work in construction or restaurants. With detention centers and shelters saturated, many live in crowded houses and apartments or sleep in the street, empty lots or the central plazas of Tapachula and nearby towns. In the evenings, conversations in Haitian Creole and distinctly accented Spanish clash with the local dialect. Oscar, the Honduran, is working as a bricklayers assistant. His wife, Yesenia, is a street sweeper and part-time waitress. She takes their children, Jose, 8, and Bryana, 4, with her to work. A primary school teacher in Honduras, she home-schools the children. On a recent visit, Bryana was learning vowels while a cartoon played on a smartphone. A small fan stirred the rancid air in their apartment. A beaming Jose pulled out the Bible hes using to learn to read. Since a Mexican playmate told him that migrant caravans foretell the end of times, Jose has been especially interested in the chapters describing the Apocalypse. The family is lucky. They have a U.S. lawyer working for them pro bono who at the last minute got their hearing rescheduled. Asylum hopefuls without a lawyer are almost always denied U.S. asylum, according to TRAC statistics. Watching his children, Oscars face darkened as he considered the possibility that the family wont make it to the U.S. Returning to Honduras is out the question, he said. The gangs dont forgive. They can find him even here in southern Mexico, he fears. The difference with being in the United States or here is you dont run risks there, Oscar said. There are no kidnappings, no murders. The best option might be to head for the northeastern city of Monterrey, where other Hondurans have found work. Later, he said, they could make another try for the U.S. border. Considering all that the family has been through, would he make the trip again? Oscars smile disappeared. His face darkened. His eyes brimmed with tears. Yes, he said finally. Yes. By Express News Service HUBBALLI: The inquiry into the sedition case filed against three Kashmiri students has gained momentum, with a separate police team being constituted by the district police. An officer of Deputy Superintendent of Police rank is heading the team, which visited Hindalaga Central Jail at Belagavi where the accused are housed. Three students, studying at KLE Institute of Technology, are accused of shooting a video raising pro-Pakistan slogans, and were booked for sedition. A woman, who hails from Baile Mhuirne in the Muscrai Gaeltacht, and played a key role in the Together For Yes referendum campaign in 2018, is hoping to be the first Cork senator to be elected by NUI graduates since the era when UCC professor John A. Murphy was in the Seanad/Senate. This won't be the first time Laura Harmon has ran for the Seanad. In 2016 she came fifth in a constituency which saw 30 candidates vying for three seats. Just 25% of 112,000 voters, who are located all over the world, are eligible to vote in the election which opens for voting on February 28 and the polls close on March 31. This time around the field is narrower with just 19 candidates and Laura believes she has an opportunity of unseating one of the incumbents to better her result of four years ago. On the last occasion the former Justice Minister Michael McDowell, Ronan Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins were elected as Senators. "I got such a good result the last time and I'm hoping to do better this time around," Laura told The Corkman. Inevitably when a candidate is running for the Seanad/Senate, the starting point is the plans the candidate has for reform of the upper house of the Oireachtas. Laura wants to see a widening of the franchise for people to vote for the Seanad and notes how it's possible to vote for a Senate candidate as long as you're an Irish citizen and an NUI graduate wherever you are in the world. "In 1979, there was a referendum which was passed extending the franchise for Senate elections to all higher level institutions," Laura pointed out. "That was 41 years ago but the legislation to implement the result of that referendum has yet to be passed. "I campaigned to save our Seanad from being abolished in 2013 in the hope that it would be reformed - we are still waiting for reform," she said. "With your support, I will work to open up the Seanad and extend the franchise. " But her reforming ideas don't stop there as she sees the Seanad having a wider role than it has at present. "I'd like to reform the Seanad so it gives a voice to people who are marginalised." Among the communities she feels must be given a stronger voice in the Seanad, she includes travellers, the Irish language, the LGBT community and she also feels that those in Direct Provision need to get better representation. She also looks at the universities and points to the great irony that though third level students in Ireland nominally enjoy 'free fees' in that there are no tuition fees to attend university, the registration fee which students are required to pay is average of 3,000 higher than tuition fees anywhere else in the EU. "On top of that students have to pay extortionate rents for accommodation and those in receipt of student grants haven't seen a rise in several years - at present they're getting the equivalent of 86 per week, which is far lower, for instance, than what someone receiving a social welfare payment gets." In the coming weeks Laura and other candidates will be sending letters to prospective voters and, in some cases, going door to door in the anticipation of increasing the number of voters on this occasion. You can get further information about Laura's campaign at www.lauraharmon.ie. JUNEAU, Alaska - House Republicans voted Friday to confirm Glenn Mike Prax to a seat vacated when longtime Rep. Tammie Wilson resigned last month. In a statement, House Minority Leader Lance Pruitt said Prax received enough votes to be confirmed. Prax was among the nominees that Republicans in Wilsons North Pole district advanced to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for consideration. His appointment by Dunleavy was subject to approval by House Republicans. Prax is a former member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly. Dunleavy previously appointed him to the Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy and Alaska Public Broadcasting Commission. Dunleavy spokesman Jeff Turner has said Prax could not hold such positions if confirmed as a legislator. Ryanair has denied that airline boss Michael O'Leary called for Muslim men to face extra security checks at airports, after he sparked outrage for suggesting male Muslim men travelling alone are more likely to carry out acts of terror. It comes amid calls to boycott the budget airline after comments made by O'Leary in The Times newspaper stating terrorists 'will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion' sparked a race row. Mr O'Leary said that families with young children should be let through security as they are less likely to 'blow' people up. The 58-year-old added that the only way to 'deal with the threat' was to vet 'single male' Muslims travelling on their own. Ryanair has denied that airline boss Michael O'Leary (pictured) called for Muslim men to face extra security checks at airports Ryanair denied that Mr O'Leary had called for Muslim men to face extra security checks before boarding a plane. 'Michael was only calling for more effective airport security checks which would do away with much of the unnecessary queues at airport security today for all passengers,' a spokesman said in a statement. The Muslim Council of Britain said his comments amounted to discrimination against Muslim passengers as they branded it 'racist'. And hate-crime monitoring group Tell Mama suggested his 'flippant' words could end up having serious consequences for the budget airline. Mr O'Leary had told The Times: 'Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males travelling on their own. 'If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero.' He added: 'You can't say stuff, because it's racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish. 'If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat.' The Muslim Council of Britain said the comments amounted to discrimination against Muslim passengers as they branded the comments 'racist' Hate-crime monitoring group Tell Mama suggested Mr O'Leary's 'flippant' words could end up having serious consequences for the budget airline A spokeswoman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: 'Michael O'Leary should be under no illusion: his comments are racist and discriminatory. 'He openly advocates discrimination against 'males of a Muslim persuasion', which presumably is not based on specific intelligence but solely whether someone 'looks or acts like a Muslim'. 'This is the very definition of Islamophobia.' The spokeswoman said Muslims already face challenges in airline travel and added: 'It is a shame that such racism is being expressed so openly, and that the CEO of a large airline would so want to discriminate against his customers so brazenly.' The 58-year-old added that the only way to 'deal with the threat' was to vet 'single male' Muslims travelling on their own And Tell Mama said the comments could come back to bite Mr O'Leary's business, likening them to jewellery firm boss Gerald Ratner's disastrous remark in 1991 when he called one of his own products 'total crap' and was later axed after profits tumbled. In a statement posted on Twitter the group said: 'Besides being discriminatory and basing judgements on the 'looks' of people, which is abhorrent, O'Leary clearly does not know about the history of terrorism, where people have used others to bypass this blunt and divisive technique. 'This could be a Gerald Ratner moment for O'Leary, where his flippant statements come back to seriously affect his business.' His comments have also been slammed by a Labour MP for 'encouraging racism'. Mr O'Leary added: 'You can't say stuff, because it's racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish' Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said Mr O'Leary was 'encouraging racism' and asked why he wouldn't suggest white people be given the same treatment 'to see if they're being fascists'. 'If he can tell me what colour Muslims are then I'd be very happy to learn from him you can't judge a book by its cover,' he told the Times. He added: 'In Germany this week a white person killed eight people. Should we profile white people to see if they're being fascists? 'He's being very blinkered and is actually encouraging racism.' The airline chief is no stranger to controversial remarks particularly his criticisms of environmentalists and travel agents. Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said Mr O'Leary was 'encouraging racism' and asked if it means we should 'profile white people to see if they're being fascists' He once said: 'The best thing you can do with environmentalists is shoot them.' Mr O'Leary also believes travel agents deserve the same treatment, saying once: 'Screw the travel agents. 'Take the f***ers out and shoot them. What have they done for passengers over the years?' He famously proposed coin-operated toilets on flights and dressed up as the pope to launch Ryanair's new route from Dublin to Rome. He once addressed Ryanair customers asking for their money back with: 'You're not getting a refund so f**k off. We don't want to hear your sob stories. What part of 'no refund' don't you understand?' The airline chief is no stranger to controversial remarks particularly his criticisms of environmentalists The Ryanair boss once made a joke about the budget airline he runs, claiming his flights are fuelled with 'Leprechaun wee' and his 'bulls**t'. And when describing himself, he has often used choice phrases, including: 'People either see me as Jesus, Superman or an odious little s**t. I think I'm Jesus. A prophet in his own time.' Mr O'Leary's remarks came the day after a white female Muslim convert admitted plotting a suicide bomb attack on St Paul's Cathedral in London. Safiyya Amira Shaikh, 36, was born Michelle Ramsden but converted to Islam in 2007 and is believed to have become radicalised in 2015 after following extremists online. A man is accused of forcing two male teenagers to perform sex acts on him in exchange for narcotics, then threatening to defame them when they sought to end the relationship, police said. Zachary Carson Neuhaus, 27, is facing two counts of continuous trafficking of a child, according to the San Antonio Police Department. He was arrested Friday afternoon on the Northeast Side, police said. Theyre liars, Neuhaus said as he was placed in a police vehicle bound for the Bexar County Jail. Officer Alisia Pruneda, a San Antonio Police spokeswoman, said the teens came forward about the incident on Feb. 16. The series of events have been as lengthy as eight months in the making, Pruneda said. She said the two juveniles were buying drugs from Neuhaus when he began taking obscene pictures of them as payment, then sexual favors. It got to the point where the young men felt I dont want to do this anymore, Pruneda said. When the teens told Neuhaus they were done, she said he threatened to defame, extort them through social media. Pruneda commended the bravery of the teens for coming forward and making a report, even though they themselves were taking part in illegal activity. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA The children of late wildlife expert Steve Irwin have shared tributes to their father on what would have been his 58th birthday. Irwin, who was nicknamed The Crocodile Hunter due to his television series of the same name, passed away in 2006 at the age of 44. Fourteen years on, his children, 16-year-old Robert Irwin and 21-year-old Bindi Irwin, have paid homage to their environmentalist father. Robert shared a black and white photograph on Twitter and Instagram of himself with his father, sister and mother Terri Irwin. The picture, which the teenaged wildlife photographer captioned Family Always, depicts the family-of-four on a rocky landscape. Bindi, who last year announced her engagement on her 21st birthday, posted a throwback picture of herself with her father, who is wearing an Australia Zoo shirt in the image. Dad, today is your birthday, she wrote in the caption. I had an extra strong cup of tea just how you liked it. I hugged Mum for you and told her how much we love her. The former Dancing with the Stars winner wrote that she and her brother went on a hike through the mountains that their father cherished, in addition to watching one of his documentaries and sharing stories about him with others. I walked through your office in the zoo and smiled at our old family photographs, she stated. Today and every day I miss you and love you beyond description. Youre always with me. Robert and Bindis mother Terri, who married Irwin in 1992, expessed how her heart aches missing her late husband in a statement shared on Twitter. Today wouldve been Steves 58th birthday. While my heart ache missing him every day, Im determined to celebrate what he loved the most, Terri wrote, alongside a series of photographs. He was my best friend, best dad and built the best zoo. I love you. Numerous people expressed their admiration for Irwin on social media. Your dad was my role model while I was growing up, and he still is, one person commented on Roberts Instagram post. Family of legends, another wrote. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday felicitated three Padma awardees from Telangana -- badminton player PV Sindhu, innovative farmer Chintala Venkat Reddy and well-known Sanskrit and Telugu poet Vijayasarathi Sribhashyam at a function organised by Swarna Bharat Trust here. Sindhu is a recipient of Padma Bhushan the other two were awarded Padma Shri recently. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President lauded their achievements in their respective fields. An official release said that the felicitation was meant to give inspiration to others to emulate the three Padma awardees. "It is the recognition of their merit," Naidu said and added that recognising and respecting the talent is part of Indian culture. Naidu also inaugurated a medical camp and expressed concern over the rising incidences of non-communicable diseases in the country. He and urged the doctors and the media to create awareness among the people, particularly the youth on the need of taking preventive measures. He pointed out that a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits were mainly responsible for NCDs and urged the youth to shun eating junk food and take up physical activity on a daily basis to remain fit. Observing that programmes like Fit India, Yoga and Swachh Bharat Mission were meant to ensure good health and hygiene for all, Naidu called upon the youth to adopt these programmes and turn them into people's movements. He urged the youth not to support those indulging in violence and asked them to develop a positive and constructive attitude in life. Referring to 'Reform-Perform-Transform' slogan given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu asked the youth to work towards the transformation of the country in all spheres. Certificates were also distributed to the trainees who completed their courses at Swarna Bharat Trust on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Damning revelations continue to emerge about the federal governments illegal Online Compliance Intervention debt recovery schemeknown as robodebtused to automatically issue debt notices to allegedly overpaid welfare recipients. After receiving computer-generated letters declaring that they owed the government massive debts, supposedly due to exceeding harsh income limits, welfare recipients were subjected to harassment by profit-driven debt collectors or the tax office, which garnisheed their tax returns. The government threatened to jail people unless they paid the demanded amounts or produced documents, going back up to seven years, to disprove any alleged over-payments. People living in poverty were treated like criminals for failing to keep accurate records of income. Despite government denials, it is now known that the robodebt system was used increasingly against the most vulnerable members of the working classi.e., those suffering homelessness, medical conditions, mental ill-health, family and domestic violence, or facing crisis situations or caring responsibilities. Last August it was leaked that the program was expanded significantly to include people aged over 65 and other sensitive groups, such as disability support pensioners. The government claimed at the time it was not considering any proposal to commence online compliance for vulnerable Australians. Yet at least 11,000 disability pensioners paid back supposed debts in full from 2016 and the repayments increased by 230 percent between 201718 and 201819, from $2.3 million to $7.7 million. Part repayments were not included in these totals. Then the Liberal-National Coalition government admitted in November it had obtained more than $15 million through the robodebt system from 9,149 people with a vulnerability indicator. It is now clear also that the government knew the scheme was illegal long before it conceded that in the Federal Court last November. In 2017, longstanding Administrative Appeals Tribunal member Terry Carney ruled in five appeals cases that the failure of a person to disprove the possibility of a debt was not a legal foundation for a debt. The onus remained on Centrelink to establish a debt and its size. Carney was then removed from the tribunal. Yet the government is still refusing to say how much money must be paid back to welfare recipients, or set a deadline for refunds. Answering a question about robodebt in the Senate on February 13, Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said: I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of the courts deliberations. She was referring to a class action of about 10,000 people against the robodebt scheme launched late in 2019. Moreover, the government is pushing ahead with measures to revamp the scheme. Ruston said program changes would make the scheme more robust. The government would no longer use income averaging data from the Australian Tax Office as the sole reason for determining a debt. In other words, the scheme is to be recalibrated and pursued with a slightly different format. The Labor Partys shadow minister for government services, Bill Shorten, last week urged the government to apologise to those wrongly charged with debts, and to repay the money. But it was the last Labor government that launched the data matching offensive against welfare recipients. While assistant treasurer in the Greens-backed Gillard Labor government in 2011, Shorten stated that income compliance detection would be stepped up. The new matching data link is expected to increase the number of former customers identified for this process by an additional 65,000, above current detection levels, over four years, he vowed. Both Labor and the Coalition have followed the orders of the corporate elite in deepening the attack on welfare entitlements. The aim is to ramp up the pressure on the poor to accept low-paid employment on substandard conditions, further drive down wage levels for all workers, and hand out more corporate and high-income tax cuts. The Murdoch familys Australian hailed this decades-long offensive last week. It gloated in its February 10 editorial that 13.5 percent of citizens aged 16 to 64 are in receipt of a welfare payment, the lowest proportion since 1989. It compared the figure to 1994, when it was 23.6 percent. It noted that the proportion had been reduced to 17.2 percent by the end of the 19962007 Howard Coalition government and then to 16.5 percent by 2013, when the subsequent Rudd and Gillard Labor governments were defeated. The editorial continued: The statistics do not reveal the full picture of reform, however. One of the most important trends in recent years has been the shift to the Newstart Allowance (with a basic rate of $559 a fortnight, and an obligation to look for work) from the more generous Disability Support Pension ($850.40 a fortnight). The newspaper commended the last Labor government for launching the drastic tightening of the eligibility criteria for the disability pension, so that from a peak of 793,000 recipients in 2012 the number fell to 680,300 by mid-2018. The editorial concluded that governments must do much more to slash welfare, complaining that it cost one third of federal revenue. Under these reform prescriptions, the poor and powerless are to be hounded into submission. Figures reported in June 2019 showed that 42 percent of people on Newstart actually have an illness or disability that prevents them from working full time. To the Editor: On Jan. 23, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the big hand of its famed Doomsday Clock from 11:58:00 to 11:58:20 p.m., i.e. to 100 seconds before midnight -- midnight meaning when we humans, either through nuclear or through climate disaster, will finally do ourselves in. These august scientists and Nobel Laureates believe Armageddon is as close now as its been since its group first set the clock in the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki holocausts. Years from now, if our civilization rises from the ashes of World War III, survivors will wonder how we could have been so stupidly self-destructive. Those survivors may find that the infernos spark was the reckless use and proliferation of the lethal robots known as drones. Last Sept. 14, a swarm of drones attacked the Saudi Arabian oil fields downsizing the Saudi economy. We may never know who perpetrated that provocative, possibly retaliatory, act. Was it rebels in tiny, poor Yemen, long terrorized by U.S.-built Saudi bombs and sanctions? If besieged, blockaded, reduced-to-rubble, cholera-ridden Yemen could do the deed, whats to keep other governments or non-governments from wreaking similar havoc elsewhere? And will such violence come home to roost? The beauty of lethal drones is that their source is shrouded. Was the attack a black flag operation perpetrated by a corporation or government hosing oil on the fires of the Middle East perhaps a weapon merchant seeking to further saturate Saudi Arabia with high-tech devices of death, or to upgrade its radar? Or maybe a rival seeking to shrink the Saudis impact on the global oil market? A more recent example of destabilizing drone mayhem was the Jan. 2 assassination of Irans General Qassem Suliemani. Suliemani had taken a commercial flight to a diplomats meeting in Iraqs capital when, outside the Baghdad airport, he and his 10-person entourage were incinerated by MQ9 Reaper drones like those piloted out of our local Hancock AFB. Suliemani was a long-targeted top military commander. Shades of Austrias Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose 1914 assassination sparked World War I. Friends, we live in a lawless, volatile, trigger-happy, war-profiteering world. Examples of drone massacres at weddings, funerals, hospitals and villages throughout the coveted oil lands can be multiplied. The militarism that drenches our economy and culture, while profitable for some, doesnt make us safer. So what must we citizens of the worlds greatest purveyor of weapons and the worlds greatest consumers of oil do to keep the Doomsday Clocks big hand from inching forward? Ed Kinane Syracuse How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com There is so much to love about the Finger Lakes region, and in particular, Cayuga County. We have such an abundance of historical/cultural products and natural beauties to visit and interact with. What about birding? Have you considered focusing your vacation on birding? More people are watching birds today as a hobby than ever before. More than 45 million people, with 3.8 million in New York alone, are birdwatchers, according to the findings of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Bird watching is reported as being one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in America, and it is a major economic driver, generating approximately $1.6 billion in ecotourism revenue annually in New York. So, what is the big draw? It is a fascinating hobby and one anyone can participate in, and it will inspire you to spend more time in nature, care for your environment and get involved with groups and activities. Bird watching is good for our health and good for the environment, and it only takes a walk outdoors to start appreciating it. Pick up or borrow a pair of binoculars and visit some of Cayuga Countys bird watching spots: Sterling Nature Center on Lake Ontario offers a diverse birding habitat with two miles of lake shore, sandy dunes, maritime forest, small ponds, marshland and mixed hardwood forest. Howland Island Wildlife Management Area in Port Byron is a globally significant bird staging and breeding area within the Atlantic Flyway. Bear Swamp State Forest in Moravia, with its early successional and mature forest habitats, supports a tremendous diversity and abundance of breeding forest bird species. Dorothy McIlroy Bird Sanctuary features a number of plants uncommon to the region and some of the highest breeding bird diversity in the state. Inaugural Finger Lakes Birding Festival coming to Cayuga County area A new festival at the end of March will welcome bird enthusiasts to the Cayuga County area f The Finger Lakes Birding Festival From March 26 through March 29, the Sterling Nature Center, Montezuma Audubon Center, Braddock Bay Raptor Research and Onondaga Audubon will partner to offer over 50 family-friendly birding activities to demonstrate the awesome birding activity in our region. The Finger Lakes region is a critically important stopover for millions of waterfowl and birds of prey as they migrate north to their breeding grounds. The event is timed to educate about this migration and offer interactive activities to inspire a new generation of birders, as well as engage the birding enthusiast with expert-led discussions. For the Birds bird-watching guide in Cayuga County Before you head out on your birding expedition, be sure to pick up For the Birds: Bird Watching in Cayuga County, a guide from the Cayuga County Office of Tourism. The guide will give you an introduction to the most common birds in Cayuga County, as well as the top places to bird watch. Give the tourism office a call at (315) 255-1658, send us an email at info@tourcayuga.com or stop by the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center and ask for the guide at the front desk. Karen Kuhl is executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism and can be reached at karen@tourcayuga.com. Sources for this column include: fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/bird-watching/valuing-birds.php; ny.audubon.org/montezuma; and dec.ny.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 22.02.2020 LISTEN The Sunyani Technical University is making frantic efforts to absorb as many Free SHS graduates as possible, beginning from September this year when the next academic year is expected to commence. To this end, the University is putting up a 1000-bed capacity hostel while efforts are also being made to renovate three existing hostels namely; Cocoa, Busia and Magazine Halls to provide decent accommodation for students. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, made these known at the 12th Congregation of the University in Sunyani over the weekend. In all, 1,554 students were awarded degrees and certificates including Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech), Higher National Diploma (HND) and other Diplomas in Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, Applied Arts as well as Business and Management disciplines. Out of the graduating list, 1,057 (68.0%) are males, whilst 497 (32.0%) are females. Other details are as follows: 493 (31.7%) offered B-Technology, 919 (59.1%) offered HND and 142 (9.1%) offered other Diplomas. In terms of distribution according to classes, 160 (10.3%) obtained First Class, 791 (50.9%) obtained Second Class Upper, 557 (35.8%) obtained Second Class Lower, whilst 47 (3.0%) obtained Pass. Prof. Ing. Adinkrah-Appiah also said new classrooms have been completed in the on-going Science Park Project under the auspices of the GETFund. We hope that more allocations and payments will be made by the GETFund to enable the University complete the Science Park Project to make available more classroom, Laboratory and office spaces to expand enrolment, he added. On Staff Development, the Vice-Chancellor announced that following the institutions conversion from Polytechnic to Technical University and the subsequent staff audit carried out by the NCTE, Management is undertaking aggressive staff development, through its IGF, to help upgrade the qualifications of our Faculty and Staff. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that at least 50% of all Faculty obtains a terminal degree (PhD) in the medium term. Currently, a total of 45 Faculty are being sponsored to pursue PhD programmes in various universities in Ghana and abroad. In addition, Management is making efforts to sponsor all faculty to have industrial experience, even as we recruit more staff directly from industry. He however expressed grave concern about the high attrition rate of our Faculty in favour of the traditional Universities after they have been sponsored by the University to obtain their PhDs degrees through our limited IGF. He continued, The only panacea to this canker is to create parity in the conditions of service of the Technical University Lecturer with that of the Traditional Universities. We are aware the Government is doing all it could to improve the conditions of service of the Technical University Staff, we urge Government to speed up the process and to ensure there will be no differentials, as far as salaries and allowances are concerned, between the Technical University Staff and the Traditional University staff of the same status. To the graduands, Prof. Ing. Adinkrah-Appiah noted that the lack of job opportunities is a major challenge facing graduates in Ghana as both the private and public sectors have not expanded well enough to employ the large numbers of graduates from the universities. The essence of the training you have received here at STU is that you have been prepared to be self-reliant, to be employers and not employees and to be job creators and not job seekers." For his part, the Chairman of the Engineering Council of Ghana, Ing. Kwesi Abbey-Sam touched on the need for projects and programmes executed in the country to be able to stand the test of time and also be backed by what he called Maintenance Management System. To be able to effectively spearhead the development of this nations, we must seek for excellence in every aspect of our work in studies, in our planning, in our design, in our execution, in our supervision and in our maintenance, Ing Kwesi Abbey-Sam emphasized. Chairman of the STU Governing Council, Ing. Dr. Kwame Agyeman Boakye thanked government for selecting the university as one of the beneficiary institutions of the US$130 million facility under the Ghana-China project. Beneficiary institutions under the project would witness a major face-lift in the areas of training workshops for mechanical engineering, civil engineering, welding engineering, among others. Buffalo Raceway has instituted stage three of the three-tiered 'whipping rule' that will go into effect on Wednesday, March 4. First introduced in June of 2019 with minimum driving restrictions, the rule was expanded at the start of the 2020 season with drivers required to keep a line in each hand (except as may be necessary to adjust equipment) from the start of the race until the top of the stretch, with both hands to stay in front of the body and not raised above the shoulder from the start of the race until the finish. Continuous whipping is prohibited. Stage three will now require drivers to keep a line in each hand for the entire race. "We are pleased with the positive reaction so far received from patrons, horse owners and trainers, and the total support from the judges and the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association," said Buffalo Raceway racing secretary Tom Agosti. "There have only been two track imposed suspensions to date for violations of the rule. Everyone seems to be on board." Buffalo Raceway is on the grounds owned by the Erie County Agricultural Society, which hosts many animal related events including the Erie County Fair in August. "Our racing operation is in line with the Erie County Agricultural Society's mission statement that the welfare of all animals on the grounds is a top priority," said CEO Jessica Underberg. "We are going in the right direction." Racing will resume at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday evening (Feb. 22) with a 13-race card set for 6 p.m. For more information, including the latest news, race replays, results, entries, simulcast schedule and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com. (Buffalo Raceway) It could also signal a change in political strategy from the president in the upcoming election. Outside candidates Joe Biden and Mike Bloomberg, the Democratic presidential nominee will support legalizing cannabis at the federal level. Trump could see it as an advantage to position himself opposite of his eventual opponent. For now, Trump appears comfortable allowing himself being seen as someone who will uphold federal cannabis prohibition. Paterimos was killed Friday night at a bar in the West Town neighborhood. About 11:20 p.m., a 30-year-old man, who was intoxicated, began arguing with him inside Richards Bar in the 400 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. A bouncer threw out the man, who then stabbed Paterimos in the arm, back and neck when he walked outside minutes later, according to Chicago police sources. Al Goldis | Associated Press file EDWARDSVILLE A man with a history of drug offenses was sentenced Friday to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a burglary charge. Dilon Ray Wright, 23, of the 200 block of South Pence Street, East Alton, was accused of entering a Nissan Sentra on Feb. 4 in the 500 block of Anderson Street with the intent to commit a theft. Felicia Adikwu, a Jukun by tribe, is right now in a dilemma. She is pregnant for her childrens extramural studies teacher, popularly called lesson teacher in Nigeria and, she doesnt know what to do about it. She is full of regret for her ill-advised action that is now threatening to tear her marriage apart. The young woman who holds a diploma in Public Administration from the state polytechnic, got married to Mr. Joseph Adikwu, a holder of HND in Accounting from the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa. He used to work with a bank in Lafia where they both live before he was transferred, sometime last year, to the banks branch in Gombe State. Their nine-year-old marriage is blessed with two kids, aged 7 and 5. From transfer to trouble But trouble started when sometimes in July 2019, Joseph resumed duty in Gombe but left his family behind. Before he left Lafia for his new posting, he and Felicia, his wife had employed the services of an extramural teacher, one Monday Ugo, to teach their kids extra lessons in their commitment, to give them the best of education. And things appeared to be going on smoothly, as planned until Joseph left for Gombe. Somewhere along the line, Monday allegedly changed the period of the lesson from 5:30 pm to 4 pm. This became imperative because the children, it was said, usually had one-hour church activities from 4 pm to 5 pm. While they are away, Monday and Felicia would allegedly use the period to engage in sex romps. The first sexual encounter they had was said to be so mind-blowing that it left the woman panting for more. But right now, she is said to be four-months pregnant for Monday. And, her husband who has learnt about it, in fact, who literally forced the information out of her through the threat of divorce, is seriously angry over the ugly development. Narrating his ordeal, recently, to a close friend who happened to be a police officer, Joseph, who is in Lafia on annual leave, explained how shocked he was to meet his wife in such condition. Mr. Adikwus lamentation He could not remember impregnating her within the period nor, discussing with her any issue related to pregnancy all the time he was in Gombe, he said. Pleading for understanding and forgiveness, Felicia said that her husbands absence made her succumb to sexual advances from the teacher. But her husband has vowed not to forgive her over what he sees as a blatant act of betrayal. Expressing his disappointement over the ugly development, Joseph said: I came back on leave only to find my wife pregnant for my childrens lesson teacher. This has torn my world apart, completely. Words cannot describe my agony, my own wife confessing before me that she is four-month pregnant for a jobless lesson teacher? he lamented with a tinge of bitterness in his voice. Then he adds: It is the cruelest betrayal in my entire life. My wife is a big disappointment and I dont think I will forgive her. I felt utterly duped and cheated when she opened her mouth and told me that my absence made her seek sexual satisfaction and it resulted in this. It is an embarrassment to me and to think that this happened just after few months of my absence! You mean, my wife could not endure and decided to find another man just for sexual satisfaction? I hate myself. Felicia explains how she became entangled in the love affair But while Felicia remains remorseful over the issue, she insists that it is not as straightjacketed as her husband is trying to make it looks. In fact, the woman who, at the moment, is taking refuge in her husbands close friends house for fear of the unknown puts the whole blame on Joseph who she alleged was in the habit of starving her of sex. Her story: My husband was in the habit of coming up with excuses on why he could not have sex with me before he left for Gombe. He and I had not had intercourse for quite some time before he was transferred. Anytime I confronted him on this, he would tell me that he was too busy in the office or tired from work to have sex. Anytime we discussed our sex life, he would find an excuse to give on why it cannot be then but next weekend or after he was through with a particular project he was handling. But those deadlines would come and go without him fulfilling his promise or commenting on why he did not. Things continued this way until he left for Gombe. Before he left, I stopped trying to initiate sex with him because the constant rejection was also affecting my psyche or self-image. Other than sex, my husband and I are on the same page on almost every aspect of our lives, and we truly enjoy each others company. I love him so much. He is my best friend as well as my lover. I made a mistake. I feel so guilty. Im deeply sorry for all that happened. I did not mean to do this and I am ready to abort it. I was even planning to do so before his coming but a close friend advised me to convince him that he is responsible. It was while I was trying to give the idea a thought that I delayed the abortion. Then my husband came back to discover it. On how she became entagled in the love tango with their childrens lesson teacher, she said: I saw myself falling in love with him out of my desire for sex. I needed to admit this because by so doing, who knows, the Lord can touch my husbands heart to forgive me. It was actually the devils work and I completely accept my fault but my husband shouldnt have gone public with the matter. Im ashamed of myself. The incident came to light after the pregnancy started coming out and my husband raised a lot of questions as to who is responsible as both of us had not had sex for some time now. I didnt know how it happened. All I can say is that the young guy who is my childrens lesson teacher suddenly found his way into my room at the wee hours and I was speechless. I cant believe I have done this to my husband. This is one thing I said I would never do. I never thought I would cheat. I love my husband so much and I dont know what to do. Please, help me plead with him to forgive me. Lesson teachers confession Monday, a graduate of Physics from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who is now on the run for fear of his dear life, debunked the claim by Felicia about suddenly finding him in their bedroom and not knowing what to do except to agree to sleep with him. He told Saturday Sun correspondent, on the phone that he noticed a look of admiration in Felicias eyes that showed that she was interested in having sex with him. And, this is what he exploited when the opportunity came calling. His words: I noticed that she started admiring me the moment I began to teach her children. I noticed her interest in me when she started calling me regularly on the phone to ask me not to eat before coming to her house for the lesson teaching as she had prepared food for me. She actually lured me into having sex with her after convincing me that her husband had stopped sleeping with her for quite some time before leaving for Gombe. She assured me that nobody would know about it. It is unfortunate that she became pregnant. But when she told me about it, we all agreed that she should abort it but her close friend who connected me to teach her children kept advising her to convince her husband into accepting responsibility for the pregnancy. I know that I have wronged the man. I dont know how to face him. He has been paying my allowance for teaching his children without delay. I betrayed his trust and, I pray that God will forgive me. *** Source: Sun News Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, addresses the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on February 21. (Photo: provided by the Vietnamese mission in Geneva) In her speech at the event on February 21, she highlighted that the CD needs to affirm the important role of the disarmament mechanism toward peacekeeping and security in the world in the context that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and 50 years of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The ambassador stressed that with the role of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 tenure, Vietnam pledges to join hands with UN members efforts to promote sustainable peace, and as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, the country stands ready to boost the close coordination between ASEAN and the CD as well as other UN forums. Earlier, during a meeting with Ambassador Mai, rotary President of the CD in 2020 Carlos Mario Foradori, who is also Ambassador of Argentina, highly valued Vietnams contributions to the CD framework, especially the country's successful assumption of the CD Presidency in 2019. Ambassador Mai, for her part, said Vietnam spoke highly of the joint effort of the current CD President Ambassador Foradori and five other rotary CD presidents in 2020, in working with UN members to accelerate the conferences tasks, while affirming Vietnams continued efforts to the CD in order to boost international peace and security. Trump learned of the decision only after the fact and was angry that he wasnt consulted first, complaining that the decision could damage his administrations handling of the response, according to administration officials familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Some members of the task force were not told in advance that the infected people would be placed on the plane and learned that only after the plane was on its way back to the United States. Kremlin has denied claims of meddling with the United States elections of 2020 on February 20 and called it the usual paranoid announcements. The intelligence officers had raised concerns to the lawmakers about Russia interference in November elections in order to support the Republican US President Donald Trump. However, Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov has said that these allegations are not only false but also added that unfortunately such reports will multiply as we get closer to US elections. Read - Trump 'offered Pardon' To Assange If He Denied Russia Leak, Court Hears According to an international news agency, three intelligence officials who are familiar with the closed-door briefing have cautioned the lawmakers. This comes as Senate acquitted Trump of all articles of impeachment on charges; 'obstruction to Congress' and 'abuse of power'. Moreover, the recent revelation further raises questions on the integrity of presidential campaign for Trump and whether the officials are taking essential steps to combat the kind the Russian interference it was seen in the US elections of 2016. According to international media reports, the officials had asked for anonymity as it was the matter of sensitive intelligence. The officials said on February 20 that the briefing among them last week focussed mainly on Russia's efforts to influence the 2020 US elections and sow discord in the country's electorate. The warning by officials which was first reported by the New York Times and The Washington Post has now been denied by Moscow. Read - Coronavirus Outbreak: Russia Names Exceptions From The Entry Ban For Chinese News angered Trump A senior administration official told an international news agency that the news about intelligence officials warning lawmakers over Russia's influence has angered Trump. The US President who stepping-up his reelection campaign has also complained that the Democrats would use the information against him. Over the course of the leadership in the White House, Trump has time and again refused the assessment by the intelligence community of Russia's interference in 2016. However, reportedly, this official also talked on the condition of anonymity about the private meeting. Meanwhile House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi tweeted that, American voters should decide American elections not Vladimir Putin. All Members of Congress should condemn the Presidents reported efforts to dismiss threats to the integrity of our democracy & to politicize our intel community. Read - Russia Bans Chinese Citizens Over Virus Concerns: Agencies Read - Russia Mulls Over Proposal Of Making Ex-presidents Immune From Prosecution (With AP inputs) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are in the middle of their transition. As they enter the final phase of their royal exit, the couple is also starting to build a new life for their little family in North America. However, Meghan and Harry's plans of keeping their "royal" brand have been disrupted as the Queen has put it up for discussion. Reports say that the head of the royal family has banned the couple from continuing the use of the "Sussex Royal" brand. How will these new developments affect their relationship with the Queen and the rest of the royal family? Also, will these issues stop the two from being present at the royal wedding of Princess Beatrice? The Royal Wedding Another year and there's another royal wedding. It may not be as big and as fancy as the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, but royal watchers cannot wait to be witnesses to the union of Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family in January, it got everyone asking: does this mean they no longer have any intention of being part of the royal family? With the move they are making to Canada and their notable absence in a number of royal occasions, it seems as if the couple do not like being royals. However, royal analysts say that the wedding of Princess Beatrice to Edoardo will be the true test. "If they do not come back for the royal wedding, it will be treated as an absolute snub to the Royal Family," royal expert Angela Mollard said. She added that their absence would only mean that they have put their needs first before their duties as members of the royal family. Mollard went ahead and claimed that both Harry and Meghan wished they would not need to attend the wedding altogether. "They want to miss out on it because they don't want to be part of that life," Mollard added. From how they spent their last few weeks, it seems as if the couple is more interested in being invited by celebrities for dinner. What Will The Queen Do? Prince Harry is having an ongoing discussion with the Queen about their plans moving forward. It is during these discussions that the idea of banning the use of "royal" in their branding came. Reports revealed that the Queen thought it would be inappropriate to use the term "royal" in all their endeavors as regular citizens in the future. If they do not want to have to do anything with the royal family, then they should just drop the term royal in their future projects, too. Meghan and Harry have already spent thousands applying for a trademark for "Sussex Royal," and this setback has surely brought them the kind of headache they do not know how to resolve. Will this move of the Queen push the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to snub the royal wedding? Only time will truly tell. Their absence, however, will surely be notable. Next Steps Toward a U.S. Agreement with the Taliban Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State February 21, 2020 The United States and the Taliban have been engaged in extensive talks to facilitate a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, reduce United States and Allied Forces presence, and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States or our allies. In recent weeks, in consultation with the Government of National Unity, U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan. Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward. We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29. Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan. The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward. Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment. The United States thanks the State of Qatar and all other allies and partners for their support of peace in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Barely six weeks after the first recorded death from the new coronavirus in Wuhan, researchers in Australia began testing a potential vaccine on animals. A factory in Melbourne has created small doses of the vaccine for testing. If it keeps animals safe from the virus, it will be tested on humans. And the CSIRO have just finished developing an "animal model" a ferret infected with the virus which gives scientists an insight into how COVID-19 progresses and provides a basis for testing ways to stop it. The extraordinary plan to develop a vaccine for a virus we barely understand, at breakneck pace is being led by a team of scientists at the University of Queensland, with support from other teams around the country. If their efforts succeed, not only will they have a powerful weapon to stop the spread of coronavirus but they will also revolutionise vaccine technology, potentially leading to jabs for a range of other lethal conditions. How do you make a vaccine for a new disease? What are these new molecular clamp vaccines and how do they differ from our current inoculations? How do you make one so quickly? And how likely is it to work? The virus responsible for COVID-19, isolated from the first Australian coronavirus case and captured in this colorised transmission electron micrograph image. Credit:CSIRO Advertisement What is the plan for developing a COVID-19 vaccine? Vaccines are among our best tools for preventing infection. In the developed world, they have helped largely stamp out crippling diseases such as polio, diphtheria and rubella. But historically, making a vaccine has been a lengthy process, arduous, frustrating and often unsuccessful. It takes about 10 years to bring a vaccine all the way from research through to approval and thats if the vaccine works. Many more end up as failed experiments. After watching SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) and then Ebola and Zika viruses emerge, killing thousands and terrifying the world, scientists decided a new approach was needed one that could quickly make vaccines in response to emerging threats. Known as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, it was launched in 2017 and is headquartered in Norway. The coalitions plan: to build "platform vaccines" that could be instantly adapted to new viruses when they emerged. The challenge: they would need to invent vaccines unlike any in use right now. The CEPI coalition wants to go from isolating this coronavirus to testing a vaccine for it within 16 weeks so it would be ready for wide distribution within 12 to 18 months. In the world of vaccines, thats lightning fast. Advertisement Its first major test has come faster than anyone could have expected. Having emerged from a live animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, COVID-19 has rapidly turned into a global menace. The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne captured a sample of the virus from the first person in Australia diagnosed with the disease. They placed the virus inside a flask filled with monkey kidney cells, monitoring the flask via a video camera. On the video below, you cant see the virus its too small. The cells sit quietly in a bath. Slowly at first but then more and more quickly, they start turning black, until the entire dish is filled with death. Above: In this timelapse image, the virus cannot be seen but evidence of its presence can be. The healthy cells start off transparent; as they become infected, they turn black. Source: Dr Julian Druce VIDRL, The Doherty Institute How do vaccines work? Why do we need a new type? All vaccines work by taking advantage of your immune systems innate defences. A vaccine contains a part or all of a virus, treated in such a way that it wont make you sick. Your immune system recognises the virus as a foreign invader and then makes different antibodies to destroy it. Advertisement Every virus has a different shape. To kill it, your body needs to produce antibodies that are exactly the right shape to stick to the virus. Imagine puzzle pieces slotting together but when they connect, the virus dies. The CEPI coalition has three vaccines for coronavirus in development around the world (with the hope that at least one works). Two of them, being developed by pharmaceutical companies working with CEPI, Inovio and Moderna, are of a type known as DNA vaccines. The other, being developed in Australia, is a molecular clamp vaccine. Other companies in China and Russia are independently working on their own vaccines outside of the coalition. At the moment, there are three common types of vaccine Sub-unit vaccines contain a single piece of a virus in a soup of chemicals that cause the body to generate antibodies. Examples: hepatitis B, shingles, HPV, some flu shots. Live-attenuated vaccines contain a live virus that has been subtly weakened so that it still infects cells but does not make people sick. This allows the body to generate antibodies. Examples: measles, mumps, rubella. Inactivated vaccines contain a virus that has been killed. Our immune system recognises the dead virus and produces antibodies. Examples: rabies, hepatitis A, some flu shots. One key thing the CEPI coalition is doing differently is to not use the virus in making a vaccine. In a new outbreak, getting a live sample of a virus takes too long. Instead, they are using its genetic code, which can be obtained as soon as an outbreak starts. Scientists analyse a viruss genetic code and identify a section that contains the blueprint for a small part of the virus. If you inject that DNA into human cells, the human cells will read it and start printing off small parts of the virus. Your immune system spots these virus fragments and makes antibodies to kill them giving you immunity. That is the simplest vaccine we can make, and we can make them very quickly. But they are often not terribly effective, says Professor Eric Gowans, a DNA vaccine expert formerly based at the University of Adelaide. The molecular clamp vaccine being developed for CEPI at the University of Queensland is entirely different. Advertisement Professor Paul Young, left, Dr Keith Chappell and Dr Dan Watterson have developed a new vaccine technology. Credit:University of Queensland What is a molecular clamp vaccine? Molecular clamp technology was invented about seven years ago by three University of Queensland scientists: Dr Keith Chappell, Dr Daniel Watterson and Professor Paul Young. Funded by CEPI, they had hoped to spend the next few years developing their innovation; instead, they have been thrust into the heart of the fight against COVID-19. The virus genetic sequence was released by China on January 11. Within 24 hours, the team had picked the part of the virus they wanted to target and ordered the materials to get started. We did not need the virus itself. All we needed was the sequence, says Professor Young. Advertisement UNESCO-recognised Hoi An ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam welcomes more than 3,000 tourists, mostly from Europe and North America, each day, a rosy sign for the local tourism sector after a gloomy period due to impacts of COVID-19. Cau Bridge is a famous tourist site in Hoi An ancient city in Quang Nam province. According to the municipal Bureau of Culture and Information, among over 10,000 overnight visitors in Hoi An, 90 percent are foreigners, and the occupancy rate stands at about 50 percent. Nguyen Van Son, Vice Chairman of the Hoi An city Peoples Committee, said the city has instructed relevant sectors to guide local lodging providers, travel companies and management boards of tourism sites to employ measures against the new coronavirus. Inter-sectoral working groups have been set up to inspect the performance of accommodations and restaurants in the work, he added. During a field trip to Hoi An on February 22, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Le Tri Thanh said the city has remained a bright spot in tourism in the region and the country as well. He called for efforts to ensure Quang Nam and Hoi An in particular is a safe and friendly tourism destination. Hoi An has been known in the international market with various names like Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An. The only Southeast Asian port-market in Vietnam and very rare in the world, Hoi An keeps almost intact 1,360 architectural relics like streets, houses, assembly halls, communal houses, pagodas, shrines, clan houses, ancient wells and tombs. They bear both the Vietnamese traditional art characteristics and the convergence of eastern and western cultures. Through centuries, yet customs and practices, rites, cultural and belief activities as well as traditional foods of Hoi An are still kept and preserved along with generations of ancient street dwellers. Hoi An also boasts a natural environment which is healthy and peaceful with small suburban villages engaged in crafts like carpentry and pottery. The cultural and economic exchanges that ran from the 16th to the 19th centuries have left in Hoi An ancient town most of the forms of Vietnams ancient architectures, grouping traditional national arts enriched with sketches of foreign arts. Hoi An is the only case in Vietnam and among the very rare cases in the world. With its values, Hoi An has been recognised by the UNESCO as a worlds cultural legacy and honoured by many famous travel magazines. In July 2019, with 90.39 points, Hoi An was elected by the Travel and Leisure travel magazine as the most attractive city in the world in the year. It is also the first tourist site in Vietnam honoured by the Google Doodle./.VNA Hundreds of tour boats in Ha Long Bay left idle More than 230 tour boats at Tuan Chau Port in Ha Long Bay have been left idle due to the coronavirus outbreak. During Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August 1944, Observation Fighter Squadron 1 (VOF-1) pilots Ensign Alfred Wood and Lt. (j.g.) Edward Olszewski took turns flying the same Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, shooting down a total of four German aircraft. The fighter they flew was an early model of the F6F-5. The Czech model company Eduard has become known for their crisp detail and accuracy. For the picky modeler who wants to build that earlier version of the Hellcat, an Eduard kit is a great choice. Their Profipack early F6F-5 release (No. 8225) makes a great OOB (out of the box) project. Finely detailed resin wheels and a beautiful color PE (photo-etched) metal fret means theres almost no need to buy extra aftermarket sets. Start with the cockpit and a coat of interior green (FS34151) on cockpit walls, seat, bulkheads. Should you decide to use the PE detail set, find some quiet time and unpack your patience. Study the instructions and begin carefully working your way through the (sometimes very tiny) details. Toothpicks and even a small needle are good tools for applying glue to tiny areas. A pair of tweezers is a must. A metal photo-etched fret yields cockpit instruments and a seat harness that add an extra level of detail without the added expense of an aftermarket set. A metal photo-etched fret yields cockpit instruments and a seat harness that add an extra level of detail without the added expense of an aftermarket set. Align the cockpit between the fuselage halves, glue and clamp where needed. Set the assembly aside and move on to the next step. Overall the fit is very goodonly some minor filling and sanding is needed. The engine is a nice little model all by itself. Crisp detail on the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 is accentuated by a wiring harness from the PE fret. Paint the cylinders an aluminum color, the crankcase grey and wiring black. Use a dark wash to pop out the highlights. Assemble the horizontal stabilizers. Glue the landing gear interior to the bottom half of the wings and put them together as well. After a little sanding, clean up the wings and stabilizers. Bring the assemblies together and the airplane is ready for the paint shop. Camouflage for this Hellcat is relatively easy. The fighter was painted an overall sea blue (FS 25042), including the landing gear. Mask off the cockpit and give the model its color. A little weathering will add some interest to the monochromatic color scheme. With a cotton swab, ground black, white and a bit of blue oil pastel can create exhaust staining that resembles the way heated metal looks against a darker colored area. A little oil and some fuel stains help give the look of an airplane that spends time outside on a pitching carrier deck. Apply an overall spray of clear gloss and the model is ready for its markings. By the latter part of 1944 camouflage of U.S. Navy aircraft was changed from a three-tone scheme popular with modelers to an overall "glossy sea blue 623." By the latter part of 1944 camouflage of U.S. Navy aircraft was changed from a three-tone scheme popular with modelers to an overall "glossy sea blue 623." There are a couple of aftermarket decal sets available that have the markings for Olszewski and Woods airplane. National insignia and stencils come from the kits decal sheet. The national insignia in particular is composed of just the white star and bars, using the dark blue of the airplane to substitute for the rest of the design. The fighters four victory markings and the names of the two pilots will make this Hellcat unique. Take care with the application of the delicate aftermarket decals. Seal the decals with a coat of clear semi-gloss. The kit includes masks that are pre-cut to neatly fit the clear canopy pieces. The masks are easy to apply and the result is a clean, neat cockpit canopy. Add the assembled landing gear, the smaller bits, pitot, antenna and propeller. Attach the canopy and be sure to slide it back to show off all the cockpit detail. Your European theater Hellcat is finally ready to display, an interesting addition to your Pacific Cats. Two Cancun youths taken into custody after found with truckloads of weapons, drugs, ammunition Cancun, Q.R. Quintana Roo authorities have announced that elements of the Benito Juarez Police arrested two youths who were discovered in possession of numerous drugs, firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Benito Juarez Police made the arrest in SM 248 of Cancun along Avenida Limonero after a review of their vehicles revealed the drugs, firearms and ammunition. Police say taken into custody were 21-year-old Carlos N and 17-year-old Gilberto N. The pair were found in possession of high-powered weapons, including grenade launchers and identifications of an organized crime group. They explained in their report that inside a gray Suzuki vehicle and a black Chevrolet Aveo the pair were transporting long weapons, hand guns, grenade launchers and hundreds of rounds of varying ammunition. They were also found with a portable radio and a cell phone along with ball caps of organized crime groups Grupo Delta CNJG Quintana Roo and 03 Cartel de Jalisco Mencho emblems, among tactical gear. The drugs found included 50 bags of varying forms of cocaine. Authorities are investigating their alleged relationship with the attack recorded early Thursday against a police officers house. When I am travelling in East Asia, I nearly always order the same breakfast: congee. This is a rice porridge that most Indians are probably familiar with, even if we call it kanjee. I have had bland congees in China and hot and spicy ones in Thailand. Sometimes they come with pork and sometimes with chicken. Many people like fish in their congee and at fancier hotels, you will be offered prawns or shellfish. Many people like fish in their congee and at fancier hotels, there are prawns or shellfish (Shutterstock) We sometimes fail to realise just how unusual and exotic congee must sound to Westerners. I have been reading Heston Blumenthals The Fat Duck Cookbook, where he tells the story of one of his chefs who had just returned from New York. Heston asked him if he had eaten anywhere interesting. The chef said he had gone to a Chinese restaurant. That did not strike Heston as being particularly interesting till the chef said I had fish porridge. Fish porridge? Now, Blumenthal was intrigued. It turned out, of course, that chef had eaten congee with fish. The cooking revolution of the 21st Century is about making the most of ingredients and revisiting old favourites to make them better The difference between a great chef and a very good one is that the great chef plucks ideas out of the air and invents dishes based on those ideas. A very good one merely makes tasty food. So Blumenthal began to think about porridge and fish. And after days of experimentation he came up with one of his signature dishes: snail porridge. It is much more complicated than that but one simple way to see it is as an oat-meal congee with snails sitting on top of it. Hestons The Fat Duck Cookbook mentions how he learnt about fish congee Because Blumenthal likes to put something of the history of the ingredients into his dishes, he thought of Burgundy (where the snails for the French kitchen usually come from) and flavoured the dish with the classic Burgundy flavours of parsley and ham and garlic butter (which is how snails are usually served: in their shells submerged in garlic butter). When the dish first appeared on the menu of the Fat Duck in 2003 it was hailed as a triumph of molecular gastronomy with the implicit suggestion that Blumenthal was a bit of a mad scientist who thought up crazy dishes. In fact, if you look at the recipe, there is nothing especially molecular about the technique. Apart from the genius of its conception, the only thing that Blumenthal did differently was to work out how the oats should be cooked. Sometimes they were too gloopy. Sometimes, they were too swamp-like. Eventually he worked out that the oat flakes that had crumbled into a powder at the bottom of the box cooked faster than the rest making the texture gluey. He sieved them out and got the texture he wanted. Snail Porridge is still one of the dishes most associated with Heston but hardly anyone understands that it had little to do with so-called molecular gastronomy. Instead, it had to do with his creative genius. Some of his other most famous dishes owe their success to his understanding of the principles of science not to any special technology, which is unavailable to others Snail porridge is one the chefs signature dishes His Triple Cooked Chips are probably the most aspirational potato dish in the world for chefs. (Joel Robuchons pomme puree comes second.) Chefs now treat Hestons technique as the gold standard. The key to the dish is Hestons understanding of the cooking process. As Blumenthal says as well as the low moisture content (in the potatoes used) it is the fissures that are created as the potato breaks up that later help the formation of a crunchy crust while frying. His technique involves cooking the cut potatoes in water till they are almost falling apart. You then put them in the fridge till they have cooled down and regained their shape. Ferran Adria created chemical and technology-dependant recipes Next, you extract as much of the moisture as you can from the chips. The original techniques involved pin-pricking the chips by hand (which is how you can do it at home) though modern chefs may use a dessicator. When the chips went in to the oil, the lack of moisture in the potatoes and the little fissures that been created during the first cooking in water allowed them to get the juicy, crispy texture that is their signature. Triple cooked chips were invented in 1993 when no chef had heard of molecular gastronomy and they seem to capture what Blumenthals cooking is about: understanding the ingredients and the cooking process to get the best possible results. His contemporaries Ferran Adria and Albert Adria had a slightly different focus, creating more chemical and technology-dependant recipes that also revolutionised cooking. From spherification to microwave sponge cakes they created a kitchen style where the pan seemed to matter less and less. They also gifted foams to the world. Years ago, when El Bulli was still open, I interviewed Ferran Adria, I asked him if he was at all apologetic about all the useless foams and airs that talentless chefs needlessly put on their plates in an effort to seem cutting-edge. Hestons Triple Cooked Chips are probably the most aspirational potato dish in the world for chefs Adria laughed but would not accept responsibility. And his kind of molecular plates have fallen from fashion (though his techniques will endure). I feel sorry for chefs who think that spherification is cool or that fruit caviar is an innovation worth persisting with. (If you are fond of El Bulli-type scientific magic then try Disfrutar in Barcelona where the techniques have been taken to the next level.) Looking at The Fat Duck Cookbook, it becomes clear that even in the early days of the restaurant, Blumenthal was never big on foams and spheres. He was aware of the uses of alginates (a food industry ingredient, dating back to the 1950s), which are now popular with chefs as emulsifiers and thickeners but he never went down the same route as the Adrias who used them for spherification. The most important Blumenthal dishes have at least two path-breaking innovations. His most famous dessert, Bacon and Egg Ice-cream also has one discovery along with the two innovations. Gaggan Anand took Adria-inspired techniques even further for his Yoghurt Explosion Pastry chefs will still tell you that you need to cook the creme anglaise for an ice cream to 85C till it coats the back of a spoon.But egg yolks actually coagulate at 72C, long before chefs realise that the coagulation has begun. So Blumenthal started cooking his creme anglaise to 69C. It was while experimenting with temperatures that he had an idea: what happens if you heat the anglaise to a higher temperature than 85C? He ended up with a custard that was more like scrambled egg, pureed it and churned it. He now had two discoveries: the right temperature for a custard plus the wonderful flavours that were created when you cooked it to a much higher temperature. Next came an innovation. Who said sweet and savoury could not mix? He put bacon in the ice cream. And a second innovation: wouldnt you get a smoother ice cream if, instead of putting it in an ice cream machine, you made instant ice cream using liquid nitrogen to freeze the custard? (Is that a technological innovation? I dont know. Is using an ice cream machine a non-technological approach?) For me, these kind of dishes sum up what the cooking revolution of the 21st Century is really about. Its not about presentation skills: about soils, airs and foams. Its about understanding the way to make the most of ingredients and revisiting old favourites to make them better. Hestons most famous dessert is the Bacon and Egg Ice-cream One consequence of this revolution is that old myths have been shattered. All that nonsense about searing meat to seal the juices in (nothing is sealed by searing) has now been discredited. So has the idea that the tomato has most of its flavour on the outside. (The inside, at the centre, is where the flavour is strongest.) Kitchen lore has it that green vegetables must always be cooked in salted water. This has been shown to be nonsense: the salt does not fix the colour. I often wonder if too many chefs have seen the revolution but have missed the meaning. Very few Indian chefs understand the new techniques or use them well. There are obvious exceptions. Gaggan took Adria-inspired techniques even further for his Yoghurt Explosion and his micro-wave idli. Manish Mehrotra understands the techniques but uses them sparingly, though his most famous dessert, a modern version of Daulat Ki Chaat, would not work without technology. But for too many chefs, its all about so-called pointless molecular gastronomy and the same dated presentation techniques of a decade ago. And though no serious chef in the Western world likes being told he is making molecular food (Adria and Blumenthal both hate the term), Indian chefs embrace the name with pride. Adria closed El Bulli years ago. Heston is now more interested in the effect of the brain on taste and in the properties of water. They have moved on. And alas, our chefs missed the point they were trying to make. From HT Brunch, February 23, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 21:29:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Cars are seen entering Aleppo city via the Damascus-Aleppo strategic highway in Syria on Feb. 22, 2020. A week following its capture by the Syrian army, the Damascus-Aleppo strategic highway was opened on Saturday for the travel movement between the country's south and north, according to the state news agency SANA. The opening of the road for travel comes after the army cleared the road and removed the barricades as well as rehabilitating the damaged part. (Str/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A week following its capture by the Syrian army, the Damascus-Aleppo strategic highway was opened on Saturday for the travel movement between the country's south and north, according to the state news agency SANA. The opening of the road for travel comes after the army cleared the road and removed the barricades as well as rehabilitating the damaged part. On Feb. 14, the Syrian army said it secured the vicinity of the Damascus-Aleppo highway, known as M5 highway, following battles against the rebels. The declaration comes following a two-month military campaign by the Syrian army to secure the M5, locally known as the international road, in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo provinces in northern Syria. Capturing the road is a strategic win for the Syrian army as the road links the political capital of Damascus with the industrial capital of Aleppo. On Feb. 15, the official media reports said the Syrian authorities started removing the rubble and barricades left by the rebels on the parts of the road that was under the rebels' control since 2012 in Idlib countryside and Aleppo's southern countryside. By Susan Heavey and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. By Susan Heavey and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Friday warned Russia to stay out of American elections after a newspaper reported U.S. officials had told him Moscow was trying to help his campaign. Sanders said in a statement he did not care who Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to be U.S. president. "My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do," said Sanders, a senator from Vermont. The Washington Post, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter, said U.S. officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort and had also informed Republican President Donald Trump and other U.S. lawmakers. It was not clear what form the Russian assistance had taken, the paper added. In Bakersfield, California, Sanders told reporters "the intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020." A congressional source confirmed that intelligence officials have told lawmakers that Russia appears to be engaging in disinformation and propaganda campaigns to boost the 2020 campaigns of both Sanders and Trump. The source, however, cautioned that the findings are very tentative. The Kremlin earlier on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign to boost Trump's re-election chances following reports that American intelligence officials had warned Congress about the election threat. U.S. intelligence officials told members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing last week that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of November's election, as it did in 2016, a person familiar with the discussion told Reuters on Thursday. Since that briefing, Trump has ousted the acting intelligence chief, replacing him this week with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as Democrats and former U.S. officials raised the alarm over national security concerns. (Additional reporting by Anastasia Teterevleva and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow, Makini Brice, Amanda Becker and Jonathan Landay in Washington; and Steve Holland in Las Vegas; Editing by Andrew Osborn, Mary Milliken and Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Displaced: Syrians ride in the back of a truck as they flee their homes in Idlib, Syria. Photo: Burak Kara/Getty The United Nations warned fighting in north-west Syria could "end in a bloodbath" as it again called for a ceasefire, while Moscow denied reports of a mass flight of civilians from a Russian-led Syrian government offensive in the region. Syrian troops backed by Russian air power have been battling since December to eliminate the last rebel strongholds in the region in a war which has killed an estimated 400,000 Syrians, displaced millions more and left much of the country in ruins. The latest offensive in the north-western regions of Aleppo and Idlib has uprooted nearly a million people - most of them women and children - who fled clashes to seek sanctuary further north, near the Turkish border. Turkey, which currently hosts 3.7 million Syrian refugees, has said it cannot handle a new influx and has warned it will use military power to repel Syrian advances in Idlib and ease a humanitarian crisis. Families are sleeping outside by roads and in olive groves, burning garbage to stay warm. Some children have died from the cold, while some families have at least reached tented camps for displaced people. In Geneva, the UN reiterated its plea for the escalating fighting in the region to stop. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN's humanitarian agency, said 60pc of the 900,000 people trapped in a shrinking space after fleeing were children. "We call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering and what we fear may end in a bloodbath," said OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke. "The front lines and relentless violence continue to move closer to these areas which are packed with displaced people, with bombardments increasingly affecting displacement sites and their vicinity." However, Russia's defence ministry said reports of hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing from Idlib towards the Turkish border were false, urging Ankara to enable Idlib residents to enter other parts of Syria. Turkey and Russia back opposing sides in Syria's conflict, but have collaborated towards a political solution. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's onslaught in the north-west has upset this fragile co-operation, causing Ankara and Moscow to accuse each other of flouting de-escalation agreements in the region. Turkish and Russian officials have failed to find a solution to the clashes in several rounds of talks, and a flare-up on the ground on Thursday, which killed two Turkish soldiers, brought the Turkish fatalities in Idlib this month to 15 troops. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he would be speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and, based on those talks, determine Turkey's stance on the conflict. Recently, Kabir Bedi hit the headlines after few media reports claimed that he asked for Sunny Leone's phone number at Dabboo Ratnani's calendar launch. Upset by these reports, the actor took to his Twitter page to lash out at the publication for carrying such 'defamatory' stories. He even demanded an apology for the same. The veteran actor tweeted, "Reports that I asked Sunny Leone for her number are not true. They are defamatory. At Daboo Ratnani's party, I asked her husband Daniel Weber for HIS number and HE entered it into my phone. Publications that carried this scurrilous SpotboyE report must remove it and apologise." REPORTS that I asked #SunnyLeone for her number are not true. The insinuation is defamatory. At Daboo Ratnanis party I asked her husband @DanielWeber99 for HIS number and HE entered it into my phone. Publications carrying this shameful @Spotboye report must remove it and clarify https://t.co/bBfoUNegTw KABIR BEDI (@iKabirBedi) February 21, 2020 While Sunny is yet to comment on the incident, her husband Daniel Weber reacted to the fiasco and tweeted, "Haha why can't he ask for my number? He has her number as they know each other many years!! No need to print sh*t just to get a story!!! (sic)." Haha why cant he ask for my number? He has her number as they know each other many years!! No need to print shit just to get a story. !!! https://t.co/YVnH4euZjx Daniel Weber (@DanielWeber99) February 21, 2020 Earlier, a Spotboye report had claimed that Kabir Bedi was spotted having a conversation with Sunny Leone at Dabboo Ratnani's calendar launch party and that is when he asked for her number. The report further stated that instead of sharing her personal phone number, the actress gave him her husband's details. Meanwhile, Kabir's granddaughter, Alaya F, recently made her Bollywood debut with Saif Ali Khan-starrer Jawaani Jaaneman. Reacting to Alaya's performance, the actor had said, "I am so proud of Alaya for the performance she has given. It's such a beautiful performance and that too working with seasoned actors like Saif and Tabu. She has worked so hard and prepared so well. So, she deserves every good review she is getting." SHOCKING: Pooja Bedi Calls Her Father Kabir Bedi's Wife Parveen Dusanj, 'A Wicked Witch' Video: Sunny Leone Had No Clue When Oscars 2020 Happened US declares support to Turkey after Assad regime attacks "We stand by our NATO Ally Turkey against these actions," US State Department said in a statement. The US expressed condolences Friday to Turkey following deadly Syrian regime attacks on Turkish positions in northwestern Syria's Idlib province "used for coordination and de-escalation." REGIME AIRSTRIKES MARTYRED TWO TURKISH SOLDIERS "We send condolences to the Turkish government on the death of these soldiers. These attacks have now killed multiple Turkish personnel," a State Department spokeswoman told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity. "We stand by our NATO Ally Turkey against these actions." "President Trump, in his call with Turkish President Erdogan on Saturday, expressed his concern over the violence in Idlib and reiterated our call for Russia to end its support for the Assad regimes atrocities and for a political resolution to the Syrian conflict," the spokeswoman added. Two Turkish soldiers were martyred and five others wounded in airstrikes on Thursday in Idlib. In retaliation, the Turkish Defense Ministry said its forces neutralized more than 50 regime elements and destroyed five tanks, two armored personnel vehicles, two armed pickups and one howitzer. A collaboration between local residents, history enthusiasts and Roadstone has resulted in the unveiling of a new plaque at the site of Fagan's Castle in Feltrim. Local historian and member of the Felbtrim Hill Residents Association, Eamon Madden explained: 'he Fagans in the 1500's and 1600's were one of the most famous families in Dublin. Their ancestry is traced back to Hugh De Lacy one of the Normans who arrived in Ireland in 1169.' He said: 'Thomas Fagan built a castle here in the 1400's and moved from Co.Meath to Feltrim. Thomas Fagan had 2 sons Christopher and Richard who became Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Dublin and were responsible for the founding of Trinity College and the Phoenix Park. Later other Fagans built the Grand hotel and St.James Terrace in Malahide and they also established a presence in the Christchurch area between Cornmarket and Cook Street and two of their descendants Richard and Eleanor Fagan in the 1600's took ownership of the Brazen Head for some time.' He added: 'It is a historical fact that King James 11 spent the night after the Battle of the Boyne with a Richard Fagan (more than likely the one that owned the Brazen Head) and next day sailed from Howth to France. What is legend is upon his arrival at Fagan's Castle he supposedly met Lady Tyrconnell (one of the Talbots ) on arrival at the castle and exclaimed: Alas the Irish all ran off on me. To which Lady Tyrconnel replied: 'My Lord it seems though you won the race.' The local historian said: 'Today there are many clans of Fagans worldwide and I keep in touch regularly with the American Clans and the New Zealand Clans and members of both these clans have visited this site in the last few years. They are delighted to hear about the excavations and that the original Fagan site is being preserved. Two of the most famous Fagans today are Princess Charlene of Monaco and David Fagan from North Island New Zealand, who was the former world sheep shearing champion. On the castle itself, he said: 'The excavations carried out in 2016 and 2017 showed some development of early extensions and additions to Fagan's Castle in the early 17th century which partly explains why reference has been made in the past by historians to a mansion or large stone house rather than make reference to a castle. Looking at the site today some of Feltrim House is still visible from above ground. Much of the large basement wall with some of the window lintels are still in existence. The imposing tower structure is associated with a stone drain discovered during the 2016 excavations and also the Dairy. The double arch structure was originally a yard and tank and also possibly a well.' On the occasion of the unveiling a new plaque, marking the site of the castle, Eamon said: 'We had 20 people in attendance including 2 Roadstone managers, Cyril Maher (Regional Manager) and Fergal Phillips (Plant manager). I said a few words on behalf of Feltrim Hill residents. Firstly I welcomed all who came to the event, neighbours ,Officers of Roadstone Ltd and some others who shared an interest in the site. I thanked Roadstone Ltd for carrying out the excavations over the last few years and also facilitating the installation of the Stone and Plaque on their lands. I also thanked Pierce Monuments for making the plaque and also Ian Russell archialogist who carried out both excavations.' 'Finally I thanked everybody for coming and making this a special occasion. The installation of the Stone and Plaque will ensure this treasured site will be protected for posterity and for future archialogists to search and make more discoveries around the site. The Champagne was then opened and we toasted the Fagans and regaled with stories and craic.' >>> Good afternoon and thank you all for standing by. For the duration of todays conference, all listeners are on silence mode until the question and answer section. After that time, press star one. Todays call is recorded. If you have objections, disconnect at this time. It is my pleasure to introduce Mr. Paul Fulton. Thank you, sir. You may begin. >> Thank you for joining us on the briefing of the COVID-19 response. Were joined by secretary for consular affairs for the department of state, Ian G. Brownlee, and Nancy Messonnier, the Director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, who will give opening remarks before taking your questions. At this time, i will turn the call over to acting assistant secretary for counselor affairs Brownlee. >> Good morning. Id like to say a word about the cruise ship travel alert that the State Department posted yesterday afternoon. U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens overseas. February 20th, the department advised all U.S. citizens to reconsider travel by cruise ship to or within Asia. Many countries implemented strict screening procedures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is a dynamic situation, and U.S. citizens traveling by ship may be impacted by travel restrictions affecting their itineraries or may be subject to quarantine procedures implemented by local authorities. While the U.S. government has successfully evacuated hundreds of our citizens in recent weeks, such repatriation flights do not reflect our standard practice and should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under potential risk of quarantine by local authorities. We urge U.S. citizens to evaluate the risks associated with choosing to remain in an area that may be subject to quarantine and to take all appropriate proactive measures. People who plan to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise ship line companies for further information on the current rules and restrictions, and should continue to monitor the travel.state.gov website for updated information. We encourage all U.S. citizens traveling overseas to enroll their travel plans in the smart traveler enrollment program, step.state.gov. They can receive important messages about their destination, including timely alerts and updates to travel advisories. Finally, you can find the text of the travel alert on that same website, travel.state.gov. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, acting assistant secretary Brownlee. Thank you all for joining us today. This is Nancy Messonnier. I want to start with how we will be reporting our cases of COVID-19 beginning today and going forward. We are making our case counts in two tables. One only tracks people who were repatriated by the state department, and the second tracks all other cases picked up through U.S. public health network. CDC will continue to update these numbers every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We are keeping track of cases resulting from repatriation efforts separately because we dont believe those numbers accurately represent the picture of what is happening in the community in the united states at this time. As of this morning, when you break things up this way, we have 13 U.S. cases versus 21 cases among people who were repatriated. The repatriated cases include 18 passengers from the diamond princess and three from the wuhan repatriation flights. I want to update you on the status of the repatriation efforts. Yesterday, nearly all of the remaining people who returned from Wuhan, China, via state department chartered flights, who have been quarantined at four department of defense installations across the U.S. have completed their 14-day quarantine. We are truly thankful to those released from quarantine for their cooperation and patience and wish them well as they return to home, work, and school. I want to be clear that someone who has been released from quarantine is not at risk for spreading the virus to others. Specifically, they are not infected. Additionally, i want to extend my thanks to the men and women on all of the dod bases and their families for their graciousness while hosting these guests. We are also thankful that Travis Air Force Base and Joint Base San Antonio-lackland opened their doors to the recently returned passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Now, the Diamond Princess. 329 U.S. citizens earlier this week returned to the united states aboard two state department chartered flights. So far, 18 have tested positive at CDC. Another 10 were reportedly positive in Japan. 11 are receiving care at the university of Nebraska medical center. Five are receiving care around Travis. Two are receiving care around Lackland. Because the passengers on the Diamond Princess were in a close setting, where there has been a significant spread of COVID-19, they are considered at high risk for infection. We do expect to see additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the passengers. Additionally, since many of these people are over the age of 60, we are also prepared for other medical issues to arise that will require hospitalization. Were going to do everything we can to make their quarantine as easy as possible while monitoring them to see if they develop illness. Our goal for these people who have been repatriated is to be sure that each and every person is properly cared for and that those who are in need of medical care receive it. To ensure this, we are working closely with local hospitals as well as other facilities across the country who are prepared to provide this care. I want to take a minute to extend my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones who were infected on the Diamond Princess. we heard yesterday that two Japanese passengers of the Diamond Princess died. There are several Americans with COVID-19 who are hospitalized in japan and who are seriously ill. Sadly, we may see poor outcomes in others, not just people who were on board the diamond princess, but among others who become sick with this virus. Despite the increasing cases in china and around the world, we believe our aggressive travel precautions are working. As I said, the number of cases detected through the recent U.S. surveillance systems has increased to 13. The most recent patient was announced last night by Humboldt county in California. This patient had traveled to mainland china. The fact we have been able to keep this number low is good news, especially given what we are seeing among some countries in Asia that are beginning to experience community spread. This is when cases are detected in a community but it is not known what the source of the infection was. This is being reported in Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong and Japan. The last two countries we issued level one travel notices for earlier this week. We are working in close coordination with the state department to keep travelers informed with up-to-the-minute guidance, including on cruise ship travel, as discussed by Mr. Brownlee. We never expected wed catch every traveler with novel coronavirus from China. It would be impossible. Were not seeing spread here in the United States yet, but it is possible, even likely, that it may eventually happen. Our goal continues to be slowing the introduction of the virus into the U.S. This buys us more time to prepare our communities for more cases and possibly sustained spread. This new virus represents a tremendous public health threat. We dont yet have a vaccine for this novel virus, nor do we have a medicine to treat it specifically. We are taking and will continue to take aggressive action to reduce the impact of this virus, that it will have on the communities in the U.S. we are working with state, local, and territorial health departments to ready our public health work force to respond to local cases and the possibility this outbreak could become a pandemic. We are working closely with health care systems across the country to reinforce infection control principles and plans for surges of people seeking and requiring care. Were collaborating with supply chain partners to understand what medical supplies are needed and available. This will help CDC understand when we may need to take more aggressive measures to ensure that health care workers on the front lines have access to the supplies they need. Were working with businesses, hospitals, pharmacies, clinicians, manufacturers, and distributors to communicate about these measures and what they can do to get ready. I want to direct everyone to a document that will be very informative in terms of what people can expect in the coming weeks if the virus starts spreading in our community. This is an MMWR recommendations and report titled community mitigation guidelines to prevent pandemic influenza, united states2017. we are reviewing the materials and adapting them to COVID-19. These materials will serve as a blueprint for the community interventions we will use here in the U.S. if youre watching the news, you may be hearing about schools shutting down and businesses closing in countries in Asia to reduce the potential spread of this virus. The day may come where we need to implement such measures in the U.S. communities. By next week, we expect to be posting a new web page focused on what CDC is already doing to mitigate transmission in communities. We recognize the 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. Our guidance will change as we learn more about this virus. When that happens, we will share it with you. Wed be happy to take questions now. >> Thank you. If you would like to ask a question, please unmute your phone. Press star 1, and when prompted, record your first and last name clearly so i may introduce you. To withdraw your question, press star 2. Again, to ask a question, press star 1. Our first question comes from Jason Gale with Bloomberg news. Your line is open. >> Thanks for taking my question. It has two parts. Weve heard something like 40% of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in China have received corticosteroids. Could this be worsening the disease or helping patients by calming the damaging immune response? The second bit is, what is the worst threat, the virus or the bodys response to it? >> This is CDC. I would say, in general, that CDC clinical guidance does not recommend the use of steroids for this virus based on the information we have now. Ive also seen the reports out of China, but i would consider it to be unverified at this point. As weve talked about before, folks are rushing appropriately to get information out. Sometimes, it is difficult to know which of those have been fully reviewed. I wouldnt want to comment more directly on what clinical practice is or is not in china. As many of you know, there is a team on the field now in china working specifically on this outbreak. We, like everyone else, are waiting for the reports to come out so we can learn more about what theyre finding in china. Also point out that there is also a WHO overseeing clinical group that is involving not just the U.S. but all the countries that are treating patients with this, so that we can be sharing experiences and using best practices that are available across the globe. In terms of your second question, and i really do think it is premature to hypothesize why some patients are having poorer outcomes than others, but i would remind us that emergent data still says that the people who have the worst outcomes are those who are older and with underlying illnesses. That seems to be true, continue to be true. Next question? >> Our next question is from Lisa Krieger with San Jose Mercury News. your line is open. >> Thank you very much. Ten Americans tested positive in Japan, and 18 tested positive here with the CDC test upon their arrival. Does that suggest that they were infected en route, or might be there some other explanation? >> This is CDC again. What i would say is, as we said when this started, these group of people we judge to be at high risk for COVID-19 based on what the attack rates were on the cruise ship. Therefore, it is possible that some of these people were already incubating the disease when they left japan. That is similar to, for example, what weve seen in just some of the travelers in the U.S. Ill remind you that some of the U.S. cases were asymptomatic when they came back in the U.S., and then developed symptoms several days later. It is entirely possible that thats whats going on here. I think that more information will become available over the next couple days, as we fully evaluate these repatriated travelers and as we line up the lab results from japan, as well as the testing in the united states. So more than that, i think it is really premature to say. Next question. >> Actually, for state, just one clarification to that. The positive results that you saw in folks that were repatriated either before they were transported, becoming positive or immediately upon arrival, it is important to note that those test samples were obtained 48 to 72 hours prior to the evacuation and repatriation flight. So the results that youre seeing dont represent infection en route. They actually represent infection that existed prior to the evacuation that is only now coming to light. >> Our next question is from Lenny Bernstein with the Washington Post. your line is open. >> Thank you very much for taking my call. Dr. Messonnier, you say you expect to see more infections from diamond princess passengers. Is that based on preliminary testing? Is that just a prediction? If you can say, how many more? Is this going to be a very large number? >> As i think you know if youve been listening to me give these telebriefings for weeks, im never going to make predictions that way. I guess what we would say is that this was a high-risk situation. Based on what we know about the attack rates and the exposures, we should expect to see additional cases. Some of these passengers are still in what we would consider the incubation period, which we know to be 10 to 14 days. Until were through that period, we wont have a good feel for how many additional cases there are. But im we do think, based on epidemiology and risk assessment, that there may be additional cases. Next question? >> Our next question is from Luke Simmons from San Antonio. Your line is open. >> Thank you for taking my call. I was wondering if you could clarify on the group that is over at Lackland. Is that two more patients that have tested positive, not including the one that had originally come here? Also, we had some elected officials that were concerned with them being taken, you know, for testing at the local hospitals. It seems like you may have changed course a little bit with the Texas center for infectious disease. Im just wondering if you can kind of clarify what that process is once you guys, you know, start testing in this type of incident. >> Im going to maybe answer the second question first. So as weve said with these repatriated groups, our assessment of the groups, in terms of their risk, drives our stance in terms of what kind of testing we do. So because these returning passengers because these repatriated individuals were judged to be at high risk, we have done additional testing on them. It is in addition to that testing, we also are continuing to do surveillance for illness, which is clearly our focus. Identifying people that are ill and making sure they are getting appropriate treatment so they dont have poor outcomes. When somebody is identified as being ill, those are the folks that are being hospitalized, if thats what youre asking me. So there are people who are in quarantine. There are people who are in local hospitals. Theyre getting care. Is that what youre asking me? >> Yes. Well, and also, it just seems like, you know, some of the elected officials were concerned about the testing itself, making sure that that was happening at lackland. They didnt necessarily need to go to a hospital at that point. And then can you also talk about the texas center for infectious disease? Is that where you plan to take these people now who are testing positive, and not just local hospitals, you know, with the general population? >> I would say we probably need to defer back to dod for this. But in every situation, were trying to make the best decision possible for the health of these individual patients. In each of these bases, and each of these situations, the individual patient level decisions end up being a little bit different as we make those decisions with the health department and with the dod, folks that have been kind enough to let us keep the passengers on these bases. Our focus is on the individuals, again, making sure theyre getting the care possible, but also we want to make sure that the rest of the communities, as well as the folks on the dod bases, also are assured of their own safety. So working those issues together, each individualized situation ends up being a little different. Next question. >> Our next question is from John Woolfolk from Bay Area News Group. your question? >> Thank you, doctor. I have to ask you to go over the numbers of infections, both from the previous cases and the diamond princess. you talk awful fast. If you could clarify, have you subtracted from the total the two that we know of that have been declared recovered, or is that still being counted in? And is this new case out of Humboldt County in California being added to that? If you could just go over the numbers of who is infected, that would be a big help. >> Yeah. And i am sorry for going through those quickly. What i would start by saying is that the numbers should be up on the CDC website within the hour. Because it is a little complicated to work through the details. Let me start by saying that if youre a case, you remain a case. Even if you recover, you remain a case. Were not subtracting cases. The patient from Humboldt County who was announced overnight should be added into those numbers. If, for example, somebody was identified as being a confirmed case this afternoon, that number wont be posted until Monday. Thats the distinction, you know. We pick a time to post our numbers. It is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We are separating out the folks that are repatriated because we think they really do are a separate category, and that it doesnt reflect transmission and risk in general in the U.S. so what youll see us separating is the U.S. cases versus the cases among repatriated individuals. Those are in two groups. The first set of repatriated individuals are the folks who came back from Wuhan on the repatriated flights. There are three patients that are confirmed COVID-19 associated with their flight, those flights. Then there are the repatriated folks from the diamond princess. that also will be a separate category. So far, that number is 18. We are still trying to adjudicate the Japanese results, as well. So we likely will be including in that number, eventually, patients that were confirmed in japan. Well really try to make sure, on our website, to post those numbers differently. Bottom line is, there is one new U.S. case since our last briefing, which was a week ago. Then there is a separate category of folks that were on the diamond princess. we will continue to keep those numbers separately. Please, within the hour, itll be on the website and hopefully make it clearer. Next question. >> Our next question is from Julie Steenhuysen from Reuters. Your line is open. >> I have a couple questions. First of all, can you tell us how many states have testing capacity? Were hearing that only three states at the moment are capable of testing for the coronavirus because of issues with the test kits. And secondly, and you touched on this, at what point does it make sense to still screen passengers at airports, given how many countries now are seeing widespread or seeing additional cases and starting you know, at what point do you shift to community-based measures to control this virus? Thirdly, do where do we stand in our understanding of whether this virus is spread in asymptomatic patients? Thank you. >> So i have to say that i thought that this was one question and one follow-up, but i will try >> I know. Sorry. >> In terms of the test kits, you know what, i think weve been as transparent as one could be about this issue. Im happy to report that were fully stood up at CDC. There is no lag time for testing at this point. That is the focus of testing in the united states, the testing here at CDC. Weve had no issues at all in terms of the quality of that. As weve pushed tests out to the state, they did what we would expect as part of the normal procedures, which is do the verification in their own laboratories. There were problems identified with the test kits. That is a normal part, unfortunately, of these processes. We obviously would not want to use anything but the most perfect possible kits, since were making determinations about whether people have COVID-19 or not. So that is still where we are. We are working with FDA, who is the one that have oversight over us. Under this e.u.a. on redoing some of the kits. We still consider it a priority to get the kits out to patients as soon as possible. It is overridden by the priority to make sure that the test is correct. The second question is about screening. I guess what i would say in general is that if you look at global data, the focus still of most of the cases is in china and, specifically, in wuhan. That is why the layered approach that the U.S. government has put in place has focused on those places at higher risk. We continue to reevaluate this. Screening at the airport is two different things. There is routine screening for any passenger coming back with CDC works with them on it, and it is screening ill people returning from overseas. Thats routine. Thats ongoing. That is not driven by these countries separately. We do have focused efforts focused on people returning from china. We continue to look at those efforts to make sure the focus is appropriate, given where the burden of disease is, and given where transmission is. We still think that, as of today, that is the right focus. It is also important for you to realize, thats not all were doing. In addition to whats going on at the airports, we have clinicians all over the country on the lookout for patients. We have patients who are traveling, getting information from us as to potential risk, so that they can be part of this of the important work of identifying cases in the U.S. we also havent this is not a turn on, turn off way of approach. That is, were often doing community surveillance. The reason weve moved quickly to stand up community surveillance is with the understanding that we want to make sure that we also have other ways, outside of just travel-associated screening, to look for cases in the U.S. that is starting at a few sites, but were rapidly working to make that all over the united states. It will be community-level surveillance for patients ill with respiratory diseases, so that we can also look at a community level, both to make sure our screening is still focused appropriately, and also with the understanding that there is still the possibility in the future that this is going to spread. The final question is asymptomatic disease. There is certainly more data coming out that suggests that there are people who are reportedly asymptomatic who have this virus with the swab. We need to fully understand what that means in the individual patients. Are those patients, for example, that are being caught early, that may eventually go on to get disease? How hard are folks looking to ask them for symptoms? In other similar illnesses, we have found that if you dig deeper, you actually find many of these patients can recall some sort of mild symptom. I dont think there is anything especially new about our posture on this. We are still gathering information. When it is enough information to impact how we operationalize, we obviously will make sure all our partners, as well as the public, knows it. Next question. >> We have time for two more questions. >> Our next question is from Dan Vergano with Buzzfeed news. Your line is open. >> Thanks. I wanted to ask the state department official about some of the reports that there might be a spread or outbreak in Iran, and whether our status with them, UN sanctions, would prevent us from aiding that country, or any other with UN sanctions, in the case of stopping an outbreak for medical help. As a follow-up, i wanted to clarify, was there a disagreement between CDC and state department about the passengers transferred back to the U.S. from the cruise ship? Thanks. >> This is CDC. Ill take the reports out of Iran in terms of cases. You can answer the second question. So, you know, as folks know, at CDC, we look carefully at both formal reports from other countries, as well as rumors. There have been emerging reports informally of additional cases in Iran. Some of that isnt confirmed yet. I expect this will be something that we are looking at and talking about over the next couple days. Its a little premature right now. Really, that data is new as of today, and we need some time to evaluate it. I would also say that this is something where, obviously, were working closely with the World Health Organization. State Department, Ill leave the next question to you. >> This is Dr. Walters from the State Department. With regard to decision making during the evacuation, it is important to remember that this was an emerging and unusual circumstance. We had 328 people on buses. We had a plan. We were executing the plan. Then we received lab results on otherwise asymptomatic, un-ill people that were on their way to an airport. I think the folks on the ground did just the right thing by, out of an abundance of caution, moving those 14 people into an isolation area where they pose no threat to themselves or anyone else. It provided room for an inter-agency discussion between not just CDC and state but the operational elements of HHS, which were from the assistant secretary of preparedness and response. At the end of the day, the state department had a decision to make, informed by our inter-agency partners. We made ahead and made that decision. The decision, i think, was the right one, in bringing those people home. >> This is CDC. Maybe ill just add that, you know, these are difficult decisions that were faced with every day. Were making those decisions in real time. When you make those kind of complicated decisions, there are going to be different perspectives that are brought to the table. We are one U.S. government working together, and we will continue to operate under that stance, as we have forever, since this started and as we will into the future. Our focus is on, right now, the forward-looking health of these repatriated citizens, and to continue to manage the response seamlessly within the government. Next question. >> Our next question is from Andrew Joseph. Your line is open. >> Hi. Following up on some of the testing questions. Has testing started through the influenza network yet? Also, you mentioned, you know, how clinicians are on the lookout for patients. Have you all thought about broadening the recommendation? As it stands now, i think online, its either fever and or sorry, symptoms and either travel history to wuhan or contact with a confirmed case or person or investigation. As you mentioned, it seems to be spreading pretty efficiently outside Wuhan. Have you thought about expanding that evaluation guideline? Thank you. >> Certainly, our plan. Id like to under promise and over deliver, but we expect it to be on track for next week. In terms of case definition, you may know that on our web page we do go through in detail our current case definition. The current case definition does say that patients that have fever, symptoms of lower respiratory infection, requiring hospitalization, and a history of travel from mainland china meet the case definition for testing. We are regularly looking at the epidemiological situation globally. With our state and local health department partners, evaluating our case definition to make sure it is sensitive and specific enough. We will continue to do that. Including conversations today on this issue. We are certainly sensitive to the question of when and if this starts spreading more broadly in communities globally, how that impacts how we define a patient under investigation here in the U.S. We want to make sure that were targeting our efforts appropriately. We also obviously dont want to mistransmit in the United States. Balancing those things going forward, we are going to continue to look at travel history and see when and if theres the right reasons to expand that beyond China. >> Thank you, Dr. Messonnier. Thank you, all, for joining us today for todays briefing. Check CDCs 2019 COVID-19 website for the latest updates on CDC response efforts. If you have further questions, please call CDCs media line. 404-639-3286. Email media@CDC.gov. Thank you. >> This concludes todays conference. Thank you for participating. You may disconnect at this time. Representative Ralph Abraham (R-Ala.) made a surprise visit this week to Syria and met with U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters and American aid workers. The purpose of my trip was to express my deep concerns for the safety of Christians and other persecuted minorities in the region as well as my support for self-governance among the Kurds, Abraham wrote in an email to The Hill. Syrian Defense Force General Commander Mazloum Abdi posted a video of his meeting with Abraham on Twitter. Very interest meeting with Congressman @RepAbraham who just ended his visit to Raqqa, Manbij and Tal Tamr. The specific topics we discussed: Security in Raqqa, impact of coalition withdrawal on stability there, IDPs-camps, the fight against ISIS and continued Turkish attacks. pic.twitter.com/lusTHQvHqF Mazloum Abdi (@MazloumAbdi) February 20, 2020 The situation among the Kurds, as well as several ethnic and religious minorities, became more serious after the Turks invaded northeastern Syria in October following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in the region. The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Oct. 16, 2019, condemning President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw American forces from Syria. The resolution stated that the House was opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria. Abraham, who is in favor of self-governance of the Kurds, did not vote in favor of the resolution rebuking the troop withdrawal from Syria. I support this president, Abraham reportedly told the Louisiana News-Star. As a congressman, I think its my job to bring back the right information so hopefully we can find a political solution. Americas presence always matters, he said. Its important that the U.S. has a presence because if we dont Russia and Turkey will keep taking territory, but there needs to be an international solution. Epoch Times reporter Zachary Stieber contributed to this article. Researchers at UNSW Sydney have made improved qubits using concepts from high school chemistry. Above -A silicon qubit high-frequency measurement stage, which is positioned inside a dilution refrigerator to cool the chip to around 0.1 degrees above absolute zero. Picture: UNSW/Ken Leanfore 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. The results experimentally demonstrate that robust spin qubits can be implemented in multielectron quantum dots up to at least the third valence shell. Their utility indicates that it is not necessary to operate quantum dot qubits at single-electron occupancy, where disorder can degrade their reliability and performance. Furthermore, the larger size of multielectron wavefunctions combined with EDSR can enable higher control fidelities, and should also enhance exchange coupling between qubit. Nature Communications Coherent spin control of s-, p-, d- and f-electrons in a silicon quantum dot 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 atoms nucleus. Researchers configured a quantum device in silicon to test the stability of electrons in artificial atoms. 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. Abstract Once the periodic properties of elements were unveiled, chemical behavior could be understood in terms of the valence of atoms. Ideally, this rationale would extend to quantum dots, and quantum computation could be performed by merely controlling the outer-shell electrons of dot-based qubits. Imperfections in semiconductor materials disrupt this analogy, so real devices seldom display a systematic many-electron arrangement. We demonstrate here an electrostatically confined quantum dot that reveals a well-defined shell structure. We observe four shells (31 electrons) with multiplicities given by spin and valley degrees of freedom. Various fillings containing a single valence electronnamely 1, 5, 13 and 25 electronsare found to be potential qubits. An integrated micromagnet allows us to perform electrically-driven spin resonance (EDSR), leading to faster Rabi rotations and higher fidelity single-qubit gates at higher shell states. We investigate the impact of orbital excitations on single qubits as a function of the dot deformation and exploit it for faster qubit control. Introduction Qubit architectures based on electron spins in gate-defined silicon quantum dots benefit from a high level of controllability, where single and multi-qubit coherent operations are realised solely with electrical and magnetic manipulation. Furthermore, their direct compatibility with silicon microelectronics fabrication offers unique scale-up opportunities1. However, fabrication reproducibility and disorder pose challenges for single-electron quantum dots. Even when the single-electron regime is achievable, the last electron often is confined in a very small region, limiting the effectiveness of electrical control and interdot tunnel coupling. Many-electron quantum dots were proposed as a qubit platform decades ago2, with the potential of resilience to charge noise3,4 and a higher tunable tunnel coupling strength to other qubits5. In the multielectron regime, the operation of a quantum dot qubit is more sensitive to its shape. A couple in Indiana were arrested after allegedly driving two teenage boys off a road because their bikes had President Donald Trump flags attached to them, police said. Cailyn Smith, 18, and Kyren Jones, 23, were each charged Thursday with two felony counts of intimidation and criminal recklessness over the incident involving the teens, who are brothers, according to an affidavit from Lake County, Indiana. "This is an unfortunate incident that involved two brothers expressing their support for President Trump. Our residents in Hobart should be able to express their support for any political affiliation without fear of any adverse recourse," Capt. James Gonzales of the Hobart Police Department told ABC News in a statement Saturday. PHOTO: Cailyn Marie Smith, 18, left, and Kyren Gregory Perry-Jones, 23, were charged Feb. 21, 2020 with running twin boys on bikes with Pres. Trump flags attached to them off the road in July 2019. (Hobart Police Dept.) The brothers told police that they were riding their bikes in the city of Hobart around 8:30 p.m. when a blue Chevy Malibu began following them, according to the affidavit. The boys then said that it "swerved as if the driver wanted to hit them" and they had to ride their bikes into the grass. A woman, later identified as Smith, was yelling about the Trump flags during the incident, saying, "y'all scared just like your president" and "America is not great f-----," according to the affidavit. The car eventually sped off after one of the brothers threatened to call the police. Smith and Jones were also charged with theft for allegedly taking the flag and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors. Snapchat videos that Smith and Jones took helped investigators secure the charges against the two. It was not immediately clear if Smith or Jones had obtained legal representation. The brothers were asked if the incident would deter them from donning the Trump flags, according to the affidavit. Both said no. Couple allegedly drove 2 teenage boys on bikes off the road for their Trump flag originally appeared on abcnews.go.com MEXICO CITY - More than 1,000 people marched through the centre of Mexico City on Friday in opposition to the governments largest infrastructure projects. The protest brought together unions, environmentalists, students and representatives of Mexicos indigenous peoples, a mix that would seem a natural base for populist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, but which has become among his most vocal critics. Erika Cortez, a member of the Popular Organization Francisco Villa of the Independent Left from the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa, said she opposed the presidents Maya Train project that would move tourists around the Yucatan Peninsula. The train is one of Lopez Obradors signature initiatives, which he says will spur economic development in Mexicos southeast, but has faced criticism for its environmental impact. Lopez Obrador is not in favour of the people, Cortez said. Hes in favour of the businesses, of the people with money. Other demonstrators voiced opposition to a rail line that would traverse Mexicos isthmus connecting the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico and a huge new oil refinery and a gas-fired power plant. Maria de Jesus Patricio, better known as Marichuy, who was Mexicos first indigenous presidential candidate and ran against Lopez Obrador, participated in the march. Karina Leyte, from San Francisco Tlatenco, walked with a papier-mache jaguar that read No ecocidal train. Im against the mega-projects that affect the people ecologically, economically, culturally and politically, Leyte said. Leyte admitted she voted for Lopez Obrador as the least bad choice, but said she has been disappointed. It confirms what we thought that he was going to sell out. The march came one day after the anniversary of the death of activist Samir Flores Soberanes, who had protested the gas-fired power plant in Morelos state. Flores was killed days before a referendum on the nearly completed project and his slaying remains unsolved. Many in Fridays march carried signs referencing Flores death. An assembly of indigenous peoples and their allies was scheduled for Saturday in the Morelos town of Amilcingo. Curley said the minor criminal offense from Vargas' past should not have prevented him from entering the country as he had done many times before. But an Immigration and Customs Enforcement case summary when Vargas was detained said Vargas had been declared "inadmissible" because of a conviction or commission of a crime involving moral turpitude. Generally, the term refers to a crime of dishonesty, or one that violates community standards. Curley said none of Vargas' prior criminal history could be considered a crime of moral turpitude. Still, the officer didn't allow Vargas to enter, "as he had done numerous times before under the same parameters," and was detained for more than a month. For three days, Vargas was handcuffed to a metal chair at the Customs office and denied food and access to his diabetes medicine. Curley said Vargas only was given water to drink. On the fourth day, he was moved to a detention center in Laredo, where he got his medicine but was held without charges or bond for another 31 days. "Despite numerous inquiries, no reason was ever given to the plaintiff's family for his detention," the attorney said. Anyone with access to digital media or a television can see what Michael Bloombergs presidential campaign is trying to do. The former New York mayor has spent at least $350 million on campaign ads, according to a CNN analysis, which has allowed him to effectively blanket the market, since his competitors do not have the resources necessary to match those levels of spending. And as the ads kept rolling by, Bloomberg saw his numbers rise in national polls, enough to secure his place in Wednesdays debate in Nevada, and the next one on February 25 in South Carolinatwo states where hes not even on the ballot, thanks to his late entry into the race. Advertisement Yet experts say that existing research about how political advertising works on the audience concludes that ads usually only make a minor difference: A 2016 study co-authored by political scientists Seth Hill, Lynn Vavreck and Alexander Coppock found that political advertising has a very small effect on a candidates favorability and voter choice. And what little effect it does have decays rapidly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloombergs marketing blitz, however, is not usualin fact, experts who spoke to Slate described it as unprecedented. No other candidate has ever tried the kind of saturation campaign currently underway, so Coppock said he doesnt know of anyone whos tested what such a barrage might do. In his own work, Coppock said, hes conducted experiments where he randomly assigned people to watch one, two, three, six or zero pro-Democratic advertisements. Six works better than two or three, he said, but I dont know when it stops working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloomberg is effectively running that experiment in real life. At least 2 billion Bloomberg ads have been displayed by Google and Facebook this year, according to the Washington Post. And currently there are at least 185 Bloomberg-funded video ads circulating. Advertisement Coppock couldnt recall a time when a candidate burst onto the scene and dropped such an incredible volume of advertisement in a short period of time. Vavreck pointed to Rudy Guiliani who skipped the early primaries in 2008 and Steve Forbes who funneled $69 million into both of his presidential bids in 1996 and 2000. But neither of them did this kind of ad blowout. Advertisement Advertisement Here in Pennsylvania, I think there was a Bloomberg ad during every single commercial breakor at least it seemed like it, said Dr. Michael Platt, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania who studies how humans make decisions, about Wednesdays debate. Ive never seen anything quite like that. Thats pretty remarkable saturation. Advertisement Advertisement But what happens within a humans literal brain when they are seemingly inundated by political advertisements? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There isnt a straightforward answer on that, either. Theres not a particular brain area or something that lights upin a meaningful way thats distinct for advertising versus other kinds of messaging, said Uma Karmarkar, a neuroeconomist who studies consumer behavior. Being exposed to new information over and over again does, among other things, make it easier to recall. Its a consumer psychology phenomenon referred to as top-of-mind awareness and its possible thats part of the reason Bloomberg has been rising in the polls lately. Names that would normally be well-positioned in a voters mindsuch as Joe Biden or Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sandersare being pushed back a bit by Bloombergs dominance in the media market. Advertisement Advertisement An equivalent comparison would be something like a Geico advertisement, a fairly common occurrence youre likely to not have missed if you consume any type of media. If you ask someone just about insurance, theyre very likely to come up with Geico even if its not a brand that they would consider, said Karmarkar. In part, because that mental association is so strong at this point that its one of the easiest names to retrieve regardless of whether you have a positive or negative thought about it. It doesnt hurt that Bloombergs video ads, from a marketing perspective, are well done. Theyre very effective at telling a story. Theyre really brief, which if weve learned one thing from the neuroscience of advertising, keeping something short and simple is critical, said Platt, who watched about 10 of the videos online. Advertisement And the commercials, as constant as they may seem, are spaced out and varied across program breaks, which can prolong Bloombergs rising period and temper how quickly people lose interest, explained Mark Changizi, a cognitive scientist from the Human Factory, a research lab that merges brain science and technology. The variety of ads within the campaign also helps forestall repetition blindnesswhen people see something so much that they begin to tune it out. Bloombergs ads are similar in theme and structure, but the topic varies in each piece of media. One ad can be about education while the next one you see is about the economy. Its enough to keep you interested while it hammers away on the message that Bloomberg is the guy whose name you need to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Essentially, this is why our Southern Nanas know who the former mayor of New York is even though they have never lived anywhere near the city. Dr. A.K. Pradeep described the hierarchy by which our brains pay attention: motion, where something literally catches the eye; novelty, or unexpected newness; error, when something is inaccurate or out of place or otherwise causes your brain to pause and try to understand; and ambiguity because humans love a little enigma. The Bloomberg ads are playing with these in real time. When you see Bloomberg saturate, its not just for saturation, said Pradeep, the CEO of machineVantage, a neuromarketing firm. Theres actually a little method to the madness in that theyre trying to figure out what constitutes motion, what constitutes novelty, what kinds of error are permissible, and what kinds of ambiguity is allowed so that they could sharpen their campaign better because theyre going against Trump who uses these instruments almost on a daily basis. Advertisement Along with the constant message-testing, the variety and quantity of the ads may also be conveying a message that Bloomberg, despite his late arrival in the race, is an active contender. Part of what hes accomplished is more than just persuasion, said Vavreck. He has communicated to people that hes a candidate in this race and that hes a serious candidate. Every candidate has to do that in some way. Bloomberg is doing it in this really unusual waybut it worked. Advertisement Still, human choice is incredibly complicated and all the experts agreed that a candidate being top of mind doesnt necessarily translate to someone flipping the lever for them in the voting booth. Persuading someone off their political preference is hard in general. And once your brand is in front of them, you have to build up trust in it. Its possible that once people start really thinking about whether Bloomberg is the candidate for them, the marketing and outreach will matter less than the ordinary elements voters consider when deciding on a political candidate. It isnt all about campaigning. It isnt all about effort, said Vavreck. Its about message and mission and capabilitiesall of that stuff gets wrapped up into how people are making up their minds. Platt concurred: You cant use advertising to literally force somebody to buy something. You cant force somebody to vote for someone just by making them more omnipresent through advertising. Festival funding of 25,000 has been announced for a Norman festival in New Ross this August, but an arrow was shot across the bow of one of its organisers, Cllr Michael Sheehan for not including Baginbun in the main festivities. Addressing the municipal council meeting, district manager Mick McCormack said seven other festivals will be funded in part, or in whole, by the council with a grand total of 103,000 being provided. The St Patrick's Day Parade will receive 9,000 between funding and staff resources, 4,000 is being allocated to the AIMS Choral Festival, 5,000 will go to the organisation of the Hook on the Sea/Hike to the Hook Festival, 10,000 is being provided for each of the three autumn series festivals: the Kennedy Summer School, New Ross Piano Festival and the Eugene O'Neill International Festival of Drama. 15,000 will be spent on the Christmas Nollaig festivities, with 7,000 being allocated to staff resources for other events throughout the district. Mr McCormack said 20,000 has always been allocated to a summer festival event in New Ross. 'It was the Dunbrody Festival under Sean Connick for some time and there was a JFK festival for a number of years and last year we had the Fit Fest. This year there is a proposal established by Cllr Sheehan, Paul Kelly and Pat Kent.' The proposal document was circulated to all councillors and the local media. Taking place over the weekend of Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9. Norman camps, re-enactment sites at St Mary's Church, Barrack Lane and the Library Park, an authentic craft fair, a bus tour around the Hook Peninsula, a family picnic, 'The Norman Gate Run' and an opening parade followed by music on a stage at The Tholsel is planned for the Saturday. As for the Sunday, more re-enactments, music or open air theatre, a craft and food fair at the Dunbrody Famine Ship featuring welsh, Irish and Savannah dishes, is also planned. The main event is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m., namely The Marriage of William Marshal and Isobel De Clare in St Mary's Church, where De Clare's heart is reputed to be buried. The wedding event will be a ticketed event. Cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming asked if funding can be provided for St Patrick's Day parades in Clonroche, Duncannon and Fethard and was assured by Mr McCormack that 1,000 will be found for each festival to help organisers. 'It's hard to get money at this time of the year. A few thousand might be the difference between a parade going ahead or not,' Cllr Fleming said. Cllr Michael Whelan said he had no problem with the Norman festival but was struggling to understand how Baginbun wasn't included when 2020 is the 850th anniversary of the Norman landing and battle at the headland. 'A Norman festival was run in Carrig on Bannow last year. It was assisted to the tune of 10,000 as it was 850 years since the Normans arrived in 1169. This programme does nothing for Baginbun or the Hook Peninsula, except for a bus tour that goes around the peninsula anyway. If we were able to give 10,000 to the Bannow Historical Society we should be able to give money to run an event in the Fethard area to mark the battle of Baginbun which was one of the fierest battles of all time when they landed.' Cllr Whelan said it would be criminal not to have an event at Baginbun, adding: 'I think the people of Baginbun or Fethard would never forgive us. We could get Hook Rural Tourism to run an event at Baginbun and find 10,000 for them.' He said the Carrig on Bannow festival cost around 35,000 to run, questioning whether enough funding was being allocated to the New Ross Norman Festival. 'Are we talking about running a full menu (of events) for 20,000?' The meeting heard that further money would be forthcoming. Cllr Whelan called for a battle re-enactment to take place at Baginbun, preferably in May, as well as a music event. A suggestion for the funding to be split between the two festivals was rejected outright by district director Eamonn Hore who said 10,000 is not enough for a festival in New Ross, with 5,000 in staff resources. Cllr Whelan also expressed concern about the festival date, saying the Normans arrived in Baginbun in early May 1870. 'The date of this festival is August 8. I do believe if we look back to last year the Duncannon Sandsculpting Festival was on that weekend. The date of the landing was May 1. I seriously believe a day's event needs to go on in Baginbun if there is additional money we can gain from the council to extend the programme.' Cllr Sheehan said both events would contribute to the local economy. 'What you see in front of you is tentative. The committee wanted to bring this to the elected members for their contribution. We will do our very best to ensure all of the areas are included in the programme of events. It's not the intention of the festival to displace another festival or to interrupt or uproot it. It's going to be required an offset of additional money from other agencies. It's in line with Bord Failte and the Norman Way in the past.' Cllr Sheehan said the itinerary can be amended. Mr Hore said New Ross is being highlighted as a Norman town as part of Ireland's Ancient East. 'Failte Ireland are encouraging us to go in that direction. We have claimed the whole Norman Way. If you split it there will be two events. There is no additional monies this year, but I think if we go back to the tourism section we will get something. I would say support would be there so we need the people from Baginbun and Fethard to come up with a proposal and the tourism section will assess it. I believe we won't be found wanting.' Mr Hore said the Baginbun event can be completely standalone from the Norman Festival. He said the council plan to complete the Norman Way signage in south Wexford this year. Cllr Anthony Connick said there was an issue last year with a festival. 'Only for the council we were in awful trouble. If these festivals are not going to go ahead we should be notified early,' he said. Mr McCormack said the council will have oversight on it, adding that he thinks the festival can be funded with around 20,000. 'I don't think there is a huge cost involved apart from insurance and health and safety.' The festivals budget was unanimously passed. The 1971 triptych "In Memory of George Dyer" is among works in the show "Francis Bacon: Late Paintings," on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Feb. 22-May 25. Photo: Centre Pompidou / Centre Pompidou Photo: Centre Pompidou / Centre Pompidou No painter of the 20th century depicted the unholy trinity of sex, violence and death as consistently and compellingly as Francis Bacon. So, theres a parental advisory coupled with praise for Francis Bacon: Late Paintings. After a successful run last fall at Paris Centre Pompidou, the show opens Sunday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, its only U.S. venue. Seven signature triptychs by the profoundly influential British artist are scattered through five spacious galleries, among 20 other large canvases and a dozen or so small portraits whose distorted figures sometimes appear to be plucked from a horror shows hall of mirrors. During a preview, French curator Didier Ottinger said Bacons late works have long been under-appreciated even in Paris, where several generations of viewers have grown up with them. In Parus, Ottinger examined how stark-minded literature and philosophy influenced the artists final two decades. Bacon left behind a library of more than 1,200 books. MFAH director Gary Tinterow and curator Alison de Lima Greene take a more thematic approach. It makes sense. Bacon died in 1992, in his early 80s, but this is his first Houston exhibition. More Information 'Francis Bacon: Late Paintings' When: Opens 12:15 p.m. Sunday, through May 25; lecture "Francis Bacon: Being and Nothingness," 3 p.m. Sunday Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 5601 Main (exhibition); Brown Auditorium, 1001 Main (lecture) Details: $18-$23, children 12 and under free; lecture $10; 713-639-7300, mfah.org Tinterow said themes that always drove Bacon merged after his muse George Dyer committed suicide in 1971. But something else happened, he said. Tinterow sees in these works a dexterity, facility and mental clarity that could only have evolved through 25 or 30 years of painting, epitomizing what the artist had always wanted to achieve. Bacon didnt want you to think about his pictures. He wanted you to feel them, he said. People say similar things about Mark Rothko, but Bacon wasnt looking for the sublime quite the opposite and he found Abstract Expressionism sorely lacking. He would look at Rothkos paintings in dismay, missing the human element, the figure he felt was so important to the story of art, Greene said. One of the ironies of the Houston show is that people who havent spent much time with Bacons large canvases might see them as a marriage of styles woven deeply into the citys visual DNA: They combine elements of Surrealism with an emotional intensity akin to Rothkos. And yet they are neither. The charismatic Bacon liked to say his paintings had no equals. Certainly, at the time he began working, when homosexuality was still illegal, no one was depicting nude males as aggressively. That made his work scandalous and sensational. By painting the joy of male sexuality, Greene said, he broke every rule of painting in good society in the 1950s. We look at it with a knowing eye, but it was radical then. Critics never mentioned that he was queer; now thats at the core of understanding the work. But Bacons work has always resonated widely because it also is about universal truths. He saw man as a completely futile being, playing out a game without reason. His paintings roil with what Bacon described as exhilarated despair. Without being illustrational, as he put it, he worms his way into the poignant, existential essence of his amorphous figures. Kicked out of the family Born in Dublin to English parents, Bacon was the second of five children. His family lived in Ireland to raise racehorses but moved back to London during World War I; his father was an army officer. He was never happy at home. And when Bacon was 16, his father banished him for wearing his mothers underwear. He experienced the decadent side of Berlin with an older family friend who became his first serious lover early in 1927, then discovered Picasso at a gallery in Paris and began drawing and painting a period when he also designed modern furniture. Bacon set up his first studio in London in 1929, and his visual vocabulary was coalescing by the 1940s, drawing on icongraphy from Old Master paintings (Velazquez and Goya among them, and images of crucifixions and slaughter) as well as Picasso, Van Gogh and others; film noir (an image of a screaming nurse from Sergei Eisensteins Battleship Potemkin was a favorite); and the sequential photographs of Eadweard Muybridges nude wrestlers in motion. Bacons first concern was aesthetics. Importantly, he worked from photographs and reproductions, preferably damaged ones. Even when he was painting a portrait, he worked from photographs by his friend John Deakin because that freed him up to create. He wasnt repainting the thing itself; he was painting the sensations he absorbed from it using an image of the thing, moderated by the passage of time. The frequent depictions of newspaper fragments, watches and shadows in his paintings also suggest time passing. His figures all appear within or crossing the lines of compositional space boxes, a device Bacon said he used simply to see things better. For the viewer, the rectangles and lines imply psychic windows and doors. Speaking to the critic David Sylvester in the 1970s, Bacon said he wasnt trying to convey anything about the nature of man. Im just trying to make images as accurately off my nervous system as I can, he said. I dont even know what half of them mean. The shows first gallery introduces Bacon through dark, tortured-looking self-portraits and works that suggest what else is to come. The somewhat buoyant 1970 Triptych features Bacon in one panel, Dyer in another both perched on trapezes and a central image of two nude figures wrestling. Across from that hangs the more colorful and sinister 1967 Triptych Inspired by T.S. Eliots Poem, Sweeney Agonistes, whose panels of wrestling figures flank an image of a murder scene on a train. Double meanings Then the eye goes to the also large, single-panel Study for a Bullfight, No. 2, from 1969, which relates to the final work of Bacons life that appears in the last gallery. His work always contains double meanings, Greene noted. Bullfight images reference ideas about secularized, staged sacrifice as well as the work of Picasso and Goya. She pointed out a vignette in that painting based on a photograph of a Nazi rally. Hed never talk about his work as political, Greene said, but he was a very engaged artist. Images of Winston Churchill and the assassination of Leon Trotsky appear later in the show. The seminal In Memory of George Dyer captures attention in another gallery, but really, every painting in the show is a highlight. Bacons beautifully creepy, late-life, biomorphic landscapes are especially surprising hard to look at but impossible to ignore. The clarity Tinterow spoke of becomes most apparent in the final galleries, where Bacon seems to be stripping more away, letting images float more freely within large fields of vivid color. Greene pointed out 1978s Street Scene - Car in Distance. Its almost his version of Rothko, she said, but theres this criticality, an immediacy that is very different. Im not saying one is better than the other but its fascinating that even in his 70s, hes taking a polemical stand against what he sees as the false direction of modernism. Study of a Bull, the last painting of Bacons life, ends the show potently. You could read it as a different kind of self-portrait, with all that a bull might symbolize evident in the smoky image that emerges in the canvas top left corner. The shadowy animal, behind a thin film of spray paint, is moving into bright whiteness, ready to take whatever is coming, or maybe charge. The ailing Bacon knew what was coming for him. He rubbed dust from his studio floor into the paint. molly.glentzer@chron.com February 21, 2020 Washington, D.C. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, is in Washington, D.C. today to reaffirm Canadas commitment to collaborating with the U.S. and other partners within the Western Hemisphere Agricultural Group, also known as Ag5. Together, this alliance representing almost a quarter of global exports is working to develop solutions to regulatory challenges. Facilitating trade through science-based rules will help farmers feed a growing world population, while driving industry growth and providing solutions to climate change. Minister Bibeau met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, Mexicos Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Victor Villalobos, and Argentinas Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, Luis Basterra, as well as other key leaders in agriculture, including the President of American Farm Bureau Federation, Zippy Duvall. Minister Bibeau emphasized the need for predictable rules and science-based trade, that sustainability is defined by social, environmental and economic factors, and that innovation has an essential role in feeding a growing world population. Minister Bibeau also underscored that the new NAFTA is a key priority for Canada and that the Government is committed to working with Parliamentarians and Canadian stakeholders to implement the Agreement as quickly as possible. At the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)s 96th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, Minister Bibeau participated in a panel discussion with Secretary Perdue, Secretary Villalobos, and Minister Basterra. They discussed the importance of collaboration, innovation, food security, and supporting science and risk-based regulatory environments. During the panel, Minister Bibeau also stressed the importance of proactive collaboration with trading partners as part of North Americas preparedness strategy to help mitigate the risks of African swine fever should it be detected in the region. Minister Bibeau also hosted a dialogue with key U.S. stakeholders from the Washington Agricultural Roundtable, Women in International Trade, and the U.S. Food and Ag Dialogue to discuss the importance of the Canada-U.S. trading relationship. Longtime Hollywood Republican Clint Eastwood signaled that he might not support President Donald Trumps re-election. The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there, Eastwood told the Wall Street Journal in a wide-ranging interview published Friday. Eastwood, a rare conservative voice in the film world who memorably spoke to an empty chair representing President Barak Obama at the 2012 GOP convention, offered praise for certain things that Trumps done but urged the president to behave in a more genteel way, without tweeting and calling people names. I would personally like for him to not bring himself to that level. He also expressed disappointment in the overall climate heading into the 2020 election. The politics has gotten so ornery, he said. Related: Eastwood on Impeachment: I Dont Like It but Thats the Way Things Are Also Read: 'Richard Jewell': Reporter Kathy Scruggs' Editor Pushes Back on Writer Billy Ray's Criticisms Elsewhere in the interview, Eastwood offered his opinion about the current culture in Hollywood. The #MeToo generation has its points, Eastwood said, praising women for standing up against people who are trying to shake you down for sexual favors. He noted that sexual harassment has been a mainstay of Hollywood since he got his start. It was very prolific back in the 1940s and 50s, he said, adding, and the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s But while he did not defend disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein, now on trial in New York on multiple felony counts of sexual misbehavior, Eastwood did voice concerns that the rush of accusations might undercut the presumption of innocence, not only in law, but in philosophy. Eastwood also defended his portrayal of the late Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist Kathy Scruggs in his 2019 film Richard Jewell, saying that Warner Bros. should have responded to the papers threat of legal action by telling them to go screw themselves. Also Read: Olivia Wilde Says She'll Approach Real-Life Characters Differently After 'Richard Jewell' Flap Story continues Eastwood said he used artistic license to alter details about Scruggs life suggesting that she slept with an FBI agent to get information for a story which the paper denounced as entirely false and extremely defamatory. (Scruggs died in 2001.) Eastwood said that whatever alterations he made to Scruggs personal history, he still blamed the papers reckless reporting on Jewell, a security guard who was suspected of planting a bomb that killed two people during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Though Jewell was exonerated, Eastwood accused the paper of being ultimately responsible for Jewells death in 2007. (Jewell died of heart failure following complications from diabetes.) The director also welcomed the prospect of a lawsuit. If you want to just go call more attention to the fact that you helped kill the guy, go ahead and do it if youre dumb enough to do that, he told the Journal. Read original story Clint Eastwood on 2020 Election: Just Get Mike Bloomberg in There At TheWrap In South Korea, Singapore and Iran, clusters of coronavirus infections are leading to a jump in cases of the new viral illness outside China. But its not the numbers that are worrying experts: it's that increasingly they can't trace where the clusters started In South Korea, Singapore and Iran, clusters of infections are leading to a jump in cases of the new viral illness outside China. But its not the numbers that are worrying experts: it's that increasingly they can't trace where the clusters started. World Health Organisation officials said China's crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. But as hot spots emerge around the globe, trouble finding each source the first patient who sparks every new cluster might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-true public health steps to stamp it out. A number of spot fires, occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic, said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at Australia's University of Queensland. That worst-case isn't here yet, the WHO insists. It isn't convinced that countries outside China need more draconian measures, but it pointed to spikes in cases in Iran and South Korea to warn that time may be running out to contain the virus. What we see is a very different phase of this outbreak depending where you look, said WHO's Dr Sylvie Briand. We see different patterns of transmission in different places. The World Health Organisation defines a global pandemic as a disease spreading on two continents, though some public health experts would call an outbreak a pandemic if the spread is over a wide area or across many international borders. The newest red flag: Iran has reported 28 cases, including five deaths, in just days. The cluster began in the city of Qom, a popular religious destination, but it's not clear how. Worse, infected travellers from Iran already have been discovered in Lebanon and Canada. In South Korea, most of the hundreds of new cases detected since Wednesday are linked to a church in the city of Daegu and a nearby hospital. But health authorities have not yet found the index case, the person among the churchs 9,000 followers who set off the chain of infections. There also have been several cases in the capital, Seoul, where the infection routes have not yet been traced. In Europe, Italy saw cases of the new virus more than quadruple in a day as it grapples with infections in a northern region that apparently have spread through a hospital and a cafe. A cluster of cases isn't inherently worrying in fact, it's expected as an infection that's easy to spread is carried around the world by travellers. The first line of defence: isolate the sick to treat them and prevent further spread, and quarantine people who came in contact with them until the incubation period is over. But as the virus becomes more widespread, trying to trace every contact would be futile, Singapores prime minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged earlier this month. If we still hospitalise and isolate every suspect case, our hospitals will be overwhelmed, he said. So far, the city-state has identified five clusters of transmission, including two churches. But there remain eight locally transmitted cases with no links to earlier cases, or to China. Viruses vary in how they infect. The new coronavirus unlike its cousins severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) spreads as easily as a common cold. And it's almost certainly being spread by people who show such mild symptoms that no one can tell, said Dr Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. If that's the case, all of these containment methods are not going to work, Adalja said. It's likely mixed in the cold and flu season all over the place, in multiple countries and gone unnoticed until someone gets severely ill. These milder symptoms are good news in terms of not as many people dying, said Mackay, of Australia. But its really bad news if you are trying to stop a pandemic, he added. When Hong Kong reported its first death from the virus earlier this month, it also confirmed three locally transmitted cases with no known link to any previous cases or any travel history to China. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection warned then that "there could be invisible chains of infection happening within communities". Officials in both South Korea and Japan have signalled in the past week that the spread is entering a new phase in their countries. On Friday, South Korean prime minister Chung Se-kyun said the government would have to shift its focus from quarantine and border control to slowing the spread of the virus. Schools and churches were closed and some mass gatherings banned. Takaji Wakita, head of Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, earlier urged people to work at home or in shifts to avoid being in a crowd, and refrain from holding non-essential and non-urgent meetings. But Adalja cautioned that far-reaching measures like China instituted in the outbreak's epicentre of Wuhan where citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes for weeks can backfire. While it remains to be seen if the new virus is waning, that kind of lockdown makes it hard for people to get other critically important care, like fast treatment for a heart attack. There's no way to predict if the recent clusters will burn out or trigger widespread transmission. For now, health officials should try and contain the infection for as long as possible while preparing for a change in strategy by preparing hospitals, readying protective equipment and bolstering laboratory capacity, said Gagandeep Kang, a microbiologist who leads Indias Translational Health Science and Technology Institute. Although the window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak, we still have a chance to contain it," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. But while doing that, we have to prepare at the same time for any eventualities, because this outbreak could go any direction it could even be messy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 09:51:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesians held a charity event in the capital of Jakarta on Friday evening to support Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei province and epicenter of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Ardy Wijaya, who initiated the event along with his friends, was impressed by the huge supports they received during a public event on the artificial Maju Island in northern Jakarta. Children sang pop songs and young people performed Indonesian traditional dances, including Betawi and Minahasan art dances, to bring ethnic atmosphere to the "Spirit of Wuhan" event. Members of inter-religious organisations in Indonesia, a multi-religious nation, also came together to pray for the victims affected by the outbreak. At least 500 people flocked to the venue of the event. Dewi Sartika, who made a donation at the event, expressed hopes that the people of Wuhan could tide over their difficult times. The Jakarta resident believed the outbreak would be contained eventually. "Chinese people are tough because they are used to getting through various difficulties. So I believe that they can fight this outbreak. Stay strong, Wuhan!" she said. The event coordinators have been collecting donations for a week and plan to send around 1 million face masks and other kinds of assistance to the people of Wuhan through the Chinese government. Most participants of Friday's event were seen making donations in various forms, including money and masks. "We will use the money to buy items that Chinese people need. We will be in touch with the Chinese government about this," the event's main coordinator Wijaya told Xinhua. At a press conference held Friday on a special meeting between foreign ministers of China and ASEAN countries in Laos, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun said more than 16,000 COVID-19 patients had been cured and discharged from hospitals so far. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared China's COVID-19 epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern," Ambassador Deng said it is not a vote of no confidence in China, but rather a way to help countries with weak health systems to strengthen the outbreak response. "The WHO is confident in China's ability to control the outbreak," he added. Iran on Saturday ordered the closure of schools, universities and cultural centres after a coronavirus outbreak that has killed five people in the Islamic republic -- the most outside the Far East. The moves came as Iranian authorities reported one more death among 10 new cases of the virus. Since it emerged in December, the new coronavirus has killed 2,345 people in China, the epicentre of the epidemic, and 17 elsewhere in the world. The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Wednesday, when authorities said it claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom, a Shiite holy city south of the capital. They were the first confirmed deaths from the virus in the Middle East. Iran reported two more deaths on Friday. "We have 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19," Iran's health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told state television on Saturday. "One of the new cases has unfortunately passed away," he added, noting that eight of them had been hospitalised in Qom and two in Tehran, without specifying where the death occurred. The latest cases take to 28 the total number of confirmed infections in Iran. Based on official figures, nearly 18 percent of those infected with the new coronavirus in Iran have died, compared with little more than three percent in China. - Mask sales soar - As a "preventive measure", authorities ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 provinces across the country from Sunday, state television reported. They include Qom, Markazi, Gilan, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Zanjan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Hamedan, Alborz, Semnan, Kurdistan and the capital, Tehran. The government also announced that "all art and cinema events in halls across the country have been cancelled until the end of the week" in order to stop infections. "We are on the frontlines, we need help," head of Qom's medical sciences university said on state TV. "If I can say one thing, it is help Qom," said Mohammadreza Ghadir. The World Health Organization has expressed concern over the speed at which COVID-19 has spread in Iran, as well as it being exported from the Islamic republic to other countries including Lebanon. "The concern is... that we have seen an increase in cases, a very rapid increase in a matter of a few days," said Sylvie Briand, director of the WHO's global infectious hazard preparedness department. "We are just wondering about also the potential of more exported cases in the coming days," she added. The Iranian outbreak emerged in the lead-up to a parliamentary election on Friday. State media said the deadly virus had failed to dampen "the revolutionary zeal of Qom's people" to turn out to vote. Iranians have been snapping up surgical face masks in a bid to avoid catching the virus. Online retailer Digikala -- Iran's equivalent of Amazon -- said on Friday that it had sold 75,000 masks within 36 hours. It said it was not claiming a commission on its mask sales, amid concerns that demand was causing prices to skyrocket on the black market. - 'Epidemic has started' - "We stand against the unusual price increase," Digikala tweeted. "We stand alongside our dear suppliers and by providing fresh supplies, we hope we can meet a part of the country's demand." The health ministry said tests had been carried out on 785 suspected coronavirus cases since the outbreak began. "Most of the cases are either Qom residents or have a history of coming and going from Qom to other cities," its spokesman said. Iran has yet to confirm the origin of the outbreak, but one official speculated that it was brought in by Chinese workers. "The coronavirus epidemic has started in the country," state news agency IRNA quoted the health ministry's Minoo Mohraz as saying. "Since those infected in Qom had no contact with the Chinese ... the source is probably Chinese workers who work in Qom and have travelled to China," she added. But the official did not provide any evidence to support her claim, and it has not been reported elsewhere in Iranian media. All of those who lost their lives are believed to be Iranian citizens. Qom is a centre for Islamic studies and pilgrims, attracting scholars from Iran and beyond. Following the announcement of the first two deaths, neighbouring Iraq on Thursday clamped down on travel to and from the Islamic republic. The Iraqi health ministry announced that people in Iran were barred from entering the country "until further notice". Kuwait's national carrier Kuwait Airways meanwhile announced it would suspend all flights to Iran. Organisers wear masks as they oversee voting in Iran's Friday parliamentary election days after the coronavirus outbreak first emerged Demand for surgical face masks has surged as news of the Iranian outbreak spread Medics carry out health checks on an Iraqi returning from Iran through the Shalamjah border crossing near Basra Dear Dave, my husband and I are on Baby Step 3b, and were saving for a house. Were out of debt, and both of us make good money, plus we each have 20-year-level term life insurance policies with coverage equaling 10 times our individual incomes. We also have an emergency fund equal to six months of expenses. I recently received a promotion at work, with a subsequent raise of $10,000. Should I update my life insurance policy to reflect this new income? Maria I think youre OK right now. Id evaluate it, and maybe update the amount every three or four years. But as you get out of debt and build wealth, and as the kids get older, the real question to ask yourselves is how much less life insurance do you need? As your income increases and you get in better and better financial shape, its not going to be necessary to have 10 to 12 times your income wrapped up in life insurance policies. Thats just a starting point. Would your husband and any kids be well taken care of based on your current life insurance amount? Would you and any kids be OK based on his life insurance? If the answer to both questions is "yes," youre good! Dear Dave, my wife and I put her two adult kids on our cellphone plan a few years ago. We thought there would be no problem, since they were both paying their own bills. After my wife and I split up a couple of years later, we made sure everything was current, canceled service with that company, and we all went to different providers. A debt collector called me last week saying I owed $4,000 on 19 different devices. When I called our old provider, they said I owed $4,000 on nine devices. I asked for a current, itemized statement of the devices that were still out and the bill. So far, I havent heard anything back. What do you think I should do? Bob ADVERTISEMENT Just keep on tearing into them. This thing wont go away until you get everything completely rooted out. If you ignore it, chances are itll bite you on things like your credit bureau report. You might even find yourself the subject of some vague lawsuit years from now. Considering the numbers you gave me, and what you know happened with the account and the devices, it sounds like someone on their end made a clerical error. More than likely, this is a case of typical incompetence on the part of a cellphone company. You may have an uphill battle ahead of you, but Id keep on shoveling until the barn gets clean. Stay on top of it, and dont let them push you into giving them money if they cant prove theyre right. You may have to hire an attorney at some point to sue them and clear your name, but hopefully it wont come to that. Uruguay honors Ferdinand Magellan on the 500th anniversary of his arrival to the south of the American continent, according to an article by Plenglish. In line with this, a ceremony was held where National authorities and from Colonia department unveiled a plaque on the banks of the La Plata and Uruguay rivers, the territory that he visited which was completed later by Juan Sebastian Elcano to find a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Top country officials including Interim Tourism Minister Benjamin Liberoff, along with the director of the Decentralization Office for Planning and Budget, Pedro Apezteguia, and Colonia Intendant Napoleon Gardiol, graced the ceremony. According to an article by History, Magellan set sail from Spain in an effort to find a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of Indonesia. In September 20, 1519, he led five ships and 270 men in a voyage to West Africa and then to Brazil, where he searched the South American coast for a strait that would take him to the Pacific. Uruguay is one of the countries that Magellan visited before arriving in the east using the western route, now called the Magellan Route on what was recorded the First Voyage Around the World. Magellan landed on the shores of Colonia between January 16 and 20, 1520. After which, he anchored his ships off the San Gabriel Peninsula and placed a wooden cross in Punta de San Pedro, before setting sails up the Uruguay River to the Negro River. The voyage of Magellan yielded many breakthroughs: he placed the Pacific Ocean in the maps which has then been fully navigated for the first time, as well as the Strait that connected the two big oceans in the planet, the Atantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. For four centuries, the route was used to connect the East and the West through the sea, the only possible route used by ships until the construction of the Panama Canal in the 20th century. First circumnavigation around the world also valuably contributed to the historical background of the voyage and in the consequences it had in the development of several civilizations, particularly linking different cultures and civilizations, providing exchanges and achievements in commerce, scientific knowledge and cultural, artistic and religious practices. Many scholars say that the first globalization of the world started in that moment. Also, for the first time people became aware of multiculturalism, empirically shown as the diversity of people and cultures that made contact with each other. This was evident in the accounts of Italian scholar and explorer Antonio Pigafetta, who wrote a day by day record of the befallen events throughout the voyage. Magellan never made it back to Spain to personally report his accomplishments after being killed in the Philippines in April 1521. While he is considered a hero in Spain, people of the Philippines, a country which was under the Spanish rule for more than three centuries, know him as the voyager who fell to his death at the hands of a Filipino hero, Lapu-Lapu. Among the geographical locations included in the Magellan Route are situated in the countries, Uruguay, Argentina, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Chile, Indonesia, Philipines Portugal, and Spain. UPS accused of banning drivers' prayer meetings, claims there's a 'misunderstanding' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The United Parcel Service better known by its initials UPS is being accused of banning drivers at a shipping center from holding prayer meetings before their shifts. However, the shipping giant contends that a misunderstanding has occurred. The Christian conservative legal nonprofit Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to UPS general counsel last week asking that employees at a shipping center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, be allowed to hold prayer meetings on UPS property. According to the letter, about 40 drivers began gathering every morning in the UPS parking lot for prayer meetings last July before their 9:15 a.m. shifts. The gatherings were optional and organized by the drivers on their own free will, the letter explains. Over the months, the group grew to as big as 60. But on Jan. 16, the centers manager is alleged to have told an employee who also serves as a union representative that the group "cannot pray anymore on company property because someone else might feel discriminated against," the letter says. Four days later, on Jan. 20, the center manager is alleged to have told another driver who serves as a union steward that drivers couldnt pray any longer "on company property because it violates others religious rights." The following week, the drivers met and did not pray, the demand letter explains. They did announce that anyone who chose to do so could bow their heads in a moment of silence. On Jan. 27, the demand letter says, a friend of a driver published a widely-shared Facebook post stating that UPS was prohibiting drivers from praying. After the post was published, several employees who regularly participated in the prayers have been fired for pretextual reasons, according to Liberty Counsel. The remaining drivers believe these firings are retaliation for the Facebook post that a drivers friend made online about UPSs preventing them from praying and retaliation for the drivers filing grievances against UPS for failing to pay the drivers properly in 2019, the demand letter explains. UPS Senior Manager of Public Relations Matthew OConnor told The Christian Post that UPS investigated the claims made in Liberty Counsels letter and believes there is a misunderstanding. We have reached out to them to clarify the situation regarding employees at our site, UPS' OConnor wrote in an email to CP. UPS employees are permitted to assemble before they start work as long as they follow truck yard safety and conduct rules. OConnor added that no employees were disciplined in connection with the pre-shift prayer assembly. We look forward to clarifying this situation with Liberty Counsel and our employees at the site, OConnor stressed. Liberty Counsel demanded a written response from UPS by the close of business Wednesday, assuring that the ban on prayer meetings on UPS property has been revoked and that the drivers who were fired have been reinstated. Liberty Counsel threatened to take additional action to protect the religious free exercise rights of UPS employees, such as filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Liberty Counsel's Communications Director Holly Meade told CP that the law firm held a conference Thursday morning with interested parties. An update on the Thursday meeting and UPS' formal response to the Liberty Counsel's demand letter could not be provided by press time. Liberty Counsel lawyer Richard Mast argued in the demand letter that UPS violated the rights of its employees guaranteed by Title VIIs prohibition of employment discrimination based on religion. Employees may voluntarily read the Bible, pray together, or discuss spiritual matters before their shifts begin for the day; during their lunch breaks; or during any other off-the-clock time when they may otherwise read or discuss secular topics, Mast wrote. An order that employees refrain from praying together under the circumstances described herein by our employee contacts appears to constitute a prima facie case of discrimination on the basis of 'religion,' which is a violation of Title VII." Her son Daniel, who was knocked down and killed almost two years ago The heartbroken mother of an eight-year-old boy who was killed in a road accident almost 18 months ago has said she has only just begun to forgive herself. Maghera woman Janice Bradley's autistic son Daniel died on September 20, 2018 after running from the family car onto the busy Glenshane Pass. The 35-year-old told the Daily Mail newspaper that her son, the second youngest of four children, had got out of her car after she had accidentally hit the unlock button on her key fob trying to silence the vehicle's alarm from inside a service station. She said that she had secured her son into his booster seat and locked her vehicle to go into the store to buy milk. When the car alarm was triggered she pressed a button on her key fob to silence it, but tragically hit the wrong button allowing Daniel to run out onto the busy main road. The child died instantly after being hit by an oncoming car. "Daniel was buckled into his car seat, so I told him to stay there and gave him my phone so he could watch a lumberjack video," Janice told the newspaper. "I was standing at the fridges when I heard my car alarm going off. Fumbling for my key, I pressed the lock button to stop the noise. "Moments later I heard a scuffle at the front of the shop. There was Daniel. I must have hit the button to unlock the car by accident. "I called to him in my special singsong voice, trying to keep him calm, but he grabbed a troll glow stick from a display near the counter and bolted back out of the door as the shopkeeper shouted after him." Janice said she rushed to the front of the store and was met by a woman who said that a child had been knocked down. "I pushed past her and ran across the forecourt," she said. "I could see a commotion out on the main road - cars were stopping and there was a woman crouching over a body on the tarmac, administering CPR. "I screamed Daniel's name. He was flat on his back, with one trainer on and the other at the side of the road." Paramedics arrived and Daniel was declared dead at the scene, killed instantly by a massive head injury. His parents, Janice and dad James, were able to say goodbye to their "angel" in the back of the ambulance. The child was buried in his Peter Pan costume three days later after Requiem Mass at St Patrick's Church in Glen. Speaking at the funeral Fr Patrick Doherty described Daniel as a "special child" who was "a reminder to the world and to us of the essential values of the heart, of what is important in life - love, care, appreciation". Janice told the newspaper for months after her son's death she blamed herself for the tragic accident. "As we planned his funeral, I expected police to turn up at my door any moment and cart me off in handcuffs for being a terrible mother," she said. "Friends tried to soothe me, saying they often left their kids in the car when they popped into the shop. But I was inconsolable. If only I'd not hit the wrong button on my car key. "For weeks after his death I barely left the house, spending hours sitting in his bedroom, sniffing his T-shirts to try to feel close to him." She said her son had a tendency to run when panicked and that she wanted to raise awareness around the condition to stop another family experiencing the heartache hers has endured. "When Daniel got upset or panicked he had a tendency to bolt," she said. "I rarely took him out without safety reins strapping his wrist to mine. I often worried that one day he'd get the better of me. "He was particularly naive around traffic. I tried many times to teach him the Green Cross Code, telling him to look left and right, but he just couldn't grasp that roads could be dangerous." Janice described Daniel, who was a pupil of Kilronan PS in Magherafelt, as "a loving little boy, with a smile that lit up the room". She said she was speaking to raise awareness of the challenges of parenting a child with autism and that she had finally forgiven herself for what happened. "It took some time and some counselling," she said. "But I've finally stopped blaming myself for Daniel's death. "I'm telling his story to raise awareness of how tough and lonely it can be to parent a child with autism. So many people just don't understand their needs or why they might react differently. "If telling Daniel's story can help prevent tragedy for just one other family, it's worth it. That's his legacy." Sara Harris says she has always enjoyed writing. It became a passion, and today the Katy author has 25 published books. I always wanted to write. I always knew that was how I better expressed myself, said Harris. It just seemed to make more sense when my thoughts were down on the page instead of coming out of my mouth. She won a prize in the third grade for writing a story about her tomcat. It was read aloud at a PTO meeting as the shy little girl hid and listened from the hallway. Even still, she got hooked. Harris will be signing Rebekahs Quilt from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, at Katy Budget Books, located at 870 S. Mason Road, Suite 101. The book is the first part of her Amish series Rebekahs Keepsakes, and the event will include a reading, a Q&A and door prizes. On HoustonChronicle.com: Sugar Lands Chef Rey releases new book with purpose Through online genealogy research, Harris learned her family emigrated from Austria and settled in Lancaster County, Pa., in the 1700s. She thought they were Amish and became interested in that. Rebekahs Quilt describes the fictional story of an Amish girl that has recently come back to her community after Rumspringa, a tradition where young Amish people leave their home to go out and experience the very different world outside. Once they return, they can get baptized, and they become full community members. But if they do not return, the Amish community casts them out. Rebekahs love interest is contemplating proposing when an unknown English man enters the scene and disturbs everything. And parts of the book get mixed up around the Great Blizzard of 1888, one of the worst blizzards in U.S. history. Harris, who is Catholic, said the Amish can teach Americans about simplicity and relying on God, a simple faith, she said. However, she later learned through more research that those distant relatives were from a Jewish sect that actually came to Pennsylvania to hide with the Amish from persecution. So of course, Harris has begun writing a book on that. She also has published a four-book historical romance series called the Everlasting Heart series set in the Civil War and the early years of the Old West, childrens books and some nonfiction nature books for children that are a bit older. Each month she signs her books, including a paranormal thriller, at Galvestons Haunted Mayfield Manor, typically in costume. And a pirate romance should come out later this year. Harris said many people have dreams of writing, and she urges them all to get cracking on them. She added rejections will come if a writer wants to be published. After she wrote A Heart on Hold, she received so many that she tacked each one up on her bathroom walls and let them all push her to keep striving for that yes. A lot of writers say they like the escape of it, but Harris has a history degree and said she enjoys researching and experiencing a different time period. She said you can definitely get lost in a good book and get lost in that world that the book drags you into. Related: Un-Gala to raise funds for new art museum at LaCenterra While Harris and her husband Wesley have six kids between them aged 7 to 15, she said she makes sure to find the time to write. She only began writing for publication in 2009 after two friends encouraged her. One named Rochelle took to her to see Eclipse from The Twilight Saga and pointed out that its author Stephenie Meyer had stayed at home with her several children and written alongside them. Harris is one to deal with her fears. Invited when she was 15 to fly to Mexico on her friends familys small airplane, she said she canceled because she was too scared. On the way back home, the plane crashed. Her friend died. Her first real experience with death, Harris grappled and grieved. But four years later, she got her pilots license. When its your time, its your time, and theres nothing you can do to change it. None of us are getting out alive. But it is our choice each day if we choose to truly live, Harris said. She and her family moved to Katy two years ago from their native Odessa to be closer to Houstons great doctors because she has been battling cancer for six years. Yet, her faith grounds her. Well, whats going to happen is going to happen. Gods already there tomorrow, Harris said. Were not supposed to worry about it because he didnt give us a spirit of fear. And so I just feel like personally, Im failing as a Christian if I sit in fear of the next day because its going to happen; whatever is going to happen is going to happen. To learn more about Harris work, visit https://saraharrisbooks.com/. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com A plane carrying Britons who were trapped on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan are on board a flight back to the UK. The evacuation flight, carrying 32 British and European passengers who had been on the Diamond Princess, took off from Japan at around 11pm GMT on Friday. It is due to land at Boscombe Down, a Ministry of Defence base in Wiltshire, at around midday on Saturday. The Diamond Princess, which was quarantined in Yokohama 16 days ago, has seen the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases after China. Holidaymakers spent more than two weeks on the cruise ship under quarantine. Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined 1 /32 Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP Global interest: David Abel, who is on board Diamond Princess with his wife Sally, has been posting updates on social media David Abel Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), officials of the DFA-Philippines in Tokyo with Department of Health team wear protective suits as they prepare for the disembarkation of Filipino crew members on board the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship at Yokohama Port AP A man in a proctective clothing is seen on the sixth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads "shortage of medicine" on the cruise ship Diamond Princess Reuters Passengers disembarking from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port are pictured in Yokohama REUTERS/Kyodo Japan David Abel of the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan. PA David Abel being treated David Abel Workers in protective clothes stand before passengers disembarkating off the Diamond Princess AFP via Getty Images Quarantine operation on the eighth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA The Diamond Princess cruise ship, in quarantine due to fears of new COVID-19 coronavirus, is seen at Daikoku pier cruise terminal in Yokohama AFP via Getty Images Sally Abel being treated David Abel/Facebook Men wearing protective gear are seen near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Reuters The Diamond Princess cruise ship with around 3,700 people on board sits anchored in quarantine off the port of Yokohama after a number of passengers were confirmed to be infected with coronavirus Getty Images An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Medical workers in protective suits lead a passenger tested positive for a new coronavirus from the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Buses carrying passengers who have been under quarantine on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off the coast of Japan, the Diamond Princess, leave RAF Boscombe Down in Amesbury Reuters An empty casino on the Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Workers in protective gear are seen on the Japan Coast Guard boats in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images An empty atrium on the Diamond Princess cruise shi PA Workers in protective gear transfer a person under a blue sheet from the Diamond Princess cruise ship onto a Japan Coast Guard boat in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images Medical workers in protective suits carry belongings of passengers of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP There have already been more than 630 cases of coronavirus confirmed among the Diamond Princess passengers and two deaths. There were 3,700 passengers on board. The Foreign Office said the evacuation flight also had British government and medical staff on board. The Diamond Princess cruise ship / AFP via Getty Images After landing, passengers will be transported to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for 14 days of quarantine. This is the same location that Britons evacuated from Wuhan at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak were taken. It is unclear where the small number of EU citizens will be taken once the plane lands in the UK. Before the flight, one passenger who was diagnosed with coronavirus and has since been given the all-clear joked that the experience would be like visiting a holiday camp. Honeymooner Alan Steele was taken to a Japanese hospital and has since tested negative for the virus and been reunited with wife Wendy. Wendys test was negative so Butlins the Wirral here we come for 14 days, Mr Steele posted on Facebook. Diamond Princess passenger Alan Steele / Sky News It is understood some British nationals who are part of the Diamond Princess crew opted to remain on board. Some British nationals who were passengers did not register for the flight. It is understood some have returned to their homes overseas, while a number boarded an evacuation flight to Hong Kong where they live. The four Britons on board who have tested positive for coronavirus were not on the flight. Meanwhile, Britons in Cambodia who left another cruise ship, the Westerdam, and who have been cleared for travel are also being assisted by the Foreign Office to make their way home. All have tested negative after one case was diagnosed on board. In order to help combat the spread of the virus in the UK, the NHS has started pilots of home testing for coronavirus where NHS staff, including nurses and paramedics, will visit people in their own homes. Professor Keith Willett, NHS strategic incident director for coronavirus, said home testing was a way to limit the spread of infection. Anyone who is concerned they have signs and symptoms, should continue to use NHS 111 as their first point of contact they will tell you exactly what you need to do and where necessary, the right place to be tested, Professor Willett said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 15:45:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on Oct. 15, 2019 shows a view of the Lujiazui area in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) "China is still China, the economy is still the economy, the consumers are still consuming." WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Despite the impact of the novel coronavirus, China's economy holds promising prospects of long-term growth, former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Frank Lavin has said. "Whatever the initial logic was that might have propelled you to go to the China market six months ago still holds today," said Lavin, also CEO of digital solutions company Export Now, in an interview with U.S. media CNBC on Thursday. Customers visit the duty-free shop in Haikou, south China's Hainan province, Feb. 20, 2020. (Photo by Pu Xiaoxu/Xinhua) "China is still China, the economy is still the economy, the consumers are still consuming," Lavin said, adding that people who have been eyeing the Chinese market are "almost by definition taking a long-term view." As China posted 6.1-percent economic growth in 2019, Lavin said this year would "still be a very nice year for the Chinese GDP." He also observed that Chinese authorities are "more or less getting their arms around" the spread of the epidemic. It's finally happening. After 16 years of wait, speculations and demands by fans, the cast of FRIENDS is finally reuniting for an unscripted special for Warner Medias new streaming platform HBO Max. cheatsheet.com Confirming the news, David Schwimmer (Ross Geller), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay) shared the same post on social media. "It's happening," they wrote in the caption, but what is actually happening is yet to be revealed. According to Variety, they all will come together for an exclusive unscripted special on HBO Max. Agencies It is said that all the stars will be taking back home USD 2.5 million each for participating in the special episode. Along with the special, all 236 episodes of Friends will be released on HBO Max streaming service. Warner Bros. The internet has been abuzz since the news has been confirmed. "I Think I may just pass out with joy," Alia Bhatt wrote on Instagram story. When the Friends cast all post Its happening... at the same time #friendsreunion pic.twitter.com/czSWyScsFA Jack Birch (@Jackoby_) February 21, 2020 friends fans now that there's a reunion AFTER 16 YEARS #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/HPq1aApIoA // ia for a while (@peacefuIsel) February 21, 2020 I cant believe about that! Ive waited for that so long The six are finally returning!!! Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Joey, Phoebe... Welcome back, guys! #FriendsReunion pic.twitter.com/5T0S7whxjE Mary_m! (@DreamMarika) February 21, 2020 The episode is likely to air in May. Twitter The news comes months after iconic sitcom's 25th anniversary. Kevin Reilly, chief content officer of HBO Max confirmed the news. "Guess you could call this the one where they all got back together we are reuniting with David, Jennifer, Courteney, Matt, Lisa, and Matthew for an HBO Max special that will be programmed alongside the entire Friends library. itv.com "I became aware of Friends when it was in the very early stages of development and then had the opportunity to work on the series many years later and have delighted in seeing it catch on with viewers generation after generation. "It taps into an era when friends and audiences gathered together in real time and we think this reunion special will capture that spirit, uniting original and new fans," he said. It's going to be the one where they all get back together, aren't you excited too? A multinational financial crimes watchdog on Friday faulted Iran for not doing enough to counter a "terrorist financing risk" and announced the reinstatement of punitive measures against the country. In a statement issued after a meeting in Paris, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said it was rescinding a suspension of the measures, granted in 2016, to give Tehran time to work on reforms. The FATF "fully lifts the suspension of counter-measures" it said, citing Iran's failure to enact the UN's 2001 Palermo Convention against organised crime and the Terrorist Financing Convention. It also urged FATF member states and "all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures". Iran is alone with North Korea on an FATF blacklist, which severely restricts their access to loans and international aid. The agency has 37 nations and two regional organisations as members. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the FATF call "for all jurisdictions to swiftly enact counter-measures. "The regime needs to adhere to the basic standards that virtually every other country in the world agrees to," Pompeo said in a statement. "Iran must cease its reckless behavior and act like a normal nation if it wants its isolation to end," Pompeo added. Iran's government has hoped to salvage banking and trade ties after the United States walked out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions. The other parties to that deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- have sought to salvage the agreement and maintain trade with Iran, but have called on Tehran to meet the FATF requirements. In a bid to do so, the government drafted amendments to laws aimed at curtailing counter-terrorist financing and money laundering. But it has yet to ratify the two conventions, and the FATF said Iran had further work to do on criminalising terrorist funding, identifying and freezing terrorist assets, and properly regulating wire transfers. The FATF it would keep Iran on the "high risk jurisdictions" blacklist, and will decide on next steps "if Iran ratifies the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions, in line with the FATF standards." Counter-measures include audits of Iranian banks and subsidiaries, and stricter oversight of their transactions. "Until Iran implements the measures required to address the deficiencies identified with respect to countering terrorism financing... the FATF will remain concerned with the terrorist financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system," it said. The watchdog also raised the pressure on Pakistan, threatening to put it on its blacklist unless the government completes an anti-terror financing action plan by June. "Otherwise, should significant and sustainable progress especially in prosecuting and penalising terrorism financing not be made... the FATF will take action," the statement said. This could include calling on its members to advise their financial institutions "to give special attention to business relations and transactions with Pakistan," a measure that could in effect limit its access to the global banking system. Regarding North Korea, the FATF expressed "serious concerns with the threat posed by the DPRK's illicit activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Benedict Rogers: If we mean what we say about global Britain, we must stand up to China Benedict Rogers is a human rights activist and writer, and a former parliamentary candidate. He is East Asia Team Leader of the international human rights organisation CSW, co-founder and Chair of Hong Kong Watch and co-founder and Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission. Iain Duncan Smith was right when he said that for the past two decades, we have cosied up to China in a way that is becoming an embarrassment. He argued that the UK needs to stand shoulder to shoulder with its allies. China is not an ally. What he didnt say is that there are also two myths about China. The first is that it is the forthcoming superpower, a strong and stable force in the world. The second is that in order to trade with China, we need to kowtow. The coronavirus has not only exposed millions of people to a public health crisis, it has exposed the fragility of the Chinese Communist Party. A strong, secure government would not hide the truth about a new virus, it would act immediately to prevent its spread. Yet when Dr Li Wenliang first warned about the outbreak, the response of the authorities was to silence and threaten him. He was forced to sign a confession, apologising for spreading rumours and disturbing public order. Only when the virus was so obvious did the authorities take some steps to deal with it but too late. At least 2,000 people in China alone have died, and it has become a global emergency caused in large part by a regime based on lies and fear. Even now, citizen bloggers reporting the truth disappear. A self-confident government does not expel Wall Street Journal reporters because of a headline. A self-confident government does not incarcerate at least a million Uyghur Muslims, just because they have beards, wear veils, or surf the Internet. A self-confident government doesnt destroy thousands of crosses and dynamite churches. A self-confident government does not deny foreign activists, academics, and journalists entry to Hong Kong, branded Asias world city. In October 2017 I was one of the first westerners refused entry on Beijings orders, exposing the erosion of the much-vaunted one country, two systems principle. My incident became a diplomatic one, with the Foreign Secretary at the time Boris Johnson issuing a statement, the Foreign Office summoning the Chinese ambassador, and questions being raised in both Houses of Parliament. Since my case, others have faced a similar fate, including the Victor Mallet, the Financial Times Asia Editor; Dan Garrett, an academic; and Michael Yon, a journalist. A self-confident government would not invest so much effort in trying to silence western critics. Over the past two years I have received numerous anonymous letters posted to my home address, my neighbours, and even my mother. More recently I have received daily emails either harassing me or, using fake email addresses in my name, impersonating me to others in an attempt to discredit me. And I am not alone. Furthermore, a self-confident government would not lobby parliamentarians about a British activist. Yet I know several who have been asked by the Chinese Embassy to shut me up, and at least two who, in meetings with the Chinese Ambassador about global issues like trade or climate change, have faced as the first agenda item a specific request to silence Benedict Rogers. A self-confident government would have better things to do. So stop thinking that the Chinese Communist Party is this confident power that we should not cross. It exhibits all the characteristics of a bully, and bullies are by definition insecure, fearful and weak. They may show aggression, but their aggression only works if we kow-tow to it. That leads to the second myth: that we cant afford economically to lose China, and thus we must do deals whatever the cost. The record shows that, though it may huff and puff, the regime in China will still sell goods and purchase products based on demand, not politics. Germanys Angela Merkel has, among western leaders, been one of the most consistently outspoken about human rights in China, yet Germany remains Chinas largest trading partner in Europe. When Xi Jinping visited the UK in 2015 an American businessman in Shanghai, James Macgregor, told the BBC: If you act like a panting puppy, the object of your attention is going to think theyve got you on a leash. China does not respect people who suck up to them. The Chinese regime might not like it when you stand up for values, but they are more likely to respect you than if you kowtow. But how important is China, really? As Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, put it in his recent Paddy Ashdown Memorial Lecture on the city: The truth is that behaving in a way that corresponds with our traditional values does not threaten economic catastrophe. The idea that you can only do business with China if you say and do what Beijing wants has always been nonsense Whatever became of the cornucopia that was supposed to come with the golden era of Britains dealings with China? This is the usual self-serving guff. In our post-Brexit era, we must carve out a role for global Britain. But that means what it says. Global. What about India? Brazil? What about the democracies of Asia Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia who, however imperfectly, are far closer to our values than Xis China? And what about our allies in Hong Kong, who share our values and are, as a new report by Hong Kong Watch launched next week shows, trying to save the worlds third most significant financial centre and the UKs third largest trading partner in Asia? To sign a cheap deal that allows a corporation, Huawei, which is closely aligned with the Chinese regime and is complicit with grave human rights violations into our national telecommunications infrastructure, potentially undermining our closest relationships with allies who share our values and intelligence, is madness. To allow the perception to prevail among those who struggle courageously to preserve the rule of law and basic freedoms in Hong Kong that Britain, despite its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, has abandoned them, is tragic. And for the Chinese ambassador in London to be declaring, unchallenged, that the Prime Minister wants to work with China [and] elevate the relationship to a new level when that regime stands accused of crimes against humanity, cultural genocide, the most severe crackdown on human rights since the Tiananmen massacre, an increasing breach of its promises to the people of Hong Kong, the worst repression of religion since the Cultural Revolution, an increasingly grave threat to our own freedoms and security and despite its charade of confidence an increasingly unstable regime, seems unhinged. The UKs China policy needs a wholesale review. We didnt take back control from Brussels only to surrender it to Beijing. I am deeply pro-China, as a country and a people. I have spent much of my adult life in China. I want China to take its rightful place on the world stage. But I want it to do so as a friend not an enemy, a force for good and not a threat. It can only do so if it is free of a deceitful, repressive and insecure regime. And that requires us to have the courage to stand up to that regime which the British barrister Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, who chaired the independent China Tribunal on forced organ harvesting, describes as a criminal state. The Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure has invited interested parties to submit an expression of interest in the execution of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the long-term operation of Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport. Last year, a fifteen-year concession of the airport, awarded to Chinese investors, was terminated after they failed to meet obligations set out in their contract with the state, with each side blaming the other. Since then, the airport has been run by the state-owned DRI consulting and engineering company. Maribor has no scheduled commercial flights and has slipped behind Ljubljana and Portoroz as the countrys third busiest international airport. The Ministry noted, The long-term operation of the airport is planned within the framework of a Public-Private Partnership, encompassing the development of infrastructure and an accompanying commercial program. A national spatial plan is being drafted for Maribor Airport. It will provide the basis for its modernisation in line with contemporary commercial passenger and cargo transport, as well as the overhaul of airport and non-airport infrastructure in accordance with national transport and security requirements under international (ICAO) and European (EASA) standards. The airports former Chinese operator accused the state of failing to adopt a new spatial plan, preventing it from launching a planned 660-million-euro redevelopment project. The Slovenian Minister for Infrastructure, Alenka Bratusek, previously said, The long-term options for Maribor Airport involve either finding a new operator or selling the airport. I believe the first option is more likely. I do wonder how such a bad partner had been chosen to run the airport in the first place". Parties interested in the PPP have until March 16 to submit their non-binding expressions of interest. The final form of the Public-Private Partnership, the scope and content of the project, and the obligations of the partners shall be defined in a tender call to select the private partner, the Ministry concluded. Cagann is working with Elgin Community College to get Explorers interested in fire service careers so they can obtain required certification at age 16 and be ready to go through the departments testing process as they age out of the program. Certification in Emergency Medical Technology or Emergency Medical Technology Paramedic is a requirement to take the test so helping applicants get beyond that barrier helps, he said. Egypt was honoured at the 42nd Belgrade International Tourism Fair (ITF), held in the Serbian capital from 20 to 23 February. The fair's opening ceremony marked Egypt as the guest of honour for the first time in this event. Deputy Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ghada Shalabi on Saturday lauded the growing ties between Egypt and Serbia in different fields, particularly in the tourism sector. The ceremony included displaying promotional films on the prominent archaeological and tourist destinations in Egypt. Shalabi highlighted the remarkable increase of Serbian tourists in Egypt, reviewing positive tourism-related developments and means to enhance tourism cooperation and benefit from Serbias expertise in this field in light of joint agreements signed between the two countries. Egypts Ambassador to Serbia Amr El-Goweili said Egypts participation as a guest of honour in this event reflects the progress in relations between Cairo and Belgrade in the past two years. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said he is proud of Egypts participation in the event, noting that the country is the third most preferred destination for Serbian tourists. Ljajic added that Serbia is interested in increasing tourist flows between Cairo and Belgrade. Search Keywords: Short link: Felipe de Araujo, left, and Mallory Miles, right, pitch FishingLicense.us to judges of the third Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge. | Photos: Rhett Butler | Video: Rich Klindworth Golden Corral founder James Maynard served as a judge for the final round of the third Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge. James Maynard, chairman and co-founder of Golden Corral and chairman and founder of Investors Management Corporation. Fielding Miller, CEO and co-founder of CAPTRUST. His 2015 gift to the COB established the Miller School of Entrepreneurship. Taylor Walden, owner of Greenville's Simple and Sentimental and the first-place winner of the inaugural 2017-18 Pirate Challenge. Miles outlines to PEC judges how FishingLicense.us will operate and increase conservation awareness. Bolt Group Coffman's Mens Wear Forrest Firm Greenville Utilities HealthTexting.org Instigator Jenkins, Wilson, Taylor, Hunt Kellum and Campbell Nucleus Uptown Pitt County Development Commission Red Shark Digital Greenville SEED Uptown Greenville The final round of the 2019-20 Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge concluded Wednesday night with FishingLicense.us taking first place and a cash prize of $15,000.FishingLicense.us is the team of ECU biology graduate major Mallory Miles and her software developer husband, Felipe de Araujo. The online company streamlines the process of registering for a fishing license with the goal of making outdoor recreation more accessible to everyone. FishingLicense.us is currently operating in Florida.said Miles.Serial entrepreneur Ryan Butcher mentored FishingLicense.us, which plans to use the winnings to continue building out the company's software platform.Other winners of the third Pirate Challenge included Snap Slimes, which won second place and $10,000. HonestBlox came in third place and will take home $5,000. LightsOut took fourth place and a check for $1,000.Now in its third year, the Pirate Challenge is the signature pitch competition of ECU's College of Business (COB) and its Miller School of Entrepreneurship, with $100,000 in cash prizes and in-kind services awarded to teams that placed in the competition. According to Miller School officials, the year's prize winnings make the challenge the richest entrepreneurship pitch competition in North Carolina.said Dr. Mike Harris, Miller School director.Judges for this year's Pirate Challenge are entrepreneurs and ECU alumni whose influences have been felt at the national and local levels. They included:As a Pirate Challenge judge for the first time, Miller was excited to see the young entrepreneurs getting their start, and he was impressed with how well they prepared.said Miller.Miller also had sage words of wisdom for those student teams that did not walk away with awards during the challenge.he said.This year's Pirate Challenge kicked off in October with more than 120 student teams participating in the first round. Those teams represented 11 schools and colleges and 50 academic programs.Six teams competed in this year's finals.This year's Pirate Challenge also included sponsors who will provide in-kind services to the winners. Those sponsors are:The Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, which is represented by the winning team, was awarded the Challenge Cannon trophy to be housed in its college until next year's Pirate Challenge. Interim Chancellor Dr. Ron Mitchelson accepted the award on the winning college's behalf. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 07:42:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo shows Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, receiving an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Seattle, the United States, on Nov. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Qin Lang) "I deeply appreciate the act of generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment," the Chinese president wrote. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has written back to Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, after receiving a letter from the U.S. business leader on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In his letter dated Feb. 20, the Chinese president wrote: "I deeply appreciate the act of generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment." Gates said in his letter on Feb. 6 that his foundation has committed up to 100 million U.S. dollars in emergency funding, much of which will help China bolster epidemiological research, emergency intervention, and the research and development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. Officials say China could start clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine as early as late April. (Photo: AFP/STR) Addressing a news conference, Hassan said the patient was taken directly to isolation from a plane arriving from the Iranian city of Qom on Thursday after exhibiting symptoms of the virus. The patient is being quarantined at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut and two other individuals from the Qom flight and suspected of carrying the virus would be transferred to the hospital for quarantine as well, Hassan said. The plane, a Mahan Air flight that arrived around 7.30pm (1730 GMT) on Thursday, was carrying 125 passengers, a source at Rafic International Airport said. A coronavirus outbreak in Iran, which has so far seen four people die, began in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom, authorities in Iran said. An Iranian health ministry official said the likely source was Chinese workers in Qom who had recently travelled to China, where the epidemic originated. More than 2,100 people have died in China and new research suggesting the virus is more contagious than previously thought has added to the international alarm over the outbreak. Hassan said all necessary precautions in line with World Health Organization advice were being followed and offered Lebanese a hotline to call if they experienced any associated symptoms. "There is no need for excessive panic at this time ... The patient is in a good state," said Hassan. He said people who arrived in Lebanon on the Qom flight were asked to remain isolated in their homes for 14 days and that authorities would follow up on arrivals to Lebanon from the past ten days for potential cases. Stablemates Diamonds Are Trump and Flash Me Baby, both impressive winners last weekend, head the cast in Saturday nights (Feb. 22) $10,200 Gary Budahn Final for pacing fillies and mares at Cal Expo. First post for the 11-race card is 6:10 p.m. The feature is named for Dr. Gary Budahn, a mainstay of California harness racing for more than 30 years, who passed away in 2009. Dr. Budahn served on the Board of Directors of the California Harness Horsemens Association for more than 12 years, including three terms as CHHA President. He was a strong voice for California harness racing and was always there for the horsepeople, helping them any way he could. Diamonds Are Trump posted a super win in the first of two Budahn elimination heats last week, brushing to command at the half for Luke Plano and taking complete control from that point in a lifetime-best 1:54.2 tour. The four-year-old mare carries the banner of Set The Pace Racing LLC and is one of five Nick Roland trainees in the cast. She will be gunning for her fourth straight snapshot. Flash Me Baby finished strongly to account for the other division last week with James Kennedy at the control, and she gives the barn another strong look at the outcome Rick Hoffman and Larry Mather are the owners. Completing the field are the Roland-trained trio of Bertha Vanation, Red N Hotallover and Lakota Law; the Richard Schneider-trained Thats How It Goes; Tabbat McRey from the Rene Goulet stable; the George Reider-conditioned Brooklyn Moonshine; and Rue Hanover for Chip Lackey. Marced Magic, Magee teaming up nicely While he had to settle for a dead heat for fourth in last weeks Open Pace, go back a race and there is a very game conditioned score by Marced Magic. Considering the fact that Marced Magic and pilot Dean Magee did their work from the outside post in the field of nine that night, were used for early position, and then had to come first-over to get the job done, that was a very impressive victory. The six-year-old pacer is owned and trained by Robin Clements and returned 6-1 odds to those who had faith that the son of Marced Card could record his first win of the year while leaving from the marooned post in a contentious lineup. If you want to see a textbook definition of grinding out a win, just watch a replay of that Feb. 7 contest and see this guy refuse to lose while battling an equally game favourite in Coz And Effect. This is a very easy horse to drive, and what I really like about him is that he gives his all, said Magee. When you think hes done, he digs in even more, and thats all heart. This is one tough horse. The victory was the 27th from 108 lifetime trips to the post for Marced Magic, who established a new lifetime standard of 1:53.1 with this tally and pushed his career bank account over the $162,000 mark in the process. (Cal Expo) South Africans have long been reminded of Sasol outsize economic significance to their country: A town south of Johannesburg bears the companys name, and a stylized drawing of one of Sasols refineries decorated the 50-rand note until a few years ago. Established in 1950 by a government that was increasingly becoming isolated by apartheid, Sasol helped shield South Africa from the sanctions that choked off oil supplies by employing technology used by the Germans in World War II to transform coal into fuel and chemicals. After privatization in 1979, it grew to become South Africas biggest company by revenuea behemoth on the Johannesburg Stock Exchangeand pursued projects in the U.S., Qatar, and China, becoming an international integrated energy and chemicals company. But Sasols struggle to break with a long-standing command culture, in which executives are rarely questioned, threatens to bring the global expansion of one of South Africas most successful corporations to a halt. Shareholders have turned on Sasol in the aftermath of massive cost overruns and delays at a chemical facility thats now nearing completion in Louisiana. The company fired its co-chief executive officers, Stephen Cornell and Bongani Nqwababa, in October, saying a culture of fear of managers overseeing the Lake Charles project had contributed to its failures. Their credibility definitely has been dented, says Asief Mohamed, founder and chief investment officer at Cape Towns Aeon Investment Management, which last year wrote Sasol demanding the dismissal of the co-CEOs. We would freak out if they came with another project. Fleetwood Grobler, the company veteran who took over as CEO, wants to reset the tone from the top and speed cultural change, Sasol representatives said in an emailed response to questions. Grobler has met with dozens of company leaders and has committed to listen and be open to dialogue with everyone, they said. Groblers predecessors had grappled with culture, too. Nqwababa told business school students in a June 2018 speech in Johannesburg that executives were trying to develop inspiring, authentic leadership rooted in trust, respect and engagement. He described the existing leadership style as command and control saying that resulted in a fear to speak and silence. The cost of the Lake Charles plantwhich was greenlighted in 2014ballooned to $12.9 billion from an initial estimate of $3.5 billion. An independent review found that excess deference to managers meant problems were ignored until they spiraled out of control, the company revealed alongside the executive changes it said were necessary to reset trust with investors. The new CEO may face a long road in winning back investor confidence, however, with the stock near its lowest since the 2008 financial crisis. Where do you get that kind of destruction of value? asks David Shapiro, the deputy chairman of Johannesburgs Sasfin Securities. This is the result of taking your eye off the ball and being very sloppy. While the Lake Charles ethane crackera plant that takes a component of natural gas and processes it into ethylenehas captured investors attention of late, a billion-dollar wax project in Sasolburg, South Africa, provided warning signs about potential cultural problems earlier. The plant known as FTWEP, whose first phase of development was completed in 2015, produces wax for use in everything from inks and candles to road construction. The initial development incurred a cost overrun of about 40%, for which Sasol took a 1.5 billion rand ($100 million) writedown. An internal probe conducted for Sasol in 2013 by South African law firm Werksmans Attorneys, a copy of which was seen by Bloomberg, cautioned thatbased on the management of the wax plant projectinvestors might conclude that Sasol wasnt capable of carrying out the much bigger Lake Charles endeavor. The report showed how employees concealed bad news about the wax plant from the board and made overly optimistic assumptions pertaining to expected profits from the project. While email communication about problems with the project was being exchanged between management in Sasols chemical division as early as August 2012, the issues werent made clear to the board until May 2013, according to the report. The law firm referred to issues with transparency, conflicts of interest, and potentially gross negligence. It found that there are attempts at withholding information from business units and from the Sasol Ltd. board and that there are attempts to make the picture that is FTWEP look better than it actually is. Paul Victor, the current chief financial officer, had cautioned against giving investors too much detail about the problems with the wax facility, saying in a February 2013 email that it would not go down well, according to the probe. Victor was financial controller at the time. Sasol sees little link between the problems at the wax project and Lake Charles. Company representatives said the governance and leadership shortcomings identified with respect to Lake Charles should not be imputed to other segments of the company. The spokespeople also dismissed the conclusions delivered by Werksmans on the wax project. They said Werksmans was advising on regulatory compliance matters and undertook a legal and forensic investigation into certain share dealings; any observations on the wax plant would have been superficial and of little or no value, they said. Victor was merely providing his input on a possible loss, the spokespeople said. The 2013 warning by Werksmans about troubles with the wax project proved prescient for Lake Charles, where costs swelled before and throughout construction. By 2014, when a final investment decision was announced, the cost of Lake Charles was put at $8.1 billion. In June 2016, then-CEO David Constable raised the cost estimate to $11 billion, saying that was a worst-case scenario. He wasnt around to see the project through, departing as previously planned the following month. Constable, in an emailed response to questions, stood by the decision to move ahead with Lake Charles, arguing that it expanded Sasol geographically and reduced its dependence on coal-based feedstock, while diversifying the company more into chemicalswith new markets and good marginsand said that the project would take advantage of an extremely favorable corporate tax regime. Shortly after taking over from Constable, Cornell and Nqwababa said the ground conditions at Lake Charles had not been fully anticipated and more work would be needed; Sasols engineers were more accustomed to South Africas comparatively dry Highveldhigh altitude grasslands. By last year, the cost of Lake Charles had risen to its current cost estimate of nearly $13 billion, and the company commissioned an independent review of the project. Lake Charles, which is 99% complete, continues to dog Sasol. An explosion at the facility last month led Sasol to trim its estimate of the projects annual contribution to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization by as much as $250 million. That followed a previous reduction in August over technical issues and delays. A weak macroeconomic environment also led Sasol to warn in January that first-half earnings will plunge as much as 79%. Itll take Sasol a decade of no more mishaps to get its credibility back, says Casparus Treurnicht, a fund manager at Gryphon Asset Management in Cape Town. Youve almost written this project down to zero, he says of Lake Charles. Now read: Sasol vows to cut down on pollution A 27-year-old woman has faced court over an alleged $9 million fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted Thai-Australian communities. Police will allege in court the woman claimed to be a registered remitter and transferred money on behalf of clients. They will also allege she used social media to advise inflated rates for the money exchanges. On Friday morning, police arrested the 27-year-old woman and seized 15 pairs of high-end shoes. Credit:NSW Police On Friday morning, police searched a home and unit in Strathfield South and seized 15 pairs of high-end womens shoes - from luxury brands Gucci and Louis Vuitton, designer handbags, mobile phones and electronic devices. The woman, identified as 27-year-old Siriluck Fatima Chimamalee, was arrested and taken to Auburn police station where she was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage through deception. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 21, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 21, 2020 | 04:50 PM | PADUCAH Three people have been arrested after a drug investigation led to the search of a home in the Farley neighborhood. McCracken County Sheriff's Drug Detectives learned last month that drug activity might be taking place at 430 Meacham Lane. Believing that 42-year-old Andre Chism was selling cocaine, detectives executed a search warrant just after noon on Friday. When they arrived, detectives say they were spotted by a woman in the home, who ran from view. Twenty-six-year-old Ashley Messamore and Chism were found in the bathroom, where the toilet was running. Detectives say they recovered a large bag of suspected cocaine from the toilet, and Messamore and Chism were arrested. Rebecca Holmes was also found in a bedroom of the home, where digital scales and cocaine were in plain view. Cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found in the home, along with $3,764 in cash, which is believed to be the proceeds of drug sales. The Paducah Joint Sewer Agency came to the scene to help with attempts to retrieve additional evidence from the sewer line. Chism, who has previous convictions, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, second or subsequent offense. He and Messamore also face charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence. Holmes was charged with possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. All three people were taken to McCracken County Jail. Iraq's anti-terror PMU appoints Abu Fadak al-Mohammedawi as al-Muhandis successor Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 8:15 AM Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has appointed Abu Fadak al-Mohammedawi as the new deputy commander of Hashd al-Shaabi following the martyrdom of his predecessor Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a US drone attack last month. According to PMU official Abu Ali al-Bassari, the Popular Mobilization Units chose Abu Fadak based on a decision made at a recent meeting of its board. "Following the appointment, the chief-commander of the Iraqi armed forces will sign Abu Fadak's decree in the next couple of days," he added. Al-Mohammedawi earlier served as the secretary-general of Kata'ib Hezbollah. Since joining the founding core of Kata'ib Hezbollah in 1997, he has been a prominent figure, even though his real name is not known to the public. "Abu Fadak is strong and a true leader with honorable positions and good relations with all," an Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq commander said earlier. Known as the "uncle", Abu Fadak is praised for his military prowess and confidence. He was reportedly close to al-Muhandis. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, along with late anti-terror Commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and a number of their comrades, was assassinated in a US drone attack near the Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020. The People's Mobilization Units (PMU) of Iraq, better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, is a government-sponsored umbrella organization composed of around 40 factions of volunteer counter-terrorism forces, including mostly Shia Muslims besides Sunni Muslims, Christians and Kurds. The PMU's formation goes back to the summer of 2014, shortly after Daesh, the world's most notorious Takfiri terror group, showed its face and managed to occupy swathes of territory in Iraq. The lightning gains made by the foreign-backed terrorists caught the national army of Iraq off guard, pushing government forces to the verge of collapse and leaving the Arab state in disarray. On June 15 that year, Iraq's prominent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani intervened to help rebuild the national army, issuing a fatwa that called on all Iraqi people to join forces with the army in the face of the Daesh threat. The historic fatwa led to a mass mobilization of popular volunteer forces under the banner of Hashd al-Sha'abi. The force then rushed to the aid of the army and took the lead in many of the successful anti-terror operations, which ultimately led to the collapse of Daesh's territorial rule and the liberation of the entire Iraqi land in December 2017. The PMU's efficient role in the Takfiri outfit's defeat turned the force into a permanent and broadly-popular feature of Iraq's social, political and security landscapes, despite attempts by the US and its allies to depict the PMU's mission as sectarian in nature. In November 2016, the parliament recognized Hashd al-Sha'abi as an official force with similar rights as those of the regular army, therefore legally establishing it as part of the National Armed Forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has reported that 3,404 civilians were killed and 6,989 were injured in violence there in 2019. According to the report issued on February 22 by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 2019 was the sixth consecutive year that civilian casualties have topped 10,000. However, the figures marked a 5 percent drop compared to 2018. "Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence," UNAMA head Tadamichi Yamamoto said. Yamamoto urged all sides to "seize the moment to stop the fighting." "Civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are under way," he said. On February 22, a partial truce came into effect across the country. The Taliban and U.S. and Afghan forces have agreed to a "reduction in violence" for seven days, ahead of the planned signing on February 29 of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal. With reporting by dpa and AFP New Star Wars movie in development A brand new Star Wars movie is in development over at Lucasfilm, with director J.D. Dillard and writer Matt Owens attached to oversee the film. Obviously, details regarding the potential movie are still at a premium, but The Hollywood Reporter have noted that the studio are considering whether to release the film in theaters or on Disney+. Read More: How Freddie Prinze Jr ended up in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker After the release of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, Lucasfilm have been trying to figure out the way forward for the franchise, especially since the blockbuster brought an end to the Skywalker saga. They have now tasked Dillard, who most recently wrote and directed the sci-fi thriller Sleight, and Owens, who has written for Luke Cage and Agents Of SHIELD, to make the next Star Wars story. LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Director J.D. Dillard and Actor/music artist Jacob Latimore arrives at the 2nd Annual All Def Movie Awards at Belasco Theatre on February 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage) Earlier this month, Disney head Bob Iger admitted that the future of the Star Wars franchise is probably on television, especially after the huge success of The Mandalorian, which helped Disney+ acquire 28.6 million subscribers in just a few weeks. Television spin-offs for Ewan McGregors Obi-Wan Kenobi and Rogue Ones Cassian Andor are also in various stages of development, while the seventh season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars was just released, too. Read more: JJ Abrams will learn from the poor response to Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker However, theres no doubt that Iger and the creative team in control of the Star Wars universe will want to get the series back to the big-screen, too. In fact, they have Star Wars movies scheduled for December 16, 2022, and December, 2024, and December, 2026. Those are likely to be from the brains of Marvel head Kevin Feige and Star Wars: The Last Jedis writer and director Rian Johnson, both of whom are already hard at work on their projects for the studio. 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. Sheetal Chaudharys family tried to mislead police about her whereabouts and sent them on a wild hunt in an attempt to cover up the murder, said police. But when they accompanied the police and passed close to the canal where they allegedly dumped her body, they broke down and confessed. Twenty-five-year old Sheetals body was found dumped in a canal in Jawan near Aligarh on Friday. Police arrested hers father Ravinder, mother Suman, her cousins Ankit and Parvesh and two of her paternal uncles Om Prakash and Sanjay for her murder. Police said she was killed because it was unacceptable to her family that she had married someone in the same caste. An investigator, who did not wish to be named, said Sheetals husband Ankit Bhati, whom she had married in October last year, lodged a police complaint on February 17 alleging that his wife was missing and suspected her family to be behind it. A police team then reached Sheetal Chaudharys family residence in East Delhis New Ashok Nagar. When we enquired about her whereabouts, her family said she was at her cousins place in Palwal, Haryana. On February 18 our team arrived there but could not find her. On this, her family said she had left for Loni, Ghaziabad to visit her uncles family. We then drove to Loni the same day and found that she was not even there. On this, the family diverted our team to their native village near Bulandshahr, UP, but we failed to find her even there, said a senior officer who did not wish to be named. We drove more than 250 km with her family members but failed to find her. While we were returning to Delhi, our team passed close to a canal in Jawan near Aligarh. Seeing the canal, her family members accompanying us broke down and confessed to having dumped her in the same canal after strangulating her. We then contacted the Uttar Pradesh police who told us that they had recently cremated an unidentified body who matched Sheetals description, the officer said. Sheetals husband Ankit said Chaudhary used to wear braces. The UP Police confirmed that the body they had cremated had also worn braces. We then asked Ankit Bhati to identify clothes the police had kept aside as evidence. He confirmed they belonged to Sheetal Chaudhary, the officer added. A police officer said they corroborated the familys theory with their phone locations and found that they all got together on January 30 in New Ashok Nagar and then drove up to the canal. The phone records show that after that everyone returned to their respective houses, police said. 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) Roger Stone Moves to Disqualify Judge Over Her Comments Praising Integrity of Jurors Roger Stone has filed a motion asking the presiding judge to recuse herself over concerns about her partiality after she made comments praising the integrity of jurors during Stones sentencing hearing. Attorneys for Stone, an associate of President Donald Trump, filed a motion (pdf) on Friday asking Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, to recuse herself because she praised the jurors integrity before deciding on Stones request for a new trial that rests on the issue of whether the jurors demonstrated integrity and were impartial. Stone had asked for a new trial on Feb. 14, a day after his team raised concerns over potential bias from a juror who voted to convict the Trump associate. Stones legal team alleged in its motion that an unnamed juror misled the court regarding her ability to remain unbiased and fair and that the juror attempted to cover up evidence that would contradict her claims that she was impartial. This comes after media reports from Feb. 13 found that a woman who identified herself as the foreperson of the jury that convicted Stone had previously posted critical posts about Trump on social media and defended four prosecutors who withdrew from the case following the Justice Departments decision to revise the sentencing recommendation. Following the reports, Trump accused the foreperson of the jury of harboring significant bias in a Twitter post. Now it looks like the foreperson in the jury, in the Roger Stone case, had significant bias. Add that to everything else, and this is not looking good for the Justice Department, he wrote. In Fridays motion, Stones attorneys argued that Jacksons statement: [t]he jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances cared, would lead a reasonably informed observer to raise questions about the judges impartiality. Public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary is seriously jeopardized when judges share their thoughts about the merits of pending cases, the lawyers wrote, citing a previous case. The lawyers say that Jacksons statement was premature, undermines the appearance of impartiality, and presents a strong bias for recusal. The chief district judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Beryl Howell, had previously backed Jackson before Stones sentencing, saying that public pressure or criticism wont affect the judges judgment during sentencing. The judges of this court base their sentencing decisions on careful consideration of the actual record in the case before them; the applicable sentencing guidelines and statutory factors; the submissions of the parties, the Probation Office, and victims; and their own judgment and experience, Howell said in a statement to media outlets. Public criticism or pressure is not a factor. Stone was sentenced on Feb. 20 to three years and four months in prison for several charges including lying to a congressional committee that was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. The case garnered significant attention and controversy at the Justice Department after it announced revised sentencing recommendations for Stone. Prosecutors originally recommended seven to nine years in prison but later asked for a sentence of incarceration far less than 87 to 108 months imprisonment, without offering a specific prison recommendation. The departments announcement to revise their sentencing recommendation came hours after Trump weighed in on Twitter about the seven to nine years recommendation. Justice Departments spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told media outlets that the DOJ didnt consult with the White House about Stones sentencing. She added that the decision to change the sentencing request was made before the president wrote on Twitter about it. Barr also maintained that the decision to revise the sentencing recommendation came before Trumps Twitter post. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. The veteran detective who caught Grace Millane's killer told yesterday how he was determined to get justice and return her to her family. Fantasist Jesse Kempson, 28, was yesterday starting a minimum 17 years behind bars for the murder of round-the-world traveller Grace after she arrived in New Zealand. During an emotional sentencing hearing in Auckland, Kempson sat with his head in his hands as Grace's family, taking part via video link from their home, told him how he had destroyed their lives. Grace Millane's parents David (centre) and Gillian (right) arrive with Detective Inspector Scott Beard (left) at Auckland High Court on November 6, 2019 Grace Millane, 22. Kempson strangled Grace in December 2018, on the weekend of her 22nd birthday, having met her only hours earlier on dating app Tinder Kempson strangled Grace in December 2018, on the weekend of her 22nd birthday, having met her only hours earlier on dating app Tinder. When she failed to respond to birthday messages from her family back in Wickford, Essex, they grew worried and reported her missing. Auckland Detective Inspector Scott Beard, who has a daughter close to Grace's age, told of the bond he formed with her father, David, who flew to New Zealand while they still hoped she would be found alive. In the days that followed, the detective watched the successful property developer 'crumble', each hour that passed without news of his daughter taking him further into the depths of despair. Mr Beard said it broke his heart to see Grace's father so torn, while trying to be so brave for his family. The former student's mother, Gillian, was at home undergoing chemotherapy at the time. 'So you've got a man a successful businessman at that who, the love of his life is very unwell, his daughter is missing, he's on the other side of the world where he has no friends, no family, no support,' the detective told the New Zealand Herald. 'I have a daughter in her 20s and I could completely understand and empathise with how he was feeling because I know how I would feel. Sometimes you have to put yourself in their shoes. 'It was emotional, there's no doubt. It had also been a really intense three or four days. There hadn't been a lot of sleep a lot of thought going into working with the family. 'And every day, dealing with dad a really strong guy, a father like I am just crumbling in front of me, it's really tough.' Fantasist Jesse Kempson, 28, (pictured) was yesterday starting a minimum 17 years behind bars for the murder of round-the-world traveller Grace after she arrived in New Zealand Police tracked Kempson through a combination of CCTV from around Auckland, piecing together Grace's final movements, and having the last location of her mobile. He tried to lie his way out of it, insisting the pair had gone their separate ways after a couple of hours of drinking cocktails. But in reality, he choked Grace to death during sex before stuffing her body into a suitcase and burying it in a shallow woodland grave. Mr Beard flew to the UK for Grace's funeral last January but when he returned to New Zealand, his GP told him he had prostate cancer. He told his doctors whatever surgery was needed, he had to be in court in November to see Kempson put on trial. Kempson put Grace's family through the ordeal of sitting through harrowing evidence about her sex life and her final hours, all while claiming her death was an accident. But the jury took just five hours to convict him of murder. 'Right at that moment [when the guilty verdict came back] I felt just relief we got there,' Mr Beard said. 'I had David and Gillian sitting next to me, really emotional. It was the most emotional courtroom I've ever been in. There was a huge sense of satisfaction, firstly in finding Grace because, you know, through the years there have been families who don't find their loved ones or don't have an answer as to why, or what happened. 'So that satisfaction of being able to give answers to this family and give Grace back to them was huge.' As Kempson was jailed for life, Mrs Millane got to confront her daughter's killer by video link. She wept as she said: 'I enter a state of panic at the thought of forgetting her smell and so spray her perfume in her room and smell her clothing how am I meant to get up and get on with my morning knowing it is just another day I won't speak to her? Her tragic life cut short by your wilful, cruel actions. 'She died terrified and alone in a room with you whose name isn't even spoken among our friends and family. My family will never be the same. I want you to know that I don't think of you, because if I did that means I care about you and I simply don't. You have ripped a hole in my heart, one that will never be repaired.' Bridget Fitzgerald of Kerry County Council; Chief Executive Kerry County Council Moira Murrell, Governor of the Central Bank Gabriel Makhlouf; CEO of RDI Hub Killorglin Liam OCronin, and Community and Members Manager at the RDI Hub Reidin OConnor. Photo: Domnick Walsh The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Gabriel Makhlouf, visited Tralee and Killorglin on Friday to meet with local business people and students as part of the Central Bank's outreach programme. The bank boss' Kerry visit saw him visit the new RDI hub in Killorglin as well as the Institute of Technology in Tralee and Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School in the county capital. Throughout the year, as part of the outreach programme, the Governor and staff from the Central Bank travel the length breadth of the country to hear views from a cross-section of people within Irish society. The idea behind the programme is to help the heads of the Central Bank develop a better understanding of the issues affecting businesses and communities across Ireland and to inform them of the work of the Central Bank. The Kerry visit - the bank Governor's first since taking office - began in Killorglin's RDI Hub, where Mr Makhlouf heard about the organisation's work to drive job creation and facilitate research and development in the financial technology sector. The Governor said he wanted to see the space which, he said, will help position Kerry as an Artificial Intelligence and Fintech hotspot across Europe. Following his tour, Governor Makhlouf spent time with RDI Hub members to discuss key challenges, risks and opportunities within Ireland's fintech ecosystem. CEO of the RDI Hub Leo Cronin said it was an honour to welcome the Governor of the Central Bank to RDI Hub. "This visit signals the national focus on regional opportunities. We are ambitious for the quality of companies that we will attract to the hub, which will be world-class in terms of the facilities and support programmes on offer," he said. "RDI Hub, which is a not-for-profit public private partnership, will create over 305 direct jobs by 2024, and in this initial period plans to support the establishment of over 35 high-tech funded start-ups," added Mr Cronin. After his visit to the RDI Hub, Mr Makhlouf and his team travelled to Tralee to meet with students at Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School and to visit Institute of Technology Tralee. At the school and college, he took the opportunity to explain the workings of the Central Bank to students and took questions on the economy and the labour market. At Mercy Mounthawk - where Mr Makhlouf delivered what was surely the most high-profile Economics class ever given at the school - the Central Bank head also presented the school with a specially minted commemorative coin. During his visit to Tralee, Governor Makhlouf also met with representatives from the Kerry Business Women's Network and visited the Tom Crean Business Incubation Centre, where he heard about business development in the county. Governor Makhlouf said he was pleased to visit Kerry and meet people from the county. "Through our outreach programme, we engage with people from all over Ireland to listen to what is important to them and to their communities, particularly in relation to areas where the work of the Central Bank affects their lives," he said. "Hearing the perspectives of the next generation is always valuable, and I particularly enjoyed the opportunity today to meet some of Kerry's younger citizens - students from Mounthawk Secondary School and Tralee IT to answer their questions about the work of the bank and the wider economy," Mr Makhlouf said. "I was also interested to learn about the RDI Hub, and discuss the work done by the Central Bank's Innovation Hub," he added. (Bloomberg) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government will press ahead with plans to distribute more land to the black majority in an orderly fashion, warning that a failure to do so would perpetuate an injustice that dates back to apartheid rule and constrain the economy. Land reform is an essential part of inclusive growth, Ramaphosa said in a speech to lawmakers in Cape Town on Thursday. He reiterated that the government supported changing the constitution to make it easier for it to take land without compensation. Ramaphosas comments came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo cautioned that land expropriation would be disastrous for Africas most industrialized economy and described the policy proposal as an example of centralized planning that has failed in other African states like Zimbabwe. Land grabs will not be allowed to happen in our country, Ramaphosa said. We refuse to be reckless. To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Vecchiatto in Cape Town at pvecchiatto@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net, Mike Cohen 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. Coming in to land: The drone delivery service in Dublin will be the first to operate in Europe Europe's first fast food delivery service by drone will start in south Dublin in a matter of weeks and will be in big demand, according to Manna Aero founder Bobby Healy. Speaking yesterday on Independent.ie's 'The Big Tech Show' podcast, Mr Healy said that the public service would be launched in a south Dublin suburb with 30,000 people in March. He said the three-minute service would deliver food from several chains. "Camile Thai is a partner on the food side," he said. "Next Tuesday, we will formally announce the name of a major online food player that everybody knows." He said that "major online food player's" delivery service app would have a new drone symbol. "You'll open the app and, in the case of Camile Thai, it will offer for the food to be picked up by drone. If you order by drone it will be delivered in less than three minutes," Mr Healy said. Earlier this month, Camile Thai chief executive Brody Sweeney told a conference in Cork that the Manna Aero drone delivery system would allow customers to pick a landing area around their home, such as a patio or driveway. Mr Healy, the former chief technology officer of CarTrawler, said the Irish Aviation Authority had been supportive of the initiative. "We're going to open it up to about 30,000 people to begin with," he said. "What we expect to happen is that there'll be too much demand and so we'll have to restrict it in some way. But anyone who wants to see it can just come along and see it happening. It will be in a public place." Mr Healy recently said he hoped to scale to 50,000 delivery drones for the Irish and UK markets. "We want to literally transform marketplaces, economies and communities all over the world in a way that not just reduces our carbon footprint, but saves lives and creates jobs while doing so." According to the company, the airborne logistics platform 'in-a-box' will provide online meal ordering platforms, restaurant chains and dark kitchens with a three-minute delivery promise to their local communities for "a fraction" of the cost of road-based deliveries. Manna Aero uses "custom-designed aviation-grade drones" built in Europe and the US. The drone fleet is operated directly from the restaurant or 'dark kitchen' premises and is accessible to food tech providers and online food platforms in a "channel-agnostic manner", the company says. It recently received 4.7m in funding from Dynamo Ventures, a company that specialises in supply chain and logistics firms. The federal government has reversed itself and agreed to reimburse California for most of the $1.1 billion it cost to repair Oroville Dam after its spillways failed three years ago. The Federal Emergency Management Agency agreed this week to cover $750 million of the cost of the repairs. That reversed a decision made last March, when FEMA rejected a bid for $306 million in reimbursements. Gov. Gavin Newsom called the rejection belittling and demeaning and the state appealed. The reversal means FEMA is paying 75% of the amount requested, with the balance being paid by water agencies that contract with the State Water Project. Essentially, last spring FEMAs initial determination was that only the lower half of the main spillway and emergency response work was eligible for reimbursement, Erin Mellon, the state water resources spokeswoman, said in an email Friday. Now Playing: The flood-control spillway at Oroville Dam is in use for the first time since it was rebuilt after it crumbled during heavy rains two years ago, forcing nearly 200,000 people to evacuate. Video: KCRA This week FEMA provided a response to the appeal finding that the emergency response work was still eligible, the entire main spillway reconstruction is eligible and a small portion of the emergency spillway work is eligible, she wrote. Ronald Stork, the policy director for the conservation group Friends of the River who is on a state committee preparing a report outlining the dams future needs, said the about-face was not necessarily a good thing. Its fundamentally a question of who is paying for the cost, the ratepayers or U.S. taxpayers, said Stork, whose committee is overseen by an independent review board of dam safety consultants. These were mistakes that were made by the department, and the state water contractors should be responsible for the cost, he said, referring to water districts that draw water from the Oroville Reservoir. The 770-foot-high dam, about 75 miles north of Sacramento, is a primary source of drinking and irrigation water in California, but its main spillway crumbled during heavy rains in February 2017. Dam managers used the emergency spillway, then a barren hillside, and it eroded, prompting the evacuation of more than 180,000 people downstream. A team of independent engineers blamed the failure on weakened concrete, poor drainage and a history of shoddy maintenance. The water resources department spent $1.1 billion rebuilding the two spillways. The half-mile-long main spillway, which is anchored in bedrock, is now as wide as a 15-lane freeway and has nearly twice the capacity of the old chute. The top of the emergency spillway is now lined with concrete and there is a retaining wall, but the hillside below is mostly compacted soil. The Oroville failure raised concerns about the rest of Californias aging water infrastructure. A recent audit of 650 California dams considered hazardous found that only 22 of the at-risk dams had completed required emergency plans and that 84 of the dams were rated less than satisfactory. Oroville is one of these 84 dams, and FEMAs decision to cover 75% of the costs to repair the spillway will help return the dam to fully safe condition, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said in a statement. But I remain very concerned that there are still 83 other dams in similar condition. This must be a top priority for federal and state policymakers before we see another disaster like the 2017 Oroville Dam emergency. Even after the repairs, the state might still be on the hook for more expensive construction to increase capacity so the nations tallest dam can handle a worst-case flood. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has said the repaired spillways cant handle what is known as a probable maximum flood, essentially the largest torrent possible. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The spillways were designed to handle a maximum release of about 600,000 cubic feet of water per second, but the latest probable maximum flood estimate is 743,800 cubic feet per second, according to the commission. Its a fairly significant issue up there that could cost hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, Stork said. In a global-warming world, the estimates of the probable maximum have increased, so there is still the issue of how do you make the spillways have capacity. To handle that kind of flood, he said, the emergency spillway would have to be widened or deepened, or a third spillway built. Another problem, regulators said, is that a concrete headworks pier that supports the main spillway gates has a crack that continues to widen every year. Also, the emergency spillway is still largely dirt, which would likely erode and send mud into the Feather River below, just like it did in 2017. A more robust and resilient design of the emergency spillway may be required to prevent the possibility of moderate to severe damage to the emergency spillway structure for the expected full peak flow, FERC officials warned the Department of Water Resources in 2018. Mellon said the department is waiting for the needs assessment from Storks committee, due later this year, before engineers decide on possible solutions. As it is, she said, the dam can handle a flood 50% larger than the worst event since the facility was built in 1968. The probable maximum flood estimate is a Noahs ark-type storm, Mellon said. At that point the requirement for the dam facilities is to be able to withstand the storm and have the dam still standing. ... After a PMF storm everything downstream will be flooded regardless of whats being released from the reservoir. Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite Lucy Gratton of John West Ireland and Bridget Gavin of Gaelforce launching the John West Gaelforce Trilogy Runners of all ability from Fingal are being urged to hit the heights around Dublin with the launch of the 2020 John West Gaelforce 10K Trilogy. Entries are now open for the extraordinary three-peak 10k trail runs on some of the highest scenic points around the capital. Stunning views combine with wonderfully varied terrain on the Trilogy routes over rough trails and sealed paths during these unique events. The opening John West Gaelforce 10k Bray Cliff Run is an evening trail event on April 4 from Greystones Beach to Bray Promenade along the amazing coastal path around Bray Head. This will be followed on August 8 by the Kippure event which begins in the beautiful grounds of the 240-acre scenic Kippure Estate, taking in the famed mountain and its glorious surrounds. The Howth Summit run on October 10 starts beside Howth Castle and moves to the summit of Howth Head with its amazing and unrivalled views of Dublin Bay along grassy tracks and rough trails. For those who complete the trilogy, there is an exclusive three-part medal. 'John West is focusing on the importance natural protein plays in healthy active lifestyles and fuelling athletes,' said Lucy Gratton of natural protein experts John West. 'It will be great to see so many people taking part in these events and enjoying the beautiful scenery. We are thrilled to support Gaelforce.' According to Bridget Gavin of fitness events company Gaelforce, the aim of the trilogy is to help people challenge themselves through outdoor adventures in spectacular surrounds. 'We want participants to experience new amazing races in wonderful places and we are grateful to John West for their sponsorship and nutritional support,' she said. Participants can take part in any combination of the timed events. More details are available at gaelforceevents.com New Delhi, Feb 22 : In yet another move towards fuller capital account convertibility, the government proposes to throw open the doors for Indian companies to directly list their shares abroad and access a larger pool of capital. Necessary regulations allowing direct overseas listing by Indian entity is expected by the first quarter of next financial year after amendments to company act and FEMA regulations are passed during the ongoing budget session of parliament, official sources privy to the development told IANS. At present direct listing by Indian companies on foreign stock exchanges is not permitted. Likewise, foreign companies are also not allowed to directly list their equity shares on Indian stock exchanges. Indian companies are allowed to raise capital abroad through the depository receipts (ADR and GDR). But with this window increasingly becoming unpopular, Centre and market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are exploring at other ways to mobilise capital for the corporate and provide larger play for overseas investors in the country. Unlike direct listing, depository receipts are securities listed overseas against shares of listed domestic companies. At least 15 Indian companies have tapped the ADR and GDR route, including Infosys, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries. "The move is also expected to prevent Indian companies to register in other markets such as London, Singapore for raising capital and going global. They can very well do so while remaining a purely Indian entity," said a market analyst who did not wish to be named. The debate over direct listing has been going in the government and among regulators for few years now, discussions have reached a stage of finality and time is considered right to give a go ahead to the move. Though direct listing is expected to benefit all companies looking to raise capital but want to test waters in more mature and stable markets abroad, it is likely to be lapped by start-ups and companies in the technology space who are always looking at raising g capital from the market. The measure could also allow companies to offer an easier exit route to existing investors as well. The permission, however , will be not without any safeguards and government is likely to go by the suggestions given by a SEBI panel in 2018 for permitting direct listing. It had suggested 10 overseas jurisdictions including the US, the UK, China, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong for lusting by Indian companies. The selection was based as these jurisdictions are part of Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money laundering group, and International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The SEBI panel had also said that this route should only be available financially stable companies so that chances of manipulation could be minimised. It had also said only companies with at least 10 per cent of their paid up capital listed on Indian exchanges be permitted to access overseas listing. Capital raising exercise abroad may also have impact on the currency market as flow of overseas capital may put pressure on the rupee and lead to volatility. RBI and SEBI May be involved jointly to check this. Sources quoted above said the government will move to amend Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema), the Companies Act and Sebi regulations in the budget session of Parliament so that new scheme is operationalised soon. Lori Vallow, the mother of two Idaho children missing since September was arrested in Hawaii: AP A woman whose two children have been missing since September has been arrested and arraigned in court in Hawaii. Lori Vallow, 46, had been living on the island of Kauai with her new husband Chad Daybell, but there was no sign of her children, Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan. Ms Vallow, who has been linked to a doomsday cult-like group, fled to Hawaii in November after Idaho police questioned her about her missing children. She appeared in court on Friday to face two counts of child abandonment and is being held on a US$5 million (3.8 million) bond in Kauai. She was also charged with resisting officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the children and Ms Vallows marriage to Mr Daybell have been shrouded in mystery. Prior to the childrens disappearances, Ms Vallows former husband Charles Vallow was shot and killed in July by her brother, Alex Cox. Cox claimed he shot Charles out of self-defence. He died in December of unknown causes. Before he died, Charles filed divorce documents and said his former wife believes she is a god assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christs second coming in July 2020. He had also taken out a protective order after she allegedly threatened to kill him if he obstructed her mission and would dispose of the body with the help of an angel. Charles also said she was obsessive about near-death experiences and spiritual visions but would not seek help for her mental health because they would discover that she is a translated being. In October, Ms Vallow married Mr Daybell, a publisher and author of several apocalyptic books two weeks after his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died. Kay and Larry Woodcock speak to members of the media at the Rexburg Standard Journal Newspaper in Rexburg, Idaho (AP) Although Tammys obituary said she died of natural causes, police became suspicious after he remarried in such a short period of time and ordered her body exhumed. The results of toxicology and other testing have not yet been released. Story continues Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell have both been involved in an organisation called Preparing A People that promotes being ready for the apocalypse. In late November, Joshuas grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, asked police in Rexburg to check on Ms Vallows apartment and police discovered then they had not heard from the boy in some time. Joshua In an affidavit obtained by the East Idaho News site, Detective Ron Ball of the Rexburg Police Department wrote: Chad acted as if he didnt know Lori very well and stated he didnt know her phone number. Ms Vallows brother, who was still alive at the time, told police the boy was with his grandparents. Mr Ball called this not likely to be true due to the face that Kay was the individual who first called in a missing child report. The affidavit goes on to describe how Ms Vallow told police her son was at a friends house in Gilbert, Arizona, but when police contacted the friend, they said Joshua had not been there in months. The day after police visited Ms Vallows home, they returned with a search warrant and found the couple had left the apartment the night before. They then flew from Los Angeles to Kauai on 1 December. Ms Vallow was ordered by a judge to produce the children to Idaho authorities in January but she refused to comply. She will face a hearing on 2 March for extradition to Idaho, which she will fight. Kauai police arrest Lori Vallow on $5 million warrant from Idaho pic.twitter.com/n2ghadtfal Kaua'i Police Department (@kauaipd) February 21, 2020 Mr Daybell was not arrested and is not facing any criminal charges, and is free to move about as he pleases, said Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck. Mr and Mrs Woodcock have offered US$20,000 of information on the whereabouts of Joshua and Tylee and were "relieved" to hear of Ms Vallow's arrest. "We are elated. We are relieved. We are ready for the next stop which for Lori is: where are the kids? Where are the kids? Where are the kids?," they told East Idaho News. Read more Missing mother found in Hawaii but no sign of her children The mechanism should aim for strengthening the economys resilience in the face of uncertainties, Minh said at the fifth MLC Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. He emphasised the need to focus resources on vulnerable sectors and those that serve as economic engines of member countries. He elaborated that in agricultural cooperation, it is necessary to focus on raising technology capacity for businesses, and improving market stability and confidence for farm produce. Minh also pointed to the severe drought in the Mekong River Basin that requires relevant countries to take drastic actions to ensure the rivers sustainable development. He proposed intensifying the sharing of hydrological information and statistics in both rainy and dry seasons, setting up early warning systems and coordination mechanisms in the emergency management of floods, droughts and other disasters, carrying out joint projects to ensure peoples livelihood in the face of climate change, enhancing cooperation in fighting diseases and reducing regional supply chain disruptions. At the meeting, the ministers, who come from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam, reviewed cooperation in 2019 and discussed collaboration orientations in the time ahead. They took note of good outcomes in priority areas, especially the organisation of the first Ministerial Meeting of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the MLC Water Resources Cooperation Centre and the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and the establishment of the MLC agricultural cooperation centre, among others. The ministers agreed to push ahead with the implementation of the MLC Plan of Action for 2018-2020, under which the member countries will speed up the building and realisation of an action plan on regional connectivity, production capacity, water resources, trade and agriculture; foster partnerships in the combat against natural disasters, diseases and cross-border crime; step up exchanges and dialogues between local authorities and border gate management agencies; and improve the operational efficiency of the MLC Special Fund. They consented to strengthen the MLCs connectivity and support for relevant regional cooperation mechanisms such as the ASEAN, the Greater Mekong Sub-region, the Mekong River Commission and the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). Regarding the complex development of COVID-19 and its impacts, the ministers called on countries to boost coordination and share information about the epidemic, while maintaining trade exchange and economic growth. They agreed to organise the third MLC Summit in Laos in 2020. On the sidelines of the China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers' Meeting also in Vientiane, Minh met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, during which the two sides shared the view on the fruitful development of the Vietnam-Malaysia strategic partnership. They concurred to promote high-level delegation exchanges, carry forward bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the joint committee on economic, scientific and technological cooperation, soon sign an action programme on the implementation of the strategic partnership for 2020-2025, and enhance cooperation and mutual support as Vietnam serves as ASEAN Chair and Malaysia plays the host of APEC 2020. Vietnam and Malaysia will further their partnership in maritime issues and work together to contribute to promoting peace, stability and respect for international law in the East Sea. French lawyers representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange say they hope to meet President Macron to ask him to grant their client political asylum. Lawyers Eric Dupond-Moretti and Antoine Vey announced their plan at a press conference organized by the Paris-based press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders. Assange's legal team point out that one of his children is a French citizen and that part of the WikiLeaks organization is based in France. Julian Assange is in Belmarsh prison in London since he was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in April 2019. The 48-year-old faces extradition to the United States, where he is accused of spying. His legal team explained that they wanted Macron to understand Assange's desperate situation. The WikiLeaks founder was finding speech more and more difficult and sometimes lay down, listless, according to the Dupond-Moretti, who declared he was worried. Previous bid failed Assange's former lawyer in France, Juan Branco, has requested political asylum for him in France, but without success. Branco was until recently the lawyer for the Russian artist/activist Piotr Pavlenski, who was granted asylum in France in 2017. Last week Pavlenski posted intimate sex videos and messages of Benjamin Griveaux on a website, leading to the collapse of the LREM MP's bid to become Mayor of Paris. Griveaux was a key member of Macron's 2017 presidential election team and is considered to be in the president's inner circle. Its no great leap to suggest that he sees himself in Blagojevich. Or in former New York police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and financier Michael Milken, whom he pardoned for tax fraud and securities fraud, respectively. If granting clemency and pardons opens a window upon a presidents moral priorities and it does the view offered here suggests an unfortunate affinity for scammers and grifters, an empathy for those on the make, cutting deals, cutting corners, living the dream, until they got caught up by pesky rules designed to enforce integrity. And if those same people happened to give him money or had their names whispered into his ear by a friend, so much the better. Danilov: "Black boxes" of UIA aircraft shot down in Iran won't be decrypted without representatives of Ukraine Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov assures that the "black boxes" of the Ukrainian UIA airline's plane, which was shot down by an Iranian missile on January 8, will not be decrypted without representatives of Ukraine. "I can assure the citizens of Ukraine that without Ukraine no one has the right to touch the 'black boxes.' They are located in Tehran today ... no one touches them, neither the Ministry of Defense [of Iran], nor anyone else," Danilov said on Inter TV channel on Friday evening. He also expressed confidence that the relatives of those killed in the disaster would receive decent compensation. "I do not want to stay ahead of the times, but the process is underway, it is under control and believe me, the compensation will be worthy for Ukrainians," Danilov said. 505 Jackson Hill St. | Photo: Apartment Guide According to rental site Zumper, median rents for a one bedroom in Memorial Park are hovering around $1,389, compared to a $1,190 one-bedroom median for Houston as a whole. So how does the low-end pricing on a Memorial Park rental look these days and what might you get for your money? We took a look at local listings from Zumper and Apartment Guide to find out what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in the neighborhood, which, according to Walk Score ratings, is somewhat walkable, is convenient for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) 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. 1659 Dart St. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo, situated at 1659 Dart St., is listed for $1,001/month. In the unit, anticipate hardwood flooring and a dishwasher. When it comes to building amenities, expect an elevator and a swimming pool. Pet lovers are in luck: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (See the complete listing here.) 505 Jackson Hill St. Next, here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo at 505 Jackson Hill St., which is going for $1,100/month. Building amenities include a swimming pool and garage parking. You can also expect to see stainless steel appliances and in-unit laundry in the residence. For those with furry friends in tow, this property is pet-friendly. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the full listing here.) 5650 Memorial Drive Then, there's this studio apartment at 5650 Memorial Drive, which, with 716 square feet, is going for $1,169/month. Amenities offered in the building include garage parking and a swimming pool. In the unit, expect to find a dishwasher and a walk-in closet. Good news for pet lovers: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (Check out the listing here.) 145 S. Heights Blvd. Finally, over at 145 S. Heights Blvd., there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, going for $1,175/month. In the unit, you're promised in-unit laundry, a walk-in closet, hardwood flooring and a dishwasher. Pet lovers are in luck: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Amenities offered in the building include secured entry and garage parking. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (View the listing here.) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, if youre an agent or a broker, read on for real estate marketing ideas to promote your local listing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The radioactive contamination area in Serpong, South Tangerang city, is sealed off (Photo: Indonesia Expat/VNA) Secretary of the agency Hendrianto Hadi Tjahyono said on February 21st that the examination was conducted through Whole Body Counting to check the level of radioactive exposure. Seven residents are tested negative for the radioactive contamination, while the other two are exposed to two radioactive substances, Cesium 137 and 40K. However, he said, the contamination level is very low, and there would be no effect on the body's health. He elaborated that the highest dose absorbed in the body is 0.12 millisievert, while the maximum permissible dose is 1 millisievert. Earlier, Indonesian authorities requested residents to stay away from a plot of land after it had been found to be contaminated with radiation. Anti-radiation and resident protection measures were also carried out immediately. People with frequent activities in the area were examined to assess their exposure level./. I AM WEARING two items of mens clothing. Im wearing a jacket I got tailored that I bought from Savers in Footscray, then a mens tencel black faded shirt, and a pair of leather straight leg pants I found at an op shop in Yarraville. And then The Real McCoys military style sneakers. I tend to wear a lot of upcycled clothing. Danielle Sexton. Credit:Megan Whitfield. I would say a little bit masculine lots of oversized shirts and T-shirts, with classic trousers. Its more so 90s, early 00s. I also like to wear kind of nostalgic accessories and bags. I ADMIRE THE STYLE OF On Instagram, I follow Jade Tunchy. Shes a local girl who wears really lovely, simple, minimal kinds of beiges, greys and blacks. Kind of 90s, early 00s style. A lot more feminine and form-hugging [than me]. (@jadetunchy) MY FAVOURITE PLACES TO SHOP ARE I mostly purchase recycled or upcycled clothing, but if Im going to buy something from scratch I really like St. Agni; they do some really nice blazers. Brie Leon is an Australian brand who do a lot of hip vegan leather bags, and then Novesta and The Real McCoy have a lot of cool canvas sneakers. MY BIGGEST FASHION MISTAKE WAS Mytikos. When I was probably between 12 and 16 years old, they were big in Melbourne and on Chapel Street where I went to school, all the girls wore them. They were basically stretchy, V-cut, really low waisted leggings that were flared at the bottom. Kind of like rave wear. They were super gross, but you had to have them. Jim Bob Duggar has been accused of hoarding earnings from his familys show, covering for his deviant son, and quietly manipulating his 19 children for years. While Jim Bob and his wife, Michelle Duggar, attempt to put on a loving front for the television cameras, the cracks are beginning to show. Critics think that Jim Bob and Michelle may be controlling their childrens behavior by gifting them with living accommodations. Evidence to back up the claim does seem to exist. Josh is living in a warehouse on the property Evidence suggests that Josh Duggar, along with his wife and six children, are living inside a warehouse on the Duggar family property after selling their farmhouse over the summer. While the couple has never mentioned exactly where they live now, eagle-eyed followers note that Annas pictures seem to match the backdrop of the warehouse, where an episode of Counting On was filmed. The Duggar family has a pretty expansive property portfolio, including an expansive mansion that still sits unsold. Joshs current rumored residence is a far cry from his previous home, and some critics believe Josh is being punished for his poor behavior. The father of six molested several of his siblings and a family friend when he was a teen. He was also outed as a serial cheater in 2015 and is believed to be at the center of a federal investigation. Family critics believe that Josh may have been pulled back to the family compound to keep a closer eye on him. Their current housing is undoubtedly curious to fans. After all, Josh and Anna should technically have enough money to purchase a new home. The duo sold their farmhouse for a tidy profit. Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth purchased a home from Jim Bob and Michelle for $10 Joy-Anna and Austin spent the majority of their marriage living in a small trailer. The couple, who work together renovating properties and selling them for a profit, havent had a home of their own since getting married. Now, though, they are officially settling into a house. The might seem like a good thing, but the way they came about the property has some family followers side-eyeing the couple. Joy-Anna and Austin purchased the home from Jim Bob for just $10, according to The Hollywood Gossip. The young couple has stuck pretty close to the Duggar family rules. Joy-Anna doesnt wear pants, and the duo is invested in having many more children moving forward. Joy-Anna may also be currying favor with Jim Bob by following another rule; she doesnt seem to have direct one-on-one contact with Amy Duggar, the familys rebellious cousin. Amy is rumored to live directly next door to Joy-Anna, but the two are rarely if ever pictured together. Several other kids live in Duggar-owned properties Josh and Joy-Anna are not the only Duggar kids who are currently residing inside a property that is or once was, owned by Jim Bob and Michelle. Jessa Duggar and her husband, Ben Seewald, live in a home that was once owned by Grandma Mary. While they purchased the home for $100,000 in 2017, they resided in the house, presumably rent-free, for the first three years of their marriage. Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Caldwell, reside in a home that was also owned by Grandma Mary. The cabin was actually picked up and moved onto the Duggar family land when the pair married in 2017. Their home is located just 600 feet from the Duggar familys main house. Josiah Duggar and his wife, Lauren Swanson, also live in a Duggar-owned property. The couple, before marriage, was expecting to move into the expansive mansion the Duggar family owns. They have since been set up in a much smaller property, according to Reddit users. The familys forgotten daughter seems to be the only one not living in a Duggar-provided house Jim Bobs real estate holdings mean he certainly has enough property to hand out. After all, the father of 19 doesnt believe in debt, so it would make sense that hed want to set his children up for a debt-free life. Not all of the Duggar kids are offered the same luxury, though. That fact has led critics to believe Jim Bob is handing out property in exchange for control. Jill Duggar, who has been largely shunned by her family, doesnt live in a Duggar-owned property. Instead, she and her husband, Derick Dillard, purchased their own home in 2019. Before moving in, the couple was living in a church-provided apartment. At one point, though, they did live in a Duggar property. Before the couples mission trip, they set up house in a home owned by Jim Bob. Once they came back and stopped filming for the show, however, they had to find their own housing. Critics suggest this proves Jim Bob is providing shelter to keep his kids in line, but the evidence is circumstantial. 44.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard If the Democrats are going to retake the White House in November, the entire party will need to be united behind the eventual Democratic nominee. On Saturday morning, MSNBCs Joy Reid suggested that Sen. Bernie Sanders is making that work more difficult by framing his campaign as a hostile takeover of the Democratic Party instead of a merger that brings all factions together to defeat Donald Trump. He is presenting what he is doing as a hostile takeover, not a merger with the party that he caucuses with in the Senate, Reid said during a discussion with DNC chair Tom Perez. She added, He is essentially sort of kicking to the curb 65 million people who voted for Hillary Clinton, Obama Democrats, people who consider themselves lifelong Democrats. Video: Joy Reid raises concerns about Bernie Sanders hostile takeover strategy when it comes to winning the Democratic primary. #ctl #p2 #amjoy pic.twitter.com/LL6vskNFbJ PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 22, 2020 The discussion between Joy Reid and DNC chair Tom Perez: REID: The man who is leading in most of the polls throughout the country is not only not a registered Democrat, has not registered as a Democrat, has essentially refused to register as a Democrat, and is now tweeted this morning, its trending, that the Democratic establishment will not stop him from getting the nomination. He is presenting what he is doing as a hostile takeover, not a merger with the party that he caucuses with in the Senate. So my question, again, is do you worry, as chairman, as somebody who has dealt with the Sanders team, some of whom voted for Jill Stein and still were allowed to come in and negotiate the rules, do you not worry that if Sanders is denied the nomination, even under rules he agreed to, that there will be civil war in the Democratic Party? PEREZ: You know what, everybody understands what is different about 2020, theres a lot of PTSD about 2016. You know what is different about 2020? Donald Trump and the existential threat to our nation. Every single one of the candidates that were on the debate stage for the NBC/MSNBC debate the other night is ahead of Donald Trump head-to-head in the Washington Post polling, Quinnipiac polling from a week ago. We understand that this is not about any one candidate. REID: But does everyone understand that? I understand that youre saying that, but the senator is saying who is an independent and still is a registered independent as far as we know. He is saying this morning, in his own Twitter feed, under his own name, that the Democratic establishment will not stand in his way. Essentially sort of kicking to the curb 65 million people who voted for Hillary Clinton, Obama Democrats, people who consider themselves lifelong Democrats. Is he not one of them? Is he one of them, or is he running against them? PEREZ: The person who gets 50 percent plus one of the delegates is going to be our next nominee. Sanders will need more than his hardcore base to beat Trump In a tweet late Friday, Bernie Sanders said, Ive got news for the Republican establishment. Ive got news for the Democratic establishment. They cant stop us. While his hardcore fans may love this burn-the-party down rhetoric, its going to take more than his base which represents a minority of the Democratic Party to beat Donald Trump in November. If Bernie Sanders truly wants to build a coalition to defeat Donald Trump, then he should be trying to expand his appeal to the majority of Democratic voters who support another candidate in the primary race. Instead, like in 2016, he appears to be plotting a hostile takeover of the Democratic Party. That strategy only makes it more likely that Donald Trump will win in November. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Todos los peruanos tenemos el deber de preservar y promover el uso de nuestras lenguas originarias. Hoy, Dia Internacional de la Lengua Materna, reafirmo mi compromiso de continuar revalorando nuestra identidad. #VivoEnMiLengua #NtokanuNuwekya #VivaElPeru #WuyaPerochijne https://t.co/zE3FPcVjtT Why did the amphibians cross the road? To get to the other side and continue the propagation of their species. In an annual sign of spring, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area announced Thursday that it will begin periodically closing River Road to allow sex-starved salamanders, frisky froggies and other aroused amphibians safe crossing to their breeding pools. The park spans 40 miles of the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey. From now through about mid-April, River Road, running along the Delaware River in Pennsylvanias Monroe County, will be shut down between 4 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. on rainy, mild nights when the temperature is in the 50s. Thats when the tiny creatures are most likely to crawl or hop their way to their breeding grounds sometimes more than a quarter mile and would otherwise risk getting squished by car tires. Updates on River Road closings can be found on the parks Facebook page, on its website www.nps.gov/dewa or by calling 570-588-7237. A spotted salamander crosses River Road on a rainy spring night.Bryce Evans | Courtesy of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The United Auto Workers (UAW) leadership has quashed a bid by the UAWD (Unite All Workers for Democracy) to force a special convention to amend the union constitution so as to allow for the direct election of top officers. The UAWD was formed amidst the exposure of pervasive corruption in the UAW leadership, including a number of international officers. Former UAW President Gary Jones was forced to resign in disgrace in the midst of the national auto contract negotiations and his successor Rory Gamble is under investigation for taking massive kickbacks. The sellout of last years forty-day strike by General Motors workers, blatantly betrayed by the UAW, has further outraged workers. The contract, imposed on the workers by starving them out with a miserable strike pay of $250 a week, contains paltry wage increases and allows the company to increase its use of super-exploited temporary and contract workers. Scott Houldieson, former vice president of UAW Local 551 at Chicago Ford Assembly, said in a media post that UAWD had failed to achieve the minimum requirement for a special convention of endorsement by at least 15 UAW locals with a total membership of 80,000. By the February 21 deadline, UAWD had secured the support of 25 locals, but with a total membership of only a little more than 60,000. UAWD is largely a creation of the Labor Notes group in alliance with the Democratic Socialists of America and other pseudo-left organizations. The aim of those who spearheaded its formation and continue to control it is to prop up the UAW apparatus, under conditions of an incipient rank-and-file revolt. Labor Notes has a long history of attempting to deflect working class opposition to the betrayals of the trade union bureaucracy by channeling workers efforts behind appeals to disaffected factions of the union bureaucracy. UAWD is entirely oriented to certain organizational reforms in the existing structure of the union. Its main demand is for the holding of a special constitutional convention to amend the UAW constitution so as to require that all International Executive Board members be elected by direct vote of the members, rather than the current delegate system, under which the unions top officers are elected by the delegates to its constitutional convention, generally held once every four years. The fact that UAWD was able to secure passage of resolutions at a number of local union meetings, including locals whose officials oppose the measure, is an indication of a significant degree of rank-and-file support. While those playing a leading role in UAWD include a number of lower-level UAW officials, such as Houldieson, the demand for direct elections has attracted sympathy from many rank-and-file workers outraged by the bureaucratic tactics of the UAW. Autoworkers have every right to vote directly for the top officers of the union, as opposed to the anti-democratic procedure in the UAW whereby the president and other international officials are elected by hand-picked delegates to the unions constitutional convention. The Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter fight for the defense of the democratic rights of workers within the unions. But the anti-worker character of the United Auto Workers cannot be changed by a constitutional amendment. Nor can the organization, controlled by a right-wing layer of executives who get a share of the profits sweated from the workers in return for imposing the companies demands, be reformed. For the last four decades, the UAW has imposed one concessions agreement after another, suppressed strikes and betrayed them when they broke out, and collaborated in the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs. In the process, communities such as Detroit and Flint, Michigan, have been devastated. Detroit, once called the Paris of the Midwest, is now the poorest big city in America, with collapsing schools and infrastructure. The SEP and the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter advocate the building of rank-and-file factory committees independent of the pro-company UAW as the genuine voice of the workers. These rank-and-file committees should draw up a list of demands based on what the workers need, not what the companies say they can afford. They should form networks of contact between workers across the auto industry both in the US and internationally, and with other sections of workers coming into struggle such as teachers, steelworkers and health care workers. Within the factories, these committees should strive to assert workers control over health and safety and line speed. They should counterpoise to the dictatorship of management the independent interests of the workers. The bureaucratic rejection of the call for a special constitutional convention is a rebuke to the claims of UAWD, Labor Notes and Jacobin magazine that the UAW can be reformed. However, far from drawing any lessons from this experience, Houldieson lamely announced that UAWD would try again in the spring of 2021. He did not explain what autoworkers should do in the meantime, as the auto bosses, in collaboration with the UAW leadership, impose further job cuts, speedup, victimizations and abuse of temporary and part-time workers. In the final analysis, the degeneration of the UAW into a bribed tool of management is not simply the result of corrupt leaders, but of the pro-capitalist and nationalist program of the unions. The anti-democratic character of the UAW cannot be separated from its program, which is based on the defense of the profit system and the national interests of US corporations and the capitalist state. Genuine democracy is incompatible with the defense of class exploitation. The ruling class exercises a dictatorship over society through its control of the means of production. Labor Notes and the DSA base their efforts to reform the UAW on the most narrow and parochial considerations, never referring to the great political questions confronting the working classthe continuing international upsurge of the class struggle, the mounting threats to democratic rights, including the attacks on immigrants and the persecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the danger of war, Trumps efforts to create a fascist movement, and signs of a possible economic collapse. Without a consideration of these broader questions, it is impossible for the working class to define its own independent interests. Labor Notes efforts to keep politics out of the working class is really a defense of capitalist politics and opposition to genuine socialist politics. It and the DSA have politics, based on the subordination of the working class to the imperialist Democratic Party and the nationalist and corporatist trade unions. The fight by the SEP and the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter for the formation of rank-and-file factory committees presupposes the broadest workers democracy. Within these committees the SEP fights for a socialist and internationalist program as the basis for the unification of the working class against the depredations of the transnational corporations. We urge workers interested in learning more about rank-and-file committees and the program of the SEP to contact us at autoworkers@wsws.org. 22.02.2020 LISTEN A Ghanaian thrown out of a train before that A Nigerian was killed by German government 'doctors.' In order to deport him, the German government called on the services of its new Dr. Mengeles, who gave the poor soul lethal doses of sedatives. before that A Mozambican was thrown off a tram! before that before that ... The Solingen arson attack was one of the most severe instances of xenophobic violence in modern Germany. On the night of 28-29 May 1993, four young German men (ages 1623) belonging to the far-right skinhead scene, with neo-Nazi ties, set fire to the house of a large Turkish family in Solingen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Three girls and two women died; fourteen other family members, including several children, were injured, some of them severely. The attack led to violent protests by Turks in several German cities and to large demonstrations of Germans expressing solidarity with the Turkish victims.[1] In October 1995, the perpetrators were convicted of arson and murder and given prison sentences between 10 and 15 years. The convictions were upheld on appeal. Several instances of anti-foreigner (xenophobic) violence preceded the Solingen attack. In December 1988, a German extreme-right militant, Josef Seller, set fire to the "Habermeier Haus" building in Schwandorf, Bavaria, killing the Turkish couple Fatma and Osman Can, together with their son Mehmet. The arson attack also took the life of a German citizen, Jurgen Hubner. In September 1991, violent disturbances in Hoyerswerda forced the evacuation of an asylum seeker's hostel. During the three-day riot of Rostock-Lichtenhagen in August 1992, several thousand people surrounded a high-rise building and watched approvingly while militants threw Molotov cocktails. The Vietnamese inhabitants barely managed to survive by fleeing to the roof. In November 1992, an arson in Molln perpetrated by extreme-rightist youth killed three Turks. In December 1992, large demonstrations protesting against xenophobia took place all over Germany, with over 700,000 participants. Several Neo-Nazi groups were outlawed by the end of 1992. On 26 May 1993, three days before the attack, the German Bundestag had resolved to change the German constitution (the Grundgesetz) to limit the numbers of asylum seekers. Previously, the constitution had granted every political refugee in the world a direct right to refugee status in Germany. The Solingen attack, with five people killed, was the most severe case of anti-foreigner violence in Germany at that time. One week later, an arson attack on a house in Frankfurt am Main, with 34 foreigners inside, was detected early and nobody died. A case of arson in an asylum seeker's hostel in Lubeck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Solingen_arson_attack Fast-forward to 2020: At least nine people were killed at two shisha lounges in a German city on Wednesday evening, an assault that federal prosecutors are investigating as a possible far-right attack. The suspect was later found dead at his home early on Thursday after the shootings in Hanau, 25km (12 miles) east of Frankfurt. Another body was found at the suspect's home Bild, a popular German tabloid newspaper, reported that the gunman expressed right-wing views in a letter of confession he left behind. The police could not immediately be reached for comment. - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/dead-shooting-german-city-hanau-report-200219232214276.html (February 20, 2020) Anti-immigrant populists beat Angela Merkels Christian Democrats (CDU) to second place in an election in the east German state of Thuringia yesterday, building spectacularly on their steady momentum since first entering the Bundestag two years ago. According to exit polls, the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) took nearly 24% of the vote, beating the centre-right CDU by one percentage point but, as expected, failing to oust incumbent leftwingers Die Linke. The AfD more than doubled its share of the vote. Despite that, it has no chance of entering power yet, as other parties have ruled out joining it in a coalition. But the partys national standing is boosted by the result, which was closely watched in Berlin, as is the status of its state leader Bjorn Hocke, considered Germanys most controversial politician, who has been accused of stoking hatred with anti-Jewish rhetoric. - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/27/far-right-afd-surges-to-second-place-in-german-state-elections Readmore about the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) here: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/09/german-election-afd-170921080912611.html and here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_for_Germany When Africans complained on SCA about what Euro-Americans are doing to Africa\Africans, we have some apologists coming to take issue with what we WRITE about what they are DOING! We have had a lot of 'friends' of Africa come on SCA to profess how much they love Africa\Africans, and how they object to 'generalizations.' Where, may I ask, are these friends, when many families are going into deep mourning because the sons and daughters, they waved goodbye to has been murdered - SOLELY ON ACCOUNT OF THE COLOR OF HIS\HER SIN? I do not see these friends writing letters of condemnation. I do not see them marching on German embassies across the world. I do not see them calling for a boycott of Germany. They are not calling for UN sanctions against Germany. THEY ARE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Did anything happen in Germany? Of course not, just another African killed! Why are those who raised objection to my 'Strong language' not coming up with how to protect the Africans who are being murdered? They don't care. They don't give a damn. All they want is that we keep our mouths shut and keep accepting any\all indignities they are throwing in our way. I said in a previous post that the world will be a more beautiful place when Europeans start to feel the same, equal pain, whenever human life is wantonly destroyed. Contrast the silence that greeted the Africans death with all the noises raised by the death sentence passed on the Dutchman in Singapore! Suddenly, Amnesty International discovered that hanging is a Human Rights crime. Scores of Africans and Asians have been killed in Singapore without a murmur from Westerners. The telecommunications systems of Singapore were over-loaded with posts from people protesting the hanging of a single European! I forgot the name of the man who said: 'The death of any man, diminishes me.' That, to me, are immortal words. Again, when are we Africans going to learn that we are not being wasted (literally and figuratively) because we are Nigerians, Ghanaians, Sudanese, Angolans or whatever. Our nationality is not written on our foreheads, our color is! We are being wasted because we are Africans. I hope that we will remember the words of the Jewish philosopher who regretted not protesting when the Gestapo was coming for the Gypsies (he was not a Gypsy; the homosexuals (he was not one); the communists (he was not a communist). They finally came for people like him - Jews! Below is an editorial I wrote for a Pan-African Journal after the five members of a Turkish family were killed in Germany. begin{ The spate of attacks on immigrants in Germany is turning the nascent fascism and racism sweeping Europe into a new, ugly and fatal phase. As usual, Germany is leading Europe in foreigner-bashing and racially-inspired killings. Shortly after the Berlin wall came down, a Mozambican was badly beaten and thrown off a tram; a few weeks later a Ghanaian was thrown from an eight-storey building. These attacks were witnessed by ordinary Germans - none came to the rescue of the hapless victims. Many were cheering these ugly attacks on black people and refugees centers. On May 29, 1993, five innocent Turkish women were burned to death at their home in Solingen, Germany. These women were guilty of having been born with a different color of skin from the white skinheads who murdered them. This horrendous crime was committed in civilized Germany. The fascists who killed these women do not know them. They do not care to know them. To these hate-filled racists, these women are guilty because they haven't been born with white skin; they haven't got blue eyes. They do not belong to the 'superior' Aryan race. These perfidious acts were committed by youths who, until a few years ago, were been brought up in Marxist Internationalism. The ideology of the state to which these youth belonged, until three years ago, was geared towards the creation of the 'New-Man,' untainted by parochialism, nationalism and other isms that divide peoples and societies. Five innocent women dispatched to the world beyond at the prime of their lives - consumed by the fire ignited by hate-mongers in a civilized, rational Germany - in a Christian Europe. These educated, Christian youths were dressed in the attire of hatred; their eyes burning with malignity; their mouths bellowing the songs of malice, as they marched in their malevolent orgies of death and destruction. Among the dead were a grandmother and a child with no guilt in this hate-filled world. All were consumed by the fire of race-hate. The women were not 'illegal- immigrants.' They were not even immigrants. They have known no other country except Germany. They were born and brought up in Germany, where their husbands, brothers, and sisters are working hard to build a prosperous Germany. Germany's laws that recognized only the blue-eyed and white skin as Germans made these women immigrants in the land of their birth; made them the object of racial-arsonists. The flames of racism torched their house and singed their bodies into a cinder. Laws do not burn; people do. But the arsonists are equipped with the knowledge that they are not burning their kind; they are cleaning their country of unwanted immigrants. The law of the country of these riffraff makes anyone and everyone with a dark hue an immigrant - no matter the length of stay, no matter the place of birth. The rationalists are at work, rationalizing away these crimes against humanity. The youth are protesting 'unemployment,' 'low standards of living,' we are told. Ah! If the arsonists are eating the flesh of their singed victims, perhaps we would understand that they are hungry - hungry in the most prosperous of European nations - where mountains of food are rotting away in silos in the name of 'free-market.' But these scums do not eat the burnt bodies of their victims: They are only out to kill; to maim - to cause miseries by scorching loved ones. These apologists of racism do not tell us why, if their theories are right, Africans are not burning Europeans that live in their midst. At least, compared with Europe, Africa is a description of hell on earth - standards of living are so low that they could be described as non-existent. More than hunger is at stake when men go out to set fire to a house full of women. Those who are offering these theories do not study history. Hatred of foreigners did not start in Germany today, or yesterday. The only constant in German history is an unremitting hatred of anything foreign. Xenophobia is part of the German BEING. Hatred and persecution of strangers is part of the German SOUL. As far back as the twelfth century, history tells us, Germans have been organizing attacks against foreigners. One such group was the ARMLEDER, members of which wore red leather and short jackets to roam the streets with nothing but lynching intentions. In 1298 a German Knight, Rindfleisch, organized a series of pogroms against Jews whom he accused of murdering little children. The story of Adolf Hitler, another product of Germany homophobic is too well known to need recounting here. If Germany, and indeed Europe, don't want to be overwhelmed by immigrants, they can take practical steps to help the Third world countries to become a better place for their people to live, by stopping their super-exploitation of other people's wealth. How? By paying fair prices for what they are stealing from the poor countries of the Third World. There is no point in denying the relationship between the opulence of Europe and the poverty of the poor countries of Africa. Africans are slaving to produce 'cash-crops' like coffee and cocoa for European consumers. They have to import what they eat. And while the imports bills for European foods are rising, their earnings from the so-called cash-crops are decreasing. If the European governments do not want Africans to come and settle in their countries, they simply should encourage European multi-nationals like Shell, Hoesch to develop a little sense of social responsibility. Ear-marking a little percentage of their huge, sickening profits, for economic and social development in the areas where they derive their fabulous wealth will do a lot more to help Africans stay in their country. Any analysis that fails to see the relationship between the absolute poverty of Zaire and the relative opulence of Belgium is flawed. The Belgians should not be surprised that Zaireans are "swarming" their country. Their high standard of living is maintained and guaranteed by Belgian multi-nationals (like Societe Generale) exploitation of Zairean mineral wealth. It doesn't require a revolutionary to see that black slave labor (under slave trade) and African's mineral wealth (under colonialism and the present World- Economic Order) help in building the wealth Europeans are enjoying today. Europeans are deceiving themselves if they believe that, like the ostrich, they can bury their head in sand, and pretend they can enjoy their ill-gotten wealth while people elsewhere are starving. Encouraging their multi-nationals to lessen their exploitation would do a lot more than the purported 'aid' Europeans believe they are given to Africa. Europeans should know that every time the prices of coffee in their supermarkets fall by a cent (as it seems to be doing all the time), coffee farmers in Africa are sinking deeper into wretchedness - they shouldn't blame the farmer's son for trying to follow his father's wealth into Europe. Since we cannot advocate the killing of anyone, not even the racist storm- troopers, we can only advise the nationals of countries, whose citizens are subjected to attack in Germany, to take corresponding actions against German interests in their countries. The Julius Berger; the Mercedes, the Hoechst of Africa should be made to pay for the crimes of their compatriots. Their assets should either be nationalized or their licenses revoked. Those of us living in Europe should lend a hand by boycotting German products. There is no reason why we should be contributing to the treasury of a country whose citizens are hell-bent on eliminating us. The most disturbing aspect, however, is the silence of the ordinary folks in Europe, especially those who pretend to be liberals. Not a voice has been raised against all these attacks until the Solingen incident. We urged Europeans to recover from their amnesia and wake up from their moral slumber. They should remember that just fifty years, the same type of harassment of minorities, started in the same Germany which later engulfed them in a war, in which many Africans paid the supreme sacrifice to end. If they do not wake up to their responsibility and condemn it now, they should remember that there would be no colonial subjects to serve as cannon fodder to bail them out this time around. }end That article was written over a year ago. The attacks are not diminished. It has, in fact, intensified. Are we to believe that a government that was able to engage and destroyed a well-organized group like the Red Army Faction is unable to destroy these rag-tag bands of neo-nazis if it so wished? Children get a chance to hold Maya, a boa constrictor, from Uncharted Wild at the North Adams Public Library on Thursday. PreviousNext Kids Get Up Close With Big Reptiles at North Adams Library Christopher Smith holds Jade, a green tree python. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Seven-year-old Christopher Smith had a grin on his face as Jade, a green tree python, curled around him and popped up behind his head. Jade, and a half dozen or so other exotic creatures from Uncharted Wild of Troy, N.Y., had a roomful of children oohing and aahing at the library on Thursday. The event was sponsored by the Friends of the North Adams Public Library as part of the programming for the February school vacation. Adam Bornt, owner of Uncharted Wild, said he brought a skinny snake, a short snake and a very long snake. "For the long and skinny snake, I need a very, very brave helper," he said. One jumped up but when Bornt handed him heavy gloves and said it was venomous, he changed his mind. Christopher, of Pittsfield, quickly took his place, put on the gloves, took the snake tool and was ready. "Now, if you see a venomous snake in the wild do you pick it up with your bare hands or do you pick it up with tools and gloves," Bornt asked the children. "Tools and gloves!" they all responded. "Nooo!" he said. "You leave it alone!" He joked to Christopher that something weird was going on, because "I just told all these adults I'm about to give a kid a venomous snake, and no one's tried to stop me. They're either very confident in me or they're confident in you." The snake, of course, was not venomous but the very bright green and curious 15-year-old Jade, who proceeded to investigate Christopher. "They smell with their tongues, they don't smell with their nose like we do," Bornt explained. "They breathe with their nose holes, and they keep their mouth closed. ... "She does not have what we call a 'personal bubble.'" And then there was chunky Butters, a yellow and white ball python whose unique patterning included a couple yellow hearts, and Maya, an 8-foot boa constrictor that four or five children got to hold at a time. He also had a giant bullfrog, a tortoise, a couple walking sticks, and Big Lou, blue tongue skink that enjoyed making a mess of 8-year-old Julia Daly's hair. And Norman, an 18-pound black and white tegue Bornt rescued when he began outgrowing a small fish tank in the Bronx, N.Y., within six months. "He went from two pounds 12 pounds in a single year," said Bornt. "They are very big, very fast growing animals." The tegues are South American cousins of the Komodo dragon, the largest of the lizards, and do well in warm climates. "These guys are quickly becoming the biggest invasive problem in Florida," Bornt explained. "Because the big snakes they are finding really only like living in the humid environment of the Everglades. This thing can take down something three times its size, it's not scared of humans, it'll go right up on your porch and eat your cat." Norman wasn't particularly frightening though, with his big pink tongue that regularly whipped out of his mouth. Bornt described him as a "big chubby, friendly baby," but a baby with long claws and fast feet. He spent nearly 45 minutes showing the animals and explaining about them how they weren't particularly dangerous to children and how they lived in the wild. The kids were at times enthralled, laughing and had correct answers to many of the questions he asked. "The reason we went with reptiles is that it is a popular one when kids are coming to check out books, and they're asking for snakes or turtles or whatever," said Sara Russell-Scholl, youth services librarian. "So when we were looking for our February break program, I had heard from the youth services librarian in Pittsfield that Adam did a great job. ... "We had such a huge response to the event that we actually yesterday decided to open up a second show." She said children seemed to go through a nonfiction phase between second and fourth grade. "They just want all that information, you know. So animals is one of those things I think they look for," she said. Christopher said he liked to learned about snakes. "I catch garter snakes a lot," he said. "And I like pythons, boa constrictors." Julia wasn't too sure about her relationship with Big Lou, and a little surprised because she couldn't see what Bornt was setting on her head, thinking at first it was one of the walking sticks. "It was a lot bit scary," she said. Julia did, however, like the last animal Bornt pulled out: Lola, a chinchilla. "I like the fluffy and soft better," she said. Lola is exceeding soft and has 70 hairs to her hair base compared to humans' one. She was an immediate favorite when she was pulled out at the end, with her black eyes and vibrating whiskers. Bornt said he didn't dare let her down because she was fast and an expert parkour. Only about 6,000 chinchillas are still in the wild, down from millions, but he said they are such popular pets now that they're save from extinction. The reptiles were still the stars of the show and the children lined up afterward for the few minutes in between presentations to hold or touch them. "I love how he sort of tried to bust some of the myths that people might have about reptiles," said Russell-Scholl. "You know, that's a really nice way to connect people to animal they might feel funny about." It was enough for one adult to overcome her fear of snakes to reach out and touch Maya even if just briefly. Algerians flooded the capital's streets Friday to mark the first anniversary of a protest movement that has forced the president to quit but still clamours for the complete overhaul of the political system. Protesters had called on Algerians to mobilise to "disqualify the system's agenda of self-renewal and to lay the foundations for a new republic". A year ago on February 22, Algerians took to the streets to demonstrate against ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term and have kept up their protests since. By noon on the 53rd consecutive Friday of demonstrations, thousands of protesters, including women and children, gathered in front of the Grande Poste in central Algiers before marching in the capital. Anti-riot police were deployed, but did not disperse the crowd, which chanted "we're not going to stop", AFP journalists reported. A huge crowd of demonstrators linked up with the rally outside the central post office after setting off from the working class district of Bab El Oued, reporters said. "We have not come to party, we have come to get rid of you," they chanted, in reference to politicians deemed corrupt and inefficient. "The people want the fall of the regime." Checkpoints were installed on roads into the city, according to social media posts, complicating access to the commemoration for Algerians outside the capital. But this did not stop Bashir, 50, from travelling 150 kilometres (95 miles) from Ain Defla "to celebrate the first anniversary of (the protests) and to renew the movement's demands". Timeline and factfile on protests in Algeria. By Maryam EL HAMOUCHI (AFP) More demonstrations are expected on Saturday and the size of marches across the country will represent a key test of the spontaneous, leaderless and youth-dominated movement, known as "Hirak". Protests were also taking place in major cities across Algeria, according to reports on social media. 'Continued mobilisation' Bouteflika, debilitated by a 2013 stroke, resigned in April last year less than six weeks into the protest movement after losing the support of the army amid mounting pressure from the street. But despite hordes -- diplomats said "millions" -- turning out after he quit to demand an overhaul of the entire system, the military maintained a political stranglehold in the months that followed. The election of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, once a prime minister under Bouteflika, as president in December appears to have reinforced the regime's hand and further stalled the protest movement. Algerian security forces encircle an anti-government demonstration in Algiers on February 18. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP) But many boycotted the poll -- the official turnout was below 40 percent -- and demonstrators remain numerous. On Thursday, Tebboune paid homage to the protest movement in an interview with local media, promising to implement "all of its demands" after it prevented the "total collapse" of the country. But in a manifesto published Thursday, organisations close to the Hirak called for "continued mobilisation" to force out members of the old guard, arguing that they could not oversee the process of reform. They denounced the state taking "repressive measures" against journalists, activists and protesters. Algerians "want their country ruled and managed with transparency" by "accountable officials, an independent judiciary and a parliament that is not a rubber stamp body", they wrote. Challenges Dalia Ghanem, a researcher at the Carnegie Middle East Center based in Beirut, argued little had changed in oil-rich Algeria since the presidential election. "Soldiers have returned to their barracks, civilians are in power, so there is a democratic and constitutional facade," she said. "Tebboune is just the civilian face of a regime that remains in the hands of the military" but "the capacity of the regime to adapt without really changing, and its resilience, will be tested in the coming years," she added. Algeria's anti-government protests face mounting challenges ahead. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP) Ghanem expected the government to dole out political handouts through limited reforms, but said an economic crisis caused by low oil prices will limit its largesse and hence its scope to maintain social peace. The protest movement, meanwhile, has plenty of rethinking ahead, if it is to maintain momentum, analysts say. Will it grasp Tebboune's extended hand and risk being swallowed up by the regime? Or does it need to gear up for an institutional game, with the risk of exposing its own divisions and contradictions? Whatever the challenges ahead, the movement has already forced change on Algeria's political order in a context where real opposition was consistently hindered, gagged and co-opted during Bouteflika's two decades at the helm. And above all, in maintaining an overwhelmingly peaceful line, the movement has "succeeded in ensuring there has been no bloody confrontation or brutal repression", said historian Karima Direche. "A wall of fear... has been destroyed by this new, heavily politicised generation, which knows what it wants," she said. Netflix has cancelled its first-month free trial offering in India. The US online streaming platform will charge users Rs 5 for the first-month for its new subscribers. Netflix has said that it is testing new offers in India. Therefore, any new user who will subscribe to Netflix for the first time will now have to pay Rs 5 for first-thirty days. However, Netflix said that the offer would not be available to all new users. The new members will see it when they sign up for Netflix. At present, Netflix has four kinds of subscription plans- Rs 199 mobile plan, Rs 499 plan, Rs 649 standard plan and Rs 799 premium plan. The new Rs 5 offer will be applicable irrespective of the subscription plan. Earlier, Netflix used to provide one-month free trial to the new Netflix subscribers. The US-based OTT platform had revoked its one-month free trial offer in several markets in December 2019. Ever since its arrival in the country in 2016, Netflix has allowed users in India a 30-day free trial for its services. Netflix has over 160 million members around the world. Also read: Will Disney Plus improve Hotstar's subscription revenue, disrupt Netflix, Amazon's market in India Also read: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar face price war in India as data tariffs go up In late November 2016, Arcelia Trevino penned an op-ed addressed to the voters of Bexar County. Trevino had just pulled off a stunning victory over 386th District Court Judge Laura Parker, who had held the juvenile-court bench since its creation in 1999. Parker, a Republican, was someone whose expertise and sense of fairness commanded bipartisan respect from the local legal community. Trevino, by contrast, had no background with juvenile justice. With many courthouse regulars bemoaning Parkers defeat, Trevino sensed that she needed to reassure people worried about the fate of the court she would soon be running. Trevino commended Parker for creating a smooth transition on the court and said she and the outgoing judge shared a hatred for politics and the collateral damage it can cause. On the bench, Trevino wrote, I have no hidden agenda, I play no favorites, and I do not recognize party affiliation. The 2020 Trevino, who faces a March 3 Democratic primary challenge from local prosecutor Jacqueline Valdes, might want to revisit the words of the 2016 Trevino. More than three years into what will hopefully be her only term on the bench, Trevino has failed to meet the most basic standards of judicial conduct. On ExpressNews.com: Many questions, few answers about judges work ethic Gloria Padilla, a member of the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, has written in detail about Trevinos pattern of absenteeism on the bench, her habit of inconveniencing parents by canceling court hearings at the last minute, her inconsiderate tendency to dump work on Pat Garza the appointed associate judge for the 386th and her bewildering penchant for blowing up plea bargains negotiated between the prosecution and defense teams. Recently, Trevino has moved from truancy to toxicity, defying her own 2016 promise to avoid hidden agendas and play no favorites. Last month, she removed a prosecutor from her court, apparently because that attorney had attended a private fundraiser for Valdes. On Wednesday, she threw out Assistant District Attorney Khristina Fielder, citing a conflict of interest. The judges apparent rationale? Five months ago, Fielders husband made a $1,000 contribution to Valdes campaign. It would be a supreme understatement to say that Trevinos recent actions have been petty and unprofessional. Prosecutors (and their spouses) have the right to make contributions to candidates of their choice. Given that Valdes is herself a prosecuting attorney, its understandable that some of her colleagues would be supportive of her cause. Its impossible to imagine Parker, in 2016, throwing attorneys out of her court because they were friends with Trevino or made donations to Trevinos campaign. A responsible judge like the one Trevino promised to become wouldnt even give such considerations a thought. If Trevinos actions show an inability to separate her political concerns from her judicial duties, they also demonstrate a basic misinterpretation of what conflict of interest means. In judicial terms, a conflict of interest means that one side in a case will be put to unfair disadvantage because one of the parties in the case has a bias created by a competing financial or personal interest. If a defense attorney gives a judges son a lucrative job one week before the start of a trial, that judge has a conflict of interest. If the prosecuting attorneys brother is a business partner with the defendant, that attorney has a conflict of interest. On ExpressNews.com: Judge boots prosecutor over spouses political donation With Trevino, were not seeing either the defense or prosecution teams complain about a possible conflict of interest that could hurt their side. Were seeing the judge whose fate is not on the line in these juvenile cases apparently throw out attorneys for being supportive of the judges election opponent. Even if we accept the premise that these prosecutors have a personal bias against the judge, how does that impede the proper disposition of these cases? District Attorney Joe Gonzales would like to get some answers from Trevino, but the judge has refused to meet with him. Gonzales is understandably disturbed by the political rancor that Trevino has created in her court. While many of us worried about Trevinos lack of experience when she assumed the bench, she made a fair point in her 2016 op-ed: No one is born with experience, and all judges must be given a chance to grow into the job. Even the best judge, she wrote, had a first day. Trevino now has more than 1,000 days on the bench. But its obvious that time cant cure her lack of judgment. The Democratic primary voters of Bexar County have a responsibility to restore order to the 386th District Court by removing Trevino from that bench. The juvenile court badly needs to have an adult running it. 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 Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Armed robbers on Monday looted 30 kilograms of gold worth Rs 13 crore from office of a financial services company in Ludhiana. Police sources said that four armed robbers entered the branch of India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) on Gill road in the industrial town at around 11 AM and took away 30 kilograms of gold. The robbers took about 30 minutes to complete the robbery as there were only five staffers and no customers. It is learnt that two masked robbers directed the company staff to hand over the keys to the safe in which the gold consignment was kept, the remaining two held the other staffers captive at gunpoint. Then they tied the staff members with a rope. "The police has got the CCTV footage in which one can see the robbers and now we are investigating it," said an officer. Interestingly the office of CIA-III unit of police is located opposite to the branch in which the robbery took place. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said they asked the staff to handover keys of the safe where the gold ornaments were kept. The investigation was under way. This is the second major robbery incident in Ludhiana in the past month. On January 29, four armed assailants had looted two kg gold jewellery worth around Rs 80 lakh from VK Jewellers. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 16:01:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Photo taken on Feb. 22, 2020 shows disabled children in Surkh Rod district of Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented more than 10,000 civilian casualties in 2019, of these more than 3,400 had been killed, said a report of the body released here Saturday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented more than 10,000 civilian casualties in 2019, of these more than 3,400 had been killed, said a report of the body released here Saturday. "Parties to the conflict in Afghanistan killed and injured more than 10,000 civilians in 2019 and of these the report documents 3,403 civilians killed and 6,989 injured, with the majority of the civilian casualties inflicted by anti-government elements," the report added. It is the sixth year in a row that the number of civilian casualties has exceeded 10,000, the report further said. The release of the report coincided with the observance of seven-day "violence reduction" in the country beginning early Saturday. "Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UNAMA. "It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway." The report called upon the warring sides to prevent civilian casualties. "All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties," said Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights. "Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable." Finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 nations meet in the Saudi capital Saturday for a two-day gathering to discuss the global economy and the risks from the coronavirus epidemic. Aside from an action plan to shield the world economy from the impact of the outbreak, financial leaders from the world's top 20 economies are also expected to discuss ways to achieve a fairer global taxation system for the digital era. "Finance ministers and central bank governors will discuss global economic outlook and possible policy responses to support growth and safeguard against downside risks," G20 organisers said in a statement. "In addition, they will discuss the priorities of the Saudi G20 Presidency under the theme 'realising opportunities of the 21st century for all'... including the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy." The meeting in Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, will be chaired by the the kingdom's finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan and central bank governor Ahmed al-Kholifey. The meeting comes amid growing alarm over the new coronavirus as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent the spread of the disease, with major knock-on effects for the global economy. The impact of the epidemic may be short-lived but it comes as the global economy remains "fragile", IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva told a gathering in Riyadh on Friday. Georgieva said the economic impact could see a "V-shaped" trajectory, with a sharp decline in China's GDP followed by a sharp recovery. She warned the situation could have more dire consequences for other countries as the impacts spill over. The virus has now claimed 2,345 lives in China, cutting off transportation and forcing businesses to close their doors. China has said it will not be sending any leaders from Beijing for the Riyadh gathering but the Chinese ambassador in the kingdom will instead lead a small delegation. "We have been closely watching the developments of the virus and assessing its potential effects on economic growth," a senior US Treasury official told reporters. "We expect ministers and governors will discuss the global economic outlook, particularly as it relates to the coronavirus outbreak." The G20 organisers will also host a ministerial-level symposium on international taxation on Saturday, focused on the challenges arising from the digitalisation of the global economy. The symposium will be attended by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin along with a host of other financial leaders. The Saudi presidency will see it host world leaders for a summit in Riyadh from November 21 to 22. It will hold more than 100 events and conferences in the run-up to the summit, including ministerial meetings, organisers say. Human rights groups have urged G20 member states to exert pressure on the kingdom over its intensifying crackdown on dissent, which has seen women activists, journalists and political dissidents jailed. Saudi Arabia took over the presidency of the G20 group from Japan at a foreign ministers' meeting in Nagoya in November Charges of discrimination against Thu Cuc International General Hospital raise questions about "international standards" assumed by hospitals in Vietnam Facebook users named Le Tien and Nguyen Kim Oanh shared their unpleasant experience at Thu Cuc International General Hospital where pregnant Nguyen Kim Oanh and her husband registered for childbirth at the hospital, but when the time came was denied treatment. The hospital made my wife wait from early morning until the afternoon and then rejected helping her because we are from Vinh Phuc, Le Tien shared. The Facebook status of Le Tien Vinh Phuc province is impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19), with many people having been isolated and receiving treatment. According to information shared by other Facebookers, Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh was pregnant with her third child and the family decided to sign up for childbirth at Thu Cuc International Hospital, hoping to receive the high-quality service the hospital claims and deposited VND30 million ($1,300) before Tet. After the Lunar New Year holiday, Oanh regularly had check-ups and was isolated in Thu Cuc Hospital. However, when Oanh was about to give birth and travelled from Vinh Phuc to Hanoi, the hospital refused her and told her to return to Vinh Phuc. Netizens widely shared the story and took to the comment board to criticise the hospital for discriminating a patient in an emergency situation. The Ministry of Health then sent Document No.767/BYT-BM-TE to require Thu Cuc International General Hospital to submit a report and handle the case before February 25. VIR is reaching out for comments and will update the article as Thu Cuc has yet to react to the scandal. The scandal once again brings into question what an international hospital is. According to LuatVietNam, a member of INCOM Communications LSC, the current system of medical examination and treatment facilities includes state-owned and private establishments (pursuant to Article 81 of the 2009 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment). In addition, under Article 22 of Decree No.109/2016/ND-CP, amended and supplemented in 2018, there are only two types of hospitals: general and specialised hospitals thus, international hospitals are not a separate legal category. According to newswire Dat Viet, currently, Vietnam has four hospitals certified for international quality by Joint Commission International (JCI), including Cao Thang Eye Hospital, FV Hospital, Vinmec International Hospital in Central Park, and Vinmec International Hospital in TimesCity. Other, so-called international hospitals were designated unilaterally. Many hospitals are now billed as the best hospitals reaching international standards. However, there has yet to be clear legislation on this issue. Therefore, hospitals add the word "international" to their names only to impress customers and make unsubstantiated claims about the quality of their services. Article 8(9) of the 2012 Law on Advertising: Prohibited acts in advertising: Advertising incorrectly or causing confusion about the business competence, the ability to provide products, goods and services of organizations and individuals trading and providing such products, goods and services; about the quantity, quality, prices, features, designs, package, brand name, kinds, method of service, warranty duration of the registered or announced products, goods and services. The violation can be administratively sanctioned or criminally handled with a fine of VND50-70 million ($2,173-3,043) as prescribed in Article 51 of Decree No.158/2013/ND-CP Bill Born said its not a difficult decision to sign up to be an election judge. "I just think of it like civic duty," said the 86-year-old Rochester resident, who said he cant recall how many times hes helped at a local polling place. However, March 3 might be his first presidential primary. The state held its last special presidential primary election in 1992. More frequently, precinct caucuses are used by the states political parties in the nomination process Following Minnesotas 2016 caucuses, state lawmakers opted to call for a presidential primary, with the goal of making the process more accessible to voters, according Olmsted County election specialist Kathryn Smith. ADVERTISEMENT The primary has allowed absentee voting since Jan. 17 and makes way for added voting opportunities as March 3 approaches. The polling has been taking place at the 4-H Building in Graham Park, 1407 Third Ave SE., and will continue until the day before the election. Smith said pop-up polling sites will be open starting Tuesday at the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE, and 125 Live, 125 Elton Hills Drive. They will be available: Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADVERTISEMENT For those wanting the complete election-day experience, Born and hundreds of others will be running polling places throughout the county, including 48 in Rochester. Thursday, Smith trained approximately 50 election judges on the special process related to conducting the presidential primary. Other training sessions have been held, and the city is planning to conduct special training sessions next week as it continues to recruit election judges. Unlike typical elections, presidential primary judges will ask voters to pick between two ballots by selecting one of two participating parties. "If the voter refuses to declare a party choice, then they are not going to be eligible to vote in this presidential nomination primary," Smith said. "It is a party process." She said the choice of ballot doesnt necessarily need to align with the voters political party, and election judges and others are not allowed to challenge the ballot choice. She said judges should also stay away from discussing who is listed on a ballot, even if asked about primary candidates who are no longer actively seeking a partys nomination. "You will see names of candidates that have chosen to withdraw," she said, noting state party chairmen were required to submit names for the ballots by Dec. 31. While judges are not supposed to provide such information, Smith said they can direct voters to look up the information for themselves, if they raise questions. ADVERTISEMENT Smith said the voting process could bring expanded roles for some election judges, especially those greeting voters. "We expect the role will be a little more involved this time," she said, noting the judges will be able to direct voters to information being posted at polling places. Smith said judges also will be responsible to guide voters to choose their preferred ballot, with the understanding that once a choice is made the voter cannot make a change. Many other aspects of voting will remain the same, with voters selecting a single candidate and putting their ballots into a machine to be counted. The same machine will be used for both ballot types. The added election, as well as the expectation of increased numbers for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections, have boosted expected county costs, largely related to training staff. The Minnesota Secretary of States Office is estimating it will reimburse $11.9 million throughout the states 87 counties as a result of the March 3 presidential primary. Rochester City Clerk Anissa Hollingshead said she believes a large portion of the city expenses directly tied to the special primary will be covered by the state. "There has been a rule making process we were able to participate in through the League of Minnesota Cities with the Secretary of States Office, and as a result I do feel confident that the majority of our expenses will be reimbursed," she said. Heather Bestler, assistant director of Olmsted County Property Records and Licensing, said the countys early estimate for reimbursable costs was $82,000, but rule changes could alter the claim. "That obviously doesnt cover all of our cost," she said, noting some expenses cannot be reimbursed. Olmsted Countys 2020 budget reserved $590,000 to hire 14 staff members for nine months and another five employees for three months. It also covers costs for added staffing for shorter periods, ranging from six to 18 days. In all, the countys projected elections budget for 2020 is nearly $2.1 million, up from $772,157 last year. An estimated 52 percent of the cost is expected to be paid through property tax revenue, with 45 percent paid through reserve funds. The remainder will be paid through charges for services, which include city reimbursement for judge training. Heres a few things to know about Minnesotas presidential nomination primary: 1. The special primary is March 3. Minnesotas presidential primary will be part of Super Tuesday, which will have voters in 14 states selecting delegates to the presidential nominating conventions. Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia are also holding presidential primaries on March 3. 2. Only two parties are involved. Two major parties -- the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the Republican Party -- have submitted candidates for the Minnesota ballots. Two other political parties -- the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party and the Legal Marijuana Now Party -- qualified to participate, but opted not to hold a presidential primary vote. Each participating major party will have a separate ballot. 3. Party chairman decided who would be on the ballots. The state leaders of each party were required to submit a list of candidates for the ballots by Dec. 31. The Republican list, which was submitted on Oct. 25, features President Trump and a space for a write-in candidate. The DFL list was submitted on Dec. 17 and includes candidates who have withdrawn from the primary, The partys ballot will feature Michael Bennet, Joseph Biden, Michael R. Bloomberg, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, John K. Delaney, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Tulsi Gabbard, Elizabeth Warren, Marianne Williamson and Andrew Yang. It also includes a spot for voters to designate themselves as uncommitted. 4. Votes will be cast at regular polling locations. While each party has its own ballot, voters of both parties will use the same polling locations. Check with the Minnesota Secretary of States website, if you need to know where to vote. 5. Any voter registered in Minnesota can participate. While the pre-registration period is over, qualified residents 18 and older can register to vote at their polling places. 6. Voters must select a party. Any voter refusing to select a party will not be able to vote in the presidential nomination primary. A voters choice of party ballot will be recorded. While considered private data, a list of presidential primary participants and their selected party will be provided to the state chairman of each major political party. How a voter voted on the ballot will remain secret. 7. Precinct caucuses are Tuesday. While the presidential primary will help select a candidate for the top of the national ballot, precinct caucuses and local and state nominating conventions are still planned to conduct other party business. The caucuses are set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, a week before the primary, with individual locations set by the parties. Caucus locations are available on the Minnesota Secretary of States website. Help wanted: Rochester election judges needed for primary Purge info about primary voters' partisan picks? A Minn. lawmaker says plan should be on the table Primary voting for presidential nominees starts Friday Here's what you need to know as Minnesota becomes first to weigh in in presidential contests Minnesotans line up to cast first-in-the-nation votes in 2020 primaries Partisan feud over voter data erupts weeks ahead of Minnesota primaries New law makes voters primary party choice public Photo: Contributed Next week will be the start of Lent, and around the world various Carnevale celebrations will take place. The culmination of the festivities is Mardi Gras translated into English as Fat Tuesday. Its not hard to tell why; to survive pre-Lenten festivities you need to be prepared to consume serious calories. With the exception of New Orleans, North America hasnt taken up the custom of celebrating the pre-Lent days. However, across Europe and South America there are all kinds of raucous festivals complete with dazzling costumes and plenty of rich foods. We humans seem prone to extremes. Lent is all about penance and humility, but the theme of Carnevale is decadence and indulgence. One could argue that giving in to a last few temptations before submitting to the cause was a good reminder of what was proper. The opposite of the hair of the dog theory. Or perhaps the folks celebrating are not the ones who honour Lent at all. In todays world, our circles intertwine and we experience all manner of traditions and beliefs around us. I like to understand the importance and the reverence that exists with any tradition, and if I have a chance to spend time with people who adhere to those beliefs then I think that makes me a bigger person. Bigger people have a larger capacity for accepting the world as a whole. You might think this is just an excuse to eat beignets and King Cake this time of year, and thats fine. If the odd extra calorie is what inspires us to empathy, so be it. The world can use all the help it can get. In the interest of doing my part, here are a few suggestions to celebrate a bit of Mardi Gras or Carnevale tradition. Make a King Cake. Its not complicated, and its big enough to share. Make homemade doughnuts. Im posting my recipe as opposed to a traditional Mardi Gras version in honour of my dad, a fellow doughnut lover. He would have been 74 on Sunday. Host a masquerade party, in the Venetian Carnevale style. Be crazy for a night, before returning to your regular proper self for spring. And even if youre not someone who participated in Lenten activities, you can still honour the concept of devotion and ponder how to honour the coming spring. New growth in the world could parallel new growth in each of us, as we work to bigger people and make our world a better place. Hong Kong: 663 people finish quarantine The first batch of 663 people finished their 14-day compulsory quarantine today, the Department of Health announced. None of the people who completed the quarantine became confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the quarantine period. During the period, the Government has various measures in place to monitor whether those under quarantine are complying with the quarantine order. While officers from disciplinary forces have assisted in spot checks, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer has made use of a location-sharing function of communication software and electronic wristbands to ensure that quarantined people are staying at their dwelling places. The Centre for Health Protection has set up a hotline to provide health information and answer enquiries. The Home Affairs Department has also set up a hotline and made referrals to the Social Welfare Department for providing assistance when necessary. According to the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation, except for exempted people, those who have stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, are subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Contravening the compulsory quarantine requirement is a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Man faces $13,600 fine for trying to sell endangered pangolin A man holds a pangolin at a wild animal rescue center in Cuc Phuong, outside Hanoi, Vietnam, September 12, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Kham. A local man faces a fine of VND315 million ($13,600) for trying to sell an endangered pangolin in Dak Nong Province on Thursday. Chu Van Thi, 41, caught a pangolin weighing four kilograms while going to his coffee farm in Dak Mil District in the Central Highlands province. He took it into town to sell where he was apprehended by officers for possession of an endangered and protected animal. The Dak Mil District police and staff at the nearby Nam Nung Nature Reserve released the animal back into the wild. The police recommended the fine to province authorities. Trafficking of pangolins is not uncommon in Vietnam though they are legally protected. Transporting and trading of wildlife is subject to fines of VND7- 400 million. The shy, tiny pangolin, which resembles a scaly anteater, is the world's most heavily trafficked mammal despite bans. It is hunted in Vietnam and its neighborhood for meat and the alleged medicinal properties of its scales. Over 96,000 kilograms (210,000 pounds) of scales were seized in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam between 2017 and 2019 alone, TRAFFIC, the global wildlife trade monitoring program, said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita and Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 09:43 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065efc99 1 World Westerdam,coronavirus,ship,cruise-ship,COVID-19,outbreak,Cambodia Free More than 300 Indonesian crew members who remain aboard the MS Westerdam docked in Cambodia have decided to continue working with the cruise ship following the disembarkation of all passengers after they tested negative for Chinas coronavirus. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that Cambodian authorities had given clearance for passengers and crew members of the cruise ship to go onward with their own journey after a reexamination found that none of those abroad the vessel had contracted the virus. Foreign Ministry director for the protection of citizens and legal entities overseas Judha Nugraha said that the MS Westerdam was scheduled to continue cruising on Saturday. We have been informed that 334 Indonesian crew members have decided to continue working with the ship, Judha said on Friday. Previously, the government confirmed that there had been 362 Indonesian crew members aboard the MS Westerdam when the vessel docked in the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on Feb. 13 after being turned away by five countries on fears that passengers could be carrying the virus. [RA::Coronavirus: 362 Indonesians aboard Westerdam cruise ship healthy, minister says::https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/02/17/coronavirus-362-indonesians-aboard-westerdam-cruise-ship-healthy-minister-says.html Concerns over the coronavirus spreading from inside the cruise ship have been mounting after a 83-year-old American woman who had been a passenger on the ship tested positive for the virus upon landing in Malaysia from Cambodia on Feb. 14. The Foreign Ministry said all 362 Indonesians aboard the ship had been in healthy condition. Among the figure, some 27 of them have returned to Indonesia because their work contracts had expired and they had filled out health alert cards stating their good health. As of Friday more than a month since the coronavirus emerged from Wuhan city in China the death toll from the virus has surpassed 2,200 with more than 70,000 cases of infection reported worldwide. Indonesian authorities still claim that the country has zero coronavirus infections on its soil so far, though at least five Indonesian nationals are reported to have contracted the virus abroad. Four Indonesian crew members aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored off Japans coast have tested positive for the virus and are currently under treatment. Meanwhile, one Indonesian worker in Singapore, who was admitted to a hospital after contracting the virus, was discharged and declared healthy on Tuesday. Peru has reportedly revealed a manuscript containing the memoirs of former Inca leaders that had disappeared during Chiles occupation of Lima during the 1879-84 Pacific War. The manuscript is known as "Memories of the Peruvian monarchy or outline of the Inca's history" and was written in the 1830s by Justo Apu Sahuaraura Inca (1775-1853), who is a descendant of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac (1493-1525). Gerardo Trillo, director of the Protection of Collections at Limas National Library, told media that the document has its own prominence and is valuable since 1838. READ: Handwriting In Translated Roman Manuscript Resembles That Of Queen Elizabeth I Manuscript found in Brazil He added that it was found in Brazil and was considered to be an extremely rare jewel of a document. Sahuaraura dedicated his time to preserve the memory of Inca empire which lasted 100 years between the 15th and 16th centuries and covered a huge area from the south of Colombia to the center of Chile. The text includes information about Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Inca noblewoman. The manuscript also has accounts of the Spanish conquest of Cusco as well as Inca chronology. READ: UK: Man Convicted For Attempting To Steal Original Manuscript Of Magna Carta Queen Elizabeth I translated manuscript Meanwhile, according to a recent study, it is believed that Queen Elizabeth I was the one who translated the manuscript of Tacituss Annals. She was well-versed with the Roman accounts of events and the infighting among the Roman emperors. The translation of the manuscript details the events which date back to AD 14-68. The translated manuscript is preserved at the Lambeth Palace Library and was translated by the Virgin Queen according to a study. It is considered that the text was translated in the late 16th century, and the writings have resemblance with the handwriting of Queen Elizabeth according to a former researcher at East Anglia University. Another researcher, John-Mark Philo, who is at the Harvard University Centre for Italian Renaissance Studies, further explored the findings and conducted analysis which included several variables like its paper stock, style and handwriting. READ: Trump Says Hasn't 'seen' Former Advisor's Bombshell Manuscript READ: J&K: Exhibition Of Rare Manuscripts Takes Place In Srinagar During World Heritage Week New York Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver lost his bid Friday to get a federal appeals court to reconsider its decision to uphold part of his corruption conviction. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a brief order closed the door on a request to have a three-judge panel that decided his appeal or the full 2nd Circuit reconsider the case. A 2nd Circuit panel in Manhattan recently upheld his conviction but ordered a resentencing after reversing his conviction on some charges. A lawyer for the 76-year-old Silver declined comment, though it is likely that attorneys will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case. The Manhattan resident was first convicted in 2015 on bribery and extortion charges. After that verdict was overturned on appeal, Silver was convicted again in 2018. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. He has remained free pending appeal. His 2018 sentencing came after he was convicted the second time of trading favors to collect nearly $4 million in fees to help a cancer researcher and real estate developers. An arbitral tribunal constituted under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) issued a major ruling in Ukraine's case against the Russian Federation, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has reported. "The Tribunal rejected Russia's position that it lacks jurisdiction over Ukraine's case and determined that it would hear significant aspects of Ukraine's claims, including those related to Russia's violations of UNCLOS in the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov," the Foreign Ministry said in its comment on Friday. The MFA stressed that since 2014, however, Russia has excluded Ukraine from its own maritime areas and exploited Ukraine's natural resources, including fisheries and vast oil and gas reserves. Russia has also disregarded environmental protections and harmed international navigation, including by illegally building the Kerch Bridge, harassing international shipping, and seizing Ukrainian jack-up drilling rigs. Today, the Tribunal by its decision rejected Russia's effort to escape accountability for its conduct in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait. "The Tribunal agreed with Ukraine that Russia's claim of an internal waters status was not a proper subject for a jurisdictional objection and should be decided at the merits stage of the case. The ruling means that Russia will face legal scrutiny for its illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and its harassment of vessels in the Sea of Azov, both of which harm international navigation to Ukrainian ports," the ministry said. In ruling that Ukraine's case will move forward to the merits phase, the Tribunal concluded that it could not hear a portion of claims relating to Ukraine's rights as a coastal state in the waters near Crimea. At the same time the Tribunal concluded that it lacked jurisdiction over those claims because it does not have authority to address issues concerning sovereignty over Crimea. "Thus, the Tribunal's decision supports the international consensus, and the Tribunal itself made clear that it does not endorse Russia's claim of sovereignty. Today's ruling is a rebuke to Russia's view that it's unilateral actions are immune from legal challenge," the message reads. The ministry said that as a result of today's ruling, Ukraine will present its case on the merits before the law of the sea Tribunal. After further filings, the Tribunal will hold a hearing on the merits at which Ukraine will present its full case. According to the Rules of Procedure, the Award will be publicly available after the Parties have expressed their possible objections to the presence of confidential information in the decision, but no later than 21 days after the decision. As reported, in 2016, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation before the UN International Court of Justice on violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the framework of which arbitration was established to consider this case. On May 22, 2019, Russia filed an objection with the International Arbitration Tribunal regarding its jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's lawsuit against the Russian Federation. In November 2019, the UN International Court of Justice recognized its jurisdiction in the case of Ukraine v. Russia on violation of two conventions by Russia - on combating the financing of terrorism and on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. Thus, the court ruled in favor of Ukraine, and now can proceed to the consideration of the case in essence. In addition, in May 2019, the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, located in Hamburg, decided to oblige the Russian Federation to release three Ukrainian ships - the Yany Kapu tugboat and two boats Berdiansk and Nikopol, and 24 Ukrainian sailors, captured by it in the area of the Kerch Strait in November 2018. Jack Londons 1903 novella The Call of the Wild, first published in four installments by the Saturday Evening Post, was different from the many other sentimental animal stories that were popular at the time. Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, the book begins and takes off like a shot into the milieu of the Alaskan Gold Rush, where dogs and men test themselves against hardship with varying degrees of success. Advertisement The storyabout a kidnapped California ranch dog named Buck, his transformation into an Alaskan sled dog, and his adoption into a wild wolf packwas tragic, philosophical, wistful, and brutal. Generations of schoolchildren have since been assigned The Call of the Wild and struggled to understand what it all means. Now Disney has removed the guesswork by releasing a new film adaptation directed by Chris Sanders and starring Harrison Ford that contains none of those confusing London-esque qualities, instead turning The Call of the Wild into an extremely legible dog-man love story. Heres a rundown of the major differences. Violence Londons Buck sees a lot of it. When he first encounters the man in the red sweater, an anonymous character who handles dogs on their way north to be sold to prospectors, hes beaten and beaten, blood flowing from nose and mouth and ears, his beautiful coat sprayed and flecked with bloody slaver. Later, Buck sees a friend and fellow Southland transplant, Curly, get almost literally torn to pieces by a group of husky dogs. Bucks contest with Spitz, the dog he challenges for leadership in the second part of the novella, is characterized by bites that rip and tear the flesh to the bone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dog body count in this book is extremely high. In several instances, owners mercy-kill dogs who sicken or fail on the trail. When Bucks team is sold to a trio of Southlanders who are utterly incompetent backwoodsmen, the consequence is that the entire team (save Buck) dies all at once, when they crash through melting ice that cant support their weight. Since weve spent pages becoming familiar with the different dog characters and rooting for their cohesion as a team, this is a horrifying turn of events. But in Londons scheme of things, this is the law of club and fang, and its important for Buck to come to terms with his relationship with it in order to survive. Advertisement In true Disney fashion, the film purges almost all of this. The man in the red sweater hits Buck only once. The fight between Buck and Spitz ends with Buck holding Spitz down, and then Spitz walking away into the woods. The dogs on the trip with the Southlanders also escape into the forest, rather than dying in the river. Without this interrogation of the nature of brutality, this version of The Call of the Wild becomes much more like the other dog stories London decidedly wasnt writing: sentimental and moralistic. Perrault and Francois In Londons novel, Bucks first owners in the North are Perrault and Francois, a couple of rough but kindly men who deliver mail for the Canadian government. Perrault is French-Canadian, and swarthy, and Francois is a French-Canadian half-breed, and twice as swarthy. They speak broken English. London describes Perrault as a little weazened man, and Francois as a black-faced giant. Perraults first exclamation upon laying eyes on Buck is: Sacredam! Dat one dam bully dog! Eh? How moch? Buck feels no affection for them, but grew honestly to respect them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the movie, Perrault and Francois (now Francoise) are played by Omar Sy, a French actor whose parents are from West Africa and who at 42 definitely isnt at all weazened, and Cara Gee, a Canadian actress whos Ojibwe. Sys Perrault loves the dogs to a fault, and gives several sentimental speeches about the importance of mail delivery in the Klondike. Gees Francoise is prickly and standoffish, but eventually comes over to Bucks side after he rescues her from a fall through the ice. If there are added difficulties that come from being two people of colorand in Francoises case, a woman of colorworking in the Klondike during the Gold Rush, we never see them. John Thornton Harrison Fords character, who is also a heroic figure in the book, appears several times throughout the movie. He first encounters Buck when the dog is loaded off the boat that brings him to Alaska, then again when hes purchased by the foolish and cruel Hal (Dan Stevens), and finally when he saves Buck from Hals clutches. Fords character also narrates the story. This is a departure from the book, which confines Thorntons presence to the stretch of the tale when he and Buck are together. In the book, Thornton is a good human to Buck, and Buck loves him madlybut hes still one stop on Bucks journey, not the destination. But thats a hard thing for a movie starring a human movie star to pull off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Thornton character gets a much more extensiveand cheesybackstory in this film. Fords Thornton is drinking too much, recovering from the death of his son, and the movie follows a classic Hollywood man rescues dog; dog rescues man narrative. At one point, Buck even physically removes the bottle from Thorntons hands and buries it in the snow. One of the things the movie Thornton learns from his time with Buck is that he no longer cares about gold. He finds a fruitful claim with Buck while on a journey they undertake simply because Thorntons son had an affection for adventure stories. He then dumps all of the gold theyve panned back into the river, declaring Enough gold for groceries for life; thats all a man needs. Jack London, socialist, might actually agree with that sentiment, but the John Thornton of the book was never such an idealist: He was happy to find gold, when he did. Race and Representation London was intimately familiar with the pseudoscientific ideas around human hierarchy and eugenics of the time from reading the popular books about these concepts that educated people considered au courant. But he was also a socialist, and his published writing usually came down on the side of the oppressed. London was capable of uttering abhorrent crudities in support of white superiority, writes Jeanne Campbell Reesman in her study Jack Londons Racial Lives: A Critical Biography, while a majority of his short stories are rich with imaginative insight into the lives of racial Others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it came to writing about Native Alaskans, London wavered between criticism, condescension, and outrage over their treatment at the hands of white settlers. The novella The Call of the Wild features Yeehat Indiansnot a real tribe, but a fictionalization of the Native people London encountered when he was in the Klondikeas antagonists, but also objects of pity. The influx of whites during the Gold Rush, Londons Klondike stories make clear, was a disaster for the Native tribes. At one point in The Call of the Wild, a pack of wild dogs from some Indian village, half-starved, attack the camp where Perrault and Francois are resting for the night, making off with half of the grub. Never had Buck seen such dogs, London writes. It seemed as though their bones would burst through their skins. Advertisement The Yeehat kill John Thornton, his other dogs, and his whole camp of prospectors when Buck is away running with the wolves. Buck massacres many of these aggressors, a scene the book portrays as a final act of separation from his domesticated past. The book ends with London describing the Yeehats stories of the Ghost Dog, who strikes fear in their hearts: It has cunning greater than they, stealing from their camps in fierce winters, robbing their traps, slaying their dogs, and defying their bravest hunters. Advertisement Advertisement All of this is purged from this movie. No Yeehat, no starving Yeehat dogs. Definitely no wild Buck, periodically returning to wreak revenge on hunters found with throats slashed cruelly open. Instead, the prime antagonist becomes Hal, a (white) tenderfoot dandy who resents John Thorntons interference with his abuse of Buck. The only Native characters are Francoise, whos never overtly identified as such, and an unnamed man in a bar who comes to Thorntons defense in a fight with Hal. In trying to sidestep anything vaguely problematic, the film offers a bizarre vision of the historical Northwest, in which miners and mushers of all races and genders toil for gold in a landscape open for the taking. What It Feels Like to Be a Sled Dog There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise, London wrote, describing how Buck felt hunting a hare with his teammates. And such the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive. The scenes in the movie where Buck and his team, under Perraults direction, run wellwhen they coalesce as a unit and stream through the snowy woods, barking in joy, the viewer carried along right behind themare an absolute pleasure to watch. This may be the one thing from the book that the movie gets absolutely right. It is noted Danilov has left at the instruction of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov has left for the town of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, after recent riots against evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Read alsoProvocateurs who radicalized rally against Wuhan evacuees "not local", police found "Danilov will get acquainted in detail with the situation that has developed around the placement of Ukrainians evacuated from China in the National Guard's Novi Sanzhary health center," the NSDC's press service said. It is noted Danilov has left at the instruction of President Volodymyr Zelensky. As UNIAN reported earlier, local residents in Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, on February 20 protested against the arrival of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China and accommodated at a local medical center, which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's jurisdiction. Protesters threw stones at buses with the evacuees. During the clashes, nine law enforcement officers were injured. The police opened two criminal cases on the fact of mass riots in Novi Sanzhary and violence against law enforcement officers. On February 21, the police released 23 of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during the protests; one person remained under arrest. The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 11:25:12|Editor: zyl Video Player Close NEW YORK, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Four teams of researchers from Columbia University in New York City will jointly develop potential antiviral drugs and antibodies against the novel coronavirus, according to the university. The researchers will pursue four different approaches to develop drugs or antibodies that could prevent the virus from replication. Each approach will draw on prior knowledge and expertise that the scientists have gained while working on successful antiviral therapies against HIV and hepatitis C, the university said on its website on Thursday. David D. Ho, founding scientific director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and professor of medicine at Columbia, is the leader of the joint effort. He said the four approaches will lead to the development of a broad spectrum antiviral drug or antibody that could be effective against a wide range of current and future coronaviruses. "We're undertaking this work with a great sense of urgency because of the nature of the current coronavirus outbreak," he said, "but we are also thinking ahead to what we may confront in the future." He said that the Columbia teams expect to move at least one protease inhibitor, one polymerase inhibitor, and one monoclonal antibody into clinical trials within a year. The four teams will share a 2.1 million U.S. dollars' grant awarded by the China-based Jack Ma Foundation. As part of the project, the Columbia scientists will collaborate with academic researchers in China who are fighting to control the outbreak. "We are deeply grateful to the Jack Ma Foundation for their partnership and support as our scientists work to tame a contagion that has rapidly become a global threat," he added. Russia is once again featuring proinently in the U.S. presidential campaign, with intelligence officials warning lawmakers that Moscow is meddling in the process to support President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders on February 21 blasted any efforts by Russia and its thug leader to interfere in the November election after reports surfaced of a briefing he recently received from U.S. intelligence officials. I don't care, frankly, who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to be president. My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do, the 78-year-old Vermont senator said in a statement. Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia, the statement said. Sanders said that the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts, and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election. 'Wouldn't He Rather Have Bernie?' The Washington Post on February 21 reported that U.S. officials have told Sanders, one of the leaders among Democratic contenders, that Russia was trying to help his campaign. The report did not specify the type of help Russia was attempting to provide. During a California campaign stop, Sanders did not provide specifics but said the "intelligence community is telling us that Russia is interfering in this campaign right now in 2020." According to a U.S. criminal indictment filed in 2018 against a Russian Internet troll farm, Moscow also took steps to support Sanders in the 2016 presidential campaign. On February 20, multiple media outlets reported that U.S. intelligence officials warned lawmakers that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in a bid to aid Trumps reelection campaign. Trump in a post on Twitter on February 21 rejected the reports, describing them as part of "another misinformation campaignlaunched by Democrats in Congress." Later, during a campaign rally Las Vegas, he joked that Putin might actually prefer Sanders in the White House. Wouldn't he rather have, lets say, Bernie? Trump said. Wouldnt he rather have Bernie, who honeymooned in Moscow?" 'Information Warfare' U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller last March concluded that Russia carried out "multiple, systematic efforts" to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including through hacking and social media manipulation. The conclusions backed those made earlier by the U.S. intelligence community. Trump has expressed admiration for Putin and declared desires to improve relations with Russia. Democrats have accused him of favoring Russia in foreign policy decisions. Trump has denied the allegations and has said he has been tougher on Moscow than any other U.S. president. Russia has also denied it has interfered in the U.S. political process. The recent reports are in line with remarks made at a hearing this month by FBI Director Christopher Wray, who told the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee that Moscow was engaged in information warfare ahead of the November election through a covert social media campaign aimed at dividing the American public and sowing discord. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP President Donald Trump wants the White House to do everything in its power to prevent John Boltons highly anticipated book from seeing the light of day. At least until the November election. Sources tell the Washington Post that Trump has been directly involved in the process of reviewing the book by his former national security adviser, insisting that everything he said to Bolton while they were both working at the White House should be considered classified. The presidents view on the book marks a stark contrast from the official White House line. Although the National Security Council had already told Bolton that the draft of his book seemed to contain significant amounts of classified information, officials vowed to assist him in making sure that he was able to revise it and get it published as expeditiously as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, however, seems to have a very different idea of what should happen, telling aides that the book cannot contain any of the presidents comments related to national security. By these accounts, the president seems decidedly obsessed and frequently brings up the book with aides. Trump isnt being subtle about his dislike for his former aide, going as far as to call him a traitor during an off-the-record lunch with national television anchors earlier this month. Were going to try and block the publication of the book, Trump reportedly said at the lunch. After I leave office, he can do this. But not in the White House. The president seems quite angry at Bolton, claiming that he turned on him and is just making things up. Advertisement Advertisement The book is scheduled for release March 17 and all this talk about it is only likely to increase sales. But Bolton and his publisher would be taking a big risk if they went ahead with publication without approval from the National Security Council. Doing so could even open Bolton up to the possibility of a criminal investigation. There is a recent example that shows the risk of moving ahead with publication without the proper clearance. When Matt Bissonnette, a former Navy Seal, wrote a book about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden without Pentagon clearance he ended up reaching a settlement to forfeit $6.8 million in book royalties and speaking fees. Bissonnette later said he regretted not submitting his manuscript for vetting by the Pentagon. I acknowledge my mistake and have paid a stiff price, both personally and financially, for that error, he said. I accept responsibility for failing to submit the book for review and apologize sincerely for my oversight. A Lebanese woman who had arrived from Iran is quarantined in a Beirut hospital for coronavirus screening, Health Minister Hamad Hassan told a news conference on Friday. The 45-year-old woman had traveled to the city of Qom, where the first deadly cases of coronavirus were detected in Iran, Hassan said. According to Hassan, the woman, the first case of the virus in Lebanon, is currently in good health. Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities declared that all passengers returning from Iran should be tested and isolated before entering the country. Earlier, Canadian health authorities also announced, "A sixth case of the coronavirus has been diagnosed in British Columbia after a woman in her 30s returned to the province this week from Iran." The health officer in the Canadian province of Victoria, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said Thursday the womans suspected case is relatively mild, and several of her close contacts have already been quarantined. She also said health officials are working on a detailed investigation of the womans itinerary and the time her symptoms emerged to help determine if they need to notify those who traveled with her on the same aircraft. In the meantime, Canadian Health Minister, Patty Hajdo, tweeted on February, 20, "While the risk to Canadians remains low if you are returning from a region with a confirmed case of #COVID19, and you are unwell or unsure of your health, I encourage you to self-isolate and notify local health officials." The Islamic Republic authorities have not yet reacted to the news from Canada and Lebanon. Therefore, it is not clear where the two Iranian women were exposed to the deadly coronavirus. Norton renamed him Moses Randolph for fictional purposes hardly an impenetrable disguise and eventually cast Alec Baldwin, the gold standard in Trump impersonators, in the role. The parallel seems obvious now (although Baldwin does not play Randolph as Trump and Norton says they never discussed it) but for much of the time when he was working over his script, Norton wondered whether the character would even resonate with modern audiences. Barack Obama was elected president, then re-elected. I had this moment then of oh my God, like maybe this has lost all its teeth. Maybe all of this is in the rear-view mirror. We have a black community organiser as our president and were in this kumbaya moment. And then four years later, its like oh my God, its almost like more germane than ever. Where there is this huge confrontation with the sexual manifestation of brute power not even kink, but authoritarian power dynamics, people who believe that power grants you access to whatever you want and other people are just collateral. As it turns out, he judged that 20-year gestational delay perfectly. Edward Norton plays a man with Tourette's Syndrome in Motherless Brooklyn. Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures What seems surprising now is that, having secured the novel, Norton hadnt set about making his Motherless Brooklyn immediately. Ed Norton is quite a singular character himself. At 50 he is strikingly and intensely focused; he talks rapidly, precisely and, as one interviewer put it, like hes always leaning forward. And, by his own assessment, he is less ferociously single-minded now, with outside interests such as parenthood, surfing and founding digital start-ups, than he was when he was young and out to prove himself. Edward Norton plays a Nazi sympathiser in American History X. Credit:New Line Cinema In 1999, he was in mid-surge. Having begun his career in the theatre, he came from a late start to make six notable films in three years, getting Oscar nominations for two of them (legal thriller Primal Fear, in which he played opposite Richard Gere; and American History X, directed by Tony Kaye, about a neo-Nazi). The last of that initial half-dozen was David Finchers enduring cult classic Fight Club, to which he brought a memorably highly strung energy. And he was still only 30, but with a veterans clout. He also, rather less fortunately, had a reputation for being difficult and demanding. That reputation is baked on hard; people routinely ask about it. Equally routinely, he dismisses the stories of behind-the-scenes conflict with directors, other actors and studios as tabloid or social media exaggeration. Inevitably, he will say, there is push and jostle between creative artists focused on producing the best possible work. Picking fights between other people for clickbait is grotesque, he recently scolded a reporter from the New York Times who dared raise the subject. Im not being hyperbolic. Its part of whats problematic in our country. But Norton has always held out against control. Motherless Brooklyn is the second film in which he directs himself the first was Keeping the Faith (2000), a romcom with Ben Stiller as Nortons rival for Jenna Elfman which he says made it possible to experiment with his performance in a way he would not have risked with somebody else ultimately able to choose which shots to use. I knew I was giving myself the raw material to sculpt, he told Script magazine. Which was freeing, because no matter how much you trust a director, you run the risk of self-editing your performance to prevent takes that might not hit the right notes. But directing this film, where I was in control, removed that component from the equation. Perhaps this is what hes always wanted. I say to young actors now, if youre not willing to also be a writer and a director and a producer, youre f---ed, is how he put it in 2003. Take as much control over your own destiny as you possibly can otherwise youre just a pawn in someone elses game. That is one spin on the idea of being directed. Hes a daunting proposition, because youre taking on a collaborator, said David Fincher. And Fincher, whom Norton rates highly, is nobodys pushover. Relations between Edward Norton and Marvel Studios got a little tense during filming of The Incredible Hulk. These collaborations have often taken the form of script rewrites which, even when invited, have not always ended happily. Nortons most famous spat was with Marvel Studios, where he rewrote The Incredible Hulk for what was supposed to be the first film in a long-term residency in the Marvel Comic Universe. When the dust settled, Marvel supremo Kevin Feige announced he would be replaced with an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The role of the Hulk, aka Bruce Banner, subsequently went to Nortons friend Mark Ruffalo. It was a vicious thing to say, especially to the public at large, but Norton says there are no hard feelings, that Feige is a commercial genius and that anyway, he could never have pulled off Motherless Brooklyn if he had been committed to being an Avenger. No way. Nor Birdman. Nor Grand Budapest Hotel. None of it, he told The Telegraph. Theres no way you could service that franchise and also give this the kind of focus it takes. Birdman, in which he plays a narcissistic stage actor constantly trying to take over the play in which he is appearing which was sporting, given how the role mirrored the stories told about him brought his third Oscar nomination. Michael Keaton and Edward Norton in Birdman. It is also a demonstrable fact that Norton has forged some excellent working alliances and friendships over the years that proved valuable when he came to make his passion project. The heavyweight cast in Motherless Brooklyn including Baldwin, Willis, Willem Dafoe, Bobby Cannavale, Cherry Jones and Gugu Mbatha-Raw draws on his New York theatre circle. His friend Thom Yorke of Radiohead wrote a suitably melancholic title song. Dick Pope, Mike Leighs regular cinematographer, says he came on board because he had so enjoyed working with Norton on The Illusionist in 2006. Unlike Sting's eponymous hero, this Englishman in New York decided to take a few ales in the local taproom in Newton Plaza on the occasion of Brexit Day evening of Friday, Jan. 31, rather than drink a cup of tea. This was the day that saw the United Kingdom leave the European Union after 47 years of membership. First, I selected the intriguingly named French Toast Bastard, which I was pleased to note is a rich bourbon barrel-aged Scotch ale, and I then washed it down with a Vienna lager. Then, as is the custom these days, I posted the photos of my beverages on Instagram, commenting that anyone was free to read into it whatever they will regarding my selection of European-sounding beers on that auspicious evening. When I left the U.K. for Albany about six years ago, the country I left behind, while not exactly a paragon of harmony and prosperity, seemed to be relatively stable and still basking in the phenomenal success of the 2012 London Olympics. Little did I know then that during the years of my absence, the nation of Nelson, Shelley, Churchill, and Harry Potter; the land that brought generations of Americans costume dramas and quaint detective shows on Sunday night PBS, would become fractured along fault lines that now seem almost irreparable. Viewing events from this side of the Atlantic, Brexit has forced me to examine my sense of self and my identity. While I have always viewed myself as a patriot, rather than a nationalist, I have never been ashamed to say that I am British, which, despite centuries of colonization and warmongering, is usually greeted with a welcome nod by most people I meet or at least it used to. But as well as being British, I am also a European, an Englishman, and an expat. So, I'll watch the BBC World News in the morning while eating Marmite on toast, and then savor my pastrami on rye at the local deli at lunchtime, while reading The New York Times. At the start of the new millennium, I was proud that so many Polish people and other Europeans saw the U.K. as a land of opportunity. For anyone who cared to acknowledge it, these were not immigrants who wanted to receive welfare checks or get free treatment from the National Health Service. They were people who brought much-needed skills in the building trade, the so-called 'Polish plumber,' and better service in our bars and restaurants. Within a few years, the high street (you'd call it "main street") didn't seem right without a Polski Sklep (Polish shop) amid the tea shops and pubs. Britain's Polish community became as much a part of the landscape as Stonehenge and scones. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Britain had a good place in Europe, too. Yes, it was portrayed as the "awkward squad" by some of the other European nations, but it had been an integral member of the EU and often the driving force in many successful European initiatives, from the single market to the convention of human rights. But nothing seemed to represent the U.K.'s seemingly contradictory relationship with Europe more than Maggie Thatcher and her handbag. From this era came the image of the "hand bagging": plucky British politicians fighting with Europe to win back rights that had been forfeited to Brussels. Brussels became a synonym for a colonizing force hellbent on imposing foreign ways on the British, and, in its extreme form, anti-European sentiment even equated Brussels with rule by a Germany set on dominating the continent. But despite Maggie's irascible relationship with Europe, not even she sought to steer the U.K. out of the club, instead seeing the immeasurable benefits that would come from the single market. So, as I nurse my Brexit hangover just a couple of beers is my limit these days I reflect upon the last few years and consider what a strange journey it has been. In recent weeks, while my American friends have been more preoccupied with the orations of Schiff, Dershowitz and Pelosi, I, on the other hand, have been glued to the comments of Johnson, Barnier and Verhofstadt. But as my hangover recedes, I believe salvation will come from a realization that what defines us is a willingness to bind as a community and accept our members wherever they are from, even while they hold other identities. And that is certainly something I will drink a French, German, Belgian, American, or even an English beer too! Will Trevor, born in Shakespeare's home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, is a member of faculty at Excelsior College in Albany. Married to a New Yorker, he has lived in the United States for six years and worked in higher education on both sides of the Atlantic. : Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has sought exemption from personal appearance before a commission probing the violence at Tuticorin during the anti-Sterlite protests, in which 13 people were killed in police firing in 2018, saying it may inconvenience the public. However, the 69-year-old actor has expressed his willingness to respond through a written statement to queries by the Commission. The Tamil Nadu government had appointed a Commission of Inquiry headed by retired judge of Madras High Court, Aruna Jagadeesan, to investigate the violence in which 13 people were killed in police firing during the protest against the Sterlite copper smelting plant, on May 22, 2018. "He has sought an exemption as it may cause inconvenience to the public (at the time of his appearance). However, he informed them (Commission) that he can make a written response to any query put forth by the commission", sources told PTI. Rajinikanth had, after visiting those injured in the police firing, blamed 'anti-social elements' for the protests and called for a Jayalalithaa style 'iron fist' policy to crush such people in the interest of Tamil Nadu. The actor's media manager, in response to a query from PTI, said "All I can say is he is in shooting in Hyderabad". Rajinikanth's next flick is the yet to be titled 'Thalaivar168', his 168th film. The actor is fondly called as 'Thalaivar (leader)' among his fans. Noted industrialist Kalanithi Maran promoted Sun Pictures is producing the film, to be directed by Siva,who shot to fame after successful collaborations with actor Ajith Kumar. Actor Prakash Raj, actress Keerthi Suresh, Meena, Khushbu are some among the star cast. Rajiniknath's movie 'Darbar' an A R Murugadoss directorial, is the latest to hit the screens. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 2.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Privately, Trump is worried that a US coronavirus outbreak will slow down the economy and cost him the election. Politico reported: The Trump administration is bracing for a possible coronavirus outbreak in the United States that could sicken thousands straining the governments public health response and threatening an economic slowdown in the heat of President Donald Trumps reelection campaign. .. The biggest current threat to the presidents reelection is this thing getting out of control and creating a health and economic impact, said Chris Meekins, a Raymond James financial analyst and former Trump administration HHS emergency-preparedness official. It is revealing that Trump is worried about a virus outbreak not because of what it could do to public health, but the impact that it would have on his reelection campaign. Trump is more worried about bad economic numbers than Americans getting sick and dying. Trump brags, boasts, and blusters, but he understands that his margin for error is close to zero. If the economy slips, Trump could be toast. Trump is running on economic numbers. He doesnt care about people. He just wants to have a nice looking number that he thinks he can campaign on. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook On June 8, 1976, Sherry Roach left the group home in San Mateo where she was staying to take a bus to her part-time job in San Francisco. The 17-year-old girl was never seen again. San Mateo police released a new photo in the decades-old cold case Thursday. Dated 1975 on the back, it shows a man with his arm around Sherry's shoulder. Her mother, now in her 80s, reportedly found the photo at the family's home. Police want to talk to the man. "He might have some information about her if he in fact had a relationship with her," Detective Tom Paulin told Fox 2 KTVU. "Again we just don't know who he is." Paulin said investigators at the time did "cursory" interviews with Sherry's coworkers and acquaintances, but they failed to produce any leads. Family members told CBS 5 KPIX that they did not recognize the man, but thought Sherry might have had a boyfriend. Sherry was described as white with some Native American background, 5-foot-5, 115 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes. She had crooked teeth, wore glasses and might have colored her hair blond. She reportedly did not like to have her picture taken, so the photo with a man several years older was very unusual. Sherry was known to hitchhike often, a common practice in the '70s. ALSO: What happened to Kristen Modafferi? One man's 20-year search for answers Jerry Roach, Sherry's younger brother, told CBS 5 that they grew up in Santa Rosa in a violent household, resulting in Sherry being placed in several foster homes and group homes. He said he was very close to his sister. "Maybe she is still alive, which Im hoping for," he said. "But I know its doubtful, 'cause I think if she was alive, she would have contacted me. Gives me hope to just give us all closure." Anyone with information is asked to contact San Mateo Police Detective Lee Violett at 650-522-7662 or lviolett@cityofsanmateo.org. People can also call the departments Anonymous Tip Submission line at 650-522-7676. --- Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate Watching (the) Democratic debate, Ive arrived at the conclusion that many politicians, Democrats, and even Republicans havent a clue on what stop & frisk" really is. Watching former Mayor Mike Bloomberg was a pathetic sight at his first debate, especially when he was hit with the ugly word of stop & frisk" from many of his opponents on stage. Bloomberg immediately went into the defense mode which, in my opinion, was a huge mistake. As a former law enforcement officer for over 30 years, I can easily say without any hesitation or reservation that the stop & frisk policy has saved lives, not only in New York but across the nation. It is undoubtedly the best effective tool used by police to minimize gun violence, but now it is used by many politicians to chastise their opponents for political gain. They quickly use the race word to imply that police are using it to target African Americans and Latinos, but that is clearly a distortion of the truth. The real purpose of stop & frisk is to go into high crime areas, especially where gun violence and gang activity are prevalent. Most police departments are equipped with geographical maps displaying these areas. So, my point is if African Americans and Latinos make up a large portion of these areas, is it the fault of the mayor? The police? Ironically, we see many candidates, mostly Democrats, using stop & frisk as an effective means used against their running mates in order to paint them as racists because they know its a powerful word, used like Kryptonite. Bloomberg with all his billions wasnt bright enough during the debate last night to go on the offensive and explain how he was effective in keeping this city safe when he was mayor. (Sonny Tannebaum is an Ocean Breeze resident.) Senior spokesperson of the party Anand Sharma replied in the negative when asked whether there was a leadership crisis in the Congress New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said there was no leadership crisis in the party as Sonia Gandhi was appointed as its chief by the CWC, the highest decision-making body of the grand old party. Senior spokesperson of the party Anand Sharma replied in the negative when asked whether there was a leadership crisis in the Congress in the wake of many leaders demanding a fresh election to the top post. Sonia Gandhi was appointed as the interim Congress president in August last year after Rahul Gandhi resigned taking moral responsibility for the party's Lok Sabha poll debacle. "I do not see that. We have a president (in place). That is the decision of the Congress Working Committee (CWC)," Sharma told reporters when asked whether there was a leadership crisis in the party. On many Congress leaders voicing their concerns in public over the leadership issue, he said, "It is clear that those in the Congress express their opinions." "But the view of the Congress is decided by the CWC, which takes key decisions. As and when there is an event, we have a constitution and the CWC," the Rajya Sabha member added. Voices are emerging from several quarters within the Congress on the leadership issue with many leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Sandeep Dikshit, demanding fresh polls to the top post in the party. 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 Those who fight for a more equitable way to keep track of sexual predators won a big victory in Michigan last week. That is a state with some 44,000 names on its Sexual Offenders Registry list. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland put his foot down and gave the Michigan legislature 60 days to rewrite its current unconstitutional registry statute. Last spring, Judge Cleland set a 90-day deadline for lawmakers to rework the law, but he was ignored. This time hes serious. Everyone agrees we need to keep track of career sexual criminals after they are released from prison. Once theyve been convicted of violent sex crimes it follows that they might re-offend. A public safety monitoring system makes sense. But understand that these state registries there is one in every state are bloated beyond belief with many names that shouldnt be there. Registries were mandated by federal law in the mid-90s to keep watch over ex-con pedophiles who sexually targeted children. Somewhere along the line we lost our way. Included over the years have been: a 10-year-old female caught playing sex then branded with criminal sexual conduct charges. Teenage boys caught with high school girls. Drunks discovered urinating or streaking in public. Average citizens unjustly accused of sex crimes during ugly divorces. And men duped into believing that an intimate partner was not a minor when she was. Many of these people, often caught up in a moment of normal human passion, have been forced to register as sex criminals for the rest of their lives. Do we really want to lump these kinds of criminals in with hard-core sexual predators? Cleland found Michigans Sexual Offenders Registration Act, enacted in 2006, illegally clawed onto the registry citizens who had committed offenses and served their time years before the law was ever enacted. He also concluded that a 2011 amendment to the SORA, which added confusing rules for juveniles, was unconstitutionally vague and overreaching. Among other things, that amendment allowed juveniles who met certain criteria to apply to escape the registry but only after 25 years. While the requirements and restrictions vary from state to state, it is undeniable that this system is destroying lives and taxing both public safety and social welfare programs. Its a lifelong Scarlet Letter sentence. Registrants must check in with law enforcement for decades after the offense. Their case details and personal information is shared with the public, including where they work and live. This, of course, is information any employer or landlord will see. The registrant cannot travel without checking in with another police department, nor be anywhere near where a child might be even if their offense didnt include a child including their own home, a school, fast food restaurant, church, theater or mall. This can greatly restrict where a registrant can work or live. It can also make them targets of vigilante justice. In 1999, a high school student in Oklahoma jokingly flashed female classmates and was arrested for indecent exposure. He was jailed for four months and ordered to register as a sex offender for at least a decade. The kid committed suicide a month before his 20th birthday. In 2002, a woman in Georgia was convicted of sexual offenses for allowing her 15-year-old daughter to have sex in their home. She was not sentenced to jail, but she was forced onto the offenders registry. Three of her children were put in foster care, and she had to leave the family home to live in a trailer way off down a dirt road. In 2016, Ernest Leap of Oakview, Missouri, finally won a gubernatorial pardon for a crime both he and his two sons insisted never happened. For 27 years Leap had to live with the moniker child molester following a most ugly divorce. Ernest had won custody of his young boys but they would later tell the court their mother had forced them to lie about their fathers molestation. Its cases like these that make it clear every state needs to follow Michigans lead and check the fairness of its sex offender registry. Cut the bloat and focus monitoring on the most dangerous sex criminals among us. www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com. Were deep into a cold, rainy February and our New Years resolution to get moving again at the gym or on the sidewalk is working great, right? Not right? Weve already broken the habit? Were having a hard time getting in the habit? Heres what two experts say about the latest research and the traditional ways to turn good intentions into good habits. Dr. Leah Schumacher is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, working with the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center and the National Weight Control Registry. Jennifer Baker is a former nurse and fitness trainer at the downtown YMCA in Huntsville. First, the news. Recommended national guidelines say all adults should be moving, strengthening their muscles and getting moderate AND vigorous intensity exercise every week. And data from the most recent annual National Health Interview Survey suggest were getting better at that. More adults are more active than ever. In the 10 years from 2008 to 2018, the percentage of Americans who reported doing no leisure-time physical activity dropped from 36 percent to 25 percent. However. Schumacher said that even though the numbers are moving in the right direction, America still has an epidemic of inactivity. Most people still dont meet the recommended guidelines, and certain population groups get very little physical activity. And there are questions about the accuracy of surveys based on interviews where we self-report our activity. Lots of research indicates that people often overestimate both the intensity of their workouts and how much exercise they do each week, Schumacher said. Its likely not intentional, she said. Its just how human memory works. Diving deeper into the data, Schumacher said women today tend to be less active than men, activity declines with age, obese people are less active, and activity differs by region of the country. No surprises there, right, except maybe for the women? The good news for people who arent doing any exercise or doing very little is this. Any amount of exercise helps, Schumacher said. Any amount of exercise has benefits. In fact, we see big health gains for people who go from doing nothing at all to doing something activity-wise, she said. So, lets talk about those New Years resolutions. They tend to be very lofty, and they tend not to be very specific, Schumacher said. Better to have a specific, achievable plan to get started. And if a resolution didnt work, make another one and try again. Its never too late to start, fitness trainer Baker said. Or, restart if youve slipped in your resolve. Wherever youre starting from, any bit of activity is better than none, Baker said echoing the study findings. It doesnt matter how inactive youve been or how old you are. If you just start out slowly and use caution, physical activity is pretty much for anybody. As an aside, scientists like Schumacher are doing more research into the flip side of moving: lifestyles where we spend most of our time sitting, reclining or lying down. Research suggests that spending a lot of time sedentary, and especially spending a lot of time in prolonged sedentary activities (e.g., sitting for 90 minutes without a break), has a negative impact on our health, Schumacher said. Recently, the focus has increased on trying to get people to replace any sedentary time with movement. Get up from the chair while watching TV and move around the room. Get up from the desk and walk down the hall. If you tried and failed to get moving Jan. 2, just get back to it, trainer Baker said. Its never too late. Just because it didnt take the first time doesnt mean you cant form that habit. Accountability can really help, Baker said. And it doesnt have to be a trainer, she said. It can be a class you go to and get to know the people and they expect you to be there. It could be meeting a friend, whether its coming to the gym or going for a walk. Theres no miracle machine. The key is just to be consistent in whatever you choose to do. Find something you like doing and being consistent with it. Schumacher agreed, and she pointed to the SMART acronym as a way to get that consistency. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based. First, its really important to create a specific plan for what youll do," she said. "On what days will you go to the gym? When? For how long? Will you go with anyone? What will you do there? I think one of the important things is setting realistic goals, Baker said. Rather than just having a long-term goal, you want to break that down into short term goals that are action-based. It might be Im going to work out three times this week for 30 minutes, or Im going to go for three 30-minute walks. Its based on something you feel confident you can accomplish. You dont want to set some large goal youre not sure youre going to meet and feel like youve failed. You want to feel that accomplishment. Try your plan for just a week and then evaluate your progress. What worked and what didnt? The fabulous new exercise machine, class or method wont help if you cant stick with them. Personal trainers like Baker can help, and they cost less than you might expect. Sessions are usually available in packages that cost less than individual sessions. Trainers spend time asking your goals and designing a plan to meet them. And they will encourage rather than judge you. Heres a final tip based on Schumakers latest research. So far, data indeed suggest that consistency in timing is a good thing, and that morning exercise may be especially helpful for people who are just starting to exercise. The morning part isnt proven yet, but consistency does seem critical, just as trainer Baker said. It may be that morning exercise is most helpful for physical activity adoption, perhaps because it better helps people to establish an exercise habit and make time for exercise in their schedules Schumacher said. However, once someone is exercising somewhat regularly, as long as they are consistent with their chosen time, the specific time of exercise may not matter as much. Kent Memorial Library will soon present a lecture series based on the musical West Side Story. The series will be held March 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Kent Town Hall at 41 Kent Green Boulevard. Individuals who attend three of the four programs will have their names entered into a drawing to win two tickets to the Broadway production of West Side Story April 7 at 7 p.m. at Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, New York City. All four presentations will examine all aspects of West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein wrote the music for the musical. The series will coincide with the Broadway revival of West Side Story and the expected release of Steven Spielbergs new movie, West Side Story, in December. In addition, Netflix recently acquired the rights to the untitled Leonard Bernstein film which Bradley Cooper will star in and direct. With the success of last years To Kill A Mockingbird Lecture Series, we thought it would be fun to have an interesting exploration of another beloved classic, and West Side Story surfaced, Pierpont said. Not only is the subject matter endearing, but in my opinion, everything about it is pure genius, she said. Panelists Athenaide Dallett and Geoff Stewart, members of Kent School faculty, and Patrick Beer, a member of South Kent School faculty, will present West Side Story and William Shakespeare March 7. The 1961 movie, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, will be screened March 14. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by William Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet. Music lecturer Jeffrey Engel, adjunct professor at Northwestern CT Community College, will present Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story March 21. The series will conclude with Book Talk: Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographers Journey with author Tom Santopietro, who will interview Kent resident and noted choreographer Bob Avian as they discuss their new book Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographers Journey. Avian is an award-winning Broadway choreographer known for his work on A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard. He began his career on Broadway as a dancer in such classic shows as West Side Story, Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly! He also served as an original producer of Dreamgirls in 1981 and directed the Broadway and London revivals of A Chorus Line in 2006 and 2013. This will be their first event to celebrate the newly published book. For more information and RSVP to the programs, call the library at 860-927-3761. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made his decision on the nation-wide rail blockades standing in solidarity with the Wetsuweten land defenders challenging a natural-gas pipeline being built through their territory. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made his decision on the nation-wide rail blockades standing in solidarity with the Wetsuweten land defenders challenging a natural-gas pipeline being built through their territory. "The barricades must come down, the injunctions must be obeyed, the law must be upheld," Trudeau said Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a news conference to discuss the current rail blockades in Ottawa Friday. "Every attempt at dialogue has been made, but discussions have not been productive. We cant have dialogue when only one party is coming to the table. Canadians who are feeling the very real impact of these blockades are losing patience." Gone were the previous calls for patience, listening, and partnership. Instead, standing beside his two ministers of Indigenous affairs, his deputy prime minister, and his minister of public safety, Trudeau gave a green light to police across Canada to remove rail and road occupations, arrest activists and continue Canada as usual. Some credit must be given to Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who for more than a week had been calling for the tear-down of what he called "illegal blockades" led by "radical activists," who "need to check their privilege." The real credit though, should go to Trudeaus father, Pierre, whose echo could be heard at the Ottawa news conference. As if channeling his father who evoked the War Measures Act during the height of the 1970 FLQ crisis in Quebec (giving sweeping powers of arrest and internment to police) and told reporters who accused him of circumventing law: "Just watch me" Justin Trudeau carved out a legacy of his own. The problem is, he isnt imposing Canadas rule of law nor dealing with militants. The hereditary leadership of the Wetsuweten (most of whom reject the pipeline project on their unceded territory) have been recognized by the Supreme Court in the 1997 Delgamuukw decision as speaking on behalf of the Wetsuweten Nation. They are legitimate, legally recognized voices. Are the hereditary chiefs unified in their decision on this project? No. Nor are the Indian Act chiefs and councils who govern small First Nations within Wetsuweten territory (five of six support the project). A firmly divided leadership and picking which leaders represent a nation while ignoring others who dissent is at the bare minimum a failure to meet Canadas constitutional "duty to consult" and attain "free, prior, and informed consent" for use of Indigenous lands. This is not to mention the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and supporters are peaceful occupants on their own land. At the same time, "peaceful" defines the rail and road occupations put up in solidarity mostly by Indigenous activists occupying traditional lands they have been removed from, as well. In this vein, Trudeaus call for Canadas "rule of law" ignores simple truths. His argument, for example, Indigenous peoples dont come to the table, comes apart when a simple internet search shows five years ago the same Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs proposed the pipeline be built through a different route in their traditional territory. So, what is the point of putting a nation into crisis, police forces on alert, and inflaming tensions? Money. Canadians want to profit off the land, and nothing will stop them. This isnt a political position; it doesnt really matter which party is in charge in Ottawa. Indigenous peoples have land and Canadians want it. Period. For 150-plus years, Canadas economy has been built off Indigenous-held territories, and unless Indigenous peoples acquiesce and accept this, armed men will be sent in. 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. This isnt whining, complaining, or even a protest. This is the truth, laid bare this week. Over and over again, Indigenous peoples are told by politicians from Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister to Trudeau to B.C. Premier John Horgan they have no right to "veto" Canadian projects. In a democracy, people have a right to say no (not that the Wetsuweten are doing this anyway). In a treaty (which doesnt exist for the Wetsuweten anyway), one side has the right to say no, too. However, Indigenous peoples cant say no. Ever. This is Canadian law. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 21, 2020) - Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GPG) (OTCQB: GPTRF) (FSE: GPB) ("Grande Portage" or "the Company") wishes to clarify that, further to its news release dated February 6, 2020, it has now issued 4,297,122 Units, as opposed to 4,290,537 as previously announced, at a price of $0.12 per Unit for gross proceeds of $515,655 with all securities issued having a four-month hold period which expires on June 6, 2020. As such, the Company paid an aggregate of $14,920 in cash and issued 128,419 Finders Warrants in connection with this offering. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at $0.16 per share for 18 months from the date of closing. The Finder's Warrants are issued on the same terms and conditions as the private placement Warrants. The net proceeds of the offering will be used to advance exploration activities at the Company's Herbert Gold property, located in southeast Alaska, as well as for general working capital. In addition, the Company announces that, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, it has granted incentive stock options to a consultant to purchase up to 50,000 common shares exercisable on or before Feb 20, 2023 at a price of $0.25 per share. About Grande Portage: Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Herbert property. The Herbert Gold property system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced nearly seven million ounces of gold. The Company's recent Mineral Resource estimate is quoted at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 2.50 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and consists of: An indicated resource of 606,500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 10.03 g/t Au (1,880,500 tonnes); and An inferred resource of 251,700 ounces of gold at an average grade of 14.15 g/t Au (553,429 tonnes). Story continues ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Ian Klassen" Ian M. Klassen President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: (604) 899-0106 Email: Ian@grandeportage.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52674 By Trend Italy is the biggest trading partner of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani MP Tahir Mirkishili told Trend on Feb. 21. On other hand, the efforts of both countries towards the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project and ensuring Europes energy security are of great importance, the MP said. "Strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries, the similar interests of Azerbaijan and Italy within the international law promise great prospects for both the EU and the Caucasus region, Mirkishili said. The Azerbaijani presidents foreign policy aimed at strengthening bilateral ties gives results in all spheres, the MP said. Italys fundamental support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity is a clear example of the abovementioned aspects. The Azerbaijani presidents state visit to Italy once again showed that Azerbaijan, thanks to its capabilities and potential, is expanding the sphere of influence in the region, the MP said. This looks extremely tempting for every country that is interested in the development of the region." Environmentalist Niloufar Bayani says she was subjected to at least 1,200 hours of interrogation and torture by the intelligence branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) during which she was threatened with death, rape, and forced to imitate the sounds of wild animals. The torture, detailed in documents obtained by the BBC's Persian Service, including Bayani's letters to Iranian authorities, was aimed at breaking her and making her confess to charges brought against her and other environmentalists, including "cooperating with the hostile state of the U.S." Bayani, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence, is among eight members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation -- including Iranian-American Morad Tahbaz -- who were arrested in early 2018 on charges of spying. Their prison sentences, which range from four to 10 years, have been upheld by a higher court, Iran's judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili announced on February 18. The intelligence branch of the powerful IRGC arrested the environmentalists, including the director of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Kavous Seyed Emami, a well-respected Iranian-Canadian university professor, in late January 2018. Seyed Emami died in detention days later under unclear circumstances. Authorities said he committed suicide, but the claim was questioned by his friends and relatives. 'Sexual Threats' In excerpts from the documents, which have been published by the BBC, Bayani said she had a mental breakdown after her interrogators showed her a photo of Seyed Emami's body in a morgue surrounded by his family and warned her that she and her colleagues could meet the same fate if they didn't confess to the charges being dictated to them. "This will be you, all of your colleagues, and your family unless you [make a written confession] to everything we want," Bayani, who studied in the United States and Canada, said. Bayani, who worked for the United Nation's Environmental Program from 2012 to 2017 before returning to Iran, has also claimed she was subjected to sexual threats and slurs and forced to participate in the sexual games of her interrogators. "They would[force] me to complete their sexual fantasies," Bayani had said in documents seen and verified by the BBC. Bayani is in Iran's notorious Evin prison, where she is believed to have been held since she was detained in early 2018. In a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bayani also said she was taken to a villa in Lavasan, an affluent town in the mountains near the Iranian capital, with seven armed men and forced to watch "their immoral and un-Islamic behavior" in a private pool. Bayani, who her acquaintances said returned to Iran in 2017 to help the country, also said at one point that she was asked by an interrogator to choose between being flogged 70 times over the course of two days or receive 50 lashes in a single day. 'Increasingly Terrified' She added that she was subjected to daily threats of execution. She also underwent interrogation sessions lasting between nine and 12 hours that were sometimes conducted at night. "I was increasingly terrified that if I didn't write whatever [my interrogator] wanted, he would sexually assault me," Bayani, who is in her early 30s, wrote. Bayani said publicly during her trial in February 2019 that she had been tortured, held for several months in solitary confinement, and forced to confess under duress. "If you were being threatened with a needle of hallucinogenic drugs [hovering] above your arm, you would also confess to whatever they wanted you to confess," Bayani was quoted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) as having said during the second session of her trial. Details of the pressure and abuse she had faced had not been revealed until now. Speaking on February 19, the lawyer of another of the jailed environmentalists -- Sepideh Kashani -- suggested she had also faced similar treatment to that experienced by Bayani. "It was something [similar] to these issues because [Kashani and Bayani] had common cases during the investigation," Kashani's lawyer, Kazem Hosseini, told the Iranian news site Ensafnews.ir. "There have been some incidents that completely undermine the investigation," he added. According to rights organizations and former detainees, Iranian interrogators often resort to torture to extract false confessions from political prisoners. Many former Iranian detainees in recent years have recanted their confessions after being released from prison, saying they were forced to read from scripts dictated to them by their interrogators. HRW has said Iranian authorities have failed to produce any evidence to support their charges against Bayani and other members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. "Iran's revolutionary courts are 'revolutionary' only in their ability to fabricate charges without evidence," Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at HRW, said in a February 19 statement. "Two years on, there's still not a shred of evidence against these environmental experts, and the authorities should release them immediately," he said. Iranian lawmaker Mahmud Sadeghi said last year that Iran's Supreme National Security Council did not deem activities by the jailed environmentalists to amount to spying. The other five environmentalists imprisoned are Houman Jokar, Sam Rajabi, Taher Ghadirian, Amirhossein Khaleghi, and Abdolreza Kouhpayeh. Uncertain origin of Taiwan's 24th COVID-19 case perplexes experts ROC Central News Agency 02/21/2020 10:18 PM Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) Taiwanese medical authorities are increasingly perplexed by the country's 24th novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case -- a woman in her 60s from northern Taiwan, with no recent history of travel abroad and an unknown source of infection. The woman's case, which was announced Wednesday by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), may stretch back to the early days of an outbreak that has since spread across the globe, sickening over 75,000 people and killing more than 2,200. According to a timeline provided by the CECC, on Jan. 6 the woman came in contact with her daughter's classmate, who had recently returned from Hangzhou, China. Doctors who treated the woman, however, believe this encounter was too early to have been the source of infection. On Jan. 22, the woman fell ill, and after visiting two clinics over the course of a week, she was admitted to a hospital on Jan. 30. On Feb. 10, she was transferred to the hospital's intensive care unit with respiratory failure, and on Feb. 17 was moved into a negative-pressure isolation room, before testing positive for the virus on Feb. 19. On Feb. 21, her granddaughter, who had visited her in the hospital on Feb. 12, was diagnosed as Taiwan's 25th case of the virus, and the woman's daughter was confirmed as the 26th case. In interviews with CNA, virology experts following the woman's case offered their opinions on the possible source of infection, as well as the case's implications for Taiwan's outbreak prevention efforts. According to a health care worker involved in the government's coronavirus testing efforts, researchers are using an international virus genome database to track the virus' mutations based on time and location. The bewildering thing about the 24th case, the source said, is that the virus the patient was infected with resembles the virus structure from the beginning of the outbreak, as opposed to that seen in more recently affected locales, such as Japan or South Korea. From a virological standpoint, this suggests that the virus was present in her body for an extended period of time, the source said. Meanwhile, Hwang Kao-pin (), director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division at Taipei's China Medical University Hospital, said the many trips to see a doctor made by the woman before her diagnosis, and the potentially large number of people she came in contact with, made finding the source of infection "a real nightmare." Hwang also said the granddaughter might have contracted the virus while visiting her grandmother on Feb. 12, given the closeness of contact, although their meeting only lasted several minutes. More broadly speaking, Shih Shin-ru (), director of Chang Gung University's Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, said the case shows Taiwan has reached a point where travel history can't be the only standard for judging risk of infection. Recognizing this, the CECC has not only expanded its screening standards, but also gone back and administered tests on unexplained respiratory infections -- which is how they found the 24th case, she said. (By Chang Ming-hsuan and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and his wife, Jane Sanders, wave as they exit the stage during a campaign rally at Cowboys Dancehall in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Read more LAS VEGAS Bernie Sanders scored a commanding victory in Nevadas presidential caucuses on Saturday, cementing his status as the Democrats national front-runner but escalating tensions over whether hes too liberal to defeat President Donald Trump. As Sanders celebrated, Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg vied for second and Elizabeth Warren trailed further behind. They were all seeking any possible momentum heading into next-up South Carolina and then Super Tuesday on March 3. Nevada's caucuses were the first chance for White House hopefuls to demonstrate appeal to a diverse group of voters in a state far more representative of the country as a whole than Iowa and New Hampshire. Sanders, a 78-year Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, won by rallying his fiercely loyal base and tapping into support from Nevadas large Latino community. In a show of confidence, Sanders left Nevada for Texas, which offers one of the biggest delegate troves in just 10 days on Super Tuesday. We are bringing our people together," he declared. In Nevada we have just brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition which is not only going to win in Nevada, its going to sweep this country. Saturday's win built on Sanders victory earlier this month in the New Hampshire primary. He essentially tied for first place in the Iowa caucuses with Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who has sought to position himself as an ideological counter to Sanders unabashedly progressive politics. But for all the energy and attention devoted to the first three states, they award only a tiny fraction of the delegates needed to capture the nomination. After South Carolina, the contest becomes national in scope, putting a premium on candidates who have the resources to compete in states as large as California and Texas. While Sanders' victory in Nevada encouraged his supporters, it only deepened concern among establishment-minded Democratic leaders who fear he is too extreme to defeat Trump. Sanders for decades has been calling for transformative policies to address inequities in politics and the economy, none bigger than his signature Medicare for All health care plan that would replace the private insurance system with a government-run universal program. Trump gloated on social media, continuing his weeks-long push to sow discord between Sanders and his Democratic rivals. Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, Trump tweeted. Congratulations Bernie, & dont let them take it away from you! Buttigieg congratulated Sanders, too, but then launched an aggressive verbal assault on the senator as too divisive. Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, lets take a sober look at what is at stake for our party, for our values and for those with so much to lose," he said. Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans. Biden also took aim at the Vermont senator as he claimed a success but not a victory in Nevada that would trigger a comeback. Without naming names, he took a swipe at Sanders and billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn't on the Nevada ballot but has emerged as a threat to Biden in contests that begin next month. "I aint a socialist. Im not a plutocrat. Im a Democrat, Biden declared. Also in the fight: Warren, who desperately needed a spark to revive her stalled bid; billionaire Tom Steyer, who spent more than $12 million on Nevada television and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who hoped to prove her strong New Hampshire finish was no fluke. Klobuchar, campaigning in her home state of Minnesota Saturday night, claimed Nevada success no matter her poor showing. As usual I think we have exceeded expectations, she said. The first presidential contest in the West tested the candidates' strength with black and Latino voters for the first time in 2020. Nevadas population aligns more with the U.S. as a whole, compared with Iowa and New Hampshire: 29% Latino, 10% black and 9% Asian American and Pacific Islander. Bloomberg, the former New York mayorwho dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, wasn't on the ballot. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month. The stakes were high for Nevada Democrats to avoid a repeat of the chaos in the still-unresolved Iowa caucuses, and it appeared Saturdays contest was largely successful. Unlike state primaries and the November election, which are run by government officials, caucuses are overseen by state parties. Nevada Democrats sought to minimize problems by creating multiple redundancies in their reporting system, relying on results called in by phone, a paper worksheet filled out by caucus organizers, a photo of that worksheet sent in by text message and electronic results captured with a Google form. In addition, it appeared Nevada Democrats were able to successfully navigate a complicated process for adding early voting to the caucus process. Nearly 75,000 people cast early ballots over a four-day period, and the party was able to process those in time for Saturday so they could be integrated into the in-person vote. At the Bellagio casino caucus site, 41-year-old Christian Nielsen, a scuba diver for the Cirque du Soleil show O, said he backed Sanders because he believes the country needs a major change in the White House. We need somebody in the White House who has been on the right side of history for their entire career, somebody who stands with the working class, and will make things more fair for everybody, Nielsen said. The Democrats' 2020 nomination fight shifted beyond Nevada even before the final results were known. Only Biden, Buttigieg and Steyer were still in the state when news of Sanders victory was announced. Sanders and Klobuchar spent the night in Super Tuesday states, and Buttigieg was headed to a third, Virginia. Warren, who began Saturday in Las Vegas, was to finish the day in Washington state, which hosts its election on March 10 but has already begun offering early voting. Peoples and Slodysko reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe in Washington, Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta and Yvonne Gonzalez, Ken Ritter and Nicholas Riccardi in Nevada contributed to this report. California Sues Trump Admin After President Signs Order Delivering Water to Farmers The state of California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that President Donald Trumps order granting farmers more access to water in the state had failed to consider a variety of environmental impacts. The president signed a memorandum on Wednesday supporting water development and delivery in the states Central Valley and Southern California, fulfilling a campaign promise. The order would allow farmers to pump water to irrigate farmland, addressing a water crisis that has impacted the states agricultural industry. For years, farmers have been lobbying for changes in rules that govern the management of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP), the two largest water and transport systems in the state that provide water to over 25 million Californians and acres of farmland. The rules limit water supplies to the farmers who have been fighting years of drought, in an effort to protect aquatic life. The presidents move has angered many environmentalists and fishing groups who say the new operational plans would imperil threatened fish species such as smelt and salmon in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds. The Trump administration says the changes, which are based on newer biological opinions, will ensure that the environment and aquatic life remains protected while directing as much waster as possible to the farmers and communities suffering from the lack of water. The new plans would include habitat restoration, facility improvements, hatchery actions, monitoring, and science commitments estimated to cost $1.5 billion in Federal and state funding over 10 years. Our team of career professionals did a great job using the best available science to develop new operational plans for the coordinated operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said in a statement. In 2018, the president directed the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce to complete a new operation plan to address the inefficiencies, burdens, and conflicts in water delivery in California. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a biological opinion in October the planned operations will not jeopardize threatened or endangered species or adversely modify their designated critical habitat. Similarly, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a separate biological opinion on the same day, which also found that the operations is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, CV spring-run Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, Southern Resident Killer Whales, or the Southern DPS of Green Sturgeon or destroy or adversely modify their designated critical habit. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) formally adopted the 2019 Biological Opinions on Feb. 19. Trump said on Wednesday that the new plans would update the outdated scientific research and biological opinions that determined how much water is available for farmers and residents in the state. Weve done the full complete update on water and water allocation. A major obstacle to providing more water for the regions farmers has now been totally eliminated by the federal government, he said. About a day after Trump signed the memorandum, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and two state agencies sued the Trump administration claiming that the 2019 biological opinions lack safeguards for protected species and their habitat. The suit also challenges BORs decision to adopt the opinions. California wont silently spectate as the Trump Administration adopts scientifically-challenged biological opinions that push species to extinction and harm our natural resources and waterways, said Becerra, who has brought multiple legal challenges against a range of the presidents policies. The lawsuit (pdf) lists out reasons why the biological opinions and BORs decision had violated legal requirements, including failing to provide analysis on whether the plans would push a species toward extinction, and whether it puts many fish species at risk. Our goal continues to be to realize enforceable voluntary agreements that provide the best immediate protection for species, reliable and safe drinking water, and dependable water sources for our farmers for economic prosperity. This is the best path forward to sustain our communities, our environment and our economy, Californias Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Bernhardt commented on the California officials move to sue the administration saying that they had launched a ship into a sea of unpredictable administrative and legal challenges regarding the most complex water operations in the country, something they have not chartered before. Litigation can lead to unpredictable twists and turns that can create significant challenges for the people of California who depend on the sound operation of these two important water projects, he added. SALT LAKE CITY - U.S. officials have dropped plans to sell energy leases in a popular Utah recreational area thats renowned for its mountain biking trails. The reversal by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management comes after local businesses, officials and Gov. Gary Herbert raised concerns about potential effects to the Slickrock Trail near Moab. The two lease parcels would have covered about two-thirds of the 10.5-mile (17-kilometre) trail and been barely a mile (1.5 kilometres) from Arches National Park. The 9,000-acre Sand Flats area that includes the trail is visited by 160,000 people a year, many of them drawn to the undulating, rocky trails that pose a challenge to mountain bikers. The U.S. land agency co-manages the recreation area with Grand County, an arrangement in place since 1994. Under President Donald Trump, the amount of acreage leased for oil and gas in Western states has been sharply increasing, raising concerns among conservationists about potential damage to the environment. Bureau of Land Management officials said in a Friday announcement that local officials and businesses had raised legitimate issues about the proposed Sand Flat leases, which had been anonymously nominated for sale in November. Recreation access is a priority of ours as well as responsible energy development and both provide important economic benefits to Utah, said land agency acting Canyon Country District Manager Brian Quigley. As a resident, recreator and manager of public lands in Moab, I understand the publics concerns. The Grand County council had raised concerns about effects on water supplies, and Herbert asked the agency to put off the sales. Moab Mayor Emily Niehaus told The Salt Lake Tribune that the agencys decision on the leases showed federal officials can be responsive to local needs, even if they dont align with Trumps pro-development agenda. Lets celebrate this decision, because they are listening, Niehaus said. The state of Utah is doing a good job of balancing the economic implications of our public lands. This move says to me we have a partner in the governors office. We have a partner in the BLM. The Bureau of Land Management made a similar reversal in 2017 after the governor and Washington County officials objected to proposed leases outside Zion National Park. A yellow school bus with a banner depicting the face of Britains Prince Andrew drove past Buckingham Palace on Friday, urging him to testify in the investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The stunt organized by American lawyer Gloria Allred sought to pressure Queen Elizabeth IIs son to reveal what he might know about the disgraced financier. Allred represents some of Epsteins victims and has demanded that Andrew cooperates. The message, featuring pictures of Andrew, said: If you see this man please ask him to call the FBI to answer their questions. Andrew has stepped back from royal duties following a catastrophic BBC interview in which he categorically denied having sex with a teenager who says she was trafficked by Epstein. Britains newspapers and social media commentators slammed the royal for defending his friendship with Epstein and for failing to show empathy for the convicted sex-offenders victims. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman told reporters in January that Andrew has provided zero cooperation to the FBI and U.S. prosecutors seeking to speak with him about Epstein. The statement by Berman, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, was the first official confirmation that the leading U.S. law enforcement agency had sought and failed to obtain evidence from Andrew, third child of the monarch, despite his pledge to cooperate with legitimate law enforcement agencies. Andrew was reported to be angry and bewildered at the comments by American authorities, with the Telegraph quoting a source as saying: The duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI but he hasnt been approached by them yet. The American prosecutors have since stood by their statements. The FBI declined to comment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Muryanto and Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta/Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 12:19 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065f79c6 1 National sleman,turi,flash-flood,sembor-river,Yogyakarta Free A joint search and rescue team reported on Saturday that eight students had died during a flash flood that swept away a group of scouts trekking on the banks of the Sembor River in Donokerto village in Sleman, Yogyakarta. Rescue team personnel have found eight bodies and are still looking for two more that are still missing, said Yogyakarta Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head Lalu Wahyu Effendi on Saturday at noon. The dead and missing students are all girls aged 12 to 15 years old. Meanwhile, 23 students were injured during the incident. Wahyu said the rescue operation was under way, with 853 personnel deployed to find the missing students. The operation had continued at 7 a.m. on Saturday. The focus of the search today is from the location of the incident [in Donokerto village] to [Pondok Gajah Homestay in Sleman], with a total area of operation of 25.19 kilometers. The personnel are divided into four teams, dispatched to separate locations, as written on the agencys official Twitter account, @Pusdalops_diy. Operasi Pencarian dan Pertolongan dilanjutkan pagi ini bersama SAR Gabungan.. Dimulai pkl 07.00 WIB. Dengan fokus penyisiran sungai dari TKP - Hotel Gajah, dengan jarak 25,19 KM dibagi dalam 4 seksi lokasi pencarian.. pic.twitter.com/UZmMzpzWEz BPBD DIY (@Pusdalops_diy) February 21, 2020 Several rescuers were also looking at a weir located near the incident. A diver searched for victims at the bottom of the river, as observed by The Jakarta Post. Read also: At least six dead after flash flood sweeps away 250 students in Yogyakarta The victims were among 257 seventh and eighth graders of Turi 1 junior high school taking part in scouting activities on Friday. The student participants went river trekking despite the weather conditions. Tarnoto, the head of Dukuh hamlet in the village, said hamlet residents had remined the scout group to cancel the river trekking on Friday because drizzling had started at the time. The sky was full of dark clouds above the rivers upstream area. The residents were worried that it would rain in the upstream and cause a flash flood, Tarnoto told the Post. He went on to say that Sempor River had for years been used for trekking and was known for its cleanliness. Speaking at a video conference on accelerating farm produce processing and agricultural mechanisation on February 21, the Government leader emphasised that Vietnams agricultural sector still has great potential and it is possible to make rick from farming activities. He touched on the countrys huge potential in terms of farm specialties, stressing the significance of continuously searching for and expanding markets and paying more attention to the domestic market. To deal with the situation of low agricultural labour productivity, PM Phuc highlighted the need to strongly reduce labour in agriculture via the application of mechanisation, continue applying science and technology and researching new varieties of good drought and salinity resistance, and apply digital technology, biotechnology and mechanics to improve the product value and quality. In addition to increase competitiveness of Vietnamese farm produce, he suggested continuing to reduce prices and costs, especially logistics and transportation costs, in addition to developing trademarks for agro-products and planning large-scale material areas. The PM emphasised the vision of developing Vietnams agro-product processing industry which is striving to break into the worlds top 10 and become a global centre for intensive processing and farm produce logistics by 2030. Regarding the vision of developing agricultural mechanisation, he said by 2030, Vietnam will implement synchronous and modern mechanisation in some key industries, while improving the productivity, quality and efficiency, and reducing losses in agriculture. A general view of the conference. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai) To ensure the effective implementation of the aforementioned tasks, PM Phuc asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to promptly complete the building of the farm produce processing and agriculture mechanisation development strategy until 2030 and submit it to the PM for approval. The Ministry of Industry and Trade was tasked with implementing the development strategy for Vietnams mechanical engineering industry, in which tractors for agricultural production and machines for cultivation, preservation and processing of agro-forestry and fishery products are prioritised for development investment. The Government leader requested the Ministry of Science and Technology implement the national science and technology programmes to support enterprises, farmers and cooperatives in upgrading product processing and preserving technologies, in addition to developing a set of criteria on evaluating the capabilities of the farm produce processing and agricultural mechanisation industries. The State Bank of Vietnam was told to direct credit institutions to balance capital sources for agricultural and rural development, while especially giving out incentives for businesses and investment projects in agro-product processing and agricultural mechanisation. Israeli police said in a statement they neutralised the man because he had the aim of harming them. A Palestinian man has been shot dead by the Israeli police when he allegedly attempted a stabbing attack outside the Old City in Jerusalem on Saturday. According to Palestinian official news agency Wafa, witnesses said the man was shot several times and left on the ground bleeding near the Lions Gate (also known as Bab al-Asbat) before Israeli paramedics arrived at the scene. A video posted on social media appeared to show a man in a dark jacket and light blue jeans lying motionless on the ground, with a number of Israeli forces standing nearby. Israeli police issued a statement saying they had called on the person to stop before he turned around toward them with the aim of harming them. The police responded quickly while firing toward him, neutralizing him and preventing harm, the statement said. Israeli medics said the security forces, while firing on the suspect, had lightly wounded a 42-year-old woman in the leg. Israeli forces shut down the gates leading to the Old City before later reopening them. The shooting comes amid heightened tensions after the release of US President Donald Trumps controversial Middle East plan. There have been daily clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the plan was released in late January, with five Palestinians killed so far. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Forty-seven Filipinos who were on board the virus-hit cruise ship in Japan will have to stay in hospitals in Tokyo to be treated for the coronavirus disease. They will not join more than 400 other Filipino passengers and crew members of Diamond Princess who are set to be evacuated next week, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines Saturday. "They are in hospitals there in Tokyo, maiiwan muna sila (they will be left behind for now)," Vergeire said, adding that the Japanese government agreed to continue to accommodate the Filipinos. She said two other Filipinos who previously tested positive for the virus have recovered from the disease caused by the new coronavirus, officially named COVID-19. "They can already go home because they have received a clean bill of health," she said. The repatriation was initially set for Sunday, but Vergeire said it has been moved to next week since half of the Filipinos have yet to be tested for the virus. Only those without flu-like symptoms will be allowed to go home as part of government policy. There is no definite date for the repatriation yet, Vergeire said, but Foreign Affairs Secretary Tedoro "Teddy" Boy Locsin, Jr. in a tweet said it will happen on February 25. The new coronavirus has killed more than 2,360 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province December 2019. In the Philippines, three Chinese nationals have been infected with the virus one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country. A total of 495 patients have tested negative for the virus, while the government awaits 55 more lab results. MONTICELLO, Ind. (WLFI) - A statement from White County and Monticello leaders is providing a glimmer of hope for Indiana Beach. It confirms the city is looking for potential buyers to keep the amusement park open. They are reportedly meeting with industry leaders, brokers, and investors. Although Apex Parks, which owns the shuttered site, was not a part of the statement, city leaders say they're keeping in contact with the company. "We all realize that this is not a personal decision, but a business one," said Mayor Cathy Gross, "We wish to remain good neighbors with Apex should there be any opportunity for a sale or resolution." You can read the full statement here. Apex Parks had Indiana Beach up for sale for a while before opting to close. They said they couldn't find a buyer. News 18 will be keeping a close eye on the situation if any potential buyers do come forward. The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared the dividend payouts for its members at 5.45% for conventional and 5% for its Simpanan Syariah fund. For the conventional fund, the rate is the lowest since 2008, where the dividend was just 4.5%. Citing a challenging 2019 which saw plenty of events that affected the global and domestic markets, the EPF maintained that the 5.45% rate is a solid performance, and reiterated that it is 2.95% above the mandate set in the EPF Act 1991, which requires it to declare at least 2.5% in dividends every year. As anticipated, we saw substantially more volatility in 2019 as compared to 2018. Certainly 2019 exemplified what it means to be living in a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world. Many issues in the global markets remained unresolved, but we also saw some new issues cropping up. There were three rate cuts made by the US Federal Reserve, the US-China trade spat escalated and continues to be unresolved, and there were uncertainties surrounding the Brexit negotiations. On top of this, we did not expect the Hong Kong protests to be prolonged and that certainly added pressure on an already fragile far-east market, Chief EPF Officer Alizakri Alias said. A stagnant domestic market was also a big factor. In addition, the domestic markets did not support the income-generating capabilities of the EPF as 70% of the funds assets are in Malaysia, with a major part of our assets in domestic equities, Alizakri added. Overall, the EPFs investment income from equities in 2019 dropped 24% from 2018, at RM21.49 billion from RM26.66 billion in 2018. Equities remained the biggest income contributor for the fund, at 47%, with fixed income instruments contributing a further 43%. Real Estate & Infrastructure (6%) and Money Market Instruments (4%) make up the rest of the income. Many were expecting a lower EPF dividend payout for 2019, given the volatile global market conditions last year. This was intensified when PNB announced a 5.5% payout for its historically-resilient Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for 2019. Since 2008, there have only been four occasions when the EPF dividend has dropped below 6%: 2008 (4.5%), 2009 (5.65%), 2010 (5.8%), and 2016 (5.7%). The EPF is already bracing for another difficult year ahead. We expect that 2020 is going to be just as or even more challenging than 2019, with the full impact of the COVID-19 virus likely to drag down already soft global growth. The US-China trade war still sees no signs of ending, among other risks to economic recovery. We hope that the domestic markets will be resilient, especially in light of the soon-to-be-announced government stimulus package which should help support investor and consumer sentiment, Alizakri said. 5 1 vote Article Rating SHARE Around 10,000 people demonstrated in support of bull and cock fighting in Lima on Friday ahead of a supreme court decision on their future. Animal rights activists have brought a case to the Constitutional Court asking it to declare unconstitutional a law that exempts bull and cock fighting from and animal protection laws. The court is due to take a decision on the case on Tuesday. "United for a passion, culture and tradition," read one banner at the rally in central Lima. Bull and cock fighting have been popular activities in Peru since the Spanish colonization but animal rights groups have demanded an end to the practices. The law that protects pets and wild animals kept in captivity has a clause exempting bulls and cockerels, considering them "part of cultural shows." Defenders of bull and cock fighting say the livelihoods of 400,000 people involved in breeding these animals would be at risk if the activities were banned. Bull and cock fighting are legal in many Latin American countries, but not in Peru's neighbor Chile, where they were banned in 1818 when it declared independence. People across Benin have been shocked and horrified by photos of the largest slaughterhouse in Cotonou that were posted online in early February, including images showing butchers using dirty water to wash the animals before slaughter. Our Observers spoke out about the high level of dysfunction that has led to such unsanitary conditions at the facility. The shocking photos of the Cotonou slaughterhouse show pigs being washed with filthy water and rotting animal intestines and excrement near a water tank. The images were first posted on Facebook on February 2 by the France-based NGO Benin Diaspora Assistance. "Its a serious public health problem The France 24 Observers team spoke with Medard Koudebi, the president of the NGO, which is based in France. Koudebi explained how the NGO received complaints from butchers and sent collaborators on the ground to go and investigate the slaughterhouse. The butchers who work in the Cotonou slaughterhouse are forced to work in extremely unsanitary conditions. The butchers use water from a borehole that isnt drinkable. The dirty water that theyve used then flows into the yard because all of the drains are blocked. This polluted water then seeps into the ground and is again extracted when the butchers draw water from the borehole to wash the meat. For a period lasting several months, the slaughterhouse didnt even have any electricity.They hadnt paid their bills so the national energy company came and cut off the power. That meant that the cold room used to conserve meat wasnt working. This is a serious public health problem. It was the butchers who work at the slaughterhouse who sounded the alarm, which meant we could then investigate the high level of dysfunction at the facility and denounce it. The smells are disgusting and suffocating Huge amounts of pork and beef are processed every day at the slaughterhouse, which is located in Akpakpa, the largest neighbourhood in Cotonou. That meat is then sold at the main markets in the city. The slaughterhouse is a public entity and is funded by fees paid by the butchers who go there to slaughter their animals. Our team interviewed one of the butchers who uses the facility. He requested to remain anonymous but spoke out about the poor management. Story continues There are serious problems with hygiene in the slaughterhouse. We became ill from all of the nauseating and overpowering smells. Since late November, there hasnt been water or electricity at the facility so we have to use water from a borehole, which isnt drinkable. Our meat went bad because management kept shutting down the cold room that is meant to preserve it. They said that they wanted to save money. They once shut it between 9am and 4am the next morning. We lost a lot. Its terrible management because we pay at least 13,000 CFA francs [20 euros] for each cow that we slaughter there and 500 CFA francs CFA [75 euro cents] for each sheep. Government claims that the facility respects sanitation norms In response to the photos, Yao Akpo, the director of livestock farming at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing, published a statement on the governments website on February 11 claiming that the facility was respecting sanitation norms. He also told consumers that they could keep buying and eating meat without fear. The statement also highlighted the fact that there are two slaughterhouses located on the site in question. The newer establishment opened its doors in 2018. The new slaughterhouse has the equipment necessary to manage the polluted water that is a concern to the population. The water treatment plant on site also treats polluted water before it flows into public pipes. Another system was put in place to carry both solid waste and polluted water from the old slaughterhouse to the water treatment plant in the new slaughterhouse before it flows into public pipes. The slaughterhouse has a dirty section and a clean section. The images that circulated online were taken in the dirty section. However, our Observers say that quite a few butchers still have to use the dirty part of the facility. They told our team that the newly renovated part of the slaughterhouse is only used for slaughtering cows. The evening before the statement was released, the director of the slaughterhouse, Mohamed Sossouhounto, was fired. In an article published on the website Banouto, he confirmed that they had decided to cut power between midday and 4am to cut costs. Article written by Hermann Boko. TEHRAN Iranian state TV on Saturday announced the first partial results from the countrys parliamentary elections, indicating a strong showing by hard-liners in the capital Tehran, although authorities have not released full results or the all-important turnout figure. Voters had limited options on Fridays ballot, as more than 7,000 potential candidates had been disqualified, most of them reformists and moderates. Among those disqualified were 90 sitting members of Irans 290-seat parliament who had wanted to run for re-election. A lower-than-usual turnout would signal widespread dissatisfaction with the state of the economy and the ways in which the government has handled a range of crises. State TV, without providing the number of votes, announced the names of the leading candidates in Tehrans 30 parliamentary seats. All were hard-liners led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is expected to be the next parliament speaker. Election officials kept the polls open an extra five hours in an effort to boost turnout. Irans leadership and state media had urged people to show up and vote, with some framing it as a religious duty. A parliament stacked with hard-liners could tilt public policy debates away from engagement with the United States. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been high since 2018, when President Trump withdrew the U.S. from Irans nuclear agreement with world powers, and imposed sanctions that have forced Irans economy into recession. The economic woes faced by ordinary Iranians fueled anti-government protests in November. International human rights groups say at least 300 people were killed in those protests. A more hard-line parliament could also favor expanding the budget of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Guards elite Quds Force was formerly led by Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani. He was killed by the U.S. air strike in January. Nasser Karimi is an Associated Press writer. Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies As the number of novel coronavirus cases rises, anxiety over the potentially deadly disease has been partly based on something other than health concerns. From denigrating social media memes and GIFs to incidents of outright prejudice around the world, many Chinese people, and people of Asian descent perceived to be Chinese, are being avoided and blamed for spreading the pneumonia-causing virus, which originated in Wuhan, China. This anti-Asian xenophobia has a history rooted in decades of discriminatory and biased American public health and immigration policies that have targeted, and continue to target, immigrants from Asia because of the perceived threats they pose to Americas dominance domestically and abroad, according to two UC Berkeley experts who have studied the history of race in America. https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/02/12/coronavirus-fear-of-asians-rooted-in-long-american-history-of-prejudicial-policies/ Eastham, Massachusetts: Notorious crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger terrorised Boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam after he was tipped off about his pending arrest. In 2013, Janet Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found Bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders. But now Uhlar says she regrets voting to convict Bulger on any of the murder charges. A young James 'Whitey' Bulger. Her regret stems from a cache of more than 70 letters Bulger wrote to her from prison, some of which describe his unwitting participation in a secret CIA experiment with LSD. In a desperate search for a mind-control drug in the 1950s, the agency dosed Bulger with the powerful hallucinogen more than 50 times when he was serving his first stretch in prison, in Atlanta something never brought up in his federal trial. Terrorism, cyber crime, environmental degradation and health problems are the major issues plaguing the world including the Indian subcontinent and the judiciary needs to appropriately respond to them by evolving innovative principles while keeping in mind the rule of law, a senior Supreme Court judge said on Saturday. Justice N V Ramana, the seniormost judge in the apex court, said terrorism is one of the main issues which has affected every part of the world and has no end in sight. "Presently our globalised world is closer than it seems. Issues are common and solutions need to be unanimous. Major issues which are plaguing the world, including the Indian subcontinent, are terrorism, cyber crimes, environmental degradation and health. For example, terrorism is one of the main issues which has affected every part of the world and has no end in sight," he said. Speaking at the inaugural function of the International Judicial Conference here on the theme 'Judiciary and the Changing World', Justice Ramana said the judiciary needs to appropriately respond to this problem by "evolving innovative principles and jurisprudence so that terrorism is kept at bay, while, at the same time upholding the rule of law". He said globalisation demands the rule of law and with increase in cross-border dealings, movement of citizens, goods and investment, there is a requirement of stronger trust between nations. "This trust can be built by creating institutions with strong emphasis on the rule of law which creates a secure environment," Justice Ramana said. The judge said India has contributed to the evolution of jurisprudence in many areas and "our judgments have been cited with acceptance overwhelmingly by other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Bangladesh and other countries in the Asian continent". "A special mention needs to be made of Justice Michael Kirby, who had studied Indian jurisprudence and has cited our judgments in umpteen number of Australian High Court judgments," he said. Maintaining that the Indian legal system is based on the separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and constitutional courts with wide jurisdiction, the judge said, "We have a Constitution, which enumerates fundamental rights and duties." "This Constitution has been expounded by the Supreme Court in terms of the Constitutional morality to make it relevant from time to time. The decisions rendered by the courts in India certainly reflect the strong democratic culture prevalent in India," he added. Justice Ramana, who is also the Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) which provides legal aid to the needy, said there is a free statutory legal aid programme in India which covers almost 75 per cent of its population. "This year we are celebrating 25 years of successfully providing legal aid to the poor. Another important feature is that there are nearly 64,000 panel lawyers and around 69,000 para-legal volunteers who are regularly rendering legal aid and conducting legal awareness programs," he said. Justice Ramana said the conference would deliberate upon the important topic of 'Role of the Judiciary Against Populism'. "This topic assumes fundamental importance because populist decisions affect the constitutional rights, and more often than not, rights of one group are pitted against the rights or interest of other groups. Hence, courts will have to rise to the occasion and guard constitutional values, at the same time balance all constitutional considerations," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MegumaGold Corp. (CSE: NSAU, OTC: NSAUF, FWB: 2CM2) (MegumaGold or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire 5 mineral claims for total of 3067 hectares, located in the Similkameen mining division approximately 7 and 20 km north west of Copper Mountain and hosts the potential for palladium and platinum associated with both the alkalic intrusives of the Okanagan. Figure 1 is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0184957c-9417-4079-9f55-93ffb770c8a2 A number of PGE mineral occurrences are associated with alkalic intrusive porphyries such as New Golds New Afton and Copper Mountain which both contain significant concentrations of palladium and platinum. At Copper Mountain the sulfide concentrate from the mine yielded up to 2.8 g/t palladium and 0.155 g/t platinum and a sample of a bornite- chalcopyrite vein from the glory hole yielded 3.25 g/t palladium (after Nixion). The latest resource estimate from New Afton mentions grades of (0.10 g/t) palladium. Both New Afton and Copper Mountain are in or planning major expansion and exploration in the area. With New Gold recently announcing a robust $460,000,000 exploration initiative to further discoveries allowing extension of their New Afton mine life.1 Company President Theo van der Linde, commented, Megumagold is pleased to add to its BC land package which is strategically among large producers who have demonstrated high grade platinum and palladium from similar intrusives. The district at one time was the principal producer of palladium in North America. Being Palladium is at an all time high and not expected to slow down, due to the recent realization of the massive shortfall of the metal, we feel Meguma has substantial means to aggressively explore the recent acquisition being the region and its geological setting is well known for palladium yet has been relatively under looked and underexplored. The Company intends to immediately commence surface work, mapping and sampling on the claims to start planning for a larger work program. An aggressive sampling program will commence within the coming weeks to gain samples for assay. The claims will be acquired from arms length vendors in consideration of the sum of CDN$125,000, and 6,000,000 fully paid and non-assessable shares subject to submitting necessary filings and obtaining any necessary approvals from the Canadian Securities Exchange. Why Palladium Spot Palladium traded as high as $2,829.75 an ounce, meaning that at the peak the metal was roughly $275 above the old record high which was achieved last month. At the all-time high, palladium was already up 46% for the year to date, in which was nearing 2019s gain of 54%. The palladium market has been in an annual supply/demand deficit for several years now. Earlier this month, Johnson Matthey issued a report saying auto-related demand rose to a record 9.7 million ounces last year even though auto sales fell in some countries, with more palladium needed for each auto catalyst in some regions due to stricter emissions regulations. The firm put the 2019 supply deficit at 1.19 million ounces and said it was likely to deepen in 2020. TD securities said, palladium is stealing the spotlight, and metal scarcity will likely continue to push prices higher. Review and Qualified Person Chris M. Healey, P. Geo., of Healex Consulting Ltd., an independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release. About MegumaGold Corp. MegumaGold is a Canadian junior gold exploration company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring and developing natural resource properties. Since 2018 the Company has centered its exploration focus on the developing Meguma Supergroup gold district of Nova Scotia. As a result, the Company has assembled a strategically-positioned land position of approximately 105,000 hectares within this promising geological domain. For more information please contact Mr. Regan Isenor, Chief Executive Officer 902-233-4381 info@megumagold.com www.megumagold.com Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to MegumaGold within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation economic estimates and any statements related to estimated mining costs. MegumaGold provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to exploration findings, results and recommendations, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in MegumaGolds public filings under its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although MegumaGold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. MegumaGold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. 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. 1 The reader is cautioned that resources that exist on adjacent properties are not necessarily indicative of potential on the PD 1-5 claims Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. H atha If youre new to yoga, this is where to start. Hatha is a generic term used to describe most Western yoga practises. Classes will include basic postures, at a gentle, beginners pace. You should leave feeling looser and more relaxed. Where to try it: There are free trials over in Camden on International Yoga Day, triyoga.co.uk. Ashtanga Founded by K. Pattabhi Jois, who popularised Western yoga, this is meant to help with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains including lower back pain depression and stress, according to the NHS. The literal meaning of the word is: eight limbs. It has a strict sequential order intended to lead practitioners to a higher level of human consciousness, on a physical, psychological and spiritual level. For regular classes in this style, check out astangayogalondon.com or ashtangayogaleeds.com. REUTERS Restorative This style is a little less intense than Ashtanga, intended more for the relaxation of your physical, mental and emotional states. It is supposed to target the nervous system to enable control of the body, and aid in dealing with stress, fatigue and heavy emotions in daily life. Think less hippie, and more happy. Practitioners use props to support the various poses, meaning the exercises are less physically strenuous, allowing increased focus on mental stimulation. A few poses, suggested by fitday.com are: Legs against Wall - Performed with bolster under your legs, hips or back. Child's Pose - Tuck your heels under your hips and cradle a bolster or pillow with your upper body. Reclining Bound Angle - Performed with props under head, arms and legs. Savasana (Relaxation) - Rest your head on a pillow, legs on bolster and feet on blanket. For monthly classes, try yogawithdamaris.com. World Yoga Day 2017 - In pictures 1 /26 World Yoga Day 2017 - In pictures People perform yoga on International Yoga Day in Chandigarh, India Reuters Revellers practice yoga as the sun rises and = they celebrate the pagan festival of Summer Solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire AFP/Getty Images Indian yoga teacher Mahesh Yogiji attempting a world record for the longest yoga session in Ahmedabad, ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21. According to Guiness World Records AFP/Getty Images Indian children practice Yoga as the sun sets in the backdrop, as they prepare for the World Yoga Day in Bhopal, India EPA Indian Sadhus or Hindu holy men perform Yoga to mark the International Yoga Day at Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India AP Yoga enthusiasts attend a mass yoga demonstration during the International Yoga Day in Bangalore EPA Yoga enthusiasts practice yoga at a wetland park on International Yoga Day, in Zhangye, China REUTERS Indians perform Yoga to mark the International Yoga Day in New Delhi, India AP Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) participates in a mass yoga session along with other Indian yoga practitioners to mark the 3rd International Yoga Day at Ramabhai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal in Lucknow AFP/Getty Images Indian children practice Mallakhamba Yoga in preparations for the World Yoga Day in Bhopal, India EPA Indians perform Yoga to mark the International Yoga Day in New Delhi, India AP An Indian Sadhu or Hindu holy man performs Yoga to mark International Yoga Day at Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India AP People practice yoga by the stones of the Stonehenge monument at dawn on the summer solstice near Amesbury Reuters Indian armed forces and their families members perform Yoga on the deck of the Indian Naval aircraft carrier Viraat to mark International Yoga Day in Mumbai, India AP Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) participates in a mass yoga session along with other Indian yoga practitioners to mark the 3rd International Yoga Day at Ramabhai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal in Lucknow AFP/Getty Images French-Indian 98-year-old yoga teacher Tao Porchon Lynch performs yoga techniques during the International Yoga Day in Bangalore, India EPA Indian Sadhus or Hindu holy men perform Yoga as others follow to mark the International Yoga Day at Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, India AP Indians perform Yoga to mark the International Yoga Day in New Delhi, India AP Indians perform Yoga to mark the International Yoga Day in New Delhi, India AP Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) participates in a mass yoga session along with other Indian yoga practitioners to mark the 3rd International Yoga Day at Ramabhai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal in Lucknow Reuters Bikram Now to turn up the heat. Based on the basic postures of Hatha yoga, but performed in a room heated to 35-42, with 40% humidity, Bikram yoga or hot yoga - is designed to work all muscles and organs in your body to achieve maximum function and optimum health. So where does the heat come in? The high temperature is intended to produce an unrelenting sweat in each practitioner i.e. every gym-goers worst nightmare. However, instructors insist that this will release any impurities in the body, achieving reduction in body toxicity and an increase in strength. Ill leave that one up to you, bikramyogalondon.com. Hip Hop Yoga If stretching in silence isnt your style, then try Hip-Hop Yoga. Designed to be more aerobic than traditional forms of the art, it places the basic yoga postures to a Hip Hop beat. Reviewed to be rather an intense workout, this style is not for the faint-hearted, hiphopyoga.co.uk. Hip Hop Hot Yoga Doga Struggling to find a fellow dedicated yoga companion? Look no further than your furry friend. Doga is now an established trend, popular throughout the country, intended to extend the traditional yoga ethos of spiritual union, to an improved bond with your dog. Moves range from incorporating your dogs body into your routine, to actually placing a smaller dog onto your own body to enhance the balance of a position. Whether your companion relishes the spiritual harmony and relaxation of your shared session, or just sits and watches, Doga is a great way to maintain a hobby whilst spending quality time with your dog. International Doga Day is on 18th June, and Dogamahny are doing a free session! dogamahny.co.uk. Silent Yoga Raves An incongruous phrase, an epic-sounding event. Yoga Ambassadors of Light are holding an event in August that is a combination of silent disco, LED neon rave and freestyle yoga. Mixing traditional shamanic music with deep house beats may usually be an assault on the ears, but when combined with 100 other participants, neon paint and yoga, it supposedly stimulates the energies within your body to optimise your vinyasas and create a unified and exciting yoga style, eventbrite.co.uk. Naked yoga Very self-explanatory: standard yoga, completely starkers, meetup.com City of Sugar Land With the filing deadline now past, Sugar Land Mayor Joe R. Zimmerman drew no opponents and will run unopposed to serve his third term in office during the upcoming May mayoral and city council election. "I am honored that the citizens of Sugar Land have confidence in my leadership abilities to represent all our residents," Zimmerman said in a press release. "I look forward to a third term and keeping Sugar Land the best place to live, work, play, shop and raise a family." A PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Nasir Ayitogo, tied the knot last week with his childhood sweetheart, Naziha Othman, at An-Noor Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja. The couple were wedded, last week Friday, in an Islamic marriage. The bridegroom and some of his family members and close friends, presented the mahr (Islamic bride price) to the brides family. Afterwards, they held the Budan kai (the unveiling of the bride) a colourful Hausa engagement ceremony at the grooms residence in Foreign Affairs Quarters, Gwarimpa, Abuja. The bride, 23, is a final year student of computer science at Nile University, Abuja. A passionate tech savvy student, Nazihas leanings are in programming and software development. She is the daughter of Mairo and Sheu Othman of Nasarawa State. Also from the same state,the groom, 28, has been covering the National Assembly for PREMIUM TIMES since 2016. He graduated from Nasarawa State University where he bagged both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mass Communication. He is the son of Zuwaira and Zakari Ayitogo. The groom told PREMIUM TIMES that his bride possessed all the qualities he wanted in a wife. Shes very gentle, soft spoken and respectful. These are the endearing qualities I found irresistible to not love her, he said. In a separate interview, the bride described her husband as the heavenly made man of her dreams. Hes understanding, he is everything I want in a man and most important is that he completes me, she told PREMIUM TIMES. Childhood dreams turn reality Though five years apart, the couple had been childhood sweethearts. Their families have been friends for a long time. They had enjoyed each others company and it was only natural for their love to blossom. The groom, Mr Ayitogo, said, Right from growing up together, Ive always enjoyed every moment with her. We came from the same local governmentKeanan our houses arent far from each other. Ive always admired her character; shes amazing, highly dependable, beautiful, patient and above all, intelligent. Proposal Asked to share their proposal story, the couple said it was done the Islamic way, with the grooms family presenting their sons proposal to the brides family. Though love isnt perfect, ours is a fairy tale with a beautiful end. Im elated its the happily-ever-after story; Im less concerned about the way the proposal went, the bride said. Moreso, its the Islamic way, the best I could ever have dreamt of! The Saginaw Ukulele Gurus And Rookies (SUGAR) ukulele club presents WASSUP6! (Winter Ain't Stoppin' Serious Ukulele Players), a free, open-to-the public ukulele festival to be held March 13-14 at the Midland Free Methodist Church, 5821 Eastman Road in Midland. WASSUP6 is free to everyone, and highlights of this two-day event include a free concert at the church on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., featuring master entertainer Devin Scott of Colorado. Then, on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m., there will be another free concert headlined by Devin, which will conclude the formally-planned events. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a serving Kano State Commissioner in the Ministry for Special Duties, Mukhtar Ishaq, for allegedly diverting monies meant for Kano Municipal Local Council, while he was Chairman. EFCC acting Spokesperson, Tony Orilade, disclosed on Friday that Mukhtar was arrested on Thursday February 20, 2020, for diverting the sum of N76 million, which was meant for projects, development and empowerment of the people. According to Orilade, the commissioner was accused of ordering the deduction of N30,000 from the account of each council member without justification. The EFCC Spokesperson revealed that the Commissioner was also alleged to have converted property of Kofar Nasarawa Primary School, Kano, into shops and sold same at the rate of N10,000,000 per shop and diverted the money to personal use. Orilade further disclosed that the Commissioner would be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed. This is coming barely hours after the EFCC arrested Muhammed Audu, son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, a former governor of Kogi State. ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- More than 100 people planning to attend opposition rallies in Almaty and other cities in Kazakhstan have been detained by police, who were deployed in large numbers in a show of force to halt the unsanctioned events. The activists from the unregistered Democratic Party shouted Freedom! as police detained them on February 22 not far from a central square where supporters had planned to hold an unsanctioned rally amid a heavy police presence in and around the location. Police had been deployed in large numbers from early morning, sealing off the square and detaining many passersby. Kazakhstan has long been criticized for its restrictive laws regulating demonstrations. President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev pledged in 2019 to carry out reforms after succeeding Nursultan Nazarbaev, who ruled the country for nearly 30 years. On the eve of the rally, Zhanbolat Mamai, a leading figure in the Democratic Party, was arrested and sentenced to three days in administrative detention. Among those detained on February 22 was Mamais wife, Inga Imanbai. Were we asked whether we wanted a street named after Nazarbaev, or the capital to be named Nur-Sultan? We used to laugh about North Korea and Turkmenistan. Nazarbaevs power will end. The Democratic Party will be, and will win, Imanbai told the gathering before police bundled her into a police car. Despite no longer being president, Nazarbaev continues to head the ruling Nur-Otan party and remains chairman for life of the powerful Security Council. Just one day after Nazarbaev resigned on March 19, 2019, the capital was renamed by decree from Astana to Nur-Sultan, despite opposition from the public. Mamai, a filmmaker, told the AFP news agency on February 21 that "at least ten" members of the group had received sentences of up to five days in detention earlier this week. In 2017, Mamai was convicted on what he and supporters say were trumped-up money-laundering charges and handed a three-year suspended sentence that is still in force. Later on February 22, another opposition movement, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK), tried to hold a second rally in Almaty, but again police stepped in quickly to block activists from gathering. According to an RFE/RL Kazakh Service correspondent, Internet access in Almaty was limited during the day on February 22 as mobile phone services were being blocked. There were also reports that police had detained other DVK supporters before a planned rally in the capital, Nur-Sultan, one of several other Kazakh cities where the DVK had planned to hold events. A total of around 100 were detained in both Almaty and Nur-Sultan. A further 20 were taken into police custody in the southern city of Shymkent, and another 10 in the northern city of Aqtobe. The DVK was banned by a Kazakh court in 2018 as extremist. On February 20, the Kazakh Prosecutor-Generals office called on citizens not to take part in what it called the "illegal" rallies planned by the DVK. Deputy Prosecutor-General Bolat Dembaev's statement announced via state-run media on February 20 warned citizens that law enforcement officers will "undertake strict measures to prevent illegal rallies," adding that participants in "illegal protests" may face administrative and criminal charges. "Any actions by any person to organize or take part in an unsanctioned public event will be suppressed... The Prosecutor-General's office calls on the citizens to strictly follow laws and to stay away from provocations and participation in illegal public activities," the statement said. Dozens of DVK supporters and other activists across Kazakhstan had been fined or sentenced to jail terms ranging from 5 to 15 days ahead of the planned rallies on charges of organizing or taking part in earlier unsanctioned demonstrations. The DVK is led by Mukhtar Ablyazov, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Europe for more than a decade. He thanked the state prosecutor for giving the group "an advert" ahead of the planned demonstrations. The Democratic Party had been planning to hold a congress in Almaty on February 22, but cancelled it on February 19 because of the arrests and detentions of party activists. Authorities have reportedly detained dozens of party supporters in cities around the country, most of them for allegedly participating in earlier unsanctioned demonstrations. Kazakh law requires that a party's founding congress be attended by at least 1,000 people. Instead of the congress, Mamai's group called on supporters to attend a February 22 protest in the center of Almaty. Human rights proponents have said Kazakhstans law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as it requires preliminary permission from authorities to hold rallies and envisions prosecution for organizing and participating in unsanctioned rallies even though the nation's constitution guarantees its citizens the right of free assembly. During a working visit to Nur-Sultan earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lauded what he said was a "real improvement in Kazakhstan" and "real changes" since Toqaev came to power last year. With reporting by AFP Winner of the Lalit Kala Akademi award, Ahmedabad-based painter and photographer Harshil Patel offers a fantastic view of the walled city in Ahmedabad through his paintings and photographs for US President Donald J Trump. He also talks about the most interesting places within the walled city that POTUS will miss out on during his three-and-half hour stay in Ahmedabad, which only covers a visit to the Sabarmati Ashram and inauguration of the world's largest stadium, both on the outskirts of the main city. Patel, who specialises in heritage and historical perspectives of Ahmedabad, says the city has failed to conserve its rich cultural and architectural heritage. About his paintings and photographs, he says, "I love to explore the city at night. I imagine I am having a conversation with Ahmed Shah (the founder of the city as it exists now) and based on his description of the city that he built I do my paintings." Explaining the importance of shades of darkness that his art is influenced by, Patel says, "I find it important to play around with black and white colours. I love shooting pictures at night because I love the shades the night creates under dim lights. The night for me is representative of our past and the day represents the present. I love using black and white because they add the right perspective and depth to my paintings." "I love shooting pictures at night because the streets are empty. There is no disturbance. I get the silence I need to communicate with my subjects. Importance and emphasis is on the heritage of the buildings." Harshil Patel spoke with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com on where he would have taken the President of the United States in Ahmedabad were he in Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi's place. *** Ahmedabad has been declared as India's first World Heritage City by UNESCO. Very few cities in the world can be called walled cities. Ahmed Shah built a wall around the entire city. The Gandhi Ashram (along the banks of the Sabarmati river) and the Motera stadium (the world's biggest stadium with a seating capacity of 110,000) lie outside the boundaries of the walled city. Not only as an artist but also as a resident I wish President Donald Trump visits the walled city, its narrow streets that reminds one of Venice and Florence. POTUS should have visited, or whenever he visits next, the historical Teen Darwaza, Manek Chowk, which is considered the place from where the city began to flourish and spread, and Bhadra Fort. He should also spend some time along the Sabarmati river front, which he might get to see when he visits Gandhi the Ashram. If I were in Prime Minister Modi's place I would have taken President Trump to the place from where the city originated -- Manek Chowk -- and from there taken him around the city to show him the city's expanse and reach. Ahmedabad has 13 darwazas in all from where one can enter or exit the city. I would have taken him on a tour of all 13 gates. I would have shown him the socio-cultural fabric, which is the soul of any city, of Ahmedabad. It is the culture that breathes life and soul into a city's identity. I would have also taken POTUS to the many step wells that Ahmedabad is so famous for. *** Here then is an artistic impression of Harshil Patel's Ahmedabad which he shared with Rediff.com: Relief Road, or, Pir Mohammad Shah Road, Old City, Tankshal, Kalupur, Ahmedabad IMAGE: This art work depicts the depth of the city and its culture. On the left side is the dargah of Pir Mohammad Shah built as per Islamic architecture. I used green tone to bring out the influence of Muslim culture that surrounds the area. I created a texture of the old wall in the background using multiple layer of colours to show how old the neighbourhood is. I like to work with black tones to show depth of history and love to play with shadows and light. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Pankore Naka, Old City, Khadia, Ahmedabad IMAGE: Creating old-walled texture with multiple layer of colours is my signature style. This area is well known for various markets that have come up in this locality since the 14th century. Naka means the corner of a street in Gujarat. The different shapes of houses and shops showcase the confluence of not only Hindu and Muslim assimilation, but one can also witness the influence of European, Portuguese and Gothic styles of architecture. I have drawn this panoramic perspective to show the grandness of space. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Dariyapur, Old City, Ahmedabad IMAGE: Located in central Ahmedabad, Dariyapur is famous for tourist attractions belonging to the medieval era such as the Qutab Shah Mosque, Rani Sipri's Mosque and Muhafizkhan's Mosque. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Astodia, Old City, Khamasa, Ahmedabad IMAGE: Astodia is a neighbourhood situated along the banks of the Sabarmati. This area is also known as Asha Bhil ka Tekda (small hill), the first tribal king who ruled the city. Ashawal was the first name of Ahmedabad in the memory of the Bhil king Asha. Later the city was named Karnavati when King Karnadev defeated the Bhil king. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Sarangpur Chakla, Sherkotda, Ahmedabad IMAGE: One of the 13 gates to the walled city that gives its residents entry and exit is located at Sarangpur Chakla. The place is named in memory of Nawab Sarang. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Ghee Kanta, Old City, Bhadra, Ahmedabad IMAGE: The famous Delhi darwaza which lies along the Ahmedabad-Delhi road is mostly dominated by the people of the Modi/Ghanchi community. The peculiarity of this neighbourhood is that most people have their residence above and shops on the ground floor. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Lambeshwar ni Pole, near Calico Dome, Ahmedabad IMAGE: Famous for the Swaminarayan temple and its architectural grandeur. Like most settlements within the old city, a broad crossroad at Lambeshwar ni Pole (narrow street) leads to narrow streets. The purpose of designing these narrow streets was to confuse the soldiers of the invading armies that would get lost in the labyrinthine maze that these narrow streets are. Painting: Kind courtesy Harshil Patel Manek Chowk, near Bhadra Fort, Ahmedabad There's an oasis where people from around the world come to soak in warm mineral springs, where locals and tourists alike search for shark teeth on the beach and perhaps kayak into the sunset alongside friendly dolphins. The sunshine is usually abundant for visitors, snowbirds and residents of Venice - Florida, not Italy - looking to enjoy any number of the city's nature-based recreation ... Kremlin Scrambles to Avoid Open Conflict With Turkey By Jamie Dettmer February 21, 2020 The Kremlin was scrambling Friday to reach a stopgap agreement with Ankara to halt fighting in northwest Syria amid growing fears that Russia and Turkey are on the brink of open warfare. Clashes between the Turks and their Syrian rebel allies with troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Idlib province have already killed two Turkish soldiers this week and dozens of Syrian government troops. The skirmishes between the Turks and Assad's forces were triggered when Syrian rebels supported by Turkish artillery stormed a village east of Idlib city on a strategic highway. Turkish media said the Turkish army was directly involved in the ground attack. Kremlin officials say their forces weren't involved and that their warplanes held off striking Turkish positions. While expressing hope an open conflict between Russia and Turkey can be averted, Kremlin officials warned that Russia would support al-Assad's forces militarily if the fighting escalates and Turkey increases its military operations. Desperate situation for displaced Syrians The new developments in Idlib, roiling months of cooperation between Moscow and Ankara on the Syrian conflict, are rapidly raising the stakes in Idlib as well as adding to the desperation of nearly a million displaced Syrians who have fled in the past few months toward the Turkish border, which remains closed to them. Since the Syria conflict erupted nearly nine years ago, Turkey has taken in more than 3 million Syrian refugees but refuses to accept any more. Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies have carved out a swathe of territory in northwest Syria and are relocating some Syrian refugees there, using land snatched from Kurdish forces. The United Nations has warned of possible catastrophe in Syria's northwest unless the Assad government shows restraint. Syrian government forces, which for weeks have been advancing in the province, have been shelling areas where displaced Syrians are camped, say U.N. officials. The U.N. deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Mark Cutts, told Britain's Sky News that even by the Syrian war's brutal standards, the situation is now desperate. If the shelling and airstrikes move any further into the areas where refugees are camped out, "We're going to see a bloodbath, we're going to see a massacre on a scale that has never been seen in this entire war," he said. The Turkish-backed attack on Assad's forces underscored the seriousness of the threat issued this week by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan warned Turkish troops would go on the offensive in Idlib unless President Assad calls off his offensive on the enclave -- the last remaining stronghold of anti-Assad rebel forces and part of an area Ankara has earmarked as a buffer zone and the future home of Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. Russian defense officials condemned the Turkish military action and urged Turkey "to cease support of the actions of terrorists and handing them arms." Political ramifications Analysts say the Turkish leader can ill-afford to see his plans for Idlib dashed, which would amount to a personal and political setback. But conversely a defeat for Assad would wreck Moscow's efforts in Syria over the past five years, eroding the Kremlin's growing clout in the region. "It is very hard to tell how far Turkey is willing to go in Idlib," according to Assaad al-Achi, director of Baytna Syria, a pro-democracy civil society support organization. "Negotiations with Russia have not stopped, but have failed so far to produce any lasting cessation of hostilities. Therefore, Turkey is in a conundrum. It wants to avoid at all costs a humanitarian disaster on its southwestern border, but at the same time it doesn't want to ruin its relationship with Russia." he said in a commentary for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based research group. There were reports circulating in the Turkish capital, Ankara, Friday that President Erdogan has been sounding out Washington on whether the U.S. would deploy two Patriot anti-aircraft missile batteries on its southern border in readiness for escalating hostilities. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump praised his Turkish counterpart, calling him a "tough guy" who doesn't want to see people killed in great numbers. "We are working together on seeing what can be done. You have a lot of warring going on right now," he added. Some analysts say Trump is taking a keener interest in Syria and some U.S. officials appear to see the growing conflict in Idlib as an opportunity to pull Erdogan more firmly into the West's camp. Other U.S. officials say the administration is wary of being drawn in and highlight Trump's determination to disentangle the U.S. from Middle East conflicts. With the perceived danger the situation could trigger a general standoff between Russia and NATO, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron told Russia's Vladimir Putin in a phone call Thursday they want to meet him and Turkey's president to discuss ways to defuse the burgeoning crisis in Syria. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are discussing trying to form a "peace team" of former and retired world leaders to try to persuade all warring parties to observe a cease-fire. Western diplomats say both Moscow and Ankara appear at this stage desperate to avoid an open clash. But their conflicting interests are making it harder to shape an interim agreement and that the situation on the ground risks spinning out of anyone's control. An agreement has eluded negotiators after two rounds of talks in Ankara and Moscow earlier this month. On Friday, more columns of Turkish armor and howitzers crossed into Syria. Russian officials appear to believe that Ankara will blink because, they say, Turkey has much to lose. The last time Moscow and Ankara were drawn into a standoff over Syria was in 2015 when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane. Russia imposed sanctions on Turkish exports and businesses, crippling Turkey's agriculture and tourism sectors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CAIRO - Egyptian prosecutors Saturday extended the detention of an activist and vocal critic of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the activists lawyer said. Police detained Patrick George Zaki, 28, an Egyptian student at the University of Bologna in Italy, after he arrived in Cairo earlier this month on what was supposed to be a brief visit home. He was ordered to remain in custody pending an investigation into allegations of disseminating false news and calling for unauthorized protests. Zaki has denied the claims against him. Zaki told his lawyers hed been tortured with electric shocks, beaten and blindfolded during interrogations about his activism, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. The group previously employed Zaki as a gender rights researcher and is now providing him legal representation. The countrys top prosecutor denied the torture allegations, saying that Zaki did not report that he was harmed or violated during his arrest or detention when he spoke to the public prosecution on Feb. 8, the day after his arrest. His defence attorney, Lubna Darwish, told The Associated Press that prosecutors renewed Zakis detention for another 15 days. The EIPR also reported the renewal. Darwish said that despite her clients ordeal, which included having his head shaved, Zaki was in good spirits. They cut his hair, but hes smiling, she said. El-Sissis government has arrested thousands of people since coming to power in 2013. Most of those were Islamists, but prominent secular activists have also been detained. Egypt outlawed all unauthorized protests that same year. El-Sissi has rolled back freedoms that were won during the so-called Arab Spring uprising of 2011. Egyptian prosecutors now have broad powers to keep people detained for months and even years without ever filing charges or presenting evidence. Zakis detention has dredged up painful memories of the 2016 disappearance in Egypt of 28-year-old Italian researcher Giulio Regeni. His body was found several days later by the side of a highway near Cairo with torture marks that activists and rights groups say resembled the results of widespread torture practices in Egyptian detention facilities. Since 2000 use of the Internet has gone from 400 million users to over four billion. Governments around the world have taken notice and, in the last decade, many have made vigorous efforts to control what they consider a disruptive, to their control over the population, technology. Some rulers, usually of dictatorships, have been surprisingly successful in censoring and controlling Internet use by their subjects. Despite that, the balance in central control of information has been fundamentally changed in favor of the ruled rather than the rulers. When it comes to the Internet you can delay or distort the signal but you cant stop it and what it does. There are a few nations that have been very successful at controlling the Internet and a growing number that are trying to copy that success. The two most successful Internet censors are North Korea and China. North Korea had an advantage in that it was such a poor communist dictatorship that few of its subjects had access to radio or TV that was not strictly controlled by the government. Most North Koreans were too poor to own a computer, something that did not change until cheap Chinese made smartphones became available over the last decade. From the beginning access to the global Internet was strictly controlled and monitored in North Korea. In place of the global Internet, North Korea built its own Internet what was only available in North Korea. Some North Koreans could access the global Internet but was dangerous and expensive. First, you had to buy a Chinese cell phone and then use it near the border, or wi-fi leaking from embassies in the capital and connect to the global Internet. This was very illegal and those caught were severely punished. For the North Korean government, the damage was done as they no longer strictly controlled information as they had in pre-Internet days. Bad and outside news was slowed down inside North Korea but still got to most of the population eventually. Even with that, the North Korean rulers control Internet access more effectively than any other nation. China is the second most successful Internet censor. This is largely because, unlike North Korea, China allowed a market economy to develop in the 1980s and over the next three decades became the second largest economy on the planet while still ruled by a communist dictatorship. This meant China always had a much larger percentage of its population using cell phones and the Internet, and they were unhappy if that access was disrupted. In third place is Russia which as the Soviet Union from 1920s to 1990s developed the police state methods that China, North Korea and many other dictatorships adopted. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 because state control of the economy does not work. The Soviet Union went bankrupt while half its population literally quit the empire and became independent states. After about a decade as a democracy, Russian rulers figured out how to restore dictatorial rule and developed ways to use this new Internet technology to help them. The Russians were less successful than the Chinese in developing a market economy, partly because Russians lived under a state-controlled economy far longer than the Chinese, who only had full control of the economy from the 1950s and realized sooner than the Russians that it does not work. Russia is trying to emulate North Korea and make their Internet separate from the rest of the world. Russia does not plan to use its Russia only Internet full time but has been working towards creating a national Internet that can be sealed off from the rest of the world on short notice and function as a national Internet for as long as necessary. Some tests of this tech have already been conducted and this capability is expected to be fully functional by 2021. Russia has been exporting its Internet control tech to other nations, like Turkmenistan and Belarus, which were formerly parts of the Soviet Union and, like Russia, have reverted to dictatorship. Cuba, also a communist police state, has also adopted Russian Internet control methods as has Iran, a Moslem religious dictatorship. China has also exported its Internet and social control tech to nations like Turkey, Pakistan, Oman the UAE and Eritrea. These nations want to impose a lot of control on their Internet users and what the Chinese are offering seems to work. Moslem majority nations, even technically democratic ones like Pakistan, have eagerly sought out and adopted Internet control and censorship technology. Governments in general, even true democracies, have sought to better control Internet use by their own citizens. This is usually justified by the need to safeguard public morality (from porn, especially child pornography) and enforce existing laws, mainly copyrights. Many Internet users see all this as more governments seeking to retain power over information,especially about government misbehavior. Most of the global population now has access to the Internet, often via smartphones that are actually very small computers possessing more computing power and data storage than much larger computers businesses were using in the 1980s. This rapid increase of computing power and availability caused authoritarian governments to lose control of the mass media (print and later broadcast) which, for over a century had enabled dictators to control what their people knew of the world and in their own countries. Even in democracies many elected leaders, and even more unelected bureaucrats, resented and feared the information freedom enjoyed by a population where the majority of people were enthusiastic users of the Internet and hostile to government efforts to control or censor it. In un-democratic nations, the Internet was a very real threat to dictatorial leaders. As Internet use grew so did efforts to control it. Early on Internet users believed that governments were at a permanent disadvantage when it came to information control. Not just because the Internet now existed and was more widely available than telephones ever were, but because the Internet was originally designed to survive massive disruption, like a nuclear war, and keep functioning. American military researchers were given the task of creating that type of system in the 1960s and, within two decades, the fundamental Internet tech was operational but only available to military and academic researchers. The early Internet was never a secret as it ultimately had to be widely available to work. That came when it slowly became commercialized in the 1990s. Then the web browser was invented in 1993 followed by the World Wide Web, and Internet use skyrocketed. At the same time cell phones were becoming smaller, cheaper and more widely available. By 2000 the Internet as we know it was rapidly developing and spreading. China was particularly determined to tame the Internet, which continues to enable too many Chinese to speak freely with each other and billions of other Internet users outside China. One of the more common tools for evading censors has been the VPN (Virtual Private Networks). Since 2014 China has been cracking down on VPN use with more and more effective methods. By late 2017 it became clear that the latest anti-VPN measures had backfired. A growing number of foreign firms, whose VPN use is supposed to be unrestricted, were finding their VPNs rendered useless by Chinese censors. Worse, the Chinese government was slow to fix these problems and it was no secret that many Chinese leaders would like to drive most foreign companies out of China without admitting that sort of thing is Chinese policy. The VPN situation got much worse in 2015 when China made a major effort to block Chinese from free access to the international Internet. This involved new censorship software to detect and block the use of VPNs that have been used to access forbidden web sites outside China. In 2015 it was estimated that as many as ten percent of Chinese Internet users got past the Great Firewall Of China using VPNs and other technical tools. The government also rolled out powerful new data mining and screening software checks for anti-government posts in real-time. The problem with blocking all this is that many of these wall piercers are just curious or, more importantly, business users who need this international access to remain competitive. While the government will grant international access for business and academic users these, permits are difficult to get and still involve some censorship. As expected the Great Firewall crossers are finding other ways to access the outside world and the struggle continues. Despite all this censorship, Chinese continue to discuss forbidden subjects, mainly about corruption at the top and Chinese who openly protest the corruption and bad government. Chinese censors are not really going after individual offenders as much as they are seeking to prevent mass unrest from being ignited. Thus sometimes even the arrest and punishment of Internet offenders is not publicized, lest this gets a mass protest movement going. China has a growing problem with large groups of people hitting the streets to protest in the flesh. With the large amount of government corruption and inefficiency, there's a lot to protest. The Internet is seen as essential economically, but also the chief means of local protests turning into major ones. That is not to be allowed, at all costs. That approach has not worked so far but has made Internet use more difficult and limited in many parts of the world. Worst of all Internet users still find a way to complain about each other about Internet censorship. The Internet has changed the relationship between rulers and ruled worldwide and returning to the bad old days is no longer an option. The city plans to rezone the unincorporated property on the northeast side of the water reclamation facility as R1 residential zone, the same as the rest of the land. And, the city filed a permit for conditional use of the lot to construct a one megawatt solar array, Williams said. By Nick Vadala, The Philadelphia Inquirer Legendary Philadelphia musicians like Boyz II Men, Patti LaBelle, and Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff have been celebrated with their own stretches of city roadways, and now, another group is joining that list of honorees. The 600 block of Passyunk Avenue is being dedicated to Philly hip-hop act the Roots, thanks to a City Council resolution introduced Thursday by Councilmember Mark Squilla. The area, located between South and Bainbridge Streets, will receive the moniker Avenue of the Roots. The Roots started their performance experience by busking on the streets of Philadelphia, the resolution states. East Passyunk Avenue and South Street was one of their main locations. Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, and Cindy Bass co-sponsored the resolution. Brooklyn resident and activist Leroy McCarthy, who is behind similar honors in other cities for artists like the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, first reached out to Squillas office about the dedication, WHYY reported. The Roots play at the Tom Wolf/ John Fetterman inaugural party at the Farm Show Complex. January 15, 2019 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com PENNLIVE.COMPENNLIVE.COM The Avenue of the Roots addition was quick-moving, with new signage going up on the Queen Village block by Friday morning, according to Billy Penn. An official dedication ceremony will reportedly take place in May the same month the 13th-annual Roots Picnic is held across town at the Mann Center. Roots percussionist Ahmir Questlove Thompson reacted to the news on social media Friday, calling a broadcast of the City Council meeting in which the resolution was introduced a hell of a way to find out about the honor. "Does this mean what I think it means, he wrote. My favorite historical landmark is Fifth and South Street, Roots emcee Tariq Black Thought Trotter said of the block in 2017. Its where the Roots first started. The Roots have become one of the most recognizable hip-hop acts, and joined The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon as the house band in 2009. The Roots have taken Philadelphia with them on television nightly and to audiences worldwide, the resolution states. But the Roots are and will always be appreciated as a talented band from the streets of Philadelphia. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy early, becoming mostly sunny this afternoon. High near 65F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 42F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Some leading members of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) have kicked against what they say is the high filing fees being charged by the party for various national leadership positions. Mr. Kweku Quansah, aspiring to the National Chairman position, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that, the nomination fees were outrageously high for a socialist democratic party. He cautioned that it could prevent many otherwise capable CPP members from contesting for elective positions. Mr. Quansah, who was the partys 2016 Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, said this is unacceptable and we must all kick against it. Most of the aspirants oppose these whopping fees on the grounds that it defeats CPPs central committee as a socialist democratic party. He said leadership positions in the party should not be up for the highest bidder that was inconsistent with what Nkrumaists stood for. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs mission was to empower those marginalised by the elitist ideology and philosophy; create room for the ordinary Ghanaian to play active roles in political leadership in ways that strengthen productivity and solidarity, we as a party must not lose sight of our fundamental principles. The CPP has fixed a filing fee of GHC170,000.00 for Presidential aspirants with that of the National Chairman position going for GHC70,000.00. National Vice- Chairperson, Treasurer, and General Secretary Aspirants pay GHC50, 000.00, while the filing fee for the National Organizer is pegged at GHC30, 000.00; with that of Women Organizer, GHC20, 000.00 and Youth Organizer GHC20, 000.00. They would also have to pay GHC2,000.00 for nomination forms. Mr. Quansah called for a downward review of the fees to p4rovide space for more people to enter the race for various positions in the party. He cited the case of Mr. Ebenezer Agbenya, a teacher, who has picked forms to contest for the General Secretary position; and has taken to social media Facebook, to raise funds because of the high filing fees. Professor Kwaku Asare a seasoned lawyer and accountant, has also spoken against what he cast as the unreasonable high filing fees. Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna, the Acting National Chairperson, is, however, defending the fees, saying, it would help to mobilise funds to finance the partys activities. She added that the amount involved showed how serious and important these positions were to the Party. The CPP Central Committee has fixed Friday, March 27 and Saturday 28 as the tentative dates for the partys National Delegate Congress at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The party opened its nominations on February 6th and this is expected to end on Friday, February 28th. 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 China is delaying grant of clearance to India's proposal to send an Indian Air Force flight to carry relief material for people affected by coronavirus in the neighbouring country and bring back Indians from its city of Wuhan, official sources said Saturday. India was to send a C-17 military transport aircraft to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on February 20 but the plane could not take off as permission was not granted for the flight. "China is deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight," a high-level source said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with her German counterpart Olaf Scholz here. Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman holds bilateral meeting with Federal German Minister for Finance Mr @OlafScholz on the sidelines of #G20SaudiArabia meeting in Riyadh today, Finance Ministry said in a tweet. On February 20, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin and discussed a range of global and bilateral issues, including climate change, counter-terrorism, multilateralism, connectivity, besides sharing their perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan and the Gulf. In his remarks at a press interaction with Maas in Berlin after the meeting, Jaishankar had said that they also discussed of working together in the Alliance for Multilateralism - a Franco-German initiative that was launched during the ongoing 74th UN General Assembly last year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 20:45:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- As many as 2,700 Turkish military vehicles have been sent into Syria over the past 19 days, as part of the Turkish tactic to send military equipment in Idlib province in northwestern Syria and the northern province of Aleppo, a war monitor reported Saturday. A Turkish convoy of 80 vehicles entered Idlib on Saturday alone, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Additionally, over 7,400 Turkish soldiers have been deployed in Idlib and Aleppo in the same period, said the Observatory. The deployment of Turkish soldiers and vehicles comes as part of the Turkish plan to bring to a halt the progress of the Syrian army in the countryside of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. A Co Tyrone man who almost drove a child to suicide through a "vicious, contrived" campaign of harassment, resulting in revenge porn being sent as "payback", has been jailed (stock photo) A Co Tyrone man who almost drove a child to suicide through a "vicious, contrived" campaign of harassment, resulting in revenge porn being sent as "payback", has been jailed. Lee Stanley Robinson admitted harassing the child and multiple counts of disclosing private sexual images of her. The offences occurred in January 2017 and the child suffered extreme psychological trauma as a result. Even when the child expressed fears and distress, Robinson told her not "to take an attitude" with him, and she should "keep to the deal". When she didn't, Robinson (22), from Moy Road, Dungannon, sent the videos as "payback". He later told police it was "a way of teaching her a lesson". Dungannon Magistrates Court heard the child's mother alerted police after receiving a sexually explicit video of her daughter via social media. It was sent from Robinson who also shared it with the child's father and brother. The child explained she was blackmailed by Robinson into providing sexual images after he sent her an e-cigarette and a sex toy. These had been discovered by the mother some months beforehand, and confiscated, so the child was unable to return them, "as part of the deal". Police arrested Robinson and seized his phone, which contained evidence including images of the child in a semi-naked state. Of 26 images recovered, 17 were classed as the Category A - the most serious. There were eight Category C images and a single Category B. Having heard the facts, Judge Ranaghan voiced his disgust at Robinson's "abhorrent" behaviour. The defence said Robinson "sent objects to (the child) and demanded them back". It was accepted the videos were sent to family members "but not the general public for all to see". Speaking at length about Robinson, the defence handed in a bundle of references and a psychological report. An uncle was called to the witness stand, who said the charges had "shattered" the family unit and Robinson's mother is afraid to leave the house. The victim chose not to provide a formal impact statement, but ahead of sentencing told a police officer that she wants to put the matter behind her and move on. She did, however, confirm Robinson's behaviour made her suicidal. Judge Ranaghan read a section of the exchanges between Robinson and the child, in which she pleaded in desperation with him to stop. Robinson responded by telling her: "Don't take that attitude with me." When the child told him, "You're going to ruin my life", Robinson replied: "As long as you keep to the deal." Judge Ranaghan told Robinson: "These were disgusting messages. So far, it's all been about you. I am much more concerned about the victim. I made it clear I am not happy this case was kept at this court. "This was vicious, contrived behaviour for your sexual pleasure." Rejecting a defence contention that the matter was lessened as the images only went to family, the judge continued: "I consider that an aggravating factor, you could have destroyed the family dynamic. You could have ended that young girl's life." Imposing an eight month prison term, the judge concluded: "I repeat my disgust at this conduct. I don't understand why this was not in crown court. I don't understand the charges - they should have been more serious." Along with the prison term, Robinson was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years. Greyhound says it will stop allowing Border Patrol agents without a warrant to board its buses to conduct routine immigration checks. The nation's largest bus company made the announcement on Friday - a week after The Associated Press reported on a leaked Border Patrol memo confirming that agents can't board private buses without the consent of the bus company. Greyhound had previously insisted that even though it didn't like the immigration checks, it had no choice under federal law but to allow them. Migrants are released from ICE custody at a Greyhound bus station in Phoenix. Greyhound, the nation's largest bus company, says it will stop allowing Border Patrol agents without a warrant to board its buses to conduct routine immigration checks In an emailed statement, the company said it would notify the Department of Homeland Security that it does not consent to unwarranted searches on its buses or in areas of terminals that are not open to the public - such as company offices or any areas a person needs a ticket to access. Greyhound said it would provide its drivers and bus station employees updated training regarding the new policy, and that it would place stickers on all its buses clearly stating that it does not consent to the searches. 'Our primary concern is the safety of our customers and team members, and we are confident these changes will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved,' the statement said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Agents for Customs and Border Protection board a Greyhound bus headed for Portland, Oregon at the Spokane Intermodal Center, a terminal for buses and Amtrak Greyhound has faced pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, immigrant rights activists and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to stop allowing sweeps on buses within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of an international border or coastline. In many cases, the buses being checked were not crossing or even approaching an international boundary. Critics say the practice is intimidating and discriminatory and has become more common under President Donald Trump. Border Patrol arrests videotaped by other passengers have sparked criticism, and Greyhound faces a lawsuit in California alleging that it violated consumer protection laws by facilitating raids. 'We are pleased to see Greyhound clearly communicate that it does not consent to racial profiling and harassment on its buses,' Andrea Flores, deputy director of policy for the ACLU's Equality Division, said in an email. 'By protecting its customers and employees, Greyhound is sending a message that it prioritizes the communities it serves.' Ferguson said in an email his office will follow up with Greyhound to ensure compliance. 'Todays announcement from Greyhound confirms what should have been obvious to the company since I contacted them a year ago - it has both the power and the responsibility to stand up for its customers, who suffered for far too long from Greyhounds indifference to CBPs suspicionless bus raids and harassment,' he said. An asylum seeker from Guatemala boards a Greyhound bus in El Paso, Texas in April 2019 The Border Patrol has insisted that it does not profile passengers based on their appearance, but instead asks all passengers whether they are citizens or in the country legally. The agency says the bus checks are an important way to ferret out human trafficking, narcotics and illegal immigration. Some other bus companies, including Jefferson Lines, which operates in 14 states, and MTRWestern, which operates in the Pacific Northwest, have already taken similar steps to those announced by Greyhound. Flores said the ACLU would continue to push others to follow suit. The memo obtained by the AP was dated Jan. 28, addressed to all chief patrol agents and signed by then-Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost just before she retired. It confirms the legal position that Greyhound's critics have taken: that the Constitution's Fourth Amendment prevents agents from boarding buses and questioning passengers without a warrant or the consent of the company. 'When transportation checks occur on a bus at non-checkpoint locations, the agent must demonstrate that he or she gained access to the bus with the consent of the companys owner or one of the companys employees,' the memo states. An agent's actions while on the bus 'would not cause a reasonable person to believe that he or she is unable to terminate the encounter with the agent.' Greyhound previously argued that case law, including a 1973 Supreme Court ruling, did not extend the Fourth Amendment's protections to commercial carriers. Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 (12:01 am) - Score 3,907 Whilst the Church of Full Fibre is now operating a broader admissions policy (cable and 5G are both firmly welcome) the race to build Full Fibre Britain is well and truly on. With around thirty operators planning or actively building, there are real first mover advantages for the fleet -footed operator. The challenge for the fibre industry is how these scale civil engineering programmes (because thats what they are) can be delivered efficiently and maintain a focus on health and safety (H&S). The recent death of a 35-year-old sub-contractor working on behalf of a major operator is a timely and sobering reminder of the consequences when things go wrong. NOTE: This article is a special Guest Editorial for ISPreview.co.uk, which has been written by Mark Harrop Telecom Practice Lead for This article is a special Guest Editorial for ISPreview.co.uk, which has been written by Mark Harrop Telecom Practice Lead for Arcadis UK Plc . The views of this author are their own and may not represent those of this website. When things go wrong Homes passed and the cost per home passed are the common metrics investors use to judge the performance of the organisations they have invested in. With such focus, the temptation to cut corners and target easier to deliver locations whilst leaving more challenging and expensive builds for later, can be irresistible. We have already seen the consequences of poorly managed projects. Devon & Somersets fibre programme resulted in contract termination after a traumatic delivery process with the customer identifying fundamental issues, including management of sub-contractors, build methodology and capacity within the team as the root cause. This is not an isolated case as regular ISP Review readers will be only too well aware. A successful Fibre build depends on a lot more than pace. Much of the physical construction work is sub-contracted out to specialist Tier 1 & 2 civils companies like Kier or Morrison. But it is important to note that sub-contracting the work does not necessarily mean subcontracting all the responsibilities and health and safety is one of those responsibilities that has implications at all stages of the supply chain. Where does responsibility lie? Fibre operators need to recognise they hold key statutory Duty Holding roles. Throwing H&S over the fence to the contractor working on site is not acceptable or legal but unfortunately is still an attitude that is often seen in the industry today. The Health and Safety Executive would want to see evidence of safety issues being considered right from programme concept stage and actively reflected in the design and planning stage, for example, documented evidence that a cabinet location was changed to avoid an accident blackspot area. If moral responsibility isnt enough to motivate a heightened attention to H&S matters, then the financial penalties and reputational risk associated with non-compliance should be. Failure can lead to criminal conviction and fines of up to 10% of Group turnover, so H&S should be high on the corporate risk register. A major UK retailer was recently fined 733K when a customer slipped in a store and broke their hip. Even no harm incidents are now attracting fines of several hundred thousand Pounds. Like a lot of industries, telecoms providers have not fully appreciated the implications of the 2015 changes to the Construction (Design Management) regulations (CDM). One of the key changes was the much broader definition of what constitutes construction, which has now been extended beyond the stereotypical interpretation to include any work that interacts with the fabric of a building or structure. So CDM has potential implications even for operators looking to connect homes within a blocks of flats, for instance. Operators may be unsure about which of the roles defined in CDM is the appropriate one for them. The outcome is often for operators to blur the responsibilities of Client, Principal Designer, and Principal Contractor, which effectively makes the operator responsible for risk mitigation strategies and takes safety responsibilities down to the individual site level when that responsibility should properly sit with the sub-contractor. This can lead to overlapping and confused responsibilities with the potential for gaps to open up, the lack of appropriate control and understanding leading to potential serious incidents. A key change in the 2015 regulations was to hold the client accountable for H&S on the entire project lifecycle, a duty that cannot be delegated down or contracted out to the supply chain. A major UK business was fined 300K for failing in its Client responsibilities when a sub-contractor employee fell through the skylight of a building. Legal fees and corrective actions across the whole estate means that the fine is just the tip of the cost iceberg. Commercial Engagement Models A carefully thought out CDM approach is only one dimension of sub-contractor engagement. Commercial engagement models are another area fraught with risk. The simple laws of supply and demand are at play in the civil engineering market. There is a finite supply of experienced civil engineering resource and over thirty planning or building. The fibre industry isnt the only industry digging holes; we are in the middle of rolling gas and water mains replacement programmes, both of which draw on the same resource pool. In short it is a sellers market. Despite all this, the commercial strategy of many operators remains focussed on getting to the lowest price point rather than reflecting the sensitivity of the overarching business case to delays and disruption. A victory on headline prices can often be Pyrrhic; civil engineering companies are rather good at recovering margin ceded during contract negotiations with a flood of variations or compensation events, not only reversing any cost benefit, but creating the additional overhead of processing numerous additional claims. Unlike the operators, this is their core business and the civils companies are very good at it. Operators need to maintain focus on delivering their overarching fibre business case rather than managing civils costs as though it were an isolated activity. A mature approach will focus on delivering the overarching fibre case and be reflective of the fact that sub-contractors have choices which make mutually beneficial partnerships an essential success factor. Delivering a successful programme So far, I have concentrated narrowly on CDM and supplier management strategy. Whilst these two factors have significant implications for the overall success of the build programme, they are only two items on a long list of issues that need to be worked through as part of a successful delivery programme, and all these aspects should be viewed holistically rather than as separate issues. For many build activities the to do list is the result of bitter experience and corrective actions in the live environment, rather than upfront planning and Programme Management good practice. Every unforeseen item added to the list draws programme managers into the fire-fighting zone dealing with immediate deployment issues, reducing the opportunity of the programme team to significantly change the trajectory and outcomes of the programme. For some, firefighting is the heroic face of programme management. In truth success should be about delivering tangible benefits to a predictable heartbeat. Effective programme control comes from investing time and effort at the planning stage and building an understanding of risks and the appropriate mitigations. Some operators are already triaging build plans for known risk factors, such as Section 58 dig restrictions and proximity to railways. This means that realistic expectations can be set and challenging builds given the focus they need, but this is far from the norm. A reliable build plan creates the stable reference point for resource and materials scheduling, completing the virtuous circle of delivery. My advice would be to invest heavily in thinking through your delivery programme, with a hearty slug of time devoted to defining the value and benefits sought. You may even have a build process that has worked well in the past , but are you confident that your current way of working can be reliably scaled to support new growth ambitions or are you already operating at your limits? Better to find out now rather than in the heat of delivery or past the point of no return. Mark Harrop Telecom Practice Lead for Arcadis UK Plc. Born in 1935, Professor and Doctor of Science Le Dang Ha made great contributions and efforts in repelling the SARS epidemic in Vietnam in 2003. With his outstanding contributions, he was awarded the title of Peoples Doctor in 2000 and the Labour Hero title in 2004. Politburo member Vo Van Thuong conveyed his best wishes to Professor and Doctor Ha as well as spoke highly of his efforts and dedication for national medicine sector. In particular, the Professors initiatives in treating, training and launching research in science have contributed greatly to the prevention and control of SARS 17 years ago. In the present time, he is still working hard with the health sector to actively prevent and control Covid-19. Passengers on the plane, which is filled with masked officials and plastic sheeting. Courtesy of Philip and Gay Courter/via REUTERS President Donald Trump was "furious" after officials flew Americans who had tested positive for the coronavirus back to the US, The Washington Post reported. The US flew back 14 patients from the Diamond Princess in Japan while keeping them isolated from other, uninfected passengers. Trump had reportedly been briefed by officials and agreed that anyone who tested positive should be treated in Japan and not travel with other passengers. But the patients who tested positive were then put on the plane without Trump's knowledge, leaving him angry, the Post reported. The State Department appears to have reversed its position as the cases were discovered when the patients were already off the ship and on the way to the airport. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. coronavirus US President Donald Trump was "furious" after officials flew Americans with the coronavirus back to the US from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan without telling him, The Washington Post reported. The US flew 14 patients who had tested positive for the coronavirus back to the US from the Diamond Princess cruise ship on Monday, among other US citizens who had been on the flight and chose to take the US State Department's offer of a flight back. The State Department had originally said that it would only fly back patients who did not test positive, and would leave those who tested positive in Japan for treatment. But the position seemed to be reversed as the cases were only discovered after the passengers were already off the ship and on their way to the plane. Those who tested positive were isolated in a bio-containment box in the plane and are being treated in the US, while other passengers are being quarantined for 14 days. coronavirus The isolation box for those who test positive for the coronavirus is pictured on the plane bringing back US passengers who were evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan on January 17. Story continues Cheryl and Paul Molesky via AP/Business Insider The Post, citing anonymous officials, said that Trump and members of the US' virus task force were told on January 15, two days before the flight, that Americans who tested positive for the coronavirus or who had its symptoms would remain in Japan. Trump agreed that those who tested positive for the virus should not be on the same plane as other passengers, the Post reported. But the 14 patients who tested positive were then put on the plane without Trump's knowledge, according to the Post. Trump was angry that he only learned of the decision after it was made and said the decision could undermine how the US' response to the deadly disease is perceived, administration officials told the Post. He complained to officials including his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, the report said. coronavirus Passengers on the shuttle bus that brought them from the Diamond Princess to their plane to the US. Courtesy of Philip and Gay Courter/via REUTERS The US Centers for Disease Control ultimately asked for its title to be left off the State Department statement announcing the evacuation because it believes patients could still spread the virus to uninfected passengers even if they did not show symptoms, the Post reported. Americans who had been identified as infected before the ship was evacuated had already been taken off the shop and were in hospitals in Japan for treatment. Dr. William Waters, a managing director at the US State Department, said on Friday that discovering the cases during the evacuation was "an emerging and unusual circumstance." diamond princess get in the stretches.JPG A passenger stretches on the balcony of a cabin of the cruise ship Diamond Princess on February 11, 2020. Reuters/Issei Kato "We had 328 people on buses. We had a plan. We were executing the plan. Then we received lab results on otherwise asymptomatic, un-ill people that were on their way to an airport. I think the folks on the ground did just the right thing by, out of an abundance of caution, moving those 14 people into an isolation area where they pose no threat to themselves or anyone else," he said. Around 3,700 passengers were on board the ship in total. At least 634 passengers have been infected, and they were either brought to hospitals or brought home to their countries. A flight bringing back 32 UK citizens from the ship arrived in the UK on Saturday. diamond princess hello family.JPG Family members of passengers onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where 174 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, wave and talk to them on the phone at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan, February 11, 2020. Reuters/Issei Kato Some people are still on board the ship, which plans to set sail again in April after a cleaning. Passengers on board had previously shared pictures of lives in quarantine, including their room service and the ways they coped with boredom. Read the original article on Business Insider Chloroquine is yet to be confirmed as one of the sure drugs in the treatment of coronavirus, formally known as Covid-19, the minister of state for health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, has said. Mr Mamora made the explanation on Friday in Abuja during a parley with journalists on the status of the ongoing Covid-19 and Lassa fever. The world, since January, has been battling Covid-19, which was first detected in China but has since spread to 26 countries. While the disease is yet to be imported into the country, Nigeria has been battling the scourge of the Lassa fever outbreak which has been reported in some states in the country, with 103 deaths. There have been news in the media during the week that chloroquine has been effective in the treatment of the new coronavirus. However, Mr Mamora said there is yet to be a certain acceptable drug in the treatment of the new disease as lots of clinical trials are still ongoing. Although it was in the literature that chloroquine has been effective in the treatment of Covid-19, he said it is yet to be ascertained because lots of clinical trials are still on-going. The World Health Organisation is yet to make a statement about place of chloroquine or its effectiveness in the treatment of the disease. The UN health agency on Thursday said they were looking forward to results from two clinical trials of therapeutics prioritized by the WHO R&D Blueprint. One combines two drugs for HIV, lopinavir and ritonavir, and the other is testing an antiviral called remdisivir and the preliminary results are expected in three weeks. Chloroquine is the third drug being tried in China. Preparedness Mr Mamora cautioned against fake news and assured Nigeria that there is no case of Covid-19 in the country as of Friday. He said five suspected cases at the point of entry, which fitted the disease description, were tested and results were negative. He said Nigeria has also improved its surveillance at point of entries, especially the ports. The Port Health Services had intensified screening of passengers coming from China and other countries of high risk. Screening forms have been provided to all airlines, he said. He said in preparedness, clinicians are being trained on management of cases at the moment and the country is developing a stockpile of medical supplies to be used in the event of any outbreak. Our capacity for testing has been enhanced because we have three laboratories- Edo and Lagos states as well as in Abuja. Nigeria is receiving technical support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa Centre for Disease Control and West African Health Organisation, he said. Mr Mamora added that the ministry has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to provide oversight leadership. He said the committee is being coordinated by the NCDC and it meets twice a week. Funding Meanwhile, the permanent secretary, ministry of health, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, said that the government, in preparation for surveillance and response to an eventual outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, has released N386 million to two health agencies. The fund, released to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Port Health Services, is to strengthen Nigerias preparedness to combat Covid-19. Mr Abdullahi said the fund was part of the N620 million budgeted by the government to curtail Covid-19 from entering into the country. Advertisements The fund was first mentioned by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health to discuss the ministrys preparedness to prevent the importation of the new coronavirus into the country. Mr Abdullahi said the first batch, N71 million, was released at the end of January to facilitate the activities of the Port Health Services department of the ministry, and batch, N315 million was released to NCDC. Because of the level of the emergency, I can confirm to you that N71 million was released to the Port Health Services division of the (health) ministry and N315 million was released to NCDC directly. Other requests are in the pipeline and yet to be released, he said. Sydney/Tokyo, Feb 22 : Authorities confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday among Australians recently evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which had been quarantined in Japan after hundreds of cases were detected on board. The four tested positive out of 17 evacuees after experiencing respiratory problems symptoms on arrival in Darwin, the country's health ministry said in a statement. This takes the total to six from the 164 Australians evacuated from the cruise ship, who were housed in a quarantine centre in the city, reports Efe news. The Ministry said it was unlikely that infections would have occurred during the flight and added that the infected were in stable condition with moderate symptoms of the disease. On the other hand, the authorities said strict mechanisms would be put in place to allow the return of some 760 Chinese secondary school students stuck in their own country because of travel restrictions in the wake of the outbreak. "The decision was taken based on the best medical advice available and with the safety of Australians as the number one priority," Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement. The measure, which will put students through a quarantine period, was approved in the face of a clear reduction in cases in China, although those from Hubei Province, the epidemic's epicentre, will be excluded from it. Meanwhile, several Japanese health ministry officials aboard the Diamond Princess, where 634 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, have not been tested for the virus and have returned to their jobs, the country's state broadcaster NHK said on Saturday. NHK said that about 90 officials who boarded the ship anchored in Yokohama were not subjected to any test before returning to their offices. Four of the officials on board underwent tests after showing symptoms and were found to have been infected, according to prior reports. Experts consulted by NHK believe that, although appropriate preventive measures had been taken, these officials should have been asked to work from home during the maximum incubation period, which is 14 days. Apart from the 634 cases on the Diamond Princess, another 96 infections have been confirmed in Japan so far, bringing the total to 730, and making it the most affected country outside China. While it is not uncommon to lament the many crises in international politics today far from South Korea's shores, there is one brewing on the peninsula today. It gets fairly little attention in the media because the headlines habitually focus on the prospects for more summit diplomacy between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his American and South Korean counterparts. But there is a silent crisis over the issue of human rights abuses in North Korea that is getting swept under the carpet. The world seems to have forgotten about the efforts begun only six years ago to address the human rights challenges in North Korea. A unique concatenation of events facilitated this movement. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on North Korean human rights, led by former Australian Supreme Court Justice Michael Kirby, recommended that the North Korean leader, as well as officials in the State Security Department, Ministry of People's Security, the [North] Korean People's Army, the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the judiciary and the Workers' Party of North Korea, stand trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. The COI also recommended that the UN Security Council take up the issue of human rights abuses in North Korea. And it was considered an unprecedented step forward when the UN Security Council added North Korea's human rights abuses on to its formal agenda from 2014 to 2017. For the first time in history, the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) opened an office. The purpose of this office was clear -- to create a documentation trail of human rights violations such that there would be an evidentiary basis in the future to bring those violators to justice. As then-assistant secretary for democracy and human rights Tom Malinowski said at a CSIS event in 2017 to the leadership in North Korea: we know who you are; we know what you have done to the people; and you will be held accountable some day. In March 2017, the DPRK Accountability Project was created, which strengthened the Seoul OHCHR office's capacity by adding international criminal justice experts to develop plans for eventual prosecution of North Korean officials. I worked for the only U.S. president who cared about this issue, George W. Bush. He supported the creation of the first-ever North Korean refugee resettlement program in the United States (the only one outside of the Korean Peninsula). He was the first U.S. president to bring North Korean defectors into the Oval Office. He read Kang Chol-hwan's book. And even today at his Institute in Dallas, he maintains a scholarship program that enables young North Korean defectors who have resettled in the U.S. to go to college, and has invited these recipients to the Institute to have lunch with him. I learned from these experiences that caring for freedom was not just a political slogan, but a deeply held belief that one carries every day, even after leaving office. To see the momentum behind these human rights issues grow was inspiring, especially after their floundering in the darkness for decades. But now, in the past three years, the momentum to bring human dignity to the citizens of North Korea has lost ground. In 2018, the UN Security Council failed to renew a debate on North Korean human rights abuses in its chambers for the first time since the release of the COI report in 2012. In 2019, in an effort to put the issue back on the agenda, the UN Security Council could not achieve the nine-vote minimum to put the issue back on the agenda. The United States did not cast the ninth and deciding vote because of U.S. President Donald Trump's summit diplomacy with Kim. In fact, the U.S. administration's focus on summit denuclearization diplomacy and the Kim-Trump "bromance" has obscured any interest in taking up the human rights issue. Four meetings of the two leaders has failed to produce a single statement or commitment to improving the lives of the North Korean people. The number of North Korean refugees coming to the U.S. under the 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act has dwindled to zero in 2019. The South Korean government has slashed budgets for supporting human rights work, including ending nearly 20 years of funding for the Association of North Korean Defectors in December 2017, and a 92-percent budget cut for the North Korean Human Rights Foundation in 2018. The South Korean government also did not co-sponsor a UN General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in North Korea, something they have done annually since 2008. In November 2019, the Moon Jae-in government forcibly repatriated two North Korean fisherman who human rights activists fear will meet execution upon their repatriation. The South Korean government's actions were roundly criticized by human rights groups in a December 2019 joint letter, and also by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights violations of North Korea Tomas Quintana. Like Trump, the Moon government wants to prioritize inter-Korean cooperation over the human rights of brothers and sisters north of the border. Despite Moon's four summit meetings in the past two years with Kim, the topic of human rights has not come up once, and yet inter-Korean relations have not improved dramatically. Advanced industrialized democracies like South Korea and the United States must stand up for universal human rights not when it is convenient, but all of the time as an embodiment of their beliefs and identity. Stanford University on the west coast will do its part by hosting a major conference on regaining the lost ground on North Korean human rights in March. CSIS will do the same on the east coast in the same month. The last conference on human rights at CSIS drew not just a standing room only crowd, but also a formal protest by the North Korean mission to the UN in New York -- a sure sign that the regime does care about public scrutiny of this issue. Policy makers in the Moon and Trump governments may not be moved to focus on human rights any time soon because of conferences like these. But they should be aware of two core realities when it comes to this issue. First, current U.S. law makes it impossible to follow through on any sanctions-lifting and economic incentives for a North Korean denuclearization deal without improvements in the human rights situation. Second, if the coronavirus finds its way into North Korea -- a real possibility given the unique transmission vector from China, which is the only well-traveled country for the isolated regime -- the U.S. and South Korea may find a humanitarian crisis on their hands. North Korea's health system is incapable of containing pandemics. They currently have no capability to detect let alone contain an outbreak, which would put the U.S. and South Korea in the position of having to decide whether they want to relax sanctions in order to help the North Korean people. Let 2020 be the year in which we reverse the downward trend in the human rights movement. The Friday Prayer Imam of the religious city of Qom, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak in Iran, told his congregation Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump targeted the city with coronavirus "to damage its culture and honor". Most of the coronavirus cases in Iran include people living in Qom and those who have visited the religious city recently. These cases have no clear epidemiological link to the outbreak in China. Qom is the religious capital of Iran, home to many seminaries and the Shrine of Masoumeh and a bastion for hardliners. The city's economy revolves around the Shrine which thousands of pilgrims from Iran and other countries visit every day. According to social media users after two deaths were reported in Qom on Thursday the usually crowded streets of the city look abandoned. Speaking during evening prayers Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Saeedi who is also the Custodian of the Shrine of Masoumeh said Trump has targeted the city because Qom is a "shelter for the Shiites of the world, the center of religious seminaries and the city where Shiite sources of emulation live". "The enemy wants to instill fear in people's hearts, make Qom look like an unsafe city and to take revenge for all its defeats," the Friday Prayer leader said. "Trump will die frustrated in his wish to see Qom defeated," he went on to tell his congregation. Iranian officials and clerics often make wild accusations against the U.S., Israel and other countries which have disagreements with the Islamic Republic. According to Saeedi, by targeting Qom Trump is fulfilling his promise of hitting Iranian cultural sites if Iranians took revenge for the U.S. killing of Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani. Trump had threatened in a January 4 tweet that the U.S. will target "52 Iranian sites some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, will be hit very fast and very hard." (CNN) Concerns are growing over the global spread of the novel coronavirus after a spike in cases outside of mainland China among people with no connection to China or the city of Wuhan, ground zero for the outbreak. World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that there was still a chance to contain the Covid-19 virus, "but the window of opportunity is narrowing." The WHO has called on countries to continue containment measures while preparing for community transmission, he said, adding that the outbreak could still go in any direction. "We must not look back and regret that we failed to take advantage of the window of opportunity we have," he said. His words come as countries outside of China report a sharp increase of coronavirus cases -- particularly in South Korea and Iran. Italy has also reported its first death, raising fears of self-sustaining epidemics. Authorities in China's Hubei province confirmed an additional 366 cases of the virus on Friday, 45 fewer than the previous day, taking the total number of cases at the epicenter of the outbreak to over 63,400. The total number of cases in mainland China is now more than 76,200. The global death toll from the outbreak has reached 2,360, after 109 deaths were reported in mainland China Friday, including 106 in Hubei, nine fewer than the previous day. Outside of mainland China, 15 people have died from the coronavirus. Two new deaths were reported in Iran and one death in South Korea on Friday. More than 9,000 self-isolating in South Korea Outside China, the largest coronavirus outbreaks have been in South Korea and Japan, where hundreds of people were infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which began disembarking passengers this week from Yokohama Bay. On Saturday, South Korea reported a jump of more than 140 additional cases, bringing the country's total to over 340, according to the South Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The number of cases in South Korea has soared from 28 a week ago. Two patients who have been diagnosed with coronavirus have died in the country, where the outbreak is centered around the southern city of Daegu. About half of the country's cases are linked to the Shincheongji religious group in Daegu. On Saturday, South Korean health officials said that 9,300 members of the group will be tested and required to self-isolate as they try to get on top of the outbreak there. "We have secured a list of about 9,300 members of the relevant religious group, and we are preemptively enforcing self-isolation and facility isolation," said Kim Gang-lip, South Korea's vice minister of health, at a press briefing. More than 4,400 people from the list are already self-isolating and the ministry is conducting the first tests on 544 people who said they have respiratory symptoms, Kim said. In a statement released online on Friday, the Shincheongji religious group said it "deeply regrets" the coronavirus outbreak that occurred in their Daegu branch and said it was cooperating with local authorities. "Currently all of our church branches in the nation, including the main headquarters have stopped services, gatherings, and mission activity in churches and related spaces," the statement said. On Friday, the South Korean government designated Daegu and neighboring city Cheongdo as "special management areas" for infectious disease and have taken additional measures to control the outbreak, including shutting down public places in the capital, Seoul. Among the new cases, 92 have been linked to the Cheongdo Daenam hospital, in North Gyeongsang province, and four other cases connected to Daegu city involved members of the military. Cases rise in Middle East Attention has also turned to Iran, which only recently began reporting its first cases, and on Friday confirmed two additional deaths and 13 new infections. Iranian health officials said the source of the virus in the country could be a Chinese worker who works in the city of Qom, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital Tehran, and had recently traveled to China. In total, four people have died in the country and 18 infections have been confirmed. Officials warned the coronavirus may have spread to every city in the country. "The spread of the coronavirus started in Qom and has reached other cities in the country like Tehran, Babol, Arak, Isfahan, Rasht and other cities due to people traveling. There is a possibility that it exists in all cities across the country," said Minnou Mohraz, a member of the National Committee for Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health. On Friday, Canada's chief public health officer, Theresa Tam, suggested further investigation was needed after a Canadian tested positive for the virus after returning from Iran. There was no indication that the patient had been to Qom. "Any important cases linked to Iran could be an indicator that there is more widespread transmission than we know about," Tam said. Iran's sudden jump in cases, Tam said, was a reminder that the novel coronavirus is a global issue and that there is the possibility that the virus could be present in countries that may not have the capacity to detect or contain it. On Friday, Lebanon and Israel both reported their first cases of coronavirus. Leaving the Diamond Princess Meanwhile, hundreds of people are finally disembarking the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan's Yokohama for the past two weeks. On Friday, 253 people who tested negative for coronavirus left the ship, according to a news release from the Japanese health ministry. The disembarkation of passengers from the ship will continue at least through Saturday, a spokesperson for Princess Cruises told CNN. Japan, however, reported 12 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, including three teenagers, bringing the number of cases in the country with no connection to the ship to 99, with 639 confirmed from the cruise ship. Cases have also increased in Singapore and Taiwan. In the United States, officials have confirmed 35 cases of novel coronavirus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That includes 21 cases among repatriated individuals, as well as 14 other US cases. The 21 repatriated include 18 former passengers of the Diamond Princess, plus three who had been previously evacuated from China. The CDC said it will now track confirmed cases in two separate groups: people who have been repatriated, and those identified by the US public health network. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Fears over containing novel coronavirus grow as cases outside China spike" New Delhi, Feb 22 : Following the coronavirus outbreak, India has issued a travel advisory on Singapore and asked its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the south-east Asian business hub. This was decided at a high level review meeting taken by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on COVID-19. Four new countries are being added to the list for screening at airports. After a detailed review, in addition to the universal screening as per earlier advisories, universal screening at airports is now being planned for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. In furtherance to the travel advisory issued earlier, citizens have been advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore. As on date, 21,805 passengers have been brought under community surveillance. In addition, 3.97 lakh flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at sea ports have been screened. The Cabinet Secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review the status, actions taken and preparedness of states/UTs regarding management of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), here today. Secretaries of Health and Family Welfare, Civil Aviation, Defence, Information & Broadcasting, DG AFMS and representatives from External Affairs, Home Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, ITBP and Army were also present. Kale Sligh is an expert in reputation marketing that evolved from simplistic television advertising to become a dominant force in a digital content marketing strategy. Kale Sligh says that if a company does not manage its net reputation, it manages them. NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2020 / Baby boomers remember when television was brand-new and innovative technology. TV started small, in black and white, and then for many years, after it changed to color, was dominated by three major television networks. Audiences were less sophisticated and more easily influenced. The reputation of a company came about from its association with popular television shows and celebrity spokespersons in advertisements. Companies created product advertisements for the widest possible television audience. National fads came about through product exposure on television. Television expanded through cable channels to offer more choices and the audience fragmented. Then the Internet commercialized in the 1990s and the audience was fragmented even further. The Internet also allowed public complaints about products and services to become more visible. There are still some one-to-many television advertising possibilities, which are impactful, such as ads during the Super Bowl; however, television advertising is no longer the most influential marketing tool. Why Kale Sligh Recommends Many-to-Many Advertising There is now a strong psychological resistance to advertising that emerged due to the constant bombardment of ads seeking a person's attention. The human attention span has dramatically decreased. Microsoft conducted a study that measured the attention span of an average person, which is now around eight seconds. This represents a major decrease from the 12 seconds that was measured in 2000. For advertisers, this means they have 33% less time to get the point across. A 30-second television commercial is only watched for about eight seconds. Generational Changes Noted by Kale Sligh The millennial generation is no longer basing their consumption choices on advertisements. They rely more on recommendations. About 95% of people are more likely to rely on a recommendation when choosing whether to buy a product or service. They don't have to know the person making the recommendation. Websites that provide user-contributed reviews are used frequently as well as public comments in posts discovered on social media. What does this mean for advertisers? Brand managers now know that online reputation is a critical part of a marketing strategy. Kale Sligh's advice for companies that want to gain traction with consumers is that they need to be proactive in monitoring and managing their online reputations. Kale Sligh Explains that Bad Reviews are Opportunities It takes time and effort for a person to make a review. Most people who are satisfied do not take the time necessary to make a positive review. This means that the review process is weighted more heavily towards disgruntled customers who make a bad review. These bad reviews represent an opportunity for a company to publicly show how much they care about each customer. Here are common mistakes made by companies about reviews: Lack of Review Monitoring: A bad review is placed about a product. The company has no review tracking system and does not respond. Any potential customer who encounters this review online will likely believe what it says, even if it is not accurate. Poor Response: A bad review is placed about a product. The company gives an inadequate response, such as asking the customer to email customer service about their problem. If the complaint is public, the response should also be public. Useless Warranty: If a product is costly to ship due to its weight, asking a customer to pay return shipping for a defective or damaged product is a useless warranty, when the shipping costs almost as much as the product. It is better not to offer a warranty than to offer a warranty that is effectively useless and causes more upset with customers who do not get their problems resolved. It is better to manage these problems by using tracking systems and data mining with artificial intelligence algorithms. Consider giving very consumer-friendly public responses such as an immediate full refund or a free replacement of a defective product without requiring return shipping of the problem product. Photos of the problems submitted electronically should suffice. The cost of responding to complaints, in an overly-positive way, can be considered an effective form of reputation advertising that many companies fail to utilize. A potential customer who reads a very negative complaint and then sees an overly-positive response by the company is powerfully influenced to buy the product in an extremely convincing way. Bad reviews are permanent in many systems, so the positive public response seen by anyone who reads them continues to provide a beneficial impact on a brand's reputation for a very long time. Conclusion Brand marketing has evolved significantly to need a comprehensive strategy to deal with target market fragmentation. Companies who engage a brand manager who understands that finding the target market using technology and then delivering a message that is not perceived as only an advertisement is a major factor in a marketing campaign's success. Monitoring reviews and responding in a very positive way is a marketing technique that is still underutilized by many companies. Millennials look for companies that they can recommend and see other recommendations as being vitally important in their decision-making process about which products and services to purchase. CONTACT: Caroline Hunter Web Presence, LLC +1 7865519491 SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/577425/Kale-Sligh-Recounts-the-History-of-One-to-Many-Advertising Kane Williamson's knock of 89 runs allowed New Zealand to take a lead of 51 runs over India on day two of the ongoing first Test here at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. After bundling out India for 165, New Zealand ended the day at 216/5. New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell saw off the first ten overs and managed to move the scoreboard slowly and steadily. India finally got the breakthrough in the 11th over as Ishant Sharma dismissed Latham (11). Skipper Kane Williamson next came in to bat, and he along with Blundell managed to stitch together a partnership of 47 runs. But with the back against the walls, Ishant once again stepped up for India to send Blundell (30) back to the pavilion, reducing Kiwis to 73/2. Ross Taylor, who is playing his 100th Test, came out next to join Williamson in the middle. Kiwis went into the tea interval at a score of 116/2. Both Taylor and Williamson put on a 93-run stand and allowed the Kiwis to take lead over India. Taylor (44) perished in the 53rd over as Ishant had him caught at short-leg. New Zealand managed to keep the scoreboard moving and Williamson looked set to bring up his century. However, Mohammed Shami had other plans as he went on to send Williamson (89) back to the pavilion in the 63rd over, reducing Kiwis to 185/4. Soon after, Ravichandran Ashwin also got among the wickets as he dismissed Henry Nicholls (17) in the 70th over. BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme ensured that the Kiwis do not lose any more wickets before the close of play on day two. Resuming day two at 122/5, India lost their overnight batter Rishabh Pant (19) early as a horrible mix-up between the wickets, ended up in him getting run-out. Immediately after Ravichandran Ashwin (0) was dismissed by Tim Southee, reducing India to 132/7. Set batter Ajinkya Rahane (46) also perished at the hands of Southee and India was bowled out for just 165. Southee and debutant Kyle Jamieson scalped four wickets each. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders tells Russia to stay out of Americas elections after reports that Moscow is meddling in his campaign. In the United States, accusations of Russian meddling in the presidential election have resurfaced this time, regarding the 2020 campaign. Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has warned Russia to stay out of the 2020 presidential election. He was responding to reports that intelligence officials had warned him the Kremlin was meddling to boost his campaign, as well as that of President Donald Trump. Russia has denied the accusations. Al Jazeeras Sara Khairat reports. She is preparing for the birth of her baby with fiance Steve Kazee. And Jenna Dewan was every bit the glowing mum-to-be when she headed out for as stroll in sunny LA on Friday. The Step Up Actress, 39, wore a long-sleeved red floral dress and opted for comfort with a simple pair of white pumps on her feet. Gorgeous: Jenna Dewan was every bit the glowing mum to be in a red floral dress when she headed out for as stroll in sunny LA on Friday Jenna nailed boho chic in her floaty ensemble that she completed with a pair of red tinted sunglasses to add to her elegant look. The gorgeous dress showcased Jenna's blossoming baby bump and also flashed her toned limbs with a thigh-high split. The Flirty Dancing host gave a glimpse of her sparkling new engagement ring when she held back her windswept raven tresses Windswept: The 39-year-old nailed boho chic in her floaty ensemble that she completed with a pair of red tinted sunglasses and whit pumps The Gracefully You author is still 'on cloud nine' after the 44-year-old Grammy winner popped the question at her crystal-laden, hippie baby shower - which she gushed was 'one of the best days of my life.' Jenna's oval diamond engagement ring was designed by Twilight alum Nikki Reed's sustainable jewellery company, BaYou with Love.e Experts estimated it contained 2.5-3 carats and cost between $50K-$100K - according to E! News. 'One of the best days of my life!' The Gracefully You author is still 'on cloud nine' after the 44-year-old Grammy winner popped the question Tuesday at her hippie baby shower Jenna first met Steve Kazee way back in 2012 while backstage at Manhattan's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre where the Tony-winning thespian was performing his hit Broadway musical, Once. But the betrothed couple didn't begin dating until March 2018 - seven months before the former back-up dancer filed for divorce from her ex-husband Channing Tatum, which was finalised November 20. Channing, 39, is reportedly 'very happy' for the future bride and groom since they 'have both moved on and are happy in their new relationships.' Dazzling: Jenna's oval diamond engagement ring was designed by Twilight alum Nikki Reed's sustainable jewellery company, BaYou with Love 'Jenna has a special place in his heart since she is the mother of their [six-year-old daughter Everly],' an insider told E! News on Wednesday. 'Channing's main priority and concern is his daughter, and he and Jenna are both happy to have worked out a co-parenting agreement.' In January, the Magic Mike alum rekindled his 13-month romance with Grammy-nominated pop star, Jessie J, following a two-month split. 'While Mr Trump has imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia, he also has spoken warmly of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.' Photo: Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters US intelligence officials have warned Russia is interfering in the 2020 election campaign to help President Donald Trump get re-elected. The warning was made to Congressional politicians in a closed door meeting, according to three officials familiar with the briefing. It raises questions about the integrity of the presidential campaign and whether Mr Trump's administration is taking the proper steps to combat the kind of interference the United States saw in 2016. The officials asked for anonymity. They said the briefing last week focused on Russia's efforts to influence this year's election and sow discord in the American electorate. The warning was reported by 'The New York Times' and 'The Washington Post'. A senior administration official told Associated Press the news infuriated Mr Trump, who complained that Democrats would use the information against him. Over the course of his presidency, he has dismissed the intelligence community's assessment of Russia's 2016 election interference as a conspiracy to undermine his victory. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted: "American voters should decide American elections - not Vladimir Putin." She added all members of Congress "should condemn the president's reported efforts to dismiss threats to the integrity of our democracy & to politicise our intel community." A day after the February 13 briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, Mr Trump berated director of national intelligence (DNI) Joseph Maguire. He announced this week Mr Maguire would be replaced by Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist. The appointment was formalised on Thursday. US intelligence agencies say Russia interfered in the 2016 election through social media campaigns and stealing and distributing emails from Democratic accounts. They say Russia was trying to boost Mr Trump's campaign and add chaos to the US political process. Special counsel Robert Mueller concluded Russian interference was "sweeping and systematic" but he did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign. Republican politicians who were in last week's briefing by the DNI's chief election official, Shelby Pierson, pushed back by noting Mr Trump has been tough on Russia, one of the officials said. While Mr Trump has imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia, he also has spoken warmly of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and withdrawn troops from areas, like Syria, where Moscow could fill the vacuum. He delayed military aid last year to Ukraine, a Russian adversary - a decision that was at the core of his impeachment proceedings. The 'Times' said Mr Trump was angry the House briefing was made before the panel's chairman, Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment. Mr Grenell's background is primarily in politics and media affairs and he has stood down as US ambassador to Germany. He lacks the extensive national security and military experience of Mr Maguire, as well as previous holders of the position overseeing 17 intelligence agencies. His appointment does little to heal the president's fraught relations with the intelligence community, which Mr Trump has derided as part of a "deep state" of entrenched bureaucrats that seek to undermine his agenda. The administration has most notably feuded with the intelligence community over the Russian interference and the events surrounding Mr Trump's impeachment. Readers hoping to buy K-Bro Linen Inc. (TSE:KBL) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. If you purchase the stock on or after the 27th of February, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 13th of March. K-Bro Linen's next dividend payment will be CA$0.10 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of CA$1.20 per share. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, K-Bro Linen has a trailing yield of approximately 2.6% on its current stock price of CA$45.85. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether K-Bro Linen's dividend is reliable and sustainable. As a result, readers should always check whether K-Bro Linen has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut. See our latest analysis for K-Bro Linen Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. K-Bro Linen distributed an unsustainably high 129% of its profit as dividends to shareholders last year. Without extenuating circumstances, we'd consider the dividend at risk of a cut. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Over the last year it paid out 51% of its free cash flow as dividends, within the usual range for most companies. It's good to see that while K-Bro Linen's dividends were not covered by profits, at least they are affordable from a cash perspective. If executives were to continue paying more in dividends than the company reported in profits, we'd view this as a warning sign. Extraordinarily few companies are capable of persistently paying a dividend that is greater than their profits. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Story continues TSX:KBL Historical Dividend Yield, February 22nd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with falling earnings are riskier for dividend shareholders. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. K-Bro Linen's earnings per share have fallen at approximately 8.8% a year over the previous five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks. K-Bro Linen also issued more than 5% of its market cap in new stock during the past year, which we feel is likely to hurt its dividend prospects in the long run. Trying to grow the dividend while issuing large amounts of new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. In the past ten years, K-Bro Linen has increased its dividend at approximately 0.9% a year on average. The Bottom Line Has K-Bro Linen got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Earnings per share have been shrinking in recent times. Worse, K-Bro Linen's paying out a majority of its earnings and more than half its free cash flow. Positive cash flows are good news but it's not a good combination. It's not an attractive combination from a dividend perspective, and we're inclined to pass on this one for the time being. Wondering what the future holds for K-Bro Linen? See what the six analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. 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. She is no stranger to sharing sexy throwback shots of her many sunny escapes. And Jess Wright, 34, took to Instagram on Saturday to reminisce about her Jamaican holiday back in January. The former TOWIE star was seen standing in front of crystal blue waters in the picture while wearing a PrettyLittleThing bikini. Sun kissed: Jess Wright, 34, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a very sexy photo The two piece features capped sleeves and ties in a criss-cross fashion around her ribs showcasing her flat stomach. She captioned the sultry snap: 'Tans & jet lag fade, but memories last forever #takemeback #bringonsummer' She was sporting a sun kissed glow and looked effortlessly gorgeous with her raven hued tresses swept to one side. The reality star wore round gold sunglasses perched on her nose and held a floaty sarong that matched her bikini. Loved-up couple: Jess and boyfriend William Lee-Kemp enjoyed their trip to Jamaica back in January alongside her family Jess enjoyed the trip back in January alongside her family and boyfriend, William Lee-Kemp. At the time she shared a snap of her cuddled up to the hunk on the beach under the star lit sky. She captioned the cosy picture: 'Me & you [world emoji]'. Gorgeous tan: Another snap showed the star sporting tousled waves and a golden tan on the sea front at a resort on the South Coast of Jamaica, wearing a signet necklace The pair also celebrated their one-year anniversary last month, with Jess taking to Instagram to share a loved-up post. She shared two romantic selfies with her businessman beau for the occasion, describing him as her 'first and hopefully last' love. She captioned the post: 'You're my real first, hopefully my last. You're my absolute everything. Happy anniversary my love.' Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images When Tracey Mixon walks out her door in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood, she is more likely to meet another black person than in most places in the city. The Tenderloin is where many of the citys homeless services are centered, making it a hub for the unhoused as they seek help. In a city where the black population teeters between 5% and 6%, 37% of its growing homeless population is black. They sleep outside of my building, Mixon, 49, said. Theyre people Ive known for years. They went from having places to live to being out out there on the streets. With me living in the Tenderloin, I see a lot of these people all the time and it hurts for me to see so many black people out there. In a state where a housing crisis has given way to a surge in homelessness, a disproportionate number of those experiencing housing instability are black. In Los Angeles, 37.5% of the homeless population is black, while in Oakland, where 70% of the homeless population is black, whole homeless encampments are dedicated to black and Latinx people. The disparity is reflected nationwide. Although black people made up 13.4% of the overall population, according to the latest US census data, 39.8% of all homeless people were black. Mixon joined a group with the Coalition on Homelessness on Thursday, going from office to office in San Francisco City Hall to bring attention to this racial disparity during Black History Month. Just nine months ago, Mixon was homeless too, along with her nine-year-old daughter. For almost a year, she said, she and her daughter lived in shelters, hotel rooms and on the couches of family and friends. It was tough, said Mixon, who is now a peer organizer for the Coalition on Homelessness. I made sure she was in school every day. I made sure I was at work every day. Just because we were homeless, I didnt want our routine to be stopped. More and more throughout California, the homeless find themselves in similar circumstances as Mixon and her daughter: holding down jobs, making a decent living, going to school just not able to find an affordable place to live. Story continues In the office of the San Francisco lawmaker Rafael Mandelman, Miquesha Willis broke down in tears talking about her current situation. Willis, 32, makes $30 an hour at her construction job. But she and her two-year-old son are homeless, staying with her mother on good days and scrambling to find shelter on bad days. Its a cycle, and theres nothing you can do about it, she said in an interview. My wages are OK, but its not enough for San Francisco. Its not enough for market-rate rent. Its too much for below market-rate rent. Im still trying to increase my wages to beat homelessness here. Its crazy. In cities like San Francisco, black communities are getting pushed out as rent prices get jacked up. Between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, the black population fell by 19% in San Francisco and almost 23% in Oakland. Black residents are forced to move farther inland to places where housing is cheaper, such as Antioch and Stockton even though for many, their jobs remain in the city. Willis tried moving to Antioch but couldnt make the commute work. Her job required her to clock in before public transportation began running on some days, and her car broke down, making it impossible for her to get to work. Like so many people her age, Willis is questioning what she wants to do for a living if it would be worth it to finish college, to try starting her own business, to switch careers. San Francisco made its name this century as the hub for the latest tech boom, where anyone with a startup idea could come and achieve their dreams. But Willis has found that San Francisco is only a welcoming place only for some, for those who can afford the privilege to fail. There are people who are trying to make things happen for themselves and trying to grow in their career and make something happen for their families, she said. This is one of the highest-paying cities. Why are so many people struggling here? BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22 Trend: A meeting in connection with the results of the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan on February 9 has begun at the Central Election Commission (CEC), Trend reports on Feb. 22 referring to the CEC. CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov announced the meeting open. The appeals in connection with the elections will be considered during the meeting. A Former Minister of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the move by the Regime to establish an agency to rehabilitate and integrate repentant Boko Haram terrorists. The former minister who took to his official Twitter page on Friday to protest the move by the Nigerian senate to establish an agency to rehabilitate terrorists said such a thing can only happen in a shithole country. Reacting further, Fani-Kayode described the bill to create the agency as evil stressing that insurgents who behead clerics and bomb places of worship do not deserve an agency of rehabilitation. He wrote on Twitter: A Federal Agency for repentant Boko Haram members is to be established? An agency for beasts that slit open the throats of women and children, behead clerics, abduct and enslave thousands and bomb places of worship? This can only happen in a shithole country and in a zoo. It is EVIL, he added. A Federal Agency for repentant Boko Haram members is to be established? An agency for beasts that slit open the throats of women &children, behead clerics, abduct &enslave thousands & bomb places of worship?This can only happen in a shithole country & in a zoo. It is EVIL. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) February 20, 2020 The proposed agency, according to the proposed legislation, would provide education for insurgents. It would also rehabilitate, de-radicalise and integrate the repentant insurgents in the country. The bill is titled, National Agency for Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalization and Integration of Repentant Insurgents in Nigeria. It was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress member representing Yobe East Senatorial District, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam. There were recent reports that the Nigerian military has a rehabilitation centre for repentant Boko Haram terrorists in Gombe State. By Trend The announcement of 2020 as the "Year of Azerbaijani Culture" in Italy, primarily envisages the promotion of Azerbaijani culture in Italy, Vasif Eyvazzade, deputy head of the office of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, told Trend on Feb. 22. The Memorandum, signed by Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev and Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism Dario Franceschini, will make a multilateral contribution to the Azerbaijani cultural sphere, Eyvazzade, who is also the head of the international cooperation and innovative development department of the Culture Ministry, added. "Various events will be carried out in connection with the announcement of 2020 as the Year of Azerbaijani Culture in Italy, Eyvazzade said. Eyvazzade said that the memorandum signed with the Italian ministry envisages the long-term cooperation between the two countries in the cultural sphere. One of the most important spheres indicated in the memorandum is the promotion, protection, preservation, digitalization and restoration of cultural heritage, Eyvazzade said. Another sphere is to ensure the activity in the field of protection of historical and cultural monuments included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List, as well as in getting support from Italian specialists in the further nominations. Joint research and the protection of archaeological sites are also important spheres." The head of the department added that the signing of this memorandum will make a great contribution to the development of cinema in Azerbaijan. "One of the important spheres of cooperation envisaged by the memorandum is the holding of Italian cinema days in Azerbaijan, as well as the Azerbaijani cinema days in Italy, joint activity in the film industry and its promotion, activities related to the protection, restoration and use of film heritage, head of the department said. The activities envisaged in the memorandum will also have a very positive impact on theater as well." Among other documents signed during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs state visit to Italy, the "Joint Declaration on Strengthening Multidimensional Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Italian Republic" is of great importance. The document covers specific spheres for further strengthening of multidimensional, comprehensive partnership in various fields, including culture. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The man was suspected of the murder of Kateryna Handziuk A court in the Bulgarian city of Burgas allowed the extradition to Ukraine of Oleksiy Levin (Moskalenko), who was suspected of the murder of Kateryna Handziuk. It is reported by Ukrayinska Pravda with reference to sources in the Prosecutor General's Office. It is noted that during the hearing Levin and his Bulgarian lawyer did everything possible to postpone extradition. Among the arguments put forward were poor conditions of detention in Ukraine. Levin himself insisted that he did not want to return to his homeland. He said that if he was extradited to Ukraine, he would be sent to a secret prison, where force methods would be applied to him. Levin expressed complete willingness to help Ukrainian investigators from Bulgaria. He even said that he agreed to go through a lie detector. In turn, the prosecutor in the case, Georgy Chinev, stated that there was no reason to delay the extradition. Judge Katya Georgieva dismissed the defense as unfounded. Sources in the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine confirmed the decision of the Burgas court to extradite, at the same time emphasizing that it had not entered into legal force, since it can be appealed within 7 days. Levin was detained in Europe in August 2019, questioned on the polygraph and released. The Security Service of Ukraine could file the request on his extradition but did not do it. On November 4, 2018, it became known that Kateryna Handziuk died at the age of 34. She was doused with sulphuric acid in July this year. According to preliminary information, her death was caused by blood clot's detachment. Besides, the doctors specified the cause of death; it was due to multiple organ failure and chemical burns. A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19 By Julie Steenhuysen (Reuters) - A 20-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, traveled 400 miles(675 km) north to Anyang where she infected five relatives, without ever showing signs of infection, Chinese scientists reported on Friday, offering new evidence that the virus can be spread asymptomatically. The case study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, offered clues about how the coronavirus is spreading, and suggested why it may be difficult to stop. "Scientists have been asking if you can have this infection and not be ill? The answer is apparently, yes," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. China has reported a total of 75,567 cases of the virus known as COVID-19 to the World Health Organization (WHO) including 2,239 deaths, and the virus has already spread to 26 countries and territories outside of mainland China. Researchers have reported sporadic accounts of individuals without any symptoms spreading the virus. What's different in this study is that it offers a natural lab experiment of sorts, Schaffner said. "You had this patient from Wuhan where the virus is, traveling to where the virus wasn't. She remained asymptomatic and infected a bunch of family members and you had a group of physicians who immediately seized on the moment and tested everyone." According to the report by Dr. Meiyun Wang of the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and colleagues, the woman traveled from Wuhan to Anyang on Jan. 10 and visited several relatives. When they started getting sick, doctors isolated the woman and tested her for coronavirus. Initially, the young woman tested negative for the virus, but a follow-up test was positive. All five of her relatives developed COVID-19 pneumonia, but as of Feb. 11, the young woman still had not developed any symptoms, her chest CT remained normal and she had no fever, stomach or respiratory symptoms, such as cough or sore throat. Story continues Scientists in the study said if the findings are replicated, "the prevention of COVID-19 infection could prove challenging." Key questions now, Schaffner said, are how often does this kind of transmission occur and when during the asymptomatic period does a person test positive for the virus. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 00:43:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Here are the latest developments: -- Some members of the China-World Health Organization (WHO) joint expert team traveled to Wuhan Saturday to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak. -- Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, has required COVID-19 patients who were discharged from hospital to go on a 14-day quarantine at designated places for medical observation. -- Wuhan has conducted nucleic acid tests for all backlog of patients, including those confirmed or suspected to be infected with the virus, close contacts of confirmed cases, and patients with fever. -- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has participated in the treatments of over 60,000 patients of the novel coronavirus disease in China. -- The ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak has not contaminated China's environment as the quality of urban air, surface water and drinking water sources are all kept stable. -- Workers in Beijing finished the construction of a new mask factory Saturday to meet the surging demand amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. -- The State Post Bureau said while continuing to fight the novel coronavirus epidemic, China eyes recovering more than 60 percent of the courier sector's normal delivery capacity by the end of February. -- Wuhan will conduct nucleic acid tests for all elderly care institutions by Feb. 28 as some confirmed and suspected cases were reported in the facilities. -- Liaoning and Gansu provinces have lowered their emergency response from first-level to third-level after having reported no new coronavirus case. -- Peng Yinhua, a 29-year-old doctor at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District in Wuhan, was the latest medical worker, and among the youngest, who died from the virus on Thursday night, leaving behind his pregnant wife and a wedding yet to be held. -- Hainan Airlines will resume more than 450 flights starting Saturday, to aid the work resumption of enterprises across the country. -- Chinese health authority said it received reports of 397 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 109 deaths on Friday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Among the deaths, 106 were in Hubei Province and one in Hebei Province, Shanghai and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, respectively. -- The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland had reached 76,288 by the end of Friday, and 2,345 people had died of the disease. -- China's daily number of newly cured and discharged COVID-19 patients has surpassed that of new confirmed infections for the fourth consecutive day. Friday saw 2,393 people walk out of hospital after recovery, much higher than the number of the same day's new confirmed infections, which was 397. A total of 20,659 patients infected with the novel coronavirus had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Friday. -- Hubei Province reported 366 new confirmed cases and 106 new deaths on Friday. The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 63,454. -- Chinese researchers have released the first pathology report on the novel coronavirus disease, analysing its impact on a patient's lungs, liver and heart by studying the biopsy samples at autopsy. -- China's auto sales and production have taken a hard hit from the novel coronavirus outbreak, but industry insiders expect a rebound in April if the epidemic is gradually brought under control. The retail sales of passenger vehicles plunged 92 percent on an annual basis in the first 16 days of February. The Congress on Saturday accused the Haryana's BJP-JJP government of harassing the Brahmin community by "snatching away" their ownership rights of donated lands. All India Congress Committee's communication department in-charge and senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the BJP-JJP government's attempts to harass the Brahmin community by snatching away their ownership rights of donated land reflects the anti-Brahmin mentality of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. "Neither the Brahmin community nor the people of Haryana would ever forgive the BJP-JJP government for the arrogant decision and the government would have to bear the consequences," he said in a statement here. Condemning the "conspiracy being carried out against the Brahmin community" by the Haryana government, he said the Congress party would firmly oppose it in the state. Surjewala said in 2010, the Congress-led state government had bestowed ownership rights of donated land to people of Brahmin community by enacting a law in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. "On March 16, 2010, I myself had the privilege of drafting and presenting this important bill in the Haryana legislative assembly, due to which as many as 37,836 Dholidars and 3,838 Bhondedars respectively became owners of more than 14,187 acres and 5,000 acres of land," he said. "But the BJP-JJP government has been trying to evict the Brahmin community from their land and snatching away the entitlements of about 50,000 Brahmin families," he added. Questioning Chief Minister Khattar about his alleged "malicious and disrespectful attitude" towards the Brahmin community, he said the state government wants to take back the land for which the ownership rights were given by the Congress government by due legislation. The state government had enacted a law in 2011 aimed at vesting property rights of land to 'dholidars' -- people from the Brahmin community who got this land as gift from big landowners nearly a century ago -- for a token compensation of Rs 500 per acre. The state government now plans to amend the Haryana Dholidar, Butimar, Bhondedar and Muqararidar (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Act, 2010, which was notified on February 21, 2011, to bar the creation of 'dholi' on the panchayat land. The Punjab Settlement Manual described 'dholi' as landholding right acquired by a Brahmin on a small piece of land as a deathbed gift received from a landowner. The person who acquires such a right is called 'dholidar' of that particular land. The practice of creating 'dholi' was prevalent in parts of Haryana and Rajasthan centuries back and in some cases, people managed to acquire 'dholidar' rights on panchayat land too, though only a private individual can create such rights on his own land. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Love Island star Connor Durman has been forced to apologise for using drugs. In images taken during his time living in Australia, the coffee bean salesman, 25, is seen sitting shirtless in front of a table with white powder carefully arranged into lines in front of him. A representative for the star told MailOnline: 'Connor is very embarrassed that the picture has been made public as it was taken at a particularly low point in his life by someone he believed he could trust... Shock: Love Island's Connor Durman, 25, has been forced to apologise for 'recreational drug use'... as images emerged of the star 'posing with lines of white powder' on Saturday 'But he takes full responsibility for his actions, and is sorry for any distress it may cause his friends and family. 'He is trying to put all this behind him and move forward with his life.' The image of Connor was obtained by The Sun, and a source told the publication: 'Connor was living in Australia last year and recreational drugs were sadly used. 'One of the reasons he left Australia and came back to the UK to be with his family is because he realised his life was spiralling out of control. He regrets his past and is now moving forward with his life. He is sorry.' 'It was a low point in life': In images that surfaced on Saturday, the coffee bean salesman is seen sitting in front of a table with white powder carefully arranged into lines in front of him Response: A representative told MailOnline: 'Connor is very embarrassed that the picture has been made public as it was taken at a particularly low point in his life' Connor, from Brighton, was paired with Rochelle Humes' sister Sophie Piper during his short-lived stint on the show and they continued their romance on the outside. Earlier this month the Islander was accused of sending offensive messages to his ex-girlfriend after she told him she'd bedded black men after their split. Connor was with Stevie-Leigh Pich for four years, with the couple parting ways a few months before the recent series of Love Island. Friends claimed the coffee bean salesman bombarded Miss Pich with abusive text messages, branding her a 'sl**' and a sl**'. Racist comments: Earlier this month the Islander (left) was accused of sending a string of racist messages to his ex-girlfriend Stevie-Leigh Pich, 22, (right) The texts also see him describe the make-up artist sleeping with black men as 'rank', adding 'it makes me sick', according to The Sun. Friends of the make-up artist told the newspaper: 'It's disgusting that he can send messages like that given who he's paired up with on the show. 'He kept telling Stevie that it made him sick that she'd seen the guy and was really nasty.' Connor then told his ex that 'liking black boys' is 'such a put off', the paper reported. Accusation: Friends claimed the coffee bean salesman bombarded Miss Pich with abusive text messages, branding her a 'sl**' and a sl**' He has now apologised to Sophie for the racist comments to his ex, admitting that he messed up during a heartfelt chat. The medical PA has accepted the coffee bean salesman's apology as the pair's relationship 'gets serious' since leaving the villa. A source told The Sun Online: 'He explained himself and was genuinely sorry, as it was said in anger over his relationship breaking down. 'If he's honest, he was bitter at the time and it was in the heat of the moment. Sophie believes him and won't punish him for his past.' Making amends: Connor apologised to Sophie Piper last week, admitting that he messed up during a heartfelt chat, and Love Island girlfriend Sophie (pictured) has accepted his apology The insider continued: 'Connor and Sophie have spent so much time together since leaving the villa and things are going from strength to strength between them.' Connor's representative confirmed to MailOnline the report is accurate. MailOnline has contacted Sophie Piper's representatives for comment. Sophie had her fair share of drama during her South African stay, most notably fending off the advances of Mike Boateng, 24, after love rival Connor was booted off the island. Eventually, the brunette beauty was reunited with Connor on ITV2's Love Island Aftersun, and they have had a blossoming romance ever since. Hitting out at AIMIM leader Waris Pathan over his '15 crore Muslims can be heavy on 100 crore' remark, Maharashtra BJP legislator Girish Vyas has said he should remember what happened in Gujarat. Vyas, who is an MLC and a BJP spokesperson, also urged the Muslim community to boycott people like Pathan and "teach them a lesson". "The youths and patriots of this country and each worker of the BJP are ready to give a befitting reply to Waris Pathan in the same language he has used," Vyas said while speaking to TV9 channel on Friday. "We are tolerant and patient, but this not does mean that we cannot deal with them. Remember Gujarat, the incidents happened in Kalupur. If they take that into account...I feel the Muslims there today do not dare to rise again," he said. Vyas was apparently referring to the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, in which over 1,000 people, mostly of the minority community, were killed. "Maharashtra chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) should take action against Pathan for sedition and the Indian government should send him to Pakistan," he added. Vyas, who is from Nagpur, dared Pathan to come to his city. "We will make proper arrangement for you. Do you think we are wearing bangles? We are ready to deal with you. But we feel that there should not be any disharmony in the society," he said. "We request the Muslim community to boycott such people. The community should teach a proper lesson to those who are trying to create disharmony in the society," Vyas added. While addressing an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) rally at Kalaburagi in North Karnataka on February 16, Pathan had allegedly said, "We have to move together. We have to take Azadi (freedom), things that we don't get by asking, we have to take it by force, remember it...(We may be) 15 crore, but are heavy on 100 (crore), remember it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday called on Pakistan President Arif Alvi during which the two leaders agreed that there was a strong need to work for promotion of peace in the subcontinent. Sinha, who is in Pakistan on a personal visit, called on President Alvi at the Governor House in Lahore and the two discussed Kashmir among other matters of interest, according to a statement by Alvi's office. Both Alvi and Sinha agreed that there was a strong need to work for promotion of peace in the subcontinent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Alhaji Garba Abubakar, an indigene of Bauchi state and a 1988 graduate of law from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU), to head the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in January 2020 . The ministry of trade and investment forwarded the name of Abubakar to the presidency for approval in 2018 . 36 Nigerians indicate an interest in Registrar of Corporate Affairs Commission, according to a report by an online newspaper, the Periscope. Seven of the candidates that fought for the headship of the commission are incumbent directors. God, the ultimate decider of all affairs, preferred Alhaji Garba Abubakar among the motley group of candidates. There might have been many reasons Mr. President had singled out Abubakar for the job of CACs RG. One of those reasons might be his passion for service and altruism. Industry experts had accused Lady Azuka Obiageli Azinge who acted as the Registrar-General from 0ctober 2017 to January 2020 for lacklustre performance. Under her watch, the commission had witnessed one of its lowest growth, monumental indebtedness, altercation with union, complain of corruption by clients and near total collapse of service. On 25th December 2019 , Sahara Reporters revealed that the Nigerian government prosecuted Ms. Azinge, the former acting RG, on an 11-count charge bordering on abuse of office and flaunting of the code of conduct for public officers. The tribunal recommended for her suspension as the acting Regitrar-General. The document filed before the code of conduct tribunal accused her of concealing her Naira, Euro and Dollar domiciliary accounts in Access bank Plc and standard chartered bank. "She was also accused of receiving allowances, which she knew she was not entitled to as an Acting Registrar-General of the CAC." These were the albatross on the neck of the embattled Ms. Azinge that cost her the job of headship of the CAC. Mr Abubakars appointment, which is in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), was the best choice for the commission. Before he joined the CAC, the RG worked with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (formerly National Provident Fund) as Compliance Officer between 1991 to 1993 . He had a stint with NICON Insurance between June 1995 to December 1997 , from where he moved to the CAC in April 2004 as principal manager in charge of compliance. He rose through the ranks to become a director in January 2016 . As the special adviser to Bello Mahmud, the then Registrar General of CAC between August 2010 to October 2017 , Abubakar sharpened his skills about the intricacies of compliance at the commission. In fact those 8 years were the moment of glory for the new Registrar-General. A.G as staff call him has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of Corporate Affairs Commission. He had not only been a worthy team player among top management, he also occupied a sensitive and key position that had inputs in every policy formulation and decision making at the commission. Before now, he was a director and a special Assistant at different times. With him at the helm, the Corporate Affairs Commission is in good hands. Staff consider Abubakar's appointment as a good omen. His Integrity, Patience, calmness, contentment and altruistic mien defines his character. As a child, A.G learnt the values of hard work, self-reliance, respect and service as exemplified by his late father. These are added advantages that will help him create a new corporate culture and image for the Corporate Affairs Commission. On the day he addressed staff after his appointment, he assured them that each one of them would be a dependable ally and a team player in his new resolve to chart a new course for the commission. The Registrar-General warned that it would not be business as usual. He reiterated his passion to serve the Corporate Affairs Commission and solicited support from all and sundry to dedicate themselves to new and strong work ethics to justify the confidence president Muhammadu Buhari reposed in the commission. A thoroughbred legal officer who knows the Corporate Affairs Commission like the palm of his hand. Abubakar has been in many key and sensitive committees. For instance, He has been a member of the important Governing Council of the Nigerian Bar Association on Business Law from March 2017 till date. He is a member of Inter-Agency Committee Against Money Laundering and Terrorists Financing from 2007 till date and CAC focal on open Government Partnership. The RG is also a member, in-house committee on the review of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), among others. To run an agency as important and complex as the Corporate Affairs Commission is not in any way easy. It is a Herculean task. It needs a visionary super-manager with a game changing strategy. This, i believe, will not pose a problem to him, because of his broad exposure and because of his pedigree. He has been at the forefront of managing people, resources and businesses. As the scion of late Magajin Rafi and grandson of Prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (the name of the gentleman he bears), service and hard work run in his blood. As they say, "every good tree makes good fruits." Alhaji Garba Abubakar is a round peg in a round hole. We hope and pray that his tenure at the helm will be a critical juncture in the Corporate Affairs Commission. Saleh Bature is Abuja based journalist, social commentator and advocate of dialogue. You can reach him via email at [email protected] Cameraman Chris Orr, left and Ursula Clifford, retired nurse, who are two of the actors in True Stories from the Front Line. Picture Martin McKeown. 21.02.20 New production First Response, at The Playhouse Theatre in Londonderry, focuses on the stories of people who were at the frontline during the violence. Linda Stewart talks to four of the cast who are exploring the legacy of conflict. I did CPR all the way to hospital Former paramedic Robert Blair (62), from Limavady, attended numerous emergency calls throughout the 1980s and 1990s with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). He is married to Addis (62) and has two children, Simon and Sophie, and three grandchildren. Expand Close Robert Blair / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Robert Blair Robert has been on the amateur dramatic circuit with Limavady Drama Club and Portrush Music Society for more than 30 years and has been an extra in numerous movies, including Bill Murray's double in City of Ember. He got involved in First Response after he was contacted by a colleague who is still in NIAS and asked him to share his experiences on stage. As a paramedic in Limavady, Robert says he dealt with numerous car crashes throughout the 1990s. "The year 1995 was a terrible one and there were 35 people killed in the north west alone - I was at about 16 of those. One night there were five," he says. Robert was also a member of the second crew tasked to the scene of the 1993 Greysteel massacre, in which the UDA killed eight people and injured 19 at the Rising Sun bar. "The first crew was there nine or 10 minutes before me and that must have been harrowing. I was in training at the time. I approached the senior officer and he said, 'Go to that corner and deal with the people in that corner'," he recalls. "There were three or four off-duty nurses and, because there were only two or three ambulance crews, they ended up helping us, because of the seriousness of the incident. We put three patients into the back of each ambulance, which I couldn't have dealt with on my own." The nurses dealt with the other patients in the ambulance while Robert battled to resuscitate a patient who had bullet wounds. "I was doing CPR all the way to Altnagelvin," he says. The memory that remains with Robert is the strange smell that he noticed when he first entered the Rising Sun bar. "I noticed a metallic smell and I felt squelching under my feet. Eventually, it clicked that a bullet must have hit the radiator and the hot water was being pumped out into the room." Robert says that suicide was one of the hardest incidents to deal with. He often had to wait in the room with the victim's body for the police to arrive. "You're stuck in the same room and you start thinking what's going through that person's mind - what drove them to do this. If I went to a scene and somebody was having a heart attack, the adrenaline kicks in and you try to resuscitate them, you try to do something. But if somebody is obviously dead, there's nothing you can do. "I've been to 30 different hangings and it would have caught up with us eventually - the want and the waste of life." Robert says one aspect of his role was that he usually only dealt with each patient for a short period of time. "One time I resuscitated a man who was having a heart attack and brought him round. And a couple of days later I happened to go up into one of the wards and the nurse said, 'You were at the call on Friday? There's a man in there who wants to shake your hand'. "I went in and he thanked me personally for saving his life. That was something that was very personal to me." Robert says his wife Addis thinks he shouldn't do the play. "She says I shouldn't be raking it all up and bringing it all back. I would have been like that - if I don't think about it, it's not there - but for some of the other cast, this whole journey has helped them face up to what they witnessed. "I know you're meant to bring it out and look at it head-on and then put it away. And next time you look at it, it's not so bad. It will put a few ghosts to bed." I saw the bodies across the road Former theatre nurse Ursula Clifford (78) was at the opening of Altnagelvin Hospital in 1960 and eventually became clinical service manager. She has two children, Aisling and Sean, and three grandchildren. Expand Close Former Nurse Ursula Clifford who is one of the actors in True Stories from the Front Line. PIcture Martin McKeown. 21.02.20 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former Nurse Ursula Clifford who is one of the actors in True Stories from the Front Line. PIcture Martin McKeown. 21.02.20 Ursula was approached to take part in First Response by Playhouse founder Pauline Ross. "I was involved with the Royal College of Nursing publication Nursing on the Frontline and I had stories to tell, so she asked if I would get involved," she says. As a theatre nurse, Ursula was involved in many of the major incidents over the course of the Troubles. She was visiting her aunt in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday when soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a civil rights march. "I went in and collected my aunt and I went to the platform when the speakers were going to be on," Ursula says. "Then the shooting started and I took her back to her flat and, when I looked across the road, I could see the bodies. "I had to do something about them, so I took a blanket from my aunt and covered the bodies." Ursula worked alongside Dr Kevin Swords throughout the unfolding tragedy, tending to the injured, putting casualties in ambulances and bringing them to hospital, working through the night. "But we saw even worse at times - the bombs were worse than the shootings," she says. "Gunshot injuries were cleaner than bomb injuries - bombs pulled people's limbs apart, but a bullet in a leg is in and out. You just learn to live with it. "It didn't affect me as much as some of the others in the play, as the operating theatre is a place of drama and trauma. "It hadn't the long-term effect it appears to have had on some of the people taking part now, because they never talked about it. "For the first couple of months of rehearsing, it was quite traumatic, watching people beginning to tell their story, but it's better now, because it's out in the open." Ursula is proud of the achievements of the medical staff, who would step up, working through the day and night whenever a major incident took place. "You might be in until 7am, then you would go and have a rest and, a couple of hours later, you were back in to make sure the 'cold surgery' (routine operations) still took place. You learned new techniques to deal with the type of injuries we were dealing with and we brought a lot of people back to be as good as they were ever going to be. But the worst aspect, Ursula says, was having to face families after patients died on the operating table, especially parents of children. I had a wee boy one day who had been killed by a goalpost falling on his chest. His mother had agreed to transplant, but when I received him at the operating theatre, the one thing she kept saying was Dont take his eyes. Dont take his beautiful blue eyes. Ursula also recalls treating a man who had been in a car bomb and whose legs were coming apart on the operating table. That was traumatic in one way, but Ill never forget that wee boys mother. Ursulas story is interlinked with that of Robert Blair, another cast member in First Response and a paramedic who attended the 1993 Greysteel massacre. One of his patients died in the ambulance and one died in the operating theatre, Ursula says. She says her late husband Leo was always supportive of the work she was doing. Once I went into the hospital, he would have come back for me, whatever time he was getting out of bed. He had to get the kids ready for school if I wasnt there and then go to his own job. 'We never talked about it at home' Chris Orr (66) was a cameraman for 35 years, working for most of the major broadcasters, and was on contract with UTV for 10 years. He is married to Hilda (66) and has four children, Catherine, David, Kerry and Lisa, and 15 grandchildren. Expand Close Cameraman Chris Orr / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cameraman Chris Orr Chris first got involved with the project at the suggestion of Eamon Baker of the Holywell Trust, who had read his forthcoming autobiography. I did take a wee bit of convincing. Ive spent my life making other people famous by being a cameraman and working behind the scenes and the idea of appearing on stage didnt grab me too well, he admits. As a freelance cameraman, I worked for all the major broadcasters over 34 years RTE, Sky, BBC, ITN, Channel 4, all the broadcasters, really. I did 10 years with UTV as a freelance and five of those years covering the Troubles in the north west when things were very bad, from 1988 to 1992. In that time, I covered 59 major explosions with loss of life and 21 murders. Probably the worst, he says, was the Coshquin bombing in 1990, when the IRA held civilian Patrick Gillespies wife hostage, forced him to drive into an Army checkpoint and detonated the bomb: That was probably one of the worst things the IRA ever did. Chris was the first civilian to arrive at the scene of the bombing, which claimed the lives of Patrick and five soldiers. When he arrived, he was ordered out of the car and asked for ID by a soldier holding a machine gun and whose hands were shaking. After checking Chriss media pass, the soldier asked to borrow his mobile. He pleaded with me in tears. He rang his mum to say he was still alive and that all his mates were dead. Chris says, sometimes, he felt that the media were being used by both sides. At one stage, he was the only cameraman operating in the north west. If you look at my working diaries now, nothing ever happened when I went away on my holidays. That is a bit cynical, he says. Sometimes, I think, if we hadnt given so much coverage to the Troubles, that it might have ended earlier. But if the media doesnt tell the story, it runs the risk of happening again. Id take the view that the story has to be told, whether you like it or not. Chris says that, as a news cameraman, he was always working alone, but he enjoyed working as part of a team on other programmes. He and his wife tried to keep their children away from the Troubles at the time. We never talked about my work when I came home they would have been teenagers at that stage. But theyre all coming to see the play. Theyve been very supportive. This is what most people who didnt go through the Troubles dont realise. There was normal life most days for people in the midst of the atrocities. People went to school, they went shopping and, I suppose, our news pictures put visitors off, but it was maybe not as bad as it looked. 'Everyone coped in their own way' Retired fire fighter Jim McCullan (64) served in the greater Belfast area at Chichester Street, Springfield Road and Cadogan fire stations and was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal for distinguished service. He is married to Kate and has three children, Stephen, Ryan and Rachel, and two grandchildren. Expand Close Jim McCullan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jim McCullan When Jims wife Kate heard he was planning to take part in the play, she told him: This is the most unlike-you thing Ive ever heard of in my life. Although retired, he had worked with the Playhouse on emergency planning issues and was asked to give his input into the play as a first responder. He says: I went along to one of the workshops and it was really, really worthwhile. It was totally outside my comfort zone from what I would have been used to before. During the Troubles, Jim was involved in numerous incidents, from bombs, incendiary devices and riots to house fires and road traffic accidents. One thing that does stick in my mind is that I was on duty the night that Bobby Sands died. Kate was eight-and-a-half months pregnant and, when the calls started coming in about Bobby Sands death, it seemed like every fire engine was running back and forward. It looked as if everything was going to descend into complete and utter chaos. In one incident, a milkman and his son on a delivery round died from their injuries when their milk float crashed after being stoned by rioters. It was a mad night, running from one incident to another. I was involved in a lot of incidents on Durham Street and Divis Street, Jim recalls. There were buildings being burned and attacks on police. It was just a crazy night. But he says some of the incidents that stayed with him the most were those involving the deaths of young children. Anything that involves young children is always really difficult to deal with. Death and that sort of violent death just has the ability to strip away peoples dignity completely its a terrible aspect of the job that we had to deal with. We had a discussion with the cast about what triggers painful memories and I think for everybody it is slightly different. Dealing with the aftermath of road traffic accidents, trying to recover bodies and pieces of bodies, strange things pop out of these things and lodge in your memory, those sort of difficult things, dealing with how peoples dignity is stripped away as a result of that. Jim says that, because of the nature of Fire Service work, you make incredibly strong bonds with the people you work with very quickly, having to depend on other people in the midst of an emergency. And theres an incredibly black humour that runs through the job its almost like a coping mechanism. Its a difficult thing to explain, because for somebody not involved in it, some of it sounds crass and unpleasant and yet, when youre in the middle of it, it seems to be a way of blowing off tension, blowing off steam. Its a common feature of most emergency services, this vein of dark humour that runs through it and that is probably just a coping mechanism. Jim says his parents were worried about his safety when he first joined the Fire Service. By the time I got married, my wife knew what my job was and grew along with the job. Nobody was able to do a job like that to any degree without a supportive family. I like going to the theatre, but Im not a particularly demonstrative, or theatrical, sort of person. But to get involved in something like this where youre expected to express your emotions, it took a bit of work. To show feelings, or weakness, was not commonplace in the Fire Service. You were expected to get on with it. Some coped by running, or going to the gym, some coped with religion, some people coped through the bottom of a bottle. Everybody had their own way of coping with it. Now, the Fire Service are more clued in to looking after peoples mental health, much more than we would have been in the early days of the Troubles. I think everybody has their own story to tell. You could walk down any street in Northern Ireland and see someone whos gone through much more trauma than I have and that is part of the society that we live in. Directed by Japanese-American artist Ailin Conant and devised by the cast, individuals who were first at the scene of atrocities during the Troubles, First Response will run at The Playhouse Theatre, Londonderry, from Wednesday, February 26 to Saturday, February 29, before travelling to The Riverside Theatre, Coleraine, on Wednesday, March 4. Tickets are free, but booking is essential. Contact The Playhouse Theatre box office on 028 7126 8027, or online at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk, or The Riverside Theatre box office on 028 7012 3123, or www.riversidetheatre.org.uk The "fascist alliance" between "forces attempting to erode democracy and curb freedom of speech and religion" is dangerous not just for India but the world as a whole, a group of over 160 academicians, activists and students from Gujarat said in an open letter against the "Namaste Trump" event. US President Donald Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad on February 24 and will take part along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an event, christened 'Namaste Trump, in the newly-constructed Motera stadium here. "With a spectacular rise in global fascism today, this alignment between the largest democracy in the world and the most powerful one is dangerous not only for India, but for the world as a whole. We cannot in good conscience support this alliance between forces that are attempting to erode democracy and curb freedom of speech and religion," the 168 signatories said in the letter. "We cannot stand by as families are deprived of their homes in order to make room for those who wish to remove citizens from their countries. We unequivocally condemn this fascist alliance, and urge the Indian State to prioritise the needs of its citizens over the greed of the global elite," the signatories said. They include activist and danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and academicians from institutes like Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and CEPT University. They claimed India and USA had seen a rise of "authoritarian politics" in recent years, with Modi and Trump at the helm. The letter claimed Trump was "unreservedly racist, Islamophobic, xenophobic, and anti-poor," while Modi had enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act that bars "Muslims from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries from receiving expedited citizenship offered to other minority groups". It said the Modi government was all set to enact the National Register of Citizens, "which European Union members have warned could precipitate the largest statelessness crisis in the world". "In the past year alone, an unprecedented 69,550 migrant children were separated from their families and held in government custody. The list of detained migrants included 52 Indian nationals, one of whom died in US custody in May of last year...." the letter alleged. While Trump enacted a ban against refugees and migrants from several Muslim-majority countries, India has enacted the CAA, they said in the letter. In the context of "crores" being spent on the 'Namaste Trump' event, the letter claimed the "privileging of foreign capital over local needs is sadly familiar". It also spoke about a wall being built to keep a slum hidden during the US president and PM Modi's roadshow, and eviction notices being given to 45 families, in the process displacing a community that has resided in Motera for the past 20 years. They said large infrastructure projects like the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project and others under the "Vibrant Gujarat" initiative to attract foreign investments had resulted in mass eviction and displacement of poor people. This "development" had left many people behind, the letter said, and alleged that Gujarat has witnessed wide-scale violence against its minorities, increasing ghettoisation and the systematic erosion of democratic values. The signatories claimed the Gujarat government had instructed police to deny permissions for protest 15 days prior to Trump's visit, a move that infringes on fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. While the 'Howdy Modi' event in the US allowed thousands of protesters, the Indian state chooses to preempt any expression of dissent before 'Namaste Trump', it claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Left to right: Donna Titi youngest daughter of the late Father Lini, Richard Junior Titi grandson of the late Father Lini, Mrs Mary Lini wife of the late Father Lini, Babara Mataskelekele- niece of the late Father Lini and Terry Walter Titi grandson of the late Father Lini A delegation of Biju Janta Dal (BJP) MPs and MLAs on Saturday handed over a memorandum to the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar to protest against the "imposition of Hindi language" in the hospital for official works. The delegation also gave the memorandum to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, through the Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. "Memorandum by MPs and MLAs of BJD protesting the imposition of Hindi language by AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in its organisational processes and demanding usage of Odia language for the benefit of people of Odisha for availing services from AIIMS, Bhubaneswar," read the memorandum. BJD said that AIIMS, Bhubaneswar imposed the Hindi language for its documentation, communication and discussion. "Odisha is the first state to be formed on linguistic basis and we will not like to allow anybody sliding our mother tongue Odia, particularly by any institution that is working for the people of our state," it read. "AIIMS Bhubaneswar is a public institution. People receiving treatment from AIIMS Bhubaneswar speak Odia and by imposition Hindi on the people of Odisha, it is jeopardising the interests of patients, their attendants and the stakeholders of the society in Odisha," it added. The BJP delegation demanded that this "arbitrary and discriminatory office order be withdrawn with immediate effect" and Odia language be used in the facility. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After 40 years of what he described as deliberate underfunding, and approaching the most important presidential election since 1932, Bob Casey is ready to get aggressive. Pennsylvanias Democratic U.S. senator visited Carlisle Friday as part of an effort to gather information and support for his Five Freedoms for Americas Children plan, a multifaceted set of legislative proposals designed to improve childrens access to education, food and economic opportunities. Caseys pitch is also a pushback against an economic narrative that concentrates on tax cuts as the prime driver of growth and one that Democrats say is wrong, both mathematically and morally. Part of the reason child care is underfunded, early learning is underfunded, childrens health is underfunded, is that weve given all this revenue away in the form of tax cuts, Casey said in an interview Friday morning after touring the Dickinson College Childrens Center. Those tax cuts are a choice. When you give between 2000 and 2018 when you give $1.2 trillion to the top 1%, that means every year in the context of federal budget, youre forgoing tens of billions of dollars that could be put toward kids, Casey said. His proposal is expansive, and expensive. The Five Freedoms plan breaks the agenda down into freedom to be healthy; to learn; from hunger; to be safe from harm; and to be economically secure. The last appropriations bill, for instance, hiked federal Head Start funding by $550 million, to $10.6 billion; one facet of Caseys Five Freedoms plan is to put an additional $18 billion into Head Start in a single year. But this isnt uncalled for, Casey said. Only 36% of children age 3 to 5 who are eligible for Head Start programs actually get them due to a lack of sufficient funding to sponsor programs to capacity, according to a study by the National Head Start Association. Likewise, a declining portion of families eligible for child care subsidies actually get them due to a lack of state and federal funding; only about one in seven families who qualify get into a subsidized program, according to a study of federal data by Child Care Aware. Increasing federal child care block grants by $7.1 billion would cover another 1.57 million children, roughly doubling the number of children served, according to Caseys office. The need is obvious, according to Dickinson child care staff. The center enrolls the children of college employees, as well as Carlisle community members. Some of these children receive subsidies, and the college provides scholarships to cover the rest, but its not enough. Theres more demand for scholarships than what we have, Dickinson College Childrens Center Director Gina VanKirk said. We have a number of families on the child care network, but we can only help so many with that difference. Likely the most ambitious part of Caseys Five Freedoms proposal is to automatically enroll all children in Medicaid until age 18 unless their parent or guardian opts out, a move for which he cites a Georgetown University study last year showing the uninsured rate for children is on the rise and that the increase is three times as high in states that havent adopted the Medicaid expansion allowed under the Affordable Care Act. We now have 50 years of data on Medicaid that says its really good for kids, Casey said. His plan would also create a savings account for every child into which the federal government would deposit $500 per year, up to age 18, and would also match parents contributions up to a certain level. The account could be used to help pay for education, start a business or purchase a home once the child becomes an adult. Caseys plan would also significantly expand the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, endorsing the tax credit expansion bill by Sens. Sherrod Brown and Michael Bennet that could cut child poverty by a projected 38%, according to a Columbia University study published last year. Its on the tax credit issue that Casey makes his political point. During negotiations on the 2017 tax cuts, the corporate net income rate was originally planned to be dropped from 35% to 20%, but Republicans bumped it back up to 21 percent in a later revision to allow for an expanded child tax credit. Lets go back to that model, Casey said. Republicans have already told us, when we want to increase the child tax credit, we move the corporate tax rate. If thats the model were using, lets keep going. One point on the corporate tax rate is roughly $100 billion in revenue over 10 years, Casey said, so his proposal for a $70 billion tax break over a decade for working families in the form of the dependent care credit isnt an insurmountable hurdle. You can put money in their pockets to pay for child care with that tax credit and you could do it for less than a point on the corporate rate, Casey said. His plan would bring the corporate rate back up to 28%. It would also institute a corporate minimum rate of 15% of reported profits regardless of back-end deductions. The top marginal personal income rate and the estate tax would also be taken back to their pre-2018 rate. Casey said he was also open to proposals from other legislators, such as a wealth tax on accumulated assets or changes to the capital gains structure, as ways to pay for enhanced child welfare programs. I think we should take a look at a lot of those ideas, he said. I dont think we should take any of them off the table. While increased social spending is often portrayed solely as a moral good, Democrats shouldnt shy away from making an affirmative economic argument, Casey said, given what he views as decades of Republican failures on the matter. Sometimes Democrats in the past have rejected any kind of economic growth argument, Casey said. I think Republicans have placed an over-reliance on the stimulative impact of massive tax cuts for rich people and corporations leading to growth. The argument doesnt bear the scrutiny, because weve had the experiments. Democrats, including Casey, have been critical of the 2017 tax cuts led by President Donald Trump for producing less-than-stellar results. Economic growth in 2019, at 2.3% of gross domestic product, was lower than it was in 2017, before the tax cut took effect, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. Growth since the Trump cuts has been weaker than the post-recession high of 2014-15, despite the fiscal stimulus of increased deficit spending, which rose from $665 billion in the 2017 budget to $984 billion in 2019. Average earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees likewise grew faster in 2019 than they had in the prior three years, but not as fast as in 2015, despite employers having cash windfalls from the tax cuts, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The president has tried to burn the candle at both ends and it hasnt worked out, Casey said. Instead, much more sustainable growth could be achieved by directly helping families pay for their children, Casey said. A study by the think-tank Council for a Strong America estimated that, because of workers difficulty in finding or affording care for their children, the U.S. economy loses $57 billion per year. What if those workers didnt have to tailor their careers around finding an employer who would cover their childs health care, Casey asked. That warrants debate: If you dont want to cover kids through Medicaid, whats your idea to take the four million [uninsured children in the country] down to zero? Casey asked. This isnt lets make progress, this is lets wipe it out, lets make sure its zero. Email Zack at zhoopes@cumberlink.com. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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 Recent projections out of USC show that Latinos will account for 21.5% of all voters casting a ballot this March -- that's around 1.9 million people, according to Mindy Romero, director of USC's California Civic Engagement Project. "[It's] the largest number that we've seen since we've been tracking data on the Latino vote," she says. Romero crunched the numbers based on 2016 primary turnout and the state's total population, which shows that many young Latinos will be eligible to vote for the first time. Latino voting power could have national implications; it's enough to sway political fortunes in six of California's congressional districts. In some places, it already has: During the 2018 midterm, Latinos in the 21st District in Central California cast almost half the votes there and played a big part in flipping it blue. It was a tight contest, but Democrat T.J. Cox eked out enough votes to unseat longtime GOP incumbent David Valadao. Still, Latino voter turnout continues to be among the lowest in the state, for complicated reasons that range from being overlooked by political parties to the relative youth of the Latino population. That's something outreach organizations hope to fix. "Candidates, campaigns, parties haven't historically focused on people of color as a majority group, even though now they make up not only the majority of the state, but in terms of the Latinx voters, they make up the plurality of anyone now under the age of 34," says Luis Sanchez, executive director of Power California. His organization is part of a broader effort to energize Latino voters across the state. Together, they hope to reach more than 500,000 eligible voters by the March 3 primary. Young people call homes and cell phones in East Los Angeles. (Photo credit: Austin Cross/KPCC/LAist) (Austin Cross/KPCC/LAist) Reaching those young Latinos presents a unique challenge. For many, voting isn't a tradition at home. Some grew up with non-citizen parents. Some in the past have reported being too busy to vote, or feeling like their vote won't count. Another challenge that get-out-the-vote efforts face: convincing political campaigns to look past stereotypes. Campaigns that just show up in Latino communities right before elections don't see positive turnout, perpetuating a belief that communities of color are more apathetic. Sanchez says that's not true. "What we've learned is that you can't just engage young people, you can't just engage Latinx voters in that election cycle," he says. "You have to build that confidence, you have to build that buy-in way before." That buy-in begins, he says, when people know what's at stake. Immigration, the environment, and schools are among the top issues among Latino voters this year. Sanchez says the rest of the buy-in comes by staying in touch with voters. To that end, organizations like his are deploying a wide-reaching digital strategy aimed at meeting young voters where they are, and even telling them how to cast their ballots. "Especially this year, when we're actually implementing new voting systems in maybe the largest [most populated] counties across the state," Sanchez says. "I think the onus is on us to figure out how best to educate them so when it comes for them to vote, they feel comfortable voting." Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Attorneys in Albuquerque are fighting over whether its acceptable for prosecutors to redact portions of victims and witnesses Social Security numbers and dates of birth when they provide case documents to the defense. Defense attorneys say there are no rules that allow for this new practice and that prosecutors unilaterally made a decision to deprive them of information that theyre entitled to. They worry that allowing the state to decide what information the defense deserves sets a bad precedent. They dont get to have information that we dont have, defense lawyer Megan Mitsunaga said in court Thursday. Prosecutors and victim advocates say providing criminal defendants with this sensitive material leaves witnesses vulnerable to intimidation and possible harm, which may dissuade them from participating in the process. As a result of those concerns, some divisions of the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office have in recent months begun redacting victim and witness dates of birth and Social Security numbers, leaving only the year of birth and the last four digits of the Social Security number. We know with the work that we do with domestic and sexual assault survivors and child abuse survivors that personally identifying information can be used as a tool to continue to stalk and create economic barriers for survivors of crime, said MaryEllen Garcia, the Grants Bureau Chief for the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission. The topic was at the center of a hearing in state District Court on Thursday after Mitsunaga asked a judge to impose sanctions against the state for redacting supplemental police reports in a child abuse and burglary case. Judge Jacqueline Flores asked attorneys to submit their arguments in writing and said she will rule at a later time. I do see what the concerns are, Flores said. Im worried that once the state starts redacting information that they deem inappropriate or unavailable or undiscoverable, it perhaps could lead to other things being redacted that the state also deems inappropriate or somehow not discoverable. Theres nothing specifically in the rule that allows you to do this. Prosecutor Natalie Lyon said the state is prepared to appeal, depending on the judges ruling. Jennifer Barela, Albuquerque district defender for the Law Offices of the Public Defender, says these basic identifiers are used to ensure attorneys dont have any possible conflicts of interest and to narrow down searches that involve very common names. A spokeswoman for her office said it did not appear that this is happening in other jurisdictions around the state. This is a waste of everyones time and is no real benefit to victims, Barela said. If this continues, it is going to lead to more interviews of witnesses and victims, ultimately delaying resolution of the case. Plus, there is already a quick and easy process with a judge that prosecutors can use to protect this information if there is a real need. But Lyon said the information the DAs Office is sending over is ample to allow for the background and conflict-of-interest checks defense attorneys conduct. The main worry, she said, is that the documents turned over to the defense are often copied and sent to the defendant, who may or may not be in jail. The concern is specifically with inmates that are in custody; oftentimes, multiple inmates will review others discovery, she said. The personal identifiers in that information, she said, should not be disseminated throughout the jail. That reality may leave victims terrified to provide their information and unlikely to cooperate in the judicial process, Lyon said in an interview. Mitsunaga said defendants who attempted something like that would likely face additional severe charges, such as intimidation of a witness. She also pointed out that the state always has the option to seek a protective order. Defense lawyers go about background and conflict checks in a variety of ways, she said. They do not have law enforcement agencies on their side to assist in their investigations and so they need all the information police agencies are recording just to know where to start their own research. There has to be a way for a defendant and their defense attorney to review evidence to know what the state is bringing to bear against them and to prepare to defend themselves against this monolith, this government monster that is coming to take away their freedom, Mitsunaga said. As she argued in court Thursday, she questioned what would be redacted next. Where does it stop? she said. The rules are here to prevent that from even starting. Lyon called that argument absurd and said the state Constitution requires that victims be treated with fairness and respect, and to have dignity and privacy throughout the process. They have a right to be reasonably protected from the accused, which she said is one of the states arguments against providing this information. Lyon also argued that while the state is required to turn over contact information, the rules dont specifically address dates of birth and Social Security numbers. The information that has been redacted, she argued, is not material to the case. But Mitsunaga said that the states obligation is simply to pass along information collected as part of an investigation. They look at whats material from a very different perspective than we do, Mitsunaga said. By PTI COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan diplomat has briefed the president of the UN Human Rights Council on the government's decision to withdraw from a 2015 resolution calling for an investigation into alleged human rights violations committed during the country's long civil war. Foreign Ministry Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha met Human Rights Council President Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger in Geneva and informed her that Sri Lanka's Cabinet has decided to withdraw from the resolution, the foreign ministry said Saturday. Sri Lanka's prime minister had announced on Wednesday the government's decision to withdraw. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will formally announce the decision in his speech at the 43rd session of the council next Wednesday, the ministry said. Gunawardena will also respond to an oral update by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and later meet with her. ALSO READ: China 'commends' Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa's defence of BRI during his India visit Sri Lanka co-sponsored a resolution in 2015 along with 11 other countries, also including the United States, Britain, Australia and Germany, calling for an investigation into alleged serious human rights violations against both government forces and the now-defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in the island's civil war, which ended in 2009. The resolution also called for providing answers on the fate of thousands who reportedly went missing in the war and obtaining the support of international prosecutors and judges in trials against alleged perpetrators. The council has since given Sri Lanka two two-year extensions to implement the resolution. Sri Lanka's armed forces crushed the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, ending the 26-year civil war. The war's final stages in particular came under severe international criticism over heavy civilian casualties. A conservative UN estimate said at least 100,000 people were killed in the war, but a later report prepared by U.N. experts said as may as 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians may have been killed in the final months of the fighting alone. ALSO READ: Hope Sri Lanka will fulfil aspirations of Tamil people - Modi after talks with Mahinda Rajapaksa Another internal review called for by then-Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon on the conduct of the United Nations and its agencies reported that the UN had failed in its responsibilities in protecting civilians in Sri Lanka. Current Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa played a key role in the war as a top defense official under the presidency of his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is now the prime minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa resisted international calls for investigations and the country was facing possible sanctions when he was defeated in the 2015 presidential election. The government of Rajapaksa's successor, Maithripala Sirisena, co-sponsored the resolution as a means to ease international pressure. Gotabaya Rajapaksa pledged to withdraw from the resolution ahead of last November's presidential election. The mother of Faye Swetlik, who was killed in South Carolina, paid tribute to her six-year-old daughter in an emotional eulogy read out at her memorial service on Friday The mother of Faye Swetlik, who was strangled to death by her 30-year-old neighbor, paid tribute to her six-year-old daughter in an emotional eulogy read out at her memorial service on Friday. Hundreds of people from Cayce, in South Carolina, paid tribute to the six-year-old at the Trinity Baptist Church on Friday night where they wiped away tears as a eulogy written by her mother, Selena, was read out. The heartbreaking tribute described Faye as a kind child 'who felt it was her job to make sure people were loved and felt special'. Faye disappeared while playing in her front yard on February 11, leading to a three-day search involving more than 200 cops. Her body was found in woods near her home. Police said she had been strangled by her neighbor, Coty Taylor, hours after she vanished. He was found dead on his back porch after police discovered Faye's body. Hundreds of people turned out to hear the eulogy, delivered by Eddie Coakley, the Trinity Baptist Church pastor Friends and family wiped away tears as they watched an emotional video montage of Faye and listened to her eulogy The memorial service was a chance for the local community to say goodbye after they had rallied around and held vigils amid the shock news of her disappearance and then death In a heartbreaking tribute Faye was described as a kind child 'who felt it was her job to make sure people were loved and felt special' 'Faye loved hard. There wasn't a single person she couldn't make smile. She wanted everyone to be as happy as she was,' her mom's eulogy said Attendants wore bright clothing to honor Faye, with many choosing her favorite colors - pink and purple Faye was described as an honest, sassy and independent young girl, who would pack her own lunches before school. As the community remembered the 'independent child', a touching montage where the elementary school student can be seen singing 'You Are My Sunshine' was played. Her grandmother Ruth Collins said it was her favorite song and that they would sing together every day. People at the memorial wore bright clothing to honor Faye, with many choosing her favorite colors - pink and purple. Eddie Coakley, the church's pastor, delivered Selena's eulogy, who said she struggled to explain 'the life of someone who meant so much to so many in just a few paragraphs'. Faye was described as an honest, sassy and independent young girl, who would pack her own lunches before school. Faye was remembered for making the people who knew her happy. 'From the day she was born, we taught her the beauty of magic and the most important magic of all - love,' her mother's eulogy said. 'Faye loved hard. There wasn't a single person she couldn't make smile. She wanted everyone to be as happy as she was .' Her mother went on to recall how she got her name: 'Faye is French for fairy. When I was pregnant, she felt like fairies dancing around. And I always wanted her to believe in magic, so she was dubbed Faye Marie - my little fairy Mary. And magic she was.' The elementary school student was seen singing he favorite song in a video montage Faye was remembered for making the people who knew her happy. 'From the day she was born, we taught her the beauty of magic and the most important magic of all - love,' her mother's eulogy said Her mother recalled that she was named after the French word for fairy. 'I always wanted her to believe in magic, so she was dubbed Faye Marie - my little fairy Mary. And magic she was,' she said The first-grader at Springdale Elementary School was murdered by Coty Taylor a few hours after she was abducted Her mom said she struggled to explain 'the life of someone who meant so much to so many in just a few paragraphs' The memorial service was a chance for the local community to say goodbye - who rallied around after the shock news of her death. The first-grader at Springdale Elementary School was murdered by Coty Taylor a few hours after she was abducted. Three days later he dumped her body and then slashed his own neck. Coty Taylor, 30, strangled six-year-old Faye Swetlik to death a few hours after she was abducted and then slashed his own neck, autopsies confirmed Tuesday. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher fought back tears in a press conference held outside Trinity Baptist Church, Cayce, on Tuesday afternoon, as she revealed the results of the little girl's autopsy. She confirmed that Faye died of asphyxiation and that her homicide 'took place within a few hours of her abduction'. The autopsy report for the man linked to Swetlik's death, 30-year-old Coty Taylor, revealed that he committed suicide by slashing his own neck. DNA evidence from the scenes the bodies were found and from inside Taylor's home showed that he abducted and murdered Faye, authorities confirmed. He is believed to be the 'sole perpetrator of the crime', said Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove. The memorial for Faye took place at the Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce, South Carolina The child's bike was carried on a pink truck in a procession before the ceremony on Friday Officers had also previously searched the wooded area where Faye's body was dumped four times prior to the discovery. The suspected killer is believed to have moved his victim's body 'in the shadow of the night' to the wooded area behind the townhouses where it was found. Snellgrove said Taylor moved Faye's body 'through the cover of darkness' after panicking that the net was closing in after police had searched his property earlier that day. Snellgrove also said video footage gathered from the neighborhood during the search had shown Taylor 'doing some things that were suspicious', but would not go into detail. It has also been confirmed that Taylor did have a roommate at the property and that officers have been in contact with them since the crime. The child had been playing in front of her home (pictured) at the time she went missing The final moments: An aerial map shows the close proximity between Faye's home, the home of Coty Scott Taylor and the wooded area where the little girl's body was found Faye's death is being treated as a homicide and no arrests have been made The roommate did not know about Taylor's crimes and was 'not at the residence much during that time', said Snellgrove. He added that Taylor acted alone. Taylor's cause of death has not been revealed out of respect for Faye's family, but it was shared with media after. Faye vanished while she was playing on her front porch on February 10, leading to a desperate manhunt involving hundreds of officers and members of the public. The search came to an end when officers found her body in a wooded area between her home in Churchill Heights and a Napa Auto Parts store in Cayce, South Carolina. Footage of Faye getting off her school bus on Monday afternoon was released by police on Wednesday Taylor's body was found in his home just after. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher confirmed Saturday that Faye's autopsy was completed but said the results would not be released at the time out of respect for Faye's family. 'They need privacy and time to process the information,' she said in a statement. Faye was last seen playing in front of her home in Londonderry Square at approximately 3.45pm on February 10. Her mother Selena Marie Collins called 911 to report her daughter missing at 5pm, after searching for her with friends and neighbors. In the harrowing 911 call, the distraught mother is heard gasping and sobbing uncontrollably. In the footage, Faye (pictured) is seen getting out of her seat and walking to the front of the bus Police officers went door to door in the desperate search to find Faye alive Officers pictured during the investigation. A search through rubbish trucks uncovered Faye's polka dot boot and a ladle with fresh dirt on in a trash can belonging to Taylor 'I can't find my daughter,' she tells the dispatcher. 'She was just right in front of my front porch.' Collins describes the clothes Faye was wearing to the operator - a black shirt with neon colors, a flower print skirt and polka dot rain boots. The shirt had the word 'peace' written on it. Officers launched a search for the girl that day, with 50 officers conducting a search in the neighborhood. Faye's grandmother Ruth Collins pleaded for help from the public in locating her, saying she was 'not the type of kid that will up and walk away'. Snellgrove said there did not appear to be any evidence of abduction at the time, and her disappearance didn't meet the criteria for an Amber Alert. The following day, more than 200 law enforcement investigators were searching for Faye, after the FBI and SLED helicopter teams joined in the search. A tip hotline number was set up and community members gathered at Trinity Baptist Church to pray for Faye's safe return. KAMPALA A female student of Uganda Christian University is in trouble with the Police over allegations of massive rape by top city employing bosses. Ms Sheena Bageine was on Friday, February 21 evening released on Police bond from the Central Police Station (CPS) in Kampala after a night in jail. Ms. Bageine was charged with offensive communication and cyber stalking. Her arrest prompted a massive #FreeSheena Twitter campaign. Ms. Bagaine, who last month faced court on the matter, had at the start of the year, made damning allegations against prominent employers naming them as sexual predictors allegations that have since put her on collision course with those individually named, who have now colluded with the police to arrest her. She shared a list of men, calling them sex abusers and claimed that girls would contact her inbox to reveal their stories. So here we are. This thread is exposing rapists and rape apologists! Feel free to add yours in case I missed out some. I will be sharing stories and names according to the DMs I received. Some are heartbreaking but a friend can be another womans abuser. I hope youre shaking, Ms. Bageine tweeted on 2nd January, 2020 at 5:18 PM. Her allegations created a social media storm especially on Twitter and WhatsApp, attracting the attention of female Members of Parliament. The MPs later launched a campaign they termed My Body, My Consent aimed at fighting the increasing sexual violence in Uganda. MPs led by the national youth MP Anne Adeke said the experiences by the brave Ugandans who took their ordeals on social media left the national leaders shocked by the failure of the countrys justice systems to provide justice hence the need to launch a campaign that a joint action against all forms of sexual assault that has been committed against the women and girls in the country. According to the 2018 Uganda Police Crime report, there were 14,985 defilement & 1,335 rape cases reported and of those reported rape cases, 396 cases were taken to court, six ended in conviction and 375 are still pending with more than 600 are still being investigated. On the other hand, a total of 4,651 defilement cases were taken to court, out of which 609 led to convictions, and 3,704 cases were still pending. The report also highlighted that more than 60% of the cases in Ugandas criminal courts are sexual violence cases. Related Continue Reading Continued cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and stabilization of Afghanistan in terms of working together to counter terror are high on the agenda of the talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narenda Modi after the former arrives in India on Monday for a two-day visit whose showpiece will be the Namaste Trump rally in Ahmedabads Motera stadium. With both the US and India committed to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and demilitarization of the area, both leaders will exchange notes on how to operationalize the Indo-Pacific strategy with PM Modi keen to totally involve ASEAN countries, particularly Singapore, to reinforce the QUAD initiative. The QUAD comprises the United States, Japan, Australia and India. Although President Trump defined the Indo-Pacific as a region spanning Hollywood to Bollywood, more and more countries including the US are now aligned to PM Modis geographical vision of the Indo-Pacificfrom the eastern shores of Africa to the western shores of the USwith ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as an anchor. The Boeing P8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance aircraft, four more of which expected to be delivered to India this year to make a total of 12, are central to the Indo-Pacific cooperation with the aircraft of the US and Australia in touch with each other over the entire theatre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu on the Trump visit and discussed in detail the issues to be discussed during the trip, apart from protocol issues. Jaishankar returned from a weeklong trip to Germany and Belgium, where the European Union is based, on Friday morning, NSA Doval returned from a quiet visit to key ally France on Saturday. During his interactions with the German leadership and European European foreign ministers, Jaishankar apparently found that Europe was more worried about the US-China tussle than with Indias nullification of Article 370 that divested Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and the passage of the Citizen (Amendment) Act, which was a passing reference. Trump will be briefed by PM Modi on all the steps his government has taken on inclusive development and keeping the minorities totally on board. Counter-terrorism in the context of Af-Pakistan is another central theme of the summit with India understanding the need for the US to thin down its commitment to the region after 18 years. However, the US truce with the Taliban, according to New Delhi, can only succeed if the rest and recreation sanctuaries across the Durand Line , the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, are closed; or else stability will never return to Kabul. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Associated Press A dozen northern Italian towns were on effective lockdown Saturday after the new virus linked to China claimed two lives in Italy and sickened an increasing number of people who had no direct links to the origin of the virus. The secondary contagions prompted local authorities in towns in Lombardy and Veneto to order schools, businesses and restaurants closed, and to cancel sporting events and Masses. The mayor of Milan, the business capital of Italy, shuttered public offices. Hundreds of people who came into contact with more than 25 people confirmed infected in Italy were in isolation pending test results, and civil protection crews set up a tent camp outside a closed hospital in Veneto to screen medical staff for the virus. In hard-hit Codogno, where the first patient of the northern cluster to fall ill was in critical condition, main street was practically a ghost town Saturday, with supermarkets, restaurants and businesses closed. The few people out on the streets were wearing coveted face masks, which were nearly impossible to find in sold-out pharmacies. WATCH | Aamir Khan urges Chinese fans to take precautions against coronavirus Premier Giuseppe Conte sent condolences to his family and to the family of an unidentified second victim. Meanwhile, in South Korea, Singapore and Iran, clusters of infections are leading to a jump in cases of the new viral illness outside China. But its not the numbers that are worrying experts: It's that increasingly they can't trace where the clusters started. World Health Organization officials said China's crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. But as hot spots emerge around the globe, trouble finding each source the first patient who sparks every new cluster might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-true public health steps to stamp it out. A number of spot fires, occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic, said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at Australia's University of Queensland. That worst-case isn't here yet, the WHO insists. It isn't convinced that countries outside China need more draconian measures, but it pointed to spikes in cases in Iran and South Korea to warn that time may be running out to contain the virus. What we see is a very different phase of this outbreak depending where you look, said WHO's Dr. Sylvie Briand. We see different patterns of transmission in different places. The World Health Organization defines a global pandemic as a disease spreading on two continents, though some public health experts would call an outbreak a pandemic if the spread is over a wide area or across many international borders. The newest red flag: Iran has reported 28 cases, including five deaths, in just days. The cluster began in the city of Qom, a popular religious destination, but it's not clear how. Worse, infected travelers from Iran already have been discovered in Lebanon and Canada. In South Korea, most of the hundreds of new cases detected since Wednesday are linked to a church in the city of Daegu and a nearby hospital. But health authorities have not yet found the index case, the person among the churchs 9,000 followers who set off the chain of infections. There also have been several cases in the capital, Seoul, where the infection routes have not yet been traced. In Europe, Italy saw cases of the new virus more than quadruple in a day as it grapples with infections in a northern region that apparently have spread through a hospital and a cafe. A cluster of cases isn't inherently worrying in fact, it's expected as an infection that's easy to spread is carried around the world by travelers. The first line of defense: Isolate the sick to treat them and prevent further spread, and quarantine people who came in contact with them until the incubation period is over. But as the virus becomes more widespread, trying to trace every contact would be futile, Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged earlier this month. If we still hospitalize and isolate every suspect case, our hospitals will be overwhelmed, he said. So far, the city-state has identified five clusters of transmission, including two churches. But there remain eight locally transmitted cases with no links to earlier cases, or to China. Viruses vary in how they infect. The new coronavirus unlike its cousins SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, and MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome spreads as easily as a common cold. And it's almost certainly being spread by people who show such mild symptoms that no one can tell, said Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. If that's the case, all of these containment methods are not going to work, Adalja said. It's likely mixed in the cold and flu season all over the place, in multiple countries and gone unnoticed until someone gets severely ill. These milder symptoms are good news in terms of not as many people dying, said Mackay, of Australia. But its really bad news if you are trying to stop a pandemic, he added. When Hong Kong reported it first death from the virus earlier this month, it also confirmed three locally transmitted cases with no known link to any previous cases or any travel history to China. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection warned then that "there could be invisible chains of infection happening within communities." Officials in both South Korea and Japan have signaled in the past week that the spread is entering a new phase in their countries. On Friday, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said the government would have to shift its focus from quarantine and border control to slowing the spread of the virus. Schools and churches were closed and some mass gatherings banned. Takaji Wakita, head of Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, earlier urged people to work at home or in shifts to avoid being in a crowd, and refrain from holding non-essential and non-urgent meetings. But Adalja cautioned that far-reaching measures like China instituted in the outbreak's epicenter of Wuhan where citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes for weeks can backfire. While it remains to be seen if the new virus is waning, that kind of lockdown makes it hard for people to get other critically important care, like fast treatment for a heart attack. There's no way to predict if the recent clusters will burn out or trigger widespread transmission. For now, health officials should try and contain the infection for as long as possible while preparing for a change in strategy by preparing hospitals, readying protective equipment and bolstering laboratory capacity, said Gagandeep Kang, a microbiologist who leads Indias Translational Health Science and Technology Institute. Although the window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak, we still have a chance to contain it," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. But while doing that, we have to prepare at the same time for any eventualities, because this outbreak could go any direction it could even be messy. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: 22.02.2020 LISTEN A number of seasoned captains of Business and Industry in Ghana will be inducted into the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame on Saturday, 22nd February 2020 at Villa Monticello Hotel, Roman Ridge, in Accra. Some of the veterans accomplished corporate titans include Mr. Kwasi Abeasi, Chairperson of the Board of the GIPC and former Managing Director of Agricultural development Bank and Executive Director of Private Enterprises Federation (PEF); and Dr. Felix Anyah, CEO of Holy Trinity Medical Centre and former CEO of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. The others are Dr. Daniel McKorley, Board Chairperson of Trade Fair Centre and Group CEO of the McDan Group; Dr. Nortey Omaboe, Executive Chairman of GCNet; and Mr. Falal Fattal, CEO of Caesars Court and former CEO of Metro TV. The Business Executive Limited (TBE), with the collaboration of some partners such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), are hosting the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame. The Business Executive Limited (TBE) is a Pan-African media and events firm, with a track record of successfully organizing the following awards schemes and summits: Ghana Industry CEO Awards; Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards; Environment Health & Safety Awards; and Technology Impact Awards. The rest are: Ghana Development Awards; Trade & Commerce Awards; Ghana Development Awards; Ghana Transport Awards; Economic Review Forum; and Ghana Manufacturers Business Summit. TBE also organized and hosts Feminine Ghana Hall of Fame and TBE Corporate Executives Network. TBE also publishes The Business Executive magazine, a leading specialized publication that covers the economy, business, finance, investment, diplomacy, tourism, and socio-economic development issues which is widely circulated in Ghana and other West African countries, South Africa, Kenya, UK and the U.S. About Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame The purpose of the Corporate Ghana Hall of Fame is to recognize and celebrate the professional accomplishments of some outstanding well-experienced members of the corporate community. The Hall of Fame provides a forum for members to individually and collectively contribute to the growth of corporate Ghana by sharing their knowledge and experience with their successors, business associations like PEF, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), and public policymakers and implementers. PINCKNEYVILLE (AP) An 80-year-old man who spent nearly 60 years in prison after being convicted of killing one of three women whose brutalized bodies were found in a state park walked out of prison Friday. Chester Weger emerged from Pinckneyville Correctional Center much older than when he was sent to prison in 1961, but he was the same in one respect maintaining that he was innocent and had been framed by detectives and prosecutors. They ruined my life, Weger said outside the prison gates, the Chicago Tribune reported. They locked me up for 60 years for something Ive never done. Weger was convicted in the 1960 slayings of 50-year-old Lillian Oetting, 47-year-old Frances Murphy and 50-year-old Mildred Lindquist. The women were hiking together in Starved Rock State Park in northern Illinois when they were attacked. Their remains were found in the parks popular St. Louis Canyon, which is framed by a scenic waterfall and a 100-foot wall. Each of them had been bludgeoned more than 100 times. A break in the investigation came when detectives determined that the cord used to bind the womens hands matched twine from a spool in the kitchen of the Starved Rock Lodge, where Weger, then 21, worked as a dishwasher. Wegner initially confessed to beating the women to death with a frozen tree branch during a botched robbery attempt and even took detectives to the park to reenact the killings. But he later recanted, claiming he was innocent and that prosecutors had coerced him into confessing. Weger was only convicted in Oettings killing. Prosecutors chose not to try him for the two other womens deaths after he was sentenced to life in prison in 1961. Weger was granted parole in November on his 24th try. His release was delayed for 90 days because Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raouls office sought to have him evaluated under the states Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. That law allows the state to hold people indefinitely in a secured facility in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services for sex offender treatment if an evaluation deems that necessary. Granddaughters of the slain women have spoken out publicly against Wegers release, as has the LaSalle County states attorney. But Wegers supporters have insisted that he poses no threat to public safety and experts who conducted Wegers evaluation concluded that Weger did not meet the legal criteria for the law to apply, One of Wegers lawyers, Celeste Stack, said Weger could hardly believe he was free. Rumors had been floating around that things were going to be delayed, Stack told the Tribune. I dont think even Chester believed it until he stepped outside in this cold sunshine this morning. Weger was expected to be reunited with family members later in the day on Friday and then check in to St. Leonards Ministries in Chicago. Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield has a chance to become one of the great mayors the city has ever had if he achieves his goals. Whitfield, the citys first African American elected mayor, gave his State of the City on Feb. 18 at Lorain County Community College where he outlined his three key priority areas the community, the economy and culture. On his 48th day on the job, Whitfield addressed the city during a joint meeting of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, Elyria Rotary Club and Elyria Sunrise Rotary Club. Whitfield was adamant that he didnt seek to become mayor just to check off boxes to say he occupied the office. It also was encouraging when Whitfield vowed the status quo cant, and wont, continue. And he doesnt want people to look back four years from now and have them say, yes, he was mayor, but nothing changed. That certainly could tarnish his legacy. But Whitfield cautioned against the temptation of going for quick wins in favor of substantive, long-term changes to level the playing field for everyone and change the odds. He plans to adopt an approach where the community will work together to build collaborations to get things done. As part of building community, Whitfield plans to establish an elders council to enable the city to improve services for senior citizens. For youth, the administration will work with Elyria City Schools on an economic summit to collaborate with partners to engage the power of Elyrias young people. Whitfield suggested nonprofit partnerships and the citys business community to develop mentorship programs to expose youth to different career options. As for the economy, Whitfields economic transformation plan has been termed Build, Attract and Grow and aims to make it easier to start businesses in the city and to keep and attract talent. Whitfield wants to make Elyria the best place for entrepreneurs. Part of the citys attraction strategy is to invest in the people of Elyria and continue to make it easier to build upon their skillsets. Whitfield believes the results will make Elyria a more attractive city to invest in. The benefits Elyria can offer employers have to go beyond tax incentives and he believes the high quality of the citys services and assets will be that the extra mile. Whitfield said the city can support business with workforce development and a certain civic pride, evidenced by the overwhelming response to #BendixWeek in encouraging Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems to stay put and not relocate to Avon. Despite the attempts to keep Bendix in the city, the company is vacating, but Whitfield certainly deserves credit for his efforts. It was just a little too late. Bendix founded its headquarters in Elyria in 1941, and is the citys second largest employer. Whitfield did meet with Bendix executives Feb. 7 to introduce the citys new leadership team and to make their pitch for the company to keep its operations in Elyria. Bendix, however, paid more than $4.5 million in March 2017 for 58 acres in Avon north of Chester Road between Route 83 and Jaycox Road. The facility will include an 82,000-square-foot main structure, 67,000-square-foot lab and an engineering garage at 10,000 square feet. The new headquarters is expected to be completed in November 2021 with ground work scheduled to begin in April 2020. In 2019, the company announced it was moving to Avon by the end of 2021, taking an estimated $1.5 million annually in tax revenue with it. Despite Whitfields efforts with Bendix, he wants to improve the culture in Elyria, and emphasized the changing expectations and to simply believe in what is possible. Whitfield said the city had to be open to new ideas and new thinking and not settling for, thats how things are done, or thats never done that way before, or the notion that something cant be done or that has to go. Hes not focusing on that negativity, which is admirable. To move the city forward, hes going to have to be innovative. If something doesnt work, we get the impression hell try something different until it does. It doesnt appear that Whitfield will settle for defeat and those types of attitudes in his administration. We get the impression hes going to be the biggest cheerleader for Elyria and the residents. Whitfield likely will have some difficult and challenging times ahead, especially with Bendix leaving the city on his watch and the Midway Mall, which has seen tenant after tenant either going out of business or just calling it quits. We believe Whitfield has the vigor to turn Elyria around. In his short time in office, Whitfield has displayed good leadership qualities. But like he said, people must work together, and hopefully, work with him. Iran on Saturday reported one more death among 10 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the Islamic republic to five and infections to 28. "We have 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on state television. "One of the new cases has unfortunately passed away," he added, noting that eight of them had been hospitalised in Qom and two in Tehran, without specifying where the death occurred. The COVID-19 outbreak first emerged in Iran on Wednesday, when officials said it killed two elderly people in Qom, a Shiite holy city south of the capital. They were the first confirmed deaths from the disease in the Middle East. Since then, Iran has carried out tests on 785 suspected cases, Jahanpour said. "Most of the cases are either Qom residents or have a history of coming and going from Qom to other cities," the health ministry spokesman said. Qom is a centre for Islamic studies and pilgrims, attracting scholars from Iran and beyond. An official said the first two victims, who were Qom residents, had not left Iran. Following the announcement of the deaths, neighbouring Iraq on Thursday clamped down on travel to and from the Islamic republic, with its health ministry announcing people in Iran were barred from entering the country "until further notice". Kuwait's national carrier Kuwait Airways also announced it would suspend all flights to Iran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kim Brent / Kim Brent/The Enterprise It wasnt that long ago that Texas was a lock-em-up state that didnt mind building more prisons each year to house an increasing number of inmates. But in recent years, a welcome reversal has occurred. State officials even the conservative Republicans who dominate the Legislature and all statewide elected posts came to realize this approach was not as effective as they once thought. So it was good news this week to see that two state prisons would be closed later this year the Jester I Unit in Sugar Land and the Garza East Transfer Facility in Beeville, 100 miles southeast of San Antonio. The state has also closed eight other prisons in the last nine years, one of them being the Al Price youth prison in Beaumont in 2011. Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is coming to the UK on Friday to take part in a youth protest in Bristol. The 17-year-old Swede will be joining the Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate on College Green on February 28. One of the organisers, Milly Sibson, also 17, from Bristol, told the PA news agency: We are all just so excited everyone is so excited about the thought of hearing her talk. Heading for the UK! This Friday, the 28th, Im looking forward to joining the school strike in Bristol! We meet up at College Green 11am! See you there! @bristolYS4C pic.twitter.com/n1GOJqMUVQ Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 22, 2020 I would love the chance to meet her because she is the founder of this movement and she is so important to it she is an idol even though she is younger than me. We really hope loads of people join us to welcome her to Bristol. Milly said Greta had originally planned to visit London, but as the area planned for the protest in the capital was too small the organisers had recommended Bristol instead. The city was awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2015. CLEVELAND, Ohio Three unidentified men attacked and tried to rob a FedEx driver delivering packages in Clevelands Collinwood neighborhood, police reports say. A 23-year-old delivery driver suffered injuries to both hands and his right knee during the attack, which happened Tuesday near the intersection of East 145th Street and St. Clair Avenue, according to a police report. No suspects have been identified in the case. The driver was making deliveries just after 12:30 p.m. when three men jumped him and started beating him. One of the men struck the driver in the back of the head with an unknown weapon, police reports say. The three men tried to take the drivers phone and other items, but did not manage to take anything before they ran away. The driver believed the three men had been following him on his route before they attacked him, the police report says. The driver went to University Hospitals for treatment. He could not bend any of the fingers on his right hand, and could not put any weight on his right knee, the police report says. He also had scrapes and bruises on his left hand. To comment on this story, visit Fridays crime and courts comments page. Read more crime stories: Man convicted in 2007 killing over fake cocaine charged in shootout at Cleveland gas station Third-grade student hit by car passing school bus in Cleveland, official says Cleveland man acted as getaway driver after robber stuck gun into womans mouth, records say Man was driving 80 mph before head-on crash that killed two in Cleveland, police say Two in critical condition after hazmat situation at Cleveland trucking company An employee works on a Boeing 737 Max aircraft at the Renton Municipal Airport By Kanishka Singh and Eric M. Johnson (Reuters) - Boeing Co has found debris in the fuel tanks of dozens of undelivered 737 MAX jets amid ongoing inspections as the Chicago-based planemaker struggles to restore the trust of airlines and the wider public in the grounded fleet. Boeing found debris in the fuel tanks of about 35 aircraft, a company spokesman confirmed on Friday. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that more than 50% of the undelivered 737 MAX jets inspected thus far have had debris found in them. Several more planes are still awaiting inspection. "We are taking steps to make sure we eliminate FOD (foreign object debris) from any and all aircraft. This is unacceptable and won't be tolerated on any Boeing aircraft when it's delivered to the customer," Boeing said in an emailed statement. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), when asked about the debris, said it could not confirm Boeing's numbers. An FAA spokesman said the agency was aware that Boeing was conducting a voluntary inspection for FOD, adding that FAA had increased its surveillance based on initial inspection reports and would take further action based on the findings. The findings of debris were first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Boeing has come under scrutiny since two crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft, in October 2018 and March 2019, killed 346 people. The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide last March after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Foreign object debris, an industrial term for rags, tools, metal shavings and other materials left behind by workers during production, has been a quality-control issue for various Boeing aircraft, such as its KC-46 tankers. This week, an internal memo seen by Reuters showed that Boeing found debris that could pose potential safety risks in the fuel tanks of several 737 MAX aircraft in storage and waiting to be delivered to airlines. The New York Times reported on Friday that federal prosecutors investigating Boeing are examining whether the planemaker misled the FAA while it was seeking approval for the 737 MAX. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington. Editing by Gerry Doyle) IRELAND, Belgium and the Netherlands are likely to be among the main beneficiaries from the UK's decision to introduce tighter immigration rules that could deter construction workers from entering the market there, according to Kingspan chief executive Gene Murtagh. The boss of the global insulation maker told the Irish Independent that given the UK's full employment, he was "surprised" at the planned rules. The UK government will introduce new immigration laws next January after its Brexit transition period end that could leave lower-skilled workers barred from entry. "You can be pretty sure that there's a significant number of non-nationals that are operating in the construction world [in the UK], and indeed in retail, food and everything else," said Mr Murtagh (inset below). "I'm surprised the measures are as radical as that because with effectively full employment in the UK, I'd have thought that they need the doors reasonably open," he added. Any difficulties for construction workers entering the UK could benefit Ireland, where there's a shortage of workers in the sector during the continuing housing crisis. Mr Murtagh was speaking as insulation maker Kingspan reported a strong set of results for 2019. It noted that there was a "slow start" to 2020, however, as uncertain economic outlooks in end markets took their toll. Revenue for the year rose 7pc to a record 4.66bn, while trading profit also hit a new high of 497.1m, which was 12pc higher. On a constant currency basis, revenue was up 6pc as Kingspan's trading profit was 10pc ahead. Sales at its insulated panels business - used in the construction of developments such as office blocks - were 7pc higher, with a "strong performance" in the Americas, according to Kingspan. The division accounts for 65pc of the group's business. But insulated panel sales rose just 1pc on an organic basis, with acquisitions propelling the reported figure. "I wouldn't say I'm particularly happy with that, but for a business that was in excess of 20pc reliant on the UK - which obviously went into a tailspin in the second half of last year - it wasn't too bad of an outcome," said Mr Murtagh. "What's masked in there is that the growth in the life-for-like [sales] volume - which is the clearest measure - was 4pc." He said that input costs for a key component of its panels declined significantly in the last 18 months, leading to price deflation of Kingspan's products. "Those organic revenue numbers are more a reflection of that than they are of a structural decline," he said. In back-to-back appearances at CNN town halls Thursday night in Nevada, former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren rooted themselves in bread-and-butter Democratic issues. They spoke to the economic challenges of the middle class and working families, who in Biden's words "are getting battered across the board," and need relief from high health care costs and the rising cost of living. And while normally this approach would be smart political strategy, it's unclear if it's going to draw Nevada's Democratic voters to either of them in the caucuses Saturday. Biden and Warren have both lost the strong polling leads they had last fall, and are confronted by the ascendance of two more extreme economic views -- those of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sander's, in which capitalism has failed and must be curbed, and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg's, in which capitalism is critical to success. Biden and Warren did not just linger on the economic fight Thursday night -- they took the fight to Trump, speaking to the corruption of the current administration and reports of continued Russian election interference, which in Warren's words demonstrate "lawlessness that we have never seen in this country before." However, these candidates' world views are decidedly not the same: Biden spoke to a world people wished they lived in, a bygone era where camaraderie and bonhomie were all that was needed to make political progress. Warren spoke to the world we live in now, a more complex society where race, gender and economics too often intersect to create barriers to equal opportunity. Biden bemoaned the state of politics today for being "so mean and ugly and dirty." While he blamed President Donald Trump for the decay of political discourse, Biden suggested that Trump is an aberration, that the system can be reset: "I honest to God believe, with Trump out of the way, you're going to find people screwing up a lot more courage than they had before to say, 'OK, OK, I can move now, I have more leeway.'" This worldview can be soothing and compelling because it doesn't involve change; it simply means turning back the clock. It's also involves magical thinking mixed with revisionist history. For example, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is no more likely to work with Biden as a President than he was Biden as Vice President, when McConnell denied a hearing or a vote on Merrick Garland, Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, vowed to make Obama a one-term President and worked to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Biden himself mentioned this challenge in the course of the town hall -- but failed to explain why things would be different in a Biden administration. By contrast, Warren spoke bluntly of race, gender, and income inequality embedded in institutional structures. She labeled white supremacy as a form of domestic terrorism, calling on the Attorney General to enforce "efforts to shut down white supremacy" and enforce civil rights without interference from the White House. She spoke to the complexity of gendered expectations around women in leadership positions, something, she said, "we all struggle with every day," and offered a path forward: "We have to recognize that the world has changed since 2016. And how do I know that? I'm here in Nevada with a woman majority state legislature, hello!" She also addressed the issue of women in the workplace, taking direct aim at the former New York City mayor. Ironically drawing upon her own experience as a contract law professor, Warren offered Bloomberg a release form, so that all the people with whom he has non-disclosure agreements -- many of whom Warren believes to be women -- could share their stories about workplace discrimination or sexual harassment. (Bloomberg maintains he made nothing more than a few off-colored jokes, a response many women hear when pointing out sexism.) And she spoke of her early warnings about the 2008 mortgage crisis and how "mortgage companies figured out that they could target communities of color ... and sell them the worst of the worst mortgages." Like Biden, Warren remains hopeful: "There is so much we need to do." Biden and Warren, two Democratic stalwarts, must now overcome two outsiders -- Sanders, who has spent most of his political career as an Independent, and Bloomberg, who has funded, among other candidates, Republican Senate candidates that have helped McConnell maintain the Senate majority. Sanders offers revolution, while Bloomberg offers a cynical realism -- both appealing to voters who think the system we've been raised to believe in is fundamentally broken. This is the reality facing not just Biden and Warren, but the Democratic Party writ large -- how to build unity within a structure that many voters are signaling they don't believe in anymore. Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ.Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday hailed the Indian judiciary for redefining environmental jurisprudence to strike a balance between development and ecological protection. Speaking at the inaugural function of the International Judicial Conference 2020 'judiciary and the changing world' at the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister referred to gender justice and said no country or society in the world can claim to achieve holistic development without it. He referred to laws on transgenders, 'triple talaq' and on the rights of 'Divyang' (persons with disabilities) and said the government has also taken steps to give rights to women in military services and in providing paid maternity leave for 26 weeks to women. Referring to the use of technology, Modi said it can help in procedural management of courts and benefit the justice delivery system to a large extent. "In addition, in the changing times, issues like data protection, cyber-crime pose new challenges for the judiciary," he said. Referring to recent judicial verdicts by Indian courts, the PM said 1.3 billion Indians have "wholeheartedly" accepted them despite there being several apprehensions expressed about the consequences. Speaking at the occasion, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde said India is a "melting pot of cultures" and has assimilated cultures of Mughals, Dutch, Portuguese and English. "Constitution has created a strong and independent judiciary and we have strived to keep this basic feature intact," the CJI said. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to apex court judgements and said terrorists and corrupt people have "no right to privacy" and such persons should not be allowed to abuse the system. Prasad said governance must be left to elected representatives and delivering judgements should be left to judges. He said populism should not infringe upon the settled principles of law. Antop Hill police on Friday arrested Shiv Sena leader Nitin Nandgaonkar and his friend Darshanbir Singh Surjeet Singh Kochhar for allegedly attacking a man accused of molesting numerous women in Matunga. Nandgaonkar and Kochhar were released on bail the same day. The alleged molester, identified as Raijur Habibur Khan, 38, was beaten up by the Sena leader, who then uploaded a video of the attack on his social media page. In an accompanying post, Nandgaonkar said he was dedicating the video to the women of Maharashtra. Earlier this month, CCTV camera footage from the foot overbridge (FoB) at Matunga railway station showed Khan approaching a woman and kissing her on the face before fleeing. Khan was arrested in January on a pickpocketing charge. During the investigation, police discovered he was a serial offender and identified him as the man in the CCTV footage. Khan was released on bail as according to the police, none of the molested women had come forward to file a complaint against him. According to a statement by the Mumbai Police, Khan approached them on Friday claiming he was attacked by Nandgaonkar and Kochhar. The police then arrested the two men and they were released on bail the same day. I thank Mumbai police for registering a case against me for teaching a lesson to prevent who touched mothers and sisters inappropriately, Nandgaonkar said in an online post following his release. The Sena leader hinted in another post that the complainant may have been someone other than Khan. ArrestBailRelease.. Is the complainant an invisible soul? To protect mothers and sisters, I will keep thrashing perverts.. I thank all, he wrote. In the 6:51-minute video posted on his social media page, Nandgaonkar is seen introducing his subject, the man accused of being the serial offender. Khan is sitting on the floor of the Sena leaders office. About 30 seconds into the video, Nandgaonkar starts slapping the man and forcing him to look into the camera. Nandgaonkar also elaborates on how he would have liked to punish Khan. But the law bars me, the Sena leader says in the video. Nandgaonkar goes on to warn Khan that if he doesnt stop harassing women, he will be stripped naked and paraded in the streets. The video post was later removed from the social media site. This isnt a first for Nandgaonkar, who over the years has earned a reputation for his strong-arm tactics and vigilantism. He has been accused of manhandling taxi and auto drivers and had uploaded some of these encounters on social media as well. The pervert is into sofa making. Imagine this person visiting a house and finding a woman alone? He was released soon on bail as the police stated that there are no witnesses against him. This may lead him to conduct heinous crimes against women, Nandgaonkar told HT. He and Kochhar have been booked under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 07:02:49|Editor: ZD Video Player Close ATHENS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- In 2019 travel services receipts in Greece totaled 18.1 billion euros (19.6 billion U.S. dollars), up by 12.8 percent relative to the previous year, while the number of inbound visitors rose by 4.1 percent to 31.3 million, up from 30.1 million in 2018, the central Bank of Greece said on Friday. Tourism, a traditional pillar of Greek economy for decades, withstood the severe debt crisis which broke out in late 2009 in the country and has been a key driver of economic growth on its path to economic recovery in recent years, Greek officials have repeatedly noted. The latest figures provided by the central bank in an e-mailed press release showed that the trend remains positive for the Greek tourism industry. In 2018 travel receipts stood at 16.08 billion euros, while in 2017 it totaled 14.63 billion euros. The increase in 2019 was attributed to the increased traveler flows, as well as the rise in average expenditure per trip by 8.5 percent compared to the previous year, according to the bank's press statement. (1 euro= 1.09 U.S. dollars) (Bloomberg) -- Iranian hard-liners headed for victory in parliamentary elections, sweeping Tehran and other cities in a repudiation of President Hassan Rouhanis engagement with outside powers. The vote was widely predicted to hand control of the legislature to conservatives empowered by the countrys revived, economically damaging standoff with the U.S. Preliminary results show that hard-liners won a majority of the 290 seats, according to a tally compiled by the semi-official Mehr news agency. Estimated turnout was about 42%, the Fars news agency reported, which would be the lowest in the Islamic republics history. Hard-liners and conservatives won all 30 seats in Tehran, the largest and most influential constituency, Fars said Saturday after polls closed at midnight. They also dominated in Esfahan, Khuzestan, Mazandaran and several other provinces, Mehr reported. Participation was held back by the powerful Guardian Councils disqualification of hundreds of moderates and reformists, Rouhanis loss of political credibility as the U.S. reimposed sanctions and a reported surge in coronavirus cases in Iran this week. Turnout in the 2016 election, which was dominated by reformers and moderates who supported Rouhani and the nuclear deal with global powers, was almost 62%. Several polling stations in both affluent and working-class neighborhoods of Tehran, the capital, were largely empty on Friday. . Given the vacuum among moderate candidates, conservative factions loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and generally opposed to engaging with the West were widely expected to prevail. Khamenei, on his official news portal, praised the shining of the Iranian nation in the big test of the elections, while accusing foreign propaganda apparatus of invoking coronavirus to dissuade people from taking part in the elections. Soleimanis Killing Recent military exchanges, including the killing of General Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. strike, and highly-charged rhetoric thats punctuated the confrontation with Washington, have also energized Khameneis base. Story continues For Mohammad, a 29-year-old voting in Tehran, a shift in the balance of power wont make much difference. Theyre all cut from the same cloth, he said of the countrys politicians, withholding his last name due to the sensitivities of talking to the foreign media in Iran. I dont really think theres much to set them apart. If arch-conservatives emerge victorious theyll control most branches of the state for the first time since the end of Mahmoud Ahmadinejads presidency in 2013. Rouhani, who delivered on his promise to end Irans long-running nuclear standoff with global powers but was unable to build a new era of prosperity when faced with President Donald Trumps economic offensive, will be largely sidelined. Black List In a timely reminder of how hard-liners can influence economic policy, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force announced on Friday that Irans banking system will be returned to its so-called black list of countries after failing to ratify legislation required to bring the sector in line with its counter-terrorism financing and anti-money-laundering standards. Hard-liners, currently a minority in Irans parliament, have for several years fiercely opposed and effectively stalled the pro-FATF legislation that Rouhani promoted and struggled to ratify, and which would have effectively seen Iran adopt the United Nations Palermo Convention against organized crime. Some 7,200 candidates vied for seats on Friday. About 75 current lawmakers were barred from running again by the powerful Guardian Council, tipping the field heavily in favor of conservatives wedded to the theocratic ideals of Irans 1979 Islamic revolution. Fridays election also had significant potential consequences for the Iranian economy and the wider Middle East region, including any hope Iran will renegotiate its landmark 2015 nuclear settlement from which the Trump administration withdrew in 2018. Looking Ahead The crux of this vote is whether it will indicate the outcome for the next presidential elections, which will be more significant, said Ellie Geranmayeh, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. If the Rouhani opposition does take over parliament, they will see this as ammunition that galvanizes them, and they wont want him to have any foreign policy success in his last year, she said. Some prominent conservative politicians are using the election to stage a comeback and a potential springboard to compete in the 2021 presidential poll, when Rouhani will be ineligible to stand for a third term. They include the former mayor of Tehran, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, whos also a former general with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Firebrand cleric Hamid Rasaei, who campaigned against the nuclear deal as it was being negotiated, is also hoping to re-enter parliament. Threats to Ministers Amid concerns of a low turnout, the commander of Irans IRGC on Thursday urged citizens to vote in a show of show defiance to the U.S. Every vote by the people is a slap in the face of an enemy, the semi-official Tasnim news reported the commander as saying. If the new chamber does decisively swing in favor of conservatives, Rouhani may struggle to ratify any key legislation during his final year in office, including efforts to bring Irans banks within international anti-terrorism financing standards. Ongoing attempts to impeach some key ministers, including Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, are also likely to escalate. Rouhanis credibility was already battered by the failure of the nuclear deal to deliver the economic relief hed promised after a decade of international sanctions. From the get-go, foreign businesses were afraid to sign deals, fearful of running afoul of remaining U.S. sanctions. Any lingering hopes evaporated after the U.S. quit the accord and began imposing fresh sanctions, which have since clobbered the economy. The International Monetary Fund estimates Irans economy shrank by 9.5% last year. Conservatives want Iran to abandon Rouhanis push to open up to Western investment and trade, and focus instead on increasing self-reliance. While oil exports, down 80%, show no sign of recovering, construction, steel production and exports for cash to immediate neighbors are doing well. A crisis budget released in December boosts handouts for the poor and defense spending, though its based on ambitious growth and oil export assumptions. (Updates with Khamenei comments in seventh paragraph) To contact the reporters on this story: Golnar Motevalli in London at gmotevalli@bloomberg.net;Arsalan Shahla in Tehran at ashahla@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Benjamin Harvey at bharvey11@bloomberg.net, James Amott, Tony Czuczka 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 number of listed militants in Kashmir has come down to less than 250, while 25 terrorists were killed by security forces in nearly a dozen operations in the first two months of this year, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said here on Saturday. He also said there has been confirmation of only three militants infiltrating into the Valley through the International Border so far this year. "The number of listed militants has come down from what it was earlier. Around 240 to 250 listed militants are there in the valley," the DGP told reporters at a press conference here. He said in the last two months, the number of reported and confirmed infiltrated militants is three. "One of them a JeM militant was killed in an operation in Tral recently, Singh added. He said nearly a dozen successful operations have taken place till now in 2020, which included 10 in the Kashmir valley and two in the Jammu region. "Till now, 25 terrorists have been killed in these operations. Nine terrorist operatives have been arrested in the valley, while three or four in Jammu. More than 40 OGWs (overground workers) -- who were involved in promoting and supporting terror activities in some form or the other -- have been arrested," the DGP said. Referring to the misuse of social media through virtual private networks (VPNs), Singh said more cases had come to the fore and police was acting tough against them. "More cases of misuse of social media have come to the fore. Waseem Dar, a resident of Handwara, was arrested for posting some irresponsible content on (social) media with intent to instigate the public sentiment. We are taking notice of such incidents and action will be taken," he said. Asked about an SSP-rank officer receiving threats on social media, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, who flanked the DGP at the presser, said police will take action against the person. "The account name (from which threat was received) is Hafiz Suhail. We have verified and the user's real name is Suhail Wali, a resident of Dalipora Pulwama. We conducted a search at his house but his parents told us he is presently in Dubai. A case will be registered against him and we will take further action," the IGP said. To a question about the security arrangements for a proposed march here by Kashmiri Pandits, the DGP said, "First, there should be a permission by the civil administration and when that is there, we will take adequate precautions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DURHAM, N.C. - Votersseeking to take back a U.S. Senate seat in closely divided North Carolina must choose whether liberal populism or centrist pragmatism is best suited to unseat Republican incumbent Thom Tillis, a devotee of President Donald Trump. Next months Democratic Senate primary has some parallels to the presidential race in that voters are trying to decide which candidate and which philosophy have the best shot at defeating the Republican incumbent. But its not neatly delineated. The stakes are high in North Carolina, a presidential swing state that Trump won in 2016. Tillis is among a handful of Republican incumbents whom Democrats are targeting to take back control of the chamber. Underscoring the seats importance, a mysterious PAC funded by a group with ties to Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has spent around $3 million in the Democratic primary to help a Senate candidate well behind in fundraising an effort to create a taxing Democratic battle that could help Tillis stay in office. The leading candidates are ex-state legislator Cal Cunningham, an Iraq war veteran who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate 10 years ago, and current state Sen. Erica Smith. Democrat Ella Nelson, 65, who attended a Black History Month parade in Durham where Cunningham and Smith appeared, said she was undecided on a choice but focused on finding someone who can beat Tillis. Its about replacing those that are not working for the people, Nelson said. Cunningham has the endorsement of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The committee, two pro-Cunningham super PACs and Cunninghams campaign have spent over $10 million for the primary, campaign finance reports show. Cunninghams campaign is performing at a very high level, the level that the campaign needs to perform to unseat a Republican incumbent in a purple state and a battleground, he said in a recent interview. Smith, a former engineer turned K-12 teacher and pastor from northeastern North Carolina, criticizes Cunningham as the establishments pick and says party leaders are stacking the deck against her as a black woman. Both candidates describe themselves as progressive and say they will support whoever becomes the Democratic presidential nominee. But they are clearly in separate political lanes. While Smith said she wont endorse a presidential candidate before the primary, her platform is aligned with those who embrace Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on policies such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Cunningham said he cast his absentee vote for moderate Pete Buttigieg, citing the candidates focus on faith and their shared military service. Cunningham supports some kind of public insurance option but not Medicare for All and is a proponent of wind and solar power to combat climate change. He opposes efforts to decriminalize border crossings. In an interview, Smith described her platform as job creation, being able to have a livable wage, sustaining our planet, providing health care for all. Smith, who had $128,000 cash in mid-February compared to $1.5 million for Cunningham, is building name recognition from an unlikely and uncomfortable source. The Faith and Power PAC, funded entirely so far from the Senate Leadership Fund, which is led by McConnells former chief of staff, has spent $2.9 million on pro-Smith TV ads, mailers and phone banks and anti-Cunningham materials. Whos got the courage to vote for Medicare for All? Erica Smith. The number one supporter of the Green New Deal? Erica Smith again, a narrator of one of the ads says. Senate Leadership Fund President Steven Law embraced the narrative that its meddling to weaken Cunningham, calling it more successful than we could have imagined. While Cunningham has the inside track to the nomination, this unusual pro-Smith effort could help her, according to Mac McCorkle, a Duke University instructor and former Democratic consultant. Three other Democrats are on the ballot. It still may put her above water, and it could be a competitive race, McCorkle said, adding that Cunningham hasnt fully ceded the liberal mantle. He talks about himself as a progressive, which I think thats smart. Cunningham has run a counterattack ad against one Faith and Power PAC commercial. Meanwhile, Tillis -- heavily favoured to win his own four-candidate primary argues his eventual opponent will have an uncomfortable situation if Sanders wins the presidential nomination. If Erica Smith believes people in North Carolina, and if Cal Cunningham believes people in North Carolina want Bernie Sanders and his liberal, progressive policies in place, then they need to be informed about it, Tillis said in a news release. Tillis became one of President Trumps most dependable supporters against impeachment; Cunningham and Smith have blasted him for it. With African Americans expected to cast 40% of primary ballots, Cunningham and Smith are aggressively courting black voters. Smiths endorsement by the influential Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People allowed her to stand on the groups float in this months parade. Smith supporter and state employee Phyllis Jones, 49, of Raleigh said shes excited a black woman is on the ballot. We lend a voice in areas where we have been silent in the past, Jones said. But race didnt matter to 63-year-old Delmar Jones -- unrelated to Phyllis Jones -- saying he appreciated shaking hands with Cunningham and his views on impeachment: He means business, and I like the message. KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2020 - 12:32 | World, All, Feature With the objective of spreading the charm of Japanese rice wine through the food and beverage industry of India, the country has selected its first Miss Sake India. Upasna Gurung, a 25-year-old from the northeastern state of Nagaland, won the title in an event held Friday in New Delhi, attended by 14 contestants shortlisted from a total of 35 applicants. (Upasna Gurung) "Currently, I am enjoying the moment, and yes, it's a big responsibility which I have to look after from now as I will be representing India through this platform," Gurung said. Although Gurung has never been to Japan, she said she finds it interesting that the country has preserved its culture while accepting modernization. "I believe with events like this, we can build a strong bond between India and Japan, and I feel that this can be achieved through food and beverage easily. Thus we organized this contest in India," said Bishan Kumar, editor-in-chief of Indian liquor magazine Spiritz. The contestants were judged by a panel of six people from different fields of Indian industry along with Sae Haruta, who is Miss Sake Japan 2019. Besides Japan and India, Miss Sake contests have also been held in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and Vietnam. Related coverage: Global warming brings Pinot Noir cultivation to Japan's north Japan to allow new entrants in sake industry to boost exports Japan curry chain to open 1st India restaurant in New Delhi suburb From noodles to sushi, Japanese cuisine makes inroads in India A local leader of Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP) was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified assailants at Akot town in Maharashtra's Akola district, police said on Saturday. Tushar Pundkar, who was former Akola district chief of the PJP, was shot at around 10 pm on Friday, and died in the wee hours on Saturday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Akola, police said. "Pundkar was walking in Police Colony area of Akot around 10 pm on Friday when two motorcycle-borne persons fired two bullets at him from behind. Pundkar collapsed on the ground. After some time, local residents rushed him to Rural Hospital in the town," a police official said. "He was later admitted to a private hospital in Akola city, where he died during treatment around 3 am on Saturday," he said. Police have recovered a gun and two empty cartridges from the spot, the official added. Pundkar's body has been sent to Akola Government Hospital for post-mortem, police said, adding that investigation into the case is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) D ozens of Brits who were trapped on board a coronavirus-hit cruise ship have arrived back in the UK. Some 32 British and European passengers who were on board the Diamond Princess in Japan landed in Boscombe Down, a Ministry of Defence base in Wiltshire, on Saturday. The cruise ship was quarantined in Yokohama 16 days ago and has seen the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases after China. There have already been more than 630 cases of coronavirus confirmed among the Diamond Princess passengers and two deaths. There were 3,700 passengers on board. The plane landed at RAF Boscombe Down / PA In a statement issued after the plane landed, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: We have brought 32 British and European citizens safely home from Japan. The FCO worked hard to get them back to the UK securely. Our number one priority has consistently been the health and safety of UK nationals. It is unclear where the small number of EU citizens will be taken following the plane landing in the UK. Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined 1 /32 Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP Global interest: David Abel, who is on board Diamond Princess with his wife Sally, has been posting updates on social media David Abel Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), officials of the DFA-Philippines in Tokyo with Department of Health team wear protective suits as they prepare for the disembarkation of Filipino crew members on board the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship at Yokohama Port AP A man in a proctective clothing is seen on the sixth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads "shortage of medicine" on the cruise ship Diamond Princess Reuters Passengers disembarking from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port are pictured in Yokohama REUTERS/Kyodo Japan David Abel of the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined in Japan. PA David Abel being treated David Abel Workers in protective clothes stand before passengers disembarkating off the Diamond Princess AFP via Getty Images Quarantine operation on the eighth deck of cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama via Reuters An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA The Diamond Princess cruise ship, in quarantine due to fears of new COVID-19 coronavirus, is seen at Daikoku pier cruise terminal in Yokohama AFP via Getty Images Sally Abel being treated David Abel/Facebook Men wearing protective gear are seen near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Reuters The Diamond Princess cruise ship with around 3,700 people on board sits anchored in quarantine off the port of Yokohama after a number of passengers were confirmed to be infected with coronavirus Getty Images An empty general view of Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Medical workers in protective suits lead a passenger tested positive for a new coronavirus from the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Buses carrying passengers who have been under quarantine on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off the coast of Japan, the Diamond Princess, leave RAF Boscombe Down in Amesbury Reuters An empty casino on the Diamond Princess cruise ship PA Workers in protective gear are seen on the Japan Coast Guard boats in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images An empty atrium on the Diamond Princess cruise shi PA Workers in protective gear transfer a person under a blue sheet from the Diamond Princess cruise ship onto a Japan Coast Guard boat in Yokohama Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images Medical workers in protective suits carry belongings of passengers of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port AP Cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored off the shore of Yokohama, south of Tokyo AP The Foreign Office confirmed on Friday evening that the evacuation flight, which was also carrying British government and medical staff, had departed from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Passengers on board, who have so far tested negative for coronavirus, will now be taken by road to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for 14 days of quarantine to protect against the spread of the illness should any of them be infected. The evacuees have spent more than two weeks trapped on the coronavirus-stricken ship off the coast of Japan. The four Britons on board the Diamond Princess who have tested positive for coronavirus were not on the flight. Diamond Princess evacuees arrive at Boscombe Down / Getty Images Arrowe Park was previously used to host 83 British nationals for a 14-day quarantine period earlier in February after they were flown out of Wuhan in China, which has been at the centre of the outbreak. Before the flight, one passenger who was diagnosed with Covid-19 and has since been given the all-clear, joked that the experience would be like visiting a holiday camp. Honeymooner Alan Steele was taken to a Japanese hospital and has since tested negative for the virus and been reunited with wife Wendy. Wendys test was negative so Butlins the Wirral here we come for 14 days, Mr Steele posted on Facebook. Diamond Princess passenger Alan Steele / Sky News Since being kept on board the cruise liner in the port of Yokohama, a total of 634 passengers and crew have been infected, accounting for more than half of all the confirmed coronavirus cases outside of China. It is understood some British nationals who are part of the Diamond Princess crew opted to remain. One British couple on board who were diagnosed with coronavirus have both since been diagnosed with pneumonia. The family of David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, said they have now been moved to a prison-like hospital. David is being treated at a hospital with his wife in Japan (Facebook/David Abel) / David Abel The couple were on the cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary when it was placed into quarantine. Mr Abel has been diagnosed with acute pneumonia, while Mrs Abel has a mild case. Sally Abel in Japan (David Abel/Facebook ) / David Abel/Facebook Although they were originally in a hospital just 90 minutes from the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, Mrs Abel called her son in the middle of the night to say the couple were suddenly being moved to a different three-star hospital. Steve Abel, their son, posted video updates on the couples YouTube channel alongside his wife Roberta on Friday night and Saturday morning. Britons in Cambodia who left another cruise ship, the Westerdam, and who have been cleared for travel, are also being assisted by the Foreign Office to make their way home. All have tested negative after one case was diagnosed on board. PARIS A respected Catholic figure who worked to improve conditions for the developmentally disabled for more than half a century sexually abused at least six women during most of that period, according to a report released Saturday by the France-based charity he founded. The report produced for LArche International said the womens descriptions provided enough evidence to show that Jean Vanier engaged in manipulative sexual relationships from 1970 to 2005, usually with a psychological hold over the alleged victims. Although he was a layman and not a priest, many Catholics hailed Vanier, who was Canadian, as a living saint for his work with the disabled. He died last year at age 90. The alleged victims felt deprived of their free will and so the sexual activity was coerced or took place under coercive conditions, the report,commissioned by LArche last year and prepared by the U.K.-based GCPS Consulting group, said. It did not rule out potential other victims. None of the women was disabled, a significant point given the Catholic hierarchy has long sought to portray any sexual relationship between religious leaders and other adults as consensual unless there was clear evidence of disability. The #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, however, have forced a recognition that power imbalances such as those in spiritual relationships can breed abuse. During the charity-commissioned inquiry, six adult women without links to each other said Vanier engaged in sexual relations with them as they were seeking spiritual direction. The women reported similar facts, and Vaniers sexual misconduct was often associated with alleged spiritual and mystical justifications, the report states. A statement released by LArche France Saturday stressed that some women still have deep wounds. The report noted similarities with the pattern of abuse of the Rev. Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest Vanier called his spiritual father. Philippe, who died in 1993, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women. A statement from LArche International said analysis of archives shows that Vanier adopted some of Father Thomas Philippes deviant theories and practices. Philippe was banned from exercising any public or private ministry in a trial led by the Catholic Church in 1956 for his theories and the sexual practices that stemmed from them. In a letter to the charity members, the Leaders of LArche International, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney, told of their shock at the news, and condemned Vaniers actions. For many of us, Jean was one of the people we loved and respected the most. While the considerable good he did throughout his life is not in question, we will nevertheless have to mourn a certain image we may have had of Jean and of the origins of LArche, they wrote. Other devoted fans and Catholic commentators voiced soulful disappointment at the findings. Some held up the case as a reason to bring long waits back to the saint-making process to make sure candidates for canonization hold up to scrutiny long after death. JD Flynn, the editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency, said the reports conclusions hit his family particularly hard: Flynn has two children with Down syndrome, one of whom is named for Vanier. This is devastating for our family, he tweeted. Please pray for us, and also for LArche. John Gehring, program director at the U.S. advocacy network Faith in Public Life, said Vanier attracted so many devotees because he was a quiet refugee from that chaos of the institutional Catholic Church . Part of why the Vanier news is so gutting, I think, is that he offered an authentic path into deep spirituality for many detached from the institutional church and disillusioned with clerical leaders who abused power, he tweeted. The truth is painful. Vanier worked as a Canadian navy officer and professor before turning to charity work. A visit to a psychiatric facility prompted him to found LArche in 1964 as an alternative living environment where people with developmental disabilities could be participants in their community instead of patients. The charity now has facilities in 38 countries that are home to thousands of people, both with and without disabilities. Vanier, who was unmarried, also traveled the world to encourage dialogue across religions, and was awarded the 2015 Templeton Prize for spiritual work, as well as Frances Legion of Honor. He was the subject of a documentary shown at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival called Jean Vanier, the Sacrament of Tenderness. The allegations against Vanier reveal a major gap in the Catholic Churchs handling of sex abuse allegations, even for Vatican-recognized associations of the faithful, such as LArche. Because he was a layman, Vanier was exempt from the churchs in-house sanctioning procedures for abuse, which only cover priests, bishops and cardinals. For these offenders, the worst penalty the Vatican can impose is defrocking essentially, making the priests laymen again. ____ Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this story. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Sleuths of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized gold in paste from an Indian origin passenger, who arrived at the RGI airport from Doha on Friday. Gold weighing 366.63 gram and valued at Rs 15.56 lakh was seized from his possession. According to sources, passengers belonging to Hyderabad landed at the airport by an Indigo flight 6E 1726 from Doha. Based on a tip-off, DRI sleuths intercepted the passenger identified as Muhammad Anas. Though he initially denied carrying any taxable goods, on further inquiry, he admitted to smuggling gold in paste form. The passenger was detained and the gold seized. :Vice President MVenkaiahNaidu on Saturday called upon scientists and researchers to come up with new innovations and ideas to find solutions to the challenges faced by Indian farmers. He said there has to be a meeting of minds between scientists, researchers, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and farmers, who are the main stakeholders, to adopt best practices and make agriculture remunerative. Naidu was speaking after inaugurating the secondedition of 'Exhibition and Conference on Agri-Technology and Innovation' atthe Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University here. Observing that a farmer is the best teacher on agriculture, he said that miracles can be created if farmers' knowledge relating to the field and the research of the scientist are brought together. The Vice President suggested the students studying agriculture spend half their time in classrooms and the rest with farmers to gain first hand practical knowledge and acquaint themselves with the problems of the farmers. Naidu also called on agriculture universities to focus on developing new varieties, including pest resistant and climate smart variants, apart from enhancing the productivity levels. Calling for collective efforts to achieve self- sufficiency in food production, he said a country like India should not depend on imported food security. Stating that freebies and loan waivers were not the solution, Naidu said that they only provide temporary relief. What was needed were the long-term and holistic measures that make agriculture viable and profitable, an official release quoted him as saying. Listing some such long term measures, he suggested quality power supply, development of rural infrastructure, including godowns, cold storage facilities and refrigerator vans, apart from ensuring quality inputs and timely and adequate credit to the farmers. Calling for diversification of agriculture, the Vice President said that farmers should be encouraged to grow new crops in addition to traditional crops. He also stressed the need for farmers to take up ancillary activities such as poultry, dairy, horticulture and aquaculture to supplement their income. Expressing concern over fast depleting water resources, Naidu called for preservation and protection of traditional water bodies. He appreciated the work done by the Telangana government in this regard. The Vice-President said organic farming is the need of the hour to mitigate farm crisis and climate change issues and called for more technological tools to assist organic farmers. At another event organised by Swarna Bharat Trust near here, Naidufelicitated three Padma Awardees from Telangana - ace badminton playerP V Sindhu, innovative farmer Chintala Venkat Reddy and well known Sanskrit and Telugu poet Vijayasarathi Sribhashyam. Sindhu is a recipient of Padma Bhushan, while the other two were recently awarded the Padma Shri by the government, an official release said. Naidu, who also inaugurated a medical camp, expressed concern over the rising incidences of Non Communicable Diseases in the country and urged doctors and the media to create awareness among the people, particularly the youngsters on the need to take preventive measures. He pointed out that a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits were mainly responsible for NCDs and urged the youth to shun eating junk food and take up physical activity on a daily basis to remain fit. Observing that programmes like Fit India, Yoga and Swachh Bharat Mission were meant to ensure good health and hygiene for all, Naidu asked the youth to adopt these programmes and turn them into people's movements. The Vice President stressed the need to live in harmony with nature and focus on water conservation efforts. Naidu also urged the youth not to support those indulging in violence and to develop a positive and constructive attitude in life. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major breakthrough, the two sides have agreed to a temporary truce raising prospects of a deal that may bring an end to the US war in Afghanistan. Such is the irony of history that yet another superpower is negotiating its exit from Afghanistan as the war-ravaged country recently observed the 31st anniversary of the withdrawal of the last Soviet soldier from its soil. While the Russian forces pulled out in 1989, a decade after invading Afghanistan, it has already been nearly two decades since the Americans have been engaged in an unwinnable war. Roughly, 3,500 American and allied troops have been killed in a war costing trillions of dollars. The US went into Afghanistan in 2001 out of revenge, with little understanding of a land, which is often described as the graveyard of empires. The US officials are now engaged in protracted peace negotiations that could bring their soldiers back home. But theres still a long way to go before the exit is possible. In a major breakthrough, the two sides have agreed to a temporary truce raising prospects of a deal that may bring an end to the US war in Afghanistan. But given the complexities of the Afghan conflict, achieving a workable political settlement may not be so easy. If everything goes well, a peace agreement between the US and the Taliban is likely to be signed by the end of this month that will be followed by intra-Afghan talks. The format of the talks that is likely to be held in Oslo next month is yet to be finalised. Indeed, the possibility of the 18-year-long US war coming to an end has never been so close. But much will depend on the next phase that would require intra-Afghan negotiations on the post-US withdrawal setup. It may not be that easy given the existing political fragmentation in Afghanistan. A divided dispensation with various power centres in Kabul makes it extremely difficult to reach a political settlement. With the ongoing power struggle there is still no clarity on who would represent the Kabul government in the ensuing Afghan negotiations. While President Ghani insists that he would lead the talks, others want a more inclusive representation. In contrast, the Taliban are much more united and prepared for talks. Increasing international recognition has given the militia greater confidence. There are also indications of some of the warlords and power groups striking separate deals with the Taliban, further weakening the Kabul governments position. Then there is the question of whether the Taliban would agree to a longer ceasefire while the talks continue. There is no indication yet of the insurgents agreeing to a permanent truce without an accord on the future political setup. The Taliban leaders are still holding their cards close to their chest. Its certainly going to be a long-drawn-out and extremely complicated dialogue process, given past events. A major reason for the Taliban not agreeing to a longer ceasefire is that it would be hard to mobilise the fighters once they have gone home. Reduction in violence, and that too for a shorter period, still keeps the fighters at the post. The Taliban had only committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. There was a massive escalation in attacks from both sides in the days before the truce agreement was set to be implemented. The Taliban had launched a series of spectacular attacks on the Afghan forces in various provinces killing several government soldiers. Similarly, American ground and air forces have intensified their attacks on Taliban strongholds, killing a number of militants. Many civilians have also reportedly been killed in the attack by the air forces. It remains to be seen whether the two sides uphold the truce, a precondition for the signing of the peace agreement on February 29 in Doha. Under the proposed agreement, some 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by American and Afghan authorities will be released, further reinforcing the insurgent forces. It is apparent that the Taliban have also shown flexibility in their demand for a complete withdrawal of American forces. The drawing down of American forces could start immediately after the signing of the agreement from about 13,000 to 8,600. But it would take several months for the complete withdrawal of US troops depending on the successful implementation of the deal. However, the US security agencies would continue to engage in operations against Al Qaeda and the remnants of the militant Islamic State group. It is evident that there is bipartisan support in the US for withdrawal from a festering war in Afghanistan that even the biggest superpower with its entire military was not able to win. But a peace deal paving the way for Americas exit from Afghanistan will certainly give a huge boost to President Donald Trumps bid for a second term. Still, there is still a long way to go for a peace settlement to end the nearly two-decade-old US military presence that began shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Importantly, for peace to return to Afghanistan, it is imperative that all Afghan factions must reach an agreement among themselves. By arrangement with Dawn LONDON, ONT.Police in London, Ont., say two officers suffered minor injuries in an incident involving a stolen vehicle. Officials say the stolen vehicle was involved in a collision in a parking lot Friday morning and then took off. The officers were injured when the vehicle reversed into their police car on two separate occasions. Police eventually tracked down the car, which was involved in multiple collisions, and arrested three male suspects. The Street Crime Unit is now investigating the incident, which caused about $92,000 in damages. South Korea on Saturday reported a six-fold jump in viral infections in four days to 346, most of them linked to a church and a hospital in and around the fourth-largest city, Seoul: South Korea on Saturday reported a six-fold jump in viral infections in four days to 346, most of them linked to a church and a hospital in and around the fourth-largest city where schools were closed and worshipers and others told to avoid mass gatherings. Initial infections were linked to China, but new cases in South Korea and Iran where there have been four deaths don't show a clear connection to travel there. In an emerging cluster of illnesses in northern Italy, the first to fall ill met with someone who had returned from China on 21 January without experiencing any symptoms of the new virus, health authorities said. China said Saturday the daily count of new virus cases there fell significantly to 397, with another 109 people dying of the disease, mostly in the epicentre of Hubei province. The new figures bring the total number of cases in mainland China to 76,288 with 2,345 deaths, as strict quarantine measures and travel bans continue to contain the disease that emerged in China in December and has since spread worldwide. The daily figure is down from 889 on Friday. Of the 142 new cases in South Korea, 131 are from Daegu and nearby regions, which have emerged as the latest front in the widening global fight against COVID-19. The World Health Organization warned that clusters not directly linked to travel, such as the ones in South Korea and Iran, suggest that time may be running out to contain the outbreak. The window of opportunity is still there. But our window of opportunity is narrowing, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. We need to act quickly before it closes completely. Tedros singled out Irans discovery of 18 cases and four deaths in two days and that a traveller from Iran carried the virus to Lebanon and another traveller from Iran to Canada. These dots are very concerning take them as dots or trends, he said. South Korea Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun started a government meeting on the health emergency Friday by saying, We have entered an emergency phase." Our efforts until now had been focused on blocking the illness from entering the country," he said. "But we will now shift the focus on preventing the illness from spreading further in local communities. Chung promised support to ease a shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and equipment in Daegu, where the first case was reported on Tuesday. By Friday, the city of 2.5 million and its surrounding areas had 152, including South Koreas first two fatalities in Cheongdo hospital. Nationwide, the numbers told of a ballooning problem. There were 20 new cases reported Wednesday, 53 on Thursday and 100 on Friday. The central government declared a special management zone around Daegu, which didnt restrict the movement of residents or supersede local officials power but served as official recognition of the problem. Most of those cases have been linked to a single house of worship, a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where a woman in her 60s attended two services before testing positive for the virus. About 1,000 others who attended services with the woman have been isolated in their homes for screening, and health authorities say theyre trying to monitor thousands of other church members. All 74 sites operated by the Shincheonji Church have been closed and worshipers have been told to instead watch services online for a sect whose leader claims to be an angel of Christ, but who is dismissed by many outsiders as a cult leader. Its teachings revolve largely around the Book of Revelation, a chapter of the New Testament known mostly for its apocalyptic foreshadowing. Health and city officials say the woman eyed as a potential transmitter at the church had contact with some 1,160 people, both at the church and at a restaurant and a hospital where she was treated for injuries from a car accident. I hope South Korea will do everything to contain this outbreak at this early stage, Tedros said. Usually, bustling downtown streets of Daegu were nearly deserted as people wearing face masks lined up at clinics seeking testing. Crowds formed in supermarkets where shelves of ramen and curry were nearly bare. Eight hundred area schools, due to start a new academic year on March 2, delayed their openings by a week. Panic is taking hold," said Daegu resident Huh Mi-yeon. People are scared of any situation where they would run into another person. The first three cases in the countrys 600,000-member military also sprung up on separate bases Friday, bringing added concern. A sailor on Jeju Island and an army officer in North Chungcheong province both tested positive. Both had made recent visits to Daegu, officials said. A third infection was reported in an air force officer who is based in Daegu but who had recently travelled to military headquarters in central South Korea, the defence ministry said, prompting the quarantine of 80 soldiers there. Globally, more than 77,000 people have been infected in 29 countries, and more than 2,300 have died. Italian authorities say a 78-year-old man died of the disease and the number of people infected has more than quadrupled due to an emerging cluster of cases in the country's north. Many of the new cases represented the first infections in Italy acquired through secondary contagion and brought the country's total to 19 on Friday. In the United States, 35 people have tested positive for the virus, including 18 who returned home from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan and one new case reported Friday in California. The U.S. Department of State is advising citizens to reconsider cruises to or in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific Region. The spread of the virus is causing countries to implement strict screening procedures. The State Department warns that depending on local conditions, passengers could be unable to get off a ship or become subject to quarantine procedures. Autonomous air mobility company Volocopter has added to the Series C funding round it announced in September 2019. The German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft maker announced 50 million ($54 million at today's exchange rate) in funding at the time, and the C round has now grown to 87 million ($94 million) thanks to new lead investor DB Schenker, a German logistics company with operations all over the world. This round also includes participation by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, as well as the venture arm of its parent MS&AD, along with TransLink Capital . Existing investors, including Lukasz Gadowski and btov, also participated in this round extension. With this new funding, Volocopter brings its total raised to around $132 million, and it says it will use the newly acquired capital to help certify its VoloCity aircraft, its air taxi eVTOL designed to transport people, which is on track to become the company's first-ever vehicle licensed for commercial operation. Meanwhile, Volocopter will also use the new funds to help continue development of a next-generation iteration of its VoloDrone, which is the cargo-carrying version of its aircraft. It aims to use VoloDrone to expand its market to include logistics, as well as construction, city infrastructure and agriculture. Already, Volocopter has formed partnerships with companies including John Deere for pilots of its VoloDrone, but it says that a second-generation version of the vehicle will help it commercialize the drone. On the VoloCity side, the company recently flew a demonstration flight in Singapore, and then announced they'd be working with Grab on a feasibility study about air taxi services for potential deployment across Southeast Asia in key cities. Alongside this round extension, Volocopter adds two advisory board members -- Yifan Li from Geely Holding Group, which led the first tranche of this round closed in September, and DB Schenker CEO Jochen Thewes. Both of these are key strategic partners from investors who stand to benefit the company not only in terms of funding, but also in terms of supply-side and commercialization. Eric Adams, holding a picture of his late mother, is sworn in as New York mayor during the New Years celebration in Times Square. (Reuters) In his first 10 days, Eric Adams has veered between swagger and tragedy, praise and criticism, as he begins leading the nations largest city. Hundreds of Julian Assange supporters have gathered in London to protest against his extradition case and demand he be released, Evening Standard reports. A large crowd of protesters gathered outside Australia House on Saturday afternoon, holding signs such as "Don't extradite Assange - journalism is not a crime". Former Greek Finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, editor in chief of WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsonn and Pink Floyd star Roger Waters were among the high-profile names at the protest. EAST ALTON A volunteer with a nonprofit aviation museum is hoping it might find a new home at the St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton. Jack Beetz told the airport board Thursday night that The Greater Saint Louis Air and Space Museum is currently housed in Curtiss Wright Hangar No. 2 at the St. Louis Downtown Airport. Its hidden in Cahokia, said Beetz, a retired Air Force pilot who also was a McDonnell Douglas engineer and 23-year employee of Delta Airlines. Its at the back end, by old hangars. Theres not as much interest there. Beetz volunteers as a docent at the museum, which is 100% operated by volunteers, now open 18 hours a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Moving the museum to East Alton, he said, would require approval from its board of directors. Beetz said he is particularly interested in developing the museum as a destination for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, noting that he taught classes at Boeing on how to work with composites. Last summer, Beetz and Air Force veteran Joe Steimann repaired and repainted the F-4 Phantom fighter jet at the St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton. STEM is big in the area; its very popular now, Beetz told the board. And this is an active airport with a restaurant. If the airport could not initially support a separate museum, Beetz said, it could start, perhaps, as a satellite location of the Cahokia museum. I appreciate his vision of what could be here, said St. Louis Regional Airports Dave Miller, director of aviation. We have a lot of land, but not a lot of empty buildings. I like the idea of it being a satellite with whats already there, because they already have all the responsibility of the museum. The Saint Louis Air and Space Museum was incorporated in July 1982. Originally the museum was located at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri but, in 1993, moved to Cahokia because of historic flooding that year at the Spirit of St. Louis. Reach Jill Moon at 618-208-6448 and Twitter @jill_moon. James Jim McHugh started smoking when he was a teenager and continued to do so for nearly five decades. He tried quitting cold turkey. He tried chewing gum. He even tried hypnosis. By the time he found a prescription medicine that could help him, he was a very sick man. In 2009, McHugh, who was an officer in two Miami-Dade police departments and had served in the U.S. Marines, died at age 66 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). James Jim McHugh in undated photo. McHugh died in 2009 from COPD. Now, more than 10 years after his death, his widow, Diane Snyder, was awarded a $12.5 million verdict Wednesday after an eight-day trial in Broward County court. The jury, which deliberated for five hours, found that the cigarette company, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., is partly responsible for his addiction to cigarettes and ultimate death. The process leading up to Wednesdays verdict, which took more than a decade, was quite an experience, Snyder said in a statement. McHugh and Snyder filed the suit in 2008, while McHugh was still alive. Snyder expressed thanks to both her attorneys and the jury. It helped clear my mind and took a great weight off my shoulders, she said. An attorney representing R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. could not be reached for comment Friday. Snyders attorneys, Catherine Darlson and Eric Rosen of Kelley | Uustal Trial Attorneys (during the trial Rosen left Kelley | Uustal for his own firm, Rosen Injury Law) said Wednesdays verdict was the result of years of waiting. No verdict will bring Jim back, but after a hard-fought case were grateful to the jury for appreciating who Jim was and what losing him meant to Diane, Darlson said. Their time, attention and understanding was shown in this verdict. McHugh was raised in Philadelphia and met Diane at a bowling alley in 1962. They married two years later. In 1970, the couple moved to South Florida. McHugh served as a police officer in what was then the Miami Metro Police Department and then in the Surfside police department. He retired in 2004. Story continues James Jim McHugh and Diane Snyder in undated photo. McHugh died in 2009 from COPD. Soon after, his breathing became difficult and his health worsened. He finally quit in 2006 with the help of a prescription medicine, but until then, McHugh had smoked one to two packs a day. McHugh and Snyder filed the suit in 2008. He died in 2009. At the heart of the lawsuit was the fact that in the 1980s, McHugh switched to True cigarettes because of ads saying they were better for smokers than other cigarettes. Darlson said the ads played a huge role in convincing the jury that McHugh was led into believing that by smoking True cigarettes he was getting less tar and nicotine. One of the ads: True. Easy on your mind. Easy on your taste. While the jury ruled in Snyders favor, the tobacco company still has a chance to appeal the decision. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 China and ASEAN have agreed to cooperate in a joint response to the coronavirus outbreak following the ASEAN-China foreign ministerial meeting in Vientiane on Thursday, the first international engagement China has pursued since the outbreak of the epidemic at the beginning of the year. Speaking to the media in Jakarta on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun said during the meeting, China and ASEAN member states had emphasized the importance of cooperation in regional public health and epidemic prevention. I dont understand what so-called normalcy is, if it really exists, and I dont care to try. What I wanted was to function again. This choice came with consequences. By the time these hallucinations ended in early October, I was taking so much medication that I stumbled as I walked, had hand tremors, and my word retrieval skills faltered at words like window. All these side effects are typical of the drugs I was taking. As this hallucinatory time wore on, ebbed, then mostly ended, I made a decision that, for me, was radical. I told people who wondered what had become of me just what had that I was bipolar, had psychotic episodes and had been hallucinating. I asked people who vanished why they did. In response I heard comments like I thought you would want privacy, as if psychosis equaled parading around naked. As if it necessitated shame. Sometimes, from those who vanished, I got a version of I was waiting for you to come back to yourself. I had a hard time explaining that Ive always been myself, maybe at this time even more myself than when I move through my day without too much auditory interruption. Lacking many reference points with the commonly held world, hallucinations are necessarily intensely you. I dont want to believe that my brain is on fire, and I take medication so it doesnt happen. Its frightening. I dont want trucks rumbling at me as I sleep. I want to live in a world thats quieter, that isnt always demanding my attention. None of that refutes the fact that I am still me in psychosis, and I know in some way my daily perceptions always hold those moments, those birds that speak. I cant divide myself into the ableist Sick Me and Healthy Me, or Sick Me and Real Me. Someone else can take up those metaphors. I dont want them. I also believe that hallucinations hold truth, though a hard truth to stay with for very long. I live the world as alive with a crackling energy, open and porous, full of meaning. I dont just have delusions when Im in that state; I re-experience. And the re-experiencing is not totally false. Air does move around us and hold us, walls are temporary, birds give voice. We just normally tune these realities out. Dorothea Buck was a German woman sterilized by the Nazis because she was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. She became a lifelong psychiatric activist who argued for the need to accept psychosis as meaningful. Rather than a sick state cut out of the brain by medication, she wrote, its a personal experience meant to be understood, even and perhaps especially when treated. My hallucinations have ended and Im gradually returning to a lower level of medication. Im still unpacking for myself what this experience of mine meant, how it still moves in some way inside me. Its elusive. I do know I want to peel back this isolation and forced secrecy. I must if Im going to live honestly in the world. Its almost as disorienting as delusion, going from that crowded and noisy place of psychosis to this silence. Susanne Antonetta is the author of the forthcoming The Terrible Unlikelihood of Our Being Here and The Devils Castle, and the editor in chief of the Bellingham Review. Disability is a series of essays, art and opinion by and about people living with disabilities. Now in print: About Us: Essays From the Disability Series of The New York Times, edited by Peter Catapano and Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, published by Liveright. 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. A day after the second complaint against deposed Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mullakal surfaced, Kerala nuns fighting for justice for the victim asked church authorities not to shield him anymore and take action against him under Canon laws. The statement of one of the witnesses had surfaced on Friday in which she said she too had undergone sexual harassment and had accused Mullakal. But, the police did not file a separate case against him after the 36-year-old nun insisted that she was not willing to pursue her charges, Kollam SP Harishankar who supervised the probe said. We are happy another nun has come out to narrate her plight. We want the church authorities to take action against him under relevant Canon laws. It is time for the church to stand with the victim, not the perpetrator, said Sister Anupama who led the month-long fast in Kochi seeking the arrest of Mullakal in 2018. Five nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation had come around the nun who raised rape charges against the bishop. Five nuns and the victim are confined to a convent in Kottayam and leading a secluded life since they raised the complaint against Franco Mullakal. They were not allowed to participate in religious services and there were also attempts to transfer them to different locations to weaken the case. We want the church to support us and end our isolation and agony, said Sister Anupama. Sister Lucy Kalappura, another nun who was expelled from the congregation citing serious indiscipline, said more nuns will come out to depose against the unseated bishop if the police provide them protection. It is good that nuns are coming out to narrate their sexual exploitations. They are not slaves. It is time for the church to check further decay and set things right, she said. She had claimed she was expelled from the congregation for supporting the stir against Franco Mullakal two years ago. The case against Mullakal surfaced in June 2018 after a 43-year-old nun, also a mother superior, complained to the police in Kottayam that Mulakkal had raped her several times between 2014 and 2016. The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation based in Punjab. But Mulakkal denied her charges and claimed he was framed after he took action against her over financial irregularities in the convent. He was arrested in September 2018 after a group of nuns hit the street. Meanwhile, the additional district court in Kottayam on Saturday heard the petition of Mulakkal to discharge him from the case. Since proceedings were in-camera media persons were not allowed to cover it. Mullakal was not present in the court either. His counsel B Raman Pillai questioned the selective leaking of the statement of one of the witnesses in the court. But the prosecution contended that repeated pleas of Mullakal were aimed at delaying the trial. This is the first time in the country a senior functionary of the church is facing rape charges. Mullakal has been charged under Section 342 (wrongful confinement), Section 367 (K) (rape on a woman incapable of giving her consent), 366 C & 377 (unnatural offence) and Section 506 (1) of the Indian Penal Code. If convicted, he will get a jail term not less than 12 years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON California Highway Patrol / REDWOOD CITY (BCN) A 31-year-old San Francisco man was fatally hit while trying to help with a prior collision early Friday along U.S. Highway 101 in Redwood City, according to the California Highway Patrol. The man had stopped his BMW and activated the hazard lights on southbound 101 near Third Avenue about 2 a.m. when he was struck by a vehicle, possibly a blue or green SUV, according to CHP. Flash United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that the "man-made humanitarian nightmare" for the Syrian people must stop immediately. "This man-made humanitarian nightmare for the long-suffering Syrian people must stop. It must stop now," the UN chief said. "We are all aware of the unfolding crisis in northwest Syria and the terrible human toll on civilians," he added. "Nearly 900,000 people - the vast majority women and children - have fled in the latest fighting under the most tragic circumstances. Hundreds have been killed. Many have been uprooted multiple times. Young children are freezing to death." "The fighting is now advancing into areas with the highest concentrations of people - including the displaced - and threatening to strangle humanitarian lifelines," said the secretary-general. Guterres warned that "international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians have been systematically ignored." "As the space for safety shrinks further - the potential for human suffering grows worse," he noted. According to the UN chief, an estimated 2.8 million people in northwest Syria require humanitarian assistance. "Earlier this month we thought we would need to reach 800,000 people displaced by the recent and ongoing violence," he said. "Now, something much greater is required." Talking about humanitarian aid, the UN chief said that "we are revising our plans and issuing an urgent appeal to donors for an additional 500 million U.S. dollars to cover the needs of the newly displaced people over the next six months." "Beyond the appalling humanitarian crisis, developments on the ground are making matters more and more dangerous," said secretary-general. As for the Idlib de-escalation zone, Guterres said that the zone was established in 2017 - and the subject of a further memorandum between the Russian Federation and Turkey in September 2018, the Sochi Memorandum. "However, by late February 2019 the arrangement began to falter, despite several ceasefire renewals in the subsequent months, most recently on Jan. 12." "For almost a year we have seen a series of Syrian government ground offensives supported by Russian airstrikes. This month there have been repeated deadly clashes between Turkish and Syrian Government forces." "All of this means that in addition to a dramatic and deteriorating humanitarian situation, we face now the risk of an ever-more serious confrontation with increasingly unpredictable consequences," Guterres warned. Noting that it is crucial to break the "vicious circle of violence and suffering," the UN chief stressed that "I have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in Idlib to end the humanitarian catastrophe and now also to avoid an uncontrollable escalation." Referring to other actions he has taken, Guterres said that he has conveyed this message "publicly and directly to key actors." "In addition, my special envoy for Syria, as well as the emergency relief coordinator, have repeatedly briefed the Security Council - including as recently as two days ago." "At my direction, my special envoy has also been in close and constant communication with all involved," he added. "The message is clear: There is no military solution for the Syrian crisis. The only possible solution remains political," said the secretary-general. The Kremlin reportedly said Monday that the Russian military continues to support the Syrian government forces in their fight against terrorists in the country. "We still regret that terrorists have intensified their activities in Idlib," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited as telling reporters in Moscow. Tensions in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib have flared up recently as the Syrian government forces, which have launched wide-scale offensives against the rebels in the area, exchanged fire with Turkish troops, causing multiple deaths on both sides. Moscow backs Damascus' military action, citing rising terrorist threats in Idlib. A United Nations report says Afghanistan passed a grim milestone with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the last 10 years since the international body began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years. The report released Saturday by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan comes as a seven-day "reduction of violence" agreement between the US and Taliban takes effect, paving the way for a February 29 signing of a peace deal Washington hopes will end its longest war, bring home US troops and start warring Afghans negotiating the future of their country. Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence, said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan. "It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway." Last year there was a slight decrease in the numbers of civilians hurt or killed, which the report says was a result of reduced casualties inflicted by the Islamic State affiliate. The group was drastically degraded by US and Afghan security forces as well as the Taliban, who have also bitterly battled the Islamic State. According to the U.N. report, 3,493 civilians were killed last year and 6,989 were injured. While fewer civilians were hurt or killed by Islamic State fighters, more civilians became casualties at the hands of the Taliban and Afghan security forces and their American allies. The report said there was a 21% increase in civilian casualties by the Taliban and an 18% rise in casualties blamed on Afghan security forces and their U.S. allies who dropped more bombs last year than in any year since 2013. "All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties," said Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights. The seven-day reduction in violence began at midnight Friday. If it holds it will be followed by the signing of a long sought peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office. US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has spent the past 18 months negotiating the deal with the Taliban after his appointment in September 2018 by the White House, will sign the deal on the behalf of Washington. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants American troops brought home from Afghanistan. He says they have become a police enforcement force, which is not what they are there to do. The peace deal will also include Taliban guarantees that Afghanistan will not be used as a staging arena for attacks against the US or its allies. The most difficult phase is expected to be the intra-Afghan negotiations as Kabul still struggles to come up with a unified position opposite the Taliban. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner of a presidential race held five months earlier, followed by his political rivals refuting the results and calling the polling fraught with fraud. In Iran, the first case is reported in Qom, possibly a Chinese worker. The authorities appear to have downplayed the issue to prevent a low turnout in yesterdays parliamentary election. Kuwait stops flights to and from Iran. Crippled by US sanctions, Irans health system is a source of concern. Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) The coronavirus has reached Iran with 18 cases and four deaths in recent days, second in terms of fatalities only to China where the outbreak began. Analysts and experts blame the country's conservative clerical leaders, who have reportedly censored information to prevent voters from staying away from voting in yesterdays parliamentary election. However, government officials from more and more cities are starting to report on the spread of the virus. The Covid-19 virus is also spreading elsewhere in the Middle East, with the first cases confirmed in Israel and Lebanon in the past 24 hours. In United Arab Emirates, the first country in the region to be affected, 11 cases have been reported so far. Experts are worried by the spread of the virus. WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the window of opportunity is narrowing, so we need to act quickly before it closes completely. Iranian health authorities reported two deaths on Friday, following two elderly patients who died on Wednesday. A further 14 people tested positive for the virus. Irans Health Ministry said that the outbreak in Iran began in the city of Qom, an often-visited religious destination. The source was likely a Chinese worker in the city; from there, the virus spread to several cities, including the capital, Tehran. In Kuwait, civil aviation authorities decided to cancel all flights to and from Iran. A ban has been imposed on residents or people with entry permission who were in Iran for the past two weeks whilst Kuwaiti nationals arriving from Iran will be directed to isolation for two weeks. Iran is more vulnerable because of the repercussions on its health system of sanctions and the "maximum pressure" imposed by US President Donald Trump following his decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Devaluation of Irans currency also means that the authorities may not have the financial means to counter the outbreak. In Iraq the authorities closed its borders, whilst Lebanon has confirmed its first coronavirus case yesterday, a 45-year-old woman who arrived the day before on a flight from Qom. Two other suspected cases are being monitored. Finally, in Israel, health authorities also reported the countrys first case, a woman infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, on Feb. 19, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Trudeau Says Time for Unacceptable and Untenable Blockades to End, Injunctions Must be Obeyed OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau says after two weeks, barricades on rail lines and other major transportation routes have to come down. He said injunctions to clear tracks must be obeyed and the law must be upheld, and theres no point making the same overtures to Indigenous leaders if they arent accepted. We are waiting for Indigenous leadership to show that it understands, he said in an Ottawa news conference. The onus is on them. The blockades, particularly one on a critical east-west rail line in Ontario, are responses by Indigenous people and supporters to a move by the RCMP to clear protesters who had been blocking access to a worksite for a major natural-gas pipeline project in British Columbia. Hereditary chiefs of the Wetsuweten Nation oppose the work on their traditional territory, despite support from elected band councils along the pipeline route. Let us be clear: all Canadians are paying the price. Some people cant get to work, others have lost their jobs, Trudeau said. Essential goods ? cannot get where they need to go. The situation is unacceptable and untenable, he said. A protester carries a sign at a rail blockade on in Tyendinaga, near Belleville, Ont., on Feb. 15, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg) And Trudeau distinguished between protests over deep, long-standing, historic injustices and opposition to current policy decisions. One deserves more deference and patience than the other, he said. Trudeau is contending with pressure from several premiers after they had a collective telephone call with him Thursday evening. Weve sent a message clearly with our willingness to say, quite publicly, that we dont believe its in the best interests of protesters or the general public to stand back in respect of the laws being broken, that it can endanger peoples lives and endanger their well-being, Manitobas Brian Pallister said Friday. Albertas Jason Kenney was sharper in an appearance of his own. He said he made it clear to the prime minister on the conference call with the other premiers that the blockades are having devastating impacts on people across the country. He said it is scaring away investment and giving the impression that Canada cant operate as a modern democratic country. Kenney said the prime minister told the premiers that the governments patience is wearing thin and that he believes that action is required within hours and not days. Meanwhile, a group of hereditary leaders from the Wetsuweten Nation in British Columbia is spending the day with Mohawk supporters in Ontario. The B.C. hereditary chiefs are thanking the Mohawks for supporting them by blocking that rail line between Toronto and Montreal. A notice telling police and reporters to stay away says the gathering is to celebrate friendship, healing, peace and optimism, and to talk politics. The chiefs have scheduled their own news conference at the blockade near Belleville, Ont., this afternoon. The hereditary Wetsuweten leaders say theyre willing to talk with representatives of the Crown, but only after the RCMP and Coastal GasLink workers have left their traditional lands. On Thursday, the RCMP in B.C. sent a letter to the traditional leaders of the Wetsuweten Nation, telling them the force intends to move its officers out of the territory and station them instead in the nearby town of Houston. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said he believes this move meets the original conditions set by the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and that the time has come for the barricades to come down. The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt By Susan Mathew (Reuters) - European shares fell on Friday after data showing stalling business activity in the United States exacerbated a fall spurred by a spike in the number of coronavirus cases within and outside China. Investors worry about a prolonged impact to business after China reported an uptick in cases of the virus on Friday and South Korea reported 100 new cases, while more than 80 people tested positive for the virus in Japan. The pan-European STOXX 600 index <.STOXX> shed 0.5%, ending a volatile week 0.6% lower after two weeks of gains. On the day, STOXX 600 deepened losses after a survey showed the U.S. services sector dropped to its lowest level since October 2013 in February, signalling a contraction for the first time since 2016, while the manufacturing sector also clocked its lowest reading since August. The was preceded by similar data from the euro zone that showed business activity expanded at a better-than-expected pace, although expansion remained slow. "The market is beginning to wake up to the idea that we're going to be seeing bad numbers which are going to be replicated elsewhere," said Jonathan Bell, chief investment officer at Stanhope Capital. "With the next set of PMIs (in Europe) we'll likely see levels we haven't since the depths of the global financial crisis." Europe's main index had scaled record highs earlier in the week as data signalled a slight slowdown in the outbreak, lending weight to forecasts that the crisis might blow over by April. The outbreak has killed more than 2,000 people and upended industrial activity in China, causing disruptions for several European manufacturers that supply and source products from one of the EU's largest trading partners. Auto stocks <.SXAP> led losses, down 1.9% in their worst session in four weeks. With losses of more than 8% so far this year, the sector is the worst performing among major sectors in Europe, steepening losses since the outbreak as Hubei - the epicenter of the epidemic in China - is an auto manufacturing hub. Story continues Frankfurt's main index <.GDAXI>, stacked with car and truck makers, dropped 0.6%. A slide in oil prices knocked the energy sector <.SXEP>. Among technology stocks <.SX8P>, software firm SAP lost 1.3%, while chipmakers AMS AG , STMicroelectronics and ASML all fell more than 0.9%. Among individual movers, British luxury brand Burberry Group fell 2.6% after Jefferies cut the stock's price target, saying it was one of the most exposed brands to the coronavirus outbreak. French consultancy Sopra Steria Group SA topped the STOXX 600 after it reported strong annual results and announced plans to buy software developer Sodifrance SA . (Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Nick Macfie) A husband and wife in their 70s have been found alive more than a week after they vanished from their Northern California vacation cottage, a development authorities said was nothing short of a miracle. Carol Kiparsky, 77, and Ian Irwin, 72, were recovering at a local hospital after being found Saturday afternoon in dense terrain, Brenton Schneider, spokesman for the sheriff's office, said at a press conference. They were suffering from light hypothermia, but overall "are doing OK," he said. Carol and Ian are on there way to a local hospital. Both were extracted by @sonomasheriff helicopter and @MarinSAR @marincountyfire pic.twitter.com/3FwNRm6iiu Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) February 22, 2020 The couple managed to stay alive by drinking water from a puddle that they found, according to authorities. Both were found wearing only light clothing, and Kiparsky had no shoes. She also didn't have her scarf because she used bits of the fabric as a marker to help her get back to Irwin when she once tried to find help alone. PHOTO: In these undated photos released by the Marin County Sheriff's Office are Carol Kiparsky and Ian Irwin. (Marin County Sheriff's Office via AP) "We've all come to the conclusion that Carol and Ian surviving is a miracle. We are ecstatic," Schneider said. Quincy Webster, a member of the team that spotted Kiparsky and Irwin, said he was searching in the area when he heard shouts of "help." He said the two told the members who found them, "Thank God you found us. We're so happy." The Marin County Sheriff's Office shared some photos of the couple with some cuts and bruises but said they were in "great spirits." Update from Carol Kiparsky and Ian Irwin. They are in great spirits and want to thank every single person who has kept them in their thoughts. On behalf of the Irwin and Kiparsky family, Thank You. pic.twitter.com/t3OS6rgas7 Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) February 23, 2020 Authorities said they'd gone out for a hike on Feb. 14 and gotten lost. They were last seen at a rental home in Inverness/Seahaven. Story continues Just two days ago, officials were less optimistic and deemed their efforts a "recovery mission," saying that if the two were responsive or reachable by foot, "we believe that our extensive search efforts" would have found them. "I think from what it sounds like, they thought this was the end for them," Schneider said. "Thankfully, all the folks you see behind me are as dedicated as they are." Couple who vanished at California vacation cottage found alive after a week originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Katrina Svitak was at the dentist when Columbus Mayor Jim Bulkley showed up on her doorstep. Her husband, Marlin, was home at the time, manning her in-home daycare business when he opened the door to find the top city executive waiting on the stoop. "I got home and (Marlin) goes, 'Well, the mayor stopped by. I thought, 'Uh oh,'" Svitak recalled about earlier this week. "My first thought was, 'More bad news?' and then he said, 'Nope. We get to keep all four puppies.' Oh my goodness. It was great news. It still has to be presented in front of the City Council and approved, but it's great news." The Svitaks were in the midst of a potential city ordinance violation due to having one more dog than the municipal code allows, as first reported by The Telegram. But since the most recent dog was acquired almost two years ago as a service animal, and the family had the go-ahead from a previous Animal Control Officer, the Svitaks were ready to stand their ground. The Columbus Police Department sent a letter on Feb. 14 indicating that the Svitaks had 10 days to comply with removing one of their other three dogs, one of three chihuahuas, or else face a citation and court date. But since Jack, a blue heeler or, officially, and Australian cattle dog, is a certified service animal, Katrina and Marlin believed they were in compliance according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Jack was acquired to sense and lessen anxiety attacks from their oldest son, Jayden, and thus, they argued, is protected under the ADA as a medical device, employee and exempt from counting against the dog limit ordinance. The controversy began in December when a neighbor called in a complaint based on the ordinance and stretched until this past Tuesday when Bulkley came by to inform Katrina that an exemption was being made. "I called a meeting Tuesday morning so we could have all of the staff together at the same time talking about it," Bulkley said. "We decided at that time it's the right thing to do, to move forward with this letter of agreement." Once the letter is written up and signed it will be presented to the city council at its March 2 meeting. The exemption will allow the Svitaks to keep all four dogs. When one passes away, the family will then maintain the number at three and not replace the deceased dog with another. "It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders," Katrina said. "After it goes before the city council and its official, it will be even better." When The Telegram spoke to Katrina last week, she indicated the past two months had included sleepless nights and days filled with worry. The family initially moved Jack to a temporary home for about a month but brought him back in when the city said it was reviewing the situation. Then the letter came stating that Jack could stay but one of the other dogs had to go. That trio of canines had been in the family for five years before Jack arrived. The Svitaks felt it was unjust, unfair and illegal. Katrina drew up her own letter on Feb. 14 as a response to the police department and requested the exact scenario the city eventually agreed to. "That way both parties are compromising," she said. Bulkely met with City Administrator Tara Vasicek, Police Chief Charles Sherer and City Attorney Neal Valorz Tuesday morning, and the group essentially came to the same decision. The opinion of Valorz, which Bulkley said was what he and everyone involved was relying on, didn't necessarily change. But since the Svitaks have a unique situation with a certified service dog, an exception seemed warranted. No change in the ordinance has or will be made nor will every service dog be allowed to exceed the ordinance. "That's part of the reason I couldn't give her any answers when she contacted me," Bulkley said. "I needed to understand everything that had transpired and taken place. There are multiple answers to multiple questions that always get raised. "We are not changing our ordinance. This is an exemption for her, for this situation. We felt it was the right thing to do involving the service dog, but it does not change our belief in our ordinance. We feel very comfortable with where we were, but we also feel this was the right thing to do." The Svitaks, and especially Jayden, couldn't have agreed more. "He was thrilled," Katrina said about his reaction when he was told the news. "He spent the rest of the night cuddling with his puppy. He cuddled Jack the rest of the night." Nate Tenopir is the sports editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at sports@columbustelegram.com. 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. AROUND 58 of the 60 persons under investigation (PUIs) for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Central Visayas have been discharged but are still being monitored, as of 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. In its latest Covid-19 tracker, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that only two PUIs are still confined and undergoing treatment in the region. As of yesterday, no new confirmed Covid-19 patients were confined anywhere in the country although the DOH continued to monitor a total of 606 cases nationwide. Of the number, 473 were discharged from medical facilities but are still being monitored by DOH, while 130 PUIs remained in isolation in various hospitals. The only three confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the country the 38-year-old woman from Wuhan; her 44-year-old male partner who died; and the 60-year-old Chinese woman who already returned to China, were included in the tally. PUIs are those who recently traveled to mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong or had contact with persons positive of the novel coronavirus and manifest the symptoms of the virus. Globally, the viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 77,000 people. The World Health Organization has named the illness Covid-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. The latest figures reported by each governments health authority as of Saturday in Beijing: Mainland China: 2,345 deaths among 76,288 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei; Hong Kong: 69 cases, 2 deaths; Macao: 10; Japan: 743 cases, including 634 from a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, 3 deaths; South Korea: 346 cases, 2 deaths; Singapore: 86; United States: 35 cases; separately, 1 U.S. citizen died in China; Thailand: 35; Taiwan: 26 cases, 1 death; Australia: 23; Malaysia: 22; Italy: 19 cases; 1 death; Iran: 18 cases, 4 deaths; Vietnam: 16; Germany: 16; France: 12 cases, 1 death; United Kingdom: 9; United Arab Emirates: 9; Canada: 9; Philippines: 3 cases, 1 death; India: 3; Russia: 2; Spain: 2; Lebanon: 1; Israel: 1; Belgium: 1; Nepal: 1; Sri Lanka: 1; Sweden: 1; Cambodia: 1; Finland: 1; Egypt: 1. (WBS / AP) Is Quaden Bayles an 18-year-old prankster, or is he actually a 9-year-old boy who was bullied because he has dwarfism? That is the Internets burning question this weekend, just days after a now-viral video shows Bayles crying and wishing for someone to kill him because schoolmates taunted him about his height. In short order, celebrities and others from across the world raised money and offered rare opportunities for the boy, who has achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that results in dwarfism, according to the New York Post. A GoFundMe that asked to raise $10,000 to send Bayles to Disneyland has netted almost $500,000 so far, and X-Men star Hugh Jackman shared a video supporting him. Ultimately, a negative appeared to turn into a positive, but then, the Internet did what it always does and began to debate whether or not Bayles and his family were up to no good, all thanks to the unproven word of one unverified Twitter user. The New York Post explains: Quaden Bayles who gained the sympathy of legions of supporters, including actor and fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman is really 18 and scammed everybody, tweeted Jasmein Dowe on Friday, according to several Twitter users who reposted the accusation with some photos of an adult-looking Bayles from his Instagram page. Dowes Twitter account appeared to have been taken down later Friday. Outlets like the Post and the Washington Post have disputed the account, but debates on Facebook and Twitter rage on. Snopes, the ultimate spoof reality checker, has also weighed in and decided to dispute Dowes claim, marking the thought of him being 18 as false. Yarraka Bayles, Quadens mother, has posted dozens of pictures of him over the years to her social media accounts. In 2012, she shared a series of photographs that showed her infant son on the beach. Bayles commented on those photographs that her son was going on 15 months old, Snopes writes. If Quaden Bayles was truly 18 years old in February 2020, that would make him about 11 in the 2012 photographs. But that certainly isnt the case. The video, which has been reacted to over a million times, can be seen below. A senior Punjab IPS officer, who is a member of the SIT probing 2015 desecration of religious text and police firing incidents, has described the dismissal of CBI's plea by the Supreme Court in the sacrilege matter as "moral victory". The Supreme Court had on Thursday dismissed the CBI's plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order by which it had last year refused to interfere with the Punjab government decision to take back all sacrilege cases from the central probe agency. "Truth always triumphs," Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh posted on his Facebook page. "With the Supreme Court verdict in Bargari case coming in our favour, definitely, it is our moral victory," Singh wrote. "We are ready. No matter how powerful the guilty is, every challenge will be fought strongly. There can be delay in legal process, but justice will surely be done," he said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday that the Special Investigation Team of the Punjab Police would now probe into the cases of the desecration of religious texts and police firing incidents in 2015 as the Supreme Court has rejected the CBI plea to investigate them. The CM had also assured the House that the SIT investigation into the 2015 sacrilege incidents at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala villages and police firing incidents at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura in Faridkot would be taken to its logical conclusion. Two persons, who were part of the anti-sacrilege protesters, were killed in the police firing at Behbal Kalan in 2015. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh is a member of the SIT probing the 2015 sacrilege and police firing incidents. The five-member SIT is led by Director Bureau of Investigation Prabodh Kumar. After the Punjab Assembly in 2018 passed a resolution to withdrawing probe from the CBI, the state government formed the SIT and handed over the matter to it for investigation. During 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Akalis had lodged a complaint against IG Singh with the Election Commission for making comments related to the SIT probe in the media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Krishnamoorthi said he is very concerned that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have still not bought into the conclusions that almost the entirety of the intelligence community has told us repeatedly, which is that the Russians interfered in our 2016 elections for the purpose of giving an advantage to Donald Trump to become the president, and secondly the Russians ... have designs and plans and are trying to interfere in our 2020 elections. Hitting out at the Congress over its scepticism about US President Donald Trump's visit to India, the BJP on Saturday asked the opposition party why it is unhappy when the country's stature is being raised globally. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said Trump's visit will be a landmark moment in the Indo-US relationship and advised the Congress to "start taking pride in the nation's achievements". "This is a meeting of the world's largest and oldest democracies and it should be celebrated," he said. Underlining that Trump himself has said multiple times that India is a hard bargainer, Patra said the Congress should not be worried about India's interests. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hardwork, India's relations with other countries have further strengthened from Sochi to Mallapuram, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump has described Boris Johnsons decision to allow the Chinese company Huawei a role in building the UKs 5G network as a betrayal as the security row places relations between London and Washington under increasing strain. The US President is understood to have used the term to a senior White House figure after he protested to Mr Johnson about the deal during a heated phone conversation earlier this month. The rift in the special relationship could hardly come at a worse time, with the US Government preparing to set out its demands for a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK in just over a weeks time. The US President is understood to have used the term to a senior White House figure after he protested to Mr Johnson about the deal during a heated phone conversation earlier this month Last week, Mick Mulvaney, Trumps chief of staff, met senior Downing Street officials to argue that giving Huawei access to the network would have a direct and dramatic impact on the USs willingness to share information with the UK, because of concerns that the firm could compromise the UKs communications systems at the behest of Beijing. In a sign of the deteriorating relations, diplomatic sources say that Washington is considering a raft of restrictions on the amount of intelligence it shares with the UK. Currently, members of the Queens Privy Council which includes Cabinet Ministers and senior Opposition figures, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are allowed by convention to view classified intelligence shared with them by Downing Street. The rift in the special relationship could hardly come at a worse time, with the US Government preparing to set out its demands for a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK in just over a weeks time But US officials have discussed insisting on more restricted circulation of the material, on the grounds that when 5G is established, the security of communication between members could not be guaranteed. Politicians in Washington have also discussed restricting the security access of British scientists working on sensitive tasks such as nuclear projects in the States. The row could also have an impact on the sharing of technology used to control drone flights, as well as the exchange of sensitive data from US spy satellites. The Government admits the firm is not a trusted supplier, but says the risk can be managed by only giving it a limited role in the networks It comes as former Tory Cabinet minister David Davis today describes the move by Mr Johnson to let in Huawei as the worst intelligence decision since MI6s recruitment of Kim Philby the notorious Soviet double agent. Writing in todays Mail on Sunday, opposite, Mr Davis, who served as Brexit Secretary in Theresa Mays Government, argues that China has spied aggressively on Western states for decades, stealing military and technological secrets on an industrial scale. He adds: As an overwhelming priority, Boris Johnson should reverse his decision on Huawei. No 10 sources acknowledge that there was a lively phone conversation between President Trump and Mr Johnson when the Prime Minister made the decision to allow Huawei to provide parts of the new high-speed national telecoms network, due to be completed by 2025 according to one version, Trump was apoplectic but they deny that Trump used the term betrayal directly to Mr Johnson during the call. Mr Mulvaney warned about the impact on intelligence sharing if Mr Johnson did not reverse the decision. Our governments share a tremendous amount of security information, he said. We are very much concerned that integrity of that information is hardwired into your computer systems, and if you folks go forward with the decision to include Huawei, it will have a direct and dramatic impact on our ability to share information with you. Period, end of story. Huawei denies that it presents a security risk. The Government admits the firm is not a trusted supplier, but says the risk can be managed by only giving it a limited role in the networks. It will be banned from the most sensitive elements and will have its role restricted to 35 per cent of the rest of the network. Larry Kudlow, President Trumps most senior economic adviser, also weighed into the row by calling Britains attitude toward Huawei suboptimal. He said that the White House planned to hold a conference with Huawei rivals to try to accelerate the development of affordable competing 5G wireless technology to deny Huawei its competitive advantage. Tory MPs are preparing to rebel over the issue by demanding a meaningful debate, with opponent Bob Seely warning that Mr Johnson should not present the 5G decision to Parliament as a fait accompli. He said: We are concerned it will backfire on the Government if it is seen as trying to get it through under the cover of secondary legislation. Its simply a debate Parliament has not yet considered. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- From the perspective of the #Resistance, the scoops were both terrifying and vindicating: An intelligence official told lawmakers last week that the Russians were meddling again in U.S. elections and seeking to re-elect President Donald Trump. This infuriated the president, who abruptly fired the current director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, and replaced him with a loyalist, U.S. Ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell. Unfortunately, there is less to this story than Trumps opponents would like. There is no formal intelligence assessment, and the new DNI is only temporary. This is not a case of the president trying to suppress or distort intelligence. The Trump vs. the Intelligence Community narrative is so appealing to the resistance because it fits two of its favorite themes. The first is that Trump already colluded once with the Kremlin to win an election, and will again. The second is that Trump is now empowered, after the Senate acquitted him in the impeachment trial, to purge the government of his enemies. As Representative Adam Schiff tweeted, referring to stories in the New York Times and Washington Post: We count on the intelligence community to inform Congress of any threat of foreign interference in our elections. If reports are true and the President is interfering with that, he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling. Exactly as we warned he would do. True, Trump provides opponents with ample ammunition for their narratives about Russia and vengeance. But Schiff is the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. If anyone would know about an assessment that Russia was trying to re-elect Trump, he would. So was there such an assessment? In fact, Schiff who was present at the briefing in question knows that there is no formal intelligence finding that Russia is meddling on behalf of Trump. Administration and House Republican sources tell me that the intelligence official who was briefing the committee went off script when asked about Russias preference for Trump in the presidential election. No other representatives from the intelligence community at the briefing backed up her assertion, these sources say, nor did the briefers provide specific intelligence, such as intercepted emails or conversations, to support the claim. Story continues Jake Tapper of CNN is apparently hearing a similar story. On Friday he tweeted that one of his sources says the intelligence did not say the Russians had a preference, only that Trump is someone they can work with, hes a dealmaker. The second narrative involves the decision to make Grenell the interim director of national intelligence. Its true that Grenell lacks intelligence experience and that he has been an outspoken supporter of Trump. And while reports say Maguire was fired over last weeks briefing, White House officials tell me otherwise, noting he was scheduled to leave next month anyway. (Although the departure of Maguires principal deputy, Andrew Hallman, suggests deeper tensions with the White House.) Regardless, Grenell would be an odd choice if Trump wished to downplay Russian threats. To start, he is a longtime Russia hawk. Last year, for example, he warned German companies building the NordStream II pipeline between Germany and Russia that they would risk U.S. sanctions if they went forward with the project. More important, Grenell himself has said he will only be acting director, and that he expects the president will soon nominate someone else for the position. Intelligence assessments involve the input of 16 agencies and often take months to complete, so it would be near impossible for someone serving as acting director for a short period of time to suppress or alter intelligence products. (Maguire, by the way, was also an acting director.) So appointing Grenell may be less an effort to censor intelligence than a bit of hostage politics with the Senate. If the Senate doesnt confirm Trumps nominee, Grenell can serve for months. The two leading candidates for the job are Representative Chris Stewart, a Republican from Utah who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, and Pete Hoekstra, the current ambassador to the Netherlands and former Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Both would likely face opposition from Democrats. The White House is hoping to force Democrats to hold their noses and not delay the confirmation. (Updates ninth paragraph to include news of departure of deputy director of national intelligence.) To contact the author of this story: Eli Lake at elake1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Newman at mnewman43@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Donald Trump Jr. hit out at former Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday claiming 'enough is enough' following a gaffe in which the Democratic candidate said his late son Beau was the United States Attorney General. Biden accidentally gave Beau the job promotion on Thursday while speaking at CNN town hall event. Beau Biden was the Attorney General of Delaware, not of the United States. Scroll down for video Another Biden fumble! Joe Biden claims his son was US Attorney General in CNN town hall Donald Trump Jr. claimed 'it's not right anymore' after Biden's latest gaffe on Thursday Donald Trump Jr. slammed Biden's gaffe on Twitter claiming that somebody needed to tell him when 'enough is 'enough' "The Justice Department isn't the President's private lawyer it's the people's lawyer. ... Let the Justice Department do its job. Period." Former Vice President Joe Biden says President Trump has "weaponized" the DOJ. #CNNTownHall https://t.co/hOfGArFyjf pic.twitter.com/Q2Evgtk59X CNN (@CNN) February 21, 2020 Donald Trump Jr. slammed Biden's gaffe on Twitter claiming that somebody needed to tell him when 'enough is 'enough' and that 'it's not right anymore'. 'In all fairness Biden has no idea what he's saying or where he is most of the time. When will someone close to him finally say enough is enough? It's not right anymore,' he wrote. During Thursday's town hall event, Biden was asked a question by a member of the audience on 'How will you restore the barriers between the Department of Justice and the Oval Office?' Former VP Joe Biden accidentally said his late son Beau was the US Attorney General instead of the Attorney General of Delaware during a CNN town hall on Thursday in yet another gaffe Former VP Biden, pictured right, with his son Beau, who was Attorney General of Delaware 'Never direct the Justice Department as to who they should or should not indict and under what circumstances they should or should not,' Biden began. 'That is an independent judgment to be made. 'My son, the one who, my deceased son, was the Attorney General of the United States,' he continued, without realizing his mistake, 'and before that, he was a federal prosecutor in one of the largest offices in the country in Philadelphia. 'And I'll tell you what, he wouldn't even talk to me about anything he was doing, his father, and he shouldn't have, and I didn't have any control over either one of those things.' FOX host Sean Hannity was quick to criticize the former Vice President's mistake on Twitter Steve Guest, the Republican Party's Rapid Response Director, said Biden needed a 'fact check' Beau Biden when he was Attorney General of Delaware in 2010. He passed away in 2015 Biden may not have noticed the error but conservative commentators were quick to join Donald Trump Jr. in criticizing the mistake. 'FACT CHECK FOR JOE BIDEN: Your son was not the "Attorney General of the United States",' wrote Steve Guest, the Republican Party's Rapid Response Director. FOX host Sean Hannity also told Biden he needed to 'fact check'. Beau Biden served as Attorney General of Delaware from 2006 until 2015. He passed away a few months after he left office from brain cancer aged 46. Joe Biden faces a key test in the Nevada caucus on Saturday as he hopes that the states more diverse population will prove that he can win black and brown votes and two poor finishes in New Hampshire and Iowa. That big, beautiful wall President Trump never tires of carrying on about is becoming one of the most expensive campaign stunts ever. It is a potentially unconstitutional one as well, as the Defense Department prepares to divert more billions of dollars authorized by Congress from a variety of weapons programs to generate bragging rights for Mr. Trumps re-election campaign. On Thursday, the Pentagon formally notified Congress that it would divert $3.8 billion to the Department of Homeland Security to build about 177 miles of fencing along the Mexican border. That will bring to nearly $10 billion what the administration has taken from defense accounts for wall construction, after a skeptical Congress authorized only $1.375 billion. Lawmakers from both parties have assailed the White Houses raids on military funds as violating Congresss constitutionally mandated power of the purse. This latest effort to steal congressionally appropriated military funding undermines our national security and the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leaders, said in a joint statement on Thursday. The Pentagon said the money it was ceding would have gone to fighter jets, combat aircraft, ships and National Guard equipment. Instead, it will be used to put up 30-foot-high barriers along six sections of the border so Mr. Trump can boast that he is fulfilling his campaign promise, despite Congresss repeated refusal to give him all the money he wants and lower court rulings that barred his use of other funds for the wall. Mr. Trump managed this in part by declaring a state of emergency a year ago to divert military funds, and in part thanks to a Supreme Court ruling that set aside lower court injunctions that prevented Mr. Trump from commandeering Pentagon cash to pay for the wall. It has become almost tedious to recite the reasons this wall is a waste of money, starting with the fact that it was initially conjured up by Mr. Trumps campaign advisers, back when he was exploring a run for the White House, not as a solution to illegal border crossing but as a talking point to make sure that their man, famously resistant to reading from a script, would remember to talk about getting tough on immigration. Once Mr. Trump was elected, the talking point that became his signature campaign promise then became the signature obsession of his presidency. The battle over its funding with a skeptical Congress led at one point to a partial government shutdown and the declaration of a state of emergency. Build the Wall became a mantra at Mr. Trumps rowdy rallies, the motto of meanspirited and often cruel efforts to close Americas doors to immigrants, especially Muslims or immigrants of color, legal or illegal. The onslaught against Americas openness to immigrants has taken many shapes, from the separation of children from their parents, to the shutting down of various preferential visa programs, to the bans on travelers from some predominantly Muslim countries. The administration has won temporary approval from the Supreme Court to deny green cards to immigrants thought likely to tap public assistance programs, the so-called public charge rule. It has also barred New Yorkers from applying for trusted-traveler programs as punishment for a state law limiting immigration agents access to state drivers license information. But the expensive and useless wall has remained the centerpiece of Mr. Trumps spiteful vision. From the outset, the project has been riddled with lies and illusions. Mr. Trump has argued that the wall would block illegal migrants, though as many as half of the undocumented immigrants in the United States entered legally and overstayed their visas. He claims that the southern border is a pipeline for vast quantities of illegal drugs, though according to the Drug Enforcement Administration most trafficking occurs through ports of entry or, in the case of the powerful opioid fentanyl, through the mail. It may well be that the $738 billion military budget for 2020 is too big, and that skimming a few billion off the top wont affect American security. That misses the principle. The power of the purse belongs to Congress, and the lawmakers should decide how Americas wealth is spent. Despite its bitter divisions, Congress has repeatedly concluded that the wall Mr. Trump wants to build is a waste of money. That does not mean there should be no barriers along the 1,954-mile long border. In fact, there are already 650 miles of fencing of various kinds, and most of what the administration has been doing so far is replacing the older barriers with an elaborate border wall system. The cost has been somewhere between $20 million and $30 million per mile in southern Texas (Israels wall on the West Bank, by contrast, cost at most $5 million a mile), and the price will only rise as the administration moves to acquire privately owned land through eminent domain, a process that entails lengthy and costly legal action. That is a ridiculous price to pay so that the president can revel in chants of Build the Wall from followers, most of whom would surely vote for him with or without a wall. Congress, aware that the wall is costly nonsense, ought not allow itself to be sidestepped. It could vote down the state of emergency and the White House veto that would follow. It could then finally embrace its duty to write a long-overdue comprehensive immigration bill, based on American traditions of tolerance and humanity, that would include a reasonable and functional border barrier. This editorial was first published on Feb. 14 in the Wall Street Journal. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Brigham Young University Facebook/BYU Brigham Young University, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, removed a ban on "homosexual behavior" from its honor code. The school said the move was made to be in "alignment with the doctrine and policies" of the Mormon Church, which has become more accepting of LGBTQ rights in recent years, but still opposes same-sex marriage. BYU said that while "homosexual behavior" has been removed from the code, "sexual relations" between anyone other than a married man and woman is still prohibited. It's unclear what exactly is under the umbrella of homosexual behavior, but the school said it will work with students on a case-by-case basis. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Brigham Young University has removed a ban on "homosexual behavior" from its honor code, the school announced on Wednesday. The honor code was updated in conjunction with a new handbook published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the university. And while "homosexual behavior" was removed from its code, the school told KSL the "principles of the Honor Code remain the same," meaning "Sexual relations" between anyone other than a married man and woman is still prohibited. It remains unclear what behavior between LGBTQ couples will be allowed on campus, and the school said over Twitter that the Honor Code Office would work with students on a case-by-case basis. One counselor told students that holding hands, kissing, and dating would be approved. Up until the change, BYU's honor code defined homosexual behavior as "all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings," according to USA Today. BYU students and alumni celebrated the code change on Twitter on Wednesday, though some criticized the school's lack of transparency. In a statement released by BYU, the school said it made the change to be in "alignment with the doctrine and policies" of the Mormon Church. Story continues "The updated Honor Code continues to be a principle-based code that reflects the moral standards of the Church. It allows each campus to support and guide its students on an individual basis according to the principles outlined in the Honor Code," the statement said. BYU's strict honor code must be followed on and off-campus. The code prohibits immodest attire, premarital sex, beards, and the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and coffee. All violations are investigated, and if a violation is confirmed, students can face penalties ranging from a warning to expulsion, the New York Times reported last year. In recent years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has become more open to LGBTQ policies, and now allows children of same-sex couples to be baptized and blessed. The church still opposes same-sex marriage. Read the original article on Insider By Trend Italy is the biggest trading partner of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani MP Tahir Mirkishili told Trend on Feb. 21. On other hand, the efforts of both countries towards the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project and ensuring Europes energy security are of great importance, the MP said. "Strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries, the similar interests of Azerbaijan and Italy within the international law promise great prospects for both the EU and the Caucasus region, Mirkishili said. The Azerbaijani presidents foreign policy aimed at strengthening bilateral ties gives results in all spheres, the MP said. Italys fundamental support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity is a clear example of the abovementioned aspects. The Azerbaijani presidents state visit to Italy once again showed that Azerbaijan, thanks to its capabilities and potential, is expanding the sphere of influence in the region, the MP said. This looks extremely tempting for every country that is interested in the development of the region." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 13:10:19|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close HAIKOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Airlines will resume more than 450 flights starting Saturday amid the epidemic, to aid the work resumption of enterprises across the country. Tickets for the flights departing from domestic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou have been on sale. The airline has launched charter flight services for government and enterprise customers since Wednesday to fully support the work and production resumption all over the country. Flight HU7827 carried more than 130 employees of a company from Nanning in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to Guangzhou in Guangdong Province Friday evening, which was the airlines' first charter flight for work resumption. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was accused of jumping ship. (Getty Images) The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of jumping ship by a womanist philosopher who says she should have stayed and fought racism in Britain. Dr Gabriella Beckles-Raymond was speaking at an event around Megxit and racism in Britain when she said Meghan and Harry had not shown leadership. Is giving two fingers to the British establishment on the way out really an act of leadership? she asked, adding: Megxit does not look like leadership to me, it looks like jumping ship. She said Meghan had found herself at the epicentre of a power structure and that the duchess ought to have stayed to fight. Read more: Date Prince Harry and Meghan will end royal duties confirmed Dr Beckles-Raymond said: If Meghan and Harry used their position to bring about change that would look like leadership. She also said the royal couple were finding it relatively easy to make the move to Canada in part because it is still part of the Commonwealth. She added: The Royal Family owns most of the land in this country, and racism is about land and who controls it. We need to look at what British power looks like when it exerts its power over other people. Dr Beckles-Raymond shared a stage at the event with Rachel C Boyle, the lecturer who clashed with Laurence Fox over the treatment of Meghan Duchess of Sussex on BBC Question Time, as well as Professor Anthony Reddie, the Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture and Dr William Ackah, a lecturer in Community and Voluntary Sector Studies at the University of London. Meghan and Harry will live mostly in Canada from spring. (Getty Images) Speaking about Meghan and Prince Harrys decision to step back from their royal duties Dr Ackah said: What we have seen with the whole Meghan Markle incident is that mainstream media does not get it. They want to debate her as if the lived experience of black people is something to be debated - like if Arsenal is better than Chelsea. We should not take this lying down. If institutions do not serve us they should be shut down or fined. Story continues Black people should be paying less tax, or less TV license, [because] this society is not giving us our rights. We have been paying in for 400 years. It is not that we need to change, it is society and institutions that need to change. The panel included Dr Gabriella Beckles-Raymond, Rachel C Boyle, Dr Anthony Reddie and Dr William Ackah Read more: Meghan Markle's Vogue cover inspires Forces for Change event Prof Reddie said it began at the wedding in Windsor, citing the reaction of Twittersphere he saw to Michael Currys passionate sermon. He said: I had an Anglican friend who said it was too enthusiastic. What he meant was it was too black. What Meghan is facing is just a posher version of what we face because the system was not built for us. Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would be stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family in January, sparking something of a royal crisis and meetings between the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William in what was dubbed the Sandringham summit. Their decision sparked the Sandringham Summit. (Getty Images) Read more: Will losing Sussex Royal impact Harry and Meghan's brand power? The couple have been allowed to keep their duchy in Sussex but will not be able to use the HRH titles and are unlikely to use the word royal in their branding. The pair are planning to launch a new charitable foundation later this year. They will formally step back from duties from 1 April, losing their office in Buckingham Palace, and are likely to spend most of their time in North America. The Supreme Court-appointed mediator Sanjay Hegde on Shaheen Bagh has said that he was happy about opening of the Noida-Faridabad road by the police, but was disappointed later when heard that the road was again barricaded by the police for no apparent reason. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Hegde said, "This morning we were very happy about the opening of the Noida-Faridabad road by the police. This brought substantial relief to the Faridabad commuters. However just as we were happy we were deeply disappointed later when we heard that the road was again barricaded by the police for no apparent reason." "This was extremely distressing to us and we wish to emphasize that the action of re barricading the roads defeats the very purpose of confidence-building on the part of the police," he said. Hegde further said, "We wish to thank the protestors and the organisers and the volunteers for their disciplined interaction on Friday. We also wish to thank the police for helping us at the protest site and in the interaction. We thank media for its discipline and restraint in filming our interaction with the protestors." He further said, "We will not be holding a public interaction on Saturday to enable the protestors to come to an independent conclusion as to the way forward. We will return on Sunday only if we deem it necessary and feasible to do so." The Supreme Court had on Monday appointed senior lawyers Sanjay Hegde and Sadhna Ramachandran to visit Shaheen Bagh and talk to protesters to convince them to hold the agitation at an alternative site. The apex court has fixed the matter for further hearing on February 24. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exact numbers of LGBTQ medical students and doctors are unknown. In 2018, the AMA added sexual orientation and gender identity as an option for members to include in demographic profiles the group compiles. Of the 15,000 doctors and students who have volunteered that information so far, about 4% identify as LGBTQ. Thats similar to Gallup estimates for the general U.S. population, although LGBTQ advocates believe the numbers are higher and rising as more people are willing to out themselves. An accomplice of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants was arrested from Sopore area of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday. Muzamil Ahmad War, a resident of Warpora Sopore area in the north Kashmir district, was involved in assisting active militants of the outlawed terror outfit LeT operating in Sopore area, a police spokesman said. He said as per the investigation, War had been providing logistic support and shelter to LeT's active militants operating in the area. Incriminating materials have been recovered from his possession, the spokesman said, adding, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered against him and further investigation in the matter is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Officials say China could start clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine as early as late April. (Photo: AFP) Public and private researchers around the world have been working to develop treatments and vaccines to combat the COVID-19 virus that first emerged in central China in December. More than 2,200 people have died and more than 75,000 have been infected by it in China. Another 11 people died abroad, with some 1,100 infections in around 25 countries. "Several research teams were trying different techniques to develop a potential vaccine, and the earliest vaccine is expected to be submitted for clinical trials around late April," Xu Nanping, vice science and technology minister, told a press briefing. China's vaccine development and research is currently "basically in step with other countries", he added. The World Health Organization said on Tuesday it could take a year or longer for a vaccine to become available. "The vaccine could be the long-term because it could take up to 12 to 18 months and this is like preparing for the worst situation," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. China is currently using five different approaches to develop the vaccine to curb the spread of the virus, said Zeng Yixin, deputy director of China's National Health Commission. These include using inactivated coronavirus to produce a vaccine, using genetic engineering to mass-produce proteins that could act as antigens for the novel coronavirus or modifying existing vaccines for influenza, Zeng said. "At present, some projects have entered the stage of animal testing," he said. Scientists in the US announced Wednesday they had created the first 3D atomic-scale map of the part of the novel coronavirus that attaches to and infects human cells, a critical step toward developing vaccines and treatments. Dubai: Hardliners loyal to Iran's supreme leader are likely to sweep a parliamentary election that will cement their grip on power as the country faces mounting US pressure over its nuclear program and growing discontent at home. A voter wears a protective face mask to protect against coronavirus at a polling station during the general election in Tehran, Iran. Credit:Bloomberg The vote will have no major influence on foreign affairs or Iran's nuclear policy, which is determined by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But it might bolster hardliners in the 2021 contest for president and toughen Tehran's foreign policy. State television said voting officially ended in the parliamentary election at 8pm on Friday, local time, after it was extended several times to allow late-comers to cast ballots. Such extensions are common in Iranian elections. In mid-afternoon, an Interior Ministry official said that about 11 million of 58 million eligible voters had voted for candidates in the 290-member parliament. State TV said the turnout will be announced on Saturday, local time. How many international students typically recruit for and land IB jobs at both Ross and Cornell? How many non-finance background students recruit for and land IB jobs at both Ross and Cornell? I doubt you will get official or 100% accurate figures here, so you'll have to talk to a few current students and figure this out. Leadership wrote: Many congratulations for the admits I request Hi ibfanmba ..Many congratulations for the admitsI request souvik101990 variantguy and bb to suggest you. Congratulations @ibfanmba I applied to both of these schools as well. However, my post-MBA goals are geared more towards tech and entrepreneurship, and all my networking/research on both these schools was around that, so, unfortunately, I would not be the best person to add value to the discussion here.Just a glance at the latest placement reports (which I'm sure you've already gone through) suggests that Ross sent ~29-30 students into IB at an average salary of 146k and median sign-on bonus of 50k. Those figures for Cornell are 58 students going into IB, average salary 141k, and average sign-on bonus ~54k. I believe the proximity to NYC has a role to play here.Having said that, since you mentioned that you're 'an international student with no background in Finance,' I think a couple of questions you should probably be asking are:Another factor to consider while you compare these two schools is what your plan B is for recruiting? I'll go ahead and assume it's consulting, because of your background. Consulting numbers and salaries, seem to be higher at Ross than Cornell. And consulting recruitment prep at Ross is super-structured and works wonders for even those with no consulting background. And because of larger batch size on average at Ross, I would assume that its alumni base in consulting/MBB would be larger as well - another factor to consider.These are my two cents, but curious to hear what others have to say.Meanwhile, this thread might be of some use: https://gmatclub.com/forum/booth-vs-cornell-312445.html#p2423528 _________________ Netizens are speculating that the novel coronavirus may have come from the US File photo: a scientist of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examines the result of a plaque assay, which is a test that allows scientist to count how many flu virus particles are in a mixture. (Photo credit: CDC) Chinese social media has been inundated with speculations that COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, may originate from the US after the later decided to test patients with flu symptoms for the lethal virus. The speculations came on the heel after TV Asahi Corporation of Japan reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suspected that among over 10,000 American patients who were presumably killed by flu in the past few months, some may actually died of COVID-19. The CDC has then decided to use new testing methods to check patients with flu symptoms for COVID-19. A screenshot of the Sina Weibo post The news has then spread swiftly on Chinese social media. As of press time, it has been upvoted over 220,000 times on Sina Weibo since the post was uploaded on the evening of Feb. 21, receiving more than 14,000 comments, with many assuming that the COVID-19 may come from the US, and thats why so many people died in the US because of flu symptoms. Such speculations were hyped up in China as the CDC estimated that so far this season there have been at least 26 million flu illnesses, 250,000 hospitalisations and 14,000 deaths from flu. According to CNBC, officials from the CDC said it will monitor some people with flu symptoms for the COVID-19, in an effort to detect if the virus begins to spread. The program will begin with five labs, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and New York City. The 2019 Military World Games was held in Wuhan last October. Is there any chance that the virus was brought by US participants to China? Currently a large number of people died in the US of flu, but I dont believe that a simple flu can kill so many people, wrote a netizen on Sina Weibo. The CDC has yet to make any comments on such speculations as of press time. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 04:48:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Syrian military personnel holding a Syrian flag are seen in the town of Tal Toukan, the countryside of Idlib Province in northwestern Syria on Feb. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Str) Amid escalation with Russia-backed Syrian forces in Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, Turkey is now calling on its Western allies to lend support including deployment of U.S. Patriot missile systems on the border. ANKARA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Western allies of Turkey should lend support in the face of threats from Syria and the deployment of U.S. Patriot missile systems in Turkey is on the agenda. "They previously sent air defense batteries. Our country is threatened by airstrikes and missiles. So there might be Patriot (missile) support. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is closely watching the situation, and there might be further action and plans coming from their side," Akar said during a televised interview to CNNTurk late Thursday. When asked about the interference of the U.S. troops in Idlib, Akar ruled out the possibility. Highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Idlib, the minister said the "active support" of the international actors is just as important as words. The Turkish government recently asked Washington to deploy Patriot air defense systems on Turkey's southern border, semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted a U.S. official as saying on late Thursday. "We're aware of a request for Patriot systems but understand no decision has been made," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Ankara and Moscow have held two rounds of talks in a bid to calm down tension in Idlib but have yet to reach a solution. Turkish officials threatened to resort to military offensive if the Syrian government does not retreat in Idlib Province. The Turkish and Russian delegations will continue discussions next week after the Turkish side declined a Russian proposal to withdraw rebels to a certain area in Idlib. The two countries discussed the use of Syrian air space in Idlib and the problem can be overcome if Russia "steps aside," Akar said, adding Turkey hopes Russia will not get involved in the situation. "We do not aim for a face-off with Russia. This is out of the question. We have done everything in our power to prevent this from happening, and we will continue to do so. The most important thing now is for the Syrian government to comply with the cease-fire," the minister noted. On Thursday, Ankara accused a Syrian government airstrike of killing two Turkish soldiers in Idlib and wounding five others. raising the number of Turkish personnel killed by Syrian forces this month to 16. Some of the Turkish observation posts in Idlib are being surrounded by Syrian government forces, but Ankara says it will not evacuate the positions or move them. In the contrary, the Turkish military has increased its military build-up in Idlib for the past few weeks as the Turkish leadership has threatened an intervention by the end of February if the Syrian forces do not withdraw to their positions specified in the Sochi deal which was brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2018. Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will decide his stance on Idlib after a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later in the day. "The outcome of the discussion will determine our attitude," he said. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said 150 members of the Syrian forces have been killed in Idlib, noting it is not possible for Turkey to withdraw its troops unless Damascus stops "oppression" in Idlib. Also on Friday, Erdogan had a phone conversation with the German chancellor and the French president over the escalation in Idlib. Germany and France have proposed a four-way meeting on the Syria crisis on March 5, but Putin has not responded yet. By Express News Service A grief-stricken Kerala bids adieu to victims of the ghastly road mishap in neighbouring TN, involving a KSRTC Volvo bus & a container truck A daughter bids her father goodbye The mourners who attended the funeral of Gireesh, the driver of the ill-fated bus, will never be able to get the image of his daughter Devaki hugging her fathers body and kissing him goodbye at Okkal crematorium in Perumbavoor. She remained at the crematorium watching the smoke from the chimney going up into the blue sky. Gireeshs body was brought home at around midnight on Thursday. A huge crowd comprising his relatives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers besides those living in Pullukuzhi gathered to say goodbye to their beloved Gireesh. MLA Eldhose Kunnapilly, block panchayat standing committee chairman Paul Varghese, former panchayat president C V Sasi and the former managing director of KSRTC Tomin Thachankary arrived to pay their respects to the departed soul. Thachankary recalled how the drivers had been always at the forefront when it came to helping others. Gireeshs family is not financially sound. So, all efforts will be made to help them out, he said. Still shell-shocked Happiness seems to have been sucked out from Aishwarya Rajashrees home as her family members stayed frozen in shock. Her father, husband and relatives brought her home at Ponekara on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Emcy K Mathew was laid to rest at St George Basilica at Angamali at 4pm. Shaju and Shiny laid to rest their son Jismon Shaju in their family tomb at Thuravur St Augustines church. Sivasankar P was cremated at the Shantitheeram public crematorium at Thiruvaniyoor. No mending their hearts now No amount of consoling could mend the shattered hearts of Varada and Gokulnathan whose only daughter Gopika was killed in the Avinashi accident. Varadas heart-wrenching cries calling her daughter to wake up caused tears to well up in the eyes of all those who had gathered at Gopikas residence. Shock, disbelief and grief could be seen on Gokulnathans face as the realisation that Gopikas laughter that echoed in their home for the past 23 years has been silenced forever slowly dawned. After the rites at home, Gopika was cremated at the public crematorium at Tripunithura at 10am on Friday. Kin, well-wishers struggle to console Sanoops parents Kannur: As the mortal remains of N V Sanoop, 28, were brought to his house in Kanam near Payyannur, hundreds who had gathered here couldnt control their tears. They were getting ready to celebrate Sanoops marriage, which was scheduled to take place on April 11. Before bringing the body to his house, it was kept at the Kanam Brothers Club, which had been an integral part of Sanoops life. The funeral was held at the community crematorium at Punchakkad near Payyannur at 1pm. Sanoop, who was working at Continental Automotive Components India in Bengaluru, was going to meet his fiancee to give her a surprise when the container on a truck crashed into the KSRTC Volvo bus, in which he was travelling, at Avinashi in Tirupur on Thursday. Pall of gloom descends on Palakkad Palakkad: Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the households of those who lost their lives in the Avinashi accident, in Palakkad on Friday. Funeral rites of all the three accident victims from Palakkad district were held on Friday. The body of Sivakumar, 34, was brought to his home in Mangalamkunnu on Thursday night. The body was cremated at 10.30am at Ivor Madom at Thiruvilwamala. The body of Rosily, 61, of Shanthi Nagar colony, was taken to Divine Providence church at Chandranagar from the house around 11am. Funeral rites were performed under the leadership of Rev Dr Peter Kochupurackal, Auxillary Bishop-designate of Palakkad diocese. The house of Rakesh, 35, of Thiruvegapura, was filled with sorrow as the body was taken to Punya Theeram Hindu Cemetery at Cheruthuruthy around 9.30am. His elder son Sourav lit the funeral pyre. Bangladeshi police officers check their mobile phones next to a prison van parked near a Dhaka court, Nov. 27, 2019. A Bangladeshi minister ordered authorities on Friday to probe the death of a housewife who died while in police custody, amid allegations from her son that law-enforcement officers beat her to death. Yasmin Begum, 40, was the third person to die in police custody in Bangladesh since the start of 2020, according to a local human rights group, although a police commissioner told BenarNews she may have died of cardiac arrest. The death of Yasmin Begum in Gazipur has drawn our attention, Sharif Mahmud Apu, information officer of the Home Ministry, told BenarNews. He said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal had ordered the police inspector-general to launch an investigation. Begums son, Arafat Rahman Zisan, told reporters that she died hours after detectives from the local police station raided their home in Bhawal Gazipur, a village north of Dhaka, on Tuesday evening. He said the officers were looking for his father, Abdul Hye, whom authorities had accused of being involved in the drug trade. They did not get my father. They broke the collapsible gate of our house, entered our house, slapped my mother and took her to the police station, Zisan said. When I made a call on my mothers mobile phone, I could hear that my mother was being beaten, Zisan said. The police beat my mother to death. Anwar Hossain, commissioner of Gazipur city metropolitan police, told BenarNews that Begum possibly died of a heart attack. Yasmin Begum was at the detective branch office for less than 30 minutes, he said. She had been a narcotics smuggler. According to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading Bangladeshi human rights NGO, Yasmin Begum was the third person to die in police custody since the start of the new year, while as many as 24 people had died in extrajudicial killings so far in 2020. According to ASK, 18 people died in police custody last year, while the number was 17 and 15 in 2018 and 2017, respectively. During a three-year-period ending in 2017, authorities received a total of 16 cases alleging deaths of relatives while under police custody, according to official documents obtained by BenarNews. Of that figure, police have completed investigating only two cases, with one currently under trial. Apart from deaths in custody, extrajudicial killings or summary executions at the hands of law enforcement agencies are frequent occurrences in Bangladesh, ASK and other local rights groups say. Last year, up to 466 people were believed to have been summarily killed in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation amid a new government crackdown on narcotics, according to ASK, which started logging statistics in 2013. In comparison to previous years, the rate of extra-judicial killings has increased, especially with the introduction of the anti-narcotics drive and subsequent incidents of crossfire, ASK Executive Director Sheepa Hafiza told reporters in January 2019. Crossfire is a term used by Bangladeshs law-enforcement officers to describe deaths that take place in alleged firefights between authorities and suspects during drug-enforcement operations. The trend of extrajudicial killings is on the rise, Hafiza said. We want all cases of extrajudicial killings to be investigated thoroughly. Mizanur Rahman, a former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, told BenarNews that police should stop using the term crossfire. We have been demanding for decades to stop all sorts of [summary executions], he said. We all know what the word crossfire means: Thats extrajudicial killing. MBABANE Pupils doing Form V should pull up their socks as the ban of English Language as a passing subject does not apply to them. This means if they do not perform very well in this subject they may idle at home and not qualify to enrol in tertiary institutions where passing the language is a prerequisite. Last month, Education and Training Minister Lady Mabuza announced news regarded as good for some, while others feared the quality of education would dwindle. She said the ministry had decided that pupils who may have not passed English language could still proceed to the next class. She said this during the release of the Eswatini Primary Certificate and Junior Certificate results. It transpired that this development saved about 3 000 pupils from repeating in only two classes, STD V and Form III. When the Form V results came out, the ministry did not make a distinct statement regarding English Language. This resulted to confusion among school leavers who had anticipated that tertiary institutions would waiver the entry requirements so that they would not be expected to have credited English in order to qualify. This reporter spoke to a parent who said it was not clear if credits in English were a must for this transition. He said he wondered if his son, who had struggled with the language, would be able to enrol at tertiary. The problem is that I have seen that students should have passed English in order to enrol at the university. I had hoped that this would change after the ministers pronouncement. Minister Mabuza said English was never a passing subject in Form V. Nothing has changed in Form 5 and tertiary requirements still stand, she said. She said people should note that it was not governments wish to compromise the quality of education in the country. English is still important and it shall be treated as such. If a pupil knows that they intend. With government formation dominating the conversation, issues that seemed so vital a few short weeks ago have disappeared off the agenda. What hasn't disappeared is the persistent anxiety afflicting me since the pension panic put the government on the backfoot. In the middle of the row, it struck me I don't really have a pension, so my old age will be a slow slide from genteel poverty into pauperism. The problem is I never thought much about retiring because I never really knew anyone who retired. Most of my relations are farmers, who gradually slowed down; and their wives, who rarely had paid formal work, but remained busy and active contributing to their families and communities. My paternal grandmother was famously productive, teaching piano into her 80s. Without a role model of a leisurely elderly life, it never occurred to me there would come a time when I would be unable to support myself. In addition, I used to see a typical corporate career as being incompatible with motherhood. I was made redundant on maternity leave after I had my first baby. Even though it may have been illegal, I didn't care enough to object. All I wanted to do back then was stay at home with my babies and enjoy them. I lacked the ambition and, crucially, the expectation to plan a path to the C-suite and simply considered myself privileged to be able to stay at home. It was the right decision then, even though I've the odd twinge of regret. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to secure a newspaper column - my version of egg-money - which I could write from home. It was a win-win then, but of course only a short-term win. So now I find myself, as many women do, with a significant number of missing years that men spent paying PRSI and pension payments. What worries me though, is not that I'll have to keep working beyond 65 to support myself, but that I won't be let work. The point being that the pension narrative has focused heavily on the injustice of forcing people to work longer and not enough on the idea that some people may want to keep going. It's absolutely true that those who had a life of hard physical labour aren't able to carry on late into their 60s. On the other hand, distinguished neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, in his book 'The Changing Mind', explores how best to preserve one's mental faculties and health in old age. He concludes retirement is a "disaster" and the one thing we should not do is slow down. If you can't keep working, he warns us to volunteer. Loneliness, a real risk for those who stop working, is worse for your health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But recent court cases, like Anne Roper's against RTE, are focused on the gap between the contracted retirement age (65) and the payment of the State pension (66 and rising) and the pretence they are entitled to Jobseekers' Allowance in between. But what about those who don't want merely to "bridge the gap" but to keep working? Yet they can't, because ageism is the last acceptable discrimination. As far as I can see, most employers can't wait to get older workers out the door. The public sector did the right thing and gave employees the choice to continue working until 70. In the wild-west of the private sector, the old contracted age of 65 is still being enforced. I chatted about this with Tony Devine from the Grey Matters Network, an association that matches older workers into businesses. He says there is no objective evidence that older workers are less productive and points to an EU study that concludes some aspects of cognitive ability such as control and ability to reason increase with age. Depression and anxiety are less common among older workers, while skill, experience and judgemental compensate for any losses in physical function. Devine also refers to a 'Forbes' study demonstrating that intergenerational teams deliver better decision-making. The upshot is that older workers have masses of experience and know how to get things done. But when people think of "inclusive" teams they think about gender, race and sexual orientation - not age. In 2012 unemployment was 16.9pc and now it's under 5pc - what's considered full employment. Companies are really struggling to find workers yet I suspect, if a recruiter is honest, the CV from someone in their 60s is automatically rejected. Third Age, an organisation for older people, is running a series of free events with Accenture called Navigate Your Future over the next two weeks in Dublin, Athlone and Cork, to help older workers evaluate their skills, which is great. But having accustomed ourselves to the concept of a cliff edge between the working and non-working life, unwinding the idea of being put out to pasture requires a big cultural shift. Now, the idea of trailing to work on dark winter mornings in 20 years doesn't exactly fill my heart with excitement. But neither does hitting a benchmark age and one's life changing irrevocably. To most people, retirement means finally having the time to enjoy life. But no one enjoys being poor. It's funny when you think about it: once the right to retire was the good fight to be fought, but for many the right to work is now the new frontier. One thing that interests me about this challenge between these pastors and the native doctors is that both sides are making references to the fire of God. The men of God, as usual threatens to call the fire to destroy the idols, shrines, mammy water and the demons working with the dibias. And the witch doctors boasted that that cannot happen, that the pastors do not have such powers. Now, I am happy that they all acknowledged that the fire exists and can be used by God to demonstrate his power. Great! But do we really appreciate the seriousness of such manifestation and its significance to the war between the two kingdoms? I take it for granted that you already know that these guys are referring to the Prophet Elijahs exploits for God. He was the person that called fire to destroy two bands of soldiers sent by the king of Israel to arrest him. You remember? He intercepted the messengers sent by king Ahaziah to inquire from the witches if he would recover from his sickness. Elijah told them to go back and tell the king that he would surely die because he ignored the God of Israel; the true God and healer. Yes, when you leave your God to flirt with idols and native doctors you will be destroyed. You will die shamefully. Our God is jealous. He cannot tolerate you worshipping idols, mammy water, demons, gods and goddesses, etc. There is only one God and he is the creator Jehovah. So the king got angry and sent soldiers to arrest the man of God. But Elijah called fire to destroy the two bands and their captains. Yes, our God answers by fire. Please, read more of this powerful spiritual weapon and many others from my powerful book Power of Midnight Prayer. Its a bomb! Then he also prayed fire down at Mount Carmel, to show who was really serving the true God between him and the idolatrous priests of Baal. You know how those witch doctors and their patrons King Ahab and his demonic wife Jezebel lured Israel away from God, built shrines and altars for the idols, killed the prophets of God and even instituted national festivals for the idols. Theirs was the most idolatrous, adulterous and murderous regime in the history of Israel. But at Carmel God showed up and proved himself. After Elijah prayed fire immediately flash down and consumed the sacrifice. I know God is coming to prove himself in your life. He is coming to prove himself in our nation and to these agents of Satan that are still luring people to worship and sacrifice to these demons in the water, on the mountains and in the forests. He is coming! Some strange things are about to happen in our country - things that will baffle everybody. God is about proving himself. Fire of judgement, deliverance and revival is coming. There is a divine surprise on the way. Note this and also get ready! Like these native doctors, the priests of Baal shouted, danced, wailed cutting themselves with knifes and yet their gods did not show up. I love the way Elijah mocked them as they were making shows calling on their gods to answer them. Just listen: About noontime Elijah began mocking them. Youll have to shout louder, he scoffed, for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened! So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response. 1 Kings 18: 27-29. Did you hear that? Their gods ran away because the God of gods was about manifesting! Who is that god, mammy water that will talk when Jehovah wants to prove himself? Who? Can a creature challenge the creator? Yes, the gods and idols of these native doctors can sleep and travel, but our God, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Lion of the tribe of Judah neither sleeps nor slumbers. He is ever present with his people and his eye goes to and fro; watching over the whole universe. As those prophets of Baal, these native doctors are also making a very big mistake. They are not just challenging Pastor Odumeje and co, but God. I dont care what opinion people hold about him, my interest is that he challenged them in the name of Jesus Christ. So God is not coming now to defend the pastor, but his own name and integrity. Now these witch doctors must repent today and ask God for forgiveness, throw away their idols and charms and serve the only living God through his son Jesus Christ. If not God has already started working against them. It is not about Odumeje, but about cleansing our land from idols, demons, marine spirits and their agents. And this must happen before we start receiving our blessings and freedom. Remember that after the fire, those satanic witches were removed and the rain and revival returned to Israel after many years of drought. We will continue next week, God bless! Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the book Power of Midnight Prayer. Tel: 08037113283. E-mail: [email protected] Website www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo The highest court of Colombia is going to issue a court ruling that will result in the return of the total abortion ban in the country or to legalize it just how the United States did, said an article from WLRN. Colombia is one of Latin America's biggest and most culturally influential nations. Whatever the decision of the court, its decision will significantly impact a big portion of Latin America. Currently, it is one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to abortion laws. When is Abortion Legal in Colombia? According to the executive director of Profamilia Marta Royo, the controversy about a young pregnant woman from Popayan, Colombia who decided to undergo an abortion while being 12 weeks pregnant is a subject of discussion. Profamilia is a not-for-profit organization that helps support reproductive health and abortion rights. The young woman's pregnancy was unwanted. Her doctors had given her a diagnosis of being suicidal. There is no total abortion ban in Colombia. In the past 14 years, the country had allowed abortion only in situations where the life of the mother is at risk. This means that the young woman can have a legal abortion due to her suicidal diagnosis from her doctors. However, Royo emphasized that the unnamed woman was already seeking medical centers to perform abortions since her first trimester of pregnancy. All of the medical centers that she visited refused to grant her request. On the woman's seventh month of pregnancy, after a judge had announced a grant of abortion with the help of Profamilia, she was able to undergo an abortion. The Issue with Colombia's Current Abortion Laws According to Royo, it is a difficult matter to know that a seven months pregnant woman will undergo an abortion. However, people should know about the entire story of how long it took the woman to get the opportunity she requested to be fulfilled. Despite the legality of her request for an abortion, many Colombian women like her are hindered by the current situation involving the abortion law. From a different point of view, people are seeing the case of the unidentified woman as proof that the country of Colombia's abortion laws is way too strict. Another view on the incident reveals a dire need for additional legal access of people to abortion in the country. According to Royo, one way to resolve this issue is the advancement of the legalization of the abortion law of the nation. The Court's Decision In 2006, the Constitutional Court of Colombia legalized abortion for women who were victims of incest, rape, and those whose lives are threatened with their pregnancy. Also, fetuses with severe malformation are allowed for abortion. In the case of the unidentified woman, the court is already in the process of looking at the situation and is formulating laws to legalize abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. Also, it is already reviewing petitions to reverse the 2006 abortion ruling and criminalize all types of abortion resulting in a total abortion ban in the country. The decision is still not made. It is expected that the decision may come as early as Wednesday. New Delhi [India], Feb 22 (ANI): In the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the Centre is now planning to start universal screening at airports for flights from Kathmandu (Nepal), Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia along with those from other countries, this decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday. This universal screening will be in addition to those as per the earlier advisories. Gauba chaired the high-level meeting to review the status, actions taken and preparedness of states and union territories, amid the scare caused by Novel Coronavirus outbreak. According to a release by the PIB, Secretaries of Health and Family Welfare, Civil Aviation, Defence, Information and Broadcasting, DG AFMS and representatives from External Affairs, Home Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, ITBP and Army were also present in the meeting. During the meeting, citizens have also been advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore. "As on date, 21,805 passengers have been brought under community surveillance. In addition, 3,97,152 flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at seaports have been screened," the release added. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 2,200 people in that country alone, while cases have been reported in several countries across the world, including India. (ANI) Some of the Bishops, members of IMBISA's standing Committee at Mass, this week, in Boksburg, South Africa IMBISAs new standing committee, meeting, this week, in Boksburg, South Africa has formally appointed Fr Dumisani Vilakati of the Diocese of Manzini, Eswatini as new IMBISA Director. English Africa Service Vatican City IMBISA is the Southern African regional body of Catholic Bishops. The acronym IMBISA stands for Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa. Member countries are Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The new IMBISA Director, Fr. Dumisani Vilakati has been serving as IMBISAs Pastoral Director. He takes over from Fr Claudio Dos Reis of Maputo Archdiocese, Mozambique. The outgoing Director has been with IMBISA for ten years. Coordinated leadership During this weeks meeting, the Bishops standing committee also reviewed progress regarding IMBISAs main pastoral areas which include: Evangelisation; Safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons; the Environment (Caring for our common home) as well as issues and implications of Co-ordinated Leadership. Later in an interview, Fr. Vilakati reiterated that IMBISAs role as an organisation was mostly of facilitation. IMBISA accompanies the various episcopal conferences as they implement policy decisions made by the Bishops themselves. Beijing is yet to grant clearance to the third flight from New Delhi, which will carry relief supplies to the virus-hit nation and also bring back the remaining Indian nationals from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 2300 people in the East Asian country itself, informed sources told ANI on Saturday. The Chinese side continues to maintain there is no delay (even on friday), the day the flight was supposed to go, but inexplicably the clearance has not been given. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently written to Chinese President Xi Jinping expressing solidarity with the government and people of China in fighting the epidemic outbreak. India had then also offered to provide assistance to China in the wake of the concerned situation. The government of India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of this commitment as a token of solidarity, particularly as this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China. These suppliers have been offered even as India, itself, faces tremendous shortages, the sources said. "It's in our culture to help others, especially in their hour of need," they stated. The items that are being supplied include gloves, surgical masks feeding and infusion pumps and defibrillators based on the requirements as indicated by Beijing. Meanwhile, Indian nationals, who are stuck in Wuhan, are facing hardships due to the delay in the process and continue to wait for the evacuation flight. The delay in clearance is causing them tremendous mental anguish as the entire Hubei province is still under lockdown. "There are relief and evacuation flights from other countries which are still going on, including by France. Why is the Chinese government delaying clearance for the relief flight? Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating a roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony? the sources questioned further." Earlier this month, India had evacuated over 650 of its citizens from Wuhan in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft. Yet, an unknown number of Indians remain in the area and their number is being ascertained, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. While 406 of these are being looked after at the quarantine ITBP facility, rest are at an Army center at Manesar in Haryana. The Indian Embassy in Beijing estimates more than 50,000 Indian citizens to have been working in mainland China as of early 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just before 7 p.m., the 72-year-old got out of his vehicle parked in the 5900 block of North Sauganash Lane. Two unknown males walked over, and one of them grabbed the 72-year-old as the other punched him in the face before throwing him to the ground, according to Chicago police. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and spokesperson Sambit Patra lashed out at Congress for its statements on the US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to India. "Why is the Congress party unhappy when India's stature is being improved globally? Mr Trump has himself said multiple times that India is a tough bargainer. The Congress Party should not worry about India's interests," Patra said. Earlier, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had said," Is Trump God that 70 lakh people will gather around to welcome him. He is coming here for his own interests. Trump is not doing the trade deal. He just wants to work for the benefit of America and is not coming to make us happy." "From trade deals with US to latest cutting-edge defense equipment which are in India's interest, the US has offered deals and equipment which were never offered to India in the UPA era. Did 10-Janpath (Sonia Gandhi's residence) ever allow, even the then PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, to develop such rapport with his international colleagues?" he added. (ANI) US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit from February 24-25. Melania after reaching Hyderabad House here on February 25 will move to a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh to meet school children. The school is getting ready to welcome the First Lady of the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Los Angeles, Feb 22 : Hollywood star Ben Affleck has debunked all rumours suggesting he has turned to dating applications to find love. Affleck has been single since last spring (2019), after splitting once more from his on/off girlfriend, "Saturday Night Live" producer Lindsay Shookus, and in October he was reported to have signed up to Raya, an exclusive dating app favoured by celebrities, reports aceshowbiz.com. However, Affleck has now dismissed the rumours: "I am not on any websites... I am on no dating (apps), not Tinder, Grindr..., Bumble...," he told breakfast show "Good Morning America". "I am not on any of them... I know people who are on them and they have a fun time, but not me." He says he prefers to do it the old fashioned way, and he is keen to find someone to settle down with in the near future. "I would love to have a relationship that was deeply meaningful and one to which I could be deeply committed," he shared. Affleck, who has been open about his struggle with alcoholism, recently branded his 2015 separation and subsequent divorce from Jennifer Garner, the mother of his three children, to be his "biggest regret" and although there are "plenty of mistakes" from his past he would love to change, he has accepted it's time to learn from the missteps and move forward with his life. Affleck hopes that in five years' time, he will have found happiness in his personal and professional life once again. Asked where he sees himself in 2025, he said: "Five years from now, Ben Affleck is sober and happy and sees his kids three-and-a-half days a week, and has made three or four movies that are interesting to him, directed two that he's hopefully proud of, and is in a healthy, stable, loving, committed relationship. I really set myself up for that one, didn't I?" he quipped. "I better make it now!". Bernie Sanders may be poised to walk away with the Democratic nomination for president, but you would hardly know it from the way his competitors acted in Wednesday night's Las Vegas debate. Sanders, who all measures indicate will win big in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, also is looking pretty good on the national front. Multiple new polls released earlier this week showed Sanders now commanding a double-digit lead over his rivals, securing his status as the Democratic frontrunner. In less than two weeks, Super Tuesday will tell us a lot more about the shape of this race. For now, however, Sanders is the person to beat. The question is: do any of the other Democrats know it? That didn't seem the case on Wednesday night nor has it for much of the campaign season. While the moderates tried to take each other out, Sanders emerged virtually unscathed. Sure, there were a few blows directed at him, just enough to earn some headlines about Sanders being "attacked" in the debate, but this has been greatly overstated. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg launched a series of effective punches against the Vermont senator, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar landed a strong jab at Sanders' Medicare-for-all proposal. Yet these brief moments highlighted how much Sanders largely remained outside the fray. Instead, the debate field concentrated their energies on the new guy in the race, Mike Bloomberg and his bags of billions he wants to use to buy himself the White House. With an unrelenting media blitz helping him gain ground in key states, Bloomberg shouldn't go unnoticed, and his troubling political and personal record ought to be exposed. But, for once, Bloomberg's billions won't be able to buy him what he wants, and the over-attention given to the former mayor is misplaced. "I'd like to talk about who we're running against," Elizabeth Warren said before dropping a nuclear bomb on Bloomberg's head. Overall, Warren is rightly being praised for a stellar performance at Wednesday's debate. Still, her scattershot approach to attacking her competitors seems especially questionable when Warren is choosing to direct most of her fire at the weakest fighters. Bernie Sanders is the man she needs to take out if she stands any chance at winning the nomination. Story continues That's true for everyone left in the race. And for many, especially Klobuchar, Buttigieg, and Joe Biden, key policy differences with the socialist candidate should be ripe for exploiting. Instead, they've often seemed more interested in going after Sanders' supporters than his proposals. But if you think going after Bernie's backers makes for good political strategy, just ask Hillary Clinton if she'd like to take back her "deplorables" comment from 2016. 2016 may offer other important lessons for those who don't want Sanders in the White House, especially those running against him. That year, while Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and the rest of the crowded GOP field spent time cutting each other off at the knees, Donald Trump marched to victory, facing little blowback for his incoherent proposals and his unconscionable personality. The Republican candidates that year dangerously miscalculated their strategy, wrongly assuming Trump would eventually flame out and they could capture his followers if they hadn't gone after him. All of them counted on winning a one-on-one race against Trump. That plan is what helped give us President Trump. That's not an exact parallel to the circumstances nor the calculations of the 2020 Democratic race, of course. And whatever you think about his politics, Bernie Sanders is no Donald Trump far from it. Additionally, most of the Democratic contenders are probably more comfortable with Sanders' policies, even if they don't embrace his socialist identity, than the other Republican candidates were with Trump's mishmash political philosophy during the 2016 race. Still, 2016 provides a clear warning about what it means to let the frontrunner go unchallenged. Since Iowa and New Hampshire, political commentators keep noting that moderates hold a combined majority of Democratic support. Yet the delegate math paints a very different picture about what any of them need to do to capture the nomination. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, so the saying goes. Should Sanders pick up a big win in Nevada on Saturday, though, he'll happily take that momentum with him to the primaries that follow. Certainly, many of the upcoming states don't look like the most hospitable terrain for Sanders. But if the other candidates don't do anything about him soon, Sanders is likely to run the table with ease while the rest of them are still bickering over a seat at the penny slots. 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 Trump's host on his India visit is a fervent vegetarian. The White House is apparently nervous about the menus. Trump arrives in India for 36 hours of pageantry, trade talks John Oliver explains how Narendra Modi is 'Marie Kondo-ing India' of Muslims, and why he might fail The Working Capitol offers the option for clients to hold events at its dedicated space of about 3,000 sq ft (Credit: The Working Capitol) SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Since opening its first co-working space in the Keong Saik enclave, The Working Capitol has injected vibrancy into the neighbourhood. At its first co-working space at 1 Keong Saik Road, members enter through a cafe on the first level abuzz with activity and informal chatter and go up a stairway to the second storey that opens out to a more conducive, charming workplace offering. The neighbourhood has become livelier since 2017. Through its sister company, The Bamboo Group, lifestyle and hospitality brand Potato Head was brought into the neighbourhood that year, which then paved the way for other F&B concepts to sprout up. The result a thriving precinct that bagged the title of top 10 travel destinations in Asia by travel guide Lonely Planet in the same year. The Working Capitol at 89 Neil Road (Credit: The Working Capitol) Redefining work and play Championing the role of a neighbourhood builder, Ben Gattie, co-founder of The Working Capitol, shares that the area was very different before it came on the scene. It was neither a lifestyle destination, nor a working destination, he says. Today, The Working Capitol operates some 70,000 sq ft of co-working spaces across four neighbouring shophouses in Keong Saik, and curates F&B tenants such as unagi restaurant Man Man (which made Singapore Michelin Guides Bib Gourmand list), Meta Restaurant (awarded one Michelin star), and Neon Pigeon, which brands itself as a modern Izakaya, among other good eats. More recently, it welcomed its latest addition to the neighbourhood at 89 Neil Road American fast food chain Shake Shack, which officially opened its doors on Feb 7. One of the breakout spaces at The Working Capitol (Credit: The Working Capitol) The Working Capitols co-working members are currently at 500-strong, and range from those working out of hotdesks, private offices, to its dedicated enterprise solutions bespoke office spaces for 10 people or larger. Story continues Gattie shares that initially, its members were creative agencies which identified with the space. Membership has since expanded to tech, fintech and finance firms. Payments platform Stripe, for instance, took up a two-year lease at the co-working space. They started with us at five people, then expanded to 16, eventually taking up a space for about 90 people, he says. Stripe moved out at end-January. The Working Capitol has welcomed its latest addition to the neighbourhood at 89 Neil Road American fast food chain Shake Shack, which officially opened its doors on Feb 7 (Credit: Shake Shack) Growing into the neighbourhood To create a lifestyle hub at Keong Saik, having the two anchoring sites 1 Keong Saik and 89 Neil Road was crucial, says Gattie. With that, you can really curate your events and offer F&B selections, he explains. Apart from running co-working spaces and curating eateries, The Working Capitol also co-hosts events with its partners, and offers the option for clients to hold events at its dedicated space of about 3,000 sq ft. Altogether, these factors helped create a harmonious synergy that in turn led to a community that is quite loyal and partial to the way we do things, he says. Focusing on the three complementary concepts co-working, events and F&B has also helped The Working Capitol to diversify its risks, and increase profit margins through multiple revenue streams, says Gattie. Gattie aims to increase The Working Capitols existing size by about 50,000 sq ft by end-2020 (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua/ The Edge Singapore) But all these could not have been achieved without first having a strong relationship with the neighbouring landlords, who are typically the mom-and-pop types, reveals Gattie. They like that you can bring in all the facility management and maintenance expertise, as well as the creative concepts, he says. Its kind of a win-win, because they get somebody whom they know is going to care for their property and bring in the best tenant profiles and tenant mix, which is then going to better the neighbourhood as a whole. The companys relationship with its landlords has been forged over time, says Gattie. The addition of the space at 89 Neil Road to The Working Capitol was in fact discussed over four years with the landlord. They know us, and saw what we were doing at 1 Keong Saik, he says. At its first co-working space at 1 Keong Saik Road, members enter through a cafe on the first level abuzz with activity and informal chatter and up a stairway to the second storey that opens out to a more conducive, charming workplace offering (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua/ The Edge Singapore) Shophouse facade and architecture Being housed in shophouses offers The Working Capitol opportunities to highlight the unique layouts. Unlike typical office buildings, which are more uniform in shape, shophouses open up nooks and crannies that allow for creative interpretation. The space at 1 Keong Saik comprises five adjoining three-storey shophouses which were completely gutted and overhauled. On the third floor, 30% of the roof was ripped out to let in natural light, which helps create a dramatic impact in the space. We went through quite an arduous process, Gattie lets on, as these are conserved buildings and came with restrictions. On the third floor of 1 Keong Saik, 30% of the roof was ripped out to let in natural light (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua/ The Edge Singapore) The Working Capitol also brought in local artists such as Ripple Root to brighten up the facade of the shophouses with murals. It really transformed what the space was it used to be this dark alley and some of our neighbours used to dump their rubbish there, he shares. The murals have helped to transform a dark alleyway that used to be a dumping ground (Credit: Ripple Root) Looking ahead In the face of the Covid-19 outbreak, Gattie reveals that The Working Capitol has adjusted to more conservative projections as we adapt ourselves and our community to the new environment. Concern has largely been over big CBD buildings with large footprints and common infrastructure, with more people, he adds. [In contrast], we are dealing in shophouses where there are communal areas but people are largely in their own space. The Working Capitol operates some 70,000 sq ft of co-working spaces across four neighbouring shophouses (Credit: Samuel Isaac Chua/ The Edge Singapore) However, The Working Capitols events arm has been directly impacted, as people avoid large crowds for fear of contagion. For those who have already booked slots for its event space, The Working Capitol is putting in terms for postponing events and helping its partners mitigate their risk. It is also giving them the opportunity to plan for dates later in the year when the situation is hopefully more contained, he says. The Working Capitol remains undeterred in its expansion plans. Gattie aims to increase its existing size by about 50,000 sq ft by end-2020. Weve secured a few more shophouses within the immediate vicinity theres one larger site, and some smaller ones as well, he says. Over here at Keong Saik, weve really anchored the neighbourhood and I want to continue to build on that. That will be our focus for the foreseeable future, Gattie adds. Read also: See Also: President Muhammadu Buhari said that the country has witnessed a decline in banditry because of the control of weapons smuggling since the partial closure of the border. However, according to him, the land borders will remain closed until the report of the tripartite committee made up of Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic is submitted. Buhari stated this when he received the President of Burkina Faso, Mr Roch Marc Christian Kabore, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday, February 21, 2020. He pleaded with the agitating neighbouring West African countries to continue to exercise patience, noting that the decision to close the land borders was purely to safeguard national security. Our major problem is security the inflow of weapons, ammunition and drugs. We have witnessed a decline in banditry using such weapons since the partial closure of the border, Buhari said. Also, our farmers are now able to sell their rice since we stopped the inflow of foreign rice usually dumped in the country. He maintained that his administration will find an enduring solution to the issue, saying, I will work as fast as I can as soon as I receive the report. Earlier, the President of Burkina Faso told Buhari that he was asked by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve the issues that culminated in the partial closure of the border. Kabore said some of the challenges had been discussed, and agreed on, urging Buhari to reconsider the position of Nigeria on the border closure. ALSO READ: Border Closure: We Are Dying Ogun Communities Cries Out To President Buhari Swords' best-loved Elvis fan, Maurice Colgan has attracted the attention of an Elvis-loving entrepreneur who is 'All Shook Up' about acquiring memorabilia from Maurice's recently opened Elvis Presley Story Museum. Harry Crosbie, developer of Dublin's 3 Arena, was so impressed with Maurice's museum that he now wants to buy a substantial amount of his collection so he can keep a piece of the King for himself. Maurice, from Mooretown, opened the museum to the public last December, and the Rock 'N' Roll people of Swords just can't get enough. A lifelong fan of The King, 67-year-old Maurice has been collecting rare Elvis memorabilia since the age of fifteen, which has now all but consumed his small Swords home. Speaking to The Fingal Independent last week, Maurice explained Mr Crosbie's plans for some of the collection. 'Harry wants to buy the bulk of the collection for a new music venue that he's going to open down in Gorey, County Wexford. He said he has a wall there, 10ft x 10ft, where he can display the Elvis memorabilia. He's hoping to get Bono or Ed Sheeran there for the opening date or some big name like that to open the place.' 'I haven't spoken to him yet, I'm waiting to hear back from him. I contacted a reporter who wrote a story on the museum and he's to get back to me to see what Harry wants and choose from the collection. 'Harry said he wouldn't be taking the records, he's more interested in the memorabilia side of it, but have so much stuff, even when he takes it all, that the museum will still be here.' Maurice says he is 'constantly' receiving emails enquiring about his Elvis museum, and is giving fans regular updates on his dealings with Mr Crosbie to let them know what memorabilia will remain at his home. He explains he uses Google Elvis News on a daily basis to see which of his stories are developing, and keeps a close eye on the web to see what's happening in the world of the King. Maurice hopes, he says, to be well-rewarded when he sells the selection of memorabilia to Mr Crosbie, though he says he's 'not expecting a fortune.' For some fans, however, money is no object: 'In the Elvis memorabilia world it all depends on what the person is prepared to pay, and you could just pull any figure out of your head, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000...I don't know. It's part wishful thinking but I'd like to get a fair price.' On the success of the Elvis Presley Story Museum so far, Maurice says: 'There's so many Elvis fans around this area and everyone I speak to knows an Elvis fan or knows someone who's an impersonator who does shows. 'It's the voice, it's always the voice. 'The other thing of course, he was such a handsome guy and that's what got all the ladies going. But it's his voice, there's no doubt about it.' The devastation to an entire eco system caused by the Australian bush fires has raised worldwide concern, not least here in Sligo. One school has responded in its own small way to the plight of the many orphaned and wounded animals who have been displaced by the destruction of their habitat. This took the form of a unique 'Sewing Bee' where students and teachers in Sligo Grammar School dedicated an afternoon to making special pouches for baby kangaroos, wallabies and koalas. Teacher Sandra Tiernan was the driving force behind the project. "This is an issue very close to my heart", she says. From 2001 to 2005 Sandra taught science in Kenthurst, New South Wales, Australia. Although close to Sydney, the area is surrounded by bushland, and fire is a constant threat during the summer months. Sandra has seen, first-hand, the devastation caused by fire, as the school had to be evacuated in late 2003 because of bush fires. "It takes months for the blackened vegetation to get going again", she says, "and this year's fires are particularly severe so it will take a long time for the native woodland to recover." Sandra has a special interest in animals and wildlife, and it was this that brought her to Australia in the first place. "I decided to work in Australia because I was fascinated by the wildlife there which is unique on the planet. Marsupials, particularly interested me, so it really upsets me to see the plight of the baby kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and other marsupials who have lost their mothers to the fires," she says. This was the inspiration behind Sligo Grammar School's Pouch Project. Sandra contacted Australian animal rescue charities and arranged to supply specially made pouches to help the charities care for the wounded and orphaned animals. The pouches mimic the marsupial pouch and provide the babies with comfort and warmth as they recover. An afternoon 'Sewing Bee' was planned and two rooms were set up with sewing machines and work tables. Students from 5th year, along with several teachers, organised a production line, cutting fabric and sewing pouches. By the end of the afternoon about 25 pouches were made to be sent to a central distribution hub in Sydney which will then send them to the many animal rescue charities in New South Wales. Alongside the Sewing Bee, the 5th year students ran a bake sale to raise funds for some of the smaller rescue centres. A total of 556 was raised and will be split between two small animal rescue centres in some of the severely affected areas, Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary and Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. "I'm absolutely delighted with the response from staff and students to both the bake sale and the sewing bee," says Sandra. "And, of course the many parents and students who baked cookies and cakes for us!. "Thanks also to those who donated fabric for the pouches. We couldn't have done it without them all." The pouches will be sent to Australia immediately as will the money raised from the bake sale, and hopefully the efforts of Sligo Grammar School will make some contribution to the great work being done to help the flora and fauna of the Australian Bush. Congress leader and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday called on Pakistan President Arif Alvi during which the two leaders agreed that there was a strong need to work for promotion of peace in the subcontinent. Sinha, who is in Pakistan on a personal visit, called on President Alvi at the Governor House in Lahore and the two discussed Kashmir among other matters of interest, according to a statement by Alvis office. Both Alvi and Sinha agreed that there was a strong need to work for promotion of peace in the subcontinent. Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela on Saturday alleged the Central government of "intentionally removing" Gandhi Ashram visit from US President Donald Trump's programmes because "they believe in Godse's ideology". "I suspect that these people have intentionally cut Gandhi Ashram from Trump's programme because they are people who believe in Godse's ideology," Vaghela, who visited Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on the death anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, said in a press conference here. Vaghela, who is a senior NCP leader, also criticised the changing the slogan from "Kem Chho Trump" to "Namaste Trump" and said that the leaders changed the slogan after criticism. "Whenever a foreign dignitary comes to Gujarat or any state, the state government's approval is a must for the visit. But here, they say that a committee has been formed to invite Trump to Gujarat. This is not the protocol," he said. "As a Gujarati citizen, I have all rights to ask about the wastage of tax payer's money in such kind of an event. A Gujarati thinks thrice before even a cup of tea. Here they are spending so much money," Vaghela added. He said that the government is threatening to deregister students from schools and colleges if they do not attend the February 24 event. "This is not a democracy," Vaghela said. The NCP leader said, "You are people who are against Taj Mahal, but Because Trump's wife wants to see it, they are happy to visit the Taj. They are people who are the Pujaris of lies and not satyagraha. Maybe that is why they have omitted Gandhi Ashram visit from Trump's itinerary." Vaghela also criticized the Central government for "politicising Pulwama incident" and said that "no one was killed during Balakot airstrike". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Virginia Roberts, who claims she was trafficked and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, has said convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's house was crawling with cameras. Roberts has said that she has seen images from the cameras and that they were fitted throughout his house. 'I've seen the video rooms,' she said on Twitter. 'EVERY SINGLE ROOM was being filmed. I've even seen some of the pics.' Prince Andrew was pictured with his arm around Virginia Roberts's waist at Ghislaine Maxwell's house in London in March 2001, although he has raised doubts about the veracity of the photograph Roberts, who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, has said that convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's mansion in Manhattan was crawling with cameras Epstein's 'sex slave' Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, claims she had sex with the Duke of York three times - once in London when she was 17, one time in New York and another at Epstein's private Caribbean island. The claims have been strongly denied by Prince Andrew. Roberts' remarks come after a former acquaintance of Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Epstein and his alleged 'madam', had 'everything on videotape'. In an interview with the New York Post, socialite Christina Oxenberg, said Maxwell had told her about the cameras when they were alone. 'She said many things. All creepy. Unorthodox. Strange. I could not believe whatever she was saying was real. Stuff like: 'Jeffrey and I have everyone on videotape'.' Oxenberg said. Several other sources have also claimed that Epstein secretly filmed his guests using hidden surveillance cameras in his Manhattan mansion, according to The Telegraph. Roberts, now 36 and a mother of three, questioned why police were taking so long to make any arrests 'I've seen the video rooms,' she said on Twitter. 'EVERY SINGLE ROOM was being filmed. I've even seen some of the pics'. In response, Roberts question why there was a hold-up in the police investigation. 'Everyday I wake up hoping that someone has been help accountable and everyday I wake up disappointed,' she said. Prosecutors in the US are investigating sex trafficking allegations and are looking at possible 'conspirators' who worked with Epstein, Andrew has been accused of failing to respond to requests for an interview about the nature of his friendship with Epstein. The duke has stepped away from royal duties following a disastrous Newsnight interview which probed his relationship with disgraced Epstein. Andrew has 'emphatically' denied any relationship with Roberts, who is now 36 and a mother-of-three and living in Cairns in Australia, 'in any form'. Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell, his former girlfriend and alleged 'madam'. A former acquaintance of Maxwell said she told her the couple had 'everything on videotape' The convicted pedophile Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019, with his death being ruled a suicide He says he does not recall a 2001 picture of him with Roberts, in which he appears to have his hand on her bare waist, and Ghislaine Maxwell being taken. He has questioned the authenticity of the picture. The duke has also strongly denied claims he had been dodging an interview with authorities. He also denies any knowledge that Epstein was abusing teenagers. Epstein, who died in August 2019, was found dead in his New York jail cell aged 66 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide but this has been disputed by his lawyers. Should one be allowed to sell Nazi propaganda online? And is it OK to take creative license with Holocaust atrocities? Amazon, the worlds biggest digital retailer, has been confronted with both of these questions in recent days, highlighting the companys uniquely powerful role in shaping millions of peoples views of history and culture. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum criticized Amazon Prime on Sunday for Hunters, a new television series that shows a fictional human chess game at a concentration camp. On Friday, the memorial joined other Holocaust educators in calling on Amazon to stop selling The Poisonous Mushroom, an illustrated childrens book by Julius Streicher, the founder of the Nazi-era anti-Semitic newspaper Der Sturmer. By Monday, the book was no longer being sold on the site. The Amazon Prime series Hunters stars Al Pacino and tells the story of Nazi hunters in New York City in 1977. Amazon said it was inspired by true events. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd February 2020 PSNI officers at the scene of security alert in Felden Avenue area of Newtownabbey in north Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd February 2020 PSNI officers at the scene of security alert in Felden Avenue area of Newtownabbey in north Belfast. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye A security alert has ended after a "viable device" in Felden Place in Newtownabbey was made safe, police have said. Residents were evacuated from about twenty homes in the area after the device was found on saturday afternoon. Army technical officers removed and made safe the device, after which residents were allowed return to their homes after being accommodated in the Valley Leisure Centre. PSNI Inspector Patty said: "The consequences of this attack could have been devastating. "We're grateful to local people for their patience. "Families had to leave their homes, having their afternoon disrupted, while we worked to make the area safe. "Most importantly, it's fortunate that no-one was physically injured." Sinn Fein councillor Taylor McGrann said the attack was "reckless" and "an unnecessary nightmare for residents on a Saturday afternoon." He said: "The people responsible should be ashamed of themselves." Sanders, 78, a democratic socialist US senator from Vermont, is considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and is favored to win the Nevada caucuses on Saturday Washington: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders warned Russia on Friday to stay out of 2020 White House elections after US officials had told him Moscow was trying to aid his campaign. The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr. Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections, Sanders told reporters in Bakersfield, California. Sanders, 78, a democratic socialist US senator from Vermont, is considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and is favored to win the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. The Washington Post on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, said US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort and had also informed Republican President Donald Trump and US lawmakers. It was not clear what form the Russian assistance took, the paper said. A congressional source confirmed intelligence officials have told lawmakers Russia appears to be engaging in disinformation and propaganda campaigns to boost the 2020 campaigns of both Sanders and Trump. The source, however, cautioned that the findings are very tentative. Sanders said he was briefed about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign, Sanders told reporters. Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections. What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing - and Ive seen some of their tweets and stuff - is they try to divide us up, he said. They are trying to cause chaos. Theyre trying to cause hatred in America." Moscow denies The Kremlin on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the US presidential campaign to boost Trumps re-election chances, following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week. These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the (US) election, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. They have nothing to do with the truth. US intelligence officials told members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of Novembers election, as it did in 2016, a person familiar with the discussion told Reuters on Thursday. Since that briefing, Trump has ousted the acting intelligence chief, replacing him with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as Democrats and former U.S. officials raised the alarm over national security concerns. A senior administration official said the nation was better positioned than in 2016 to defend against foreign attempts to influence elections. President Donald Trump has made clear that any efforts or attempts by Russia, or any other nation, to influence or interfere with our elections, or undermine US democracy will not be tolerated, the official said. Some of Sanders rivals for the Democratic nomination said they had neither received similar briefings nor word that Russia was working to boost their campaigns. Former vice president Joe Biden told CNN on Friday: I know Russia doesnt want me to win. Its really clear that Putin doesnt want me to be the nominee, and Donald Trump doesnt want me to be the nominee. US senator Elizabeth Warren, while campaigning in Las Vegas, said there should be as much transparency as possible to block Russia from having too much influence in US elections. This is about disinformation and the way to fight disinformation is to call it out, show what it is and give everyone full information as quickly as possible, Warren told reporters. Russian Accounts Facebook declined to comment on whether it has seen any evidence of Russian assistance to Sanders campaign. In October, the company took down Russian-backed accounts that pretended to be from political battleground states. Some of those accounts used Instagram to praise Sanders. Another used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and faulted Biden on race issues. Jessica Brandt of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, an organization that monitors foreign interference in US politics, said Russian state media and official social media accounts have been working to help Sanders by amplifying conspiracy theories that his Democratic rivals, the Democratic National Committee and the corporate media have been rigging the system against him. We can say with certainty that this is what the Russian government is pushing, she told Reuters. Weve seen for some time Russian official channels promoting division within the Democratic Party. Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, which works with Facebook to analyze state-backed information operations, said Russian influence operations are equal opportunity hyperpartisan, with the overarching goal to drive Americans further away from each other. US officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the 3 November presidential election, following Russias meddling in the 2016 campaign that ended with Trumps surprise victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. US intelligence agencies concluded that the Kremlin used disinformation operations, cyber attacks and other methods in its 2016 operation in an effort to boost Trump, an allegation that Russia denies. Trump, sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticized American intelligence agencies. Russias alleged interference sparked a two-year-long US investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. He also pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to obstruct his investigation, as Democrats alleged, but left any finding of obstruction to Congress. Oleksiy Danilov will get acquainted with the situation that has developed around the deployment of Ukrainians evacuated from China Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, on behalf of President Vladimir Zelensky, flew to Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, where clashes occurred on February 20 due to the deployment of Ukrainians from China for observation. The press service of the NSDC reported that. The department said that Danilov would familiarize himself in detail with the situation prevailing around the placement of Ukrainians evacuated from China in Novi Sanzhary, the medical center of the National Guard. As we reported before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky created an interim working group on healthcare system reform and approved its composition. The corresponding decree No. 55/2020 was signed by the head of state on February 21. "The working group should analyze the progress of reforming the healthcare system of Ukraine until March 1, 2020. In particular, on the implementation of state guarantees of medical care for the population under the program of medical guarantees for primary care and the readiness of healthcare institutions to implement the same guarantees for other types of medical care," - the statement says. In the midst of continuing protests by Muslims over CAA, NRC and NPR in Tamil Nadu, DMK chief M K Stalin on Saturday asked the ruling AIADMK to release the letter it has sent to the Centre over certain aspects on the National Population Register exercise. Stalin also urged Chief Minister K Palaniswami to convene a meeting of the state cabinet and pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act. An AIADMK statement by Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam on Friday said it will not allow anything that would harm minorities and charged arch rival DMK with trying to create confusion through false propaganda. According to the statement, the state government has also written to the Centre that certain information and documents like Aadhaar should be avoided in the upcoming Census,in an apparent reference to apprehensions being raised over certain aspects of the NPR process. "If it is true that they really wrote a letter to the Central government over certain aspects of NPR, they should have released the letter. Why are they discreetly holding it in their possession?" Stalin asked in a statement here. Claiming that Palaniswami acknowledged the points raised by him in the Assembly over the NPR and CAA, Stalin said the AIADMK should have at least passed a resolution in the House that they will not allow NPR and also not implement the new law in the state. Stalin also wanted know whom were they trying to satisfy by saying they have written to the Centre. He claimed that the minorities in Tamil Nadu would not be taken in by the "crocodile tears" shed by the ruling AIADMK and its statement that the government would not allow any activity against them. The DMK chief also urged Palaniswami to pass a resolution against the CAA by convening a meeting of the State cabinet. Meanwhile, protests against the CAA, NPR and National Register of Citizens continued to be held across Tamil Nadu by Muslims on Saturday. While protests by Muslim outfits at Old Washermanpet in Chennai entered the ninth day on Saturday, members of various Muslim organisations including some women staged protests and raised slogans seeking withdrawal of the CAA in Kaatumannarkoil near Cuddalore, and also at Lalpet near Erode. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed December 16 Delhi gang rape convict Vinay Sharmas plea seeking treatment at Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) for mental illness. Vinay Sharmas counsel, AP Singh, had told the court earlier this week that his client suffers from mental illness, schizophrenia and has failed to recognise his counsel and family. Therefore, Sharma had sought directions to authorities to provide him high-level medical treatment to him for his injuries. According to the plea, his counsel found that Sharma had grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm with plaster, and was suffering from insanity. Tihar Jail authorities, however, earlier in the day told a local court that the death row convicts injuries are self-inflicted and he is not suffering from any mental health issues. Refuting claims by Sharmas claims, public prosecutor Irfan Ahmad, who is representing the jail, said the petition was a bundle of distorted facts. The death row convict himself struck his head on the wall and it was a self-inflicted injury, which can been seen in the CCTV footage submitted by jail authorities, Ahmad said. On Sharmas plea seeking treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Ahmad earlier said all the convicts are regularly examined by the jail doctors Sharmas history reveal that he is not suffering from such disease as claimed by his lawyer AP Singh.So his examination at any hospital is not required, the public prosecutor said. The court had on February 17 issued fresh death warrants for execution on March 3 at 6 am against the four death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case. It had issued fresh warrants against the four death row convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay (26) and Akshay Kumar (31). Reacting to the courts dismissal, the Delhi gang rape victims mother Asha Devi said that the convicts and their family should come to terms with the fact that there are no legal remedies left. The courts have understood it and the convicts will be hanged on March 3 as scheduled, she said. New Delhi, Feb 22 : Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday expressed concern over a "sinister campaign" on social media attempting to influence the judiciary. Speaking at the inaugural session of the International Judicial Conference, Prasad said, "In a sinister trend, some people have started campaigning on social media on certain issues," adding this section is trying to influence the judiciary, especially attempting to establish what kind of judgement should be on sensitive issues. Prasad said this is a serious concern as the judiciary is independent. "They campaign in social media... on what kind of judgement they expect", he added. The Law Minister refrained from naming the protests or campaign against the Citizenship Amendment Act, especially the Shaheen Bagh protest which has been going on for more than two months. "I am a great supporter of social media and freedom, I know it is empowering. But, judges should be left completely independent to deliver judgement. Some people start campaigning as to what kind of judgement they expect, and if judgement is not in accordance with that, then they unleash forces of criticism", said Prasad. The Law Minister also said that the right to privacy is very important and that it must be protected as it flows from Article 21 -- the right to life and right to live with dignity. "But, terrorists and the corrupt cannot claim right to privacy", said Prasad. He said the right to privacy has acquired a critical proportion in the wake of digital landscape expanding globally. He emphasized that the internet is one of the greatest innovations of humankind, and attempts to abuse it cannot be allowed. "We have given constitutional right to privacy... We should not allow anybody to kill this innovation (internet)...Terrorists should not be allowed to abuse the internet", he added. Prasad also praised the recent Supreme Court judgment giving women officers in the Army the right to command, and termed it a great initiative towards gender empowerment. A 13-year-old student of Folademi Private School, located at Ola Farm area of Abaranje, in Ikotun area of Lagos State, has reportedly committed suicide after being suspended for sexual assault. P.M Express reports that the SS1 student, identified simply as Juwon, drank poisonous insecticide, Sniper, after he was suspended from the school for two weeks, over allegation that he touched the butt of a female classmate, named Chinaza. One of the students reported the incident to the school management and they questioned him. Although Juwon denied sexually harassing Chinaza, the management found him culpable, and subsequently suspended him for two weeks to serve as a deterrent to other students. It was reported that the boy felt humiliated and drank the poisonous substance when he got home. His parents found him unconscious when they returned home, and rushed him to an undisclosed hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead. His corpse was taken to the cemetery and buried immediately on the same day. Juwons death reportedly triggered a protest in the school. His classmates and other youths in the area stormed Chinazas home to attack her because they blamed her for his death. The school management has directed the students to embark on mid-term break, in order to calm the tension in the school. The police at Ikotun police division are said to have begun investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had reported how two secondary girls from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, sold their friend for N50,000 to a ritualist in Epe, Lagos State. Hitting out at the central government for spending crores of rupees to welcome Donald Trump, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday called the US President "Mogambo", the villain essayed by late actor Amrish Puri in the Bollywood film 'Mr India'. He claimed that the government is doing everything to make "Mogambo" happy. "What is the need to spend crore of rupees from the government's treasury? People living in slums are being forced to hide or move to make Trump happy. Is this the right behaviour? Gujarat was developed by Modi as a model for others but the poor are being exploited there. It is like we will do everything to make Mogambo happy. We will protest against the Modi government," he told ANI. Chowdhury, who is Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, has also declined the invitation by Rashtrapati Bhavan for the banquet being organised in honour of Trump on February 25, citing that the similar invitation was not extended to party's interim president Sonia Gandhi. "Trump is coming here. India to host a grand dinner for him but the Opposition is not invited. Why Sonia Gandhi ji is not invited for dinner with Trump. In 'Howdy Modi' event, both Republican and Democrats shared the stage. But here, only Modi will be with Trump. What kind of democracy is this?" Chowdhury said, adding that the Centre should respect democracy. "Trump is coming to India is a very big thing. The US is a powerful nation and we welcome their president in our country. The country which he represents is considered as the oldest democracy and India as the biggest democracy. Democracy has some features which everyone shall respect," he said. The US President and First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting India on February 24 and 25. Trump will first visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat and take part in a roadshow with the Prime Minister in Ahmedabad. He will also address at the "Namaste Trump" event at Motera Stadium in the city. Later, he will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra and attend a cultural programme in the city. Trump will then travel to Delhi where he will hold delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister and meet other leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Photo : Pixabay) PlayStation 4 With Sony pulling out of major industrial activities like E3, PAX East, and GDC, speculations on the company's upcoming PlayStation 5 console is on a hot seat. There's still a whole lot people don't know about PS5 - including the release date, the price, the release games - but enterprise analysts are already taking a toll on sales forecasts. Hideki Yasuda, an analyst with Japan's Ace Research Institute, is going all-in at the PS5, forecasting it will ship 6 million gadgets by using March 31, 2021. Tom's Guide interprets that Sony Corporation will pass similarly 15 million PS5 consoles through the give up of March 2022, an "unprecedented rate" of income for gaming hardware. Should the one's numbers endure out, that could put PS5 in the strolling to be one of the fastest-promoting consoles ever. ALSO READ: PlayStation 5 Set To Be More Energy Efficient As Sony Combats Climate Change PS5 expected to lag behind PS4 sales That's a solid figure, but T3 says PS5 is expected to lag behind the PlayStation 4's release sales. Keep in mind that 'ship' isn't the same as 'sell.' "Shipped units don't [equate] console sales, which are typically lower given that those units then have to be sold. But if that's the case, the PS5 will be lagging behind the PS4 from the get-go," T3 notes. The PlayStation 2 currently holds the document for most gadgets bought throughout its lifetime, with a whopping 158 million by 2013. But that achievement did not come proper off the bat. In its first year, Sony bought a little extra than 10 million PS2s. The modern fastest-selling console is the Nintendo Switch, which moved an impressive 14 million gadgets within the 365 days following its March 2017 release. Yasuda's predictions for the PS5 fall right consistent with those hefty numbers, and raise the opportunity Sony's subsequent console may be a new document-setter. It's also worth noting that the Playstation 4 sold 7.5 million devices inside the time body being suggested for the PS5's delivery projections. The PS4 is currently the second best-selling console of all time next to Playstation 2. ALSO READ: Sony Demos PlayStation 5 Loading Times Compared With The PlayStation 4 Pro PS5 vs. previous PlayStation generations: What's the difference? One of the key promoting points of the PS5 is the adoption of a solid-hard drive, which promises to make tedious loading monitors a thing of the past. In theory, this could remove the need for prolonged interstitials whilst traversing a game's map or coming into combat. Developers have discovered clever workarounds for this, like God of War's realm between nation-states and Final Fantasy XV's leisurely convertible drives. However, it's still attractive to assume high-spec games without them. In mid-February, Bloomberg said that Sony was struggling with the price of its new console, with hardware costs creeping up to $450, meaning the employer ought to see a loss per unit at any rate point underneath $499. Microsoft is a miles larger organization than its biggest competitor in the gaming space and may prefer to undercut Sony on charge by using offsetting hardware losses with income elsewhere within the organization. Sony's withdrawal from occasions like PAX and GDC in recent weeks has brought about hypothesis that delivers chain slowdowns in China due to coronavirus would possibly put off the launch of subsequent-gen consoles like PS5 and Series X. Game industry analyst Daniel Ahmad cited on Twitter that pointing out the long-term effects of the viral outbreak and how it would affect the next-gen console launches is 'too early.' "It very much relies upon on how quickly producers can return to work and reap full production levels," he added. ALSO READ: PlayStation 5 Control Devs Talk About the Console's "Stand Out" Feature The inverse analysis Sony Corporation's PS4 has dominated the recent console generation by means of a country mile, in spite of a truly spectacular fourth-sector surge from the Nintendo Switch. The business enterprise could want to make some extreme flubs with the PS5 release to lose its considerable advantage, both in terms of consumer base and proper unique IP like God of War, The Last of Us, and Spider-Man. However, if Microsoft comes out swinging with a Series X rate far under PS5's anticipated $499, Sony might have hassle accomplishing the one's lofty targets. ALSO READ: Upcoming PS5 Price Revealed In Investor Call The next-gen PlayStation console is still predicted to fly off the shelves in time for the 2020 holidays. While it may crawl in the back of the PS4 in sales, we might be surprised if Sony has another PlayStation 3 on its hands, which best bought 87.4 million all through its life span. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A team of WHO experts visited China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus, on Saturday as death toll due to the epidemic climbed to 2,345 with 109 more fatalities reported, while the confirmed cases of infection rose to 76,288, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. A total of 397 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on Friday, while 109 deaths were reported from 31 provincial-level regions, the health authority said. By the end of Friday, a total of 2,345 people had died of the disease and 76,288 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection had been reported from all over the country. Among the deaths, 106 were from the Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus, one each from Hebei province, Shanghai and Xinjiang, it said, the National Health Commission (NHC) said. The central Hubei province reported 366 new confirmed cases and 106 new deaths on Friday. The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 63,454, the provincial health commission said. The team of public health experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has visited Wuhan city, the capital of Hubei province, to conduct a detailed probe about the virus which reportedly originated from a sea food market in December last year. The NHC said the WHO experts along with their Chinese counterparts who formed a joint investigation team have held talks with the local health authority in Wuhan and visited relevant healthcare institutions. The UN team comprises specialists from the United States, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore and South Korea, Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported. The 12-member team, which arrived in China on Monday, was initially designated to visit only Beijing, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces, while the worst-affected Hubei province and its capital Wuhan were missing from the list. However, the team was finally given permission to visit Wuhan by the Chinese government. Besides controlling the spread of the virus, a major task for the WHO team along with their Chinese counterparts was to come up with standard medicine to cure the disease. The NHC said on Saturday that the team had met top Chinese respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan in Guangdong, and visited the centre for disease control and prevention in Guangdong and the city of Shenzhen, and Sichuan. The specialists also discussed quarantine measures, the wild animal trade and community prevention measures with their Chinese counterparts, it said. Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Washington-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations, said it was important for the team to see conditions on the ground and to offer advice. "Fact-finding is important, especially doing risk assessments and evaluating the situation on the ground, and helping other countries better prepare for this outbreak," Huang was quoted as saying in the media report. "But in the meantime, I think they could do more in terms of helping China, for example, evaluate the effectiveness of containment measures, to guide their Chinese counterparts, the treatment protocols, helping them identify the origin of the virus," he said. On Saturday, the NHC said China has made progress in curing patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as it steps up epidemic prevention and control measures and medical reinforcements. A total of 36,680 confirmed COVID-19 patients were still being treated in hospitals on Friday, compared with the peak number of 38,020 on February 18, Mi Feng, spokesperson for the NHC told the media here. The rest of the Hubei province reported 10,967 confirmed cases on Friday, compared with the peak number of 13,886 on February 14, Mi said pointing that the number of cases were coming down in the epicentre. Outside Hubei, the number of COVID-19 patients still hospitalised were 5,637 on Friday, dropping significantly from a peak of 9,141 on February 11, Mi said. Only 31 new confirmed cases were reported outside Hubei on Friday, with all other provincial-level regions reporting less than 10 or zero new infections. A total of 20,659 COVID-19 patients had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Friday. China has postponed the Boao Forum for Asia, its most prestigious annual meeting held in the picturesque Hainan province where it would invite top world leaders, CEOs to discuss economy, trade and related issues. The forum was expected to take place from March 24-27. China also hinted at postponing the annual parliament session to be held in the first week of March. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will last its full term. Speaking at the "Vision Maharashtra" event organised by Marathi channel Abp Majha, Pawar praised Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Sena, for his leadership. "I have no doubtthat the state government will complete its full tenure of five years," the NCP chief said. Pawar's party is a part of the Sena-led government, along with the Congress. "Uddhav Thackeray is the kind of person who takes everyone forward with him," he said. When asked to rate the performance of Thackeray as CM, Pawar said the former has not yet faced an exam, but he is walking on the right path. "He gives his colleagues chanceto do good work," Pawar added. When asked about the differences in views among the three ruling constituents, Pawar said, "This is a coalition government. Once a coalition is formed, and it has decided to come together. (It is assumed that) One has agreed to certain terms, then there is no bitterness and discontentin the equation. There are not many hurdles in running the government". "The Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress know that they have to play a key role in making the MVA successful," the NCP chief said. He refuted the speculation that the remote control of the government is in his hands. "I have a very clear approach toward this alliance. I will not give my opinions until I am asked. If any decision is affecting the state negatively, then I discuss it at the party level, not in the government. We have a coordination committee now with two representatives from each party to solve contentious issues. I do not interfere in the government," he said. Pawar, however, said if there are some questions related to the Centre and Maharashtra then the ruling parties sit together and deliberate on them. His comments came on the backdrop of Thackeray's statement that he had no problems with the National Population Register (NPR) and that nobody should be afraid over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Sena's stand appeared at variance with that of the NCP and the Congress. Pawar said the MVA has a decentralised decision-making process. "If any important decision is to be taken, when it comes to the Sena that it is done in Maharashtra. When it comes to the Congress one has to go to Delhi. If a decision- making process is localised, it is more effective," Pawar said when asked about the difference in the work culture between the Sena and the Congress. He said the Congress has nowadopted astand thatthe alliance has to work. "We all have agreed to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). So, the Congress has resolved to follow the CMP-based decisions and make the alliance work," Pawar said. When asked about MNS chief Raj Thackeray's attempts to grow closer to the BJP, Pawar said, "Maharashtra needs an aggressive opposition right now. It remains to be seen who will take that role, whether it is the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena or the BJP. "The MNS has a strong appeal in Maharashtra. People are keen to hear Raj Thackeray's opinion on various issues. However, why this appeal does not translate to votes needs to be studied," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mary Lou McDonald at the Carrickdale Hotel in County Louth on Friday. Photo credit: Sinn Fein/PA Wire Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has said that IRA "does not exist" after criticism of the role the organisation plays in her party. She was speaking after the head of the Republic's police force said its view "does not differ" from the PSNI's analysis that the IRA Army Council still oversees both Sinn Fein and the remaining elements of the terror group. Asked at an event in Dundalk Mrs McDonald said that the IRA does not exist "so far as I am aware". "I don't answer for the IRA, I'm not a spokesperson for the IRA. I'm the leader of Sinn Fein and I'm telling you, the war is over," she said. The Sinn Fein leader said that she had "no contact or relationship with the IRA". "Nobody directs Sinn Fein other than Sinn Fein members and the Sinn Fein leadership," she said. "I'm the leader of Sinn Fein, I know who runs Sinn Fein." Expand Close Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (Brian Lawless/PA) Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed the Garda view of the relationship between the Provisional Army Council, the IRA and Sinn Fein at a passing out ceremony for new officers at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary. "I am aware of the PSNI and British security services assessment and we do not differ from that view," Mr Harris said. It comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called on Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald to publicly state if her party has cut links with the IRA Provisional Army Council. He tweeted: "Why doesn't McDonald disband the Army Council and the PIRA or if she cannot, repudiate them and sever all links and do so publicly and unequivocally?" A 2015 report commissioned by the UK Government on the status of Irish terrorist groups concluded that the Provisional Army Council still existed, as did the Provisional IRA, though in a smaller form and committed to the peace process. The report was written by the PSNI and MI5 and stated the Provisional Army Council still strategically oversaw both the IRA and Sinn Fein. In November 2019, the PSNI reiterated its view that the Army Council retains oversight of Sinn Fein and that there had been no changes in their 2015 assessment. Police issued the clarification following concern that the latest report from the paramilitary monitoring body the Independent Review Commission (IRC) did not mention the continuing influence of republican terror groups, including the Provisional IRA and the INLA. Speaking at the time, Sinn Fein MP Mickey Brady rejected the PSNI assessment. "The IRA is gone and not coming back," he said. On Friday morning, Mr Harris said: "On national security matters and matters around the security of the State, its my obligation to report those into the Government, as you would expect me to do in the first place. "Also then, we have contributed to the IRC (Independent Reporting Commission) reporting on the status of various paramilitary groups. And we would hold then with their opinion on these matters." A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: "It will not be lost on people that this nonsense is again being repeated." The Ulster Unionist Partys Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie called for political parties in the Republic to give careful consideration to the comments. He said: "Todays comments [...] will come as a reminder to the people of the Republic that the IRA has not gone away. "Two weeks ago 25 per cent of people in the Republic voted for a party whose policy is reported to be directed by an unelected cabal, the IRA Army Council. Many of those who voted for Sinn Fein may have been well aware of that, but it might come as news to others. "They should also remember that the IRA murdered police officers, prison officers, soldiers and civilians on both sides of the Irish border. The Army Council that directed them still exists and now directs Sinn Feins political strategy. "A 2015 report concluded that the IRA Army Council still existed. It is shocking that nothing has changed since." Castro, Mission Photo: Kokak Chocolates/Facebook Here's the latest in SF food news. In this edition: a "whimsical" chocolate brand prepares to debut its Castro shop, a pizzeria relocates from Divisadero to the Lower Haight, and a Korean deli launches a weekend bibimbap pop-up. Openings Castro Kokak Chocolates (3901 18th St.) Photo: Alisa Scerrato/Hoodline Kokak Chocolates is nearing its debut in the former Cafe UB space at 18th and Sanchez streets. As we reported in August, the shop is owned by chocolatier Carol Gancia, who's also the founder of Burlingame-based video production company Ripplemakers, Inc. Intended to be a "whimsical and fun" brand, Kokak's chocolates are shaped like tree leaves and frogs. ("Kokak" is the Tagalog equivalent of "ribbit.") They come in flavors like mango milk chocolate, passion fruit milk chocolate, and matcha white chocolate, with customizable design options for weddings or corporate events. In addition to chocolate, the new storefront will offer cafe fare like sandwiches, salads, baked goods and espresso drinks. While Gancia did not respond to a request for comment, Kokak's Instagram page says it will open in "a few weeks." Workers are currently painting, doing electrical work and finishing up the shop's exterior. We'll keep you posted on its official opening day. Lower Haight Seniore's Pizza (456 Haight St.) The Jaber family. The Jaber family. | Photo: Stephen Jackson/Hoodline Last month, Seniore's Pizza closed its Divisadero location (559 Divisadero St.) after four years in business. While the family-owned pizzeria still has locations in SoMa (320 11th St.) and Parkside (2415 19th Ave.), family member James Jaber said that it had also lined up a new location near the shuttered one. At the time, Jaber declined to disclose the new location, but tipster Kiah J. says Seniore's will be moving into former Volare Pizza space in the Lower Haight and Google Maps confirms it. The Jabers couldn't be reached to discuss when the new Seniore's will open, but we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, customers can visit the two other SF pizzerias, or locations in San Bruno, San Mateo, Berkeley and Santa Clara. Story continues Updates Mission Rhea's Deli & Market (800 Valencia St.) Photo: Allie Pape/Hoodline After closing its more Korean-food-centric spinoff, Rhea's Cafe, in 2018, Valencia Street's Rheas Deli & Market returned to its original mission of serving deli sandwiches. But with no Korean spots in its corner of the Mission, customers have been asking for more of the cuisine, says owner James Choi. So Rhea's is switching things up on weekend nights with a bibimbap pop-up. For the unacquainted, bibimbap is a Korean rice bowl topped with seasoned and pickled vegetables and a fried egg; Rhea's runs $9, with the option to add chicken or bulgogi (marinated beef) for $1.50 and $2.50 extra, respectively. Those seeking a more unusual iteration can try the kimcheebap, with kimchi, mozzarella and Spam, or the currybap, with shrimp and a fried egg. The menu is rounded out by Rhea's popular Korean steak sandwich, along with a rotating sandwich of the week. Photo: Allie Pape/Hoodline The pop-up (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6 9 p.m.) will continue through this weekend and the next, according to Rhea's manager. After that, Choi will evaluate whether or not to keep it going. If you're looking to sample the kimcheebap, be sure to get there early the manager says it's been the pop-up's most popular item. Thanks to tipster Kiah J.! 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 TRENTON One of Mayor Reed Guscioras biggest adversaries called him racist for dismissing her push to change the way the capital city picks Board of Education members. The mayor thanked council for voting down the West Ward councilwomans silly proposal, nixed by a 4 to 3 vote Thursday night. The measure would have put the question to voters whether to reclassify the city school district from Type I to a Type II. Board members would get elected rather than appointed by the mayor, as they are now, under Vaughns proposal. Trenton board president Addie Daniels-Lane spoke in opposition to the switch at a meeting this week. Council members Jerell Blakeley, an outspoken former Trenton grad and educator, Marge Caldwell-Wilson, George Muschal and Joe Harrison voted against the resolution. Mayor Reed Gusciora applauded the governing bodys vote in a Facebook post Thursday night. He previously called the measure unwise and a step back for Trenton. Council did a great job shooting down a silly proposal to politicize our school board. We are moving forward as a City and making progress. Best years are ahead of us, he said. That triggered a series of angry responses from Vaughn, who accused Gusciora of supporting policies that dont help Trentonians. You do not advocate for good policies for your urban school district that is largely attended by kids of color, the West Ward councilwoman commented under the mayors post. Racist policies. #ReedTheRacist #RTR Blacks and Hispanics account for more than 97 percent of the Trentons 11,922 students, according to state Department of Education 2018-19 enrollment data. Trenton is one of 15 Type I districts compared with 529 Type II districts throughout New Jersey, according to the state. Vaughn pointed to those demographics in her criticism of the mayors stance. Why is it okay for families of color to not have the ability to direct policy in the environment where they are sending their kids? Vaughn wrote. An elected school board is an opportunity to enhance civic engagement and gain community participation in the citys public education system. 97% percent of New Jerseys public school districts are Type II elected boards, 90% in Mercer County, 90% nationwide. A missed opportunity. Not everyone felt the same way, with at least one commenter telling Vaughn she was misused the word racist. Mayoral aide Andrew Bobbitt took a dig at Vaughn: There are 7 Trenton Council members but how many attended Trenton Public Urban Schools. I will wait, he said. Blakeley proudly flexed his Trenton Central Tornado alumnus status. Im the only Trenton High graduate who is a current elected official in the entire county, he wrote. Actually Im not the only one; Assemblywoman Reynolds Jackson is a Tornado too! Vaughn responded, I attended Joseph Stokes Memorial School and my older siblings attended Junior 3 until my parents moved to Ewing. Further, both my mother, father, aunts and uncles, cousins all attended Trenton Schools. Actually, you know my Aunt Mrs. Peters, taught at Cook School. While Vaughn lost on the school board vote, she and colleagues, needing a super majority, voted 5 to 2 to override Guscioras vetoes of her anti-nepotism and bullying ordinances. Gusciora, who didnt respond to a phone call seeking comment, conditionally vetoed the latter urging Vaughn to tone down language in the bill. The anti-nepotism bill excluded the family members of elected and appointed officials from seeking city employment. The ban extended to those appointed to Trentons voluntary boards and commissions, something the mayor and two council members decried in interviews last week, saying the ordinance needlessly prohibited qualified residents from getting jobs based on distant family ties. The mayor slammed the nepotism measure as misguided saying it would discourage residents from serving on volunteer boards and commissions because family members will lose out on employment opportunities in city government. Harrison and Blakeley voted no on the vetoes. In other business, the council approved 4 to 3 a nearly $1.8 million settlement for former Trenton Fire Capt. Michael Strycharz. The city law department recommended the settlement, requiring the city pony up $800,000 with the rest covered by its insurance provider, rather than fighting the case at trial. The council rejected the settlement in November and established an investigative subcommittee, led by McBride, to examine the law departments handling of the matter. Muschal, the South Ward councilman, previously said he was tired of the city giving out handouts on what he believed were frivolous claims. He wanted the city attorneys to do their jobs and fight more in court. Muschal, changing his tune, Blakeley, Caldwell-Wilson and Harrison voted to approve the settlement. Vaughn and Santiago Rodriguez voted no while McBride abstained. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Congress leader and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday called on Pakistan President Arif Alvi during which the two leaders agreed that there was a strong need to work for promotion of peace in the subcontinent. Sinha, who is in Pakistan on a personal visit, called on President Alvi at the Governor House in Lahore and the two discussed Kashmir among other matters of interest, according to a statement by Alvi's office. Both Alvi and Sinha agreed that there was a strong need to work for promotion of peace in the subcontinent. On the day of the double homicide, a man named Romeo Castro, 19, of Hammond, opened fire on a group of 20 people who gathered at a makeshift memorial for a 23-year-old Hammond man who had been shot the day before. About 30 rounds were fired from an assault rifle on the crowd, which included Latin Kings gang members. At least one Latin Kings member returned fire with a handgun, court records said. Calvillo died that night, after she was shot while shepherding neighborhood children inside her home in the 5500 block of Beall Avenue to take cover from the gunfire. The Hammond High School teen has been hailed as a hero in the community for ushering the five children to safety and the 5500 block of Beall Avenue was renamed in Calvillos honor. White was wounded in the shooting. He subsequently underwent several surgeries and was rendered a quadriplegic, able to use only his right arm, according to court records. He died Dec. 5, 2015, at a Dyer nursing home. Soon after, Castro suffered the same fate as his victims. On Dec. 19, 2015, after he entered a home in Gary's Dorie Miller Housing Complex and gunned down a man named Freddie Veal. When Castro turned his gun on a second man near Veal, the man shot Castro to death. Economist Dinh The Hien talks about why the Government should create a fair legal corridor for both the private and public sectors. Economist Dinh The Hien Do you have any comments on the development of the Vietnamese private economic sector? The Vietnamese private economic sector has played an important role in the national renewal process. In 1992 when Vietnam started its renewal process, most young Vietnamese people preferred to work for State-owned companies rather than private firms. However, 20 years have gone by and this thinking has become outdated. Everyone has acknowledged the considerable contributions made by the private sector to the national economy, particularly in the terms of high-quality products and the employment sector. Nowadays, many private enterprises/companies have become essential stakeholders in key areas that used to be controlled by State corporations, like the electricity and transport sectors. In other words, the private sector has become part and parcel of the national economy. However, most Vietnamese private companies have focused on only providing services to the domestic market, including the real estate market, transport and hydropower. Vietnam is a strong country thanks to its agricultural products, but most private companies have yet to venture into the field of processing to increase their added value. We have quite a few tech companies, but none of them have thought of applying hi-tech to increase the value of agricultural products. How do you respond to claims that say Vietnam will only become a rich country when the private sector develops? Not only in Vietnam, in most developed countries the private sector contributes more than 85 per cent to their GDP. The private sector is the main pillar ensuring the country develops strongly and sustainably. No country could develop without contributions from the private sector. In other words, people will become rich and the country will become strong when the private economy is developed strongly and healthily. The Vietnamese private sector has developed rather quickly and become an essential driver for national economic development. Vietnam now has more than 750,000 Vietnamese private companies that provide jobs to some 12 million people. They contribute up to 43 per cent of the countrys GDP. In the service sector, the private sector accounts for up to 85 per cent of GDP. What key factors will help the private sector develop on a par with the State sector? A level playing field is the only way to help the private sector develop on a par with the State sector. To achieve this goal, there should be clear guidelines and policies for the public sector that say: let them do it! The Government should not interfere too much in their affairs. Some people think it will be difficult to create a level playing field, but in reality it is not so. If the private sector can do the job, the State should stand back. The other point I want to mention is that the Government should speed up the equalisation of State companies. If this process is completed there will be no differentiation between State companies and private companies. Vietnam will then only have joint-stock companies, listed firms and small- and medium-sized enterprises. Last but not least, the Government should create a level playing field for both the State economy and the private economy, and for Vietnamese enterprises and foreign firms. VNS/KTDT Who will lead Vietnam's economy? Since it normalized relations with the powers like China in 1991 and the USA in 1995, Vietnam has begun to integrate into the global economy. Huge capital flows into private sector The reliance of private enterprises, business households and individuals on bank credit has brought both positive and negative effects. Terence J. (Terry) Quinn grew up in Scotland. He had a successful international career as a newspaper journalist, editor and publisher in Britain, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. His second novel, Deadline, published this month by Simon & Schuster Australia, is an international political thriller set in a London tabloid newsroom. Captain Blood, Raphael Sabatini This was the first racy, grown-up book I remember reading as an adolescent after a childhood cotton-woolled by the Famous Five and Just William. Along with Treasure Island, Raphael Sabatinis classic saga of the wrongly-convicted physician-turned-pirate Richard Blood, sparked my lifetime lust for swash and buckle. Could that be why my first book, The Scoop, centred on modern-day piracy? Go figure. Terry Quinn adores Herman Wouk's books. Credit: The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien Let's see ... it was the late '60s, I was 17, had Jimi Hendrix hair, and was hitchhiking in Switzerland. An Irish girl in a hostel gave me a beer-stained copy of the Bilbo Baggins belter. It was the first book Id ever encountered that dared to dream on such an epic scale. That once-in-a-lifetime conjunction of misty Mont Blanc and Middle-earth mythology keeps the memory alive after 50 years. Scots Law for Journalists, Alistair Bonnington Ordinary civilians seem to imagine that newspapers can write anything about anybody and get away with it. Believe me, the first time you get sued for libel eviscerates that idea. Until I became editor of a newspaper that could afford fancy lawyers, this brilliant book kept me out of jail. Thanks, Alistair. The Morrison government has loosened restrictions on high school students trapped in China so they can return to their Australian schools as pressure grows to assist more than 150 citizens trapped in Hubei province amid the coronavirus outbreak. As four more passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the virus at a Darwin quarantine facility, the government moved to help up to 760 students stuck in China get back to Australia for their school studies. Australia is loosening its travel restrictions on people from China, allowing year 11 and 12 students to return under heavy conditions Credit:AP The government has blocked non-citizens in mainland China from travelling to Australia since February 1 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus which has killed 2247 people and infected 76,718 with more than 62,000 cases in Hubei. The move stranded school and university students at the start of the new school year, prompting fears of the impact on the education sector. Two Chinese astronauts as seen on the space station Tiangong-2 on Oct. 19, 2016. China's space program is planning a launch in April to prepare for building the country's next space station. A Long March 5B rocket will carry a "trial version" of China's new spaceship, which is designed to carry crews of up to six people, state media source Xinhua said . Previous Chinese spaceships carried up to three taikonauts, the term used to describe Chinese astronauts. While the April mission will carry neither people nor pieces of the future space station, it is expected to prepare Chinese officials for space station construction, the report added. Related: China readies its new deep-space crew capsule for 1st test flight The Long March 5B is a modified version of China's heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket , which began flying in 2016. The China Manned Space Agency designed the 5B for the space station and large crewed spacecraft, Xinhua said. China plans to finish the space station by 2022, after more than 10 missions for construction and in-orbit assembly. The station will be shaped like a T, with a core module, called Tianhe, at the center and one lab capsule on either side of that. All told, the station will offer up to 5,650 cubic feet (160 cubic meters) of living space across the three modules. That's a little more than one-third of the space on the International Space Station , which has 13,696 cubic feet (388 cubic meters) of room, not including temporary expansions from visiting spaceships. Unlike previous Chinese space stations, which required water launched from Earth, water on the new space station will be recovered from water vapor the astronauts exhale and from urine that is recycled and purified, Xinhua said. This space station will also carry machinery that can produce supplemental oxygen, Xinhua added. The Chinese space complex will also have room for science experiments in fields ranging from astronomy to basic physics to life science, using more than a dozen experiment racks. China also plans to launch an optical telescope on a capsule flying "in the same orbit," Xinhua said. China's first space station, the one-room Tiangong-1, launched in 2011 and burned up in Earth's atmosphere seven years later . The vehicle helped China master the technologies and procedures needed to build bigger stations. A successor, Tiangong-2, launched in 2016 to support longer-duration missions . China's most recent crewed launch, in October 2016, sent two taikonauts to Tiangong-2 for 33 days, a record for consecutive time spent in space for China. Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . This is the most valuable contract signed by the Vietnamese business delegation participating at this years fair. The Gulfood International Exhibition, held since 1987, has now become one of the three largest fairs in the world and is the leading fair for agricultural products and food and beverages in the region with trading volume of up to billions of US dollars. Gulfood 2020 featured more than 5,000 booths of businesses from 193 countries and territories, with an exhibition area of nearly 120,000 m2. The exhibition was expected to attract nearly 98,000 visitors to visit, trade and sign contracts. At this years fair, the Vietnam country pavilion themed Foods of Vietnam, with the participation of 20 of Vietnams leading food and beverage enterprises. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam led the delegation of Vietnamese businesses attending the fair. In the context that agricultural and aquatic product export activities are facing difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus epidemic, this is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to find new partners and diversify export markets. As the countys largest milk company, Vinamilk focuses on introducing products such as condensed milk, baby formula, baby nutrition powder and especially Organic products to high-end customers in the Middle East market. In addition to traditional products, this year, Vinamilk also brought 100% Organic Fresh Milk products to introduce to potential partners at the Gulfood International Exhibition 2020. Vinamilk also brought 100% Organic Fresh Milk products to introduce to potential partners at the Gulfood International Exhibition 2020. In this article: Drop everything youre doing, because ABC just released a list of 19 names who will appear in the upcoming seventh season of Bachelor in Paradise. Heres who made the cut. 1. Abigail Heringer From: The Bachelor season 25 (Matt James) 2. Brendan Morais From: The Bachelorette season 16 (Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams) 3. Deandra Kanu From: The Bachelor season 24 (Peter Weber) 4. Ivan Hall From: The Bachelorette season 16 (Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams) 5. Jessenia Cruz From: The Bachelor season 25 (Matt James) 6. Joe Amabile From: The Bachelorette season 14 (Becca Kufrin) 7. Karl Smith From: The Bachelorette season 17 (Katie Thurston) 8. Kelsey Weier From: The Bachelor season 24 (Peter Weber) 9. Kenny Braasch From: The Bachelorette season 16 (Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams) 10. Mari Pepin-Solis From: The Bachelor season 25 (Matt James) 11. Maurissa Gunn From: The Bachelor season 24 (Peter Weber) 12. Natasha Parker From: The Bachelor season 24 (Peter Weber) 13. Noah Erb From: The Bachelorette season 16 (Tayshia Adams) 14. Serena Chew From: The Bachelor season 25 (Matt James) 15. Serena Pitt From: The Bachelor season 25 (Matt James) 16. Tahzjuan Hawkins From: The Bachelor season 23 (Colton Underwood) 17. Tammy Ly From: The Bachelor season 24 (Peter Weber) 18. Victoria Larson From: The Bachelor season 25 (Matt James) 19. Victoria Paul From: The Bachelor season 24 (Peter Weber) Stay up-to-date on all the latest entertainment news by subscribing here. RELATED: Is Virgin River Returning for Season 4? Heres What We Know China is taking extraordinary measures to deal with the emergence of a previously unknown pathogen, officially named COVID-19. As World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tudors Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, China set a new standard for outbreak response. Yet, despite the sacrifice for a greater good, Chinas critics have accused the country of being inhumane. This claim is absurd. While media outlets such as The Guardian have admitted that Chinas measures to contain the disease have delayed transmission to the rest of the world, they also cite critics who claim that Chinas behavior is typical of its disregard for human rights. Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed governmental agencies at all levels to put the health and security of people first. The tough measures that some foreign media outlets have decried as inhumane, such as locking down the city of Wuhan, are the result of difficult decisions and great sacrifice for the Chinese people and are for the sake of protecting public health both domestically and abroad. Those strong measures are working to keep the deadly coronavirus in check. Dr. Tudors has pointed out that the massive efforts China has taken to contain the outbreak, despite the severe social and economic impact that they are having on China, is the reason we have not seen many more cases outside of China. The definition of inhumane is without compassion for misery or suffering. There is nothing to suggest that the measures China has taken to contain the coronavirus are for the sake of cruelty, and to argue otherwise is just ridiculous and shows ignorance and insensitivity. China is the worlds most populous country, and yet everyone is on the same page to end this epidemic as soon as possible. Not only has the government allocated billions of dollars to combat the virus but also ordinary people are doing whatever they can to help in this battle. In about 10 days, China built two specialized hospitals in Wuhan and numerous other makeshift hospitals. How many countries can quickly unite and mobilize the full weight of its resources to tackle a serious problem head on? There have been bumps in the road but it is clear that China has placed humanity at the center of its all-out efforts. Locking down Wuhan, a city of some 11 million was an unprecedented effort to combat the deadly novel coronavirus. China is perhaps the only country in the world that can take such extraordinary measures at the drop of a hat. The unprecedented and unrivalled actions China has taken demonstrate the strength and advantage of Chinas system. Anthony Fauci, who is the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNBC recently that Chinas strategy shows promise. The degree with which they have shut down travel through major cities ... is really unprecedented, he said in the interview, adding that China did this to make sure that the coronavirus does not spread further throughout China or outside of China into other countries. The response has not been perfect but we should understand that the coronavirus outbreak is a very serious and fluid situation, and there is no instruction book to follow. As with anything, there is room for criticism, but China has really shown bravery in its response. The right to life and the right to health are basic human rights.Theheroic measures China has taken to protect the Chinese people and the people of the world are strong protection of human rights. Lori Vallow, the 46-year-old woman wanted by authorities in Idaho in connection to the September disappearance of her two children, was arrested in Hawaii on Thursday. Vallow, under investigation by the Rexburg Police Department, was arrested by the Kaua'i Police Department on a warrant issued by Madison County, Idaho. She's facing multiple charges, including two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, police said in a statement. Her bail has been set at $5 million. MORE: Inside the mysterious case of 3 deaths, 2 missing children and a terrified husband Her children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and her 7-year-old adopted son Joshua "JJ" Vallow, have been missing since September, according to police. Her arrest comes about four weeks after she failed to comply with a court order to produce them in Madison County on Jan. 30. PHOTO: Lori Vallow, also known as Lori Daybell, the mother of two Idaho children missing since September, was arrested Feb. 20, 2020, in Hawaii, Kauai police said. (Kauai Police Department) Vallow on Friday appeared at a court hearing in Kaua'i, where she has been living with her fourth husband, Chad Daybell. She is scheduled to be back in court on March 2, when local authorities are seeking to turn her over to law enforcement officials from Idaho, where she'll face criminal charges. Daybell, who is not the father of either Tylee or JJ, was not arrested. In a Skype interview overnight with "Good Morning America," Larry Woodcock, the biological grandfather of JJ, said the news of Vallow's arrest was bittersweet. "We know it's a positive step forward," he said. "We also know that as good as this news is, is as bad as it is also because we still don't have children." MORE: Oldest son makes tearful plea to mom of 2 missing Idaho kids after she fails to bring them to police The children's safety was brought into question in November 2019 when Kay Woodcock, the biological grandmother of JJ, called Rexburg police and requested a welfare check, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by ABC News. PHOTO: Missing children Joshua Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, were last seen on Sept. 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho. (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) When police arrived at Vallow's home Nov. 26, 2019, they were met by Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, and Daybell, whom she had married about four weeks earlier. Story continues Daybell "acted as if he didn't know Lori very well," while Cox said JJ was staying with Kay Woodcock, according to the affidavit, which notes that Cox's statement was "not likely true" because Woodcock was the one who requested the welfare check. When authorities found Vallow later that day, she claimed JJ was staying with a friend in Gilbert, Arizona. The friend later told detectives that she had been contacted by Vallow and Daybell at separate times and asked to falsely tell police she had JJ, according to the affidavit. Authorities returned to Vallow's home the next day and both she and Daybell were gone. PHOTO: Kay and Larry Woodcock speak to members of the media in Rexburg, Idaho, Jan. 7, 2020 about the reward they are offering for information that leads to the recovery of Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who were last seen in September 2019. (The Idaho Post-Register via AP, FILE) During the course of the investigation, numerous details led authorities to believe that she'd deserted her children. Authorities said JJ's prescription to manage his autism had not been filled since Vallow moved to Idaho in September 2019, that she hired a babysitter for JJ only to tell her days later her services were no longer needed, and that Vallow has been living in Hawaii since December without the children. The affidavit also states that police have found "no evidence or verification of anyone providing for the housing, food, clothing, education, or medical care" for the children since September. In addition to the felonies, Vallow also faces misdemeanor charges of resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt. The maximum sentence on each count of desertion of a child under Idaho law is 14 years in prison, according to Madison County prosecuting attorney Rob Wood. ABC News' John Capell, Jim Vojtech and MaryEllen Resendez contributed to this report. Mom of missing Idaho kids arrested in Hawaii, held on $5 million bail originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The following events are planned for the upcoming week throughout the region: Jurassic Quest, featuring more than 100 life-like dinosaurs, dinosaur themed rides, live dinosaur shows and more, opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 23 at the Pennsylvania Convention... BJP national president J P Nadda on Saturday called on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his counterpart in the JD(U), and is understood to have discussed among other things the state polls due later this year. Accompanied by national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal, Nadda met the chief minister at his official residence here. JD(U) is an NDA ally running a coalition government in Bihar. The assembly polls, to be held by November, are of vital importance for the coalition led by the BJP, which has been sore after drubbings in Delhi and Jharkhand besides an unexpected setback in Maharashtra. Nadda shared pictures of his meeting with Kumar which lasted for over 30 minutes on his Twitter handle and hailed the chief minister's leadership of the NDA in Bihar for having "ensured all-round development of the state". The NDA, which in Bihar also includes Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, had put up its best-ever performance in the Lok Sabha election last year wherein it grabbed 39 out of the 40 seats and established leads in over 220 out of the 243 assembly segments. Nadda earlier in the day addressed a meeting of the party's 14-member core committee, which included Union ministers like Giriraj Singh, Nityanand Rai and Ashwini Kumar Choubey. A disparaging remark by veteran RJD leader Jagadanand Singh about the meeting between national presidents of the BJP and the JD(U), however, left the saffron party fuming. Singh, who heads the RJD's state unit, likened the two parties to lame persons trying to overcome the deficiency by tying up. In a strongly-worded statement, state BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand said, "Singh has been a veteran socialist, who appears to have lost his moorings with the humiliation of working under those younger to him by 50 years. "His frivolous remarks are a desperate attempt to appease Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, sons of jailed Lalu Prasad, who calls the shots despite being in jail". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Prime Minister said recently some "will go out and make a glib promise about [net-zero targets] and they can't look Australians in the eye and tell them what it will mean for their electricity prices, what it will mean for their jobs". That's why the government is reviewing strategies to assess the impact of a revised target to take to the Glasgow climate conference later this year. Unlike Labor that can promise a headline target but not how they'll meet it, the government is mapping out a technology pathway to confront Australians with the choices that are before us. It's also argued the commission is necessary to establish a monitoring and reporting framework for emissions cuts. Again: false. That's what the Clean Energy Regulator does. This bill is just politics. For weeks its sponsor has run email campaigns demanding MPs vote for a bill before providing a copy. Now we know why. The bill can't withstand scrutiny. The campaign for the bill is also anchored around the idea that "climate is a matter of conscience". That's policy-by-hashtag. Action on climate change is about responsibility. At the last election parliamentarians were elected on different platforms to cut emissions. Parliamentarians are accountable to Australians, not unelected bureaucrats. Cutting emissions is one of the most serious economic and environmental challenges and opportunities we all collectively face. Trust is critical to achieve sustainable emissions reduction with the support of the Australian people. What you do before an election is what you should honour after. Just ask Julia Gillard. The foundation of liberalism is that citizens, communities and countries should accept responsibility. Just like littering, individually we cannot stop needless pollution, but we should encourage everyone to take responsibility to steward our environment. Loading Australia is only 1.3 per cent of global emissions. We cannot stop the consequences of human influence on the climate in isolation. Even with Australia's emissions at zero we will be wholly exposed to a changing climate. The false argument some put forward is our low emissions are an excuse to do nothing. That's absurd. Emissions cuts and our target should be used to leverage other countries to voluntarily make commitments and revise them as they're met too. Loading That principle is at the heart of Australia's target to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030. Australia's is high comparable to other countries on both national and per capita terms. Critically, these targets were endorsed by the Australian people at the last election. A solution cannot be one-size-fits-all. Australia is traditionally a fossil-fuel dependent economy and faces a considerable challenge in transitioning our electricity and transport sectors, our agriculture and mining exports and royalties. Our plan is anchored around cutting emissions, not jobs. The $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package is a sector-by-sector plan that can "evolve" as emissions are cut. For example, the Commonwealth invested $960 million with the NSW government for a Renewable Energy Zone to provide up to 3000 megawatts of wind and solar projects. That's in addition to investments in hydrogen power, the Snowy Hydro 2.0 battery of the nation project and hundreds of local projects across Australia by governments and the private sector. It's a strategy for emissions cuts through technology, not taxes. UPDATE: Cops still searching for attempted homicide suspect A Monroe County man stabbed his wife in front of their adult children Friday night before fleeing, and remained on the loose Saturday, according to police. Edward Eddie Sartoris, 58, of the 1600 Block of Glacier Drive in Blakeslee, Tunkhannock Township, is wanted on a warrant. He is charged with attempted homicide and other related counts. Pocono Mountain Regional police said in a news release Saturday that they were called about 10:30 p.m. to Sartoris home for a reported stabbing. Officers said the victim was found inside the home suffering from several stab wounds. She was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono in East Stroudsburg. Sartoris left before police arrived in a blue BMW 3-series convertible with Pennsylvania registration. "Edward has family in the New York City area and is also employed there," Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner said in the release. "His current location is unknown." Sartoris was described as a white man with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 230 pounds. Police asked anyone who sees Sartoris to dial 911 immediately, and those with information on his whereabouts are asked to call Detective Cpl. Robert Miller or Detective Ryan Venneman at 570-895-2400. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Cory Poulos never imagined his hobby would grow into a full-service event company, or that Occasions by Cory would expand into its latest development: a venue in downtown Casper for a weddings and a variety of other events. Poulos moved his business from a smaller space, and in December opened in the 21,000-square foot, red building on Wolcott Street. I never set out to do what Im doing, he said. Six years ago, well, even four years ago, I mean, if somebody would have asked me where I would be today, I would never have thought that this would have been something that was feasible. The business offers event planning, catering, event supplies rental, and now, a venue for hosting events including birthdays, company celebrations, private dinners, baby showers and graduation parties. What kind of sets us apart is that were able to offer those services turnkey for clients, he said. Building something bigger Poulos started Occasions by Cory just over five years ago with event coordinating, and he added rentals for tables, chairs and linens and then catering as the business grew. Its been a full-time operation for about two years. At the inception, I mean, I worked a full-time job and just did this kind of as a hobby and as a side gig, he said. And it just got busier and busier. And, you know, about two years ago, I had to make the decision like, was it something that I was going to keep working for somebody else and put a cap on my business, or kind of follow my path and go out on my own and do my own thing. The new location houses event space on two floors as well as two commercial kitchens in a building that hadnt been in use for some time, Poulos said. So this the building itself, you know, its been fun kind of revitalizing it. He hired his first full-time employee a year ago, and now the crew includes two full-time and about 11 part-time staff members along with contract help for some events. The new location sets the business amid downtown revitalization and another younger generation of business owners he partners with, like Backwards Distilling Company across the street. Besides events for clients, Occasions by Cory hosts its own events open to the public by reservation, like dinner with comedy shows on Valentines Day weekend and upcoming fondue nights in March, as well as Easter and Mothers Day brunches. It takes a lot of time and work and energy. But when youre doing it for yourself, too, at the end of the day, youre building something bigger. Thats exciting. I mean, you know, you hopefully leave behind something for somebody else someday that you built. And I guess not everybody can say that. Focusing on whats next Poulos grew up in Casper with a passion for food and cooking. He experimented with food in his kitchen and helped during summers at his grandfathers Antones Supper Club in Worland. He started working in commercial catering at the University of Wyoming while attending college there and then gained experience in Colorado with the finer side of catering. He adds a bit of that flair in with a blend of simplicity and innovation in food presentation. And we like to add a little twist to that to kind of set things apart, he said. Hes followed his passion and talents, though it wasnt always a straight path. Hes worked in the oil and gas industry, restaurants and real estate, and he turned his life around through alcohol recovery to a new direction. His business evolved through timing, hard work and little luck, he said. And I feel like when you do the right things and, in business, when you make the right decisions, the next doors continue to open, he said. And if you take the right calculated risks, to take those next steps and kind of get your foot wet and know if theres a need, if its something thats gonna work. You know, you cant dive in all at once. The best part of his work is the relationships he builds with his clients, team and community. People come to his business in times of celebration as well as in times sadness for funerals and celebrations of life. So I think anytime you can help somebody in an important time in their life or in their familys life and make things easier for them, its memorable, he said. And when you can alleviate that stress for them at that time, I think youre able to build a quick, solid relationship with somebody. Poulos plans to keep growing the business, and his goals include an indoor-outdoor wedding facility somewhere in Natrona County, maybe right outside of town. But, no, to say that I would have thought that we could be here today it wasnt the vision that I had, he said. Its exceeded my expectations now. And at this point, were really focusing on whats next... Follow arts & culture reporter Elysia Conner on twitter @erconner Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with her German counterpart Olaf Scholz here. "Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman holds bilateral meeting with Federal German Minister for Finance Mr @OlafScholz on the sidelines of #G20SaudiArabia meeting in Riyadh today," Finance Ministry said in a tweet. On February 20, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin and discussed a range of global and bilateral issues, including climate change, counter-terrorism, multilateralism, connectivity, besides sharing their perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan and the Gulf. In his remarks at a press interaction with Maas in Berlin after the meeting, Jaishankar had said that they also discussed of working together in the Alliance for Multilateralism - a Franco-German initiative that was launched during the ongoing 74th UN General Assembly last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maha Vikas Aghadi, the three-party alliance running the Maharashtra government, will soon sit together to finalise the Centre's additional questionnaire draft for the Population Register (NPR) in the state, said Maharashtra Minority Minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik on Saturday. When asked about Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Malik said that the implementation of CAA is not up to the states but the Central government. "Also, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has assured that nobody will have to be afraid as the Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented in Maharashtra. NPR census is mandatory in the country. NPR questionnaire was made in the year 2008 and some additional questionnaire has been drafted and given by the Centre," he said. "We will examine it and make a decision. We will also see what other non-BJP-ruled states are planning. Then, the three parties -- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress -- will sit together and finalise the questionnaire for NPR in the state," Malik added. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and said that no one needs to fear about the CAA, NPR in Maharashtra. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, while commenting on Thackeray's statement, said that he welcomed the "positive approach shown by Maharashtra Chief Minister on the matter." "CAA is a law, nobody can stop it. However, NPR is a positive action because the data collected through it will help the state and Centre plan social welfare schemes. I hope the Congress and NCP ignore political gimmick for the time being and support CAA and NPR," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 2 Christians executed in al-Shabaab bus attack for not reciting Islamic declaration of faith Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Two Christians are reported to be among three people killed after suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a bus in Kenya on Wednesday morning. Haji Abass, the owner of the Kenya-based Moyale Raha bus company, told The Associated Press that fighters suspected to be aligned with the Somalia-based group attacked the bus while it was carrying passengers to the capital of Nairobi from a market town near the Ethiopian and Somalian borders. Abass said that the militants were in police uniform and tried to flag down the bus. However, the bus driver kept on going because he knew there were no police stops along the route. At that point, the militants shot at the bus, flattened the back tires and injured the driver. After the bus went into a ditch, militants allegedly pulled the passengers out and killed two non-Muslims and one Muslim. Two others were injured. International Christian Concern, a United States-based advocacy organization, reports that the two non-Muslims killed in the attack were Christian men named Peter Kilnozo Musili and Kevin Onyango. According to ICC, which confirmed the attack through a security officer based in northeast Kenya, the two men were executed because they could not recite the Islamic declaration of faith, the Shahada. The Muslim man who was killed was named by ICC as Abdi Abinoor. ICC reports that Abinoor was killed for trying to protect the Christians. The security officer told the nonprofit that the attack occurred in the town of Banisa in Mandera County, an area of Kenya near the Somali border with a large Somali ethnic population. The officer said that the bus was carrying 47 passengers. They sprayed it with bullets and deflated the tires in order to halt it and pick Christians from the bus, the security officer was quoted as saying. The efforts of the driver to escape from their trap did not bear fruit. He was also injured during the attack. Three people were killed and two others injured. Al-Shabaab (aligned with al-Qaeda) has a history of conducting attacks on buses in which militants separate non-Muslims for execution. On Dec. 6, 2019, al-Shabaab killed 11 Christians when militants attacked a bus traveling from Nairobi to Mandera in Wajir County. A source who spoke to Morning Star News about the attack explained that 56 people were on board when assailants separated 11 Kenyan Christian workers from the ethnic Somali passengers on the bus. Just last month, three Christian teachers were murdered when suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a school and a police post in the town of Kamuthe in Garissa County. ICC reported at the time that the three deceased instructors were Caleb Mutua, Titus Ushindi, and Samuel Muthui Kyonzu. Kenya ranks as the 44th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. Al-Shabaab has fought for years to overthrow the Somali government. The group has been responsible for attacks on both sides of the Somalia and Kenya border as it has long vowed to retaliate against Kenya for sending in troops to Somalia to fight the group. In April 2015, al-Shabaab carried out one of its deadliest attacks when it stormed the campus of Garissa University. On that occasion, militants were said to have separated Muslims from non-Muslims and proceeded to execute all non-Muslim students. At least 148 people were killed in the attack. Al-Shabaabs control over parts of Somalia has troubled government and international actors looking to exterminate locusts amid the infestation outbreak that has impacted several East African countries in recent months. Even if spraying is done by light aircraft and manually by people moving, that's not going to happen in those areas [controlled by Al-Shabaab], Joseph Kamara, the regional director for humanitarian and emergency affairs in East Africa for World Vision, told The Christian Post. This means those areas will continue breeding them. That is likely to remain a challenge for the rest of the region. Somalia ranks as the third-worst country in the world for Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs World Watch List due to civil war, al-Shabaabs militant insurgency and tribalism. The violent Islamic terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, advocates Shariah law as the basis for regulating all aspects of life in Somalia, an Open Doors fact sheet reads. This group has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. United States President Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India next week, the White House said on Friday, noting that the US has great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom both in his public remarks and then certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is extremely important to this administration," a senior official told reporters in a conference call. The official was responding to a question on whether the president was planning to speak to Modi on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or the National Register of Citizens. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. "We do have this shared commitment to upholding our universal values, the rule of law. We have great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions, and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions," the official said, requesting anonymity. "And we are concerned with some of the issues that you have raised," the senior administration official said, in response to the question on CAA and NRC. "I think the President will talk about these issues in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious minorities," the official said. "Of course, it's in the Indian constitution -- religious freedom, respect for religious minorities, and equal treatment of all religions. So this is something that is important to the president and I'm sure it will come up," said the official. Pointing out that India has a strong democratic foundation, the official said India is a country rich in religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity. "In fact, it's the birthplace of four major world religions," the official noted. "Prime Minister Modi, in his first speech after winning the election last year, talked about how he would prioritise being inclusive of India's religious minorities. And, certainly, the world looks to India to maintain religious liberty and equal treatment for all under the rule of law," said the senior administration official. GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Friday ceasefire talks were back on track between the forces fighting over Libya's capital, days after the internationally recognised government pulled out of the negotiations as its foes shelled Tripoli's port. There was no immediate comment from the Government of National Accord (GNA), which withdrew from the talks on Tuesday. Its rival - Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar - told Russia's RIA news agency a ceasefire would only be possible if Turkish and Syrian fighters stopped supporting the GNA. Turkey has backed the Government of National Accord to fend off the Libyan National Army, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. "A ceasefire (would be) the result of a number of conditions being fulfilled ...the withdrawal of Syrian and Turkish mercenaries, an end to Turkish arms supplies to Tripoli, and the liquidation of terrorist groups (in Tripoli)," Haftar told the agency in an interview published on Friday. Five military officers from both sides have been holding indirect talks meeting in separate rooms with the U.N. envoy Ghassan Salame shuttling between them but with no sign of any progress on the ground. The United Nations said the talks had resumed on Thursday. "The talks will continue today (Friday) and they will be getting under way shortly. So things are still happening on that front," U.N. spokesman Rheal LeBlanc told reporters in Geneva. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Ulf Laessing, Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 08:48:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, receives an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Seattle, the United States, on Nov. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Qin Lang) "I support your cooperation with relevant Chinese institutions, and look forward to enhanced coordination and concerted efforts in the international community for the sake of health and well-being of all," Xi said in the letter to Bill Gates. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has written back to Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, after receiving a letter from the U.S. business leader on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In his letter dated Feb. 20, the Chinese president wrote: "I deeply appreciate the act of generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and your letter of solidarity to the Chinese people at such an important moment." A researcher works in a laboratory in Beijing Health-Biotech Group in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 14, 2020. A number of pharmaceutical companies in Beijing have resumed production to ensure the supply of medicine during the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic with comprehensive precaution measures. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Gates said in his letter on Feb. 6 that his foundation has committed up to 100 million U.S. dollars in emergency funding, much of which will help China bolster epidemiological research, emergency intervention, and the research and development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. "Since the outbreak began, I have called for confidence, unity, science-based approach and targeted response as guidelines for China's epidemic control efforts," Xi wrote in the letter. "We have rallied the whole nation and adopted a string of unprecedented measures to contain and mitigate the epidemic and treat the sick," Xi wrote, adding that these extraordinary measures are delivering substantial results. Medical workers inject medicine for Li Zuofan(R) at an intensive care ward of the novel coronavirus infection cases at a branch of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) "We are resolute in protecting the life and health of the people of China, and of all countries around the world. We are determined to do our part to uphold global public health security," Xi added. Noting that mankind is a community with a shared future, Xi wrote that to prevail over a disease that threatens all, unity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon. "The Foundation has been quick in joining the global action and has played an active role in the global response against the outbreak," Xi noted. "I support your cooperation with relevant Chinese institutions, and look forward to enhanced coordination and concerted efforts in the international community for the sake of health and well-being of all," Xi added. Sydney was one of 14 cities across the country taking part in a "national day of action" climate change rallies, with thousands taking to the streets to call for stronger climate policies. Protesters marched from Town Hall down Elizabeth and Macquarie Streets and met in Hyde Park, in a bid to demonstrate that focus on climate action continues even as bushfire threats dissipate. Teen activist Izzy Raj-Seppings was among those protesting at the Climate Crisis National Day of Action in Sydney on Saturday. Credit:AAP "We cant allow the anger and awareness about the bushfires to fizzle out at the end of summer, have people start accepting unprecedented bushfires as the new normal, or turn to cynicism and despair," the event's organisers wrote in the lead-up to the event. Rallies were also held in Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin, as well as bushfire-affected regional centres including Bega, Tamworth, and Blackheath. - Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua said the film titled Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was worse than other films the board has banned in the past - The tough-talking moral police said he will resist any attempts to erode the nation's values - Mutua said following the ban, the film shall not be distributed, broadcast, exhibited or held in possession within the Kenyan territory - In April 2019, he outlawed the highly hyped lesbian film Rafiki, saying it was aimed at corrupting Kenyans' culture, moral values and killing the institution of family Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua has banned a Hindu gay themed film that was set to premier in Kenyan cinemas. The moral police said the film titled Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was worse than other films the board has banned in the past as it openly attempts to legitimize same-sex marriage contrary to the country's Constitution. READ ALSO: Security guard sacked for making Matiang'i queue says CS was not on priority list KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua has banned a Hindi gay film that was set to premier in Kenyan cinemas. Photo: Ezekiel Mutua. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Bungoma woman who went missing when in Form Two returns home 24 years later In a statement on Friday, February 22, the tough-talking KFCB boss said he will resist any attempts to erode the nation's values. "Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya. Further, Kenya is a God-fearing nation which places a great premium on family, an institution derived from a union between two people of the opposite gender," he said. Mutua said following the ban, the film shall not be distributed, broadcast, exhibited or held in possession within the Kenyan territory. He warned those who want to consume the content to either got to India where the film was shot or visit any other country where homosexuality is legal. Mutua said Kenya was a God-fearing nation. Photo: Ezekiel Mutua. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: BBI Narok: Wakazi washinikiza hutubiwa na mbunge Babu Owino "According to Section 165 of the Penal Code, homosexual is illegal in Kenya and therefore, any film or broadcast content appearing to legalise, normalize or glorify the act is illegal, unacceptable and an affront to our cultural identity," part of his statement read. The KFCB CEO said the film had been presented for examination and classification by Crimson Multimedia Limited. In April 2019, Mutua banned the highly hyped lesbian film Rafiki, saying it was only aimed at corrupting Kenyans' culture, moral values and killing the institution of family. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. My 21 years in America were useless | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke People in the Beaufort Delta region are among those with the highest rate of colorectal cancer in the Northwest Territories, and the lowest rate of screening for the disease. The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority hopes to change that by making it easier for men and women in the region to be screened. As part of a new pilot project, self-test colorectal cancer screening kits will be mailed out soon to every man and woman in Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok, between the ages of 50 and 74, who are considered at average risk of the disease that is, those with no history or family history of colorectal cancer. The FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) kits help catch the cancer in its early stages through the collection of a small stool sample that can be examined for microscopic samples of blood, which may indicate the need for further testing. The cancer is very treatable if caught early, says Melissa Mok, a territorial government specialist for cancer care. Nine in 10 cases can be cured if caught early, the health authority says, but the rate of screening for the disease in the region is just 16 per cent for those who should be screened. "The goal for Canada is to have screening at 60 per cent," Mok said. For now, the pilot project targets the Beaufort Delta, but Mok hopes the project will soon expand to other regions. "We're hoping we can impact the region and have some positive change there first, and then hopefully roll it out to the rest of the territory," she said. Mackenzie Scott/CBC The N.W.T. would be among the last jurisdictions in Canada to take up what Mok calls an organized screening program. "What we've found is that when we have an organized approach to screening, and we're mailing kits directly we've seen a real increase in participation [in other parts of Canada]." Submitted by Melissa Mok But residents concerned about screening don't have to wait for the mail. Mok said anyone who would like to get the kit can get one at any health centre or clinic in the territory, or through a conversation with their health-care provider. "We're trying to destigmatize cancer in the Northwest Territories," she said. NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.Premier Doug Ford is in town looking for ways to spark a second honeymoon with voters after another tough week on the job. With two years until the next provincial election in June 2022, the premier, his cabinet, MPPs and 1,000 party activists are meeting behind closed doors, at a convention centre a short walk from the famous falls, to begin crafting a campaign platform. The building is marked with signs saying closed for a private event but the Progressive Conservatives wont be alone. Dozens of buses full of protesters organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour are slated to arrive Saturday morning from as far away as Ottawa and Windsor, keeping pressure on Ford to change course on several fronts after Fridays massive protest by teachers the largest in more than 20 years. No government Ive ever been a part of has had a week without challenge and this is one of those for us as well, said MPP Paul Calandra, who serves as government house leader. He was referring to rotating teacher strikes including Fridays that closed every school in the province and a public relations disaster over new double-blue licence plates that often cant be read in the dark. Thousands issued so far will be replaced, but it took the government three days to admit the problem and arrange a solution. Security outside the convention centre was so tight a guard repeatedly interrupted CBC reporter Mike Crawleys live TV report, repeatedly getting between him and the camera, saying at one point you can leave peacefully, or trespass. Crawley later tweeted that a party official eventually called off the guard and two members of Fords staff apologized. Opposition parties said its no wonder the Conservatives are holding their convention with no scrutiny except for Fords dinner speech Saturday, which the media is allowed to cover. A well-placed source told the Star party officials had even contemplated keeping the address off limits. They are hunkering down, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. Calandra defended the decision to keep the convention in the family, and noted other parties do not allow unlimited access at similar events. This is a convention that will set the stage for the policies that we will fight the next election on. So a measure of internal caution is always required, he told reporters. Its about bringing people into the room, debating and discussing the policies. Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser, whose own party will pick a new leader in two weeks, said the Ford administration needs to carefully consider its next steps after sliding in the polls from levels achieved with its 2018 election landslide. Given all the mistakes this government has made over almost two years, its not surprising theyre keeping a closed lid on their convention, added Green Leader Mike Schreiner, citing moves to cut autism funding, increase classroom sizes and require high school students to take some courses online. Ontario Federation of Labour president Patty Coates said protesters outside the hall will hold signs detailing the gauntlet of cuts by the government for conventioneers to see as they arrive by car and from nearby hotels. They have touched every vulnerable sector and person, she added. The OFL has been working with Niagara Region police and the OPP on the protest, which is expected to prompt a road closure and see labour leaders making speeches from a flatbed truck. We want them to hear us inside the convention centre, Coates said. Read more about: The head of the LDPR, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, proposed conducting military drills on the US-Mexico border, commenting on the US maneuvers in Europe aiming to divert Russian nuclear strike. Let us conduct such drills on the Mexican-American border. What will Americans say? Zhirinovsky asked during the awarding of the Honorable Kremlin Worker title at the Moscow Higher Military Command School. He also recalled defeats of large armies in the wars with Russia. It looks like Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE:BOH) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 4 days. This means that investors who purchase shares on or after the 27th of February will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 13th of March. Bank of Hawaii's next dividend payment will be US$0.67 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$2.68 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Bank of Hawaii has a trailing yield of 3.0% on the current share price of $89.47. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Bank of Hawaii's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to investigate whether Bank of Hawaii can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. See our latest analysis for Bank of Hawaii Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. That's why it's good to see Bank of Hawaii paying out a modest 46% of its earnings. When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:BOH Historical Dividend Yield, February 22nd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Bank of Hawaii, with earnings per share up 8.5% on average over the last five years. The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Bank of Hawaii has delivered an average of 4.1% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past ten years of dividend payments. We're glad to see dividends rising alongside earnings over a number of years, which may be a sign the company intends to share the growth with shareholders. Story continues To Sum It Up Is Bank of Hawaii worth buying for its dividend? It has been growing its earnings per share somewhat in recent years, although it reinvests more than half its earnings in the business, which could suggest there are some growth projects that have not yet reached fruition. In summary, Bank of Hawaii appears to have some promise as a dividend stock, and we'd suggest taking a closer look at it. Curious what other investors think of Bank of Hawaii? See what analysts are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow. We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. 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. Modi wanted us to work together, I rejected his offer: Sharad Pawar PM's suggestion that I should be part of his Cabinet reflects his magnanimity: Supriya Sule After going around world, vaccine will be found in Pune: Sule Construction of new parliament building not necessary now: NCP leader Supriya Sule Rival NCP factions come face-to-face during Supriya Sule's speech: Report India oi-PTI Mumbai, Feb 22: Supporters of two rival leaders of Sharad Pawar's party NCP raised slogans against each other when party MP Supriya Sule was addressing workers at Paithan city in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district. The incident took place on Friday. According to news agency Press Trust of India, when Sule was addressing NCP workers, the supporters of party leader Datta Gorde, who had contested the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, and those of former MLA Bhausaheb Wagchoure came face-to-face. The rival factions started raising slogans against each other, which disrupted Sule's speech. Sule had to intervene and pacify the members of both the groups. After the sloganeering ended, Sule continued her speech and reprimanded the members for their misbehaviour. PM's suggestion that I should be part of his Cabinet reflects his magnanimity: Supriya Sule "NCP chief Sharad Pawar has put in tremendous efforts to build the party... If the party workers behave in this manner again, they will have to face me," she warned them. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 15:55 [IST] The father of Bengaluru girl Amulya, who was arrested and jailed on sedition charges, on Friday condemned his 19-year-old daughter for shouting pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA rally a day ago here. "I condemn Amulya for shouting pro-Pakistan slogan at the rally and disown her views on CAA, NRC or NPR. I was not aware about her act till a friend called and told me about it last (Thursday) night," Oswald Noronha told a local news channel from his home at Koppa in Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru district. Noronha also alleged that he was forced to chant "Bharat maata ki jai" by Bajrang Dal activists who barged into his house earlier in the day and vandalised it. Earlier in the day, Amulya was sent to 14-day judicial custody after police arrested and produced her before a local magistrate in a sedition case, filed suo motu against her. Noronha said: "I also advised her not to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for enacting the CAA. She does not listen to us. She has gone out of our control. I am sad and unhappy that she got into trouble for her views." "I told her not to talk in that manner on several occasions," Noronha recalled. Distancing from Amulya's social and political activism, Noronha told a Kannada news channel that his daughter should rot in jail and police should break her bones. "Let her rot in jail and let police break her bones for what she said and did. I don't support what she said and will not approach lawyers for her bail. She has committed a grave mistake," he said. According to media reports, Noronha was an environment activist who participated in Appiko Chaluvali, a southern version of the Chipko movement that was started by Pandurang Hegde in 1983 to save trees in the rich bio-diverse Western Ghats region in the state. On the Bajrang Dal attack, he said: "I agreed to repeat whatever they asked me to say only to save myself and my house from being further damage." Noronha filed a complaint with the police against some unidentified BJP activists for allegedly attacking his house at Koppa for Amulya's pro-Pakistan slogans. "The activists vandalised our house, smashed window glass panes and flower pots and damaged furniture," Noronha said in the complaint. The local police provided security to Noronha's house as he was staying alone after his wife shifted to her parents' home, fearing more attacks by right-wing elements. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 22:26:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Medical professionals from a Beijing-based military hospital have used the 5G technology to provide technical support to their counterparts attending to COVID-19 patients in Wuhan. Nursing experts from the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital demonstrated how to perform chest physical therapy for patients in critical conditions to medical workers thousands of miles away in Wuhan, the hospital said on Saturday. "We hope the therapy will help patients recover and lower the risks of infection among medics attending to those patients," said Pi Hongying, a nursing expert from the Beijing-based military hospital. Viewing the demonstration via the 5G-powered telemedicine platform in Wuhan included military medics tasked with treating patients in Huoshenshan Hospital, Taikang Tongji Hospital and a branch of Hubei's Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Wuhan. A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement. The ruling could edge the politically febrile kingdom -- whose economy is shrinking -- closer to the street protests that have scored much of the last 15 years of Thai history. The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup. The party's radical agenda -- calling for full democracy, an end to conscription and the removal of the army from politics and business -- won it 6.3 million votes and pitched it against the powerful, conservative military. But since their strong poll showing, Thanathorn and his 76 lawmakers have faced relentless rounds of legal cases in Thailand's courts. On Friday the nine-member constitutional court dissolved FFP, ruling a $6 million loan by Thanathorn breached the law governing political parties. The loan exceeded the $315,000 limit on donations to parties by an individual, one judge said. Sixteen party executives, including founder Thanathorn, were also "banned for running for political office for 10 years," judge Nakarin Mektriarat added. Future Forward has denied wrongdoing. A defiant Thanathorn, who has 29 court cases lodged against him and his party, told supporters "don't give up, don't stop the dream." "In the darkest day for Thai society, I can say that I did not sit still waiting for it to explode," he added, of establishing the now-disbanded party. The same court has taken out several pro-democracy parties since 2008 and knocked two anti-establishment prime ministers from power. Calls for protest bounced around Thai social media late Friday, but in a nation wary of its generals it was unclear who would take the lead and how many people would follow. - Inspired millennials - The ruling puts a pin in the immediate political aspirations of Thanathorn, whose emergence on the Thai political stage has inspired millennials but frightened the country's conservative establishment. "I don't understand why they do this. Do they want people to come out on to the street?" a desolate FFP supporter at the party headquarters told AFP, requesting anonymity. Thailand has seen several rounds of bloody competing street protests roughly between those who support democracy and those who buttress the royalist army establishment, which draws on the backing and wealth of the kingdom's oligarchs. Thailand's economy is on the ropes -- freshly winded by the sharp tail-off in tourism as fears over the coronavirus slow travel -- while patience with the army-affiliated government of Prayut Chan-O-Cha is running out. Prayut led the 2014 coup against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra. But the gaffe-prone former army chief has been openly ridiculed since restrictions on free political expression were eased last year. "Will the (court) decision bring demonstrators to the streets? Sure it will," said analyst Paul Chambers of Thailand's Naresuan University. "The question is only whether the demonstrations will create sufficient chaos to further weaken the government of Prayut." Future Forward MPs remain lawmakers but have 60 days to find another party in parliament. The party could also relaunch, but without its charismatic key executives is likely to struggle to keep the same number in their ranks. Critics say Thailand's army-scripted constitution has created a lop-sided parliament stacked with former generals. burs-apj/gle By David Ljunggren GATINEAU, Quebec (Reuters) - Time is running out to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Venezuela, which is gripped by a political and economic crisis, members of the Lima Group regional bloc said on Thursday. The group backs Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized by more than 50 countries as the legitimate president. It wants President Nicolas Maduro to quit and call elections but he has refused. Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the bloc must reinvigorate its efforts. "Time is of the essence. We are facing a humanitarian crisis and an environmental crisis of a historic proportion," he told a news conference after a Lima Group meeting in Gatineau, Quebec, noting almost 5 million people have fled the country. While admitting that "the path ahead may be tough", Champagne appealed to other nations to do more to help Venezuela return to democracy. "The international community should come with us shoulder to shoulder," he said. Guaido faces an increasingly weary population that in recent months has shown waning enthusiasm for more demonstrations. Many opposition sympathizers have become frustrated by Maduro's continued grip on power. "We can wait no longer, given the humanitarian crisis," said Peruvian Foreign Minister Gustavo Meza-Cuadra. The Lima Group also includes Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Haiti, Argentina and St Lucia. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Daniel Wallis) A north sea oil rig. Provident Resources, which is involved in oil exploration operations off the Kerry Coast, has issued a warning about its dwindling operating capital. Stock Image Providence Resources, the Irish-based oil and gas exploration company involved in explorations works off the Kerry coast, has warned it is running short of capital to continue its operations. Last Thursday, Providence issued a warning to the stock market advising that, at present, it only has working capital to guarantee meeting its costs until the end of March or early April. The company said that additional funding is needed to provide "sufficient working capital to support the business in the near term" and that the board is currently considering "all funding options". Providence's current funding difficulties began with the loss of its Chinese partner in the exploration of the Barryroe prospect located south of Cork. It is currently seeking a new partner for the exploration and development of the prospect. As well as the key Barryroe project, Providence is also involved in exploration of the twin Dunquin North and South prospects in the Porcupine Basin off the Kerry Coast. Last June, Providence and its partner in the Dunquin South prospect, Eni Ireland, announced that they were postponing a well-site survey in the Dunquin South prospect. Eni and Providence had previously approved a budget for the well-site survey, which was a condition of permission for drilling an exploration well in the Dunquin South prospect. Providence has described the Dunquin South area as a "high-impact exploration prospect". The offshore block containing the prospect is located 200 km off the south-west coast of Ireland in a water depth of 1,500 meters. Last September, Providence set out details of a plan to re-engineer its business model, and the company has now completed a redundancy programme that has "materially reduced the cost base". Currently, the company said in its announcement last week, "all exploration licences are being reassessed based on cost and relevance to the new business model". Andrew Crozier, 27, has been jailed for sending sex texts to a child A teacher broke down in tears in the dock as he was jailed for sending sex texts to a child during a 'week of madness'. Andrew Crozier, who was due to be married, had snapchat exchanges with a teenage girl and told her she was 'beautiful' but warned her to keep their communication secret in case people thought he was a 'paedo'. In one message he told her to 'shhh' or he would 'get locked up'. The conversations were exposed when the girl's family found out about the illegal exchanges and alerted the police. Crozier, of Monkseaton, North Tyneside, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to having sexual communications with a child. At Newcastle Crown Court the 27-year-old held his head in his hands and wept when he was jailed for ten months. Crozier must sign the sex offenders register for ten years and has been ordered to abide by a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order for five years. Recorder Mr Carl Gumsley said the messages developed from an inappropriate friendly basis to Crozier 'being a sexual predator'. The judge told him: 'There is considerable trust placed in teachers, which you have so severely breached in this case. 'I find this a very serious matter indeed. You have lost a considerable amount as a result of your behaviour, behaviour it is difficult to comprehend. Mr Crozier, who was due to be married, had snapchat exchanges with a teenage girl and told her she was 'beautiful' but warned her to keep their communication secret in case people thought he was a 'paedo', Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) heard 'You have lost your career, reputation and any respect you clearly had, from reading the references, within the community.' Prosecutor Emma Dowling told the court the message exchange happened in January, over the space of a week. Crozier told the girl: 'Please keep quiet or people will think I'm a paedo. 'A beautiful lass like you and a lad like me, they will think all sorts.' Crozier said the victim had 'a big place in his heart' and said: 'I can't be leading you on, I'm not a paedo, you know I love you to bits. If you tell anyone I said that I'm getting locked up so shhhh.' During one exchange Crozier said: 'Before I get some kind of court case againstme I'm off to sleep.' Miss Dowling told the court: 'He knew what he was doing was wrong. He was encouraging her to keep the conversation secret from her family.' Mark Harrison, defending, said Crozier made a 'grave series of misjudgements which led him to lose his good name' at a time when he was undergoing acute stress. Mr Harrison said Crozier has received 'anger and forgiveness' from his fiance and added: 'She doesn't know if the relationship will endure, don't know if they will be married. 'She is furious with him for his conduct but is providing support. 'She takes the view Mr Crozier's conduct, other that in this week of madness, has been worth her endurance.' It started with a fall off a horse when she was 5. She was 11 when she further injured her spine tumbling into a tide pool to save her cousin from being washed away into the sea. And then it was all bones healing the wrong way, discs herniated and infused and compressed, bones degenerating, Aleth Morales said. Ive been in pain most of my life. But the pain in her back was almost secondary to the pain in her heart from a lonely childhood in southern California, separated from her young mother, barely knowing her father. It felt like abandonment, and I couldnt understand it, she said. To ease her pain and calm her mind, she found solace in snorting methamphetamine and sucking down alcohol, becoming, she says, an addict at age 16. It was just to numb myself, to keep my ADHD mind from spinning, to not be in reality, Morales, 40, said. It was something she could turn on and off then, something she could hide. But as her addiction deepened, she could no longer control or hide it. It took losing her children in 2018 for her to realize that. And then it took until this month for her to break free from two decades of addiction, to stabilize herself in sobriety with the help of the rigorous Substance Use and Treatment Options Program, or STOP, one of Metro Courts newest specialty courts. The voluntary program serves offenders charged with non-violent felony substance-related crimes that are pleaded down to misdemeanors. It consists of five phases, including two 90-day stays in inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, weekly group therapy sessions, additional treatment as needed, frequent meetings with a probation officer and Metro Court Judge Jill Martinez, who presides over the program. Morales is the third STOP graduate, starting as a test case months before the program officially began in October 2018. Her graduation ceremony Feb. 14 in Martinezs courtroom was a day she had worked hard to make happen and a day she did not always believe would come. Were not just addicts, she said. We had dreams. We had hope. We had life inside of us, but life kept throwing obstacles in front of us and we were not strong enough to handle them. Were just lost people who need help. Morales is candid about her past as she details the downward spiral that took away her dreams, her hope, her life, little by little. She graduated from high school in 1998 in Montebello, California, as a cheerleader, a member of the school color guard, a fairly good student and a secret addict. That year, she enlisted in the Navy but received an honorable medical discharge after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from witnessing a suicide, she said. She studied culinary arts, gave birth to Angel, her first child, with a man who turned out to be both abusive and an undocumented immigrant. He was deported in 2009; she continued to cope with drugs and booze. In 2010, she met Robert Cabrera, whom she calls the love of her life, and moved to Albuquerque with him, her son and his daughter, Samantha, for a fresh start. Soon, though, she found fresh suppliers for her meth fix. By this time I was also heavily drinking, she said. I drank vodka to wake up. She stayed clean during her pregnancies with sons Josiah and Elijah, but resumed her meth and alcohol use afterward, still maintaining her job working the service deli at Albertsons and, she thought, keeping her addiction under wraps. But maybe she hadnt been as successful as she thought. She and Cabrera began having problems, and in May 2016 he left her and took the children. That just broke me, she said. I was using, drinking at work now, crying in the bathroom. I couldnt stop. In March 2017, she was arrested after being caught driving a stolen GMC Yukon she said a friend had lent her. The arrest led to losing her job, her home, her dignity. On April 25, 2017, she woke up with bruises and could not remember what had happened. A medical exam indicated that she had been sexually assaulted. Heroin was found in her system. I hadnt been awake to feel what heroin felt like, so I did more heroin to feel it, she said. The moment I did I was addicted. She tried to kill herself five times with large hot shot injections of heroin. I wanted to die, she said. Other criminal charges followed. Breaking and entering and possession of drug paraphernalia in September 2017. Forgery in November 2017. In March 2018, she had her two youngest children visiting her when she showed up high with them at a strangers house. Police found syringes of meth in her childrens diaper bag and arrested her on charges of criminal trespassing and possession. Her children saw her being led away in handcuffs. They were led away into foster care. She remembers every word a social worker told her then: You are not a bad person or parent. You are just lost in your addiction and you need help. Those words, she said, broke through. The day after she was released from jail she entered inpatient treatment for the first time. In May 2018 she agreed to be one of the first test cases for STOP rather than face prison. Things didnt go well. I fought it and was not very cooperative, she said. I was high the day I met my probation officer. But like that little girl who fell off the horse years ago, it was time for her to get back on. I had to learn to trust, she said. Funding for STOP comes from Metro Courts general fund and federal grants. Currently, there are seven participants in the program, but court officials say they hope to increase that number as more attorneys and defendants learn of success stories like Morales. Aleth is a perfect example of why we started this program, Martinez said. Her offenses werent making the news, but her criminal behavior was quickly escalating. The program intervenes during this critical period. Morales is back home with Cabrera and her children. She is back at work at Albertsons and enjoying her 20th month of sobriety. She hopes someday to undergo surgery to repair her spine. And she hopes to become a peer support specialist to help others like her find their way back. I have a dream again, she said. I have a purpose again. Im showered with countless blessings. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Find out more For more on STOP and Metro Courts other speciality courts, see Programs, Specialty Courts and Problem Solving Courts at metro.nmcourts.gov. Reports of a blast close to the home of a west Belfast republican have been condemned. It's after police received a report that two pipe bombs had been left in the Andersonstown area of west Belfast. Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey said community worker Harry Maguire was informed by police of threats against him on Friday evening. Two addresses were specified in the Andersonstown area, one where his 85-year-old mother lives. A few hours later the sound of a blast in the area was reported. Mr Maskey said: "I have been speaking to a number of residents this morning who are saying they heard what they described as a loud blast. Police were out doing searches [on Friday night], they didn't discover anything, they were out again this morning. "Obviously this is very concerning." Mr Maguire said those who made the threats are cowards who are attempting to intimidate the community. "If anybody in my community wishes to challenge me or those who are trying to build the peace or make progress in our communities then challenge me across a table, "Im ready and willing to engage with anyone, but the cowardly and anonymous attacks on homes must stop." Mr Maskey said: "This attack is an attack on the entire community. It baffles me why this attack and this threat was carried out on Harry." Chief Inspector Gary Reid said: "We received a report just before 9.30pm that one pipe bomb had been left in the Fruithill Park area and another left in the Benraw Road area. "Police attended and carried out extensive searches. "Nothing untoward was found in either location. However, if anyone should come across anything which appears suspicious, do not lift or touch it. Rather, phone police immediately on 999. "Anyone with information is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting reference 1890 of 21/02/20. "Alternatively, information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime." In a separate incident last week, a failed bomb attack on the home of the brother of the late Pat Finucane was widely condemned. The west Belfast property of Martin Finucane, the uncle of Sinn Fein MP John Finucane, was targeted when a device was thrown at the building in the Glenties Drive area. A window was smashed and a vehicle was heard leaving the area around that time. The device, described as having an accelerant, batteries and nails, did not ignite. A flammable cloth and gas cylinders were also found. Earlier this month, Michelle ONeill, Stormonts Deputy First Minister, said officers had warned that dissident republicans were planning to attack her and Mr Kelly. It came in response to the pairs attendance at a Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment event. Ms ONeill later went on to indicate that the plot had widened to encompass all Sinn Fein members. She said police had advised that the New IRA was the dissident grouping behind the plan. Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER / Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise A U.S. District judge convicted a 38-year-old Gainesville man on federal gun violations in the Eastern District of Texas Friday, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown. District Judge Sean Jordan found William Randall Brannan guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime following a week-long trial. More than 1,000 demonstrators staged a round dance in downtown Toronto on Saturday afternoon to show support for Indigenous land rights. The round dance was held in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary chiefs who oppose a Coastal GasLink pipeline that would carry natural gas to the B.C. coast. Demonstrators rallied at Queen's Park first, then they marched south on University Avenue before heading east to Nathan Phillips Square. There, they gathered in large concentric circles, holding hands and moving across the pavement. Cheering as they circled the square, the demonstrators stepped in time to the beat of a drum. At the rally, there was smudging and a drum circle, and during the march, demonstrators carried flags, banners and placards, and they sang and chanted. The peaceful demonstration of support comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a stern call on Friday for rail blockades erected in support of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary chiefs to come down. The blockades have paralyzed Canada's rail system. Pamela Hart, an organizer, said the event was not a protest but instead a show of solidarity. "Today is in solidarity with the land protectors," Hart said. "We just want to come together and let them know that they are seen, that they are heard, that we support them and that the nations across Canada are with them. We want to create some medicine and some strength and some unity to recognize their efforts," she added. "We are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across Canada. And it's important that they just know that they have support and love from their community from right across the board." Natalie Nanowski/CBC Hart said Indigenous people have to fight for their rights on many different issues every day and the event is an acknowledgement of their strength. "We need to continue to stand up, have a voice, come together and show that we're strong, we're here and that we're always going to be here," she said. Story continues Traditional chiefs now in Kahnawake, Que. Meanwhile on Saturday, the traditional chiefs arrived in Kahnawake, Quebec, where they will tour Mohawk communities that have set up blockades in solidarity with their cause. One of the hereditary chiefs said on Friday his people will be willing to talk with the B.C. and federal governments when the RCMP in B.C. have left traditional Wet'suwet'en territory entirely and Coastal GasLink ceases work in the area. Back in Toronto, the afternoon event drew Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike. Natalie Nanowski/CBC Liberal MP Craig Kelly says he will work to get Advance Australia's educational resources for children - which will deride climate change as a "hoax" - used in classrooms in his electorate. Mr Kelly, who represents the south Sydney seat of Hughes, said he "absolutely" supported the right-wing activist group in its attempt to distribute the resources to primary schoolchildren. "I've actually been thinking about ways I could do it in the schools in my electorate give the kids the information, let them read the data and let them make up their own minds," he said. Liberal MP Craig Kelly says he wants to work with Advance Australia to target school children on climate change. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Last week The Sun-Herald revealed plans by Advance Australia - which bills itself as a right-wing version of progressive lobby group GetUp - to develop materials on climate change targeted at children. The resources would include a "Smart Scientist's Kit", an e-book of "10 climate facts to expose the climate change hoax", as well as an educational video and speaking tour by a "renowned climate scientist". Former K.C. Undercover actor Chris Tavarez will be spending time behind bars after accepting a plea deal for domestic violence. Tavarez pled no contest one count of felony domestic violence with a prior conviction, according to TMZ. The 27-year-old was sentenced to serve a 5-year suspended sentence. He was expected to only serve 300 days behind bars but, with credit for the 153 days he has already spent in jail, he will serve just over four months. Sentenced: Former Disney actor Chris Tavarez was sentenced to serve a 5-year suspended sentence, with credit for time served, he will spend around four months in jail, after pleading no contest to felony domestic battery with a prior conviction Tavarez was charged, back in November, by the Los Angeles District Attorney over an alleged violent incident with his girlfriend leaving her with a concussion. The City Attorney's Office told TMZ that the 'prior conviction' folded into his new charge stemmed from a 2017 incident where he was charged with two counts of spousal battery. 'He pled no contest to one count, and had to serve 180 days in jail, complete a 52-week Domestic Violence Treatment Program, pay a fine and was ordered to stay away from the victim,' the outlet reported. The incident: Tavarez was charged, back in November, by the Los Angeles District Attorney over an alleged violent incident with his girlfriend, earlier in the month The second count was dismissed and he was placed on '36 months summary probation.' A few weeks back, Tavarez was arrested several days after an incident where he lashed out at his girlfriend, pushing her so hard she fell and hit her head. The woman's injuries resulted in a concussion. Police insiders told TMZ at the time that Chris and the woman were in Hollywood when they got into a dispute which quickly escalated towards being physical. Cops were called to the home after the incident, but by the time they arrived Tavarez had fled the scene already. Allegations: A few weeks back, Tavarez was arrested several days after an incident where he lashed out at his girlfriend, pushing her so hard she fell and hit her head. The woman's injuries resulted in a concussion (Pictured center right in 2010's Avalon High) Known for: Tavarez is best known for his roles on the Disney shot KC Undercover and Disney Channel movie Avalon High. He also appeared in Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns During their visit responding officers noticed marks on the woman's body, but she refused any medical treatment. Family insiders divulged that she later sought out medical treatment and was told by doctors she had suffered a concussion. Two days after authorities' initial visit to the home, Tavarez was arrested and booked. Tavarez is best known for his roles on the Disney show KC Undercover and Disney Channel movie Avalon High. He also appeared in Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns. The scenes at Irans parliamentary elections, one of the most significant in the countrys recent history, were very different from those at polls a few years back. Then there had been a rush to the vote in a spirit of celebration at the prospect of opening up to the outside world, following the landmark deal between international powers over the countrys nuclear programme. Since then Donald Trump had sought to sabotage that agreement by pulling the US out of it and imposing punitive sanctions on Iran. The economy is in a parlous state, there has been sporadic but widespread street protests, and deep concern that recent flashes of violence may end in a devastating conflict. The Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under the leadership of Nitish Kumar will definitely win the Bihar polls, said Bharatiya Janata Party President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday during his meeting with the party workers in Patna. "The NDA government has changed the face of Bihar in the past 5 years and the election to be held in November will also be fought under Nitish Kumar's leadership," Nadda said in his speech to motivate the party workers for the Bihar elections that are scheduled be held later this year. He also said that in order to make the NDA-win possible "the party workers need to give their 100 percent dedication during the election campaign." The comments of the BJP chief assume significance as Bihar's 243-member Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go for polls later this year. "One should remember that it is a privilege to work for a party which works on ideology and we will definitely win this election," the BJP chief added. Earlier today, the BJP president in a public gathering had said "Jawaharlal Nehru and Mrs (Indira) Gandhi each got the majority twice in the Centre. Rajeev Gandhi came to power with a majority once but they could not abrogate Article 370." He said that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government that came to power with 303 MPs in May and abrogated Article 370 in August. JP Nadda is slated to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in his one-day tour in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Staff at a Derry supported living scheme who made Christmas come early for a terminally ill resident have won a major award. Belmont Cottages won the Best Housing Story category at last night's 2020 CIH Housing Awards in Belfast's Titanic Centre. They received the award for the end of life care they provided for a woman who had lived there for 26 years. The home supports adults with a learning disability to live as independently as possible and become an integral part of the community. In September 2019 one of the home's original residents was diagnosed with an end stage palliative illness. The staff felt it was important she would remain at Belmont Cottages to be cared for among familiar faces so she could pass away as peacefully as possible surrounded by family and friends. Staff at the home worked around the clock with the district nurse, hospice nurse and Marie Curie nurses to make her feel comfortable. They also ensured there was always a familiar face with the resident on a one-to-one basis throughout day and night to help ease any anxieties. After being told in early October that the resident did not have long to live, staff decided to hold one last Christmas for her. Seamus Crossan, manager of Belmont Cottages, dressed up as Santa and staff decorated her room and played Christmas music. The resident passed away peacefully six days later, in her own home surrounded by her family and friends. Mr Crossan said he was proud of how his staff went above and beyond to make her last days so happy. "Care and compassion is always at the forefront of our service to our residents, however during this sad and emotional time we all came together as a team to help make the best of the last days for our resident. "She was one of the first residents to move into Belmont, we felt it was only right to put everything in place to ensure a peaceful and dignifying last few days. "As the manager I was proud to witness, first hand, the outstanding care and attention that was provided by my staff team during this time. "It is an honour to win this award and it is uplifting for the staff to see that the care and compassion we deliver has been recognised." Deirdre Walker, Apexs Director of Supported Living, said: "The staff team at Belmont Cottages is deserving of this award because of the compassion and care they showed towards someone in the end stages of their life. "They embraced the value and importance of home; and overcame all obstacles to ensure a resident remained at home during a remarkable and emotive time for all. "Not only did they provide 24/7 comfort and support to this lady in her final weeks, working outside the perimeters of their own roles; they brought Christmas to Belmont Cottages in October so that she could celebrate Christmas one last time in a special way." Top managers within Wells Fargos Community Bank division were aware of the unlawful and unethical practices as early as 2002, and many of the practices were referred to as gaming within the bank, the Justice Department said. The agreement resolves the civil and criminal liability regarding Wells Fargos fake-accounts scandal. About $500 million of the penalties will go to the SEC to be distributed to investors to settle charges that the bank committed fraud by misleading investors about its sales practices, an SEC official said on a call with reporters about the resolutions settlement. Settling the multi-agency investigation marked an important milestone for Scharf, who joined the company from BNY Mellon in September shortly after the third anniversary of the scandal. We are committing all necessary resources to ensure that nothing like this happens again, while also driving Wells Fargo forward, Scharf said. Ghost in the machine Watchdog group Public Citizen criticized the deal, saying it does not go far enough. A group of Shaheen Bagh protesters on Saturday opened the Noida-Kalindi Kunj Road that had been blocked since December 15-16 last year, only to be closed soon afterwards by another group of protesters. "A little earlier today, Road No. 9 was reopened by a group of protestors, but later it was closed by another group. Again, a group of protestors has reopened a small stretch, however, still, there's no clarity if all protestors have consent on this," DCP Souteast, Rajendra Prasad Meena said. Thousands of people, the majority of them women, have been holding a sit-in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed NRC at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area since mid-December last year. Recently the Supreme Court-appointed senior advocates Sanjay Hedge and Sadhana Ramachandran as interlocutors to talk with the protestors here and urge them to clear the road. Sadhana Ramachandran has been coming to Shaheen Bagh to talk to the protesters continuously for the past three days. She arrived at Shaheen Bagh at 10:30 this morning and told the protestors that if the road here doesn't get cleared then the interlocutors won't be able to help them. "We were facing a problem to drop our children to the school. Now that the road has opened, it will be easy for all of us," said Akram Qureshi, a commuter who was passing by the road after the barricades were removed today. Ishu who was coming from Faridabad told ANI, "The commuters are facing problems but the protestors also have their issues. I would like to request them that blocking roads won't help. They should listen to what the Supreme Court is saying and I believe that their concerns will be heard." The two interlocutors on Friday urged the Shaheen Bagh protestors to clear the road and "make way to the hearts". The apex court will further hear the matter on February 24. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA astronomers have recently revealed that our neighbourhood gas-giant, Jupiter, contains water in its atmosphere, albeit in a fractional amount. According to a statement on NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's website, nearly 0.25 per cent of Jupiter's atmosphere comprises of water, especially around the equatorial regions, reported Fox News. This finding which was published in the Nature Astronomy journal was reached upon the basis of data provided by the Juno space probe that was launched in 2011 and entered Jupiter's orbit in 2016. Juno's principal investigator Scott Bolton said in the NASA article that "Juno's surprise discovery that the atmosphere was not well mixed even well below the cloud tops is a puzzle that we are still trying to figure out. No one would have guessed that water might be so variable across the planet." The precise number was derived from the information gathered out of Juno's eight flybys around the planet. "We found the water in the equator to be greater than what the Galileo probe measured," stated Cheng Li from the University of California who is a scientist involved with the Juno mission. "Because the equatorial region is very unique at Jupiter, we need to compare these results with how much water is in other regions," Cheng Li added. Astronomers have been trying to figure out Jupiter's water content since decades and this mystery "represents a critical missing piece to the puzzle of our solar system's formation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump has instructed his White House to identify and force out officials across his administration who are not seen as sufficiently loyal, a post-impeachment escalation that administration officials say reflects a new phase of a campaign of retribution and restructuring ahead of the November election. Johnny McEntee, Mr Trump's former personal aide who now leads the effort as director of presidential personnel, has begun combing through various agencies with a mandate from the president to oust or sideline political appointees who have not proved their loyalty, according to several administration officials and others familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The push comes in the aftermath of an impeachment process in which several members of Mr Trump's administration provided damning testimony about his behavior with regard to Ukraine. The stream of officials publicly criticising Mr Trump's actions frustrated the president and caused him to fixate on cleaning house after his acquittal this month. We want bad people out of our government! Mr Trump tweeted 13 February, kicking off a tumultuous stretch of firings, resignations, controversial appointments and private skirmishes that have since spilled into public view. The National Security Council, the State Department and the Justice Department are targets of particular focus, according to two administration officials, and there have recently been multiple resignations and reassignments at each of those agencies. 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 John Rood, the official in charge of Defense Department policy who had certified that Ukraine had met anti-corruption obligations, was let go this week. Victoria Coates, the deputy national security adviser who was viewed with suspicion by some White House aides, was removed from her post and was moved to an advisory position in the Energy Department. Mr McEntee spent part of this week asking officials in various Cabinet agencies to provide names of political appointees working in government who are not fully supportive of Mr Trump's presidency, according to administration officials. The president instructed Mr McEntee to find people in the administration who aren't aligned with Mr Trump and get rid of them, according to someone familiar with the president's directive. Mr Trump did not provide additional specificity on what exactly he wanted beyond a workforce that more fully reflects his instincts, the person said, and it is unclear what criteria are being used to determine an official's fealty to the president. Mr McEntee's discussions with Cabinet agencies were first reported by Axios. Recommended Top Obama official tears into John Bolton on stage over testimony The 29-year-old former campaign aide is planning to prepare a presentation for Mr Trump about what he has found. While Sean Doocey, the former director of presidential personnel, reported to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney's deputy, Mr McEntee reports directly to the president, according to a senior administration official. What began as a campaign of retribution against officials who participated in the impeachment process has evolved into a full-scale effort to create an administration more fully in sync with Mr Trump's id and agenda, according to several officials familiar with the plan. It is unclear whether civil servants will be targeted as well, but it would be harder to dislodge them than removing political appointees. Civil servants, however, could be sidelined in other ways. As he became the third president in American history to be impeached, Mr Trump seethed against his own appointees who defied White House lawyers to comply with congressional subpoenas and testify about his conduct. The process clarified for Mr Trump and his top advisers that they had not focused enough on personnel in the early part of the presidency, creating a loyalty deficiency the president is moving quickly to correct, officials said. The burgeoning effort was reflected in Mr Trump's decision this week to appoint Richard Grenell as the next acting director of national intelligence, placing a fiercely loyal but inexperienced ally atop an intelligence structure against which the president has frequently railed. Mr Mulvaney used a speech this week at the Oxford Union in Britain to inveigh against the deep state, and he lamented that the administration could not fire more agency employees who do not implement the president's orders. He referred to some of the testimony of the witnesses who participated in Mr Trump's impeachment inquiry. Bureaucrats who want to make policy instead of implementing it should put their name on the effing ballot and run for office, he said during remarks to a group of several hundred people, according to audio of a speech obtained by The Washington Post. Mr Trump's family members have been among the main champions of the effort to force out officials who have not proved their devotion to Mr Trump. Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and a senior adviser in the White House, has played a central role in the push, concentrating more power in the West Wing and working to combat leaks, officials said. Mr Trump's son Donald Trump Jr wrote on Twitter that the impeachment investigation was helpful in unearthing who all needed to be fired. Cliff Sims, a former White House adviser who wrote a book titled Team of Vipers, about his time in the White House, has said Mr Trump's presidency has been repeatedly undermined by disloyal underlings. Loyalist shouldn't be a dirty word, he said. Loyalty to the duly elected president and his agenda is exactly what we should expect from our unelected appointees. Brendan Buck, a longtime adviser to former House speaker Paul Ryan, Reoublican for Wisconsin, said that while Mr Trump is entitled to have political appointees who support his agenda, the purity tests could make it difficult to find qualified people. If they also insist on hiring only people who've never taken issue with something the president has done, it's going to be slim pickings, he said. Mr Trump selected Mr Grenell, the ambassador to Germany, to lead the intelligence community in place of Joseph Maguire after becoming angry last week when he learned that a US intelligence official had told lawmakers that Russia wants to see him reelected, according to people familiar with the matter. Richard Grenell, US ambassador to Germany, attends the "Rally for Equal Rights at the United Nations (Protesting Anti-Israeli Bias)" in Geneva (Denis Balibouse/Reuters) (REUTERS) Mr Grenell has moved quickly to concentrate power within the intelligence agencies. Mr Maguire's deputy, Andrew Hallman, resigned on Friday. Mr Grenell hired Kash Patel, a National Security Council aide who has worked in the past to cast doubt on the FBI's investigation into Russian election interference. Mr Grenell has requested access to information from the CIA and other intelligence agencies, the New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. The moves reflect the skeptical view the president has had of the intelligence community after his campaign's links to Russia were investigated and several of his associates were prosecuted.The anger extends beyond the intelligence agencies, and Mr Trump has also called for law enforcement officials who investigated his campaign to be investigated or prosecuted. Even some Mr Trump allies are feeling heat over not being aggressive enough about taking on the president's perceived enemies. At a donor roundtable on Tuesday at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, one participant pointedly questioned Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, Republican for South Carolina, on why he was not holding accountable people who were responsible for the Russia investigation. I see you on Fox News every night, and then you do nothing about it. What are you going to do about it? the donor asked, according to an attendee What a fantastic question! Mr Trump said. Meanwhile, administration officials are conducting a search for the Anonymous author of a tell-all book about Mr Trump titled A Warning, according to White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who told CNN on Friday that the search had become a vocation with everybody. Mr McEntee, who lost his job in 2018 over concerns about his online gambling, has long expressed an interest in the personnel office despite having no previous government experience, two administration officials said. Within the West Wing, he is seen as fiercely devoted to the president and is well liked by first lady Melania Trump, the officials said. Some within the White House have bristled at his lack of experience and aggressive approach to ferreting out Never Trumpers. Mr McEntee does not have the relevant experience to do this job, unless the job is to purge Never Trumpers and reward loyalists, one official said. Another senior administration official countered that Mr McEntee was talented and up to the task, with the key qualification of having the president's confidence. As he gears up for the re-election contest, Mr Trump has moved to surround himself with longtime allies who have proved their devotion to him while pushing away those who have not earned his trust. This month, Mr Trump rehired Hope Hicks, one of his longest-serving aides and closest confidants. During a podcast interview last week, Mr Trump concurred when Fox News analyst Geraldo Rivera described the White House as a nest of vipers and snitches and backstabbers and rats. I inherited a place with, you know, many different administrations, and they worked there for years and were civil service and with unions and all of it, he said on Rivera's Roadkill podcast. You can't do what you'd like to do. Washington Post >>> Three-month-old coronavirus patient successfully treated >>> Vietnam successfully treats 14 Covid-19 infection cases >>> Vietnam develops effective treatment regimen for Covid-19: health official The latest successfully cured cases are P.T.T and N.T.T.D, the mother and sister of N.T.D, respectively. N.T.D was among the eight workers of Nihon Plast Vietnam Co. Ltd who attended a training course in Chinas Wuhan City the epicentre of the global coronavirus outbreak. The worker was found to be infected with coronavirus and was hospitalised. She recovered and was discharged from hospital on February 10. N.T.Ds 42-year-old mother and 16-year-old sister tested positive for the virus on February 6 and were then admitted to the Quang Ha Regional General Clinic in Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province. Thus, Quang Ha Clinic has successfully isolated and treated four local people infected with Covid-19. Previously, on February 18, Vinh Phuc Department of Health announced the curing of two patients at the clinic. Police forces check people's body temperature at the Son Loi quarantine checkpoint, Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province. (Photo: NDO/Duc Tung) So far, 10 confirmed cases from Vinh Phuc have been cured, including four cases at Quang Ha Clinic. The remaining positive cases from Vinh Phuc have also been treated successfully at central-level hospitals. Earlier, on Thursday morning (February 20), a three-month-old baby from Vinh Phuc, Vietnams youngest Covid-19 patient, was successfully treated and released from the National Childrens Hospital. Her mother's health is also stable, without Covid-19 infection. All patients announced to be cured will continue to be monitored and screened for health after being released to their localities. The latest release of patients has left only one Covid-19 infection case still in hospital in Vinh Phuc, N.T.Ds father. Among the 16 Covid-19 confirmed cases in Vietnam so far, 11 were in Vinh Phuc. Up until now, 15 patients have been announced successfully cured and 14 have been discharged from hospital. Furthermore, no new cases have been reported in Vinh Phuc or the country over the past seven days. * On February 20, INOAC Living Vietnam Co. Ltd. donated 20,000 free medical masks to Vinh Phuc Province to supplement necessary supplies in the efforts to prevent and control Covid-19. Previously, Vina Korea Co. Ltd. and Shinwon Ebenzer Vietnam Co. Ltd. announced their dedication to prioritising their production lines and labour resources to promptly produce 410,000 cloth masks to support the province in the Covid-19 fight. Representatives of Vinh Phuc provincial authorities receive free masks donated by INOAC Living Vietnam Co. Ltd. (Photo: NDO/Duc Tung) * Vinh Phuc authorities have decided to continue to let local students be off from school until the end of February. This is the fourth time Vinh Phuc informed local students to leave school to prevent Covid-19 infection. Accordingly, students at all levels in the province will continue to have no school from February 23 until the end of February and will make up their academic programmes in appropriate time. * On February 20, the Ministry of Health (MoH) ordered the tightened monitoring of Vietnamese citizens recently returning from China in the face of Covid-19. In a dispatch, the ministry requested authorities in cities and provinces nationwide to closely follow the Prime Ministers orders on Covid-19 prevention and control and conduct quarantine for people and vehicles of the aforementioned cases to promptly detect suspected infections. The receipt and quarantine of Vietnamese citizens from China also need to comply with orders of the PM and guidance of the ministry. * On the same day, the Hanoi Department of Health assigned the heads of its affiliated medical facilities to proactively approve the contractor selection plan for the bidding package in purchasing drugs to prevent Covid-19 and ensure the availability and timely supply of sufficient medicines needed for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in the capital city. Spraying disinfectants for the third time at Thang Long Primary School in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. (Photo: NDO/Minh Ha) The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has developed a plan to ensure the supply of goods to serve the needs of local residents amidst the complicated Covid-19 epidemic, with the volume of goods to be stockpiled increasing from 30-50% compared to normal needs of local people in a month. * On February 20, the Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VINIF), Vingroup Big Data Institute and the Ministry of Science and Technology signed a sponsorship worth nearly VND20 billion for three research projects on quick response to Covid-19. This is the first time the Ministry of Science and Technology has mobilised social resources to carry out unexpected research tasks in the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic. Vingroup is also the first private enterprise to join hands with the State in combating the disease and protecting public health. Medical staff from Ba Don Town Health Centre (Quang Binh Province) spray chemicals to prevent Covid-19 infection. (Photo: NDO) According to the MoH, there are currently 28 Covid-19 suspected patients in isolation and under closely monitor in Vietnam. In addition, 1,538 cases of people in normal health without fever and cough are also in isolation as they have had close contact with people suspected of Covid-19 infection. As of 11 am on February 21, 76,727 people worldwide have contracted Covid-19 in 30 countries, territories and the cruise ship Diamond Princess, with 2,247 deaths. In mainland China alone, 75,465 people have been infected and 2,236 people died. Notably, the Republic Korea was the latest country to suffer a fatality due to Covid-19. More bicycle parking spaces than car parking spaces were created in new buildings within the City of Melbourne for the first time last year, council data shows. A total of 3797 bike spaces were added in developments completed within the city in 2019, compared with 3575 car parks. Since 2015, when the council started keeping track of this information, 15,904 new bike spaces and 22,316 new car spaces have been completed in private developments such as apartment blocks and office buildings. This figure does not include on-street parking or bike hoops on footpaths. City of Melbourne transport portfolio chair Nicolas Frances Gilley said the increase in bike spaces was encouraging. Its happening because cycling is what people are choosing to do, he said. Iranians queue for voting in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) US Sanctions Iran Clerics for Vetoing Election Candidates WASHINGTONThe Trump administration on Thursday ratcheted up pressure on Iran by slapping sanctions on top members of a powerful clerical body that disqualified thousands of candidates from running in that countrys parliamentary elections. A day before Iranians go to the polls, the administration imposed sanctions on two senior officials of the Guardian Council, including its chief, and three members of its elections supervisory committee. Officials said those targeted were responsible for silencing the voice of the Iranian people by rejecting more than 7,000 candidates. The penalties announced by the State and Treasury departments include freezes on any assets the five may have in U.S. jurisdictions, or that they try to move through the U.S. banking system. Also, Americans are barred from doing business with them. It was not immediately clear if the sanctions would have any practical effect, but Brian Hooks, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, said its important to highlight the role of clerics who are not widely known outside of Iran. Thursdays announcement was the latest move in the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign against Iran that began after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal and began to re-impose sanctions that had been eased under that accord. U.S. officials have said the campaign will continue until Iran changes its behavior. Theres always plenty of targets, Hook said, when asked if the administration was running of out of Iranians to penalize. The five Iranians targeted Thursday have denied the Iranian people free and fair parliamentary elections, Hook told reporters. Together these five officials oversee a process that silences the voice of the Iranian people, curtails their freedom, and limits their political participation. Those targeted include the chief of the council, Ahmad Jannati, and senior member Mohammad Yazdi. Jannati is a 92-year-old hard-line cleric who once was supporter of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Yazdi is another influential member of the council who served as the Irans judiciary chief in the 1990s. The sanctions also affect Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, who serves as the councils spokesman. The 12-member Guardian Council is a panel of six clerics appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and six jurists nominated by Irans judiciary approved by its parliament. The council approves all parliamentary and presidential candidates and must agree to all legislation passed by parliament before it becomes law. It rules out candidates if it believes their views or behavior are incompatible with Irans theocratic system. Ahead of Fridays elections, the council has barred thousands of candidates who had registered to run. Among them are 90 sitting lawmakers seeking re-election. The Trump administration will not tolerate the manipulation of elections to favor the regimes malign agenda, and this action exposes those senior regime officials responsible for preventing the Iranian people from freely choosing their leaders, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement. By Matthew Lee People came to the state Capitol by the busload Friday to stand up for their Second Amendment rights and to have their say on two bills during hearings before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee. Johnny Barta of Swanton, about 50 miles southwest of Lincoln, sat on the west steps of the Capitol before the hearing poring over a copy of one of the bills. He said it was important to be there. "I don't sit back, you know. I try to stay involved," he said. "When there's a bill I feel either needed to be supported or not supported, I try to get up here." The opponents filled two hearing rooms and spilled out into hallways of the Capitol. At least two men brought assault-type rifles in open-carry style. Security was increased in and around the hearing rooms. No one is allowed to carry a concealed weapon in the Capitol, but there is no prohibition on open-carry weapons. Judiciary Committee Chairman Steve Lathrop said after seeing at least one assault-type rifle in the main hearing room, he would have the Executive Board look at that rule. The first hearing was on a bill (LB958), introduced by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, that would prohibit the purchase or possession of a firearm by a person who has been criminally convicted of domestic violence or is the subject of a domestic violence, sexual assault or harassment protection order. Forty people then spoke in opposition of a bill (LB816) introduced by Omaha Sen. John McCollister that would add suicide prevention training to firearms safety courses now required for conceal-carry permits, and require distribution of suicide prevention literature to persons acquiring firearms. It would also require a federally licensed dealer at gun shows to review or conduct all transfers of firearms where 50 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, exchange or transfer. And it would expand the length of time to perform background checks of people applying for firearms purchase certificates, and add a mandatory two-day waiting period to receive the certificate. A fee charged for each application for a certificate would increase from $5 to $10, which some of those testifying opposed as a tax increase. An amendment would remove other controversial parts of the bill, such as adding semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to the category of firearms for which a purchase certificate would be required. McCollister said suicide by firearm is a major public health problem, and the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10-34, with the cost of a single suicide estimated at $1.3 million for medical treatment and lost productivity. Suicides and suicide attempts cost $70 billion annually nationwide, he said. With so many people there to testify, Lathrop limited the time for each speaker to 1 1/2 minutes, compared with the 3-5 minutes people frequently get at hearings. Many of the opponents said McCollister's bill would do nothing to prevent suicide, and infringed on their Second Amendment rights. Coley O'Halloran, 18, of Papillion, said the bill is not a solution to suicide, as firearms are simply only one form of means to an end. "Tragically, the people who want to commit suicide will do so by any means possible," he said. Cody Anderson told the committee he was a survivor of somebody who had committed suicide. "I don't understand how this solves the problem," he said. "I'm opposed to this. Come up with a solution and I will support it." Ron Ferguson, an Army veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, said the bill would limit his right to defend himself in the country he fought to defend. "Why limit law-abiding citizens' right to counter the harmful intent of criminals?" he said. Greg Holloway spoke on behalf of the Nebraska Veterans Council, with more than 36,000 veterans collectively in numerous organizations, which opposed the original bill because of its infringements. Holloway, a Vietnam veteran, took a personal moment to thank Judiciary Committee member Ernie Chambers for his service to Nebraska. "Believe me or not, I'll miss you," he said, referring to this being Chambers' last session because of term limits. Six people supported McCollister's bill, with two of them reading from news accounts about David Pringle, a managing partner at Lincoln's Discount Enterprises Guns, or DEGuns, and who was in part responsible for so many opponents showing up Friday. He had been described in news articles as having ties to white supremacy. After Judy King read from an article about Pringle, Sen. Julie Slama of Peru told her and others to keep the testimony to what was relevant to the bill rather than talk about individuals who "may or may not be in the audience." But Lathrop took exception to Slama's statement. "Senator Slama has suggested that this body tries to determine what's relevant from what's not relevant. That's never been the case," Lathrop said. "As long as you take your minute and a half and you're respectful, you'll be heard." Shortly after that, Slama left the room for the remainder of the proponents' testimony. During her testimony, Melody Vaccaro talked about all the death and rape threats, and posting of personal addresses on social media of members of her group, Nebraskans Against Gun Violence. Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld also received a threat in the past week because of his sponsorship of a so-called "red-flag" bill that would allow a court to intervene in extreme cases where people have demonstrated they are a danger to themselves or others, have access to a firearm and have made threats of violence. Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt sent a news release later Friday condemning Pringle's white supremacy statements at the hearing. Hunt said when he was asked to respond to allegations by proponents that he is associated with white supremacy, Pringle responded, I love my race more than any other race, just like I love my family more than any other family. He then stated, she said, a well-known white supremacist rallying cry and dog whistle known as The 14 Words: We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. "White supremacy not only has no place in our country," Hunt said, "but it must be actively and persistently rejected. It needs to be fought. It needs to be called out. And it needs to be unlearned." What happened Friday in front of the Judiciary Committee, she said, was a chilling representation of the increase in white supremacist violence in Nebraska. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 At Delhi govt school, Melania Trump says she is inspired by Happiness Curriculum Kejriwal, Sisodia not invited to Melania Trump's Delhi school visit India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 22: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will not accompany First Lady Melania Trump, who is likely to watch a "happiness class" at a Delhi government school. The visit to the school who have been taught the happiness curriculum will take place on February 25. Earlier it was reported that both AAP leaders were to attend the programme since the school comes under Delhi government. According to the news agency ANI, the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia were removed by the central government. This is the first time that the US First Lady will be visiting schools of the Delhi government and preparations are in full swing ahead of the high-profile visit. Melania Trump will be attending a "happiness class" in one of the Delhi government schools in which she will be shown how students are taught to co-exist with each other in a harmonious way. Namaste Trump: PM Modi unlikely to visit Taj Mahal along with Donald Trump Melania Trump is expected to spend around an hour at the state government school. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will have a packed schedule during his India visit next week. british airways boeing 747 REUTERS/Toby Melville Air travel data firm OAG ranked the highest revenue-generating routes for airlines in the world for the 12-month period from April 2018 to March 2019, revealing which routes are most important to some of the world's top airlines. Most of the routes originate or terminate in London, a highly influential economic center and European connection hub. The highest revenue route in the world was London-New York with British Airways earning over $1 billion on the route. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Just because an air route is popular does not make it the most lucrative. An airline can connect two cities with multiple flights per day and still not make as much revenue as they would with a small handful of flights on key routes. Air travel data firm OAG compiled a list of the top 10 routes that generate the most revenue and that airlines that bring in the most cash from them during a 12-month period from March 2018 to April 2019. The rankings show that business travelers continue to be the biggest market for airlines, as seen with the number of routes on the list that connect economic hubs and the aircraft serving those routes. London, one of the world's most influential economic hubs, was featured numerous times in the list, with service to and from the UK capital among the most revenue-generating for most airlines. In North America, domestic routes also appeared frequently, with transcontinental routes in the US and Canada earning the most revenue for some of the continent's largest airlines. Take a look at just which routes are the most important to some airlines. All revenue figures are estimates provided by OAG. 10. Air Canada: Toronto (YYZ) - Vancouver (YVR) Boeing 787 Air Canada Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images The near-2,000 mile nautical route that connects Toronto and Vancouver yielded Air Canada an estimated $541,122,509 during the 12-month period, making the domestic hop Air Canada's highest revenue earning route. The route saw over 45,000 hours of scheduled flight time during that time period, with each hour earning the airline almost $12,000 despite competing with WestJet, Sunwing Airlines, and Flair Airlines. Story continues Air Canada connects two of the country's largest cities with multiple flights per day with aircraft ranging from its smaller Airbus A320 family narrow-bodies to its largest wide-body aircraft including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777, and Airbus A330. The wide-body aircraft allow for maximum capacity on the route while also catering to business travelers sitting in premium cabins that have access to larger and more private lie-flat seats. 9. Singapore Airlines: Singapore (SIN) - Sydney (SYD) Singapore Airlines A350 C. v. Grinsven/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty With four daily flights between the two Asia-Pacific economic hubs, Singapore Airlines earned $549,711,946 in revenue. Despite competing with the likes of Qantas and British Airways, as well as low-cost subsidiary Scoot, Singapore Airlines dominated the route with two of its four departures being operated by the Airbus A380 and the other by Boeing 777 aircraft. The 12-month period saw 26,402 scheduled flight hours bringing in $20,821 per hour. Singapore's Airbus A380s are also known for their extravagant first-class cabins featuring spacious, fully-enclosed suites complete with proper beds, full-screen televisions, and a vanity counter. 8. Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong (HKG) - London (LHR) Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 Reuters Cathay Pacific Airways' route between Hong Kong and London earned the airline $604,595,063 in revenue during the time period for a total of 43,538 scheduled flight hours earning $13,887 per hour. The Hong Kong flag carrier currently connects the two cities with double-daily service on its Boeing 777 aircraft. The carrier competes with British Airways on the route, which offers a once-daily service on its Airbus A380 aircraft. 7. Qatar Airways: Doha (DOH) - London (LHR) Qatar Airways Airbus A380 REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol The top route for Qatar Airways that connects the capital cities of Qatar and the United Kingdom earned it $639,122,609 during the 12-month span. Qatar Airways currently dominates the skies between Doha and London with six daily departures on aircraft including its new Airbus A350-1000 XWB and Airbus A380, competing with a sole British Airways daily flight operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The time period saw Qatar Airways scheduling 31,306 hours of flight time for the route with each hour earning the flag carrier $20,415. The airline is known for its award-winning business class product, known as Qsuites, that is offered on some of the aircraft flying the route. Its A380 aircraft on the route also features onboard bars for premium passengers. 6. American Airlines: New York (JFK) - Los Angeles (LAX) american airlines REUTERS/Mike Blake The flagship domestic route for American Airlines earned it $661,739,788 during the time period, making it the second most revenue-generating domestic route in the US. The airline had scheduled 50,519 hours of flight time between New York and Los Angeles, with the route earning $13,099 per hour despite competing with Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and Alaska Airlines at JFK Airport, as well as United Airlines and Alaska Airlines at Newark Airport. American Airlines recently gave the route a refresh when it decided to switch to the smaller Airbus A321 instead of continuing wide-body service with aircraft such as the Boeing 767-200. Although the A321 would provide fewer seats for the route, American reconfigured the aircraft to include a first and business class cabin to tailor the route to premium flyers. 5. United Airlines: Newark (EWR) - San Francisco (SFO) United Airlines A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. David McNew/Getty Images United Airlines earned the most revenue on a domestic route in the US with its Newark to San Francisco route. The Chicago-based airline with hubs on both ends of the route brought in $689,371,368 through 53,516 scheduled flight hours that earned $12,882 per hour. United recently consolidated its transcontinental operations at its Newark hub after shuttering its outstation at JFK Airport that primarily served routes to San Francisco and Los Angeles. The airline flies a variety of aircraft between Newark and San Francisco, including the Boeing 757-200, Boeing 777-300ER, and Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, each offering business class passengers lie-flat seats. 4. Singapore Airlines: Singapore (SIN) - London (LHR) Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 AP Singapore Airlines' route between Singapore and London earned it another spot on the top ten list, with the carrier earning $735,597,614 on the route during the 12-month span. The Singaporean flag carrier currently operates four daily frequencies on the route with a mix of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, competing against two daily British Airways flights using the same aircraft and a daily Qantas service on the Airbus A380. The 39,189 hours of flight time were scheduled during the period with each hour earning Singapore Airlines $18,771 thanks, in part, to the premium offerings onboard. 3. Emirates: Dubai (DXB) - London (LHR) FILE PHOTO: An Emirates Airline Airbus A380-800 takes off from Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike Christopher Pike/Reuters Emirates joined its Middle Eastern colleague in making money off of service to London with its route to the UK capital earning it $796,201,645 during the time period. The airline currently operates the route with six daily flights, all on its Airbus A380 aircraft that are known for their extravagances including an in-flight shower for first-class passengers. The airline scheduled 31,943 flight hours between the two cities which each hour bringing in $24,926 in revenue. Emirates had two competitors on the route during the time period, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, with the former eventually leaving the route in March 2019. 2. Qantas: Melbourne (MEL) - Sydney (SYD) qantas REUTERS/David Gray The 381-nautical mile route between Australia's two largest economic hubs generates the most revenue for flag carrier Qantas. Despite its short length, the route earned Qantas $861,260,322 during the time period with 36,229 hours of scheduled flight that made $23,773 per hour. Even with the route's popularity, Qantas primarily flies its Boeing 737 between the two cities, one of the smallest aircraft in its fleet. The service currently operates hourly throughout the day with no shortage of competitors including Virgin Australia, Tigerair, and Jetstar, with the quartet operating roughly the same daily frequencies. 1. British Airways: London (LHR) - New York (JFK) british airways Jack Taylor / Getty British Airways was the only carrier to operate a route that generated over $1 billion during the time period, making the London-New York sector the most profitable air route in the world. The UK flag carrier has operated the route for decades and remains one of the most iconic and prevalent carriers on it, competing with airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. From April 2018-March 2019, the route earned British Airways $1,159,126,794 with 42,680 hours of scheduled flight time. Each hour of scheduled flight time earned the airline $27,159. The route sees two aircraft used by British Airways the Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 with the former due to be retired in the upcoming years. Though the 747 is aging, its value to British Airways is that it allows for a premium-heavy configuration with a 14-seat first-class cabin, 86-seat business class cabin, and 30-seat premium economy cabin, according to SeatGuru. Only one section of the aircraft features standard economy seats. The city pair in addition to just the JFK-LHR route is so profitable that British Airways operates additional offerings between Heathrow Airport and Newark Airport, Gatwick Airport and JFK Airport, and London City Airport and JFK Airport. The airline even operates a specially configured all-business-class plane between London City Airport and JFK Airport. Read the original article on Business Insider The Congress on Saturday accused the Modi government of waiving loans to the tune of nearly Rs 8 lakh crore of crony capitalists since 2014 and demanded that the names of the beneficiaries be made public and a high-level panel be set up to examine the process of loan waiver. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala cited a report by a global financial services company Credit Suisse to level the allegations against the government. There was no immediate reaction from the government or the BJP on the allegations. "Loans worth Rs 7.77 lakh crore have been written off. It is a basic question to ask -- who are these people after all. Don't we as citizens of this country and taxpayers deserve to know whose loans have been written off?" Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said at a press conference. Surjewala said the beneficiaries of the loan waiver were crony friends of the government and asked why it could not give debt relief to farmers. "Shocking state of bank loan waivers, NPAs & impaired banking assets exposed by Credit Suisse report! Since 2014, Modi government has given super sized bank loans waivers worth Rs 7,77,800 Crore!" Surjewala said in a series of tweets. Why is the Modi government not disclosing the names of the beneficiaries of this "largesse", Surjewala asked. "Gross banking NPAs are a whopping Rs 9,10,800 crore! Impaired banking assets are a colossal Rs 16,88,000 crore! Credit growth of private banks down to 12 per cent, PSU banks down to 4 per cent!" he said. The total impaired assets of the banking sector have remained at Rs 16,88,600 crore, or 15.7 per cent of the total advances of banks, as of December 2019, despite a decline in gross non-performing assets (NPAs) to Rs 9,10,800 crore, or 9.2 per cent of the advances, the Indian Express reported citing the Credit Suisse report. Impaired assets of banks include both gross NPAs loans that are due for repayment after 90 days and NPAs written off by lenders. Total write-offs since FY2014 have amounted to Rs 7,77,800 crore, 7.3 per cent of the total bank advances, the media report said citing data. "We have three demands -- names of those whose debt has been waived should be made public, a high level committee should be constituted to examine the process of loan waiver, and this committee should assess financial viability and potential of the banking sector," Shrinate said. Whenever the BJP government is questioned on the condition of the banking sector, they blame the previous government, but lying again and again does not change the truth, the Congress spokesperson said. What has the BJP government done for banking reforms in the past six years, Shrinate asked. The government will tell you that NPAs have gone down from 11.7 per cent to 9.2 per cent. It should have been good and the economy should have improved. But the truth is different, banks are actually waiving loans of big crony capitalists, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo credit: Punch Metro An Imo indigene, Ifechukwu Odenigbo, was allegedly killed in South Africa by his kinsman, Daniel Nsofor, over an undisclosed business deal that went awry. The video of how Nsofor killed Odenigbo went viral prompting youths to set ablaze the suspects house located in Ubulu community in the Oru West local Government Area of Imo State. CHIDIEBUBE OKEOMA visited the community Though normalcy appeared to have returned to Ubulu community in the Oru West local Government Area of Imo State, the dwellers were still discussing the alleged killing of one of their kinsmen, Ifechukwu Odenigbo, in South Africa by his maternal brother, Daniel Nsofor, over an unknown botched business deal. The killing of Odenigbo in South Africa and the torching of the suspects house in the village were still the talk of the town. But the villagers rejected any attempts by anyone perceived as strangers including our correspondent to make them talk about the issue. However, the victims elder brother, Pastor Chike Odenigbo, attributed the murder of his immediate younger brother to devils handiwork. Weeping, the cleric said the incident which jolted both the entire community and the families was regrettable. Odenigbo, a pastor with the Winners Chapel (Living Faith Church Worldwide) in Owerri, Imo State, told our correspondent in Amorie village in Ubulu community that Nsofor was the one who introduced his late brother to the business he was doing in South Africa before his death. He added that the victim and suspects were classmates. He said, Elochukwu, one of my relations, said my late younger brother, Ifechukwu, had closed for work on that fateful Tuesday and was already in his house when Batista came to call him because he had stood as surety for him for the loan he collected. Ifechukwu asked him to pay the people but Batista took offence and based on that they started fighting which resulted in Batista not only using a stone to hit Ifechukwu on the forehead but also pushed him and he fell hitting his head on the ground in the presence of the South African police officers. But my annoyance was that Batista having done that did nothing to assist his brother. Our relations who are in South Africa who learnt of the incident asked me to press for charges and compensation from South Africa government for the inability of their police officers who were present to prevent the fight that resulted in Ifechukwus death. We are not requesting compensation from the South Africa government as suggested by some of my relations in South Africa because the countrys police officers who witnessed the fight ought to have stopped it. That would not bring my brother back to life and that was why I was also against the burning of Batistas house because it wouldnt also bring my brother back to life. We have resolved that the South African government should handle the matter according to their own laws. Odenigbo further said his late brother who had been in South Africa for seven years was planning to return home for Easter and was already building a house for himself. Ifechukwu was 46 years and had five children; all boys and having been in South Africa for the past seven years, he informed me that he would be coming home during Easter and had already started building a house which he hoped to complete before Easter before his arrival in Nigeria. My reason of coming home is for us to formally inform the community of what happened and what the family wants to do. He disclosed that plans were underway to bring back Ifechukwus corpse to Nigeria by the second week of March as soon as issues with the South African government were resolved. Elochukwu and Okwuchukwu who are my relations in South African are making plans to ensure that the corpse is brought to Nigeria by the second week of March. They told me that their initial plan to move his corpse from a South Africa hospital where he died to a private hospital owned by a Nigerian to reduce cost was not permitted by the South African Police. They said the matter was later resolved and the corpse deposited at the private hospital. This was one of the major reasons that we did not want to press for charges because it would further delay his corpse from being brought home for burial. I have also been informed that they are also planning a wake keep for him next week. He told Saturday PUNCH that their parents had passed and it was unfortunate that his brother was killed by his kinsman over an issue that should have been resolved. The is issue would have been resolved amicably without anybody dying. The devil really cashed in on that and did the unthinkable. Our family is mourning. Ofechukwu has a young family. In a chat with our correspondent on the efforts of the police regarding the matter, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said the police had launched investigation into the setting ablaze of the suspects house in Nigeria. He said that while Ifechukwus killing took place in South Africa, the torching of Nsofors house took place in Nigeria. Ikeokwu said what the police were investigating was a case of arson and not murder since the latter took place in a different country. He disclosed that the police could not assume jurisdiction over a crime that happened outside Nigeria. He vowed that the state police command was on the trail of those who burnt the suspects house. He said, We are investigating a case of arson. The setting ablaze of the house is what we are investigating. The alleged murder did not take place in Imo so we do not have jurisdiction over that. Our men arrived in the community and immediately conducted a preliminary investigation at the scene of the arson. *** Source: The Punch By AFP FESSENHEIM: French state-owned energy giant EDF on Saturday began shutting down the country's oldest nuclear power plant after 43 years in operation. Environmentalists and anti-nuclear activists have long pushed the authorities to close down the plant but not everyone agrees and some locals protested that its closure is a threat to jobs and the local economy. EDF said it had disconnected one of two reactors at Fessenheim, along the Rhine near France's eastern border with Germany and Switzerland, at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) in the first stage of the complete closure of the plant. The second reactor is to be taken off-line on June 30 but it will be several months before the two have cooled enough and the used fuel can start to be removed. The removal of the fuel is expected to be completed by the summer of 2023 but the plant will only be fully decommissioned by 2040 at the earliest. Shutting down Fessenheim became a key goal of anti-nuclear campaigners after the catastrophic meltdown at Fukushima in Japan in 2011. Experts have noted that construction and safety standards at Fessenheim, brought online in 1977, fall far short of those at Fukushima, with some warning that seismic and flooding risks in the Alsace region had been underestimated. Despite a pledge by then president Francois Hollande just months after Fukushima to close the plant, it was not until 2018 that his successor President Emmanuel Macron's government gave the final green light. "This marks a first step in France's energy strategy to gradually re-balance nuclear and renewable electricity sources, while cutting carbon emissions by closing coal-fired plants by 2022," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said earlier this week. In sharp contrast to the government's positive remarks, local officials were dismissive. Village mayor Claude Brender said the plant represented an "island of prosperity in this area". "This is just all for show, they want to close Fessenheim as a symbol without taking into account the needs of the region." The government said workers at the plant will be found jobs at other EDF sites. "There are about 750 workers concerned and they all have an offer from EDF," said Emmanuelle Wargon, secretary of state in the ministry for solidarity and ecologocial transition. "Some of them will not want to leave for family reasons and that is completely understandable. They will be offered help in finding a job," Wargon told France Info radio. France will still be left with 56 pressurised water reactors at 18 nuclear power plants -- only the United States has more reactors, at 98 -- generating an unmatched 70 per cent of its electricity needs. The government confirmed in January that it aims to shut down 12 more reactors nearing or exceeding their original 40-year age limit by 2035, when nuclear power should represent just 50 percent of France's energy mix. But at the same time, EDF is racing to get its first next-generation reactor running at its Flamanville plant in 2022 -- 10 years behind schedule -- and more may be in the pipeline. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 01:30:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Yu Jiaxin, Jin Jing LONDON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China is an important market and the British auto industry foresees big cooperation potential with China in the post-Brexit era, communications chief of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said. "Chinese new car market went through exponential growth. It's the biggest new car market in the world," Emma Butcher, head of communications of the SMMT, the trade association for Britain's motor industry, told Xinhua in a recent interview. Britain and the European Union (EU) are expected to start trade talks in March. Doubts still remain whether the trade talks could be wrapped up with a deal by the end of the transition period ending on Dec. 31. "Hopefully we will get a free trade agreement. If not, the situation will be very serious," said Butcher. According to her, if no agreement is reached between the two sides by the end of 2020, WTO rules would apply, under which car manufactures will face a 10 percent tariff on finished vehicles and a tariff of up to 4.5 percent on components. "There's nothing you can do to mitigate against tariffs but to try to cut costs elsewhere," she said, adding that the industry has already operates in a lean procedure, hence it's very difficult to cut more costs anyway. Since four out of five Britain-made cars are exported, with half going to the EU and two-thirds to nations with an EU trade deal, striking a deal with the EU is the priority for the car industry in Britain. However, as Britain's third largest car export destination following the EU and the United States, China is also a highly attractive market with huge potential. In June 2019, the SMMT signed a cooperation agreement with China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, which facilitates exchanges of information about market trends, business opportunities and trade between the two countries. Butcher spoke highly of the mutual cooperation, noting that both sides are doing a lot more work together in terms of innovation, collaboration on projects and helping build investment. "It's a real opportunity for more dialogues, more networking to understand the different regulatory frameworks between UK and China," she said, "hope it's the beginning of something very special." In Butcher's eyes, the move to electrification and zero emissions is an aspiration shared both by Britain and China. Britain has the expertise for innovation and engineering while China is an important manufacturing hub and sales market, she said. China is also a very important market for the premium and luxury British auto brands, she added. There are already some famous British car brands investing in China, including Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Bentley, McLaren and Jaguar Land Rover, which Chinese customers are attracted to. Butcher also welcomed China's opening-up measures in recent years, noting that it will provide easier access for British car manufactures to enter the Chinese market and work on a more level playing field. "You've seen a lot of investment already going to China from UK manufacturers, and you will see more in the coming years obviously," she said. CLEVELAND, Feb. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Census Bureau hosted an event to highlight efforts to ensure all young children are counted in the 2020 Census. Children under five years old are among population groups historically undercounted in the census. The Census Bureau is making a concerted effort to address this issue by creating community partnerships, educational programs, awareness campaigns and operational innovations with the goal of raising awareness of the importance of counting young children. During a news conference in Cleveland, Ohio, the Federation of Pediatric Organizations (FOPO), a 2020 Census partner, announced that March 25, 2020, is designated as Every Child Counts Day a day when the pediatric community is encouraged to tell the adults they interact with about counting every child living in their homes in the 2020 Census. "We are so happy that partners like the Federation of Pediatric Organizations, Sesame Workshop, United Way and others are so committed to ensuring every child is counted in the census. A decade is essentially a childhood," said Dr. Steven Dillingham, director of the Census Bureau. "Children today deserve the best possible health, education and community services. They can't count themselves they're counting on you to count them." "FOPO's focus in 2019-2020 is to ensure all kids get counted in the 2020 Census," said Dr. Judy Aschner, chairperson, Federation of Pediatric Organizations. "Children zero to four are at the greatest risk of being undercounted, and many, many programs that support families, young children and communities depend upon an accurate count. A child undercount is a threat to pediatric research and the health and well-being of children." An accurate count of all children is critical for families, educators and their communities and it's important to count young children now so they have the resources they need for the next 10 years. The Census Bureau has formed partnerships with national and local organizations across the country in an effort to address the undercount of young children. In early March, the Census Bureau will launch a direct mail campaign reaching millions of households in areas at risk for undercounting children to emphasize the importance of counting everyone in the 2020 Census. "It is vital every person is counted in the Census to ensure our community has the funds necessary to address the needs of the children and families who live in our city, and this is why United Way is committed to partnering to get the word out," said Augie Napoli, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Cleveland. "One out of every two children in Cleveland now live in the worst poverty in the nation which is why it is essential they have access to the many programs from educational and healthcare to food and nutrition a fair and accurate census affords." "What strikes us is the great irony that children who stand to benefit the most from an accurate census count are the ones most likely to go uncounted," said Tracy Garrett, assistant vice president of Government Affairs, Sesame Workshop. "We're honored to work with the United States Census Bureau and alongside organizations like the United Way, the Federation of Pediatric Organizations, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ad Council, and so many others at local and state levels across the country to reverse that equation and to do all we can together to make sure every child counts." In 2013, the Census Bureau assembled a task force to study the undercount of young children in the decennial census. In 2014, the Census Bureau released a report from the task force that summarized the results of its research and recommended more work to improve our understanding of the possible causes. Since then, the Census Bureau has been reviewing existing data sources that might provide insights into the circumstances that lead to young children being missed in censuses or surveys. "Including young children in the 2020 Census is vitally important for them and for their communities because population statistics are used by lawmakers to determine how to spend billions of dollars in funds every year," said Karen Deaver, who leads Census Bureau efforts to reduce the undercount of young children. "Child-focused programs like nutrition assistance, Head Start and the Children's Health Insurance Program rely on accurate data about where young children live to provide foundational services for children." There are many reasons why children are undercounted. Since there is no single cause for the undercount of young children, there is no single solution to the problem. However, the Census Bureau is pursuing multiple strategies to ensure the count of young children is as complete as possible, including: Developing partnership materials explaining why young children are undercounted and how to educate households likely to exclude young children. Developing support materials that include messaging on the importance of counting young children. Developing advertising aimed at households with young children. Establishing partnerships with advocacy and community groups who can get the word out about the importance of counting all children in the household. In addition, the Census Bureau added language to the questionnaire to emphasize including children on their census with specific instructions to include unrelated children, foster children and grandchildren, and has improved census taker training materials to emphasize the importance of including children during interviews with nonresponding households. Everyone has the opportunity to shape the future of children they know. Start by counting every child in the home. Count children in the home where they live and sleep most of the time, even if their parents don't live there. If a child's time is divided between two homes, count them where they stay most often. If they evenly divide their time, or you do not know where they stay most often, count them where they are staying on April 1, 2020 . . If a child moves during March or April 2020 , count them at the address where they are living on April 1 . , count them at the address where they are living on . Count children living in your home if they don't have a permanent place to live and are staying with you on April 1 , even if they are only staying temporarily. , even if they are only staying temporarily. Count newborns at the home where they will live and sleep most of the time, even if they are still in the hospital on April 1 . . Remind neighbors to count all children living or sleeping in their home most of the time, regardless of who or where their parents are. Today's event, which was geared toward young children and their families, featured Sesame Street characters Rosita and The Count; Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, who hosted story time; and coloring pages from Molly of Denali. Census Bureau officials and key partners explained why it's important to participate in the census and about the importance of counting everyone, including all young children, in their households. Event participants were encouraged to spread that message in their communities. The event also highlighted the Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools program that encourages teachers and adults to teach students why it is important to respond to the census. The program provides materials to teachers of all grades, including free activities, storybooks and even a song. The Census Bureau has sent every superintendent and principal across the country a toolkit to help raise awareness about the role the census plays in shaping students' futures and those of their communities. The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States as of April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. Beginning March 12, households will be able to respond online, by phone or by mail. 2020census.gov census.gov Connect with us on Social Media SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau Related Links http://www.census.gov Flash Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced on Friday that the first COVID-19 case was detected in Lebanon and the ministry suspects the infection of two other people, Al Jadeed local TV channel reported. Hassan said that the first case was detected on a plane that has arrived from Iran a day earlier. "We have sent a team to the plane that arrived from Iran on Thursday in a bid to test people on board and one woman had symptoms, so we transferred her to Rafic Hariri Hospital for isolation and then her test came out as positive," Hassan explained during a press conference held at the ministry. He noted that the 45-year-old Lebanese woman is "well" so far while calling upon people not to fear this new incident but to take necessary precautions. The minister said that the ministry has been following up with people arriving in Lebanon since 10 days ago and it is isolating all those who show related symptoms. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Saturday attacked the Centre and said that the fight is between Constitution and RSS' Manusmriti in contemporary India. Addressing a rally at Reshim Bagh ground here, Azad said, "Today the fight is between India's Constitution and RSS' Manusmriti. I am sure Constitution will win this fight. We believe in the Constitution. They believe in Manusmriti. RSS should be banned." "I want to tell the BJP that the government will change. Every single incident will be accounted for. The person who does the crime will surely get punished whether he is a common man, a minister or Prime Minister for that matter. I challenge the RSS chief to participate in the election process," he said. Asking the Maharashtra government to not conduct the Population Register (NPR) in the state, the Bhim Army chief said, "If you are the well-wisher of poor people, then you will not conduct the NPR process. If you will do, we will protest against your government too." He also said that "we have the responsibility to take forward the legacy of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar". "We have to fight for the idea of social, political and economic justice. I salute you all who are protesting against the policies of the central government. You are creating history," Azad asserted. He also urged people to join in large numbers in Sunday's 'Bharat Bandh' against anti-reservation stances of the central government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Marysville, CA (95901) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 61F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. To end their long years of feud, the United States and the Taliban are set to sign a historic peace agreement. The signing was announced by both parties Friday just hours after Kabul talked about a week-long partial truce across Afghanistan is going to kick-off this weekend. The statements issued by both the Taliban and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that both parties have agreed to sign the accord on February 29 at Doha, Qatar. According CBS, Pompeo stated that upon the success, U.S. negotiators in Doha have reached an understanding with the Taliban regarding reduction of nationwide violence in Afghanistan. Hence, if the implementation of the said understanding will be successful, the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement is expected to push through. With the truce that may be the beginning of ending the longest war America has been on, Pompeo also added that negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan Government will begin soon after. On a statement released by Afghan National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal, the reduction in violence between Afghan security forces, the U.S. and the Taliban begins on Saturday. For more than a year now, Washington has been in talks with Taliban trying to secure a deal in where the U.S. would pull out thousands of troops, and in return Taliban will provide security guarantees promising to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. Also read: Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Crude Stocks Slightly Upsurge If the week-long reduction in violence succeeds, this would show that Taliban can control their forces and would demonstrate good faith ahead of signing any agreement. This would also likely to see the U.S. withdrawing half of its 12,000-13,000 troops currently stationed in Afghanistan. According to FP, a Taliban source in Pakistan said that if the agreement is indeed signed on February 29, talks between the Afghan government and Taliban forces to broker a broader peace deal are expected to start on March 10. On Friday, Russia described the upcoming accords between the warring parties as an event of great importance for peace in Afghanistan. In addition, National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief Jens Stolenberg, said that the pact had opened a gateway to peace sustainability in the war-stricken country. However, despite the peace talks, Kandahar based Taliban Commander Hafiz Saeed Hedayat said that his orders was only to refrain from ttacking major cities and highways. Further adding that there is only need for reduced violence which means the violence may continue in the districts. It can be recalled that the Taliban and the U.S. has come close to a deal before. However, it was mixed by U.S. President Donald Trump back in September. This only means that any truce comes with complications and danger. Hence, analysts trying to stem the bloodshed in Afghanistan may result to one of these complications and fail. Still, the reduction in violence is only the first step taken inorder to get intra-Afghan negotiations, according to Andred Watkins, analyst with the International Crisis Group. And whilst these talks could be a tough road, these is still the best avenue to end Afghanistan's decades of conflict. Related article: Major Chinese Media Organizations Labeled by U.S. Government as Apparatus of Propaganda @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and UP geology and mining directorate reports, gold reserves totalling 2,944 tonnes have been found in the Sona Pahadi and Hardi blocks of the backward Sonbhadra district. Gold reserves, estimated at more than 2,900 tonnes, have been found at Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh with the state government now gearing up for auctioning the mines for extraction of the precious metal. According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and UP geology and mining directorate reports, gold reserves totalling 2,944 tonnes have been found in the Sona Pahadi and Hardi blocks of the backward Sonbhadra district. A team of our officials and scientists is currently camping in the district to submit a report in this regard, UP geology and mining joint director Jai Prakash told Business Standard on Wednesday. He added that a detailed report was expected by Monday. On the question of auctioning these mines for commercial extraction, he said there were many formalities, which would precede the prospective mining process. These include clearances by different state and central government departments, including forest, environment go-aheads. The geology and mining department is also in the process of geo-tagging the areas spread across villages identified for prospective mining of gold and other minerals in Sonbhadra. IMAGE: Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: ANI News UP. Since India is estimated to have gold reserves of less than 700 tonnes, the projected gold reserves in Sonbhadra is nearly five times that amount. Earlier, GSI additional director general (ADG) Som Nath Chandel had told Business Standard that UP contained good deposits of gold, diamond and other precious metals and stones in the Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions. From our geological studies, we can say that UP contains gold deposits in Sonbhandra district, while ample copper reserves have been estimated in the Bundelkhand region. However, there is need for more in depth scientific studies in this regard, he said. He claimed UP was expected to have diamond reserves as well, which had not yet been explored beyond the 150-year-old geological records of the British period, when the area was first mapped for precious metals and stones. In fact, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) had earlier planned to explore the sub-Himalayan region of UP for oil and natural gas and they were even given prospecting licenses by the state government. Meanwhile, the state is estimated to have reserves of another precious metal, platinum, which the GSI noted requires deeper drilling. China is delaying grant of clearance to India's proposal to send an Indian Air Force flight to carry relief material for people affected by coronavirus in the neighbouring country and bring back Indians from its city of Wuhan, official sources said Saturday. India was to send a C-17 military transport aircraft to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on February 20 but the plane could not take off as permission was not granted for the flight. "China is deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight," a high-level source said. When contacted, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said there was no deliberate delay in grant of permission for the Indian flight to reach Wuhan. "The current epidemic situation in Hubei province is complicated, and the prevention and control of Covid-19 has entered into a critical stage. There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying granting flight permission," the spokesperson, Ji Rong, said. The aircraft was to carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan. Sources said while the Chinese side continues to maintain that there was no delay in granting permission for the flight to go, the clearance has "inexplicably" not been given. In a letter to President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India's solidarity to the people and government of China in meeting the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak and offered to provide assistance to the country. India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of Modi's commitment as a token of India's solidarity, particularly in the 70th year of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "These supplies have been offered even as India faces tremendous shortage itself, given our ethos of helping others in their hour of need," said a source aware of the issue. The items being supplied are gloves, surgical masks, feeding pumps and defibrillators based on the requirements as indicated by the Chinese side. "The Chinese side always attaches great importance to the health and safety of Indian nationals in China, and provided assistance and convenience for the return of Indian citizens," Rong further said in reply to the query. "We are carefully assessing the ground situation, as prevention work requires. Competent departments of the two countries are keeping communication and coordination in this regard," he said. India's national carrier Air India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still living in Wuhan. A sizeable number of countries have evacuated their citizens from China and restricted movement of people and goods to and from the country in view of the massive outbreak of coronavirus there. Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish, said the sources. They said relief and evacuation flights from other countries including by France are allowed to operate by China but the permission has not come through in India's case. "Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony?" said a person aware of the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ST. LOUIS A Kentucky bankruptcy court has approved a U.S. Department of Justice request to appoint a trustee to take over management of south St. Louis St. Alexius Hospital from its owner. Americore Holdings has owned St. Alexius since early 2019, and it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Dec. 31 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Having a trustee step in is relatively rare in Chapter 11 cases, and it can indicate that creditors have lost faith in managements ability to turn the company around, said Daniel Doyle, a lawyer at Lashly & Baer in St. Louis. In documents earlier this month, officials with the Department of Justices U.S. Trustee Program said Americore Holdings CEO Grant White grossly mismanaged his business and has not operated the hospitals in a manner that is consistent with public safety and welfare. St. Alexius has a main hospital and senior care center at 3933 South Broadway and another campus at 2639 Miami Street, which houses the Lutheran School of Nursing among other services. Americores bankruptcy case also includes facilities in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Most celebrities are in a unique position to do considerable good in the world. Their stardom gives them the resources and the recognition to provide much-needed relief for some and the opportunity to advance the welfare of others. From environmental issues to human rights, many known names can be tied to charitable works and hands-on goodwill. Akon is among numerous rappers, including Dr. Dre and Diddy, to join the effort. His colorful and sometimes tumultuous life and career led and inspired the silky-voiced hip hop artist to give back. His vision has made a difference in the lives of more people than even he could have imagined. Who is Akon? Akon | Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for MTV Akon was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Senegalese parents in 1973. He was raised in a musical family learning to play the drums, guitar, and several other instruments at a young age. Akon spent much of his youth going back and forth between the United States and Senegal until finally settling in New Jersey. By the time he was a teenager, he was performing, singing, and making home recordings. Akon secured his own record deal in 2003 perhaps with the help of his friend, Wyclef Jean of the Fugees and Lil Zane. In 2004, he released his debut album, Trouble, which produced several hit singles including the popular song Locked Up. It was an instant international hit and was followed by several equally successful albums throughout the years. Akons third album, Freedom, was certified platinum in the United States in 2008. The talented rapper often collaborated with well-respected music icons including Whitney Houston and Gwen Stefani. Akon was also a co-writer for Lady Gagas Grammy-nominated single Just Dance. He won the prestigious Artist of the Year award at the Billboard Music Awards in 2007 as well as being recognized as a unique musical innovator which earned him numerous other awards. From controversy to goodwill Akons career wasnt without controversy. He was in and out of trouble in the early 2000s, though his claim of being incarcerated for three years for grand theft auto was later debunked. From his sexually-explicit lyrics to throwing a young fan off the stage during a concert, Akon managed to incur several legal difficulties along the way. It was only later that he realized how much good he was meant to do. Akon reached a point in his life where he decided to fully dedicate himself to his Islamic faith. Additionally, in 2015, he launched a mega-solar project called Akon Lighting Africa in the heart of West Africas country of Mali. It has since expanded to include multiple countries throughout the continent, bringing much-needed electricity to over 600 million people in those countries. The initiative not only illuminated the lives of many in 480 communities spanning fifteen countries, but it also updated infrastructure and created numerous jobs. Previous to this effort, Akon and his mother, Kine Thiam, founded The Konfidence Foundation dedicated to empowering and educating young people in their former homeland of Senegal and in the United States. Will Akon Run for President? Akon joins a growing list of celebrities who are thinking of running for president of the United States in 2024. He considered a 2020 run but eventually ruled it out saying he wasnt quite ready to give up his music just yet. Akon believes his experience as the son of immigrants and as a creative innovator can take the country and move it forward. Akon seems both amused and unmoved when asked about Kanye Wests aspirations to win the White House in that same year. In an interview with NME, he says a presidential debate between the two rappers would be entertaining and worth watching because of Wests friendship with the current president who Akon does not support. Akons full name is Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam so the Oval Office would need a bigger nameplate for the door. His political goals aside, Akon continues his philanthropic good works and supports a variety of causes and charities. His main interest is to lift morale and offer opportunities to underprivileged children from around the globe. But nothing has proved more worthy than the Akon Lighting Africa project that has enriched the lives of millions with sustainability in mind. That, in itself, is something to sing about. AirBnB GODFREY Regulations for short-term housing rentals such as AirBnb were among several approved this week at the Godfrey Village Board meeting. The board has been considering regulations on these businesses for several months and sent the original ordinance back for revisions. A police van pursuing a commercial vehicle on Friday in Mallammadori Local Government Area of Jigawa State knocked down and killed two schoolgirls while four others were injured, residents have said. The police, however, said, only one girl was involved in the accident. The residents said the two schoolgirls were knocked down by the police patrol vehicle while chasing a vehicle that had refused to stop at a police checkpoint. The incident resulted in a clash between the police and a mob that led to the burning of the police patrol van and the vehicle it chased. The resident, who requested not to be named, said the girls were returning home after school hours when the incident occurred. The police spokesperson in Jigawa, Abdu Jinjiri, told reporters the police were performing their constitutional responsibility when the unfortunate incident happened, and only one girl was affected. READ ALSO: He said two police officers in a patrol vehicle were chasing the suspected criminals vehicle when they mistakenly knocked down a schoolgirl who was on her way home after school hours. However, an angry mob reacted, leading to injuring the four passengers travelling in the suspected vehicle, and burning of both the patrol vehicle and the suspects vehicle as well, the police said. The police spokesperson added that the two officers have been arrested and detained for investigation, while four injured others are receiving treatment at the Hadejia General Hospital. A bitter personal row between Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin marred the first days sitting of the 33rd Dail, which failed to elect a Taoiseach. As a result, Leo Varadkar tendered his resignation to President Michael D Higgins last night before flying to Brussels to attend a special EU summit of leaders as acting Taoiseach. He and his ministers will remain in place until a new Government is formed. In the Dail, Mr Martin and Ms McDonald traded sharp blows across the floor. Mr Martin was highly critical of Sinn Fein in his speech after the vote, highlighting victims of republican violence. The fundamental issue that we do not believe that Sinn Fein operates to the same democratic standards held to by every other party in this place, said Mr Martin. This is not simply about the past the past is important and Sinn Feins efforts to legitimise a murderous sectarian campaign keeps alive a narrative which is used by dissidents to legitimise their campaigns but this is more fundamentally about today. It is about practices which any party which shares government with Sinn Fein must accept as normal. Every single time an issue arises about the behaviour of people associated with the Provisionals movement and todays Sinn Fein the response is to attack and dismiss. Ms McDonald hit back in emphatic terms. She said she had a problem dealing with Mr Martin when he sat around the Cabinet table with people who were subsequently jailed for corruption. In the votes for taoiseach, Ms McDonald secured the most support in a drawn-out series of votes where she, Mr Varadkar, Mr Martin and the Green Partys Eamon Ryan all put themselves forward for taoiseach. After speeches from TDs supporting the different leaders for the positions, voting got underway. Ms McDonald came out on top with 45 votes for taoiseach, 84 against and 29 abstentions. She was followed by Mr Martin, who won 41 votes, but saw 97 deputies opposing him for the role and 19 abstaining. Mr Varadkar came third and received 36 votes, 107 against and 16 abstentions. Mr Ryan won 12 votes, was opposed by 115 deputies while 28 abstained. The Dail will meet next on Thursday, March 5. During the day, it emerged a new technical grouping of nine TDs has been formed which could play a crucial role in the coming talks regarding the formation of a new government. The group comprises Cathal Berry, Sean Canney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Noel Grealish, Verona Murphy, Matt Shanahan, Michael Lowry, Peadar Toibin, and Denis Naughten, as convener. Earlier in the day, Sean O Fearghail was re-elected by 130 votes to 28 as the Dails Ceann Comhairle, seeing off Roscommon independent TD Denis Naughten. Additional reporting: Juno McEnroe and Cianan Brennan Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG (ETR:O2D) just released its latest full-year results and things are looking bullish. Results overall were credible, with revenues arriving 2.7% better than analyst forecasts at 7.6b. Higher revenues also resulted in lower statutory losses, which were 0.07 per share, some 2.7% smaller than analysts expected. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what top analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results. See our latest analysis for Telefonica Deutschland Holding XTRA:O2D Past and Future Earnings, February 22nd 2020 Following last week's earnings report, Telefonica Deutschland Holding's 20 analysts are forecasting 2020 revenues to be 7.50b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory losses are forecast to balloon 40% to 0.043 per share. Yet prior to the latest earnings, analysts had been forecasting revenues of 7.46b and losses of 0.0097 per share in 2020. Analysts seem to have become more bearish following the latest results. While there were no changes to revenue forecasts, there was a pretty serious reduction to EPS estimates. The consensus price target held steady at 3.12, seemingly implying that the higher forecast losses are not expected to have a long term impact on the company's valuation. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. The most optimistic Telefonica Deutschland Holding analyst has a price target of 4.50 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at 2.40. This is a fairly broad spread of estimates, suggesting that analysts are forecasting a wide range of possible outcomes for the business. Another way to assess these estimates is by comparing them to past performance, and seeing whether analysts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the market. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with the forecast 1.1% revenue decline a notable change from historical growth of 1.4% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same market are forecast to see their revenue grow 1.2% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that Telefonica Deutschland Holding's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider market. Story continues The Bottom Line The most obvious conclusion is that analysts made no changes to their forecasts for a loss next year. Fortunately, analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - although our data does suggest that Telefonica Deutschland Holding's revenues are expected to perform worse than the wider market. The consensus price target held steady at 3.12, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on analysts' estimated valuations. Even so, the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for the value creation of shareholders. We have estimates - from multiple Telefonica Deutschland Holding analysts - going out to 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here. You can also view our analysis of Telefonica Deutschland Holding's balance sheet, and whether we think Telefonica Deutschland Holding is carrying too much debt, for free on our platform here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Anti-Macron rioters were caught on camera flipping an Audi on to its roof as violent protests continue to rumble on in France. Today marked the 67th Saturday in a row of the Yellow Vest demonstrations with President Emmanuel Macron finally pledging to meet the protestors in person. The worst of the disruption was seen in Lille where riot police were forced to use tear gas and baton charges. President Emmanuel Macron has finally pledged to meet the protestors in person. Pictured: The aftermath of the violent outburst Videos posted on social media showed a gang of youths, all dressed in black, attacking an Audi car before throwing projectiles toward officers. Mr Macron had been attending an agricultural show in Paris when he was confronted by a representative of the Yellow Vests about the scenes. The President said that 'it is because there are people who have become extraordinarily aggressive,' adding that they 'should stop going out to demonstrate like that'. But, after being pushed on the subject, he then agreed to receive a delegation of Yellow Vests at the Elysee Palace. Anti-Macron rioters were caught on camera flipping an Audi on to its roof in Lille before smashing the windscreen Today marked the 67th Saturday in a row of the Yellow Vest demonstrations. Pictured: Protestors celebrated after turning the car upside down He added: 'You create a group for me and I'll receive you without problem, I am up for dialogue. 'We'll take an hour and we'll talk.' If the plan goes ahead it will be the first time that Mr Macron has allowed Yellow Vests into the presidential palace since they first took to the streets in November 2018. The protestors have since been responsible for millions of pounds worth of damage in major cities across France. Shops and offices have been ransacked throughout the country as well as Yellow Vests launching attacks on historic monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe. Thousands of police and gendarmes equipped with water cannons and armoured cars are among the measures which have been implemented to maintain order. Demands now range from Mr Macron resigning, the fifth Republic coming to an end and 'Frexit' - France leaving the EU. Pictured: Protestors lighting flares in the streets The majority have since ditched wearing their signature fluorescent garments to prevent being targeted by police but continue to protest. Pictured: Protestors tipping over a portable cabin in Lille The Yellow Vests started out as a group calling for an end to fuel price rises but, having achieved this, they began asking for more. Demands now range from Mr Macron resigning, the fifth Republic coming to an end and 'Frexit' - France leaving the EU. The majority have since ditched wearing their signature fluorescent garments to prevent being targeted by police but continue to protest. The independent Mr Macron came to power in 2017 and pledged to shrink France's public services as well as making the private sector more competitive. But the former merchant banker is now frequently referred to as the 'President of the Rich' who is considered mainly on the side of big business. Thousands of police and gendarmes equipped with water cannons and armoured cars are among the measures which have been implemented to maintain order By PTI NEW DELHI: Around 500 people, mostly women, gathered near the Jaffrabad metro station in northeast Delhi on Saturday night in protest against the new citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), blocking a major road. The women, carrying the national tricolour and raising slogans of 'aazadi', said they would not move from the site till the Centre revoke Citizenship (Amendment) Act. They also tied a blue band on their arm and also raised 'Jai Bhim' slogans. There was heavy security deployment, including women police personnel, in the area. The women have blocked road No.66 which connects Seelampur to Maujpur and Yamuna Vihar. Traffic was also blocked due to the sudden protest at the site. The police were trying to talk to protesters to clear the road. ALSO READ | Jamiat faction denounces NPR, urges people to not cooperate with enumerators A woman, who identified herself as Bushra, said till the time CAA is not revoked, the protesters will not leave the site. Social activist Faheem Baig said there is resentment within the people against the way the government is handling the issue. Shamim Ahmed, a local cleric, was in talks with the protesters at Jaffrabad to persuade them to leave the site. A protest is already going on near the main Seelampur road and Kardampuri against the amended Citizenship Act. ALSO READ | As businesses nosedive, Shaheen Bagh shopkeepers meet advocate Shahni with their demands The protest at Jaffrabad took place at a time efforts are being made to clear a road blocked by anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh. The protesters have been staging a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh for over two months, blocking the road connecting southeast Delhi and Noida. The Supreme Court has appointed interlocutors in an attempt to reach out to the anti-CAA protesters. TDT | Manama Visitors from five countries have been banned from entering the Kingdom as the government takes up strict measures to prevent coronavirus outbreak in the country. The authorities in Bahrain have decided to put in place three stringent steps to ensure that coronavirus is not spreading in the Kingdom, in case anyone gets diagnosed. The steps include banning entry to all foreigners who have visited five countries including Iran, Thailand, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Malaysia and the Republic of South Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Interior, has activated several procedures related to arrivals to the Kingdom of Bahrain in light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday. The procedures include: Banning entry to all foreign visitors who have visited the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Malaysia and the Republic of South Korea within 14 days of their date of arrival in the Kingdom. Bahraini citizens, GCC citizens and Bahraini residents who have visited Iran, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia or South Korea within 14 days of arriving in Bahrain will be subject to quarantine and enhanced testing procedures, recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The ministry advises citizens and residents to follow WHO guidelines and avoid all but essential travel to areas where Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been detected, the ministry stated. The Ministry of Health stated that it is taking various measures to prevent an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in Bahrain. A number of measures have already been taken by the Ministry, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry is taking all precautionary measures for this purpose. The situation is being monitored closely. Co-ordination is ongoing with relevant authorities and the Bahrain International Airport. The ministry urged the public to take precautionary measures after travel. It said that it is communicating directly with the World Health Organisation. Bahrainis were assisted by the Bahrani Embassy in China to return to the Kingdom to escape the country amid the coronavirus scare. In co-operation with the Ministry of Health, the Bahrain International Airport is conducting thorough checks to make sure patients infected with coronavirus does not enter Bahrain outside the airport. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 41-year-old man is dead after his car crashed into the rear of a tractor-trailer Friday morning in Cleveland, police say. The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, died in the crash that happened about 10:45 a.m. on Ontario Street just south of West Huron Road, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. A tractor-trailer was stopped in traffic northbound on Ontario Street when a 2004 Volkswagen sped and crashed into the rear of the tractor-trailer after being involved in a crash near Ontario Street and Eagle Avenue, Ciaccia said. The Volkswagen driver was pronounced dead the scene, police said. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. If youd like to comment on this story, visit Saturdays crime and courts comments section. Gin Palace: The pioneer While Meyers Place famously started Melbournes bar renaissance in 1993, cocktails only joined the party when Gin Palace opened in another laneway in 1997. Named after a gold-rush-era Melbourne establishment, it stood out then because of its classy cocktails and decor, table service, and for having more than a few gins on the shelf. Even a decade ago, when former Gin Palace bartender Ben Luzz returned as managing director, we didnt have this huge craft-spirits boom, he recalls. I was importing small amounts of gin from overseas wherever I could get it." Healesvilles now-ubiquitous Four Pillars was still an experiment out the back of a winery". 'People are already aware that Melbourne is probably the best place for cocktails in Australia, but were showcasing it.' Ciaran Duffy, Bar 1806 manager Luzz says lots of other things besides gin were on the bars menu before he returned to the fold. His determination to make it the Mecca for gin in Australia coincided with this craft-spirits boom, so its helped us for sure. He now oversees a wall of gin bottles from near and far, and Gin Palace regularly presents events in collaboration with local distillers. During the festival, in addition to serving two limited-edition drinks, its hosting several events including an Australian botanicals masterclass, a high-tea-style bottomless gin-punch party, and a session combining cocktails and barbering services. 10 Russell Pl, Melbourne, 9654 0533, ginpalace.com.au Festival specials: Cell Reviver No. 3, a non-alcoholic mix of celery and fennel juice, white-pepper syrup and soda; and Sake Sider, which combines Melbourne Gin Company dry gin, sparkling sake and lemon. Nikki making a Pavlova Spritz at Bad Frankie Bar. Credit:Justin McManus 1806: The next generation A new wave of bars emerged in the new millennium, most notably those focused on classic cocktails not only from the first half of the 20th century as Gin Palace was already doing, but also the 19th. They revived time-honoured recipes and often finessed them sometimes with gels, foams and other modern molecular mixology flourishes. They also became renowned for fresh juices and quality spirits, ice and bitters. Richmonds Der Raum led the charge, opening in 2001. While it closed 12 years later, others among that handful of second-generation, cocktail-centred bars are still in the mix, despite ever-increasing competition. Black Pearl, for example, and 1806, which opened in 2007, named for the year that the word "cocktail" in its modern, alcoholic sense was first recorded. Loading According to Duffy, Melbourne bars international reputation when he was in London was such that people applying for jobs with 1806 on their resume were considered favourably. Duffy praises the high standard of service and positive atmosphere thats partly driven by the quiet theatre of cocktail making. Appropriately, 1806s bar is showcased by a gilded proscenium arch, preserved from the buildings theatre days. Essentially, however, its about whats in the glass. We play around with a lot of things, says Duffy, but acknowledge and deliver on the fundamentals of what cocktails are all about Its a timeless approach. During the festival, his team is offering a cocktail named after the Princess Theatres resident ghost, and also hosting cocktail masterclasses. 169 Exhibition St, Melbourne, 9663 7722, 1806.com.au Festival special: Federici's Fortune, a blend of Starward two-fold whisky, Adelaide Hills Distillery Rosso vermouth, muscat, chocolate and aromatic bitters, and clarified Milo. Bad Frankie: The all-Australian During a 2011 holiday that included Tennessee-beef burgers in Nashville and tequila in the Mexican town of Tequila, Sebastian Costello concluded that everything tastes better in the place that its made. Back in Australia, he noticed the emergence of locally-crafted spirits and the idea for a bar only serving homegrown drinks began. Bad Frankie opened in 2014, stocked with every Australian-made spirit available just 80 back then, sourced from 20 pioneering distilleries such as Bass & Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula and Tasmanias Lark. There was no real source of information to guide his search, says Costello. It was mostly just word-of-mouth within this little community that had this single goal of boosting Australian spirits. Distilleries have since proliferated so much that Bad Frankie now offers about 500 spirits from 200 Australian producers. Available gins alone have gone from 20 to 295 in the space of five years". We used to pride ourselves on stocking everything, but we cant do that now, says Costello. His bar was the first in the country with an all-Australian focus, from spirits and other cocktail ingredients like wattleseed honey, to jaffles with local fillings including Vegemite. Recently, the homegrown booze boom has also inspired Sydneys Rosenbaum & Fuller and Rosellas in Queensland, as well as numerous other bars with strong Australian credentials such as Melbournes Byrdi and New Gold Mountain. Contact: 141 Greeves St, Fitzroy, 9078 3866, badfrankie.com Festival special: A Niece Called Peach, made from Reed & Cos Remedy gin, peach and aniseed-myrtle syrup, Bress Bressecco and soda. Mjolner: The themed bar As Melbournes bar scene has grown, some have chosen to stand out with stylistic themes. This famously began with second-generation bar The Croft Institutes science-lab look (plus a less well-known high school-gym vibe upstairs). Others daring drinkers into niche experiences include Berlin Bar, Storyville and LuWow, the former Fitzroy tropical tiki den recently reborn in the CBD. The Viking-inspired bar Mjolner. Credit: Mjolner joined this sophisticated playgroup in 2018. A basement bar (and upstairs restaurant) named after Norse god Thors mighty hammer, it boasts Viking-style shields, wooden tables carved with runes, and cocktails such as Odins Brew. Beer is served in drinking horns on request. We really hate the word theme, says general manager Nick Winter. With a smile peeping from his bushy black beard, he explains that at Mjolner the preferred term is inspired. We dont want to be too typecast, and we dont want people thinking were over-the-top gimmicky. So while this bar may appeal to World of Warcraft fanboys, its a mixed crowd-pulling up the cowhide-covered stools, perhaps drawn by Mjolners thoughtfully curated, 400-strong whisky selection. 106 Hardware St, Melbourne, 8393 9367, mjolner.com.au Festival specials: Blunt Axe, a non-alcoholic combo of pineapple, passionfruit, lime and orgeat syrup; and Thors Stein, featuring Glenlivet Founders Reserve whisky, amaro, mead reduction, lemon and egg white. Little Lon Distilling Co: The distillery-bar Finding an Australian distillery may have required insider tips when Bad Frankie opened, but these days numerous spirit-makers have welcome mats out for on-site tastings. A handful are going further with fully-fledged bars, including Port Melbournes Starward and Patient Wolf, which recently relocated to larger Southbank digs. Brothers Brad and Jarrod Wilson make gin for Little Lon Distilling Co at the heritage-listed 17 Casselden Place, built in 1877. Credit:Joe Armao Perhaps the most distinctive, and surely the smallest example of this new bar niche, is Little Lon Distilling Co. Since 2018, its squeezed into a 26-square-metre, heritage-listed remnant of the CBDs all-but-erased Little Lon slum. One of the three rooms of this 1877 worker's cottage houses the copper still producing small batches of four gins (a fifth is coming), each named after people from the districts notorious past. Loading Were quite proud of mixing our gin with a side of history, says business development executive Dean Jarvis. The lemongrass-and-lychee Little Miss Yoko gin, for example, is named in honour of a Hong Kong woman who ran a brothel in the cottage. The gold rush brought many Chinese to Melbourne, so she used to sell herself as being Japanese to be a little bit more exotic, says Jarvis. Given the limited space, this distillery only operates as a bar Thursday-Saturday evenings. Pull up a stool and ponder Little Lons sly-grog days in a tiny room with original fireplace and panelled window, or in the equally petite bluestone yard, complete with outhouse. Its small but mighty in terms of charm," says Jarvis, During the festival, Little Lon Distilling Co is hosting History of Booze, Gin and Cocktails in Melbourne walking tours, and also serving a cocktail-inspired by that enterprising woman who wasnt from Yokohama. Contact: 17 Casselden Pl, Melbourne, 0403 500 302, littlelondistillingco.com Festival special: Feng Shui, a mix of Little Miss Yoko gin, sake, lychee and lemon. The Melbourne Cocktail Festival is on February 26 to March 1, melbournecocktailfestival.io [BREAKOUT] More festival cocktails and mocktails Discover the other venues making a special drink (or two) for the Melbourne Cocktail Festival, and get up to 40 per cent off with the festivals $20 Bar Safari pass. Loading Tetto di Carolina Highline Highball: Star of Bombay gin, elderflower and chamomile cordial, pink-grapefruit tonic. Bar Ampere Adults Only: Marionette mure liqueur, Rabarbaro Sfumato digestif, bourbon, celery bitters. Pom-Zu Soda: pomegranate, grapefruit, orgeat, soda. The Elysian Rita's Delight: Nikka whisky, Umeshu liqueur, bitters, tonic. Above Board 306 Smith St, Collingwood, aboveboardbar.com H.S.L. Special: Amaro Montenegro, creme de mure, absinthe, lime. Black Pearl Florentino: Starward Two-fold whisky, Maurin Quina aperitif, rhubarb cordial, mirin, soda. Bomba Pith and Roses: yuzu, honey, rosemary, grapefruit. Byrdi Big Banana: Starward whisky, Oloroso sherry, clarified banana, banana skin, banana-whey soda. Loading Capitano Montenegro Sour: Amaro Montenegro, gomme syrup, lemon, passionfruit, habanero tincture, egg white. Beneath Driver Lane Lightenin' Hopkins Fix: Mr Black coffee liqueur, coconut rum, cold-drip coffee, vanilla-raisin tisane. Cutler & Co. Green Thumb: Four Pillars gin, Prosecco, syrup verde, lemon. Lui Bar Myrtle Collins: Tanqueray gin, verjuice, lemon-myrtle syrup, soda. Eau de Vie Yuzu Mule: apple, lime, orange, honey water, yuzu curd, ginger beer. Lume Native Myrtle: Applewood gin, St Germain liqueur, lemon myrtle, wattleseed. Peaches Peach and Pout: sour peach and marshmallow soda. Romeo Lane Velvet Rope: fino sherry, apricot brandy, sparkling wine, lemon. Union Electric Hotline Sling: Widges dry gin, Plantation old rum, falernum syrup, pineapple, ginger, lime, tiki bitters. Whitehart Four Seasons in a Day: Tromba tequila, Antagonist Half Cut gin, lime, pineapple, grapefruit, bitters. Bar Liberty The Great Divide: Empirical habanero spirit, Marionette orange curacao, verdita, lemon-and-basil soda. There have been at least 634 infections and two deaths from the Diamond Princess, which Japanese officials kept in isolation for two weeks at a port in Yokohama. That effort at a quarantine contributed to the viruss rapid spread among passengers. The cluster from the ship is the largest concentration of coronavirus cases outside China, warranting its own category in data compiled by the World Health Organization. American officials began a complex evacuation procedure on Sunday night for 328 passengers aboard the Diamond Princess. All had been examined by American medical experts and showed no symptoms of the coronavirus, Dr. William Walters, managing director of operational medicine at the State Department, and Dr. Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, said on Monday during a conference call with reporters. But as those passengers were bused to Haneda Airport in Tokyo early Monday morning, Japanese officials told American counterparts that laboratory tests for 14 passengers had come back positive, Dr. Walters said. The tests had been conducted two to three days earlier, but American officials, believing the timing of the results would be unpredictable because of the volume of testing being done in Japan, began the evacuation without having all results in hand. American passengers who had already tested positive or who had displayed symptoms had been sent to hospitals in Japan, Dr. Walters said. After they learned that 14 passengers had tested positive, American officials decided that the entire group set to leave Japan should be treated according to protocols the officials had developed for evacuees, Dr. Walters said. That meant continuing to transport those who had tested positive but putting them in isolation behind sheets of plastic about 10-feet tall at the rear of the two planes flying them back to the United States. Dr. Walters said on Monday that he and Dr. Kadlec reviewed the possible options after learning of the test results. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz speaks to the media on February 21, 2020 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The G20 summit of the Finance Ministers and the central bank governors takes place in Riyadh under the G20 presidency of Saudi Arabia. RIYADH G-20 leaders in Saudi Arabia are using a summit in Riyadh to find an "urgent solution" to international digital taxation, exposing global divisions over how to tax big technology firms. "You need to have an international tax system," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told an audience of high-level dignitaries on Saturday. "You cannot have, in a global economy, different national tax systems that conflict with each other. That is bad for the individual countries, bad for the multinationals, and it just doesn't work," he said, flanked by finance ministers from Saudi Arabia, India, Germany and France. The EU, which doesn't have a tech industry of note, is spearheading a global effort to regulate the major tech firms. America's Silicon Valley titans, who dominate the landscape, fear that new taxes and increased regulation could stifle innovation or hurt company profits. "This is a key political question for the 21st century," said Bruno Le Maire, France's minister of economy and finance. "The biggest companies of the world, without any physical presence, are making important profits in some states without paying the due level of taxes," he said. Le Maire welcomed progress on talks with the United States and urged the group to reach a consensus on minimum taxation and digital taxation before the end of the year. "Our citizens can no longer accept paying their due level of taxes, while the most important companies in the world are escaping taxes," he said. The 2010s were a halcyon decade for Australia's leading universities. Australia now has seven universities in the global top 100, according to the industry-standard Academic Ranking of World Universities, compared with just three in 2010. Almost the entire G8 is now in the global top 100, with the sole exception of Adelaide. Reflecting the biases of Chinese sponsors, the ARWU is based entirely on hard research metrics. There's no mucking about with reputation surveys or student satisfaction. It's all about Nobel prizes, citation counts, and papers in prestigious journals. Your award-winning Oxford University Press book on Aristotle's metaphysics doesn't even get counted. So how did Australian universities, with their real (but uncounted) strengths in the humanities, law, music, and art, rise to third in the world in the science-heavy ARWU rankings? In a word: money. For the past two decades, Australia's top universities have been buying up top researchers from around the world, offering them world-class facilities and teaching-free career tracks in exchange for bringing their publication portfolios to Australia. As a result, the country is now a research powerhouse to rival the United Kingdom. In this February 2017 photograph provided by Conflict Armament Research, a gyroscope recovered from a Qasef-1 drone is displayed in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Conflict Armament Research via AP) Devices Found in Missiles, Yemen Drones Link Iran to Attacks DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesA small instrument inside the drones that targeted the heart of Saudi Arabias oil industry and those in the arsenal of Yemens Houthi rebels match components recovered in downed Iranian drones in Afghanistan and Iraq, two reports say. These gyroscopes have only been found inside drones manufactured by Iran, Conflict Armament Research said in a report released on Wednesday. That follows a recently released report from the United Nations saying its experts saw a similar gyroscope from an Iranian drone obtained by the U.S. military in Afghanistan, as well as in weapons shipments seized in the Arabian Sea bound for Yemen. The discovery further ties Iran to an attack that briefly halved Saudi Arabias oil output and saw energy prices spike by a level unseen since the 1991 Gulf War. It also ties Iran to the arming of the rebel Houthis in Yemens long civil war. Iran denies it had a hand in that assault but has increasingly promoted its influence over the Houthis and launched a ballistic missile attack on American troops in Iraq after a U.S. drone strike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad last month. This gyroscope weve seen it now enough times in Iranian-manufactured material to be able to confidently say that the presence of it in a Houthi-produced item suggests that the material was supplied from Iran, Jonah Leff of Conflict Armament Research told The Associated Press. Irans mission to the U.N. declined to immediately respond to queries from the AP. Media officials from the rebel Houthis, who hold Yemens capital, Sanaa, and have been battling a Saudi-led coalition since March 2015, declined an interview request. A U.N. Security Council resolution prohibits arms transfers to the Houthis. A gyroscope is a device that helps orient and guide a drone or missile to its target. The gyroscopes in question bear no manufacturers name and come in at least two versions labeled as V9 and V10, according to the reports. Their four-digit serial numbers also appear sequential, suggesting the same manufacturer had built all of those found. The Houthis Qasef-1 drone carries the V10 gyroscope, which is identical to one found in an Iranian-made Ababil-3 drone, which ISIS terrorists reportedly recovered in Iraq, Conflict Armament Research said. Weapons experts found the V9 version of the gyroscope in drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, used in the September attack on Abqaiq, home of a crucial oil processing facility for Saudi Arabia, the U.N. report said. The Saudi military displays what they say are an Iranian cruise missile and drones used in recent attacks on its oil industry at Saudi Aramcos facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 18, 2019. (Amr Nabil/File via AP) According to UAV experts familiar with this technology, such vertical gyroscopes have not been observed in any UAVs other than those manufactured by Iran, Conflict Armament Research said in its report, which was funded by the European Union and the governments of Germany and the United Arab Emirates. The U.N. report simply said that the manufacturer of the gyroscope remains unknown. However, it noted finding similar V10 gyroscopes among the debris of both Samad and Qasef UAVs, which have been used by the Houthi forces. The U.N. also said its experts saw a V9 gyroscope on display in Washington at a military display showing an Iranian Shahed-123 that American officials say they recovered in Afghanistan in October 2016, after it crash-landed. Images of the gyroscopes match those in the Conflict Armament Research report. A similar gyroscope could be seen inside a cruise missile seized by the U.S. Navy in a November raid on a traditional dhow shipping boat in the Arabian Sea. A computer terminal also seized with the missiles, likely used with the weapons, bore Farsi characters on its keyboard. The U.S. Navy announced a new weapons cache find aboard a dhow in the Arabian Sea this month. Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a spokesman for the U.S. militarys Central Command, told the AP on Wednesday that American sailors found similar gyroscopes in that seizure as well. The U.S. and the Saudi-led coalition have long said that Iran supplies weapons to the Houthis, ranging from assault rifles to the ballistic missiles fired into the kingdom. Drones used by the Houthis have done everything, from crashing into Patriot missile batteries to exploding overhead and showering deadly shrapnel on targets. An exploding Houthi drone in a January 2019 attack on a military parade near Aden killed at least six people, including the commander of military intelligence for Yemens internationally recognized government. Iran, in turn, has long denied arming the Houthis, but that veil slowly lifted after the January U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, whose expeditionary Quds Forces led Irans work with allied proxy forces in Yemen and elsewhere. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Guards aerospace program recently gave a speech in front of a Houthi flag, as well as those of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, Hamas, and others in an effort to project Irans power. But previously, Irans murky arming of militant groups gave it plausible deniability and an ability to strike at opponents without being directly blamed, analysts say. While the wider confrontation with the United States since President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal with world powers has seen Tehrans military claim launched attacks, other claims still could come from Tehran-allied militants. That makes tracing weapons important, Leff said. The Conflict Armament Research report also said some components used in Houthi drones had been seen in homemade explosives recovered on the island nation of Bahrain as well. For them to line up with many of the components that were seeing in these UAVs for us suggests that there are some well-established supply lines, he said. Theres another research question that would be drilling down to, you know, who are the parties involved in actually trafficking these items into Yemen. That we have less information on. By Jon Gambrell Giorgio Armani has been criticised for saying women are being 'raped' by designers who push them to wear provocative clothing. The Italian fashion designer's comments sparked fury and he was accused of diminishing sexual assault during a rant against sexualisation in the industry. Mr Armani, 85, who is famed for his modest designs, said it was 'time for me to say what I think' before asserting that 'you can rape a woman in many ways'. He said that 'throwing [a woman] in the basement' and 'suggesting she dresses in a certain way' were both forms of sexual assault. 'If a lady walks on the street and sees an ad with a woman with her boobs and a*** in plain sight and she wants to be like that too, that's a way of raping her,' he said. Giorgio Armani (pictured in Milan yesterday) has been criticised for saying women are being 'raped' by designers who push them to wear provocative clothing The Italian fashion designer poses with models at the end of his annual show in Milan (2015 pictured), which he used this year to rail against sexalisation in the fashion industry Mr Armani's comments, made on the sidelines of a show for his Emporio Armani line at Milan fashion week, were condemned by fashion insiders online. Tyler McCall, editor of the fashionista.com website in New York, said: 'I would love to chalk this one up to an age/language/culture barrier but... uh...' An executive editor at fashion trade journal Women's Wear Daily, Booth Moore, tweeted: 'The exploitation of women in fashion imagery is not a new phenomenon, far from it. 'And I do think Armani has tried always to be respectful of women in his work. But the word 'rape' is very charged in any language.' Mr Armani founded his fashion label in 1975 and is known as the godfather of Italian fashion. He contrasted his own designs with the more revealing creations of his rival designers. Mr Armani's comments, made on the sidelines of a show for his Emporio Armani line at Milan fashion week (2013 event pictured), were condemned by fashion insiders online The Italian fashion designer, 85, with Reese Witherspoon after the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture in Paris in January A 2018 study in to sexism in fashion found that every woman in the industry that was interviewed thought there was an inequality problem, while only half of men believed the same. The designer said: 'In my show there are short skirts, long skirts, ample and tight trousers. 'I have given maximum freedom to women who can use all possibilities if they are sensible. 'I'm sick of hearing the word "trend". We need to try to work for today's woman. There shouldn't be trends.' The description of the show at which he was speaking said 'the Emporio Armani woman is strong-willed, eclectic and bold in her decisions. With little regard for mundane rules, she is a young woman that bewilders and astonishes'. 'Don't have to convert anyone but teach how to live': RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad dares RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to contest elections India oi-PTI Nagpur, Feb 22: The Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad asked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday to contest direct elections to test the actual public support for the "Manuvadi" agenda of the Sangh. On Saturday, the Bhim Army chief while addressing a meeting at the Reshimbaug Ground in Nagpur demanded ban on the Sangh to end "Manuvad". Azad addressed the meeting that is located close to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) headquarters, He said that he wanted to give a suggestion to the RSS chief, "Take out the veil of lies and come to the field. It is democracy.. contest direct elections with your agenda, and people will tell you if 'Manusmriti' or Constitution will run the country." He said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) are the main agendas of the RSS. In the Dalit narrative, "Manuvad" is based on "discriminatory" 'Manusmriti'--an ancient legal text of Hinduism. According to PTI, on Friday, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court allowed the Bhim Army to hold a meeting of its workers at Reshimbaug ground with certain conditions, after the local police denied the permission fearing law and order issue. Referring to the Nagpur Police's contention, Azad said two ideologies will always clash. "While we believe in Constitution, they believe in 'Manusmriti'. This country runs only on Constitution and not on any other ideology. This 'Manuvad' will end in the country only if a ban is imposed on the RSS," said Azad. Since the RSS runs the BJP, Prime Minister visits the Sangh chief with folded hands and briefs him, he said. "They talk about Constitution but pushthe Manusmriti agenda," he alleged. Azad also accused the RSS of trying to end reservation system through backdoor. "Our people are still to get any positions or posts (in government jobs)...One day, we will have our prime minister and governments in other states. We will give you reservation. We will give reservation to other sections of the society. We will become givers and not takers," Azad said. Every 'Bagh' can be Shaheen Bagh: Chandrashekhar Azad vows 5,000 more nationwide protest in 10 days He dared the Sangh chief to hold a discussion on the reservation system. Azad also appealedto the Shiv Sena-headed Maharashtra government to not allow the NPR in the state "in the interest of the people". Azad alleged that governments are not allowing protests even for the right cause of people. "If we take to streets to protest we get punished. However, they do not know that those who are keen to save the nation are not afraid of any punishment, be it lathi, jail or court cases," he said. Azad is currently out on bail in the case of allegedly inciting people during an anti-CAA protest at Jama Masjid in New Delhi on December 20. "In future also if we don't get permission, we will knock the doors of court. We had asked for eight hours freedom (permission for the Bhim Army meeting on Saturday) and the respected court (the Bombay HC) allowed us three hours. We respect court, three hours are enough," he said referring to the HC's order on Friday. Azad said they have called for a Bharat Bandh on February 23 on the CAA-NRC-NPR issue. During his speech, he also referred to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's reported statements. "I will not give statements such as those given by UP CM Yogi Adityanath about bullets. He had said 'joh boli se nahi maanega woh goli se maanega'. Fire bullets at us," he said. "You shoot innocent people, but remember BJP, your government will change some day and when that happens, we will take revenge for every single atrocity. "You are indulged in crime. Constitution says everyone enjoys equal rights. As per Constitution, any crime, be it committed by a common man or a member of the executive or legislative, by a home minister, by a CM or even by a prime minister, it is punishable," he said. Azad further said that when the government of Bahujans (common people) comes to power, criminals will not be spared. "I promise this to my people. People are real owners (of democracy) who have taken to streets. We were talking about jobs, healthcare, corruption, education and security, but they made the entire nation stand on roads just like the noteban. "There only intention is to ban votes of those who are anti-BJP," Azad alleged, referring to protests in various parts of the country against the CAA-NRC-NPR regime. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 21:47 [IST] Representative Image Claiming that 26 tigers were missing from Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, BJP MP and member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Diya Kumari has written to the Union environment minister, demanding a high level inquiry in the matter. Kumari, in a letter to Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, said a report has been submitted to the state government, stating that 26 tigers are missing from the park, which is located in Sawai Madhopur district. She demanded a high level inquiry in the matter. The MP also stated in her letter that the attitude of officials concerned and authorities of the park was "half-hearted and lackadaisical". A national park is supposed to conserve the endangered animals and not lead to the decrease in their numbers, she said in her letter, written on Wednesday. She also said the poachers must be identified, caught and strict action must be taken against them to prevent recurrence of incidents. Earlier, on Monday, BJP MLA Chandrabhan Singh Aakya had also raised the issue of missing tigers in Ranthambhore during Zero Hour in the assembly. Manoj Parashar, chief conservator of forest, Sawai Madhopur, could not be contacted for comments. Are you beginning to work out what has happened? Police do nothing while self-righteous ninnies dig up an ancient lawn in a beautiful city. The same police force close the roads in the name of 'human rights', to suit the same arrogant, dogmatic protesters. Not enough? Think this is just an isolated incident? No. Will you please wake up to the fact that this country has undergone a silent but deadly revolution, and the takeover of the country by people who despise you and your morals is almost complete. Police do nothing while self-righteous ninnies dig up an ancient lawn in a beautiful city. The same police force close the roads in the name of 'human rights', to suit the same arrogant, dogmatic protesters. They are pictured above digging outside Trinity College, Cambridge Try this. The victims of quite serious violent crimes are persuaded by police to take part in an insulting farce called 'restorative justice'. In one recent example, an off-duty prison officer escaped both punishment and richly deserved dismissal after brutally assaulting a young man for no reason. The local newspaper in Startforth, County Durham, recorded: 'Ben Matthews, 18, said neighbours had to pull his assailant off him in an unprovoked attack that happened yards from his home.' Mr Matthews had just got off the bus and was walking home when a man began trying to make conversation with him. 'He'd tried talking to me and claimed he was an undercover off-duty prison officer and he needed to see inside my bag.' When Mr Matthews refused, the man dragged him off the main road and punched him five or six times. In the law, in the Civil Service and local government, the major charities, the political parties, the schools, the churches, the TV studios and the social media companies, the Long March Through the Institutions is still going on. The damaged green in Trinity College, Cambridge is pictured above When Mr Matthews went to the police station the next day, covered in cuts and bruises, he found the assailant was there already, free as the air, in reception. Police told Mr Matthews that his attacker would have only been prosecuted for common assault, though I am not quite sure how they can have reached that conclusion. So Durham police, whose policy on drugs is notoriously so soft it makes a marshmallow look hard, turn out (as I rather suspected) to be soft on other things as well. They decided to put the attacker on something called the Community Checkpoint Scheme 'as it was better for him'. Better in what way? Apparently rapists, robbers and murderers are not (yet) eligible for this escape from justice. Nor, of course, are those accused of 'hate crimes'. But be patient. The authorities are working on this. In one recent example, an off-duty prison officer escaped both punishment and richly deserved dismissal after brutally assaulting a young man (Ben Matthews, who is pictured above) for no reason The idea that criminals are bad people who need to be punished and deterred has been abandoned. Crime is now officially a disease to be cured by 'treatment'. The criminals themselves are not to be blamed. We've all begun to see this in operation disappearing police and courts, endless feeble cautions and unpaid fines, prisons which spit out their inmates weeks after they enter. And, of course, more crime. Robbery and murder will in time grow as common as burglary and assault have become since we gave up detecting or punishing them. And then they'll no doubt be eligible for 'restorative justice' too. The police, like our immoral, greedy ruling class, no longer believe in right and wrong. They are paramilitary social workers who do not themselves blame criminals for their crimes. They see it as their job to negotiate neutrally between 'offenders' and 'victims'. The only thing they'll really come down hard on is people trying to defend themselves or their property, a challenge to the liberal monopoly. This is a national problem, as is the takeover of the police by ultra-Leftist dogmas. Individual officers are powerless against this relentless indoctrination. As I wrote in this newspaper, about lone traditional police officers, back in June 2004: 'But what can he do, by himself? Inch by inch, piece by piece, the world he grew up in has been dismantled and replaced by another. The same thing is happening to almost everyone he knows. And so, the very people who would once have complained loudly about 'political correctness gone mad' find themselves enforcing exactly that.' Do you think this process is over? The idea that criminals are bad people who need to be punished and deterred has been abandoned. Crime is now officially a disease to be cured by 'treatment'. A stock image is used above for illustrative purposes [File photo] Not a bit of it. In the law, in the Civil Service and local government, the major charities, the political parties, the schools, the churches, the TV studios and the social media companies, the Long March Through the Institutions is still going on. How Lenin must look up longingly from his warm place in hell and envy these revolutionaries, who have succeeded where he failed. The place may look roughly the same. But when the honest citizen now turns to the State for protection or truth or help, he no longer gets it. He receives, from the flapping mouth of some dogmatised jobsworth, a series of excuses. And if he complains, then he will find out that the one thing the new State will protect with all its might is its monopoly of power and thought. If Extinction Rebellion were not as thick as they are nasty, they would have realised by now that they have already won. But then they couldn't dig up lawns and close roads. Join the dots yourself This time I am going to ask you to do the work. There have been several major stories in the past week, at home and abroad, from showbiz tragedies to alleged terrorism and a suburban fence dispute, where I suggest you wait and see (or look up, for in some cases it is known) if mind-altering drugs either so-called antidepressants or marijuana turn out to have been involved. Nobody will do anything about it, but it is better to know than not. History buried under a snowdrift of lies I have now struggled half way through the BBC's most recent travesty of Agatha Christie, The Pale Horse. And in the same week I endured the latest episode of ITV's Endeavour. Agatha Christie isn't holy writ and I don't, in principle, object to messing around with her stories if it makes them better. But this seemed to me to be a hymn of hate against the Britain of 60 years ago. It was almost as if the camera lens had been smeared with a yellowish slime, to make the era look grim and sordid. Was anyone happy? Twisting the past: Rufus Sewell and Kaya Scodelario in Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse. Bit by bit the actual past is lost under a great, thick snowdrift of propaganda and falsehood Was anyone normal? It appeared not. I am often accused of viewing the 1950s as a 'Golden Age', when I do not. There never was a golden age. Much about the 1950s was worse than now, the incessant smoking, the medical care, the food which often contained actual gristle. Yet it was also a more carefree time than most of us can now imagine, when most people could afford to live reasonably well on modest pay, when children did not hide indoors, in constant fear of paedophiles, traffic and pollution. My own recollection is it was also much kinder, softer spoken and more patient, but I may have been lucky. A time I recall in much more detail is 1970 in Oxford, my home town, supposedly portrayed in Endeavour. Last week's episode claimed to be about events surrounding the General Election that summer. It featured two racially motivated knife murders, which I cannot recall (odd, as such things were so rare then), and invented a political party (a sort of BNP) and its candidate who definitely did not stand for election that year. This false plot, set in an invented past, gave an excuse for the young Morse and his boss Fred Thursday to go round lecturing everyone on how racist they were, from the smug point of view of 2020. They may have solved some crimes while doing so, but it's the woke lectures I recall. Bit by bit the actual past is lost under a great, thick snowdrift of propaganda and falsehood. Much of it takes the form of fiction and drama. And once they've persuaded us that the past was all bad, they'll move on to the next bit, getting us to believe that the present is wonderful. If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Saturday called on the youth to adopt a broad vision to help India become a world leader. Addressing the 10th Indian Student Parliament, at Vigyan Bhawan, he said the country had a tradition of ancient knowledge and science and it was needed to combine the past with the present to make the country a global leader. "The youth will lead India and enable the nation to achieve its goal of becoming a Vishwa Guru. With higher goals and broad vision they can achieve this goal," he stated. The minister said the ancient philosophy of the country was needed to be understood as the world realised that the path of happiness and progress lied in India. "Our spirituality is our strength and it needs to be understood. The world knows the path for happiness, prosperity and progress lies in India," he said. Asserting that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was meant for protecting persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said those who are weak can not protect others. "Those having petty mindset and vision can not reach the top. Those who are weak can not protect others." Saying that the youth of the country were the "real strength" of the 'New India', he said it will be realised through knowledge, science and innovation. "The New India will be clean, healthy, capable and united. We have the vision and power to struggle for it," he said. The four-day Indian Student Parliament conclave is being participated by nearly 10,000 students from 450 universities across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There are increasing grounds for concern that the UK is backing away from the legal and political commitments it made last October in its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU. The Withdrawal Agreement was made before the UK general election, when Boris Johnson led a minority government. Now he has an overall majority, and the prospect of four more years in office. He has more weight to throw around, at least in the short term. Some of the governments on the EU side are not in such a strong position. There is a suspicion that he may now be backing away from legally and politically binding commitments he gave to the EU last October in order to appear to "get Brexit done" before his general election. For example, the newly appointed Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has stated that there "will be no border down the Irish Sea". Boris Johnson has made similar comments. This could be interpreted as meaning that the UK was acting in bad faith when it agreed last October to the Withdrawal Agreement and to its legally binding protocol on Ireland. In the protocol, the UK committed itself to what amounts to border controls between Britain and Northern Ireland. While the word "border" is not used in the protocol, the UK accepted in Article 5 that EU customs duties would be collected on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Britain if those goods were "at risk of subsequently being moved" to the rest of Ireland and thus into the EU. It was also envisaged that goods would have to be checked for the purposes of collecting the appropriate amount of Vat, and verifying their origin. EU officials were to have a right to be present when this checking was being done, so as to assure themselves that the UK officials were correctly interpreting the EU laws that would apply in Northern Ireland. The protocol contains detailed provisions for determining how UK goods that were at risk of entering the EU through Ireland might be identified and controlled, and how the customs duties on them might be collected. This was not to be done at the land border in Ireland, so it had to be done before the goods entered Northern Ireland, effectively on either side of the Irish Sea. It is difficult to see how Mr Lewis's comment that there would be no border in the Irish Sea can be compatible with the legally binding protocol agreed to by the UK, unless one interprets the word "border" as only applying to a border on land. The UK government also seems to be backing away from the commitments on ensuring fair competition it made in the political declaration which it agreed with the EU as the framework for the Withdrawal Agreement. This political declaration, while not legally binding in the same way as the withdrawal treaty itself, is part of the withdrawal process under Article 50 of the EU Treaties, and it is referred to in the withdrawal treaty. For either the EU or the UK to back away from what they had agreed in the political declaration would amount to bad faith, and could poison future relations. One can accept that once the UK leaves the EU, the EU should accept the autonomy of the UK's decision-making processes, and vice versa. In a legal sense, there should be a relationship of equals between the EU and the UK. But if there is to be trade between the EU and UK, it is only common sense that there be basic compatibility of standards. Indeed, most modern trade agreements are more about standards than they are about mere tariffs and quotas. The political declaration, agreed by the UK last October, makes repeated references to the need for provisions for a level playing field and fair competition in any future agreement between the UK and the EU. Article 17 says the partnership between the UK and the EU should ensure "a level playing field for open and fair competition" between UK and EU firms. Article 77 commits the UK and the EU to "uphold the common high standards applicable to the EU and the UK at the end of the transition period in areas of state aid, competition, social and employment standards, environment, climate change and relevant tax matters". The common standards applying at the end of the transition period at the end of this year are the existing EU standards. The UK agreed there would be no rolling back of these EU standards. But Boris Johnson said, in a speech in Greenwich earlier this month, that "there is no need for a free trade agreement to involve accepting EU rules on competition policy, subsidies, social protection, the environment or anything else, any more than the EU is obliged to accept UK rules". Prime Minister Johnson's EU negotiator David Frost went further this week when he said "to think that we might accept EU supervision on so-called level playing field issues simply fails to understand the point of what we are doing", adding that the UK must be free to "set laws that suit us" and that "this is the point of the whole project". On the face of it, these statements appear to be a flat contradiction of what Mr Johnson and his government agreed to last October in the political declaration. The level playing field provisions in the political declaration clearly envisage mutual supervision of the EU by the UK, and vice versa, to ensure that neither side does anything that interferes with open and fair competition or rolls back standards. There may be some room for benign interpretation. Mr Johnson could say he is referring to rules to be made in future by either the EU or the UK, and not to the rules in force now. But the political declaration says that the "common high standards" in force at the end of the transition period should not be reduced. It does not prevent new rules being made by either side, so long as they do not reduce these standards. So it is difficult to know what Mr Johnson and Mr Frost are talking about. The UK, if it wants good relations with all its immediate neighbours, should dial back the rhetoric. Trust needs to be rebuilt. The EU should also be careful not to over estimate its own negotiating leverage, and not to look for certainty on everything. A Massachusetts woman unknowingly became a getaway driver for a man who met her on a dating app and subsequently robbed a bank on Dec. 5, 2016. The woman told authorities that she had picked Christopher Castillo up from his parents home in Rhode Island, and drove toward Massachusetts. Castillo reportedly told the woman to make a stop at the Bristol County Savings Bank branch. The district attorneys office said Castillo then walked into the bank, showed the teller a gun and demanded $1,000. After the teller complied, Castillo ran out of the bank with sunglasses, a hat, a gun and $1,000, the woman told police. He then instructed his date to step on the gas. The woman said she panicked and drove until she spotted sirens and police cars behind her. She pulled over and left her car, while Castillo remained inside, according to CNN. When law enforcement attempted to apprehend Castillo, he violently struggled and spit on officers. Almost four years after the robbery, Castillo was sentenced to three years in state prison for the robbery . and two years in the Bristol County House of Corrections for his aggressive encounter with the officers 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 Rachel Gotto has suffered more than most, from the death of her brother and husband to her cancer diagnosis and dependency on prescription drugs. But by training her brain to change established thought patterns, she found a way to thrive and not simply survive, says Lorna Siggins If Rachel Gotto was a boat, she would be the envy of any master boatbuilder for such is her ability to withstand constant knock-backs, broaches, and capsizes. Whatever the storm, she has weathered it and reached calm waters as a stronger person. In her work, she endeavours to guide others to do the same. Some might say her life reflects the human capacity for endurance, but she chooses her words carefully, drawing on softer nouns like possibility and hope, and thriver rather than survivor. In the late 1960s, her parents had sailed into Glandore a picture-postcard west Cork harbour marked by its two outcrops, Adam and Eve and never left. She grew up in the village where her father established what is one of Irelands first chandlery businesses. While running a restaurant there in her early 20s, she met diver Nic Gotto and the couple would marry. Soon after, her closest brother, Dominic, was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away in November 1996, aged just 28. DEVASTATING LOSS Not even two years later, in July 1998, Rachel experienced another devastating loss when Nic failed to return from a diving expedition to the wreck of the Kowloon Bridge. While she was above and on the helm of the expeditions charter vessel, Sundancer II, he had drowned. Rachel was pregnant with her first child. And when Nicola was born that December, health problems meant that her daughter subsequently lost the sight in her left eye. Then, when Nicola was six, Rachel began to feel unwell. A barrage of tests revealed a type of brain tumour known as an arteriovenous malformation. Faced with a terminal prognosis, she began searching, and finally she found a surgeon in Bristol who was willing to operate but who warned her that paralysis was a very likely outcome. After an almost 15-hour surgery during which she nearly died, Rachel awoke to find that hed been right; she was completely paralysed down her left side. Her recovery was to take years, but, slowly, movement returned to her limbs. Seizures still plagued her, but she kept going, using a complex cocktail of medications to keep them at bay. WITHDRAWAL Ironically it was the medications that would offer Rachel her biggest challenge yet. After a decade on them, she found herself depressed and emotionally numb, with very little quality of life, physically dependent on the sedative Frisium, a benzodiazepine. The drugs that had been prescribed initially to save her life had turned it into a nightmare. She wanted to stop taking them. With a life so full of loss, her description of what came next seems shocking. Honestly, I would rather relive Dominic and Nics death, and my own terminal diagnosis, than revisit the experience of withdrawing from benzodiazepines. It took all the remaining strength I had to survive it. Brain surgery felt like nothing in comparison. The experience prompted her to read voraciously about the brain and its ability to form new neural pathways. What she learned from that reading brought her to a turning point in her recovery. She also decided to train with British hypnotherapist Marisa Peer in a technique known as rapid transformational therapy (RTT). RTT works by changing the subconscious programmes that we acquire in childhood and replacing them with new empowering and healthy ones. Its phenomenal, she explains. It evolved from neuroscience and the fact that our subconscious brains respond to the words we say to ourselves, and to the images we form in our heads. We may have developed neural pathways that are dysfunctional. RTT literally re-trains the brain so we change the way we think and how we feel about what we think. IN THE MOMENT Rachel, who now lives with her partner, Malcolm, and dog, Echo, in Galway, established her own busy RTT practice three years ago. She receives referrals from GPs and specialises in treating people with depression, anxiety, and trauma. As someone who has experienced so much myself, I feel Ive developed a wisdom that informs my work and allows me to really empathise with clients. Along with my training, I can identify what they need and deliver phenomenal results, she says. For all her optimism though, Rachel is also a pragmatist. If I had my way I would ban the word happy from the dictionary because I feel that the constant push for happiness pulls people away from living in the moment. It seems it is all about looking for more, whereas being content with where we are at is much more achievable and sustainable, she says. PARIS - A respected Canadian Catholic figure who helped improve conditions for the developmentally disabled in multiple countries over half a century sexually abused at least six women, a report produced for his French-based charity has found. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (689 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this file photo dated Wednesday, March 11, 2015, showing Jean Vanier, the founder of L'ARCHE, an international network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together, in central London. An internal report revealed Saturday Feb. 22, 2020, that LArche founder Jean Vanier, a respected Canadian religious figure, sexually abused at least six women. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, FILE) PARIS - A respected Canadian Catholic figure who helped improve conditions for the developmentally disabled in multiple countries over half a century sexually abused at least six women, a report produced for his French-based charity has found. According to the report released by L'Arche International Saturday, the women's descriptions provide evidence enough to show that Jean Vanier engaged in "manipulative sexual relationships" over a period from 1970 to 2005, usually with a psychological hold over the alleged victims. Vanier died last year at age 90. The alleged victims felt deprived of their free will and so the sexual activity was coerced or took place under coercive conditions, the report said. It did not rule out potential other victims. None of the women was disabled, a significant point given the Vatican has long sought to portray any sexual relationship between religious leaders and other adults as consensual unless there was clear evidence of disability. The #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, however, have forced a recognition that power imbalances such as those in spiritual relationships can breed abuse. During the inquiry, commissioned by L'Arche last year and carried out by the independent, U.K.-based GCPS Consulting group, six adult, non-disabled women said Vanier had engaged in sexual relations with them as they were seeking spiritual direction. According to the report, the women, who have no links to each other, reported similar facts and Vanier's sexual misconduct was often associated with alleged spiritual and mystical justifications." A statement released by L'Arche France Saturday stressed that some women still have deep wounds." The report noted similarities with the pattern of abuse of the Rev. Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest Vanier called his spiritual father. Philippe, who died in 1993, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women. A statement from L'Arche International said analysis of archives shows that Vanier adopted some of Father Thomas Philippe's deviant theories and practices. Philippe was banned from exercising any public or private ministry in a trial led by the Catholic Church in 1956 for his theories and the sexual practices that stemmed from them. In a letter to the charity members, the Leaders of LArche International, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney, told of their shock at the news, and condemned Vanier's actions. For many of us, Jean was one of the people we loved and respected the most. ... While the considerable good he did throughout his life is not in question, we will nevertheless have to mourn a certain image we may have had of Jean and of the origins of LArche, they wrote. Vanier worked as a Canadian navy officer and professor before turning to charity work. A visit to a psychiatric facility prompted him to found the charity LArche in 1964 as an alternative living environment where those with developmental disabilities could be full-fledged participants in the community instead of patients. The charity now has facilities in 38 countries that are home to thousands of people both with and without disabilities. Vanier, who was unmarried, also travelled the world to encourage dialogue across religions, and was awarded the 2015 Templeton Prize for spiritual work, as well as France's Legion of Honor. He was the subject of a documentary shown at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival called Jean Vanier, the Sacrament of Tenderness. The allegations against Vanier reveal a major gap in the Catholic Churchs handling of sex abuse allegations to date: Because he was a layman, he was exempt from the Vaticans in-house sanctioning procedures for abuse, which only cover priests, bishops and cardinals. For these offenders, the worst penalty the Vatican can impose is defrocking essentially, making the priests laymen again. A similar case concerned the lay leader of a Peru-based organization, Sodalicio, who escaped Vatican justice for years even though there were credible allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against him. The Vatican finally ordered him to live in isolation from his followers, a penalty that drew scorn from his victims given that it amounted to an all-expense-paid retirement in Rome. ____ Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this story. Two more Australians have been diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus after being evacuated to Darwin from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Two people from Victoria tested positive for the infection on Saturday after being evacuated from the ship, and will be sent to hospitals in Victoria. Two Queensland women aged 54 and 55 also tested positive on Friday night for the infection after leaving the ship on Thursday and will be flown to a Brisbane hospital on Saturday for further treatment. Six Australians have tested positive for coronavirus after being taken off the ship. A 78-year-old man from Western Australia was transferred to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth on Friday. His wife was to travel with him but then be isolated at home for two weeks. A 24-year-old woman from South Australia has been transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital. There have been 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia. Japan Self-Defence Forces officers use canvas sheets to cover the walkway from the cruise ship Diamond Princess Under the evacuation deal state governments agreed to treat any patients in their home states. Before the medical transfers chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said they were in a clinically 'reasonable' condition. The two were among a group of six who were suffering a sore throat and runny nose after arriving at the former workers camp at Howard Springs on Thursday. The other four have been cleared of the virus, but Professor Murphy said that could change. 'It's possible more people could develop positive tests over the next few days. We don't know that, but if they do we are completely well set up to detect and manage them and isolate them,' he told reporters on Friday. There were 170 Australians on the evacuation flight. They will be quarantined at the facility near Darwin for two weeks after leaving the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama. Four Australians evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship on Thursday are confirmed to have coronavirus They are being kept separate from the 266 people who were already in quarantine at Howard Springs, who were evacuated earlier this month from the epicentre of the virus at Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province. They will leave on Sunday. Meanwhile, Australia has extended its ban on foreign travellers from China for another week as the number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Hubei province grows. The ban is due to end on February 29 but is under ongoing consideration from the national security committee of cabinet. Donald Trump's visit next week is the first ever stand-alone trip by a US president to India. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump with US First Lady Melania Trump and his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner will all be travelling to India for the two-day visit. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters When Air Force One touches down at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on February 24, he will become the fourth US president to visit India in his first term and the first to visit Gujarat. America is already in an election mode with the Democratic party conducting their debates before picking their contender who will take on Trump in November of this year, hence these 36 hours will be in as sharp a focus in the US as in India. Donald Trump also becomes the first American president to visit India with his wife and daughter and son-in-law in tow. Bill Clinton came with daughter not wife, Obama came with wife and not children and so did George W Bush and Jimmy Carter. Trump is known not to be too fond of traveling abroad; his visits to Asia have been few and far between. Hence, this visit in an election year is significant. Trump's daughter Ivanka, a senior advisor to the US president, is no stranger to India, having visited Hyderabad in 2017. Her husband Jared Kushner is also an advisor to the president and crucial to the president's decision-making process. That all four of them are coming to India is extremely significant because the visit will be high on showmanship and drama. Trump in his election year is keen to shore up as much goodwill as possible. He understands India well by now. The Howdy Modi event in Texas in 2019 must have gone a long way in clearing any doubts where Indian-origin Americans and Indians in India stand on India-US relations. It was Dr Manmohan Singh who said to George W Bush in 2008 , "The people of India deeply love you." And this when Bush was an object of ridicule in the rest of the world and Dr Singh is not known to be an effusive gentleman. But Dr Singh was right when he said, "When history is written, I think it will be recorded that President George W Bush played a historic role in bringing our two democracies closer to each other." He was referring to the 123 nuclear deal, of course which ended India's nuclear isolation. The US presidential visits before Bush were not significant at all. Eisenhower was about elephant rides, sandalwood garlands, Clinton was about the Taj, Agra and a Holi dance, Carters' visit was a blip that was forgotten post-Pokhran, Nixon's one day visit was bleeped out after his nastiness on Bangladesh and Indira Gandhi. Obamas were the only ones who came twice in two terms, once during Dr Singh's tenure and once in Modi's first term. It can safely be assumed that were Trump to win again, India will be high up on his agenda. He has a peculiar rapport with Modi. He jokes about him and mimics his English accent but seems to be quite taken in with the PM. Trump doesn't have many friends among world leaders. That he thinks of Modi as one is interesting. Modi on his part is very demonstrative in his affection, hugging the American president whenever there has been an opportunity, clutching his hand and walking the stadium at the Howdy Modi event. The media contingent traveling with Trump will looking beyond the drama and hype, they will look at tangibles even though expecting it from any administration in its last leg is quite unfair. But then who expects the media to play fair. Not in the US and not in India. India and the US are likely to finalise five pacts, including on trade facilitation, homeland security and intellectual property rights. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 06:45:47|Editor: zyl Video Player Close OTTAWA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Canadian passengers stranded in Japan for over two weeks on board the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship began a 14-day quarantine as their plane landed in Canada earlier Friday, local media reported. The plane chartered by the Canadian government brought 129 Canadians and their families to Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario. None of them showed symptoms of the novel coronavirus upon arrival. "The returning Canadians have been through a stressful experience over the past couple of weeks," Canadian Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a statement. "During their quarantine in Canada, we will offer support for both their mental and physical well-being. We will also continue with measures to protect the general population from exposure to the virus," Hajdu said. There were 256 Canadians on the cruise ship, quarantined in Yokohama, and 47 of them have tested positive for the virus, local officials said. Only Canadians and permanent residents from the ship who did not test positive for the virus were eligible to board the chartered flight. It remains unclear why only 129 Canadians and family members boarded the plane. Canadian passengers on Diamond Princess, who chose not to return on the plane, would have to complete the quarantine being administered by Japan and follow the instructions of local authorities, said Barbara Harvey, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada. Canadians seeking to return to Canada by commercial means will be subject to the Quarantine Act upon their return, in line with a determination to be made by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Harvey added. In the meantime, the Canadians airlifted to Canadian Forces Base Trenton from China's Wuhan just completed their quarantine and began leaving the military base on Friday. We can make fun of Bollywood movies all we want and honestly, most of the movies deserve that. But, Bollywood does, every once in a while, give us such an incredible movie that not only gets appreciated in our country but also by people all over the world. Recently, Gangs Of Wasseypur earned a similar honour. Yes, I know it was released years ago, but it was just included in the International Cinephile Society's list of top 100 movies of the decade. What an incredible honour! Coming in at number 58, it's the only Indian movie to actually make it to the top 100 list, making it even more special. It also seems like the list is getting more and more inclusive since, for the first time ever, eight out of the top 10 movies were directed by non-American filmmakers. Of course, Parasite is also on there. I mean, after this year's Oscars, that movie will be on every movie list ever. Here are the top 10: 01. Margaret 02. The Tree Of Life 03. Holy Motors 04. A Separation 05. Carol 06. Laurence Anyways 07. Zama 08. Silence 09. Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno 10. Happy Hour International Cinephile Society Announces Best Films Of Decade, 'Gangs Of Wasseypur' Only Indian Film https://t.co/rdAjL0OiND Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) February 20, 2020 Congratulations have been pouring in for Anurag Kashyap and people are happy that the movie is getting all the attention and praises it deserves. Oops. Kya baat kar rahe ho? The movie PM Narendra Modi was not included in the list? And @vivekagnihotri ki Tashkent Files? BTW congratulations! Sukriti Singh (@sukriti_1210) February 20, 2020 Great news! Wow!!!! Congratulations to you the whole team of writers and actors!!! Whattae news to celebrate!!! Lakh lakh badhaiyaaaannnn Mukti Mohan (@thisIsMukti) February 21, 2020 What an honour. "Gangs of Wasseypur" has been named one of the top 100 movies of the decade by the International Cinephile Society. The list also includes the likes of "Parasite," "Roma," and "Mad Mad: Fury Road." @ICSfilm Congratulations .@anuragkashyap72 for the accolade. Aayush Sharma (@AayuJourno) February 19, 2020 Hmm. Undoubtedly the best movie series of the decade by far!! https://t.co/5khYiQ0Ts2 Srinivasan RV (@rvsrini26) February 21, 2020 For sure. Totally. So many feels. Best film ,best director, best insaan....amazingly brave,,that is Anurag Kashyap....my brother, our brother....zindagi qurbaan aapke liye https://t.co/9ubWTtycDr Nadeem0909 (@Nadeem09094) February 21, 2020 Oh yes. Gangs of Wasseypur is the only Indian movie to rank on International Cinephile Society's top 100 movies of the decade. Congratulations @anuragkashyap72 Sahi mein keh ke liya hai#gangsofwasseypur #top100movies #internationalcinephilesociety https://t.co/UL0HSLlbKX Saiprasad Chavan (@filmy_sai) February 21, 2020 Many more. A BIG congratulation on the achievement dear @anuragkashyap72 ..wishing you many more https://t.co/rapXq1DVz2 Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) February 20, 2020 Kudos. If you don't consider Gangs Of Wasseypur to be one of the masterpieces that Indian cinema has produced, something's wrong with you Kudos @anuragkashyap72 https://t.co/h7Ll3OVxx7 Samarth Oza (@SamarthOza711) February 20, 2020 Not a single negative reaction. Thoroughly deserving... @anuragkashyap72 Gangs of Wasseypur rocks ..its content, script, style, performances and narrative...is brutally honest and riveting viewing! https://t.co/5LjO8CXsVD Shakeel Gundagi (@shaqueelsinai) February 20, 2020 Rep. Devin Nunes is on fire this week. While much of the nation was impressed with President Trump's attention to America's farmers, Nunes is telling constituents that the tide has finally turned on their farmers' long Democrat-caused drought. That's based on President Trump's signature this week on a bill to provide California's beleaguered farmers with water, build storage for them, and put a stop to the junk science that buttresses the whole problem. Here was his email to constituents: While campaigning in 2016, then-candidate Trump promised that the Central Valley's water supply would no longer be held captive by radical environmentalists. This week, both President Trump and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt visited the Valley to make official the Trump administration's plans to return water to the Valley. On Wednesday, President Trump signed a second presidential memorandum to formally adopt policies that will deliver more water to the Valley. In addition to implementing new biological opinions that govern how much water flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, President Trump directed the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to develop more water storage infrastructure so that Valley farmers, families, and communities can have a more bountiful and reliable water supply. Since before my election to Congress, I have fought to reclaim the water that California's radical environmentalists have flushed out to the Pacific Ocean. With this week's actions, President Trump has turned the tide in California's decades-long water wars. Along with other Republican congressmen, I joined President Trump for the signing ceremony. This, coming from him, a dairy farmer himself, is dramatically good news. Nunes was the original voice crying out in the wilderness about California's disastrous water situation. We often think of him in his role as the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, but his original cause was always the water. He wrote this book about the environmentalists' efforts to shut down America's most important land for food production. Here was his hugely popular account of the backstory that appeared in Investor's Business Daily in 2015: In the summer of 2002, shortly before I was elected to Congress, I sat through an eye-opening meeting with representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council and several local environmental activist groups. Hoping to convince me to support various water restrictions, they argued that San Joaquin Valley farmers should stop growing alfalfa and cotton in order to save water though they allowed that the planting of high-value crops such as almonds could continue. Then, as our discussion turned to the groups' overall vision for the San Joaquin Valley, they told me something astonishing: Their goal was to remove 1.3 million acres of farmland from production. They showed me maps that laid out their whole plan: From Merced all the way down to Bakersfield, and on the entire west side of the Valley as well as part of the east side, productive agriculture would end and the land would return to some ideal state of nature. I was stunned by the vicious audacity of their goal and I quickly learned how dedicated they were to realizing it. He knows all their tricks. And now he's finally closing in on them. Just as he thwarted the Deep State with digging to the truth about the foundations of the Russia hoax, how he's marshaled the feds to go around California's wasteful greenies, who flush millions of gallon of pure clean water into the sea in the name of saving the delta smelt, a policy that has turned the lower San Joaquin valley into a wasteland. And speaking of the Russia hoax, Nunes is on fire here, too. He's also telling Fox News's Harris Faulkner he's suing the Washington Post, based on its habitual lies concerning his supposed visits to the White House. These, he says, are visits never made. Now he's in hot pursuit. That's another victory for him coming up. Like President Trump, Nunes racks up a lot of wins. This is a good week for him. We can only wish he has many more. Image credit: YouTube screen shot. The 24th February 1966 CIA-backed coup that overthrew the democratically elected Nkrumah regime can no longer be justified. This is what the awakened youth of Ghana are saying now. The youth are emphasising that hitherto the narrative justifying and glorifying the 1966 coup with the symbolism of Kotoka International Airport is an abomination and a curse on Ghana which has to be exorcised forthwith. Such is the awakening demand of popular culture and religious icons, A-Plus and Sonnie Badu. A-Plus and Sonnie Badu are a representative voice of the youth. Their energetic, articulate and truthful voice has resounded across the country and elsewhere in the Pan-African world causing people to pause and reflect. And as people cast their mind across Africa they feel and taste the urgency of Nkrumahs AFRICA MUST UNITE call. And when they cast their mind across Ghana what comes to their minds eye? In Ghana, most of the nation-building and development foundations that give them a sense of national pride were mostly founded during the near nine years rule of Nkrumah. The sheer panorama of social housing; industrial and manufacturing expanse of Tema harbouring a vital port of trade and commerce; the strategic siting of industries, schools and colleges, housing estates, hospitals plus the purposeful expansion of roads, railways and airports to open up and interconnect the country so that no one is left behind is mind-boggling. The evidence is strikingly awakening. The evidence makes you a born-again in the faith of self-sacrifice, self-belief and in the anthem of LIFT HIGH THE FLAG OF GHANA with the gay star shining in the sky. Yes, The Black Star of Ghana, the Black Star of Africa Emancipation. Sonnie Badu and A-Plus are telling the youth to be aware of the evidence. The evidence of the Work and Happiness programme of all-round accelerated development supported by research and educational institutions like the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Building and Roads Research Institute, the Volta River Authority and a fully-fledged University of Science and Technology plus the School for Public Administration, amongst others. Such is the evidence that cannot be covered by the proportions of the elephant and the umbrella. No revisionism can soil or obliterate the evidence of performance that still surpasses all understanding. How could so much be achieved between 6th March 1957 and 24th February 1966? And what is so humbling is that it is the global iconic standing of Nkrumah that makes you feel so proud as a Ghanaian when you travel abroad. Now, one begins to understand why others are demanding that Ghanaians should apologise to Africa for allowing quislings and colonial stooges to cut shot the mission of Africas Man of Destiny. The youth are thinking and asking questions. Was the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah not the founding Leader of Government Business, founding Prime Minister, founding President, all of Ghana, and the co-President of the Revolutionary Republic of Guinea? Here again, the evidence is clear for it is when the frog dies that you realise its length and reach. But Nkrumah Never Dies. It is our thoughts and memories of Nkrumah that keeps Nkrumah alive in the hearts and minds of people across the globe. What an asset that Ghana has in Nkrumah!!! An inspiring asset to the youth who are now measuring their future in the consciencism of Nkrumah. Nkrumah prepared the ground for the youth, built for the youth; Nkrumah created jobs for the youth; Nkrumah built schools for the youth and, Nkrumah was selfless and self-sacrificing. Nkrumah thought of Ghana first. Nkrumah did not steal a pesewa and neither did he own a property. Nkrumah did not steal from the blood, sweat and tears of workers. Nkrumah insured and assured the social security and pension funds of workers. Nkrumah protected and provided for workers, farmers, women, children and the disadvantaged. The social purpose of Nkrumahs development agenda was measured by the remarkable improvement in the wellbeing of the Ghanaian. Nkrumah left no one behind and those who chose to leave themselves behind were those hanging on the coattails of the colonialists and pulling Ghana backwards instead of forward ever. These quislings made the independence of Ghana meaningless by linking it up with the gamble house of neo-colonialism soon after the coup of 24th February 1966. And are they not at it now cutting deals and selling off the resources and commonwealth of the nation to the very external forces who combined to get rid of Nkrumah at a time when the Volta Hydroelectric Dam at Akosombo, the Atomic Energy Reactor at Kwabenya and the Gold Refinery at Tarkwa were primed for liftoff to make Ghana make up, catch up and surpass within a generation. Ghanas forward march in tandem with Singapore and Malaysia was cut short by the betrayal of Kotoka and those he represented? It is this cancer of betrayal that the youth are waking up to. Nkrumah gave of himself to the youth, Ghana, Africa and also for world peace and stability. This is our truth and the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute (KNII), on the occasion of 24th February joins in the lamentations and wake-up call of Sonnie Badu and A-Plus for the curse of Kotoka and what he represents to be cleansed from Our Founders House. Let the truth shine! Let the Black Star shine!! Benjamin Anyagre (On behalf of the Board of the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute) American President Donald Trump will be in Agra for a total of two hours and the administration has made all arrangements for his visit, Agra District Magistrate Prabhu Narain Singh said on Saturday. "The Chief Minister had advised us to celebrate this like a festival. The Culture Department of the UP government sent us 3,000 artists who will take part in various programmes. Over 300 artists are working (to beautify places) near Kheria Airport. We have identified 21 spots where stages will be set up for different kind of cultural programmes on February 24," Singh said at a press conference here. Speaking about the day when preparations had started for the event, the DM said, "We got to know that President Trump is coming to Agra on February 15. We held a meeting and began working in tandem with the Municipal Corporation, PWD, ADA and others. We had set a target to complete on infrastructure-related work by Saturday." Singh said that citizens have been asked to welcome President Trump, along the entire route from Kheria airport to Agra. "There will be citizens, including senior children and common people, along the left and right along the entire stretch of road from Kheria airport to Taj Mahal which is exactly 10.5 kilometers. They have been asked to come to welcome the President. Arrangements have also made been made to provide water, food to them and there will also be toilets for the people," he said. He also said that the security checks, mapping of structures and verification of people on both the main and the contingency route have been completed. Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner along with the US delegation will visit Agra on February 24. Agra has been spruced up ahead of Trump's visit. Walls on the route from Kheria airport to the Taj Mahal are painted with images of the US flag and the US President with "Namaste Trump" written under it. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Taj Mahal will remain closed for the general public from 12 noon on February 24 during the US President's visit. Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Health Commission has changed the official English name of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus to COVID-19, adopting the title created by the World Health Organization. The Chinese name for the disease will remain unchanged, the commission said in a statement on Saturday. In early February, the commission temporarily named the disease as novel coronavirus pneumonia, or NCP, when there was no official English name. The temporary name was adopted by Chinese government agencies and media outlets to discourage the use of sensationalist and misleading titles by foreign media that stigmatized the Chinese people. Now China would refer to the disease in the same way as the WHO, the commission said. China has been collaborating with the WHO to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday night that its delegation of international experts will arrive in Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, on Saturday. The team of experts had been examining preventive efforts in Beijing, as well as Guangdong and Sichuan provinces, since arriving last weekend. The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has imposed no ban on flights to the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, CAAV Director General Dinh Viet Thang has said. The CAAV has imposed no ban on flights to the Republic of Korea and Japan during the coronavirus disease outbreak. The announcement came after some websites circulated information on stopping licensed flights between Vietnam and the RoK and Japan. Thang said the information is a complete fabrication, and the CAAV has worked with the police force to investigate the source of the fake news. The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines also affirmed that flights to the two East Asian countries have been operated normally in accordance with schedule allowed by the aviation authority. If any schedule adjustment is made, the airline will fully inform the passengers via its website or other official channels, the airline said. For further information, customers should visit the airlines website www.vietnamairlines.com, Facebook fanpage www.facebook.com/VietnamAirlines, and contact ticket offices or customer service at 1900 1100. Carrying out the Prime Ministers Directive No.06/CT-TTg dated January 31 on intensifying preventive measures in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, the CAAV announced a temporary halt to all flights to and from China from 13:00 on February 1 (local time)./. Services available for tourists affected by flight ban Accommodation service providers have been asked to continue to serve foreign tourists who are unable to return to their countries due to the Vietnamese civil aviation authoritys ban on flights between Vietnam and China. UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Ravindra Nath Tripathi gets clean chit in gangrape case India oi-PTI Bhadohi, Feb 22: Bhadohi Police on Saturday gave a clean chit to local BJP MLA Ravindra Nath Tripathi in a gangrape case as "no evidence" was found against him and arrested his nephew, officials said. Five others, who had also been named in an FIR lodged on Wednesday, were also absolved of rape charges by the district police, they said. The FIR was lodged against Tripathi and his kin on a complaint by a 40-year-old woman who had alleged that they had raped her in 2017. "During investigation, no evidence was found against the Bhadohi MLA and five others. They have been given a clean chit," Superintendent of Police Ram Badan Singh told reporters. "Tripathi's nephew Sandeep Tiwari has been arrested on charge of rape," he said. Another member of the family, Neetesh, who had been named in the FIR, has been booked for manhandling and abusing the woman, he added. The officer said that after the woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate, the probe was handed over to a two-member team, including the Gulafsha women's police station incharge. One more arrested in gangrape of 17-year old girl on birthday The team failed to find any evidence to corroborate her charges, Singh said. The woman also refused to undergo medical examination, he added. The complainant, a widow, had alleged that she was first raped by Tiwari in 2016. She said she did not lodge a complaint back then as Tiwari had promised to marry her, Singh had said on Wednesday. She alleged that in the run-up to the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, she was kept at a hotel for a month by Tiwari. All the seven accused would visit the hotel and repeatedly rape her, he had said. She also claimed that when she got pregnant, she was forced to undergo abortion, the officer said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 15:40 [IST] LIVE NOTES & THOUGHTS FROM LAST NIGHT'S SMACKDOWN By Michael King on 2020-02-22 09:04:00 I attended last night's Smackdown. Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ is more filled than an average weekday Arizona Coyotes home game in the 100s but a number of floor seats are empty. The giant Gila River Arena jumbotron was moved up and the lower angle boards are off. This was in no way like the original SmackDown here. Let me say if you ever go to SmackDown, do not get the limited view seats. Due to the set for Fox, it is not easy to watch stage segments and fights. I had to watch A Moment of Bliss on the jumbotron. Apollo Crews reprised his Uhaa Nation "Too Easy" gimmick against Gran Metalik of the Lucha House Party. They had a pretty good match considering Apollo can hang with the Lucha Libre style dating back to his days in Dragon Gate. For being not on tv for a long while Metalik got a good pop. Apollo Crews is a heel but because he hasn't been on TV as a heel, he was treated as a face by reactions. Apollo broke out the Uhaa combination for the win. The Uces came out and their partners the New Day came out. Uce better get lawyers ready saying Superkick Party on tv. Pretty sure that is trademarked. They teased a future tag match. I would love to see that, just not in Saudi Arabia. Goode and Ziggler came out to Ziggler's theme (I guess Glorious is too much of a face theme.) The eight-man tag when I heard about it, I knew would be good. It lived up. I forget how good Mix and Morrison were as an actual team and not rivals. Uce won with only a single superkick? I hope WWE paid Dave Mustane money for the Symphony of Destruction match. That said, it should have had been named the Jeff Jarrett match. At the first of the production crew only brought out the guitars and then later they brought out the other instruments. There is not much in a way to describe this match. It was just a spectacle. It had unique weapon usage especially the powerslam on the piano but it was a typical weapons match. But why have a weapons tag match that is falls count anywhere with tags? The Bell as were formally announced as going in the Hall of Fame. I'm sure you can think of a woman or two that should have gone in before them to they most definitely deserve it. Sadly my seats were horrible due to the SmackDown stage to see a Touch of Bliss. That said, I loved how they included Birdie. The Daniel Bryan Heath Slater match was a little too balanced. Now 10 years ago when they were in NXT together (wow, it's really been that long?) that would have worked better. At least it looks like we will see Gulak against Bryan. I will watch SmackDown for that and the Two and New Day feuding again. Naomi's entrance is pretty cool even live. Carmella's is there... The match was rather slow and took a little too long getting my of first gear but towards the end, it got pretty good. I just think it was two girls with styles that didn't mesh. Naomi won with he springboard into the split legged moonsault. It was great finally hearing the REAL Goldberg theme rather than his WWE edit one. Nice segment leading to a match I don't watch for political reasons. At this point 20% of the crowd left and more would leave as 205 Live goes on. I wish they would announce main events before the show starts. They use to do this. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde fought in a pretty good back and forth match. Both men had interesting offense. It ended by a shock with Mendoza pinning Wilde with a shining wizard. Tyler Breeze faced Sunil Singh in a fun match but sadly the crowd isn't into 205 Live besides me. Breeze won with the Supermodelkick. The main event of 205 Live actually got what was left of the crowd into It with a hard hitting no holds barred tag match between the feuding Oney Korean and Danny Burch against The Brian Kendrick and Ariya Daivari. This was not a technical masterpiece and it was Hardcore. This was one of the better matches I've seen since WWE have gone to "easycore" matches. I do not want to be Ariya Daivari in the morning after taking a drop toe hold to a chair, a London Bridge on the announce table and then another London Bridge in the ring for good measure. Lots of plunder here. Now it is time for you main event, Roman Reigns and King Corbin. WHY???? I'm surprised Corbin didn't get cheered since he is a former Cardinal. Wow did WWE create an unlikable guy with him... The match was what you'd expect from these two. Too long since we sat through both a SmackDown and a 205 Live episode. Roman won after a Superman Punch, Spear combo when Corbin brought in his scepter. Fun night at Gila River Arena. That said, I wish we got the Daniel Bryan versus Bray Wyatt match that was promoted rather than the Roman-Corbin feud that won't end. *** 80s Wrestling Con 3 takes place on Saturday, April 18th at iPlay America in Freehold, NJ from 10 AM to 3 PM featuring appearances by Honky Tonk Man, Zeus, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Lex Luger, Rock N Roll Express, Dr. D David Schultz, The Haiti Kid, Teddy Long, Dutch Mantell, The Conquistadors (Jose Luis Rivera & Jose Estrada), Sean Mooney, Larry Zbyszko, Sam Houston, Polish Power Ivan Putski, Tony Garea, Mike McGuirk, Ted Arcidi, and the daughter of Andre The Giant Robin Christensen-Roussimoff. Also appearances by Dean Malenko, The Ascension, Bill DeMott, Terri Runnels, and more! Tons of vendor tables, attractions, Q&As, and more! For more info visit 80sWrestlingCon.com and Email 80sWrestlingPics@gmail.com. Be a part of the biggest 80s Wrestling Party ever! If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! Mr. Byford said in an interview on Friday that when he took the job, he had hoped to lead New York City Transit, the division that oversees the subway and buses, for five or even 10 years. He inherited a system in crisis, crippled by constant delays that left riders feeling that they could not rely on the subway to get them where they needed to be on time. Things had grown so dismal that Mr. Cuomo declared a state of emergency and committed over $800 million to improvements. Mr. Byford focused on basics like signal upgrades and train maintenance to help reverse the systems steep decline. When he arrived in New York, only 58 percent of trains ran on time. Today, the rate is better than 80 percent. Still, despite Mr. Byfords accomplishments, the subway remains far from the kind of modern system vital to New Yorks future. And Mr. Byford, despite winning over riders and workers, was unable to win over the man who hired him. He and Mr. Cuomo never seemed to agree. They clashed over the high cost of Mr. Byfords Fast Forward plan for overhauling the archaic system, which technology was best for upgrading signals and how to repair the L train, a key link between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Behind the disputes was a competition between two commanding personalities to fill the same role: the person New Yorkers would credit with fixing the subway. On an F train on Friday, many New Yorkers made their choice known. Thank you! some shouted to Mr. Byford. Well miss you! others yelled. New Delhi: Amid efforts to convince the anti-CAA protesters of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh to end their agitation, which has been going on for over 70 days now, a road on Kalindi Kunj stretch linking Jamia to Noida as briefly reopened on Saturday (February 22, 2020). The road no. 9 had remained blocked for nearly 70 days due to the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests at Shaheen Bagh. According to DCP Southeast, the road no 9 was briefly opened but it was closed again by the other faction of anti-CAA protesters of Shaheen Bagh. The closure of the road, exacerbated by roadblocks put up by traffic police in Delhi and Noida, had been a major point of contention against the anti-CAA protest and has been the subject of a Supreme Court-authorised mediation. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutor Sadhna Ramachandran made a surprise visit to Shaheen Bagh on Saturday morning to persuade the protesters, who put forth a series of demands before her. Addressing the protesters, Ramachandran said, ''If the road isn't cleared, then even we would not be able to help you. We are not saying that Shaheen Bagh should be dismantled.'' The protesters asked her if there was any direction from the Supreme Court about their security. They also told her that cases against Jamia and Shaheen Bagh protesters should be withdrawn. The protesters demanded that the proposed National Population Register should not be implemented and the action should be taken against ministers for their controversial remarks. The families of those who died or injured during the agitation should be given compensation and the government should promise security for the protesters. Ramachandran, while leaving the protest site, said she would speak to Sanjay Hegde, the second interlocutor appointed by the top court, about her meeting with the protesters. ''The agitation has been continuing for more than two months, putting at discomfort many people who live near the protest site,'' she said. Senior advocate and another interlocutor Sanjay Hegde could not visit Shaheen Bagh on Saturday as he was not in town. Delhi's Shaheen Bagh has been the epicentre of anti-CAA protests in Delhi since mid-December following an alleged police crackdown on demonstrators in the neighbouring Jamia Millia Islamia that left more than 200 students and around 30 policemen injured. Catherine Mary Weldon (nee Duffy) was born on the 20th February 1946 at home to parents Josie and Eddie Duffy. The ninth oldest of thirteen children, (6 girls and 7 boys). Shortly afterwards she became affectionately known as Kit, a name which stuck with her for the rest of her life. She was born and reared in 2 Oliver Plunkett Park in the north end of the town Kit attended Castletown Girls School where she showed a great aptitude and love for Irish. When she finished Primary School, she managed to gain a scholarship to St Vincents Secondary school. This never came to be as she had to go out to work, as was the need at the time. (This was probably her biggest regret in life, as she always dreamed of being a Nurse.) Her first job was in the old Tweed Factory in Broughton Street, she also worked in Clarkes Shoe factory as well as in Dunnes Stores in Coxs Demesne, St Olivers (Hill Top) and Coxs Demesne Youth and Community Project in her later years Kit fell in love and married Patsy Weldon from Dromiskin in July 1968. They lived for a short while in the White House, Dromiskin before finally settling in 215 Cedarwood Park, Dundalk, to this day the family home. They had three children, Niall, Garrett and Padraig. Sadly, after 28 years of marriage and still at a very young age Patsy, Kits husband, died on the 26th October 1996 aged 53. This loss had a profound effect on her, losing her soul mate and best friend. Kit Duffy as most people know her, will always be associated with the Redeemer Community Centre of which she was a founder and Board Member until her passing, working tirelessly and selflessly for its development and those that benefited from it. She was heavily involved in the Redeemer and Coxs Demesne Communities helping out with the Redeemer Majorettes, being an original Board Member of the Coxs Demesne Youth and Community Project as well as helping set up and run the Redeemer Indoor Bowling Club. She spent many Summers also volunteering for the local Redeemer Summer Youth Project, giving of her time freely. Kit was a Diabetic for almost 40 years, more recently she had issues with her kidneys, leading her to attend dialysis three times weekly, which gave her a great quality of life over the last three years. At a visit to dialysis in mid November she was admitted to the Lourdes Hospital feeling very poorly. Her condition deteriorated and while in Intensive Care she sadly passed away peacefully in the early hours of Thursday 28th November surrounded by close family. Her mass was celebrated by Fr Shajan Panachickal Michael and co-celebrated by Fr Jim Carroll. The Symbols of her Life, a set of committee minutes, a book, a radio, an indoor bowling ball and a Tree of Life were taken to the alter by life-long friends Rosie Mc Gee, Kathleen Woods, Alice Mc Gee, Annie Cummins and Majella Weldon. An explanation of each symbol was read out by her sister Jo Kerley. Peggy Doyle and Helen O Brennan brought up the offertory gifts. The Readings were read by two of her grandsons Tiernan and Eoghan Weldon. The Prayers of the Faithful were delivered by Grandson Oisin Weldon, nephews Keith Lambe and Conor Kerley and nieces Katie and Fionnuala Kerley. A very heartfelt, personal and honest eulogy was delivered by Fr Jim Carroll. He focused on her community spirit, compassion for others and sincerity. At the conclusion of the mass a Reflection focusing on her life, Kits influence on her community and the many people she affected positively whom she came in contact with on her lifes journey was delivered by two of her sons Niall and Garrett. Her funeral mass was one of the largest attended in the Church of the Holy Redeemer in many years, with similar large numbers calling to the family home for her wake. This clearly highlighted the esteem she was held in both by the local and greater Dundalk Community. The Weldon and Duffy families would like to recognize the amazing work of the many professionals who cared for Kit in the Mater and Beaumount Hospitals, the Beacon in Drogheda were she received dialysis and especially the Intensive Care Unit Team in the Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. A debt of gratitude is also acknowledged to Comfort Carers, Paul and Rose (her taxi drivers to dialysis), The Redeemer Family Resource Centre, Clan na Gael GFC and Shevlins for their support and professionalism around the time of her funeral. A number of priests namely Fr Michael Sheehan, Fr Padraig Keenan, Fr John O Leary and Fr Peter Murphy called to offer their support and prayers, this was greatly appreciated. She is survived by her three sons, Niall, Garrett and Paudie, Daughters in Law, Sandra and Ciara and grandchildren Naoise, Tiernan, Fionn, Eoghan and Oisin. She was pre-deceased by her husband Patsy, Mother Josie and Father Eddie as well as brothers Brendan and Peter and sisters May and Josephine. Her siblings, Nuala, Ann and Jo as well as Pat, Johnny, Eddie, Mickey and Gerry survive her, as well as her 23 nephews and 19 nieces. Kit was a sister, daughter, wife, friend, helper, carer, listener, opinionated, funny, thoughtful, emotional, a person who went the extra mile, would give you the coat off her back, a strong woman with great morals and values. A woman with great compassion for people and passion for life, who rarely let anything best her. A person we were all happy to know and be with. TROY The city is aiming to spend $1.4 million to repair its State Street Parking Garage, yet another addition to the list of woeful downtown parking structures. The private Uncle Sam Parking Garages deterioration has caught public notice after a support beam fell late last year and the facility was closed briefly in January while assessments of its conditions were made. The citys two garages need repairs. PREVIOUSLY: Study: Make plans to replace Uncle Sam parking garage The city has waiting lists for its State Street and Fifth Avenue parking garages. The three garages are used heavily on Saturdays when the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market draws thousands of shoppers downtown. The 200-space State Street Garages stair tower is falling apart, there are plywood patches on the structure and even potholes in the concrete parking decks. Drains are clogged and there are lighting problems. We did an extensive review of it, Mayor Patrick Madden said. While the administration mentioned the need to do some work in passing last years, the estimated $1.4 million project wasn't included in this years budget and the city hasn't bonded the money to pay for the repairs. The city knows what its like to lose a parking structure by failing to maintain it. In late 2004, the crumbling 130-space River Street parking deck was razed. All that remains is the former River Street entrance, now used to access stairs descending to Riverfront Park and Front Street. The citys 2016 Downtown Parking Study examines the parking requirements in the largest commercial district. The study led to the relocation and installation of parking kiosks to increase paid on-street parking with a goal to stopping people from parking all day in one spot. When there are events downtown such as the farmers market or at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, parking is crunched. The extent of the State Street Parking Garages problems became apparent when the city advertised for bids this week for State Street Parking Garage Repairs & Stair Tower Replacement. The garage is at State and River streets overlooking the Hudson River. Madden said the stair tower work will consume most of the $1.4 million cost. This project will include garage deck and under slab concrete repair, stair tower demolition and replacement, fire protection system demolition and replacement, garage deck drain demolition and replacement and stair tower lighting demolition and replacement, according to the description of the work the project entails. The concrete work includes fixing three holes, 7,412 square feet of pitting or scaling, 754 square feet of flaking in the concrete, 2,640 linear feet of cracks and 2,611 square feet of flaking on the underside of the concrete slabs. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The construction work is to be completed by Sept. 1, according to the bid documents. The bids are due March 13. City Council President Carmella Mantello learned of the garage repair bid when asked about it by a reporter. Im not happy. This should have been discussed in the budget process. Im going to ask for information about it, said Mantello, a Republican. Madden, a Democrat, will have to go to the City Council to request borrowing the $1.4 million. The Democrats hold a 4-3 majority. Five votes are required to issue a bond to borrow funds. City officials estimate that the State Street Parking Garage is about 40 years old, making it about the same age as the 751-space Uncle Sam Parking Garage at 15-25 Fourth St. The city built the Uncle Sam garage, eventually selling it to The Bryce Companies in 2010 for $2.4 million. Bryce expanded the three-story garage by adding two more floors to part of the structure. The Uncle Sam garage accounts for about 18 percent of the off-street parking downtown, according to the city's 2016 parking study. Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski said the city will assess the condition of the 369-space Fifth Avenue Parking Garage, which is about 16 years old, this summer to determine what work may be required. The only new parking garage that's under consideration to be built downtown is at the 1 Monument Square Site. The city wants its preferred developer Hoboken Brownstone Co. of New Jersey to include a public parking facility in its development plans for the 1.1-acre site. Former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, the career diplomat who during the impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump offered a chilling account of alleged threats from Trump and his allies, has a book deal. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that it had acquired Yovanovitch's planned memoir, currently untitled. According to the publisher, the book will trace her long career, from Mogadishu, Somalia, to Kyiv and 'finally back to Washington, D.C. - where, to her dismay, she found a political system beset by many of the same challenges she had spent her career combating overseas.' 'Yovanovitchs book will deliver pointed reflections on the issues confronting America today, and thoughts on how we can shore up our democracy,' Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said in an announcement. Former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, the career diplomat who during the impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump offered a chilling account of alleged threats from Trump and his allies, has a book deal Financial terms were not disclosed, but two people familiar with the deal told the AP that the agreement was worth seven figures, even though the book is not expected until Spring 2021, months after this fall's election. They were not authorized to discuss negotiations and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss financial terms. Yovanovitch was represented by the Javelin literary agency, where other clients include former FBI Director James Comey and former national security adviser John Bolton. 'Ambassador Yovanovitch has had a 30-year career of public service in many locations, with many lessons to be drawn. This is about much more than just the recent controversy,' said Houghton Mifflin Senior Vice President and Publisher Bruce Nichols, in response to a question about why her book wasn't coming out this year. Yovanovitch told House investigators last year that Ukrainian officials had warned her in advance that Rudy Giuliani and other Trump insiders were planning to 'do things, including to me' and were 'looking to hurt' her. Pushed out of her job earlier in 2019 on Trumps orders, she testified that a senior Ukrainian official told her that 'I really needed to watch my back.' Financial terms were not disclosed, but two people familiar with the deal told the AP that the agreement was worth seven figures, even though the book is not expected until Spring 2021, months after this fall's election. Yovanovitch is seen speaking at Georgetown University earlier this month Yovanovitch was recalled from Kyiv as Giuliani pressed Ukrainian officials to investigate baseless corruption allegations against Democrat Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who was involved with Burisma, a gas company there. Biden, the former vice president, is a contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. According to a rough transcript released by the White House, Trump told Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy last summer that Yovanovitch 'was bad news and the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news.' The allegations that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate a political opponent led to his impeachment in December on two counts by the Democratic-run House. Earlier this month, the Republican-run Senate acquitted him on both counts. Yovanovitch, 61, was appointed ambassador to Ukraine in 2016 by President Barack Obama. She recently was given the Trainor Award, an honor for international diplomacy presented by Georgetown University, and currently is a non-resident fellow at Georgetown's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. The UN Maritime Arbitration Tribunal in The Hague recognized its legal competence in the case of Ukraines claims against Russia. This is stated in the message of the Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that we are talking about the illegal construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait and the stopping of Ukrainian vessels that go to the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. At the same time, the tribunal decided not to consider the requirements of Ukraine regarding coastal waters near the annexed Crimea. In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow was satisfied with the arbitration decision. The ministry notes that it will analyze the findings of the tribunal as part of the preparation of a response memorandum on the merits of the dispute. As you know, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia in a tribunal in The Hague in the fall of 2016. Kyiv accuses Moscow of violating international maritime law. The Ukrainian department noted that Russia is preventing Ukraine from using natural resources from its own marine areas, including fish resources, as well as oil and gas reserves. Police look for evidence in the 800 block of West Dauphin Street in North Philadelphia, where officers say a pregnant woman was killed and a man critically injured by gunfire Friday night. Police said the fetus died despite an emergency C-section performed at Temple University Hospital. Read more A pregnant woman was fatally wounded in a double shooting late Friday afternoon in North Philadelphia, police said. Doctors at Temple University Hospital performed an emergency C-section on the victim, described as in her 30s, but the child died, police said. Shortly before 6 p.m. on Ninth Street between Dauphin and York Streets, the woman was shot in the chest and a 40-year-old man was shot in the chest and left shoulder, police said. The man drove himself and the woman to the hospital. He was listed in critical condition. The woman was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m. and the child at 6:19. Police said a weapon was recovered but no one had been arrested. It was reported by 6ABC that the victims were in a minivan when they were shot. Investigators focused on a small area in the 800 block of Dauphin. A crime scene officer photographed something on or below a grate next to an evidence marker with an arrow pointing down. Despite the earlier violence and lingering police presence, it was largely quiet late last night in the neighborhood, a mix of residential streets, a renovated loft building, and areas of grass and trees where rowhouses once stood. Former Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari has said that the Maharashtra Chief Minister requires a briefing on the citizenship amendment rules of 2003 to understand how the Population Register (NPR) is the basis of Register of Citizens (NRC). "Chief Minister Maharashtra Uddhav Thackarey requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules -2003 to understand how NPR is basis of NRC. Once you do NPR you can not stop NRC. On CAA - needs to be reacquainted with design of Indian Constitution that religion can not be basis of Citizenship," Tewari tweeted on Saturday. The comments assume significance as the Shiv Sena and Congress are part of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in the state. The statement came a day after Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Friday. The Maharashtra Chief Minister had stated that he discussed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), NRC and NPR in his meeting with the Prime Minister and no one should be scared of the new Citizenship law. "We have discussed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Register of Citizens and National Population Register. I have already cleared my stance on these issues. This law (CAA) is not to take away citizenship from anyone. However, this law is about giving citizenship to the minorities of the neighboring countries. No one should be scared of CAA," Thackeray said at a press conference after meeting the Prime Minister. "Regarding the NRC, the Centre has said that it will not be held nationwide. As for the NPR and Census, Census is conducted every 10 years and I have assured all my state's residents that their citizenship will not be taken away," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A seven-day "reduction of violence" agreement between the United States and the Taliban group in Afghanistan begins on Friday. A top U.S. State Department official said that, by the end of the month, the Taliban and the United States will sign a peace agreement. The two sides plan to sign that peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, this month. If the reduction of violence is successful, the plan will make it possible for the U.S. to withdraw its troops from the country in time. Seven Day Ceasefire U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, "We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29." He added that intra-Afghan negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan political leaders, will start soon after that. The goal of those talks will be a permanent ceasefire. But the path to that goal is not clear. It is still not known who will represent the Afghan government in the talks with the Taliban. An agreement between the parties is necessary if there is to be a lasting peace in the country. The Afghan election commission earlier this week declared President Ashraf Ghani the winner of the presidential election held in September. However, his opponents quickly protested his victory. The Taliban also has refused to talk to Ghani's government and protested the election results. The group said that it will talk to government representatives but only as ordinary Afghans. The Taliban released their own statement on the reduction of violence deal. The agreement involves an exchange of prisoners, planning for the intra-Afghan talks and preparations for all foreign forces to leave the country among other things. The Taliban also said that the group will not permit "the land of Afghanistan to be used against security of others so that our people can live a peaceful and prosperous life under the shade of an Islamic system." The terms of the reduction in violence agreement include a seven-day ceasefire. The ceasefire bans roadside bombings, suicide attacks or rocket strikes. Five thousand Taliban prisoners are to be released from Afghan jails. Reduction in foreign troops U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said that if the seven-day ceasefire is successful, and the Afghan peace talks begin, the U.S. would reduce its troops over time to about 8,600. There currently are about 12,000 U.S. troops in the country. In Brussels, Belgium, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the developments. About 16,000 NATO troops are in Afghanistan. They are helping to train the countrys security forces. The U.S.-led military alliance could reduce its operations to go along with a peace agreement. This is a critical test of the Talibans willingness and ability to reduce violence, and contribute to peace in good faith, Stoltenberg said in a statement. This could pave the way for negotiations among Afghans, sustainable peace, and ensuring the country is never again a safe haven for terrorists. Im Jill Robbins. Kathy Gannon and Matthew Lee reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story intra-Afghan adj. between Afghan ordinary adj. normal or usual; not unusual, different, or special prosperous adj. having success usually by making a lot of money shade n. an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun critical adj. extremely important pave the way expression. to make it easier for something to happen or for someone to do something ensure v. to make (something) sure, certain, or safe What do you think of the Taliban peace talks? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Under cover of fire from small arms, the enemy tried to take the Ukrainian positions near the village of Novotoshkivske. A sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Russian-led forces tried again to advance across the contact line in Donbas at night. "Under cover of fire from small arms, the enemy tried to take the Ukrainian positions near the village of Novotoshkivske," as reported by the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) on Facebook. The units of the Joint Forces timely spotted the enemy and repelled the attack with firearms. As a result of a military clash, the enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group retreated, having suffered losses. At the same time, the enemy left the body of the deceased Russian mercenary on the battlefield. On Friday, Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 13 attacks on Ukrainian positions. Read alsoUkraine military in Donbas find ammunition available only to Russian army The enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Pavlopil, Lebedynske, Novotroyitske, Pisky, Orikhove, Luhanske, Travneve, Novotoshkivske, and Novoluhanske. "One member of the Joint Forces was wounded amid enemy shelling on February 21," the JFO HQ said. Since Saturday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions twice near Maryinka, and the village of Novomykhailivka, using a 120mm mortar and a tripod-mounted man-portable antitank gun. No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops Saturday morning. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian defense positions in Donbas near the settlements Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutir Vilniy in Luhansk region in the early hours of Tuesday, February 18. They employed 152mm, 122mm 120mm mortars, large machine guns, tanks, and grenade launchers of various types. Under fire cover, the enemy moved to an active offensive, attempting to advance across the line of contact. One Ukrainian military serviceman was killed in action and another six were wounded. Five enemy troops were killed. Chief of Ukraine's General Staff Ruslan Khomchak said that the enemy attack was reportedly timed to coincide with the anniversary of the fierce battles near Debaltseve, where Ukrainian troops suffered major losses. Soleimanis death in a U.S. drone strike last month has forced the Revolutionary Guard to recalibrate its strategy and weigh the risk of further escalation in the conflict with the United States, they said. The group, Irans most powerful security force, with sway both at home and across the region, must also rebuild the domestic standing it lost because of its role in the airline disaster and in a crackdown on anti-government demonstrators in November, which left hundreds of protesters dead. Cult church at center of coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is shuttered Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A young man was seen putting no entry signs on the doors of a church that is seen as a cult that is at the center of South Koreas largest coronavirus outbreak in the southeastern city of Daegu, as all of its 9,000 members remained inside their homes Friday amid reports of 142 new cases of the virus, bringing the total in that country to 346. All of our 9,000 believers are at home, the member of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, told Reuters, which also reported that at least 500 church members in this city of 2.5 million had developed symptoms of the virus as of Friday amid ongoing tests. The virus has passed on to others mostly through a 61-year-old woman who attended services at the church, which was holding services several times a week until recently. The street on which the church is situated now looks unusually quiet. When a service was over, thousands of people in the same black suits would emerge from the exterior top floor staircase and come all the way down to the ground because they only have two elevators, a 28-year-old resident was quoted as saying. That would go on for more than 10 minutes. Really bizarre if you watch it. There are that many people. The church followers reportedly believe that its founder, Lee Man-hee, is the fulfillment of Jesus promised second coming and that only Lee can interpret and understand the Bible. On its website, the church claims, Currently, the pastor of Shincheonji Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony is creating Gods kingdom of heaven here on earth, exactly as he witnessed it in heaven. It adds, Similar to how Jacob had created the 12 tribes of Israel through his 12 sons (Gn 49), he became the new spiritual Israel who created the 12 tribes which bear 12 crops of fruit every month. This is proof that he is the one who overcomes. (Mt 19:28; Rev 22:1-2) In November 2016, the Church of England warned around 500 of its parishes in London about the activities of an affiliate of this church, known as Parachristo, a charity in the U.K. that runs Bible study courses in London Docklands. In China, where the virus originated, more than 76,000 people are infected and 2,300 have died. The virus has affected 26 countries and territories outside mainland China, killing at least 11 people, according to Reuters. World Health Organizations director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Friday that while the number of cases outside China is not high yet, infections have emerged with no clear link to China. I believe the window of opportunity is still there, but that the window is narrowing, he said, according to The Telegraph. He added, We still have a chance to contain it. But while doing that, we have to prepare for all eventualities as this outbreak could go in any direction it could even be messy but it is in our hands now. We can still avert any serious crisis. The United States has at least 34 cases, and Italy has more than 40 confirmed cases and two deaths. Consuelo Perez, a nanny who is part of the Dominican Development Center, an affiliate of N.D.W.A. in Massachusetts, feels that her job is dreaming for other peoples children. Ms. Perez, who was in Las Vegas for the groups assembly, has a daughter with special needs whom she comes home to every day after taking care of another familys children. You grow to love this second family, but it hurts to know that those opportunities cant come to your own. She supports Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, she said, not only because of his labor advocacy but also because Medicare for All, his signature policy proposal, would help her take care of her daughter. We are taking care of kids who could be the future senators and presidents of the United States. I cant dream like that for my own daughter, she said. Thats why we have to do this work. Ahead of the 2020 election, the organizations political arm has focused on garnering candidate support for a federal version of a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, a path to citizenship for domestic workers and their families, and universal child care. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Mr. Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., have all said that they endorse the federal Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Senator Kamala Harris of California, who dropped out last December, is one of the sponsors of the bill. Everything were doing in the policy arena to make jobs better is complemented by everything were doing to turn out voters and get people engaged, get people feeling like they have a voice in our democracy, Ai-jen Poo, the founder and chief executive of the group said in an interview this week. One of our Buzz contributors was planning to retire in the near future, but he's being encouraged to wait. The reason? His retirement plan from a previous employer just added a new fund, a target date mutual fund, that's constantly rebalanced as he ages. The only problem? This one's being offered to those who might be retiring around 2065. He will be well into his second century by then. Thanks, but on second thought, we'll pass. A bag for the ages The new plastic bag ban has merchants scrambling to figure out what to do with their excess inventory. But our colleague Kristi Barlette found one merchant who came up with what we think is a brilliant solution. Stewart's Shops, the Saratoga Springs-based convenience store chain known for everything from its ice cream to its miniature coffee cup Christmas ornaments, is marketing its plastic bags as, well, collector's items. "I'm one of the last Stewart's bags (collector's item)," the bags read, adding "Please reuse me!" For those who may not have heard, most plastic bags, with a few notable exceptions, will no longer be legal in New York state, effective March 1. Whether these bags will eventually be collector's items remains to be seen. For now, they're free with a purchase. And some stores, we understand, may have already exhausted their supply. U.S. Space Force? Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Trump administration's plan for a military force to patrol space, and the fact that he was in Colorado Springs at the end of last week, has us wondering whether Colorado will in fact be the new home of that force. The Air Force's Space Command is already based at a Colorado military base, and the state certainly has the infrastructure. Imagine, the Colorado Springs-based U.S. Air Force Academy could become the U.S. Space Force Academy. And just as the Naval Air Station Pensacola has a Blue Angels jet on display at its entrance, Colorado Springs could have the Star Ship Enterprise. Locally, the Watervliet Arsenal, whose roots stretch back to the War of 1812, could start making laser cannons to equip this new military force. LArche founder Jean Vanier, who helped improve conditions for the developmentally disabled in multiple countries over half a century, sexually abused at least six women, a report produced for his French-based charity has found. According to the report released by LArche International Saturday, the womens descriptions provide evidence enough to show that Vanier engaged in manipulative sexual relationships over a period from 1970 to 2005, usually with a psychological hold over the alleged victims. Vanier, a respected Catholic figure and Canadian, died last year at age 90. The alleged victims felt deprived of their free will and so the sexual activity was coerced or took place under coercive conditions, the report said. It did not rule out potential other victims. None of the women was disabled, a significant point given the Vatican has long sought to portray any sexual relationship between religious leaders and other adults as consensual unless there was clear evidence of disability. The #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, however, have forced a recognition that power imbalances such as those in spiritual relationships can breed abuse. During the inquiry, commissioned by LArche last year and carried out by the independent, UK-based GCPS Consulting group, six adult, non-disabled women said Vanier had engaged in sexual relations with them as they were seeking spiritual direction. According to the report, the women, who have no links to each other, reported similar facts and Vaniers sexual misconduct was often associated with alleged spiritual and mystical justifications. A statement released by LArche France Saturday stressed that some women still have deep wounds. The report noted similarities with the pattern of abuse of Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest Vanier called his spiritual father. Philippe, who died in 1993, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women. A statement from LArche International said analysis of archives shows that Vanier adopted some of Father Thomas Philippes deviant theories and practices. Philippe was banned from exercising any public or private ministry in a trial led by the Catholic Church in 1956 for his theories and the sexual practices that stemmed from them. In a letter to the charity members, the Leaders of LArche International, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney, told of their shock at the news, and condemned Vaniers actions. For many of us, Jean was one of the people we loved and respected the most. ... While the considerable good he did throughout his life is not in question, we will nevertheless have to mourn a certain image we may have had of Jean and of the origins of LArche, they wrote. The report included quotes from women describing how Vanier allegedly reframed sexual acts as an extension of his spiritual direction, with lines such as, This is not us, this is Mary and Jesus, and It is Jesus who loves you through me. Vanier worked as a Canadian navy officer and professor before turning to charity work. A visit to a psychiatric facility prompted him to found the charity LArche in 1964 as an alternative living environment where those with developmental disabilities could be full-fledged participants in the community instead of patients. The charity now has facilities in 38 countries that are home to thousands of people both with and without disabilities. Vanier, who was unmarried, also traveled the world to encourage dialogue across religions, and was awarded the 2015 Templeton Prize for spiritual work, as well as Frances Legion of Honor. He was the subject of a documentary shown at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival called Jean Vanier, the Sacrament of Tenderness. The allegations against Vanier reveal a major gap in the Catholic Churchs handling of sex abuse allegations to date: Because he was a layman, he was exempt from the Vaticans in-house sanctioning procedures for abuse, which only cover priests, bishops and cardinals. For these offenders, the worst penalty the Vatican can impose is defrocking essentially, making the priests laymen again. A similar case concerned the lay leader of a Peru-based organization, Sodalicio, who escaped Vatican justice for years even though there were credible allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against him. The Vatican finally ordered him to live in isolation from his followers, a penalty that drew scorn from his victims given that it amounted to an all-expense-paid retirement in Rome. Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this story. If you have ever heard of spiritual guru Rajneesh of the Osho movement, chances are you have also heard of Ma Anand Sheela in equal measure. The enigmatic woman is perhaps just as popular as the cult leader himself, if not more. This popularity and the aura of unmistakable mystery that envelops the persona that is Ma Anand Sheela, comes despite her choice to give away precious slices of her life for keen takers to devour. Twitter/Marcin T Jozefiak Ma Anand Sheelas life cannot be called anything less than a fantastic piece of fiction laced with love, sex, scandal, ambition, crime and above all Osho. As she found herself getting enamoured by Osho more and more, life took her under and she resurfaced to swear her loyalty to the Osho movement. A vow that would eventually give rise to the mastermind behind brand Osho and a convicted bio-terrorist with a long jail term. Twitter As Priyanka Chopra gets ready to portray this charismatic woman on-screen in a biopic titled Sheela, here are 10 terrific facts about Oshos trusted personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela that you ought to know: 1. Long before she became a cult icon Ma Anand Sheela, she was born as Sheela Ambalal Patel in 1949 to her parents Ambalal and Maniben in Baroda, Gujarat. Sheela moved to the United States at the tender age of 18, to study Arts at Montclair State College in New Jersey. Twitter 2. It was her parents who had been committed followers of Rajneesh and introduced her to the movement. Though it was during one of the visits to her parents when she first crossed paths with Rajneesh aka Osho and felt devoted from the moment she set her eyes on him. 3. It was, however, in 1972 when she shifted base to India with her then American husband Marc Harris Silverman to undertake spiritual studies, that things took a major turn. The couple became disciples of Rajneesh and Sheela Patel Silverman became Ma Anand Sheela. Twitter 3. Fast forward a few years, and Ma Anand Sheela became the official spokesperson and personal secretary of Rajneesh in 1981 and held the position until 1985, before she was to be charged and convicted by the court of law in the US. 4. It was all her great plan that turned Rajneesh into an international brand. So, when the Pune ashram had run its time in India and piqued enough global interest, Ma Anand Sheela laid the plan to acquire a 65,000-acre ranch land in Wasco County, Oregon where the cults first international base Rajneeshpuram was established in 1981. Pinterest 5. Eventually, when the population in Rajneeshpuram grew and turned into a mini-city of sorts, it was Ma Anand Sheela who orchestrated ways of creating conflict with other Wasco County residents, which would later come to be known as the 1984 Rajneeshee Bioterror Attack in Oregon. 6. With their growing desire to wield more power and expand the movement, Rajneeshees began taking over a nearby town named Antelope by the means of electing a Rajneeshee-majority city council and buying local property. Eventually, when the 1984 County elections drew near, Ma Anand Sheela tried to tamper with the voting process to capture two open seats. Twitter She tried to register thousands of homeless people from various cities outside the county as Oregon voters, but her plan failed when the state government shut voter registration ahead of the election. 7. It was this failure that would lead Ma Anand Sheela to take desperate measures and try a different tactic to prevent people from voting. She devised the plan to carry out the United States largest bioterror attack by infecting 10 local salad bars in the city with salmonella. The attack ended up poisoning 751 people. Twitter 8. She was eventually charged with attempt to murder and assault for her role in the attack in 1986, wherein she pled guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in jail. She was let out on bail for good behaviour after 39 months of serving her term. 9. Later, she moved to Switzerland where she met and married her second husband and a fellow Rajneeshee Urs Birnstiel. There she bought two properties and turned them into nursing homes for disabled people. She now spends her time taking care of more than two dozen disabled people in these care homes. MensXP 10. In September 2019, Ma Anand Sheela visited India after 34 years and was interviewed by Bollywood director Karan Johar In New Delhi. Besides that, she also attended a few private dinners and interactions while in the country. Stockholm, Sweden (CNN Philippines, February 19) A World Health Organization official and road safety advocates appealed to governments to address road crash fatalities as urgently as they have been responding to coronavirus. Road crashes are now the top killer of children and young people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency estimates about 1.3 million people die in road crashes around the world each year. The response to the current corona virus outbreak shows that with the right political will, strong measures can be put in place quickly. These numbers call for strong levels of political action as well," said Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO director for Social Determinant of Health. At least 80 transportation ministers and close to 2,000 advocates attended the program Wednesday, which also marked the conclusion of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. Children and young people are dying everyday because of road crashes but where is the same urgency to road crashes? said youth activist Omnia El Omrani in front of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and hundreds of government officials and civil society leaders who attended the opening of the third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety. His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden leads the opening ceremonies at the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Center. The countrys Department of Transportation (DOTr) has no representative during the event. CNN Philippines has learned that DOTr cancelled the participation of Assistant Secretary Manuel Gonzales due to travel concerns related to the coronavirus. The Philippine consulate in Sweden was instead requested to represent the agency. Stockholm Declaration During the event, Swedens Minister for Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth unveiled the Stockholm Declaration, which outlines the global road safety goals for this decade. The declaration went through an extensive consultation with member states, and a transparent and inclusive public consultations open to everybody around the world, said Eneroth. He also urged the UN General Assembly to adopt the declaration which primarily aims to reduce road traffic deaths worldwide by at least 50 percent by 2030. In a video message, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom urged governments to implement proven road safety actions and shift to sustainable mobility systems that truly benefit the people. With the right leadership, transport systems could be reconfigured to reduce road traffic deaths, Adhamon said. The past decades road safety action also targeted to reduce road crash fatalities by 50 percent, from 1.9 million to 800,000 by this year. While the world failed to meet its target, WHO remains optimistic. We are making significant progress, said Krug. The third Global Ministerial Conference is co-organzed by the World Health Organization, and a follow up to previous high-level conferences in Russia (2009) and Brazil (2015). Makoi Popioco is a former CNN Philippines correspondent. He is a fellow of the ICFJ-WHO Safety Program and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Louisiana lawmakers are growing frustrated with an ongoing dispute over $21 billion in state Medicaid contracts, with a crucial decision on the deals expected next month but unlikely to settle the matter. Legislative irritation about the handling of the contracts by Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration spilled out Thursday evening in a joint House and Senate budget committee hearing. Lawmakers received few answers about when new agreements covering the health care services of 1.5 million Medicaid patients would be in place. State Rep. Rick Edmonds, a Baton Rouge Republican, said lawmakers have gotten too little information about the decision-making that the Department of Health used to choose the four contractors and whether claims of impropriety in the process are true. "I do think there comes a time when we are owed some information that we can answer some of these perplexing questions," Edmonds said. Louisiana Spotlight: Billions in Medicaid contracts once again under microscope The contracts at the center of a Louisiana Medicaid dispute are worth billions, accounting for one-quarter of the state's annual operating bud Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, the governor's chief budget adviser, agreed. But he said state law doesn't allow some of those conversations currently, while he's reviewing reams of documents about the contracts and set to decide if they were properly awarded. "Everybody is frustrated with the process," Dardenne said. "It is, however, the legal process that is set out." At issue are multibillion-dollar Medicaid contracts awarded by the Edwards administration to companies that will oversee care for about 90% of Louisiana's Medicaid enrollees mostly adults covered by Medicaid expansion, pregnant women and children. The taxpayer-financed managed care contracts account for roughly one-quarter of Louisiana's annual operating budget. Louisiana currently has Medicaid managed care contracts with five companies. Health department, winning bidders appeal decision to scrap multi-billion-dollar Medicaid contracts The Louisiana Department of Health and the winning bidders of multi-billion-dollar Medicaid contracts on Friday appealed a recent decision by Through a bid process that began in February 2019, the health department chose four companies to do the work going forward three that currently hold contracts with the health department and one new insurer. The contracts would be worth an estimated $21 billion over three years. The two losing bidders that currently hold managed care contracts and were slated to lose them Louisiana Healthcare Connections and Aetna Better Health filed protests. Louisiana's state procurement officer Paula Tregre, charged with reviewing the protests, found that that the health department mishandled the bid process, failing to comply with state law or the agency's own evaluation and bid guidelines. She scrapped the contract awards and said the health department will have to redo the bid process. The health department and the four insurance companies chosen for the Medicaid deals AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Community Care Health Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana and United Healthcare Community Plan challenged Tregre's decision. They say Tregre made factual and legal errors in her decision. Tregre's boss, Dardenne, will decide those appeals. Dardenne told lawmakers the earliest he'll make a decision is March 17, though he warned it could take longer. "I assure you all I want to do this as quickly and as deliberately as possible, but I need to do justice to the process," he said. Both the Edwards administration and lawmakers acknowledged Dardenne's decision likely won't settle the dispute. Bidders who don't like his ruling could ask a judge to review the bid process, stretching out the contract dispute even longer. Louisiana Medicaid managed care contract awards thrown out Multibillion-dollar Medicaid contracts awarded by Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration have been scrapped by Louisiana's chief procurement of "This will probably end up in court, because whichever way you go, the other side probably is going to sue," said state Sen. Cameron Henry, a Jefferson Parish Republican. The disagreement over the contract awards hasn't disrupted health services to the nearly one-third of Louisiana's population covered by the state's Medicaid managed care program. The Edwards administration signed emergency contracts to keep the state's five current contractors in place through this year. ST. LOUIS (AP) Missouri may have shed its unwanted image as the meth lab capital of the U.S., but the dangerous and addictive drug remains a major problem, a top Drug Enforcement Administration official said Friday. The depth of the problem became clear Thursday when the DEA announced a methamphetamine crackdown called Operation Crystal Shield, which will focus on eight transportation hubs where high levels of Mexican meth are being seized. The St. Louis Division, which covers all of Missouri and Kansas as well as southern Illinois, is the northernmost of the eight targeted areas. The others are Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Phoenix. The targeted DEA divisions accounted for more than 75% of all meth seizures last year. The St. Louis Division includes hundreds of miles of major roadways through the three states, including interstates 35, 70, 44 and 55, providing a pipeline not only to the central U.S. but the upper Midwest and the Northeast. William J. Callahan, special agent in charge of the St. Louis Division, said the targeted operation will allow better coordination of intelligence about trafficking routes, the types of vehicles being used, and other information. For many years, meth was a two-pronged problem: Much of it came from Mexico, but thousands of users across the U.S. made their own drug in home labs or simply by mixing the dangerous concoction in a 2-liter soda bottle. In 2004, more than 24,000 meth labs were seized across the U.S., including nearly 3,000 in Missouri, which for years was atop the list of states for lab seizures. A 2005 federal law that regulated the retail sale of over-the-counter cold and allergy pills containing pseudoephedrine a key ingredient in the manufacture of homemade meth and similar efforts by state legislatures led to a sharp decline in labs. Statistics for 2017 show about 2,500 lab seizures nationwide and just 91 in Missouri. But it doesnt mean people stopped using the drug that often causes bizarre hallucinations and can lead to rotting teeth, brain damage and death. Mexican super labs filled the void, producing a drug with a higher purity but at a low cost. Theres still always that demand for meth, Callahan said. Within the St. Louis Division, meth is most problematic in western Missouri and Kansas, while fentanyl and heroin are bigger concerns in St. Louis, Callahan said. The DEA said its seizures of meth rose by 127%, from 49,507 pounds (22,456 kilograms) to 112,146 pounds (50,869 kilograms), between fiscal years 2017 and 2019, and DEA meth-related arrests rose by nearly 20%. Authorities seized about 50,000 pounds (22,680 kilograms) at U.S.-Mexico border crossings from October through January more than was seized for the entire 2017 fiscal year, the DEA said. St. Louis Division seizures rose 56% in just one year, from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2019. In a 2016 settlement, Matt Bissonnette, who wrote No Easy Day under the pen name Mark Owen, agreed to turn over to the government all the profits and future royalties stemming from his book which amounted to at least $6.6 million at the time. As part of the deal, Bissonnette acknowledged he failed to get his manuscript properly cleared by the Pentagon. In exchange, the Justice Department agreed to dismiss any other claims and drop any plans to prosecute him for the release of classified information. Under New York law, children as young as 13 are automatically tried as adults if charged with second-degree murder and certain felony sex crimes. So are 14- and 15-year-olds charged with a long list of other violent offenses, including rape, robbery, assault in the first degree and arson. That isnt unusual in the United States, where nearly all states have laws allowing minors under 18, some as young as 10, to be tried as adults in certain circumstances. The country has always allowed these prosecutions in some cases. But in the tough on crime era of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s, the practice exploded, with states adopting sweeping laws that made it easier to prosecute those under the age of 18 as adults. New York was a leader in the incarceration of children. It began prosecuting young adolescents as adults under a draconian law passed in 1978, in the aftermath of the Willie Bosket case. Mr. Bosket was a 15-year-old black boy who fatally shot two men and wounded a third on the subway. He was sentenced to five years in a juvenile facility under the law at time. The citys tabloids responded with outrage over the sentence. Under pressure and facing re-election, Gov. Hugh Carey, a Democrat who had once supported criminal justice reforms, reversed course, campaigning hard for legislation that would rebrand him as tough on crime. The result was the law, still on the books, mandating the prosecution as adults of children as young as 13 when theyre charged with certain violent crimes. (Mr. Bosket, now 57, has been incarcerated for all but two years since the age of 9. He will be eligible for parole in 2062, having been convicted of numerous charges including assaulting correction officers. In 2008, when he had been in solitary confinement for two decades, he told The Times, If somebody came to me with a lethal injection, Id take it.) Thousands of adolescents have been tried as adults in New York. From 2014 to 2018 alone, nearly 1,800 children ages 13 to 15 were charged as adults, according to data compiled by the states Division of Criminal Justice Services. Among the children prosecuted as adults in New York over the years was Korey Wise, one of the teenagers wrongfully convicted in the rape and assault of a woman jogging in Central Park in 1989. Mr. Wise, 16 at the time of his arrest, served about 13 years in prison before he was exonerated. Coronavirus Rips Through Chinese Prisons With Hundreds of Cases Reported 2020-02-21 -- Hundreds of inmates in prisons in the central and eastern China have been infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the country's health authorities. Prisons in the central province of Hubei and the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Shandong have reported more than 500 confirmed cases of the virus, with some officials sanctioned over their handling of the epidemic there. Wuhan Women's Prison, in Hubei's provincial capital, was the worst affected, with a total of 230 confirmed cases, while Shayang Hanjin Prison had reported 41 cases, according to official figures. Meanwhile, Rencheng Prison in Shandong has been closed to outsiders since the beginning of the month, after two prison guards tested positive for the virus. Since then, 207 confirmed cases have been reported, of seven guards and 200 prisoners. Shandong provincial justice department Chinese Communist Party secretary Xie Weijun was removed from his position, taking the blame for poor epidemic prevention and control practices. He is currently under investigation by the Party's investigative arm, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). Meanwhile, 34 prisoners have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Zhejiang's Shilifeng Prison, where political commissar and the prison director have been removed from office, while a guard has been placed under investigation. Wang Quanzhang visit denied The prison has also been placed under lockdown to prevent further spread of the epidemic. At Shandong's Linyi Prison, Li Wenzu, wife of jailed human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, was denied permission for her monthly visit, with prison authorities citing the coronavirus epidemic. "I asked them if we could use other methods, for example talking via [social media app] WeChat video," Li told RFA on Thursday. "They said no, that wouldn't be possible." "Then I asked if I could talk with Wang Quanzhang on the phone, just to be sure he's OK," she said. "I have been calling them every day, but they told me they are waiting for the prison leader[s] to get back to them." "It's not going to happen anyway, because they don't allow anything," she said. "I asked if I could visit him twice next month, but they said no." Shandong lawyer Zhu Shengwu said the epidemic has been allowed to run unchecked in prisons in the region. "There is a collective exercise period in prison, and they all get let out at noon together," Zhu said. "The Communist Party also ... expects prisoners to carry out free or very low-paid labor which requires them all to be working alongside each other, so there is plenty of opportunity for the virus to spread." 'Trying to look transparent' He said the sackings and sanctions against prison officials was "to appease public opinion, both domestically and internationally." "They are trying to look transparent, saying that they will deal with officials severely and correct any mistakes." Former rights activist Yang Zhanqing, who has served time in prison, said hygiene standards are low in prisons at the best of times, with overcrowding rife. "There were originally 15 beds in one cell, but there were often 20-30 people in a cell," he said. "Towels and other supplies need to be paid for, the prison uniforms are very dirty, and the bedding is very dirty too." "Once someone is infected, then there is a big danger [that the virus will spread]." Authorities in Hubei reported a total of 2,144 deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, out of a total of 2,236. Mainland China reported a total of 76,467 confirmed cases out of a global total of 76,787. Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Siu-san and Sing Man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Denise Allabaugh, The Citizens Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate has filed a formal complaint against UGIs proposal to hike natural gas rates. UGI Utilities Gas Division filed a request last month with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to increase its natural gas base rates for residential, commercial and industrial customers by $74.6 million annually. That would mark an 8.5% increase over present revenues. According to UGI, the requested increase would recover UGIs ongoing costs related to system improvements and operations necessary to maintain safe and reliable natural gas service. If approved, the total bill for a typical residential heating customer using 73.5 ccf of natural gas would increase by 10.6% or $8.68 a month. This would include a $5.35 increase to the monthly residential customer charge from $14.60 to $19.95, according to the Office of Consumer Advocate. Acting Consumer Advocate Tanya J. McCloskey said her office has asked the PUC to suspend the proposed rate increase pending a thorough investigation of the companys request. During the next several months, she said her office will represent the interests of consumers and participate fully in this case. Our expert witnesses will revenue the companys filing and its claimed revenue requirement which includes, among other things, reviewing the companys projected operation and maintenance expenses and income tax expense, McCloskey wrote in a letter to consumers. We will also review the companys quality of service. Christopher Brown, UGI vice president and general manager of rates and supply, said in a press release that the rate increase would support ongoing distribution system improvements and technology system upgrades. The companys filing includes more than $373 million in budgeted system investments for system infrastructure, facilities and information technology investments which are not yet included for recovery in current rates, according to UGI. UGI Utilities Inc. Gas Division provides natural gas distribution service to more than 650,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 45 counties throughout Pennsylvania. In the future, the PUC will schedule public input hearings in the areas that the company serves. The Office of Consumer Advocate will be represented at proceedings by Darryl A. Lawrence, senior assistant consumer advocate, and Barrett C. Sheridan and Phillip D. Demanchick, assistant consumer advocates. McClosky asked anyone who wants to express their views on the proposed rate increase and who wants to request a hearing to notify the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate. The office can be reached by calling 717-783-5048 or 1-800-684-6560. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 21:22:05|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Saturday accused Israel of seeking to undermine the Palestinian Authority (PA)'s control in Area B in the West Bank. Under the Oslo Accords signed between the PLO and Israel in the 1990s, the West Bank was divided into three areas: Area A under Palestinian control, Area B under joint Palestinian-Israeli control, and Area C under full Israeli control. The PLO's National Department to Defend Land and Resist (Israeli) Settlement said in its report that for the first time since 1993, the Israeli government is taking practical measures to end the PA's control in Area B. "The Israeli government has recently banned Palestinian construction in the Area B," said the report, referring to the decision of Israeli Minister of Defense Naftali Bennett to ban Palestinian construction in the Area B for security reasons. The report added that Israel banned the construction of two buildings close to the Israeli settlements of Shilo and E'ili, south of the West Bank city of Nablus, although the buildings are in an area under the PA's administrative control. Israeli settlement activity is considered one of the thorniest issues that hindered the peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis. Semen Retention: How It Works, Its Benefits and Its Challenges What Is Semen Retention and Why Are Guys Into It? The average guys concerns when it comes to their semen are typically that he wants to ejaculate more more distance, more volume and a higher concentration of sperm. RELATED: How to Increase the Volume of Your Ejaculate But some guys are thinking in the exact opposite direction, having interest in how they can ejaculate less. Its a concept known as semen retention, and its gaining in popularity thanks in part to certain strains of male internet culture that see masturbation, pornography and ejaculation as hallmarks of weakness and a lack of self-control. To find out more about semen retention, AskMen spoke with a sexpert and a doctor whos an expert in penile health to uncover who its right for, its benefits and drawbacks. Understanding Semen Retention What Is Semen Retention? Despite its scientific-sounding name, from a medical standpoint, it isnt really anything, actually. Semen retention is another term that doesnt have a strict medical definition, says Dr. Koushik Shaw of the Austin Urology Institute. For whatever reason, some guys believe that abstaining from ejaculation will have knock-on health benefits, both physiological and psychological. Depending on how you approach semen retention, whether by trying not to ejaculate despite engaging in sex and/or masturbation or by avoiding sex or masturbation altogether, it can be a highly different process. While refraining from ejaculating by not engaging in sexual pleasure is more of a psychological approach than a physiological approach, trying to prevent your semen from coming out at the moment of climax could have adverse effects. There is a method by which one can clench their [bladders] sphincter to halt ejaculation during intercourse, says Shaw. However, he notes that this is an extremely bad idea as it can lead to semen travelling into the bladder rather than being ejaculated outward. The process, retrograde ejaculation, can actually cause damage to the prostate, adds Shaw. Semen should only travel on a one-way route, he says. Out. That said, according to sex educator Kenneth Play, the concept of active semen retention, also known as injaculation, is found in ancient Daoist sexual traditions, popularized in modern times by Mantak Chia, but centers around a philosophy of shortening the refractory period after orgasm or being able to last longer all as part of bringing harmony to your life force and lovemaking. Essentially, having a dry orgasm isnt necessarily bad, but if youre sending semen back into your bladder, it could potentially have long-term health effects. The safer bet, if you want to avoid ejaculating, is to avoid climaxing altogether. Why Do Some Guys Engage in Semen Retention? Semen retention can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, depending on how its approached. If youre wondering why approach it at all, it turns out its a very valid question to ask with some highly interesting answers. For Play, there are multiple reasons someone might want to be more selective about their ejaculations. Apart from spiritual reasons or a desire to make the semen more effective for fertilization, he notes, it can also be really amazing to learn how to orgasm without ejaculating, and learning how to separate the two can be empowering for a lot of men. There's a huge variety of reasons, he adds. Some men even use it as a motivation hack to increase their drive and desire. Its that last class of guys who seem to be the focus of a recent upswing in popularity when it comes to semen retention. One article goes as far to describe the fad as a cult when discussing its popularity, and as with anything these days, theres even a subreddit devoted entirely to it. While you cant really control desire itself, you can (to a degree) control how you respond to it. By refusing to engage in sex or masturbation, these men are asserting their self-control in a surprising area. While many portrayals of masculinity in our culture praise men for being sexually powerful, the inverse having control over your urges, rather than letting them control you seems to be becoming increasingly viewed as a desirable outcome for men. What Are the Benefits or Drawbacks to Semen Retention? As with any kind of fad related to your sex life, its important to know what youre dealing with before you get started. Any wrong move here could have serious, long-lasting impacts on your sexual wellbeing. Luckily, as Shaw notes, when it comes to the avoidance aspect of semen retention, if you want to avoid sex and masturbation, theres really nothing stopping you from a health perspective. Abstaining from intercourse has no proven health effects, positive or negative, he says. Play agrees, but notes that there is a bit of a historic background to the practice. There is no quantitative research definitively saying any benefits or drawbacks, but it is something that's been talked about in Chinese culture for a while, he says. Do with that what you will! That being said, if you do start to forego sex and masturbation, you could be missing out on some of the real health benefits they can bring. Studies have found that a healthy sex life has positive effects on mood, affect, feeling of wellbeing, notes Shaw. And not only that, but other studies show that ejaculating regularly can decrease your risks of prostate cancer. On the other hand, Shaw acknowledges that some guys engage in masturbation up to ten times a day. That behavior can become chronic, he says leading to unpleasant physiological and psychological side-effects. So again, its not so much the act of semen retention (or expulsion) that matters but the context and behavior around it. RELATED: Side-Effects of Chronic Masturbation, Revealed At the end of the day, its up to you to decide what you think is more important: the pleasure and health benefits of engaging in sex and sexual experiences, or the feeling of control and empowerment you get from abstaining. Dos and Donts for Semen Retention If you decide that semen retention isnt for you, thats totally fine! Theres no real scientific evidence backing it up for the time being, and while that doesnt mean there never will be any, its definitely not the kind of thing thats inarguably going to improve your life. However, if you are curious and want to explore the idea a little bit, thats fine, too. For me, it's often a matter of managing my desire, says Play. If I cum too early, it may delay my further pleasure (refractory period, sensitivity, etc.), but if I can orgasm without ejaculation I'm more likely to have energy to keep going. Another aspect he notes? The post-coital relaxation you might feel after ejaculating. Once you ejaculate, your body releases prolactin, which makes you sleepy (think the Thanksgiving turkey effect), he says, so ejaculation control can prevent that. Also, as your testosterone levels go down as you age, your ability to recover after ejaculating decreases, extending your refractory period, which again, ejaculation control can help with the resource management of. However, apart from the aforementioned health concerns regarding retrograde ejaculation, here are some issues to be wary of from a psychological standpoint. Like any belief that you adopt, if you start to have a negative relationship with ejaculation and feel guilty every time, it's not good for you psychologically, says Play. Think about it instead as a resource you can choose to spend when you wish. He also notes that refusing to climax might be off-putting to some partners. Communicate if appropriate, and also think about how semen retention can pair up with things like edging some folks might find it hot to edge you and tease you but not have you cum until much later, others might crave you cumming and thus you'd be teasing them with your edging, adds Play. Think about the fantasies and desires you can connect to this practice, too. It can also be useful to help balance out desire discrepancies between couples if the man has a lower libido, for instance, he may find that practicing semen retention will increase his sex drive and desire to better match his lover. As for claims that itll make you more powerful, more mindful, more present and more successful? Well, theres not much more than anecdotal evidence. If thats something you crave, however, theres no harm in trying it out. You Might Also Dig: Shubh Mangal Zyada Saadhvan released yesterday. Although I have always missed the vibe of Dubai cinemas every time I go to watch a Bollywood film, this time I somewhat thanked my lucky stars for not being in the Middle East since it was banned there. This reminds me of the days when Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was banned in Pakistan and some Bollywood enthusiasts travelled to Dubai to watch it. As they say, everything happens for a reason, I would like to thank the Universe for conspiring to send me here to Australia. The cinema I went to had a decent count for Australian standards Keeping the tradition alive, it was the first day third show for me. Well, because only the third show timings suit my schedule. While the queue for tagging their tickets was long this time, I wondered if all the Australians were eager to watch Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. Entering my respective hall made me realize that it was otherwise. There were hardly any people in the cinema. Luckily, it started filling in after some time. Even if it was not jam-packed, by the time the film started it was a decent count according to a typical Australian citys standards. The Adventure Begins on a Train Trip As the Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan starts, you find two sales representatives trying all the available techniques to sell the toothpaste they work for. They are Ayushman Khurrana (Kartik Singh) and Aman (Jitendra Kumar). Kartik is an abandoned child while Aman has a big close-knit family. The two join Amans family on a train trip to her cousin Goggles wedding and this is where the adventure begins. While travelling, Amans father Shankar Tripathi (Gajraj Rao)who happens to be a failed scientist discovers that his son and his friend are actually gays and in love with each other. Amans parents cannot handle him coming out about his sexuality Coming from a small town like Allahabad, Shankar Tripathi finds it hard to find peace with his sons sexual orientation and this is how the story begins. Neena Gupta playing the character of Amans mother has also left no stone unturned to keep it as real as possible. The Badhai Ho couple has come together to create their magic yet again. The performances of all the actors are immaculate and straightforward https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ylOo0BYZC/ There are also a few other roles in the film that are a perfect fit for their small-town setting and a joint family system. Manurishi Chaddha playing the character of Amans Uncle Chaman Tripathi, Sunita Rajwar playing the character of Chaman Tripathis wife Sunita Rajwar, and Maanvi Gagroo playing the character of Goggle Tripathi not only provide you with the comic relief at various instances but also unveil the complexities of a joint family living in a small town. All actors have probably delivered the best performances of their career so far. It is interesting how Jitendra Kumar (Aman) has taken the centre stage from Kartik (Ayushman Khurrana) through his convincing and understated acting. By the dint of an intelligent screenplay, crafty direction, and heartfelt performances, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has the ability to transport you to its world and make you believe that you are a part of it. Ayushman Khurrana certainly deserves all the praise for being the first mainstream actor to brave up for a homosexual character. One cannot help appreciating the intelligent screenplay The cinematic genius of Shubh Mangal Zyada Saacdhans makes is evident in every shot and frame of this film. Homosexuality is considered a taboo in most part of the worlds. While India is now coming to terms with it on the legal grounds, it is still not welcomed in many parts of the country. The writer Hitesh Kewalya has dealt with the complexities of a sensitive topic in an intelligent way making you believe in the power of love and the right for everyone to live their lives the way they want. It is a rollercoaster of emotions with laughter taking over everything else. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan breaks the stereotypical image of the homosexual community https://www.instagram.com/p/B8skW_HBGQi/ Unlike most of the films depicting the homosexuals in the past, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has not stereotyped homosexuals, giving a realistic picture of how blended they are and avoiding any caricatured characters. The story revolves around them and they are not simply the sidekick like in most of the films. It is not all about homosexuality in it https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ybczflYsj/ Apart from homophobia, the film has also dealt with many other vices prevalent in the desi societies e.g. forced marriages, unfulfilled lives, joint family systems, lives of everyone in a joint family governed by the patriarch of the family, dowry, and the pressure to get married among a few others. A complete package highly recommended Loaded with comedy and realism, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan gives you all you are seeking for when you go to the cinema on a weekend night. Every department in the film has done a great job although the music might take some time to grow on you. But overall, this film is a complete package and you must watch it to shed off any mist from your mind. 8/10 from my side! Amid continuing anti-CAA protests in parts of the country, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar on Saturday said no Shaheen Bagh type stir would be allowed in the city. The top cop requested political parties and others to apply for permission as per proper procedure for holding protests. "There is no Shaheen Bagh like incident in Hyderabad. Do not compare Hyderabad with places where all these negative things are happening. Nothing like Shaheen Bagh will be allowed in Hyderabad..impossible," Anjani Kumar told reporters. The Hyderabad Police will take legal action if common public is put to inconvenience, he reiterated. Political protests are important butlaw and order is more important, Kumar said, adding, Hyderabad city has seen more than 200 protests/rallies (anti-Citizenship Amendment Act and also pro-CAA). During such protests at other places in the country, there have been burning of vehicles, firing, people sitting for a month on dharna, but in Hyderabad such things are not happening, he said. It is only because Hyderabad Police are concerned about safety, security and comfort of common public, he said. "...At every place if you want to sit on dharna then it will cause inconvenience to common public and hence we have taken legal action and booked cases pertaining to some places where the protests were held," he said. "If there is denial (for permission for holding protests) there are reasons. Some vested interests have approached courts and the court has given guidelines and court guidelines are supreme. Whatever conditions we are putting it is as per judgment of High Court," the police chief said. Reacting to a query, Additional Commissioner of Police, (Law & Order)D S Chauhan said right to protest does not mean right to continued protests every day. At Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi, protesters have been on a sit-in against the new citizenship law for over two months. Two interlocutors were appointed by the Supreme Court to initiate talks with the protesters. Protests have also been organised in different parts of the city by different organisations including political parties against the CAA, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Somali President Signs Historic Election Bill Into Law By Mohamed Olad Hassan February 21, 2020 Somalia's president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, has signed legislation that will allow ordinary Somalis to vote in parliamentary elections for the first time. The president signed the bill into law Friday, two weeks after the upper house of parliament approved the bill. The lower house passed it in December. Previously, elections took place under the 4.5 system, in which elders from four major clans and smaller ones chose delegates to vote for leaders. Under the new system, Somalis will vote directly for parties, with parliamentary seats being allocated according to the final tallies. Members of parliament will then elect the president and prime minister. The prime minister must come from the majority party in parliament. Major logistical hurdles Somalia faces major logistical hurdles that must be cleared before elections can become reality. Parts of the country are controlled by Islamist militant group al-Shabab, and relations between the federal government and local administrations are often tense. The president was nevertheless optimistic at the signing ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guleid and the speakers of both houses of parliament. "This night marks a historic night for our nation, because after nearly 50 years, our republic and our beloved citizens will have the chance to execute their democratic rights for one man, one vote in the forthcoming 2021 elections," he said at the presidential residence, Villa Somalia. "No one has a special status and it will be the time for everyone to seek a mandate from the people based on their performance," he added. Speech targets young people The president, widely known as Farmajo, urged young people to embrace a democratic system in a statement issued by his office. "To our citizens, the people of Somalia, especially our youth who make a large percentage of our population, the power to vote for your candidate of choice is in your hands," he said. "Let's keep away from tribalism and divisive politics. We are on a democratic path to move our nation away from selfish interests, bloodshed and loss of property." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Abhijeet Gurjar Ganeshwadi is the last village of Shirol taluka in Kolhapur district on the border between Maharashtra and Karnataka. Many farmers from Ganeshwadi and other villages in Shirol straddle between the two states with a home in Maharashtra and agricultural land in Karnataka. As monsoon hits the western Indian state, floods regularly follow in Shirol. There has been a flood in Shirol every year, with major floods in 1914, 1989 and 2005. In 2019, the floods were at a much larger scale than before. The taluka has 55 villages, among which 43 are 90 percent flood-affected while seven villages face the maximum impact, becoming islands during floods. For the farmers here, the impact of the flood is further aggravated by state compensation policies that differ across the border. Karnataka offers better compensation for flood victims, they say, which these farmers, with agricultural land in Karnataka, cannot benefit from as they reside in Maharashtra. I lost my entire sugarcane crop from two acres of farmland to the floods. The entire field was under floodwater for more than a week which resulted in decaying and loss of crop. Now I am due with a loan of Rs 1,80,000. How will I repay this loan and get back to my normal life? The flood took everything away from me, Appasaheb Shripal Khot, 35, rued about life after the floods that hit his district in August 2019. He has farmland in Athani Taluka, Belgaum district of Karnataka state while his house is in Ganeshwadi village, Kolhapur district in western Maharashtra. Appaso Shripal Khot showing documents of his residence proof, ration card from Maharashtra and 7/12 (land ownership document) from Karnataka state. Ravindra Appaso Belanki, 38, a resident of Ganeshwadi who lost his cash crops worth approximately Rs 300,000 (Rs 3 lakh) showing his residential address proof of Maharashtra state and 7/12 of his traditional family farm which belongs to Karnataka state. I lost my entire crop of organic turmeric, banana and sugarcane to floods, he said, at the end of 2019, when Mongabay-India visited him. Its been four months since the floods and we have not yet been surveyed. We urge the government to help us survive the loss of flood, he said. Ajit Jinnappa Biranje, a flood victim from Ganeshwadi who lost his partial home and still living in his temporary small home on a farm, which is in Athani taluka of Belgaum district of Karnataka state. He also lost many of his documents in the flood, including agricultural documents and is left with only the ration card of Maharashtra. Shirol taluka of Kolhapur district is surrounded by the Krishna river from three sides. The river side of Krishna from Ganeshwadi village shows the damage of huge trees in the floods of August 2019 where the waters in the river went up to a record 62.5 feet. Previously they touched a height of 50 feet in 1989 and 56 feet in 2005. The Krishna river unites with the Panchganga river close to the border at Narsinhwadi and then further flows to Karnataka where it meets the 524-metre Almatti dam (524 metres and 200 TMC capacity and if filled up to 519 metres 123 TMC capacity) which is the first dam as the river enters Karnataka, located at Nidgundi, Bijapur district. This dam is also known as the Upper Krishna River Project with backwaters in Bagalkot district of north Karnataka. The swelling of these backwaters is a major reason for the floods in 2019. Major parts of those districts were paralysed as the national highway, railway, internal roads were under floodwater for more than eight days in August 2019. Damage to homes, agriculture as well as industrial damage was also observed. The flood-hit villages have been demanding better compensation from the Maharashtra government; in lieu of which they want their villages to be incorporated within Karnataka. They say the Karnataka government offers better compensation to each affected family residing in the state compared to Maharashtra, specifically in terms of compensation for collapse and damages to homes. The agricultural assistance per hectare, loan waiver and relief in electricity bill and taxes are also better in Karnataka, when compared to Maharashtras compensation, claim the farmers. Comparison of compensation between two states In September of last year, the villagers of the seven most-affected villages from Shirol taluka carried out a protest march demanding full compensation or being connected to Karnataka. The Maharashtra government offered loan waiver to farmers who have taken crop loans from a district co-operative bank for an existing farm of up to one hectare. Source: Agriculture Office, Shirol, Maharashtra and Tehsildar Nippani, Belgaum, Karnataka. Photo from Mongabay-India. Devasted by floods and abandoned by her sons, Jainab Patel (right) lives alone in a makeshift house in Gourwad village, Maharashtra. Her house was damaged in the August 2019 floods of Krishna river. Her neighbours take care of her post the disaster. The village library of Bubunal lost approximately twenty thousand books in the floodwater in August 2019. A villager from Kawathe guland found her lost documents after eight days. Her home was flooded away. The flood victims took shelter in schools, community halls, temples and highlands for more than 10 days. Women walk through damaged roads and fields on their way towards Krishna river to use its water. Farmers from Alas village of Shirol taluka in Maharashtra burn their banana plantations damaged by the floods. While the agricultural damage is being surveyed by the district agricultural department, only those farmers who have agricultural land in Maharashtra will benefit, said Shirol tehsildar, Aparna More. The district collector Daulat Desai, meanwhile said, One who has a farm in Maharashtra will be eligible (for compensation), the government cannot bear losses of farm lands from other states. Shirol taluka is rich in agriculture produce and has a strong network of the cooperative sector. Given its proximity, it is socio-economically connected with Karnataka state. In September of last year, the villagers of the seven most-affected villages from Shirol taluka carried out a protest march demanding full compensation or being connected to Karnataka. While surveys in both states have been carried out, the complete compensation was yet to be doled out, as of December 2019. Major reasons attributed to these floods have been climate change-affected monsoon pattern followed by unusual rainfall, missing coordination of overflow of two dams Koyana and Almatti, increased height of Almatti, encroachments in redline zone and tampering of technically established flood lines in urban areas. A technical study to look into the causes of the 2019 floods is being carried out by a committee appointed by state government of Maharashtra in August last year, which is headed by ex-principal secretary of irrigation department, Central Water Commission, the Indian Meteorological and researchers of IIT Mumbai and other experts. Banner image: Pirgonda Patil, a farmer from Kawatheguland cuts cane from his four-acre farm which was entirely damaged during the floods. Photo from Mongabay-India. *** This article was originally published on Mongabay.com. Mongabay-India is an environmental science and conservation news service. This article has been republished under the Creative Commons licence. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 17:52:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Here are the latest developments: -- The State Post Bureau said while continuing to fight the novel coronavirus epidemic, China eyes to recover more than 60 percent of the courier sector's normal delivery capacity by the end of February. -- Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, will conduct nucleic acid tests for all elderly care institutions by Feb. 28 as some confirmed and suspected cases were reported in the facilities. -- Liaoning and Gansu provinces have lowered their emergency response from first-level to third-level after having reported no new coronavirus case. -- Peng Yinhua, a 29-year-old doctor at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District in Wuhan, was the latest medical worker, and among the youngest, who died from the virus on Thursday night, leaving behind his pregnant wife and a wedding yet to be held. -- Hainan Airlines will resume more than 450 flights starting Saturday, to aid the work resumption of enterprises across the country. -- Chinese health authority said it received reports of 397 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 109 deaths on Friday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Among the deaths, 106 were in Hubei Province and one in Hebei Province, Shanghai and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, respectively. -- The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland had reached 76,288 by the end of Friday, and 2,345 people had died of the disease. -- China's daily number of newly cured and discharged COVID-19 patients has surpassed that of new confirmed infections for the fourth consecutive day. Friday saw 2,393 people walk out of hospital after recovery, much higher than the number of the same day's new confirmed infections, which was 397. A total of 20,659 patients infected with the novel coronavirus had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Friday. -- Hubei Province reported 366 new confirmed cases and 106 new deaths on Friday. The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 63,454. -- The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Friday that the WHO-led team of international experts, who are currently in China to investigate the novel coronavirus outbreak, will travel to Wuhan on Saturday. -- Chinese researchers have released the first pathology report on the novel coronavirus disease, analysing its impact on a patient's lungs, liver and heart by studying the biopsy samples at autopsy. -- China's auto sales and production have taken a hard hit from the novel coronavirus outbreak, but industry insiders expect a rebound in April if the epidemic is gradually brought under control. The retail sales of passenger vehicles plunged 92 percent on an annual basis in the first 16 days of February. A Jackson man pleaded guilty Friday to a pair of decades-old Jersey Shore murders, admitting that he was enlisted by a friends mother to kill her sister and then her husband in 1994 and 1995. Jose Carrero, 48, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit murder before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Ellen Torregrossa-OConnor. In exchange, he will testify at the trials of Dolores Morgan, 66, the alleged mastermind of the murders, and her son Ted Connors, 47, who is accused of helping Carrero carry out the killings in Long Branch. During the hearing, Carrero provided a detailed account of both killings, testifying Connors committed both, but he was present at both. Carrero was arrested last month and charged in the death of Long Branch woman Ana Mejia in December 1994 and the killing of her in-law Nicholas Connors in May 1995, authorities said. Carrero admitted in court Friday that he had a conversation with Morgan and her son Ted Connors, who now live in Florida, in the kitchen of their Van Dyke Place home in 1994 to discuss Mejias murder. He said Morgan said she wanted Mejia dead because she set up her drug-dealing boyfriend at the time by working as a confidential informant to police. Morgan assumed Mejia was going to do the same to her and wanted Mejia dead, Carrero admitted. Carrero said Morgan said she was going to pay him. He also said he and Ted Connors planned to go to a party the night of the murder, which they did, so they had an alibi. Carrero and Connors left the party in Teds car, parked down the street from Mejias house so no one would see it, he said. Delores Morgan appears in Superior Court of Monmouth County in this February 5, 2020 photo.Noah K. Murray | For NJ Advance Mejia opened the door, he said, and went back to her room after Carrero and Connors walked into the apartment. Carrero said he covered her face because he didnt want to see her while Connors stabbed her. Carrero went back to the car with Connors and went back to the party to show their faces again, he said. They got rid of the knife somewhere in North Jersey, later, he said. Morgan didnt pay Carrero, he said, but he borrowed money from her and never paid her back. It was Morgans and Connorss idea to show their faces at the party, Carrero said. When Connors said lets take a ride, Carrero knew he was going to murder Mejia, Carrero confirmed in response to the prosecutions questioning. The second conspiracy to commit murder involving Nicholas Connors also was discussed in the kitchen with Morgan and Ted Connors, Carrero said. He said Morgan wanted Nicholas Connors killed for insurance purposes. Ted Connors got a gun and they planned for it to look like a robbery, Carrero said. Morgan went to work that night, so she wasnt home and she could throw suspicion off her, Carrero said. Ted Connors went to a mans house in Long Branch to get the gun, which Carrero said he believes was a small gun. At night, Carrero said they parked down the street from the house on Van Dyke Place and they went to the side door, slicing the screen so it was made to look like a robbery. Carrero said he heard the TV on, he sat down to have a conversation and then went to the kitchen. Thats when Ted Connors shot Nicholas Connors, which Carrero said he did not see he only heard it. He heard the second shot and ran outside back to the car, with Ted Connors a couple feet behind him. They got to the car and disposed of the gun at the beach in Long Branch, Carrero said. He doesnt remember where he went after that. After both killings, Carrero said he still lived at the Connors house for a little bit. He didnt pay rent and Morgan eventually kicked him out of the house, he said. Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni on Friday again lauded his offices cold case unit and Long Branch police. But unfortunately for the family members in these cases, the justice is a long delayed process. This is just one step along the way, he told reporters after the hearing. There remains a long way to go with the other two defendants which the state intends to present their cases to grand jury in the coming days. Gramiccioni said Carrero believed it was in his best interest to cooperate with the state. From our perspective, we welcome that because its very rare that we get an inside look at a criminal enterprise or conspiracy, the prosecutor said. "This gives us unique insight and really supplements the quantity of evidence we already have against the other two defendants. Carreros sentencing was scheduled for June 5, but will not happen until after he testifies for the prosecution. Ted Connors appears in Superior Court of Monmouth County in this February 5, 2020 photo. Noah K. Murray | For NJ Advance Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By PTI AURANGABAD: Supporters of two rival NCP leaders raised slogans against each other when party MP Supriya Sule was addressing workers at Paithan city in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district. The incident took place on Friday. When the Baramati MP was addressing NCP workers, the supporters of party leader Datta Gorde, who had contested the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, and those of former MLA Bhausaheb Wagchoure came face to face. ALSO READ: INTERVIEW | I compliment every student out on the streets for the cause of democracy, says Supriya Sule The rival factions started raising slogans against each other, which disrupted Sule's speech. Sule had to intervene and pacify the members of both the groups. After the sloganeering ended, Sule continued her speech and reprimanded the members for their misbehaviour. "NCP chief Sharad Pawar has put in tremendous efforts to build the party. If the party workers behave in this manner again, they will have to face me," she warned. Taking on the Congress over its scepticism about US President Donald Trump's visit to India, the BJP on Saturday said this trip will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the opposition party should take pride in the "nation's achievements". The BJP also said there are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and "think as one nation". This comes a day after the Congress said Trump's visit should not become an extension of the US presidential election campaign but yield concrete results for India. The visit should not be reduced to a photo opportunity or a PR exercise that would devalue the importance of Indo-US partnership, the Congress had said. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra asked the Congress why it was unhappy when the country's stature is being raised. "This is a meeting of the world's largest and oldest democracies and it should be celebrated," he said. "There are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and think as one nation," he said. Taking a dig at the Congress, Patra asked if 10 Janpath (residence of party president Sonia Gandhi) had allowed former prime minister Manmohan Singh to develop Prime Minister Narendra Modi-like rapport with international leaders. Trump's visit will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the Congress should "start taking pride in the nation's achievements", he added. Responding to the Congress' questions about what the country will gain from this visit, Patra said the latest defense equipment and the deals that the US was offering to India were never offered during the UPA regime. Underlining that Trump himself has said multiple times that India is a hard bargainer, the BJP spokesperson said the Congress should not be worried about India's interests. Patra said close cooperation with the White House has ensured that India remains at the front and centre of Trump's strategic blueprint. With PM Modi's hardwork, India's relations with other countries have further strengthened from Sochi to Mallapuram, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UofSC announces new Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Julian Williams will serve as the university's first Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. His appointment was announced during the Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 21. The University of South Carolina announced Julian R. Williams will serve as its first Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Williams, who most recently served as Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity at Virginias George Mason University, was selected by President Bob Caslen following a national search process. His appointment was formally approved by the universitys Board of Trustees on Friday (Feb. 21). Im thrilled Julian is joining our Gamecock family, and Im certain hell do a tremendous job leading our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on our campus and beyond, said President Bob Caslen. His experience in executing successful strategies to ensure campus life better reflects and celebrates the communities in which institutions serve makes him ideal for this important role. While at George Mason University, Williams was responsible for implementing an institution-wide diversity and inclusion plan, designed to more effectively recruit and retain a diverse team of faculty and staff. He also worked to bridge the gap between academics, administrative units and community stakeholders, ensuring that diversity remain an essential part of the universitys character and mission. Before joining George Mason, Williams served as the Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Officer at Vassar College and Director of Equity and Diversity at Monmouth University. My wife Jemia and I are excited to become part of the campus community and the city of Columbia. It is an honor to be selected to lead inclusion and diversity efforts at South Carolinas flagship institution, Williams said. My goal is to bring to the forefront a community-developed vision for inclusion and diversity ensuring that all members of the USC community are able to bring their authentic selves to campus every day. I will work to build strong relationships based upon trust, transparency, and honesty in order to move this vital work forward. Williams, a native of Michigan, earned a bachelors degree in English from the University of Michigan and J.D. from Michigan State University. He will begin his new role in June. John Dozier, who has served as the University of South Carolinas first Chief Diversity Officer since 2013, announced earlier this month that he will be heading diversity and inclusion efforts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An interim Chief Diversity Officer will be named soon. The University of South Carolina is committed to promoting diversity through unique programming and initiatives, including the S.C. Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation, which houses the Welcome Table SC, the Equity Summit and the South Carolina Youth Collective; the Finding Common Ground series; the Safe Zone program; and efforts to recognize the historic contributions of underrepresented groups to campus and community life. Share this Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about During the Second World War, allied aircraft roared across Manitoba's prairie skies, in preparation to fight an enemy thousands of miles away. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. During the Second World War, allied aircraft roared across Manitoba's prairie skies, in preparation to fight an enemy thousands of miles away. Pilots from around the Commonwealth came to the province to learn how to engage in aerial warfare, while soldiers practised with live ammunitions near Portage la Prairie and Dauphin. Safety first Click to Expand The military says anyone who has encountered a possible unexploded ordnance over the years should contact the UXO Legacy Sites Program, by e-mailing UXOCanada@forces.gc.ca. Information and photos can help the Department of National Defence identify UXO sites. If you come across something that might be an unexploded bomb, DND says to not touch it, turn around, leave the same way you approached the object, and call your local police. The airfields are long gone, ghosts of our province's military past. Few structures and rifle ranges still stand, some converted to farm buildings. Other wartime remnants remain, hidden deep in the soil and at the bottom of lakes. The military believes the province is safe but admits most sites havent been fully assessed. As soils shift, unexploded ordnances, known as UXOs, have shown up on Manitoba shorelines, picnic sites and farms. Some of these bombs still explode, in one case drastically altering the life of a family near Brandon more than 10 years ago. "You can reduce the risk, but you can never eliminate it," said Matthew Braid, a retired major who oversaw the militarys efforts to remediate UXO sites. "The problem is unsolvable." A marker stands at the south end of the former CFB Rivers air force base property southwest of Rivers on Friday. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun) Ron Ryz, reeve of the rural municipality of Dauphin, is used to seeing "dead bombs" wash up along the western shores of Dauphin Lake. The area, known as Paulson, has six sites the military believes could have UXOs. "They weighed probably five pounds, and they had a piece of lead inside, a brass cap on the end and a tail," said Ryz, 71, with a chuckle. "We used to break them apart, as a kid." His relatives recall wartime soldiers posted at two towers along the shore, watching pilots practise bombing targets in the lake. The shoreline is uninhabited, but hes often seen farmers harvesting nearby during dry spells. They leave piles of mud and ordnances. "I have never heard of any of these ever exploding," he said. However, DND lists all six sites in Paulson as "in assessment," meaning Ottawa has yet to confirm if any of them contain explosives. As The Globe and Mail reported in December, the federal government is still sorting out how many sites pose a risk to public safety. Unexploded ordnances across Manitoba Paulson RCAF Station PBR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Gimli-Sleeve Lake Air Gunnery and Bombing Range Virden Airport and Rifle Range Brandon Artillery School and Rifle Range Langruth - RCAF Range Macdonald RCAF Aerodrome B&GS PBR 1, 2 and 3 CFB Rivers Shilo-Carberry Airfield Camp Hughes/Sewell PBR: Practice Bombing Range B&GS: Bombing and Gunnery School BCATP: British Commonwealth Air Training Plan WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE The federal government lists four confirmed locations of unexploded ordnance across Manitoba. More than 20 other locations across the province are suspected and under assessment. Many of these sites are now used for farming, but evidence of their wartime past still surface along coastlines and shifting soils. Unexploded ordnance Confirmed In assessment Unexploded ordnances across Manitoba The federal government lists four confirmed locations of unexploded ordnance across Manitoba. More than 20 other locations across the province are suspected and under assessment. Paulson RCAF Station PBR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Gimli-Sleeve Lake Air Gunnery and Bombing Range Unexploded ordnance Confirmed In assessment Langruth - RCAF Range Macdonald RCAF Aerodrome B&GS PBR 1, 2 and 3 Virden Airport and Rifle Range Brandon Artillery School and Rifle Range CFB Rivers Shilo-Carberry Airfield Camp Hughes/Sewell PBR: Practice Bombing Range B&GS: Bombing and Gunnery School BCATP: British Commonwealth Air Training Plan WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE Unexploded ordnances across Manitoba The federal government lists four confirmed locations of unexploded ordnance across Manitoba. More than 20 other locations across the province are suspected and under assessment. Many of these sites are now used for farming, but evidence of their wartime past still surface along shorelines and shifting soils. Paulson RCAF Station PBR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Churchill Detail Gimli-Sleeve Lake Air Gunnery and Bombing Range Unexploded ordnance Langruth - RCAF Range Confirmed In assessment Macdonald RCAF Aerodrome B&GS PBR 1, 2 and 3 Virden Airport and Rifle Range CFB Rivers Camp Hughes/Sewell Shilo-Carberry Airfield Brandon Artillery School and Rifle Range PBR: Practice Bombing Range B&GS: Bombing and Gunnery School BCATP: British Commonwealth Air Training Plan WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE DND tabulated a list of UXO sites last year, coming up with 521 areas that span the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the tip of Newfoundland; 24 are located in Manitoba. The bombs date back to the First World War, though many are from mid-century, and some were dropped in rural areas that have become suburbs. Three suspected UXO sites in Manitoba surround the former RCAF Station Macdonald, within the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie (not the RM of the same name that borders Winnipeg). "I would've thought that the military would have done their due diligence before they even sold that property," said the areas councillor, Roy Tufford. Hutterites converted most of the site into farmland in the 1970s, which they now call the Airport Colony. The local farm manager, Jake Hofer, said all the former buildings and structures were disassembled decades ago, including walls with targets marked on them. "Thats all been cleaned out and hauled away or dismantled," said Hofer, who believes the military has never reached out to the colony about UXOs. He was also skeptical it would be worth having government-paid officials inspect the site. "There's nothing here; absolutely nothing," he said. Elsewhere in the RM of Portage, a farmer was tilling crops when his machine came across a grenade in 2011. The farmer turned it into the local RCMP detachment, which the Mounties evacuated before 17 Wing experts from Winnipeg came, removed the bomb and detonated it. Tufford has his own childhood memory of coming across UXO remnants south of Carberry, close to CFB Shilo, at the Spirit Sands. Its one of four Manitoba sites where the military has confirmed the existence of UXOs, instead of just flagging them as a potential risk. Tufford was on a family picnic in the 1960s in the sand dunes near a decommissioned airfield. "I remember my younger brother going there exploring, and coming back with essentially shrapnel and stuff from shells, and my parents being somewhat upset," he said. "It in fact could have been an unexploded ordnance." Sand dunes within Spruce Woods Provincial Park, known as the Spirit Sands, are among confirmed UXO sites. There are signs asking people to stay on the trails, as remnants have been found in the fields. (Google Earth) The site sits within Spruce Woods Provincial Park, where a provincial spokesman insisted scrap metal and shell casings havent been found in decades. There are signs asking people to stay on the trails, explaining that its a former defence range. "The risk to the public is extremely low," the spokesman wrote. "While some scrap metal and shell casings were found in the '70s and '80s, it has been many years since any trace of anything potentially dangerous was discovered." In Churchill, another confirmed UXO site, the military did a thorough sweep decades ago of the trails where polar-bear tour operators like Don Walkoski drive their tundra buggies. Walkoski recalls finding unexploded shells while out on motorbikes and dirt bikes in the expanse east of the town in the late 1970s. "We'd just pick them up and carry them around," he said. The site was used throughout the Cold War as a test site for missiles and rockets, as well as artillery-training grounds, but now houses a scientific-research centre. Walkoski said hes found at least six ordnances over the past two decades; each time the RCMP have called in the military, who come up within a day to detonate the bombs. His last find was about five years ago. "They just appear; they get pushed out by the frost," said Walkoski. He said the rusty shells often blend in with the tundra and ponds. "You have to almost stumble right on them, before you see them," he said. Matthew Dickenson was working on a farm near the end of the runway of the former CFB Rivers airstrip when his tractor hit a white-phosphorus bomb. It's one of four confirmed UXO sites in Manitoba. (Google Earth) CAYCE, S.C.The South Carolina community that searched, prayed and then cried for a missing 6-year-old girl said goodbye Friday to the youngster, who disappeared from her front yard and was found dead three days later. A sea of bright colors, especially pink and purple, filled Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce where folk gathered for a public memorial service to honor and remember the bubbly spirit of 6-year-old Faye Marie Swetlik. The stairs leading to the pulpit were filled with flowers, stuffed animals and pictures of the child. Prior to a eulogy read by the churchs pastor, Dr. Eddie Coakley, the song Better When Im Dancing played as a video rolled showing photos of Fayes smiling face. Audience members were seen wiping away tears as that and other videos of the child were played. Coakley said the eulogy was written by the girls mother, who acknowledged having a hard time explaining the life of someone who meant so much to so many in just a few paragraphs. Her mother wrote that Faye became my whole world in just a few minutesand recalled how she got her name. Faye is French for fairy. When I was pregnant, she felt like fairies dancing around. And I always wanted her to believe in magic, so she was dubbed Faye Mariemy little fairy Mary. And magic she was. From the day she was born, we taught her the beaut of magic and the most important magic of alllove. Faye loved hard. There wasnt a single person she couldnt make smile. She wanted everyone to be as happy as she was, said the message, read out by Coakley. So long as we can love one another, her memory lives on, the pastor continued, reading from the mothers statement. She also said in the statement: I ask when you leave here to love a little more, to be a little more kind, to compliment a stranger, to dance in the rain, to stop and smell the flowers and show just a little bit more love to everyone you meet and just have a Faye day. The girl was a first-grader at Springdale Elementary School and was playing in her front yard after getting off the school bus Feb. 10 when she disappeared. More than 200 officers searched for her until Thursday, when Fayes rain boot found in a neighbors trash can led police to search a nearby area for a fourth time. Thats when they found her body recently placed there. DNA evidence connects the girls death to that neighbor, 30-year-old Coty Scott Taylor, authorities said. Right after Fayes body was found, Taylor was found dead with his own thrato slit on his patio, according to the Lexington County Coroners Office. Officers questioned Taylor and went into his home the day before the girls body was found, but Cayce Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said they found no evidence of the girl at that time. Investigators have not said why Taylor, who had no criminal record, wanted to kidnap the girl. The coroners office said that, out of respect for Fayes family, they were refusing to release any details about the condition of the girls body or disclose any other way she might have been injured beyond dying of asphyxiation. The girls disappearance shocked Cayce, a town of about 13,000 just west of Columbia, the state capital. Several prayer vigils were held while she was missing and after her body was found. Both the county coroner and the police chief in Cayce said they and their employees were shaken In her obituary, Fayes family said she was gone too soon but wouldnt be forgotten. She made everyone believe in all things good again. She left behind a world that loved her. May she forever sparkle, they wrote. Coakley said as he closed the service that the family asked people to write in journals stationed around the church a little note as if you were writing to Faye or to the family. The books would later be given to the family, he said. Thank you for being here tonight. What a blessing to be here to honor Faye, Coakley said. Actor Joel Edgerton is set to star in and produce true crime thriller "The Unknown Man". The project, which also features actor Sean Harris, hails from See-Saw Films and Anonymous Content, reported Variety. Thomas M Wright has written the film and is also directing it. The story is based on an elaborate sting operation that helped resolve an unsolved murder. It focuses on the friendship between a hardened criminal played by Harris and the undercover officer, played by Edgerton, sent to bring the killer to justice. Apart from Edgerton, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Rachel Gardner, Kerry Roberts and Kim Hodgert are attached as producers. Edgerton and Harris recently co-starred in Netflix's "The King". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been charged over a stabbing attack at London Central Mosque. Daniel Horton was charged on Friday night with grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article. The 29-year-old, of no fixed address, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday. Raafat Maglad, who is in his 70s, was treated in hospital for stab injuries after Thursdays incident but was later released. The Muslim prayer leader returned to the mosque in Regents Park for Friday prayers, less than 24 hours after the incident. The Muslim prayer leader returned to the mosque on Friday / AFP via Getty Images Scotland Yard said it is not treating the attack as terror-related. The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement after the attack: We condemn this attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with the muezzin and those at the London Central Mosque, its leaders and congregants." A man detained at the Regents Park mosque / SLDN95/Twitter It added: Although the details of the incident are still coming through, it is deeply distressing to hear of an attack of this nature, with worshippers being targeted in a mosque, a place of spiritual sanctuary. Regardless of the motive of the attacker, we must remain calm but vigilant, as we aim to balance the importance of retaining mosques as open spaces, and the security of worshippers. In this light, we will be reissuing our safety advice to mosques across the country. Police officers stand guard as worshippers arrive for Friday Prayers / AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson, Sadiq Khan and the Archbishop of Canterbury were among those to share their condolences to those affected in the hours following the shocking incident. The Prime Minister tweeted: Im deeply saddened to hear of the attack at the London Central Mosque. Its so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship. My thoughts are with the victim and all those affected. The Mayor of London wrote that he was "deeply concerned" by the incident, adding: "Every Londoner is entitled to feel safe in their place of worship & I want to reassure Londons communities that acts of violence in our city will not be tolerated. - Patience Dositha, a young woman who lost her entire family & hand during the First Congo War now runs renowned Able Photography brand with one hand - When all her family died, 3-month-old Patience was adopted by a random family fleeing to Rwanda who later rejected her as she was growing up - Becoming a homeless child, Patience fled to Kenya with the help of a family friend, where she got the opportunity to learn photography Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in An amazing Black lady by name Patience Dositha whose hand was chopped off when she was only three months old during the First Congo War and lost her entire family now runs a thriving photography firm called Able Photography with just one hand. According to Face2FaceAfrica.com, the stunning and hardworking Patience's family was completely annihilated but during the dying moments of her father, he spotted a family fleeing to Rwanda and gave her to them. It is reported that when the 3-month-old freshly-amputated baby Patience was taken from her father by a woman. The woman's husband was not in support and he was later exposed and killed because of the crying baby. READ ALSO: Woman rents friend's abandoned house for 20 years & saves all the money for her Dositha, her adopted mother and siblings settled in Rwanda. Blamed for the death of their father, Dositha was kicked out by her siblings after finishing school and upon the death of the woman she grew to be known as mother. The young photographer tearfully recalled the incident saying: They took my uniform, threw it on muddy ground and stepped on it. So I couldnt go to school. I sat outside the gate and cried my heart out. Then their grandmother, a woman that I loved very much, who treated me like her own blood, saw me and called me into the house." Dositha had to leave Rwanda and arrived in Kenya with help from a family friend who gave her $5 to start afresh. From then, the brilliant lady became a homeless street child until she found her way to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). READ ALSO: 7 iconic NDC-NPP moments from SONA 2020 that show Ghana will always be peaceful The committee got Dositha enrolled in a photography school called the De-Capture Media Institute where she pursued a course in Photos and Videos and worked for about a year. Now, with just one hand doing photography, Dositha now runs Able Photography which has quickly become an international brand. In other sad but interesting news, a video of Ghanaians having a loud and noisy funeral procession abroad has surfaced the location where the video was taken is not disclosed but it is indicated as a major street in the city. A number of Whites were also sighted in the video partaking in the burial ceremony. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! "I don't believe there is a president in Ghana" - Frustrated taxi driver speaks | #Yencomgh Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh The Bottom SABA:--- The Board of financial supervision Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Cft) observe that the budget and accountability process and financial management on Saba remains of sufficient level. The Board also notices that some structural tasks are still being funded in an incidental manner. Since 2014, Saba has received unqualified auditors' opinions for all financial statements. The other budget documents and execution reports meet the required standards. However, the Cft has identified several challenges that Saba, in collaboration with the Netherlands, has to deal with in the forthcoming period. This mainly regards the creation of structural coverage in the annual budget for structural tasks and the development of sufficient resilience capacity. Structural financing for structural tasks The State of the Netherlands and the public entity Saba agreed in 2019 on the so-called Saba Package, which among other things stipulates that both will strive to finance structural tasks with structural resources. Per ministry, it is to be assessed on how to achieve this. In its response to information from the Council of State and the Interdepartmental Policy Research, the Cabinet also indicated in October 2019 that the allotment of tasks will be clarified and restructured, after which it will be evaluated whether the free allowance (vrije uitkering) fits in with the tasks for the public entities. The Cft has agreed with the Executive Council to jointly determine this further. 2019 and 2020 budgets The fourth execution report for 2019, on which the Cft advised recently, shows a positive balance of USD 0.1 million. The draft budget for 2020, received by the Cft for advice on October 16th, 2019, is balanced. This was reached with a great deal of effort. Compared to previous years, Saba had to reduce the budgeted amounts for certain matters. For example, the budgetary item Contingency reserve has been reduced from 100 thousand dollars in 2019 to 22 thousand dollars in 2020. The Cft advised Saba to add a possible surplus for 2019 to the 2020 budget. In the opinion of Cft the 2020 budget complies sufficiently with the criteria. The 2020 budget was adopted by the Island Council on November 13th and approved by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations on December 3rd, in accordance with the advice of the Cft. During Cft's visit to Saba on Tuesday February 18th and Wednesday February 19th, 2020, constructive meetings were held with both the Executive Council and the Island Council. WASHINGTON Former Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, who retired at the apex of his power in Congress, is joining one of Washingtons leading lobbying firms. Frelinghuysen, who served 24 years in the House and became chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee in his final term, will be a senior director in the Government Law and Policy Practice of Greenberg Traurig. He will join four other former congressmen at the firm, along with his nephew Cyrus Frelinghuysen. "His experience and passion for making a difference on Capitol Hill are the cornerstones of his success and in turn will serve our clients well, said Ernest Greer, co-president of Greenberg Traurig. The firm was paid $8.5 million last year to lobby, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Its clients included Bayer AG, Dell Technologies, and Samsung. Under House ethics rules, lawmakers must wait one year after leaving office before they can lobby. Frelinghuysen, R-11th Dist., retired in January 2019. Frelinghuysen joins the ranks of a horde of retiring Republican congressmen in exploiting the revolving door to stay in Washington with a lucrative lobbying job, said Craig Holman, who lobbies on ethics issues for the advocacy group Public Citizen. No doubt, given Frelinghuysens long tenure in Congress and senior position on the House Appropriations Committee, Frelinghuysen most likely netted the highest salaried position of the group. Frelinghuysen decided not to seek re-election in 2018 after facing a strong challenge from Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor who won the seat. He endorsed Rosemary Becchi, a lawyer and former lobbyist, who is challenging Sherrill this year. He still had $428,523 in his campaign bank account as of Dec. 31, which he can use to make contributions to his former colleagues. Greenberg Traurig was at the center of a lobbying scandal that ensnared GOP members of Congress and officials in President George W. Bushs administration, and helped Democrats win control of the House in 2006 running against the Republicans culture of corruption. The firms star lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, would plead guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison and ordered to pay $23 million in restitution. One participant in Abramoffs operations, David Safavian, was among the individuals pardoned by Trump on Tuesday. The other New Jersey Republican congressman who did not seek re-election in 2018, Frank LoBiondo, last year formed his own government relations firm with his former chief of staff, Jason Galanes. Both men are not registered to lobby, Senate records show. Areas of interest for LoBo Strategies include the Federal Aviation Administration, transportation, infrastructure, intelligence and the Coast Guard. LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist., chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructures aviation subcommittee and formerly chaired the Coast Guard subcommittee. He also served on the House Intelligence Committee. He was succeeded by Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched to the Republican Party after opposing President Donald Trumps impeachment. 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. Iran has ordered the closure of schools and universities in two cities hit by a coronavirus outbreak that has killed five people in the country the highest number outside Asia. The move came as Iranian authorities reported one more death among 10 new cases of the virus. The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Wednesday, when authorities said it claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom, a Shia holy city south of the capital. They were the first confirmed deaths from the disease in the Middle East. "We have 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19," Iran's health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told state television on Saturday. "One of the new cases has unfortunately passed away," he added, noting that eight of them had been hospitalised in Qom and two in Tehran, without specifying where the death occurred. Specialised tests The latest cases take to 28 the total number of confirmed infections in Iran. According to Irans Mehr News Agency, Jahanpour added that among thousands of people who have visited the medical centres across the country, 785 patients have been hospitalised for more specialised tests. Irans Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee announced on Thursday that a headquarters had been set up to take due measures to counter the outbreak of coronavirus epidemic. The government with its full capacity and sensitivity will follow up anti-coronavirus measures, Ali Rabiyee posted on his Twitter page. Earlier on, Minoo Mohraz, an Iranian health ministry official, said without elaborating that the virus possibly came from Chinese workers who work in Qom and traveled to China. Fears for the Coronavirus coincided with parliamentary elections on Friday, possibly influencing the turnout. Released from hospital According to Mehr News Agency, Iran signed a contract with an unnamed Chinese company in 2018 to build a 30 megawatt solar power plant in Qom province in 2018. According to figures published by the Chinese National Health Commission on 22 February, there are now a total of 76,288 reports of confirmed cases and 2,345 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions in China. A total of 20,659 patients was released from hospital ofter being cured. Outside China, Japan has the highest number with 751 infected and 3 dead, followed by South Korea (433 and 3 dead) and Singaport (89 cases). Italy reported its first death and a sudden surge in cases (30) and locked down ten towns in the north of the country. Advertisement By Western Kentucky Star & Baptist Health Feb. 21, 2020 | PADUCAH By Western Kentucky Star & Baptist Health Feb. 21, 2020 | 10:38 PM | PADUCAH For the fourth time, Baptist Health Paducahs echocardiography department has earned a three-year accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography. The department was first accredited in 2010. This latest accreditation demonstrates the hospitals ongoing commitment to providing quality patient care in echocardiography. Echocardiography can assess different areas of the heart and detect heart disease or signs of serious conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., followed closely by stroke as the fifth highest cause of death. According to the American Heart Association, more than 2,150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease. There are several factors that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on echocardiography, including the training and experience of the sonographer, the type of equipment used and the quality assessment metrics the hospital is required to measure. All these factors contribute to a positive patient outcome. IAC accreditation is a seal of approval that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a dedication to continuous improvement. FILE PHOTO: Thomas Borgen, resigned CEO of Danske Bank and Ole Andersen, ?hairman of the board arrive at the press conference about the money laundering scandal in the bank in Tivoli Congress Center in Copenhagen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Belgian consultancy firm Deminor said on Friday it had filed a complaint on behalf of 155 institutional investors seeking 358 million euros (299.6 million) in damages from Danske Bank's former Chief Executive Thomas Borgen. Deminor, which specialises in representing institutional investors in class actions against public listed companies, said it believed investors had been misled in connection with suspected money laundering at Denmark's biggest lender. "Knowing the extent of the money laundering activities and the associated material risks in February 2014, the former CEO should have ensured that the bank - at the time - disclosed this information to the public, which was not the cases," Deminor said in a statement. Borgen's lawyer Peter Schradieck told Reuters he had no comments about the complaint. Deminor partner Edouard Fremault told Reuters it would take at least four to five years before the case would actually run in court. At last year's annual shareholder meeting, Danske shareholders rejected a proposal from Deminor for an independent investigation into the bank's involvement in alleged money laundering. Danske Bank is under investigation in several countries including the United States over 200 billion euros ($220 billion) of payments through its branch in Estonia between 2007 and 2015, many of which the bank has said were suspicious. The bank is facing at least three other lawsuits from investors, including one in the United States by 232 pension funds and other investors claiming damages of nearly $800 million. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Edmund Blair) A Sikh organisation on Saturday asked the community members in Kashmir to remain vigilant ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India, saying such high profile visits bring back memories of the 2002 Chattisinghpora massacre when unidentified gunmen killed 36 Sikhs. "The visit of a high profile foreign personality especially that from the US leads to fear psychosis and panic among the Sikhs living in the valley. The whole India seems to be busy in making preparations for Trump's visit, but for Sikhs of Kashmir, the visit has brought with it the fears that the members of the community are yet again on the radar," All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said in a statement here. "The Sikhs are feeling insecure and they fear that something untoward might happen on the eve of the US President's visit," Raina added. He said the scars inflicted on Sikhs of Kashmir during the visit of former US President Bill Clinton were afresh even after 20 years. "Although 36 Sikhs of Chattisinghpora, Anantnag, were killed in March 2000 during Clinton's visit, till date the people who carried out the crime are yet to be identified. "It is highly unfortunate that neither the government of India nor the successive state governments have reached to any conclusion with respect to identifying the killers of the Sikhs. The people at helm have just been making claims and truth of the matter is killers continue to roam free," Raina said. The APSCC chairman said the episode of Chattisinghpora was followed by a "fake encounter at Brakpora in Anantnag district and thereafter 10 persons were killed after security forces opened fire on the people protesting against the fake encounter". "There was fear among the Sikhs living in north and south villages of Kashmir on the eve of Barack Obama's visit as well," he said. Raina demanded a fair, thorough and impartial probe into the Chattisinghpora incident so that the killers are brought to book. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tree of the Month (formerly Tree of the Week) showcases some of the biggest and most beautiful trees in the GTA, as compiled by Megan Ogilvie. Here, Mhairi Kerr tells us about Stumpy, an old and stocky Norway maple that has been a landmark and friend to generations of elementary school students at Norway Junior Public School. We also hear from a teacher and students who have fond memories of Stumpy. Norway Junior Public School has a long history in its community. The first school on the site at Kingston Road, near Woodbine Avenue, was a one-room schoolhouse, built around 1870. That was replaced in 1896 with a two-storey brick schoolhouse. Wings were added on each side of the school in 1910, and more additions followed in 1919. Its about this time that I believe the Norway maples, including Stumpy, were planted. My mother attended Norway Public School between 1933 and 1937. She grew up in the neighbourhood and has fond memories of her childhood and her days spent at the school, which at that time was a hub for the community, often hosting evening events. When I was a little girl, my mom would often point out her old school to me. One day, she pointed to Stumpy and said she remembered being a young girl, looking out the schools upper-floor windows, into the branches of the tree. Sometimes, she said, she saw scarlet tanagers, a kind of native songbird, sitting in the tree. Both my children went to the school; my daughter Katie graduated Grade 6 last June. She and my son Alec, who left the school a few years earlier, often talked about Stumpy. They liked to see the raccoons that lived in Stumpys hollow. The tree has this beautiful umbrella-shaped crown of dark green leaves. Its trunk measures 3.25 m (10 feet, 8 inches) in circumference. I think its a touchstone for the community and many of us are grateful that it survived a fire that ravaged the building in 1942. The original brick school building was torn down in the 1970s. Stumpy and several of its siblings are all that remain of the schools past. I hope these trees will survive for many more years. Anita Wright, teacher Ive been a physical education teacher at Norway for 29 years, and for all that time the tree has been known as Stumpy. I reached out to a retired teacher who had worked for the school for many years, and as far back as she can remember, the tree has been called Stumpy. No one really knows where the name came from. Stumpy is a landmark for the school. At recess, students like to play tag and they will run to Stumpy first, making it their home base. When I teach phys-ed outside, we use Stumpy as a landmark. Ill say: Run to Stumpy and then back to me. Its also a nice hang out spot for the kids. At recess, students gather around Stumpys trunk, making games with rocks and sticks. In the spring, we sometimes see raccoons hanging out in Stumpy. The tree has a nice little hollow, kind of like a cave, and we sometimes see a raccoon tail popping out. For our community, Stumpy is common ground, a peaceful landmark in our schoolyard. Students new to the school very quickly learn about Stumpy. We hope the tree will be forever there in our schoolyard. Liv G. (Grade 5) Stumpy is my favourite tree because (1st) Stumpy lived through a lightning strike. (2nd) Stumpy was at the old school when it burned down. (3rd) Every time I play manhunt someone yells out, Last one to Stumpy is it! Rachel A. (Grade 5) Ive been going to my babysitter since I was two years old and Michelle (my babysitter) has three sons, but theyre much older. Her oldest son is in his 30s and went to Norway in 1993. Thats a long time. He started playing on Stumpy in third grade. So you can see Stumpy has been here for a long time and we will never cut him down. Filip M. (Grade 6) Stumpy is a place where I hang out with my friends or climb it to hide during games! It is also where I face-planted into the ground while climbing out of the tree! I have many great memories of Stumpy and would hate to see it go. Abigail M. (Grade 4) My cousin is over 20 years old and went to this school and remembers Stumpy. My brothers friend almost broke his back climbing Stumpy. Read more: Not even lightning can take down The Basswood of Weston Golf and Country Club Just try not to have an ah-ha moment looking at Toronto artists paintings of our citys trees Shagbark hickory in Rosedale stole couples heart from the moment they laid eyes on it in 1963 Is Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank Corporation Limited (HKG:6122) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. If you are hoping to live on your dividends, it's important to be more stringent with your investments than the average punter. Regular readers know we like to apply the same approach to each dividend stock, and we hope you'll find our analysis useful. Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank pays a 6.4% dividend yield, and has been paying dividends for the past three years. It's certainly an attractive yield, but readers are likely curious about its staying power. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank for its dividend - read on to learn more. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis SEHK:6122 Historical Dividend Yield, February 22nd 2020 Payout ratios Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. In the last year, Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank paid out 69% of its profit as dividends. This is a healthy payout ratio, and while it does limit the amount of earnings that can be reinvested in the business, there is also some room to lift the payout ratio over time. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health. Dividend Volatility Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. This company's dividend has been unstable, and with a relatively short history, we think it's a little soon to draw strong conclusions about its long term dividend potential. During the past three-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.29 in 2017, compared to CN0.17 last year. The dividend has fallen 40% over that period. Story continues A shrinking dividend over a three-year period is not ideal, and we'd be concerned about investing in a dividend stock that lacks a solid record of growing dividends per share. Dividend Growth Potential With a relatively unstable dividend, and a poor history of shrinking dividends, it's even more important to see if EPS are growing. In the last five years, Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank's earnings per share have shrunk at approximately 4.0% per annum. If earnings continue to decline, the dividend may come under pressure. Every investor should make an assessment of whether the company is taking steps to stabilise the situation. Conclusion Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. First, we think Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank has an acceptable payout ratio. Earnings per share are down, and Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank's dividend has been cut at least once in the past, which is disappointing. To conclude, we've spotted a couple of potential concerns with Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank that may make it less than ideal candidate for dividend investors. You can also discover whether shareholders are aligned with insider interests by checking our visualisation of insider shareholdings and trades in Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank stock. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The Finnish government says it has agreed to take in up to 175 asylum-seekers from camps in Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta "to alleviate the humanitarian situation" experienced by refugees in the Mediterranean members of the European Union. The Finnish interior ministry said Saturday in a statement that the Nordic country of 5.5 million would wish to bring in primarily "vulnerable asylum seekers" of children and single-parent families eligible for international protection from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan. The ministry didn't provide schedule for patriations but said asylum-seekers would be picked from the four nations "depending on where the situation is the most serious." "It is important that Finland, as the EU's external border state (through its long border with Russia), is involved in finding solutions both to the acute situation (in the Mediterranean Sea) and how to create a sustainable European asylum system," said Finnish Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo. Later Saturday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto applauded the government's decision in an interview with the Finnish public broadcaster YLE. Niinisto stressed that Finland was determined "to help those who are in real difficulties", singling out the youngest of children and young girls at the Mediterranean asylum-seeker camps. In the past few months Italy, which has been under a heavy burden from African refugees arriving across the Mediterranean Sea, has allowed charity ships to disembark rescued migrants at its ports on condition that other EU nations agree to take some of the asylum-seekers. Several EU nations have done so, making good on pledges to share the migrant burden at a conference in Malta last year. JERUSALEM - Israeli and Palestinian health authorities Saturday asked people who have been in close contact with a group of South Korean tourists recently to quarantine themselves. The request came after South Korea informed Israel that nine members of the group who toured Israel and the West Bank for a week this month tested positive for the new virus. The tourists were diagnosed upon returning home. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that a South Korean airliner that landed at the countrys Ben Gurion airport Saturday evening will be sent back to Seoul after 12 Israelis on board are evacuated and quarantined. The airplane was taxied away from the allotted terminal. Israels Health Ministry said its investigating whether the Korean tourists had transmitted the virus while in Israel country. The ministry published a list of places the tourists visited, including churches in Jerusalem and other cities, and instructed people who came into close contact with the group to notify the ministry and quarantine themselves for 14 days. A similar warning was issued by the Palestinian health ministry. On Friday, Israel said a passenger who was quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan was diagnosed with the virus after he was flown home with a group of 11 Israelis, making it the first case to be reported inside Israel. The others are in quarantine. Three other Israelis are being treated in Japan after contracting the virus on the cruise ship. There have been no cases recorded in the Palestinian territories. PRISON officers dealing with a highly dangerous hostage crisis managed to convince the assailants to exchange their weapon for a Mars bar. The five-hour stand-off,which occurred at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise on Thursday began when two inmates took another one hostage. A fourth prisoner was also barricaded in the same cell on the B1 Landing, but was not involved in the frightening ordeal. Independent.ie understands that the two assailants threatened to cut off their victims ears with a shiv unless their demands were met. Along with the request for drugs, their demands included tobacco, Swiss rolls and Mars bars. The prisons emergency control and restraint team were immediately alerted and the main prison went into full lockdown for the evening. After hours of negotiating and attempts to defuse the situation, the team managed to convince the inmate holding the weapon to hand it over in exchange for a Mars bar. Prisoner demands were unclear, apart from drugs and no more sleeping on mattresses, a spokesperson from the Prison Officers ssociation said. They sought tobacco, Swiss rolls and Mars bars. Shortly before 8.30pm staff forced entry into the cell and removed all four prisoners, meeting considerable resistance from at least two. No staff were injured. An Irish Prison Service official said that staff had responded and the incident was successfully resolved. No staff were injured and the prisoners involved received only minor injuries. The director general has commended all staff involved in ensuring that this incident was successfully resolved. Senior management in the Midlands Prison have commenced an investigation into the incident. An Gardai Siochana were notified, the official said. President Trump believes he got it done in fixing Californias troubled and contentious water system. What he actually produced is another wrecking-ball delay and a lawsuit to try to halt his lopsided solution. The president found a dirt-dry corner of the Central Valley to sign documents that bless more pumping of Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta water southward to farms and water agencies. His blessing at a campaign-style gathering in Bakersfield wont immediately rev up water shipments, but it should underline how divisive and intractable hes making a long-standing problem. Trumps action may achieve one more thing. It has produced a well-deserved lawsuit from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had been avoiding a direct stance in the dispute that divides the state and key interest groups. Within hours of Trumps signature, Newsom signaled he will soon file suit to stop increased water shipments from the delta, the center of the vast state and federal waterworks. In fact, that lawsuit came the following day. It claimed the Trump decision violates federal environmental law. A day after Trump signed new federal regulations that will allow more water from Northern California to flow into the Central Valley, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra struck back with a lawsuit asking to delay the decision and claiming it violates federal environmental law. California wont silently spectate as the Trump administration adopts scientifically challenged biological opinions that push species to extinction and harm our natural resources and waterways, Becerra said in a statement announcing the lawsuit Thursday. The standoff between Sacramento and Washington matters. Half of the deltas water is now dammed or diverted in ways that make the arid valley a produce bowl for the nation. But those flows also threaten the health of the delta and its wildlife including endangered salmon and other fish. Pumps chew up fish, river currents can be thrown into reverse, and salt water creeps upriver. What Trump signed were findings that increased pumping wont harm conditions, a claim that a prior study and state experts say is flat-out wrong. Farm groups and local lawmakers at the Bakersfield event were delighted by Trumps move. But it wont achieve a balanced peace nor even bring them the amount of water they crave. The search for an all-sides agreement is getting more difficult due to an obdurate president selling phony answers. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. In this May 28, 2019, file photo, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group's top political leader, second left, arrives with other members of the Taliban delegation for talks in Moscow, Russia. U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 the first official talks with Afghanistan's Taliban since last September when President Donald Trump declared a near-certain peace deal with the insurgents dead. Read more In 1999, I traveled to Afghanistan when the Taliban controlled the country. Swathed in shawls, exiting my taxi only when sneaking into buildings, I visited secret girls schools in private apartments, where 10-year-olds braved beatings to learn how to read. I interviewed former female university professors who, under the Taliban, could rarely leave their homes, and then only when shrouded beneath a tentlike burka. And I interviewed then-Taliban deputy health minister Mohammed Abas Stanekzai, who is now one of the negotiators of a peace deal with the United States that will probably be signed on Feb. 29, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. So, it is useful to recall what Stanekzai said at the time. He firmly defended excluding girls from schools and women from any Kabul hospital except the sole facility where the Taliban permitted female doctors to work. Moreover, women could seek treatment there only if accompanied by a male relative, even though many war widows had none. READ MORE: Will United States sell out Afghan women to Taliban? I Trudy Rubin I cant help recalling Stanekzais remarks as this peace process plays out. Much has changed in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, but theres little sign the Taliban has changed its core positions on women or much else. So dont be fooled by any upbeat administration rhetoric U.S. talks with the Taliban are still in for a very bumpy ride. The deal Pompeo cited depends on a precondition: The Taliban must hold to a seven-day significant reduction in violence nationwide, beginning this weekend. That is meant to test whether Taliban leaders can control their fighters. If the truce holds, intra-Afghan talks will supposedly begin between the Taliban and the elected Afghan government, along with representatives of civil society groups. The process is meant to devise a new political arrangement that would include the Taliban. (As if this isnt sufficiently daunting, the Afghan government is mired in a dispute over election results, which could delay the talks.) If the United States is satisfied with progress over the next four months, it will start drawing down its 14,000 military personnel according to an agreed-upon timetable, beginning this year. Supposedly, a final withdrawal will depend on the outcome of the talks and on proof the Taliban will prevent any terrorist resurgence. Yet its highly unlikely that the Taliban (or its fighters) will be willing to become one political party among many. Its leaders demand a restoration of their former Islamic Emirate, where religious law would replace the Afghan constitution with its guarantees of basic human rights, including for women. They want all U.S. troops out soon, which would mean the Afghan army would collapse. The Taliban is poised to take it all, says Marvin Weinbaum, head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. They know the U.S. is desperate to get out. And the Taliban hopes it can ride U.S. impatience to the victory it cant win in the field. Toward that end, the Taliban is already trying to airbrush its history. On Friday, the New York Times ran an op-ed by its deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is on the U.S. terrorist list, in which he claims we were forced to defend ourselves and the killing must stop. He portrays himself as speaking for all Afghans. Youd never know from this puff piece that his Haqqani network helped Osama bin Laden escape -- and carried out horrendous suicide-bomber attacks on Afghan civilians in Kabul. Youd never know that much of Afghanistan is fearful of a Taliban return as I heard over and over when visiting Afghan villages during the 2000s because they think the group and its fighters distort Islam. Youd never know that Afghan Hazaras a Shiite ethnic group who make up 10% to 20% of the total population are terrified, because the Pashtun Sunni Taliban slaughtered them under its rule. And youd never know that a new generation of educated Afghans, including female teachers, lawyers, judges, and journalists who consider America an ally dont want to return to the days of burkas, male guardianship, and limited religious education. Under such a regime, their choices would be flight, jail, or worse. No wonder, the New York Times correspondent in Kabul, Mujib Mashal, tweeted that the Haqqani op-ed omits the most fundamental fact: that Siraj is no Taliban peace-maker as he paints himself, that hes behind some of the most ruthless attacks of this war with many civilian lives lost. (Id add that I find it shocking the Times published this piece without a background note on Haqqani, or a matching piece that challenges his pretensions.) This U.S.-Taliban deal may present an opportunity, but only if the White House has the patience to hold out for a negotiated solution that precludes a Taliban takeover. And if Trump isnt gulled by Taliban sweet talk and the urge to declare victory before November elections. READ MORE: Trump should be wary of Pakistani help in ending Afghan war I Trudy Rubin Bringing all the troops home too soon will destroy any U.S. leverage and hand victory to the Taliban. In that case, this peace plan will deliver more tragedy to Afghans and more security threats to the USA. Just days after releasing nearly 1,000 passengers from the cruise ship quarantined for two weeks in the port of Yokohama that has been a coronavirus hot spot, Japans health minister admitted that 23 passengers had been mistakenly cleared to leave without taking a valid recent test. In a news briefing on Saturday night, the health minister, Katsunobu Kato, apologized for the error that allowed the passengers, who had not been tested since before the ship went into lockdown on Feb. 5, to leave the Diamond Princess. The Japanese Health Ministry said it had tested them and checked for symptoms, and certified that they posed no risk of infection. Mr. Kato said that all 23 mistakenly cleared passengers had boarded some form of public transportation after disembarking. He said none of them had reported any symptoms so far and 20 had already agreed to be retested, with three negative tests so far. Although several governments that evacuated citizens from the ship including those in the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea confined them for an additional 14 days at home, Japan said that passengers who had tested negative for coronavirus and showed no symptoms could leave starting this week. On the subject of the passengers released untested, Mr. Kato said that public health officers who had been conducting the tests missed the 23 passengers as they went door to door. While they made their multiple rounds to take samples, some passengers left their rooms to go outside and do exercise or something, he said, so they were unavailable. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week said that a military escalation in Idlib is a matter of time unless President Bashar al-Assads army withdraws to de-escalation boundaries agreed with Russia back in September 2018. If the United States provides Patriot missile defense systems to Turkey, as Ankara has asked, it could further embolden Erdogan. The result could be an escalation that would exacerbate the terrible suffering of the Syrian people, while increasing the risk of a US-Russian confrontation in Syria. This, therefore, could be a prime time for the Trump administration to address the crisis in Syria, but not just in the narrow sense of the Turkish military request. Others are already stepping in. UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres has called for an immediate cease-fire. But given the deadlock at the UN Security Council, which is vital to any progress in Syria, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin probably need to talk and see if some common ground can be found.. Turkey seeks a US lifeline Turkey has invited the United States into the mix already with its request for Patriot missile defense systems to thwart any future attacks by Russian-backed Syrian forces over Idlib province, where 15 Turkish troops have been killed this month in an escalating confrontation. Turkey is also asking Moscow for access to Russian-controlled airspace in Syria while increasing its troops and weaponry in the region. Erdogan's call for Syria to redeploy its forces is so far being ignored in Moscow and Damascus.The de-escalation boundaries in the so-called Sochi Memorandum between Ankara and Moscow may be a dead letter. The Syrian military, backed by Russia and Iran, blew by those boundaries in recent weeks, including 10 of the 12 Turkish outposts established via Sochi. Assad's military has retaken dozens of villages in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, Mohammed Al-Khatieb reports, while seizing a key highway between Damascus and Aleppo. Assad until now shows no intention of stopping, especially with the backing of Russia and Iran. While Trump apparently made no commitments to Erdogan in a Feb. 16 phone call , according to Amberin Zaman the Turkish request has the support of some in the administration who see an opportunity both to repair the troubled US-Turkey relationship and stymie Syrias military offensive. Trump has been cautious about getting pulled into the fighting in Syria, except over chemical weapons use that he has responded to twice (in 2017 and 2018). The United States might consider some intelligence and logistical support to Turkey, according to Zaman, and the Patriot request is still being considered, Jack Detsch reports. Three reasons Erdogan needs help (but not necessarily Patriots) Heres the catch for Erdogan: Syria is his endless war. He has no endgame, absent a huge assist from the international community, meaning both the United States and Russia, and eventually some accommodation with Assad, as Turkeys opposition parliamentarians are now demanding, Sibel Hurtas reports. Here are three reasons Erdogan cant solve Syria with just a military solution: Refugees. Turkey currently hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees (there are 5 million worldwide, out of a pre-war Syrian population of 22 million). This is an incredible strain on the Turkish economy. Erdogan has said he will relocate the refugees into a Turkish-controlled zone in northeast Syria. This is hardly an answer, as it would simply shift the Syrians' status from "refugees" to "displaced." There are already 6.2 million internally displaced people in Syria the largest of any country in the world. The recent fighting has produced another 900,000 displaced Syrians, all headed toward Turkey, whose border is closed. A joint statement by Russia, Turkey and Iran in October 2019 set the return of all IDPs and refugees "to their original places of residence in Syria, which is the ultimate solution, but a long way off. A second front with the Kurds. Erdogans preoccupation with Syrian Kurdish "terrorists" has complicated his relations with the United States and allowed a vulnerability with Putin and Assad. Russia has been pressing for a deal between the Kurds and Damascus, including a secret meeting in December involving Kurdish officials and Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk, according to Fehim Tastekin. The United States has cautioned its partner the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to keep out of the present conflict. But the straining of Russian-Turkish ties over Idlib has resulted in some undeclared changes in Kurdish tactical choices, writes Tastekin. The Kurds are collaborating with the Syrian army in certain parts of the operations in northwest Aleppo, namely in areas along the boundaries of Afrin. By putting the Kurdish card into play, Putin is implying the threat of a second front in areas occupied by the Turkish military. Turkeys muddled relations with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Russia blames Turkey for making matters worse by not separating terrorist groups (those linked to Jabhat al-Nusra such as HTS) in Idlib from more moderate or nationalist opposition forces, as called for in Sochi. Both the United States and the UN Security Council have designated HTS a terrorist group. US Syria envoy James Jeffrey said there are at least 7,000-10,000 Jabhat al-Nusra-linked members in Idlib. HTS is a de facto ally of Turkey, explains Tastekin again. It controls 90% of Idlib and will not lose its jihadi character even if it rebrands itself again" and "Regardless of what Ankaras intentions are, its latest intervention in Idlib has put the Turkish military on the same side with [HTS] and its allies. On Jan. 29, Erdogan referred to those defending their own land as resistance fighters, not terrorists. The closer the fighting in Idlib gets to Turkey, the closer it approaches areas under HTS control. One cannot help but wonder how Turkey is going to confront the groups with which it has actively collaborated since late January, Tastekin concludes. A Tough Call on Syria UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen briefed the Security Council this week on the "devastating scale of humanitarian suffering" and reiterated Gutteres' call for an immediate cease-fire. Putin and Erdogan talked today and both should have some interest, sooner or later, in preventing a further downward spiral in ties over Syria. Maybe. But for now they still seem far apart, Metin Gurcan explains. Erdogan is also requesting a four-way summit to include his and Putins French and German counterparts, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel. A forthcoming meeting of the Astana trio in Iran represents another next step on this diplomatic track. Involving France and Germany is a good move, including for Washingtons interests. But the only way there is progress in Syria both in terms of a lasting political solution and alleviation of the humanitarian crisis is if the United States and Russia can find some common ground. There are no illusions here that Putin is anything other than 100% behind Assad and for now has no intention of stopping Syria's military offensive. But Trump has good relations with both Erdogan and Putin. All three operate by personal connection, and the action moves when they talk. Trump has repeatedly expressed his concern over the carnage in Idlib, so this does not come out of the blue. The United States is a player in Syria, commanding significant assets and influence and sustaining the counter-terrorist operations against the Islamic State, Detsch reports. US leverage at the UN is unmatched. Trump could call Putin while weighing the Patriot offer maybe keeping it as a chit for now. Putin, for all his bravado, neither wants nor needs more trouble with the United States. He wants to be the broker of an endgame in Syria, and knows that eventually he has to deal with Trump. And Trump can work with and through Macron and Merkel if they decide to engage. Getting more involved in Syria is a tough call, but Trump doesnt seem to shy away from tough calls. If any global crisis deserves a shot at the art of the deal, it's Syria, whose people have suffered far too much. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2020 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you. Forescout Technologies, Inc. (FSCT) If you suffered a loss, contact us at: http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/forescout-technologies-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=5506&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 2, 2020 Class Period: February 7, 2019 to October 9, 2019 Allegations against FSCT include that: (i) Forescout was experiencing significant volatility with respect to large deals and issues related to the timing and execution of deals in the Company's pipeline, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; (ii) the foregoing was reasonably likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's financial results; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Westpac Banking Corporation (WBK) If you suffered a loss, contact us at: http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/westpac-banking-corporation-loss-submission-form?prid=5506&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 30, 2020 Class Period: November 11, 2015 to November 19, 2019 Allegations against WBK include that: (1) contrary to Australian law, the Company failed to report over 19.5 million international funds transfer instructions to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre ("AUSTRAC"); (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 Westpac 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 Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Policy 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. Story continues HP Inc. (HPQ) If you suffered a loss, contact us at: http://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/hp-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=5506&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 20, 2020 Class Period: February 23, 2017 to October 3, 2019 According to the filed complaint, defendants knew that HP's "four-box" model for measuring its supplies business was severely deficient and not a strong predictor of supplies demand and outcomes because HP lacked telemetry data from its commercial printers and had to use unreliable and stagnant market share data to develop assumptions for the four-box model. The complaint further alleges that defendants knew the lack of telemetry data for commercial printing was a critical shortcoming of the four-box model because HP possessed telemetry data on its personal printing side and knew it was a necessary element for an accurate understanding of the supplies channel. As a result, the supplies inventory in the Company's channel exceeded demand by at least $100 million and HP's supplies revenue growth was grossly inflated. To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140. Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Vincent Wong, Esq. 39 East Broadway Suite 304 New York, NY 10002 Tel. 212.425.1140 Fax. 866.699.3880 E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/577438/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-FSCT-WBK-HPQ-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines BBC presenter Mishal Husain was paid to appear at Norwegian gas and oil industry events, causing critics to call for tighter rules on 'moonlighting' TV stars. The Radio 4's Today programme presenter, 47, has taken part in at least 10 functions and just last week appeared at the Oslo Energy Forum. Ms Husain moderated the event - which she has also been apart of at least five times previously - but it is not known how much she was paid, reports The Times. However other BBC stars are listed on speaking agency websites as being able to charge between 10,000 and 25,000 to attend corporate events. BBC presenter Mishal Husain (pictured) was paid to appear at Norwegian gas and oil industry events, causing critics to call for tighter rules While at the forum Ms Husain, who was billed as an International broadcaster and earned 255,000 at the BBC last year, moderated discussions on topics such as 'climate action in a world of cherished entitlements'. As well as the three-day Oslo Energy Forum appearances, Ms Husain has attended a conference staged by Equinor, Norway's state-controlled oil company. Presenters can agree to other work so long as it does not undermine the BBC's impartiality. There is no suggestion that Ms Husain has gone against guidelines. However environmental groups have claimed that the corporation's reputation could be at risk if it lets journalists earn money from industries which pollute. Extinction Rebellion said: 'This is yet another uncomfortable example of the insidious relationship between fossil fuel companies and the media.' It comes after MPs demanded the BBC to publish a 'register of presenters' interests to allow greater scrutiny. The Radio 4's Today programme presenter (left and right) has appeared at the Oslo Energy Forum and a conference staged by Equinor, Norway's state-controlled oil company in the past 'There should be a register of interests so the public can see what they are doing,' Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the Daily Mail last April. Other high-profile presenters have previously been scrutinised for their appearances at business events. For example Fiona Bruce, who is paid 255,000-a-year for her role as Question Time host, had to pull out of a Henley & Partners conference last year. She and business editor Simon Jack were set to speak but it was then revealed that the company had been accused of unwittingly helping criminals obtain passports. Jon Sopel has also been critisised for his appearances. He spoke at a Philip Morris International staff conference in Miami last April. Anti-smoking charities criticised the veteran correspondent, who is the North America editor, after the news broke last year. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said at the time: It is disappointing that someone representing the BBC is speaking at an event sponsored by the biggest tobacco company in the world. Philip Morris declined to discuss whether Mr Sopel received a fee, but an agency advertising his public speaking charges up to 25,000 to book him. A spokeswoman for the BBC told The Times: 'The BBC's editorial guidelines allow BBC journalists to carry out external speaking, or chairing, engagements as long as they maintain objectivity and impartiality.' Sisodia also referred to the erstwhile Article 270 (3), which discussed the share of taxes between the Centre and the Union Territories. New Delhi: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday met Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and demanded Delhis share in Central taxes, which he said would help speed up cleaning of the Yamuna and make arrangements for sufficient electricity and water supply in the city. Taking to Twitter, Mr Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio in the AAP government, said Delhi has not been given any share in the Central taxes since 2001. In the meeting, he also demanded funds for all the three municipal corporations in Delhi the same way as Centre gives money to civic bodies in other states. According to a government statement, Mr Sisodia, in a letter to Ms Sitharaman, urged her to consider providing Delhi a share in the Central taxes. Mr Sisodia also referred to the erstwhile Article 270 (3), which discussed the share of taxes between the Centre and the Union Territories. While the Delhi government has to maintain infrastructure that meets world standards, it also has to improve supply of civic amenities to the burgeoning population who legitimately expect employment and a fulsome life in the city, Mr Sisodia said in the letter. Consequently, large investments in education, health, social, food securities, transport, roads, and hospitals among others have to be made, the deputy chief minister said. But for the inadvertent omission of erstwhile Article 270 (3) of the Constitution of India, the government of NCT of Delhi would be getting its legitimate share in Central taxes of at least `7,000 crore per annum, with an appropriate annual enhancement like other states, to finance the development needs, Mr Sisodia said. He also urged Ms Sitharaman to provide additional Terms of Reference to the Fifteenth Finance Commission to enable it to recommend legitimate share of NCT of Delhi in the Central taxes. The NCT of Delhi has the character of a state and therefore is eligible to be treated at par with other states for receiving a share of the Central taxes, Mr Sisodia said. In the letter, he also said that the Fifteenth Finance Commission, in its report for the financial year 2020-21, has provided one per cent of the divisible pool for the newly formed Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and assign the same to the Central government. As you are aware, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the NCT of Delhi are on a similar footing within our Constitution as Union Territories with legislature. Accordingly, additional terms of reference to the finance commission at this stage would bring justice to the people of the NCT of Delhi and rectify the anomaly created by the inadvertent omission of Article 270 (3), he added. On The View, Meghan McCain is known for her conservative viewpoints. McCain is never afraid to speak her mind and give her opinion, which often leads to her clashing with the other co-hosts on the show. Recently on The View, McCain offered praise to presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren for her performance in the Nevada Democratic Debate. Meghan McCain | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal Meghan McCain tweeted during the debate The Nevada Democratic Debate aired on NBC on Feb. 19, and during the debate McCain tweeted her opinions. YES WARREN, FINISH HIM! Here for the Bloomberg roast. #DemDebate, McCain wrote on Twitter. I like Bloomberg defending capitalism. #DemDebate, she tweeted. McCain also tweeted, Yessssss! Inject this into my veins!! The best known socialist in American owns three houses.' At the end of the debate, McCain praised Warren for her debate performance. By far my favorite Dem debate. Especially with Warren burning everything to the ground on the way out. #DemocraticDebate, she tweeted. Meghan McCain praised Elizabeth Warren on The View On Feb. 20, Warren appeared on The View to talk about her campaign and the debate. So folks are saying last night was your night, Whoopi Goldberg told Warren. And from the clip we played you pulled no punches. How are you feeling about your performance? You know, I feel good about it, Warren said. I had a job to do and I came and I did it. McCain then sincerely congratulated Warren on the debate. First of all, congratulations last night, she said. I really enjoyed watching you. The conservative co-host of The View then told Warren she enjoyed watching her rip out Mayor Bloombergs jugular. Thats so nice, Warren said. The commentary from McCain and Warren received a laugh from the audience and other co-hosts of The View. The two discussed the Nevada Democratic Debate After a brief moment of laughter, McCain continued praising Warren and said she agreed with Warrens criticism of Bloomberg. I really did. I take great offense at the idea that youve been running for President, all the other candidates have been running for President for a long time, you should just drop out because he has billions of dollars, McCain said. McCain then brought up Bloombergs history and asked for Warrens opinion on why he has not faced much scrutiny until now. The time that Trump came up last night was when you compared him to saying that Democrats arent going to win the nomination if they have a history of harassing women. I think this is an incredibly strong point. He has a history of both misogynistic and racially-charged comments over a long period of time, and I believe the media has given him a huge pass on this. And I think its very confusing for Democrats. Why do you think the media seems to want to give Bloomberg a pass until you rightfully so called him out last night? She asked. You know I think youre asking the question, Meghan, Why do they always seem to give the billionaires extra consideration?' Warren said. Because I think thats whats happened here. But you know what Ill bet hes doing right now? Ill bet hes reaching in his pocket and spending $100 million more on advertising to try and erase everyones memory of what happened last night. Viewers seemed pleasantly surprised with the praise On social media, some who tuned into The View were impressed that Warren was able to have McCain agree with her. Others expressed shock that McCain actually praised a Democratic candidate. Elizabeth Warren is making so much sense on The View right now that even Meghan McCain is quietly nodding along in agreement. #TheView, tweeted writer Charlotte Clymer. One Twitter user wrote, Whos THIS Meghan McCain? Did I miss something? The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted Morocco a $204 million loan, destined to finance the Social Protection Improvement Support Program (PAAPS). The loan, extended over 4 years, will back an integrated support program for the improvement of social protection in Morocco, the aim being to achieve 80 per cent social security coverage in Morocco by 2023. The program covers several components, notably the construction of hospital centers in Guelmim and Ouarzazate, and the upgrading of some 100 hospital units in rural areas and 31 social protection facilities in the regions of Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Guelmim-Oued Noun and Daraa-Tafilalet, said minister of Economy & Finance Mohamed Benchaaboun, during the signing ceremony of the loan agreement Friday in Rabat. Resident representative of AfDB office in Morocco, Leila Farah Mokaddem, said the program will help strengthen medical coverage, particularly through the Medical Assistance Scheme (RAMED) and extension of medical coverage for self-employed workers. The PAAPS will also allow the improvement of care to people with specific needs as it provides for the rehabilitation of 144 social protection institutions, the establishment of the integrated hospital information system, and the equipment of Primary health care establishments with telemedicine tools, to allow a permanent exchange of information between all hospital structures across regions, Leila Farah Mokaddem said. She also noted that this operation consolidates the continuity of AfDB support to Morocco in the field of social protection with a series of operations initiated 15 years ago, reiterating that the objective is to broaden social protection, particularly for people with disabilities, children and vulnerable women in the most remote regions. AfDB, Moroccos decades-long partner, provides the Kingdom with financial support in a wide range of sectors, making it the largest recipient of loans on the African continent. In 2019, AfDB provided funding for 35 projects in Morocco for a total investment of about $3 billion, according to a synthetic review of the banks results from September 2019. The funding covered the sectors of energy (31.5%), transpor-tation (19.8%), water and sanitation (15.5%), as well as mul-ti-sectoral and social development operations (12.7%). AfDB funding also focused on the private sector (11.2%) and agriculture (9.4%). Class tells, it's said, and Meghan Markle is now showing Britain's royal family she has absolutely none. Here's the latest from the Daily Mail: Meghan Markle has told friends there is nothing 'legally stopping' her and Prince Harry from using their Sussex Royal name, despite the Queen banning them from using it, DailyMail.com has learned. The 38-year-old complained to her inner circle that using the name 'shouldn't even be an issue in the first place and it's not like they want to be in the business of selling T-shirts and pencils,' the insider said. They added: 'Meghan said she's done with the drama and has no room in her life for naysayers, and the same goes for Harry.' On Tuesday, DailyMail revealed the Queen and senior officials agreed the two could no longer keep the word 'royal' in their 'branding', despite the likely thousands of dollars Meghan and Harry have already sunk into their website and trademark applications. Didn't she get a hint? Not only is she disrespectful of the queen, who gave her the now shucked royal title, but she seem to view her gift from her mother-in-law as a moneymaking device. This, as the Brits say, is "not done." And what's with this "leaks to the press" thing? Classy royals associate only those who don't... Peerage power derives from the sovereign and is highly symbolic, so to be openly vowing to defy the queen on the use of a title that the queen herself gave is a good way of getting the whole thing yanked. Harry and Meghan, despite dumping royal life for the private sector and leaving the others to do the work of royals, still have a few of their titles, but they're not supposed to use them. Well, they are, and for the tackiest of reasons: money-making purposes. That's not the half of it, though. Calling a product line "Sussex Royal" in itself is about as tacky as it gets. It's got the distinct odor of "parvenu." It's something done by con men or low-class hucksters with ambitions, not authentic royals. It has the sound of a phony title, not a real one, leaving the unavoidable suggestion that the Sussexes dropped their real royal titles for ersatz ones. Pasting that little "royal" up there in the title as a reminder to the rubes signals a sort of absence of confidence as well as a preening desire to still be treated like royals, despite bugging out on the royal family. Because if you have to announce you're actually royal to your audience...well, you aren't. Royals know that the classy way to announce themselves, in fact, is through understatement. In Meghan's and Harry's case, "Sussex" might be acceptable or, better still, "Meghan-and-Harry" if they what they wanted was to sell goods under some kind of brand name. Tacking "royal" onto the whole thing howls of gauche, screams cheesiness. The duke of Marlborough, for instance, answers his phone "Marlborough!," not "Marlborough royal." When Prince William and Duchess Catherine paid a visit to Beverly Hills for a polo game a few years ago, the goggling locals asked the couple what the proper way to address them was, since they didn't know. "William," "Kate," the heirs to the throne replied sweetly, winning hearts all around for their apparent modesty and unpretentiousness. Real royals know how this stuff is done. Not Meghan, who's now dragging Harry down into her low-class Hollywood C-list orbit. The Daily Mail reports that Mrs. Windsor now says she's not going to do that. It's rather late for that, though. Why did she pay for all the trademarks for hoodies and other tourist tschotschkas to sell? The pair claim they were being protective by getting those names out of circulation, but who believes that? Nope, they wanted to sell goods and make money off that very new peerage of theirs that they don't think represents anything other than a money-making opportunity. It's as classless in every sense as it looks. Image credit: Mark Jones via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo: (Photo : pixabay) Tiktok, one of the most popular social media applications for teenagers, introduced its "Family Safety Mode" on February 19, 2020. This new feature is created so that parents can set limits on their teen's usage of the application. The feature also includes limits on direct messages, management control on the screen-time and a restriction mode that limits the appearance of sexual and inappropriate content. TikTok parental control According to TikTok, parents and guardians who want to use the parental control feature must first sign up for a TikTok account. After registration, their account can be linked to their child's account and they can start using the feature and control what their child sees on the application and how long their child can use the application every day. The "Family Safety Mode" is already in the application's settings, but for now it is only available in the UK. The parent or guardian just needs to activate it and set it up. Teenagers can't change the settings of the feature with the permission of their parent or their guardian because both accounts will be needed to make any changes. Although it does not explain if the new feature works perfectly because no test run was released to the public, parents are still thrilled at the thought that they can protect their teens from any harmful and sexual content that they may be exposed to on the application. Why launch a parental control? Tiktok is very popular among children and teenagers, a study shows that children as young as 10-years old have their own phones. According to Stephen Balkam, a member of the charity Family Online Safety Institute, parents having their own accounts to monitor their child's usage can be a good thing. The charity believes that good parenting involves parents monitoring their child's online activities and creating content together. According to John Carr, secretary of the Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety in the UK, said that TikTok is an application that is not suited for children below 13-years old. In fact, as soon as you sign up for an account, a prompt will appear to verify if you are 13-years old and above. Celebrities use the application, and teenagers can be easily persuaded to purchase items with real money from celebrities and influencers. An investigation that was done by the BBC showed that teenagers were pressured to send money in exchange for messages and phone numbers. The dangers of TikTok In December 2019, TikTok and ByteDance, a parent company, were sued by two families from Illinois. They accused ByteDance of tracking, collecting and disclosing private information, including their names, emails and phone numbers. They stated that the information was disclosed to a third party group that targeted minors who use TikTok. Under COPPA or the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law that was written in 1998 that offers privacy protection for children online, applications that are geared toward children can't collect personal and private information on children who are under the age of 13 without the consent from their guardians or their parents. Even though the case was settled, issues still persist for the company. In 2019, TikTok, formerly known as Musical.ly, settled a $5.7 million fine over a separate complaint about COPPA violations. ALSO READ: What Pros and Cons Does Social Media Have for Your Children? If Jose Mourinho needs a striker, then he could do worse than look at Troy Parrott. I remember being at Liverpool and hearing about this 14-year-old kid at Everton. His name was Wayne Rooney, and everyone was raving about him. Two years later, in 2002, I was lining up in the tunnel at Goodison Park for Tottenham and who was standing next to me, about to make his debut? Rooney, aged 16. Youngster Troy Parrott could be the man to solve Jose Mourinho's striker crisis at Tottenham He was thrown into the mens game and clearly showed he was ready for it. So did Marcus Rashford when he made his first-team debut for Manchester United in 2016. He was fast-tracked and flew. This brings me to Parrott, the 18-year-old prospect at Tottenham. With Harry Kane and Son Heung-min sidelined, his is a name on the lips of Spurs supporters. Mourinho has claimed Parrott is not ready but my sources at Tottenham say he is the real deal, with all the attributes to go to the very top. He has power, pace and is not the type to be fazed by a challenge. Hes been training with the first team, learning from the master Kane and has been capped by Ireland. I have every faith that Parrott is more than capable of doing a job for Mourinho and I hope he gets an opportunity to prove that, even if its off the substitutes bench. Spurs are facing an injury crisis with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both on the sidelines Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath inaugurated a Forestry Conference of Indian Forest Service officers at Noronha Academy of Administration in Bhopal on Saturday. Speaking at the conference he emphasised on the usage of forest produce and the role of forests in economic growth. "I have been connected to forests for the past 30 years. But the time has changed from what it used to be 30 years ago and we have to acknowledge this. I was first-time Member of Parliament(MP) when the forest act was passed during the Indira Gandhi government," the chief minister said. "Madhya Pradesh has huge biodiversity and our forest produce is a big attraction for the global research firm. Our focus should be on enhancing and refining our forest produce. We should focus on increasing economic activity in our forest areas. More people should get employment through increased economic activity," he said. The CM was accompanied by state forest minister Umang Singher for the event, being held in Bhopal for the first time. "Conflicts will be the biggest challenge for forest conservation in the future for which we have to strike a balance, as they are our biggest treasure," he told reporters after the event. Chief Minister Kamal Nath also released three books including 'Camping Destinations of MP', 'Wildlife Destination Map of MP' and a magazine at the IFS meet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six top Irish designers will install new pop up structures around Cork City this coming May as part of the second edition of Design Pop festival. Each designer will be paried with Cork based food or drink producer to create a 'bespoke space' to explore and interact with. or drink producer to create a bespoke space which the public are invited to explore and interact with. The 2019 edition saw designers Shane O'Driscoll, Alan Macilwraith, Fior studios, Meitheal Architects, Conor Merriman, and Alex Pentex team up with food specialists Banana Melon, Good Day Deli, All Full up, My Goodness, Soma and Applebee cakes. The pairings for this year have yet to be announced. As well as this exciting new design and food trail across the city, the festival also hosts a jam-packed programme of exhibitions, talks, and workshops. The events will take place both within the designed structures and in more unusual spaces around Cork allowing artists, creatives, food stylists, producers, designers, and makers, to discuss and showcase their work processes. Festival director Amy McKeogh described the festival as a celebration of innovation and creativity and, indeed, all things Cork. David Becker/Reuters As they showed in Wednesday nights debate, the Democratic presidential hopefuls didnt come to Nevada to play games. They came to fight one another, hammer and tong, with the passion one sees in a UFC fight at the MGM Grand. And the big prize the Democratic frontrunnersBernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Joe Bidenare fighting over is the all-important Latino vote. The stakes are huge. Nevada is the first Latino contest in the Democratic primary election. Iowa is 6.2 percent Latino, and New Hampshire is just 3.9 percent Latino. Nevada is 30 percent. As for how all those people break down politically, the outlook in Nevada looks a lot like what we see throughout the Southwest. Democrats hold a 2-1 advantage over Republicans in terms of registered Latino voters. But what keeps Democrats up at night, and keeps them stumping for votes in Mexican-American barrios and Mexican restaurants, is that Latinos have a tendency to wander off and vote for Republicans they can live with. They just dont bother to change their party registration. Besides, a Republican only has to get 30 percent of the Latino vote to wreak havoc on an election. Latinos are Americas largest minority. They now make up about 18 percent of the U.S. population and are on pace to account for a quarter of the population by 2030. They are a constituency that Democrats cannot afford to ignore. Although they try sometimes. Saturday, that constituency is up for grabs. So who is in the best position to grab most of it? Even without an endorsement by the powerful Culinary Union, Sanders has the best ground game. The Vermont senator was the top choice in two recent polls of Latinos, conducted by Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Univision. Biden also polls well with Latinos, particularly the elderly. Whether shopping for detergent or presidents, were known for brand loyalty. The Biden brand is strong. Besides, the former vice president can take a punch. Latinos like that. On Thursday, Biden was endorsed by Latino Victory, the PAC co-founded by Eva Longoria. Story continues Warren doesnt seem to be gaining from Julian Castros endorsement. Latinos dont have a record of transferring enthusiasm from one candidate to another based on an endorsement. The Massachusetts senator has to make her own connection. Im not sure that has happened yet. Buttigieg flubbed an attempt to speak a few words of Spanish to a Latino group, and he had to quickly revert to English as the crowd laughed nervously. Thats not a deal-breaker but it does remind voters that South Bend is not in the Southwest. Klobuchar couldnt name the president of Mexico, and then arrogantly quipped that running for president wasnt Jeopardy! Dont be surprised if the Minnesota senator is sent home without a parting gift from Latino voters. In Nevada, Latino immigrants arealong with gaming and unionsone of the major economic and political forces in the state. That is likely one of the main reasons that Nevada hasnt gone the way of neighboring Arizona, which 10 years ago declared war on its demographic changes, and the people causing them, by passing a law requiring state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws. But nor do most Nevadans want to be anything like their neighbor to the west. Each year, Californians account for 20 to 25 percent of the 43 million people who visit Las Vegas. And because of the states low cost of living, some of those Californians decide to stay. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, from July 2017 to 2018, more than 50,000 Californians moved to Nevada. Talk to longtime residents of Vegas, as I did during a recent visit, and you will detect nervousness about whether theyre importing not just Californians but also the left-wing politics of the dark blue state. After all, if you made the same trek 20 or 30 years agomoving from, say, Los Angeles to Nevada after the L.A. riots, or the 2001 economic recessionpart of what you fled was a California style of governance that was already becoming too expensive to maintain. Now, what you were running away from has caught up with you. Education and water are still leading issues of concern, but lately the hottest issue is taxes. Nevadans have had a good thing going for decades with low sales taxes, property taxes, and no state income taxes. That may change as some try to raise money for state and county coffers. While there has always been a strong Mormon influence in the state, Latinos are likely to run the table soon. There is some friction with African-Americans who, at 6 percent of the population, feel displaced. But so far, its minimal. The major split is North vs. South. The latter is more diverse and generates most of the income for the state. This leads to resentment in liberal Vegas that conservative cities like Elko or Reno are getting a free ride. And Elko and Reno dont like Vegas because it seems like an eastern annex of California. And lets not forget about President Trump. He also has designs on Nevada and on getting a slice of the Latino vote. Once the primary is over with, and they choose their nominee, Democrats will have another battle on their handswith Trump, over Latinos. Trump got 28 percent of the Latino vote nationally in 2016. Polls suggest he could top 30 percent this year. That would make it nearly impossible for any Democratic nominee to win the White House. In Nevada, Trump stands to do well with Latinos. His message of job creation and economic growth will resonate in a boomtown like Las Vegas. Hell also benefit from the fact that Latinos in Nevadalike other inhabitants of the West have an independent streak. They do whatever they want, without apology. The future isnt blue or red. Its purple. Nevada, and its six electoral votes, will matter in November. Bet on it. 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. Swell Media Who among us has suffered an airline delay or cancellation, or even been bumped from a flight? Plenty. Who's been compensated for the inconvenience? Probably not very many. One Berlin-based firm, AirHelp, is trying to rectify that, educating flyers around the world of their rights to compensation and, for a fee, helping them secure it. What rights? U.S. air passengers could be forgiven for asking. Indeed, if you're flying domestic in the States, airlines aren't legally required to do anything for you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. If your flight is overbooked, your carrier might or might not compensate you, depending on circumstances. "If you compare the level of rights you have as a passenger flying domestic in the U.S., it's quite low compared to Canada, the European Union or even South America," said Christian Nielsen, chief legal officer at AirHelp. Paul Hudson, president of Sarasota, Florida-based passenger advocacy group FlyersRights.org, agreed. "The U.S. is a black hole," he said, compared to other nations in terms of airline customer rights. "The only way you get compensation for domestic delays is if you're bumped. More from Personal Finance: This app eases clearing U.S. customs, immigration How to pick the best travel rewards credit card The world's best, and worst, attractions for value "Everything else is pretty much up to the airlines," Hudson said. There are cases when American air passengers are, in fact, covered. That's when they either board a foreign carrier, particularly one based in the E.U. or Canada, or fly any airline out of those jurisdictions, which offer greater protections than the U.S. That's where AirHelp can come to their aid. The firm, founded in 2013 by former CEO Henrik Zillmer and two other business travelers when they were grounded in Asia without recompense, lets travelers search flights at its Airhelp.com website by departure date, origin and destination, and flight number to determine claim eligibility. If affected passengers are entitled to some form of compensation, AirHelp will offer to argue their case. If an award is won, the firm takes 35% as a service fee. To date, AirHelp said it has aided more than 16 million travelers in 35 countries win compensation from airlines. Last year, 343,000 passengers from the U.S. were eligible for compensation under the E.U.'s Flight Compensation Regulation, also known as EC 261, although most weren't aware of it, said Nielsen. "It's surprisingly many," he said, noting that a recent AirHelp/YouGov survey found that even in the E.U., which has the strongest and oldest passenger rights regulations, less than half of travelers were aware of possible compensation by airlines. "And even those who know they have rights don't necessarily file for compensation because they think it's too difficult or they think the airlines will try to give them some BS answer," Nielsen said. "It's even lower for U.S. passengers." The same survey found that only 2 in 10 U.S. travelers know their rights. EC 261, enacted back in 2004, entitles all passengers flying an E.U.-based airline or departing an E.U. airport to compensation of up to $700 for delays of more than 2 hours, cancellations or denied boarding due to overbooking. That includes U.S. residents boarding an E.U. airline or flying any carrier from an E.U. airport. "It doesn't matter who you are or where you live, it only matters where you're flying," said Nielsen. Here's how it works: If you're flying a U.S. carrier to Europe, you're not covered by EC 261, but if you're flying that airline back to the States from Europe, you are. Fly an E.U.-based airline anywhere, including on a codeshare flight ticketed by a U.S. carrier, and you're eligible. "What matters is which airline is operating the flight, not who sold it," said Nielsen. If you're flying out of the U.S., it's actually difficult not to be covered by rights. Christian Nielsen chief legal officer at AirHelp What if you're flying internationally but not bound for Europe? Not to fear, said Nielsen. "If you're flying out of the U.S., it's actually difficult not to be covered by rights," he said. "Canada just passed its own act on passenger rights very similar to the [rules] in the E.U.: a three-hour delay and you're entitled to compensation. "If you fly south to Mexico, Brazil or Argentina, they also have air passenger rights for delays and cancellations." According to Canadian Transportation Agency regulations enacted last December, passengers are entitled to among other rights $125 to $1,000 in Canadian dollars (about $94-$754 U.S.) for flight disruptions, depending on the length of delay and airline size, and anywhere from $900 to $2,400 Canadian ($679-$1,811 U.S.) for denied boarding. (There have been recent hiccups in the new claims-settling process, however, according to Canadian national broadcaster CBC News.) For its part, Mexico enacted a host of new passenger rights in 2017, including reimbursement of full fare, plus 25%, or rebooking on the first available flight, with overnight accommodation and meals if necessary, for cancellations or delays of more than four hours. Glow Images The U.S. Department of Transportation's page on air passenger consumer protections can be found at transportation.gov/airconsumer. Under American law, passengers on U.S. carrier flights might receive compensation if denied boarding due to overbooking, unless: There is an aircraft change; It is a matter of weight or balance, on a plane with fewer than 60 seats; They're on a plane with fewer than 30 seats; They're on a charter flight; They're departing a foreign airport. If a U.S. carrier downgrades a passenger to a lower class, the passenger is entitled to the difference in fare. Passengers are entitled to compensation for bumping if they are not disqualified for one of the above reasons, have a confirmed reservation, checked in on time, arrived at departure gate on time and the carrier cannot get them to their destination within one hour of their original flight's arrival time. After a widely publicized 2017 incident in which a passenger was dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, major U.S. carriers now offer hundreds to thousands of dollars in flight credits or cash to volunteers who willingly give up their seats when on oversold flights. Delta Air Lines, for example, will pay as much as $9,950, depending on circumstances. (AirHelp advises the estimated 169 million U.S. passengers affected by flight disruptions to hang on to all trip documentation for pursuing claims, which remain valid for filing for three years after trip completion.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22 By Samir Ali - Trend: On the occasion of the Day of Road Workers (professional holiday in Azerbaijan), Saleh Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads and the agencys staff visited the Alley of Honor in Baku, the grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports. The visitors also laid flowers at the grave of the outstanding scientist and ophthalmologist, Academician Zarifa Aliyeva. The agency's officials also visited the Alley of Martyrsand paid respects to the heroic sons of Azerbaijan, who fell for the struggle for independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, also laying a wreath at the Eternal Flame Memorial. The event on the occasion of the professional holiday continued in the administrative building of the agency. Opening the event, Saleh Mammadov spoke about the country's success in the development of road infrastructure. Speakers at the event noted that to ensure convenient and unhindered transportation of citizens and goods, the development of tourism and agriculture, which directly affects the standard of living of the population, over 6,000 roads have been laid over the past five years, avenues and streets have been built, reconstructed and repaired. Only in 2019, construction work was completed on 54 road infrastructure projects with a total length of 1,376 kilometers. Work in this direction will continue in 2020, over 50 projects are planned regarding road infrastructure, including the construction and repair of inter-village and intra-village roads. At the end of the event on the occasion of the Day of Road Workers of Azerbaijan, honorary diplomas, certificates and awards were given out to a number of media representatives, as well as some employees of the agency, for accurate and detailed informing the public about the work done in the development of road infrastructure. Austin Lane, Texas Southern Universitys outgoing president, said Friday that his buyout package totals at least $879,000 including $100,000 for emotional distress, damage to his reputation and mental anguish. A settlement agreement released Friday by TSU shows a lump sum payment of $560,000, plus unpaid vacation time, deferred compensation and the cash value of his life insurance policy. The legal document didnt offer details on the value of those benefits. Lane told the Houston Chronicle that hes owed $80,000 in vacation time and nearly $240,000 in deferred compensation, which would bring his total buyout package to $879,000. The 3-page document shows that Lane waived his right to sue TSU, and both parties agreed to part ways without disparaging each other publicly. TSU released the confidential settlement agreement Friday after receiving an open-records request by the Chronicle. Legal settlements involving public entities are subject to Texas open records law. Lanes departure from TSU concluded months of tension between Lane and the board of regents. With no explanation, the board put Lane on paid leave on Jan. 10. Minutes after that meeting, Lanes interim replacement as president, Kenneth Huewitt, fired Lanes longtime special assistant, Wendell Williams. Nearly a month later, on Feb. 4, the board voted to begin the process to fire Lane. That same day, it released a termination letter alleging that Lane had failed to report fraudulent and dishonest activities in the admissions office of TSUs law school. Lane responded by holding a news conference, accusing the board of conducting a witch hunt against him, and releasing an 8-page letter that responded to the boards allegations, point by point. john.tedesco@chron.com Evening Standard Commuters are set to face further travel chaos in the New Year after the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) voted for a six-month strike from January 7. The RMT action will see its members conduct a walk-out on the Victoria and Central lines from 8.30pm on Friday until 8am on Saturday, and from 8.30pm on Saturday until 8am on Sunday. Set to be the longest strike in London Underground history, it will take place from Friday January 7 and continue each weekend until June. In Georgia, more than 30 citizens of the country who arrived from China were quarantined in a hotel-type complex in the territory of the Medical Center in the village of Sachkhere (Imereti region), the head of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Amiran Gamkrelidze informed. According to him, some of the passengers had been infected with coronavirus. "Therefore, such measures were necessary. None of them have a fever or suspicious symptoms characteristic of coronavirus, but we considered it necessary for them to spend two weeks in quarantine under medical supervision," Sputnik-Georgia quotes Gamkrelidze as saying. The United Kingdom Government has warned Nigerians intending to study in Britain to desist from money laundering and other criminal activities. The UK gave this warning on Friday in Abuja through the UKs National Economic Crime Centre at a meeting, according to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education. The NECC said students were usually targeted through social media platforms for the use of their accounts for third party funds transfer, usually for a fee. The Ministry of Education, in the statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong, said, The British Government has warned intending Nigerian students to the United Kingdom against engaging in money laundering and other criminal activities. The British Government emphasised the need for students to be mindful of how their bank accounts are used, especially for the transfer of illicit funds as this will result in the termination of their studies and prosecution, when caught. While pledging to strengthen its fight against money laundering this year, the government disclosed that it discovered and froze 95 bank accounts, mostly belonging to international students. It stressed its resolve to take more concrete steps against the activities of money launderers, saying this is prompted by its plan to reintroduce a post study work visa for international graduate students in 2020 which is expected to increase the number of international students, including Nigeria. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Lucky Blue Smith wed 'best friend' Nara Pellman in a romantic beach side wedding in California on Friday. The model, 21, tied the knot with the catwalk queen, 24, in front of close family and friends, three months after going public with their relationship. Nara looked elegant in her satin ivory gown, which had a halterneck design and was cinched at the waist so the skirt fell gracefully over her slender frame. 'I married my best friend today!' Lucky Blue Smith revealed on Friday that he's tied the knot with fellow model Nara Pellman... as he shared steamy video from big day Nara's gorgeous wedding gown had long puffy sleeves, and had cut-out detailing on the front and back to accentuate her statuesque figure. She wore her brunette curls in a high ponytail, and gave her look a glittering touch by wearing a pair of diamond stud earrings. Enjoying their beach-side nuptials, Nara and Lucky Blue opted not to wear shoes and their guests followed suit. The model, who began his career at the age of 12, looked dapper in a light blue suit that had dark blue detailing on the lapel, and which he teamed with a white shirt and a black tie. Happy couple: The model, 21, tied the knot with the catwalk queen, 24, in front of close family and friends, three months after going public with their relationship Over the moon: Nara shared a video with Lucky Blue as he held her and span her around while they kissed Model: Lucky Blue began his career when he appeared in Vogue Hommes Japan at the age of 12, and he has since modelled with Calvin Klein and Tom Hilfiger (pictured in November) Rising star: Nara, meanwhile, is signed to IMG, and, while she is still in the early stages of her profession, has a blossoming career ahead of her Gushing about the big day, Nara captioned a video of the pair kissing: 'the boy who stole my heart... I married my best friend today.' While Lucky Blue shared the same sentiment, as he told fans: 'i married my best friend today.' They were joined at the event by his sister, Pyper America Smith, and Pypers Australian husband Quaid Rippon Holder, who they took a fun video with. Happy couple: They gave fans a look behind-the-scenes of the big day on social media, and he shared a steamy video where his wife sat atop him while they lounged on the grass and kissed Stunning: Nara's gorgeous wedding gown had long puffy sleeves, and had cut-out detailing on the front and back to accentuate her statuesque figure Glamorous: Nara wore her brunette curls in a high ponytail, and gave her look a glittering touch by wearing a pair of diamond stud earrings Relaxed: Enjoying their beach-side nuptials, Nara and Lucky Blue opted not to wear shoes and her bridesmaids and their guests followed suit The happy couple gave fans a look behind-the-scenes of the big day on social media, and he shared a steamy video where his wife sat atop him while they lounged on the grass and kissed. Lucky Blue and Nara first began posting pictures of one another in November, and the male model made their relationship Instagram official that same month. In December, they fuelled engagement rumours when Nara shared an image of their hands which showed off her sparkling ring as they made a 'pinky promise' to each other,and he posted another image with the word 'soulmate'. Family: They were joined at the event by Lucky Blue's sister, Pyper America Smith, and Pypers Australian husband Quaid Rippon Holder (pictured), who they took a fun video with Gorgeous gown: Nara informed fans that her wedding dress was from Orseund Iris Handsome: The model, who began his career at the age of 12, looked dapper in a light blue suit that had dark blue detailing on the lapel Different: Nara and Lucky Blue enjoyed a pile of donuts in lieu of a wedding cake Their wedding comes two years after Lucky Blue welcomed his first child, a daughter named Gravity, with his ex girlfriend Stormi Bree, 29. Lucky Blue began his modelling career when he appeared in Vogue Hommes Japan at the age of 12, and he has since modelled with Calvin Klein and Tom Ford. Nara, meanwhile, is signed to IMG, and has a blossoming career as a model. Whirlwind romance: Lucky Blue and Nara first began posting pictures of one another in November, and the male model made their relationship Instagram official that same month "I am getting my strength back day by day after being discharged from the hospital," said Mr. Yu, with his nose hooked up to a medical oxygen machine to support his breathing. The severely ill man in his early 50s recovered from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and was allowed to go home after receiving a 15-day treatment at Jinyintan Hospital in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. According to China's National Health Commission, as of Friday midnight, a total of 20,659 patients have recovered and have been discharged since the coronavirus emerged late last year. Despite Yu's negative coronavirus tests, he was left with a heavily impaired lung function. He coughed so much that he could only speak in broken words, relying on extra oxygen to relieve the symptom. "Even a slight move could bring me a bad cough and difficulty breathing to the extent that I could die at any moment," said Yu. But so far, Yu has felt that his symptoms are getting better, which has cheered him up so much that he has four meals a day. Staff from Yu's community and his doctor from Jinyintan have been keeping in touch to learn about his condition. After a fortnight of home quarantine, Yu returned to the hospital on Wednesday for a CT scan; the result showed significant improvement in his lung function and a blood-oxygen saturation of around 95, which reduced his need to take in extra oxygen up to an interval of six hours. Infection and recovery Yu recalled that he started to show symptoms, including fever, cough, severe muscle pain, and a loss of appetite, on Jan. 12. Considering that he has periodic bouts of couching every winter, he thought that he was suffering from acute bronchial paroxysms and chose to seek treatment at a community hospital nearby. After three days of treatment, his cough got even worse. On the evening of Jan. 15, Yu felt muscle aches while his temperature soared to 41 degrees Celsius. He rushed to his car and drove to the west campus of Wuhan Union Hospital only to find the facility packed with patients and a shortage of empty beds. Yu was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection after undergoing a blood test and a CT scan over his lung. He tried to figure out when and where he could have contracted the virus but had no luck. Fortunately, his family members have not been infected. Yu did not go home but stayed in his car all through the night. A deep fear gripped him as there was no specific drug that could kill the coronavirus. Even worse was that there was a huge shortage of hospital beds. Yu made a decision. "I would isolate myself from home until death even if there is no empty ward bed for me," he said. At dawn of the next day, Yu came back to the community hospital, notifying them of his infection. They helped him contact the Wuhan No. 5 Hospital, where he was admitted. Later in the early morning of Jan. 20, he fell unconscious and was transferred to Jinyintan Hospital, designated for critical COVID-19 patients. On the same day, human-to-human transmission in the COVID-19 outbreak was first confirmed by respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan, head of the National Health Commission's high-level expert team. Thanks to the timely treatment, Yu felt an improvement in his symptoms after a week in Jinyintan Hospital, which encouraged him to keep fighting. "I had no appetite at first, but I tried to cram food into my mouth and swallow it directly as my doctor told me to eat more to get my strength back," Yu said. Yu also talked about the role his willpower played in combating the virus. One day, he woke up in the hospital from unconsciousness caused by high fever only to find his family members burst into tears in a video call. "They need me," he thought. Gratitude and giving The experience of recovery allowed Yu to witness first-hand the work that front-line medical staff did to treat patients. They risked infection in handling urine and feces of critical coronavirus patients. Sometimes, they were so tired that they had to shuffle their feet across wards. Only late at night when they were not busy would they find a seat in the corridor to take a rest. When reports came that blood plasma from people who have recovered from the coronavirus can be used to treat those still battling the infection, Yu, with no hesitation, decided to donate his blood. However, he was refused by his doctor as he was still very weak. Preparations for the welcome of United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are in full swing in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, where they are scheduled to land on their two-day visit to the country. According to officials, a group of 19 people will play the conch, which is known as 'Sankhnaad' in Hinduism, as soon as the US President arrives at the Ahmedabad airport. This tune is believed to be the sound of 'Brahmnaad', the essence of the universe is energy, frequency and vibrations. "When the president of US Donald Trump will come to Ahmedabad Airport we will do the 'Brahmnaad'. Our team of 19 members will do the welcome by 'Shankhnaad'. When 'Shankhnaad' is done, there is a flow of positivity. In our culture, every god and goddesses have conch in there hand.," One of the artists, Samir Pandya, told ANI. "This teaches us that when this conch is played, there is an eruption of positivity. So, when Donald Trump arrives, he will feel the positivity and get to know the Indian culture," he added. The Trump family will also be welcomed by various Gujarati folk artists. Around 300 members of 17 groups will perform their folk art when Donald Trump and Melania Trump will be walking on the 150 feet long red carpet. The folk artists will be performing 'Beda Nrutya', 'Janaviya Dhol', 'Par Bedda Dance', 'Dhol Bhoongli Shehnai' and many other folk performances. After the grand welcome at the airport, Trump along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will en-route to Motera Stadium, where the two leaders will addres the 'Namaste Trump' mega event. Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner along with the US delegation will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global Brands launches new premium spirits unit Drinks producer and distributor Global Brands is staking a claim to the growing premium spirits sector with the launch of a new division. Inspirit will launch with a range of award-winning gins on board - the category on which it will initially focus its energies - but also spans other spirits categories. Its European portfolio includes Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka from Scotland's Dunnet Bay Distillers, Spanish brands Gin Raw, Bonato Aperitivo and Teichenne Gin and Liqueurs, Mistral Gin from France and Manchester-based Didsbury Gin. Led by commercial manager Tim Garratt, the Inspirit team includes specialists in cocktail consultancy, venue management and site openings. They will showcase the brands through collaborations and high-profile activations and use Global Brands' on and off-trade networks to further the products' growth. Tim Garratt said: "The initial focus of the Inspirit portfolio will be celebrating the growth and popularity of gin in the spirit industry, but we are actively looking for like-minded brands, especially within rum, tequila and whisky. "With a range of British and European distilleries included in our portfolio, Inspirit offers a choice of styles, each with a distinctive point of difference from natural flavourings to gastronomic techniques." Global Brands founder and chairman, Steve Perez, said: "The UK's demand for premium quality spirits and serves continues to rise and we want to ensure we remain at the forefront of these industry trends through the Inspirit team." 22 February 2020 - Bethany Whymark Results for 2020 Nevada caucuses The latest on the 2020 Nevada caucuses (all times local): 2 p.m. Bernie Sanders has moved on to Texas, where he addressed about 1,500 supporters in El Paso as the results came in from the Nevada caucuses. Early voting is already underway in Texas, one of the Super Tuesday states holding contests March 3. Before his El Paso campaign event, Sanders visited a memorial for the victims of the Aug. 3 shooting that left 22 dead and about two dozen injured, according to a local politician who addressed the crowd before Sanders took the stage. Another 2020 contender, Mike Bloomberg, also said he visited the memorial before his rally this month. 12:40 p.m. What happens at a Nevada caucus site if two candidates end up in a tie? According to one precinct leader, it comes down to the luck of the draw. Several hundred voters and about a dozen observers were crowded into a site on the University of Nevada campus in Reno when things got underway. The temporary precinct captain, Becky Cohen, explained the process and said everything will be transparent, with results at each stage written on poster boards stuck to the walls. She closed by holding up a deck of cards and saying, If there's a tie, God forbid, this is what we do. It's Nevada. ---------- Voting is underway across Nevada as the most diverse state so far has its say in the Democrats' nomination fight. Uniformed housekeepers and casino workers streamed into the Bellagio on Saturday, one of seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip among 200 caucus locations statewide hosting caucuses. Nevada is the third contest on a 2020 election calendar marked by chaos and uncertainty after the opening votes in Iowa and New Hampshire, overwhelmingly white, rural states. The first presidential contest in the West will test the candidates' strength with black and Latino voters for the first time in 2020. Nevada represents an opportunity for these candidates to demonstrate their appeal to a larger swath of our country, said state Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is not endorsing a candidate. Nevadas population aligns more with the U.S. as a whole, compared with Iowa and New Hampshire: 29% Latino, 10% black and 9% Asian American and Pacific Islander. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a moderate who has struggled with minority voters, was already playing down the caucuses and looking past Nevada. This is a big day. Were excited. But it is the beginning of the next chapter in our campaign, and this chapter is going to be really fast-moving because we have so many states that were going to be covering and so many events," she told volunteers at her Las Vegas campaign headquarters. The vote comes at a critical moment for the Democratic Party. Self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders has emerged as the clear front-runner as a half-dozen more moderate candidates savage one another. Each wants to be the preferred alternative to the Vermont senator in the race to take on President Donald Trump in November. Meantime, questions lingered about Nevada Democrats' ability to report election results quickly and new concerns surfaced about foreign interference in the 2020 contest. Sanders confirmed reports that he had been briefed by U.S. officials about a month ago that Russia was trying to help his campaign as part of Moscow's efforts to interfere in the election. It was not clear what role they were going to play, Sanders said. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign. He added, Heres the message to Russia: Stay out of American elections. Despite the distraction, Sanders was confident about Nevada. He has strong support from Latinos and rank-and-file union workers who have warmed to his calls to transform the nation's economy and political system to help the working class. There was skepticism about Pete Buttigieg's ability to win over a more diverse set of voters after strong finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire. Joe Biden, who struggled in those early states, looked to Nevada's voters of color to prove he still has a viable path to the nomination. Elizabeth Warren and Klobuchar were fighting for momentum, hoping to benefit from a sudden surge of outside money from newly created super PACs. Billionaire Tom Steyer spent more than $12 million of his own money on television advertising in Nevada, according to data obtained by The Associated Press. New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, wasn't on the ballot. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month. The caucuses were the first since technical glitches and human errors plagued Iowa's caucuses. Nearly three weeks later, state Democratic officials have yet to post final results. Related video: Nevada Democrats hope to avoid Iowa caucus chaos Nevada Democrats have projected confidence in their process, although Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has refused to commit to releasing the full results on the day of the vote. He said a number of factors, including early voting and potentially high turnout, could affect the tabulation and timing of results. In addition, Nevada, like Iowa, reports three sets of data from the multistage caucus process. One potential complication is the reporting system. On Friday, party leaders issued a memo clarifying that, while caucus leaders can still use an online form to submit results from individual precincts, they should use a dedicated hotline to call and text in results as their primary form of reporting. In Iowa, overwhelmed phone lines caused caucus leaders to wait on hold for hours, contributing to the delay in reporting the results. Nevada Democrats brought in extra help from other state parties to help handle the reporting process Saturday night. Early voting is likely to pose another challenge for calculating the caucus results. The state party has added to its responsibilities by offering early voting, which Iowa did not attempt. The party said nearly 75,000 Democrats cast early ballot and the majority were first-time caucusgoers. In 2016, a total of 84,000 Nevada voters participated in the Democratic caucuses. A small but significant number of the ballots cast early were disqualified. Of the more than 36,000 ballots that were cast through Monday, 1,124 ballots were voided largely because voters forgot to sign them, according to the state party, which did not release the final numbers. Party officials said they were reaching out to these voters and encouraging them to caucus in person Saturday. on Saturday said its board will meet on February 24 to chart out the future course of action following the telecom department's approval for merger with Indus Towers. The combination of and Indus Towers will create a pan-India tower company with over 163,000 towers, operating across all 22 telecom service areas. The combined entity will be the largest tower company in the world outside China. "...FDI approval for merger of Indus Towers with has been received late evening yesterday," Bharti Infratel said in a regulatory filing. It added that the board of directors of the company will meet on February 24, 2020 to "take stock and decide the future course of action". Bharti Infratel and Vodafone hold 42 per cent stake each in Indus. Vodafone Idea holds 11.15 per cent stake in the mobile tower firm. As per the plans, the combined company, which would fully own the respective businesses of Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers, would change its name to Indus Towers Ltd and will continue to be listed on Indian stock exchanges. The timely completion of the tower deal was critical for the companies, since it would allow Bharti and Vodafone Idea in offloading stake and raising funds. The development comes at a time when Vodafone Idea is confronted with total AGR dues of over Rs 53,000 crore. Of this, it has paid only Rs 3,500 crore in two tranches earlier this week. In all, as many as 15 entities owe the government Rs 1.47 lakh crore -- Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid licence fee and another Rs 55,054 crore in outstanding spectrum usage charges. These dues arose after the Supreme Court, in October last year, upheld the government's position on including revenue from non-core businesses in calculating the annual Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of telecom companies, a share of which is paid as licence and spectrum fee to the exchequer. Democratic presidential candidate, Mike Bloomberg talks to supporters at a rally in Salt Lake City, Utah on Feb. 20, 2020. (George Frey/Getty Images) Twitter Suspends Some Pro-Bloomberg Accounts For Breaching Policies Twitter suspended several pro-Michael Bloomberg accounts from its platform, the company announced late on Friday. The social media giant temporarily suspended some and outright banned other accounts because they violated the platforms policies against spam and manipulation. A person familiar with the action said the accounts specifically breached a policy against artificial amplification of content through the use of multiple accounts. We have taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam, a Twitter spokesperson told The Epoch Times. The Washington Examiner reported that Twitter suspended a total of 70 accounts. The Bloomberg campaign told The Epoch Times in an email that its staffers use an app called Outvote to share the campaigns message with friends and family. We ask that all of our deputy field organizers identify themselves as working on behalf of the Mike Bloomberg 2020 campaign on their social media accounts, Twitter campaign spokeswoman Sabrina Singh wrote in an email. The Bloomberg campaign has hired an army of people in California to post on their social media accounts in support of Bloomberg, according to the Wall Street Journal. These employees receive $2,500 a month to carry out standard campaign duties and send out pre-approved messages on social media. A review of several accounts by the Los Angeles Times found a number of accounts using identical text, hashtags, and images. Bloomberg announced his candidacy on Nov. 24. The billionaire former New York City mayor has spent more than $400 million on the campaign since. He received little support in polls in December, but began to surge at the turn of the year and is currently in third place, according to an average of national polls maintained by Real Clear Politics. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) leads the Real Clear Politics chart with an average of 28.7 percent support. Former Vice President Joe Biden trails Sanders by a wide margin at 17.3 percent. Biden had led in national polling for 14 months before a steady decline in polls which began in late January. Bloomberg is in third place with 15.2 percent. Bloombergs social media operation is part of a well-financed campaign that has experimented with new ways of reaching voters on social media, including paying $150 to micro-influencers to post messages of support on social media. Bloombergs campaign reported spending $220 million in the month of January alone. Forty-five million of that went toward digital advertising; another $126 million was spent on TV. Payroll in January for his legions of staffers, who are paid above market-rate salaries, was $7.7 million, while corporate housing for many staffers cost an additional $1.2 million. Rent for his more than 100 campaign offices cost $1.3 million. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Italian authorities closed schools and other public places, and also asked residents not to go outside After a series of new cases of coronavirus infection in Italy, 10 cities were isolated, and several hours later the death of an Italian citizen was recorded, as he became the first victim in Europe from this disease. The Journal reports. The Ministry of Health said that a 78-year-old man who was taken to hospital 10 days ago died from a coronavirus. It is also reported that the authorities of northern Italy ordered the closure of schools, bars and other public places in 10 cities after several new cases of coronavirus. According to doctors, a positive result for the presence of the virus was detected in 15 people in Lombardy. Two more cases have been confirmed in the Veneto region. In addition, about 250 people were isolated in this region. The Trenord Regional Railway said its trains would no longer stop at three stations in the affected area. As we reported before, passengers of the Kyiv-Moscow train ride, from which a Chinese woman with symptoms of ARVI had previously been removed, underwent a medical examination at a train station in Moscow. Sir, When people do not agree because of their relative powers, then they must negotiate. If they refuse to negotiate, then there is conflict. When this conflict breaks down further, then there is war. When this war breaks down even further, then there will be suffering, misery and massive destruction to all that we hold dear, in as far as good governance and the rule of law are concerned. Once this occurs, the law of the jungle sets in. intimidation Once a State is ruled by the law of the jungle; its only the fittest; the powerful and the rich who become first citizens. When a country is being subverted, it is not being outfought; it is being maladministered. A country becomes a failed State if it cannot provide security to its own people. The result of this failure is lawlessness, breakdown of the rule of law, ungovernability, intimidation and fear in society. When State organs are defied, it undermines the reason of their existence and functions. Individual self interests should not supersede national interest. This political manipulation to achieve selfish interests undermines the functioning of our democratic institutions like Parliament. Sekufana nje nekutsi live selijikwe etulu. What weakens our Parliament weakens our parliamentary democracy. Parliament must be cognisant of the fact that some powerful figures should not be in power to protect selfish interests. Others are in positions of power and influence to manipulate others and even subvert others to accumulate more power and wealth. This kind of unconstitutional means subsequently results in unconstitutional takeovers of executive powers by the guile and the cunning. S Khoza Im so tired of people (especially Gays) using someones feminine characteristics as a punchline Reply Thread Link It always surprises me too. To have "feminine" characteristics not only means you're gay, but it also means people can make fun of you for it now? If the punchline is that Shawn Mendes is basic or talks funny or looks weird, fine. But all the punchlines being about him being blatantly gay feels regressive in a full circle kind of way. Reply Parent Thread Link It's funny apparently.....rme Reply Parent Thread Link It's called a well honed gaydar. Just like taylor lautner. Pretending to date camilla cabello isnt helping his lie. There are stereotypes that are based in reality that some people just exude that good gayness. Making a big deal out of it won't make it so. Let Shawn live whatever truth he wants to. Reply Parent Thread Link idk, i feel like people with the same ~super honed gaydar~ are also people who would think (rapist and impregnator of multiple women) Cristiano Ronaldo is super gay! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Let's use his racism as a punchline Reply Parent Thread Link While its true that being feminine is used as a punchline, but in Seans case, I think its more of a joke about him being in the closet like what they did to Clay back in the day. It does not make it better though. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i don't consider "twink" as some sort of punchline for femininity? it's more of a punchline for his presumed closet sexuality. and the fact that in gay world he'd be classified as twink which is more of term a sexual role/identity than anything else. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ia but his mocking shawn's bops is hilarious to me, like when he called it "a mix of rnb and vocals" i died. Reply Parent Thread Link hes so good looking i think he's rounded the corner back into ugly for me. there is strangely nothing appealing about his good looks Reply Thread Link an album of nudes or keep it sis Reply Thread Link Im so jealous of Shawns hair because honestly mine is really similar but his just looks better Reply Thread Link Im jealous of how some guys can wake up in the morning and their hair still looks great meanwhile my hair looks like a tornado blew through my head and is sticking up at certain parts. Same. My hair gets way too damn curly / out of control if I let it get to that length. Id need to dry it immediately after a shower with some hairspray if I wanted to keep it straight / wavy-ish. Its a process.Im jealous of how some guys can wake up in the morning and their hair still looks great meanwhile my hair looks like a tornado blew through my head and is sticking up at certain parts. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm in the same boat. I feel like I just gotta figure out the right product combination to have his hair. Reply Parent Thread Link same i was going to post the same thing. i have wavy hair but its frizzy. no amount of moisture-enriching shampoo and leave in conditioner can give me shawn's level of hair Reply Parent Thread Link i like this song of his Reply Thread Link Ugh. I had this shit on repeat last week. Reply Parent Thread Link no shame, i have definitely late-night, cry-singed to the song at least three to five times strictly during my 20s Reply Parent Thread Link I think that might have been like his first or second single ever. I remember that shit was always on Much Music and the radio here in Canada, I really like it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I cant handle the fluttery kisses Benito does at the beginning of the video lol Reply Thread Link that Benito video kills me i wonder how long he and Canola are going to insist Reply Thread Link She'll definitely be publicly presented as his muse for this album... whether it's about their incredible love or inevitable break-up is TBD. 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 Benny destroys me lmfaoooo also I can tell hes wearing a face full of Glossier products lol Reply Thread Link goddamn, fourth album?? didn't even realize he has been around that long Reply Thread Link right? the music industry moves so quickly now Reply Parent Thread Link His team must be thinking they better strike while the irons hot when guys like him get unpredictable in their mid 20s (example, Bieber lol). Reply Parent Thread Link His hair is pretty. I like his music. His last album was good. Basic but decent. Reply Thread Link omg THANK YOU for embedding by boy Benny's video lmao <3 Reply Thread Link His videos crack me tf up. <3 Reply Parent Thread Link I love his gen z intern series like I genuinely knew one and when my classmate and I interned there together with her (as millennial grad students) I sent it to my classmate and confirmed, he definitely nailed her?? Reply Parent Thread Link Nailed not like in a sexual way lmao. Idk if hes gay/bi/else but just need to clear it up Reply Parent Thread Link I enjoyed how styled his hair was for this 15 seconds or less story and how he held his head at just the right tilt so for the duration so that I had to devote an entire comment to it. Reply Thread Link Here for Benny. His videos got me through some shit Reply Thread Link BRIDGEPORT An on-duty city police officer and four city residents suffered minor injuries during a collision early Saturday morning, police said. The collision happened around 12:40 a.m. Saturday, according to Sgt. Gabe Meszaros. He said an officer alerted dispatch that she was involved in a crash at the intersection of Park Avenue and Olive Street. The officer was traveling north on Park Avenue on her way to help another officer on a call. Meszaros said as the officer was driving up to the intersection of Olive Street, a black Honda which was traveling east on Olive Street failed to properly stop at the stop sign. As the Honda crossed the intersection, Meszaros said, it collided with the police cruiser. Bridgeport police, fire units, medics and the Bridgeport Police Crash Investigation Unit responded to the crash site. The officer was taken to St. Vincents Medical Center for minor, non-life-threatening injuries and was released, Meszaros said. He said an 18-year-old Bridgeport resident, the driver of the Honda, was also taken to St. Vincents with minor, non-life-threatening injuries and was released. Three other passengers the vehicle who are all Bridgeport residents were also transported to city hospitals for minor, non-life-threatening injuries, Meszaros said. It was unclear if the driver is expected to face any charges for the incident. The investigation remains ongoing. Officer Cynthia Dolyak is the lead investigator. Anyone with information is asked to call the Traffic Division at 203-576-7640. Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - Rwanda has banned the importation of tilapia fingerlings after the detection in neighbouring countries of highly a contagious disease spreading among farmed and wild tilapia, one of the world's most important fish for human consumption Two Shiv Sena workers were arrested for allegedly beating a 38-year-old man, accused of molesting women near Matunga railway station here, police said on Saturday. They were arrested by Antop Hill Police Station on Friday. "Sena workers, identified as Nitin Nandgaonkar and Darshanbir Singh Surjeet Singh Kochhar, were arrested and later released on bail," the official said. Raziwur Rehman Habibur Rehman Khan had lodged a complaint against them. As per the complaint, Nandgaonkar and Singh obtained Khan's phone number and asked him to come to the party's Antop Hill branch for some work. When he went there, the duo thrashed him. According to police, Khan had been caught on CCTV camera stalking and molesting a young woman near Matunga railway station. He had been arrested earlier this month in a theft case and later released on bail. When Khan went to Nandgaonkar's office, the latter thrashed him and also put up a video of the act on his Facebook account, police said. In the video, Nandgaonkar can be seen slapping Khan and purportedly saying that in future if anyone molested women, he would thrash the person irrespective of his religion and caste. Nandgaonkar and Kochhar have been booked under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and the IT Act, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Residents of Okoerin community in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara on Friday uncovered a camp where suspected kidnappers camped some children. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the camp, a storey building, was uncovered when a woman was looking for her child. Some of the residents along Okoerin road, off lbrahim Taiwo road, had gone to look for the child who went to dispose refuse under a bridge adjacent to the building. When the place was uncovered, some people stormed the building and discovered 13 children already in captivity. The residents immediately alerted the Police who came and arrested the two suspected kidnappers and recovered the 13 children in their captivity. Mr Yomi Adebayo, who resides in the area, said that the building has been in existence for a long time without any knowledge of the kind of business being conducted there. Adebayo said that four of the 13 children kept in the camp by the kidnappers are female. Confirming the development, Mr Samuel Ajayi-Okasanmi, Public Relations Officer of the State Police, said the command would commence investigation on the matter. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Susan Heavey and Simon Lewis (Reuters) Washington and Las Vegas Sat, February 22, 2020 12:02 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065f610f 2 World Russia,Russia-meddling,US-presidential-election,US-presidential-race,Bernie-Sanders,Democratic-party Free Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders warned Russia on Friday to stay out of 2020 White House elections after US officials had told him Moscow was trying to aid his campaign. "The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr. Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections," Sanders told reporters in Bakersfield, California. Sanders, 78, a democratic socialist US senator from Vermont, is considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and is favored to win the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. The Washington Post on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, said US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort and had also informed Republican President Donald Trump and US lawmakers. It was not clear what form the Russian assistance took, the paper said. A congressional source confirmed intelligence officials have told lawmakers Russia appears to be engaging in disinformation and propaganda campaigns to boost the 2020 campaigns of both Sanders and Trump. The source, however, cautioned that the findings are very tentative. Sanders said he was briefed about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified. "We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign," Sanders told reporters. "Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections." "What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing - and I've seen some of their tweets and stuff - is they try to divide us up," he said. "They are trying to cause chaos. They're trying to cause hatred in America." Moscow denies The Kremlin on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the US presidential campaign to boost Trump's re-election chances, following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week. "These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the [US] election," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "They have nothing to do with the truth." US intelligence officials told members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of November's election, as it did in 2016, a person familiar with the discussion told Reuters on Thursday. Since that briefing, Trump has ousted the acting intelligence chief, replacing him with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as Democrats and former US officials raised the alarm over national security concerns. A senior administration official said the nation was better positioned than in 2016 to defend against foreign attempts to influence elections. "President Trump has made clear that any efforts or attempts by Russia, or any other nation, to influence or interfere with our elections, or undermine US democracy will not be tolerated," the official said. Some of Sanders' rivals for the Democratic nomination said they had neither received similar briefings nor word that Russia was working to boost their campaigns. Former Vice President Joe Biden told CNN on Friday: "I know Russia doesn't want me to win. It's really clear that Putin doesn't want me to be the nominee, and Donald Trump doesn't want me to be the nominee." US Senator Elizabeth Warren, while campaigning in Las Vegas, said there should be "as much transparency as possible" to block Russia from having "too much influence" in US elections. "This is about disinformation and the way to fight disinformation is to call it out, show what it is and give everyone full information as quickly as possible," Warren told reporters. Russian Accounts Facebook declined to comment on whether it has seen any evidence of Russian assistance to Sanders' campaign. In October, the company took down Russian-backed accounts that pretended to be from political battleground states. Some of those accounts used Instagram to praise Sanders. Another used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and faulted Biden on race issues. Jessica Brandt of the Alliance for Securing Democracy, an organization that monitors foreign interference in US politics, said Russian state media and official social media accounts have been working to help Sanders by amplifying conspiracy theories that his Democratic rivals, the Democratic National Committee and the "corporate media" have been "rigging the system" against him. "We can say with certainty that this is what the Russian government is pushing," she told Reuters. "We've seen for some time Russian official channels promoting division within the Democratic Party." Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which works with Facebook to analyze state-backed information operations, said "Russian influence operations are equal opportunity hyperpartisan, with the overarching goal to drive Americans further away from each other." US officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the Nov. 3 presidential election, following Russia's meddling in the 2016 campaign that ended with Trump's surprise victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. US intelligence agencies concluded that the Kremlin used disinformation operations, cyber attacks and other methods in its 2016 operation in an effort to boost Trump, an allegation that Russia denies. Trump, sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticized American intelligence agencies. Russia's alleged interference sparked a two-year-long US investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. He also pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to obstruct his investigation, as Democrats alleged, but left any finding of obstruction to Congress. "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... SIOUX CITY -- The future is uncertain for the world famous White Horse Mounted Patrol, a 100-year-old unit of the Abu Bekr Shrine. But the equestrian group is not planning to part ways. Faced with declining membership, dwindling funds, fewer parade bookings and an increasing scarcity of their famous white horses, the Patrol is expected to reorganize its operations. They're hoping to generate some community enthusiasm for the patrol and, along with that, a little money to keep it going. The white horses have for decades been a fixture at parades and other summertime events in Siouxland and across the country. Rich Porter, 56, began riding with the White Horse Mounted Patrol in 1992. At the time, he said, there were about 30 riders in the Patrol, with a total of about 31 horses, counting their trick horse and mule. Today, there are only 12 riders, and 12 horses. Porter himself is now Abu Bekr's Oriental Guide, a leadership role in the organization. Meanwhile, the patrol gets fewer opportunities to show off their horses in parades. It's not cheap to haul horses to events in small towns -- and fewer and fewer businesses are ponying up the money to fund the Patrol's travels hither and yon, as they did in the old days. "We used to take anywhere from 24 to 28 horses out to functions, we would do 18 to 24 parades a year. The last couple of years, we've been down to four or five outings each year," Porter said. "We don't get the invitations we used to, because they know it costs us quite a little bit to transport horses." Currently, the horses are kept in a stable owned by the Abu Bekr Shrine and tended to by a hired stablewoman. To reduce costs, Patrol members are planning to take their horses home and care for the animals themselves. This plan was hashed out at a board meeting last month. "As it stands right now, we can't afford what we have, let alone be able to pass money on to our temple to send for the hospitals," Porter said. "So, that's where we're at." Acquiring white horses has, in itself, become problematic for the group. They're very particular about which horses meet their criteria -- the animals' hair must be white as the driven snow, not a cream shade or other variants, and their skin has to be pink. Such horses don't grow on trees. "They are getting extremely hard to find, and when we do find them, and people find out who we are, the price usually doubles, because they think that we can just afford anything, and we can't," Porter said. Despite all their difficulties, the Patrol is hopeful they and their horses will be able to make it to the "Chicken Days" in Wayne, Nebraska, this summer, and a parade in Holstein, Iowa. "We will try and participate in those," Porter said, though he added the details are yet to be hashed out. "We are going to do everything we can. There might be only three or four horses on the street those days. But we are going to try and make an appearance in those parades." In an effort to scrape up some money, the Patrol is sending letters to area businesses. They once had somewhere between 160 and 170 business sponsors, Porter said -- now, they're down to around eight. They're also planning fundraisers to keep things going. "We will never disband as a unit, we will continue on as a unit, whether we just become, instead of an active parade unit with our temple, we may be an inactive, social unit within our temple," he said. The White Horse Mounted Patrol dates back to 1920, when a group of Abu Bekr members who worked at the Sioux City stockyards organized a horse parade to honor their Potentate at the time, who also worked at the stockyards, according to an Abu Bekr web page. The first set of Patrol horses were not, in fact, all white -- rather, they were stockyard workhorses of various colors. Within two years the Patrol had acquired all-white, Arabian horses, and they paraded through Washington, D.C. in 1923, Kansas City in 1924, Philadelphia in 1925 and Los Angeles in 1929, followed by other cities in the 1930s. The Patrol was asked to escort Imperial Potentate Jack Sebrell during a visit to Minneapolis in 1934. The following year, Kansas horse trainer Harry Wallen was brought in to train the horses to do tricks. One of Wallen's children, Richard F. "Dick" Wallen, later became a well-known trainer of the horses and rode with the Patrol for more than 70 years. Fraternal organizations like the Abu Bekr Shrine were wildly popular in the middle of the last century, but in recent decades membership across the board has been in a slump. Porter said that the White Horse Mounted Patrol in particular, being a time-intensive commitment, is not compatible with younger peoples' busy schedules. "We have three guys right now who are riding and who have offered to stay on and ride this one more year, but they are between 80 and 85 years old," Porter said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 7 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. Advertisement Italy has postponed three football matches in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto after coronavirus killed two people and sparked a lockdown in 12 towns. On orders from the government, the Italian league games set to be played on Sunday were called off. They are: Inter Milan v Sampdoria, Atalanta v Sassuolo and Hellas Verona v Cagliari. However three other matches in Genoa, Turin and Rome on Sunday are going ahead as scheduled. A dozen towns went into lockdown on Saturday, with 50,000 people were asked to stay indoors, after the deaths and a growing number of cluster cases with no direct links to the origin of the outbreak abroad. The secondary contagions prompted local authorities in the Lombardy and Veneto regions to close schools, businesses and restaurants and to cancel sporting events and Masses. The mayor of Milan, Italy's business capital and the regional capital of Lombardy, shut public offices. A 78-year-old man infected with the virus died in Veneto. A post-mortem on a 77-year-old woman in Lombardy came back positive, though it was not clear if illness from the virus caused her death. Retired bricklayer Adriano Trevisan, 78, passed away in a hospital in Padua on Friday evening after having been admitted to the hospital for another health issue ten days ago, said local authorities. The first to die, Adriano Trevisan, 78, passed away in a hospital in north eastern Italy on Friday evening Two coronavirus patients in Italy have today died from the Covid-19 disease that has now killed 2,253 people and infected more than 77,268 globally. Pictured ambulances and health workers outside the hospital in Padua The second patient to die was an elderly woman whose death has triggered the closing down of shops, offices and community centres in Casalpusterlengo, according to Italian news agency Ansa. Hundreds of residents and workers who came into contact with an estimated 54 people confirmed infected in Italy were in isolation pending test results. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte expressed his sympathies for the two deaths and said he had called an emergency meeting, as more than 50,000 people from about a dozen towns in two northern regions were asked to stay at home by the local authorities. The few people out on the streets were wearing coveted face masks, which were nearly impossible to find in sold-out pharmacies. The president of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, said there were 39 confirmed cases in the region, where 10 towns received orders to suspend non-essential activities and services. An elderly woman who died tested positive for the virus, though it wasn't clear if that is what caused her death. Health Minister Luca Zaia said Saturday that the contagion showed that the virus is transmitted like any other flu, and that trying to pinpoint a single source of infection or one with direct links to China is no longer effective. 'You can get it from anyone,' he told reporters. 'We can expect to have cases of patients who had no contact' with suspected carriers. While the virus isn't particularly lethal, it can be for the elderly or people with existing conditions, he said. Mr Trevisan's daughter, Vanessa, had been Mayor of Vo' Euganeo, a small town of 3,300 inhabitants which is now under lockdown. Hundreds of people who came into contact with the roughly 25 people infected with the disease were in isolation pending test results. Civil protection crews set up a tent camp outside a closed hospital in Veneto to screen medical staff for the virus. The second patient to die was an elderly woman whose death has triggered the closing down of shops, offices and community centres in Casalpusterlengo, according to Italian news agency Ansa. Pictured are medical workers outside a hospital in Padua Health workers and a patient are seen outside a hospital in Padua as ten towns in the region of Lombardy are under lockdown Residents of the northern towns of Codogno and Castiglione d'Adda are being urged to stay at home as medical tests continue The first town to be shuttered was Codogno, with a population of 15,000, where three people tested positive for the virus, including a 38-year-old man and his wife, who is eight months pregnant. The 38-year-old, who works for Unilever in Lodi, is believed to have contracted the virus after meeting a friend who had recently returned from China in a bar. He is now reportedly in a stable condition in hospital. A football friend of his from his running club, the son of a bar owner in Codogno, has also tested positive, along with three regulars at the bar. The second patient to die was a woman whose identity is yet to be released and has triggered the closing down of shops, offices and community centres in Codogno and Castiglione d'Adda (pictured) A deserted street is pictured in Codogno, southeast of Milan, today after the cordons were put in place Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the Civil Protection headquarters for a meeting following the wave of coronavirus cases in northern Italy Three others there have tested positive to a first novel coronavirus test and are awaiting their definitive results. The three, all of whom are retired, live in the small town of Castiglione d'Adda. Tests are underway on the 38-year-old's doctor, who made a house call on him, as well as on 120 people he worked with in the research and development branch of Unilever in Casalpusterlengo, said Lombardy regional health chief Giulio Gallera. Codogno mayor Francesco Passerini said the news of the cases 'has sparked alarm' throughout the town south of Milan. Five doctors and 14 other people tested positive for the virus in Lombardy, after apparently frequenting the same bar, with two other cases in Veneto, authorities said at a press conference. Over 50,000 people have been asked to stay at home in the areas concerned. Word of the contagion sparked fears throughout the region, particularly given the closure of the emergency room at the Codogno hospital. 'We are old and we are very concerned,' said 76-year-old Codogno resident Carmelo Falcone. A note reading 'no entry' hangs on the entrance door of the Codogno Hospital in Lodi A note reading in Italian 'Masks sold out' and 'pharmacy is open for urgencies but doors are closed', hang on the window of a pharmacy in Codogno A sign reading 'Closed by Municipal Decree, for any orders call the following numbers' is put up on a shop's window in Codogno 'I live on my own. I really don't know what to do.' Italian health minister Roberto Speranza said Italy is now seeing the same sort of 'cluster' of cases that Germany and France have seen. He signed an ordinance with Lombardy's regional president outlining measures to contain the cluster to the 10 towns so far affected: Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Maleo, Fombio, Bertonico, Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Somaglia and San Fiorano. A general view shows a deserted street in Codogno, southeast of Milan today The towns, which have between 1,000-15,000 residents each, are located around 37 miles southeast of Milan, Lombardy's capital and Italy's business centre. The ordinance suspends public gatherings, commercial and business activity, sport, education, and other recreational activities throughout the region, Mr Speranza, the health minister, said. He defended the precautionary measures Italy took previously, noting that Italy remains the lone European country to have barred flights to and from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. 'We had the highest measures in Europe,' he said. Individual cities outside the core cordon area, such as Cremona, issued their own restrictions cancelling school after confirming their own cases. Streets in the towns were deserted, with only a few people seen abroad, and signs showing public spaces closed. In Casalpusterlengo, where the second patient died, a large electronic message board outside the town hall read 'Coronavirus: the population is invited to remain indoors as a precaution'. An elderly person on a stretcher is taken to an ambulance by members of the Italian Red Cross wearing face masks, outside the Codogno Civic Hospital in Lodi, northern Italy Residents of the northern towns of Codogno and Castiglione d'Adda are being urged to stay at home as medical tests continue. Some 250 people were being placed in isolation after coming into contact with the new cases, according to the Lombardy region, and 60 worker at Unilever have been tested for the virus. The only other fatality in Europe was a Chinese tourist who died last week in France. Earlier today, 19 Italians who spent more than two weeks quarantined on a virus-stricken cruise liner in Japan landed at Rome's military Pratica di Mare airport. They had been stranded on the Diamond Princess since February 5. Following the first health checks and decontamination process, the passengers were transferred to the military campus of Cecchignola where they will spend a 14-day isolation period. In Rome, doctors at the Spallanzani infectious disease hospital reported some good news in the otherwise bleak day: An Italian who tested positive for the virus two weeks ago is to be released, and a sickened Chinese tourist has tested negative for the first time. A note reading 'no entry' hangs on the entrance door of the Codogno Hospital in Lodi In Casalpusterlengo, where the second patient died, a large electronic message board outside the town hall read 'Coronavirus: the population is invited to remain indoors as a precaution' Six Italians tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday (pictured is an ambulance transporting one of the patients) in the northern Italian region of Lombardy Originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the new virus has infected more than 75,400 people inside China and 78,572 globally. In the picture above, a security staff member checks a passenger's temperature at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport on January 26 Spallanzani had been caring for these patients for more than two weeks, Italy's only cases until the clusters emerged in the north on Friday. The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the number of coronavirus cases with no clear epidemiological link, although the total number of cases outside China remains relatively small, its director general said on Saturday. Cases with no clear link include those with no travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter. According to reports, the disease remained mild in 80 per cent of coronavirus patients, and was severe or critical in 20 per cent of patients, he said. In 2 per cent of reported cases, the virus was fatal. 'Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems,' he said. 'We have also published a strategic preparedness and response plan, with a call for $675 million to support countries, especially those which are most vulnerable.' The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,458 people and infected 78,527 globally Italian tourists from the cruise ship Diamond Princess arrive at Cecchignola Military headquarters after landing, in Rome Italian tourists from the cruise ship Diamond Princess arrive at Cecchignola Military headquarters after landing, in Rome Why is former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg running for president? It's not to win. Bloomberg is in this to affect down-ballot races. Vermont senator and stretch limousine liberal Bread Line Bernard Sanders would likely be disastrous for the Democrats down-ballot, and they know that (more on this in a bit). With Bloomberg, the Democrats are hoping for a 2014-type scenario, where they win the House and Senate, while the other party has the presidency the way the GOP won both the House and Senate in 2014. Bloomberg is enough of a hodgepodge candidate to flip some seats blue; he's ] ideal for many Democrat voters, as he stands for nothing and stands for everything the most dangerous type of politician. Bloomberg won't win the general election versus President Trump, but he's not in it to win it he's in it to drive Democrat voters to the purple U.S. House district elections (there are dozens of purple House seats up for grabs, including in Texas) and U.S. Senate races in several states Trump won in 2016. This is a quintessential Democrat strategy: Republicans keep all their attention on the POTUS race, while the Democrats look to win purple districts and Senate races in purple states, because most Republicans (no offense, Republicans) don't understand electoral politics the way Democrats do. If Bloomberg loses the general but helps the Democrats win House and Senate (or retain the House and reduce the GOP majority in the Senate, which is already razor-thin), then the Democrats will consider it a win. If you can't beat Trump, lame-duck and handcuff him. This is the Democrat strategy. Bloomberg doesn't want the job; he wants to be the Wizard of Oz the Democrat man behind the curtain. The self-aggrandizer has taken credit for funding Trump's impeachment. His super-PAC, Independence USA, spent nearly $38 million assisting Democrats in the 2018 congressional midterm elections. And he spent $3 million in state Legislature and gubernatorial elections in 2018 and 2019. When do we get to the Democrats' prattle of "campaign finance reform"? Democrats like campaign finance reform only when they don't get the outcomes they want; when they get the outcomes they want, they're just "playing by the rules" and doing what's necessary to defeat evil Republicans. Mind you, none of these Democrat politicians believe any of the balderdash that comes out of their mouths, but when your voting base is more easily duped than convinced that it was duped, the base will believe anything you tell it to believe. Now, when all is said and done, maybe the down-ballot strategy will have spectacularly failed. That's my hope. But in the here and now, it's the best strategy the Democrats have. Democrat politicians don't run to govern, represent, or lead; they run to acquire legislative power as taxpayer-funded activists. Plan B(loomberg) Activated Though it may seem this way, Bloomberg didn't just appear on the scene overnight. The Democratic National Committee's and DMIC: Democrat Media Industrial Complex)'s Plan A was Joe Biden. Biden is done, was never actually respected by Obama (Obama chose Biden for the same principle by which Trump chose Vice President Mike Pence: to allay the "newcomer" fears), and Plan B Bloomberg has been activated. Plan C is Hillary Clinton. Michelle Obama is already on deck for 2024 if she wants it. If Biden were our father, grandfather, brother, or son, we'd do our damnedest to get him to a doctor to test his mental faculties. If he refused, we'd probably seek a legal injunction to have him institutionalized (with due process and legal counsel). I wish Biden no ill will, but the same guy whom adult-minded Americans would institutionalize would receive tens of millions of Democrat votes tomorrow against Trump, to run the largest economy and military in man's history. We need a red flag law for Biden before he forgets to turn the oven off. Democrats move in one direction, with one goal: elect Democrats, no matter what. If the DNC believed that Sanders would win in Nov., the party would support him. When I joke that Democrats would vote for Genghis Khan if he had a "D" after his name, people laugh but no one ever argues it's not true. To oust Trump, Democrats would drive into the eye of a Category 5 hurricane, followed by walking blindfolded on a field of active landmines. I am convinced that the primitive disdain in the hearts of Democrats is more intense than the love they had for Obama in 2008. Republicans, however, move in 1,000 directions, with confused goals (and I am exempting here Trump, who has proven that he knows how to beat the Democrats and DMIC at their own games). All of you may have recently seen Democrat strategist James Carville on the DMIC: the Ragin' Cajun went off like a Mardi Gras confetti-launcher over the limerence shown to Bread Line Bernard. That's because Carville is a winner (he was the lead strategist on Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign), and winners recognize losers when they see them. Trump is the greatest political genius since Sun Tzu. He has made socialism/collectivism a kitchen table topic of conversation. I doubt that socialism was this talked about even during World War 2, when we and the Allies fought and defeated the National Socialist German Worker's Party. Socialism was talked about here and there under President Reagan, but once an issue reaches the kitchen table, like-minded but ignorant Americans get curious. To lose a presidential election and have the party forever branded socialist would be major setbacks for the Democrats, for which they're mostly unprepared. All the old-guard Democrats are feeling like the Romanovs and Duma provisional government in Russia before the Leninist Bolshevik coup. The old guard have the new breed breathing down their necks. It's truly a Frankenstein effect: old-guard Democrats created this socialist monster, and our and Trump's win made it all spiral out of control. Had we lost 2016, old-guard Democrats would have been able to manage the monster here and there, give 'em what they want, shut 'em up, c'est la vie. Enter Bloomberg. By month's end, maybe early March, Obama will endorse Bloomberg, who has said he is willing to spend $1 billion in his presidential vanity project of futility. Obama is the Democrats' Reagan, and all the loathsome Democrat chumps and shrews running for president are chasing the ghost of Obama. But not even he will be able to save Bloomberg. (Lest anyone misconstrue what I'm saying for hubris, don't any of you dare not vote; there is no imminent Electoral College landslide.) GOP and voters: Don't let the Democrat man behind the curtain influence the down-ballot races. Let's win resoundingly, despite Bloomberg's billions, at all levels: national, state, and local. Rich Logis is host of The Rich Logis Show, at TheRichLogisShow.com, and author of the upcoming book 10 Warning Signs Your Child Is Becoming a Democrat: How to Make America Grown-Up Again. He can be found on Twitter at @RichLogis. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. More than a decade since the swing toward open-plan offices and the resulting backlash from workers concerned about noise and a lack of privacy a host of ancillary spaces are cropping up in workplaces, offering employees an escape from their (sometimes overly loud) co-workers. These private spaces include prayer rooms, wellness rooms and libraries also called quiet cars, like the chatter-free havens on a train. This is not to mention the proliferation of so-called phone booths, mini meeting rooms and all manner of pods, some of them purchased as ready-to-assemble kits. Another passenger evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship to Darwin has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of confirmed cases from the vessel to seven. The Queensland woman, aged 57, "has mild illness and will remain in isolation overnight at the evacuation centre", a health official said on Saturday night. It brings to 22 the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia. Earlier in the day, four passengers from the cruise ship tested positive for the virus at the quarantine centre. Australia's chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy said the passengers will be flown to their home states of Queensland and Victoria for isolation and care. They will travel on medevac flights and will be accompanied by health professionals. Rishabh Singh, the class 2 student who was severely injured after his pool car fell into a water-filled ditch in West Bengal's Hooghly district, died here on Saturday following an eight-day-long battle for life, officials said. Rishabh and another student, Dibyangshu Bhagat, were critically injured in the accident and were rushed to the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. Doctors said that polluted water and mud went into their lungs. Rishabh died in the early hours after a multi-organ failure, officials of the hospital said, adding that his condition showed signs of no improvement. Sreerampur's Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee visited the hospital and met the student's family members. Banerjee expressed grief and blamed "negligent and ruthless" driving for the death. He said laws should be made more stringent to tackle drivers who have a record of violations. The pool car, carrying 14 students, fell into a water-filled ditch in Polba while rushing to the school in Chinsura on February 14. Dibyangshu's condition is currently stated to be stable, according to hospital officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SAN DIEGO - The San Diego County Sheriffs Department will share records of people who were criminally arrested with immigration authorities, becoming the first local law enforcement agency in five states to comply with unusual demands for information, authorities said Friday. In recent weeks, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued administrative subpoenas signed by an immigration official, not a judge to state and local law enforcement agencies in Colorado, Connecticut, New York, Oregon and California. Sheriff Bill Gores announcement, in a statement from his department late Thursday, came less than a week after ICE issued four subpoenas, the only ones so far in California. The agency is the first in all five states to comply with the requests, ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said. The demands for information are among several recent moves by the Trump administration against what it considers sanctuary jurisdictions, which adopt laws and policies to limit co-operation with immigration authorities. While the Sheriffs Department does not enforce immigration laws, we are obligated to comply with lawfully issued subpoenas, the department statement read. The department said a state law that sharply limits co-operation with immigration authorities does not explicitly address subpoenas. It said previous requests for information have been voluntary. A federal subpoena creates a mandatory legal obligation and is not co-operation, the statement read. Monika Langarica, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties, said the state law that the sheriffs department cited, the California Values Act, clearly prohibits sharing non-public personal information with ICE. She said the department should require court-issued subpoenas. ICEs issuance of subpoenas, and Sheriffs Offices potential compliance, endanger public safety and community trust, she said. The office of Californias Democratic attorney general, Xavier Becerra, declined to comment. Gore is a Republican elected to an officially nonpartisan position and a former head of the FBIs San Diego office. He isnt known as a firebrand on immigration. Robert Brewer, the U.S. attorney in San Diego, said the sheriffs department complied with two subpoenas that were due this week. Information on two others is due next week. ICE issued its latest round of subpoenas Friday to several agencies in Oregon the Oregon State Police, Hillsboro Police Department, Wasco County Sheriffs Office and Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Apple obtained a temporary restraining order against a man of Indian origin, who allegedly stalked and harassed CEO Tim Cook and other company executives. Rakesh 'Rocky' Sharma, a San Francisco resident, reportedly made threatening phone calls to the Cupertino-based company. According to the court documents uncovered by OneZero's Dave Gershgorn, Sharma began calling Apple executives and leaving "disturbing" voicemails. Sharma was directed by the court to steer clear of Apple executives, the company's headquarters as well as Tim Cook and his property. The restraining order is effective until March 3, which is the same day the hearing on the case is scheduled to take place. Twitter recently tweaked its user interface to make it easier to add new tweets to old threads. With the new feature, you can easily thread multiple tweets together while you compose them. You will no longer have to go digging through your tweets to reply to one with a recent update. While this has been possible for quite some time now, the new feature just makes it easier to connect an in-progress tweet to an earlier post. Elon Musk dissed Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in a tweet saying, "My conversations with Gates have been underwhelming tbh". Musk's remarks came after an unofficial Tesla news account expressed disappointment with the Microsoft billionaire's recent decision to buy a Porsche Taycan instead of a Tesla. At $103,800, the Taycan is a direct competitor to several Tesla models. The tweets came after Gates revealed that he bought his first-ever electric vehicle, a Porsche Taycan, in an interview with popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee. While Gates seemed excited about his first electric vehicle, he also said that Tesla is the frontrunner in the passenger car industry addressing climate change. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently committed $10 billion of his personal fortune to set up the new Bezos Earth Fund to tackle climate change. In the fight for the planet, Bezos' commitment of $10 billion dwarfed the $4 billion that 29 philanthropic organisations had pledged to fighting climate change in 2018. While Bezos' decision does seem like a monumental step forward, it isn't all that surprising, with many summing it up as no more than a publicity gimmick. Amazon is paying a corporate tax rate of barely one percent, which gives Bezos the freedom to invest in philanthropic ventures. Additionally, Politico reported that Amazon's convenient deliveries and massive data centres emitted around 44.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018. Last year, Amazon employees took to the streets to voice their complaints about Amazon's carbon footprint. While Google, Amazon and Microsoft have been vocal about their efforts to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, they are currently teaming up with the fossil fuel industry to help companies squeeze as much oil and gas out of the ground as possible by using artificial intelligence to get the best results in fracking. Jordan Wildon, a journalist at DW, recently noticed that Google is indexing some WhatsApp group invitations in its search. This will allow random people to discover and join a range of private WhatsApp group chats with a simple search. While group administrators can invalidate a link to a chat if they want, Wildon discovered that WhatsApp generates a new link in such a case and doesn't necessarily disable the original link. Although many of these are relatively harmless, Motherboard found a private group using specific Google searches which did include some sensitive data. The group they joined was apparently intended for NGOs accredited by the UN where it was possible to access the list of participants and their phone numbers. In a surprising development, the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL found its way onto Amazon shelves in India. The Pixel 4 starts from Rs 69,990 in India, while the XL variant is priced at Rs 76,997. When Google launched the Pixel 4 series in October 2019, the devices didn't arrive in India because of issues surrounding the Soli Radar chip. What's even more surprising is that the Pixel 4 handsets are being sold with the "Amazon Fulfilled" assurance, which means that the e-commerce giant directly handles delivery, customer service, and returns. Sheldon Silver loses another appeal and is now poised for one last ditch legal maneuver at the U.S. Supreme Court. [Daily News] City officials struggle to address concerns from residents about the East Side Coastal Resiliency Plan during a recent meeting of Community Board 3. [AM New York] The city announces plans to build new protected bike lanes, including one on Avenue C. [Gothamist] Another take on the woes of Chinatown businesses, hit hard by irrational coronavirus fears. [The Guardian] The Lower East Side in 8 Songs; celebrating the neighborhoods extraordinary musical legacy, using a new exhibition at the New York Historical Society for inspiration. [New York Times] A story of the life, death and rebirth of New York Citys most resilient dive bar. What Sasha Lloyd of The Hard Swallow has overcome over the years on the Lower East Side. [Vice] Manhattans skyline has not changed for the better since the shiny cheese grater, known as One Manhattan Square, sprung from Hades. [Gothamist] Hanging out with Dennis Vassilatos, the night manager at Odessa Restaurant. [EV Grieve] The Roger Stone sentencing farce is as fitting an end to the Russia Collusion saga as one could conjure up . . . though it might be more fitting to call it the end of Russia Collusion, Part I. No sooner did the first flick conclusively bomb than the media-Democrat complex was issuing the casting call for Russia Collusion, Part II. In the sequel, youre asked to believe that Putin is manipulating the chesspieces to steal a second term for President Trump somehow preferring an incumbent who beefs up the U.S. armed forces, pressures NATO allies to beef up theirs, imposes painful sanctions on Moscow, provides lethal aid to Ukraine, ramps up U.S. energy production, and seeks to thwart the Kremlins coveted natural-gas partnership with Germany, over an unabashed socialist who honeymooned in the Soviet Union and whose policies would wreck the American economy, end the resurgence of American energy production, and hollow out the American armed forces. Its a lunatic plot. But the scriptwriters no doubt figure that if they can peddle what theyve been peddling for the last two weeks, they can peddle anything. Stone was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment. This was smack in the middle of the federal sentencing guidelines range 37 to 46 months that Attorney General Bill Barrs Justice Department argued would be a reasonable term. The AGs position was a second-guess of the Stone trials prosecutors. That team, dominated by Mueller fabulists who portrayed the Stone case as Watergate revisited, had recommended something closer to a nine-year sentence. The severity of the trial teams recommendation was objectively absurd. It was, more to the point, merely a recommendation as was Barrs milder but still stiff counter. It had no legally binding effect whatsoever on the judge. In federal law, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, the judge decides the sentence. Not only is the sentencing court free to ignore any recommendation from prosecutors, which judges do with frequency; the court is free to ignore the guidelines the regime Congress introduced in the 1980s in a (moderately successful) effort to end obscene disparities in sentences imposed on similarly situated defendants. Story continues Nevertheless, Barrs entirely reasonable position was castigated by Democrats, their media notetakers, and progressive lawyers who have transformed the organized bar into just another left-wing hack. These last included a couple thousand former federal prosecutors and Justice Department officials, who took a break from writing donation checks for their favorite Democratic demagogues to sign a petition demanding Barrs resignation strangely silent, though they were, when Obama AG Eric Holder was being held in contempt for misleading and obstructing Congresss investigation of the Fast & Furious scandal, in which the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol officer was just part of the lethal fallout from the Obama Justice Departments reckless gun-walking scheme. A Democratic presidential aspirant, Senator Elizabeth Warren, trained up for her ruthless Bloomberg bashing by, of course, calling for Barrs impeachment. Understand: There was nothing to this. It was a total fabrication. The partisans behind this frippery knew full well that the Justice Departments submissions had no legal effect. Barr could not have slashed Stones sentence even if he wanted to. The sentence was always going to be imposed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson. She, like federal judges across the country, is just as steeped in sentencing law as Justice Department lawyers. Judges, as Jackson demonstrated at Stones hearing on Thursday, have very strong feelings about the guidelines, based on study and the need to grapple with them almost daily. Moreover, in every sentencing case, judges get guidelines calculations from the court-administered Probation Department, as well as from the defendants counsel. They dont need the prosecutor to tell them what either the law or their authority to apply it is. Not only are they intimately aware of these things; the brute fact is that sending another human being to prison is the hardest thing judges have to do. No matter how loathsome the defendant is, there are almost always other lives those of children, spouses, parents, loved ones, business associates that are damaged by a sentence of incarceration. We in the peanut gallery get to bloviate about sentences, but then we go on with our day. Judges agonize over them. It is personal and stressful. They listen respectfully, but they dont let a prosecutor or anyone else tell them what to do. They analyze potential sentences from every angle, and still worry, even years later, whether the calls theyve made were the right ones for all concerned. It was a slander to claim that Barr was doing Trumps bidding. The president wants Stones case to disappear. Barr, to the contrary, held firm that the seven felony convictions were righteous, and urged that a sentence of between three and four years for an elderly first-offender would be appropriate. And then he publicly protested against the presidents tweeting about pending criminal cases and investigations, because such commentary undermines the Justice Departments mission. Barrs Justice Department acknowledged that the trial prosecutors construction of the guidelines was literally correct, including their factoring of a guidelines enhancement that would have inflated Stones sentence drastically. The Justice Department, however, contended that the prosecutors guidelines calculation was ultimately unreasonable because it was out of proportion with the gravity of the offense. In the end, Judge Jackson drew the same conclusion. Though her guidelines path to 40 months was somewhat different from DOJs, she came out in the same place because 40 months, no matter how you get there, is reasonable . . . even if Senator Warren would have you think its impeachable. Of course, this would not be the Russia probe if Trump antagonists were not peddling the collusion narrative. So Judge Jackson couldnt resist. Stone, she inveighed at Thursdays hearing, was not prosecuted for standing up to the president, as his apologists maintain; no, he was prosecuted for covering up for the president. Covering up what? That the Trump campaign might have been hoping that an outside source like WikiLeaks might be planning to leak damaging information about an opponent, just as the Clinton campaign was giddy when someone leaked Trumps tax information to the New York Times? So what? That wasnt the collusion narrative. What the media-Democrat complex purported was that Trump conspired with Russia to hack Democratic emails in order to hurt Clinton and swing the election to Trump. If anything, the Stone case demonstrated, yet again, that there was no TrumpRussia conspiracy if there had been, the hapless Stone would not have been beating the bushes for clues about what WikiLeaks was up to. Judge Jackson is too smart not to know that when she pregnantly claims Stone was covering up for the president, that will be twisted into a suggestion from a federal court, no less that there really was TrumpRussia collusion. No wonder the judge had such praise for the trial prosecutors. She was taking a page out of the Mueller playbook. The Mueller prosecutors knew they had no evidence of a KremlinTrump conspiracy. The indictments they filed against Russian actors elucidate that Moscow neither needed nor wanted American collaborators. But the politicized probe featured the Mueller two-step: First, charge process crimes against such saps as Stone, George Papadopoulos, and Michael Flynn; then, rather than writing concise charges, as prosecutors typically do in such mundane cases, exploit the opportunity to craft extravagant collusion narratives. In each indictment, were treated to pages and pages of big wind about Russians and WikiLeaks and emails; then, you flip to the end only to find that theres no rain somebody lied about the date of a meeting, or threatened a dog, or just did his job as incoming national-security adviser. And now were on to Russia Collusion II. Already it is shaping up like the original: a sprawling, incoherent, implausible mess of a plot, with a B-movie cast and the same ending Trump gets impeached, this time probably in 2022. Another bomb, but hopefully the attorney general will stick around to see it. More from National Review Citywide, Civic Center Violin from the Violins of Hope collection of Amnon Weinstein. | Photo: Courtesy of Violins of Hope In the 1980s, a young man brought his violin to Amnon Weinstein, a Tel Aviv luthier, for repair. He told Weinstein that it belonged to his grandfather, who had last played it while imprisoned at Auschwitz. Inside, Weinstein found a black powder: ashes from the crematorium. This powerful encounter was the seed of Violins of Hope, an effort to retrieve and repair string instruments owned by European Jews in ghettos and Nazi death camps during World War II. With the help of his son and fellow luthier Avshalom, Weinstein has been lovingly gathering and restoring these instruments over the past two decades, as well as piecing together the stories of their owners. The Violins of Hope collection now numbers more than 80 instruments, and this Sunday, three of them will be played as part of the San Francisco Symphony's chamber music series. Many of the Violins of Hope (displayed here at Los Gatos' New Museum) are emblazoned with Stars of David. | Photo: Violins of Hope/Facebook The concert was spearheaded by Symphony cellist Barbara Bogatin, who will trade her usual 18th-century Florentine cello for one of the few cellos in the collection, crafted by an unknown maker in Dresden in 1890. Bogatin's interest in the music of the Holocaust started on a Symphony tour of Europe seven years ago. On a day off from performing in Prague, she toured Terezin, site of the Thieresenstadt Ghetto, where more than 30,000 Jews were believed to have died of disease and malnutrition. Another 88,000 were deported to concentration camps. But despite the horrific conditions, the ghetto had a vibrant artistic community, with a library, an artists' circle, and an orchestra largely comprised of professional musicians. "When I was there, I got interested in this music, and there was a whole room [in the museum] with compositions, with instruments," Bogatin said. There, she encountered the music of Hans Krasa and Gideon Klein, two Czech composers imprisoned in Terezin who died at ages 44 and 25, respectively. When Bogatin found out that Violins of Hope would be bringing 51 of its instruments to tour the Bay Area, she proposed a concert featuring the music she discovered in Terezin. Story continues Cellist Barbara Bogatin spearheaded the concert. | Photo: Courtesy of SF Symphony The program for Sunday's concert will feature three works by Krasa and Klein. Bogatin says their work is professional and sophisticated, in the vein of Leos Janacek or Arnold Schoenberg, but also deeply rooted in the folk music of the region. "In the Klein [string] trio, the second movement is a variation on a Moravian folk melody, with a very sad theme," Bogatin explains, noting the poignancy of composers using a melody from a land that rejected them. On stage, Bogatin will be joined by two of her Symphony colleagues: Adam Smyla, a violist from Poland, and Raushan Akhmedyarova, a violinist from Kazhakstan. "We have been in rehearsal, trying to get in the mind of the composers, trying to understand the terror, the ongoing uncertainty, the feeling of incredible despair," she said. "And yet: writing music, performing it, remembering childhood, remembering the beauty that they have seen." Violins of Hope in the Weinsteins' Israeli workshop. | Photo: Violins of Hope/Facebook In addition to Sunday's concert, the Violins of Hope will make a number of other appearances around the Bay Area this winter, including display exhibits at San Francisco's War Memorial Veterans Building and Los Gatos' New Museum. Tomorrow night, the Oakland Symphony will play Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with some of the instruments from the collection. "Instruments, all of them, had a role to play in helping people survive," Bogatin said of the concerts. "We are very humbled and honored to play these instruments, honoring the people who played them, saved them, suffered with them." The San Francisco Symphony's Violins of Hope concert will be held at Davies Symphony Hall (201 Van Ness Ave.) this Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets ($40-85) are available here. Rapper Cardi B has defended bullied Australian schoolkid Quaden Bayles, after cruel trolls accused him of secretly being an adult. The nine-year-old, who has dwarfism, won the nation's heart after a viral video showed the bullied youngster threatening to kill himself. Quaden was mercilessly mocked by children at school, prompting his mother to share the shocking video online. The youngster has since received an outpouring of support from the public and celebrities, including Hugh Jackman. But bullies have now moved online, spreading a conspiracy theory that the youngster is secretly an adult. Rapper Cardi B (pictured) has come out in support of nine-year-old Quaden, who has been cruelly bullied at school and online His mother, an Aboriginal rights activist, said her son has made several attempts to take his own life 'Everyone keeps saying he's lying about his age', American rapper Cardi B told her 59.3 million Instagram followers. 'I really don't think he's lying about his age. 'And just because there's videos of him flossing money and acting all gangster, and acting all cool and everything, it doesn't mean that kids do not pick on him. 'Come on, just because he's acting a certain type of way and trying to be cool, his parents are probably trying to boost up his ego and make him act a certain type of way for Instagram. 'You motherf*****s be acting up for Instagram every single day. Y'all be acting like you've got money everyday and y'all broke. Rapper Cardi B (pictured) took to Instagram to issue a plea for trolls to stop claiming Quaden is lying about his age 'Y'all b*****s act like y'all broke. Like ya got money and ya broke.' She is the latest in a string of high-profile celebrities to come out in support of Quaden. His mother, Yarraka Bayles, posted the video online earlier this week, and it has now been viewed more than 10 million times. 'This is the impact that bullying has on a nine-year-old kid that just wants to go to school, get an education and have fun,' she said. What is Achondroplasia? Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that prevents the changing of cartilage (particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs) to bone. It is characterised by limited range of motion at the elbows, large head size (macrocephaly), small fingers, and normal intelligence. Achondroplasia can cause health complications such as interruption of breathing (apnea), obesity, recurrent ear infections and an exaggerated inward curve of the lumbar spine. People with dwarfism have a normal life expectancy. Source: US Department of Health Advertisement Speaking to indigenous Australian TV channel NITV in the wake of the viral footage, Quaden encouraged others to stand up for themselves when face-to-face with a bully. 'If you get bullied, just stand up for yourself and don't listen to what they say,' he said. The nine-year-old believes parents should educate their children about people with disabilities to prevent further bullying. 'The parents should make their kids be nice to people with disabilities,' he said. Ms Bayles said her 'strong' son wants other people to know how he feels and no longer wants to 'suffer in silence'. 'It's 2020 and bullying is at an all-time high and especially within our communities, people don't understand that if you're Indigenous, you're already copping discrimination and racism,' she said. Quaden is pictured with NRL star Latrell Mitchell. The nine-year-old will lead the Indigenous All Stars NRL team onto the pitch on Saturday The video has sparked an outpouring of sympathy for the nine-year-old from members of the public and celebrities including Hugh Jackman. 'Quaden you are stronger than you know, mate. And no matter what, you have a friend in me,' Jackman said in a video posted to his Twitter account. Quaden will also lead the Indigenous All-Stars out onto the field in their rugby league clash with the Maori All Stars in Queensland on Saturday. They will take on New Zealand Maori Kiwis at CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast. The nine-year-old was snapped with NRL star Latrell Mitchell, who donned a South Sydney Rabbitohs jersey after signing with the club for the 2020 season. NRL legend Johnathon Thurston (pictured) has offered his support to Quaden since the video went viral Through a heart warming Instagram post, Thurston said Quaden 'was loved' and to 'stay strong' Quaden's mother Yarraka shared the distressing video which sparked the outpouring of support after picking her son up from school on Wednesday. The schoolboy, who has achondroplasia - the most common type of dwarfism - told his mother: 'Give me a rope, I want to kill myself.' In the video, which has been viewed more than three million times, Quaden also said: 'I just want to stab myself in the heart... I want someone to kill me.' Quaden also scratched at his neck and said: 'I want to die... I want to scratch myself.' Ms Bayles shared the original video publicly on Facebook in a bid to raise awareness about the impact of bullying. Quaden Bayles, nine, (pictured) was bullied so badly he was seen in heart breaking footage asking to kill himself She said she normally tries to keep distressing moments such as this private but felt she had been left with no choice but to go public. 'We try to be as strong as positive as possible and only share the highlights... but this is how bullying affects a nine-year-old kid,' she said in the video. At the start of the five-minute clip, Ms Bayles said: 'I just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal and I want people to know this is the effect bullying has. This is what bullying does. 'So can you please educate your children, your families, your friends because all it takes is one more instance... and you wonder why kids are killing themselves.' 'This is the impact bullying has a nine-year-old kid who just wants to go to school, get an education and have fun but every single fricking day something happens. 'Another episode another bullying, another taunt, another name-calling.' As Quaden sobbed, Ms Bayles asked for help from anyone viewing the footage. 'So is there any advice or support or anything that other parents have done? 'I've got some good advice but I need more, I want people to know how much it is hurting us as a family,' she said as her voice quivered. The mother did not go into specifics about the latest bullying incident, but previously said her son was called a 'midget' by his class mates. Last year Quaden's mother told the Courier-Mail that he first tried to kill himself three years ago when he was just six. 'I was so shocked. I honestly didn't think he would even know what or how at six years old,' she said. Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan (pictured), who plays villain Negan in The Walking Dead, also reached out to Quaden on Twitter The mother, an Aboriginal rights activist, said her son has made several attempts to take his own life. 'I've explained to him that once you go, there's no coming back, you're gone forever, but he still kept trying,' the mother said. She also said Quaden has been affected by the death of his grandfather and his younger half-brother, who was stillborn. 'He thought if he went to heaven, then he'd be with his Pop and his little brother,' she said. She told the newspaper she was proud that she had spoken publicly about asking for help. DkIT Culinary Arts students, Van Phouc Le from Dundalk and Ryan Dowling from Shercock who received gold and silver medals at Chef Ireland 2020 competition pictured with their lecturer Alan McCabe. Two Culinary Arts students at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) received gold and silver medals along with best in class titles at this year's Chef Ireland 2020 competition which took place this month in Citywest Hotel, Dublin. Second year students, Ryan Dowling from Shercock, Co Cavan and Van Phouc Le from Dundalk, were awarded the highest marks in the Junior Fish Competition with their dish of brill, cauliflower and mussel ragu, taking home the gold award and 'Best in Class' for the dish. This was preceded with a silver medal and 'Best in Class' in the Junior Lamb competition the previous day. The students received high praise from the panel of judges with their professionalism, attention to detail and cooking skills. Chef Ireland judge, Billy Grimes said that "they are a credit to DkIT with bright futures ahead.' Speaking about their experiences, Ryan Dowling said: 'We only had 2 weeks to prepare for the competition and it was a great experience competing against our peers from all over the country. We received great support from our fellow students at DkIT but especially our wonderful lecturers. Alan McCabe and Michael McNamara mentored us for the competitions and we couldn't be anymore grateful for thire time, effort and support.' Another Best in class and Silver medal was won by second year student, Conor Farrell for his cold display Sacher Torte which rounded off two fantastic days of competition for the DkIT Students. Head of the Department of Hospitality Studies at DkIT, Brianain Erraught was full of praise and noted that the students 'have put in a lot of work and it's great to see them rewarded for this, we are very proud of them.' Winning student, Van Phouc added; 'It is the great chance to compete with young chefs from around the country to see where we are in this culinary industry. Also, I want to challenge myself. As a young chef, we are hungry to get medals. We are so proud to represent Dundalk IT to take part in, and luckily we won the competition.' Mentored by lecturers Rosemary Leonard, Michael Mc Namara and Alan Mc Cabe, the students also won the Grand Prix prize for DkIT with the highest marks amongst junior entries over the 2 days of competition. A ban on the sale of wet wood and coal to burn in domestic fireplaces has been criticised amid claims it will push people in rural areas into poverty and be impossible to enforce. The rationale behind the Government's decision, which will come into force in 2021, is to reduce the most dangerous type of air pollution ultrafine particles known as PM2.5. These tiny specks of soot can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, and are linked to asthma, heart disease, strokes and early death. They have been described by the doctor's bible, the BMJ as 'the most hazardous air pollutant' and responsible for more than 37,000 deaths a year. A ban on the sale of wet wood and coal to burn in domestic fireplaces has been criticised amid claims it will push people in rural areas into poverty and be impossible to enforce (stock image) Instead, residents will have to burn dry wood or smokeless fuel, which are more expensive. But Sarah Lee, of campaign group the Countryside Alliance, said: 'Thirty-six per cent of rural homes are off the gas grid network, so are reliant on solid fuel, oil or electricity. 'The homes are generally older and more expensive to heat. So it will push up household bills... It's also going to be difficult to police who is going to dob their neighbour in?' The ban on the sale of wet wood only applies to small quantities of wood less than two cubic metres of wood. Wet wood is defined as wood with less than 20 per cent moisture content, and has usually been dried out in a kiln. Bigger amounts would be exempt - meaning people able to buy six-month's worth of wood would not be affected but only people who buy small amounts. A single woodburning stove can produce more air pollution each year than 1,000 petrol cars over the same time period. The government needs to take action to meet existing legal targets to reduce PM2.5 air pollution by 31,000 tonnes by 2030. She added: 'It will also be ineffective. It is a ban on selling the wood, nothing to stop people going out to collect wet wood to burn. 'It seems a bit of a churlish measure that is not going to achieve what they are going to do. The rationale behind the Government's decision, which will come into force in 2021, is to reduce the most dangerous type of air pollution ultrafine particles known as PM2.5 (stock image) 'We need a massive overhaul of the environmental system this is fiddling around the edges while Rome burns. 'It is not cutting air pollution on flights people would kick off much more about that.' This will hit rural communities the hardest particularly those off the gas grid network potentially pushing some people into fuel poverty. But environmental group ClientEarth said the ban on wet wood did not go far enough. ClientEarth Campaigns and Policy Manager Andrea Lee said: 'This is a welcome step forward but the government needs to go further on air pollution. 'As Michael Gove said when he was the Environment Secretary, the government should make a legally binding commitment on particulate matter pollution in the Environment Bill so that no part of the country exceeds the levels recommended by the World Health Organization.' Currently the government is bound by less strict PM2.5 pollution limits based on European Union law. Tamara Sandoul, Policy and Campaigns Manager at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health called for the government to consider further restricting wood burning stoves in urban areas. She said: 'We welcome the Government's announcement to phase out wet wood and coal from being sold across England. 'Restricting wet wood sales everywhere should make the law easier to enforce and for outlets to comply with. It should also contribute to reducing particulate pollution from domestic wood burners. 'However, the Government should also consult on whether domestic wood burning should be restricted in densely populated urban areas and existing smoke control areas. 'However, it is vital that the Government properly addresses fuel poverty and that full support is given to those who currently rely on wood and coal as their primary heating source. 'More funding is needed to help these households insulate their homes, thereby reducing their energy demand and to switch to renewable heating sources.' United Way of Olmsted County promotes volunteerism in Southeastern Minnesota through their Get Connected online tool. Get Connected is made available to nonprofit agencies in our region to post volunteer opportunities. This tool allows individuals to view these volunteer opportunities. Go to volunteer.uwolmsted.org for more information or call 507-287-1533. Day Center volunteer We are seeking volunteers for our Day Center. Volunteer duties include student homework help and mentoring, doing craft projects or playing games, reading to kids, teaching life skills, family mentorship, etc., just to name a few. Email bbednar@ihngr.org or call 507-281-3122 for more information or to volunteer with Family Promise Rochester. Grocery Group volunteers We are currently recruiting "Grocery Group" volunteers for our initiative geared toward providing food to newly arriving refugee families. Grocery Groups volunteer based on a rotating schedule with other community groups and parishes to fundraise and organize grocery shopping trips to supply about a weeks worth of groceries to a newly arrived family. This volunteer opportunity can be a family "group," an organization "group," or a parish "group." Email khammell@ccsomn.org or call 507-287-2047 for more information or to volunteer with Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. ADVERTISEMENT Friends of the Library bookstore clerk Work with books in a pleasant retail environment, share the joy of books with the public, and learn about bookstore operations. You will provide assistance to bookstore customers and assist with procedures to maintain a successful retail operation. Email marilyn@rochester.lib.mn.us or call 507-328-2341 for more information or to volunteer with Rochester Public Library. M33 Growth, a Boston, MA-based venture and growth stage investment firm, closed its second fund, at $260m. Limited partners in M33 Growth II include some of the nations top endowments, foundations and institutional investors, as well as founders and CEOs with whom the team has forged working relationships with over the past decade. It follows the firms $180m debut fund that closed in late 2017. M33 Growth seeks to partner with founders and CEOs of companies who are using technology to solve critical, industry-specific problems and beat legacy incumbents in their vertical markets in the software, healthcare and services sectors throughout North America. Led by Gabe Ling, Brian Shortsleeve and Michael Anello, M33 Growth invests growth capital and applies its operational experience to optimize go-to-market teams and execute on strategic acquisitions. Since the launch, M33 Growth has invested in six bootstrapped companies driving productivity and automation in a variety of B2B software and services applications. The firm is supported by a team of 15 out of its Boston headquarters. The current portfolio includes AssuriCare, RHI Group, The Oncology Institute, TITAN Cloud and Waterfield Energy. FinSMEs 22/02/2020 Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Saturday that the protesters at Shaheen Bagh understood their fundamental rights but did not appear to understand their fundamental duties while demonstrating against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Naqvi said the stir was an example of the dilemma between rights and duties. Our Constitution has given us fundamental rights as well as fundamental duties. There is a dilemma between developing and developed... everyone is aware of their fundamental rights but how many know that within that Constitution under Article 51A, our fundamental duties are also listed, Naqvi said at the 10th edition of the Indian Student Parliament organised by the MIT-School of Government. At Shaheen Bagh our sisters have been sitting for a long time; I was telling Manish Sisodia ji that it is a dilemma between rights and duties. I do not think one can achieve their rights by hijacking a road, Naqvi said at the event held at Vigyan Bhawan. We will always be caught up in confusion if we do not understand our rights and duties, he added. The DNA of our country is of unity and diversity and no other country can boast about the fact that it chose secularism over religion... this is what is taking us forward... We talk of getting rid of issues. In terms of poverty figures, nearly 27 crore were below poverty line in 2014 and that has gone down to 18 crore in 2018, Naqvi said at the session titled Can Young India Rise to Zero Hunger, Zero Poverty by 2030. Speaking at the same session, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said Indias progress was hampered by the lack of focus in the field of education. When I was in school..we used to be told that India is a developing country... at that time, we used to feel good about it. We were told it would be developed in the next 8-10 years... Today, when we teach our children in school, we are still saying the same thing India is a developing country. The track on which we are on as a country, if we dont change, then even the next few generations after us will be told we are still a developing country. He said that the countrys youth should take an oath towards taking India on right path of development. We are working on these cases not because of international pressure, but because of our responsibility and accountability, said a military spokesman. Myanmars Armed Forces will follow recommendations from the president and the final report of a commission of enquiry established by Aung San Suu Kyi. The document, which was made public on 20 January, found evidence of mass killings, including nearly 900 Rohingya. Naypyidaw (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Myanmar military announced yesterday that it will investigate and open court-martial proceedings against soldiers accused of mass killings during the 2017 military operations against Rohingya insurgents in northern Rakhine State. The decision follows recommendations from Myanmar President Win Myint and the Independent Commission of Inquiry (ICoE) established by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in August 2018 to shed light on the violence perpetrated against Myanmars Rohingya Muslim minority. The ICoE published its final report on 20 January. In 461 pages, the commission found that war crimes were committed between 25 August and 5 September 2017 during the army's massive offensive against the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), including the killing of nearly 900 people in three Rohingya villages. The ICoE account however rejects the claim that the killings and population displacement had "genocidal intent" in direct contradiction of investigations by the United Nations. The report contains 22 recommendations, urging the Myanmar government and the country's armed forces to continue their investigations. President Win Myint sent the report to General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Myanmars Defence Services, to prosecute the military personnel responsible for the violence. Yesterday the army said it had reviewed the accounts of the atrocities in the villages of Maung Nu and Chut Pyin. According to the ICoE, at least a hundred civilians were killed in Chut Pyin, and around two hundred in Maung Nu. The Commission also found that 19 civilians were killed in Gutar Pyin, a village in Buthidaung Township, and that nearly 500-600 civilians from Min Gyi Village in Maungdaw Township were killed in armed clashes between security forces and ARSA on Aug. 29, 2017. The military opened court martial proceedings against a group of soldiers over the Gutar Pyin killings in November last year. We have already reviewed the Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages cases, said yesterday Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun. We will work on these cases by forming a court of inquiry, and then we will refer the cases to the court-martial and decide them according to military law. We are working on these cases not because of international pressure, but because of our responsibility and accountability, he said. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg says he needs to raise USD 13 million to stay competitive through the 14-state Super Tuesday contests on March 3, despite strong finishes in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. The tricky financial picture for one of the surprise candidates of 2020 comes as the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, reported Thursday that he spent more than twice as much as he brought in during January, even as he was simultaneously ramping up for the Iowa and New Hampshire contests. But the Iowa Democratic Party's debacle in reporting results may have dampened what Buttigieg could have expected to raise immediately after Iowa. Buttigieg ended with a near-tie in Iowa with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has fielded a strong organization and fundraising this cycle after competing strongly against Hillary Clinton for the 2016 presidential nomination. The Iowa deal took some luster off what would have been a great night and a great week, said Bobby Mandell, a Florida lawyer among Buttigieg's most influential donors. I know he did fine that week, but not as well as he could have done, had he been able to claim outright victory." Mandell says he and Buttigieg's donors remain upbeat and committed as the candidate squeezes fundraising events in Nevada ahead of the Saturday caucuses there, and campaign and fundraising jaunts to California, the most delegate-rich prize in the March 3 sweepstakes. The pace rapidly quickens after Nevada, as Buttigieg races from Nevada to Colorado and Virginia, important Super Tuesday states, before spending most of next week in South Carolina. Buttigieg's campaign in South Carolina must show signs of support from African American voters who make up a majority of that state's February 29 primary electorate. In the Super Tuesday primaries, Buttigieg faces free-spending billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who did not compete in the first four nominating contests, but has advertised heavily. No longer fighting solely to distinguish himself chiefly from Sanders, Buttigieg told donors in the USD 13-million appeal Thursday, We are now also up against a billionaire who is throwing colossal sums of money on television instead of doing the work of campaigning." Buttigieg is scheduled to headline three fundraisers before March 3, aides said. Still, Buttigieg said Thursday he had raised USD 11 million to date in February, adding to the USD 6 million in contributions his campaign reported receiving in January. However, Buttigieg spent $14 million in January, an investment he'd hoped would reap heavily from beating expectations in Iowa. He had only USD 6.6 million in the bank at the end of the month. The Iowa Democratic Party, which ran the leadoff caucuses, failed to report complete results for three days, the result of a failure of an electronic reporting program as well as other problems. The Associated Press has not yet declared a winner in the contest, which remains under review by state and national party officials. Buttigieg began his climb into the top tier of the 2020 Democratic field last summer after raising nearly USD 25 million in the second quarter of 2019, part of a USD 75-million total he raised last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mike Bloomberg's campaign staff say Bernie Sanders' 'anti-capitalist' rhetoric may have inspired an attack on their Knoxville field office, as the feud between the two Democratic contenders continues to escalate. Bloomberg's Tennessee headquarters was hit with graffiti on Thursday night, with vandals spray painting 'F**k Bloomberg', 'oligarch', and 'classist authoritarian' across the building. Despite having no evidence as to the identity of the culprits, Bloomberg's campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, was quick to point the finger in a statement on Friday. 'We don't know who is responsible for this vandalism, but we do know it echoes language from the Sanders campaign and its supporters,' Sheekey stated. He added: ' We call on Bernie Sanders to immediately condemn these attacks and for his campaign to end the Trump-like rhetoric that is clearly encouraging his supporters to engage in behavior that has no place in our politics'. A spokesperson for Sanders has not publicly responded. Field offices for Bloomberg have also been targeted in Youngstown, Ohio and Flint, Michigan in recent days. In Youngstown, posters which read 'STOP AND FRISK' and 'EAT THE RICH' were set up outside the building. Billionaire Bloomberg and democratic socialist Sanders - who represent opposite wings of the Democratic party - are locked in an ugly feud, which has worsened since they lobbed insults at one another during Wednesday night's Democratic Debate. Mike Bloomberg's campaign staff say Bernie Sanders' 'anti-capitalist' rhetoric may have inspired an attack on their Knoxville field office, as the feud between the two Democratic contenders continues to escalate Bloomberg's Tennessee headquarters was hit with graffiti on Thursday night, with vandals spray painting 'F**k Bloomberg', 'oligarch', and 'classist authoritarian' across the building The vandals responsible for Thursday's attack on Bloomberg's field office have not yet been caught Bloomberg was savaged in Wednesday night's debate, attacked by his rivals over his past comments about women and the controversial stop-and-frisk policy he championed whilst he was New York Mayor. On Friday, Sanders sat down with Anderson Cooper for a 60 Minutes interview here he said Bloomberg's debate performance was not good enough. 'If that's what happened in the Democratic debate, you know, I think it's quite likely that Trump will chew him up and spit him out,' he stated in a preview of the interview, set to air Sunday. Graffiti seen outside Bloomberg's field office in Flint, Michigan Posters pictured outside of Bloomberg's field office in Youngstown, Ohio In the interview, Sanders is also set to criticize the amount of money Bloomberg during his campaign. FEC reports indicate that the billionaire spent an average of $7 million per day in January - nearly three times the total net worth of Sanders, who is estimated to have a total of $2.5 million in assets. 'I am worried about an unprecedented amount of money being spent on a campaign,' Sanders said in the 60 Minutes preview. 'We've never seen anything like this in American history and I just think, though, that the American people will rebel against this type of oligarchic movement.' 'We are a democracy - one person, one vote - not a guy worth $60 billion, buying an election,' he stated. Sanders has been a fierce critic of billionaire Bloomberg Meanwhile, the pair sparred during Wednesday night's Democratic debate about whether billionaires deserve to exist. Bloomberg, who is worth around $63 billion, said he 'worked very hard' for his money. Sanders had suggested that Bloomberg's wealth was a policy failure, with rich donors pushing lawmakers to allow for the tax code to tilt toward billionaires, while other Americans are living on the streets. 'I can't speak for all billionaires, all I know is I've been very lucky, made a lot of money and I'm giving it all away to make this country better,' Bloomberg said. 'A good chunk of it goes to the Democratic Party as well,' he added. Bloomberg chided Sanders over his anti-wealth talk. 'We're not going to throw out capitalism. We tried that. Other countries tried that, it was called 'communism' and it just doesn't work,' Bloomberg argued. Sanders raged back that he wasn't a 'communist,' calling the comment a 'cheap shot.' Things got even more heated when Bloomberg pointed out the Vermont senator's own wealth and property holdings. 'What a wonderful country we have. The best known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses,' Bloomberg said. The former mayor answered, 'New York City, thank you very much.' I think most investors will agree that it's hard to pin down the "right" time to buy stocks. The problem with holding back when markets are hitting new highs is that this trend can continue for a long time into the foreseeable future, as long as there is nothing to derail the economic expansion. Waiting for a crash in order to buy is akin to timing the market, and we all know that it's an almost impossible task. However, there are certain events that crop up now and again that help to throw up bargains and compelling opportunities. One of the more recent ones involves a new virus called COVID-19. This new bug appeared toward the end of 2019 in China and, to date, has infected more than 66,000 people and killed more than 1,500. Markets have been in a tizzy over the economic impact wrought by the virus, as countries close their borders to Chinese nationals and China itself orders the shutting down of malls, factories, and food and beverage outlets. With China's growing prominence in the world due to strong consumer spending and outbound tourism, there's no doubt that COVID-19 will dent overall growth and lead to economic losses for many businesses. Here are three stocks that may offer good value for investors as their businesses suffer temporary disruption from this outbreak. Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) is the world's second-largest cruise line operator and operates a combined total of 61 ships along with joint venture partners TUI Cruises and Pullmantur Cruceros. Earlier this month, news outlets reported that dozens of people had caught the COVID-19 virus onboard a cruise ship, Diamond Princess, owned by Royal Caribbean. Though Royal Caribbean had just reported a record year of results for the fiscal year 2019, it did caution in its news release that it had canceled eight cruises out of China ending March 4, and modified certain itineraries in the region, all of which would impact earnings per share by $0.25 (note: earnings per share for FY 2019 was $8.95). Nearly 10 days later, however, the cruise company had canceled 18 cruises in Southeast Asia and warned that earnings may take a bigger hit of $0.65 per share for FY 2020. If the company were to cancel all its remaining cruises for Asia through the end of April, there would be an additional hit of $0.55 to its earnings per share, bringing the total negative impact to $1.20, or almost 13.4% of FY 2019's earnings. Royal Caribbean's stock price has also tumbled from a high of $135 on Jan. 17, 2020, to the current $113. Investors need to remember, though, that the effects of the virus are expected to be short-term, and only affect the company's cruises up till the end of April. Even looking just at 2020, there'll hopefully be eight more months after April for the company to get back on track and recover from this outbreak. The Walt Disney Company Disney (NYSE:DIS) is another victim of the chaos brought about by the virus outbreak. The theme park operator announced the temporary closure of its Shanghai Disneyland theme park on Jan. 25, 2020, and the closure of its Hong Kong Disneyland took place the following day. As of the date of writing, there is still no official confirmation on when the theme parks will reopen, as the COVID-19 situation remains fluid, dynamic, and uncertain. Disney had also planned to release its live-action remake of Mulan (it was first released as a cartoon in 1998) in North America on March 27. This film is expected to do very well in China but its release is now thrown into uncertainty due to the virus. The outbreak has led to closures of not just malls, but cinemas as well, as part of the government's quarantine efforts. It's unfortunate that a movie seemingly made for the Chinese market had to hit such a huge stumbling block. The theme parks are grouped under the parks, experiences, and products segment within Disney's financials. For FY 2019 (year ended Sept. 30, 2019), this division made up 37.7% of revenue and 45.5% of operating income, so the hit from these closures could be fairly material. Disney's financials will be taking a one-off hit for this year, but the effects from the virus should not linger for longer than that, and investors can expect operations to get back to normal after this difficult period. McDonald's McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) managed to report a decent set of earnings for the fiscal year 2019. Though revenue was flat year over year due to the increase in revenue from franchised restaurants being offset by sales from the company's directly owned outlets, operating income managed to inch up 3% year over year while earnings per share rose 5% year over year. Free cash flow for FY 2019 was even stronger than FY 2018 at $5.7 billion compared to $4.2 billion a year ago. In late January, McDonald's announced that it had suspended business in five major cities in China due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The cities were Wuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, Qianjiang, and Xiantao, and there was no word as to when these outlets could reopen. However, CEO Chris Kempczinski assured investors in the latest conference call that around 3,000 restaurants remained open in China, and that even though China represented 9% of restaurant count globally, it only accounted for 4% to 5% of sales and just 3% of operating income. Buying on temporary troubles The COVID-19 outbreak provides the perfect opportunity for a savvy investor to swoop in to buy the stocks of these three companies that have been negatively impacted by closures and cancellations. As the Chinese government grapples with the daunting task of containing the spread of the virus, these troubles could continue to bring adverse news to investors' ears, further depressing valuations amid rampant pessimism. These companies have proven that they have a strong brand franchise and solid fundamentals. This is, therefore, a great opportunity for investors to load up on the stocks while they have been beaten down. Four out of five LGBTQ+ people say they feel worse now than they did after the "yes" vote on same-sex marriage, describing the debate over religious discrimination as "Marriage Equality 2.0" because it is amplifying negative voices. The findings are from the Make Love Louder report by Macquarie University researcher Shirleene Robinson, commissioned by Absolut in the lead up to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras this week. Dr Robinson was also a director of Australian Marriage Equality. Darlington's Mitchell Wilson, who performs as Lavrence, said LGBTQ+ allies need to "speak out and hold people accountable". Credit:Brook Mitchell Dr Robinson's study is based on a nationally representative survey of 1000 LGBTQ+ people of all ages and 904 heterosexual allies and the report also draws on research by community campaign just.equal. It found three out of four LGBTQ+ Australians have personally experienced negativity or discrimination on the basis of their sexual or gender identity and one in four experience it on a daily basis. For transgender Australians, four out of five have experienced it, two out of five on a daily basis. The research suggests 63 per cent of Australians support the LGBTQ+ community, but three out of four of these, dubbed allies, are "silent supporters". In a fresh twist to the Nirbhaya case, one of the four death row convicts -- Pawan Gupta -- whose legal remedies are still pending, refused to meet legal aid counsel Ravi Qazi in Tihar Jail. Advocate Ravi Qazi, who was appointed by the court to represent Pawan Gupta, went to Tihar Jail on February 19 where he was informed by the jail authorities that the convict has refused to meet him. Pawan is the only convict among the four who has not yet filed the curative petition and other legal remedies available to him. A court of Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Rana on February 17 issued fresh death warrants and set March 3 as date of execution of death penalty. Ravi Qazi said that as there was no communication in the last few days, therefore, he could not move Pawan Gupta's legal remedies. But the cloud of suspension hangs over their execution as Pawan has still not used his legal remedies. Earlier, Pawan Gupta was represented by AP Singh. The court has directed DLSA to provide Gupta a defence counsel. The Patiala House Court on Monday issued fresh death warrants against four convicts while hearing a petition by the state and Nirbhaya's parents. The case pertains to the brutal gang rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. We are not done looking for those responsible. This was the warning given by the Head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Supt Roger Alexander yesterday during the Beyond the Tape TV programme on TV6. Earlier in the day, Alexander was part of several units which went searching for kidnap victim Mattie Maraj in the eastern division. A delegation led by the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, attended the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary Meetings held in Paris from 16 to 21 February 2020. The FATF considered the progress made by Mauritius during the one year observation period following the adoption of its Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) by ESAAMLG in September 2018. The FATF noted that since the completion of its MER in 2018, Mauritius has made progress on a number of its MER recommended actions to improve technical compliance and effectiveness, including amending the legal framework to require legal persons and legal arrangements to disclose beneficial ownership information and improve the processes of identifying and confiscating proceeds of crimes. The FATF has also recognized that Mauritius has addressed deficiencies in relation to: national risk assessment, mitigations and coordination; international cooperation; banking supervision; use of financial intelligence; confiscation; terrorist financing investigations and prosecutions; and the implementation of targeted financial sanction. At the time of the adoption of its MER, Mauritius was rated largely compliant or compliant with only 14 of the 40 FATF Recommendations. As at date, that is within a period of one year, Mauritius has addressed 53 out of the 58 Recommended Actions contained in the MER. Today, we are largely compliant or compliant with 35 of the 40 Recommendations, including the Big Six Recommendations. Mauritius is committed to the integrity of the domestic and international financial system and as such will fully implement improvements to the effectiveness of its AML/CFT system. Mauritius has made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and ESAAMLG to implement its action plan, which contains five Recommended Actions. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires As the coronavirus crisis grinds on, animal campaigners operating in Asia are shining a light on the staggering number of dogs and cats butchered for human consumption. Dog and cat meat is available in many live-animal markets and restaurants, whose visitors are mostly locals, but may also include tourists, especially from South Korea and China. Dogs in a tiny cage await to be slaughtered in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Credit:FOUR PAWS The trade and eating of companion and wild animals not only causes immense suffering, but also poses serious risks to human health, such as the spread of rabies. FOUR PAWS, a global animal protection organisation based in Vienna and with offices in Australia, has just published a report that estimates 9 million dogs and 1 million cats are brutally slaughtered in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia every year. Brigham Young U says policy on homosexual behavior remains the same after reports suggest ban lifted Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Officials at Brigham Young University in Utah said Thursday that the schools policy on homosexual behavior had not changed despite reports that a recent update to their Honor Code signified students would no longer be disciplined for engaging in same-sex relationships. Just know that the Honor Code remains the same and as we have [done] so often in the past, we handle the questions that arise on an individual case by case basis, a representative from BYUs communications office told The Christian Post Thursday. In a brief statement released Wednesday, BYU officials said the updated Honor Code was published to be in alignment with the doctrine and policies of the Church reflected in the recently released general handbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The updated Honor Code applies to all Church institutions of higher education. As in the past, each campus maintains its own dress and grooming standards. The updated Honor Code continues to be a principle-based code that reflects the moral standards of the Church. It allows each campus to support and guide its students on an individual basis according to the principles outlined in the Honor Code, the school said. The updates to the code, however, show that the school had removed language classifying homosexual behavior among violations of the Honor Code that may result in actions up to and including separation from the university. Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code, the old language for the Honor Code noted. One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings, the now-deleted language in the code noted. When asked why that language was removed, the BYU official told CP: The new church handbook was released on the same day. It aligned more with the way they are talking about things in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thats the whole motivation behind taking that out to align with the church policy. The current Honor Code policy calls on students to, among other things, live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman. Kirk Bowman, a recent BYU graduate, told The Salt Lake Tribune that the director of the schools Honor Code Office told him the change would mean LGBTQ students would no longer be disciplined or expelled for being in relationships kissing or holding hands as long as they follow the faiths existing expectation that couples remain chaste until marriage. I am personally very excited," Bowman said. "While I still think there are serious problems with the office, I am very happy that they are taking steps towards equality. I am hopeful that this will lead to less homophobia on campus from students, professors, faculty, bishops, etc. In a series of tweets on Wednesday, BYU noted that Bowman may have misunderstood his communication with the Honor Code Office. The updated Honor Code continues to be a principle-based code that reflects the moral standards of the Church. It allows each campus to support and guide its students on an individual basis according to the principles outlined in the Honor Code, BYU stated. In speaking with Honor Code Office Director Kevin Utt this afternoon, we've learned that there may have been some miscommunication as to what the Honor Code changes mean. Even though we have removed the more prescriptive language, the principles of the Honor Code remain the same, the school added. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not support gay marriage. A three-year-old boy was left sobbing after his mother hid inside a large teddy bear to scare him at Little Elm, Texas, on February 15. Hilda Parrales filmed the video of herself dressed as a fluffy teddy bear before suddenly moving, sparking her son, Aaron Dibi, to run into his room. Parrales posted the video to Twitter on February 15. The video shows the three-year-old boy stopping and staring at the toy as he notices its sudden movement. The boy then runs off crying. Parrales told Storyful that Aaron ran out of his room and ran downstairs crying and saying his teddy bear moved. The idea for the prank came to Hilda when she renovated Aarons room, she said. Credit: Hilda Parrales via Storyful By Trend A Pan-European Karabakh rally will be broadcast live, Trend reports on Feb. 22 referring to the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with the Diaspora. The Pan-European Karabakh rally will be held in Berlin on the initiative of the diaspora organizations operating in almost 30 countries. The rally to be organized by the Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany will be broadcast from 16:00 (GMT+4) on the State Committees official Facebook page. The State Committee asks compatriots to share posts on social networks with the hashtags #Azerbaijan #Karabakh #justiceforkhojaly #EuropeanKarabakhRally. During the Khojaly genocide, 613 people were killed, 1,000 civilians of different age became disabled as a result of bullet wounds. As many as 106 women, 63 children, 70 elderly persons were killed, 8 families were totally exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, 130 children lost one of their parents. On the night of the tragedy, 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The US Department of National Security has established Russian meddling of ongoing democratic party causes and the ultimate general elections. The report says "there are active Russian manoeuvering to ensure Benny Saunders got elected as a candidate for the Democrats and Trump for the Republicans. Both Saunders and Trump have been duly briefed on this development by the national security: Saunders has conde Imned Russia while Trump has described it as "misinformation" by detractors. In both scenarios, no political actor or a group in the US has said this move by Russia is a recipe for post-election violence in America. But I heard John Jinapor on today's edition of #newsfile on #joynews citing a US State Department report which borders on nothing but pure conjecture and speculation of flimsy grounding, that "Nana Addo has packed the EC with NPP sympathizers, and that is a recipe for post-election violence". He also cited this report as one of their reason for boycotting this year's SONA presented in a decent atmosphere because NDC's destructive disruptiveness was absent. In addition to this, these NDC MPs have actually cited over 20 different reasons for boycotting the SONA, and this proves one thing: a bunch of confused desperados motivated by a hunger for power to CREATE, LOOT AND SHARE. Now, talking about Nana Addo 'packing' EC with NPP sympathisers; it is obvious these NDC people don't read even beyond their very noses, else, they would have been educated on the fact that the White House, the judicial system, national security hierarchy, etc., have all been comprehensively cleaned of highly qualified and well-decorated American citizens, and replaced with unapologetic Trump loyalists. For example, long-time carrier diplomats who performed their national duty of testifying in Donald Trump's impeachment process, have all been fired immediately. Criminals duly prosecuted and jailed are being set free by Trump through executive Fiat because they are his close associates. As a matter of fact, Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jaret Kushner are both senior presidential advisors but these NDC people would have been running amock with insipid propaganda cacophony, had this happened under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. America currently has a president who describes the opposition as "radical left lunatics" and a bunch of "very sick people". These are pronouncements Nana Addo will never dream of using to describe NDC, yet, they claim he is a "DESPOT with tendencies much worse that Nabucadenezzer". Indeed, I really wished these NDC people were in America and competing with Trump. In all of this, the US elections have always been characterised with serious challenges, a classic example of which happened in recent democratic party's caucus elections in Iowa where results could not be announced for days after the close of voting, but we never heard any of the contestants threatening civil war. IS IT BECAUSE THE AFRICAN LACKS SENSE? THEY HAVE THEIR PROBLEMS AND ARE AMICABLY RESOLVING THEM BUT THEY HIGHLIGHT YOURS AND YOU ACCEPT IT HOOK-LINE-AND-SINKER AND DISPLAYING IT AS A TRAMPCARD TO WAGE WAR. INDEED, THE WHITEMAN KNOWS YOU DON'T THINK AND THAT'S WHY HE HAS NO RESPECT FOR YOU...MR BLACKMAN!!!! Newton-Offei Justice Abeeku Omnicom Group Inc. OMC reported solid fourth-quarter 2019 results wherein the companys earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Adjusted earnings of $1.89 per share beat the consensus mark by 1% and increased 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Total revenues of $4.1 billion beat the consensus estimate by 1.5% and increased 1.3% year over year on a reported basis. The year-over-year increase was driven by organic revenue growth of 3.5%, partially offset by negative foreign exchange rate impact of 0.9% and a decline in acquisition revenues, net of disposition revenues of 1.2%. Shares of Omnicom have gained 7.8% over the past year, compared with the 2.1% rise of the industry it belongs to. Other Quarterly Details Across fundamental disciplines, advertising increased 5.1%, CRM Consumer Experience was up 3.3%, CRM Execution & Support declined 6%, Public Relations declined 2.5% and Healthcare increased 12.9%, organically, year over year. Across regional markets, year-over-year organic growth was 2.8% in the United States, 3.3% in the United Kingdom, 4.7% in the Euro Markets and Other Europe, 4.5% in Asia Pacific and 19.5% in Middle East and Africa. Other North America and Latin America were down 2.3% and 1.3%, respectively. Operating profit in the quarter came in at $646.4 million, up 3.1% year over year. Operating margin increased to 15.6% from 15.3% in the year-ago quarter. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Omnicom 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. Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020? Story continues Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys. Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) : Free Stock Analysis 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 To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walks through the exhibit hall as shareholders gather to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Saturday posted a 23% decrease in quarterly operating profit, while soaring prices in stock holdings such as Apple Inc enabled the conglomerate to smash its old record for full-year earnings. In his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett defended Berkshire's foray into stocks, which comes amid a four-year drought since its last major acquisition that has left Berkshire sitting on $128 billion of cash. Berkshire did step up repurchases of its own stock, buying back roughly $2.2 billion in the quarter. Repurchases totaled $5 billion for the full year. "I am delighted with the increased commitment to share repurchases," said Thomas Russo, a partner at Gardner, Russo & Gardner, which invests $13 billion, of which 13% is in Berkshire. "It may be a very large arrow in Berkshire's quiver to increase intrinsic value on a per-share basis." Nonetheless, while the BNSF railroad and Berkshire Hathaway Energy units showed improvement, reinsurance operations weighed on operating results, and the Geico car insurer posted "subpar performance" as loss claims eclipsed premium growth, according to Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA Research. "The big miss was on the insurance front, though energy and railroads were stronger," Seifert said. It will be interesting see the impact of coronavirus on freight traffic in the first quarter and beyond." Fourth-quarter operating profit fell to $4.42 billion, or approximately $2,720 per Class A share, from $5.72 billion, or about $3,484 per share. Berkshire did not write down its 26.6% stake in Kraft Heinz Co , which is struggling to rebound from years of cost-cutting amid changing consumer tastes, though its market value is well below the $13.8 billion carrying cost on Berkshire's balance sheet. Net income, reflecting stock gains, totaled $29.16 billion, compared with a net loss of $25.39 billion a year earlier. For all of 2019, net income totaled $81.42 billion, topping the record $44.94 billion for 2017, when Berkshire benefited from a lower U.S. corporate tax rate. Story continues Such huge swings stem from an accounting rule requiring Berkshire to report paper gains and losses from its stock holdings with net income. Buffett wrote that companies whose stocks Berkshire owns are generating returns that are "remarkable under any circumstances," especially compared with returns on bonds. Apple soared 86% in 2019 and 31% in the fourth quarter alone, leaving Berkshire with a $73.7 billion year-end stake. Berkshire's stock was a laggard in 2019, rising 11% compared with a 31.5% gain in the Standard & Poor's 500 including dividends, in part reflecting the drag from the cash stake. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Giles Elgood, Megan Davies and Franklin Paul) RTHK: Italy reports first death of coronavirus patient Italy reported its first death from the new virus from China early on Saturday and the number of people infected more than quadrupled due to a cluster of cases that prompted officials to order schools, restaurants and businesses to close. State-run RAI television reported a 78-year-old man, one of two people in northern Veneto region to have been infected, died on Friday. Italian news agencies ANSA and LaPresse also reported the death, citing the Veneto regional president, Luca Zaia. In Lombardy, at least 14 new cases were confirmed, representing the first infections in Italy acquired through secondary contagion and bringing the country's total to 19. The cluster was located in a handful of tiny towns southeast of Milan, said Lombardy regional health chief Giulio Gallera. This was foreseeable even if we hoped it wouldnt have happened, Gallera said. The first to fall ill was a 38-year-old Italian who met with someone who had returned from China on Jan. 21 without presenting any symptoms of the new virus, health authorities said. That person was being kept in isolation and appears to present antibodies to the virus. The 38-year-old is now hospitalised in critical condition. His wife and a friend of his, who was a member of his running club, also tested positive for the virus. Three patients at the hospital in Codogno where he went with flu-like symptoms on Feb. 18 also have infections, as do five nurses and doctors. In addition, another three elderly people, who frequented the same cafe as the runner's father, also tested positive on Friday, Gallera said. Tests were under way, meanwhile, on the 38-year-old's doctor, who made a house call on him, as well as on 120 people he worked with in the research and development branch of Unilever in Casalpusterlengo, Gallera said. Word of the contagion sparked fears throughout the region, particularly given the closure of the emergency room at the Codogno hospital. We are old and we are very concerned," said 76-year-old Codogno resident Carmelo Falcone. I live on my own. I really dont know what to do. Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Italy is now seeing the same sort of "cluster" of cases that Germany and France have seen. He signed an ordinance with Lombardy's regional president outlining measures to contain the cluster to the 10 towns so far affected: Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Maleo, Fombio, Bertonico, Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Somaglia and San Fiorano. The towns, which have between 1,000-15,000 residents each, are located around 60 kilometers southeast of Milan, Lombardy's capital and Italy's business centre. The ordinance suspends public gatherings, commercial and business activity, sport, education, and other recreational activities throughout the region, Speranza, the health minister, said. He defended the precautionary measures Italy took previously, noting that Italy remains the lone European country to have barred flights to and from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. We had the highest measures in Europe," he said. The health ministry ordered anyone who came into direct contact with the victims to be quarantined for 14 days. And it recommended others in the region stay home. Italy's civil protection agency, meanwhile, was working to identify military buildings, hotels or other structures that could serve as isolation wards if necessary. "In other parts of the world, and also in China, it has been demonstrated that this system (of self-isolation) helps in a substantial way to block the spread, Lombardy regional president Attilio Fontana said. But we must not let ourselves be overcome by panic." The Codogno hospital closed its emergency room, and staff were seen wearing masks as movers brought in new beds and furniture as the quarantine got under way. Romes infectious disease hospital is currently caring for three other people who were infected weeks ago, including a Chinese couple from hard-hit Wuhan and an Italian who is now testing persistently negative for the virus after two weeks of anti-viral treatment. Despite the calls for safeguards, Italians were having a hard time finding protective face masks. A sampling of Milan pharmacies reported selling out out weeks ago, as did a pharmacist in Codogno who said Italy had been sending masks to China for weeks. (AP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The 30-year-old woman, who allegedly accidentally caught fire last week at Lasalgaon in Nashik district during a scuffle with the man she was in relationship with, succumbed to her injuries at a hospital in Mumbai early on Saturday, police said. The woman, a resident of Pimpalgaon Najik in Niphad taluka of Nashik, died at Masina Hospital at Byculla in Mumbai, where she was admitted on Sunday, a day after the incident. According to police, the woman had suffered 67 per cent burn injuries in the incident. In her statement to police, the victim had said that the accused, Rameshwar Madhukar Bhagwat (23), who has been arrested, did not set her on fire as the petrol she was carrying in a bottle got spilled on both of them and the matchstick lit by him, accidentally fell on her, police officials said. After the incident, the woman had been admitted to Nashik District Civil Hospital. However, as her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the hospital in Mumbai. "Following her death, her mortal remains have been sent to her native village in Nashik," a police official said. Nashik Rural Police had arrested Bhagwat from Yeola town in Nashik district last Sunday. He has been booked under IPC sections 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 285 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 493 (Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), police said. According to police, the relationship between the woman, a widow and mother of three, and Bhagwat had soured. The duo had reportedly tied the knot, but his family was against the marriage. The man had recently got engaged with another woman, which had soured the relationship between the victim and him, police said. In her statement, the victim had told the police that she and Bhagwat had come to Lasalgaon bus stand to sort out the differences between them, but after spotting her carrying a bottle full of petrol, he snatched it from her, but in the process the petrol got spilled on both of them. When Bhagwat lit a matchstick and threatened to set himself ablaze, it accidentally fell on her, due to which she caught fire, police said quoting her statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police in Indiana have accused a couple of deliberately forcing two teenage boys off a road because they had President Trump flags attached to their bikes. Hobart cops say video found on Snapchat ended up helping officers identify and charge those allegedly responsible. 23-year-old Kyren Gregory Perry-Jones and 18-year-old Cailyn Marie Smith have been charged in connection with the incident, which happened in July. The couple who were driving the car are said to have run the 14-year-old teenage twin boys off the road after making threats towards them. 23-year-old Kyren Gregory Perry-Jones and 18-year-old Cailyn Marie Smith have been charged in connection with the incident which happened in July. The boys told police that the vehicle had come up to them when the male driver asked one of the boys 'if they were Trump supporters', to which he confirmed they were. The driver then swerved at the boys, forcing them onto grass at the side of the road to avoid being struck. The driver is then alleged to have followed the boys before getting out of the car and ripping off the flag from one of the brother's bikes. After dropping it on the ground, the driver then ran back to his car and drove away, 'but not before running the flag over,' according to an affidavit as seen by Fox 10. The boy's had Trump flags adorned on their bikes, one of which was ripped off, torn up and then run over by the couple's car (file photo) Perry-Jones and Smith have both been charged with felony counts of intimidation and criminal recklessness, felonies that could lend them time in prison if convicted. They were also charged with one count each of theft and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors. Although the incident happened in July, the charges were only brought now after a delay in obtaining the videos and other related information to the case from Snapchat. The videos allegedly shot by the couple show their encounter with the boys. 'The driver turns the wheel sharply as if he saw the boys and wanted to hit them with the vehicle while yelling "ya'll better get home,"' the affidavit reads. A man's voice can then be heard instructing the woman passenger in the car to 'pull that flag down' before video shows her trying to reach for it through her window before telling the male driver to move closer. The female is then heard saying "ya'll scared, just like your president" and "America is not great"' accompanied by some searing. A second Snapchat video sees Perry-Jones allegedly saying, 'Don't let me see you downtown' to one of the boys with a threat to beat him up if he does so. Perry-Jones also allegedly threatened to beat the boys up for calling 911, court records state. In the video, Perry-Jones also said that if police questioned him about it, he would just say the boys called him a racial slur. The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a U.S. government agency established by Congress to support African-owned enterprises which improve lives in poor and vulnerable communities across Africa. C.D Glin, the president/CEO of USADF, during a recent visit to Nigeria, spoke to PREMIUM TIMES Ben Ezeamalu about the agencys new areas of focus, working in conflict-prone communities, and conducting due diligence on fund-receiving entities. Excerpts. PT: Your grants have been largely focused on the agric sector and renewable energy. But it seems you are now moving towards youth entrepreneurship. Is there a reason? Glin: Yeah, so the way we operate, as the U.S. African Development Foundation, we use this terminology called demand-driven and demand-responsive. So, we were driven by and we respond to local demands and local needs. And throughout Africa, a lot of the needs and the opportunities that we tried to seize upon are related to agriculture because of food insecurity issues. They are related to energy access because of the insufficient energy provision in a number of countries. So agriculture and energy are two key areas. And now, increasingly, we are focusing around employment and to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people. Africa is the youngest continent on the planet, Africa as a continent has the fastest urbanising region of the world. So you have this reality around Yes, theres food insecurity and theres energy poverty but now the rates of unemployment and the rates of unemployment in urban settings is really really expanding. And so, with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, were looking at an opportunity where we can respond to the demands of a state like Lagos. And help them meet those demands of their constituencies. Young people who are looking for jobs, looking for entrepreneurial opportunities. And so we think about this from the standpoint with addressing unemployment either through job placement. So working with local business, small, medium, fast enterprises. Seeing what they need and then training young people to fill those jobs. So to place young people in job with employers or young people who want to create their own opportunities. So really creating and developing entrepreneurs and those that are entrepreneurs, we try to provide them with the financial support to start their businesses. This is early-stage grant funding anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 for their businesses. But also we leave them with the non-financial support. The training, the technical assistance, the financial management skills. So more importantly, now than ever, in our work in Africa, which is now more than 40 years, we are continuing to work in agriculture even throughout Nigeria. I just came from the north, in Kebbi State, where we are working in the rice value chain, were working in the dairy value chain. Were working on groundnuts in the north. But also now Ive come to the south and thats where we are focusing on employment and entrepreneurship for young people. And this is yes, maybe in agriculture. But this is in many other areas as well, construction, in fashion, in building and tech, and plumbing, and digital. So all of the skills that young people need in Lagos State and young people need in urban areas is now a key priority for us. Agriculture, energy, and employment through entrepreneurship primarily. PT: So this LSETF (Lagos State Employment Trust Fund) partnership is $2 million annually? Glin: Throughout Nigeria, we have a number of investments, so we have a number of agreements at the sub-national level, at the state level. So we have agreements in Kebbi State where, again, its $2 million a year and $10 million dollars (in five years). The same thing in Niger State. We have a lot of investments in the renewable energy, off-grid energy with an entity called All On. This is a Shell Oil Nigerias impact investing subsidiary. We invest in renewable energy entrepreneurs. So on a yearly basis in Nigeria, we almost invest about $10 million dollars across the country. But in Lagos State alone, were creating $2 million, $1 million from USADF, $1 million from Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. So every year for the next 5 years, up to $2,000,000 to really directly invest in Lagos State and employability for Lagos State youth and thats a big focus for us for this programmme. PT: The majority of USADFs budget is applied to project grants that directly fund expansion and growth activities for small businesses. As at 2017, you had invested up to $60 million. Do you follow through to ensure these funds are not misused? Glin: This is a great, great question in terms of our model. So the majority of our funding comes from the U.S. Congress, and over the past five years throughout about 20 countries in Africa, we have invested $115 million directly into the hands of African grassroots enterprises and African entrepreneurs; $115 million over the last five years and thats impacted about four million lives. So theres direct impact and we look at the success, meaning all those entrepreneurs, all those businesses, can we work with them? From start-up to scale up. And we are looking at how they grow. So we want to develop them into enterprises. We want to expand and grow them. They would also want to link them to other forms of investment besides our grant funding. But every grant that we make, we also link them with a local partner for project implementation. So every grantee, every organisation we fund we link with a local partner, that local partner is called Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI) Its a local, nonprofit NGO. They manage all of our operations in the country. Were a very different kind of US government agency. We dont want to have a number of expats coming into Nigeria and trying to work on Nigerian solutions. We want to have Nigerians the DDI is a Nigerian NGO that also supports the grantees that we funded, they do all project monitoring. They do all the evaluations. They even manage the disbursement of funds to the grantees. So our project management support is just as important as the funding that we directly give to the enterprises and to the entrepreneurs. PT: What kind of feedback do you get from DDI? Have there been instances where they reported having to blacklist some grantees because they misused their grants? Glin: Its a great question around how we look at project monitoring and evaluation, how we look at success and a lot of it has to do with the model, its what we call the high touch model. Were very close, we hold the hands of these grantees, of these organisations that we are funding. Because some of these groups and some of these organisations theyve never had $10,000, $100,000. And so for us, its very important that we have real controls and oversight. So DDI, yes, they talk and they do a lot of due diligence before we even fund the organization. We dont have these briefcase businesses, you know, people who can send an email and say they are a legitimate business. We go to the companies. We talk to their clients. We talk to their customers. We do a lot of due diligence. We do background checks on the group. We know where their offices are. We physically go there. We make sure that the work that theyre saying theyre gonna do, even on a monthly or quarterly basis, is actually taking place. Because this level of oversight is really important because this is US taxpayers dollars. Theres an American working in the US as a school teacher, as a firefighter, as a policeman, as a doctor, they pay their taxes in the US and then some of that tax money comes to the United States African Development Foundation. And we use that money to invest in Nigerian entrepreneurs. So we have to make sure if were looking at developing Nigeria, so that Nigerians can grow their businesses and then those businesses can trade and invest with the U.S. The U.S. wants to do more business in Nigeria, more business in Africa. Its my responsibility as the president and CEO of the US African Development Foundation to make sure that were building Nigerian and African businesses that can develop, that can grow, and that can scale and that can trade and invest with the U.S. We want to buy your goods and services and we want you to buy our goods and services. So for us, the oversight of these programmes is paramount to the success, to make sure were funding legitimate organisations who are committed to generating incomes, to growing revenues and creating jobs, its very important. PT: For decades, USADF has been providing these capacities for African entrepreneurs. Youve been president for about three years, the Foundation has spent about $115 million over the past five years. When you look around, do you think it has been money well spent? Glin: You know, I couldnt be prouder of the impact that USADF has in investing in Africans and their ideas and African solutions. This is definitely one of the most cost-effective US government development programmes around. Because more than 90 per cent of all of our funds, its going directly to African grassroots organisations, African enterprises, African young, African entrepreneurs, African women. And they, in turn, are taking what could be $10,000 of investment and theyre turning it into 30,000 in terms of economic returns locally. So they can take a $100,000 grant and then generate $300,000 of return. So we get a real return on our investment. But its a social impact return. Its not all economic impact that comes back to USADF. That money that we have invested in those community groups, in those entrepreneurs, and those young people, as they grow their businesses and generate more income, what were doing is were contributing to peace and economic stability in Nigeria and in Africa. Peace and economic stability. Were creating opportunities where were looking at this is market-driven solutions, but we also are looking at a contribution to trade and investment. So the Nigerian businesses, the Nigerian tech firms, the Nigerian agricultural farms, the Nigerian energy businesses that are buying U.S .. goods and services, that are trading with the US, that are really even making sure more Nigerians have a better quality of life is beneficial to the US. So its definitely been money well spent and we have very little reports of any fraud or any abuse because of the oversight that we have. So this is where we are really making sure that our investments are having real impact on the ground. This isnt just talk. This isnt even free money. We have conditions. We want to make sure that youre having the impact that you think youre going to have and we monitor that very closely. PT: Most of your grants go to small-holder farmers across Africa. In Nigeria, as a case study, how has the insecurity challenges affected your access to the farmers? Glin: One of our most important contributions to development is working in conflict or conflict-affected areas. Working with underserved populations and communities and looking at moving people out of poverty onto a pathway to prosperity. So we have a strong focus and we always have in Nigeria. In places where people are marginalized and underserved and in Nigeria, a place where Ive lived for a number of years. Now I live in in the U.S., but I know the country, in the north, in places like Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger states. We have worked in the past or currently working with those communities that are affected by and that are susceptible to violent extremism, to challenges whether they be terrorist-related or whether they be pastoralists and herder related. Or whether theyre related to resource scarcity. And so we actually pride ourselves on working in those hard environments because we know that the people there are the ones that are being most affected, are not the people who are the terrorists or the ones that have nefarious issues. Most of the people there are hard-working, good people, we want to give them an opportunity. We want to really create, we want to move them out of poverty. We think that one of the key components of this instability, of this extremism, it has a lot to do with economics and so we look at economic development. We look at inclusive economic development as one of the key contributors to our programme. So we work in the north of Nigeria. We also have a history of working in the south of Nigeria, in the Niger Delta. We have a history of working in the Horn of Africa, in countries like South Sudan, Somalia, northern Kenya, in the Great Lakes region, countries like Burundi and DRC, working in East Africa in the Sahel. And in Nigeria, were committed to working not only in the north and making sure that we are creating economic opportunity in vital places, but were also working in the south where there is also a need. So for us, we are a unique model because we go directly to the people, because the people own the solutions for themselves. Were not coming and doing something to them or for them. Were doing something with them. So that is why we are able to be successful in places where others are not and in places that are sometimes impacted by violence and conflicts and symbols of extremism. Because were trying to give hope and opportunity to those in need, the underserved, the most marginalized, the vulnerable, and supporting them directly, in a participatory manner. Again, we are not giving them solutions, were asking them what they need and then were meeting them where they are, meeting that local demand and responding to it. And so, when we work with smallholder farmers in the north, the crops we choose, the methodologies we employ, the train that we provide, they own those programmes. USADF? Yes, were a supporter or facilitator, but the community owns the solution. And were going to see the same thing here in Lagos State where these young people are owning their own future. Were giving them an opportunity to help them walk faster. And then theyre going to run, beyond ADF and our support. PT: In your work in Nigeria and dozens of other African countries, what are some of the challenges you have faced and how did you try to overcome them? Glin: One of the biggest challenges that we face is just the looking, at whether its entrepreneurship or particularly around agriculture, looking at it as a business. So some people are entrepreneurs out of necessity. Some people are farmers out of necessity. I dont have anything else to do, so I have to create a job. I dont have anything else to do. I have maize or cassava or something thats around me. So now Ill be a farmer. The biggest challenge is really transforming people who are entrepreneurial or who are working in a sector or industry such as agriculture out of necessity, turning it into a business and giving them the capacity to treat what theyre doing as a real business. And so thats really about governance, accountability, financial records, a lot of the business challenges. So a lot of our focus early on in the early-stage startup or early-stage business is around organisational and operational development skills. But then we build on those as time comes with larger level of investment and then enterprise and business expansion, enterprise and business development and advisory skills. But most people we meet, whether youre a poor person working in the soil in Kebbi growing rice or whether youre a young person on the streets of Lagos, if I ask you what you really need, youre going to tell me you need money. You gonna tell me the solution to all your problems is money and I can tell you thats very very very, very rarely the truth. They need a strategy. They need a plan. They need systems, you need some level of structure. Because we have seen throughout the world, but definitely in the US, where we have a lottery system, where we have systems where people win big prizes, they win a million US dollars. We have the statistics that show that those same people who got that free money, that quick win, that one million or $10,000,000, after one year to five years, they are actually more impoverished and broker than they were when they got the money because they dont have a plan. They dont have a strategy. They dont have structure. They dont have organisation nor assistance. And so usually, we encounter people who tell us they need money, but what they really need is training and capacity building and real technical support and systems. So we make sure we give both. We dont just give money and we dont just give assistance and advice. We give assistance, advice, and capacity building, but we also give capital. We also get money and then, thirdly, we also give you a network to convene with your peers. Because being entrepreneurial and being a smallholder farmer or cooperative leader, you feel alone. So we want to make sure you meet others who are like you so that you know what is possible. So whether thats Nigerians in the north, farmers in the north meeting farmers in the central, in the middle belt, and farmers in the south. For these young people who are entrepreneurs in a place like Lagos, let them meet entrepreneurs in a place like Kano, so they can really see the similarity. So we think convening and collaboration and network building is really important. In addition to the capital that we give and the capacity building that we give, we also want to give some level of collaboration and network building so entrepreneurs and small businesses and cooperatives can meet each other and can build together for the greater of Nigeria. PT: We often hear about President Trumps plan to cut or reduce foreign aid from the United States. If that happens, how will it affect the work of USADF? Advertisements Glin: What I can say is that over the past three years of the Trump administration, the USADF has continued to thrive, in our investment, in our support to Africa. Congress not only continues to fund us but also now we have an increase in our budget and were able to even do more than ever with a focus around global fragility. So trying to bring about peace and economic stability with a focus around womens economic empowerment. So were heavily investing now in women entrepreneurs throughout the continent and we are, more importantly, trying to ensure that the U.S. foreign assistance, development tools that we have, USAID, any U.S. government agency thats working internationally, that we are linking up together more than ever. That were using all of the tools in the U.S. foreign assistance toolbox together. So ADF wants to make sure what were doing is complementary to other US government agencies. And so I can say over the past three years in this administration, that weve continued to not only help the community survive in the face of the shocks and the stresses that climate change and extremism and poverty is bringing but were helping them thrive. And so our commitment is stronger than ever. And our budget is bigger than ever. And so ADF will continue to be a contributor, an investor in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. And were looking at true partnership and thats what the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund is. Thats what a lot of the subnational relationships we have in Nigeria are. Where theyre matching our funds, where were going in 50-50, where we both are committed to helping Nigeria not only survive but thrive in the face of the shocks and stresses and the realities of life. And we feel good about where Nigeria is going together in partnership with the U.S. African Development Foundation. Wuhan: China on Staurday (February 22, 2020) denied any delay in allowing a special Indian flight to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city to deliver medical supplies and evacuate Indians still remaining in the city. Clarifying on the issue, Spokesperson of Embassy of China said, ''We always attach great importance to health&safety of Indians in China and provided assistance for the return of Indian citizens. There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying granting flight permission.'' The Chinese official further stated that the epidemic situation in Hubei is complicated and prevention and control entered a critical stage. ''Epidemic situation in Hubei is complicated and prevention and control entered a critical stage. Departments of two countries are keeping communication in this regard,'' the spokesperson said. The clarification came after official sources claimed that the Government of China is not granting clearance to the IAF flight carrying relief supplies to China which will also evacuate the remaining Indian nationals from Wuhan. The sources also claimed that Flights from Japan, Ukraine, France are allowed to operate between Feb 16-20 but India's request is not approved yet. "There are relief and evacuation flights from other countries which are still going on, including by France. Why is the Chinese government delaying clearance for the relief flight? Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating a roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony,'' sources said. On February 13, India had announced that IAF military transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster, will be sent to Wuhan with medical aid and bring back its nationals as well as citizens from other neighbouring countries who are still stuck in China. It may be recalled that PM Narendra Modi wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping and conveyed solidarity for the ongoing situation. India had then also offered to provide assistance to China in the wake of the concerned situation. India had then also offered to provide assistance to China in the wake of the concerned situation. The government of India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of this commitment as a token of solidarity, particularly as this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China. Meanwhile, Indian nationals, stuck in Wuhan, are waiting for the flight to evacuate them back to India and are facing hardships due to the delay in the process. As per official sources, the delay in clearance is causing them tremendous mental anguish as the entire Hubei province is still under lockdown. After the coronavirus emergency in China, India has evacuated over 650 citizens including 7 Mayanmar citizens in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft. China has reported a total of 75,567 cases of coronavirus and the death toll has reached up to 2,300 until Saturday (February 22). By Express News Service CHENNAI: According to a statement jointly issued by AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday, the government has written to the Centre, to avoid collecting certain details for the National Population Register (NPR). It mentions avoiding collecting details like mother tongue, place and date of birth of parents and spouse, Aadhaar, cell phone number, voter ID card and driving license details. Their inclusion in the new NPR manual is a contentious issue. It was widely feared that these details are collected to facilitate National Register of Citizens (NRC). The leaders also accused the DMK of spreading false propaganda on the issue for political gains. It appealed to Muslims by listing various welfare measures taken by the party. In Tamil Nadu, no injustice will be done to the brothers and sisters belonging to minority communities, the statement said. It added that the laws to enable NPR and NRC were framed by the 2003-NDA government in which DMK was a member. The first NPR was conducted in 2010 by the UPA government, again with DMK as a member. An appeal was made for everyone to cooperate, to maintain social harmony in the state. Less than a day after Elizabeth Warren prodded him by tweeting out what a sample nondisclosure release looks like, Mike Bloomberg has agreed to let three women end their NDAs with Bloomberg LP. Yes, he has issued a press release announcing that, in addition to releasing the three women, neither his company nor his campaign will sign NDAs going forward. Very brave. Why would Bloomberg suddenly agree to such a magnanimous gesture after saying just this past Wednesday that they signed those agreements and well live with it? Advertisement Because the statement is weaselly as hell: Bloomberg LP has identified 3 NDAs signed over the past 30+ years with women to address complaints about comments they said I had made. If any of them want to be released from their NDAs, they should contact the company and they'll be given a release. https://t.co/bO9JpvSx1T Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 21, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let us count the ways. Advertisement 1. The narrow, highly specific language. While we know that 64 different employees have reportedly filed almost 40 harassment and discrimination lawsuits against Bloomberg and his company, we dont actually have any idea how many NDAs might have resulted from those various lawsuits. In the statement, Bloomberg writes that the company identified 3 NDAs that we signed over the past 30-plus years with women to address complaints about comments they said I had made. Does that mean hes excluding NDAs that deal with anything other than complaints about comments from Bloomberg? What about NDAs that deal with more than just comments? And why not just extend the offer to any woman whos entered into an NDA with the company? Advertisement 2. The words they said. During Wednesdays debate, Bloomberg was dismissive of the idea that the NDAs were covering up any actual bad behavior. He painted the women as whiny scolds who couldnt take a joke. Now, hes very consciously giving himself room for a denial should the need arise. A denial that would likely lean a lot on the words they said. Funny how things change! 3. The fact that the onus is on the women to approach the company. Advertisement Once again taking the very specific qualifiers into consideration, how exactly are these women supposed to know if theyre one of three? And why cant the company just reach out to the women directly? Advertisement Advertisement 4. The lack of any actual contact information. Bloombergs statement offers that if any of them want to be released from their NDAs so that they can talk about those allegations, they should contact the company and theyll be given a release. There is, however, no indication of who to approach in this 20,000-employee company, nor is any specific department specified. Do you call the legal department? The department for which you, specifically, had worked? Do you simply shout your request into the nearest Bloomberg terminal and hope for the best? Its impossible to know for sure. Advertisement Advertisement 5. This line, from the full press release on the initiative: When we support women in the workplace, we advance not just their own feelings of value, but we help them and their families across America live better lives through higher wages. Support women, Mike seems to be saying, because it makes them feel special. Humor the gals! Its particularly remarkable that, of the many people who surely laid eyes on this statement before it went out, not a one thought there might be another reason to fight for women in the workplace beyond just getting them a little spending money and a self-confidence boost. Know something about Bloomberg or his company? Let us know here. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, we are living in the United States of Propaganda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Academic-turned-politician, Krishna Bose, and daughter-in-law of Subhash Chandra Bose's elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose passed away in Kolkata after she suffered a cardiac arrest. She was 89 years old. Bose, the former Trinamool Congress MP from the Jadavpur constituency, was unwell for quite some time, family sources said. She died at a hospital in EM Bypass at 10.20 am, they said. "She was suffering from age-related ailments. She suffered her second stroke a few days back and was admitted to the ICU," her son Sumantra Bose said. READ | Krishna Bose, Academician And Former TMC MP, Dies At 89 Taking to the microblogging site, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of Bose on Saturday. I lost someone respected, loved & admired by me. Saddened & shocked to hear about the demise of Krishna Bose, ex-TMC MP & wife of freedom fighter Dr. Sisir Bose. Being a part of Netaji's family, she was a revered social reformer, renowned poet & a courageous educationalist.(1/2) Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 22, 2020 Krishna di was a mother to her son's Sumantra & Sugata, daughter Sarmila as well as the whole Trinamool family. Her immense contribution to Indian society & Bengali culture will be revered for times to come. (2/2) Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 22, 2020 READ | 'Inconceivable For Him To Hide': Netaji's Daughter Anita Bose Debunks Gumnami Baba Story About Krishna Bose The former MP was married to Sisir Kumar Bose, nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose. Born in Dacca (now the capital of Bangladesh) on December 26, 1930, to constitutional studies specialist Charu Chandra Chaudhuri, Bose taught at the City College in Kolkata for around 40 years. She was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996, then again in 1998 and also in 1999. Bose is survived by sons Sugata and Sumantra, and daughter Sharmila. Erudite and articulate, Bose made a mark in parliament through her informative and insightful speeches and served between 1999 and 2004 as chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs which oversees the conduct of India's foreign policy. She authored a number of books in English and Bengali including the much-acclaimed ''An Outsider in Politics'', and regularly contributed articles to leading newspapers and periodicals. Itihaser Sandhane, Charanarekha Taba, Prasanga Subhaschandra, Smriti-Bismriti, Netaji: A Biography for the Young, are among her notable publications. She was associated with the Research Bureau since its formation and was its chairperson at the time of her death. She was also an accomplished classical musician. READ | DNA Report Missing, Chandra Kumar Bose Seeks End Of Attempt To Link Gumnami Baba To Netaji READ | CK Bose Draws Inspiration From AAP's 'inclusive Politics', Slams BJP Leadership For Defeat (with agencies input) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A detailed analysis report of the Global Tobacco Packaging Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments. Tobacco packaging is referred to enhancement and protection of tobacco products from external alteration. Products such as bidis, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, dissolvable tobacco and shishas or water pipes are opted for tobacco packaging. Tobacco packaging differs depending upon the type of product. Increasing demand for cigarettes is driving the global tobacco packaging market. Increased workload and stress resulting to inclined towards the use of stimulants and anti-depressants, changing lifestyles and relatively growing population are the factors responsible for the growth in tobacco production. However, heavy government taxations and regulations are holding the growth of this market. Health hazards such as mouth cancer and respiratory disorders related with tobacco products are the major restraints in the growth of tobacco production. Europe is the leading geographic market and expected to continue over the forecast period. This region is experiencing growth owing to Germany and France being the major producer and exporter of tobacco. China, India, Japan and South Korea are other major markets that are supporting the growth of Asia Pacific region. Middle East and Africa is anticipated to be one the fastest growing market for the forecast period. Browse the complete Global Tobacco Packaging Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/520-tobacco-packaging-market-report Leading companies in the tobacco packaging market are: Amcor Limited China National Tobacco Corporation Innova Films Limited ITC Limited Phillip Morris International, Inc. SEGMENTATIONS IN REPORT: Tobacco Packaging by Product: Cigarettes Cigars Tobacco Packaging by Materials: Primary Tobacco Packaging Films Boards Cartons Foils Paper Laminates Membranes Films Boards Cartons Foils Paper Laminates Membranes Bulk Or Commercial Tobacco Packaging Hinge-Lid Cartons Bundle Wraps Shells Slides Tobacco By Geography: Asia Pacific North America Europe Latin America Middle East And Africa Download Free Sample Report of Global Tobacco Packaging Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-520 The Global Tobacco Packaging Market has been exhibited in detail in the following some chapters Chapter 1 Tobacco Packaging Market Preface Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Tobacco Packaging Industry Analysis Chapter 4 Tobacco Packaging Market Value Chain Analysis Chapter 5 Tobacco Packaging Market Analysis By Product Chapter 6 Tobacco Packaging Market Analysis By Materials Chapter 7 Tobacco Packaging Market Analysis By Geography Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape Of Tobacco Packaging Companies Chapter 9 Company Profiles Of Tobacco Packaging Industry Purchase the complete Global Tobacco Packaging Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-520 Other Reports by DecisionDatabases.com: Global Spoon in Lid Packaging Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 Global Glass Packaging Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2025 Global Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2025 About-Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 9028057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Iranian officials said hard-line candidates won all 30 parliamentary seats in the capital Tehran, as a delay in the release of full countrywide results fueled questions about record low turnout. Prior to the February 21 vote, thousands of reformists and relative moderates were disqualified by election officials, leaving little doubt as to the eventual victors. State TV reported February 23 that all 30 of Tehran's seats for the 290-seat parliament had gone to conservative candidates, and that former Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was the top winner in the capital. Qalibaf, an air force commander within the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, is seen as a prime candidate to become the next parliament speaker. The results in Tehran, where the electorate is more liberal than in other parts of the country, are a sharp contrast from the last election in 2016, when moderate candidates won the region's 30 seats. In constituencies where candidates failed to get 20 percent of votes cast, a runoff election will be held in April. The semiofficial Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, predicted on February 22 that conservative candidates would win 135 seats, while reformists were to gain 20 seats and independents 28. Turnout figures, released February 23, showed a record low number of voters cast ballots. Interior Minister Abdolreza Fazli said 42.6 percent of eligible voters turned out -- the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to AFP. Fazli said the participation rate was "acceptable" and he blamed bad weather, the Ukrainian airline disaster, a coronavirus outbreak, and other incidents in the lead-up to the election. In the 2016 vote, a bloc of reformists and moderate conservatives won 41 percent of the 290 parliamentary seats. Hard-liners won 29 percent and independents took 28 percent. All of those standing for election were prescreened by a group of hard-line Islamic clerics in the Guardians Council, who cleared 7,148 candidacies and disqualified some 9,000 potential candidates. Ninety members of the outgoing parliament were among those who were rejected. Many were moderates or reformist lawmakers who support engagement with the West. Because of the disqualifications, turnout was expected to be lower than usual despite pleas by Iranian leaders for citizens to head to the polls. The Interior Ministry, which oversaw the elections, had not released turnout figures as of February 23, but there were indications that voter participation was unusually low. Authorities three times extended voting to allow more people to cast ballots. VOA reported that dozens of video reports purportedly showing nearly empty polling stations were being posted to social media. Germany's dpa news agency quoted locals in Tehran as saying many polling stations were empty. Fars estimated turnout at 40 percent nationwide and 30 percent in Tehran. Britain's Guardian newspaper put the turnout in Tehran at 20-25 percent. Before the vote, authorities had predicted a turnout of about 50 percent, compared with 62 percent in the 2016 parliamentary elections. On February 23, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to confirm suspicions that fewer voters had turned out than anticipated, as he blamed enemy propaganda for amplifying the threat of the coronavirus, in an effort to dissuade people from voting. Their media did not ignore the tiniest opportunity for discouraging people and resorting to the pretext of diseases and the virus," Khamenei said in remarks from his office in Tehran. Iran reported its first case of the virus on February 19, two days before the national polls. Since then, a total of eight deaths have been reported -- the highest death toll from the virus outside of China, where the outbreak first emerged a couple of months ago. Observers had said turnout could be affected by announcements from health officials of several infections and deaths related to the coronavirus. The elections were seen as a test of the popularity of the conservative clerical establishment, coming at a time of public anger over official corruption, Iran's worsening economy, and Tehrans handling of the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet by Iranian air defenses that killed all 176 people on board. Many activists, including some political prisoners, had called on voters to boycott the elections in protest of what they say is "engineering the elections" and the harsh suppression of protesters in November and January. The United States had criticized the elections ahead of time. On February 20, Washington imposed sanctions on five members of Iran's Guardians Council and its Elections Supervision Committee, accusing them of rigging the elections. With reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Farda, AFP, dpa, and Reuters Former Summer Creek student Natalia Andrade was in tears as she thanked Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez, who served in Operation Desert Storm, at the ceremony. Andrade got emotional as Rodriguez received the keys to a brand new tiny home that she designed while in high school. Andrade, who is now an urban and regional planning freshman at Texas A&M University, said her decision to take architecture and the opportunity to have her design picked for the tiny house led her to her college major. I was at a loss for words, I walked into [the house] and I was tearing up, Andrade said. ...To see it completed is the world. The first public viewing of the house happened when Summer Creek High School held a Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11 to honor members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including staff members. Rodriguez said he didnt find out about the home until two days before the ceremony. Rodriguez is currently in a state of recovery after having a stroke, which caused him to lose his job, Im excited. Now Im looking forward, I can dream again, Rodriguez said. A year ago I thought I was going to die. Now Im thinking about what Im going to do with the rest of my life. Architecture teacher James Gaylord said they hope to start producing one house per school year. What weve done the second year is, I have a group of students that selected the next one, Gaylord said in an earlier interview. So every year my students design one, theyll choose the best design for the next one to be built. So as soon as we finish this one we have another one to build. Lauren Argueta, senior student body president at Summer Creek High School, served as the student executive chair on this project. She said the project overall has two core values: Students first, helping veterans. She said she has grown professionally and personally through this project. We want students to be the ones learning the ones growing from building houses, designing them, Argueta said in an earlier interview. And of course, service to veterans. Every house we make will be donated to a homeless veteran. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com Mumbai: The much-lamented Tata Nano was given rather nice but belated obsequy by a rival carmaker at IIT-Kanpur today. It is very unfortunate that Nano didn't do well, said Mahindra & Mahindra MD Pawan Goenka, going on to critique Indians tendency to use much-too-big cars for much-too-small purposes. Indians weigh an average of 65-70 kg but they use a 1,500 kg car to travel individually. Thats a waste of all the resources that go into making the hulk move. We need to have personal transport thats more tuned to moving a single person, Goenka said. Tata Motors Nano was a 600 cc vehicle that was billed as the Rs 1 lakh car. Kg for kg, it may have answered Goenkas sense of transport aesthetics but it received a poor response from Indians, and its makers abandoned it. Many experts said the product's ultra utilitarian pitch did not go down well in a country where owning a car is a symbol of prestige. But now M&M itself is having a go at the small is suitable theme. Goenka is convinced that his companys smaller car, which should be hitting the market soon, will not meet the same fate as Nano. Awareness of pollution maybe one reason M&Ms small car has a chance. Pawan Goenka said automobiles at present contribute 7 per cent of carbon dioxide and a fifth of PM 2.5 particulate matter. He said India can lead the race on the connected car front due to its prowess in information technology. There is a lot of work being done on electric vehicles (EVs), with startups dedicated to niche areas like batteries, charging, two-wheelers and three-wheelers mushrooming, he said. India is at present five years behind China when it comes to EVs, but can lead the world on R&D as well as production front, he noted. At present, India is trailing the world, being just a consumer of EVs, he said, adding that only 1,400 cars were bought in 2019, which is a very small percentage of the world demand. Kaitlyn N (Matt Kakaley, $40.20) two-moved early, then picked off 1-20 favourite Imprincessgemma A (Joe Bongiorno) at the wire Friday night (February 21), winning Yonkers Raceways $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace. In play from post position No. 6, Kaitlyn N played leapfrog with Sandy Win (Austin Siegelman) before eventually giving up the lead to Gemma right at a 28-second opening quarter-mile. The prohibitive fave, who had made to the lead after taking a three-hole seat, set quite comfy middle fractions of :57 and 1:26.3 with 133-1 bombardier Clear Idea (Dan Dube) offering no pressure first-up from fifth. Imprincessgemma A owned a length-and-a-half lead in and out of the final turn, but was about to be tagged when it counted. It was Kaitlyn N edging out from the pocket and snapping the peoples preference. Sandy Win was third beaten a neck more than three lengths clear of pole-assigned Macbnhope (Eric Goodell) and eight-holer Snobbytown (George Brennan), that pair settling for the minors. For fourth choice Kaitlyn N, a seven-year-old Down Under daughter of American Ideal co-owned by trainer Richard Banca, Barbara & James Boese, it was her second win in as many seasonal starts. The exacta paid $64, with the triple returning $363.50. (Yonkers Raceway) By Greg Stutchbury WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor combined to put New Zealand in a strong position in the first test before India struck back late on Saturday to remove both just as their partnership threatened to take the match away from the tourists. New Zealand were 216-5 and with a lead of 51 runs at the end of the second day's play at the Basin Reserve with the failing light forcing the players off. Play had been extended by half an hour past the 7 p.m. (0600 GMT) finishing time, itself a 30-minute extension on the playing conditions, with Colin de Grandhomme on four and BJ Watling 14 not out. India had been dismissed for just 165 earlier on Saturday and looked under pressure all day but it could have been much worse had they not removed Taylor and Williamson, who were looking ominous, in quick succession. The pair combined for 93 runs and had given New Zealand a first innings lead before Ishant Sharma broke the partnership. The pace bowler got a delivery to spit off a length and struck Taylor on the hand, with the ball flying to Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg to dismiss him for 44. Williamson, who had been struck on the hand by a Sharma bouncer on the first ball he faced and received treatment, looked content to see out the rest of the day's play without any further loss after Taylor's dismissal. He advanced to 89 and within sight of his 22nd test century but drove at a wide delivery from Mohammed Shami, was surprised by the slower pace of the ball and caught by substitute fielder Ravindra Jadeja at cover. Henry Nicholls was then caught by Virat Kohli at slip off Ravichandran Ashwin for 17 in the gloomy conditions. "You always want or are seeking perfection," pace bowler Tim Southee told reporters of the match situation heading into day three. "You always want to be one less wicket than what you are. "But saying that if we can carry on tomorrow morning and get a couple of partnerships together and try to build that lead then going into the second innings that will be nice." Story continues Southee had run through India's tail with three wickets after they had resumed on 122-5 after the entire final session of the first day was washed out when heavy rain swept across the ground seconds after the players had taken tea. Debutant Kyle Jamieson finished with 4-39. (Reporting by Ken Ferris; Editing by Ken Ferris and Daniel Wallis) Friday morning, news broke that Russia was meddling in the election on Trump's behalf. By Friday afternoon, the truth came out, which was that this story was fake. The only actual news about Russia was that it's been meddling on Bernie's behalf. The story broke in a widely circulated AP article reporting that an expert had briefed Congress about the fact that Russia was once again meddling in the election on Trump's behalf: Just weeks into this year's election cycle, Russia already is actively interfering in the U.S. presidential campaign in hopes of reelecting President Donald Trump, and is also trying to help the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side, intelligence officials have concluded. The Russian efforts are aimed at undermining public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections and stirring general chaos in American politics, intelligence experts say. Lawmakers were told in a classified briefing last week that Russia is taking steps that would help Trump, according to officials familiar with the briefing. And Sanders acknowledged Friday that he was briefed last month by U.S. officials about Russian efforts to boost his candidacy. The revelations demonstrate that the specter of foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election will almost certainly be a cloud over the campaign, and possibly even the final results if the contest is close. Democrats have consistently criticized Trump for not doing more to deter the Russians and others, and now they have fresh evidence to support their concerns. Trump immediately recognized the alleged "news" for what it was: yet another attempt to smear him. Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2020 Unfortunately for the media, Trump was correct, and the report was not true. In a series of tweets, Jake Tapper explained what had really happened: A national security official I know and trust pushes back on the way the briefing/ODNI story is being told, and others with firsthand knowledge agree with his assessment. Thread/ 2/ "What's been articulated in the news is that the intelligence community has concluded that the Russians are trying to help Trump again. But the intelligence doesn't say that," the official says... 3/ "The problem is Shelby" Pierson, the elections threats executive in the intelligence community "said they developed a preference for Trump. A more reasonable interpretation of the intelligence is not that they have a preference, it's a step short of that.... 4/ "It's more that they understand the president is someone they can work with, he's a dealmaker. But not that they prefer him over Sanders or Buttigieg or anyone else. So it may have been mischaracterized by Shelby" at the House Intel briefing last week... 5/ "And by the way," the official says, "both Democrats and Republicans were challenging this at the briefing." Then there's the matter of the tense meeting between President Trump and erstwhile Acting Director of National Intelligence Admiral Maguire... 6/ "The President was upset that he had to hear about an intelligence conclusion from a Member of the House Republicans rather than from the intelligence community. So he was out of joint with Maguire on that process." 7/ None of this disputes that Trump desires to replace those who have Intel expertise with partisan loyalists, or dismisses the larger issues and concerns about Russia and how the president seeks help from abroad. Just that there seems to be more to this particular story. 8/ ALSO none of this disputes that the Russians (and others) are attempting to interfere in the US election again. Despite Trump's destroying their economy and arming their enemies, the Russians believe it's possible to work with Trump. They know what we all know: Trump is a dealmaker, although the last three and a half years have shown that Trump makes deals only when they're good for America. Regarding the report that the Russians were trying to help Bernie, that makes sense. Bernie has had a love affair with Russia for his entire adult life or, more accurately, with the Soviet Union. It's therefore reasonable for the Russians to hope Bernie will be as nice to them as Obama and Hillary were. Bernie's strong disavowals about Russia, however, ring true after all, it's now just another corrupt oligarchy, and Bernie doesn't like those. He prefers corrupt socialist states. Bernie was lucky to be able to disavow the Russians. Trump's administration extended to him the courtesy of informing him about the problem. Obama's administration, on the other hand, used fake intel to spy on Trump. David Robinson Almond, 76, has been jailed for 13 years (Picture: Police) A pensioner has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of historic child sex offences. David Robinson Almond, 76, was found guilty of sexually assaulting three girls and one boy in the 1980s and 1990s. Almond, from Greasby, Merseyside, was arrested in 2017 and subsequently charged with eight counts of indecent assault and four counts of indecency with a child on the Wirral. He was sentenced on Thursday following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Almond was also given an additional year on licence and issued a lifetime Sex Offenders Order. Read more: Bungling bank robber back behind bars after trying to rob the same branch three times A general view of Liverpool Crown Court (Picture: Getty) Read more: Kickboxer stabbed pub landlord to death One of his victims said they had been left with chronic depression, anxiety, self-loathing and PTSD as a result of the abuse. "I feel that my abuser stole and forever changed my childhood spirit, they said in a victim personal statement. I have hit rock bottom so many times, I have visited hell and purgatory for no fault of my own. "He tainted my innocence in a predatory calculating manner. He groomed a child... at a time when I trusted all adults. He groomed me, buying me buying me gifts for his sexual perversions. "I am using my voice to say you damaged me for decades and today I am still damaged. Read more: Jealous ex-boyfriend jailed for life after stabbing former partner to death in front of her children They added: "I think about what you did to me and realise a bit of me will always be missing. No medication, extra therapy, starving myself or unhelpful, destructive coping methods has kept you out of my mind. Every day of my life you have visited my thoughts, dreams and hope." Detective Constable Kevin Thomas said: Almond systematically abused these children by grooming them and giving gifts, and through the victims bravery we are able to see him face justice today. The effects on all of his victims are clearly significant and long-lasting and we only hope this verdict brings some comfort. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that he had no doubt that the incumbent Maharashtra government would complete its full term of five years. I have no doubt in my mind that this government will complete its tenure of 5 years, Pawar said referring to the coalition government Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He was speaking in Mumbai at a privately organised event by a Marathi news channel. Pawar also praised Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and said, A lot of this depends on the character of the person who is heading the government. In this case, [Uddhav Thackeray] is the kind of person who takes everyone forward with him. When asked to grade Uddhav Thackerays role as CM on a scale of one to ten, Pawar said, He has not yet faced an exam. But he is walking on the right path. He gives his colleagues the opportunity and encouragement to do good work. When asked about differences in opinion between the three parties in MVA, Pawar said, This is a coalition government. Once a coalition is formed, and it has decided to come together, one has agreed to certain terms, Then bitterness and discontent does not seep into the equation. Then there are not many hurdles in running the government. Sharad Pawar also said the present equation that holds the MVA together needs all three parties. Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP play a pivotal role in making MVA successful. Dismissing a question about whether it is true that the remote control of the government is in his hands, Pawar said, I have a very clear approach toward this alliance. I will not give my opinions until I am asked. If any decision is affecting the state negatively, then I discuss it at the party level, not in the government. We have a coordination committee now with two representatives from each party to solve contentious issues. I do not interfere in the government. Yes, if there are some questions related to the Centre and Maharashtra, we sit together as leaders in Maharashtra and deliberate on them. Pawar also said that MVA has a decentralised decision making process. Citing the difference in the work culture of NCPs two allies, Shiv Sena and Congress, Pawar said, The only difference in Shiv Sena and Congress is that if any important decision is to be taken, when it comes to Shiv Sena that is done in Mahrashtra. When it comes to Congress one has to go to Delhi. If a decision making process is localised, it is more effective, Pawar said, adding that a centralised decision making process tends to lead to mistakes. However, he said, But the Congress has now changed their stand - that this [MVA] has to work. We are here on a common minimum program, So, the Congress has resolved to follow CMP based decisions and make this work. When asked about Raj Thackerays attempts at inching closer to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Pawar said, Maharashtra needs an aggressive opposition right now. It remains to be seen who will take that role, whether it will be the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, or BJP. MNS has a strong appeal in Maharashtra. People are keen to hear Raj Thackerays opinion on issues. Why this appeal does not translate to votes needs to be studied. 22.02.2020 LISTEN The advantage of a multi-ethnic or multiracial environment endears us to strive for the optimum character in human potential. Different ideas and ideals are brought to bear in management and smooth running of any organization or business. The problem with dictatorial tendencies is the creation of fear that stifles free and diverse opinions that help the leadership. Buhari, if he cares, is paying the price of lack of diversity at the top. There was a country under General Buhari. It came to order under Operation War Against Indiscipline within a flash. Operation WAI was so oppressive many people of goodwill complained it was too harsh. Older people that younger folks had to get up for on the bus or allow to go in front of the line in banks, had to line up and wait for their turns. It was un-African as respect for our elders went out the window. Anyway, Buhari was firmly in charge and his orders were implemented with uncheerful alacrity through Idiagbon. Nigerians knew that the Military regime was not pleasant but given a choice between the way their country was going down and a rescue mission by the military, they welcomed the Army with some reservations. O gosh, respect for the elderly online was the least of all the problems with discipline; since some people disappeared in the name of Idiagbon. He was so ruthless, nobody close to him would dare ask for favors or indulgence in his name. Idiagbon was terror! But Buhari/Idiagbon brought sanity back to the Country in 1983 after the reckless decadence of the Civilian Government of Shehu Shagari that had been confirmed in the 1979 inconclusive election won by law that divided a state into two-third. In spite of the iron hands of the Army, most people welcomed the change from impunity to unpalatable discipline. The Country was losing everything from substantive economic growth to the importation of junk and luxuries resulting in the waste of Foreign Reserves and talents. Folks were no longer using their brains since they could make easy money from political connections, unfulfilled contracts, petty selling and buying of anything foreign. The overthrow of Buhari in a palace coup by Babangida, while Idiagbon was out of the country in Saudi Arabia, left an indelible mark on Buhari's psyche up to today. Indeed, that is the reason all his security chiefs and confidants are from his kitchen cabinet closer to his home. But his success as a disciplinarian that won him election came largely from Idiagbon from Kwara State, watching his back. The irony was that the overthrow of his regime as a dictator came mostly from his Northern cliques. Today, a familiar clique of Services Chiefs has taken him hostage going against what elected him. Forget about his wife's reservation of them, Buhari cannot change his Service Chiefs, even when they cannot defeat Boko Haram. The fear expressed by Buharis wife Aisha was recently confirmed by his National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd). He claimed that those that did not work for his election are strange people like Chief of Staff Abba Kyari that were meddling in Security affairs in the Presidency. He called on the Service Chiefs to stop taking his orders! Soldiers had expressed their indignation over Amnesty granted to Boko Haram miscreants roaming the Country killing Hausa and minority farmers in the North, spreading and asserting their privilege to kidnap, maim, kill and rape women with impunity in the South. No country can stand united under such injustice condoned by the Authority that was expected to punish them. The mayhem of Boko Haram that started in Churches, against Southerners has now metastasized against Northerners killing minorities and the Hausa majority without any solution in sight. The reason is that the minority Fulani led the Government granted free entry without a visa into the Country once they show up (usually from the Northern border) where Fulani from other countries get a free pass. Despite the fact that Buhari admitted that those creating problems by maiming and killing Nigerians are foreigners penetrating our borders. The same Nigerian borders are closed in the South. So Buhari has lost the credibility on security and discipline that brought him to power by declaring Nigerian borders open to known terrorists from other countries despite cries against them from other parts of the Country. Even worse, his fight against corruption is now in doubt. The USA recently refused to release Abacha loot since the receivers were part of the Abacha team that looted it in the first place. There is no reason to release looted funds into the hands of the same people that looted it. Foreign countries know it is going to be looted again. This was the same country that fought a civil war without borrowing a kobo, controlled access to foreign currencies and trade. The door is suddenly thrown open for Abacha and his team of looters to recover what they lost in foreign countries. It was a false choice between Buhari and Jonathan. When you have the choice between two evils, Nigeria remembered the disciplinarian of 1983. Those old enough to vote and made the choice between Jonathan and Buhari knew the Country was going down like it did under Shagari. Under Jonathan, they remembered Buhari coming to the rescue. They also knew he was a dictator then and might return as one again. But the excesses of Jonathan and the impunity of his ministers were too much to bear. Buhari has grown old and lost his courage to fight corruption and terrorists. This is not the time to regret the choice of Buhari, it is time to let leaders know, they will be thrown out once the aspiration of the people has been betrayed. Photograph: Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images Mexicos president has cast himself as the victim of feminist activists, amid an outburst of fury at the alarming violence targeting the countrys women and girls and the seeming impunity that accompanies each crime. A string of especially gruesome killings of women and girls has prompted widespread protests, especially in the capital. In one incident last week, masked women splashed blood-red paint on the doors of the national palace and sprayed the walls with graffiti. Related: It fills us with rage: Mexican activists protest femicide at presidential palace But Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has been accused of a tone-deaf response to the crisis as he offers vague plans for moral regeneration and protestations that all murders matter. At his morning press conference on Thursday, he mused about the a feminist collective that had descended on the palace. They opposed the moral regeneration were promoting. I respect their views but dont share them. I believe we have to moralise the country, purify public life and strengthen cultural, moral and spiritual values, he said. Im not going to give up my lifelong beliefs because they came and protested. Were going to struggle to achieve a material change, a spiritual change. Endless stories on horrific murders and daily indignities such as harassment, catcalls and being groped on public transit have prompted a burgeoning womens movement, whose members have protested online and in the streets and called for a national womens strike on 9 March. People gather in memory of seven-year-old Fatima Aldrighetti Anton at an anti-femicide monument in Mexico City, Mexico, on Wednesday. Photograph: Carlos Jasso/Reuters In recent years, Mexican women have become increasingly ready to call out callous and inept responses from public officials, police and prosecutors in cases of femicides, but in some cases politicians have appeared to show more concern over feminist graffiti than the crimes committed against women. Much of the recent outrage, however, has targeted Lopez Obrador, who identifies as left-leaning but has appeared exasperated by calls to confront the issue. Story continues This month, he responded to a question about the federal prosecutors proposal to scratch the concept of femicides from the criminal code by saying the issue has been manipulated by the media. He also showed annoyance that the question interrupted his plans to talk about his pet project of raffling off the presidential airplane, saying: I dont want femicides to overshadow the lottery. Related: 'Why did she have to die?' Mexico's war on women claims young artist Womens groups say he is treating femicides in the same way as his predecessors: as a political and public relations problems rather than a crisis claiming the lives of women. The message hes sending women is: I dont care, said Maricruz Ocampo, an activist in the state of Queretaro. Theyve all had the same attitude toward the problem, she said. This is a Mexican problem, not a womens issue. Several recent high-profile crimes have been especially gruesome. Ingrid Escamilla, 25, was murdered on 9 February by her husband, who skinned her corpse and disemboweled her. A tabloid newspaper fueled further anger by publishing photos of her corpse on its front page. In the second crime, a seven-year-old girl, Fatima Aldrighetti Anton, was abducted and tortured after her mother got stuck in traffic and was late to pick her up from school. Her body was found in a plastic bag four days later, showing signs of torture. Two suspects were arrested on Wednesday but not after Mexico City officials leaked information on the complicated domestic situation in Fatimas home. People embrace as they gather in memory of Fatima Aldrighetti Anto at an anti-femicide monument in Mexico City, Mexico, on 19 February. Photograph: Carlos Jasso/Reuters Lopez Obrador responded Tuesday to questions about the femicides by blaming family breakdowns, along with neoliberal policies implemented over the past three decades. He also cast the blame on his predecessors including those in Mexico City, where he governed from 2000-2005 and has heavily influenced local politics since leaving office. Not only is nothing being done today, but whats being said is discrediting women, said Regina Tames, director of Gire, a reproductive rights organisation. Lopez Obrador swept to power promising widespread social change but has consistently showed conservative tendencies on social issues. Whats unfortunate about now, in comparison to before, is people have put a lot of hope of change in this government, Tames said. An average Nigerian confidently says, Nigeria is the giant of Africa! The saying is tied to the belief that, in the context of growth, sport and religion; Nigeria is the giant of Africa. On the contrary, an average statistics of 2012-19, among some selected high-debt African countries which include Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Cote dIviore and Rwanda showed that Nigeria accounted for 43 per cent of the total government debt owed by these countries, followed by Angola with 22 per cent. In terms of economic growth rate, Nigeria is ranked 5th amid the selected countries. To this end, could it then be logical to argue and conclude that Nigeria is the giant of Africa, not in terms of growth rate but in terms of debt accumulation? Today, Africa Development Bank (AfDB) is saying Nigerias debt profile, like that of many other African Countries, is not as bad. This is against the backdrop world bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) warnings. What is the true picture? How bad is the bad? Are we already being kissed on our foreheads by debt? Stylized Facts and Trend Would it be right to say Nigeria had been persistently and constantly treating her ailments with wrong medications? Overtime in Nigeria, total public debts have been a supporting pillow on which Nigeria rests her head after the mainstay of survival, crude oil. Nigerias debt profile could be traced back to past decades before independence but remained small or insignificant till 1978 majorly because of the effect of oil boom of 1972 1973 which ameliorates Nigerias debts stock. Following the economic recession of 1977/1978, Nigeria raised the first $1 billion loan from International Capital Market to finance Infrastructural Projects. This action led to increase in the nations debt stock to $5.09 billion. Nigerias external debt stock increased by 73.96 per cent in 1980 which raised the value of external debt to $8.855 billion. In 1982, a fall in oil price resulted in massive borrowing by the federal and states government from the International Capital Market and this was done without any conscious attempt to address the main problem of the economy. On December 6, 1986, Nigeria signed the first bilateral debt rescheduling which involved a whopping amount of $2.9 billion. Nigeria was allowed to settle her debt within six years with additional grace of 2 years. As at this period, it was quite evident that the rescheduling would be first of many since this type of consolidation would only buy Nigeria more years to repay her debt. Nigerias heap of debt without significant impact could be attributed to partially-executed projects and completed projects that are not operational which were partially financed by the debt. Such projects include Ajaokuta Steel Mill, Katsina Steel Mill, Jos Steel Mill, Delta Steel Company, Iwopin Paper Mill, Adiyan Water Project and National Identity Project. These are projects that should be generating revenue for the servicing of the countrys debt but have been abandoned and not operational due to inefficient management of resources and political instability. As at the end of 2005 fiscal year, President Obasanjo had to negotiate for a partial trade off of the Paris loan to $19 billion. In recent years, Nigerias debt profile has been tremendously on the increase and this has overtime raised the question; where are the funds channelled to? Between 2010 and 2018, Nigerias external debt was more than 16.7 trillion which is a 128 per cent increase from the previous balance and when compared to the previous debt stock before 2010, it is more. This means Nigeria has been borrowing more in recent years than in the previous. As at the end of January 2019, the Central Bank of Nigeria warned the country of the risk of going back to pre-2005 Paris Club level if the borrowing behaviour continues. Debt Management Office of the federation reported Nigerias debt stock to be 26.2 trillion as at September 2019, with external debt taking 31.55 per cent of the total debt while the domestic debt takes 68.45 per cent. Source: Authors computation using CBN Statistical Bulletin Data, 2019 It can be observed from the above trend that there has been a consistent and aggressive rise in countrys debts profile with no simultaneous and consistent increase in the economic growth and the standard of living of the people of the economy (see Figure 2). As of today, CNN reports that an estimation of 87 million Nigerians or about half of the countrys population still live in extreme poverty using the international poverty line of $1.95 which coincides with the 53.6 per cent poverty rate in 2009 as stated by the World Bank. Thus, why then do we need to continue to incur debt if the debt does not translate into growth and development? Debt Sustainability Framework Analysis The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 2006 reviewed the debt sustainability analysis framework that allows for certain parameters to be considered before a nation can embark on debt accumulation. The idea of the framework is to examine if such nation has the ability to pay back its debt and/or if such nation has enough liquid assets to finance the liabilities attached to the debt. To this end, the argument as to whether it is suitable for Nigeria to continue to borrow is based on this analysis. The first parameter to be considered is the debt-to-GDP ratio. Debt-to-GDP ratio ascertains the necessary condition or the nations solvency in debt sustainability. Simply put, debt of the nation relative to final goods and services produced within the economy, usually in one year. For Nigeria, the debt-to-GDP ratio score according to the debt management office as at December, 2018 stood at 19.09 per cent. From recent statistics as at September 2019, as obtained from the debt management office and CBN statistical bulletin, the debt-to-GDP ratio score for Nigeria now hits 24.82 per cent (an equivalent of 30 per cent increase), relative to the countrys specific limit of 25 per cent (up to 2020) and the threshold limit of 55 per cent revised by IMF/WBs for Nigerias peer group countries. A study by the World Bank found that countries whose debt-to-GDP ratios exceed 77 per cent for prolonged periods, experience significant slowdowns in economic growth. In the real sense, every percentage point of debt above this level costs countries 1.7 per cent in economic growth. In addition, it is expected that debts are paid not from the gross domestic product of the country, but the revenue base of the country. Thus, giving preference to Debt-to-GDP is nothing but a myth. Beyond the economic growth, what is the revenue base? To this end, debt-service to revenue measures the proportion of the total revenue used for debt servicing. According to BudgIT 2019 report, Nigerias revenue is at a shameful level, as the current debt servicing level hits over 60 per cent relative to 22.5 per cent threshold given by World Bank; which means for every N100 earned by the government, N60 is used for debt servicing, leaving the government with N40. Furthermore, a need to review the debt servicing and trade balance of Nigeria can also be placed on check. According to IMF, existing debt and accumulated interest can be sustained primarily by budget surpluses. In other words, debts can be sufficiently sustained when a nation runs on a surplus budget. On the contrary, Nigeria runs a deficit budget. For example, Nigeria runs a deficit budget of N1.92 trillion and N2.18 trillion in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Thus, heavy budget servicing makes the fiscal stance more vulnerable and detrimental to both domestic and external shocks. In addition, it is also logical to argue if truly our debt accumulation is purposed for growth in the economy, then the debt accumulated overtime should have translated to growth. To this end, let us have a quick check of the rate of debt accumulation versus rate at which the economy grows. It is expected that for our debt to be sustainable, our debt rate must be lesser or at least have an equal rate with the economic growth rate, but not greater. Statistics showed that in recent years, Nigeria recorded a borrowing rate of 33 per cent, 26 per cent and 12 per cent as against the growth rate of -1.61 per cent, 0.80 per cent and 1.93 per cent in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. For further clarity on this, figure 3 below presents us with the actual trend of the borrowing rate against the economic annual growth rate. Lastly on this argument, is the borrowing profitable in the long-run? To answer this, a parameter of the GDP growth rate versus the population growth rate is considered. It is expected that for a nation to be prospective in debt sustainability, her population growth rate must be less than or equal to her economic growth rate. Simply put, the rate at which the population grows must be less than the rate at which her economic grows. In 2019, Nigeria recorded a population growth rate of 2.6 per cent (World Bank) as against the economic growth rate of 2.28 per cent. With this statistics, how hopeful is our hope for a better Nigeria? Could It be nothing but a pitiful and wretched hope? Continuous Borrowing and Economic Development in Nigeria In the 2017 fiscal year, the federal government spent N 1.8 trillion to service debts alone while it spent N1.4 trillion for capital investments i.e. debt servicing was more than capital expenses by over N400 billion. In 2019, the debt servicing to total implemented budget is around 40%, which poses problem for the country in the medium term. In dollar terms, the government has borrowed $35 billion that is, N10.68 trillion, about 65% increase since 2015 as at first quarter 2019, with the government paying as much as $18.9 billion (N5.806 trillion) for debt servicing between 2015 and 2018, an amount that is more than the total capital spending, more than 80 per cent of total deficit, and more than half of what the government borrowed, all within the same period. In fact, the total spending on debt servicing is far more than the combined budgets for education, healthcare and water resources within this period of 2015-2019. This means that the federal government is either borrowing to pay interests on debts that is service debt or paying more interests than spending on development. Between 2011 and 2014, the average budgetary allocation to education was 10.4 per cent, but between 2015 and 2018, the average was 9.0 per cent. In 2018, the proposed budget on capital expenditure was N2.9 trillion as against the actual spending of N1.7 trillion: that is the government spent just 60 per cent of the proposed capital expenditure which has a multiplier effect on the standard of living index. In fact, education and health budgets have shrunk as most of the capital spending has not resulted in any significant improvement in facilities across educational and health institutions. According to Punch newspaper editorial (3/5/2019), between 2016 and 2019, a meagre N475.3 billion was allocated to the 21 federal teaching hospitals, an average of N22.6 billion for each hospital for the three years (or N7.5 billion per year for each hospital). According to the editorial, only N8 million is allocated to the OAUTH as monthly statutory running cost, while the teaching hospital spends N13 million on monthly electricity bill and N5 million to buy diesel. UNNTH, which was allocated N5.5 million monthly, spends N18 million on electricity. This means that health services will have to be commercialized the more in these health institutions, or quality of health service delivery will fall. This is already happening, as health service fees have increased in these institutions while two children wards in OAUTH have been closed. While government claimed to want to build or rebuild 10,000 primary health institutions, which ordinarily should lead to massive employment of medical doctors and health workers, former health minister was recently quoted to have asked medical graduates to go into farming, while labour minister (publicly) stated that Nigeria had adequate number of doctors, even when doctor to citizens ratio is around 1:6400 as against WHO recommendation of 1:600. The main areas where the huge budgets have gone to are debt servicing and capital expenditure especially on government bureaucracy (office buildings, furniture, military hardware, etc.), roads and rails. Aside from the fact that many of these projects are funded through loans, the effects of these projects on the economy in terms of spending is minimal. According to the governments chest-beating data, more than 1,262 km of roads have either been constructed or rehabilitated in the three and half years of the present government. Also, more than N3 trillion has reportedly been spent on capital projects, with about half of this going to roads. Yet, according to government, this only generated less than 79,000 jobs mostly part-term or casual jobs associated with the construction industry. The effects of this huge spending on roads and rails on other sectors of the economy has been minimal or infinitesimal. We can agree that the inconsistency between debt accumulation and its impact on economic performance can be attributed to misallocation of funds and high rate of corruption in Nigeria. In 2019, Nigeria was ranked 146 out of 180 countries on corruption perception. Data from Transparency International showed that Nigerias Corruption Perception Index increased through 2005 2019 period ending at 26 score in 2019 (CPI Score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts, and ranges between 100 (highly clean) and 0 (highly corrupt). Can we say we have debt crisis or are our debt issues still manageable? The warnings coming from IMF and IBRD, are they genuine? Is AfDB truly considering all situations and our environment? Are these debts translating to development or investment? I shall show the relationship between debt and investment on our economy, implications of coronavirus and debt as well as alternatives to debt financing in the second part of this article. Kindly be on the lookout for the part two of this article. Paul Alaje, Senior Economist, SPM Professionals p.alaje@spmprofessionals.com ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (AP) Tucked near a rarely used escalator in Terminal 1 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a blue sign that hangs over a nondescript stand announcing in all caps the spots purpose: FREE SPEECH BOOTH. Underneath the sign on a recent morning sat Gregory Brown, 66, and Charles Ryskamp, 70, calling out to travelers and asking for donations in exchange for books about their Hare Krishna beliefs. Most passed without a second look. Its like fishing, Ryskamp said after a woman pulling a suitcase power-walked away from them. Sometimes they are biting, and sometimes theyre not. The two men sit at this booth, on stools they bring themselves, six or seven days a week. For decades theyve spent hours each day trying to entice people over to their selection of books on topics like yoga and reincarnation, taking advantage of an airport program that offers just about anyone a soapbox to proselytize, protest or raise money for a nonprofit. Their spot is one of three free speech booths at Lambert that often puzzle travelers with their signs nodding to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Yeah, whats the deal with these? asked traveler Tienna Simons after a couple of minutes speaking with Ryskamp and Brown about karma. Isnt the whole country kind of one big freedom of speech booth? The first of the booths at the airport dates to the 1970s, stemming from years of legal battles over speech rights at Lambert. The disputes largely focused on Hare Krishna members who used to approach travelers throughout the airport offering flowers, candy or books in exchange for donations that funded their temple. Today, the booths draw much less attention. Three years of schedules show the booths are most often manned by the same few groups that have gotten permits from the airport. The regulars include the Hare Krishna devotees, Jehovahs Witnesses and the United Service Organization military nonprofit, though booths have been used as Christmas caroling stations and for a protest message on occasion over the years. Its a reasonable accommodation to allow people to express free speech, said Jeff Lea, the airports spokesman. And we dont discriminate on who can reserve them. Airport management does makes a point to distance itself from the messages. The Airport Authority does not endorse the opinions or positions of the users of the Free Speech Booths, read signs attached to all sides of the stands. Still, Ryskamp and Brown told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that theyre often mistaken for airport employees. We get a lot of people asking for directions to the bathroom, Brown said. Lambert was among the first airports in the country to attempt to restrict solicitations by Hare Krishna members and other groups when the first version of a free speech booth was introduced in 1977. Then-director Leonard L. Griggs, a former Air Force colonel, came up with the booth idea after years of battles with the Hare Krishna followers. Griggs told the Post-Dispatch in a 1979 feature that the Hare Krishnas were the most frequent topic of complaints from travelers. If they want war, we will give them war, he commented in reference to a group he said was harassing people. In the early 1970s, the Hare Krishna followers were distinctive in most airports across the country with their bright orange robes and shaved heads. But by 1979 in St. Louis they had taken to wearing street clothes and wigs to keep people from avoiding them, according to a Post-Dispatch report. For a time, they even carried spray bottles of chemicals to defend themselves when passengers reacted aggressively to their approach, according to the newspaper. The Hare Krishnas took both the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County to court in an attempt to ensure they could approach travelers. Early court decisions went in their favor, most notably a 1979 ruling from a St. Louis Circuit Court judge who ruled that the right to speech was protected at Lambert much like it would be on a busy street. A few other groups also sued for the right to protest at the airport, including followers of cult political figure Lyndon LaRouche, who ran for president eight times, and a former baggage handler for Trans World Airlines who wanted to protest his firing with the sign TWA discriminates against the handicapped. But in 1992 the tide shifted when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Hare Krishnas who had sued New York City airports over bans on solicitation in terminals. The court ruled 6-3 that the airport was not a public forum like a street, but rather government property with a specific business purpose in which solicitation or speech that could interfere with its core purpose could be placed under reasonable restrictions. There are some publicly owned places like military bases or some government office buildings where the courts acknowledge there can be limits on free speech, said Chad Flanders of St. Louis University Law School. That decision made an airport one of those places. In the years since, Lambert, along with airports in Atlanta, Minnesota, San Francisco and elsewhere, introduced the current iteration of free speech booths as a way to confine speech to certain times and spaces. Among the heaviest users of the booths across the country has been Jehovahs Witnesses, including in St. Louis. Bill Lane, 73, has been manning booths with his wife at Lambert for about a year. He attempts to talk to people about his faith and hands out pamphlets about roles in a family, among other topics. The work may seem like a lot of rejection, but Lane spent years going door to door as a Jehovahs Witness. By comparison, hes able to reach many more people in the same amount of time at the airport, he said. We have to change our approach as life changes, Lane said. A lot of people dont stop, but were not pushing something at people. We want them to come by their own initiative. The Hare Krishnas at Lambert, Ryskamp and Brown, said their work completes their mission to spread their philosophy and helps to financially support their temple. Hare Krishna, also known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, holds certain Hindu beliefs and stresses devotion to the Hindu deity Krishna. It was founded in the U.S. in 1966. Ryskamp and Brown get donations for about 25 to 40 books they give out each day, they said. There have been some complaints about the booths at Lambert over the years, including the United Service Organization taking issue with the Hare Krishnas targeting military service members in uniform, Ryskamp and Brown said. Representatives from the USO have stood in front of the Hare Krishna booths in the past, telling military personnel to stay away. They can do that. We cant stop them, Brown said. That is their freedom of speech, but we are practicing ours. Leslie Anne Miller, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, left, and Timothy Rub, the George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, watch as second grade students from Bache-Martin School in Fairmount are the first to enter the north entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during a ceremony marking the reopening of the museum's vaulted walkway entrance, which has been closed for decades, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. Read more Philadelphia Museum of Art director Timothy Rub on Friday apologized to employees for the institutions handling of James A. Cincotta, the museums former retail director, who was allowed to remain in his job for at least two years after being accused of hitting and slapping workers. We deeply regret that anyone suffered or felt demeaned by his misconduct, Rub wrote in an email to staff. And just as important, we apologize for not having taken even more decisive action in 2016 when complaints about Mr. Cincotta were first reviewed and remedial measures were taken. In retrospect, these were insufficient, and this is a matter of the deepest regret." The letter was sent Friday, hours after The Inquirer reported that Cincotta, hired in 2015, prompted multiple complaints from workers who said he slapped, punched, pinched, shoved, grabbed, and berated them. In early 2016, Cincotta, 57, was the subject of an internal investigation after he allegedly hit a gift-shop worker, who was in her 20s, in the back of the head. She quit that day; he kept his job until being fired in June 2018. Nine former and current museum employees told The Inquirer they experienced or saw Cincotta grabbing, hitting, and slapping staffers. Ten current and former employees said they reported physical or verbal abuse to the museums human resources department. In the email, Rub cited the appalling behavior reported by The Inquirer, and said the museum will investigate misconduct complaints and take disciplinary action against behavior that violates museum policy. We need to do better, his letter stated. We need to be more receptive to your concerns and act on them with far greater urgency. Cincotta did not return a phone message Friday. He has previously declined to comment about the allegations. READ MORE: Philadelphia Museum of Art picks firm to conduct workplace cultural assessment Leslie Anne Miller, chair of the board of trustees for the museum, also addressed the staff at a closed-door meeting Friday morning. Attendees said Miller apologized to those who felt mistreated. The meeting was held by VallotKarp, a New York-based firm performing a cultural assessment of the museum. VallotKarp was hired last month following news reports about Joshua R. Helmer, a former assistant director who left the museum in 2018. Helmer was accused by women of making romantic advances while dangling possibilities for professional advancement. He kept his job for more than a year after colleagues reported concerns about his conduct to management, and has denied any misconduct. In the wake of the report regarding Cincotta, Mayor Jim Kenney again called for the museum to revamp its personnel policies. The latest allegations about abuse at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are extremely troubling, Kenney, who by virtue of his office sits on the museums board, said in a statement. "We hope that their ongoing assessment of workplace culture will be treated with the seriousness it deserves, and that museum leadership will make necessary changes to create a work environment that is safe, welcoming, and respectful of all its employees. Ajay Raju, an Art Museum trustee and member of the committee helping to guide the cultural assessment effort, said he supported Millers stated commitment to address workplace problems. We are on a journey of listening, of understanding what has happened, said Raju, chairman and CEO of the Dilworth Paxson law firm. I think the issues are serious, but we are committed to doing something serious about it. He applauded the bravery of staff members who have broken their silence about problems at the renowned museum. I see a deep abiding love for the institution, even from ones with grievances," he said. "You can tell theyre in pain, but they want the institution to be what it needs to be. Culture writer Peter Dobrin contributed to this article. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 03:57:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close OTTAWA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Canadian who returned to Canada Friday after being aboard a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan has tested negative for the illness while under quarantine, local media reported Saturday. The person was feeling unwell after arriving in Canada and was tested for the virus but the results came back negative. No other details were provided. A plane chartered by the Canadian government brought 129 Canadians and their families to Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario on Friday morning for a 14-day quarantine. They had been confined to cabins aboard the Diamond Princess Ship for weeks. They were all tested for the virus by the Japanese side before they left the ship, which has been docked in Yokohama, Japan since early February. None of them showed symptoms of the novel coronavirus upon arrival in Canada. Tehran, Feb 22 : Principalists were leading across different constituencies in Irans 11th parliamentary elections, partial results revealed on Saturday. The initial results were published by Iranian media outlets hours after voting ended on Friday midnight, reports Press TV. According to the Fars News Agency, principalists held a clear lead in the capital Tehran, which has 30 seats in Parliament. Spokesman and secretary of the Interior Ministry's elections committee, Esmail Mousavi said official constituency results will be announced later on Saturday. "In certain constituencies, however, releasing results will take until Sunday due to the number of candidates," he said. Reformists were able to relatively dominate the previous parliamentary elections in 2016. Observers have cited US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Washington's sanctions, and economic pressure during the government of President Hassan Rouhani - largely supported by reformists - as possible reasons for their decline, said the Press TV report. More than 7,000 candidates competed for 290 seats during Friday's elections. A total of 57,918,000 people were eligible to cast their ballots. A winning candidate must have at least 20 per cent of the votes cast in their constituency in order to become a lawmaker for a four-year term. A second round of parliamentary elections takes place when candidates fail to reach the required percentage. FORT DEL PILAR, BAGUIO CITY (CNN Philippines, February 22) The alumni homecoming celebration of the Philippine Military Academy this year proceeded but with fewer attendees than usual due to imposed precautionary measures over the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The PMA event on Saturday was closed to the public and the parents of cadets. Captain Cheryl Tindog, PMA Public Affairs Office chief, said only the PMA alumni association and their family members, PMA personnel and official documenters attended. We are doing the best we can para hindi tayo masyadong maapektuhan [so we will not be affected]. We are trying to protect the health and welfare of the cadets and the public," Tindog told reporters. She also noted that there were fewer who attended from the alumni association. The alumni homecoming was also originally scheduled from February 14 to 15 but it was postponed due to safety concerns over the virus threat. Before the homecoming, the academy advised that all attendees will be subjected to thermal screening and any one found to have a temperature of 37.6 degree celsius and above will not be allowed to enter. Those who have travel history to China, Macau, and Hong Kong in the last 14 days and persons with respiratory symptoms like cough and colds will also be denied entry. This years alumni homecoming guest speaker was Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific President retired vice admiral Eduardo Santos. Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan and Senator Panfilo Lacson, from the PMA class of 1971 , were also among the 12 cavalier awardees for 2020. London businessman Tony Camoccio, 51, claim he is being falsely accused of sexual assault after patting a security guard on the back at Hurghada Airport (Picture: PA/Change.org) Thousands of people have signed a petition for a British businessman who has allegedly been arrested in Egypt after patting a male airport security guard on the back. Friends of Tony Camoccio claim the father-of-four is being falsely accused of sexual assault after the alleged incident at Hurghada International Airport on February 8. The 51-year-old was returning from a holiday with his wife and a group of friends when the incident reportedly happened at an airport checkpoint. Mr Camoccio, who has visited Egypt several times before, is believed to currently be in police custody in Hurghada. An online petition has been set up on change.org calling for Mr Camoccio to be released and by Friday had reached nearly 4,000 signatures. A petition to free Tony Camoccio has gained nearly 4,000 signatures (Picture: Change.org) A statement on the petition website reads: At customs in Hurghada airport on his outbound journey, he was at final checkpoint where he was, as a standard procedure for all outbound passengers, patted down by a security officer. Tony then gently patted the officers back, and is now facing serious accusations. READ MORE 'CHINO' nickname was the trigger for Sajid Javid's resignation as Chancellor Coronavirus: UK government says flights from China still allowed as UK cases rise to 9 He was held in a general population cell overnight where he remained in handcuffs, petrified for his life as he did not know what he was supposedly being charged with or what he had done wrong. His basic human rights were being abused and these are false accusations. Radha Stirling, chief executive of human rights organisation Detained In Dubai, said authorities had extended Mr Camoccios detention for another two weeks to investigate the allegations. We are appalled by the arrest and detention of Mr Camoccio, and fear for his safety, she added. The Foreign Office has said it is in contact with the family and the authorities in Egypt. -An insiders guide to Margate- Democrats had two days between their debate on Wednesday and the Nevada caucuses on Saturday to make a final pitch to voters. Those final days included small drop-ins at restaurants, visits to volunteers and rallies in the state. Some candidates, however, have already started looking ahead to Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states, including California, will vote. Senator Bernie Sanders started Friday with rallies in Santa Ana and Bakersfield, Calif., before traveling back to Las Vegas. A group of supporters prepared to canvass for Mr. Sanders in Reno, Nev. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Automobile maker Honda announced on Saturday that it will stop production operations in the country by next month. Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. said the company will close its production plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna in March. The company is known to produce passenger cars and models such as the BR-V and City. HCPI said closing the plant was necessary to meet customer's needs through "efficient allocation and distribution of resources." "As such, after consideration of optimization efforts in the production operations in Asia and Oceania region, Honda decided to close the manufacturing operations of HCPI," said HCPI in a statement. The company said it has around 650 employed associates in the country but it did not detail how many may be affected by the closure. However, it clarified that automobile sales and after-sales services will still continue. Labor group Defend Jobs Philippines claimed that there are 387 people who will lose their jobs over the closure of the plant. The group said workers from 60 other companies who supply parts to HCPI will also be affected. Defend Jobs Philippines said it has urged the Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to directly intervene, conduct impartial investigation and thoroughly look into the reported closure. "Our government must not just allow the announced closure of HCPI without undergoing proper evaluation and assessment but rather consider the holistic benefits of Filipino workers," said Thadeus Ifurung, Defend Jobs Philippines spokesperson. HCPI has a capital investment of 1.9 billion. It was first established in 1990 and it started production in 1992. Last month, Honda, along with fellow automaker Toyota, recalled millions of vehicles due to safety issues. Honda recalled 2.7 million cars - of which 2.4 million are in the United States. On the other hand, Toyota called back 3.4 million cars, 2.9 million of which are in the United States. In February 2019, Honda also announced that it will shut down its only British factory on 2021, which employs 3,500 people. Honda said production would shift to Japan, North America and China. Christian Stadler, an auto expert and professor of strategic management at Warwick Business School, said Brexit or the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union may have been a factor in the automaker's decision, CNN reported. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is making a new push for legislation that would extend voting rights to parolees, codify in state law the automatic voter registration now offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles, and expand election-day registration. Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Windham, co-chairwoman of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, said Thursday that the panels 2020 priority was passing Merrills bill, a version of which passed the House last year, but never came to a vote in the Senate. It should be a top priority of the entire General Assembly to make sure our elections are accessible and open to every voter in this absolutely critical election year, Flexer said at a press conference with Merrill and other committee members, all Democrats. Voting rights are automatically renewed in Connecticut for felons who owe no fines and either complete their prison sentences or are released on probation. But Connecticut is the only New England state not to extend voting rights to parolees, who generally number between 2,000 and 3,000 people in most years. If youve served your time and youre released from prison, you should be able to vote in Connecticut, Merrill said. The bill would restore voting rights to anyone convicted of a felony and who is not incarcerated. House Republicans disagreed last year. When that notion came before the House, it passed, 85 to 60, with every Republican and one Democrat in opposition. The bill also would allow communities to offer more than one place where people could register to vote on election day and guarantee them the right to register and vote if they were on line before the polls closed at 8 p.m. Registered voters already are guaranteed a right to vote if they reach the polls before 8 p.m. Election officials reported long lines to register on election day in college towns two years ago. Some students were on line for hours, but never got to register before 8 p.m. Students are permitted to be registered either in their hometowns or where they live while in college. I have seen firsthand dozens of people in the town of Mansfield turned away at 8 p.m., said Flexer, whose district is home to the University of Connecticut in Mansfield and Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. Merrill, a Democrat, once represented Mansfield as a member of the House. More than 60,000 voters have been able to register, change their registration to a new address, or fix administrative issues since election-day registration was first offered in 2013, Merrill said. The law allows one registration site in every town on election day Registrars recommended last year that towns be allowed to conduct election-day registration on college campuses in addition to town or city hall. At the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles has offered automatic voter registration since 2016 to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act. It has produced 400,000 new voters. But state election laws never were changed to conform with the new policy. Charter plane carrying quarantined Taiwanese arrives late Friday ROC Central News Agency 02/21/2020 10:50 PM Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) A China Airlines charter plane carrying 19 Taiwan nationals from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship arrived in Taiwan from Japan late Friday. The 19 evacuees, along with four medical workers and seven flight crew, arrived at Taoyuan International Airport at 9:48 p.m. from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The Diamond Princess was held under quarantine in Japan's Yokohama Harbor from Feb. 4-19 after it emerged on Feb. 2 that a passenger from Hong Kong who had sailed on one segment of the itinerary was later diagnosed with COVID-19 coronavirus. Of the 24 Taiwanese on the ship, including 22 passengers and two crew members, five were diagnosed with the virus and have remained in Japan for treatment. The remaining 19 people who disembarked were allowed to leave the ship over the course of three days, with five on Wednesday, nine on Thursday and the final five on Friday. At a press conference earlier Friday, Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said the evacuees will be tested for the virus at hospitals in Taipei and Taoyuan cities. If anyone tests positive for the virus, they will be placed under medical quarantine, while those who receive two negative test results will be quarantined for 14 days at designated facilities, the CECC said. As of Thursday, a total of 634 coronavirus cases had been confirmed on the Diamond Princess, out of the ship's original 3,700 passengers and crew. (By Emerson Lim and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, right, talks with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo upon his arrival for the 51st Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 15. AP-Yonhap Much work remains to narrow the gap in defense cost-sharing negotiations between South Korea and the United States, a State Department official said Friday, calling on Seoul to compromise. The two countries have been negotiating a new so-called Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on splitting the cost of maintain the 28,500 American troops of the United States Forces Korea here but failed to reach a deal after six rounds of talks. The previous SMA expired at the end of last year, leaving South Koreans working on U.S. bases to face a potential furlough starting in April. "While we are not going to comment or confirm media reports on specifics related to diplomatic discussions between close allies, I can report that significant work remains to narrow the gap between the two sides," the official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. "During the course of negotiations, we have adjusted and compromised. We're looking for compromise from the government of Korea as well," he added. Washington has demanded a hefty increase in Seoul's financial contributions at U.S. President Donald Trump's urging that allies pay more for their own defense. Earlier reports had suggested that the U.S. wanted South Korea to pay some US$5 billion this year, up from the $870 million Seoul agreed to pay last year toward Korean workers' wages, the construction of some military facilities and logistical support. Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters this week that the subject of cost-sharing will be discussed during a meeting in Washington between Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Monday. If the allies fail to reach a deal in the coming weeks, the U.S. will adjust the services provided by the nearly 9,000 Korean workers on the military bases, according to Rear Adm. William Byrne Jr., vice director of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. "We're continuing negotiations, and there are options big, medium, small, if you will with respect to numbers and we're hoping that the negotiations uncover a viable path so that those services continue," he said, speaking alongside Hoffman, Wednesday. "If needed, we're going to have to prioritize what services those workers provide. We're going to have to prioritize life, health and safety. "There will certainly be an impact to both the service members and their families," he continued. "Most importantly, we have to focus on the mission. And the mission there is the combined defense of the Republic of Korea." Earlier this week in Seoul, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams met with the head of the USFK Korean Employees Union and warned him that without a new SMA, "The USFK is out of money and must prepare for a potential furlough." The continuing impasse has raised worries about the health of the decadeslong alliance at a time when both countries face crucial challenges in the region, including North Korea's nuclear threat and China's military rise. The State Department, which leads the negotiations, sought to allay those concerns. "The U.S.-ROK Alliance is strong, and vital for safeguarding peace on the Peninsula as well as stability in the broader Indo-Pacific region," a department official said. "The United States seeks a fair and equitable outcome to the Special Measures Agreement negotiations for both countries that will strengthen and sustain the resilient U.S.-ROK Alliance." (Yonhap) A Virginia woman landed a $100,000 prize after she took the advice of her granddad. While visiting her grandfather in North Carolina over the weekend, Kaitlen Raney followed his advice by purchasing a lottery ticket. On Saturday, Raney and her grandfather stopped at Hawfields General Store in Mebane, North Carolina. Raney's grandfather suggested to her that she should buy a bigger prize with a $20 ticket. She took her grandfather's advice and bought a Ruby 7's ticket. She later discovered that buying the lottery ticket paid off with a $100,000 win. "Maybe hes not so crazy for playing the lottery after all," Raney said Wednesday as she claimed her prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. I guess I owe him dinner. Good job, granddad. When asked what she plans on doing with the prize money, Raney said she wants to start a college fund for her son and save for a home. After the required federal and state tax withholding, Raney will receive $70,756. Watch the video above to learn more about this story. Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZSE:PCT) just released its latest half-year results and things are looking bullish. It was a solid earnings report, with revenues and statutory earnings per share (EPS) both coming in strong. Revenues were 13% higher than analysts had forecast, at NZ$54m, while EPS were NZ$0.15 beating analyst models by 29%. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what top analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results. Check out our latest analysis for Precinct Properties New Zealand NZSE:PCT Past and Future Earnings, February 22nd 2020 Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus, from the six analysts covering Precinct Properties New Zealand, is for revenues of NZ$121.5m in 2020, which would reflect an uncomfortable 18% reduction in Precinct Properties New Zealand's sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to crater 34% to NZ$0.11 in the same period. Yet prior to the latest earnings, analysts had been forecasting revenues of NZ$122.9m and earnings per share (EPS) of NZ$0.11 in 2020. Analysts seem to have become more bullish on the business, judging by their new earnings per share estimates. The consensus price target was unchanged at NZ$1.83, implying that the improved earnings outlook is not expected to have a long term impact on value creation for shareholders. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. The most optimistic Precinct Properties New Zealand analyst has a price target of NZ$2.07 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at NZ$1.52. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggests analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth. Story continues Further, we can compare these estimates to past performance, and see how Precinct Properties New Zealand forecasts compare to the wider market's forecast performance. One obvious concern is that although revenues are forecast to continue shrinking, the expected 18% decline next year is substantially more severe than the 4.9% annual decline over the past five years. Compare this with our data on other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry, which in aggregate are forecast to see their revenue decline 3.8% per year. It seems clear that while revenues are expected to continue declining, analysts also expect the downturn to be more severe than that of the wider market. The Bottom Line The biggest takeaway for us from these new estimates is that the consensus upgraded its earnings per share estimates, showing a clear improvement in sentiment around Precinct Properties New Zealand's earnings potential next year. Fortunately, analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - although our data does suggest that Precinct Properties New Zealand's revenues are expected to perform worse than the wider market. The consensus price target held steady at NZ$1.83, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on analysts' estimated valuations. With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Precinct Properties New Zealand. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Precinct Properties New Zealand going out to 2023, and you can see them free on our platform here.. It might also be worth considering whether Precinct Properties New Zealand's debt load is appropriate, using our debt analysis tools on the Simply Wall St platform, here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Bengaluru: Affairs in the BJP and Congress in Karnataka are so peculiarly poised that some top leaders within the rival parties are collaborating with each other in pursuit of their own interests. This is a reflection of their relationship with the respective party high commands in Delhi. This is happening as the two major national parties have their minds scrambled by one or other issue. The BJP has been losing state after state since receiving a massive mandate at the Centre in 2019, and the Congress continues to be in such a shambles that it cannot take advantage of that. The biggest beneficiaries of this state of flux are top leaders in Karnataka who have until now had to play a game of cloak and dagger with the high command and the parachutists they tend to drop from time to time. Now, these top state leaders in both the BJP and Congress have come together to turn the tables on the Delhi bosses. One outcome of this state of play has been that senior BJP leaders in Karnataka have postponed their decision to step up their campaign against chief minister B S Yediyurappa. And on the Congress side, the party has put its restructuring process on hold despite the continuing drift under Siddaramaiah. There has been talk among the followers of these two leaders about floating a regional party on the lines of the Aam Aadmi Party in Karnataka, sans the existing JD(S) headed by former prime minister Deve Gowda. The caste combinations have been worked out, and signals have been passed on to whoever needs to be kept informed. Congress in turmoil In the Congress, there has been a long tussle between old Congressmen and migrants from other parties, headed by Siddaramaiah. The latter has the confidence of Karnataka in-charge K C Venugopal as well as members of Rahul Gandhi's Young Turks team such as Dinesh Gundurao, Krishna Byregowda and others. The old Congress leaders on the hand were handicapped as long as Rahul Gandhi was AICC president. Things changed drastically after the 2019 general elections to the Lok Sabha. Following the Congress dismal performance, Rahul Gandhi decided to step down as AICC president. In Karnataka, the Congress failed to win a majority and its coalition government with the JD(S) became vulnerable to the BJPs Operation Lotus. Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi decided to put the party in Karnataka back on track through a change of guard in the state. While D K Shivakumar was front runner for the KPCC chiefs post, H K Patil and M B Patil were frontrunners to be leader of the opposition. This did not go down well with K C Venugopal, as Shivakumar, since his student days, was close to arch-rival, the Kerala opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. So Venugopal has been waiting for an opportunity to scuttle Shivakumars chances. It is at such a juncture that there have been signals of Rahul Gandhi returning to the helm of the Congress, which would give a shot in the arm to the Siddaramaiah and Venugopal camp. However, Sonia Gandhi, who has better knowledge of grassroots-level problems in Karnataka, decided to clip the wings of Siddaramaiah by separating the leader of opposition and CLP leader posts. Realising the meaning of this move, Siddaramaiah went to Mysuru and renewed his lawyers licence in the Bar Association, signalling that he would go back to practising law if his wings were clipped. In a parallel move, Siddaramaiahs supporters started roping in old Janata Parivar leaders like Mahima Patel, son of former chief minister J H Patel. More significantly, they also approached chief minister Yediyurappa, sending a signal to the party high command that they would not mind parting ways if Siddaramaiah is disturbed. Yediyurappas situation Meanwhile, Yediurappa too is facing a similar situation in the BJP. In a bid to consolidate his position, he made tall promises to defectors from the Congress and JD(S) and toppled the Kumaraswamy government with their support. This, however, was at the cost of alienating long-time BJP loyalists as well as his own Lingayat community. Besides, his family members interference in the administration has added fuel to the heartburn nursed by his enemies in the BJP. The BJP central leadership had been against bringing down the Kumaraswamy coalition government and making Yediyurappa chief minister. Sensing a weak moment for the chief minister, BJP legislators were given the go-ahead to destabilize him. However, when signals of Siddaramaiahs supporters overtures to Yediyurappa reached the ears of BJP central leaders, it was a grim reminder to them of Yediyurappa quitting the party in 2013 and bringing down the BJP in the state. Though Lingayat leaders are likely to back the coup against Yediyurappa, the BJP, having lost several states, did not want to take a chance. Consequently, a meeting of disgruntled BJP legislators, which was to have taken place on February 20, has been postponed to after the budget session, which begins on March 2. Jagermeister logo is not offensive to Christians, Swiss court rules Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A court in Switzerland has ruled in favor of herbal liqueur producer Jagermeister amid a complaint that its logo is offensive to Christians. The alcoholic drink originated in Germany in 1935 and is sold in its signature green glass bottle that includes the companys logo. The logo features a glowing white cross positioned between the antlers of a male deer. The logo is reportedly based on the legend of Catholic Saint Hubertus. Hubertus was an eighth-century Belgian who, according to legend, was led to conversion after he took up an extended hunt when his wife died and saw a glowing crucifix between the antlers of a deer. Jagermeister faced a legal challenge brought by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. The agency claimed that the companys logo could be considered offensive to some residents of Switzerland, a predominantly-Christian country. The government agency has reportedly blocked attempts by the German company to expand its trademark to be used on items outside of bottles and clothing. Swiss Broadcasting Corporations online news platform SwissInfo.ch reports that judges at the federal administrative court in St. Gallen rejected the agencys request to restrict the use of the Jagermeister logo to only clothing and bottles. The court concluded that the logo is not offensive because the average customer associates the logo with the liqueur. The court reasoned that the logos intensive use by Jagermeister over the years has weakened its religious character to the extent that no one is likely to be offended by it. The ruling enables Jagermeister to use the logo for all of its promotional products in Switzerland. According to SwissInfo, Jagermeister can now put its logos on products like cell phones, cosmetics, and telecommunication services. A Jagermeister spokesperson told the World Intellectual Property Review that the court approved the trademark in all classes that we applied for. Weve been using this logo for decades, the spokesperson stated. Saint Hubertus is known as the patron saint of hunters and was the first bishop of Liege. According to CatholicSaints.com, Hubertus evangelized the Ardenne region of France and converted pagans. Hubertus was also said to have predicted the date of his own death and died while reciting the Lords Prayer. The legendary Hubertus stag stands guard proudly over his golden treasury of Oak and Pine, the Jagermeister website explains. The Telegraph reports that when translated into English, the poem on the bottle's label reads: It is the hunters honor that he protects and preserves his game, hunts sportsmanlike, honors the creator in his creatures. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 21, 2020) - Managing Director of Blackstone Minerals, Scott Williamson, discusses the company's plan to restart the Ta Khoa Nickel Project in Northern Vietnam. If you cannot view the video above, please visit: https://www.b-tv.com/blackstone-minerals-nickel-project-ceo-clip-90sec/ Blackstone Minerals Ltd. is being featured on BNN Bloomberg on February 22nd - February 23rd, 2020, throughout the day and evenings. Blackstone Minerals Ltd. (ASX: BSX) blackstoneminerals.com.au About CEO Clips: CEO Clips is the largest library of publicly traded company CEO videos in Canada and the US. These 90 second video profiles broadcast on national TV and online via 15 top financial sites including: Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance and Stockhouse.com. BTV - Business Television/CEO Clips Contact: Trina Schlingmann (604) 664-7401 x 5 trina@b-tv.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52676 Home Office 1) Patel gets storm warning over civil service clashes A former chief civil servant at the Home Office has warned that the department is in the grip of a number of tropical storms amid reports of clashes between Priti Patel and her chief mandarin. Sir David Normington, a former permanent secretary who served under five ministers at the Home Office, also warned that the governments timetable for a new immigration system would be tight. He urged Patel, the home secretary, to work closely with the departments permanent secretary amid suggestions that she is trying to oust him Asked about current tensions at the top of the department, he told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that it could sometimes come as very unwelcome news when civil servants presented ministers with facts, evidence and sometimes advice to slow down proposals. The Guardian Patel row: top civil servants call for complaints system Daily Telegraph Home Secretary accused of bullying civil servants for at least five years The Sun Comment: Patels bullying stems from her inadequacy Mathew Parris, The Times >Today: ToryDiary: Is the Home Office still unfit for purpose? Home Office 2) Department could absorb elements of Justice in Whitehall shakeup A Whitehall shakeup could see the Ministry of Justice scrapped and some of its powers moved to the Home Office, the Daily Telegraph understands Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, is expected to be given responsibility for sentencing in the Ministry of Justice, a government source told the Telegraph. The move would be seen as a first step in a Whitehall shakeup to take sentencing and possibly probation out of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) altogether and given to the Home Office. Mr Malthouse was described as a lynchpin of the plans by a source close to the discussions. The long term aim is to merge the Home Office with elements of the MoJ. Daily Telegraph Home Office 3) May warned to expect criticism in Windrush report Theresa May has been formally told she will be criticised in an independent review over the hostile environment policy for Windrush migrants, The Times can disclose. The former prime minister has been written to as part of the Maxwellisation process, which gives those who are criticised in the report an opportunity to respond. Mrs May was home secretary between 2010 and 2016, when Caribbean migrants were detained or deported despite having the right to live in Britain Previous leaked extracts found that the department was reckless and had developed a defensive culture over immigration policy. The Times Labour MPs warn ministers not to water down Windrush review The Guardian Editorial: It is long past time for the Home Office to stop interfering The Times Home Office 4) Carlaw under pressure to pick a fight on immigration Jackson Carlaw must demonstrate he has clout with the Prime Minister by getting the UK Governments immigration proposals changed, senior Scottish Tories have warned. In what was framed as an early test of Mr Carlaws leadership of the party, insiders argued that he must win concessions over the blueprint to drastically cut back on unskilled migration. Mr Carlaw was said to be spitting tacks about the the points-based plan, which farmers, the tourism industry and seafood processors have warned poses a major threat to their sectors. He and other senior Scottish Tory MSPs were understood to be extremely frustrated that no one in the Scotland Office was available to publicly explain the policy when it was unveiled on Wednesday, giving the Nationalists a free run to attack it unchallenged. Daily Telegraph Immigration rules post-Brexit could fuel modern slavery, say charities The Guardian Comment: Inflexibility on immigration could hurt the UKs prospects Bronwen Maddox, FT Racist narratives flourish when liberals ignore anxiety about change Juliet Samuel, Daily Telegraph Johnsons foreign policy, defence and security review in turmoil, say insiders Boris Johnsons sweeping foreign policy, defence and security review is at risk of unravelling before it has begun, sources have said. The prime minister announced plans during the election to conduct the most comprehensive review of the UKs defence capabilities since the Cold War. Disagreements have broken out over appointments to key panels and timetables, however A government source said that there was consternation about a series of has-beens who had been appointed to the review. Insiders believe Dominic Cummings was behind the departure of Christopher Brannigan, the defence lead in the No 10 policy unit, last week. The Times Tory MPs warn Government not to force through Huawei law on the sly Daily Telegraph Spads should toughen up, says Cummings The Times >Yesterday: Martin Parsons in Comment: A US deal with the Taliban would be worse than Obamas nuclear deal Sunak mulling radical tax overhaul The Conservatives will consider radical plans to scrap business rates and replace them with a land value tax in a bid to save struggling high streets. In his first budget Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, will announce a fundamental review of the business rates system amid concerns that it is penalising high street retailers. The current system of business rates is based on shop rental values and is calculated every five years. The levy is paid by tenants, rather than landowners. It is viewed as outdated because companies that need a presence in town centres pay higher rates than online and out-of-town rivals. The Times Red Wall MPs plot revolt against fuel duty hike The Sun Pre-budget boost for new chancellor despite borrowing rise The Guardian Secretive UK tax unit homes in on rich families FT Councils call for tourist tax on AirBnB Daily Mail Downing Street says level playing field red lines doom talks Downing Street expects talks with the EU to blow up almost immediately even before official negotiations begin. With talks set to start in around two weeks, and the European Union still to set out its stall, the two opening positions will be miles apart on any deal. As Brussels insists on strict rules and a level playing field as well as EU court deciding regulations, Boris Johnson is set to stand firm, according to The Suns columnist James Forsyth. The EU has failed to take on board Boriss massive election landslide and how serious they are to walking away with no deal. They are still hoping that they can bully the UK into a deal, believing their larger size, population and market value will give them the advantage. The Sun Johnson warned he could break up Britain if he sells fishermen out Daily Express Stay cool over war of words, says EU envoy The Times UK manufacturers feel heat as trade battles loom FT EU leaders fail to agree budget after 28 hours of talks Daily Express Government starts rolling out blue passports FT >Yesterday: Iain Dales column: Frosts address on Brexit is just as important as were Thatchers words at Bruges Kate Fall: Inside David Camerons doomed bunker where the war for Remain was lost Now the two politicians who won the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union have devoured each other in political acrimony, just at the time when they should have risen to the occasion to do their best for the 17.4 million voters who put their trust in them. It saddens me that Michael, whose political credibility was built up around intellect, loyalty, and decency, became an arch-assassin. It was a role that never suited him, and still doesnt. His head was turned by petty political games. Not just blowing up a few good men, but himself in the process. At least for a while. Theresa is declared leader of the Conservatives and Prime Minister in waiting. David offers fulsome congratulations. Only weeks ago, wed been imagining three more years in Downing Street; now we have three days. Daily Mail UK and EU are miles apart on Brexit talks and deal is about to blow up James Forsyth, The Sun Dimbleby accuses Johnson of lying over the BBC BBC veteran David Dimbleby has reportedly launched a scathing attack on lying Boris Johnsons pernicious attempt to curb the BBC licence fee. The broadcaster accused the Prime Minister of using the issue to undermine the corporation and avoid having his policies scrutinised. The 82-year-old said Mr Johnson doesnt give a damn about fairness because his landslide election victory had made him arrogant with power. He added that the Prime Ministers conduct towards the BBC was childish, peevish and unpleasant, the Daily Mail reported. Dimbleby reportedly said that the PM was apeing Donald Trump by using the same political rulebook to try to control the media. The Sun Dorries to look at measures on how TV stations can protect reality stars Daily Mail Ministers expected to drop reforms to the Gender Recognition Act Ministers are expected to drop plans to make it easier for people to change their gender amid concerns about the impact on children The consultation, which was launched in 2018 by Theresa May, proposed to change the law so that people would be able to officialy transition simply by making a declaration of their gender The proposals to change the Gender Recognition Act have met with criticism from some feminist groups, whose members are concerned about the prospect of trans people being able to use single-sex spaces. Ministers are also concerned about the impact the proposals could have on children, who are being helped to transition while still developing their decision-making capabilities. The Times >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Labour will ignore Blairs speech yesterday. But Tories should take note. whilst Labour are at war over debate on trans rights Now the party, for whom the equalities agenda has always been a unifying and galvanising force, is at odds with itself over an issue a persons right to self-identify their gender about which many of its members, let alone voters, have little knowledge and less understanding. It has dragged the candidates to succeed Jeremy Corbyn into a culture war and led Tony Blair, the former prime minister who is seen as having done more than most to advance the cause of equality, to decry the finger-jabbing, sectarian battle over transgender rights. Unless the issue is contained, Mr Blair warned, Labour would be perceived as little more than a pressure group. The issue exploded over the otherwise reasonably civil Labour leadership race this month when all the candidates were asked to sign a 12-point trans pledge card. Many of the points were uncontroversial, but one called on Labour to expel transphobic members. The Times Long-Bailey challenges rivals on housing as Labour race gets personal The Guardian Opposition accused of allowing anti-Semitism to fall through the gap Labour has been accused of allowing anti-Semitism to fall through the gap as its protracted leadership campaign has prevented a new leader from tackling the issue. It comes as Mehmood Mirza, the frontrunner to become the next BAME representative on Labours ruling body, was reported for posting an allegedly anti-Semitic cartoon on Facebook. The member of public who reported Mr Mirza, the vice chair of the West Ham Labour party, has not heard back from the party despite the complaints being initially made in October last year Margaret Hodge, the veteran Labour MP for Barking who confronted Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism within the party, said that until a new Labour leader is elected in two months time, trying to fix the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing the party was futile. Daily Telegraph Come back, Ed Miliband, all is forgiven Charlotte Lytton, Daily Telegraph Editorial: The campaign has disappeared down an ideological rabbit hole The Times News in Brief: The show saw an explosive climax for its 35th anniversary on Friday after Sharon Mitchell found out her son Dennis Rickman, 13, died moments after she gave birth. And the BBC soap will return on Monday as Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, returns to the Square, struggling to cope with Dennis' death. The episode will see Ian and Kathy Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt and Gillian Taylforth, rally round the devastated mother as she mourns her loss while caring for her newborn baby. Grieving: The BBC soap will return on Monday as Sharon Mitchell, played by Letitia Dean, returns to the Square, struggling to cope with Dennis' death while caring for her newborn Meanwhile Ian is wracked guilt and inner turmoil as he is torn over whether to reveal the truth behind Dennis's death to Sharon. Friday's episode saw the community take a group boat trip on the Thames to celebrate their local, The Queen Vic, being awarded London's Best Pub. In the previous episode, Dennis was locked in the storeroom of a boat by Ian as revenge for his son Bobby, played Clay Milner Russell, being beaten up after converting to Islam. As water began to rise the panicked Dennis left a voice mail on his mum's phone explaining the situation, but Sharon has yet to hear the message. Devastated: Sharon Mitchell found out that her 13-year-old son Dennis Rickman had died just moments after giving birth Guilty? Ian is torn over whether to reveal the truth behind Dennis's death to Sharon, while he helps out with the baby Ian managed to free the boy before the water fully submerged the room, but Dennis drowned while trying to escape the boat, and was pronounced dead by paramedics with both Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) watching on. Weeping with guilt Ian was comforted by others and hailed as a hero for trying to save the youngster. Now the truth may out that he was partially responsible for his delayed escape from the boat. Traumatic: Viewers watched on as Sharon Mitchell learnt the fate of her son from Keanu Taylor just moments after giving birth While the fatal incident took place Sharon was in hospital giving birth, as she'd gone into labour early after being held at gunpoint by Phil's son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) who was holding her hostage. The camera then cuts to Keanu visiting Sharon and his baby in the hospital, with Sharon quizzing him on the whereabouts of Dennis. Unable to speak, Sharon persistently asks where her son is before eerily being heard screaming: 'Oh my baby.' Heartbreaking: Dennis was unconscious when he was rescued and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, as the rest of the characters on the boat watched on She was later seen blaming Dennis' death on herself, after promising Louise on her son's life, and turned on Keanu as she told the father of her newborn child she never wants to see him again. 'I thought this is what love looked like. If you and me had never... if I'd never let you into my life, I'd still have my son,' she sobbed. 'Get out. I never want to see you again,' she told Keanu, before screaming at him to leave. Unaware: Sharon had been in hospital after going into labour early - thanks to Ben Mitchell holding her hostage and at gunpoint Drama: Phil Mitchell was seen breaking down over Sharon's son Dennis dying Fans were quick to react on Twitter, with one viewer calling Dennis' death a 'bold move'. They wrote: 'Oh my God, it is Dennis. I cannot believe they killed off Dennis. That's a bold move #EastEnders.' Another said: 'Such an amazing episode and very sad to see Sharon give birth to her newborn son and also hear the news that Dennis passed away on the boat #EastEnders.' A third added: 'Wasnt expecting Dennis to leave. #EastEnders35 #EastEnders' 'That's a bold move!' Viewers were quick to react to the tragedy, with many admitting they weren't expecting Dennis to be killed off '#EastEnders I can not get my head around this RIP Dennis. Now will Ian get his head out his ar*e or will this be the turning point of another breakdown?! Sharon didnt deserve this one,' a fourth tweeted. Before his death, Dennis had tearfully apologised to Ian for abusing Bobby online. He had also left a voice note for mum Sharon explaining that Ian had locked him in a changing room on the boat and he couldn't get out. Ian and Dennis had fought, after Ian learned Bobby had been attacked and was hospitalised with a bleed on the brain. Fans are now eager to see how the drama will unfold, once Sharon's listens to the voice note Dennis had sent her. EastEnders continues on Monday at 8pm on BBC One. The Environmental Health Unit at the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly of the Eastern Region has destroyed confiscated food and cosmetic products seized from some traders and shop owners. The expired, bloated and rusted food, alcoholic drinks and provisions were found being sold out to the public despite its state at the time of seizure by the Health Unit. Also the culprits were fined an amount of GHC500.00 each by the Nkawkaw Magistrate court for selling such products to the public willingly. The District Environmental Health Officer, Joseph Krampah, confirming the latest development to Nsemgh.com stated, the destruction of the unwholesome products will ensure they do not resurface onto the market again. He has, however, cautioned shop owners, traders as well as hawkers to desist from selling unwholesome products, while the public was also advised to check for expiry dates of products before buying them. Meanwhile, reliable information available also indicated that the court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of five culprits who failed to appear in court on Thursday. Two other persons were fined the same amount for selling food products to the public without medical certificates of fitness. Agents for Customs and Border Protection board a Greyhound bus headed for Portland, Ore., at the Spokane Intermodal Center, a terminal for buses and Amtrak, in Spokane, Wash., on Feb.13, 2020. (Nicholas K. Geranios/AP/File) Greyhound to Stop Allowing Immigration Checks on Buses SEATTLEGreyhound, the nations largest bus company, said Friday it will stop allowing Border Patrol agents without a warrant to board its buses to conduct routine immigration checks. The companys announcement came one week after The Associated Press reported on a leaked Border Patrol memo confirming that agents cant board private buses without the consent of the bus company. Greyhound had previously insisted that even though it didnt like the immigration checks, it had no choice under federal law but to allow them. In an emailed statement, the company said it would notify the Department of Homeland Security that it does not consent to unwarranted searches on its buses or in areas of terminals that are not open to the publicsuch as company offices or any areas a person needs a ticket to access. Greyhound said it would provide its drivers and bus station employees updated training regarding the new policy, and that it would place stickers on all its buses clearly stating that it does not consent to the searches. Our primary concern is the safety of our customers and team members, and we are confident these changes will lead to an improved experience for all parties involved, the statement said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. An asylum seeker from Guatemala boards a Greyhound bus in El Paso, Texas, on April 2, 2019. (Cedar Attanasio/AP/File) Greyhound has faced pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, immigrant rights activists, and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to stop allowing sweeps on buses within 100 miles of an international border or coastline. In many cases, the buses being checked were not crossing or even approaching an international boundary. Ferguson said in an email his office will follow up with Greyhound to ensure compliance. The Border Patrol has insisted that it does not profile passengers based on their appearance, but instead asks all passengers whether they are citizens or in the country legally. The agency says the bus checks are an important way to ferret out human trafficking, narcotics, and illegal immigration. Some other bus companies, including Jefferson Lines, which operates in 14 states, and MTRWestern, which operates in the Pacific Northwest, have already taken similar steps to those announced by Greyhound. Flores said the ACLU would continue to push others to follow suit. The memo obtained by the AP was dated Jan. 28, addressed to all chief patrol agents and signed by then-Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost just before she retired. It confirms the legal position that Greyhounds critics have taken: that the Constitutions Fourth Amendment prevents agents from boarding buses and questioning passengers without a warrant or the consent of the company. When transportation checks occur on a bus at non-checkpoint locations, the agent must demonstrate that he or she gained access to the bus with the consent of the companys owner or one of the companys employees, the memo states. An agents actions while on the bus would not cause a reasonable person to believe that he or she is unable to terminate the encounter with the agent. Greyhound previously argued that case law, including a 1973 Supreme Court ruling, did not extend the Fourth Amendments protections to commercial carriers. By Gene Johnson Halving the blood alcohol limit and removing mobile speed camera warning signs are among measures being considered to improve road safety in New South Wales. Reducing the default speed limit from 100kmh to 80khm and expanding 30kmh zones will also be discussed at the Towards Zero Road Safety Summit next month. The meeting, held six weeks after four children were allegedly killed by a drink-driver in Oatlands, north-west Sydney, will help ministers devise the state's next road safety plan. The meeting will be held six weeks after four children were allegedly killed by a drink driver in Oatlands. Pictured: Parents Daniel and Leila Abdallah who lost three children in that crash It will consider measures used in Norway and Sweden, which have some of the lowest road death rates in the world. Among them is a drink drive limit of 0.02, more than half the current 0.05 limit. That would mean just one mid-strength beer would generally put someone over the limit. Measures on the table Drink drive limit of 0.02 More 30kmh zones Removal of mobile speed check warning signs Reduction of default speed limit from 100kmh to 80kmh Average speed cameras for cars More cars with better safety tech Advertisement The rule is already in place for bus and HGV drivers but could be expanded to regular car drivers. The summit will also consider reducing the default speed limit from 100kmh to copy the Swedish limit of 80kmh or the Norwegian limit of 90kmh. Last month suburbs in northern Sydney saw 30kmh zones introduced for residential areas - and these could be rolled out in more places around the state. Another policy on the table is to remove warning signs for mobile speed cameras so motorists think their speed could be checked at any time. Using average speed cameras to measure a car driver's speed over a longer period of time will also be considered. Currently average speed cameras are only used on Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers. Finally, the summit will discuss measures to encourage drivers to buy cars with lane assist and emergency braking technology. Around 100 international transport experts will be at the summit, according to the Daily Telegraph. Last year 352 people were killed and around 11,000 people were seriously injured in car crashes in New South Wales. The Towards Zero campaign by Transport for New South Wales aims to have zero road deaths by 2056. Last week Danny Abdallah, who lost three children in a crash last month, told Daily Mail Australia the NSW state government should scrap the current blood alcohol limit of 0.5. Family friends and community say their farewell to Veronica Sakr who lost her life along with her cousins in a crash in Oatlands Just days after burying his son Antony, 13, and daughters Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 9, the grieving father called for security guards to be able to take keys off drunk patrons and for interlock devices to become mandatory. 'I'm a drinker, but I think the alcohol limit should be zero.' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I think you should just know that you can't have any, that you can only have water, so the temptation isn't there. 'People think "I'll just have one more, I'll be all right" because they don't want to get a taxi or an Uber, or they've spent all their money on the night out. 'We have to do something.' North Korean Hospital Cremates 12 Bodies, Denies Deaths Were Coronavirus Related 2020-02-21 -- A North Korean hospital's hasty cremation of a dozen patients it said had died of the flu and not of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), has raised fears and suspicions among the public living near the hospital, RFA has learned. The swift cremation, which goes against the custom of returning the body to families, and the subsequent sterilization of the entire hospital have drawn attention to the hospital in Chongjin, the country's third-largest city. "On Feb. 9, a series of deaths occurred at the Provincial People's Hospital in Chongjin, where patients were being treated for pneumonia and flu-like symptoms," an official from North Hamgyong province told RFA's Korean Service Tuesday. "With the death of 12 patients in a two-day period, quarantine authorities and residents in Chongjin are on high alert," said the source. The Provincial People's Hospital is the largest medical facility in the province and the patients were hospitalized there earlier in the month when they developed flu and pneumonia-like symptoms, according to the source. "The hospital failed to cure them of the flu and pneumonia, so 12 died and the hospital cremated the bodies and delivered the remains to their families," said the source. This act of cremation seemed suspicious to the source. "In North Korea, no hospital, including the Provincial People's Hospital, would cremate the body if a patient dies," the source said. "But this time, when the families expected to receive the bodies, they were given the cremated remains, and the hospital building was completely disinfected several times. They said [both procedures] would prevent the spread of the flu virus," the source added. The hospital has denied any connection to COVID-19, according to the source, but residents of the surrounding area are not so sure. "[They] are feeling uneasy as more than 10 flu patients have died," the source said. "The hospital only says that the deaths were caused by flu and pneumonia, but suspicions are growing because of the sudden cremations," the source said, adding, "[They] suspect that that the patients died from pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus." While a cover-up has not been confirmed, the source said that deliberately misleading the public would cause people to lose confidence in not only the hospital, but the government too. "Recently the Central Party has been saying that we need to take serious steps toward preventing the spread of coronavirus. If the Provincial People's Hospital is hiding the truth, it is going against the Central Party's policy and deserves to be punished," the source said. RFA attempted to contact the World Health Organization (WHO) about the mysterious deaths in Chongjin and whether they were related to coronavirus, but as of Thursday there was no response. The WHO reported on Tuesday that there were no signs of coronavirus infection in North Korea. Authorities in North Korea say that the country still has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. South Korea's Yonhap news said Thursday that the WHO is virtually the only official channel that has a presence in North Korea that could confirm an outbreak, but as its data is based on reports from each member country, it is possible that the organization's data on North Korea lack credibility. Reported by Jieun Kim for RFA's Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cllr Maura Healy-Rae has said that any future legislation limiting a person's right to burn turf and wood is a violation of their heritage and tradition. Her comments were made a week after her father, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, apologised in the media after he remarked "work for the people and... to hell with the planet". Yet, despite increased opposition to the burning of fossil fuels globally, Independent Cllr Maura Healy-Rae received support from several councillors in the chamber for her views on the usage of turf. Tabling a motion before Monday's full meeting of Kerry County Council, Cllr Healy-Rae called on management to write to the relevant departments voicing their opposition to any future legislation on a ban. She said many elderly people and those on lower incomes use a stove or open fire and will be directly affected by a ban on turf and wood burning. "Given their income, and what they have to spend, if turf and timber were outlawed they would be in a serious predicament," she said. She outlined how 'common sense' and the damage to the environment must be taken into account when it comes to the production and transport of oil, and that burning turf makes more sense in many circumstances. She also cited an inability of many people to afford to have their homes retrofitted. "We can't get away from the fact it is a tradition and a heritage. I cut turf myself every year. As much as it's a tradition, it's practical as well, and I'll be looking for the support of the members on this," she said. The motion was strongly supported and seconded by Independent Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae. "While it's some people's only way of heating their home, it's also protecting the heritage and traditions they have," he said. "For a lot of people, cutting turf is how they grew up. Going to the bog, cutting turf and bringing it home and burning it is the only thing they know." Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae added that 'many years ago' it was people's only form of income and a way of putting bread on the table to survive. "I think it's very unfair of any government to come along and tell people that their way of life and tradition and way of heating their home is about to be done away with." He called for common sense to prevail and explained most of the people still cutting and burning turf are of an older generation. "What will happen is those people will, unfortunately, as it's the eventual and natural way of life, pass on. But I would never go against someone who grew up in that tradition: that's their right and heritage." Independent Cllr Brendan Cronin said he recognised the importance of the motion but asked that they get 'the help of the father and uncle (Danny and Michael Healy-Rae). "Before they take up any posts (in government) and before they sign anything at all, make sure it's written down in black and white." To which Cllr Maura-Healy Rae answered: 'they're on it'. Cllr Niall O'Callaghan said that while he was opposed the burning of coal and supported smokeless coal, he supported the motion on turf burning that was befoire the council. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that since January 9, terrorist groups 8 times attacked the Russian Khmeimim airbase using drones from the Syrian province of Idlib. According to our data, since January 9, there have been 8 UAV attacks on Khmeimim, where our air base and our people are located. Their safety is our highest priority, he said, adding that at that time the militants were 10-15 km away from Aleppo. Vershinin specified that firing was carried out from multiple launch rocket systems at residential areas of the city. The diplomat also emphasized that the government troops took action to prevent an attack on Aleppo and other cities where the civilian population is located. We support them. We cannot but support them, because we are talking about the actions of the legitimate Syrian government against terrorists on its sovereign territory, RBC quotes Vershinin as saying. NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.Ontario is careening toward a general strike unless Premier Doug Ford changes his ways, a key labour leader warned outside a convention hall where the Progressive Conservatives debated their next steps in running the province. Carrying protest signs and waving union flags, about 1,000 people gathered in biting cold winds Saturday as Ford and an equal number of cabinet ministers, MPPs and party activists started developing the PC platform for the June 2022 election. If the Conservatives dont listen to us ... we will shut this province down, declared Patty Coates, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, which organized the event to fight what she called Fords regressive agenda. Inside the convention later in the day, Ford said the government is sticking to its pro-business, pro-jobs, pro-people government and repeated a promise he has not yet been able to keep putting beer and wine in corner stores. My friends, the 2022 campaign starts today, starts now, he told delegates during an 18-minute dinner speech in which he boasted of cancelling unnecessary green energy projects, planning new subway lines in Toronto and pledging were here for the little guy. Absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to stop us, Ford vowed. Our economy is firing on all cylinders. He took aim at the Liberals who will elect a new leader in two weeks after a campaign that has seen former cabinet minister Steven Del Duca take a commanding lead. The people were up against are the same ones who ran this province into the ground. Ford did not take questions, but Government House Leader Paul Calandra brushed aside the prospect of a broad labour disruption. Were always willing to listen to anybody who wants to bring their opinions forward, he told reporters amid unusually tight security and restrictions for a political convention by any party. Journalists identities were checked and bags searched before they were escorted to a news conference with Calandra and Fords speech under instructions not to roam the convention hall where delegates were emerging from policy discussions. There is hot debate, Calandara added. Grassroots members would like to have that opportunity to have those discussions in private. Behind closed doors, former Ford campaign head Kory Teneycke advised delegates to hold steady in the face of opposition, particularly those who have gotten fat from the largesse of past regimes as the government works to balance the budget in 2023. Being a party of responsible choices is not just thankless, its often met with protests, anger and vitriol, he says in a video obtained by the Star. Other sources inside the convention told the Star party members were voting, among other items, on resolutions from social conservatives, including one from former PC leadership candidate Tanya Granic Allen to axe the old Liberal sex education curriculum which Ford initially opposed and later relented after a consultation with parents. In education sessions, there were concerns raised that the government is not getting its message out on countering the rotating teacher strikes and there was talk of more choice in education, particularly for faith-based schools a promise that former PC leader John Tory made in the 2007 election campaign only to be soundly defeated by then-premier Dalton McGuinty. Calandra apologized unreservedly to CBC reporter Mike Crawley who was repeatedly interrupted by a guard from Viking Security Corp. while doing a live report on the sidewalk outside the convention centre on Friday night. It wasnt something that the PC party had asked to be done, Calandra maintained. But a co-owner of Viking challenged Calandras response. It was laid out ahead of time and in that moment, Tammy Rolland said in a telephone interview with the Star, referring to an advance briefing with party officials and orders given on the scene. He told me he was told to do it, she added, referring to the guard. At the rally outside Saturday, leaders of several unions, from teachers to health care and grocery store workers, hopped on the back of a flatbed truck to take the government to task for its 1 per cent public sector wage cap, plan for larger class sizes, more online learning, changes to autism funding that have left parents scrambling, and stalling the rise to a $15 minimum wage. Let this government know that we will hold them accountable ... for what theyre doing to working families, Coates added. They need to change course. The crowd arrived on buses from as far away as Windsor and Ottawa, with two protesters bearing elaborate effigies of Ford and many sporting buttons saying I am the people, a twist on the premiers victorious 2018 campaign slogan and theme song for the people. The event followed Fridays much larger encirclement of Queens Park by thousands of teachers from four unions whose one-day strike shut down every school in the province. This isnt just about education, Liz Stuart, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, said during 90 minutes of speeches. Next comes health care. Next comes all our public services unless we push back. Sarah Labelle of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents tens of thousands of civil servants, echoed the OFLs threat of widespread labour unrest. If it takes a general strike down the road were not scared. New Democrat MPP Wayne Gates, who represents Niagara Falls in the legislature, said the government has proven itself incapable of managing the province with a number of high-profile policy reversals after measures have backfired. They cant even make licence plates, he added in a mocking tone, referring to a problem that dogged Fords administration all week. New double-blue plates which went into distribution Feb. 1 are hard to read in the dark because they give off a glare under some lighting conditions. After initially denying the problem first raised by a Kingston police officer in a tweet that went viral, Government and Consumer Services said Thursday a fix is the works and plates already issued will be replaced. The plates have been dubbed propaganda plates because they are in Conservative blue colours. Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 13:12:19|Editor: zyl Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Two militants were killed on Saturday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight broke out at village Naina-Sangam of Anantnag district, about 40 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "In a fierce gunfight in Naina today early morning, two militants were killed," a senior police official posted in Anantnag said. "The operation was carried out jointly by the army, paramilitary and police." According to police, the gunfight broke out after government forces cordoned off the area on specific intelligence information suggesting the presence of militants. "No sooner the joint contingents of army and police reached near the suspected area, the militants present there fired upon them, thereby triggering a gunfight," the police official said. The slain militants were identified as local cadres. Reports said the government forces have not suffered any damage during the stand-off. On Wednesday three militants were killed in a similar gunfight with government forces in Tral area of Pulwama. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. E Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar called the road blocking near protest side Shaheen Bagh as an "anti-Islamic act." The RSS leader was commenting on the Supreme Court's order to mediate with the demonstrators at Shaheen Bagh protesting against the contentious citizenship law (CAA), proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). "To cause inconvenience to people by blocking their way is anti-Islamic and anti-Rasool. This is a sin and a crime. People should refrain from it. Blocking road is akin to say that Islam is violent and is a perpetrator of violence. That Islam is extremist and a way to perpetrate torture," said Kumar while speaking to ANI. The RSS functionary heaped praises for the BJP government for exhibiting 'humanity' despite the two-month blockade. "Look at the government. It is so humane that despite two months of blockage, it has not taken any action. Shaheen Bagh too should show some humanity as Islam does not advocate giving pain to anyone," he said. Kumar further stated that protestors should agree to the implementation of CAA, the law that grants citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. "I have gone to Jamia, JNU and other places. They are fearful of NRC. So, they should say that they are for the implementation of the CAA and discussion should take place on the NRC," he said. READ| Owaisi and Digvijaya back RSS chief's 'No one is happy' remark amid nation-wide protests The RSS leader maintained that everyone has a right to speak but causing inconvenience to others is "incorrect". "People of Shaheen Bagh have understood one thing in so many days that the CAA and the NRC are two different things. CAA is to give respectful living to those who were persecuted. To protest against CAA is to support the persecution of minorities in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. So, the country feels the CAA should be implemented," he said. Earlier on Friday, Uttar Pradesh Police reopened the Noida-Faridabad road after 69 days of shutting down due to the ongoing Shaheen Bagh protests. But visuals show that barricades are still present at the site while allowing vehicular traffic. Police have particularly reopened the stretch from Noida's Mahamaya flyover to Delhi and Faridabad. While all roads close to the area have been closed by the UP Police due to the continued protests, Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch has predominantly been in focus due to the large-scale gathering. Shaheen Bagh protests began on December 14 where thousands of people, including women and children camped on the streets protesting the CAA-NRC-NPR. READ| RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat opposes 'nationalism', suggests using alternative terms Shaheen Bagh mediation A delegation of Shaheen Bagh women protestors on Saturday, set seven conditions to Supreme Court-appointed interlocutor Sadhana Ramachandran, as per sources. Sources state that Ramachandran who arrived at the site alone met only with women protestors in the morning and refused to talk to the media. Moreover, the interlocutor advocate Sanjay Hegde will allegedly visit the site in the evening to continue the fourth day of mediation talks. Shaheen Bagh sets conditions (as per sources): If half of the road is opened, provide security to protestors by providing an aluminum sheet between protests and road Revoke all cases against Jamia students No NPR in Delhi Investigation on all inflammatory speeches Create an alternate protest site in Shaheen Bagh itself Revoke all cases against youngsters who were booked for Shaheen Bagh protests Cognizance of the deaths due to anti-CAA protests throughout India READ| Cong's Abhishek Singhvi fires scathing review of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's divorce views (With ANI inputs) Manama A US Congress delegation, currently on a visit to the Kingdom, has paid a visit to the East Hidd Town housing project. The Ministry of Housing informed the delegation about its experience in building new towns in Bahrain to implement His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas order to build 40,000 housing units, as well as the governments social housing plans stemming from the royal order. The US delegation was also informed about the facilities of the East Hidd Town, which is an example of the modern towns being constructed by the Ministry of Housing. During the visit, the delegation was updated about the Kingdoms experience in providing housing services to low-income citizens, including the establishment of three towns, namely Isa Town, Hamad Town and Zayed Town, in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, in addition to the establishment of the Housing Ministry, the Eskan Bank, the new towns and the partnership initiatives with the private sector. The Ministry of Housing stressed the governments keenness to strengthen its relations with international and regional organisations to benefit from their expertise in various fields. It also highlighted the efforts of the government, through its action plan, to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 11 aimed at making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The ministry said that its efforts are currently focused on building five new towns at the same time, chosen according to the density of housing demands, in addition to implementing other residential projects to ensure that the housing services cover the Kingdoms governorates and regions. The visit featured a presentation about the Housing Ministrys new towns projects, as well as its strategy to provide housing units for the citizens through partnership initiatives with the private sector. It also featured a documentary on the governments efforts to provide housing services to the citizens. Members of the delegation expressed their admiration for the kingdoms experience in delivering affordable social housing services to the citizens, as well as for the Housing Ministrys plans to provide social housing for low-income citizens. An armed robbery parolee was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drunken driving and crashing into a vehicle with a grandmother and granddaughter on U.S. 59, leaving them seriously injured and a puppy dead. Kassandra Lynn Nesbitt, 36, of Houston, pleaded guilty to two charges of intoxication assault in the 9th District Court. Presiding Judge Phil Grant handed out Nesbitts sentence, half of which will have to be served before she is eligible for parole due to her vehicle being determined a deadly weapon, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your Inbox On April 13, Nesbitt was driving southbound on U.S. 59 when she struck the concrete barrier and lost control of her Honda Accord which careened across the main lanes onto the feeder where it struck the sedan being driven by the crash victim, a Montgomery County resident in her 60s. Unable to avoid the collision, the woman and her granddaughter, aged around 9 or 10, suffered serious, life-altering injuries, the District Attorneys Office stated. About 15 minutes after the crash, a blood test found Nesbitts blood alcohol content level was .148, above the legal limit of .08. Investigators found a beer can, still cold, in Nesbitts Accord, along with two pit bull puppies, one surviving and another dead. The grandmother took the witness stand to talk about the multiple broken bones and other injuries sustained in the crash and the surgeries she has been through and will continue to undergo. She testified about how she can no longer do many things she used to enjoy, like running or carrying her grandchildren. The now 10-year-old granddaughter suffered a fractured hip and broken thumb, according to the DAs Office. MORE FROM JOSE R. GONZALEZ: Attempted rape charges against Baytown man dismissed by Montgomery County grand jury Nesbitt was convicted of aggravated robbery after she held up with a rifle Wandas Kountry Korner Hamburgers in Longview. The victims of the robbery were the store owner, her daughter-in-law and her three-year-old son. The investigator on that case spoke of the December 2003 incident, which Nesbitt was on parole for when the April crash happened. During the 2003 incident, Nesbitt was on probation for another robbery in South Carolina. Assistant District Attorneys Philip Harris and Andrew James prosecuted the case. Tucker Graves served as Nesbitts defense attorney. Shes had a very hard life, made some bad decisions and is incredibly sad for all involved, Graves told The Courier.Harris praised troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constables deputies for their work investigating the crash. This defendants selfish decision to get drunk and then get behind the wheel put countless others in danger, and ultimately caused life-changing injuries to two innocent people, Harris said in a statement. This sentence ensures that our streets will be safe from this defendant for at least the next 10 years. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx Senegal's Thies military base hosted an opening ceremony for the US-led Flintock 2020 counter-terrorism exercise on Tuesday.More than 1,500 service members from the armies of 34 African and partner nations are participating in the exercise being held in both Mauritania and Senegal this year. The training, organised by the United States Africa Command, takes place as the US seeks to reassess its presence in West Africa amid discussions of a possible drawdown seeking to bolster European participation The once-stable Burkina Faso saw a significant increase of violent extremism in 2015. Since then, jihadists have crossed the border from Mali and pushed into territories in the north and east, as regional and international militaries race to contain the threat. For Nigeria, which has battled threats from Boko Haram and Islamic State for several years, these training are an opportunity to collaborate and share experiences with other countries. A driver was sentenced Friday to four years in state prison for driving drunk in a 2018 Woodland Township crash that claimed the life of his 20-year-old friend, authorities said. Donald Shinn, 22, of Pemberton Township admitted in December 2019 that he was intoxicated when he attempted to illegally pass another vehicle on Dec. 22, 2018. His Toyota Tundra careened off County Route 563 and struck several trees, Burlington County authorities have said. His passenger, Cody Watson, also of Pemberton Township, who was sitting in the front seat, was pronounced dead at the scene when New Jersey State troopers discovered the wreck. Shinn was treated for injuries at a local hospital and a third passenger sitting in the back of the pickup truck refused medical treatment, prosecutors said. Authorities tested Shinns blood following the crash and the results showed that his blood alcohol concentration at the time was .12%, authorities have said. Shinn must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole and his drivers license will be suspended for five years following his release from state prison, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said in announcing the sentence. Assistant Prosecutor Josh Dennis, supervisor of the offices Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, said the fatal crash had a devastating effect on multiple people. "The loss to the Watson family is unimaginable, Dennis told the court before Shinns sentencing. "So very tragic, and permanent. One simple decision was made by the defendant, and that changed everything for the Watson family, and for everyone who knew and loved Cody, including the defendant himself, who was his very close friend. Shinn and Watson were friends from Browns Mills, in Pemberton Township. Watson was a 2017 graduate of the Burlington County Institute of Technology in Medford and working as a laborer for the Manchester Township public works department when he died, his obituary said. He liked to race motorcycles, go hunting and camping and spend time with friends. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Saturday, February 22, 2020 This week's edition is late because I am writing this from Havana, Cuba, where I've had limited Internet access. Yes, Americans can still visit Cuba in organized tours for educational and humanitarian purposes. It's been 60 years since the Communist revolution. During that time, hundreds of thousands of Cubans left the island--for the US, Europe, and other places. Many of those left family behind and couldn't return to visit for decades, or at all. Today, there is still extreme poverty on the island and many buildings are in severe disrepair. There are shortages of many basic commodities and salaries are extremely low. There are no boats in the harbor--since it's too easy to sail a boat the 90 miles to the coast of Florida. But there is also a great amount of restoration underway. Many historical buildings have been renovated, and other are in progress. The people are warm and friendly. The hotel is well-equipped and up-to-date, and tourism is a thriving industry (albeit with very few Americans these days). The music and arts are upbeat and exciting. In spite of (or perhaps because of) the challenges they face, the Cuban people are extremely resourceful. Building materials are reused and repurposed. Classic American cars are kept in great running condition without access to replacement American parts. Havana celebrated it's 500th birthday last year. Things may be far from perfect here, but the Cuban people are both resourceful and resilient. Like the music--a little offbeat but always driving forward. Subscribe to this newsletter. Contact me to find out how you can get heard above the noise. Check out our marketing leadership podcasts and the video trailer for my book, Marketing Above the Noise: Achieve Strategic Advantage with Marketing that Matters. Buy now Friends and relatives hold up photos of their friends, victims of a shooting in Hanau, Germany. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP German authorities will step up police presence and keep close watch on mosques and other sites after racially motivated shootings killed nine people, the country's top security official has said. A 43-year-old German man fatally shot the victims of immigrant backgrounds in the Frankfurt suburb of Hanau on Wednesday before killing his mother and himself. The man, identified as Tobias Rathjen, left a number of rambling texts and videos espousing racist views and claiming to have been under surveillance since birth. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said security officials and agencies agreed to increase the law enforcement presence around the country. Mr Seehofer said there would be more surveillance at "sensitive sites", including mosques, and a high police presence at railway stations, airports and borders. "The threat posed by far-right extremism, anti-Semitism and racism is very high in Germany," he said. New Delhi, Feb 22 : A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed an application by one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya rape-murder case, Vinay Sharma, seeking medical treatment and observed general anxiety and depression in a death-row convict were "obvious". "General anxiety and depression in case of a death-row convict are obvious. In the case at hand, evidently adequate medical treatment and psychological help have been provided to the convict," Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana said. Vinay, who along with three others, is scheduled to be hanged on March 3, allegedly attempted to hurt himself by hitting his head against a wall in jail earlier this week. He then filed a plea seeking better treatment for "mental illness, schizophrenia and head and arm injuries". Dismissing the plea, the court said, "It's evident the convict is not only being provided regular medical care, but regular supportive therapy session is also being conducted by specialists." The jail authorities on Saturday submitted a CD (compact disc) containing CCTV footage of Vinay banging head against the wall. Vinay's psychiatry report was also submitted to the court. "I have seen the CD provided by the jail authorities wherein the convict is seen conversing with his family and counsel. The apparent tone and tenor of the convict is not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour, rather it convincingly corroborates the opinion of medical experts," the judge observed. The Tihar Jail authorities told the court the injuries sustained by Vinay were "self-inflicted and superficial". Doctors were examining all the convict and report was sent to the Director General (Prison) daily, they said. Vinay has exhausted all this legal remedies. He, along with three others, are scheduled to be hanged at 6 a.m. on March 3. One convict, Pawan, has yet not availed either curative or mercy petition remedy. The case pertains to the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in the national capital in December 2012. The email, which she received Friday, said the office cannot pursue any "further remedies" on Carpenter's behalf, but suggested she may want to contact a small claims court or an attorney. From October to Feb. 11, 16 complaints, including Carpenter's, have been filed with the attorney general's office. When asked for an updated list of complaints against Crown Theatre and clarification on the process behind the closure of Carpenter's case, Melissa Gustafson, public information officer for the attorney general's office, told The Times she was "getting ready to leave for the weekend" but could provide clarification Monday. Carpenter said she doesn't think the theater failing to honor communication attempts justifies her case being closed. "If they've just tried with phone calls, couldn't they send a certified letter? Couldn't they do more? I don't know what they did, of course, but I feel like more could have been done to reach him," she said. OPERATIVES of the City Investigation Detection Management Branch (CIDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested a 34-year-old woman for her posts on social media on Friday night, Feb. 21, 2020. They were carrying a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Judge Ramon Daomilas for allegedly violating Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Lt. Col. Frankie Jingle Lugo, CIDMB head, identified the suspect as Angeline Cebuco, a resident of Villa Fatima Village in Barangay Guadalupe. After her arrest, Cebuco was placed in the detention cell at the CCPO. When SunStar Superbalita went to interview her on Saturday, Feb. 22, she had been released after she posted bail of P10,000 at the Cebu City Prosecutors Office. The complainant who asked not to be named said Cebuco maligned her on social media and on Facebook, prompting her to file a case against the latter. However, the complainant refused to divulge more details since the matter is already in court and she had been ordered not to talk about the case. Cebuco was a contestant in the Mrs. CebuPhilippines Pageant in 2019. According to her Facebook profile, she is a businesswoman and a private nurse. (BBT, PJB) Mr. Trump has long been obsessed with loyalty, a view only exacerbated by his impeachment and the various investigations over the last three years that have convinced him that he is surrounded by a deep-state enemy within that is leaking, lying and sabotaging his presidency. He has also been frustrated by the decision-making process of government, aggravated at competing centers of power that have shaped the modern presidency but have, in his view, hindered his ability to enact policies. With a more loyal team in place, he hopes to make more progress on initiatives that have been slow-walked by institutional inertia or resistance like tougher rules on trade and immigration. But it could mean less dissent and less open debate with surviving officials fearing the loss of their jobs if they are seen as stepping out of line. From the beginning, his administration has been a turnstile of people who fall in and out of favor with the president. Including those with acting designations, he is on his third chief of staff, his fourth national security adviser, his fourth defense secretary, his fifth secretary of homeland security, his sixth deputy national security adviser and his seventh communications director. According to data compiled by Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, turnover among what she calls Mr. Trumps A team, meaning his senior staff, has hit 82 percent, more in three years than any of the previous five presidents saw in their first four years. Moreover, the Trump administration has been notable for a high level of serial turnover, with 38 percent of the top positions replaced more than once. Many key departments and White House entities have been hollowed out, Ms. Tenpas said. The president has thus been left with acting officials in many key areas. He seems completely unbothered, she said. He claims that actings give him flexibility, but fails to see that temporary leaders cannot advance his policies nearly as well as a Senate-confirmed appointee who has the stature and all the powers to do so. While some of the reliance on acting officials owes to a dysfunctional Senate confirmation process, Mr. Trump seems to prefer to keep senior advisers on edge as to whether they will keep their job. Mick Mulvaney, his acting White House chief of staff, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, is finishing his 14th month with an acting in front of his title for no reason that has ever been publicly articulated and he may be forced out without ever having been granted the full title. Alabama Republicans steered mostly clear of controversy at the State Executive Committees winter meeting in Prattville today, affirming their optimism for the reelection of President Trump and defeating U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. Four of the partys candidates for Senate in the March 3 primary made brief remarks to the committee. The committee approved by a margin of 84% to 16% a resolution opposing new math standards adopted by the state Board of Education in December. The resolution says the new standards essentially mirror the Common Core standards the state adopted in 2010 and noted that Alabama ranks last among states in math on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores. Related: Common Core eradicated, Ivey says, after Alabama school board vote. Related: Alabama flunks math on national report card. The committees vote against the new math standards is the third time it has taken a public stance different than Republican Gov. Kay Ivey in the last year. At its summer meeting in Auburn, the committee voted to oppose the constitutional amendment to replace the elected state Board of Education with a commission appointed by the governor. Ivey supports the amendment, which is on the ballot on March 3. At its winter meeting a year ago in Birmingham, the committee voted to oppose a gas tax increase without an offsetting tax decrease. But the Legislature went on to pass the increase as a funding source for better roads. Today the committee rejected a resolution opposing the H-1B visa program. The resolution said the program brought in 2,000 foreign workers a year at the expense of Alabamians who could fill those jobs. But several speakers said the program serves an important purpose because the state is not producing enough qualified employees in certain areas. The committee voted 74% to 26% against the resolution. Alabama Republican Party holding its winter meeting today in Prattville. Chair Terry Lathan kicks off the meeting. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/zZDUuR3m8w Mike Cason (@MikeCasonAL) February 22, 2020 The committee approved six other resolutions, mostly by overwhelming margins and with little discussion. Committee members voted 95% to 5% in favor of a resolution declaring Alabama a sanctuary for the unborn. The resolution urged Alabamians to make reasonable efforts to close the states abortion clinics. Another resolution urged full participation in the 2020 census. State Republican Party Chair Terry Lathan told the committee the state is at risk of losing a congressional seat. The resolution passed 97% to 3%. A resolution in support of President Trump was approved 99% to 1%. U.S. Senate candidates Stanley Adair, Arnold Mooney, Roy Moore and Ruth Page Nelson all spoke to the committee. They stuck to a two-minute time limit, as instructed. Lathan urged committee members to band together behind the eventual nominee who will square off against Jones in November. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, and U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne of Fairhope, the three candidates who were not at todays meeting, have been the top three in polls. Lathan referred to Jones as one and done Doug. But she also urged committee members not to be complacent about November. They will not go quietly, Lathan said. When the committee finished its agenda, a motion to adjourn was contested by some members who wanted to discuss resolutions that were not on agenda. But the committee voted to end the meeting. US President Donald Trump will be handed over a 12-inch silver key upon his arrival at the Agra airport on February 24 before he heads to visit the Taj Mahal. The symbolic gesture, made to a visiting head of a state, signifies that the guest can open the door of the city with the key before entering. Agra mayor Naveen Jain will have the honour of handing over the key to Trump and he would be the first city mayor to do so. We have got a 12-inch long silver key prepared in Delhi. On one side, it has an impression of the Taj Mahal and the other side has the inscription, Welcome to Agra. This is to portray that the guest is welcome to visit any place in the city he likes, Jain said. He said the city was doing its best to provide a memorable welcome to the US President and his family. The city is being beautified and one of the special attractions would be tricolour lights wrapped around electric poles. It would be quite a sight for them while returning from the Taj in the evening. Jain is excited over the prospect of meeting the head of the state of the most powerful country but apprehensions remain. Former Agra Mayor Baby Rani Maurya, who is now the Governor of Uttarakhand, was not allowed to carry the key with her when she went to receive Bill Clinton, the then US President, in the year 2000 at the airport due to security concerns. We were told not to carry any object with us, so the idea of offering the keys was dropped. It was an exciting moment for me when I received a phone call from the White House and was invited to the airport. US President Bill Clinton met me with warmth, recalls Baby Rani Maurya. However, another mayor of Agra Indrajeet Arya was not so lucky. He was all prepared to welcome US President Barack Obama, but his visit to the Taj Mahal was called-off at the last moment in 2015. But luck favoured me later and I got an opportunity in the same year to meet Obama at the White House on October 15, 2015. This happened after I became a member of the World Mayor Council which travelled to the USA, Arya recalled. So now, Agra eagerly awaits February 24 when mayor Naveen Jain would be at the airport in traditional black suit with a red gown worn over it, carrying the silver key of the city to hand it to the US President. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LAS VEGAS - Everybody loses some of their inhibitions in Las Vegas. Even Elizabeth Warren. This is where the Democratic senator from Massachusetts shrugged off her reluctance to criticize rivals and eviscerated them during a debate, landing precision blows one after the other. This is where she accepted the help of a super PAC, reversing a central tenet of her presidential campaign about the corrupting power of money. And this is where it started to look like she was having fun for the first time in months, just ahead of Saturday's Nevada caucuses. After moping two weeks ago through New Hampshire, where she stressed to audiences that she hasn't spent her career pining for the White House, she was suddenly making changes that could expand the possibility that she gets there. Allies say that Warren's demeanor changed after disappointing results rolled in from gray and snow-covered New Hampshire. Already upset with herself for a lackluster New Hampshire debate and down about her disappointing third-place finish in Iowa, she made a case to her staff that this was the time to fight. "There's going to come a time when it is clear what's going to happen in this contest, but that time is not now," she said, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss it. "We are nowhere near that moment. We are not close. We're not even within shouting distance. "These are the moments we find out who we are." Her new approach might be too late. Nearly as many Nevada caucus-goers participated in early voting before her breakout debate as the total turnout four years ago, meaning a massive chunk of the electorate here weighed in before seeing Warren sparkle onstage. Hundreds of thousands already have cast their ballots in California, the top delegate prize on March 3. More importantly, the dynamics of the race so far continue to drastically narrow her path: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has largely consolidated support from the left. Warren hasn't significantly expanded her support among moderates, failing to benefit from former vice president Joe Biden's slide in the polls. She also has struggled for backing from the white, college-educated voters backing Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg. Financially, her campaign came closer to the brink than was publicly known before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3. New financial reports show the campaign took out a $3 million line of credit and drew out $400,000 that it ended up not using. She ended last month with just $2.3 million on hand but has so far raised $17 million in February, including a huge bump after her debate here. "The central question for Warren is does a strong performance by her bring some of the liberals who are on the fence between her and Sanders back to her?" said Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, who has not backed any of the presidential candidates. "If you're a very liberal person and you're asking, 'Who can best take on Trump?' she reassured you on that," Tanden said. Warren and her allies believe the muddled results so far mean there's still time for her to win. Just 4 percent of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination will have been awarded after South Carolina votes on Feb. 29. But the challenge rises astronomically days later, on March 3, when more than a third of the delegates will be distributed after voting in more than a dozen states. Warren's schedule provides a clear sign that she plans to fight hard in the hope of running up the score in liberal pockets of the country on Super Tuesday. She plans to leave Nevada on Saturday - likely before caucus results are announced - to headline a rally in Seattle and then skips to Denver on Sunday, hitting the large, expensive media markets in two states that vote in March. After a stop in South Carolina, she plans to travel to California and other Super Tuesday states. Warren's demeanor has brightened markedly since Wednesday's debate here, where she was sharply critical of billionaire candidate and former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg and also delivered lancing blows on other rivals. "So after the debate last night, are we ready to make a change? How about some big structural change?" Warren exhorted a group of cheering volunteers packed into one of her campaign offices in a Las Vegas strip mall. "Last night was a lot of fun," she added, and then rehashed her critique of Bloomberg's stop-and-frisk policing policy. Later, during a CNN town hall Thursday night, she pressed the case further, reading from a legal document she had prepared for Bloomberg that would release women from nondisclosure agreements reached after claims of harassment involving him or his company. (Bloomberg agreed Friday to discard three agreements if the women involved want to be freed from them. He said those were the only ones that pertained to his own behavior.) "I used to teach contract law," said Warren, a rare reference to her time as a law professor. "I wrote up a release and covenant not to sue, and all that Mayor Bloomberg has to do is download it - I'll text it - sign it, and then the women, or men, will be free to speak and tell their own stories." She took out a piece of paper and read aloud. It was the kind of attention-seeking stunt that she has avoided for the past year, instead dutifully focusing on policy and her organization's regular releases of dense, footnoted position papers that made it feel more like a think tank than presidential campaign. "She's engaging in the political stakes for what they are and not what she wants them to be," said Adam Jentelson, a Warren ally. "She's playing to win now. In a good way." But her reversal on accepting help from super PACs opened her up to accusations that she had bent her principles to boost her candidacy. On Thursday night, at the town hall, she made a tortured case that her embrace of a super PAC wasn't inconsistent with her campaign beliefs. "So from the first day I got in this campaign, I said to anybody who runs for president, 'Let's do this without super PACs. Let's all agree. Before they've gotten into it, before people have invested money in this, let's all just agree we will all say no super PACs,'" she said on CNN. "Nobody took me up on it. . . . Not a single other candidate would agree with me. So I haven't changed my position." She did not explain how her new stance squares with a section of her campaign website, which in capital letters says she "REJECTS SUPER PACs." The Persist super PAC benefiting Warren has spent $1 million in South Carolina on TV ads, according to its spokesman. It also put $1 million into ads running in Nevada. The group is planning a Super Tuesday strategy. The super PAC will use tools that Warren has eschewed, including polling, to determine which TV commercials move the most voters. In her presidential campaign, Warren has boasted of shedding consultants and a pollster she used in her Senate races. The super PAC is reaching out to some of those staffers, potentially reconstituting some of the team that helped her win previous contests. Warren's debate move marked the second time in her campaign that she has taken bold steps with her back against the wall. When Warren first entered the race, she slumped amid controversy over having claimed Native American ancestry. Her fundraising was weak and polling had her in single digits. She responded by throwing aside caution on some issues that felt tricky at the time, including becoming the first presidential candidate to call for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, refusing as a protest to participate in a Fox News town hall and, perhaps most importantly, dismantling her high-dollar fundraising operation. The moves set her apart in a crowded field. Now Warren is also altering her message, moving away from casting herself as a unity candidate and returning to the image of a fighter. "Her mistake in New Hampshire was to campaign as the unifier. She will be the unifier in the end; in the meantime, she needs to be a fighter in order to continue to build her own base," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who has endorsed Warren. "I think she can become a unifier at the convention, but she has to be a fighter during the campaign. And she was a prizefighter" at the debate, he said. Raskin said her debate performance buoyed the spirits of her endorsers. "People were so excited," he said. "Everybody was writing about how she had transformed the campaign, she had revitalized everybody's spirits and she had really punched through to the top tier of the race." Warren allies timed the real change in her to the results in New Hampshire, which showed she would not win a single delegate from her next-door state. "She gets this kind of underdog determination," said one Warren ally, who saw her that night but would speak only on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private moment. Her demeanor, the person said, became: "I'm not going to go down without a fight." In her conference call with staff members that night, she offered an upbeat assessment. "These are the moments when we remember that knockdowns make us stronger, [that] challenges build muscle," Warren told them on the phone call. "Hear this straight from me to you, I believe in you and I believe in what we can do together." Texas Democrats can be forgiven if theyve been dreaming lately of a radically transformed political landscape in which, by January, Sen. Ted Cruz is Texas senior senator and its only Republican one. A fantasy? Not exactly. Beto ORourkes near-miss race against Cruz in 2018 and hot passions stirred by the fight over Donald Trumps reelection prospects have roiled the usually predictable politics in the Lone Star State. But defeating a three-term incumbent like Sen. John Cornyn is not going to be easy. So Democrats are faced with a double-barreled dilemma: Who among the talented and cram-packed field of primary candidates is most likely to win in the fall and who this is especially important is able to deliver the change Democrats have been promising Texans for decades, if only voters gave them another chance at high office. We believe that candidate is state Sen. Royce West of Dallas, an African-American trailblazer whose record over 26 years in the Legislature is full of accomplishments as well as moments of courage and vision. Hes been a state leader on issues as diverse as finance, criminal justice, public education and civil rights.. When then-Gov. Rick Perry drew fire in 2011 for a sign at his family hunting ranch that included a racial slur, it was West who spoke against labeling Perry, then running for president, a racist. But that same year, when the Texas division of the Sons of the Confederacy sought to have Texas issue license plates with the Confederate battle flag, West demanded the Department of Motor Vehicles reject the plates, which it did on a razor-thin vote. The decision triggered a challenge that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court before Wests position was affirmed. West was first elected in 1992, after being the first black section chief in the Dallas County District Attorneys office. In his first term he began championing a radical idea: Building a brand-new state university in South Dallas, a dream that eventually included the citys only public law school. In 1997, at a rally for the still nascent proposal, the then-mayor Ron Kirk acknowledged it could take years to achieve approval, and receive funding. If it takes 10 years for this to happen, well wait 10 years, Kirk said. West got busy building coalitions with Democrats and Republicans, lawmakers and higher education leaders. It took closer to 15 years but he succeeded, and the school was established in 2010. Now, West promises that, if elected to the U.S. Senate, hed work with Republicans there just as closely as he has in Austin. Id identify the areas where we agree, he told the Editorial Board, and where we dont. Id set the second list aside and find ways to make progress on the areas we agree on. Thats the approach that helped him pass legislation to reduce juvenile crime and help reform Texas foster care system both in his first term. Ever since, hes been a Democratic point person on school finance and budget issues. Hes unabashedly moderate, but hes also been vocal on issues of race, in defense of public education, and more recently gay rights. Who am I to sit up and say who you can love, OK? You love who you want to love - and thats a fact, he said at a recent stop in Walker County. Our support for West meant bypassing some incredible contenders. Former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards was an excellent public servant with a shining intellect whom we hope finds a way to continue in another role. The front-runner in the race, Mary M.J. Hegar, showed why she has enjoyed early support. She was engaging, knowledgeable and told her remarkable story of bravery under fire as an Air Force pilot in Afghanistan. Michael Cooper, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2018, and Sema Hernandez, an activist in Houston making her second Senate run, , are also intriguing candidates. Among others in the race who have made a positive impression are former Houston council member and one-term Congressman Chris Bell, El Paso native Adrian Ocegueda and Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez. But among the dozen candidates on the ballot, none has anything like Wests legislative experience. We strongly suggest Democrats back his bid to challenge Cornyn. He also has an inspiring story, and a record to match. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 02:29:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close AMMAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will start an official visit to Jordan on Sunday, Jordanian Royal Court said on Saturday. King Abdullah II of Jordan will hold talks with the Qatari emir. The talks will cover means to advance bilateral ties and activate cooperation in various areas, especially economic sectors and regional developments, the Royal Court said in a statement. In 2018, Qatar pledged to provide 10,000 jobs for Jordanians, and invest 500 million U.S. dollars in several sectors and projects in Jordan. Wisconsin Dells High School officials are responding to allegations of discrimination. Parents raised concerns that minority students were singled out during a meeting that was aimed to encourage those kids to enroll in upper level classes. Wisconsin Dells High School Principal Hugh Gaston says teachers called an academic meeting on January 20, after they realized that some minority students were under-represented in high-level classes. During that meeting, the teachers gathered sixty 8th and 9th graders of Latino, American Indian, African American and mixed ethnicity, according to Gaston. The teachers offered a boost of encouragement to the students, explaining that each student, not their test scores, is the most important factor in deciding their high school classes, Gaston said. In a letter sent to parents, Gaston wrote that the students were singled out by the way they looked and not by their test scores. "We don't always get it right. Good intentions are fine, but there's a lot that we schools as an institution and in Wisconsin Dells can do or have to figure out yet. But at the end of the day the good intentions don't excuse how things are executed and in those mistakes, we need to learn from those mistakes, Gaston told NBC15 News in an interview. One parent told NBC15 News that what the school did was horribly wrong. She continued, "The questions of whywhy would you separate these children from the rest of the student body and have such a conversation? Race shouldnt play a role in this." Gaston says he wants to keep an open dialogue about any concerns students or parents have about such situations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 00:21:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A group of martial arts students perform during "The Legend of Shaolin 2018" show in Houston, Texas, the United States, on Nov. 11, 2018. Hundreds of Chinese and American audience marveled at the performance of Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu on Sunday in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. (Xinhua/Yi-Chin Lee) Xi said he is pleased to see those students write and learn Chinese so well, and hopes that they will continue to work hard, make greater progress and become young ambassadors for the friendship between the two peoples. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has written back to a group of U.S. elementary school students, encouraging them to continue their efforts to learn Chinese language and culture and contribute to promoting friendship between the two peoples. On the eve of the Spring Festival, 50 fourth-grade students from Cascade Elementary School in the U.S. state of Utah wrote New Year cards to Xi in Chinese, telling him about their Chinese language learning and personal hobbies, expressing their love for China and Chinese culture as well as their hope for a chance to visit China, and wishing "Grandpa Xi" a happy New Year. In his reply letter dated Feb. 15, Xi told the children that like the United States, China is a big country, that the Chinese civilization has a history of more than 5,000 years, and that the Chinese people are as hospitable as the American people. Children in Chinese traditional costumes prepare for the Chinese recital competition in Dallas, the United States, on Dec 14, 2019. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua) He added that they can learn more about Chinese history and culture by learning the Chinese language, which is used by more than 1 billion people around the world. Xi said he is pleased to see those students write and learn Chinese so well, and hopes that they will continue to work hard, make greater progress and become young ambassadors for the friendship between the two peoples. Established in 1967, the public school is one of the first schools in Utah to offer a Chinese immersion program, which involves more than half of its students. Utah has one-fifth of all Chinese language learners in the United States. The state's Chinese immersion program began in 2009 and is now available in 76 elementary and secondary schools. TDT | Manama Starting on Valentines Day, ships working in direct support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) had a busy weekend, the result of which was a major drug bust by Her Majestys Ship (HMS) MONTROSE, a United Kingdom Royal Navy (RN) frigate. In the late afternoon of 15 February, MONTROSEs WILDCAT shipborne helicopter spotted a suspicious dhow in an area of the Gulf of Oman known to be popular with drug smugglers. As the sun rose over the Arabian Sea on the morning of 16 February, several packages could be seen floating in the water near the dhow. The packages were recovered and determined to be hashish. Royal Marine Commandos then boarded the dhow, securing it for search by a Royal Navy boarding team. The master of the dhow admitted that the packages in the water came from his vessel, and after a thorough search of the dhow, the team found another cache of hashish. Add that to the drugs recovered from the water, and MONTROSEs total seizure of hashish was 1045kg worth an estimated regional wholesale value of $538,860 US dollars. This is the first seizure for HMS MONTROSE while working in direct support of the Australian lead CTF 150. The Royal Australian Navy, with support staff from the Royal Canadian, and Royal New Zealand navies assumed command of CTF 150 in early December 2019. Fantastic work by the crew of HMS MONTROSE in tracking this smuggler, stopping them from ditching their cargo, and keeping these drugs from reaching their destination, said Commodore Ray Leggatt, Royal Australian Navy, Commander of CTF 150. With the support of ships like COURBET and MONTROSE, CTF 150 continues to apply pressure and disrupt the operations of terrorist and criminal organisations in the region that seek to use the maritime domain for their illegitimate trade. Denying the use of the maritime domain to illegitimate traffic in the region is CTF 150s mission. The co-operation and support of CMF participating nations like France and the United Kingdom are the key mission enablers that CTF 150 relies on to carry out the mission. The 33 nations of CMF, working together, improves maritime security, helps strengthen regional nations maritime capabilities, and upholds international norms and todays bust is just the latest example of that co-operation in action The Ionic Masonic Lodge #38 hosted the third annual First Responder Awards Dinner to deserving individuals within our community who have been identified by their supervisors or nominating officials as those first responders who truly represent the best in all of us. The event was held on Feb. 4. The purpose of the ceremony was to publicly recognize first responders and thank them for their service to the community. The presentation of the awards was made by the Masonic Ionic Lodge Worshipful George Kourafas. WM Kourafas reminded us all that this event is about our families and these individuals recognized who sacrifice their time and efforts to keep us safe, many times putting their own lives in jeopardy. Those in attendance were Masonic Brothers of Ionic Lodge #38, the first responder nominees, nominating officials and family members. The dinner was prepared by past Master Dutch Brewer and his wife Linda, with the assistance of six other brothers. There was no charge for the invited guests to the dinner. Ravalli County Sheriff Stephen Holton made the first presentation of the evening to Undersheriff Travis McElderry as he is one of those officers who always steps up and volunteers for the next difficult assignment. McElderry was the driving force behind the Ravalli County records management system, tying together the county, the City of Hamilton and the jail facilities a project that many said couldnt be done. In addition McElderry is responsible for the soon to be K-9 program. Hamilton Police Chief Ryan Oster recognized Detective Bob Liercke for his commitment to our community. Liercke, is a long term veteran of the force, an Air Force veteran, served with the Montana Highway Patrol before coming to the Hamilton Police Department, and most recently was promoted to the position of detective. Liercke is a role model to other officers on the force, a man of integrity, he is patient and understanding in all circumstances, more importantly a motivator for the officers on the force. In addition to his job as a detective, he is active in hospice, helped organize the Police Officers Association and is a devoted family man. Liercke, according to Chief Ryan Oster is a real asset to our community. In passing Chief Ryan Oster also commented on the development of the Ravalli County records management system which was under the leadership of McElderry. Hamilton Volunteer Fire Chief Brad Mohn recognized Fire Fighter Don Bratsch for his leadership within the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department. The selection of Don Bratsch was not a decision exclusively by Chief Mohn, but by Dons fellow fire fighters. Bratsch has three years of experience within the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Station. Acccording to Mohn, Bratsch is always calm under pressure, works hard no matter what task is assigned, is knowledgeable and a mentor to his fellow fire fighters. Director William Torres, EMS Director of Marcus Daly Hospital, recognized EMT Roylene Gaul as she has clearly demonstrated her knowledge of her craft, leadership among her peers and her focus on client/patient care. According to Torres, the community is blessed to have Gaul as one of its team members. Gaul has been serving the Bitterroot Valley in one capacity or another for over 36 years. Gaul was also nominated by fellow staff members Josh Clinton and Gina Tan. Gaul thanked the Masons of Ionic Lodge #38 for their recognition of first responders and the Masonic contributions to our valley. This is a team effort by all. As an aside the Montana Highway Patrol was unable to attend the event this year as a result of conflicting schedules. The Brothers of Masonic Lodge #38 thank the Montana Highway Patrol for their continued service to our community. Ionic Lodge #38 is a Masonic organization within the umbrella of the Masonic families, which include Shriners, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Order of Eastern Star, youth groups Rainbow Girls, Jobs Daughters and Demolay for young Men. In closing, the WM George Kourafas thanked the participants, their families and the Ionic Brothers for again hosting this third First Responders Awards Dinner. The awards recipients, for this event, were mostly centered within the Hamilton community. Future events will broaden the focus to other communities and organizations, to those people who are the unsung heroes in the valley. There were well over 60 who attended this event, so future events may require a larger venue. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 The hosts of The Real put on an ultra stylish display at the 51st NAACP Image Awards Dinner on Friday night. Tamera Mowry, 41, Amanda Seales, 38, Adrienne Houghton, 36, and Jeannie Mai, 41, worked their magic on the red carpet as they headed to the non-televised event in Hollywood. The former Sister, Sister actress put a sexy twist onto business chic in a plunging black lace top with matching suit. Looking Real good! Tamera Mowry, Amanda Seales, Adrienne Houghton, and Jeannie Mai worked their magic at the 51st NAACP Image Awards non-televised Awards Dinner in Hollywood on Friday She dazzled the outfit up with silver choker necklaces and a pair of dangling earrings. Raven tresses were worn down in glossy, straight style that cascaded behind her shoulders. Adrienne flashed some cleavage in a sexy halter jumpsuit with low-cut keyhole. Amanda, meanwhile, stood out in a vibrant black-and-white dress with a low-cut yellow neckline and flirty skirt. If you've got it! Tamera and Adrienne wowed in their super stylish ensembles Super glamorous: Jeannie and Amanda got heads turning in their stylish dresses She rocked a coordinating pair of heels in addition to silver hoop earrings and red lipstick. Jeannie exuded elegance in a romantic black-and-white floral gown with dramatic train and low-cut neckline. The TV star swept her tresses up into a chic bun with several loose strands of hair cascading beside her face. Hello sunshine! Francia Raisa and Justina Machado lit up the red carpet with their vibrant looks Hello beautiful! Niecy Nash waved hello while posing up a storm in her beautiful gown Co-stars! Black-ish co-stars Marsai Martin and Miles Brown headed to the big show The Real was one of several big names nominated at this year's NAACP Image Awards. A multicultural awards show from an African American perspective, the NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in film, television, music and literature. The show was up for Outstanding Talk Series, but lost to Red Table Talk. The NAACP Image Awards will air live on BET February 22 8/7c, but awards were already presented on Friday. Strike a pose! Yvette Nicole Brown worked a black gown with elaborate sleeves Looking sharp! Lester Holt cut a dashing figure in a black suit with bow tie Nominees for Entertainer of the Year are Angela Basset, Billy Porter, Lizzo, Regina King and Tyler Perry. Outstanding Motion Picture nominees are Dolemite is My Name, Harriet, Just Mercy, Queen & Slim, and Us. Categories also include Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and Outstanding Comedy Series. A host of stars came in style for the dinner, which leads up to the awards show on Saturday night. Stealing the show! Lynn Whitfield and Tamron Hall rocked the red carpet It takes two! Harold Perrineau and his wife Brittany enjoyed a glamorous night out Looking smart! Yahya Abdul-Mateen II rocked a quirky white blazer with satiny black trousers Francia Raisa dazzled in a satiny gold gown that clung to her physique. Justina Machado looked like a ray of sunshine in a canary yellow dress with head full of ringlets. Niecy Nash wowed in a gorgeous dress with elaborate sleeves and a silver clutch. Red carpet styling! Lyric Ross and Kiki Layne put on a stylish display Winners! Elaine Welteroth, Marsai, and Harold proudly posed with their trophies Honored: Marsai won three awards that evening Taking the stage: Yvette exuded confidence from behind the podium Thank you! Elaine looked truly honored by the win Senior high school students will now be allowed to fly to Australia from China, after the federal government relaxed a travel ban aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus. The government has announced that years 11 and 12 students, excluding those in Hubei province, can travel to Australia to resume their studies. Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan (left) Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, and Victorian Education Minister James Merlino, on Saturday announced a travel ban exemption for some students. Credit:Paul Jeffers The decision affects about 760 students, including 389 who are studying VCE in Victoria. The students entry will still be decided on a case-by-case basis. The government is yet to allow university students back in, a decision that will be reviewed next week. The family of the seven-year-old girl, who was raped earlier in the month, in Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur is fighting two battles. As the girl is recovering in Lucknows King Georges Medical University (KGMU), her family is also struggling to get the culprits punished. While the police claim they solved the case within eight hours of the brutal rape on February 12 by arresting a 16-year-old boy for the rape, the victims family differs. Her father, a Chinese food stall owner in Sultanpur, which is about 140km from Lucknow, said his daughter had said she was raped by three people after they found her injured in the neighbourhood. He said his daughter, a Class 1 student, was playing near his food stall like every day on February 12 when she suddenly disappeared. I thought she might have gone home but when I went back home I got to know about her disappearance. We immediately began a search and found her in an open plot, badly injured and screaming for help, he said. The father said before she fainted she could only tell them that there were three men who raped her. We informed the police but later they arrested a boy and said he is the lone culprit. We dont know who did this but my daughters words that there were three persons are still echoing in my ears, he said. Sultanpurs superintendent of police, Shiv Hari Meena said, We arrested a 16-year-old boy after proper investigation and will take the case to a fast track court so that the culprit is punished as soon as possible. There was only one person involved in the rape. Their (familys) allegation is baseless, another police official, who is privy to the matter, said. However, the survivors mother also questioned the polices version. Why would my daughter lie? She did not name anyone, we are not blaming anyone, she said. Police have also lodged a case of criminal intimidation against an unidentified person based on the complaint of the survivors father. Her father said he was threatened to take the case back but could not produce evidence of threats. Still, we are investigating this complaint too, a police official said. Doctors at KGMU said the girl has critical injuries. The wall between her rectum and vagina had ruptured and major surgery was conducted. We will perform another surgery, said a doctor. The victim was admitted in Sultanpur hospital for a week and then rushed to Lucknow after her health deteriorated. She was operated eight days after she was raped and this was the reason they had to perform two surgeries, the doctor said. Had she been brought here within 24 hours of the incident, we would have needed only one surgery, KGMUs head of paediatric surgery department, Dr SN Kureel, said. The girl will need several weeks to recover. Her treatment is free of cost, he said. He said there was no risk to her life and she may grow up as a normal child after a few weeks. We are trying to give her the best treatment and hope she will recover and get back home soon. In such cases, the patient should be brought to a specialised medical centre immediately, said the doctor. Traders in Lucknow have said they will stage a peaceful protest at Gandhi statue in Hazratganj on Saturday. The rape survivor belongs to a lower-middle-class family. Despite their complaint about three culprits, the police are trying to close the matter by arresting a juvenile, the chief of trader body state, Sandeep Bansal, said. We demand a thorough probe into this case and will protest on Saturday for our demand, Bansal said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Class 2 student, who was injured in a road accident in Hooghly district in West Bengal last week, died of multiple organ failure on Saturday, doctors said. Doctors of a state-run super speciality hospital in Kolkata where Rishabh Singh was battling for his life for the past eight days said he died around 5am. Police had created a 60-km long green corridor to bring Singh and Dibyanshu Bhakat to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on February 14 after their carpool vehicle fell into a roadside canal. They were among the at least 15 students, one guardian and driver who were injured in the accident. Doctors said that Bhakats condition has improved. Singh was on life support and doctors had performed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment, in which a pump is used to circulate blood through an artificial lung back into the bloodstream. Senior Trinamool Congress leaders, including MLAs and MPs, rushed to the hospital soon after the accident and chief minister Mamata Banerjee had also enquired about the condition of the two boys. Despite our best efforts the kid didnt survive. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched the save Safe Drive, Safe Life campaign to reduce road accidents. But it seems no one is taking any lesson, Member of parliament from Serampore in Hooghly district, Kalyan Banerjee, said. Police later found that the carpool vehicle didnt have any valid fitness certificate, its speed limiter was deliberately damaged and was travelling at breakneck speed. The accident prompted the state government to issue a series of directives to schools to check the fitness of vehicles being used as a carpool to ferry students. President Muhammadu Buhari has said the partial closure of Nigerias land borders would remain in force. He called on neighbouring countries affected negatively by the policy to be patient until the report of the tripartite committee made up of Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic was ready. Buhari spoke in Abuja when he received the President of Burkina Faso, Mr Roch Marc Christian Kabore, at the Presidential Villa. He stated that Nigerias next action would be determined by the content of the report, an intervention by the Economic Community of West African States. The Burkinabe leader heads the committee. Buhari explained that security was the major reason Nigeria shut the borders. Our major problem is security; the inflow of weapons, ammunition and drugs. We have witnessed a decline in banditry using such weapons since the partial closure of the borders. Also, our farmers are now able to sell their rice since we stopped the inflow of foreign rice, usually dumped in the country, he said. However, he told Kabore that his regime was not unaware of the concerns raised by Nigerias neighbours over the border closure and was doing everything possible to take the next step. I will work as fast as I can as soon as I receive the report, his media aide, Mr Garba Shehu, quoted him as telling Kabore. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Indian Institute of Mass Communication students on Friday said they have called off their hunger strike against a fee hike after the administration accepted their demands. In a statement, the students said the last date for submission of second semester fees has been extended upto March 31, 2020, or till the finalisation of the new fee structure, whichever is later. The administration has agreed to share details of the committee that will decide the new fee structure and it also ensured students participation in the panel, they said. The suspension of nine students for organising a talk on affordable education has also been revoked, they added. The students had begun the hunger strike on Tuesday demanding an affordable fee structure. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON DeMarcus Little, who was arrested earlier this week after his girlfriend Anitra Gunn going missing on Valentines Day and was found dead four days later, has now been charged with her murder. Little was initially charged with criminal damage to property for allegedly smashing Gunns apartment windows and slashing her cars tires by Fort Valley police Tuesday evening, PEOPLE previously reported, and was hit with the additional charge just hours after his bond was set at $10,000, 13WMAZ reported Friday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced on Friday that it had charged Little with one count of malice murder. GBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Todd Crosby said that the bureau had probable cause after conducting multiple interviews and collecting evidence at a press conference on Friday, according to 13WMAZ. On Thursday, the GBI said that Gunns death had been ruled a homicide, but her official cause of death was pending the toxicology results. At Littles bond hearing, the judge also ordered specific conditions to accompany his high bond because he was considered a flight risk. The extra conditions included wearing an ankle monitor, a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, and that if he returns to work, he must not leave the premises, according to the outlet. Littles father Andre maintained his sons innocence to reporters after his bond hearing. DeMarcus Little | YouTube RELATED: Boyfriend Arrested After Ga. College Student Who Vanished on Valentines Day Is Found Dead Glad he was granted bond so he can get back to his career in his Army. My son has never done anything to anyone. I can sympathize with the familybut my son didnt do this. He was raised the right way, he said in footage obtained by 13WMAZ. As PEOPLE previously reported, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Lab confirmed on Wednesday that Gunns body was found by authorities on Tuesday in Crawford County, near the Peach County line. Story continues A task force discovered Gunns body partially covered around 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, nearby a part from her car, about 150 yards from the road. RELATED: Body of Missing GA. Student Anitra Gunn Found After She Disappeared on Valentines Day Gunn was reported missing after her friends and family didnt hear from her on Friday afternoon, saying that in was uncharacteristic of the college student to not respond to texts and calls. She never texted them back, didnt call them back. Thats when we knew something is definitely out of whack, Gunns father Christopher previously told 13WMAZ. Gunn was last seen at Littles aunts house on Friday, Peach County investigators previously said, PEOPLE previously reported. Investigators didnt find anything out of place during a welfare check was conducted at Anitras apartment later that same day. Gunns car was discovered on Saturday in a neighbors yard, but its bumper was missing, a detail that Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese said investigators thought was very important, according to 13WMAZ. The Mumbai airport on Saturday said it has started screening passengers arriving from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal for coronavirus in compliance with the central government's directives. The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which is the joint venture company managing and operating the city airport, said it is already screening passengers from China, Honk Kong, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea. Abiding by the recent directive issued by the central government, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has started screening passengers flying from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal to Mumbai as well for the coronavirus infection, the airport said in a statement. The Ministry of Health has tightened screenings and has issued an advisory requiring all passengers arriving from these countries to undergo screening for the infection, it said. Health counters have been set up and thermal scanners installed at the pre-immigration area for the arriving passengers by the Airport Health Organisation, the MIAL said in the statement. Besides, the airport has ensured that alert messages are placed strategically across the terminal and that airlines have been sensitised and informed to follow the instructions of the government, it added. PTI IAS ANB ANB The first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM 1) and related meetings of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC) forum 2020 (APEC 2020) took place in Malaysias Putrajaya city from February 20-22. An overview of APEC SOM 1 The Vietnamese delegation to the event comprises representatives of the ministries of Industry and Trade, and Foreign Affairs, and the office of the intersectoral steering committee for international integration. Within the framework of SOM 1, there were many important workshops and policy dialogues, including high-level multi-party ones on APECs post-2020 vision. Host Malaysia has selected the theme of Optimising Human Potential towards a Future of Shared Prosperity, for APEC 2020, and outlined three priorities for its Chairmanship, namely improving the narrative of trade and investment, inclusive economic participation through digital economy and technology, and driving innovative sustainability. The agenda of SOM 1 was based on the three priorities, focusing on such issues as accelerating regional economic integration, reviewing the realisation of Bogor goals and building APECs post-2020 vision that will be submitted to the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting scheduled for November. The delegates looked into preparations for the Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting and the Tourism Ministers Meeting slated for April, and the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting in August. They shared the views on APECs contributions to the multilateral trade system in the context of the 25th founding anniversary of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the upcoming 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC 12). The ministers paid special attention to initiatives regarding digital economy and technology. On the sidelines of SOM 2, Malaysia is scheduled to organise a digital week from April 12-19. Also in April, the Digital Economy Steering Group will convened their first meeting in the year to discuss in detail the implementation of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap./.VNA Vietnam wants ASEAN to "not have to choose sides": military official Vietnam aims to foster ASEANs unity in its chairmanship year 2020 to prevent the regional bloc from having to choose sides, in the context of growing strategic competition between global powers. [February 21, 2020] Cohere Cyber Secure announces Fully Integrated "Cyber-Managed Security as a Service" Targeting High-Demand Enterprises in Healthcare and Financial Services NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohere Cyber Secure, LLC ("Cohere") today announced a fully integrated "Cyber Managed Security-as-a-Service" offering. The objective was to layer a maze of overlapping technologies, so Cohere's Cyber SIEM becomes the foundation to ensuring maximum protection. The service is designed for business operations looking for a single sourced set of cyber protective solutions, and to ensuring regulatory compliance. Alex Stange , Cohere Chief Cyber Architect notes: "We are not simply re-selling a third party SIEM, the Cohere Cyber SIEM is custom built and owned with target customer segments and their unique industry demands in mind." Steven Francesco , Cohere Chairman & CEO, states: "There is no dominant end-to-end cyber security managed service provider in the market today, and the void between corporate and cyber requirements continues to expand. Auditors, regulators, partners and customers all want to see evidence that institutions are meeting regulatory and IT security standards. We are excited to be offering an all-encompassing, end-to-end cyber security solution for our financial services and healthcare clients." Cyber SIEM is Cohere's protective core system for monitoring and managing potential cyber threats, both on-premise and in the cloud. Thesolution delivers a 360 view of an IT environment and addresses key security concerns including vulnerability assessment and risk management, threat detection, real-time network device monitoring, incident response, and regulatory reporting. With hundreds of security and privacy related standards and regulations, it can be difficult and expensive for mid-size firms to keep up with the evolving compliance and governance standards. Cohere's managed cybersecurity services will target high demand enterprises in the financial services and health care, industries that require state-of-the-art IT environments and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements by their Managed Service Provider. To speed deployment, Cohere is bringing to market a series of pre-configured cyber run-time templates, combined with sophisticated AI tools, to verify deployments, identify red flags and correlate events across all security rules and use cases. The SIEM auditing, which is tightly coupled to the critical processes for reporting, incident management and security planning, will ensure timely compliance with the demands from governmental agencies such as NY DFS, FINRA, SEC, and HIPAA. About Cohere Cyber Secure, LLC Cohere Cyber Secure LLC is a trusted, single-source provider of technology solutions including, Cyber Security, Unified Communications, Managed IT Services and Cloud Hosting. From its worldwide headquarters in New York City and Canada headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, the Company maintains data center facilities strategically located throughout North America as well as pivotal global locations. Cohere's service offerings include Cloud/Hosted Services (IaaS), Next-Gen VoIP telephony, Unified Communications, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery (DRaaS), and fully outsourced IT asset management. Additionally, Cohere performs cyber protection assessments and advises companies on regulatory compliance requirements. Cohere's enhanced solutions and dedicated staff simplify the everyday challenges of complex business technologies. Cohere's clients include global enterprises that demand high availability, operating diversity, with tailored IT solutions supported by a highly trained staff of professionals. For Press Inquiries, Contact: Manita Lane 212-404-6916 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cohere-cyber-secure-announces-fully-integrated-cyber-managed-security-as-a-service-targeting-high-demand-enterprises-in-healthcare-and-financial-services-301009276.html SOURCE Cohere Cyber Secure, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Cyberthefts Help North Korea Offset Revenue Lost to Sanctions By Christy Lee February 21, 2020 North Korea made up nearly $2 billion of revenue it lost from sanctions by conducting cyberthefts from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges, an expert said. The government's engagement in illicit cyberoperations such as thefts has been "undercutting the effectiveness of sanctions," said Troy Stangarone, senior director of the Korea Economic Institute. North Korea lost approximately $1.5 billion to $2 billion annually from 2018 to 2019 because of sanctions, said Stangarone, who estimated the figures by comparing export revenues, mostly from China, before and after major export sanctions were imposed on North Korea in 2016. Beginning that year, the U.N. Security Council passed several resolutions banning North Korea from exporting commodities, such as coal, textiles and seafood, that became key sources of income supporting its nuclear weapons program. According to a report released by the U.N. Panel of Experts in August 2019, North Korea generated as much as $2 billion by conducting cyberattacks on banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, offsetting the amount the regime lost from sanctions. North Korea's state-sponsored hackers conducted online bank and cryptocurrency heists in 17 countries, including Bangladesh, Chile, India, Poland, South Korea and South Africa, according to the U.N. report. Communications system exploited The hackers stole money from banks by gaining access to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system. They exploited the system to execute fraudulent transactions by transferring funds to dummy accounts set up under their control, the U.N. report said. The report indicated that North Korea also has increasingly turned toward stealing from cryptocurrency exchanges that have less oversight and fewer regulations than the traditional banking sector. Cryptocurrency is an electronic form of money that exists only virtually in digital form as a medium of exchange to conduct financial transactions. "If sanctions are going to have the type of effects that we hope, there's going to need to be effort made to try and cut off these illicit avenues," Stangarone said. He said the international community has yet to put in place "firm measures" that would limit North Korea's "ability to exploit things like cryptocurrency." Stangarone said that although banks have "more robust systems in place to prevent theft, it doesn't mean that they are invulnerable." On Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson told VOA's Korean service that it is "deeply concerned about the DPRK's malicious cyber activities, which pose a significant threat to the United States and the broader international community." The DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Quoting from the 2019 World Threat Assessment published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the spokesperson said, "North Korea continues to use cyber capabilities to steal from financial institutions to generate revenue." According to a report issued by the Massachusetts-based cybersecurity firm Recorded Future's Insikt Group last week, internet use by North Korean senior leadership to conduct cyberattacks has soared 300% since 2017. The report, How North Korea Revolutionized the Internet as a Tool for Rogue Regimes, said the regime has grown sophisticated in masking its illicit virtual activities. "North Korea has developed an internet-based model for circumventing international financial controls and sanctions regimes imposed on it by multinational organizations and the West," the report said. Insikt Group said North Korea's large-scale cryptocurrency theft took place on South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges. Inside target network To conduct online banking theft, the report said, "Attackers likely spent anywhere from nine to 18 months inside a target network conducting further reconnaissance, moving laterally, escalating privileges, studying each organization's specific SWIFT instances and disabling security procedures." Although North Korea has turned increasingly to cryptocurrency theft because of its less regulated system, Stangarone said, "because the value of cryptocurrency is highly volatile, it is less useful for Pyongyang than its cyberattacks on banks." In 2016, North Korea made off with $81 million from Bangladesh's central bank by exploiting the bank's SWIFT interbanking system, according to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, as reported by Reuters. Baik Sung-won contributed to this report, which originated in VOA's Korean service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address by Purushottam Nayak About 700 children who survived the 2008 massacres will take this years Grade 10 examination. Christian and Hindu pray at a shrine destroyed during the pogrom. Bishops wish good luck to all students. Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) In Kandhamal, the intercession of Our Lady of Charity is helping Christian and Hindu students in their exams. One of them is Hindu, Subrata Pradhan, who is preparing his Class (Grade) 10 examination. He lives at Bishop's Tobar Hostel in Raikia, one of the villages most affected by the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district of 2008. I have great faith and trust in Our Lady of Charity interceding for me through her Son Jesus Christ, he told AsiaNews. The Grade 10 examination is one of the toughest in Indias education system. Exams began on Wednesday, 19 February, and will end on 2 March. At such an occasion, students like to visit the Virgin's grotto at Our Lady of Charity Church. However, in 2004 Hindu radicals destroyed the shrine in a pogrom unleashed by Swami Lakshmanananda and then again in 2008 when the latters followers in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad went on a rampage after his death. Smita Nayak, who comes from Rudangia, studies at the St Catherine's Girls' High School. She remembers the many deaths. At that time (2008), I was in Class 4 Standard (Grade 4). When the violence broke out, I fled into the forest with my parents. My relatives and several friends were killed. Fr Bhanjakishore Nayak experienced sectarian violence as well, when he was still a seminarian. Speaking about the Marian shrine, he says that Many Christians and Hindus come with a lit candle to invoke Marys help. This is the sign of the power of Jesus that comes through his Mother. For Subrata, Even though I am Hindu, I am free to attend religious services or not. I am not forced. It is a miracle for me when I pray to the Virgin Mary and my wishes are granted. This year, some 700 children who survived the Kandhamal pogrom are taking the Class 10 examination. They are among the 560,881 pupils in 2,888 schools who will take the examination in Odisha (Orissa). For Kanakarekha Nayak, who lost her husband Parikhito Nayak, killed mercilessly in front of their children, the examination is also very important. My granddaughter lived through fear, threats and mental anguish when she was a child. Now she is preparing her exams. May Our Lady of Charity intercede for her, so that she can do well. Fr Bijoya Kerketta, secretary of the Odisha Regional Educational Commission, wishes all the students "good luck on behalf of the bishops, especially those who survived [the] Kandhamal massacres. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) Filipinos from Wuhan, China were cleared to go home as they exhibited no signs and symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) after their 14-day quarantine. According to the Department of Health (DOH) Friday, the 30 Filipinos and 19 others who handled the repatriation had no fever, cough, or sore throat during their 14-day stay at the New Clark City Athletes' Village in Capas, Tarlac. We are glad that our repatriates are all well and safe from COVID-19. Our repatriation mission is not possible without the dedication and cooperation of the entire Interagency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases with all its member agencies, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Meanwhile, a new batch to be quarantined will arrive on Sunday. The 460 to 480 Filipinos are from the virus-hit M/V Diamond Princess Cruise Ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said government agencies are preparing to execute the repatriation plan. He said there will be two chartered flights to fetch the Filipinos from Haneda Airport. "The Office of the President also assures the public that all precautionary measures and safety protocols are in place for the seamless repatriation of our countrymen from Japan," he said Friday. Manning agency Magsaysay Maritime Corporation will shoulder the costs of accommodation,food, and other peripheral items, the Health Department said. The Department of Transportation will offer assistance in transporting the returning Filipinos from the Haribon hangar in Pampanga to the quarantine facility. The Health department said 139 people are under observation for the novel coronavirus, including 106 from Metro Manila. Is NCC prepared to handle 500 evacuees? Capas town Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan again appealed to the national government on Filipinos from the cruise ship who will also stay at the Athletes Village, expressing concern over the bigger number of people. Now as of the 500 Filipinos more or less, 500 is a number that for me is too much to handle. And if you are not prepared, malaki po to. Talagang marami kung ikukumpara sa bilang ng mga Pilipino na nasa pangangalaga ngayon ng DOH sa New Clark City, he said. [Translation: Now as of the 500 Filipinos more or less, 500 is a number that for me is too much to handle. And if you are not prepared, this is a big number. It is a lot compared to the number of Filipinos who are now under the care of DOH in New Clark City.] Catacutan said they extended help to the Filipinos from Wuhan despite the issues of what he called non-coordination and non-consultation. Bilang ama ng Capas, inuulit ko po [Translation: As the father of Capas, I will say this again.] I have to consider the safety and welfare of my people. May these circumstances be thoroughly weighed and the responsibility be shared in accordance with the capacity of each to handle the situations like this, he said in a video post on Facebook. Catacutan suggested that evacuees from Visayas and Mindanao be sent to their home regions, so that they can also be closer to their families. Those from Luzon can stay in New Clark City, he added. We sincerely suggest na hatiin sana po ang kanilang bilang at mailagay sa iba pang mga facilities na kayang i-secure gaya po ng NCC o mas appropriate pa kaysa dito para mas ma-accommodate sila at walang overcrowding, he said. [Translation: We sincerely suggest that the number of evacuees be divided and place them to other facilities that have the capacity of the NCC, or even better in order to accommodate them and avoid overcrowding.] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 Amid suspicions of layers of coverup in a bribery case implicating Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masiku, lawmakers have questioned a recent investigation finding that claims a system error had caused false information leading to failed attempts to arrest the suspect. A team tasked with investigating the false information released by immigration authorities said a system glitch had produced the false record that the suspect was in Singapore while he was in the country at that time. The teamwhich consists of the National Police, the Communications and Information Ministry and the National Cyber and Encryption Agencyfound that the error caused the central server of the immigration management information system (SIMKIM) to not receive more than 120,000 pieces of immigration data from Dec. 23 to Jan. 10. 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 But a cease-fire is essential, primarily to help the refugees and the civilians still in Idlib, but also to prevent an escalation between Turkey and Russia and to facilitate the start of negotiations to put a formal end to the war. Russia and Turkey have cut deals before in Syria, and they are talking now, though without any results so far. Nudging them toward an agreement is where American, European and United Nations efforts should be focused. Mr. Erdogans main immediate interest in the Idlib fight is to prevent the mass of refugees from crossing into Turkey. But he is also apparently trying to gain some leverage for postwar negotiations to ensure that the Kurds in northeastern Syria are kept away from Turkey. Working all angles, Mr. Erdogan has tried to cultivate a close relationship with Vladimir Putin, including a purchase of Russian missile defense systems that angered the United States, while threatening military action against Russian-backed Syrian forces. On Saturday, Mr. Erdogan called Mr. Trump to seek support, and his government suggested it might receive some Patriot missiles from the United States to deter Russia. It was after this disclosure that Russian airstrikes killed two Turkish soldiers and wounded five in Idlib, as if to underscore the risk of escalation. But it is dubious that a show of American support would make a difference; the dispute between Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Putin is over terms of their disengagement. Mr. Putin, however, has made clear that his priority is to end the Syrian war. The Syrian forces have already achieved their main objective in the Idlib area, regaining control over major highways, and the Russians are said to have proposed leaving a nine-mile-wide Turkish-controlled strip inside Syria along the Syrian-Turkish border for refugee camps, which would presumably be accessible to international aid organizations. Mr. Erdogan has demanded a broader area, but the Russians see no reason to negotiate. At this stage of this tragic war there is no good outcome, given the near certainty of Mr. Assads victory, and however he may maneuver and fulminate, Mr. Erdogan does not have a strong hand. His options are to try a counteroffensive, where Russias air power would be decisive; or do nothing, which would potentially drive a million more refugees into Turkey; or try to cut as good a deal as he can get. Given the horror of this war, just putting an end to the shooting and preventing another humanitarian disaster would be progress. Jenna Bush Hager has revealed that she asked her husband Henry Hager to marry her after just three months of dating and he turned her down because she was too young. The 38-year-old Today host was chatting with her co-host Hoda Kotb on the fourth hour of the morning show when she admitted that she was in her early 20s and head over heels in love with Henry when she suggested they get hitched. 'I asked Henry to marry me,' she said, shocking Hoda, who was surprised that she had never heard the story before. Head over heels! Jenna Bush Hager (right) revealed on the Today show on Friday morning that she had asked her husband to marry her after just three months of dating Look of love: The former first daughter met Henry when he was working on her father's 2004 presidential reelection campaign, and she almost instantly knew he was the one 'What? You did?' Hoda asked. 'How did I not know that?' 'Because he said no, and then he asked me five years later,' Jenna said with a laugh. Jenna met Henry when he was working on her father's 2004 presidential reelection campaign, and she almost instantly knew he was the one. 'After three months of dating I might've had a Christmas cocktail and we were dancing, and I said, "This is it, I know it, let's just get married, what are we waiting for?"' she recalled. Looking back: Jenna said she 'might've had a Christmas cocktail' when she suggested that they get hitched, but Henry turned her down because she was only in her early 20s Memories: Henry ended up popping the question in 2007, and they said 'I do' the next year at the Bush family's estate in Crawford, Texas 'My sister was like, "Whoa, whoa,' she said of her twin Barbara Bush's reaction. Hoda couldn't resist asking how Henry reacted to her impromptu proposal. 'He smiled, and he was like, "I'm crazy about you, but you're young,"' she said. Jenna's eagerness to get married at a young age may have been influenced by her parents' romantic love story. George W. and Laura Bush wed on November 5, 1977, three months after they met on a blind date, and 42 years later, they seem to be more in love than ever. Henry ended up proposing to Jenna in 2007, and his mother, Maggie, told the Washington Post that he had asked President Bush for permission to marry his daughter. Party of five: Henry and Jenna have daughters, Mila and Poppy, and a baby boy, Hal, who was born in August So sweet: Henry and their eldest daughters surprised Jenna with flowers earlier this month when she and Hoda debuted their new live show The couple said 'I do' in May 2008 at the Bush family's estate in Crawford, Texas. Jenna and Henry welcomed their daughter Mila, now six, five years later. They also have a four-year-old daughter, Poppy, and a son, Hal, who was born in August. Henry and their eldest daughters surprised Jenna with flowers earlier this month when she and Hoda debuted their new live show. At the start of the segment, Jenna paid tribute to husband while he said in the audience. 'Henry, you came, too, and you know what? My mom calls Henry the saint, which that sort of implies that Im not easy to be married to, but Hank, I love ya,' she said. 'So thanks for coming.' Shocking details leading to the gruesome murder of Ms. Dagan Laetitia Naankang, an Assistant Director, Administration at the State House, Abuja, has emerged. It was revealed that Naankang, 47, was subjected to the agony of a slow death by fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo Boys, because she reported their activities to the police. She was murdered in her apartment on Monday by yet-to-be identified killers. According to Guardian, the deceased discovered that her neighbourhood in Lokogoma area in Abuja was populated by Yahoo boys, making her uncomfortable in the vicinity. She confided in her close friends and told them of her plans to relocate. Concerned for her safety in the meantime, she reported them to the police. However, it was revealed that the police later freed the suspects after questioning them. The identity of the person who reported them to the police was allegedly leaked by police operatives to the suspects and they resolved to make Naankang pay for reporting them to the police. On Monday, February 17, Naankang worked in her office till 8pm. She then returned home but was attacked and killed by 11pm. The assailants are said to have first tied Naankang in her apartment where she lived alone. They then subjected her to all manner of indecent acts before strangling her to death and setting the body ablaze. It was further learnt that her gateman, who was suspected to be an accomplice, was arrested by security operatives and he provided useful information that could help in tracking the killers. The publication also revealed that one of the killers took the victims mobile phone, having mistaken it for his and left his own phone at the crime scene. It is believed that the telephone will assist the police in tracking down the killers Share this: Suicide is being considered as a main theory. Businessman Serhiy Starytsky has reportedly been shot dead in former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara's house outside Kyiv. Police are considering suicide as a main theory, the Ukrainian news outlet zn.ua reported, citing a source in the police. Read alsoSecurity Administration employee shoots himself dead in Kyiv; SBI investigating possible suicide The deadly shot was fired from a Jericho 941 semi-automatic pistol registered on Kozhara's name. The incident occurred at 21:50 Kyiv time on Friday, February 21. Kozhara's house is located in the village of Chaiky, Kyiv-Sviatoshynsky district, Kyiv region. According to data from open sources, Starytsky was the founder of Sport Media Project LLC and C.I.U LLC. The two companies ceased their operations. Both Starytsky and Kozhara were born in 1963. Leonid Kozhara served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mykola Azarov's government in 2012-2014. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and ex-president Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions. In December 2018, the Socialists Party nominated Kozhara as a presidential candidate, but he withdrew his candidacy from the race. Editors note: This story has been edited to include that Pennsylvania still requires applicants to present the documents in person and not online. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will allow states to accept documents for Real ID applications electronically, which is expected to make it easier for millions of Americans to obtain the credential that they will need by the fall to get through airport security checkpoints. This comes amid concern from the nations airports of a looming crisis if the Oct. 1 deadline to possess this credential isnt moved back. Pennsylvania has chosen to continue requiring that all documents only be accepted in person and not online. The Washington Post reported Thursday that allowing the paperwork to be submitted online should take some of the pressure off departments of motor vehicles nationally, which in many cases have been experiencing long lines and wait times since last year. Beginning Oct. 1, only drivers licenses and state IDs that meet Real ID requirements will be accepted for boarding commercial flights, the Post noted in its story. Travelers who dont have a Real ID will need credentials such as a U.S. passport or military ID, the story said. States are reporting that 95 million about 34 percent of all drivers license holders have been issued Real IDs, according to DHS. That sounds like a lot until you read the remainder of the sentence: Two-thirds of the 276 million Americans who have state-issued cards have yet to get their Real ID, the story noted. RELATED: 11 things you need to know before getting a Real ID in Pennsylvania RELATED: What is a Real ID, why you probably need one and how to get one in Pennsylvania While progress has been made, the real work is still ahead, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement that was published in the story. In order to obtain the Real ID license, applicants need to present the following: two proofs of residency, such as a utility bill and a bank statement proof of identity and legal residence in the United States a Social Security card A W-2 form listing a Social Security number is an acceptable alternative to a Social Security card. This change comes as the nations airports say there could be chaos for passengers if the White House doesnt postpone the October deadline. According to an NBC News story that appeared on the yahoo.com site Thursday, the group that represents the nations airports warned that thousands of passengers could be denied boarding and left stranded. Kevin Burke, the president and CEO of Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), told NBC News that this is a crisis waiting to happen. If the government doesnt make a definitive statement now that theyre going to extend this, then were going to have a real crisis on our hands come Oct. 1, he is quoted as saying in the story. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The CAAV has imposed no ban on flights to the Republic of Korea and Japan during the coronavirus disease outbreak. (Photo: VNA) The announcement came after some websites circulated information on stopping licensed flights between Vietnam and the RoK and Japan. Thang said the information is a complete fabrication, and the CAAV has worked with the police force to investigate the source of the fake news. The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines also affirmed that flights to the two East Asian countries have been operated normally in accordance with schedule allowed by the aviation authority. If any schedule adjustment is made, the airline will fully inform the passengers via its website or other official channels, the airline said. For further information, customers should visit the airlines website www.vietnamairlines.com, Facebook fanpage www.facebook.com/VietnamAirlines, and contact ticket offices or customer service at 1900 1100. Carrying out the Prime Ministers Directive No.06/CT-TTg dated January 31 on intensifying preventive measures in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, the CAAV announced a temporary halt to all flights to and from China from 13:00 on February 1 (local time). The FBI arrested a man linked to former Rep. Katie Hills campaign on Friday for allegedly hacking one of Hills 2018 primary opponents. A criminal complaint charges Arthur Jan Dam with staging a series of cyberattacks in the run-up to the primary that crippled the targets website, including one that occurred just before a debate, depriving the campaign of resources ahead of a loss to Hill. And it reveals that Dams wife worked for Hills campaign. Hill went on to unseat then-Rep. Steve Knight but resigned her seat last year amid a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged relationships with subordinates. While the FBI does not name the target of the hacks, former Democratic candidate Bryan Caforio said in an interview that to the best of my knowledge I am the victim named in charging documents, saying he had been cooperating with federal authorities. Prosecutors said the FBI has not uncovered evidence that Hill or her staffer had a role in the hacking. Hill said in a statement that she was surprised and disturbed to see the news of this criminal complaint and had no information or knowledge about any of the conduct alleged. These charges do not reflect in any way on the thousands of honest, hard-working staff, volunteers and supporters who worked on my campaign, to whom I owe so much, Hill continued. The integrity of our elections is vital to our democratic process. Out of respect for the rule of law and the defendants presumption of innocence, I will wait for the legal process to conclude before commenting further. But Caforio said it was very disheartening to see this came from a close campaign associate of Katie Hill. Justifiably, theres been a lot of anger at the Trump administration for what people see as his unwillingness to stand up to Russian interference in the election, and I think todays revelation is a reminder that there are bad actors on every side, there are people who are interested in putting their personal gain above everyone else, Caforio said. I hope we find out the full extent of who was involved and who knew about it. Story continues Hill edged Caforio for a general election spot by about 1,500 votes in a four-Democrat field before going on to defeat Knight handily that November. Caforio said recovering from the attacks drained tens of thousands of dollars and deprived the campaign of desperately needed fundraising opportunities ahead of the narrow primary defeat. Briefly seen as a rising star within a new generation of Democratic members, Hill abruptly stepped aside amid allegations of inappropriate relationships and leaks of hacked nude photos (Hill has acknowledged a relationship with a then-campaign staffer but denied doing so with a congressional employee, which would be a violation of House rules). Her departure has set off a fierce race for the now-vacant swing seat, one of seven California districts that Democrats flipped from Republican control in 2018. The National Republican Campaign Committee wasted no time weighing in on the FBI arrest, questioning in a tweet whether Hill had intimate knowledge of the matter. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks at the State of the State address in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. Read more TRENTON, N.J. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is set to propose his third budget on Tuesday, setting up a possible repeat showdown with lawmakers over his so-far unsuccessful attempts to raise income taxes on the wealthy. The current fiscal year's $38.7 billion budget expires on June 30, and Murphy and the Legislature have a constitutional mandate to enact a balanced budget by the deadline. Despite Democratic control of the governorship and the Legislature, lawmakers have balked at Murphy's proposals the past two years to hike marginal tax rates on incomes over $1 million from 8.97% to 10.75%. Though they've disagreed on taxes, Murphy and lawmakers have boosted spending on aid to schools, public pensions and transit, among other areas. Last year's proposal had a roughly 3% increase in spending, while Murphy's first proposal since taking over from Republican Chris Christie was about a 5% boost. A look at how the budget is shaping up: WILL YOUR TAXES GO UP? That's still unclear. Lawmakers have had little appetite for raising taxes since Murphy became governor, despite voting repeatedly to do just that when Christie was governor. Murphy has called for higher rates on the wealthy, so the state can meet its obligations to public pensioners the state had skipped pension payments for years under Democrats and Republicans before getting back on track under Christie. Murphy wants to continue pouring money into the pensions until the state payments meet the level actuaries have calculated would keep it afloat. The current year's pension payment was nearly $4 billion, or an 18.5% increase from the year before. In addition, in his State of the State address last month, he said: I am not giving up the fight for a millionaires tax. Murphy also wants to increase school funding and the state subsidy for beleaguered New Jersey Transit, which continues to be beset by commuter complaints. Murphy's office said in a statement that he will continue pushing for tax fairness ... and putting New Jersey on the path to long-term fiscal responsibility. ___ WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY? The precise mix changes from year to year but tends to follow a pattern. Most of the revenue to the state treasury comes from income taxes, which according to the constitution must be used to help reduce property taxes. New Jersey has among the highest property taxes in the country. They're levied by local and county governments and school boards. So the lion's share of the state budget goes to aid to school districts. Less than a third of the budget goes to purchase services, like health care coverage, for low-income residents. The next biggest chunk goes to debt service, with the remainder going to cover the cost of state government. ___ EVERYONE'S HAPPY WITH THE BUDGET? Not exactly. Republicans, who are in the minority in state government and are beginning to launch campaigns against Murphy for the 2021 election, say he's failed to make the state more affordable. Progressive groups have been the governor's staunchest allies in fights with lawmakers over previous budgets, but this year a coalition of them has banded together to call for about $3 billion in new revenue, or higher taxes. They want to add levels into the income tax rates particularly on the wealthy, along with raising the sales tax to 7%, up from 6.625%, the rate it reached after a 2016 deal between Christie and lawmakers that boosted gas taxes while lowering other rates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to accompany United States President Donald Trump and his family members during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday, official sources said. The US president will arrive in Ahmedabad at around noon on February 24 for a less that 36-hour visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including First Lady Melania Trump, the President's daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and a galaxy of top US officials. After attending an event at Ahmedabad, the Trumps will travel to Agra on Monday afternoon to visit the Taj Mahal before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. When asked about reports that Modi may accompany Trump to Agra, official sources said there was no such plan. They said the visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra by the US president and his family members will afford them the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably. Therefore, no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there, the sources said. Modi will be in Ahmedabad on Monday where a public reception will be accorded to the US president and the First Lady. The PM will also be present for the Delhi leg of the visit where official engagements are envisaged on February 25, the sources said. Shakespeare trowels it on about his native land's supposed perfection: "This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England." In 'Richard II', he characterises the country as another Eden, a demi-paradise inhabited by a happy breed of men. And Priti Patel, Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings et al certainly look like a deliriously happy breed of keep-outers. They are busy planting 'keep out' signs along Britain's borders, oblivious to the reputational damage they are causing their "precious stone set in the silver sea". But if England is that heaven suggested by Shakespeare - a debatable proposition - it won't stay one under hard Brexiteers determined to turn Britain into a fortress. Their paradise is profaned by racist new laws presented as an overhaul of immigration policy. This week we saw Britain signal phase one of its Brexit Wall - a virtual barrier curbing the free movement of labour, one of the EU bloc's four pillars rejected by the British electorate. From January 1 next year, it will become all but impossible for low-skilled migrants to enter Britain to join the workforce. A knock-on effect will be felt in industries reliant on their hard work, ranging from hospitality to food processing to tourism to agriculture. In Ireland, Border communities will experience the brunt, a region where it is not unusual for people to live in one jurisdiction and work in another. So much for the island-wide economy. Suffering disproportionately will be small employers who depend on workers from overseas. But the public, too, can expect deteriorating services and rising prices. With this regressive immigration policy, London is resetting the clock to bygone decades. "A hostile environment" is how Britain's Labour Party describes it. Yet it's surprising overall how little resistance is being mounted against such a chilling decision - surprising and worrying because it's simply the opening salvo from the keep-outers. Various groups are aghast - the Royal College of Nursing warns of health and social care needs going unmet - but reaction is oddly muted, by and large. The Brexit myth suggests cheap foreign labour is gobbling up jobs, snatching them away from British workers who are eager to do them. In fact, few Brits are anxious to take on the backbreaking, dirty, low-paid jobs carried out by those born elsewhere. Their absence from the labour force is bound to have negative repercussions. Let's look at this post-Brexit plan. The idea is that only skilled workers who notch up enough points on a desirability scale will be allowed in. Businesses are urged to "adapt and adjust" - guidance that amounts to little more than 'chin up'. In the case of some Border businesses, 'prepare to fold' seems a likelier outcome. Perhaps many people in the Republic don't think this affects them. On the contrary, we are witnessing the erosion of the all-Ireland economy which has been advantageous to the island as a whole. At least the North's five main parties are in agreement for a change. They say this Tory wheeze threatens the region's economic viability - not least because a skilled migrant offered a work visa must receive a minimum salary of 25,600, or 30,600. The parties want a derogation on that pay threshold, which they regard as unfeasibly high. Home Secretary Priti Patel insists businesses can recruit from the "economically inactive" sector of the labour force - that's estimated at eight million workers, some 318,000 of them in the North (just over a quarter of the working age population). But those figures take no account of people who cannot work because of ill health or commitments such as being carers, being students, raising families, the long-term unemployed and those who have taken early retirement. The North, in particular, has a high proportion of citizens in late middle age who are unfit for work. Three decades of the Troubles have had a lingering effect. That points system for work visas will require derogations because it hasn't been thought through properly. For example, self-employed people can't move to Britain under these rules - an employer is necessary, which means the construction sector will be affected in a significant way. The Home Office estimates seven in 10 migrant workers currently in Britain would not qualify for a visa under the points system, highlighting how draconian the measures are. The 'Financial Times' pinpoints social care provision as most at risk. "Hourly pay in the sector is lower than in nearly every UK supermarket chain, thanks to a decade of underfunding of local authorities," it notes, warning of possible shortages in future. But the Tories are impervious. Ms Patel claims the work in affected sectors can be done by "economically inactive" Brits - as though they are machines switched off which can be reactivated with a flick of the wrist. The people she refers to are carers, students, long-term unemployed and retired people who will not be funnelled into jobs to suit the Brexiteer narrative. The keep-outers are ignoring the reality that minimum wage jobs are not particularly tempting, especially if childcare and travel costs are factored in. The "economically inactive" aren't absent from the workplace because they are workshy but because pay and conditions make it unrewarding. Will the Tories cut benefits to incentivise work in unappealing jobs? It seems more than possible. And how are they going to tackle the ageism of employers who disregard potential workers once they reach 50-plus? Perhaps the British government realises it cannot hope to see all of those roles filled by local labour. In which case economic remodelling may be part of its cunning plan. Perhaps it hopes closing off low-skilled foreign labour will encourage investment in automation. However, that's costly capital expenditure, especially for small employers such as the majority in the Border region who may not be in a position to borrow. This keep-outer approach is the first concrete sign of what Britain will be like post-Brexit. Not an Eden, then, if you're a British citizen dependent on the social care given by foreign nationals, or if you have a farm and rely on migrant labour at harvest time. Not an Eden, either, if you're an EU national living and working already in Britain - this legislation, described in some quarters as xenophobic, won't make you feel welcome. These about-to-be-banned workers willing to do the unpleasant jobs aren't all that different from the generations of Irish people - our aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents - who took the boat in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. They made a lasting contribution to British life. Trade talks are due to begin shortly between Britain and the EU, with Ireland in line to be affected by their outcome - this extremist approach by the keep-outers is an ominous indication of what may lie ahead. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 13:20:20|Editor: zyl Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Police in Pakistan's northwest Peshawar city killed five militants during an exchange of fire in the wee hours of Saturday morning. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police launched a search operation in the provincial capital of the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on a tip-off regarding presence of suspected militants, a CTD spokesman told media. An exchange of fire was triggered off when the policemen tried to enter a hideout of the suspected militants during the operation, leaving all the five militants killed, but no loss of life was reported on the police side, according to the spokesman. Police later recovered arms and explosives including suicide vests and hand grenades from the hideout. The identities of the killed militants and the name of the militant group they were associated with have not been revealed by police yet. A member of Turkey's military was killed in Syria's Idlib region in a bomb attack by Syrian government forces, a regional governorate said on Saturday, the sixteenth soldier killed there so far this month. The Gaziantep Governorate said the victim was a tank mechanic. Turkey has sent thousands of troops and military equipment to the region south of its border to head off a push in recent weeks by government forces to retake the rebel-held territory after nine years of war. Search Keywords: Short link: UPDATED 5:25 p.m. A case against a Portland antifascist activist accused of harassing a Patriot Prayer supporter ended in a mistrial earlier this month. But now, the defendants attorney is asking for an investigation of how one of the jurors answered questions during the jury selection process. John Schlosser, the attorney for defendant Luis Marquez, has asked the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office to investigate juror Tristen-Renee Morrigan-Barhite for perjury. Marquez, a prominent figure in left-wing circles, was charged with harassing Gregory Isaacson, a Patriot Prayer supporter and right-wing activist who works for Portland Parks & Recreation. The case went to trial, and on Feb. 7, ended in a mistrial after five jurors voted to acquit Marquez of a misdemeanor, and the lone holdout, Morrigan-Barhite, voted to convict him. The case stems from a January 2018 interaction between Marquez and Isaacson at a protest, where court documents allege Marquez tried to use his body to block Isaacson several times as he rode his bicycle and walked with a group of protesters. According to the arrest warrant, Marquez pushed Isaacson into a parked car. A YouTube video shot by another far-right activist shows Marquez repeatedly standing in front of Isaacsons bike as he tried to ride through an anti-Trump protest, and tensions between the two escalating. After a hearing on Friday, the court dismissed Marquezs case. But Schlosser filed a report asking the sheriffs office to look into how Morrigan-Barhite responded to questions about her political affiliations during the jury selection process and her connection to the plaintiff. It looks like she was at rallies, and had connections with lots of Patriot Prayer people," Schlosser said. Morrigan-Barhite did not respond to request for comment. According to an article published this week by Rose City Antifa, Morrigan-Barhite is a close affiliate of Patriot Prayer, and has been photographed at events for the group. She is in pictures with well-known right-wing activists including Hayley Adams, Reggie Axtell and others. She is shown engaging with Patriot Prayer members and affiliates on Facebook. The Rose City Antifa article also notes that she is an active member of the III% Oregon State Militia group, another far-right group. Morrigan-Barhite and Isaacson are also friends on Facebook. According to the Rose City Antifa article, a videographer filmed and posted an interview with Morrigan-Barhite, in which she identified herself as the lone dissenting juror. The article states that Morrigan-Barhite also noted that someone on social media identified her as an antifa member, and she said that she was actually quite the opposite. In messages to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday, Isaacson said the first time he met Morrigan-Barhite was outside the courthouse, after the trial resulted in a hung jury on Feb. 7. I was leaving the courthouse at the same time as the jurors and asked them if theyd like to chat, Isaacson said. Tristen was (the only one) kind enough to talk about some of the deliberations. Afterwards she found me on FB and friend requested, I reciprocated. Isaacson did not say whether he knew about the specific perjury allegations against Morrigan-Barhite, but said that he did not know she was affiliated with Patriot Prayer. I hear a lot, and dismiss most allegations from antifa, he said. In an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Multnomah County Courts spokeswoman Rachel McCarthy explained the process the court goes through to weed out people from the jury pool with potential conflicts. Oregons Uniform Jury Instructions ask jurors, Do any of you feel that your personal views concerning this type of case might affect your ability to be fair and impartial in this case? McCarthy said. If the juror answers affirmatively, they cannot serve on the jury." Multnomah County District Attorneys Office Spokesman Brent Weisberg said he couldnt discuss the specifics of the case, but said the DAs office was aware of the allegations highlighted in the Rose City Antifa article. We are looking into the matters raised and that part of our review will require us to go over what information was presented during jury selection, Weisberg said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Schlosser said he feels its important to investigate Morrigan-Barhite for the integrity of court proceedings. People know this is not OK, he said. People have to self-police, and the court system has to trust that people coming in will take that oath seriously. Chris Liedle, a spokesman for the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, said the office took a report for the perjury allegation on Friday. He said since 2015, the office has received 18 reports of perjury, but said in many cases theyve been suspended because there is not enough evidence to pursue the charge. According to a 2018 article by Willamette Week, the original case was born out of the Portland Police Bureaus investigation into Marquez at the request of Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, who sent Portland Lt. Jeff Niiya a video of Marquez repeatedly blocking Isaacson during a protest, and complained about Marquezs behavior. Niiya, who at the time was crowd control liaison for the bureau, sent the video and an email to several others in the bureau, and said he thought Marquez should have been arrested. Days later, another officer responded saying he thought the case was prosecutable. Niiya was investigated in 2019 for friendly text messages he exchanged with Gibson over a period of nearly two years, but was cleared of any wrongdoing through an investigation by the citys Independent Police Review. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632; skavanaugh@oregonian.com; @shanedkavanaugh Defense lawyers in the case of two American teenagers accused of slaying an Italian police officer in Rome complained Friday that some of the translations of conversations intercepted in the suspects' jail were so poorly done that the meaning of the words plays out in the prosecution's favor. Roberto Capra said in a phone interview that whoever prepared the transcripts for the prosecution also committed the "grave deed" of omitting conversations his client had with family members and a personal U.S. lawyer that were deemed helpful for the defense. The Turin-based lawyer is on the defense team for Finnegan Lee Elder in the murder trial which begins next week in Rome. Elder and his friend Gabriel Natale-Hjorth are accused in the fatal stabbing of the officer in July 2019, a few hours after a drug deal gone bad. Carabinieri officer Mario Cerciello Rega was stabbed 11 times and his fellow plainclothes officer was assaulted in a scuffle with the Americans, prosecutors say. They allege that Elder knifed Cerciello Rega and that Natale-Hjorth assaulted the other officer. The Americans had gone to a rendezvous near their hotel in Rome after allegedly demanding their money back and some cocaine in the wake of what prosecutors say was a botched drug deal in another part of Rome, where the two were vacationing. The officers went to meet the pair, following a complaint by the alleged deal's go-between, to retrieve a backpack with a phone inside that he claimed the Americans had snatched from him. In one of the translations, published in two Italian newspapers this week, a U.S.-based lawyer, while speaking with the jailed Elder, discussed presenting motions to the court. But according to the translation in the transcript prepared for the prosecution, the lawyer proposed "playing on emotions to win sympathy with the court." Capra said given the defense's objections the trial judge will assign an impartial translator to prepare a new transcript. A prosecutor in the case didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the poor translations or the omissions. Among passages of intercepted conversations apparently left out of the transcript was when Elder said in a jailhouse conversation that the officers never showed or said anything to indicate they were plainclothes police. Prosecutors have said Cerciello Rega went to the rendezvous unarmed. They contend the murder weapon was hidden in the American's hotel room. In Italy, lawyers' conversations with clients are privileged and can't be intercepted. Capra said it was permissible to intercept Elder's chat with the U.S. lawyer because the attorney, not a member of the Italian bar association, cannot practice in Italy and thus isn't part of his official legal team under the Italian justice system rules. Both Americans, who come from northern California, have insisted they feared that the officers, who they didn't know were police, were going to harm them and thus acted to defend themselves. Saturday 22nd February 2020 is set to go down as a historic date in South Sudan as a unity government between once bitter rivals President Salva Kiir Mayardit and opposition leader Riek Machar finally comes to fruition. I want to tell the people of South Sudan that all the changes that are taking place right now are to bring peace and not changes that will bring conflict again because we are tired of conflict, Kiir announced as he officially appointed Machar as Vice President, one of five to be appointed to the new government. For months, the government and former rebels were at an impasse over the number of states in South Sudan as Kiir unilaterally increased the number to 32 during the recent civil war, which resulted in the deaths of over 400,000 people. After failing to meet the two previous deadlines to form a unity government, fears of a resurgence in violence were palpable. However, Kiir chose to compromise for the sake of peace and reverted to the original ten states, paving the way for the unity governments formation. This historic settlement, a huge step towards lasting peace in the worlds youngest nation, was prophesied during the recent visit to Juba by Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua on November 12th, 2019. I am here to prophesy to the nation. If I am a prophet, this will not go without fulfillment, Joshua boldly declared in a national address at the Presidential Palace, broadcast live on South Sudans state television. This country is going to enter a new beginning - whether you like it or not, whether I like it or not, he continued, insisting that your agreement does not matter to what God is about to do and you cannot stand in the way of the Lord. With Kiir and his entire cabinet in attendance during the address, the cleric stressed that peace has no price and counseled leaders to overcome all divisions and differences. Time has come for us to put our differences behind us. Our leaders, we should overcome our divisions and agree to work together for the good of this country, he declared, before leading the leaders in prayer for peace. Social media in South Sudan was awash with news of Joshuas visit, with many citizens insisting his prayers and prophetic message were pivotal in the peace process. It is the high time South Sudanese should embrace Prophet TB Joshua for his prophecy has come to pass about our nation, wrote Gum Thany on Facebook. Imagine our leaders made historical concessions for the first time just for the sake of peace and this is being coupled with showers of rain in Juba in the middle of the dry season, he added. Numerous attempts in the past to bring peace between Kiir and Machar proved unsuccessful including the time the duo were received by Pope Francis in Vatican City where he famously kissed the warring leader's feet. South Sudanese citizens are hopeful that the new unity government will usher in an era of peace, development, and stability. One of fabled storyteller Aesop's most famous tales is about a shepherd boy named Peter, who liked to cry "wolf." As the story goes, Peter was young and bored. To break the monotony of his job, he repetitively cried out "wolf" in an attempt to obtain communal regard and assistance in watching his herd. After members of his community rushed to his faux cries of "wolf" multiple times only to discover that Peter's cries were a ruse, when Peter called for help after a wolf really did threaten his flock, nobody listened. Russia, Russia, Russia is the Democrats' modern version of Peter's fake cries of "wolf." For three years, they have tortured President Trump, America, and the citizens who elected him with a nightmarish landscape of false accusations of Russian election collusion and Trump's degenerate acts of the worst kind. Fortunately, over and over again, as with Peter, their phony accusations have been debunked. Hilariously, they have just tried it again, but their perfidy has been almost immediately exposed. First, President Trump mocked the accusations for the absurdity that they were. Why, Trump pondered, would Russia help him the capitalist with a capital "C," when a communist such as Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders is leading the woe-begotten Democrat field? Second, on the heels of Trump's query was the revelation that communist-leaning Sanders was actually the true recipient of Russia's meddling and that he had been briefed on the dangers. Bernie has proclaimed his outrage and warned his followers not to be tricked by fake news. Wink, wink. Interestingly, nobody from the FBI has tried to spy on Sanders or set him up as they did President Trump. Moreover, meddling charges on their face are ridiculous as the Democrats themselves have been guilty of gross meddling in foreign elections. Also, it is important to note that meddling in foreign elections or providing money to fund them is a violation of international law. However, that did not stop past president Barack Hussein Obama from influencing many such foreign elections. As a senator, Obama flew to Kenya on a taxpayer-funded trip and campaigned for ultra-leftis, Muslim presidential candidate Raila Odinga. After Odinga was elected, and Obama was president, Obama funneled millions of dollars to Odinga to support his reign. In Libya, through thensecretary of state Hillary Clinton, as president, Obama was instrumental in the overthrow of Moammmar Gaddafi. Obama spent over a billion dollars to effectuate Gaddafi's overthrow and murder. Probably more overt and egregious was Obama's interference in Egypt. There he helped orchestrate the so-called "Arab Spring" and the overthrow of American ally President Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was replaced with the radical Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi. When the Egyptian people realized Morsi's radicalism and the depth of America's interventions, they threw Morsi out. Morsi was replaced by pro-American Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi. In 2015 in Israel, Obama openly campaigned to defeat the re-election of strong United States ally President Benjamin Netanyahu. Through John Kerry, Obama funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to opposition groups in the guise of United States State Department grants. Oh, the hypocrisy. The actual meddlers in America's elections are right here in the United States. They are the Democrats who are O.K. with the use of personal identification for medical treatment, air travel, check-cashing, and entrance into inner-city posh high-rise corporate buildings but viciously fight the use of personal identification for voting. It's prejudicial, they proclaim. Hogwash. Why do Democrats assert and assume that certain groups of people can't obtain personal identification? It's a cynical canard, trotted out to camouflage voter fraud. Actual election meddlers are also the election administrators who refuse to purge the voter registration lists. Consequently, long dead people's names remain in the lists, and often multiple families are listed as living at the same address. Thus, an another avenue for voter fraud is perpetuated. Disgracefully, actual election meddlers are nonUnited States citizens who finagle themselves, with assistance from Democrat facilitators, into the election rolls. Each time an illegal votes, or a dead person votes, an American citizen's legal vote is canceled out. So the next time we hear Russia, Russia, Russia, we all know what it means: Peter calling wolf. Lynne Lechter is an elected member of the Pennsylvania State Republican Committee, an international lawyer, and a litigator practicing in Philadelphia. BRANDON Allegations of sexual abuse against fashion mogul Peter Nygard have shaken the small southwestern Manitoba community of Deloraine. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BRANDON Allegations of sexual abuse against fashion mogul Peter Nygard have shaken the small southwestern Manitoba community of Deloraine. A park in Deloraine, approximately 115 kilometres southwest of Brandon, is named after Nygard due to his familys connection with the community. Municipality of Deloraine-Winchester Reeve Gord Weidenhamer said Friday the community is now wrestling with what to do about the negative publicity surrounding its most famous former resident. "Weve had people contact us contact councillors, contact the office," Weidenhamer said. "Obviously, with the history of Nygard Park and family back in the 50s, where do we stand with some of these issues?" 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. Nygard moved to Deloraine from Finland with his father, a baker, and his mother in 1952. The family later moved to Winnipeg, where Nygard founded clothing maker Nygard International in 1967. A dedication ceremony for the park took place in 2002, where Nygard spoke about his many fond memories of Deloraine and its people. A class-action lawsuit filed in New York City last week alleges the 78-year-old Nygard lured women and girls to his estate in the Bahamas so he could assault and rape them. Weidenhamer noted the park is home to a display of flags of the world, which helps draw tourists to the community with a population of less than 1,000 people. Its also used for local fashion shows. Deloraine-Winchester council will discuss the park name issue at its regular meeting next week. Brandon Sun 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. New York, Feb 22 : Amid the pomp and ceremony of an official visit next week, US President Donald Trump will take time to meet with Indian companies investing in manufacturing in the US, which will showcase India's contribution to his grand plan of revitalising his country's industrial base, a core of element in his election platform. The two-day itinerary for Trump, who has said the trip "is going to be very exciting," includes a State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by the President Ramnath Kovind, a quick trip to the Taj Mahal and, of course, the mega event in Ahmedabad, according to a senior US administration official who briefed the media on Friday. The official said that after Trump arrives in Ahmedabad on Monday, he will speak at the Sardar Patel Stadium and after that, he and First Lady Melania Trump will go with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. They will then fly to New Delhi for an overnight stay and then begin a hectic day of programmes on Tuesday when ceremonial and formal events are lined up. Trump will have bilateral meetings with Modi, meet with Kovind and attend the State Dinner, which is usually held with a lot of ceremony. He is also scheduled to have a meet-and-greet with the staff of the US embassy. In between, he will participate in business events with Indian investors "with a special focus on companies that are investing in manufacturing in the US," the official said. With the trade agreement between India and US held up amid Washington's complaints about Modi's "Make in India,a the meeting will be an opportunity for India to show its contributions to reviving manufacturing in the US. Briefing reporters about the visit, a senior administration official had said, "'The Make in India' push of the Indian government ... has made the protectionism concerns even more of a concern to us." The official said that while a trade agreement was not coming during the trip, it was likely that some memorandums of understanding or some other documents dealing with defence, energy and trade maybe signed, but did not have any details. More than 110,000 people are expected to participate in the Sardar Patel Stadium event and it will be one of the biggest crowds that Trump, who has a penchant for numbers and records, will address. Excited about the size of the crowds expected, he said earlier this month, "When we have 50,000 people nowadays (in the US), fellas, I'm not going to feel so good." He said that Modi told him that between the stadium and the airport "we'll have about 7 million people." (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in) National army soldiers stand guard at the site of suicide attack near the military academy in Kabul, Afghanistan, A United Nations report says Afghanistan passed a grim milestone with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the last 10 years since the international body began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years. Read more KABUL, Afghanistan - The United States has ceased offensive military operations in Afghanistan against the Taliban in accordance with an agreement to reduce violence ahead of a possible peace deal, the top U.S. military commander here announced Saturday. Gen. Scott Miller told reporters in Kabul that "our operations are defensive at this point. We stopped our offensive operations as part of our obligations, but we remain committed to defend our forces." The week-long reduction in violence is a precondition to a U.S.-Taliban peace deal that both parties have said they plan to sign at the end of the month. U.S. and Afghan officials have cautioned that the deal is fragile as there are many armed groups in Afghanistan who don't see peace in their interest. But U.S. officials said monitoring mechanisms in place will be able to identify whether attacks are the work of "spoilers." Hours after the agreement went into effect, local security forces reported a number of clashes between government and Taliban forces. But Miller and senior Afghan officials said the violence dies not necessarily constitute a breach of the agreement. Standing beside the Afghan acting minister of interior and acting minister of defense, Miller described the reduction in violence as a "trial period" during which U.S. and Afghan government forces reserve the right to defend themselves if attacked. "This is a conditional effort," he said. "It's a trial period. We are all looking at this to see that all sides are able to meet their obligations." If it holds, the United States and the Taliban have said they will sign a peace deal at the end of the month. But even during the first hours after the agreement went into effect, local security forces reported a number of clashes between government and Taliban forces. In central Afghanistan, the spokesman for Paktia's governor said Taliban attacks on government outposts lasted for over an hour after the violence reduction went into effect. In the north, a security official in Balkh reported coordinated Taliban attacks on government outposts. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. Acting defense minister Asadullah Khalid said overall violence has reduced since the agreement went into effect. He said the attacks that have occurred "are not serious, [except] for one attack in Balkh." He said Afghan forces have the right to defend themselves. "We are working to find out its cause," he added, referring to the Balkh attack. "Maybe the message was not sent to them [The Taliban] on time or whatever the cause may be, it will become clear." The Taliban appeared to defend the handful of clashes that occurred after the violence reduction began. "Taliban have not announced a cease-fire with the U.S., but reduction in violence during the said period," Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman said in a statement released to journalists Saturday. "Every attack or fire of Taliban should not be considered as violation, as this is not a cease-fire," Mujahid insisted. Monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan over the next week will be carried out by joint U.S.-Afghan teams. The U.S. military will communicate with the Taliban "through a military communications channel in Doha," to determine the causes and perpetrators of attacks. The peace deal U.S. and Taliban negotiators have committed to sign should the reduced violence hold will begin the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops. In exchange, the Taliban has pledged to begin intra-Afghan talks and to not harbor terrorists with the intent to attack the West. These sensitive security agreements are going into effect against the backdrop of a deepening political crisis in Afghanistan. After disputed election results, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's main rival has threatened to forcefully replace governors in the country's north as part of his efforts to form a political government. The United Nations issued a statement expressing "concern" over the developments. "Resorting to force or any other unlawful means at the very time that efforts are ongoing to realize a reduction in violence . . . jeopardizes the population's hope for peace." Political divisions have the potential to upset the cohesion of armed groups allied with the Afghan government that fall outside the formal military's structure. Political disunity, should it persist, could undermine Ghani's efforts to form a strong, inclusive negotiating team to enter into intra-Afghan talks with the Taliban. The Washington Posts Sayed Salahuddin in Kabul and Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this article. Roger Stone, the longtime friend and former campaign adviser to President Donald Trump, was sentenced to 40 months in prison Thursday at federal court in Washington amid speculation that Trump could potentially pardon him. PHOTO: President Donald Trump delivers the commencement address at the 'Hope for Prisoners' graduation ceremony, TFeb. 20, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Evan Vucci/AP) A few hours later, speaking at a "Hope for Prisoners" graduation ceremony in Las Vegas, Trump talked about the Stone case, saying, "I'm following this very closely and I want to see it play out to its fullest because Roger has a very good chance of exoneration in my opinion." "I'd love to see it happen," he said, going on to suggest the Stone jury foreperson was "totally tainted," calling her an "anti-Trump activist" without providing specific evidence. But he added, "I'm not going to do anything in terms of the great powers bestowed upon a president of the United States. I want the process to play out. I think that's the best thing to do," apparently suggesting a pardon was still possible, but not mentioning the word "pardon" or making any specific promises. President Trump on Roger Stone: "Im not going to do anything in terms of the great powers bestowed upon a president of the United States. I want the process to play out. I think thats the best thing to do because Id love to see Roger exonerated." https://t.co/qFZBamEpwY pic.twitter.com/zp0x8nc32R ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 20, 2020 "At some point I'll make a determination," Trump said, "but Roger Stone and everybody has to be treated fairly. And this has not been a fair process." PHOTO: Roger Stone arrives at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 2020. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) Besides the prison term, Stone was sentenced to 24 months probation and fined $20,000. Stone remains free pending a decision on his motion for a new trial. "He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president. He was prosecuted for covering up for the president," Judge Amy Berman Jackson said emphatically at his sentencing, flatly rejecting claims by Stone and Trump that the prosecution was politically motivated and unfair. She also called the actions of the Justice Department in the case "unprecedented," referring to the recent political drama over his case. Story continues Stone's fate took on new significance last week when the career prosecutors who handled the case recommended a sentence of seven to nine years for Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering in November. MORE: Roger Stone drama enters its final act Thursday at sentencing After Trump tweeted that recommendation was a "miscarriage of justice," Attorney General William Barr overruled the prosecutors and the Justice Department submitted a new recommendation calling on Jackson to give Stone a much lighter sentence. Shortly after, in an exclusive interview with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, Barr warned Trump to stop tweeting and commenting on the case, saying he was making it "impossible" to do his job. Sources have told ABC News that Barr, who has called the Stone prosecution "righteous," is seriously considering resigning. MORE: Barr blasts Trump's tweets on Stone case: 'Impossible for me to do my job': ABC News Exclusive Stone, 67, was convicted of misleading congressional investigators on several key elements of their probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including communications he had with the Trump campaign about the WikiLeaks dissemination of damaging documents stolen from Democrats. MORE: A timeline of the extraordinary turn of events in the Roger Stone case PHOTO: Roger Stone arrives at court prior to his sentencing hearing, Feb. 20, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images) ABC News had a team of reporters and producers inside and outside the courthouse. Here is how the story unfolded. PHOTO: Former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone departs after he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, at U.S. District Court in Washington, Feb. 20, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters) 1:05 p.m. Stone departs courthouse smiling but doesn't say anything In a wild scene, Stone and his entourage depart the courthouse surrounded by shouting supporters and protesters. Stone is smiling but says nothing before getting into a waiting SUV. PHOTO: Roger Stone departs federal court in Washington, Feb. 20, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP) ABC News' Ali Dukakis was in the courtroom during the sentencing and files these notes: One could see only Stones back as he stood silently with several of his lawyers as Jackson delivered her blistering rebuke of Stone and others who have alleged he was charged because of his political activity and support of President Trump. "Stone was prosecuted for covering up for the president," Jackson said. When all was said and done, Stone attorney Bruce Rogow put a hand to Stones back in what appeared to be a gesture of emotional support that Stone played off as a signal to go back to the defense table. There were no tears. His wife and daughter looked shell-shocked, devoid of emotion, not yet digesting the weight of the moment. 12:34 p.m. Judge Jackson sentences Roger Stone to 40 months in prison He was given 24 months probation as well, plus a $20,000 fine. Before announcing the sentence, Jackson read lengthy prepared remarks -- during which Stone and three of his lawyers stood before her, hands clasped in front, with expressionless faces. "This prosecution did not arise because Mr. Stone was being pursued by his political enemies," Jackson said, adding that the government's case came about because Stone "injected himself smack in the center of one of the most significant issues of the day." She walked through the case, beginning with Stone's role as the Trump campaign's "contact point" to WikiLeaks, his contacts with senior aides to then-candidate Trump in the summer of 2016, and his misleading statements about Stone made to the House Intelligence Committee. The narrative Jackson gave followed the one presented by prosecutors at Stone's trial. She said at one point, "that is why he was indicted -- not because of his political activities." "The notion that this case rises and falls on whether Russians colluded in the election ... is false," Jackson added. "This is not mere equivocation, this is not the product of confusion ... the facts show these answers were clearly false," Jackson said of Stone's comments to the House Intelligence Committee. Ticking through the rest of the counts Stone was found guilty of committing, Jackson continued to read directly from testimony presented at trial -- including from former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and Randy Credico, the witness Stone was accused of threatening. "This effort to obstruct the investigation was deliberate, planned," Jackson said. "So that's what the defendant did." Jackson then turned to other circumstances she must take into account -- Roger Stone's record. She noted that even the letters in support of Stone characterized him as a "bare-knuckled brawler" and a "dirty trickster." "Those were the letters in support, mind you," she said. Jackson lauded Stone for his support of family members and using his "voice and political acumen" to advocate for various social efforts such as same-sex marriage and Alzheimer awareness. "It falls to me to sentence him [based on the merits of the case]," Jackson said. "Nothing about this case was a joke. It wasn't a prank," Jackson said. "The government's initial memorandum .. was submitted with an even-handed judgment," she said. "But I am concerned that 7-9 years ... would be greater than necessary." She called the "actions of the Justice Department" in the past week "unprecedented." Turning her attention to possible sentencing departures, Jackson said he is healthy and cited his extensive travel as evidence that he is not infirm, which appears to undercut some of what Stone's legal team suggested in their sentencing memorandum. "He wasn't prosecuted for standing up to for the president," Jackson said. "I cannot and will not sentence him based on the people he supports ... Roger Stone will not be sentenced for his reputation, or his personality, or his work," Jackson said. "The touchstone in this case is the offense." "This is not campaign hi-jinks ... he lied to Congress," Jackson said. Jackson took tremendous issue with statements made by Stone's lawyers: "So what?" she said. "The truth still persists. The truth still matters ... if it goes unpunished ... everyone loses," Jackson said. So while the defense can ask, who cares? Jackson hit back: "Congress cared. The Justice Department ... cared. The jury ... cared. The American people cared. I care." Jackson then went into her guideline calculations. 11:23 a.m. Judge takes break in proceedings; Stone says he won't speak on his own behalf "At this point, I want to take a short break," Judge Jackson says. It is not clear whether she will announce the sentence immediately upon reconvening. After his defense counsel concluded an impassioned plea for a sentence with no incarceration, Roger Stone rises to say he chooses not to speak on his own behalf. We are now in a 10-15 minute break. 11:16 a.m. Judge demands government explain sentencing recommendation confusion The new government prosecutor on Stone's case takes to the lectern to "apologize to the court for any confusion" caused by the Justice Department's dual sentencing recommendation memorandums. "This confusion was not caused by the original trial team," Crabb says. "There was nothing in bad faith about the prosecution team's recommendation." Jackson interrupts to ask several questions about who ordered the new memorandum, why an additional memorandum was filed, and what caused any discrepancies in the two documents. Crabb says the first memorandum was approved by the U.S. attorney. "What I understand is, there was a miscommunication between the U.S. attorney's office and main Justice," Crabb says, referring back to comments Attorney General Barr made in his interview with ABC News. Seemingly unsatisfied, Jackson asks Crabb to continue. "This prosecution was - and this prosecution is - righteous," Crabb says. He then urges the court to impose a substantial term of incarceration. Pressed by Jackson about how the second memorandum was crafted, Crabb says he could not "engage in a discussion about the internal deliberations." He refuses to say whether he wrote the memorandum - even though he signed it. Asked if he was ordered to write the second memoradum, Crabb again says he would not discuss it. Seth Ginsberg, defense counsel for Stone, then takes the lectern to make his case for leniency, calling Judge Jackson's attention to Stone's age and family situation: "He just became a grandfather." "Mr. Stone has many admirable qualities," Ginsberg adds. 11:04 a.m. Judge Jackson blasts Stone over his social media posts, including those about her Another proposed sentence enhancement, another win for prosecutors. Judge Jackson blasts Stone for his out-of-court conduct ahead of his trial, specifically social media posts that criticized the court, the judge, and the government prosecutors. "It's important to note he didn't just fire off a few intemperate emails ... it wasn't accidental," Judge Jackson says. "He knew exactly what he was doing." "This is intolerable for the administration of justice," Jackson says. "We had to waste considerable amount of time ... to get the defendant to comply with court orders." "Therefore I'm going to add the two levels and we are now at a Level 27," Jackson concludes. Judge Jackson then lists a few mitigating factors before turning to the sentencing grid, which dictates which sentence is appropriate after all sentence enhancements and downward departures are considered. Both parties will now have an opportunity to speak. 10:55 a.m. Judges sides with defense on proposed sentence enhancement for obstructive conduct On a third proposed sentence enhancement, Judge Jackson sides with defense counsel -- alleviating some pressure on Stone. "I'm not going to add two more levels for that," Jackson says, after hearing arguments about a proposed enhancement for additional obstructive conduct. She is now addressing an additional sentence enhancement - specifically related to Stone's controversial social media postings about Judge Jackson herself. 10:43 a.m. Judge appears to side with government on seriousness of Stone's witness tampering In a blow to Stone, Judge Jackson has twice sided with prosecutors, who have sought to invoke sentence level increases based on a statute accounting for physical threats. After an exchange about the veracity of prosecutors' claims that Stone did, in fact, threaten his longtime associate, Randy Credico (and Credico's therapy dog, Bianca), Jackson sides with the government. Justifying her decision to side with prosecutors, she recites several specific quotes -- many of which include expletives -- that reflect Stone's threats against Credico and his dog. ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas points out that Judge Jackson is taking her time, asking both sides to clarify positions taken in their sentencing memorandums. She is meticulously taking note of arguments made by both parties and asking for explanations where she perceives ambiguity. 10:24 a.m. Stone's defense lawyer pushes back on charge of witness tampering Judge Jackson, reading from a piece of paper, ticks through the counts Stone was found guilty of at trial. She runs through an explanation of her sentencing process, interrupting herself briefly to ask a member of the audience to remove his or her sunglasses. "For those who woke up last week and became persuaded that the guidelines are harsh," Jackson says. A lawyer for Stone, Seth Ginsberg, then rises to make the case that Stone's conduct and words carried little weight, particularly those used in his conviction for witness tampering. "Even though the words on their face could be read as threatening," Ginsberg says, "it's our position is that the words themselves did not constitute a threat at all." "Stone is known for using rough, hyperbolic language. Mr. Credico knew that. He knew that it was Stone being Stone. All bark and no bite," Ginsburg continues, referring to Randy Credico, a mercurial radio host, comedian and impressionist who was a key witness in the governments case against Stone. Stone is accused of threatening him and his dog. The government maintained that Credico was a conduit between Stone and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks the web operation that published thousands of stolen emails as part of an effort to hurt the campaign of President Trumps 2016 political opponent, Hillary Clinton. Reminded by Judge Jackson that she has the power to impose a sentence lower than called for in sentencing guidelines, Ginsburg shoots back: "Yes, and I hope you will!" 10:22 a.m. Trump tweets "FAIRNESS?" As Stone's sentencing gets underway, President Trump compares Stone's treatment to that of former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. "They say Roger Stone lied to Congress." @CNN OH, I see, but so did Comey (and he also leaked classified information, for which almost everyone, other than Crooked Hillary Clinton, goes to jail for a long time), and so did Andy McCabe, who also lied to the FBI! FAIRNESS? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2020 10:12 a.m. Judge Jackson addresses the Justice Department's sentencing recommendations Judge Jackson addresses the sentencing memorandum controversy in perfunctory terms -- noting the existence of both the case prosecutors' original recommendation and the subsequent Justice Department recommendation of a much shorter sentence. She stops short of editorializing. "I also received the government's supplemental memorandum," Jackson says. "I note that the initial memorandum has not been withdrawn." Jackson goes on to explain additional materials filed as part of the case, including the slew of letters written on Stone's behalf by friends and supporters urging the judge to grant him leniency. 10:05 a.m. Court proceedings have begun Attorneys for each side have introduced themselves. "We are here this morning for Roger Stones sentencing," Judge Jackson says. 8:45 a.m. Stone arrives amid protests outside courthouse Stone arrives with his wife, lawyers and entourage at the federal courthouse. Known for his sometimes flashy attire, he's wearing a fedora and sunglasses, smiles but says nothing. NEW: Roger Stone arrives at a DC courthouse for expected sentencing on his conviction for witness tampering and lying to Congress. A few onlookers yelled "Traitor!" at him as entered the building. https://t.co/uJXrkGnSHH pic.twitter.com/aXBbCEw04z ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 20, 2020 Some supporters hold up a large banner that said "#PardonRogerStone." Other protesters surround him and shout "traitor!" Some had set up an inflatable rat with a face that resembles that of President Trump. MORE: What you need to know about the indictment against Roger Stone PHOTO: Roger Stone arrives at court prior to his sentencing hearing, Feb. 20, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images) Overnight, despite Barr's warning not to comment on the case, President Trump at about 2 a.m. tweeted a clip of Fox News host Tucker Carlson calling the Stone case a "shocking insult to the American tradition of equal justice." Trump pinned the tweet on his feed. This report was featured in the Feb. 2 episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast. "Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. Trump says he'll let process 'play out' after ally Roger Stone gets 40 months in prison originally appeared on abcnews.go.com SPRINGFIELD, Ore. --- The Oregon State Bar rejected former Springfield police officer Neil Halttunen's application to become a lawyer. RELATED: FORMER SPRINGFIELD POLICE OFFICER THAT USED BADGE FOR SEX NOW WANTS TO BE LAWYER In denying his entry to the bar, examiners say he repeatedly abused his position by using his authority to get sex. Authorities said Halttunen had sexual interactions with nine women he met on duty. Examiners also said he had an affair with a police officer he met while working an event and with a dispatcher. He said all sexual interactions with the women were consensual and the board found that was not true. One of his accusers said when she managed a strip bar in Springfield he would come in on duty far more than what was needed for any legitimate police business. She claims he began sending sexually explicit pictures and asked for some in return. She also says he would follow home other women who worked at the bar. He resigned in 2012 under the agreement that the Springfield Police Department would close the investigation. Devin Martin said he used to volunteer at the Springfield Police Department and worked with Halttunen. "At first I was shocked, and then I started reading into it and various different females coming out of the woodworks," he said. "It also makes me wonder if there are other people out there trying to do this. It's sickening." Halttunen has worked for many agencies over the years. He was a military police officer from 1989 to 1991. He then worked for the Lane County Sheriff's Office from 1993 to 1994. Halttunen worked for the Roseburg Police Department from 1994 to 1996. He ended in Springfield where he was an officer from 1996 to 2012. A new report argues that the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program must evolve to better automate its laborious processes for approving cloud service providers and adapt to emerging technologies like Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. The report by the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law, a trade association run out of the Washington D.C, law firm Venable, draws on documents and interviews with federal agencies and cloud service providers who have worked with FedRAMP. It characterizes the current state of the program as "well intended and partially successful" but also "no longer optimized for modern security solutions." Government bureaucracy comes in for blame as one of the primary barriers to improving FedRAMP's speed and capacity. The report notes that multiple stakeholder, including the Office of Management and Budget, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Homeland Security and Congress that have some role in how the program operates. Program managers for FedRAMP have "worked diligently to balance its limited authority and resources against a CSP environment that has grown in scale and capability and a policy landscape that has been in flux," the authors wrote. However, "the current system is failing to keep pace with growth and change in commercial capabilities." The report also argues that FedRAMP in was designed for legacy IT environments and is ill-suited for the increasingly complex security add-ons for cloud products as well as emerging technologies like connected IoT devices and artificial intelligence, which are nevertheless becoming more integrated and relevant to government cloud environments. Add those problems up and you get something very close to what federal IT leaders have been saying about the program for years: it's simply too slow and does not have the capacity to meet demand among federal agencies. "Because of the way the program is structured, the joint authorization board really right now can only review about three CSP packages per quarter," said John Banghart, Senior Director for Technology Risk Management at Venable, at a Feb. 21 event centered around the report's release. "That's not a lot, particularly given with the way the landscape is expanding, with the amount of companies that are introducing cloud services and cloud products." The report recommends that government should redefine federal IT risk management and emphasize automated and continuous monitoring. This could be accomplished by identifying controls that are ripe for automation, developing automated standards for security assessments, aligning FedRAMP's assessment framework with NIST's Cybersecurity Framework and developing real-time dashboards to monitor cloud environments. The government should also look for ways to consolidate and standardize risk acceptance processes across government. This was, after all, the primary problem FedRAMP was created to solve in the first place. The authors advocate for consolidating cloud ATOs processes into one place, perhaps a shared service center, group together agencies with similar risk profiles to make cross-agency ATO acceptance more seamless and develop clear guidelines for reciprocity. Finally, the government should leverage emerging innovations in cloud and technology markets. This can be achieved through standard configurations for IT environments and components, compliance pathways for service providers looking to sell new technologies to the government. "The broad message of the administration today that I'd like to share is that we hear you, we're listening to your feedback and we see a tremendous opportunity to work with you to evolve this program so that it's a framework not only that works todaybut can really meet the needs of the next generation of technological innovation," Matthew Lira, White House Special Assistant to the President for Innovation Policy and Initiatives said at the event. Anil Cheriyan, Deputy Commissioner of the General Services Administration's Federal Acquisition Service and Director of the Technology Transformation Services, who also spoke at the event, told FCW that he was not prepared to endorse any of the specific recommendations at this time. Finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 nations weighed the potential impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the world economy as they met in Riyadh Saturday for a two-day gathering. At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, financial leaders from the world's top 20 economies are also seeking consensus on ways to achieve a global taxation system for the digital era. The gathering comes amid growing alarm over the new coronavirus as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent the spread of the disease, with major knock-on effects for the global economy. The virus has now claimed 2,345 lives in China, cutting off transportation and forcing businesses to close their doors. The impact of the epidemic could see a "V-shaped" trajectory, with a sharp decline in China's GDP followed by a sharp recovery, but the situation could have more dire consequences for other countries as the impacts spill over, said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. At the core of discussions at the gathering is an action plan to shield the world economy -- already facing a slowdown -- from the impact of the outbreak, said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. "The question remains open: whether it will be a V-shape with a quick recovery of the world economy or whether it would lead to a L-shape with a persistent slowdown in world growth," Le Maire told reporters. "This is the key question." China has said it will not be sending any leaders from Beijing for the Riyadh gathering, chaired by the the kingdom's finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan and central bank governor Ahmed al-Kholifey. But it said the Chinese ambassador in the kingdom will instead lead a small delegation. "We have been closely watching the developments of the virus and assessing its potential effects on economic growth," a senior US Treasury official told reporters. "We expect ministers and governors will discuss the global economic outlook, particularly as it relates to the coronavirus outbreak." The G20 organisers also hosted a ministerial-level symposium on international taxation on Saturday, focused on the challenges arising from the digitalisation of the global economy. "There is a consensus among the G20 members on the necessity of getting this new international taxation system for the sake of fairness and efficiency," said Le Maire. He added there was also consensus on a global framework for an international system while urging the gathered leaders to reach a compromise solution by the end of the year. Last month, Britain said its planned digital tax on hugely profitable technology giants will proceed from April despite US threats of retaliatory tariffs. "You cannot have in a global economy different national tax systems that conflict with each other," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Riyadh gathering. Other European nations like Italy and Austria have already introduced their own digital levy, but France has put its plans on hold. Presidents Emmanuel Macron and US Donald Trump have agreed to extend negotiations on the proposed French tax on digital giants to the end of the year, postponing Washington's threat of sanctions against Paris, according to a French diplomatic source. France has said it would drop its tax if an international agreement is reached under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Saudi presidency will see it host world leaders for a summit in Riyadh from November 21 to 22. It will hold more than 100 events and conferences in the run-up to the summit, including ministerial meetings, organisers say. Human rights groups have urged G20 member states to exert pressure on the kingdom over its intensifying crackdown on dissent, which has seen women activists, journalists and political dissidents jailed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington DC [USA], Feb 22 (ANI): Donald Trump will encourage India and Pakistan to engage in bilateral dialogue to resolve their difference, a senior US Administration official said on Friday, ahead of the US President's maiden visit to India from February 24. The official made the remark while responding to a reporter's question on whether the US President will repeat his offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," the official said here. "President will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the line of control and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region," the official added. The official said that the United States believes a core foundation of any successful dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. Last month, Trump had repeated his offer to "help" resolve the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. India has maintained that there is no scope for third-party mediation. Calling US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo statement -- that the country has reached an understanding with the Taliban to reduce violence in Afghanistan -- a major step forward, the official said Washington looks to India's support for the Afghan peace process."We would just encourage India, as we are all regional countries, to do whatever they can to support this peace process so that it can be successful and we can potentially end 19 years of military, diplomatic, economic engagement," the official said. "You know, that we can end the military engagement. We will be continuing our diplomatic and economic engagement, which has been there over the last 19 years," the official added. Accompanied by a 12-member delegation, the US President will arrive on his maiden visit to India on February 24. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday voiced disapproval of AIMIM leader Waris Pathan's '15 crore Muslims can be heavy on 100 crore' remark and asserted that there was a difference between being "religious" and a "fanatic". The former JNU student leader, who was here after completing a state-wide 'Jan Gan Man Yatra' against CAA-NPR- NRC, was responding to queries about Pathan's comments and the 'Pakistan zindabad' slogan raised by a young woman at an AIMIM rally in Bangalore, which resulted in her being slapped with a sedition case. Pathan had made the statement while addressing an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Karnataka on February 16. "There always seems to be the need of a whipping boy. Four years ago it was me, at the receiving end of abuses everywhere, including social media. Now, I may have become outdated, so new objects of hatred have been discovered," the 32-year-old, who first came into limelight upon being slapped with a sedition case in 2016, said. He, however, added that he was against any attempts to incite people in the name of religion. "It also needs to be understood that there is a difference between being religious and being a fanatic and using one's belief to justify hatred," he told reporters here. The CPI leader will spend the next few days here holding public outreach programmes against CAA-NPR-NRC across Patna district, before concluding his drive with a rally at Gandhi Maidan on February 27. Kanhaiya also underscored that the country-wide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act-National Population Register-National Register of Citizens were part of a larger fight to protect civil liberties that have come under attack in the current regime. "We are happy to have done our bit in Bihar. The government in the country seems to believe in the doctrine of divert and rule, just like the British followed the policy of divide and rule. These unnecessary measures are just a ploy to divert public attention," he alleged. "We have, therefore, coined the slogan 'Bihaar maange rozgaar, nahin chaahiye NPR' (Bihar needs jobs, not NPR," Kanhaiya said. He reiterated that the drive was not aimed at electoral benefits and conducted "with support from people of various parties", pointing towards Congress MLA Shakeel Ahmed Khan, who sat by his side and had accompanied him during the yatra. "We got a tremendous response which is a proof that we have struck the right notes, raised issues which matter. Of course, there was politically engineered hostility. But, we succeeded in covering 38 districts with attacks at just nine places," he remarked with a wry smile. Replying to a question, he said, "I have received no invitation from Prashant Kishor (poll strategist) to work with him. But, I must make it clear, I am in support of all those who have a vision for betterment of Bihar and I consider none of them as my competitors." The young leftist leader's press conference was hit by roadblocks as a city-based institute, which was originally chosen as the venue, cancelled the arrangement at the eleventh hour and slammed its doors shut on journalists who reached there. Hurriedly, arrangements for the press conference were thereafter made at the CPI state headquarters which, Kanhaiya said, "We wanted to avoid to drive home the point that our movement is not a party event". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Neena Gupta could not hide their happiness after their just released comedy-drama received a good response from the movie enthusiasts. The light-hearted comedy flick hit the theatres on Friday and has minted Rs 9.55 crores on the first day of its release, according to film critic and trade analyst, Taran Adarsh. The lead actor of the film, Ayushmann, who is essaying the role of a homosexual man madly in love with his partner, shared a previously seen poster of the movie on Instagram, in which it is mentioned about the movie minting Rs 9.55 crore on day one. Raving the Indian audience who supported the movie, the 35-year-old actor wrote the caption: "India ne dikhaya apna zyada pyaar! #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan" Actors Bhumi Pednekar and Aditi Rao Hydari gave favourable reactions in the post, with the former putting a dancing emoticon, while the other wrote 'Yayeeee.' Joining the 'Bala' actor in sharing similar excitement was Gupta, who plays a pivotal role in the movie. The 60-year-old star took to Instagram to share yet another poster from the film, with a caption that read: "India ne dikhaya apna zyada pyaar! #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan's humour, emotions, and the unique subject ruled everyone's hearts right on the first day!" Helmed by Hitesh Kewalya, the film is a light-hearted comedy, which can be seen as a progressive attempt towards the acceptance of same-sex couples, an issue that continues to remain a taboo in India even after a year of its decriminalisation by the Supreme Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood veteran and Actor and former Member of Lok Sabha Shatrughan Sinha was recently spotted at a wedding in Lahore, Pakistan. The news went viral all over social media after pictures and videos of the wedding, in which Sinha can be seen at the venue, were posted by a user on Instagram. The user has been identified as a local photographer in Lahore. The videos and snapshots of the wedding show Sinha attending a qawwali night, according to indiatoday.in. Sinha is seen with Pakistani actress Reema Khan in one video, looking dapper in black suit and trademark scarf around his neck, also in black. Not surprisingly, sections of social media were livid over Sinha's attending a wedding in Pakistan, according to timesofindia.com. "Indian soldiers are dying on the borders safeguarding the nation and our B-Town celebs are proving their friendship with Pakistanis," wrote a user. Another user tried making light of the incident: "What is Shatrughan Sinha doing in Lahore? We'd ask him but he'd just say 'Khamosh!'" Trump and the Puritans by James Roberts and Martyn Whittock This book explains how, to the incomprehension and dismay of American liberals, Donald Trump was elected President by attracting the support of American Puritans. Those of us who watch the politics of America from afar sometimes make the error of imagining that country to be similar to the European democracies, only bigger and more modern. This assumption can be nourished by reading the best of the American press. Here one finds a sophisticated liberalism in harmony with European liberalism: a community of like-minded progressives who love the same writers, thrill to the same causes and are joined rather than divided by the Atlantic. But America is in some respects astonishingly old-fashioned. That is one reason why I love going there. They take history more seriously than we do, and believe it is worth shedding blood for what you believe in a truth from which the liberal mind recoils. And they take religion more seriously than we do. The authors of this work remind us that about 70 per cent of American adults identify as being Christian, and that of the total adult population, a quarter describe themselves as evangelicals. Of those evangelicals, 81 per cent voted for Trump in 2016, and most of them have stuck with him since. The term evangelical is open to the objection that it is imprecise, but as James Roberts and Martyn Whittock observe: While the meaning of this term may be open to interpretation, those who use it in the USA as an identifier generally subscribe to a broad raft of beliefs: acceptance of the Bible as the inspired word of God (which often has a fundamentalist and literal interpretation of the scriptures); traditional concepts of marriage, family and gender; and traditional attitudes towards the practice of sexuality, almost always involving classifying homosexual practice as sinful, with acceptable (heterosexual) sexual relations being reserved for within marriage. This is a collection of beliefs that would have been both recognised and accepted by most seventeenth-century Puritan believers. In England, Puritanism failed, and was seen to have failed, by 1660. In New England, where The Mayflower landed with the first wave of Puritan settlers in 1620, and the Great Migration of about 21,000 Puritans took place between 1629 and 1642, Puritanism succeeded. The most famous manifesto for American Puritanism was uttered by John Winthrop, from Groton in Suffolk, who had been educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1630 led the Winthrop fleet of 700 colonists sailing in 11 ships from England to New England: We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies; when He shall make us a praise and glory that men shall say of succeeding plantations, may the Lord make it like that of New England. For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world. We shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God The authors of this book give a convincing and dispassionate account of American Puritanism, but do not quote Winthrop at such length: I have done so in order to remind myself and others of the moral seriousness of these early Puritans. The book does include the most remembered words in the above passage, city upon a hill, spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and in more recent times by Presidents John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, who clearly wished with a certain effrontery, some may say to show that they were acting within the Winthrop tradition. There were echoes of Winthrop, these authors maintain, in Trumps speech in Pensacola, Florida, in November 2018, when he declared that pioneers and visionaries raised up gleaming cities by the sea. The standard liberal retort to this line of argument is that Trump is too sleazy, pagan and disreputable to be a convincing champion for American evangelicals. Moral condemnation of the President supplants any attempt to understand why Christians do quite often decide, on moral or indeed spiritual grounds, to vote for him. This book acts as an antidote to such intellectual laziness. It traces the survival of American Puritanism from the 17th century to the present day, and shows how Trump made himself the champion of evangelicals who see everything they hold dear threatened by an aggressive liberal secularism which treats them with contempt. The evangelicals found themselves dismissed by Hillary Clinton as deplorables, a badge they were happy to adopt. They found their traditional understanding of marriage mocked, and were more numerous, and more persistent, than British Conservatives who suffered the same insult at the hands of David Cameron: After the passing into law of what Hillary and her supporters in the US and elsewhere called marriage equality a term that many deplorables regarded as a form of Newspeak President Barack Obama ordered that the White House be bathed in the colours of the rainbow. In the eyes of many this was a tender act of solidarity. After centuries of the darkening of marriage through prejudice and exclusion, America had taken a step towards a new era of equality, perhaps the most important one since the Supreme Courts Roe v, Wade ruling in 1973, which affirmed a womans right to abortion. In the eyes of the deplorables, however, the rainbow White House was a transparent act of liberal-secular passive aggression. Under the guise of inclusiveness, the government was excluding the huge section of traditionally Christian Americans who believed that marriage was, by definition and nature, an institution that joined together one man and one woman. The early Puritans, founding their New Jerusalem in New England, were convinced they were Gods chosen people, entitled to dispossess and exterminate the Native Americans. This belief in a providential mission was articulated on a larger scale by the journalist John L OSullivan, who wrote in 1845, while urging the annexation of Texas, of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions. The United States had the divine right to seize by force in 1846-48 vast territories from Mexico, stretching westwards all the way to California, with the southern border extended to the Rio Grande. Abraham Lincoln, newly elected to the House of Representatives, opposed the Mexican War, and failed as a result to win re-election. Trump, if he had been around, would have been all in favour of it. His anti-Mexican rhetoric is not an invention of the last few years, but has deep roots in American history. His calls to build a wall along the southern border play to the fear of evangelical Americans that the nation their forefathers built is in danger of being overwhelmed. In 1960, Protestant voters narrowly failed to avert the election of the first Roman Catholic President, JFK. In the course of that decade, these Protestants came, these authors observe, to see secularisation as a bigger threat to their understanding of Christian values than that posed by Catholicism. By 1980, Pastor Jerry Falwell could declare, in the forward to a book entitled The New Right: Were Ready to Lead , Americans have literally stood by and watched as godless, spineless leaders have brought our nation floundering to the brink of death. The evangelical Right had become a major force in politics. George W. Bush owed his election in 2000, and re-election in 2004, in part to the skill with which he appealed to this constituency. Trump is adept, on issues like abortion, Israel and gun control, at appealing to evangelicals, convincingly portrayed here as the inheritors of the suspicion of central authority, and sure belief in their own righteousness, of the early Puritan settlers. If Trump can appoint enough Supreme Court judges who oppose abortion, he can turn back the tide of secularisation. Compared to that great goal, his own character defects seem unimportant to many evangelicals. Like Cyrus, the King of Persia who in the Book of Isaiah is found liberating the Jews at Gods behest, Trump is seen by some evangelicals as a man who is doing Gods work. Liberals will throw up their hands in disgust at that thought. But revulsion precludes comprehension of how Trump has profiled himself as the defender of evangelicals who feel, as these authors put it, that in a world of liberal identity politics they have been denied an identity that they themselves would recognise. The 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers (as they became known) on The Mayflower falls in November this year, just after the presidential election, so one of the first duties of the victor will be to join in the celebrations of that event, and to decide how to react to criticism by Native Americans. To anyone who wants to understand Trump, and how he became the champion of Americas embattled evangelicals, this scrupulous though not elegant book may be warmly recommended. Head of Ternopil Regional Administration resigns due to events around evacuation of Ukrainians from China President's Office President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has accepted the resignation of the head of Ternopil Regional State Administration Ihor Sopel. "In connection with the situation that took place in the Ternopil region due to the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from China, and the unsatisfactory work of the regional state administration to inform the public about epidemiological safety, the President of Ukraine received a resignation letter submitted by Ihor Sopel," the press service of the president said. Entrepreneur Sopel became the head of the Regional State Administration on October 31 last year. As reported, the Ukrainian authorities decided to evacuate the citizens of the country from China in connection with the outbreak of coronavirus. On February 18, several hundred people gathered in Mykulyntsi, Ternopil region, to protest against the placement of people evacuated from China in the Medobory healthcare facility (Konopkivka village near Mykulyntsi) for quarantine and observational measures. A similar action took place in the Lviv region. President Zelensky said that the actions against the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan had political support, and because of this, it was not possible to bring the evacuated for observation to the Ternopil region, where there were the best conditions. New Delhi: Days after Ali Abbas Zafar announced the remake of Sridevi and Anil Kapoor's 1987 blockbuster 'Mr India', Sonam Kapoor lashed out at the filmmaker for not "bothering to consult" her father or Shekhar Kapur, the director of the original film, about the same. In a strongly-worded statement posted on social media, the 34-year-old actress said that Anil Kapoor or she weren't aware that the film was being remade until Ali Abbas Zafar announced it. "A lot of people have been me asking me about the 'Mr India remake'. Honestly, my father didn't even know that the film was being remade, we found about it through social media when Ali Abbas Zafar tweeted. It's quite disrespectful and underhanded, if it is true, since no one bothered to consult my father or Shekhar uncle - two people who played a major role in making the film what it was and is," Sonam wrote. She said that it was important for the team to keep her father and Shekhar Kapur informed about the remake as it is a part of their legacy. "It is sad because that was a film made with heart and hardwork and is very sentimental to my father, beyond commerce and announcements, it's a part of his legacy. I should hope that respect for someone's work and contribution is still as important to us as a big weekend at the box-office," she added. Ali Abbas Zafar had announced the remake of the iconic film earlier this week. In a tweet, he said, "Excited to partner with Zee Studios for an epic trilogy Mr India! It is a huge responsibility to carry forward an iconic character loved by everyone. Currently, working on the script, no actor has been locked till now. Once we lock the first draft of the script, casting begins!" Excited to partner with @ZeeStudios_ for an epic trilogy #MrIndia! It is a huge responsibility to carry forward an iconic character loved by everyone. Currently, working on the script, no actor has been locked till now. Once we lock the first draft of the script, casting begins! ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) February 17, 2020 Shekhar Kapur had also expressed his concern on Twitter. He had written: "No one has even asked me or mentioned to me about this film called Mr India 2. I can only guess that they using the title to get a big weekend. For they cannot use the characters/story without permission from the original creators of the film." No one has even asked me or mentioned to me about this film called Mr India 2. I can only guess that they using the title to get a big weekend. For they cannot use the characters/story without permission from the original creators of the film. https://t.co/Set5eDH63j Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) February 18, 2020 Zafar is currently working on the script of the film and will soon sign in actors and technicians for the film after completing the script. 'Mr India' introduced several iconic characters like that of Mr India and Mogambo that continue to be etched in the hearts of cinema lovers. 'Mr India' tells the story of a poor but big-hearted man (Anil Kapoor) who gives shelter to orphans. After discovering his scientist father's invention of a device that would make its user invisible, he fights to save the children and the country from a villain named Mogambo, an unforgettable portrayal by late actor Amrish Puri. Late actress Sridevi starred as Anil Kapoor's love interest and a journalist by profession. Killer dad Rowan Baxter had a string of mistresses and was texting 'hundreds' of women while he was married to the wife he murdered alongside their children, his cousin says. Sandra Taylor told Daily Mail Australia that she feared the controlling and vengeful coward would murder his estranged wife Hannah Clarke, and offered up her home as a safe haven. Ms Taylor, 45, set about making her house in Brisbane's south ready for her to run to, even buying treats for her three children. But before they could use it, Hannah was burned to death in her car along with Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, after Ms Taylor's cousin Baxter ambushed them at her parents' come in Camp Hill. Scroll down for video Killer dad Rowan Baxter (pictured with estranged wife Hannah Clarke) had a string of mistresses and was texting 'hundreds' of women while he was married to the wife he murdered alongside their children, his cousin says Rowan Baxter's cousin Sandra Taylor (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia she feared he would murder his estranged wife Hannah Clarke Left: Hannah Clarke pictured with her 'main man', son Trey in a beach snap. Right: Mrs Baxter on her wedding with her husband Ms Taylor was shocked when she heard about Wednesday morning's senseless murder, but in hindsight knew it was coming. 'I was shaken to the core when I heard... [but] this does not surprise me,' she told Daily Mail Australia. The mother-of-one said she was worried as Baxter's behaviour became increasingly threatening, including an assault on Hannah and constant stalking. 'Rowan was a man with a dangerous sense of possession and entitlement over his wife and children, particularly in the last three months, that I was concerned for,' she said. 'This was a man with a level of hatred and disrespect for their mother so great that he would make this choice - the most horrifying and despicable of choices.' Ms Taylor, who is Baxter's first cousin on his mother's side, revealed he was believed to be cheating on Hannah. The killer (pictured, centre right) flooded his social media with pictures of his three children, giving the impression of a doting father Hannah Clarke (pictured with her three children, aliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3) is seen enjoying a day with her own grandmother (far left) 'We were at a family barbecue and he was at the grill and I walked over to him and he was sending hundreds of texts to other women,' she said. 'I know Hannah believed she wasn't the only one.' She also believes that Baxter had several affairs during his first marriage. While speaking to Nine News, Ms Taylor said said Baxter had a long history of vile misogyny, believing women were either 'prostitutes' or 'cleaners'. Rowan Baxter's cousin Sandra Taylor (pictured) believes that Baxter had several affairs during his first marriage He had made his wife suffer through years of sexual, emotional and financial abuse, before she finally broke free from his clutches and planned to start a new life. But he soon made sure her dream could never be realised. 'Rowan believed that women are two things - to be a house cleaner, and to be a prostitute,' she said. Ms Taylor reached out to Hannah when Baxter made a long post on Facebook last month playing the victim about the custody battle, saying a 'great father like him' was being hard done by. The pair realised they worked in the same building and after Ms Taylor explained the history that helped explain Baxter's abuse, forged a bond. 'I let her know this was a safe house, it's minutes from our work and you'll be safe with us. I started buying treats for the children, I had visions of girls nights and made up the spare room,' she said. In her kitchen is an unopened 12-pack of Nutella she and her fiance bought for Hannah's three children and looked forward to spoiling them with. She said Hannah was forming a network of safe houses she could run to if Baxter appeared and threatened her. A shrine grows at the scene where Hannah and her three kids were doused in fuel and set alight, while one person leaves a poignant sign about domestic violence (pictured) Hannah Clarke (pictured with her three children, aliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3) died of her injuries on Wednesday But Baxter was one step ahead because he had hacked into Hannah's phone using dodgy attachments and soon turned on Ms Taylor. 'I started getting very worried because all of a sudden I started seeing dog faeces all over my driveway, and two of my pot plants were destroyed,' she said. 'He's the kind of bloke to be doing that. 'I didn't know how to tell her to that he kept walking by the building we both worked in.' Ms Taylor said it now all made sense after Hannah's parents revealed Baxter was hacking into Hannah's phone, tracking her movements, and had been monitoring her activity for years. Ms Taylor said she was worried as Baxter's behaviour became increasingly threatening, including an assault on Hannah and constant stalking Ms Taylor said though it in no way excused Baxter's unspeakable crime, it could have been prevented if he was given help for the mental scars. 'He thinks he's done the right thing because there's been no mentoring for him, no one to make him see this isn't okay,' she said. 'It's just been fear, control, mental, sexual, and physical abuse?' Ms Taylor said more help and resources were needed to break the cycle of abuse. 'I will never understand. Twenty years in counselling I still ask that same question,' she said. 'When does it all stop?' The family's car (pictured) is removed from the scene in Camp Hill, Brisbane, after Hannah Clarke and her three children were set alight inside Hannah Clarke and her three children were torched in their car on Wednesday morning by Rowan Baxter (all pictured together) who stabbed himself to death at the scene in Camp Hill Hannah's shattered father Lloyd Clarke has pieced together the horrific timeline of events that led to the tragic loss of four lives and Baxter's suicide. Despite suffering burns to 97 per cent of her body, heroic Hannah was able to give police at the scene a detailed statement about what happened. She was taking the children to school after 8am from her parents' house in Camp Hill, Brisbane, while her killer lay in wait. A notorious control freak, Baxter had been spiralling since Hannah left him after years of abuse. 'Rowan must have been lurking somewhere close, either hidden around the side of the house or in the neighbour's driveway,' Mr Clarke told Daily Mail Australia. 'His car was found down the street, this was definitely premeditated.' Lloyd Clarke (pictured, left) appeared on A Current Affair with his wife Suzanne (centre) and son Nat (right) as they paid tribute to their family Aaliyah (left), 6, Laianah (right), 4, and Trey (centre), 3, were killed in a quadruple murder-suicide on Wednesday morning when their father set their car alight on their way to school It comes after her family gave a brave TV interview to speak out about the horrors of domestic violence, just days after losing their three grandchildren and their daughter. Doting grandparents Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke adored Hannah's children and took them on days on fun-filled holidays and day trips. Alongside Hannah's brother Nat, the family announced they would launch a charity in her name to support other victims during a remarkable interview on A Current Affair on Friday night. In words that left viewers in floods of tears, the family urged others to hold their loved ones close - and not let themselves be consumed by hate. Lloyd Clarke (pictured, left) and Suzanne (right) are seen meeting baby Trey for the first time, along with his big sister Aaliyah. Trey was to die at three years-old along with his sisters and mum A makeshift shrine appeared at thew scene of the horrific crime. Heartbroken friends and family left flowers and teddy bears as they mourned the loss of Hannah Baxter and her three children 'I know everyone knows he was a monster,' Hannah's brother Nat said. '[But] don't get caught up with the hate and everything. 'Just spread the love that you have. Go home, hug someone. Hold them close. 'Appreciate your children. If there's someone who, a family member that for some reason you've fallen out with or whatever, just reach out. 'Have a chat to them. See how they're doing. That will be my best thing.' Chris Palmer, The Philadelphia Inquirer A 25-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were charged Friday in the death of Yaniyah Foster, 19, who was fatally shot Wednesday as she sat on the front steps of her North Philadelphia home. Charles Davis, 25, and Joel Saint-Fort, 16, were charged Friday with murder and related crimes for allegedly firing at a group of people outside Fosters house on the 1000 block of West Thompson Street. Foster, a 2019 graduate of Ben Franklin High School who worked at the Center City restaurant Kanella Grill, was struck in the head during the shootout, police said. A 23-year-old man was shot in a foot. Two others were shot and injured during the incident, one of them a 25-year-old bystander struck in the head as he sat in his car. Police have not disclosed a motive. Fosters killing came amid a deadly start to the year in Philadelphia. As of Thursday, police statistics show, 52 people have been slain since Jan. 1, the highest year-to-date total since 2011. The shooting incident on Thompson began around 3:37 p.m. Wednesday. Davis and Saint-Fort allegedly opened fire after walking south on 11th Street and seeing a group of people gathered outside Fosters house. Someone in Fosters group then chased after the gunmen and returned fire, police said. Davis was shot in an arm, and the 25-year-old man was shot in the head. He was taken to Temple University Hospital in critical condition but was expected to survive. After the shootout, Davis and Saint-John drove to the same hospital as the other three victims to seek treatment for Davis. Investigators found two guns in the car the men drove, and they were the same caliber as the bullets found at the scene, according to Smith. Fosters mother was devastated by the shooting, describing her daughter as loving, caring, and one of four siblings. It was not clear Friday whether Davis or Saint-Fort had attorneys. They remained in custody without bail. Transferring to a four-year college or university from Mid Michigan College will now be simpler thanks to new transfer agreements signed with 25 Michigan colleges and universities. "Through extensive efforts from both two-year and four-year institutions over the past couple of years, Michigan has made great strides in improving the transfer of courses for college students. It has been exciting to see Mid Michigan College increase the number of direct course equivalencies with four-year schools through this collaborative work," said Richard Smith, associate dean of off-campus instruction at Mid. Transfer agreements will allow Mid 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 Mid 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. Mid Michigan College Mentors, who provide academic advising services, 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% of bachelor's degree earners in Michigan previously enrolled at a community college, which is higher than the national average of 49%. 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 Mid Michigan College is working on completing additional agreements in other academic program areas. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y -- She was known to many simply as Dr. Greh. Thats what the thousands of St. Johns University students called Deborah Ellen Greh, 71, of Scotch Plains, N.J. for the 31 years she taught and served as director of mass communications at the schools Grymes Hill campus. Dr. Greh, who retired last year, lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia, on Thursday. I have never met a nicer, kinder person. She just touched everybody. She always saw the good in people, said her wife of 25 years, Colleen Collins. "She has taught at other places, but St. Johns was her true love. ...She loved the students; they kept her young. ...She got so much from the students. I know she gave a lot, but she got a lot from them too. LIFE-LONG MENTORING But her relationship with the students didnt end at graduation. She often mentored students throughout their careers. Some, she brought on to teach as adjunct professors at the college. But for all, she was there to discuss any new direction in their career path when called upon. And her diverse array of communication arts students over the years boast several grammy winners, as well as award-winning journalists, television producers, music makers, filmmakers, authors, marketing professionals, video gamers and more. Dr. Greh shared a passion for communication arts that was contagious, and although she was a tough professor who demanded a lot from her students, she also was kind and thoughtful," said Rosanne Mottola, a former adjunct professor and St. Johns graduate. "Her dedication to her students didnt end on graduation day; rather, for many of her alumni she served as a mentor and friend for life. She never stopped teaching - her guidance and wisdom were boundless, as was her gleeful humor and quick wit. She will be terribly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Dr. Greh launched and hosted an annual Com Connection event -- now in its 18th year -- where alumni were able to mix with students each year in hope of making a business connection. She wanted desperately to be able to stay alive for the Com Connection this year (on March 24). That was her goal, said Collins as she chocked back the tears. At last years event, Dr. Greh announced she would be retiring and introduced her successor, Dr. Nancy DiTunnariello, assistant professor and new director of the Communication Arts Program at St. Johns University. Debbie Greh was a great many things, including a wonderful professor, an amazing mentor, and loyal friend, said DiTunnariello. Its hard to capture her dynamic personality in just a few words, but I will say that she was a caring person who lovingly invested a great deal into her family, friends and students. And, I am confident that we are all better people for having known her. Said Kristine Garlisi, chief of staff at The Nicotra Group, a former adjunct professor and St. Johns University alumna: What made Debbie special was the way she connected her St. Johns students from every decade for internships, jobs or career advice. I was her student, then her colleague, then a faculty member in her department, and then her friend. And I felt important to her in every role. We all did. Her annual Communications Connection event is more than a networking event, its a family reunion with decades of alumni and students mixing, where Dr. Greh would remind all of us to, be good people, in whatever profession you land in. Many of her students took to Facebook to express their sorrow on Thursday following the news of her death. If you had the privilege of being one of Dr. Grehs students, you were undoubtedly the recipient of her fierce support, said Jessica Jones, a St. Johns graduate, former adjunct professor and freelance journalist. No matter what path of communications you chose, she offered boundless encouragement -- taking great pride in each and every one of her students talents and resulting accolades. It always amazed me how intimately she knew every single one of us -- taking the time to text and email career advice long after we had left the halls of St. Johns. Her wit was quick, her laugh contagious. ...When no one else understood you, Dr. Greh did. She inspired thousands of students throughout her decades long career and we are collectively mourning her loss, added Jones. That sentiment was shared by many former students and colleagues. Debbie Greh was always such a positive impact in my life and the lives of anyone who knew her. She always tried to help those who needed it and was a true friend. I never thought I would become so close with someone who was my college professor," said Nicholas A. Legakis, a St. Johns graduate, adjunct professor and director of development for St. Johns College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Office of Advancement. Her actions influenced me to have that same relationship with many of my students. Said Vincent Innocente, manager of marketing and audience services at the St. George Theatre and St. Johns alumnus: Dr. Greh was more than just a teacher; she was a mentor and friend to me and countless communications students on the Staten Island Campus of St. Johns. She influenced my life in so many ways, and created a strong community of students and alumni that will continue to honor her legacy through our relationships with one another. Said Rob Janicke, co-owner/founder, SoundEvolution Music and a St. Johns graduate: If you dont believe teachers or educators of any kind can have a lifelong impact on who you are and who you become, you were never taught by Dr. Greh! Im one of the lucky ones who was. Im proud to call her a teacher, a mentor, a friend. I will miss her terribly. Said Michael Leavy, St. Johns graduate and founder of Fuzz on the Lens Productions: To simply put it, Dr. Greh was one of the best. She was someone that every single teacher should strive to be like: A genuine, caring, and companionate soul. I am devastated to learn about the passing of one of my mentors, and the first person who impacted me at St. Johns University. She always had a smile on her face, and did her best to help every single student she had. She was one of a kind. Said Kara Scandaglia, digital account manager for Advance Local: I can only hope that Dr. Greh knew how important she was to each of her students. Being one of her past students, I know how committed she was to helping each of them move forward, strive harder, and never accept the standard as enough. ...I hope the stories of her generosity bring comfort to her family. Dr. Greh, I am grateful to have had you in my life. Dr. Greh also started a scholarship for students at the Staten Island campus of St. Johns University. She called it the Staten Island Mass Communications Scholarship and she contributed money to it annually from her own pocket so students who needed help received it, said Legakis, noting Dr. Greh had been working with him to have the scholarship endowed. YOUNGER YEARS Born and raised in Newark, N.J., Dr. Greh was a graduate of East Orange Catholic High School, class of 1966. She earned her bachelors degree in education from the College of St. Elizabeth and Teachers College, Morristown, N.J., and her doctorate in education from Columbia University, Manhattan. In addition to her love for the students she mentored at St. Johns University, Dr. Greh had a great passion for art. She was the past president and executive director of the Art Educators of New Jersey, as well as an active member of the National Art Educators Association. She also authored several books, including Computers in the Art Room, and New Technologies In The Art Room. Before joining the staff of St. Johns University in 1988, she worked as an art teacher at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains. In addition to her wife, she is survived by her sister, Mary Anne Rizzolo; nephews, Joseph and James; her great-nephew, Avery James and her great-niece, Katie. Dr. Greh is also survived by her extended family, caring friends, and adoring students. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Visitation will be at Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Ave., Fanwood, N.J. on Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. with a service at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to St. Huberts Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940, or to Autism N.J., 500 Horizon Drive, Suite 530 Robbinsville, NJ 08691. A memorial service is also being planned for a later date at the Grymes Hill campus of St. Johns University. Here are some Facebook and Instagram posts about how Dr. Greh inspired so many: < He is currently attending Milan Fashion Week and rubbing shoulders with the industries most stylish. But Orlando Bloom, 43, cut a casual figure when he stepped out on Saturday to greet fans outside his hotel in Milan. The hunk was accompanied by his beloved toy poodle, Mighty, who is rarely not seen by his side. Casual: Orlando Bloom, 43, cut a casual figure when he stepped out on Saturday to greet fans outside his hotel in Milan Orlando opted for beige coloured sweat pants teamed with a simple black pullover. He completed the casual ensemble with a navy beanie hat and took time to smile and take selfies with eager fans who were ready and waiting outside his hotel. The actor scooped up his tiny pooch and held him in his hands along with his iPhone for the outing in the Italian hotspot. Puppy love: The hunk was accompanied by his beloved toy poodle, Mighty, who is rarely not seen by his side Selfie: The actor opted for beige coloured sweat pants teamed with a simple black pullover The Lord Of The Rings star was fresh faced despite his night of partying on Friday. Orlando was at Edward Enniful's Birthday bash alongside models including Irina Shayk, Bella Hadid and Cara Delevingne. The British Vogue Editor-In-Chief celebrated in style with a special appearance from pooch, Mighty. Chic: The actor scooped up his tiny pooch and held him in his hands along with his iPhone Photo opportunity: He completed the casual ensemble with a navy beanie hat and took time to smile and take selfies with eager fans who were ready and waiting outside his hotel Orlando was flying solo in the fashion capital, with his fiancee Katy Perry currently busy filming American Idol in the US. The British star recently took to Instagram to reveal his freshly corrected tattoo which he got in honour of his nine-year-old son Flynn. The inking, which featured a thin black line and a series of numbers, was supposed to spell out 'Flynn' in Morse Code but instead it spelled the word 'Frynn'. Fun: Edward Enninful was given the ultimate surprise for his 48th birthday on Friday as Irina Shayk brought together some of fashion's biggest stars for a wild party in Milan Mans best friend: Orlando was flying solo in the fashion capital, with his fiancee Katy Perry currently busy filming American Idol in the US The actor also revealed another tattoo on the inside of his wrist, which featured a picture of a dog with the word 'SIDI' written in block letters. Alongside the selection of snaps, the Lord of the Rings star wrote: "Finally dot it right! How do you make a mistake like that? #pinterestfail Fortunately I know how to spell Sidi. Forever my boy." Sidi was the actor's dog who sadly passed away in 2016 after a long struggle with liver disease. Orlando previously revealed that he adopted the black Saluki mix in 2004 after rescuing him as a stray when filming Kingdom Of Heaven in Morocco. Inked: Orlando recently delighted his followers when he revealed a dramatic new tattoo on his arm - but fans were quick to point out an error in the spelling which forced him to correct it Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, supply chains have undergone tremendous pressure. Recent reports document how the distribution of goods has been disrupted by factories in China shutting down on a massive scale and transport links being cut to contain the virus. Empty cargo barges on the Yangtze River in China illustrate how the virus outbreak has disrupted supply chain in traditional manufacturing processes, casting the spotlight on the benefits of industry 4.0 and cloud manufacturing (Photo: Bloomberg) A lot of the impact is assessed on the premise that manufacturing continues to be largely traditional that is, manufacturers produce goods of the same materials and components in bulk and distribute them through well-established supply chain networks around the world. The outbreak has now cast the spotlight once again on the benefits of Industry 4.0 and cloud manufacturing in particular, what manufacturers call a high mix, low volume solution that gives manufacturers the flexibility to produce on demand, at varying quantities, in response to orders that are made at irregular intervals, at varying amounts each time. Footwear makes up a substantial portion of Chinas exports, according to the World Bank. Imagine a future in manufacturing where shoes are produced bespoke, on demand, immune from the volatility that arises from sudden disruptions. To reduce the over-reliance on goods produced in bulk from a large manufacturing base such as China, manufacturers have to also embrace a radical shift in paradigm by harnessing cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), virtualisation and advanced computing technologies. Cloud manufacturings next frontier Many mistake Industry 4.0 with large-scale robotics and automation but that is only scratching the surface. Many firms have embarked on some level of automation but very often, the digitisation of manufacturing processes is limited to robotic tools and digitising Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) processes to enable machine operators to collect, store, manage and integrate manufacturing processes on a software that is accessible on the go. Story continues With cloud computing, manufacturers operate within a smart factory environment, plugged into an alliance of manufacturing resources and services supporting the whole life-cycle of manufacturing. An alliance that is shared between companies trans-border means manufacturers can pull from the cloud components and parts they require for a particular product, enabling them to diversify their sources without relying on a single manufacturing base. The benefits of cloud manufacturing are tremendous if one considers the substantial impact on supply chain disruption when an outbreak situation paralyses the smooth movement of goods. Take precision engineering, for example. In a highly advanced cloud manufacturing environment, precision engineering companies tap an alliance of designers, simulators, producers, testers and maintenance resources to find the most cost-effective way to manufacture any kind of goods from aeroplanes to home appliances. Some precision engineering firms even go so far as to provide real-time AI-enabled tools to auto-correct processes in the test environment. Some precision engineering firms in Singapore have recorded production efficiency levels of 300% after implementing these AI-enabled tools, and are expecting more when they fully transition to the cloud. And in a market that is increasingly pressured to be sustainable, AI-enabled tools will also help manufacturers turn waste into wealth. Some companies temporarily rent out inventory that are waiting to be picked up from other cities. UK manufacturers lead the way British Sugar, an award-winning horticulture business, is modelled on circular strategies. The company takes excess carbon dioxide from its sugar factory and pumps it into a separate plot where plants absorb it during photosynthesis. This way, whatever is wasteful and harmful is re-used. Another UK company, TrakRap, has found success in adopting new technologies that simulate manufacturing so they can inspect every component before it cuts any metal for pro- duction, cutting down development costs by more than half. $300 million to encourage tech startups In its 2020 Budget, the Singapore government announced it will allocate $300 million to en- courage tech startups with deep capability to get off the ground and market themselves globally. It called out emerging areas such as pharmbio, medtech, advanced manufacturing and agri-food tech that might benefit from this injection in funds. These are the sectors that would benefit from governmental support of capex-heavy investments such as blockchain technology and cloud manufacturing platforms, where they can collaborate with each other to create a cloud environment, form alliances with other manufacturers to tap a range of resources to produce goods faster and more cost effectively. Sungei Kadut a brand new slate for Industry 4.0 Plans for the revitalisation of older industrial estates like Sungei Kadut present tremendous opportunities for Industry 4.0 a brand new slate for the government to build the necessary infrastructure so that manufacturers can be supported as they accelerate the use of technology. Along with infrastructure, there is also the promise of nurturing talent to support higher-value manufacturing processes including nano manufacturing where humans supervise from a remote operations centre in a clean room away from the dirt and dust typical of heavy duty factories, operating from the cloud to control machines who speak to each other in an- other part of the smart factory. This trend is in step with manufacturers looking to attract the millennial worker and upskill older workers. In fact, all the players in the supply chain manufacturers, distributors, transport and logistics players in the last mile delivery process that traditionally rely on manpower will have to be retrained and reskilled to take on higher value roles. This is particularly relevant to urban city centres where labour is often tight. As manufacturing processes mature, the quality of talent in this pillar of Singapores economy will definitely have to improve. Singapore will then be able to bolster its status as a talent hub in the manufacturing space. Dennis Yeo is chief executive for Singapore and Southeast Asia for Cushman & Wakefield (Photo: Cushman & Wakefield) Brenda Ong is the head of the logistics and industrial business for Cushman & Wakefield (Photo: Cushman & Wakefield) Read also: See Also: I can imagine the FBI agents, with their headphones on when hearing this, Collins said. Keep in mind that there are guys hearing this in real time, and you just know that they throw the headphones down and high-five the agents sitting next to them. Because whether its f---ing golden or landing 'the tuna, it just never gets old. Heres what people are saying about Fridays verdict against Jeremy Christian: Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler: The incident aboard the MAX train on May 26, 2017, left a deep wound in our community, a community that rejects hate, racism and violence in any form. The conviction wont fully take away the pain inflicted on the families, friends and loved ones of the victims in the MAX attack, but the hope is that they find relief in the legal justice that was served today. Zakir Khan, spokesperson, the Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Oregon): We welcome the verdict in this case and hope that it leads to a new path for Oregon -- one in which we all see the importance of standing up to and defeating hate. The memories of Ricky Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meches lives should remind us of the courage that we all must use to develop a new culture here in Oregon. That culture should be one in which we accept, love and believe in each other. Dyjuana Hudson, the mother of Destinee Mangum, one of the girls targeted by Christian on the train: Hudson said outside the Multnomah County Courthouse that her daughter, Destinee Mangum, and her daughters friend, Walia Mohamed, the other girl on the train who was wearing the hijab, didnt attend the verdict announcement. But Hudson had talked to them and said they were very happy at the jurys decision. Its been a long emotional ride. Its been very emotional, very hard for them. Im just glad to see I can go home and tell them that its OK now," Hudson said. On testifying: They were really just very emotional about it, just having to rehash it over and over as anyone would. Theyre getting over it. Theyre taking the steps necessary to heal properly. Theyre doing better. Demetria Hester, the woman confronted by Christian the day before on another MAX train: It (the verdict) let people like Jeremy Joseph Christian know that youre not going to get away with it. We do have people that care about all of us because black lives do matter. And the people that were killed, they did that out of love and protection." She said the 12 unanimous votes on the charges against Christian show that white supremacism shouldnt be tolerated. That let us know that its time for a change, she told reporters outside the Multnomah County Courthouse. Today will be the day we change things, she said. This gave us hope ... yes theres actually people out there that dont want this to happen and want it to stop. Michael Fletcher, father of Micah Fletcher, who was the sole survivor of the stabbings: I feel justice has been served, the elder Fletcher said of the unanimous verdict. He listened with his son as the judge read the jurys decision in the courtroom and then spoke outside the Multnomah County Courthouse. Fighting back tears, he continued: "Id say the hardest part of the whole trial was hearing your son on the platform crying for help, and as a father you werent there. On Jeremy Christian: Hell stay in jail for the rest of his life, and thats what I was hoping for. On how Micah Fletcher is doing: "My son is doing very well. Hes just trying to put his life back together and kind of move forward. And as youve seen in court hes there for me, too. (He was referring to a photo of his son embracing him in the courtroom during the trial.) He also thanked the jurors: "every one one of them for the decisions theyve made. I think they made the right decisions. Asha Deliverance, mother of Taliesin Namkai-Meche: On Facebook, she posted: "Thank you everyone for all the heartfelt words, we have a powerful community that has chosen love. I want to thank the Portland Courthouse for its amazing devotion to see this case through appropriately: Judge Cheryl Albrecht for her equanimity and discernment, the jury who sacrificed a month out of their lives to see justice, the prosecuting attorneys, Jeff Howes and Don Rees for their commitment and devotion to this monumental case, and their excellent execution, our family attorney Erin Olson for managing this case for the past 2.5 years with love and care, working pro bono the entire time, to the witnesses for acting with integrity and humanity on the train and for revisiting this traumatic event. I have restored faith in humanity! After witnessing the cohesive action taken by the passengers on the train to respond to a tragic event, and the devotion in the courtroom to justice, I realize that 99% of humanity is integral! Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill: Our community continues to feel the profound impact from this violent and racist attack that happened more than two years ago. This verdict supports and upholds the states belief that Jeremy Joseph Christian acted intentionally when he committed these crimes. We thank the jurors for their dedication, diligence and swift deliverance of justice. While we are pleased with todays verdict, we continue to focus our efforts toward helping the families of Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche as well as Micah Fletcher, Demetria Hester, Wailo Mohamed, Destinee Mangum and Shawn Forde deal with the unimaginable and lasting trauma caused by Jeremy Joseph Christian. "I am proud and very appreciative of First Assistant Jeff Howes and Chief Deputy District Attorney Don Rees who represented the State of Oregon and presented the jury with a comprehensive and clear presentation of evidence in their unwavering pursuit of justice. I also want to recognize Multnomah County Deputy District Attorneys Rachna Hajari and Ashly Crockett both of whom provided instrumental contributions and assistance throughout this case. I recognize our Victim Advocates Chanel Thomas, Julie Jacobs and Emily Hyde for the dedicated support and advocacy they have and will continue to provide the victims in this case. Finally, I recognize District Attorney Investigator Steve Ober and Senior Legal Assistant Tammy Ruffing for their assistance during the pendency of this case. Portland Police Chief Jami Resch: "This horrific attack on members of our community has traumatically impacted the victims, their families, those who witnessed the events and provided emergency aid to the injured, our first responders who attempted to save the lives of those mortally wounded, our officers who apprehended the suspect and gathered witness accounts, and our investigators who spent countless hours building a case. While the criminal phase of this event has concluded, the deep impacts of the loss of lives for the families, friends, and our community will not be forgotten. Violence is not acceptable in the City of Portland. My hope is for us to come together as a community with more kindness and increased tolerance for differences as we continue our healing." Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty: "Over the past several weeks, the Jeremy Christian trial has brought up a lot of trauma for those who witnessed the violence, family and friends of the victims, and those who have been on the receiving end of racism and hate. This trial was not just about him it was about our justice system and how it tackles hate and racism, or doesnt. "While this sentence is a relief, it is not justice. Two lives were lost, and three additional lives have been radically altered since their encounter with Christian. A prison sentence will not change the fact that he is still a white supremacist, but it is currently the only system we have to address these acts of violence. "Todays verdict will have ramifications for years to come. May we all have the strength and courage of those who stood up to Christian that day. White supremacy and hate are not welcome here in Portland, and we all have a role to play in countering it every day. Sarah Iannarone, Portland mayoral candidate: Wishing enduring comfort for families and survivors who bore witness and testified through their pain, including Micah Fletcher. Gratitude for the hard work to everyone who served or reported on this difficult trial for our community. Lindsay Schubiner, program director for the Portland-based Western States Center: "Christians claim of self-defense was an insult to the two women he victimized, the person he seriously injured and the memory of the two people he murdered. Video and eyewitness reports leave no doubt of Christians guilt. He was the aggressor, harassing and threatening his fellow riders while carrying a deadly weapon. Portland, not for the first time, has seen the deadly consequences of unchecked hate. We must remember the two people who gave their lives to defend another and come together as a community to reject hate and keep our community safe for everyone. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Everton Bailey Jr. Christchurch, Feb 22 : Christchurch city held a grand memorial ceremony on Saturday in the memory of the 185 victims who were killed in a massive earthquake earthquake that struck the New Zealand city in 2011. A 6.3-magnitude quake jolted the city on February 22, 2011. Then-Prime Minister John Key described the disaster as "New Zealand's darkest day", reports Xinhua news agency. At the ceremony on Saturday, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel acknowledged families who travelled from other parts of the world to attend the memorial. Dalziel thanked the first responders and bystanders at the time of the quake including police, firefighters, paramedic, nurses, all the NGOs, the student volunteer army, neighbours, families and friends that "generally offered so much." "Every gesture, no matter how large or small, has helped us on our journey," she said. Hundreds of people paid tributes in the Avon River area where many buildings were detroyed during the quakes. At the ceremony, the names of the quake victims were read out by people of different nationalities. International rescue teams arrived within 48 hours after quake. The earthquake and aftershocks caused substantial destruction to Christchurch in 2011. Statistics showed more than 1,200 commercial buildings were destroyed, and around 90 per cent of residential houses were damaged to varying degrees. It is estimated that the total cost for Christchurch's reconstruction exceeded NZ$40 billion ($27 billion), which equals approximately 10 per cent of New Zealand's GDP. Foreign ministers of Iran, Netherlands discuss ties, regional developments in Tehran 02/22/20 Source: Press TV Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Dutch counterpart, Stef Blok, have held discussions in Tehran about issues of mutual interest and the latest regional and international developments. Blok, who is in Tehran at the head of a delegation, held two rounds of talks with Zarif on Saturday and also held a separate meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rohani. Iranian FM Javad Zarif with his Dutch counterpart Stef Blok (photo by Islamic Republic News Agency) During the first round of their talks, the top Iranian and Dutch diplomats stressed the importance of enhancing mutual relations. At the second round of the talks, Zarif and Blok exchanged views about the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a non-dollar direct payment channel -- officially called the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), which aims to offset impacts of US sanctions, the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani by the United States as well as leading developments in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria. (photo by Islamic Republic News Agency) The Dutch foreign minister is also scheduled to pay visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for consultations to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. He earlier also visited the central Iranian city of Isfahan on Friday, where he talked with the governor of the city and visited cultural and historical monuments there. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Wednesday that the Dutch and Austrian foreign ministers will visit Tehran, where they will discuss bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues, mainly the fate of the JCPOA and peace in the Persian Gulf region. "In the talks with the two European ministers, apart from examining the bilateral relations and the exchange of views about the major international and regional issues, the Islamic Republic of Iran's criticism of Europe's inaction on carrying out its commitments under the JCPOA and its passiveness in the face of the US imposition of extraterritorial law will be emphasized," he added. Dutch FM Stef Blok meeting Iranian President Hassan Rohani (photo by Islamic Republic News Agency) The Nevada Democratic Party holds its caucuses Saturday. This was preceded, for the first time, by an early voting period that saw nearly as much voter participation as the entire caucus count in 2016. Saturday's caucuses begin at noon local time (3:00 PM ET). Results will follow - at some point. The Party plans to have results out today, and hopes to avoid the issues that caused extensive delays in Iowa. However, this is structurally a similar event, so we'll have to see how it plays out. For its part, the State wants to make clear that it's not on them if there are problems. As in Iowa, there will be three sets of numbers released. Live results will appear below. Round One - First Alignment: This will be the initial preference of caucusgoers across the state. The percentage results here should be somewhat consistent with the statewide polling that has preceded the caucus (if that proves accurate - there hasn't been a lot of polling here). In the final average, Bernie Sanders had a sizable lead at 30% support, with Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren in the mid-teens. Round 2 - Final Alignment: Candidates that don't receive 15% in Round 1 are considered nonviable. However, this threshold is determined at each individual precinct. In Round 2, caucusgoers who have supported a nonviable candidate at their location will have the option to move to a viable candidate or join forces with supporters of another nonviable candidate in an attempt to get one of them across the threshold. Once this is complete, there will be a redistribution of votes cast early associated with nonviable candidates. The early vote ballot allowed for up to five candidates to be selected, in order of preference. Should an early voter's first choice not be viable, their vote will be cast for the highest-ranking viable candidate. Note that the number of early voting locations was much smaller than on caucus day. Those voting early could do so at any location in their county. These early ballots will be associated with the voter's home precinct on caucus day. County Convention Delegates: The final results are translated into county convention delegates. The person with the most of these is considered the winner. Pledged Delegates: There are 36 pledged delegates to the national convention that are awarded proportionately based on the county convention delegates - for the most part. As is the case in other states, a predetermined number of Nevada's delegates convention are awarded based on the statewide vote, with some awarded based on the vote in each congressional district. Depending on how the results break across the individual districts, there could be a situation where these two results don't perfectly align. Republican Caucus: There will be no caucuses on the GOP side; they were cancelled by the state party. The 25 delegates will presumably be awarded to President Trump. Some baby names are banned, and even illegal. Photo: Getty Images You might think that choosing a baby name comes down to the parents, but it turns out there are some monikers you cannot legally give to your baby. Yep, thats right, there are actual banned baby names. Back in 2017, a couple was banned from naming their newborn son Amber by French authorities, while another was banned from naming their baby girl, Liam. Another couple had to put up a four-year-fight to name their son Yoda from the Star Wars film franchise after an objection from the civil registry office and language council. In fact, hundreds of baby names have been banned around the world for reasons of taste, decency or just plain silliness. Here are the best of a bad bunch, the naughtiest names to have been struck from the record. Banned baby names The worst baby names in the world have been banned. Photo: Getty Images Metallica Maybe these Swedish parents were huge fans, but when they tried to give their daughter an ode to their favourite heavy metal band, tax officials outlawed it, deeming it inappropriate. Miatt Germany has an entire department (the Standesamt) which decides if names are suitable for just-borns. Miatt was rejected because it didnt clearly show whether the child was a boy or a girl, which wouldnt go down particularly well in todays gender-neutral times. Ovnis If youre thinking of having a baby in Portugal, youd be wise to consult this mammoth, 80-page government doc (and have it translated to English) that tells you which names you can and cant use. Its actually pretty strict, and a bit on the confusing side Tomas is OK but Tom isnt and Ovnis which is Portugese for UFO is definitely on the banned list. Nutella Back in 2015 a court in Valenciennes, decided that a couple would not be allowed to name their daughter Nutella. The judge decided that it wouldnt be in the childs best interest to be named after a chocolate spread. The name Nutella given to the child is the trade name of a spread, the courts decision read, according to a translation. And it is contrary to the childs interest to be wearing a name like that can only lead to teasing or disparaging thoughts (sic). Story continues Facebook In todays Internet-obsessed society it was only a matter of time before someone tried to name their child after a social media site. The state of Sonora in Mexico banned parents naming their baby Facebook because it is derogatory, pejorative, discriminatory or lacking in meaning. The same state has also banned the names Robocop, James Bond, Circumcision, Traffic and Lady Di. (Diana IS allowed though). @ Before you roll your eyes, the meaning behind this is actually kind of cute. In China, the @ symbol is pronounced ai-ta and carries the meaning love him. Still, authorities didnt think the name was appropriate and outlawed it. Ikea Parents in Sweden wanting to name their children after the countrys Scandinavian-inspired superstore could find themselves falling foul of the countrys naming law, enacted in 1982. The law was originally created to keep families from naming their kids after Swedish royalty, but now applies to the iconic store for reasons of name-related awkwardness. J Turns out Swiss naming authorities arent keen on initials as first names. When parents tried to pay tribute to two grandparents, Johanna and Josef, with the name J, the court in Switzerland suggested Jo instead. Gesher AKA Bridge Back in 1998 Norwegian authorities jailed a woman for two days when she failed to pay a fine for giving her son an unapproved name. The name? Gesher, which is Hebrew for Bridge. Mum, Kristi Larsen said she was instructed in a dream to give her son the moniker, but the court were having none of it. Cyanide Back in 2017 a Welsh mother was banned by a high court from calling her baby twin daughter Cyanide (her brother was named Preacher). Despite her arguments that Cyanide was a lovely, pretty name the court ruled that the unusual choice might harm the child growing up. It is hard to see howthe twin girl could regard being named after this deadly poison as other than a complete rejection of her by her birth mother, she said. Saint The moniker that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West chose for their son may have been fine in the US, but, in New Zealand, where you cant give your kids names that resemble official titles, its not ok. In 2018 three sets of parents had this name rejected by the naming officials within the government. Daemon A French couple, were keen to name their child after the character of Damon from The Vampire Diaries (who isnt a Damon fan?). They added an e to make it sound more French, but authorities banned it for sounding too demonic. Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii Were not even joking! This bonkers name belonged to a nine-year-old girl from New Zealand before a judge had her renamed during a custody battle. It makes a fool of the child, he said. Akuma AKA Devil In 1993 a Japanese parent called, or should we say tried to call, his son Akuma (which literally means Devil). The authorities decided this was an abuse of the parents rights to decide a childs name. Eventually, the father backed down and his son was given a new, less hellish name. Chow Tow AKA Smelly Head Unlike many countries, which are gradually loosening their name laws, Malaysian authorities have been clamping down on unsuitable titles in recent years, particularly those that arent in keeping with the religious traditions of the country. Case in point: Cantonese moniker Chow Tow, which means Smelly Head. Snake The 2006 tightening of Malaysias naming restrictions also meant the banning of Hokkien Chinese Ah Chwar, which means Snake. Jihad In 2017, a family in France caused a dilemma when attempting to call their child Jihad. The parents chose the controversial baby name for their little one and officials immediately alerted the public prosecutor. Despite the controversy, Arabic experts say Jihad actually means struggle, effort or self-denial instead of holy war, which the word is often used for. Other babies in France have also previously been given the divisive name. Peppermint Germany has certain criteria for baby name bans. Pfefferminze (Peppermint) was rejected because it might cause ridicule. Equally, the moniker Stone was outlawed due to the fact that a child cannot identify with it, because it is an object and not a first name. Choosing a baby name that is going to be accepted by the naming bods is a challenge in certain parts of the world (Getty Images) Linda In 2014, the relatively inoffensive sounding Linda made Saudi Arabias banned baby names list, thanks to its association with Western culture. Fanch Last year a French court ruled a couple could not use the moniker Fanch that theyd chosen for their baby. The court in Quimper, north-west France ruled that the new parents would not be able to use the character n (called a tilde) in their babys name. Google dictionary describes the character as an accent (~) placed over Spanish n when pronounced ny (as in senor) or Portuguese a or o when nasalised (as in Sao Paulo). Vendredi Back in 2008 a court banned an Italian couple from calling their baby Vendredi, which translates to Friday. But although naming a baby after the best day of the week doesnt sound that bad, the judges believed the name, taken from Robinson Crusoe, would expose their child to mockery and was associated with subservience and insecurity. Fraise A French couple attempted to name their child Fraise or raspberry, but the courts claimed that the name Fraise would incur teasing. The parents insisted that they were only trying to give their little one an original name, and eventually went with Fraisine instead. Lucifer HuffPost reported that a court in Germany had intervened when a couple tried to call their child Lucifer. And theyre not the only officials to outlaw the name, the department of internal affairs in New Zealand also decided to ban this moniker, and we can sort of see why. Anus We guess no ones really wondering why this name was banned, but yep some poor kid in Denmark was very nearly named after this particular part of the human anatomy. Unsurprisingly the application was denied. Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 No, we didnt just nod off on the keyboard. That is an actual name a Swedish couple tried to give their baby back in 1996. Apparently the name is pronounced Albin (yeah, were not sure how either), and the parents chose it as a protest against Swedens strict naming laws. Sarah Moroccan authorities banned this spelling of Sarah as its considered to be the Hebrew version. But spelt with no h, aka Sara, is fine as thats the Arabic version. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com Designer handbags, a Rolex and a diamond engagement ring worth $80,000 were snatched from a Werribee home while the family were on holiday. The Montpellier Drive home was ransacked when two men broke into the house by forcing a back door open on January 18, police say. Police want to speak to these men. Credit:Victoria Police The homeowners returned from holiday two weeks later to find their valuables missing and reported the burglary to police. Around 20 designer handbags valued at $100,000, including brands such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, were snatched from a glass cabinet. A n engineer who designed top-secret military weapons quit her job to open up a hospital for injured dolls Lesley Edwards, who moved from London to Bournemouth, is celebrating 20 years of fixing up porcelain figurines. She said she gets really wound up when people think dolls are creepy after watching Chucky and Annabelle in horror movies. The 65-year-old even got her husband Mike involved and he left his computing job, which "involved something to do with space satellites", to join her venture. The engineer first found out about doll repair when she was in London, working long hours on a DLR project, and wanted a class to occupy her evenings. Mrs Edwards, who has also worked in the aerospace, oil, and waste treatment industry said: "I got into it purely by accident. I wanted some time away from my day job and was looking to join a sugarcraft [cake decorating] class, but when I saw a doll repair class in Poplar, I thought - why not?" After attending a few workshops, she discovered she was quite good at mending and enjoyed the problem-solving element of the task. It also brought back childhood memories of fixing things with her engineer father. My long-suffering husband used to spend our weekends feeding my hobby and getting supplies, she added. We thought other people might have the same trouble, and that is when we decided to open a hospital for dolls. In the past, every major town in the county had one. Little girls were given a doll and they would treasure it as people didnt have the same disposable income back then and people needed somewhere when they broke. Nowadays, everything is mass-produced." The husband and wife team said you can count on two hands the number of doll repair centres that are open today. A lot of their work at Ellie's Doll Workshop is fixing botched attempts at repairs by people who they say are not in the business. "One of the things that I get worked up about is that everyone thinks dolls like Chucky and Annabell are weird, she said. I get really wound up that they are used as props in horror films as they are designed to be played with by a child. They are not creepy." Mrs Edwards revealed she does not have a doll collection at home but has kept the first one she ever made. She explained she is more attached to the process of repairing and fixing rather than to the toys themselves. One of the most exciting dolls she had to fix was a doll that Queen Victoria gave to a staff member's child. She said it was like touching and being part of history. Speaking about how her whole life was changed by an evening class, she said: "Its a shame so many classes are now geared towards academic subjects." Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Feb. 22 enters the briefing room at the Seoul Government Complex as he is about to make a national address regarding the novel coronavirus that has been spreading nationwide. Yonhap Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun made a special call on Saturday for South Korean citizens to cooperate with the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, calling the latest infections a "grave situation." Chung urged people to refrain from taking part in religious activities in crowded indoor places and to devise other ways to carry out religious services. As over 100 Indians stuck in China's coronavirus-hit Hubei province anxiously await their evacuation, the Indian embassy here has informed the stranded nationals that the delay for a special flight from India to bring them home was due to lack of clearance from the Chinese government. India operated two Air India special flights to Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei and the epicentre of the COVID-19, early this month and evacuated 647 Indians and seven Maldivians. India has announced its plan to send Indian Air Force's biggest plane C-17 Globemaster with medical supplies to China as well as to evacuate remaining Indians numbering over 100. It has also offered to evacuate nationals from the neighbouring countries, depending on the space availability. In a note to over 100 Indians who opted to be evacuated, the embassy while explaining the reasons for the delay urged them to stay calm and take good care of themselves and wait for evacuation instructions. India says the third flight which is also carrying relief medical supplies for China is delayed as it has not received permissions from the Chinese government yet. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang in his online media briefing on Friday denied any delay, but did not provide any reason for China not granting the required permission for the flight to go to Wuhan. Indian officials say China has not assigned any reasons for the delay yet. "We are continuously pursuing with the Chinese authorities necessary clearance for the relief flight at the earliest. The Chinese side has not yet given these clearances despite being requested to do so," the embassy note said. "We will intimate you all as soon as we get the same from the Chinese side," it said. "In the meantime, we would advise you all to take adequate rest and good care of your health. As mentioned earlier, if you are facing any problems related to the availability of food or water or any other issue at your place of residence, do let us know by messaging Embassy officials directly and we will pursue it with the relevant Chinese authorities," it said. Meanwhile, over 100 Indians who are in touch with the Indian embassy to board the flight are increasingly getting restive in view of the prevailing situation. The embassy in a note sent through group chat informed them that the flight was ready but it had not received the permission so far. "We do realise that some of you are getting apprehensive due to the delays and some others are posting speculative information. We would urge you all to remain calm and wait for further updates from the Embassy," it said. "Please note that we will give you all at least four hours notice to get ready before the arrival of vehicles for pickup," it said. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus has gone up to to 2,345 with 109 more deaths reported, while the confirmed cases have risen to 76,288, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. Among the new deaths, 106 were from the Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus, and one each from Hebei province, Shanghai and Xinjiang. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KABUL -- A "reduction in violence" agreement with the Taliban appeared to be largely holding on February 22, a hopeful initial indication that a peace deal between the United States and the militant group will be signed as expected in a week. The quiet start to the day comes after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the peace deal is scheduled to be signed on February 29 provided the partial truce that entered into force at midnight proves successful. Pompeos statement said the United States and the Taliban have been engaged in talks to facilitate a political settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan and reduce the U.S. presence in the region. "In recent weeks, in consultation with the Government of National Unity, U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan," Pompeo said. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward. We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29," Pompeo said, adding that intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, with the final aim of delivering "a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan." In a written statement, the Taliban confirmed the planned signing of a deal on February 29 "in front of international observers" and said that "the groundwork for intra-Afghan talks will be resolved," although it did not mention when such talks would start. The Taliban has previously refused to speak directly to the Afghan government, which it labeled a U.S. puppet. In some parts of the country, the announcement of the reduction in violence was met with celebration. Hundreds of residents in eastern Paktia Province, hit hard by Taliban attacks over the years, gathered in the capital city, Gardez, calling upon the Afghan government, the Taliban, and international community to redouble efforts to end the war. In Jalalabad, the capital of insurgency-racked Nangarhar Province, residents gathered for a mass cycling event to mark the beginning of the reduction in violence. Cyclists from Nangarhar and other areas of Afghanistan took part in the event, including women. Since the 2001 invasion to drive the Taliban from power, about 2,400 U.S. soldiers have been killed, along with tens of thousands of Afghan soldiers, extremist fighters, and civilians. A UN report released on February 22 says that more than 100,000 civilians have been killed or injured in the past 10 years since it began documenting casualties in the Afghan war. The report said 3,493 civilians were killed last year and 6,989 were injured. "Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the secretary-generals special representative for Afghanistan. "It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue. Civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are under way." 'Tired Of War' Bismillah Watandost, a senior member of the People's Peace Movement of Afghanistan, was quoted by AFP as saying, "Afghans are tired of war." He called on Afghans to march and "demand an end to this tragic war." The talks between U.S. and Taliban representatives began in Qatar in 2018. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Twitter that "our NATO allies and partners agree the best path forward in Afghanistan is a negotiated and conditions-based political settlement between all Afghans." "The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence." "Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added. President Donald Trump has said he wants to bring home as many as possible of the 12,000-13,000 U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan, where they advise and train local troops and conduct anti-terror operations. Afghan government troops will keep up normal military operations against other militants, such as the Islamic State (IS) group, during the reduction-in-violence period, officials said. The details of the partial truce remain uncertain. AFP quoted an insurgent in the Taliban stronghold of southern Kandahar Province as saying he had received orders to stand down. Another Taliban commander there said he had only been ordered to halt attacks on major cities and highways. With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters Trisha starrer long-pending Tamil film Paramapadham Vilayattu is all set to release on February 28. The movie will be the actresss 60th outing on the silver screen as an actor. On February 22, the entire cast and crew held a pre-release event at Satyam Cinemas in Chennai. However, the female lead of the movie Trisha decided to give it a miss. Irked by the actresss disassociation from the film promotions, producer T Siva, addressed the media and stated, "These days, even big films with established heroes do not run in theatres without proper promotion. Paramapadham Vilayattu is a female-centric film. Trisha plays the lead role while the others are newcomers. It is sad to see her give the event a miss. If she doesn't promote the film, the budding actors won't get noticed. There could be a genuine reason, but I hope she takes part in the promotions that are scheduled this week. If she fails to do so, she has to pay back a portion of her salary." Co-Producer K Rajan went on to add, "It is sad to see people forgetting their roots and people who helped in the initial stages of their career. Some of them do not even attend calls. It's a sad state of affairs. It is a kind request for stars to attend the promotional events of their films. Directed by K Thiru Gnanam, Paramapadham Vilayattu also stars Manasvi and Vela Ramamoorthy in pivotal roles. The movie has been bankrolled by 24 HRS Productions and boasts of Amrishs music. The political thriller has been passed with U/A certificate by the CBFC board. Meanwhile, on the work front, Trisha is busy with a number of projects in 2020 including 1818, Raangi, Sugar and Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan to name a few. ALSO READ: Trisha Krishnan Wraps Up Shooting For Raangi! Pic Inside The FBI has arrested a man who gave $500 to the campaign of former representative Katie Hill (D., Calif.) in connection with a spree of hacks against Hills opponents in the 2018 election. Arthur Dam, the suspect in question, was found to be connected to the cyber attacks through subscriber information, IP addresses, geolocation history, and open sources, including through his employer and his wife, K.O., who worked for one of the Victims opponents, according to the complaint. Hills Democratic opponents during the 2018 race, Jess Phoenix and Bryan Caforio, both allegedly had their campaign websites attacked by Dam, whose wife, Kelsey OHara, was Hills fundraiser during the campaign and her district director after she won the race. The complaint states that Caforios website was attacked four times over the campaign, resulting in its going offline for a combined 21 hours. The complaint also notes that one of the attacks on Caforio came just an hour before the biggest debate of the primary. Hill ended up winning the seat by fewer than 3,000 votes. She resigned in October after news that she had been in inappropriate sexual relationships with a male congressional staffer and a female campaign staffer. Im absolutely shocked and saddened to learn today that Katie Hills campaign associates hacked my campaign in order to help her advance through the primary, Caforio told The Intercept, which broke the story. This should serve as a reminder that Russia is not the only threat to our democracy. There are bad actors on all sides who will do anything for their own personal gain, and we need to come together as Americans to defend our country and hold everyone responsible accountable. In its investigation, the FBI looked at the websites log files and found 46 unique IP addresses that could all be traced to the same Amazon Web Services account, which had been created with the email address preatorian_@hotmail.com, and was paid for with Dams credit card. The Hotmail account also served as the recovery account for Dams personal Gmail account. More from National Review The abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution was the first step towards fulfilling the objective of "Akhand Bharat" and its next step would be to take back the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said on Saturday. The abrogation of Article 370 was a step towards the goal of "Akhand Bharat" (integral India), said Madahv, while addressing the participants of "Chhatra Sansad" in Vigyan Bhawan here. Asked by a participant when will the dream of Akhand Bharat be realised, he said, "It will happen in phases. The first thing is that Jammu and Kashmir which was somewhat not in the mainstream, has been holistically connected to India." "Our next objective is to take back the Indian land which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan," said the senior BJP leader, pointing out that a resolution to take back PoK had been passed by the Parliament in 1994. The senior BJP leader said the 20th century India was a "romantic and reticent" nation, carrying the dreams of a newly Independent people, but the current generation is pragmatic and ambitious. "The 21st century Bharat is different from the 20th century Bharat that was romantic and reticent as it had dreams of newly independent people and was ruled by freedom fighters. But the 21st century Bharat is pragmatic, pro-active and ambitious as it belongs to the youth." Madhav said it is the destiny of India to emerge as a global leader on the basis of its large population of youth and economic might. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Juba, Feb 23 : Rival leaders in South Sudan have formed a coalition government, in a step towards ending a bloody civil war that has left 10,000s dead and millions displaced. Leader of the opposition Riek Machar was inaugurated as the country's first vice president in a ceremony here attended by foreign leaders of the region. Machar and President Salva Kiir have led the main sides of the civil war, which broke out in 2013. They shook hands and made promises that it would be a new beginning for the young nation, Efe news reported. Kiir said it was "the official end of the war, and we can now proclaim a new dawn". He added that the peace is "never to be shaken ever again". He said he had forgiven Machar and asked for his forgiveness in return as well as amnesty between their two communities. Kiir said forgiveness is a "difficult issue" but stressed the country must reconcile with the past and "give the future a chance". Machar thanked Kiir for "working for peace" after taking office, ending a wait to form a national unity government which was due to take place in May but was repeatedly postponed. He said he hopes to lead the implementation of the peace agreement and improve the country's economy and living conditions for citizens. Machar added that he appreciated the efforts of other countries in the region to stop the war and achieve peace in South Sudan. At the end of his speech, Machar emphasized the opposition's commitment to work with Kiir to implement the text and "the spirit" of the peace agreement. Three other vice presidents also took their oaths on Saturday, James Wani Igga and Taban Deng Gai, who held the same positions in the government dissolved on Friday, and Rebecca Nyanding Garang. Nyanding Garang called on the citizens of South Sudan to support the new transitional government for peace and stability and asked the country's leaders to work to achieve those aspirations across the country. The rest of the members of the new coalition government were expected to assume their positions on Saturday, although last-minute meetings were continuing on the day. Machar's appointment was announced on Friday through a presidential decree that was communicated to the population via state public media. With the inauguration of the new government, in which the opposition will have nine ministers and Kiir will have 26, the main point of the peace agreement between the disputing parties will be fulfilled. There were still several issues to be resolved in the agreement, including the administrative distribution of states in the country, the formation of a new army and security mechanisms for leaders of the different disputing sides. South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, gained independence in 2011 and descended into civil war in 2013 which has destroyed its economy and is estimated to have killed 400,000 people and displaced millions of others. EDF SA, a French energy company, said that it had completed the shut down of one reactor at its oldest nuclear power plant in Fessenheim near the border of Germany. The nuclear power plant's second and last reactor will be shut down on June 30, Deutsche Welle reports. The company told media outlets that the 900-megawatt reactor's shutdown began at 8:30 pm on Friday and ended in the small hours of Saturday. The shut down was completed normally, but it was an emotional moment for those in the control room, according to EDF. Around 100 people, including employees, reportedly protested against the shutdown, Deutsche Welle informs. French Energy Minister Elisabeth Borne has called the shutdown a "historic step," as it is the first time one of France's 58 nuclear reactors has been permanently taken off the country's power grid. Squirmed for a bit before going still: The final moments of Nirbhayas killers Nirbhaya: Convict Pawan refuses to meet new legal aid, authorities ask on last meeting with family India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 22: Pawan Gupta, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, has refused to meet his legal aid counsel Ravi Qazi, in jail. The court had appointed Ravi Kazi as Pawan's lawyer after AP Singh left the case. 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. Now after Pawan's refusal, this matter is a bit caught. Meanwhile, the Tihar Jail administration has written to all the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case in connection with their last meeting with their families. Out of the four convicts, Mukesh and Pawan have been told that they had already met their families before the February 1 death warrant, while Akshay and Vinay have now been asked when they want to meet their families, the Tihar Jail official said. Nirbhaya case: Vinay Sharma's lawyer moves Election Commission against Delhi govt While during normal meetings, inmates meet their families through window, in the last meeting, they are allowed to meet their families face-to-face. Meanwhile, the Tihar Jail administration has also written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Jail administration to send the hangman two days before March 3, when the four convicts will be hanged, the Jail official said. A Delhi court had last week issued a fresh death warrant to all the four convicts in the 2012 Delh gangrape case. They will now be hanged on March 3 at 6 am. issued a fresh death warrant to all the four convicts in the 2012 Delh gangrape case. They will now be hanged on March 3 at 6 am. The 23-year-old girl was brutally gang-raped and assaulted on the intervening night of December 16, 2012, in a moving bus in South Delhi. The victim later died of her injuries. In a rare incidence of Russian damage control, Valery Slugin the lead designer of the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, recently gave a media interview to a Russian newspaper. Slugin explained how a Syrian Pantsir vehicle was destroyed by Israel forces in early 2019. The Israelis released a video of the incident. Slugin explained that it was the fault of the Syrian crew, which had fired all of their missiles and was waiting for the missile resupply vehicle. Meanwhile, the Israelis noted the missiles being fired, found the Pantsir and destroyed it with a missile. Slugin explained that if the Pantsir crew had moved the vehicle the Israelis might not have found and destroyed it. Slugin also stated that this Pantsir had just destroyed eight targets, presumably Israeli cruise missiles, while firing its twelve missiles. The Israelis reported that the target of their cruise missiles was destroyed and only two cruise missiles failed to hit the target. Nevertheless, the state-owned Russian firm that developed, manufactured and markets Pantsir to export customers felt it necessary to let the world know what they believe actually happened. Russian media also released video of Pantsir missiles exploding in the air so Israel revealed that the cause of this was that its Delilah cruise missiles carry a radar jammer that makes Pantsir to lose track of their target. When that happens Pantsir missiles self-destruct rather than hit the ground and risk friendly casualties. Russia implied that the missile was exploding near an unseen target. This was accurate, but not the way the Russians wanted it to be. Pantsir-S1 is a mobile, truck-mounted system. Each vehicle carries a radar, two 30mm cannon and twelve Tunguska missiles. The 90 kg (198 pound) missiles have a twenty kilometer range and the radar a 30-40 kilometer range. The missile can hit targets at up to 8,400 meters (26,000 feet). The 30mm cannon is effective up to 3,200 meters (10,000 feet). The vehicle can vary, but the most common one carrying all this weighs 20 tons and has a crew of three. Each Pantsir-S1 vehicle-mounted system costs about $15 million. Typically four to six Pantsir vehicles are organized as a battalion along with a command post and support vehicles. Larger numbers of Pantsir vehicles are organized into a regiment of two or three battalions and more support vehicles. These consist of electronic and mechanical repair vehicles as well as other vehicles carrying spare parts and e missile reloads and 30mm ammunition. There is also a system simulator that is carried in a truck or trailer. Another marketing effort was a late 2019 announcement that over 30 Pantsir-S1 (SA-22) anti-aircraft systems had been sent to Syria, and implied that this many Pantsir-S1 vehicles could defend all of Syria from air (warplanes, UAVs, cruise and ballistic missiles) attack. The problem with Pantsir is that only Russia and Syria claim the system is effective. The enemy (Israel and the United States) has another perspective that contradicts Russian and Syrian claims. Moreover, the Russian air defense systems used by Syria have, since 2011, brought down only one aircraft, an elderly Turkish RF-4E reconnaissance aircraft shot down by accident in 2012. The Turkish aircraft was flying off the coast and apparently not expecting to be attacked. Syria was then using Cold War era Russian equipment. When the Russians intervened in 2015 they brought more modern air defense systems with them, including the Pantsir. The problem is that the much hyped Pantsir has been a flop. No proof of any Pantsir kills has ever been presented and Israeli airstrikes consistently destroy their targets, even when Pantsir is present and firing lots of those Tunguska missiles. Then there was an earlier incident where Russia was caught suppressing bad news about the performance of Pantsir-S1 in Syria. In one case the comments were from a Russian source. This took place in late 2018 when Islamic terrorists used multiple small, explosives-armed UAVs to launch several attacks on the Russian controlled Hmeimim (or Khmeimim) airbase in Syria. Russia reported that these attacks failed because Russian air defense systems shot down over fifty of the small UAVs. Unofficial reports, via the Internet, indicated that the two short-range anti-aircraft systems guarding the base performed very differently. The older Tor-M2U system used its missiles successfully to shoot down the UAVs while the more recent Pantsir-S1 missiles all missed. Russian Internet censors were quick to take down some of the negative comments but the news was now out and spreading. Around this time Russia was also given lots of publicity to new, much improved, Pantsir models. Most of the upgrades were in the radar and fire control systems. These new Pantsir S1M, S2, S2E and SM models entered service in late 2018 and early 2019. Not all Pantsir vehicles have been upgraded and the overall impact of the upgrades does not appear to have been dramatic. The late 2018 incident was not the first time Pantsir-S1 has been described as a failure. The Hmeimim airbase incidents were important because they involved a Russian controlled airbase in a combat zone. Hmeimim was built by Russia in 2015 near the port city of Latakia, which is 85 kilometers north of the port of Tartus and 50 kilometers from the Turkish border. Russia brought in Pantsir-S1, Tor-M2U and S-400 air-defense systems to protect it from attack. The irony of this is that the Tor-M system is much older, with development begun in the 1970s while Pantsir-S1 development began twenty years later. The major difference between the two was that Tor-M was more successful and more expensive. The cost factor was one reason for developing the Pantsir-S1 but at first only export customers could afford it because the Russian military procurement budgets were sharply cut in the 1990s. In 2010, three years after the first foreign customer (Syria) received the Pantsir-S1, the Russian Air Force began getting some. The Russian economy was recovering sufficiently to expand defense spending. Initially, the Russian Air Force received the S1E version, with an improved radar (36 kilometer range) and missile (more reliable). Curiously, the air force used their first ten Pantsir-S1s to guard S-300 anti-aircraft missile bases around Moscow. There was no explanation from the Russians as to why they felt a mobile, low level anti-aircraft system was needed to guard a larger, high altitude one. Perhaps as additional protection against cruise missiles. These ten Pantsir vehicles for Moscow were supposed to arrive in 2008, but there were more technical problems. There's been a pattern of that with Pantsir-S1. Development began in the 1990s. Work was sporadic for nearly a decade because there was little cash available. Meanwhile, several Arab nations were persuaded to order a total of about 150 Pantsir-S1 vehicles and most of those have not yet been in combat. Russia does not want these customers to question Pantsir's reliability. After all the system has worked during test firings and is a very profitable export. Yet the main problem with Pantsir-S1 is that in combat it doesnt work. Failures have been reported at least three times since 2007, and all occurred in Syria. Two months after Syria received Pantsir-S1s in 2007, Israel bombed a Syrian nuclear weapons development facility. The Syrians were very dismayed at how ineffective the new Pantsir-S1 systems were during the Israeli strike. The 2007 failure was attributed to Israelis figuring out how to blind these systems electronically. In 2017 Pantsir S1 again failed during an Israeli attack and the excuse this time was that the Pantsir-S1s were not turned on. The 2018 failure was with operational Pantsir systems firing missiles at UAVs and missing while Tor-M2U systems detected UAVs and regularly shot them down with missiles. The video of Israeli weapons destroying a Pantsir vehicle was something the Russians felt they had to explain away, or at least try to. The Tor-M has been around since the 1980s and has no autocannon, just missiles. It has been frequently updated. A late 2015 upgrade for their 30 year old Tor-M (SA-15) enabled the launcher vehicle to fire its guided missiles while on the move. The latest version of Tor is the Tor-M2U which can hit aircraft up to 12 kilometers away and cruise missiles at a distance of five kilometers. The missile launcher vehicle has a crew of three (commander, driver and missile systems operator). The 176 kg (378 pound) missiles are three meters (ten feet) long, 235mm (9.25 inches) in diameter and carry a 15 kg (33 pound) warhead. Each battery has search radar and command center vehicles and controls four launcher vehicles (each carrying eight missiles, and another radar.) The original tracking radar on the missile vehicle could track one target at a time but the latest (Tor-M2) can track four at a time. Missiles can be launched from the vehicle at three second intervals. The original missile carrier/launcher vehicle was armored (against small arms and shell fragments), tracked and weighed 34 tons. Since then a cheaper towed (on a wheeled trailer) version has appeared followed by a version on a 6x6 truck that proved more maneuverable, comfortable and cheaper than the armored version. In 2018 a major upgrade was introduced; Tor-E2. With this model, the tracked vehicle was redesigned and upgraded to operate independently. The Tor-E2 carries sixteen missiles and its own search radar. The range of the missile has been increased to 15 kilometers. Russia was the original user but Tor-M has also been exported to fourteen other countries including Greece, Venezuela, China, Iran and Egypt. Russia prefers to sell export customers the Pantsir but knowledgeable customers keep ordering the more expensive Tor-M because they know it works. DAMASCUS, Syria - The highway that links the Syrian capital with the northern city of Aleppo is open for public use for the first time in nearly eight years after government forces recently captured parts of it that had been held by insurgents, the transportation minister said Saturday. The reopening of the M5 highway came as another Turkish soldier was killed in northwestern Syria in shelling by government forces, according to Turkish state media. The full control of the highway known as the M5 by government forces earlier this month marked one of the biggest prizes for President Bashar Assad in the nearly nine-year conflict. Transport Minister Ali Hammoud said in remarks carried by state media that the highway is open to the public, adding that work has started on the railway leading to Aleppo and it should return to business in the coming months. The opening of the highway reduces the trip between Damascus and Aleppo by about 90 kilometres (56 miles) compared to the desert road that had been in use over the past years, state news agency SANA said. The M5 is a strategic highway that starts in southern Syria, near the border with Jordan, and runs all the way north to the city of Aleppo near the Turkish border. The 450-kilometre (280-mile) highway links the countrys four largest cities and population centres: Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo, cutting through Idlib province. Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in Idlib and parts of Aleppo province, the last remaining rebel stronghold in the country, since early December capturing dozens of towns and villages from insurgents. The Russian-backed offensive has also displaced more than 900,000 people forcing many of them to leave to area close to the border with Turkey. Assad gradually lost control of the M5 starting in 2012, when various rebel groups fighting to topple him began seizing parts of the country. In recent years, Syrian troops have been regaining segments of the highway from southern Syria to the suburbs of Damascus all the way to Aleppo. Also on Saturday, an unnamed Syrian military official issued a warning to Turkey that orders have been given to the countrys air defence units to open fire on warplanes that violate Syrias airspace. A Turkish soldier was killed in Syrias Idlib province, state-run Anadolu news agency reported Saturday. He was at least the 16th member of the Turkish military to die in February during an offensive by Syrian government forces. Citing a statement from the governor of Turkeys Gaziantep, the soldiers home province, Anadolu said he was killed by a bomb dropped by regime forces. It named him as a member of a tank unit. The Turkish Defence Ministry said 21 regime targets were destroyed in response to the soldiers death. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu about Idlib on Saturday, the Turkish Defence Ministry said, without providing further details. Russia is the main backer of Assad and its air force has been instrumental in the regimes military success. Turkey and Russia support rival groups of the Syrian conflict and Ankara has sent thousands of troops into Idlib in recent weeks. Syrian opposition activists reported airstrikes on rebel-held villages leaving at least one civilian, a child, dead. On Friday, Turkeys president urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call to restrain the Syrian government and halt the humanitarian crisis unfolding in northwestern Syria where the Syrian military offensive has concentrated. ___ Wilks reported from Ankara, Turkey. Trump admin. creates new advisory board to expose research using aborted baby body parts Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Trump administration announced this week that a new ethics board has been formed to investigate the use of fetal body parts in scientific research. The National Institutes of Health Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board has been established and is comprised of 15 non-government employees that include attorneys, theologians, doctors, scientists, and ethicists, LifeNews reported Wednesday. The board is being overseen by Health and Human Services Department Secretary Alex Azar. "The ethics board is tasked with researching the use of aborted baby body parts in scientific research and determining whether it is ethical. The board will create a final report to recommend whether HHS should stop funding such research," the outlet reported. According to the official announcement from the agency, the board will not only provide recommendations but also consider "the use of alternative models, and review and verify the core ethical principles and procedures used in the process to obtain written voluntary informed consent for the donation of tissue. The Ethics Board will advise, consult with, and make recommendations to, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) regarding the ethics of research involving human fetal tissue (HFT) proposed in NIH grant and cooperative agreement applications and R&D contract Proposals, the announcement goes on to say. Recommendations will address whether the Secretary should withhold funds or not withhold funds from a proposed project because of ethical considerations. In providing advice and recommendations on these matters, the Ethics Board will consider, among other things, the use of alternative models, and review and verify the core ethical principles and procedures used in the process to obtain written voluntary informed consent for the donation of the tissue. Late last year, the Trump administration scrapped a contract between the NIH and the University of California-San Francisco that used body parts of aborted babies to make "humanized mice." In July, the agency implemented new rules halting such federally-funded research; the rules included requiring scientists to give detailed explanations about why they want to use tissue from aborted babies rather than ethically-obtained materials. In 2018, HHS created a $20 million grant to invest in ethical research alternatives to fetal tissues obtained from abortions. The baby body parts used in experiments were taken from later-term unborn babies, 18 to 24 weeks gestation, a 2018 CNS report showed. Other reports indicated use of babies between 20 weeks and 24 weeks gestation. Although scientific experiments using organs and tissues from aborted babies is not new, the grisly reality of such practices were exposed afresh in the summer of 2015 when the Center for Medical Progress released a series of undercover videos showing top-level Planned Parenthood executives speaking cavalierly about how they facilitate operations with biotech companies. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren announced she will be in San Antonio with former Mayor Julian Castro this Thursday for a special event her first trip here since launching her campaign a year ago. The senior senator from Massachusetts is hosting a town hall with Castro, himself a former presidential candidate who endorsed Warren shortly after dropping out of the race in January. The town hall event will be at 6:30 p.m. at Sunset Station in St. Paul Square, according to Warren campaign officials. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Admission is first-come, first-served, and the campaign strongly encourages an RSVP. She has also been endorsed by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, and on Friday, Judge Lina Hidalgo, the chief executive of Harris County announced her endorsement. Warren has more than 60 staffers and organizers in offices across Texas but chose San Antonio as her state headquarters. San Antonio is a city thats still beset by a lot of economic challenges, you have very deep-rooted poverty here, Rep. Joaquin Castro said. Shes (Warren) somebody thats going to create opportunities for all Americans, including communities that have often been overlooked by politicians. After stagnating in recent polls, Warrens campaign said she had her best day of fundraising following her strong performance during Wednesdays presidential debate. Her swings at former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg over his stop-and-frisk policy in New York, which targeted minority communities, and the sexual harassment allegations against him were considered by many as Warren reasserting herself back into the race from a position of strength. I think everybody that watched her on that debate stage saw somebody whos smart, compassionate, knows the issues and can take on anything that comes her way, said Castro. Warren has Texas ties. She attended The University of Houston, where she got her bachelors degree in 1970 and taught law. She later taught at The University of Texas at Austins school of law, where she began making herself known as a scholar in consumer finances. Shes a champion for working families who has been holding billionaires accountable for years, and Trump is next, said former Housing Secretary Julian Castro in a statement. I'm thrilled to welcome Elizabeth to San Antonio." According to her campaign, San Antonio City Council members Shirley Gonzalez, Manny Palaez and Robert Trevino have also endorsed her. 'Best Shot At Peace': Explaining The Finer Points Of The U.S.-Taliban Deal By Frud Bezhan February 21, 2020 The United States and the Taliban are on the verge of signing a historic deal that could pave the way to ending America's longest-ever war. The deal due to be signed on February 29 will trigger the phased withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and kick off talks among warring Afghan factions over a power-sharing arrangement. The deal hinges on the success of a weeklong "reduction of violence" that takes effect at midnight on February 22. If the partial truce holds, the United States and the Taliban will sign the peace deal with the backing of the Western-backed government in Kabul. The culmination of more than 18 months of grueling talks, the deal is seen as a major step toward ending the nearly 19-year war. But experts say the agreement is laden with pitfalls and key components remain murky, warning that spoilers and a political crisis in Kabul spurred by an election dispute could derail the process. 'Reduction Of Violence' During the weeklong "reduction of violence" due to start on February 22, U.S. and Afghan forces on one side, and Taliban militants on the other, will refrain from conducting major operations. The partial truce excludes terrorist groups, including Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda. A senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the Taliban had committed to halting roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. The official said the United States would monitor the truce and determine if there are any violations. A senior Afghan official, also speaking anonymously, told RFE/RL that the Taliban had committed to reducing its attacks from around 75 operations per day to under 15. The militants would refrain from attacking major cities, highways, and U.S. and Afghan bases, he said. U.S. and Afghan forces would not carry out any offensive operations, but they have the right to respond if attacked, the Afghan official said. The temporary truce, however, falls short of a key U.S. and Afghan demand: a cease-fire. "The seven-day violence-reduction agreement is significant because of the precedent it would set -- there's never been anything like it during 19 years of war -- and because of the pathway it would provide to launch a formal peace process," said Michael Kugelman, South Asia associate at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. "To be sure, it's not a cease-fire, but it's the next best thing and the best shot at launching a long-elusive peace process," he added. Haroun Mir, a Kabul-based analyst, said the Taliban refused a cease-fire because it would weaken its leverage in negotiations and "undermine their narrative, which is the locomotive behind recruiting new fighters and keeping them motivated." But the truce could be undermined by potential spoilers from all sides. Hard-line Taliban factions opposed to the talks, pro-government factions that believe the conditions are not conducive to talks, and the various violent groups not involved in talks -- including IS militants -- could all seek to sabotage negotiations, Kugelman said. U.S. Withdrawal Agreement If the weeklong reduction of violence holds, the United States and the Taliban will officially sign the peace accord on February 29. The deal is largely the same one negotiated in September before U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly pulled the plug after a deadly Taliban attack that killed an American soldier. Under the agreement, the United States will start a phased withdrawal of its approximately 13,000 troops in Afghanistan. Washington will initially remove 5,400 troops within 135 days of signing the agreement. The rest will pull out within the next 18 months if the Taliban meets its own commitments. Mir said the U.S. decision to sign a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban and provide a timetable for its military pullout is a "victory" for the Taliban. "The Taliban could hold off the talks and use different violent tactics to further loosen Washington's resolve," he said. "They know well that the ongoing political fragmentation and infighting among the political elite in Kabul will give them the upper hand in the intra-Afghan negotiations because they don't function according to a timetable." Under the deal, the Taliban will severe its ties with Al-Qaeda, a largely diminished force. The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and ousted the Taliban after it refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders behind the September 11 attacks. The Taliban is also committed to preventing terrorist groups, including IS militants, from operating in or carrying out attacks from areas in Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. The militant group controls or contests about half of the country, although it does not rule any major urban areas. Intra-Afghan Talks The militant group is also obliged to launch direct peace negotiations with government officials and other Afghans, including women and civil society groups. The talks are likely to take place in Norway. The U.S.-Taliban agreement has arguably left the two thorniest issues -- a permanent cease-fire and a future power-sharing agreement -- to be decided in intra-Afghan talks. "The fact that these two issues have been relegated from the U.S.-Taliban talks -- because the Taliban did not agree to them -- to the new set of negotiations indicates that the bilateral U.S.-Taliban agreement is not a peace agreement," said Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the independent Kabul-based Afghanistan Analysts Network. "Peace and a comprehensive cease-fire first is what Afghans wish [for] the most," added Ruttig. "But to expect that the Taliban would agree to a cease-fire at the start of intra-Afghan talks might be unrealistic." Considering the sensitivity of the issues and the chronic divisions among the Afghan political elite, Ruttig said he expected intra-Afghan negotiations to be "very complicated and possibly take a long time." The talks are expected to start within 10 days of the deal being signed. The Taliban had long rejected direct talks with Kabul, which it considers a U.S. puppet. During intra-Afghan talks, government officials will participate in a private capacity. Underscoring the potential challenges, Kabul has yet to name a negotiating team to lead talks with the Taliban. Washington has called on the government to name "an inclusive, national negotiating team," amid accusations by opposition political figures that they were being sidelined from the process. Political infighting in Kabul has also threatened to derail the U.S.-Taliban peace deal. The disputed, long-delayed result from the September 28 presidential election has triggered a political crisis that threatens to spill over into violence. President Ashraf Ghani on February 18 was finally declared the winner of the vote, but main challenger Abdullah Abdullah -- the country's chief executive officer -- rejected the outcome, declared himself the winner, and vowed to form a parallel government. "Given the ugly political environment in Afghanistan -- one compounded by an election result already rejected by the loser -- it will be a tall order to expect Kabul to put together a negotiating team and present a common front in talks with the Taliban," said Kugelman. "It's also hard to imagine the Taliban negotiating a power-sharing agreement within a political system that the insurgents have long rejected and vowed to overthrow by force," he said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/best-shot-at- peace-explaining-the-tenuous-u-s --taliban-deal/30447725.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Sweta Dash is a gender studies scholar at Ambedkar University. She is associated with the Right to Food and Rethink Aadhaar campaigns. The Economic Survey 2018-19 clearly states that India is set to witness a sharp slowdown in population growth in the next two decades. On February 7, while the country was in the throes of the anti-CAA/NRC/NPR protests and waiting anxiously for the Delhi elections, the orchestrated fears of population explosion surreptitiously made their way into the Parliament again. Anil Desai, Shiv Sena MP, introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020, enforcing a two-child formula on the population. The bill claims that population explosion is a frightening phenomenon that will cause many problems for our future generations. Desai urges that the government must tackle the situation with incentives and punitive measures at the earliest: The State shall promote small family norms by offering incentives in taxes, employment, education, and so on, to its people who keep their family limited to two children and shall withdraw every concession from and deprive such incentives to those not adhering to small family norm, to keep the growing population under control. The Economic Survey 2018-19 clearly states that India is set to witness a sharp slowdown in population growth in the next two decades. It illustrates that the decreasing growth rate (i.e. less than one per cent in 2021-31 and under 0.5 per cent in 2031-41) will be similar to that in Germany and France. However, the working age population and the ageing population will be on rise. This implies the need to urgently invest in employment opportunities and healthcare facilities. The Sample Registration System, 2017, the largest demographic survey that provides annual estimates of fertility and mortality indicators, corroborates these findings. At an all time low of 2.2 in 2017, the steadily declining total fertility rate (TFR) in India is actually very close to replacement level. Kerala and Delhi record the lowest TFR at 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. Finally, one needs to engage with the horrendous arguments about Muslims procreating more than the others. Based on an analysis of the National Family Health Survey-4, the TFR for Muslims has actually declined by 23 per cent whereas that of Hindus has declined by about 17 per cent. If only numbers could be used to silence the communal incitements of Hindutva leaders like Sakshi Maharaj! Population explosion has been a regularly used trope to incite fear and panic in many Third World countries. In his work, An Essay on the Principle of Population, in 1798, Thomas Malthus warns, Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. For him, when people multiply beyond control, the world would run out of resources to feed its people. The need to see through the inadequacies and prejudices of such ideas could not be emphasised enough. In India, the reason to worry for inadequate resources is not our population but income inequality. The Oxfam report states Indias top one per cent bag 73 per cent of the countrys wealth. The survey records a dangerous finding that the minimum wage worker in rural India will take 941 years to earn what the top paid executive at a leading Indian garments firm earns in a year! As Nisha Agrawal, the CEO of Oxfam India, explains, The billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy but a symptom of a failing economic system. Those working hard, growing food for the country, building infrastructure, working in factories, are struggling to fund their childs education, buy medicines for family members and manage two meals a day. The growing divide undermines democracy and promotes corruption and cronyism. Meanwhile, the Directive Principle in Article 39 notes: State will strive to ensure that there is no concentration of wealth, and thus try to achieve some kind of income equality. The irony is brutal. The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) surveyhas reportedly showed a 45-year high unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent. However, it also showed improvements in terms of longer period of education. By that data, we are facing a crisis of educated unemployment. The 2019 Global Hunger Index ranks India 102nd out of 117 qualifying countries. Such threatening figures are corroborated further by the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey which exposes undernutrition, overnutrition and obesity. The survey indicates that between 1992 and 2016, chronic malnutrition of children has declined by only one-third. Additionally, the new bill harps on about some newfound concern for natural resources: Our natural resources are extremely overburdened. The rate of growth of any country is directly related to size of its population. Natural resources like air, water, land, woods, etc. are subjected to overexploitation because of overpopulation. While addressing the United Nations Climate Action Summit last year, the Prime Minister had also asserted this concern and gloriously claimed that need, not greed has been our guiding principle. However, there is a different reality on the ground: from displacement and misuse by Adani and other crony capitalists to the underutilisation of funds by the ministry of environment, forest and climate shange (MoEFCC). Reprimanding the disuse of Rs 75,000 crores by MoEFCC, a three-judge bench headed by Justice M.B. Lokur, since retired, had asked, What are you doing? So many funds have been created under the orders of this court. Which are these funds and what is the amount lying in these funds? The country is suffering from the tremendous burden of a failing economy wherein access to food, work and education are seriously affected. Instead of sustained efforts to bridge this abyss, the government is piggybacking on the banal rhetoric of population explosion. Meanwhile, policymakers do not bother to think twice about promoting safe sex, practice of sexual hygiene and understand consensual sex. The demand for a two child policy, then, is not a neutral concern. It is deeply riddled with masculinist, casteist, classist, and capitalist vested interests. Our hopes rest on the possibility of the bill being rejected by the Parliament. Sweta Dash is a gender studies scholar at Ambedkar University. She is associated with the Right to Food and Rethink Aadhaar campaigns. Good Charlotte's Benji Madden issued a rare public statement on Friday about how fulfilled he felt after welcoming his first child - 'really, really cute' newborn daughter Raddix - with his wife Cameron Diaz on December 30. 'My wife and daughter fill me up with so much gratitude!' the 40-year-old guitarist - who boasts 997K social media followers - captioned a painting of three red roses. 'Everyday, I feel so lucky. [I] just wanted to say it out loud. Much love and best wishes.' Happily ever after! Good Charlotte's Benji Madden issued a rare public statement on Friday about how fulfilled he felt after welcoming his first child - 'really, really cute' newborn daughter Raddix - with his wife Cameron Diaz on December 30 (pictured in 2016) The Maryland-born musician and the 47-year-old SoCal native - who won't be sharing any images of Raddix - celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on January 5. Benji and the four-time Golden Globe nominee have always maintained a very low profile ever since they first began dating in May 2014. In fact, the only time the elusive couple resurface seems to be for double dates with Madden's twin brother Joel and his famous wife, Nicole Richie. Career-wise, the heavily-tattooed rocker's vocals were featured on 'industrial-rap' band Hollywood Undead's single Second Chances off their sixth studio album New Empire, Vol. 1 which dropped February 14. The 40-year-old guitarist gushed: 'My wife and daughter fill me up with so much gratitude! Everyday, I feel so lucky. [I] just wanted to say it out loud' Still going strong! The Maryland-born musician (L) and the 47-year-old SoCal native (R) celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on January 5 (pictured August 30) Quiet life: Benji and the four-time Golden Globe nominee have always maintained a very low profile ever since they first began dating in May 2014 (pictured in 2018) Meanwhile, Cameron - who published four lifestyle books from 2013-2018 - retired from acting following her dismally-reviewed roles in Annie, Sex Tape, and The Other Woman way back in 2014. Diaz is best remembered for flashing her effervescent, mega-watt grin in blockbusters like The Mask, My Best Friend's Wedding, There's Something About Mary, the Charlie's Angels flicks, and the Shrek trilogy. The three-time SAG Award nominee also challenged herself with more dramatic roles in films like Being John Malkovich, Gangs of New York, and Vanilla Sky. Career-wise, the heavily-tattooed rocker's vocals were featured on 'industrial-rap' band Hollywood Undead's single Second Chances off their sixth studio album New Empire, Vol. 1 which dropped February 14 Bengaluru: An activist of the right-wing group Sri Ram Sena has announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for killing Amulya Leona who shouted pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA event here recently. In a video footage, the activist Sanjeev Maradi is heard asking the government not to release the woman or else he will kill her. "The state and the Central Government should not release her under any circumstances. If she is released, we will kill her in an encounter," Maradi is heard saying at a protest rally organised by the outfit in Ballari against Amulya Leona on Saturday. "We on behalf of Sri Ram Sena will give a bounty of Rs 10 lakh to the person who kills her," he added. Ballari Superintendent of Police CK Baba said he has not seen the video or heard about any such "announcements". "Let me go through it. I haven't seen what he has said. I will have a look...," the official added. At an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act event in the city on Thursday, Amulya Leona, who has been arrested on sedition charges and remanded to judicial custody, had raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogan thrice in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi who denounced her act. Congress leader Manish Tewari on Saturday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray "requires a briefing" on the Citizenship Amendment Rules-2003 to understand how the NPR is the basis of the NRC. Tewari also said that on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Thackarey needs to be reacquainted with the design of the Constitution that religion cannot be the basis of citizenship. The sharp remarks by the former Union minister on the chief of the Shiv Sena, the Congress' ally in Maharashtra, came a day after Thackarey met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following which he said no one needs to fear about the CAA as it is not meant for throwing anyone out of the country. "CM Maharashtra Uddhav Thackarey requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules -2003 to understand how NPR (National Population Register) is basis of NRC (National Register of Citizens). "Once you do NPR you can not stop NRC. On CAA -- needs to be reacquainted with design of Indian Constitution that religion can not be basis of Citizenship," said Tewari, a Congress spokesperson. The Shiv Sena chief had said an atmosphere is being created in the country that the NRC is "dangerous" for Muslims, but added that the exercise will not be carried out in Maharashtra. Talking to reporters after his meeting with Modi that lasted nearly an hour, Thackeray had said he had a discussion on the CAA, the NPR and the NRC. "Talking about NPR and Census...the census happens every 10 years and it is important that it takes place. I have assured all the citizens of my state that no one's right will be taken away," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus epidemic in China appears to have started from the cramped prison system, possibly at internment facilities in Xinjiang, according to media reports and social media posts. China's Ministry of Justice officials on Friday said that more than 500 prisoners in five prisons in three provinces had contracted the virus which has so far sickened almost 80,000 people and killed more than 2,000 people, mostly in China. Some 56 million people in central Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, have been placed under unprecedented lockdown. David Brennan, a New York-based journalist tweeted, "Uighur groups have warned that China's 're-education' camps could become coronavirus hotspots. Xinjiang officials dismissed the concerns but @JewherIlham told me that China is unlikely to be transparent about the situation." A human rights activist, Nicola Macbean, tweeted, "Unsurprisingly #COVID2019 now confirmed in Chinese prisons. With overcrowding, poor nutrition and healthcare this is not good. Worrying to think about the situation in #Xinjiang camps!" China has faced international condemnation for rounding up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic Turkic minorities in internment camps in Xinjiang, where rights groups say inmates endure political indoctrination and forced assimilation into the majority Han society. Beijing says the facilities are "vocational training centres" necessary to combat terrorism through job training and teaching Mandarin. Social media campaigns have been started under hashtags such as #VirusThreatInTheCamps and #WHO2Urumgi to urge the Health Organisation (WHO) to send a delegation to Xinjiang. The Uyghur Congress tweeted, "The #coronavirus #COVID19 is spreading rapidly in cruise ships and prisons, where people are confined in close quarters. Millions of #Uyghurs detained in internment camps are at serious risk of infection. The CCP must #ClosetheCamps now, before it is too late." Prisons across China had been ordered to step up monitoring of all prison guards and officers to "prevent the spread of the virus into prison premises". The Ministry of Justice had sent 28 teams to prisons across the country to ensure compliance, said a report by South China Morning Post. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An elderly man in the northern city of Padua has died after being infected with the coronavirus, becoming the first Italian victim of the disease, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday. Health authorities announced earlier in the day 15 cases of the virus in the wealthy northern region of Lombardy and two in neighbouring Veneto where Padua is located the first known cases of local transmission in the country. None of those infected were believed to have travelled to China, the epicentre of the new illness, and local authorities in Italy scrambled to contain the outbreak. Local media said the dead man was a 78-year-old from the small town of Vo Euganeo who was hospitalised two weeks ago. Strict measures to create a health cordon around Vo Euganeo (have been put in place), regional governor Luca Zaia wrote on Facebook. In neighbouring Lombardy, the government banned all public events and closed schools in several small towns southeast of Italys financial capital Milan. We had prepared a plan in recent days, because it was clear what has happened could somehow happen, Health Minister Speranza told reporters as doctors tested hundreds of people who might have come into contact with the coronavirus sufferers. Speaking on the margins of a European Union meeting in Brussels before the Italian fatality was announced, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he would meet the chiefs of Italys civil protection agency, and that the situation was under control. Search Keywords: Short link: Earlier this week, Queen Elizabeth II proved that she had the "last laugh" over the "Megxit" battle with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It is after Her Majesty and the rest of the senior royals reportedly agreed to ban the couple from using the term "royal" in their branding as they fund their newfound private and independent life. It only means that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have to drop the million-dollar word "royal" if they decide to milk in the "Sussex Royal" brand in any of their future endeavors outside the monarchy after "Megxit." Instead of accepting their fate, the 38-year-old Duchess was pissed with the Queen's decision and was said to have expressed her frustration with her inner circle. According to a Daily Mail report, the actress-turned-royal immediately complained to her friends about the Queen's recent backlash, saying that nothing is "legally stopping" them from using the Sussex Royal brand. Meghan reportedly voiced out that using the term should not be an issue since they do not want to be selling shirts and pencils in the first place. "Meghan said the global projects they are working on speak for themselves, and they chose that name to protect the royal name, not profit off of it," the insider said. The source, who is said to be one of Meghan's friends, added that the brand name does not really influence the kind of foundation they are building, as it will surely impact people and the environment positively. "She said regardless of the name, Harry and Archie have royal blood, and no one can take that away. And that as a family, they will always be considered royalty," the source furthered. Additionally, the source emphasized that Meghan is confident their "success is inevitable" with or without the royal branding because their future works will have the purest intention -- and that is all that matters. The insider said that Meghan and Harry are now focused on the bigger picture of creating a better world for their nine-month-old son Archie. Meghan and Harry's Official Response Coincidentally, the Sussexes spokesperson recently confirmed that Meghan and Harry do not plan on using the "Sussex Royal" when they are officially out of the royal family starting April 1. "Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation, have been removed," the spokesperson said, as reported by Express. The statement added that the couple reached an agreement with the Queen that their new organization will be launched this Spring will not bear the "Sussex Royal Foundation" name. Megxit Trial On Wednesday, the Sussexes spokesperson also confirmed that their official exit from the royal family would take place on the 31st of March. They will be under a 12-month transition period to make sure all arrangements will be beneficial to all parties involved. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., believes the U.S. is nearing the tipping from where there is no return when it comes to dealing with climate change and protecting the environment. And a recent poll conducted in eight Western states indicates many share that opinion. Udall believes the results of the Conservation in the West Poll released Thursday should be a call to action among members of Congress. Almost 75% of the 3,200 people who participated in the poll in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming believe Congress should develop comprehensive plans to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Policymakers in Washington have our marching orders, Udall said during a press call about the poll, sponsored by the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project. Public support for conservation and climate action is stronger than ever. Among the findings in the poll: 70% of New Mexico residents believe significant effects of climate change will occur within the next decade. A majority of participants in the poll considered pollution, climate change and water issues among their biggest concerns, although a persons political views reflected the order. Among Democrats, 54% considered climate change the most important issue, followed by pollution at 37% and water at 30%. Pollution was the top issue among Republicans, at 33%, water at 27% and climate change at 16%. Independents equally listed pollution and climate change as their top issue, at 39%, followed by water. The poll said 73% of voters favor a national goal to protect 30% of Americas land and ocean areas by 2030, with majority support across party lines for the conservation goal. Udall and U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., support legislation that would work towards that goal. A movement is growing from the ground up, with Westerners of all political stripes clamoring for action to save our way of life, starting with a national conservation goal of protecting 30% of our natural land by 2030 to stave off a looming extinction crisis, Udall said. In response to a question from the Journal, the senator said plans to achieve that goal should be state-, tribal- and community-specific. He indicated public land should be set aside from oil and gas drilling and mineral development, rather than allowing drilling up into the 30% point. The poll said 67% of voters consider habitat conservation a priority for their elected officials over oil and gas drilling and mining. Over half of all voters 52% said that microplastics in rivers, streams and drinking water supplies are serious problems affecting public lands and public health. Udall was critical of the Trump administration, saying it has taken a hatchet to our nations proud conservation legacy. And the poll indicated voters were concerned about recent decisions to roll back Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act protections. But Larry Behrens, Western states director for Power the Future, a conservative energy advocacy group, voiced concerns that the poll results painted a perception that the energy industry didnt care about the environment. Any reasonable person knows we can have both responsible energy production and a clean environment, he said. However, if Sen. Udall and other politicians feel they have marching orders from the eco-left, theyre free to give up their hypocrisy and pledge to personally go carbon-free. Iran has started counting votes a day after its parliamentary election in which conservative allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are likely to gain a sizeable majority based on partial results. Iranian authorities have yet to announce the turnout in the February 21 election for the 290-seat parliament, but some early results announced by the Ministry of Interior indicated that the loyalists to Khamenei were set for gains. So far, 42 seats of the parliament had been won outright by candidates, state television reported on Saturday. It also announced the names of the leading candidates in Tehrans 30 parliamentary seats. All were hardliners led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is expected to be the next parliament speaker. While the official results of the parliamentary elections have not been announced yet, it is likely that conservatives are more likely to get a majority in the parliament and it seem like it will be a landslide victory, Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera. He said this will be very important in the months to come, with a presidential election scheduled for next year. We already have the judiciary branch which is with the conservatives, and if the parliament goes more conservative, I think the executive branch, which is the presidency, they will be working very hard to get that too, he added. Nearly half of the 16,033 hopefuls in the election were barred by the Guardian Council, a conservative-dominated vetting body. Most of the disqualified candidates were moderates and reformists. Turnout figure Irans rulers, who are under intense pressure from the United States over the countrys nuclear programme, need a high turnout to boost their legitimacy that was damaged after nationwide protests in November. The demonstrations were met with a violent crackdown that deepened resentment over economic hardship and perceived corruption. The spokesman for the watchdog Guardian Council, Abbasali Kadkhodai, predicted that the turnout would be about 50 percent, telling state television on Friday that the Iranian nation had disappointed its enemies by voting in large numbers. The turnout was 62 percent in the 2016 parliamentary vote and 66 percent of people voted in 2012. With Iran facing growing isolation on the global stage and discontent at home over the economy, the turnout is seen as a referendum on the establishments handling of the Islamic republics political and economic crises. Voting took place amid the coronavirus outbreak that has so far killed five people in Iran, while the total number of infections stood at 28 on Saturday. Effect on foreign policy While the vote is unlikely to have a significant influence on foreign affairs or Irans nuclear policy, which are determined by Khamenei, a conservative parliament could potentially bolster hardliners in the 2021 contest for president and sway public policy debates away from engagement with the US. I think they [conservatives] will support Irans current and existing policies in the region, Aslani told Al Jazeera. But when it comes to the US, I think a more conservative parliament will oppose more direct negotiations at least for some time. The USs 2018 withdrawal from Irans nuclear deal with world powers and its reimposition of sanctions have hit Irans economy hard as Iranians call on their leaders to create better economic opportunities. A more conservative parliament could also favour expanding the budget of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). President Donald Trump raised the stakes in his standoff with Tehran when Irans top general Qassem Soleimani, who led the IRGCs elite Quds force, was killed in a US drone attack at Baghdad airport in January. Coleen Nolan has candidly discussed how her libido has 'died' following her divorce from husband, Ray Fensome. The Loose Women star, 54, spoke with The Mirror about how she is finding her newfound single life, and that despite not being interested in younger men, she still gets sent explicit texts from '20-somethings online.' The star separated from her husband in 2018 after nearly ten years of marriage. Moving on: Coleen Nolan has candidly discussed how her libido has 'died' following her divorce from husband, Ray Fensome She told the publication: 'This is the first time I've been properly single. If I was to miss anything, it would be the intimacy. 'I'm super romantic, so I miss the romance. Kissing, hugging, sitting down watching a film together but the actual act, no.' The presenter admitted she has not had sex in three years, not since before her divorce due to having zero interest. 'My first time being single': The presenter admitted she has not had sex in three years, not since before her divorce due to having zero interest She said: 'The Loose Women told me it was the menopause, that it can make you lose your libido. Well, mine's just died, it's left home.' According to The NHS, menopause is a 'natural part of ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman's oestrogen levels decline. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51'. Unlike co-hosts such as Carol McGiffIn, 60, who recently married husband Mark Cassidy, 36, who is 22 years her junior, Coleen said she would much rather an older man. Love lost: The star separated from her husband in 2018 after nearly ten years of marriage.(pictured in 2013) However, despite her having no interest the former CBB star said she still gets regular messages online from '20-somethings' who send her explicit photos. The mum-of-three called this 'bizarre' and said 'I don't want to see that thank you. Do they think I'm loaded or do they think I'm really sad and lonely and I'll be flattered to have a 25-year-old on my arm?' Coleen's interview came after her sister Linda, 60, revealed she hasn't had sex in the 12 years since her husband Brian Hudson's death in 2017 from skin cancer. Cheeky: However, despite her having no interest the former CBB star said she still gets regular messages online from '20-somethings' who send her explicit photos The TV star admitted she has 'issues' with her body and would like to lose the weight she gained through her own cancer battle. The Loose Women panellist - who has scars from a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery - confessed that, although she would like to have sex, she's 'not climbing the walls.' Now 12 years after her husband's death, the widow confessed she is ready to find a new love to give her companionship for the next chapter of her life. A top diplomat in Libya's east-based government says that the shutdown of vital oil facilities in the country would come to an end "when Libyans are guaranteed of the fair distribution of their resources." The closures came about when powerful tribal groups loyal to Libyan military commander Khalifa Hifter in January seized several large export terminals along Libyas eastern coast, as well as southern oil fields. Hifter is allied with the interim government based in the east. These resources are protected by our government, and by its army," Abdelhadi Lahouij, foreign minister of the interim government told The Associated Press. We pay the money for the police to guard the oil facilities, and protect the foreigners who are working in the oil facilities. Lahouij spoke to the AP on Friday while on a trip to Russia lasting several days. He attended a conference on the Middle East hosted by the Moscow-based think tank the Valdai Discussion Club. Hifters forces, which control the eastern and much of the southern part of the country, launched an offensive in April to capture Libyas capital, Tripoli, clashing with an array of militias loosely allied with a U.N.-supported but weak government based there. The closure of the oil facilities was seen as part of Hifters efforts to capture Tripoli and punish his adversaries there for sealing security and maritime agreements with Turkey, opening doors for unlimited military support from Ankara. Oil is the main source of revenue in Libya. 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. Libyas National Oil Corporation, which dominates Libyas critical oil industry and is based in Tripoli, has also called repeatedly for increased transparency. Lahouij accused the Tripoli-based government of using oil resources to pay for mercenaries and foreign pilots who fight on its side against Hifter forces. Turkey, which backs the Tripoli-based administration, has sent hundreds of Syrian fighters including militants affiliated with groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group to fight against Hifter's forces. When we are guaranteed a fair distribution of resources, this problem will come an end and the oil flow will return as it was, he said. The National Oil Corporation said losses from the oil closures have reached more than 1.85 billion US dollars as of Thursday. The daily oil production has since the closure fallen to 122,424 barrels a day from about 1.2 million. Libya has the ninth largest known oil reserves in the world and the biggest oil reserves in Africa. The Tripoli authorities and US officials have also 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. Lahouij denied that Russia has provided military assistance to Hifters forces. There is no Russian military aid for... our Libyan army, he said. From the Dreamworld ride attendants who clocked on and operated the Thunder River Rapids Ride that day to the park's maintenance staff, corporate managers and the first responders who rushed to a horrific scene, the inquest left no stone unturned. Mr McDougall, with counsel assisting Ken Fleming QC and Rhiannon Helsen, worked forensically through the evidence. Floral tributes at Dreamworld in 2016. Credit:Glenn Hunt The inquest heard of staff without adequate training. Courtney Williams, then a young ride operator on her first day operating the Thunder River Rapids Ride, had only been given 90 minutes of training before beginning her shift on the ride. Just a few hours after her induction, Ms Williams watched, horrified, paralysed, with senior ride operator Peter Nemeth just a few metres away, as the tragedy unfolded. There were two emergency stop buttons on the ride. The one at the main operator console where Mr Nemeth was standing stopped the conveyor belt in nine seconds while the one close to Ms Williams stopped the belt in two seconds. Courtney Williams is seen arriving at the inquest into the Dreamworld disaster in June 2018. Credit:AAP/Darren England Neither of the two buttons were labelled as emergency stops. Neither of the ride operators knew the difference between the two buttons and nor did any of their fellow ride operators, the inquest heard. A memo sent to Dreamworld staff days before the tragedy warned the two-second stop button wasn't to be pushed except in certain circumstances, the court was told. Moments after the tragedy occurred, it was Ms Williams who climbed up the conveyor belt and reached Ms Lows son Kieran, comforting him. She helped him down and stayed with him as other staff and emergency services rushed to the scene. Dreamworlds former general manager Troy Margetts denied that he had told Ms Williams not to speak to police. First responders told the inquest of the chaos they saw, the efforts they made to save those who had already been lost, and their struggles to cope with the trauma they experienced afterwards. The Ride The Thunder River Rapids Ride was Dreamworlds most popular family ride, the inquest heard. It was described as being so popular, if it closed even temporarily it could create World War III for extremely upset guests". It took visitors through a cave and splashed through rapids then down a concourse of water in large, heavy round rafts, before coming to a conveyor belt that lifted the rafts up to the final disembarking area. The 30-year-old ride was extensively modified, the inquest heard, but there was little documentation showing where and how it had been altered over the years. Dreamworld dismantled the Thunder River Rapids ride after the tragedy. Credit:Parkz.com.au Operators had 20 tasks and 16 items to monitor during the ride, all to complete within minutes as thousands of people stepped into the floating rafts and were carried away down the bubbling water. The ride was sustained by two water pumps, known to Dreamworld staff as the north and south pumps. The south water pump had failed six times in the days leading up to the incident, prompting an engineering supervisor to book an external service technician. The technician was due on October 27, two days after the tragedy. Loading The inquest heard on the day of the tragedy, the pump had failed twice already, both times being switched back on by engineering staff. It was turned back on a third time minutes before the tragedy occurred. Eight months before the incident, an external company was hired to install $19,000 worth of safety upgrades to the ride. The upgrades did not include a "relatively cheap" water level sensor that, according to an experts report following the incident, could have prevented the tragedy by automatically stopping the entire ride when the water levels dropped. The inquest heard of other, similar, incidents on the ride in the years prior - without people on board. An electrical mechanic gave evidence that a rats' nest of wires under the operators console had been reported to senior management. Dreamworlds former attractions manager Andrew Fyfe told the inquest he believed both human error and a lack of mechanical controls caused the fatal incident. It was also revealed executives had stopped spending money on repairs and maintenance for Dreamworld attractions in the months before the fatal accident. A March 2016 meeting outlined monthly expenditure $125,000 over budget on a year-to-date basis. In September 2016, the inquest heard, Dreamworld was under pressure to certify its attractions with the state government for safety. Mourners attend a candlelight vigil outside Dreamworld on October 28, 2016. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled Thomas Polley, an engineering consultant, was hired to urgently inspect the theme parks rides and certify them for the industry regulator before the end of the month. Mr Polley told the inquest there was no completed paperwork proving the ride had been checked daily and annually. Describing the lack of documentation as concerning, he said he relied on verbal assurances from two senior engineers that daily maintenance inspections were being carried out. He signed off on the ride without a full electrical inspection. A Workplace Health and Safety inspector who inspected the ride after the tragedy later told the inquest of a litany of safety concerns. Dreamworlds own former staff criticised the companys safety, with the former safety manager for parent company Ardent Leisure, Angus Hutchings, saying that for some risks in the park, everyone thought it was someone else's responsibility. Former safety manager at Ardent Leisure Angus Hutchings leaves the inquest in November 2018. Credit:AAP/Darren England Dreamworld said it was determined to cooperate fully with the inquest, and after the first week of hearings said it was profoundly sorry the tragedy had occurred. Ardent Leisure chairman Dr Gary Weiss issued statements later in the inquest saying it continued to be incredibly difficult for all. The Thunder River Rapids Ride was decommissioned and dismantled after the tragedy. The families Throughout the harrowing inquest, day in and day out, the families of all four victims sat and listened to hours of testimony. They watched CCTV footage of the fatal incident and heard every word of evidence, their barristers and lawyers questioning witnesses for hours on their behalf. They heard apologies from former Dreamworld staff, who spoke of how they wished they could have saved the four victims. After the first week of hearings in June 2018 at Southport Magistrates Court, the families issued a collective statement. "We are tired and devastated and horrified by the evidence that has come out [of the inquest] this week," the families said. "We hold Dreamworld totally responsible for this tragic event that could have so easily been avoided. It has throttled our family." Matthew Low arriving at Southport Magistrates Court in June to attend the inquest into the Thunder River Rapids Ride malfunction. Credit:AAP In August 2018, the husband of Cindy Low, Matthew, spoke to ABC 7.30 about the tragedy. He told the ABC he believed things hadnt changed since the incident, and he was shocked at the revelations from the inquest. Kim Dorsett, mother of Luke and Kate, spoke to Channel Seven about her grief and that of Kate's husband David. Kim Dorsett, mother of Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett, is seen arriving at the inquest into the Dreamworld disaster at the Southport Courthouse in November. Credit:AAP With San Francisco City Hall reeling from a widening government corruption scandal touched off by the arrest of ex-Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru last month, Supervisor Aaron Peskin wants to beef up the boards investigatory powers. On Monday, the citys Rules Committee will take up Peskins proposal to allow the Government Audit and Oversight Committee to issue subpoenas and compel people to take an oath to testify truthfully, under the penalty of perjury. The Board of Supervisors can already issue subpoenas with six votes, but doing so requires a process that can take between five and six weeks, Peskin said. Under his legislation, the three-member government audit committee could issue a subpoena with just two votes, accelerating the process by a month, Peskin estimated. Peskin said it was incumbent on the Board of Supervisors to utilize its power of inquiry to get to the bottom of this stuff, alongside separate investigations under way by the FBI and the city attorneys office into the breadth and depth of potential wrongdoing tied to Nuru and his affiliates. Peskin currently sits on the government audit committee with Supervisors Matt Haney and Gordon Mar, the chairman. Everything that is going on in the current environment, whether its the FBI or the city attorney, is invisible to all of us. This is an opportunity to bring all this into the light and to ask questions the same questions were all asking about who did what, when, he said. If the Board of Supervisors has a role to play, we need to be able to do this in real time. This is the second time Peskin has tried to give the committee subpoena power. His first attempt came in 2016 after he was frustrated by the time it took to get information related to the Millennium Tower after revelations that the high-rise was listing to one side. He couldnt secure enough votes from colleagues to get to the supermajority he needed to change the rule. Among the supervisors to vote against the measure was Hillary Ronen whos now a co-sponsor of the proposal. Ronen said the last time around she was concerned about potential overreach. I thought the extra time and the extra process were good things, she said. But in the wake of recent scandals, Ronen said, it is essential to have the board do its part to root out corruption. There is rampant corruption in this city. Its been so normalized that, despite evidence of it coming out every single day, it takes the FBI to do anything about it, she said. I feel its a top priority to root out corruption. If this subpoena power makes it easier for us to do that, now is the time to put it forward. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The proposal would also give the committee the power to compel people to testify under oath with one major exception: government employees. Peskin said unions representing government workers rebelled against their members being compelled to testify under oath before the committee back in 2016, but added that he is still open to tinkering with that provision. Asked about potential concerns of whether the subpoena power could be wielded as a political cudgel, Ronen said there are sufficient checks and balances in place to avoid an abuse of that authority. And if it is abused, we can just take it back, she said. Dominic Fracassa Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa By Express News Service PATNA: The ongoing politics of hatred has diverted attention from the pressing need to address unemployment and lack of development, CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar cautioned on Saturday, adding the attention of the people is being diverted by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government which has failed the country in several arenas. Taking a break from his statewide "Jan-Mana- Gana Yatra", which began on January 30 from West Champaran's Gandhi ashram, Kumar accused the government of adopting a 'divert and rule' policy similar to the British government's 'divide and rule' approach. This went against the spirit of India, he stressed. Taking a jibe at those who accuse him of being involved with a "tukde-tukde" gang, Kumar said, "those who follow the Constitution cannot go against the country". He also asserted that he doesn't support anyone who either speaks against the nation or indulges in such petty politics. On being asked whether he is contemplating to join celebrated poll strategist-turned- politician Prashant Kishor ahead of the Bihar elections, Kumar said that he has not given this a thought. "I call upon the people of Bihar to unite against the CAA-NPR-NRC combine that has made a dent in the democratic vitality and soul of secular India," he said. Kumar also added that unemployment in the country has led to a rise in the number of youths committing suicide. A New York City man accused of killing another city man in 1985 and dumping his body in East Rutherford told police recently that he was "blacked out during the crime and that his father was the one who disposed of the victims remains, court records show. David Garrido, 66, who was arrested and charged Wednesday with the June 1985 murder of Ricardo Brown, 29, spoke to police in August 1985, and on Wednesday, the criminal complaint against him says. He changed his story from one police interview to another, switching from blaming the murder on another man in 1985, to claiming he lost consciousness during the time of the slaying, and called his father to take the body away in the second. All witnesses/information that Garrido provided during his interview proved to [be] fictitious and/or incorrect," the detective who signed the affidavit wrote. Bergen County investigators, who worked the case with the NYPD, believe allege Brown had been dealing drugs and Garrido was a customer. The affidavit says that during a search of Garridos apartment just weeks after Brown was reported missing, police found traces of blood and a trunk that was nearly identical to the one that contained Browns body. Calls and emails to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office on Friday to determine if Garrido had been extradited to New Jersey were not immediately returned. On June 18, 1985, Browns wife, who was only referred to by her initials, reported him missing, police say. During an interview with police, Browns wife said Brown was a drug dealer who used a pager for his business, the affidavit said. The last message on Browns beeper the day he went missing was from Garrido, she told officers. Browns wife witnessed her husband call Garrido, she said, with Garrido asking for a nine, which was believed to be a term for cocaine, police wrote in the affidavit. The last time she spoke to her husband was when he called her at 4 p.m. the day he disappeared. A week later, across the Hudson River, police found Browns body wrapped in plastic sheets and stuffed inside a wicker steamer trunk on the side of Madison Circle Drive in East Rutherford, authorities said. An autopsy found Brown had been shot once in the head. Days after Brown was found, investigators from the NYPD and the Bergen County Prosecutors Office began interviewing Garridos neighbors, police said. Two neighbors remember seeing a wicker steamer trunk, much like the one that Browns body was found in. Another neighbor told police that Garrido once took care of her apartment while she was away. When she returned, she saw a smaller, but similar wicker steamer trunk in her apartment. The smaller trunk had the words the long lock on it, just like the trunk found in East Rutherford. She also remembered seeing both trunks in Garridos apartment. Investigators searched Garridos apartment little more than a week after Brown was found. "The search revealed several items which tested positive for blood, the detective wrote in the affidavit. On August 2, 1985, police finally sat down with Garrido, who told them that when Brown arrived at his apartment to sell him drugs, he took the drugs, paid Brown and retired to his room, police wrote in the affidavit. While he and Brown were in his apartment, Garrido heard a gunshot he said was fired by another person. Helping the other person, Garrido wrapped Browns body in a plastic sheet and placed it into the wicker steamer trunk before loading into the other persons car. On Wednesday, more than 34 years after Browns death, Garrido told police about being blacked out, and calling his father. 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. Chrissie Swan has revealed that she is no longer keen to discuss her body after years of being asked about it in interviews. The 46-year-old told this week's issue of Stellar Magazine: 'I did 10 years where the size of my [bottom] was the focus of every interview. 'So when I stopped long enough to think about what I really wanted to do, talking about my body wasn't included.' Over it! In this week's Stellar magazine, Chrissie Swan (pictured) revealed that she is no longer keen to discuss her body after years of being asked about it in interviews She added: 'Every interview tended to focus on my body or the fact that I've had children. There may not be anything else interesting about me, I don't know.' The former Big Brother star went on to say that she's come to be at peace with her weight fluctuations. 'It's been bigger, it's been smaller, it will be bigger again, it will be smaller again. Some bodies are like that, and that's the way my body is,' she said. The 46-year-old said: 'I did 10 years where the size of my [bottom] was the focus of every interview. So when I stopped long enough to think about what I really wanted to do, talking about my body wasn't included.' Pictured in 2017 The former Big Brother star went on to say that she's come to be at peace with her weight fluctuations: 'It's been bigger, it's been smaller, it will be bigger again, it will be smaller again. Some bodies are like that, and that's the way my body is,' she said. Pictured in 2011 The radio star made similar comments on her Instagram in recent years, admitting in one post: 'I was waiting until I was thin to be happy. 'What if that day never came? I'd have have wasted my whole life. My WHOLE fabulous life,' the television presenter continued. 'So I started to think about this magical life I thought all thin people lead and I just started to live it myself. The radio star made similar comments on her Instagram in recent years, admitting in one post: 'I was waiting until I was thin to be happy. What if that day never came? I'd have have wasted my whole life. My whole fabulous life'. Pictured in 2017 Claim to fame: Chrissie rose to fame on Big Brother in 2003 before going on to have a radio career, and is currently a breakfast presenter on Melbourne's Nova 100. Pictured in 2003 'I started getting my nails done and enjoying leisurely strolls with no pressure and having blow waves and going down slides and using the swings and swimming with the kids and reading books and wearing bras that fit. 'And guess what? My body does it all. Happily. And it's not thin. You'll be amazed at the perfect things your imperfect body can do if you let it!' she concluded. Chrissie rose to fame on Big Brother in 2003 before going on to have a successful radio career, and is currently a breakfast presenter on Melbourne's Nova 100. Presbyterian church burned down by arsonists in civil war-ridden Cameroon Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A week after defense forces were accused of killing at least 32 people, including a pregnant woman and 14 children, in Cameroons civil war-ridden English-speaking region, a Presbyterian church was burned to ashes. We outrightly condemn the killing of children, women and the entire household in Ngarbuh Ntumbaw. We equally denounce the ungodly act of burning a PCC house of worship at Mbufung Bali, the Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, said in a statement, according to Cameroon-Info.Net. A video of some church ministers weeping at the scene of the incident went viral in the country. The arson attack took place Monday. The website pointed to the role of Cameroons Defense and Security Forces behind the latest attack, saying that security forces have been battling rebel groups that are seeking independence of the countrys northwestern and southwestern parts, also known as the Anglophone region, to create a news country, Ambazonia. French is spoken in other parts of the country. Once more, it has proven to us that military might or violence is not the solution to this problem, Samuel Forba, who is also president of the Council of Protestant Churches in Cameroon, said in the statement. An insincere route to peace, half measures, lack of goodwill, a general insensitivity to the pain of Gods people, the hate speech and violence perpetrated by armed separatists, extremely poor governance and selfish politics continues to fuel this crisis. The church representative called for external mediators. We have failed as a people to protect Gods children. Surely God is vexed and we must repent as a nation. Armed separatist groups emerged in 2017 after the government cracked down on protests. Cameroons President Paul Biya has called the groups terrorists. More than 3,000 people have died and at least 70,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict, in which both the military and the opposition have been accused of violating the rights of civilians. In the last weeks attack, several victims were burned alive. The military officers responsible for these heinous crimes must be brought to justice, human rights lawyer Felix Agbor Nkongho told CNN at the time. Rignyu Solange, a resident of Ntumbo, told CNN that nine members of her family were killed when security forces searching for separatists burned many houses in his village. My sister and her family were killed in their sleep as the military torched houses because they suspected that separatist fighters were hiding in the village. I want the perpetrators of this act to be severely punished. Efi Tembon, a ministry leader who fled Cameroon in 2018 after he spoke to the U.S. Congress about rights violations committed by the Cameroonian military, also called for the military to be held accountable in a Facebook post. A military court in Cameroon is hearing a case against seven soldiers accused of killing women and children in a raid against insurgents from the Boko Haram terror group. Cameroon was added to Open Doors USAs World Watch List of countries where Christian persecution is most severe in 2020. In 2019, two Bible translators were killed in their homes during overnight attacks on separatist-supporting communities. Last November, President Trump stripped Cameroon of its trade benefits over accusations that the military has committed human rights abuses against civilians. Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl is outspending his Republican opponents in the race for Alabamas 1st congressional district seat ahead of the March 3 primary. According to federal election filings, Carl spent $456,363 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 12, with the lion share of those expenditures going toward two large media buys with Ohio-based Lakeside Communications totaling $359,235. His closest opponents former state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and state Rep. Chris Pringle of Mobile are spending less than half than what Carl has spent since the first of the year. According to FEC filings, Hightower spent $183,583 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 12, while Pringle has spent $175,624 during that same time period. The federal filings show that Hightower continues to outpace Pringle and Carl in individual contributions. Hightower raised $63,281, during the Jan. 1 to Feb. 12, time period, with Pringle at $53,035 and Carl at 30,531. Hightower and Carl, as of Feb. 12, have nearly the same amount of cash on hand. Hightower heads into the final weeks of the primary campaign with $249,274, while Carl has $266,721. Pringle has $101,809. Hightower has outraised his GOP primary opponents from individual contributions, amassing $673,552. Carl has raised $511,794 from individual contributions, and has loaned his campaigned $455,000, to help boost a war chest that is approaching $1 million. Pringle, meanwhile, has generated $447,701 through individual contributions since the campaign started. State Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, speaks during a congressional candidates forum on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Robertsdale, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Trailing behind are Spanish Fort restauranteur Wes Lambert and Fairhope military veteran John Castorani. There was no updated campaign filing for Lambert, who ended December with $76,887 cash on hand. Castorani raised $8,805 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12, and ended his campaign with $9,680 cash on hand. According to a WKRG-TV News 5/Strategy Research poll, the spending from Carl appears to be paying off. He leads the race with 29% followed by Hightower with 21, and Pringle with 13%. Lambert and Castorani were polling in the low-single digits. Of those polled, 32% were undecided. Democratic candidates for Alabama's 1st Congressional district participate in a televised debate on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, at the GulfQuest Maritime Museum in downtown Mobile, Ala. Pictured from left to right are James Averhart, Rick Collins and Kiani Gardner. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). In the Democratic race, Kiani Gardner outpaced her two rivals by raising $23,634 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12, and spent $20,627. She ended the time period with $12,064 cash on hand. Rick Collins raised $1,917 through individual contributions, and loaned himself $10,000. She spent $23,713 during the time period, ending with $3,388 cash on hand. James Averhart, who spent $7,545 during the time period, has $12,064 cash on hand. The News 5/Strategy Research poll showed Gardner, a college professor, at 25% and ahead of Averharts 21%. Averhart is a retired Marine. Collins, a Mobile Realtor, is in third place at 14%. Among the Democrats polled, 40% said they were undecided. Photo: Instagram/Peak Pride It's time to throw it back with frosted tips, boy bands and girl power! The Rebellious Unicorns Production Company is celebrating the third anniversary of Kelowna's only monthly inclusive queer-safe and ally-encouraged party, FruitCake. The Fruitcake series continues to be a tremendous success, says Dustyn Baulkham, executive producer at Rebellious Unicorns. Now in our third year, we cant wait to see what the future holds. The community is changing and growing and we are so proud to be a part of this transformation. To celebrate the anniversary, 'FruitCake 3.0' takes place this Saturday on the third floor of downtown Kelowna's Gotham Nightclub, accessible through the back alley staircase. The 'MUCH Dance' throwback themed evening will feature drag performances with music from the 90s and early 2000s. Door prizes will also be available for attendees dressed in their greatest throwback outfits. Doors open at 10 p.m. with drag performances starting at 11 p.m., from talent including the Okanagans Orca Queen Freida Whales, the Queen of Kelownas Next Drag Superstar 2019 Valerie Rose, Daisy Confused and more. Tickets are available here. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 ART Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones's new installation untitled (maraong manaouwi) (until March 15) fills the Hyde Park Barracks courtyard with pieces of gravel depicting two similar-looking symbols, the footprints of emus and the English broad arrow design used on convicts' tools. Visitors can walk on top of the work as it disintegrates to highlight the importance of protecting cultural sites. 10am-5pm, Hyde Park Barracks courtyard, Macquarie Street, free, sydneylivingmuseums.com.au Courtney Act brings her cabaret show Fluid to the Darlinghurst Playhouse for Mardi Gras. Credit:John Davis COMMUNITY Get along to Hiccup x 107 Objects Sustainable Festival to help raise funds for Seed, Australia's first Indigenous youth-led climate network. Check out the arts marketplace, listen to DJs spin tunes or attend workshops on climate anxiety, screen printing and how renters can make their homes greener. 1-10pm, 107 Projects, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern, entry by donation, hiccupevents.com STAGE Michael John LaChiusa's musical Hello Again (until February 28) flits between decades in the 20th-century in an examination of sexuality and lust inspired by Arthur Schnitzler's controversial play La Ronde. 1.30pm, Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville, $38, factorytheatre.com.au The United Kingdom has warned intending Nigerian students to the United Kingdom against engaging in money laundering and other crimes. The warning was made known in a letter of caution issued to the Nigerian Ministry of Education on Friday. In a statement signed by the federal ministry of educations spokesperson, Ben Gooong, the warning came following a revelation by the United Kingdoms National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) that international students bank accounts are being used as conduits for money laundering in the UK. According to NECC, students are usually targeted through social media platforms for the use of their accounts for third party funds transfer, usually for a fee. The United Kingdom said there is the need for students to be mindful of how their bank accounts are used, especially for the transfer of illicit funds as it will result in the termination of their studies and prosecution when caught. It also said it discovered and froze 95 bank accounts, mostly belonging to international students, with over 3 million deposited in 2019 alone. While pledging to strengthen its fight against money laundering this year, the government disclosed that it discovered and froze 95 bank accounts, mostly belonging to international students, the statement said. The UK government said its resolve to take more concrete steps against the activities of money launderers is prompted by its plan to reintroduce a post-study work visa for international graduate students in 2020 which is expected to increase the number of international students, including Nigerians. Police in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, detained dozens of activists ahead of planned protests by two opposition groups. Activists from the unregistered Democratic Party shouted "Freedom!" as police detained them not far from a central square on February 22 where supporters of the party were planning to hold an unsanctioned rally. Krishna Bose, an academician-turned-politician who was a three-time parliamentarian from West Bengal, died on Saturday due to age-related ailments. She was 89. Bose, the former Trinamool Congress MP from Jadavpur constituency in Kolkata, was unwell for quite some time. She died at a private hospital off E M Bypass at 10.22 am, according to the sources. Bose was admitted to the hospital with irregular heartbeat on Sunday, and suffered a cerebral infarction on Monday and remained in critical condition, a doctor said. "She was suffering from age-related ailments for quite some time. She suffered her second stroke a few days ago and was admitted to the ICU," her son, Sumantra Bose, said. Her other son, Sugata Bose, historian and a former TMC MP, said she was agile days before her death and had been active in two important programmes at the Netaji Research Bureau on January 23 and February 2. "However, due to irregular heartbeat, she was admitted to the hospital on February 16," he said. She was married to Sisir Kumar Bose, nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose. Born on December 26, 1930, to constitutional expert Charu Chandra Chaudhuri in Dhaka, Bose taught at the City College in Kolkata for around 40 years. She headed the English department for several years and also became the principal of the college. Though Bose started in active politics as a member of the Congress, she was close to Mamata Banerjee and switched sides when the TMC was formed. Bose was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996 on a Congress ticket, then in 1998 and 1999 as a TMC candidate. She is survived by sons Sugata and Sumantra, and daughter Sharmila. Sugata, the Gardiner Professor of History at Harvard University, had won from the Jadavpur constituency on a TMC ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Bose was Chair of the Council of the Netaji Research Bureau and also headed the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs during her third stint as the MP. She had written several books, including 'Netaji: A Biography for the Young', 'Ek Nambar Bari' 'An Outsider in Politics', 'Itihaser Sandhane', 'Charanarekha Taba', 'Prasanga Subhaschandra', 'Netaji: A Biography for the Young' and 'Emilie and Subhas: A True Love Story'. Her body was taken to her Sarat Bose Road residence in south Kolkata around 1 pm and then brought to the Netaji Bhavan on Elgin Road. She was cremated with full state honours on Saturday evening. The chief minister told reporters that Krishna Bose had kept the legacy of the Subhas Chandra Bose's family alive through her work and was in a thick of things even a few days before her death. "I lost someone respected, loved & admired by me. Saddened & shocked to hear about the demise of Krishna Basu, ex-TMC MP & wife of freedom fighter Dr Sisir Bose," Banerjee tweeted. "Being a part of Netaji's family, she was a revered social reformer, renowned poet & a courageous educationalist." "Krishna di was a mother to her son's Sumantra & Sugata, daughter Sarmila as well as the whole Trinamool family. Her immense contribution to Indian society & Bengali culture will be revered for times to come," the chief minister added. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who visited the Netaji Research Bureau to pay his tributes to Bose, said the death of "a towering giant in West Bengal" had left a void which cannot be filled. Dhankhar said Bose's tenure as the chairperson of the parliamentary committee was significant and she would be remembered for "her sublimity, grace, knowledge and motherly love". Bharatiya Janata Party state president Dilip Ghosh described Bose as a scholarly person whose death was a great loss for the country. Rajya Sabha MP and Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who was in the city, also condoled her death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly one year ago, on April 3, 2019, I sent a letter to Professor Deborah Kaple concerning a Princeton University seminar on the subject of Dictatorships in Transition to which she had invited Professor Jorg Baberowski of Humboldt University in Berlin. Kaple, who played a leading role in the organization of this event, was at the time sharing with Baberowski a $300,000 research grant awarded by Princeton. I wrote: In the organization of the seminar/conference and the organization of a joint research project, was Princeton University aware that Professor Baberowski is among the most prominent right-wing revisionist historians in Germany? He is an outspoken proponent of the views of the late Professor Ernst Nolte, whose relativization of Nazi crimes triggered the famous Historikerstreit of the late 1980s. Baberowski is also a leading opponent of the immigration policies of Chancellor Merkel. His extreme right-wing views on the subject have served to legitimize the xenophobia of the neo-fascist Alternative fur Deutschland. Baberowskis pronouncements on immigration have been featured regularly in Breitbart News and, even more ominously, the Daily Stormer, the leading American Nazi web site... I would be interested to know whether you, or any of those who participated in the recent seminar/conference, are familiar with the controversies surrounding Professor Baberowskis views. The issue here is not simply a matter of Professor Baberowskis private political opinions. Rather, his defense of Ernst Nolte, who spent the last three decades of his life justifying Nazi crimes, is an integral part of Baberowskis historical-theoretical project. Central to the Nolte-Baberowski conception is the claim that Nazi barbarism, including the Holocaust, was a response forced upon the Hitler regime by the Soviet Union. It is difficult to imagine that the extreme right-wing character and dangerous implications of Professor Baberowskis viewswhich, it should be added, involve to no small extent the falsification of the historical recordpassed unnoticed by scholars participating in the recent seminar/conference. Were Professor Baberowskis views challenged at any point during the seminar/conference? Professor Kaple did not acknowledge receipt of my letter, let alone reply to the questions that I raised. Neither Kaple nor the university explained the purpose of its collaboration with and financial support for a person politically allied with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and whose public activitiessuch as his denunciation of immigrants and justification of Nazi crimeshave played a significant role in fostering an intellectual climate that legitimizes the resurgence of fascism in Germany. A report on the seminars agenda and proceedings has not been published, nor has there been an explanation of the scholarly aims and purpose of the Dictatorships in Transition project. Mourners hold photos of victims as they take part in a solidarity rally In Hanau, Germany Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, three days after the killing of ten people in a neo-Nazi mass shooting. (AP Photo) Given the dangerous political situation in Germany, Professor Kaple and Princeton University owe its students, the scholarly community and the broader public an accounting of its collaboration with Baberowski. The rapidly growing political influence of the AfD and the explosion of anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant violence, exemplified most recently in the murder of nine people in Hanau on February 19, has made all too clear the implications of Baberowskis anti-immigrant statements. When it granted Baberowski a six-figure research grant and invited him to Princeton, why had it chosen to overlook his apologies for Hitler and incendiary claims that immigrants were depriving Europeans of everything dear to them? In my letter of April 3, I had provided Kaple with links to the articles in Breitbart and the neo-Nazi Daily Stormerwhich cited Baberowskis anti-immigrant tirades and also to the article in Der Spiegel in which he sought to absolve Hitler of responsibility for the Holocaust. Since the publication of my letter last April, new and troubling information has emerged about another participant at last years Princeton seminar. Mr. Baberowski was accompanied by Fabian Thunemann, who holds the position of research assistant at the Humboldt University Institute for East European Studies. According to an online report dated December 19, 1998, an individual identified as Fabian Thunemann participated prominently in a demonstration in Hanover organized by the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party of Germany (Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschland). This demonstration had been called to protest an exhibition exposing war crimes committed by the Nazi army between 1939 and 1945. While the report states that 170 Nazis participated in the demonstration, Fabian Thunemann and his brother Lukas are among only eight neo-Nazis who are specifically identified. This would indicate that the two men were prominent right-wing extremists and well known to the anti-fascists who were monitoring neo-Nazi activities. Others named in this report were individuals who subsequently have been implicated in major incidents of right-wing violence. Online report identifying Fabian Thunemann as a participant in 1998 neo-Nazi demonstration Seeking to substantiate this report, Sven Wurm, a graduate student at the Institute of East European History and an elected member of Humboldt Universitys student parliament, sent a letter in December 2019 to the university administration asking whether the Fabian Thunemann named in the 1998 report was the same individual working under Baberowskis direction. The university spokesman, Hans-Christoph Keller, replied, with calculated ambiguity, that he had no information on the matter. Mr. Wurm sent a second letter in January 2020 to Mr. Keller and to the university president, Sabine Kunst, in which he requested an unambiguous reply to his question. He wrote: This is a very serious matter. So I must ask: Has the university management made any effort or does it intend to make any effort to determine whether Mr. Thunemann, who is currently working in the department of Eastern European history, is the same Thunemann referred to in the report on neo-Nazi activities in Hanover? It shouldnt be difficult for you to determine whether this report is true or not. Mr. Keller replied for a second time in a transparently evasive manner: On matters relating to personnel, Humboldt University may for legal reasons refuse to provide information to third parties. We ask for your understanding. The universitys refusal to provide a direct answer leaves little doubt that the Fabian Thunemann identified as a neo-Nazi demonstrator and the Fabian Thunemann who participated along with Baberowski at the Princeton University seminar are one and the same. Of course, if Professor Kaple harbors doubts as to whether the neo-Nazi Fabian Thunemann identified in the 1998 report is the same man who participated in her seminar, Princeton should contact Humboldt University and Mr. Thunemann and demand that they clarify the matter with an unambiguous answer. Jorg Baberowski and Fabian Thunemann pose in front of Trump Tower during their 2019 trip to Princeton in a photo posted by European history department at Humboldt University There is a disturbing sequel to Mr. Wurms inquiries. On January 30, 2020, while campaigning for a seat in the student parliament, Wurm encountered Baberowski in the act of illegally ripping his election posters from the wall where they had been legitimately posted. This vandalism openly violated the strictures against interference by the university staff in student activities. Baberowski was clearly incensed by Wurms leading role in opposing the growth of AfD influence and his efforts to determine whether the Institute of East European History, which the professor directs, was providing a safe haven for neo-Nazis. When Wurm asked Baberowski to stop vandalizing the campaign material, the latter physically assaulted him. This entire incident was recorded on video and posted on YouTube, where it has been viewed more than 22,000 times. Any Princeton professor who violently attacked a student in the manner recorded in this video would be immediately suspended from the university, lose his or her job, and, most likely, face criminal charges. But in the present political environment in Germany, so great is the influence wielded by the AfD that the university has indicated that it does not even intend to deliver a reprimand to Baberowski. The president of the university, Sabine Kunst, declared that she sympathized on a human level with Baberowskis actions. Kunsts fear of offending Baberowski testifies to his close connections to powerful right-wing networks. These connections have been documented in an authoritative study of the extreme right in Germany. Just a few days after assaulting Sven Wurm, Baberowski shared a platform with the Minister of Education in the coalition government, which has sought to placate the AfD by adopting substantial portions of its extreme right-wing program. Princetons invitation to Baberowski provided him with a heightened level of international prestige that is not warranted by his intellectually fraudulent efforts to advance pro-Nazi historical revisionism, exemplified in his claim that Hitler was not vicious, and, more recently, his assertion that Hitler did not want to know anything about Auschwitz. Moreover, given Baberowskis fascistic politics and contempt for democratic rights, the subject of the Kaple-Baberowski research projectthe study of Dictatorships in Transitionis both dubious and suspicious. Baberowskis efforts to obtain funding for a similar project, which bore the provocative title Dictatorship as Alternative, was rejected by the Academic Senate (Akademischer Senat) at Humboldt University, where the professors right-wing extremist views are well known. Independent outside experts assigned by the university to audit his application for funding subjected his project to devastating criticism. At a time when Nazism is experiencing a resurgence in Germany, where right-wing political assassinations and other acts of homicidal violence are becoming commonplace, Princetons financial support for and collaboration with the likes of Baberowski have been intellectually irresponsible and politically reprehensible. Princeton has yet to clarify the nature of its relationship with Jorg Baberowski. Is it ongoing? The allocation of $300,000 for a research project is a significant expenditure of financial resources. What is the scope of this project? For what, precisely, is the money being used? What control does Baberowski have over the disbursement of funds? What is Fabian Thunemanns role in this project? Finally, Princeton should explain why it believes Baberowskis efforts to construct a contemporary justification for dictatorship, similar to that which existed in Chile under General Pinochet, are relevant to present-day political conditions in the United States and internationally. Officials are working hard to assuage resident fears as securing replacement businesses for the two recently-closed Randalls drag on in The Woodlands. Township Director Ann Snyder recently visited The Grogans Mill Village Association board meeting to update members. CLOSURE AFTERMATH: Woodlands Economic Development Committee to address Randalls closures Snyder addressed the nearly dozen members of the village association board during their Tuesday meeting and told them that local officials are very concerned about what will happen to both Randalls locations, one in Panther Creek and a second in Grogans Mill, because they were anchor businesses to both shopping centers and afforded local senior citizens and others an easy place to shop and also get pharmacy prescriptions filled. We are not developers, but it is a priority of the (Board of Directors) to not have empty spaces, Snyder said of the two sites that closed on Feb. 15. We are setting meetings with Randalls, Howard Hughes as well as the property managers of the (Grogans Mill) village center. We are also interested in Panther Creek, both are a priority. RANDALLS CLOSURES: Woodlands business owners in Grogans Mill Shopping Center join forces to save their stores from demise As chairperson of the townships Economic Development Committee, which is in charge of dealing with the Randalls closures, Snyder explained as she has at other meetings that both former Randalls sites are somewhat limited in their future uses. The former Randalls in the Panther Creek shopping center has more flexibilty for potential businesses, she said, because it can be both grocery store as well as a movie theater, although if a theater would be desired, it must be smaller than 5,000 square feet. The Randalls site in the Grogans Mill shopping center is a more challenging problem, she added, because the sites ILUD initial land use designation limits the 55,000 square foot space to be only a grocery store. With three H-E-B grocery stores, a Whole Foods and a Walmart Super Center all within a 5-mile radius of that location, finding a new tenant in the grocery store business may be more difficult. Two potential chains often mentioned to be brought into the space Aldi and Sprouts are normally only about 17,000 to 20,000 square feet in size, which is less than half the size of the Grogans Mill Randalls. ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Randalls to close five grocery stores in Houston area The (Woodlands) Farmers Market will not be affected (by the Randalls closure). Do I come with news of a new store? No. It will take time as we move forward, Snyder told the group. Ive met with Jim Carman (of Howard Hughes) and others. They do not want an empty (shopping) center. It is a concern of everyone. Something needs to be done. Bruce Cunningham, a popular local figure who is both on the board of the Grogans Mill Village Association and heavily involved with the farmers market, told Snyder and others that he was working with the business owners who on Feb. 7 agreed to form a merchants association. He also said he is doing community surveys to see what residents would like to have in the old Randalls space as far as businesses. Another member of the board of the Grogans Mill Village Association, Emily Hoppel, told Snyder that many business owners and managers in the Grogans Mill shopping center have been frustrated by what they see as nitpicking nuisance allegations theyve received from the townships Development Standards Committee, which enforces the townships covenants. Some business owners have relayed, she said, that being targeted for extremely minor infractions does not help morale. During the Feb. 7 initial meeting of the shopping centers new merchants association, one business owner claimed he had been given a letter of infraction because a logo on his business door was 1 percent larger that what was allowed. There are other challenges these businesses are facing, Hoppel said. While the fate of the space in the Panther Creek shopping center may be less mysterious, what replaces the Grogans Mill Randalls will be harder to accomplish, Snyder explained, because the ILUD requiring the site to be only a grocery store can be changed only via a complex agreement between Randalls corporate officials, members of the Howard Hughes/Woodlands Development Company administraton and also the townships DSC. Im concerned, were all concerned, Snyder concluded. I am so excited about the merchants association and to see what input residents have. I applaud you all for your due diligence. jeff.forward@chron.com Gregory Lisby, the former kindergarten teacher and Worcester priest accused of child pornography possession, pleaded guilty to the charge in Bostons federal court on Friday, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Separately, Lisby has been accused of sexually abusing a teenager after he was ordained in 2007, the Telegram reports. Lisby started as a kindergarten teacher last year at Morgan School in Holyoke. He was arrested in Northborough in September on the child pornography possession charge and resigned from the job, writing to the district that he had been accused of an awful crime. Prosecutors said he could face up to 20 years in prison, if convicted. Lisby was the rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester from 2015 to 2018 and listed on his LinkedIn page past employment as a substitute teacher in Worcester Public Schools, an instructional aid in Shrewsbury Public Schools and most recently as a teacher assistant at Little Sprouts child care in Natick. FBI agents on Sept. 11 raided the rectory of St. Lukes Episcopal Church, where Lisby lives with his husband, the churchs reverend, and the couples two daughters. Authorities say they found more than 150 pornographic images on an iPad. The investigation had already uncovered at least 180 images and 15 videos of child pornography on an account believed to be in Lisbys name, according to the search warrant application. The images showed young boys, ages 8 through 12, having sex. Along with the pornographic images, agents also recovered a 2018 cover letter to a prospective employer outlining Lisbys ambition to teach kindergarten students. If I could teach any grade, I would love to be a kindergarten teacher," it read. The joy, spontaneity, and openness to learning of younger children is what attracts me to early childhood education. Plus, the energy of the kids, and the energy required of the teacher is exhilarating and tiring." Related Content: The rule of is probably the "most fundamental feature" of modern constitutions and its success depends on how judiciaries across the world respond to emerging challenges, Chief Justice S A Bobde said on Saturday. The CJI, while speaking at the International Judges' Conference on the subject of 'Judiciary and the Changing World' at the Supreme Court here, also stressed on the need for citizens to perform their legal duties. "Probably the most fundamental feature of most modern constitutions is the idea of the rule of law," he said, adding, "Undoubtedly, the success of the rule of in our countries depends on how the judiciaries respond to such challenges and how they emerge." Referring to Constitutional provisions, Justice Bobde said it was often implicit in that "legal rights have correlatives of legal duties." "A feature often neglected is a chapter on fundamental duties imposing on every citizen the duties to abide by the constitution, the whole of it and respect its ideals and institution," he said. The said more than 50 countries have specific provisions on fundamental duties in their constitutions. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Justice Bobde said the exercise of rights depends on one's sense of duty and "real rights are a result of performance of duty". The also referred to "incredible technological advancement" and said now the entire world was interconnected and a small change in one corner of the world can result in changes in different parts of the world. "Judiciaries all over the world are dealing with this kind of change, what might be called a rights revolution, a technological revolution and a demographic revolution. Our decisions no longer impact only those who live in our jurisdiction but also those who live in other jurisdictions, some far away," he said. Wishing success to the first such conference organised by the Indian Supreme Court in which judges from over 20 countries are taking part, he said this would offer opportunities to judges "to exchange ideas and gain knowledge from each other on many aspects of gender justice, right to privacy, populism, environment and sustainable development." He said the has created a "strong and independent judiciary" which was separated from the executive and the legislature. "We have strived at every turn, not just as a judicial institution but also as a citizenry to keep these basic ideals intact," he said. The then delved into the 2,000-year-old history of Indian jurisprudence and said, "India had a well-established system of courts. The rules were all contained in the scriptures which prescribed a mandatory open hearing in courts in the presence of officers of the court." He also referred to 'Vyasa Smriti' and said it provided "various stages of a valid decision" and they were the "plaint, written statement, issues, evidence, it's analysis, argument of the lawyer, provisions of law and that the decision" which contained a royal seal on it. Referring to the ancient practice of imparting justice by village panchayats in the north-eastern parts of India, he said, "For instance the chicken liver test - in the absence of any direct evidence, the priest selects a small chick, cuts its neck, removes its liver, examines it and hands it over to the other members of the panchayat for examination. "The panel then decides collectively on whether the accused is guilty post the examination of the liver." He said there was also a practice of taking oath holding the tooth of a tiger and there was fascinating diversity in India. Terming India as "a melting pot of myriad cultures and traditions", the CJI said, "We have assimilated legal cultures of all the civilisations that have come to our shores - the Mughals, the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch and finally the English." Attorney General K K Venugopal also spoke at the gathering. He raised the issue of poverty and referred to the steps and welfare projects undertaken by successive governments to eradicate it. "Now, one should realise that India is a vast country and when we got freedom and the was adopted in 1950, the census showed that 70 per cent of the people were living below the poverty line," the top most law officer said. "That is what was the state of the country after 200 years of British rule. Now, this has been reduced today to 21 per cent and that I think is through the efforts of the government," he said. He said the government has brought in a series of reforms including social ones. Venugopal also referred to schemes like Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Prime Minister life insurance scheme, health scheme and the law on food security. "Wherever the State, in the nature of the government, has failed to produce results in some areas where there may be gaps, then in such a case the Supreme Court has stepped in...," he said. Venugopal said he hoped that poverty would be eradicated from the country in the next few years with the collaborative efforts of the government and the top court. There is a YouTube video featuring Michael Bloomberg speaking at the University of Oxford on the verge of Trumps inauguration in December 2016. The video reveals much about Bloombergs beliefs and thinking: He is dismissive of the working class, seeing them as ignorant and insufficiently intelligent to be able to find useful work in this advanced technological age. He sees himself as a member of an intellectual elite. And the voters will quickly grasp his real opinion of them. They are unlikely to vote for someone who sees them as serfs in need of guidance and patronage from nobility such as himself. In three years, Donald Trump has blown apart Bloombergs theory that the working class is composed of useless oafs. Under Trumps policies, the workers that Bloomberg wrote off have found jobs and it wasnt necessary for the government to hire them with make-work programs. It is clear that Bloombergs mind rarely treads beyond the intellectual bounds of Manhattan and Wall Street. His description of agriculture is a comedy. He thinks there is nothing to it to run a farm and that any dumb person can be a farmer. Bloomberg may realize that food originates from farmers, not from grocery stores, but he has only a foggy idea of how that happens. He reveals himself as a classic New Yorker who is under the impression that the world ends at the Hudson river. Bloomberg and Carl Pope, a former executive director of the Sierra Club, wrote a book together titled Climate of Hope. From reading their book, I think it is fair to say that both Pope and Bloomberg lightly realize that just as food does not originate in the grocery store, electricity does not originate at the wall outlet. They realize that there is some infrastructure that generates the electricity and transmits it to the wall outlet. But they think that it is being done in a manner that is all wrong. We are using coal and natural gas to generate that electricity. To them, we should be using windmills and solar panels instead. Pope has the excuse that he was a Harvard history major. It is very clear that he has absolutely no understanding of electricity infrastructure. Bloomberg, on the other hand, was an electrical engineering major at Johns Hopkins, so he has less excuse. Yet there is no sign he understands much about the nations electrical grid, either. He only knows that is all wrong because it is not being powered by windmills and solar panels. Bloomberg gave $50 million to the Sierra Club for their Beyond Coal campaign. Bloomberg claims that Pope opened his mind about the danger of coal when he provided the numbers in 2011. The numbers in question are exaggerated, junk-science claims by the Sierra Club, warning of death and disease from burning coal. Bloomberg does not appear to harbor any skepticism concerning the power elite or establishment. That may be because they are his friends and he is a member of that tribe. It does not occur to him that climate scientists might be embellishing their claims of climate doom in order to improve their own careers. The corruption of science by federal financial support was highlighted in Eisenhowers 1961 farewell address. The claims of climate science are obviously embellished in order to influence public policy and the welfare of the climate science academic discipline. Anyone having firsthand experience with computer modeling and the disbursement of federal research funds knows instantly that the claims of climate science to predict the climate 100 years into the future by using computer models of the Earths atmosphere is corrupt science inspired by the desire for money and fame. I doubt that Bloomberg ever harbored skepticism concerning predictions of climate doom by the climate science clique. If he is ever elected president Bloombergs public policy proposals will be the ideas that emanate from his important friends and acquaintances that share his Manhattan and Wall Street-centric views. And it's not just on climate science that makes Bloomberg an intellectual midget. Bloombergs views on minorities and crime are not reflections of authentic racism. He just sees the world as divided into top people, like himself and other rich Wall Street types, and everyone else. Heavy-handed treatment of criminals by the police is simply his solution for the problem of unruly peasants. But not every black person is a criminal and not surprisingly they get upset if they are constantly treated as suspects. People may sell their political support to Bloomberg but they are unlikely to feel good about it. Bloomberg is buying support from Democratic operatives that he hires and from left leaning organizations that he gives money to. The voters will at some point understand that Bloombergs supporters are bought rather than heartfelt believers. They will realize that Bloomberg is a Mr. Fancy Pants, not someone concerned with the average mans problems. Bloomberg was born a middle-class descendent of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. His father was a bookkeeper. But through a natural talent for leadership -- and the Harvard Business School -- he made a lot of money, ascended into the social elite, and never looked back. Once he succeeded in joining the Manhattan and Wall Street elite, it is not surprising that he lost all skepticism concerning the worthiness of the elites. Bloomberg would not be running for president if he harbored doubts concerning the natural right of his particular club of elites to rule everyone else. Although both Trump and Bloomberg are natural leaders, and both lived their adult lives in New York City, their backgrounds are distinctly different. Trump was born with a small fortune premised on entrepreneurship. Trump is an out-of-the-box thinker with powerful instincts. Trump is a natural skeptic. Bloomberg became a card-carrying member of the elite as soon as he was able. Bloomberg is a plodding thinker applying formulas that he learned at the Harvard Business School and Salomon Brothers to his life. Trump is a genuine genius instinctively able to take roads that no one else sees. Because he is bold and a risk-taker, Trump is often in trouble. When Bloomberg tries to empathize with the problems of the voters, he comes across as wooden and artificial. Trump comes across as genuine because he is genuine, and he is loved by his fans. If Bloomberg gets the Democratic nomination, a remote possibility, Trump, a vastly more talented politician is sure to win. Norman Rogers is the author of the book: Dumb Energy: A Critique of Wind and Solar Energy. He has websites here, here and here. Image credit: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Co-Founders of The Plug and brothers, Ray and Justin Kim, saw that there was a growing demand in the U.S. for a hangover solution, but they had yet to find a truly effective recovery product. We saw this imbalance as an opportunity to bring a proven alternative from Korea and share it with U.S. consumers, said Co-Founder & CEO, Ray Kim. After spending 8 months traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to perfect the taste, we are confident that we have created a truly superior product that will fill the gap in the U.S. market, said Co-Founder & COO, Justin Kim. The Plugs proprietary formula took years of research and development using a state of the art distillation process on machinery that was built specifically for the product, utilizing South Koreas expansive ecological area. Additionally, the ingredient list includes a blend of 13 herbal plants and flowers including DHM (oriental raisin tree), dandelion, and honeysuckle, which work together to support the breakdown of alcohol in the body and help your liver to flush toxins in a speedy fashion. Drink a bottle of The Plug before, during, or after your last drink. To get the best results, I highly recommend taking it within an hour after your last drink, Harrington later reveals in the video. Want to learn how to make hangovers a thing of the past? Plug in and Welcome to The Plug Life! Harringtons testimonial video about The Plug is scheduled for release across social media platforms, digital channels, and streaming services as well as ThePlugDrink.com and AsSeenOnTV.pro. About AsSeenOnTV.pro Headquartered in South Florida, AsSeenOnTV.pro is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in direct response television, short- and long-form commercials, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. For nearly two decades, AsSeenOnTV.pros veteran staff of writers, producers, videographers, and editors has amassed more than 50 Telly Awards, thousands of prestigious clients, and over $20 million in television placements. About The Plug Founded in 2019 by Ray and Justin Kim, The Plug is a direct-to-consumer anti-hangover drink with liver-aiding ingredients designed to support your bodys metabolism after consuming alcohol. The Plug is made with a proprietary blend of 13 herbal plants and flowers that help replenish your body, guiding you to a smooth recovery after a night of drinking. For more information on The Plug visit http://www.theplugdrink.com and find them on instagram @theplugdrink Green channel is an automatic approval system, whereby a combination is deemed to have been approved by the CCI upon receiving the filing of the notice for the combination by the parties concerned. New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the sale of 49 per cent stake in GMR Airports to France's Groupe ADP through the green channel mechanism. "The Competition Commission of India (CCI) received the following green channel combination of acquisition by Atropos de Paris SA (ADP) of equity share capital of GMR Airports Limited (GAL), and GMR Infra Services Limited (GISL)," an official statement said. Late on Thursday, GMR Infrastructure Ltd (GIL) announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Groupe ADP to sell 49 per cent stake in its airports arm for an equity consideration of Rs 10,780 crore. The CCI said that under the proposed combination, ADP would acquire up to 100 per cent of the equity shares of GISL directly and 49 per cent of the equity shares of GAL directly and indirectly. ADP is an international airport operator based in Paris, and carries out the financing, designing, and operating infrastructure, for a network of 25 airports in 13 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Currently, ADP and its group have no operations in India, and do not have any shareholding or investment interest in any entity that carries on business in India. GMR Airports, an unlisted public company, is a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Ltd, and is engaged in developing, managing and operating airports in India and around the world. In India, GAL, through its subsidiaries, currently operates and manages two airports, Delhi and Hyderabad. In addition, it is developing a greenfield airport in Goa and recently received a letter of authorisation (LoA) for the development and operations of Nagpur airport on a public-private partnership basis, among others. GMR Infra Services Ltd, on the other and is an operating and holding company and its primary business is to hold shares in GMR Airports. Advertisement Bernie Sanders was declared the winner of the Nevada caucuses Saturday despite only a fraction of the vote in. Sanders had a formidable lead, taking 46.6 per cent of the delegates with 22 per cent of precincts reporting. 'I'm delighted to bring you some very good news,' a jovial Sanders announced to a crowd of supporters at his rally in San Antonio, Texas Saturday evening, alongside his wife Jane. 'I think all of you know we won the popular vote in Iowa. We won the New Hampshire primary. And, according to three networks and the AP, we have now won the Nevada caucus,' Sanders said as audience members erupted in chants and cheers. Sanders then predicted he would go on to 'sweep' the primary elections in the rest of the states. Trump went ahead and congratulated Sanders before most networks had called the race. 'Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates,' Trump said. 'Congratulations Bernie, & don't let them take it away from you!' the president wrote. In response to the president's tweet, Sanders told rally-goers not to reveal how much support he had in the country's most populous red state. 'Don't tell anybody, I don't want to get them nervous, we are going to win the Democratic primary in Texas. And you know, this is also important the president gets very, very upset easily, so don't tell him we're going to beat him here in Texas,' Sanders said. Bernie Sanders won Nevada, taking 46.6 per cent of the delegates with 22 per cent of precincts reporting. He was pictured with his wife Jane, who he introduced as 'the future first lady' Joe Biden, who came in second with 19.25 per cent of the vote, claimed his second place finish was enough to reboot his struggling campaign. In Iowa, Buttigieg beat Sanders in the delegate count by a hair, but placed third in Nevada with 15.38 per cent of the vote Elizabeth Warren, whose debate performance against newbie Mike Bloomberg dominated the headlines in Nevada all week after Wednesday night's Democratic debate, took 10.27 per cent of the vote. Amy Klobuchar, who took 4.5 per cent of the vote, headed back to her home state of Minnesota soon after the results were called Sanders left Nevada before precinct locations had adjourned their caucuses and headed to Texas for two rallies Saturday. Texas is a state Sanders will likely struggle to gain support in the Democratic primary, since voters are generally more moderate in the Lone Star State. During his first rally Saturday in border city of El Paso, Texas, Sanders did not bring up his jarring lead. As Trump tweeted, NBC News said the race was 'too early to call.' The network then called the race as Sanders' rival Joe Biden was speaking in Nevada, claiming his second place finish, with 19.25 per cent of the vote, was enough to reboot his struggling campaign. 'I know the press is ready to declare people quickly dead,' Biden told his supporters. 'We're alive and we're coming back and we're going to win.' One person loudly yelled that Biden was the 'comeback kid,' while Biden boasted he would go on to win South Carolina, where voters will head to the polls in a week. Sanders is coming off a win in New Hampshire, with Pete Buttigieg coming in a close second in the Granite State. He came third in Nevada, with 15.38 per cent of the vote. In Iowa, Buttigieg beat Sanders in the delegate count by a hair, while the Vermont senator won the popular vote. Biden finished in fourth place in Iowa and fifth place in New Hampshire. Reporting for Nevada started to filter in the early afternoon Saturday, though stayed at 3 per cent for more than an hour, as Democrats tried to avoid having reporting problems like they did in Iowa thanks to a malfunctioning app. CNN reported that some precinct chairs had trouble calling in and reporting the results. Despite the major momentum for the Vermont senator in the Silver State, the candidate had already left to campaign in Texas before the Nevada caucus sites adjourned. Sanders is holding two campaign rallies in the Lone Star State Saturday, where a more moderate Democratic electorate could spell trouble for the democratic socialist. He'll also hold a Houston rally Sunday. Texas votes on March 3, with 13 other 'Super Tuesday' states. Bernie Sanders declared victory in the Nevada caucuses as he rallied supporters in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday evening Although only 4 per cent of reporting was in by the time of Sanders' rally, several networks had called the caucus for Sanders as he took a substantial lead with more than 50 per cent Your browser does not support iframes. Sanders claimed at his rally in Texas, and on Twitter, that Donald Trump would get 'nervous' if he found out how much support he has in Texas the most populous red state Buttigieg and Biden stayed in Las Vegas, while Amy Klobuchar - who came fifth with 4.51% of the vote - headed back to her home state of Minnesota for a rally. Minnesota is one of the 14 so-called 'Super Tuesday' states. Buttigieg used his event to both congratulate Sanders and warn Democratic voters about the victor. 'I congratulate Senator Sanders on a strong showing today, and we certainly celebrate many of the same ideals,' Buttigieig admitted, although he rarely likens himself to the Democratic socialist candidate. 'But before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders, in our one shot to take on this president, let's take a sober look at the consequences - for our party, for our values, and for those with the most at stake,' he urged. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana also reminded the 300 or so audience members that he won against Sanders in Iowa. 'Ours is the only campaign that has beaten Senator Sanders anywhere in the country,' he said to a cheering crowd gathered at a the Spring Preservation nature area just five miles from the Vegas strip. Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire 2020 hopeful who decided to skip the four opening states, had his campaign manager send out a statement also warning of what Sanders win could mean. 'The Nevada results reinforce the reality that this fragmented field is putting Bernie Sanders on pace to amass an insurmountable delegate lead,' Bloomberg's campaign manager Kevin Sheekey said. 'We are going to need Independents AND Republicans to defeat Trump attacking your own party is no way to get started. As Mike says, if we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base like Senator Sanders it will be a fatal error.' Bernie Sanders easily won Saturday's Nevada caucuses, with networks reporting the double-digit win with only a small percentage of precincts reporting Sanders, however, left Nevada before caucus sites adjourned Saturday for two rallies in Texas, a state where he struggles among more moderate Democratic voters President Trump sent a back-handed congratulatory tweet to Bernie Sanders before most networks had called the race for the Vermont senator. Trump said Biden and the other Democratic hopefuls looked 'weak' The caucuses kicked off at noon on Saturday, though 75,000 Nevada Democrats had participated in early voting. At the Bellagio Hotel on the iconic Las Vegas strip, 123 people participated in the caucuses, with the room breaking out into chants for Sanders and Biden - as the vast majority only supported those two candidates. The site consisted of residents from a 2.5 mile radius as well as shift workers from the hotel who wanted to participate in the middle of the work day. There was a small showing for Elizabeth Warren - who came fourth, with 10.27% - as well, whose debate performance against newbie Bloomberg dominated the headlines in Nevada all week after Wednesday night's Democratic debate. At the Bellagio, for candidates to be 'viable' at least 19 caucus participants had to back them. Only Sanders and Biden qualified during the first counting, while seven people came out for Warren. Joe Biden's second place finish was enough for the ex-vice president to delcare victory and move on 'I know the press is ready to declare people quickly dead,' Biden said Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas. 'We're alive and we're coming back and we're going to win' Pete Buttigieg also stayed in Las Vegas to address supporters. At his event, Buttigieg congratulated Sanders though warned the party against nominating the democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, alongside his wife Jane Sanders, held a rally in El Paso, Texas Saturday before the full results of the Nevada caucuses were in Bernie Sanders supporters in El Paso, Texas cheer on the Nevada caucus result. Sanders moved ahead to Texas, which holds its Democratic primary on March 3, along with 13 other 'Super Tuesday' states Bernie Sanders supporters hold up a bumper sticker at the Bellagio, one of the large caucus sites on the iconic Las Vegas strip Bernie Sanders' supporters at the Bellagio hotel cheered for their candidate, who won that particular caucus site Bellagio hotel workers check in because caucusing Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada for Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders' supporters raise their hands at the Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada Saturday afternoon Sen. Bernie Sanders held a final Get Out the Caucus Rally at the Springs Preserve Ampitheater in Las Vegas Friday night Vice President Joe Biden greets Democratic caucus-goers Saturday at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas Joe Biden looked poised to have a stronger showing in Nevada than he did in Iowa and New Hamsphire, coming in a disappionting fourth and fifth place Elizabeth Warren only had a handful of supporters caucus for her at the Bellagio Hotel caucus site 2020 hopeful Tom Steyer talks with caucus-goers Saturday at t Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas Pete Buttigieg showed up to caucuses being held at Sierra Vista High School on Saturday. Buttigieg and Biden both stuck around in Nevada, while the other top candidates left A supporter of Pete Buttigieg holds up a 'caucus for Pete' sign as the presidential candidate greets voters at Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas, Nevada Caucus totals were reported on these paper worksheets, one for each precinct. Caucus volunteers had to factor in early vote totals along with totals on-site The vote totals from caucus sites are being entered into an iPad. The Nevada Democrats are hoping to avoid what happened in Iowa, in which an app malfunctioned and a full counting of the vote wasn't available for days One attendee even realigned from Warren's group early, deciding to support Sanders instead. When the early realignment was announced over the microphone, Sanders' supporters cheered enthusiastically while Biden supporters booed. The site only required one realignment, with Sanders ultimately earning 76 total ballots cast for him after one person moved to the senator's camp and Biden earned support from 45 caucus-goers earning 6 more after the realignment. The president of the caucus-site announced that they would send 32 delegates to the county convention for Sanders and 19 for Biden. Only two people remained uncommitted in the caucuses at Bellagio. The Bellagio is an at-large caucus site, encompassing several hotel and casino workers, and there were tables set up outside of the ballroom where attendees could register to vote. Ahead of the caucuses, the tables were surrounded by individuals filling out the paperwork to be able to participate. A rideshare driver on the way to the site told DailyMail.com that he wanted to cast a ballot, but after finding out it was a bigger ordeal than pressing a button, decided he had to work and earn money instead. At Rancho High School in north Las Vegas two precincts simultaneously caucused in a gymnasium. At both precincts, Sanders was the only viable candidate - and early voters far outnumbered those who showed up to the school. In one precinct, just 20 people caucused in person, while another 61 had cast early votes. Sanders picked up 46 of those early votes, while another 13 caucused for him Saturday in person, during the precinct's first alignment. Happening directly beside that precinct was another that overwhelmingly felt the Bern. Of the 16 Democrats who came to caucus in person, 12 were there to support the Vermont senator. Sanders was supplemented by an additional 20 early votes. He won all 13 delegates from that precinct, while earning 24 from the adjacent precinct. No other candidate won any. However, there were 11 precincts caucusing at Rancho High School overall, with Biden and Steyer also winning some delegates. Nevada began caucusing in primary contests in 1981, but the state did not earn early primary status until 2008, when the Democratic National Committee made Nevada the second-in-the-nation caucuses following Iowa's caucuses and New Hampshire's primary election. The final two Nevada polls that dropped Friday had shown Sanders with a comfortable lead. And he was leading in entrance polls Saturday as well. Mike Bloomberg made his debate debut in Nevada Wednesday night, but then headed to Utah - a Super Tuesday state. The billionaire has staked his chances on competing in the 14 states that vote on March 3, instead of competing in the first four, which includes Nevada Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez told DailyMail.com earlier in the week that he couldn't predict when the results of the Nevada caucus would come out Democrats are hoping that Nevada's caucuses go off without a hitch after an app glitch led to chaos in Iowa at the beginning of the month, with Sanders' campaign still challenging the count that saw Buttigieg win by a tiny fraction. Earlier in the week, Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez told DailyMail.com he couldn't predict when results would be up for Nevada. Perez couldn't guarantee whether the crop of 2020 presidential candidates competing in the Democratic primary would see results by the end of Saturday. 'I don't know how many people are going to show up, so that's an impossible question to answer,' Perez said. 'I know we're going to try to get results as soon as possible. But we want to get results that are accurate and we want to make sure we count every vote.' While the Nevada Democratic Party is holding its official nominating contest on Saturday, the state experienced days earlier a massive number of participants in its first-ever early voting in Nevada. Nearly 75,000 people cast early voting ballots, the party announced Friday, which is only 10,000 voters shy of the entire caucus count from 2016, which stood around 84,000. In the 2016 primaries, around 1.3 million of the 3 million residents in Nevada voted. The population of the western state is mostly contained to Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno, its three largest cities. The state ended up voting to nominate Hillary Clinton and in the primaries voted for Clinton by a margin of 2.4 per cent more than Donald Trump. A former Drug Enforcement Administration agent who gained both fame and notoriety investigating cocaine trafficking in South Florida and Colombia was arrested in Puerto Rico Friday on a slew of federal charges accusing him of laundering millions in narcotics proceeds. Jose Ismael Irizarry, who worked in the DEAs Miami and Cartagena, Colombia, offices from 2009 to 2017 before his resignation the following year, was arrested along with his wife, Nathalia Gomez-Irizarry, at their home near San Juan. Both await their first federal court appearance in Puerto Rico and will then be transferred to Tampa, where a grand jury returned an indictment against them. Irizarrys Miami defense attorney, Barry Wax, could not be immediately reached for comment. The DEA offices in Miami and Washington, D.C., declined to comment. The Irizarry case is one of the biggest black eyes in the history of the DEA, an agency that has seen repeated scandals in recent years. According to the indictment, Irizarry, his wife and others conspired to use the cover of a cocaine trafficking investigation to secretly divert drug proceeds from government control to their own personal control without government authorization over most of the past decade. Central to the scheme was Irizarry omitting, falsely reporting, and mischaracterizing key information to other DEA agents and supervisors regarding the movement of drug proceeds being investigated, according to the indictment. In a news release, the Justice Department said that to carry out the plot, Irizarry and his criminal associates are alleged to have opened a bank account with a stolen identity and then utilized the account to secretly send and receive drug proceeds from active DEA investigations. Irizarry, 46, his wife, Gomez-Irizarry, 36, and other co-conspirators used the drug proceeds to buy jewelry, luxury vehicles, a home and cash gifts for friends and family, according to the indictment. Federal prosecutors are seeking to forfeit a 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, properties in Puerto Rico and one Tiffany diamond ring, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars from dozens of illicit transactions. Story continues While he was committing the alleged crimes as a DEA agent, Irizarry was in personal bankruptcy proceedings and failed to disclose any of his illicit income to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The feds made their case against Irizarry through one of his former informants, who was sentenced in July to nearly four years in prison. Gustavo Yabrudi fingered his longtime handler in the multimillion-dollar money-laundering conspiracy involving the very Colombian cartel criminals he was supposed to be fighting. Since his arrest in 2018, Yabrudi met more than a half-dozen times with federal agents investigating his DEA handler, Irizarry, the alleged leader of the money-laundering conspiracy. Yabrudis Miami defense attorney, Leonardo Concepcion, said in court papers that his clients moral compass failed him. But he described Yabrudi as a small cog in a large machine who was led astray by the very agent that initially recruited him. Irizarry had been a model agent, winning praise from his supervisors, according to The Associated Press. In Miami, where he worked from 2009 to early 2015, Irizarry was entrusted with an undercover money-laundering operation using front companies, shell bank accounts and couriers. Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday claimed students and girls were being used to create unrest in society besides rift between faiths and termed it as a larger part of a conspiracy hatched across the country. The minister was responding to questions about two women-Amulya Leona and Arudra- who were arrested recently in separate cases for raising pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA event and holding a "Kashmir Mukti (liberation), Dalit Mukti, Muslim Mukti" placard during a counter protest in the city respectively. "You have noticed some new developments are taking place in the state. The same is happening across the country. This is a larger part of a conspiracy, where students and girls are especially used to create unrest in the society besides rift between faiths," Bommai told reporters at Davangere. While Amulya shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad' at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in the city, Arudra displayed the placard at a programme organised by Hindu Jagaran Vedike demanding stern action against Amulya. The Home minister said the network of "anti-national forces" existing in the state would be uprooted. "There are forces ready to assist the anti-national forces and have made arrangements to provide legal aid. The girl (Amulya) had spoken about it in her (previous) video. We have taken a serious view of the matter. We will uproot these forces," he added. The minister said the state government has decided to keep a close watch on all such elements. In this regard, a meeting with senior police officials has been convened, he added. The police probing the matter relating to Amulya's pro-Pakistan slogans has summoned Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike corporator Imran Pasha to find out who invited her for the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday said that the gold deposits found in Sonbhadra district in the state will help in making India financially strong. "This will help in making India financially strong. The state government is happy with this news," Maurya told the reporters here. Earlier in the day, Geological Survey of India and Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM), Uttar Pradesh, had estimated gold reserves of around 3,000 tonnes in Sonabhadra district. When asked about the anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru where a woman raised pro-Pakistani slogans, Maurya said, "This shows the mentality of the people. The country does not accept such mentality. I condemn this and hope for stringent action against these kinds of people." A protest organised by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi was briefly interrupted on Thursday when a girl named Amulya managed to reach the stage and started shouting slogans including "Pakistan zindabad" before organisers cops whisked her away. Owaisi himself rushed to take the mic from her and later said, "I condemn this statement. The woman is not associated with us. Hamare liye Bharat zindabad tha, zindabad rahega. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PIERRE | The Senate approved Friday Gov. Kristi Noems bill that would streamline the process for getting conditional use permits. According to the governor, SB157 is needed to ensure that people investing in large agricultural projects know theyll face a fair and swift process. This grows our economy, said Sen. Kris Langer, R-Dell Rapids, noting that it would ensure the governors assertion that South Dakota is open for business. Sen. Arthur Rusch, R-Vermillion, offered an amendment that removed compensatory damages from the expenses the losers in an appeal that goes to court would have to pay. Those losing an appeal in court would still have to pay for lawyers fees and costs. Joshua Klumb, R-Mount Vernon, said the bill sends a message to counties: It simply says these are the rules you put in place, now follow these rules. Previously, Noem testified in a committee hearing that streamlining the process was needed, because permitting for conditional use permits, often used for concentrated animal feeding operations, also known as CAFOs, is hijacked by the vocal few. Sen. Susan Wismer, D-Britton, said she agreed with many aspects of the bill but was put off by a provision that allowed a decision to be made by a majority of county commission members present. It really allows for manipulation of the process, Wismer said, consequently making her suspicious of the entire bill. Wismers amendment calling for the vote to be taken by the members elect, was voted down. Sen. Troy Heinert, D-Mission, asked senators to check the emails theyve gotten regarding the legislation. The ones who want this are coming from one county, he said. Heinert said he understood that some producers have faced tough times trying to get their projects approved, but it wasnt up to him to tell counties how to implement their zoning ordinances. Its not my place to tell them what to do, he said. Arguments that the legislation hurts local control did not sit well with Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown. This bill doesnt tell them one dang thing they can or cant do, said Schoenbeck, who added that his experience in zoning court cases led him to characterize some appeals as extortion. Its 100% about harassing people who are following the law, he said. With Noem watching from the Senate gallery, Sen. Lance Russell, R-Hot Springs, told his colleagues not to be concerned with the political implications of their vote. What are the legal implications of the bill? Russell asked, noting that he would have to vote against it. The bill was endorsed by the Senate on a vote of 24-11. It now goes to the House. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Amulya Leona, the Karnataka student who shouted Pakistan Zindabad at a political programme on Thursday, cannot be supported but charging her with sedition shows the government has forgotten the meaning of Indian democracy, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in Kolkata on Saturday afternoon. The Karnataka police brought the charges on Friday after Leona shouted the slogan at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally also attended by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) founder and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. Mere words do not constitute sedition. I do not agree with what Amulya said. I condemn her totally. This government has forgotten the meaning of Indian democracy, and is making us just like our neighbours who are constitutional wrecks and ruins. India was an exception since 1947, said Singhvi at a media conference at the state Congress headquarters. He released a booklet on citizenship screening schemes his party is opposing. Even a man who makes cartoons is charged with sedition. In 1962, the Supreme Court said sedition laws were enforced to serve the British, Singhvi, a prominent lawyer, added. Modis biggest achievement is that in five years he has put a question mark on Indian democracy. You meet anyone from any country, whether the USA or from Europe, and they will start asking questions, but not about your GDP growth, not about your excellent infrastructure. They will ask you questions about your protests, what you eat, what you wear and what you talk, about NRC (National Register of Citizens) and CAA (Citizenship (Amendment) Act, said Singhvi. What Mr Modi has achieved, is to give Pakistan, which is a failed state, a talking point. And he blames us, he said. Gandhi said intolerance itself is a form of violence and obstacle to the growth of a truly democratic nation. Our leaders are paying hollow homage to the father of the nation. All they are doing is spread hate and intolerance in society. What is happening is totally contrary to the ethos of India, the very definition of India, said the Congress leader. Hate crimes have increased by 28 per cent from 2014 to 2017. In Uttar Pradesh, 59 to 60 per cent of all cow-related incidents in the country take place, he alleged. In Jammu and Kashmir, business worth 2.4 billion US dollars has been lost since (abrogation of) Article 370 and there has been a 86 per cent decline in tourism. Five lakh people have lost employment, Singhvi claimed. Asked where the West Bengal Congress will be allowed to field Priyanka Gandhi for Rajya Sabha, he said, I cannot talk on this. This is to be decided by the party leadership. All I can say is that many in the party want to see Priyanka Gandhi there (in Parliament). Singhvi alleged that the Centre wants to set up a data protection authority for citizens but it will be of little use. There is no data protection act in the country. The government has proposed to constitute a data protection authority. It will define personal data and public data of individuals. You can imagine what that will mean. Adhaar has been done and we will have DPA. The DPA the government is proposing, will be a toothless tiger. It will not be a tiger in fact but a toothless mouse, said Singhvi. Toronto police are investigating a shooting that left a woman dead in the citys northeast end, Friday evening. Police were called to Sheppard Avenue and Havenview Road just after 7 p.m., where they found a person on the ground with serious injuries. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, Const. Craig Brister said. The homicide unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. Police are not releasing any other details on the victim. One man was arrested and police say there are no outstanding suspects. Police say the death is the citys 11th homicide of 2020. With files from The Canadian Press A joint operation by Nigerien and French troops in southwest Niger killed 120 "terrorists" and seized bomb-making equipment and vehicles, the country's defence ministry said Friday. As of February 20 "120 terrorists have been neutralised" in the operation in the vast Tillaberi region near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso, the statement said, adding there had been no losses among Nigerien or French troops. Niger's defence minister Issoufou Katambe praised the "cooperation... in the battle against terrorism," according to the statement. Authorities in the restive Tillaberi region have ramped up security restrictions, closing markets and banning motorbike traffic after attacks by jihadist groups over December and January killed 174 Nigerien soldiers. A state of emergency has been in place in the region for the past two years. Since 2015, Niger has struggled against a wave of jihadist attacks near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso in the west, exacerbating needs in the Tillaberi and Tahoua regions, where nearly 78,000 people have been displaced. France this year said it would boost its military presence in the troubled west African region by deploying 600 fresh troops to its 4,500-strong operation. (AFP) Members of imprisoned WikiLeaks journalist Julian Assanges legal team held a press conference, together with Assanges father John Shipton, on Thursday in Paris. They announced that they will seek asylum in France for Assange, the publisher of WikiLeaks who has been relentlessly hounded by Washington and the European powers for nearly a decade and is currently held in Belmarsh prison near London. They will also challenge his threatened extradition to the United States by launching a suit before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. This strategy is viable despite Brexit, as the ECHR is attached not to the European Union but to the Council of Europe, of which Britain remains a member. The week before the opening of Assanges extradition trial, the meeting came amid a groundswell of support internationally among workers and youth for the detained journalist. Calls to support Assange have been viewed by millions on social media, while multiple protests including by French yellow vests have demanded Assanges release. The Paris press conference pointed to growing awareness of the threat posed to fundamental democratic rights posed by the relentless police-state persecution of Assange. Speakers at the conference included defense attorney Eric Dupond-Moretti; Spanish investigative magistrate Baltasar Garzon, who is leading Assanges European legal team; Dupond-Morettis associate Antoine Vey; John Shipton; and representatives of the Reporters without Borders (RSF) association that hosted the event. Eric Dupond-Moretti Dupond-Moretti began the press conference with an appeal against the horrific conditions under which Assange is imprisoned. Assange has ever more difficulty talking. Sometimes he is prostrate, Dupond-Moretti said, recalling the UN special report on torture by Nils Melzer, from Switzerland, who wrote in May 2019 that beyond physical problems, Assange shows every symptom of prolonged exposure to psychological torture. Dupond-Moretti pointed to the existential threat to press freedom posed by a state decision to target a journalist in retaliation for exposing war crimes, like those revealed by the Collateral Murder video Assange published of US soldiers killing civilians and journalists in Iraq. He declared, The 175-year prison term which Assange faces in the United States is a repugnant punishment, which is intolerable and contrary to any conception of the Rights of Man. This illegitimate and shocking persecution of a individual for publishing vital information opens the way for Assange to receive asylum in France, Dupond-Moretti said: We are of course working on the possibility of requesting political asylum from the French authorities. Our constitution permits it. Article 53 of our Constitution allows France to serve as a refuge to any person who is threatened for defending freedom of expression. Dupond-Moretti also pointed to Assanges extensive personal ties to Francewhere WikiLeaks was first incorporated, where many of its servers reside, and where his partner and youngest child live. We will ask to meet the president of France in the coming days, in fact in the coming hours over this asylum request, Dupond-Moretti stated. Dupont-Moretti and Vey also explained that they are working to formulate a new legal basis for bringing Assanges case before the EHCR, which has previously ruled that it could not examine Assanges case as it lacked jurisdiction due to a technicality. These remarks sounded as a condemnation not only of the persecution of Assange by Washington and London, but also of former French President Francois Hollandes rejection of Assanges earlier request for asylum in France, in an open letter published by Le Monde in 2015. An earlier request for asylum formulated by the lawyer Juan Branco to Frances current president, Emmanuel Macron, has already been rejected. These facts underscore that the defense of Julian Assange requires not only legal measures, but above all the construction of a powerful mass movement to demand his liberation from prison and the dropping of all the trumped-up charges against him. The behavior of the US government and all the major European governments have demonstrated their vicious hostility to Assange and their contempt for fundamental democratic rights. Baltasar Garzon Baltasar Garzonwell known for his role in trying to prosecute Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in Spain, and in investigating the crimes of the Spanish fascist regime covered by the illegitimate 1977 Amnesty Lawpointed to the rampant criminality of the US-led prosecution of Assange. He said, The very same people pursuing him as a delinquent are those who have committed crimes in order to pursue him. A very grave injustice is being committed, which can affect the entire community of independent media, as well as freedom of expression. It is an attempt to silence all those who are critical of the state. He explained, Julian Assange has been the target of espionage while he was a protected person in the Ecuadorian embassy, as he had received asylum from that country. Moreover, the security firm responsible for ensuring Assanges safety, as he was a political refugee in that embassy did not protect Julian Assange but collaborated with the United States to furnish sensitive information about Julian Assange, the people visiting him, and on his lawyers. So his rights were not respected, and it made his defense juridically impossible. Spanish courts are already investigating Spanish security firm Undercover Global, that gave the CIA audio and video of Assange and his meetings with his lawyers and supporters at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Garzon said this investigation could provide proof to UK courts that the trial of Assange is a political trial by the United States, aiming to prevent the exposure by Mr Assange of criminal behavior by US state agencies. Garzon added, Currently we are doing detailed work to study materials ... showing a systematic violation of Julian Assanges rights, given that all Assanges documents for his trial were taken from him by Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno. Moreno gave this documentation to the United States at their request. This documentation should not be held by the US government but by Mr Assange. Garzon concluded with a devastating remark: I can say that, over my entire professional life as a jurist, I have never seen such a systematic violation of all the rights of the victim as in this case. John Shipton Assanges father, John Shipton, spoke at the press conference to explain the international significance of the attacks on basic democratic rights that underlie Assanges persecution. Initially, Shipton said, he was concerned that the oppression of Julian, of publishers and publications would ensure that the people of Europe would not be able to discuss among themselves movements that the United States or Washington may make to the disadvantage of Europe. But we turn the corner now, and we see it is clearly a global problem. Your being here is a recognition of a growing tidal flow that I can see will assist us to bring Julian home so he can mix freely with his family and friends. Shipton appealed for the freeing of his son, saying: Julian now being 10 years in arbitrary detention, its incomprehensible. I cant for the life of me understand why hes still in prison. He has committed no crime. The author also recommends: Growing support for Julian Assange on eve of extradition hearings [20 February 2020] UN special rapporteur exposes Swedish sexual misconduct frame-up of Assange [18 November 2019] Spanish security firm spied on Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy for US intelligence [28 September 2019] Parti de legalite socialiste meeting in Paris demands freedom for Julian Assange [25 June 2019] For a worldwide campaign to prevent Julian Assanges rendition to the US! [20 June 2019] he stretch of the road was opened, though police barricades continued on one side. People hold placards during a protest against the CAA and NRC on New Years Eve at Shaheen Bagh, near Jamia Millia, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI/File) New Delhi: Southeast Delhis road number 9, connecting Noida to Kalindi Kunj, which is blocked for last 69 days due to ongoing protest at Shaheen Bagh against Citizen Amendment Act (CAA), was opened by a group of protesters on Saturday for sometime before closing it again. Later, the police confirmed that it was opened again. Meanwhile Sadhana Ramachandran, one of the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors, reached Shaheen Bagh for the fourth round of discussion with the protesters. The stretch of the road was opened, though police barricades continued on one side. Deputy commissioner of police (Southeast) R.P. Meena said: Road number 9 in Shaheen Bagh was reopened by a group of protesters, but later it was closed by another group. However, locals later said the road was again reopened by protesters in the evening. Protesters claimed that they opened the stretch, which would allow passage between Noida and South Delhi, at around 5 pm near the protest site, but the Delhi police and the Noida police were continuing to barricade it from one side restricting access to commuters. The Delhi Police had maintained that it has barricaded adjacent roads due to security reasons. The development came after three days of talks between the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors, senior advocates Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran, and the protesters over the issue of difficulty to commuters due to blocking of roads. Sadhana Ramachandran reached Shaheen Bagh at around 10 am for the fourth round of discussion with the protesters. We are not saying that Shaheen Bagh should dismantle. Lets get that very clear. Shaheen Bagh kayam rahe, Sadhana Ramachandran told the protesters. We are here to talk about roads and lets stick to it. If you want to go to meet the home minister, you can go. And if you want to go to the government, then go. But, we are not here from the governments side, Ms Ramachandran said. Presenting their demands, the Shaheen Bagh protesters told her that they want security. We want security and the Supreme Court should give an order on the same, the protesters said. We want the cases against people of Shaheen Bagh and Jamia to be taken back, the protesters said. The road, which connects Noida to south east Delhi and further to Faridabad in Haryana, was closed for traffic in the wake of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protest at Shaheen Bagh since December 15. Only emergency vehicles like ambulances and school buses are being allowed to pass through the stretch, the police said. ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is holding consultations as it reviews a policy regarding night-time crop damage from hungry moose. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (689 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is holding consultations as it reviews a policy regarding night-time crop damage from hungry moose. The Fisheries and Land Resources department is looking for feedback about whether farmers should be permitted to shoot moose on their properties at night, and if so, how to do so safely. Munching moose have been long been a threat to crops in the province, but last fall, farmers decried the discontinuation of a permit that allowed them to shoot moose on their properties at night. Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne has said the change was made to align policy with the Wildlife Act, which prohibits hunting at night, but he says the consultations will consider the negative impact on farmers and public safety. Farmers suffering profit loss from munching moose have said existing options like calling wildlife officers or applying for grants to build fencing are too slow to keep the moose away. In-person sessions will be held in Deer Lake and Wooddale next week and sessions in St. John's and Clarenville will be scheduled for March.Feedback can be submitted by mail or online before the March 13 deadline.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2020. Bank sign on traditional europe building facade Retirement planning can be a stressful and challenging exercise for many people. Relying just on the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) can make for a very frugal and difficult retirement. Its not what anyone wants, but according to a survey from Scotiabank, 59% of Canadians are concerned about their financial independence and whether theyll have enough to get by when they retire. One of the problems? People arent making retirement planning a priority as more immediate needs are where their focus is. And its not hard to wonder why thats the case with many Canadians living paycheque to paycheque. When life events happen, there are costs that usually come along with them, making it difficult to save money and invest. However, thats also precisely why its important to do so. Investing can help supplement your income while also allowing you to save for retirement If youre not making enough or fear that you wont have enough when you retire, its all the more reason to start investing today. Even if you dont know where to invest, putting it into a top bank stock like the Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) is a simple and easy option. While shares of TD may fluctuate and they may even decline in a given year, over the long term theyre a safe bet to increase in value. Over 10 years, the stock has increased by more than 260%. While it hasnt performed particularly well over the past few years, with the stock up around 2% in just two years, if youre a long-term investor you dont have to worry about a window of just one or two years. And even if the stock doesnt generate strong returns, you can still count on its dividend which today pays about 3.9%. Combined with a nominal return of even 1%, you could be making 5% per year. That extra income can be used to help pay for the one-off expenses and help give you a little bit more breathing room that can allow to you save a bit more every month. The only downside with TD is that with a yield of around 4%, its not the highest payout that you can get. Even to earn $400 per year, youll need to invest more than $10,000. Story continues With a stock that pays around 8%, youll only need a $5,000 investment to get the same amount of dividends. However, the danger there is that youre also taking on a lot more risk in the process. Whats most important though is to start putting aside money today and to do it regularly to ensure that you dont fall into the problem that many Canadians see coming for themselves: the reality that theyll have to adjust their lifestyles drastically when they go to retire, or that they wont be able to retire at all. Investing in stocks can be a great way to prevent that from happening and ensuring that youre in control of your future and wont have just CPP and OAS payments to rely on. Even just trying to save $10 every day can be an easy way to start building up your savings. More reading Fool contributor David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 New Delhi, Feb 22 : Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Saturday said that freedom is a precious gift and "one must treat this with great reverence, respect and a sense of responsibility". Addressing the veterans and youngsters after paying homage to the martyrs at Noida Shaheed Smarak during the annual wreath laying ceremony, Admiral Singh said, "On this solemn occasion, I would like to salute these brave-hearts and reassure the families of the martyrs that the supreme sacrifice made by them will always be remembered." Talking about martyrs, he quotes 'for our tomorrow you gave up your today'. On behalf of Indian Navy, he also presented the model of INS Chennai and P-15A Guided Missile Destroyer. The memorial, which was built by the residents of Noida after Kargil war casualties, was dedicated to the nation by the then three defence service chiefs in the year 2002. "This memorial is a constant reminder to us of the true meaning of freedom and that freedom when threatened has to be protected at a great price. This memorial has rightfully become an iconic landmark and serves as a source of inspiration to all country men and women; young or old," the Indian Navy chief said. To youngsters present during the occasion, he further stated that they are symbols of free India and the future of this nation. "Freedom is a precious gift that you must treat with great reverence, respect and a sense of responsibility. This memorial must forever remind us that many young lives enshrined in this memorial are the reason why we are safe and secure," he said. He then pointed, "Those who die in defence of the country gave up two lives - the one they were living and the one they would have lived. They gave up everything for their country for us". He then said a quote which he had read once. "Our flags do not fly because the wind moves it, it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it," Admiral Singh said. They are often frequenting London's nightlife scene. And Anna Vakili showed off her incredible curves in a tight white midi dress as she headed on a night out to ring in her sister Mandi's birthday on Friday. The Love Island star, 29, put on a very busty display in the figure-hugging number, while Mandi opted for an asymmetric bodysuit. Killer curves: Anna Vakili showed off her incredible curves in a tight white midi dress as she headed on a night out to ring in her sister Mandi's birthday on Friday Anna opted to go braless in the spaghetti strap dress, which also showcased her tanned legs. She added a boost to her height with a perspex heels and accessorised her outfit with a Prada handbag. The reality star wore her brunette hair in soft curls and accentuated her sun-kissed complexion with a bronzed make-up look. Sisters: Mandi, meanwhile, complemented her form-fitting top with khaki cargo trousers and a Gucci double G belt All eyes on her: The Love Island star, 29, put on a very busty display in the figure-hugging number Glam: The reality star wore her brunette hair in soft curls and accentuated her sun-kissed complexion with a bronzed make-up look Mandi, meanwhile, complemented her form-fitting top with khaki cargo trousers and a Gucci double G belt. The brunette beauty shrugged a Gucci Dionysus bag over her shoulders and finished off her outfit with black peep toe heels. Anna marked Mandi's birthday on Instagram on Thursday. Alongside a sweet snap of the pair, she wrote: Happy birthday to my other half. 'I cant even put into a caption how much you mean to me. People see you as this tough 'bad b***h' which you are but the side they dont see is the side where you have the softest purest heart. 'You even have a better heart than me. You always listen to me no matter what time of day/night it is and help me through anything. You are so understanding and feel everything that happens to me like its happening to you... /No matter what I have in my life, it will mean nothing if I dont have you. I would rather have nothing and have you. You are my biggest blessing and a miracle. I love you so much sis' (sic). MARTINEZ (BCN) Following the lead of other Bay Area cities including Walnut Creek, Concord, San Jose, Pleasanton and Dublin, the Martinez City Council on Wednesday approved a pilot program to make four utilitarian utility cabinets into public art pieces. The Council voted 5-0 to approve designs for city-owned cabinets off Marina Vista Avenue downtown near the Contra Costa Community College District building; at Alhambra Avenue at F Street, near Safeway; at Alhambra and K Street; and at the south end of the city, at Alhambra at Paso Nogal Road, near the Virginia Hills Shopping Center. The council's approval also included pursuing agreements with four artists -- one for each box -- to do the artwork, based on designs they had submitted for selection to take part in the program. Zach Seal, a senior management analyst with the city, said the idea has been under discussion since 2015. Twenty-four area artists answered a call from the city to submit sample artwork, Seal said; four were selected for the trial program by the city's Parks, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission. "We had a lot of different designs to choose from, to sift through," Seal said. All four cabinets are city-owned; PG&E didn't want any of its boxes used, Seal said, because they want their boxes uniform in appearance to make identifying them easier for crews doing repairs and maintenance. The artists won't paint directly onto the cabinets; their work will be transferred onto "vinyl wraps" similar to those used for advertising on the sides of buses or BART cars. They take special solvents and tools to remove, Seal said; they have a five-year warranty, but other cities with utility box art programs report that they often last 10 years, he added -- much longer than a painted surface would last. Seal said the artwork should beautify the public thoroughfares, and help resist graffiti "tagging." The pilot project is anticipated to cost about $10,000, with funding already allocated. Resident Felix Sanchez said these enhanced utility boxes will bring new people into town. "In other cities, these boxes ... are entered into Ingress and Pokemon Go!," said Sanchez, describing two popular augmented reality mobile games. "I will geotag them myself -- this will definitely bring people in -- this is a core thing with these games." Assuming all goes smoothly, Martinez officials hope the utility boxes will be public art pieces by the end of June. If the artistic value-added boxes prove popular, and additional funding is identified, treating additional boxes could be considered, city officials said. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Two Tennessee residents were arrested in North Carolina on Friday in connection with missing 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell as her mother claims that she knows who has her daughter. William McCloud, 33, and Angela Boswell, 42, were arrested and charged with possession of stolen property after they were seen in a vehicle involved in the Amber alert for the toddler who has been missing since December. Angela Boswell is a member of the young girl's family but their exact relationship has not been confirmed. The gray 2007 BMW, which was said to have front-end damage, was reported stolen and the drivers are believed to have information on the missing child. No charges have been placed in connection with the amber alert and Evelyn is still missing. On Friday, her mother Megan Boswell spoke out for the first time about her daughter's disappearance claiming she knows who has the toddler. However police say the mother has been giving false information during the investigation. Scroll down for video Megan Boswell, the mother of missing 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell, spoke for the first time about her daughter claiming that she knows who has her and it was a person she had 'trusted' Evelyn Boswell is still missing and there is a $30,000 reward for her safe return William McCloud, 33, (pictured left )and Angela Boswell, 42, (pictured right) were arrested and charged with Possession of Stolen Property after they were seen in a vehicle involved in the Amber alert for toddler Evelyn Boswell who has been missing since December Officials in Tennessee found the gray 2007 BMW (stock image), which may be linked to the baby's disappearance, in North Carolina on Friday and two people were arrested Speaking to WCYB, Boswell said she last saw Evelyn in December but didn't report her missing until Tuesday because she was afraid the people who had her would disappear. 'Well the reason I didn't report it or anything was I knew the person who had her, and I didn't want them to run away with her,' Boswell said. The sought vehicle had a Tennessee license plate No. 3M9-6W9 'And as soon as they thought anything was going on they just kinda vanished. So I'm just kinda worried, you know, about where they are at. What they're doing with her at this point in time.' Boswell added that she left her daughter with a person she though she could trust while she was at work but that she would do things differently if she had a second chance. 'In a way I knew that as soon as anything went down this person was going to disappear and they have. And they have tried to find them... They won't answer phone calls. They just kinda disappeared,' she continued. 'Yeah I probably would have called the first day. I should have. But I just didn't want them to run with her, like they have now.' Megan Boswell was visibly emotional as she described her daughter and her disappearance Boswell was a teenager when she welcomed Evelyn in November 2018. Evelyn is described as 2 feet tall and weighing 28lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing pink Boswell was speaking as she emerged from court in Bristol but it is not clear why she was there. She refused to name who she believes to have her daughter but says that she is cooperating with the police and can not share further information on the case. Meanwhile, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said he believes Evelyn is alive and everything possible is being done to bring her home. During a press conference Friday afternoon, the sheriff said while Boswell has been cooperating with the investigation, the information she has been providing has proven to be inaccurate. Where is Evelyn? An AMBER Alert was issued on Wednesday in Tennessee for 15-month-old Evelyn Mae Boswell, who has not been seen since last December but was just reported missing Cassidy elaborated that some of Boswell's 'stories' that emerged during police interviews have not been corroborated by surveillance video and witness accounts. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office began investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Mae Boswell on Tuesday, after the Department of Children's Services reported the child as missing. Evelyn's last sighting was two months ago, on December 26, 2019, according to a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The toddler's father is also involved in the investigation, and officials are trying to determine why Evelyn was not reported missing earlier, WCYB reported. The child's biological father, Ethan Perry, who is an active-duty US Army soldier stationed in Louisiana, posted a brief Facebook update addressing his daughter's disappearance on Wednesday: 'I'm currently working with authorities trying to find Evelyn. I can't say much more than that at the moment.' Evelyn's parents are Maggie Boswell (left) and Ethan Perry (right), who is an active-duty US Army soldier stationed in Louisiana. Boswell has not spoken to Perry about their missing child Perry, Evelyn's biological father, posted this massage on Wednesday, after the AMBER Alert was issued for his missing daughter and shared a further post Friday about the arrests On Friday, he also reposted the announcement to say the car had been found. Neither Boswell nor Perry have been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to the disappearance of their daughter. Boswell revealed she hasn't spoken to Perry about their daughter's disappearance. She has full custody of her daughter. Evelyn is described as 2 feet tall and weighing 28lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink tracksuit, pink shoes, and a pink bow. The reward for the safe return of Evelyn now stands at $33,000 including $1,000 from Sheriff Cassidy. Anyone with information on the child's whereabouts is being asked to contact the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office at 423-279-7330 or the TBI at 1-800-TBIFIND. [February 21, 2020] Lost Money in Cheetah Mobile Inc.? Cheetah Mobile Inc. shares fell over 16% after the company confirmed that its apps were banned from the Google (News - Alert) Play Store, Google AdMob and Google AdManager. Gibbs Law Group is investigating a potential Cheetah Mobile Stock Class Action Lawsuit on behalf of investors who lost money in Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM). To speak with an attorney regarding this class action lawsuit investigation, click here or call (888) 410-2925. On February 21, 2020, Cheetah Mobile stock dropped after the company confirmed that its apps had been banned from the Google Play Store, Google AdMob (News - Alert), and Google AdManager. In the first three quarters of 2019, 22.6% of Cheetah Mobile's revenue purportedly came from its ontracts with Google. Cheetah Mobile previously had two of its apps removed in 2018 from the Google Play store after an investigation by Buzzfeed alleged it had been engaging in ad fraud. While Cheetah Mobile says it is in "continuous communication with Google to appeal the decision," the company has also said it may "adopt . . . requisite remedial measures" in response to Google's claim that Cheetah Mobile apps have been noncompliant with Google policies. On this news, Cheetah Mobile's stocks dropped over 16% in one day, causing significant harm to investors. What Should Cheetah Mobile Investors Do? If you invested in Cheetah Mobile, visit our website or contact our securities team directly at (888) 410-2925 to discuss how you may be able to recover your losses. Our investigation concerns whether Cheetah Mobile Inc. has violated federal securities laws. About Gibbs Law Group Gibbs Law Group represents individual and institutional investors throughout the country in securities litigation to correct abusive corporate governance practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, and proxy violations. The firm has recovered over a billion dollars for its clients against some of the world's largest corporations, and our attorneys have received numerous honors for their work, including "Best Lawyers in America," "Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California," "California Lawyer Attorney of the Year," "Top Class Action Attorneys Under 40," "Consumer Protection MVP," and "Top Cybersecurity/ Privacy Attorneys Under 40." This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200221005506/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 13:13:19|Editor: zyl Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- International medical charity Doctors Without Borders on Friday condemned frequent attacks on aid workers and health facilities in the troubled English-speaking regions of Cameroon. "We categorically condemn in the most severe terms the use of arms in, around or against health facilities," Emmanuel Lampaert, the organization's operations coordinator for Cameroon said in a statement. On Wednesday, Cameroon Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo said the army has arrested a soldier who shot dead a fleeing civilian in a hospital in Bamenda, the largest city of the country's restive English-speaking region of Northwest where armed separatists have been clashing with government forces since 2017. For the doctors' association, the incident "endangered" patients and hospital staff, Lampaert said. "Unfortunately, this is not the first time that staff and patients have faced security incidents in this region. In recent weeks and months, our medical teams have been threatened a number of times by different parties involved in the crisis, including intimidation at gunpoint," Lampaert added. The coordinator urged that all parties in the armed conflict should respect the safety and security of medical facilities, ambulances, staff and patients. Israeli forces shot and killed a suspect in Jerusalem's annexed Old City Saturday after he approached officers posted near one of the gates armed with a knife, police said. Police did not immediately release further details on the identity of the suspect. "At approximately 11 am a terrorist approached border police officers at Lion's Gate armed with a knife. He ran towards them," a police statement said. "Police responded by calling upon the terrorist to stop. He continued to approach them and they responded again by shooting the terrorist to prevent any further danger. The terrorist was shot and killed." A woman in the area was "injured lightly by shrapnel" and taken to hospital, the statement added. On Friday, police reported an attempted stabbing south of Jerusalem. At the start of month, a Jerusalem car-ramming wounded 14 people, 12 of them Israeli soldiers, and triggered clashes in the West Bank that saw five Palestinians killed. The attacks come after US President Donald Trump's much-delayed announcement on January 28 of a controversial peace plan that Palestinians from across the political spectrum have angrily dismissed as a gift to Israel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday initiated various schemes to double the income of farming community by 2022. He laid the foundation for 50,000 litres capacity milk processing plant of MILKFED (Milk Producer's Federation Limited) at Chakkar in Balh Vidhan Sabha area in Mandi district. It will be constructed at a cost of Rs 16.31 crore. The Chief Minister said the MILKFED has a capacity of collecting milk up to one lakh litre, which needed to be increased. He said that in a developed country, the base of the rural economy was animal husbandry and the farmers by going for the best breed of cows could increase their income manifold. He also appreciated the efforts of the MILKFED in diversifying its activities as this would not only ensure an increase in its revenue but also help the farmers by offering them more effective services. He said that the state government was also promoting the indigenous breed of cattle so that the farmers could get high milk-producing cows. Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar said the milk processing plant would prove a boon to the farmers of the district and also help the farmers to double their income by the year 2022. He also urged the Chief Minister to increase the rate of milk to facilitate the farmers. MILKFED chairman Nehal Chand Sharma thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning of over a hundred posts to be filled up in the HIMFED (Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Milk Producer's Federation Limited) for its effective functioning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has asked the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to return a 15th century bronze statue of Tamil poet Tirumankai Alvar, which was reportedly stolen from a temple in Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu in the 1960s. The museum, which bought the statue in a London auction in 1967, informed the Indian high commission in December that new research questioned its provenance. Indian officials thanked the museum for alerting the mission. According to Rahul Nagare, first secretary, the mission had received a report from the Tamil Nadu police that unambiguously shows that the original idol has been stolen and replaced with a fake one, and that the stolen idol is the same one that is presently with the Ashmolean. Therefore, we have conveyed our formal request to them for restitution of the idol to India. The idol wing is now further investigating the matter about the original theft and subsequent smuggling out of the idol. A spokeswoman for the museum said: The museum acquired the statue in good faith. According to the Sothebys catalogue the bronze was sold from the collection of Dr JR Belmont (1886-1981). We currently have no indication of how the bronze entered his collection and we are continuing to investigate with the support of the Indian high commission. Similar ancient Indian artefacts recovered in the UK have recently been returned to India. On August 15, 2019, two items stolen from India were repatriated following a joint US-UK investigation: a limestone carved relief sculpture, originating from Andhra Pradesh, estimated to be dated between 1st century BC and 1st century AD; and a Navaneetha Krishna bronze sculpture, from Tamil Nadu, dated around 17th century AD. On August 15, 2018, Scotland Yard returned to the mission a 12th century Buddha statue stolen from the Archaeological Survey of Indias museum in Nalanda, Bihar, in August 1961, and recovered in the UK. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A female bald eagle took flight in September 2014 from the Maurice River in Cumberland County, soaring westward thousands of feet over the Delaware Bay. Nicknamed Millville after her hometown, she made her way to the upper Chesapeake Bay, 50 miles away, according to GPS tracking. Two months later, she was found dead at a Delaware farm, where she was electrocuted while stopping to perch on a power line. She was less than a year old. Since then, 34 bald eagles have met similar fates, according to data compiled in annual reports by the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project, a partnership overseen by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and Conserve Wildlife Foundation. Between 2015 and 2019, electrocution was the top cause of death of raptors found injured or killed. Other documented causes of death included crashes with vehicles (29) and eagle-on-eagle fights (14). An additional 29 bald eagles died from unknown causes, and some deaths are never documented. Overall, the bald eagle population in New Jersey has made a remarkable comeback, from nearly none in 1970 to 211 territorial pairs today that claim the state as their territory. Yet mortality rates are high, especially in the young. The raptors contend with violent storms, West Nile virus (birds of prey can acquire the virus from eating infected birds), man-made snares, and even poisoning from ingesting lead shot in carrion killed by hunters. Electrocution remains a growing concern because as the eagle population has swelled, the birds have begun nesting in urban and suburban areas where chances of encountering power lines are much higher. We just picked up an electrocuted bird on Sunday, a four-year-old eagle that was found right under a power line near Pickle Factory Pond in Belleplain State Forest, said Kathleen Clark, supervising zoologist for the states Division of Fish and Wildlife. Weve known that thats an eagle area for a long time. Clark explained that eagles are vulnerable to electrocution because of their large wingspan, which can reach six or seven feet. If a talon touches an energized line and a wing touches another energized line or ground source, electricity flows through the bird, usually causing instant death. In general, electrocution is difficult to treat because the extent of the damage is not always immediately apparent, said Lisa Smith, executive director of Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc. in Delaware. Each case is different, Smith said, and staff has to weigh whether treatment is possible. Of six eagles thought to have been electrocuted that the center has received over the last two years, three were dead on arrival and three were humanely euthanized. Raptor experts, state wildlife officials, and utility companies have been working together for more than a decade to help stem the losses by electrocution. Its not large transmission lines and poles that pose the biggest problem, because wires tend to be spread out more, making them less dangerous. Rather, the eagles encounter the most danger on smaller distribution lines they like to perch on for hunting and other reasons. Realistically, utility companies cant bury all distribution lines. So they install protective equipment on existing ones, or build-in protections on new lines, said Cristina Frank, a biologist and raptor specialist who manages avian protection for Atlantic City Electric. The program, over the years, has really expanded in many different ways, Frank said. We have a lot of tools that weve developed. Atlantic City Electric serves the area of New Jersey with the highest concentration of bald eagles since its territory includes rural areas along the Delaware Bay, which provides miles of prime hunting ground for the birds. Utility providers can use crossarms wood mounted on a utility pole on existing lines to spread wires farther apart. They can insulate conductors, or cover energized or grounded equipment. Some install barriers to prevent birds from perching. They also mark the lines, for instance, with colored tape or reflectors, so birds dont fly into them. Frank said the company has mapped its distribution lines and overlaid GPS tracking generated from bands on the birds to see which equipment is located near bald eagle habitats. Through that, Atlantic City Electric 2018 identified nearly 80 new eagle roosts within its service area and found 21 line segments with potential risk of collision. In some cases, the company has rebuilt lines to be more bird friendly. We do know that the bald eagle populations are increasing, Frank said, so we have ramped up our efforts. Likewise, Claudia Rocca, a project manager for the utility provider PSE&G, said her company also retrofits equipment to increase safety for the eagles. For example, on distribution poles that are frequented by eagles, we have added pole-top extensions where the eagles can safely perch away from the lines, as eagles tend to perch on the highest points, Rocca said. PSE&G also worked with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to track 14 eaglets hatched from nests on its transmission towers. Its impossible to say how many deaths have been prevented through the programs. But Clark, the state zoologist, believes they are working. I think its certainly successful, Clark said. To do nothing would be to leave all these known risks out there on the landscape. A New Mexico State University professor and his collaborators were honored last month with the Southwest Book Award for Cutting the Wire: Photographs and Poetry from the U.S. Mexico Border. Bruce Berman, associate professor of photojournalism in NMSUs Department of Journalism and Media Studies, and poets Ray Gonzalez, professor of literature at the University of Minnesota, and Lawrence Welsh, an English professor at El Paso Community College, collaborated together for six years to put together the 136-page book published by University of New Mexico Press in 2018. Critics have said the book offers readers a unique way to look at the border and its layers of reality. Berman has been a working photojournalist for national and international publications since the late 1960s. For the past 35 years his work has concentrated on the borderland. Bermans photography reflects the realities of the El Paso/Juarez border like detention centers, Smeltertown cemeteries and kids playing along a river levee. Gonzalez and Welshs poetry is described as capturing elements of a personal and collective past that historians have often failed to record. The Border Regional Library Association has presented the Southwest Book Award every year since 1971 in recognition of outstanding books published about the Southwest. The purpose is to stimulate writing and promote publication of materials about the region. In the end, I learned that still photography works a lot like poetry works, Berman said. Its not logical or even rational but relies on a sort of music, a sound, an inflection, a fleeting glance. In other words, still photography is poetry. Its not real and its not that factual. It relies on the viewer to fill in the blanks.' We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. 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 This is part of Voter Game Plan, our project to get you prepped for the 2020 elections. And if you have questions about voting, ask us anything. TIP: Hey, LA County Voters. Here Are Some Vote Centers Without Long Lines >> Remember that time California had an election with 17 ballot propositions? Well, the studying-averse got lucky this year -- if you're voting in the March 3 primary, there'll only be one statewide ballot measure to read up on. It's Proposition 13 -- no, not that Proposition 13. Unlike the 1978 ballot measure that cut school operating budgets, this brand new Prop 13 is about creating new money for school construction. Here's what to know before you vote. WHAT PROP 13 WOULD DO If it passes, Prop 13 would authorize $15 billion in general obligation bonds (money that California has to borrow from bond buyers) that would go toward construction projects on both K-12 and college campuses around the state. It includes: $9 billion for preschool and K-12 schools (of which $2.8 billion would go toward new construction, $5.2 billion would go toward modernization, $500 million would go toward facilities for charter schools and $500 million would go toward career technical education programs) $4 billion for universities $2 billion for community colleges Under Prop 13, the way that schools receive state bond money would also be different. Currently, schools apply for those funds and get it on a first-come, first-served basis. Prop 13 would change that by prioritizing schools that require health or safety-related repairs (like improved drinking water or earthquake-related renovations), schools with large proportions of students facing financial hardships, and schools with projects that use unionized labor. On top of that, Prop 13 would give school districts the ability to raise more money through local property taxes to pay for their own bond sales. It would also prohibit school districts from charging developer fees on multi-family residential developments within half a mile of a major transit stop. You can read more about that here. (Currently, schools can issue one-time fees on new developments for school construction if it can show the development will bring new students into the district.) The Legislative Analyst's Office estimates that Prop 13 will cost about $26 billion total, or $740 million per year for each of the next 35 years. ARGUMENTS FOR IT Supporters say Prop 13 provides for much-needed renovations, and point out that most of the funds would go toward modernization rather than new construction. They say that Prop 13 will help protect children from aging pipes and critical disrepair, and create better and safer learning environments. Supporters also say the accountability measures built into Prop 13 help ensure that funds will go directly to schools that need the money most. You can read some op-eds supporting Prop 13 from the L.A. Times, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and the San Francisco Chronicle. WHO'S DONATING MONEY TO SUPPORT IT? Major donors to the "yes" campaign include the California Teachers Association, California Democratic Party, California Charters Schools Association and foundations for various University of California campuses. ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT Opponents say the measure will likely push up property taxes for homeowners to pay for it because school districts will be able to issue local bonds at higher amounts. They also say that due to the ban on developer fees on multi-family units near transit stops, school districts will seek to make up for those funds by raising property taxes as well. Others argue that prioritizing union labor for construction work unfairly punishes private developers. You can read some op-eds opposing Prop 13 from the Desert Sun, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Orange County Register. WHO'S DONATING MONEY TO OPPOSE IT? Opponents aren't spending any money against Prop 13; no ballot measure committees were formed to oppose it. RELATED: YOUR GUIDE TO THE RACES FOR: And fill out your sample ballot through our Voter Game Plan>> By PTI JOHANNESBURG: To meet shortage of skilled nursing staff, private hospitals in South Africa are recruiting senior Indian nurses for their good work ethics and ability to become efficient trainers for the local staff, according to a media report. A report at a 2018 jobs summit indicated that the country had a shortage of more than 47,000 nurses. The shortage of the skilled nursing staff has been attributed to several factors, including preference of highly qualified nurses to emigrate or take up contract employment in countries such as the UK, the United Aarb Emirates, Saudi Arabia or New Zealand for want of higher salaries, a report in the weekly Business Times said. Mediclinic, one of South Africa's largest private hospital groups, confirmed that it is recruiting 150 nurses from India this year. To supplement our training, as an internal strategy, we will continue to recruit senior registered nurses from India, a Mediclinic spokesperson told the Business Times. Mediclinic started recruiting nurses from India in 2005 but could not provide details about how many among the more than 8,800 nurses it employs at its hospitals are from India. Another company, Life Healthcare SA, said it employed 135 Indian nurses between 2008 and 2014. Top managements at the hospital groups lauded senior Indian nurses as being very efficient trainers for local staff. "But we find that many of them prefer coming here on short-term contracts due to family commitments," a hospital executive said on the basis of anonymity. The official said that the few who apply for long-term positions are usually young newly-qualified nurses, which is not the group in demand. "They work hard, with a patient-oriented work ethic, and do not have the nine-to-five approach of many local nurses, especially those who are unionised," the official said. "We would be very happy to take in more nursing staff from India," the official added. In order to further ease out the shortage, a new general nursing qualification is expected to start this year when the first group qualifies after a four-year university degree. An initiative between the Hospital Association of South Africa and Business Unity South Africa to train 50,000 nurses over the next eight years is also in the pipeline. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who did not have a great performance in Wednesdays Democratic debate, nevertheless said something interesting. Were not going to throw out capitalism, Bloomberg said. We tried. Other countries tried that. It was called communism, and it just didnt work. Im unclear on when we as in the United States tried communism, but it was still good to hear a Democrat say something nice about capitalism. Sen. Bernie Sanders didnt like it though. Lets talk about democratic socialism. Not communism, Mr. Bloomberg, Sanders said. Thats a cheap shot. Lets talk about lets talk about what goes on in countries like Denmark Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has a point. Its unfair to use the label communist to describe countries that adhere to social democracy (another way of saying democratic socialism, though there are ideological debates about whether the terms are interchangeable). Thats because the defining feature of social democracy (or democratic socialism) is democracy. Not only do social democratic nations hold elections, they abide by them. Moreover, democracies worthy of the name adhere to things like constitutional rights and human rights including property rights and the rule of law. None of these things apply to communist countries such as China under Mao Zedong, Fidel Castros Cuba or the old Soviet Union. Those countries were authoritarian or totalitarian, hostile to human rights and contemptuous of democracy. This, by the way, is an important point, since if the GOP has its way, the 2020 election will be a contest between socialism and capitalism, and a lot of people will throw around communism in much the same way Bloomberg did. Still, there are some problems with Sanders answer an answer he has used in various forms for years. First, while its true that Sanders does not advocate communism, its also true that when communism was still a live proposition in the Soviet Union, Sanders lavished praise on it. Its also true that he remains bizarrely fond of other non-democratic socialist regimes, including Cubas. So while he may not be proposing communism for the U.S. per se, the fact that Sanders isnt horrified by communist countries should tell you something about how far he might like to take socialism here. Sanders supported a Marxist-Leninist party that backed the Iranian Revolution and the hostage-taking of Americans. In 1985, he supported the effort by Daniel Ortega, the Soviet-backed Sandinista leader of Nicaragua, to suppress opposition newspapers. Until recently, Sanders was supportive of the dictatorship in Venezuela. In 2016, when this record started to catch up to him, Sanders said: When I talk about democratic socialism, Im not talking about Venezuela, Im not talking about Cuba. As he said on Wednesday night, hes talking about places like Denmark or, as hes said at other times, Sweden or Norway. But just as Cuba and the Soviet Union were never the workers paradises Sanders sometimes suggested, those European countries arent the socialist nirvanas he claims either. As my American Enterprise Institute colleague James Pethokoukis has noted, The egalitarian Nordic nations have as many billionaires, relatively, as the U.S. and more concentrated wealth, at least as measured by the share of wealth controlled by the top 10 percent. The Nordic countries are also free-traders and have many of the pro-business policies that Sanders despises here at home. Sanders, who favors single-payer health care, routinely says we should follow the example of Scandinavian and other countries. He recently tweeted a list of 27 nations with universal health care. But National Reviews Ramesh Ponnuru pointed out that not one of the countries listed has single-payer health care. Its true that the Nordic countries used to be closer to what Sanders has in mind. But that was decades ago back when Bernie was heaping praise on communist countries. Those governments recognized that such policies were bad for the economy as a whole, and for the people too. Sure, some European countries have more generous welfare states and more progressive taxation than we do. Most also have much worse unemployment and economic growth. But all of that is grist for a different argument than the one Sanders offers. He has an impressive record of seeing only what he wants to see rather than what is at home and abroad. And it doesnt seem like a cheap shot to me to point out that Sanders got the reality of communism wrong in the past and the rest of the world wrong in the present. Jonah Goldberg writes for the Los Angeles Times. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Delhi: Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that terrorists and corrupt people have 'no right to privacy' and these people should not be allowed to abuse the internet. He made this statement during the inauguration of the International Judicial Conference 2020 - 'Judiciary and the Changing World' organised in Delhi. Prasad said it needs to be acknowledged that people who abuse the finest creations of humankind, one of which is the internet, pose the biggest threats. He said the right to privacy has been held to be a fundamental right and the government appreciates that but "terrorists and the corrupt have no right to privacy because right to privacy has acquired critical proportion in the wake of digital landscape expanding globally". "This is the age of information and information is power. This is the age of communication and communication is power," he explained. The minister said the right to privacy verdict of the Supreme Court has become a beacon globally as it held that the right to privacy flows from Article 21? right to life and right to live with dignity. Prasad also warned about the "sinister trend" of some people "unleashing all forces of criticism" if courts do not deliver judgments in line with their expectations."In a democracy, we welcome dissent, we welcome populism. But we have a problem when populism impinges upon the well-settled constitutional principles. And populism also becomes the problem when those rejected in the popular mandate becomes the biggest flag-bearers of populism," he said. According to the Constitution, Prasad said, it is clear that governance must be left to those elected to govern and they need to be accountable to Parliament, in many ways to judicial decisions, and to people in elections. "But what is challenging is that populism is seeking to have a greater accountability as to what kind of judgments there should be. I am a great supporter of social media freedom. I know it is empowering but this (populism) is a dangerous trend. Judges must be left completely independent to give judgments...In accordance with the rule of law," he said. Prasad said the "sinister trend (of populism) is developing globally" and also in India, where people have started campaigning for the kind of judgment they expect. "If a judgment is not in accordance with them, they unleash all forces of criticism," he said, adding that the criticism of a judgment can be acceptable but criticising the judiciary is not appropriate. Talking about gender justice, he said India is "very proud" that the Indian women are doing so well. "You can see so many women judges sitting here of high courts and the Supreme Court, including chief justices. Our prime minister has taken a lead in empowering women in India by 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. Educate the girl child, develop the girl child," he said. Prasad, who also holds the portfolio of the Information and Technology Ministry, said half of the four million people working in the sector are women. "Our prime minister was bold enough to permit that women Indian Air Force pilot will also fly fighter planes and this was complimented by the recent judgment of the Supreme Court where Indian women Army officials were given the right to command. I think these are great initiatives of gender empowerment," he said. The Union minister, however, accepted that there exists the challenges of victimisation of women and young girls but said the government has responded to address the issue by making rape laws tougher and establishing more than 1,000 fast-track courts. "Surely this is a work in progress. We have to ensure that while we celebrate Indian women scientists joining the space programme for Mars, they should also get justice," he said. He also talked about the money saved due to Aadhaar, opening of bank accounts and the use of technology by the government. "Obviously, it has given rise to a lot of data and data is important. We need to keep a right balance and the balance is that we accord constitutional sanction to privacy but at the same time, we should not kill innovation. We should not kill application of new technology. Our courts have recognised that exception. India today has become the third biggest start-up ecosystem in the world," he said. The minister said there should be a balance between rights and duties and everyone should work in a manner that the identity of India continues to remain strong and resilient. VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd February, 2020) The Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) told the organization that Tallinn's pressure on Sputnik Estonia was a blatant violation of human rights, Deputy Speaker of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament Pyotr Tolstoy told reporters. From Thursday-Friday, the Austrian capital of Vienna hosted the 19th Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, with Tolstoy having headed the Russian delegation. "We have informed our colleagues in the Assembly about this position and will further insist on putting an end to the blatant violations of human rights that are taking place in Estonia. Otherwise, we will put an end to them ourselves," Tolstoy said on late Friday. Employees of Sputnik Estonia were forced to terminate their contracts starting from January 1, after receiving threats of jail terms of up to five years from Estonian police, which cited the 2014 EU sanctions, imposed on Dmitry Kiselev the head of the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency as the grounds for prosecution. However, the outlet itself has not appeared in any sanctions lists. Commenting on the situation around Sputnik Estonia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would do everything possible to help Sputnik operate in foreign countries. Royal Mail is facing a pivotal year. Boss Rico Back is trying to roll out modern technology and shift its business model towards parcels, as the number of letters being sent continues to decline. But his plans are getting a rough ride, with trade union chiefs arguing they are camouflage for thousands of job cuts. The standoff has prompted a frustrated Back, 66, to press ahead with his overhaul this year without securing their backing. Investors, including more than 700,000 individuals who bought Royal Mail shares after privatisation in 2013, are looking on nervously, having seen the price fall more than 70 per cent since their peak in 2018. Investors, including more than 700,000 individuals who bought Royal Mail shares after privatisation in 2013, have seen the price fall more than 70 per cent since their peak in 2018 Back says the change is essential and the company cannot afford to delay it any longer. But in response, the furious Communication Workers Union (CWU) which represents two-thirds of Royal Mail's 140,000-strong workforce has vowed to ballot next month for strikes. Dave Ward, the union's general secretary, is not only threatening industrial action if members vote in favour, but also to expose what he calls 'the mismanagement' of Royal Mail. The stage is set for a damaging showdown. A note from Liberum went so far as to say that the company's strategy had been rendered 'undeliverable' by the row. Liberum's warning came after Royal Mail admitted in a third-quarter update that industrial disputes threatened to derail its transformation efforts and push its UK business into a loss in the 2020-21 financial year. Repeating a 'sell' recommendation, Liberum said: 'Management openly questioning the achievability of targets just nine months after its strategy launch is hardly encouraging.' Royal Mail claims that its row with the union over Christmas, when it succeeded in blocking strike action through the courts, has already caused some customers to switch to rival services and that further industrial action will send more running for the hills. Back argues his plans are vital to allow Royal Mail to compete with rivals such as DHL, Fedex and Amazon. They involve replacing some letter-sorting machines with ones that handle parcels and introducing a van delivery service for larger packages. Royal Mail Boss Rico Back is trying to roll out modern technology and shift its business model towards parcels, as the number of letters being sent continues to decline Royal Mail has also introduced devices that track the progress of postmen on their delivery rounds. Bosses want to replace the arcane system for calculating pay which still involves entering working hours into spreadsheets with the digital swipe cards used in many modern offices. But the proposals are opposed by the CWU, which argues they should not be introduced without its support and guarantees on pay and conditions. The union also claims the various changes collectively amount to an effort to track postmen 'like criminals' to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible. It fears that as more changes are introduced, Royal Mail will slash the number of postmen. Royal Mail denies this and says it is introducing services that customers want. But trials it has launched in areas such as Swindon, for separate van delivery of packages, has led to threats of area-by-area strike action on top of national strikes by CWU members. A Royal Mail spokesman said it wants to invest 1.8billion. This will focus on customer service improvements, digital initiatives, network enhancements and new ways of working to deliver more productivity and efficiency. Analysts warned that this year's dividend already set to be cut from 25p to 15p was 'potentially unsustainable' and 'inadvisable'. So is Royal Mail about to cancel its dividend? John Moore, senior investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, said: 'Industrial relations and political issues aside, the UK business appears to be taking better shape as the results of its transformation come through. That said, an indication of what Royal Mail's future dividend policy will be along with capital expenditure and expansion plans is missing.' After Royal Mail shares hit record lows earlier this month, the question for many investors will now be whether it is worth hanging on. In the parcel delivery space where it wants to expand, there is tough competition. Small shareholders, many of whom came in at the 330p float price in 2013, will be aware of the opportunity cost of staying invested and might well feel there are better homes for their savings elsewhere. With even the reduced dividend at risk, the case for sticking with Royal Mail is looking increasingly thin. 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After the debacle in Delhi and Jharkhand polls, elections for the 243-member Bihar assembly are going to be a litmus test for the BJP in particular and the NDA in general. The talks between BJP president J P Nadda and JD (U) national president Nitish Kumar were held in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. The way two leaders have given a message of unity has caused ripples in opposition, Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted after the meeting. Nadda also met BJP leaders and workers and exhorted them to take the work done by the NDA government to the people. He also presided over the core committee meeting where 12 out of the 14 members were present. The Bihar BJP core committee decided to strengthen its organizational base further. The BJP president inaugurated 11 new party district offices through video conferencing. The party has already reconstituted 1,074 mandal committees after the election of new state unit president Dr Sanjay Jaiswal. The NDA has changed the face of state in the past 5 years and the election to be held in November will also be fought under Nitish Kumars leadership, Nadda reiterated party stance announced previously by home minister Amit Shah. He credited both PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar and said people should be reminded of their contribution. Go and explain to people that Bihar has the blessings of PM Narendra Modi, who has provided assistance worth billions to the state and these have been effectively utilised on the ground through Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he said. He also asked workers to dispel misinformation about the Modi governments measures such as abrogation of Article 370 and making triple talaq a punishable offence. He said these decisive steps had brought happiness to residents of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir who were previously deprived of many rights and women who were aggrieved by the practice of instant divorce. Aware of the dissidence that may crop up once the ticket distributions start, Nadda philosophically said, Always do remember, politics is a serious full-time job where there is an entry point, but no exit. Do not get swayed by concerns of individual benefits. Do remember that if the party thrives, benefits will reach all. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Not one more is the protest cry of women demonstrating against femicide in Mexico. The murder of a seven-year-old girl in Mexico has increased outrage at violence against women nationwide. She was kidnapped from her school, raped and then strangled. Protesters are demanding that the government do more to implement protocols that, on paper, would provide protection for women. However, they say the authorities themselves sometimes are the abusers, and those women who are far from the urban centres are more at risk. Al Jazeeras John Holman reports from Ecatepec, Mexico, on one of the latest protests demanding government action. In early January, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent out a press release with photo, carried by news outlets around the state, including an item relating the rescue of a bald eagle from the shore of a creek by Environmental Conservation Officers in Otsego County. The bird, which was unable to fly, was transported to a wildlife rehabilitator for treatment. While the DEC personnel are to be commended for their concern and actions, the untold "rest of the story" reflects badly on the agency's upper echelon staff and particularly Commissioner Basil Seggos. The eagle died shortly after reaching the rehabilitator, with the diagnosis lead poisoning. In fact the bird had a blood level too high to test. Almost certainly it had ingested lead fragments from wounded wildlife likely a deer or from a gut pile left in the field by a hunter. Wildlife rehabilitators report a spike in lead-poisoned animals reaching them following big game season. Studies of the isotopes, or fingerprints, of lead connect the poisoning with ammunition. Lead has largely been removed from the environment lead paint, lead in plumbing, lead fishing sinkers, lead in gasoline have all been phased out due to toxicity. Ammunition remains the only significant source of this material. In 2016 a bald eagle fitted with a tracking device was treated for lead poisoning and released in Delaware County. It moved only a few hundred yards over the next three weeks before dying, unable to hunt. Although treated, the neurological damage had been done. A fragment of lead the size of a grain of rice is sufficient to kill an eagle. The previous year a golden eagle with high lead blood levels was found dead in Schoharie County. The problem extends beyond New York. A recent story in Maine's Bangor Daily News reported that in the first two weeks of January, five sick eagles were rescued from locations throughout the state and admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center. All five birds had elevated levels of lead in their blood. Within days, four of the birds died. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Most dead and dying eagles end up on the wider landscape, undiscovered and unreported. It's doubtful that even 10 percent are ever found. Lead poisoning may well be the leading cause of death of these iconic birds. To add to the tragedy of the Otsego County eagle and other birds, these deaths were avoidable. Non-toxic alternatives exist for hunters that are ballistically equivalent or superior to lead. This is not an anti-hunting issue. The vast majority of hunters are responsible and would not want their activity to endanger other wildlife and certainly not eagles. There is precedent for changing ammunition: waterfowl hunters now use non-toxic shot after lead was found to be poisoning loons and other birds. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Although regional DEC staff and the wildlife rehabilitator did all they could, Seggos and his agency continue to turn their heads away from this issue. Other than a few modest informational efforts, DEC has done little to address lead poisoning in wildlife and the associated threats to humans who consume venison (a further failure by the Department of Health). Even DEC's own law enforcement personnel still use lead bullets. I highly recommended a short video produced by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society that tells this story through the voices of hunters and their families. It is linked at https://doas.us, and is recommended viewing for anyone concerned with the well-being of our national bird. As Carrol Henderson, a 59-year Minnesota hunter has said, "Ammo should not kill twice. ... Adapting to nontoxic ammo is not a threat to hunting traditions. It is an opportunity for hunters to take a leadership role in reclaiming their image as America's conservationists by switching to nontoxic ammo. It's the right thing to do." Andrew Mason is a past president of the New York State Ornithological Association and past chair of the Audubon Council of New York State. Twitter has started suspending and restricting dozens of accounts posting content promoting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg. On Friday, the social media company said it took action against about 70 accounts. That included permanently shutting them down, and then challenging other to verify ownership. The Bloomberg campaign did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Twitter said the accounts violated its platform manipulation and spam policy, which prohibits coordination among accounts to amplify or disrupt conversation by using multiple accounts. Twitter confirmed it took action against about 70 accounts pushing Mike Bloomberg. That included permanently shutting them down, and then challenging other to verify ownership. The accounts violated its platform manipulation and spam policy Dozens of identical messages were posted by more than 70 accounts, which have since been suspended or, in some cases, shut down completely Twitter said the accounts violated its platform manipulation and spam policy, which prohibits coordination among accounts to amplify or disrupt conversation by using multiple accounts As part of Bloomberg's social media strategy for his presidential campaign, he has hired hundreds of people to pump out campaign messages across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the Los Angeles Times reports. These temporary employees - or 'deputy field organizers' - are paid $2,500 a month to promote his candidacy through their own social media channels. And they receive 'campaign-approved language' which they can use in their posts. Many of the accounts posted identical messages. Platform manipulation occurs when creating several accounts to post duplicate content but also includes 'coordinating with or compensating others to engage in artificial engagement or amplification, even if the people involved use only one account.' This month, a paid partnership between the former New York mayor's campaign and popular Instagram meme accounts pushed Facebook Inc to announce it was allowing U.S.-based political candidates to run branded or sponsored content on its social networking platforms. Accounts that posted identical replies to this tweet about Bloomberg's spending were suspended The billionaire (pictured on the campaign trail in Salt Lake City) has hired hundreds of social media influencers to pump out messages across their social media platforms The announcement came days after presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg was discovered paying more than a dozen popular Instagram accounts to promote his campaign. According to Facebook, the platform's ad guidelines surrounding sponsored political posts will apply, but only if the post in question is promoted by the influencer through the platform's in-house paid promotion feature. Those posts will have to be clearly labeled as ads and will be filed in its ad library, they say. 'Branded content is different from advertising, but in either case we believe its important people know when theyre seeing paid content on our platforms,' a Facebook spokesperson told MailOnline in an email. 'After hearing from multiple campaigns, we agree that theres a place for branded content in political discussion on our platforms. Were allowing US-based political candidates to work with creators to run this content, provided the political candidates are authorized and the creators disclose any paid partnerships through our branded content tools.' Amid backlash for its role in spreading political information, Facebook has slowly added transparency tools over the last several years to give users insight into what types of content they're seeing and why. Facebook has increasingly come under fire for its ad practices throughout the last year and in September said it would not censor false claims that appear in paid political ads under the exemption of 'newsworthiness.' United Kingdom's newly appointed Finance Minister Rishi Sunak stoked controversy after he posted a pic of him holding a kettle and standing next to a jumbo bag of Yorkshire Tea on Twitter. Indian-origin Sunak is the son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy. Quick Budget prep break making tea for the team. Nothing like a good Yorkshire brew, he tweeted. Quick Budget prep break making tea for the team. Nothing like a good Yorkshire brew. pic.twitter.com/zhoQM9Ksho Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 21, 2020 Sunaks tweet seems to have not gone down well with some social media users who criticised the new chancellor for brand promotion. Responding to Sunaks tweet, one user asked if Yorkshire Tea was sponsoring him, adding, You're a millionaire, you don't need the money. I can't believe that they are using you to endorse their products. He also said he would never buy Yorkshire Tea again and companies should not show political bias. Another user tagged the company and asked if they back the alleged endorsement by Shunak or he may have to stop purchasing the tea. Totally fake. Does @yorkshiretea back this or I may have to stop buying it. James White (@JamesWh70571676) February 21, 2020 Replying to him, Yorkshire Tea tweeted they have nothing to do with Sunaks post and people cutting across party lines like their brew. Nothing to do with us - people of all political stripes like our brew.Plus there's no way we'd intentionally stick ourselves in a Twitter storm on a Friday afternoon. It's nearly hometime! Yorkshire Tea (@YorkshireTea) February 21, 2020 UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson picked Sunak for the post of UK's new finance minister earlier this month after Sajid Javid resigned from the post. The 39-year-old Sunak is going to present his first budget on March 11. Posting a tweet on February 18, he wrote that his first budget will deliver on the promises made to British people. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 15:18:31|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States and the Afghan Taliban said on Friday that they are set to sign an agreement on Feb. 29 after the implementation of a week-long violence reduction in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that on the condition of a successful implementation of the reduction in violence across Afghanistan, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign an agreement on Feb. 29, but he did not announce the location of the signing. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, wrote on Twitter that following lengthy negotiations, "both parties agreed to sign the finalized accord in the presence of international observers." "Both parties will now create a suitable security situation in advance of agreement signing date ... make arrangements for the release of prisoners, structure a path for intra-Afghan negotiations with various political parties of the country and finally lay the groundwork for peace across the country with the withdrawal of all foreign forces and not allowing the land of Afghanistan to be used against security of others ...," Mujahid added. The agreement between the United States and the Taliban is also expected to include a timeline for the reduction and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops, assurances by the Taliban that they will prevent terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan, and a permanent ceasefire. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," Pompeo said. According to the U.S. statement, intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon after the signing of the agreement. Jawid Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council, told local media that the seven-day reduction of violence across the country started at 12:00 a.m. local time (0730 GMT) on Feb. 29, adding that "the government promises to abide by all the rules of the seven-day violence reduction term to bring peace and stability to the country." A senior U.S. official told media last week at Munich that the reduction of violence would cover the entire country, including Afghan government forces, and the Taliban had committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a tweet on Friday that the reduction of violence across Afghanistan could pave the way for sustainable peace and prevent the country from a safe-haven for terrorists. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah described the deal as a necessary stepping stone toward intra-Afghan negotiations, a permanent ceasefire and a durable settlement acceptable to Afghan citizens. "As a responsible side, we will do our utmost to facilitate, cooperate and justly resolve all outstanding issues to build consensus that engages Afghans in peace making," he tweeted. Some U.S. experts, however, are skeptical that any real peace deal will ensue. "The Afghan government and the Taliban haven't even proven they can talk to each other and much less find a meaningful power-sharing compromise," Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua. The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in U.S. history. The death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. U.S. President Donald Trump has long grumbled about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan that started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous." Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban began in 2018 but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on U.S. military personnel in September and December last year. The United States maintains roughly 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which mostly provide training missions to local Afghan forces while conducting counterterrorism operations. Australian scientists have made a key breakthrough in a desperate bid to develop a vaccine for the killer coronavirus. Researchers at the University of Queensland are making a fast-tracked attempt to make a cure for the disease, which has killed more than 2,200 people worldwide. There are now dozens of Australians suffering from the respiratory disease, with 47 contracting it on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Working with the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations rapid response program, Australian researchers have now met a key milestone in their vaccine effort. Specialists have spent weeks working on a vaccine for coronavirus, after it killed more than 2,200 people worldwide. Scientists are seen working at a laboratory in France Coronavirus (pictured) has infected tens of thousands of people across the globe, killing more than 2,200 so far They are trying to develop the first life-saving vaccine for coronavirus, which has been renamed COVID-19. Its first attempt is now ready, and will soon be tested. 'There is still extensive testing to ensure that the vaccine candidate is safe and creates an effective immune response,' the university's Vice-Chancellor Peter Hoj said. 'But the technology and the dedication of these researchers means the first hurdle has been passed.' A family wearing face masks to protect themselves from coronavirus arrive in Brisbane Airport (pictured) before the travel ban was put in place A scientist works at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia (pictured) to try and develop a vaccine for coronavirus Dr Keith Chappell, senior research fellow and UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, said they had used the same technology as had helped developed vaccines for Ebola, MERS coronavirus and Nipah. 'But this technology is also designed to be able to quickly respond to a currently unknown virus,' Dr Chappell explained. 'We've put together a group of some of Australia's leading academic institutions, with the goal of reducing the time required for vaccine development down from multiple years to a matter of weeks.' Work is being done at laboratories across the world, including this one in Paris (pictured) The disease has infected more than 75,500 in China, and another 1,150 people across the world in 27 other countries. Earlier on Saturday, two more Australians were diagnosed with the deadly virus after being evacuated to Darwin from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The Diamond Princess has been moored in Yokohama since February 3, and more than 630 passengers on the gigantic vessel have caught the coronavirus Tight travel restrictions are still in place across the world. Here, medical staff check passengers for the disease as they arrive from Iran into Najaf, Iraq (pictured) The Diamond Princess (pictured) has been moored in Yokohama since February 3, and more than 630 passengers on the gigantic vessel have caught the coronavirus Two people from Victoria tested positive for the infection after being evacuated from the ship, and will be sent to hospitals in Victoria. Two Queensland women aged 54 and 55 also tested positive on Friday night for the infection after leaving the ship on Thursday and will be flown to a Brisbane hospital on Saturday for further treatment. Six Australians have tested positive for coronavirus after being taken off the ship. A 78-year-old man from Western Australia was transferred to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth on Friday. His wife was to travel with him but then be isolated at home for two weeks. A 24-year-old woman from South Australia has been transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital. The boat had been quarantined in Yokohama, Japan, for several weeks after a man with coronavirus had been on board - infecting dozens of passengers. There have been 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Australian soil. Meanwhile, Australia has extended its ban on foreign travellers from China for another week as the number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Hubei province grows. The ban is due to end on February 29 but is under ongoing consideration from the national security committee of cabinet. Cong accuses BJP of using Tek Fog app to propagate agenda on SM, seeks intervention by SC Congress denies leadership crisis India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 22: The Congress said there was no leadership crisis in the party as Sonia Gandhi was appointed as its chief by the CWC, the highest decision-making body of the grand old party. Senior spokesperson of the party Anand Sharma replied in the negative when asked whether there was a leadership crisis in the Congress in the wake of many leaders demanding a fresh election to the top post. Sonia Gandhi was appointed as the interim Congress president in August last year after Rahul Gandhi resigned taking moral responsibility for the party's Lok Sabha poll debacle. "I do not see that. We have a president (in place). That is the decision of the Congress Working Committee (CWC)," Sharma told reporters when asked whether there was a leadership crisis in the party. Why Congress will have to be content with Rahul Gandhi On many Congress leaders voicing their concerns in public over the leadership issue, he said, "It is clear that those in the Congress express their opinions." "But the view of the Congress is decided by the CWC, which takes key decisions. As and when there is an event, we have a constitution and the CWC," the Rajya Sabha member added. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi to soon lose Indian Citizenship: Subramanian Swamy Voices are emerging from several quarters within the Congress on the leadership issue with many leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Sandeep Dikshit, demanding fresh polls to the top post in the party. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 5:45 [IST] Bank of Ireland this week launched the Begin Together Fund 2020 to support financial, physical and mental wellbeing projects in communities across the island of Ireland. Local charities and community groups are invited to apply for funding of up to 5,000 for projects with a positive social impact. The application process is administered by the Community Foundation for Ireland and over 100 individual projects will receive funding in 2020. Applications are open up to 31 March. "As a leading lender in Ireland we are supporting families and businesses across the island - north, south, east and west. The Begin Together initiative will further enable communities to thrive, and make a tangible positive impact on the communities where we live and work," said Francesca McDonagh, Bank of Ireland group CEO. "The power of community in Ireland north and south is impressive. When we come together to do something we can really make a difference." The new government, whatever the make-up will be, should bring in enforced hibernation for February. The last government must have been out of their minds to go calling an election in February. The winter in Ireland only rightly gets going in early spring. Bad weather puts us all in bad form. The last few weeks have been stormy, cold, icy and rainy. Hailstones the size of sliothars fell on me yesterday in the Cork and Kerry mountains. Even the highwayman Captain Farrell wouldn't go out in such weather. The wet cold is the worst. My fingers are as yellow as those of a corpse wrapped up in rosary beads at a removal. The government should have waited for the fine weather. The hospital flus would be over and the disgrace of the trolleys would be hidden from plain sight until next winter when everyone in the HSE will be shocked by the flu, again. No one has any money left in February after the Christmas splurge. I'll bet you're sorry now for spending all that cash on baubles and prawns - and was the 104-inch TV a smart buy? I wonder why TVs and penises are still measured in inches. You can be certain if Sinn Fein rules us, the party will bring in metric penises and TVs. Inches, as Sinn Feiners see it, are part of the old class system imposed on us by British imperialism. Pints will have to go as well. The measure was also invented by the cunning British. It was part of their policy of divide and drunkenness. Their plan was we would spend our time drinking for Ireland and shouting "Up the Ra". February will be long gone before we have a new taoiseach. Irish people suffer from what used to be known as magpie thinking. We move from one shiny object to the next, which is why it will take months to form a new government. The conventional wisdom is the magpie is a great man for bringing shiny objects in to the nest. According to a report on the BBC, magpies suffer from neophobia - a fear of new things. The magpies hate shiny things and they hate change. Magpies have been badly wronged for robbing engagement rings and the like but it does seem to this observer our politicians suffer from neophobia. The condition is the main reason why it will take months to make up the numbers to vote in a new taoiseach. Here's what's going to happen if a cure can be found for neophobia. Fine Gael will go into government with Fianna Fail, the Greens and maybe the Healy-Raes if Kerry is granted independence. I come from a Fine Gael background. Nana used to pray to Holy Mary and Michael Collins when there was trouble brewing and trouble was brewed more often than Barry's tea. My grandmother was a veteran of the War of Independence. She loved Collins. My uncle was fired from the Abbey for belting a Fianna Fail minister. The grandfather was done out of a job because "he didn't vote right". But it's time to join up with Fianna Fail and build houses. I don't know myself since I was prescribed the neophobia medicine. In case there are any foreigners reading, it's a good thing in Ireland if you don't know yourself. Not knowing yourself has nothing to with an identity crisis. It means you are getting better, taking tea and a lightly buttered slice of toast. I reckon our health system spends about 2bn a year on tea and toast. Tea and toast is a cure for everything. I'm drifting like the ghost ship that was washed up in Ballycotton Bay. The best thing would be to form an All-Stars government. Pa Daly, the newly-elected Sinn Fein TD for Kerry, would be on my team. He's bright and honest. Norma Foley is our new Fianna Fail TD. She is a wonderful woman and a true friend. Norma nominated Micheal Martin for taoiseach. According to Fionnan Sheahan, our Ireland Editor: "Norma Foley quoted John B Keane and Shakespeare." To my certain knowledge, Shakespeare was not Fine Gael but my dad was. I'll bet Dad never thought he'd be quoted in a speech nominating a Fianna Fail taoiseach. I was in stitches. By the way, "having stitches" in Ireland means you are bursting from the laughing. But Dad was in favour of bringing Sinn Fein into the political system. There were times after the election when the party was a Wolfe Tones tribute band. Sinn Fein has some way to go before people believe it is IRA-free. The party's treatment of the family of Paul Quinn, who was brutally beaten to death, was horrible. Its 13-years-too-late "sorry but..." apology for branding an innocent boy a criminal was forced on the party by the courageous journalism of Miriam O'Callaghan. But Sinn Fein has brought us peace in the North and it has some very brilliant TDs in its ranks. The better it does at the polls, the less the likelihood of a resurgence by the CIRA. The ideal solution would be a national government with inherent checks and balances. Even though only 1pc of the electorate thought Brexit was an election issue, 100pc of us could suffer if Britain goes for a hard Border. This will be a disunited Ireland. We must stick together on Brexit at least. Some time in the next few years there will a move towards a referendum for a united Ireland. I am all for a united Ireland and Sinn Fein must be involved. This is the best reason for a national government. I went for a stroll in the ever-friendly Cork city this morning. When you ask for directions in Cork, the locals walk along to show you the way. I was brought to outside An Bodhran bar on Oliver Plunkett Street. The sign outside read: "Never in the history of calming down has anyone been calmed down by being told to calm down." How about take it easy? There's a message for all of you screaming out for a new government. Take your time. It takes time to form a government. Would you marry after only a few days of courtship? A national government is unlikely, for now. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have much in common. The Civil War is over. The fear of new things must be conquered. By PTI AHMEDABAD: The "fascist alliance" between "forces attempting to erode democracy and curb freedom of speech and religion" is dangerous not just for India but the world as a whole, a group of over 160 academicians, activists and students from Gujarat said in an open letter against the "Namaste Trump" event. US President Donald Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad on February 24 and will take part along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an event, christened 'Namaste Trump, in the newly-constructed Motera stadium here. "With a spectacular rise in global fascism today, this alignment between the largest democracy in the world and the most powerful one is dangerous not only for India, but for the world as a whole. We cannot in good conscience support this alliance between forces that are attempting to erode democracy and curb freedom of speech and religion," the 168 signatories said in the letter. "We cannot stand by as families are deprived of their homes in order to make room for those who wish to remove citizens from their countries. We unequivocally condemn this fascist alliance, and urge the Indian State to prioritise the needs of its citizens over the greed of the global elite," the signatories said. They include activist and danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and academicians from institutes like Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and CEPT University. They claimed India and USA had seen a rise of "authoritarian politics" in recent years, with Modi and Trump at the helm. The letter claimed Trump was "unreservedly racist, Islamophobic, xenophobic, and anti-poor," while Modi had enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act that bars "Muslims from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries from receiving expedited citizenship offered to other minority groups". ALSO READ | Washington, New Delhi struggling to bridge trade dispute ahead of Trump's India visit It said the Modi government was all set to enact the National Register of Citizens, "which European Union members have warned could precipitate the largest statelessness crisis in the world". "In the past year alone, an unprecedented 69,550 migrant children were separated from their families and held in government custody. The list of detained migrants included 52 Indian nationals, one of whom died in US custody in May of last year." the letter alleged. While Trump enacted a ban against refugees and migrants from several Muslim-majority countries, India has enacted the CAA, they said in the letter. In the context of "crores" being spent on the 'Namaste Trump' event, the letter claimed the "privileging of foreign capital over local needs is sadly familiar". It also spoke about a wall being built to keep a slum hidden during the US president and PM Modi's roadshow, and eviction notices being given to 45 families, in the process displacing a community that has resided in Motera for the past 20 years. They said large infrastructure projects like the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project and others under the "Vibrant Gujarat" initiative to attract foreign investments had resulted in mass eviction and displacement of poor people. This "development" had left many people behind, the letter said, and alleged that Gujarat has witnessed wide-scale violence against its minorities, increasing ghettoisation and the systematic erosion of democratic values. The signatories claimed the Gujarat government had instructed police to deny permissions for protest 15 days prior to Trump's visit, a move that infringes on fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. While the 'Howdy Modi' event in the US allowed thousands of protesters, the Indian state chooses to preempt any expression of dissent before 'Namaste Trump', it claimed. A Kaduna State High Court on Friday discharged and acquitted 91 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in the state. The presiding judge, Justice Hajaratu Gwada, in her judgement, acquitted the defendants of the charges filed against them by the Kaduna State government. The Shiite Muslims who regained freedom were arrested during a clash with soldiers in Zaria in December 2015. They were arraigned on five counts of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, culpable homicide, disturbance of public peace, and causing grievous hurt. During their trial, the defence counsel had filed a no-case submission before the court on the grounds that his clients were innocent. He also stressed that the state government had failed to prove its allegations against them beyond a reasonable doubt. Giving her judgement, Justice Gwada struck out all the charges filed against the IMN members and acquitted them. She held that the decision was as a result of the prosecutor to prove the allegations levelled against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. Kaduna State government, however, rejected the judgement, arguing that it is erroneous. ALSO READ: JTF denies attack on Bayelsa community over murder of soldiers The State Director of Public Prosecution, Daris Bayero, in a media interaction said that the Kaduna State government would appeal the judgement at a higher court until justice is done on the case. The counsel to the IMN, Maxwell Kyon, commended the judge on the judgment. Kyon described the judgement as the prevailing of truth over injustice, condemning the Kaduna State government for detaining the IMN members for over four years without any cogent reason. He decried that some of the defendants lost their children and wives, while others missed their admission into tertiary institutions while in prison. PV: 0 The Department of Justice is dropping its criminal investigation of former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe without bringing charges, it announced on Friday. McCabe's attorneys received a phone call and a letter from the US Attorney's Office in DC on Friday announcing the declination. "We write to inform you that, after careful consideration, the Government has decided not to pursue criminal charges against your client, Andrew G. McCabe, arising from the referral" made by the Inspector General's office to investigate his behavior, the DC US Attorney's Office wrote. McCabe's attorneys released the letter on Friday. "Based on the totality of the circumstances and all of the information known to the Government at this time, we consider the matter closed." A spokesperson for the Department of Justice declined to comment. A White House official said President Donald Trump was angered federal prosecutors' decision not to pursue charges against McCabe. "To have this horrific black cloud that's been hanging over me and my family for almost the last two years, to have that finally lifted... it's a relief that I'm not sure I can really explain to you adequately. It's just a very emotional moment for my whole family," McCabe told CNN's Brianna Keilar on Friday. Despite saying he was happy with the conclusion, McCabe called it an "absolute disgrace" that the DOJ and US attorney's office took two years before they "finally drew the obvious conclusion." McCabe, who is a CNN contributor, has been perceived by President Donald Trump as one of his foes for his work on the early Russia investigation for the FBI. The Justice Department previously appeared to be nearing a grand jury indictment of McCabe last fall after top officials rejected a private attempt by McCabe's lawyers to appeal any coming prosecution. The investigation then fell silent, with McCabe's attorneys trying to get answers for months about its status. Even a federal judge attempted to force the Justice Department to give McCabe and the public an update on the investigation's status. The Justice Department refused to do so, and the judge warned the prosecutors the case was beginning to look like Trump was putting his political influence on it. 'Difficult matter' Court documents released shortly after the decision became public on Friday shed even more light on how the investigation dragged out for months. In July 2019, a prosecutor handling the McCabe investigation told a federal judge in a confidential hearing that "there are some minor investigative steps that have been taken recently and are continuing to be taken." "However, it is fair to say that we are more in a decisional phase than what we would traditionally call an investigative phase," public corruption prosecutor J.P. Cooney of the DC US Attorney's Office said, according to transcripts of hearing and other court records. Cooney told the judge more than seven months ago that his office was "nearing a decision, but for me to put a date on that is very difficult." He then suggested they'd decide what to do about McCabe by September. In early September, Cooney was back before the judge, Reggie Walton of the US District Court in DC. The prosecutor told Walton a public decision on the McCabe investigation and release of information about it were coming "literally within days." By the end of September, Cooney was admitting to the judge his previous timeline was incorrect. He told Walton it was "an exceedingly difficult matter and situation." "I don't get it," the judge responded in the closed late September hearing. "I understand there are political implications and other implications involved in reference to whether you go forward." Walton then zeroed in on the lack of public closure regarding the investigation, comparing Trump's approach to a "banana republic." "Because the public is listening to what's going on, and I don't think people like the fact that you got somebody at the top basically trying to dictate whether somebody should be prosecuted," the judge said. "I just think it's a banana republic when we go down that road and we have those type of statements being made that are conceivably even if not influencing the ultimate decision, I think there are a lot of people on the outside who perceive that there is undue inappropriate pressure being brought to bear." Week of decisions The announcement on Friday comes at the end of a bruising week for the Justice Department and especially its prosecutors in DC, after the President publicly pressured them toward his political wishes. The Justice Department had four prosecutors in its DC US Attorney's Office quit the criminal case against Roger Stone, after departmental leadership forced the office to lessen the sentencing recommendation for Stone, a longtime ally of the President. On Thursday, Attorney General William Barr criticized the President's tweets about ongoing cases while defending his decision to go easier on Stone in advance of his sentencing. McCabe has found himself a target of investigators and Republicans, including Trump, since 2016, when he authorized a leak to a then-Wall Street Journal reporter about a conversation he had endorsing the investigation of the Clinton Foundation. The Justice Department's independent inspector general, who looked into the incident, found McCabe had lacked candor on four occasions when he spoke to investigators about the leak. The inspector general then referred the matter to the FBI. McCabe is also suing the Justice Department and FBI after he was fired last spring, and he has accused the President of politically retaliating against him. This story has been updated with additional developments Friday. Uncle Tom's Cabin in Blackrock hosted a 40th birthday party for Tara Lynskey from Blackrock and there to make sure she had an excellent night was husband James, parents Denis and Marie Monahan from Haggardstown, brothers Paul and Denis, sisters Kathy and Orlagh and a huge collection of family and friends. I was only in the door when I got a word with the birthday girl Tara who wanted a major shout out for her kids Kirsty, Savannah, Dylan, Ryan, Tyler, James and Andrew and to tell them she loves them very much and was really looking forward to the night. Heading for a table close by I then met up with Tara's cousin and aunt Emma and Anne Masterson from Downpatrick who were having a great laugh with Tara's mum Marie and they assured me they were going to go mad all night long. Seated close by was David Connolly from Edenderry who was with sister-in-law and mother-in-law Una and Helen Lynskey from Laois who were in real party mode and were definitely going to make it into a crazy night. After this I caught up with Joanne and Kevin Hardy from Gort Na Glaise who are good friends of Tara's and wanted to wish her a very happy birthday. Next, I met up with Tara's dad Denis Monahan from Haggardstown who told me it was guaranteed to be a good night providing the waves from Storm Ciara didn't make it in the door of the pub! Denis was sitting with his son Paul Monaghan and partner Emma Scanlon from Riverside Drive who was looking forward to a fantastic night with everyone there. Heading for another table I then got a word with aunt and cousin Marian Garand and Karen Flemming who were over from Lobinstown specially for the party and assured me it was going to be a great night. Beside them I then caught up with sister Kathy Monaghan from Blackrock who was having a laugh with Emma Scanlon and they both wanted to wish Tara all the best on her big night. Chilling out and enjoying the festivities were Dylan Browne originally from Dublin but now living on Carrick Road and he was having a laugh with Claire Byrne from Faughart who told me they are family friends and wanted to wish her all the best on her birthday. Just arrived in were friends David and Elaine Eager from Blackrock who were up for a major night of fun, well Elaine was, David was on driving duty. Finally, I met up with cousin and aunt Lisa and Fiona Kelly from Castleblaney who told me it was going to be a mad night and they were looking forward to it with Tara and family. Great Indian Bustard, Asian Elephant and Bengal Florican from India are among the ten wildlife species that were added to the global Wildlife Agreement on the concluding day of the 13th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Migratory Species (CMSCOP 13) here on Saturday. Another species included in the agreement is the critically endangered jaguar. Seven species, namely Asian Elephant, Jaguar, Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican, Little Bustard, Antipodean Albatross and the Oceanic White-tip Shark were made part of the appendix one, which provides strictest protection. The Urial Ship, Smooth Hammerhead Shark and Tope Shark were listed for protection under Appendix II, which covers migratory species that have unfavourable conservation status and would benefit from enhanced international cooperation and conservation actions. New and extended 'concerted actions' with targeted conservation plans were agreed for another 14 species. Some of them are the scimitar-horned Oryx, Addax, Dama Gazelle, Slender-horned Gazelle, Dorcas Gazelle, Barbary Sheep, Irrawaddy Dolphin and South Asian River Dolphin. "With COP13, the important role of CMS in protecting nature around the world has been strongly embraced. This conference has been very satisfactory as we have progressed on all the issues that we had taken up," said CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel. The CMSCOP13 adopted the Gandhinagar Declaration calling for 'ecological connectivity' for migratory species to be integrated and prioritized between the member parties. The Gandhinagar Declaration will send a message to the first negotiating session of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework convening in Rome next week. The first ever report on the Status of Migratory Species, presented to CMS COP13, shows that, despite some success stories, the populations of most migratory species covered by CMS are declining. "The initial status report has been a real wake up call for the Convention. CMS COP13 has given a clear mandate to prepare a flagship report on the status of migratory species which will give us a better idea of what is happening on the ground, and also provide a much needed tool for understanding where we need to focus,"Fraenkel added. She added that COP also agreed on a number of cross- cutting policy measures to address threats to migratory species. These include integrating biodiversity and migratory species considerations into national energy and climate policy as well as promote wildlife-friendly renewable energy as electricity transmission lines and wind mills pose threat to migratory birds. The member parties agreed to strengthen initiatives to combat the illegal killing and trade of migratory birds and mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure such as roads and railways on migratory species. India, as COP13 host, will take over COP presidency for the next three years, Fraenkel said. She said she looked forward to work with India for greater conservation of wild life around the globe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became first head of the government to inaugurate this conference and pledged to focus on the conservation of migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway. He had announced the establishment of an institutional facility for undertaking research and assessment of the conservation of migratory birds and marine turtles, reduction of pollution from micro and single-use plastic, trans-boundary protected areas, and sustainable infrastructure development. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 21, 2020 | 06:40 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY On Friday, Neal announced in a press release that Bryan Crawley has been appointed to the position. He was sworn in Wednesday afternoon. Officials received nine applications, and a committee was then assembled to perform interviews and to assist in the selection. Neal shared his thoughts, praising the experience Crawley brings to the table. "Bryan has over 30 years of experience in emergency management services and holds numerous certifications in this field. He brings the experience and management skills that are greatly needed in this position." Neal continued, "After being sworn in, he immediately went to begin providing the necessary resources to the agencies involved in recovery efforts of the missing female in the river. He has already observed that there are many issues that need to be addressed with emergency management and he is eager to deliver results." Crawley has received many certifications and commendations throughout his career, including: Initial Attack Incident Commander certification, Fire Fighter 1 and 2, EMT, paramedic, strike team task leader, medical unit leader, fire line safety officer, helicopter crew member, and a member of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Crawley says he will work to bring the agency up to national standards. "I look forward to the opportunity to put my knowledge to good use in this position as Emergency Management Director here in Marshall County. I'm going to see what the current infrastructure is and then see what we need to do to bring it up to national standards, that's one of the things the Judge has tasked me with. My hope is that I can bring my experiences to this office to be able to bring in more resources." Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Neal has appointed a new Director of Emergency Management. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are showing staggering disrespect to Queen Elizabeth II with their public statement seemingly complaining about their treatment by Buckingham Palace, Piers Morgan has said. The staggering disrespect these two keep showing to the Queen is outrageous, Daily Mails editor-at-large tweeted on Saturday. Who the hell do they think they are? After the couple was forced to shut down their Sussex Royal brand, Harry and Meghan posted an extraordinary statement on their own website. Harry and Meghan put a new sour-sounding statement on their own website hours after announcing they would stop using the word 'royal' in their branding after the Spring - and they insisted on keeping their HRH titles even though they would not 'actively use' them. The statement also said that neither the government nor the Queen herself own the word 'royal' internationally, but they would nonetheless stop using the title. Scroll down for video Daily Mail editor-at-large Piers Morgan (left) slammed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (right) for their 'staggering disrespect' to the Queen 'Who the hell do they think they are?' Morgan tweeted on Saturday The couple posted an extraordinary statement on their web site complaining about the Queen's decision now to allow them to use the word 'royal' for their brand The statement read: 'While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word "Royal" overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use "Sussex Royal" or any iteration of the word "Royal" in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020.' They also appeared to complain that the palace is treating them differently to other family members. The statement continued: 'While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place. 'Per the agreement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties and not undertake representative duties on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.' A spokesman for the couple first issued a statement to the media about their use of royal titles shortly after 7.30pm on Friday but around 10pm they shared a much longer statement on their website via their Instagram story. The much-longer statement included the reference to the treatment of other royals, the fact that Harry is still sixth in line for the throne and that they are still entitled to public protection. They said they 'require effective security to protect them and their son' amid controversy surrounding the estimated 3million - 6million protection bill that would be split between taxpayers in Canada and the UK. Many sections of the later statement released on their website appear hostile in tone, especially when compared to the earlier statement which was released through a spokesman for the couple. The Duke and Duchess issued a statement - a shorter version first issued yesterday evening - which said that while neither the government nor the Queen herself own the word 'royal' internationally, they would stop using the title They said security 'to protect them and their son' is necessary amid controversy surrounding the estimated 3million - 6million protection bill that would be split between taxpayers in Canada and the UK Harry and Meghan imply that they are being treated differently to other members of the royal family who can 'seek employment outside of the institution' The statement makes it clear that Harry will maintain military titles including: the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader The statement states that the couple will be allowed to keep their patronages even though they won't be allowed to carry out official duties for the Queen Many royal experts believe the episode is another PR disaster for the couple. Richard Fitzwilliams, royal commentator and international editor of Who's Who, said about the lengthier statement on their website: 'It is completely unnecessary to add that. Simply because it underlines their differences with the palace in a way that is avoidable.' Prince Charles' biographer Tom Bower told MailOnline that the public is 'finally seeing Meghan's true nature and motives'. 'Her comments about the Queen's decision smacks of spiteful fury,' he said. 'I fear it will get worse.' A statement issued by the palace last month stated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use their HRH titles. Meghan and Harry's statement states, however, that they will keep the prefixes His and Her Royal Highness. They go on to claim that the titles will not be used 'actively' when the couple cease being working members of the firm. The Daily Mail revealed this week that Buckingham Palace had told Harry and Meghan not to employ the name when they are no longer working royals While the Duke and Duchess plan to champion a charitable foundation, it was feared they could exploit the royal brand to secure lucrative commercial deals (Sussex Royal logo pictured) They also confirmed that their office - based in Buckingham Palace - would be closed, a move they said was 'saddening for The Duke and Duchess and their loyal staff'. The announcement follows the Daily Mails revelation this week that Buckingham Palace had told Harry and Meghan not to employ the 'Sussex Royal' name when they are no longer working royals. It is a significant blow for the couple, who have spent tens of thousands of pounds building the Sussex Royal-branded website and creating a hugely popular Instagram feed. In an unprecedented legal move, the queen has drafted in top lawyers in a bid to enforce the ban. A string of trademark applications, covering items from clothing and books to stationery and bandanas, were withdrawn. It comes after MailOnline yesterday revealed that Meghan has told friends there is nothing 'legally stopping' her and Harry from using their Sussex Royal name. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Saturday slamed Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta's remark on the Kartarpur corridor and demanded that he be sacked. READ: Manjinder Sirsa Slams DGP Dinkar's Statement Calling Kartarpur Pilgrims Terrorists Demands for sacking grow A joint statement was issued by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema and Kotkapura MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan, which read, "DGP had hurt the religious sentiments of teeming millions of Nanak-leva 'sangat', and others who have abiding faith in the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev across the world. The state government should immediately sack the DGP." Sandhwan also accused the officer of spreading hate with his communal remarks. "It is highly unfortunate that the DGP was indulging in a political gambit out to derail the peace and amity of the country by issuing such uncouth statements," he said. READ: SAD's Majithia Slams DGP Dinkar's 'Kartarpur' Remark; Accuses Cong Of Being 'anti-Sikh' Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa also slammed the comments made by the police officer. The statement given by the Punjab DGP is very offensive. I strongly condemn his statement. Congress has always had this kind of mindset. Captain Amarinder Singh is the Chief Minister and he is a Sikh himself. The people working for his government should not make such statements, Sirsa said. READ: SAD Lashes Out At DGP Dinkar Gupta Over 'Kartarpur' Remark, Demands Apology The Punjab police chief, Dinkar Gupta in an interview with a media house, questioned the intent of Pakistan to open the doors to the Indian Sikhs wishing to visit Kartarpur. He stated that visa-free entry for Sikh pilgrims was a huge security challenge from terrorisms point of view. Adding to this, he further said, Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back as trained terrorist actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED. The officer later issued a clarification via his Twitter account, stating that his remarks had been misinterpreted and taken out of context. He said, "What I said was in response to a question on Punjabs security perspective and the remarks had no religious connotation whatsoever." He also assured that the Punjab police will continue facilitating safe visits to the Shrine. I assure everyone that Punjab Police will continue to facilitate safe and smooth visits to the holy Sri Kartarpur Sahib DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) February 22, 2020 READ: AAP Threatens To Cut Power Supply To Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh's Residence Preparations for St. Patrick's Day this year are underway with seven parades organised across the county with Malahide set to host their first parade. Over 100,000 residents are expected to attend the parades, over 15,000 people will participate alongside up to 1,000 community organisations and businesses in the parades. This will be a huge boost to local economies as thousands of people will be packing the streets to enjoy the day. Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O'Brien said: 'St. Patrick's Day is a significant cultural event each year and the parades allow Fingal residents to celebrate it in their own communities. The parades are an opportunity for residents to see and engage with local community groups and businesses in their area. I look forward to attending the parades in Fingal and seeing all the diverse and creative floats this year. I would particularly like to welcome the addition of Malahide to the Fingal St Patrick's calendar.' The history of Balbriggan will be front and centre in their parade this year with the theme being the 'Sacking of Balbriggan', which took place a hundred years ago. Fingal County Council operates the three parades in Swords, Balbriggan and Blanchardstown while financially and operationally supporting all seven parades. Davis Events have been again engaged by Fingal County Council to deliver the 2020 parades. The Mayor of Fingal will be attending the parades in Swords, Malahide and Balbriggan this year with the Deputy Mayor attending the parade in Blanchardstown. AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, added: 'The Malahide community will be hosting their own St. Patrick Day's Parade this year. Fingal County Council is delighted to be supporting this parade and all the other community-led parades in the county. The Fingal Events team works to organise parades that are an entertaining and inclusive cultural celebration.' Mexico`s President is supporting the right of women to hold a national strike to demand action against femicide. By James Blears Expressing anger and revulsion against femicides and backing it up by rallies, women`s groups announce that March 9th, which is the day after International Women`s Day, will be designated anti femicide day. They are urging woman not to work, not to send their daughters to school nor buy a single item. Minister of the Interior Olga Sanchez says she will join the strike day. Mexico`s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stresses that no woman government worker or woman civil servant will suffer any penalty or sanction, for going on strike and standing up for her rights. The fury and pledged action, follows the murder and mutilation of a 25 year old woman, and in a separate case, the abduction and murder of a seven year old girl in different areas of Mexico City. Women held a protest rally last year, following the rapes of two girls, allegedly by Police Officers. Ten women per day are murdered throughout Mexico, where femicides increased by seven percent last year. OHIO- Several fire crews responded to reports of a mobile home fire in the town of Ohio, on Friday night. Crews were dispatched to a home on Hooper Dooper Ave just after 6 p.m. The road was so narrow, and there were several fire trucks that the NEWSChannel 2 camera crews couldn't get to the fire. It was reported that the mobile home was fully involved. The chief for the Poland Fire Department was unavailable for an interview at the time. We have calls into the fire department to get more information. A Belfast couple appearing on a new BBC programme about stinky homes wash their clothes only ONCE a month. Sarah and Jordan, who live among piles of rubbish, mouldy takeaway boxes and soiled underwear, will even buy new clothes instead of cleaning the ones they already own. The pair live with fellow couple Paddy and Ciaran and all four appear on BBC Three's Fight Dirty. The show pits the 'partners in grime' against another group nicknamed 'the party boys' - students Matthew, Lorcan, Gavin and Ronan - in a clean-up challenge. The rivals are tasked with sorting out the other group's home within five hours, with the winners walking away with a 1,000 prize. The boys live in a "fly-infested s***hole" with a sink that's often clogged with sick and a toilet that's seen better days, but they see no point in cleaning up because it'll just get messy again during one of their many wild parties. "If my mum or my dad were to walk into this house, they'd call me a disgrace. It's minging," Gavin admits. Expand Close Gavin described the boys' house as 'minging', admitting his parents would call him a 'disgrace' if they saw it. Pictured: their living room - Fight Dirty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gavin described the boys' house as 'minging', admitting his parents would call him a 'disgrace' if they saw it. Pictured: their living room - Fight Dirty Sarah, whose mum is a cleaner, lives by the motto 'out of sight, out of mind' and her house is so messy that takeaways often get lost among the rubbish. Worst of all, though, is the terrible smell. "You can feel it in your eyes and you can taste it, but you just have to sit in it," Sarah says. "We order takeaways, especially after a night out. You eat them in your room, then they just kind of get kicked about and then they just kind of aren't there anymore. Out of sight, out of mind - that's what I live by. "To be fair, a lot of the time this year we bought new clothes instead of cleaning." During the show, after Gavin discovers a pair of filthy boxer shorts in a bedroom, he describes them as "crusty, mouldy and stinking". Ronan adds: "He's done everything in those boxers." As the lads delve deeper into the room, they're horrified to find the remains of takeaways discarded months ago. There's also some serious debate over a box of mouldy food from Domino's, with no one quite sure if it was once chicken wings or potato wedges. "The smell is absolutely awful. Whoever owns that food is an absolute disgrace. I don't know how this person lives in here," Ronan says. Matthew adds: "That smell has scarred me for life. I thought we were bad, but this is next level." Expand Close Sarah and Jordan live among a mountain of rotting takeaways and rubbish - fight dirty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarah and Jordan live among a mountain of rotting takeaways and rubbish - fight dirty Sarah and Jordan, meanwhile, just don't leave a mess in their own room - they spread it across the house and even use the oven to stash Buckfast rather than to cook food. Not that the party boys are much better: Sarah, Jordan, Paddy and Ciaran have to unblock their vomit-filled sink during the show. The toilet isn't exactly sparkling clean either. It's covered in excrement that Ronan says is the result of "Mexican food that didn't agree" with him. The programme is the brainchild of Chris Jones, founder and creative director of Nice One Productions. "I'm so happy and grateful that BBC Three are the first broadcaster to have backed our partnership with Fizz TV," Chris says. "They immediately saw the potential for big laughs and learnings in this filthy-to-fabulous format from Belfast." Fight Dirty is available to view now on the BBC iPlayer. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). Birmingham police have arrested a suspect in the shooting of a 21-year-old man who was shot late last month outside a nightclub and then died of his injuries last week. Lathedrick Miles, 44, of Birmingham, is set to be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail after his arrest in the killing of 21-year-old Birmingham resident Travars Wages, police said Friday. Wages was found shot outside the Wages Event Center at 2726 Pearson Ave. Southwest around 2:41 a.m. Jan. 30. He was taken to UAB Hospital, where he died of his injuries Feb. 12. Police reclassified the incident as a homicide after Wages death. Birmingham police investigate a 2018 shooting at Wages Event Center on Pearson Avenue S.W. The 21-year-old victim had just walked outside when he was shot, according to Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Johnny Williams. Earlier this month, surfing legend Mick Fanning announced his engagement and baby news with his American model, Breeana Randall, 26. And the lovebirds looked like the picture of bliss, as they attended the wedding of Australian record producer Fisher in Bali on Thursday. The pair cosied up for a sweet snap, as they watched Fisher tie the knot to swimwear designer Chloe Chapman. Their turn next! Surfing legend Mick Fanning and pregnant fiancee Breeana Randall (pictured) cosied up together as they attended record producer Fisher's wedding to swimwear designer Chloe Chapman in Bali on Thursday Mick, 38, shared a snap of himself with Breeana on Instagram, captioning the post: 'Wedding ready.' In the photo, Mick kept his wedding attire casual in a pair of green chinos and a white linen shirt, completing his look with a pair of matching sneakers. Meanwhile, Breeana covered her growing baby bump in a floral high-neck gown, which she wore with a pair of nude strappy heels and a matching handbag. Newlyweds: They watched Fisher, whose real name is Paul Fisher, tie the knot to swimwear designer Chloe Chapman (pictured) Earlier this month, the legendary surfer announced his engagement and baby news with Breeana. Posing on Northern New South Wales' Dreamtime Beach, the 38-year-old athlete surprised his girlfriend, 26, during their baby announcement photoshoot. 'Yesterday was one of those incredible days,' Mick wrote on Instagram at the time. What an announcement! Earlier this month, the legendary surfer announced his engagement and baby news with Breeana 'Breeana and I went to shoot some baby announcement photos and then this happened,' he explained, sharing a beautiful photograph of the moment he got down on one knee. He added: 'This beautiful woman has stolen my heart and I'm so excited to create a beautiful family with her. Bub is due in August. 'So excited to start this new chapter with a person I truly admire and love. Breeana and Harper and new little one, this is going to be magical!' The loved-up couple went public with their relationship in late November 2017, around two years after Mick split from ex-wife Karissa Dalton. Jenny Evans had been sick in bed for weeks, watching the country die outside her window. "All I could see was smoke," she says. "Not a blade of grass in sight. No insects." It was December, and things had been the same for months. Then Ms Evans learnt she could no longer drink the tap water in her own house. "It's been like a death by cancer: a long, slow depletion of everything ... and then suddenly, you get this email that says, 'You can't drink the water as of today,' " she says. "It was just so matter of fact." Local resident Jenny Evans picks up a stash of bottled water, which has been provided for all Uralla residents since December. Credit:Dave Robinson After enduring months of drought and hazardous smoke from nearby bushfires (and with "day zero" approaching), the 2743 residents of Uralla, near Armidale in the NSW Northern Tablelands, were told there was an increased level of arsenic detected in what remained of the town's water supply, which comes from the Kentucky Dam. The February instalment of the Scartaglin-based traditional music and culture series, Handed Down, will be brought to you on this coming Saturday night, February 22, at 8pm. A presentation with the intriguing title: 'The Monks of the Screw / North Cork's Finest' will see the return of the ever popular, always welcome, Eoin Stan O'Sullivan, the Newmarket fiddle player back to the Sliabh Luachra Culture and Heritage Centre. "Eoin will bring the story of the famous North Cork band 'The Monks of the Screw' who formed in the mid nineties," said PJ Teahan - for whom 2020 opened well with the conferring of the Dan O'Connell Memorial Award for his services to the music and musicians of the culture steeped locality. "The Monks, from playing regularly in Scully's Bar Newmarket, made three recordings but, more importantly, they sourced music from the older musicians of the area whom they sought out and met. "It is to their credit that many tunes versions played today were saved from players who have since died and would have been lost. "The band had a few line-up changes in its life-time but its core sound was pure Sliabh Luachra and 'The Monks' always stayed true to the style. Guests on the night include: Jim Barry, seanchai, Newmarket; Claire O'Loughlin, fiddle from Millstreet: Michelle Ann Houlihan, tin whistle, Ballyduff. The usual young musicians guest spot will be filled by the 16 member strong Millstreet and Dromtarriffe Group; Collette Hartnett and Eve O'Driscoll, Newmarket; Sean Michael and Andrew Redican, Ballyduff. The shows always start at 8pm nightly and patrons are asked to be settled in their seats by 7:45pm out of respect for performers and fellow audience members. Tea and coffee are available afterwards in the kitchen. Post event tunes up the village have become a vital flicker in the effort to keep lit that great imaginary window to rural Ireland. (Natural News) The United States has issued an official travel warning about the apparent community spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) in at least five different countries outside of China, as well as the island region of Taiwan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now urging all Americans not to travel to China for the foreseeable future, and to also avoid the nations of Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan, if at all possible, because the virus is spreading rapidly in these areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected, the CDC explains on its website. At this time, the extent of virus spread is not sustained or widespread enough to meet the criteria for a travel notice. A level-1 travel advisory has been issued for Japan and Hong Kong, both of which are seeing the number of Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) cases continue to grow at an alarming rate. In the event that travelers do decide to go to either place, the CDC recommends that they take extra precautions to avoid coming into contact with sick people, as well as to avoid touching their eyes, noses or mouths with unwashed hands. Most of the Japanese cases of the Wuhan coronavirus involve passengers who were recently released from the Diamond Princess cruise ship thats currently docked at Yokohama. Several hundred Americans were recently rescued from the vessel and taken back to the United States, while other countries are reportedly doing the same with their people. We know that two elderly passengers from the ship recently died from the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), which is why the U.S. and other nations with citizens on board have devising ways to get them off the ship and back to their native lands for quarantine. The 87-year-old man who died had bronchial asthma while the 84-year-old woman who perished didnt have any preexisting conditions, reports The Epoch Times. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about the problem of shared air on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and how Natural News tried to warn about this previously, to no avail: Singapore, Japan, and South Korea are all seeing worrying surges in coronavirus infections As of right now, Singapore has the second-highest number of Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) cases outside of China, followed by Japan. South Korea is also quickly catching up as well, having reported its first death from coronavirus-induced pneumonia. While South Korea has had some success using natural oxygen therapy to treat infected patients, which was initially believed to have quelled a potential outbreak there, new cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) since that time suggest that the virus is not only not contained but continuing to spread largely undetected. According to South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix, at least 800 workers at the company are currently in self-isolation, as opposed to quarantine, after a trainee reportedly came into contact with a known coronavirus patient. Over in Vietnam, little news has come forth about its status after more than 10,000 people were recently put into government quarantine. Vietnam, last they updated the world, said it had 16 confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). Taiwan also reported its first death from the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) last Sunday, along with 20 known cases of the disease. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has objected, however, to the CDCs claim that community spread is taking place on the island. You can listen to more podcasts each day from the H.R. Report by visiting its official channel at Brighteon.com. The all-new Pandemic.news is also a great resource for keeping up with the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com By ANI KARNATAKA: An FIR was registered by Kalaburagi police against AIMIM leader Waris Pathan for his '15 crore Muslims can be heavy on 100 crore' remark made at an anti-CAA rally in Kalaburagi on February 16. Pathan was booked under section 117, 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code. ALSO READ: AIMIM to seek explanation from spokesman Waris Pathan over his '15 crore Muslims' remark "We have to move together. We have to take Azadi (freedom), things that we don't get by asking, we have to take it by force, remember it. (We may be) 15 crore, but are heavy on 100 (crore), remember it," Pathan can be heard purportedly saying in a video of his speech that has gone viral. Meanwhile, the BJP and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) held protests in Aurangabad against Pathan, seeking stern action against him. The BJP protested in Gulmandi area and burnt an effigy of Pathan. "Waris Pathan has hurt the feelings of 100 crore people. He has tried to divide the people of the country. The state government should take action against him and send him out of Mumbai," BJP MLA Atul Save said. The MNS took out a symbolic funeral procession of Pathan and raised slogans against the AIMIM. "The language of Waris Pathan was disgusting. He should be banned from giving public speeches in the state and also be arrested," MNS leader Prakash Mahajan said. (With inputs from PTI) Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Abeo SA (EPA:ABEO). Abeo has a ROE of 3.2%, based on the last twelve months. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated 0.03 in profit. Check out our latest analysis for Abeo How Do I Calculate ROE? The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for Abeo: 3.2% = 3.1m 98m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.) It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets. What Does ROE Signify? ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the yearly profit. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does Abeo Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As shown in the graphic below, Abeo has a lower ROE than the average (11%) in the Leisure industry classification. ENXTPA:ABEO Past Revenue and Net Income, February 22nd 2020 That certainly isn't ideal. We prefer it when the ROE of a company is above the industry average, but it's not the be-all and end-all if it is lower. Nonetheless, it could be useful to double-check if insiders have sold shares recently. Story continues How Does Debt Impact ROE? Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Abeo's Debt And Its 3.2% ROE Abeo does use a significant amount of debt to increase returns. It has a debt to equity ratio of 1.09. While the ROE isn't too bad, it would probably be a lot lower if the company was forced to reduce debt. Debt does bring extra risk, so it's only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it. In Summary Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company. But note: Abeo may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. British backpacker Grace Millane was strangled to death, crammed into a suitcase, and buried in a New Zealand woodland after a Tinder date in December 2018. On Thursday her killer, a 28-year-old man, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum 17-year non-parole period. The Courts of New Zealand said in a statement, Overall, the circumstances of the murder showed a high-level of callousness, including the intimate nature of the murder itself. In his November 2019 trial, the prosecution argued that the manwhose name cannot be released due to a suppression ordereroticized Millanes death because of a morbid sexual interest, and the court heard how he had taken trophy photos of her body and watched violent pornography while her body lay in the room. The key pillar of the mans defense was Millanes death was an accident that came about as a result of consensual choking. As a consequence, media coverage of the trial was filled with details about Millanes personal life and alleged sexual preferences, even as the accused remained anonymous. Claims of a sex game gone wrong are not new. Some politicians and media outlets have even begun to refer to them as the 50 Shades defense, after the popular 50 Shades of Grey books and movies, which recount a womans relationship with a man who introduces her to BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) sexual practices. A Rise in Claims At least 60 UK women have been killed in episodes of so-called consensual sexual violence since 1972, with at least 18 women dying in the last five years, according to the advocacy group We Cant Consent To This. In 45 percent of those killings, the claim that a womans injuries were sustained during a sex game gone wrong resulted in a lesser charge, a lighter sentence, an acquittal, or the death not being investigated, the group said. Susan Edwards, a barrister and professor of law at the University of Buckingham, told CNN that 30 or 40 years ago, it was unlikely that a defendant would claim that the victim consented to sexual violence. He would be less likely then, I think, to try and use as an excuse that she had consented to sexual violence, said Edwards, who has been tracking and working on domestic violence cases since the 1980s. And if he had, then it would have been extremely doubtedit wouldnt have gone in any way to his credit that he was trying to use such a totally unbelievable excuse, she added. Now, regrettably, there are some people that might be willing to believe it because we now live in a world where some people are tolerating this commercial sexualization of violence, she added. Now, claiming an assault or homicide was a case of rough sex gone wrong would not work as a defense, Edwards said, but could have some mitigatory impact on a defendants culpability, and sentencing. In some cases, defendants could be handed sentences with no jail time. To establish murder, there has to be intention. So, if they can convince the jury that there was no intention to kill, then the verdict will be one of manslaughter, added Edwards, who has been working to make strangulation a standalone offense in the UK. In the UK, strangulation or choking is only charged if it occurs in the course of committing some other indictable offense, such as rape. Non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner is considered an important risk factor for the homicide of women, indicating a greater likelihood that they will eventually be killed. A 2008 study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia found that experiencing non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner made a woman six times more likely to be the victim of attempted murder and seven times more likely to be the victim of a homicide. Two-thirds of the cases We Cant Consent to This studied involved strangulation, the groups founder, Fiona Mackenzie, told CNN. Making strangulation an offense in and of itself would, Edwards says, be an important step in protecting women. An offense of strangulation would recognize the potential seriousnessthe threat and fear occasioned. Otherwise, it is lost in common assault, or assault, which does not take into consideration the life-threatening potential or the degree of fear that is created for the victim, she added. That would send a symbolic message that this behavior isnt tolerated, and hopefully would be part of a preventive measure that would prevent the escalation of these cases which result in death, Edwards told CNN. A Global Issue Claims of rough sex gone wrong are of global concern. Weve got a list of around 250 women who have been killed in various countries around the world by men who claim at some point that they consented to it. It seems to be especially common in places like Germany, Canada, the United States, Australia, Portugal, and Spain, Mackenzie told CNN. She said that cases in which defendants allege consensual rough sex follow a similar pattern in other countries as they do in the UKoften, the deaths are not initially investigated as crimes, and if men are prosecuted, they will be prosecuted for manslaughter, receive light sentences, and in some cases, walk free. In June 2019, a district court in Bielefeld, northwest Germany handed a 48-year-old man a 10-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of his wife. In November 2019, Germanys federal court of justice ruled that the prison sentence handed to the man should be reconsidered because the defendants claims that his wife enjoyed being strangled during sex were not an aggravating fact in the case. A spokesperson for the Bundesgerichtshof told CNN that a regional court will now resentence the man. Canada Grappling With Cases In Canada too, activists and experts are concerned about the proliferation of similar cases. Lise Gotell, a professor of womens and gender studies at the University of Alberta, began compiling data on the use of the rough sex defenses after a number of high-profile cases came to court. In a preliminary search of trials heard by a judge alone, and of pretrial motions, Gotell found more than 100 casesincluding non-fatal assaults, sexual assaults, and homicidein which the defendant claimed the woman had consented to violent sex. More than half of the cases, she said, came after 2015. Were not talking about consensual BDSM in most, nearly all, of the cases. These are situations of unconsensual violent sex, if not intentional murders, in which the defendants are trying to get off in using this defense, she told CNN. Elizabeth Sheehy, professor emeritus at the University of Ottawas Faculty of Law, told CNN that a womans sexual history is often used by defense lawyers in criminal trials. I think the allegation in and of itself, particularly if prior sexual history of the victim is used, has the ability to damage a womans credibility, even if theres no kind of official recognition, said Sheehy, who has taught criminal and sexual assault law for more than 34 years. According to U.N. data, at least 87,000 women worldwide were intentionally killed in 2017, with more than half (50,000) of them killed by intimate partners or family members. A Culture of Victim-Blaming Advocates and experts say a culture of victim-blaming is getting in the way of justice. In every case, the womans sexual history, alleged sexual history, is presented in court as part of the justification for her killingthe victim-blaming and reporting on it is the same wherever you go, Mackenzie told CNN. Women are blamed for their behavior, said Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Their sex lives are always questionedwhether or not they are sexually active, and what kind of sexual activity do they participate in, and were they drinkingthese things that have nothing to do with whats happened to them. Theres no emphasis on the men and the male behavior. Where is their sexual history, where is their history of violence against women, were they drinking, were they stalking, have they been in jail for this before? The emphasis is that she deserved it, because she enjoyed or had pleasure from sex, Van Pelt added. Experts say this victim-blaming is exacerbated by the normalization of sexual violence in culture and media. The commercialization of sexual violence is relevant in every plot almost, of a book or film or mediathat enables the male perpetrator to rely on those kinds of discourses and narratives, Edwards said. By Amy Woodyatt The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Deputy Communications Director of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwaku Boahen, has reacted to comments made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the presentation of his 4th State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday. The President's presentation covered the coronavirus epidemic in China, sports, roads, economy, galamsey and many other sectors of the economy. On the economy, he said, "Mr Speaker, we have done just that. We have fixed the broken economy . . . we have sanitized the banking sector, our industrial transformation is on . . . we are digitizing the economy. He also spoke on the missing excavators; assuring Ghanaians that investigations are currently ongoing to unravel the mystery surrounding the scandal. However, Kwaku Boahen has described the President's presentation as unsatisfactory. Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', he said the President should have apologized to Ghanaians for 'failing' in the fight against galamsey. "I thought he was speaking about a different country, I was really surprised . . . you keep clearing your appointees and this has increased the level of corruption in your administration. So, his presentation was not the true State of the Nation . . I will give him 20 percent based on what I heard," he said.. 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 Families of hundreds of Filipino crew members still stuck on board the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship are increasingly worried for their relatives' health, as the Philippines postponed on Saturday a scheduled trip to bring them home. The vessel, moored off the Japanese coast in Yokohama near Tokyo, has the biggest cluster of coronavirus infections outside the Chinese epicentre, with over 600 cases confirmed among the 3,700 passengers and crew. While hundreds of travellers have disembarked more than 1,000 crew remain -- including over 400 Filipinos whose return on Sunday has been delayed until Japan clears them to travel, the Philippines said Saturday. "[The task force] is adjusting the schedule out of an abundance of caution with a view of safeguarding the health and safety of our OFs (overseas Filipinos) onboard," the health department said in a statement. Adding to the families' worry, a Philippine foreign ministry official said Saturday 49 Filipinos on board have tested positive for the virus, two of whom were successfully treated and discharged from the hospital. Norma Fajardo, whose daughter is part of the Diamond Princess security team, said the crew have been well treated and cared for, but she is worried her work makes her particularly vulnerable to the virus. "We couldn't do anything because she works in security so she has to monitor passengers," Fajardo told AFP. "We're worried. She could get infected anytime," she added. Fajardo said crew who get sick are allowed to rest, but those without symptoms were encouraged to continue working. Esther Rivera -- whose son is a ship photographer -- has urged the Philippine government to bring them home. "I hope they get pulled out from the ship because they are infecting each other there," Rivera said. Once flown home, the repatriated Filipinos will be quarantined for two weeks in a northern Philippine facility previously used to house athletes in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Japan has faced mounting criticism for its quarantine arrangements as passengers disperse across the world. The cruise ship was quarantined on February 5 -- after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus -- but many crew were not isolated because they were needed to keep the vessel running. Some were preparing food and delivering meals to cabins, leading some critics to charge they were inadvertently spreading the virus throughout the boat. Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz has written a letter to the crew, saying the firm was "deeply grateful and incredibly proud of all of you." Around 10 million Filipinos work abroad and the money they send home spurs the local economy where many still live in deep poverty despite the country's robust growth. The government has for decades hailed overseas workers as modern heroes, but advocacy groups have highlighted these Filipinos vulnerability in troubled countries, or during epidemics. Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier, was crowned in the middle of December in Connecticut. For the pageants 100th anniversary, organizers are apparently looking to change that. It could mean a return to Atlantic City. After the Miss America pageant left its original home, gone were long-held traditions like the long runway at Boardwalk Hall. As a result of the pageants Miss America 2.0 rebranding efforts, the main focus of the competition, hosted at Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, was on contestants dubbed candidates speaking about career aspirations and advocacy. This shift made for less struts in gowns (the bathing suits were already gone in 2018) and more talking in general from the contenders for the crown. Schrier, 24, who grew up in Newtown, Pennsylvania and attended the Hun School in Princeton before studying biochemistry and systems biology at Virginia Tech and pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University, called herself a woman of science" at the pageant, which aired on NBC. She performed a science experiment as her talent. Just as when organizers nixed the swimsuit competition, critics decried the pageants decision to part with tradition. Some panned another new component: the live evaluation of contestants as part of the broadcast. Now, Miss America may be looking to reclaim a part of its past. A city official says the pageant organization has been talking to him about a second return to the boardwalk. Camille Schrier, the former Miss Virginia, at center, is crowned by outgoing Miss America Nia Franklin at the 2020 pageant in Connecticut this past December. Charles Krupa | AP George Tibbitt, president of the Atlantic City Council, says a representative of the Sewell-based Miss America Organization with whom he shares a mutual friend reached out to him. They called me and asked if we would consider the pageant for the 100th year coming back to Atlantic City," Tibbitt tells NJ Advance Media. The Miss America pageant started in 1921 as an event organized by Atlantic City businessmen to keep people on the boardwalk after Labor Day. Before the pageant left Atlantic City last year, the competition was a September affair. The next pageant will mark the 100th anniversary of the event, though that doesnt mean theres been 99 pageants (Miss America went on hiatus for several years). Being a lifelong resident of Atlantic City, of course I would love if its possible financially for us to bring it back to Atlantic City," Tibbitt says. I felt that it was terrible that they took away the runway. Im glad to hear that theyre bringing the runway back." Tibbitt cited new leadership in the Miss America Organization, including new board members good people with good Atlantic City values as a step in the right direction. Schrier performing a science experiment as her pageant talent.Charles Krupa | AP Still, the factors that played a role in the pageants second exit from Atlantic City havent disappeared. Tibbitt says the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority would have to be involved. Karen Martin, a spokeswoman for the CRDA, tells NJ Advance Media that no one from the pageant organization has reached out about staging a Miss America return. The Miss America Organization did not respond to a request for comment Friday. The pageant first left New Jersey for Las Vegas in 2006, during which time Miss America became a winter affair. The event returned to Atlantic City in 2013, thanks to a $6.8 million subsidy package from the state. When that three-year contract was up, the CRDA entered into another three-year contract with the pageant that provided $12.5 million. Miss Americas exit from the casino town last year followed the release of a state audit which said the authority failed to monitor costs and contracts relating to Miss America. According to the audit, the CRDA failed to commission a follow-up economic impact study before giving the pageant more money. Theres many moving parts," Tibbitt says. If its doable we would support them. It would have to be a team effort here. Its no secret we have some budget issues and dollars are very tight right now. Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Flash The U.S. Department of State said on Friday that the United States and the Afghan Taliban are set to sign an agreement on Feb. 29 after the implementation of a week-long violence reduction in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that on the condition of a successful implementation of the reduction in violence across Afghanistan, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign an agreement on Feb. 29, but he did not announce the location of the signing. According to the statement, intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon after the signing of the agreement. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," the statement said. The Taliban also confirmed a peace accord will be signed with the United States later this month. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, wrote on Twitter that following lengthy negotiations, "both parties agreed to sign the finalized accord in the presence of international observers" on Feb. 29. Earlier on Friday, an Afghan official said a week-long reduction of violence period during which the Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents will refrain from operations and attacks would start by early Saturday. The deal between the United States and the Taliban is expected to include a timeline for the reduction and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops, assurances by the Taliban that they will prevent terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire. President Donald Trump has long grumbled about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan that started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous." Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban began in 2018 but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on U.S. military personnel last September and December. The United States maintains roughly 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which mostly provide training missions to local Afghan forces while conducting counterterrorism operations. The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in U.S. history. The death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Natural gas is flared off at a plant outside of the town of Cuero, Texas, on March 26, 2015. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) US Plays Long Game on Liquid Natural Gas Infrastructure As Prices Plummet With low liquid natural gas (LNG) prices making U.S. exports an increasingly attractive option for other nations electricity generation, industrial processes, and space heating, a string of LNG infrastructure projects around the world are indicating where the LNG market could develop in the coming years. Indeed, if the Trump administrations LNG policy of facilitating the development of pipelines and export terminals continues to be mirrored by the construction of corresponding port, storage, and regasification infrastructure internationally, a host of new markets could open up for American fuel products. Surviving Reduced Demand and Low Prices It remains to be seen, however, whether U.S. gas companies can weather the storm of historically low prices exacerbated by a mild winter across Europe and Asia and a fall-off in Chinese demand as a result of the coronavirus. Shares in several U.S. LNG firms fell this week, with supply-side gluts and suspended orders driving prices down. Stocks in companies such as Cheniere Energy Inc. and Tellurian Inc. fell Thursday as major LNG importer China National Offshore Oil Corp. suspended a number of delivery contracts, citing force majeure. Low prices in recent months, however, have piqued the interest of potential customers around the world and spurred investment plans in LNG terminals and regasification infrastructure. Long-Term Outlook Positive A report (pdf) from fossil fuel giant Shell this week was overwhelmingly positive about LNGs prospects. Shells Integrated Gas and New Energies Director Maarten Wetselaar said: Record supply investments will meet peoples growing need for the most flexible and cleanest-burning fossil fuel. While we see weak market conditions today due to record new supply coming in, two successive mild winters, and the coronavirus situation, we expect equilibrium to return, driven by a combination of continued demand growth and reduction in new supply coming on-stream until the mid-2020s. The Shell report predicts that demand for LNG could double by 2040. US Energy Leadership In his 2020 State of the Union address on Feb. 4, President Donald Trump said: We have unleashed a revolution in American energy. The United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. And now, for the first time in 65 years, we are a net exporter of energy. According to U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette: America has become energy independent this year, leading the world in oil and natural gas production as well as carbon emissions reductions, notably surpassing every Paris Accord signatory. While exporting LNG to 37 countries across five continents, we are sharing our energy bounty with our allies around the world. The U.S. government has also warned the European Union against becoming too reliant on Russian gas supply giant Gazprom, and stated that boosting LNG imports from the United States and other sources would help ensure European energy security. Developments and investments in fracking American shale gas have allowed the United States to increase LNG exports and ensure low prices. On Feb. 10, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it was authorizing four proposed LNG export facilities in Texasthree in Brownsville and one in Corpus Christi. #ICYMI: U.S. Department of Energy Issues Four LNG Export Approvals The Trump Administration recognizes the importance and increasing role U.S. natural gas has in the global energy landscape, said @SecBrouillette. https://t.co/sxBw7JyWor pic.twitter.com/I4feIyosPv Energy Department (@ENERGY) February 16, 2020 The Trump administration recognizes the importance and increasing role U.S. natural gas has in the global energy landscape, said Brouillette. The export capacity of these four projects alone is enough LNG to supply over half of Europes LNG import demand. With todays authorizations, we are paving the way for more U.S. natural gas exports to bring energy security and prosperity to our allies around the world. Portuguese Infrastructure During a visit to the Portuguese port of Sines last week, Brouillette said the facilities there could be a stepping stone for the development of American LNG supply in the region. Plans to expand Sines LNG terminal facilities would therefore create an enormous opportunity for U.S. industry, as well as the government, Brouillette told The Associated Press. This is the closest [European] port to the U.S., Brouillette said. Sines, an industrial town and Portugals main deepwater port and logistics hub, is situated some 90 miles south of Portugals capital, Lisbon. Broulliette said he believes the port serves as an important gateway to Europe. Sines accepted its first shipment of American LNG in 2016, and the Portuguese government believes that a pipeline from Sines could supply gas to Spain and France, though regulators in those countries have expressed their opposition. Swedish Port Upgrade The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced this week that it had signed a $45 million loan agreement to upgrade the port facilities at Ystad on Swedens southern-most coast. Located close to the cities of Malmo, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark, the port at Ystad will be deepened and extended to accommodate larger LNG tankers. Nicaraguan LNG Project According to a report, New York-based energy infrastructure company New Fortress Energy LLC also announced this week that it has inked a deal with two Nicaraguan electricity grid companies on a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The deal means that New Fortress will build a 300-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant near Puerto Sandino on Nicaraguas west coast, with the plant requiring an offshore LNG terminal to receive, store, and regasify the fuel. The project adds to the companys LNG portfolio, which boasts undertakings in Jamaica, Mexico, Ireland, and the United States. US Support for 3 Seas Initiative At the European Council on Foreign Relations Munich Security Conference in Germany last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced $1 billion in U.S. support for the energy independence of Eastern European allies. Pompeo said the new U.S. commitment would provide up to $1 billion in financing to Central and Eastern European countries of the Three Seas Initiative. The goal is to galvanize private sector investment in the energy sector to protect freedom and democracy around the world, said Pompeo. The Three Seas Initiative is a political platform that seeks to unite 12 Central and Eastern European countries along a strategic belt between the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas in an endeavor to build a north-south infrastructure corridor that would connect and strengthen the countries of the region. Engaging discussions at the Three Seas Initiative roundtable to close out #MSC2020. It is my strong conviction that through the Three Seas initiative, baltic countries are of tremendous geopolitical value in the continued advancement of Western democracies. pic.twitter.com/M5dut4mFmf Dan Brouillette (@SecBrouillette) February 15, 2020 Most Three Seas participants used to be part of the former communist Eastern Bloc, which was dominated by the Soviet Union. Their infrastructure was therefore not only underdeveloped in comparison with Western Europe, but also focused mainly on interconnections along east-west axes, which was a major impediment to economic growth in the region. In terms of energy, moreover, the region remained dependent on a single supplier of gas and oilRussia. Included in the Three Seas Initiatives are projects to create an energy market that will provide diversification of energy sources and suppliers, and one of the new energy suppliers to countries participating in the initiative is an American producer of LNG. European Gas Demand Growing According to a report from S&P Global Platts, Europes largest gas fieldthe Groningen field in the northeastern part of the Netherlandswill cease production in 2022, some eight years ahead of schedule. However, Platts states that the shortfall will easily be covered by increased Russian pipeline capacity and LNG deliveries to North Sea terminals. American suppliers will not have it all their own way, however. Qatar Petroleum announced this week that it will supply up to 3 million tons of capacity per annum to the Montoir-de-Bretagne LNG facility of French gas and electricity group Engie, with the deal running until 2035. The facility is located near Nantes on Frances Atlantic coast. With reporting by Ella Kietlinska. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. A highly respected former Royal protection officer has raised questions about Prince Andrew's 'alibi' for the night he allegedly had sex with teenage trafficking victim Virginia Roberts. In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, the officer says he believes the Prince may have returned to Buckingham Palace in the early hours of March 11, 2001 contradicting his account of being 'at home' all evening after taking his daughter Beatrice to Pizza Express in Woking. Ms Roberts, then 17, claims that earlier that night she was coerced into having sex with the Duke after being flown to London by serial paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. A highly respected former Royal protection officer has raised questions about Prince Andrew's 'alibi' for the night he allegedly had sex with teenage trafficking victim Virginia Roberts. Pictured: The Duke behind the wheel in 2002 Speaking for the first time, the officer who had an 'exemplary' 23-year career in the Metropolitan Police recalls how the Duke of York arrived by car at the front of the Palace in the middle of the night and hurled abuse at guards when they did not open the gates quickly enough. Crucially, he believes it could have been the same evening the Duke was alleged to have had sex with Ms Roberts at the home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell after dancing at Tramp nightclub in London. If correct, his bombshell account would shatter Andrew's so-called alibi. The officer has neither requested nor received payment for his interview, and wishes to remain anonymous. But he says he has spoken out through a desire 'to see justice done'. He has agreed to speak to the lawyers acting for Epstein's victims, who have repeatedly urged the Prince to cooperate with them. The astonishing claims provided in an affidavit signed by the officer are also likely to be seized upon by the FBI. Agents want to talk to the Duke about Epstein, a prolific sex offender who abused Ms Roberts and killed himself last year while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His account will heap new pressure on the Metropolitan Police to disclose any information it holds on Andrew's whereabouts on the day he was accused of having sex with Ms Roberts, 24 years his younger. The force has previously refused to reveal where the Duke's police bodyguards were that day, claiming the information could put national security at risk. 'AN IDEAL ROLE MODEL': The Royal protection officer (right) being honoured for 'dedicated' work with the Met But the former officer intends to use data protection and freedom of information laws to access his own shift roster and other documents to confirm whether his account is correct. 'Having considered Prince Andrew's alibi with my own recollections, it is my belief that the abusive confrontation with the royal could have been in the early hours of Sunday March 11, 2001,' said the officer. 'To be 100 per cent certain I would like access to my duty roster for that month. I believe I have a right to know my own shift patterns.' Last night, Lisa Bloom, a Los Angeles-based lawyer who represents several of Epstein's victims, said: 'We have been hoping that another witness would come forward and we encourage any others to contact me as well. 'I would be delighted to speak with the officer. It is now more imperative than ever that Prince Andrew does as he promised and cooperates with the FBI's investigation.' A lawyer representing several other victims said he was keen to meet the officer, too, adding: 'We have being urging Prince Andrew to tell the FBI what he knows and we continue to do so.' Ms Roberts now 36 and going by her married surname Giuffre alleges she was ordered to have sex with the Duke at the Belgravia home of Ms Maxwell, which is barely a mile from Buckingham Palace. This was the first of three alleged sexual encounters with the Prince. Ms Roberts now 36 and going by her married surname Giuffre alleges she was ordered to have sex with the Duke at the Belgravia home of Ms Maxwell. Pictured: Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell in March 2001 Andrew has repeatedly and categorically denied having any sexual contact with Ms Roberts and, for the first time, provided an 'alibi' during a disastrous interview with the BBC's Newsnight in November. Speaking to Emily Maitlis, he said it 'couldn't have happened' because he was at home with his children. 'I was at home, I was with the children and I'd taken Beatrice [then aged 12] to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party at I suppose four or five in the afternoon,' he said. 'And then because the Duchess was away, we have a simple rule in the family that when one is away the other one is there.' He specifically remembered this 'because going to Pizza Express in Woking is an unusual thing for me to do'. Asked if he was 'absolutely sure that you were at home on March 10', he replied: 'Yeah.' But for the experienced former police officer, Prince Andrew's explanation stirred a troubling memory from his time serving at Buckingham Palace with SO14, Scotland Yard's elite Royalty Protection Command. On taking up his job in January 2000, the officer was warned that Andrew had a reputation for being rude. 'For example, he would go to Buckingham Palace kitchens late at night with the "munchies" and set off the alarms,' the officer said. 'We wouldn't get sent to deal with him. It would have to be an inspector. He wouldn't engage with officers of my rank. The inspectors told us about their experiences with Andrew. I remember it in my head, he would shout phrases like, "I'll go where I want. It's my house."' It has been widely assumed that the 'home' referred to by Andrew in the Newsnight interview was Sunninghill Park, the Berkshire mansion he shared with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters. It is about ten miles from Woking. But the account of the Duke's angry insistence that Buckingham Palace, where he has a private apartment, was his 'house' raises questions about whether he may have been referring to the palace in the Newsnight interview. The former officer said there was a period in 2000 and 2001 when women would arrive unannounced at Buckingham Palace to see Andrew. They included the model Caprice Bourret and, on at least one occasion, Ms Maxwell. The former officer also said there was a period in 2000 and 2001 when women would arrive unannounced at Buckingham Palace to see Andrew. They included the model Caprice Bourret (pictured) and, on at least one occasion, Ms Maxwell 'I remember Maxwell visiting once when I was on duty,' he said. 'She just turned up without an appointment, her name was not in the security book, and we were told to let her in.' In 2000, news of Andrew's friendship with Ms Bourret made headlines. In a magazine interview at the time, he said: 'Of course I know Caprice, but just because I have dinner with someone who is blonde and incredibly pretty, it does not mean it should end up in the newspapers.' Unlike other senior Royals, Andrew, the officer said, did not want to tell police what he was doing and resented when they kept records about his guests. 'He always feels the police are prying and we shouldn't know things. We shouldn't be writing stuff down about his guests, that it is nothing to do with us.' According to the officer, the most extraordinary example of the Duke's hostility towards the police came in what the ex-PC now believes may have been the early hours of March 11, 2001. The officer, who regularly worked Saturdays and weekends, was on duty at the North Centre Gate, the main route through which cars enter and leave Buckingham Palace. He recalls Andrew leaving the Palace earlier during the evening in what he believes was a green Jaguar. I want to see justice done, says officer praised for his honesty As a Royal Marine he fought for his country, as a policeman he pursued armed robbers, and as a Royal protection officer he secured Buckingham Palace against terrorist attacks. Today, a man who served Queen and Country for more than 30 years has chosen to break the silence usually kept by members of the elite SO14 unit because he 'just wants to see justice done'. Like Prince Andrew, he served in the Falklands War in 1982. By then, he had completed two tours of Northern Ireland. In 1986, after 12 years as a Royal Marine commando, he was honourably discharged with 'exemplary' testimonials to his 'honesty and above all loyalty'. He joined the Metropolitan Police and, thanks to his firearms training, joined the first armed response vehicle to patrol London in search of IRA active service units. After winning a bravery medal for helping to intercept three bank robbers, he was posted first to the Met's Specialist Firearms Command (SO19) and then the Flying Squad (SO9). In January 2000, he was picked for Royalty Protection (SO14) at Buckingham Palace. He was later described by Commander John Yates who went on to become a Met Assistant Commissioner as 'in every sense an ideal role model for younger and older officers alike'. The SO14 chief superintendent at the time, Peter Prentice, said he was 'totally dedicated' and 'all that is best in the Metropolitan Police'. While formally stationed at Buckingham Palace, he was also chosen to protect the Queen when she took her summer break at Balmoral in Scotland. He retired from the police in December 2009. By Michael Gillard Advertisement The former officer remembers Andrew and his bodyguard returning to the palace in the car in the early hours. The Duke was furious the gates had been closed. 'I recall that a car arrived at the North Central Gate,' the former officer said. 'Its lights were flashing. The horn was blaring. I thought, "God! Who the hell is that?" 'I go out quick and I'm thinking, "Damn, it's him, he's back." It was Prince Andrew.' The Duke apparently used his bodyguard's radio to shout abuse at the shocked uniformed officers on the gate. 'The abuse started as soon as the lights were flashing outside the North Centre Gate and it continued until the North Arch was unlocked,' he said. 'The reason the incident is so unusual is because firstly Prince Andrew was on the police radio in the car, and secondly because he was shouting abuse through the radio. The abuse I remember was phrases such as, "Open these bloody gates, you buffoons! Get these bloody gates open!" 'He was not swearing but using abusive language in a raised voice. I found the experience belittling. All my colleagues would have heard it, including those in the control room.' The Duke has repeatedly been accused of boorish behaviour and impatience. In 2016, it was reported that he rammed closed gates in Windsor Great Park with his Range Rover to avoid a one-mile detour to his home in Royal Lodge. The former officer, who retired in 2009 with a certificate of exemplary service, has understandably never forgotten the extraordinary night when he says the Queen's second son behaved so appallingly. He said: 'After seeing the BBC interview, it dawned on me that the abusive incident I experienced could cast doubt on Prince Andrew's alibi if it were the same night. 'If I am correct, Prince Andrew could have returned to Buckingham Palace from Pizza Express or Sunninghill Park in the early evening. Then he left, went to Tramp and Maxwell's house, which is very close to the palace, and returned to his private quarters in the early hours of the morning.' It is not the first time that Andrew's 'alibi' has been questioned. In December, this newspaper revealed that a witness had come forward to corroborate claims that the Duke was dancing with Ms Roberts in Tramp. And despite claiming to be puzzled at his 'party prince' reputation, The Mail on Sunday also discovered that he had attended a birthday party at Tramp thrown for racehorse breeder Guy Sangster just 72 hours after Ms Roberts claims that she had been there with him. The detailed testimony from the former officer raises fresh questions over the Met's initial investigation into Ms Roberts' claims in 2015. She made a criminal complaint against Epstein and Maxwell in July of that year, but in November 2016 Scotland Yard decided not to proceed with an inquiry. It is understood the complaint did not include any criminal allegations against the Prince. However, the former protection officer says that as well as his own roster, the Met is likely to hold other records that could confirm his account, as guest and the time they arrived were always recorded in a security book. 'It's possible for people to come in at a moment's notice but it still gets put in the book on arrival,' he said. The duty rosters and any notes or reports written by Andrew's personal protection officers could also provide crucial evidence. 'Much of the evidence that would prove or disprove what Virginia Roberts and I are saying is held by the Metropolitan Police in its human resources department and the Royal protection department,' he said. 'These include sickness records, duty rosters, annual leave, advance security checks, palace appointment books, especially for the North Centre Gate. There must be so many files. With the police, everything is written down.' The former PC said he informed his duty inspector about Andrew's behaviour but was told not to make a formal complaint. 'He said these stories about dealings with Prince Andrew go nowhere, so just swallow it. Consequently, I made no complaint but never forgot about the incident.' The Mail on Sunday has spoken to the inspector who recalls the source complaining about Andrew's behaviour at the gate, but could not recall when the incident took place. Two of the Duke's former bodyguards declined to comment last night, as did a spokesman for Prince Andrew. The Met said it would consider any request by the ex-officer for his records, but added: 'We are not prepared to discuss records that we may or may not hold regarding matters of protection.' It said its position on Ms Roberts's complaint in 2015 has not changed since last November when it issued a statement that said the Met 'was not the appropriate authority' to investigate because it 'would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK'. 'I saw Prince Andrew groping Virginia Roberts': Witness claims he saw the Duke kissing and holding hands with Epstein sex slave on the disgraced tycoon's infamous 'paedo island' Prince Andrew 'grinded against and groped' Virginia Roberts on Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island, a witness has claimed. Steve Scully, 70, said he saw the Duke of York fooling around by the pool for several minutes with a bikini-clad blonde which he insists was sex slave Ms Roberts. Mr Scully, who maintained the internet and phone signal on Little St James for the billionaire paedophile, made the bombshell accusations in an interview with the Sun on Sunday. Andrew has strenuously denied Ms Roberts allegations that she was forced to have sex with him three times in 2001. Steve Scully, 70, said he saw the Duke of York fooling around by the pool on Little St James (pictured) for several minutes with a bikini-clad blonde he insists was sex slave Ms Roberts Ms Roberts - now known as Ms Giuffre - also claims she was coerced into having an orgy with Andrew on Epstein's luxury hideaway. It was on this sun-kissed bolthole where Mr Scully insists he saw Andrew and Ms Roberts getting intimate some time between 2001 and 2004. The father-of-three said: 'He was grabbing her ass and stuff like that. They were kissing. 'He was grinding against her and groping her.' As he watched the couple, Mr Scully said he was acutely aware how much younger the woman was, and that she 'stood like a kid would stand behind a parent' This made him feel uncomfortable as he believed their relationship 'wasn't appropriate'. Andrew's relationship with the now dead paedophile (pictured) has dogged the royal, 60, over the last 12 months But Mr Scully also claimed that the woman believed to be Ms Roberts was not resisting the advances from Andrew, whose face was a picture of 'excitement'. The witness said he bumped into Andrew holding hands with the blonde, and even recalled his conversation with the royal. 'I said, "Your Highness," and he said, "No, it's Andrew". I said, "I'm sorry, I really didn't know how to address you",' according to the Sun on Sunday. Mr Scully, who lives on the nearby island of St Thomas and worked for Epstein between 1999 and 2006, said he would repeat his allegation in court under oath. Andrew's relationship with the now dead paedophile has dogged the royal, 60, over the last 12 months. Virginia Roberts holds a photo of herself at age 16, when she says Jeffrey Epstein began abusing her Ms Roberts claims the prince abused her three times - once at Epstein's New York apartment, once in the Caribbean, and once at the London home of Ghislane Maxwell, Epstein's alleged madam. Speaking about her first alleged encounter with Andrew in London, she said she was taken to Tramp nightclub where she recalls dancing with the 'sweating' prince. After leaving the nightclub, Ms Roberts said: 'In the car Ghislaine tells me that I have to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey.' Her lawyer tonight described Mr Scully as a 'significant witness'. Andrew has been attacked by US attorneys for Epstein's alleged victims for not cooperating with the case. Earlier this week, a school bus urging him to comply drove outside Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace last night declined to comment. MOUNT PLEASANT A woman was killed after her vehicle split in half during a three-vehicle crash in Mount Pleasant Thursday evening. Authorities identified the fatality victim Saturday as Jennifer Campeau, 47, of Racine. At 10:47 p.m. on Thursday, Mount Pleasant Police officers and the South Shore Fire Department responded to the area near Highway 11 and Cozy Acres Road for a three-vehicle crash, according to the Mount Pleasant Police Department. A Honda traveling east reportedly crossed over into the westbound lane and sideswiped a Mazda. The Honda then lost control and was sheared in half by a Dodge vehicle, which was also traveling west. The Hondas driver, Campeau, was found dead underneath the Dodge involved in the crash. The Dodge had major front end damage, and the female driver was treated at Ascension Hospital for minor injuries. Her two passengers were treated by South Shore and released. The Mazdas driver was trapped and extracted, and then transported to Froedtert Trauma Center in Milwaukee with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The Wisconsin State Patrol was contacted to conduct a crash reconstruction of the scene due to the severity of the injuries and the fatality. The incident remains under investigation by the Mount Pleasant Police Department and Wisconsin State Patrol. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mount Pleasant Police or Crime Stoppers. Mount Pleasant PD was assisted by the Racine County Sheriffs Office for UAV Drone support. Sturtevant Police assisted with traffic control, the Wisconsin State Patrol helped with technical reconstruction and South Shore Fire Department provided medical treatment and scene clean up. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Thai woman has been charged over an alleged $9million fraud syndicate after police raids netted a trove of Gucci shoes and Prada handbags. The woman was due to face Parramatta Bail Court in Sydney on Saturday over alleged involvement in a fraud and money-laundering syndicate that targeted Thai migrants across New South Wales. The woman, 27, allegedly deceived people by charging them inflated rates to exchange money, using social media to advertise her services. Police raided a house and a unit at South Strathfield in Sydney's inner west on Friday morning where they discovered a treasure trove of designer handbags and shoes, NSW Police said on their website on Saturday. Officers seized 15 pairs of designer shoes including from Gucci, Luis Vuitton and Chanel, police said. They also found designer handbags from Chanel and Prada along with mobile phones and electronic devices, police said. A Coco Chanel handbag in its box (left) and a Prada handbag (right) were among the treasure trove of designer handbags and shoes seized in South Strathfield, Sydney on Friday. A simple Prada handbag can retail for more than $3000 Police arrested a Thai woman on Friday after raiding a house and a unit in Sydney A pair of Coco Chanel shoes seized in the raids. Chanel shoes can sell for more than $1000 A simple, small, black Prada handbag can retail for more than $3000. NSW Police said financial crimes squad detectives from Strike Force McKeon began investigating reports of fraud and money laundering in August 2018. Police arrested the Thai woman on Friday and took her to Auburn police station where she was charged with three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. Investigations are continuing, and police have asked anyone with information to please call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000. Police have reminded the public not to report crimes on the NSW Police social media pages. Pictured above: a selection of the designer shoes seized by police Pictured above: a selection of the high-end designer handbags seized by police A 20-year-old woman from Wuhan has reportedly infected five of her relatives without depicting any symptoms of Coronavirus infection. The case offers an insight into the claims made by the scientists that an asymptomatic individual was capable of transmitting the novel COVID 19, further spreading the contagion, confirmed reports. According to the reports, Meiyun Wang, a medical practitioner at Peoples Hospital of Zhengzhou University revealed in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that the woman had travelled 400 miles from Wuhan, in Hubei Province to Anyang in Henan province on January 10th. He further added that the woman had fallen sick upon arrival and was quarantined by the doctors who ran tests on her for the deadly virus. Wang told the media that the woman who contracted the COVID 19 virus was initially tested negative and showed no apparent symptoms of any chronic illness. As of February 11, she had already infected five of her relatives who developed sure symptoms of Coronavirus, unlike the transmitter. Read South Korea Confirms 142 More Cases Of Coronavirus, Total Rises To 346 Read Coronavirus Outbreak: Italy Reports Second Death As Virus Spreads He further revealed that the 20-year olds CT scan, in fact, showed no signs of respiratory or pneumonia-like symptoms. Wang added that the woman had spread the virus without projecting sure signs of contracting the disease first. Asymptomatic individual can infect another Scientists published the case as evidence in a research study and concluded that an asymptomatic individual could infect another with Coronavirus resulting in further spread of the disease, reports said. They warned that the findings indicated that curbing the global contagion of the disease could be significantly challenging for the world. As per reports, some countries like South Korea and Iran are struggling to isolate their index cases of the Coronavirus. This has sparked fears that the Wuhan virus might spread more rapidly than anticipated as the global confirmed cases continue to soar unabated. Read Coronavirus Outbreak Has Not Reached Its Peak: Xi Jinping's Party Read Iran Now Says 5 Dead Out Of 28 Infected With New Coronavirus STATEN ISLAND -- The national Ancient Order of Hibernians says it has no role in how local groups organize parades and wont weigh in how the Island organization makes decisions about the upcoming St. Patricks Parade. They are who they are its run by a separate organization and committee, said national Ancient Order of Hibernians spokesman Neil Cosgrove, on the heels of the Islands local AOH group denying the Pride Center of Staten Island from marching with its banner in the March 1 parade. We have no say in who is on that committee or have control in that organization, he continued. Cosgrove said the national AOH does not administer parades and the groups national constitution explicitly mandates that any Hibernian who wants to run a parade must do so as a separate and independent corporation, solely responsible for the parade and event. Specifically, on Staten Island, the parade is run by the Richmond County St. Patricks Day Parade Committee, not AOH, Cosgrove said. But pressed on whether the national chapter agreed with the parade committees decision to bar the Pride Center from marching with its banner, the group declined to weigh in. Cosgrove said he does not know what the bylaws are for the Islands parade committee and personally does not know who is on the committee or if its members are even part of AOH. Parade organizer Larry Cummings did not respond to requests for comment. The Archdiocese of New York has also avoided getting involved with whos invited to the Islands annual parade, saying the decision rests with the groups parade committee. The Pride Centers Executive Director Carol Bullock has said she wants the Archdiocese to step in and get the Irish Catholic organization to be more inclusive. Bullock said that Cummings has emphasized to her in the past the parade is put on by a Catholic Organization, and for that reason, wants the Archdiocese to take a stand. However, the Archdiocese has avoided saying whether it considers the parade a Catholic event, only that St. Patricks Day parades and St. Patricks Day are not organized and sponsored by the church. Meanwhile, Cummings, who denied the group from marching with its banner, previously told the Irish Voice the parade was meant to celebrate Irish Heritage. The national AOH also considers the day as one where all American can honor the Irish. THE MANHATTAN PARADE The iconic Manhattan St. Patricks Day Parade began allowing members of the LGBTQ community to march openly in 2015. The year they were allowed to march, Cardinal Timothy Dolan was the parades grand marshal. But before that, in 2000, Queens started holding the LGBTQ-friendly St. Pats For All, as an alternative to the Manhattan parade. In response to the local groups decision, Mayor Bill de Blasio and a number of Island lawmakers, including Irish American Democratic Party chairman and longtime AOH member Assemblyman Michael Cusick, have decided to sit out from marching in the parade this year. Though he plans to sit the parade out, Cusick said he will attend the annual pre-party at Jodys Club Forest in West Brighton, where the whos who in politics gather before the parade, because he and fellow Irish American lawmaker District Attorney Michael McMahon are co-sponsors of the event. Aside from Cusick, only the mayor and Borough President James Oddo have said they will not attend the pre-party. The other protesting politicians including Rep. Max Rose, Councilwoman Debi Rose and state Sen. Diane Savino have avoided saying whether they plan to go to Jodys before the parade. City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) said he is undecided about whether he will attend the parade or the pre-parade party. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) and fellow Irish American lawmakers Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), and DA McMahon all plan to attend the parade. Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) and state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) did not return multiple requests for comment on whether they would attend. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday night, police said. They have been identified as Naveed Ahmad Bhat alias Furqaan, a resident of Qaimoh in Kulgam, and Aqib Yaseen Bhat, a resident of Wanpora Qaimoh, also in Kulgam, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh told reporters here. Singh described the encounter, which took place at Sangam in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir, as another successful counter-terrorist operation by security forces in the valley. The DGP said Naveed Ahmad Bhat had joined the LeT outfit in 2018 and was involved in a number of terror incidents. "Seven FIRs stand registered against him. He was involved in carrying out attacks on police and security forces camps, firing on civilians, threatening and intimidating people and shopkeepers and pasting posters post the abrogation of Article 370, Singh said. He said Aqib Yaseen Bhat was active since June 2019 and was also involved in a number of terror incidents. The gunfight took place during the night and some arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter. In a separate incident, the DGP said, police have arrested a self-styled commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit from Baramulla district in north Kashmir. "Acting on specific information, Baramulla police arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen commander Junaid Farooaq Pandit, a resident of Pattan area. A pistol and 30 rounds have been recovered from him," the top cop said. Singh said Pandit was tasked to undertaking selective killings like the recent incident at Narbal on the outskirts of the city here on February 5 when militants fired at a team of security personnel. Two militants and a CRPF jawan were killed in the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 2020 presidential race is off and running, and there have been some early surprises in the first couple of contests. After having lagged by considerable margins in most polls leading up to February's Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) made good showings in both events and has seen an upsurge in support that has more people paying attention to her campaign. Klobuchar has released her family's tax returns through the 2018 tax year, and one interesting thing to see is what impact the tax reform efforts that took effect in 2018 had on how much tax she paid. Klobuchar did pay more tax in 2018 than she did in 2017, but her family's income also rose. Below, we'll take a look at how the tax law changes that President Trump signed into law affected Klobuchar financially. The bottom line: How much more Klobuchar paid When you just compare how much federal tax Klobuchar paid in 2018 versus 2017, the answer is simple: She paid more in 2018. Total tax was $65,927 compared to $62,787, for a tax hike of $3,140. If this were a hypothetical situation in which everything else about the tax situation -- income, deductions, and other tax breaks -- stayed the same, then you'd be able to stop here and draw a reasonable conclusion. But in real life, lots of other things change, so you have to look at the complete picture. How tax reform hurt Klobuchar There were a couple of ways that the Klobuchar household took financial hits as a result of tax reform laws: Changes to the rules governing itemized deductions hit the Klobuchar family especially hard. In 2017, the presidential candidate was able to claim more than $47,000 in itemized deductions, the bulk of which came from various types of state and local taxes. In 2018, the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions led Klobuchar not to itemize deductions at all, instead taking the $24,000 standard deduction. The removal of personal exemptions from the tax laws cost the Klobuchar family $8,100 in reductions to taxable income. The combined impact of these provisions was enough to turn what would've been a lower tax bill into a higher one. How tax reform helped Klobuchar On the other hand, there were two primary ways that tax reform efforts helped the Klobuchar household: Klobuchar's marginal tax bracket dropped from 33% in 2017 to 24% in 2018. That's largely a consequence of the fact that tax reform extended relief from the marriage penalty to those with considerably higher incomes in 2018 than in 2017. Changes to the rules governing alternative minimum tax helped Klobuchar immensely. The senator's household paid more than $8,400 in AMT in 2017, but that amount fell to $0 in 2018 due to the tax law changes. As you'll see below, these two things were instrumental in giving Klobuchar an overall more favorable tax experience in 2018 as compared to 2017. The real reason Klobuchar's taxes went up Yet the biggest contributor to Klobuchar's rising tax bill didn't have anything to do with tax reform. Instead, the key fact was that the Klobuchar household's overall gross income rose from 2017 to 2018. Wages rose by nearly $7,000 year over year, and more importantly, Klobuchar received $27,000 as an advance for an upcoming book. Those items, along with the receipt of state tax refunds, boosted Klobuchar's gross income by nearly $46,000. The extra $3,140 in tax that Klobuchar paid works out to about 7% of the income boost. Put another way, Klobuchar's effective tax rate on total income fell from 21.5% in 2017 to 19.5% in 2018. Voting against her interests To be fair, Klobuchar did vote against the Trump tax reform package, joining all of her Democratic colleagues in the Senate in opposing the legislation. Nevertheless, it's interesting to see that although she suffered some of the negative impacts of tax reform, the tax-saving provisions ended up giving her a smaller tax bill than she would've paid under the old tax laws. As you start looking at your own 2020 tax planning, it's worth taking a look at whether you're taking advantage of everything tax reform is offering you. Secondary school students planning to attend UCC after they finish their Leaving Cert this year are in for a substantial shock as the prices for lodging in the accommodation provided by the university are set for a substantial hike. The proposed increase of three per cent for the 2020/21 academic year comes hot on the heels of an increase of student rent by between 10-11.5 per cent last year. That meant the rent for accommodation in Mardyke Hall from Autumn to the following Summer was 6,068. According to Cork South Central TD and Sinn Fein Education Spokesman, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, the latest proposed increases to student accommodation costs 'results in more barriers to students receiving a third-level education'. "Third-level Education, particularly in Dublin, Cork, or any of the major cities, is becoming increasingly out of reach for many families," said Deputy O Laoghaire. "This is against a background of the most expensive tuition fees in the EU; actively excluding those who do not gave the financial means to access education. Rising rents will only exacerbate that. "Many students will now wonder how they can afford to live in Dublin, in Cork, Galway, or any of the major cities. We recognise that there is a funding crisis for third-level institutions; however, making it harder for low-income students to attend third level is not a solution, and is unsustainable in the long run. Students will suffer, but so will the institutions from the loss of these students." A spokesperson for UCC defended the increase as necessary to meet the cost of refurbishments, security and maintenance. "Due to major refurbishing work, the rise in security and maintenance costs, and the investment required to provide additional accommodation for students, Campus Accommodation UCC has decided to raise its campus accommodation rates by three per cent for 2020/21. Income generated by Campus Accommodation is exclusively used by the company to meet such costs," he said. "UCC is extremely conscious of the financial challenges faced by students and has decided to undertake to review the applicability of the 2020/21 increase for students in receipt of student assistance funding." The spokesman pointed out that the cost of UCC-owned and -managed student accommodation is below the market rate. "UCC's Campus Accommodation rates remain significantly below the level of privately owned student accommodation in Cork City. In addition, Campus Accommodation UCC's 37-week contract is shorter than the contract length of any privately owned student accommodation in Cork City." Phuket calls for prompt government support over COVID-19 fallout PHUKET: The Phuket Chamber of Commerce has appealed to the government in Bangkok for prompt and decisive action as it fears the devastating impact the China coronavirus COVID-19 is having on the island could decimate tourist numbers. tourismChineseeconomicsCoronavirusCOVID-19 By The Phuket News Saturday 22 February 2020, 11:53AM Attendees of the meeting where Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet detailed the real problems facing Phuket as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Photo: Phuket Chamber of Commerce I explained to the Tourism Committee President Surasak Phanchalernworakul about the situation and how coronavirus is affecting tourism and business in Phuket, Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet confirmed to The Phuket News yesterday (Feb 21). I requested them to share this information with the Prime Minister and other relevant officers in Parliament. The situation is much worse than the government knows, he added. Mr Thanusak confirmed he met yesterday with Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee on Tourism and Phuket MP Nattee Thinsakhu, Thai Hotels Association Vice President Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, Phuket Tourism Council President Sarayuth Mallam and other tourism industry representatives from Phuket to try to find a solution to the problem. The Phuket private sector has been massively impacted by COVID-19, commented Mr Thanusak. Im not sure if the Government are aware of the situation as they have not yet visited to see the problems first hand. It has drastically affected tourism-related businesses. Many staff have been forced to take a cut in salary although the cost of living cost here remains the same. If this situation lasts six to 10 months, Phuket may well become an empty island. Recently, there are hardly any Chinese tourists. As a result, more than 20 hotels have already temporarily closed. Many boats and buses are not being used, parked empty. At this time, we have only 50% of the usual number of European tourists, and it will go down to around 30% next month, and possibly continue to decrease to zero. This situation is out of the hands of the private sector and local administrative officers, he said. We want government support for the tourism sector here, to help unemployed staff and to attract Thai people to come to Phuket in order to support local business and help everyone. Mr Thanusak stated he has requested help from the Minister of Tourism and wants quick resolutions to safeguard Phukets standing as the second-highest income generating province in the country. It is worrying that the Government did not know the real impact of this bad situation, he said. Government have not yet come to Phuket. It may be because nobody sent information about COVID-19 and its impact. Governors have to see the truth and listen to peoples complains, Mr Thanusak concluded. Alberta's privacy commissioner is taking part in a national investigation of facial recognition technology supplied by U.S. firm Clearview AI. An announcement Friday states the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, along with the federal privacy commission, Quebec and British Columbia privacy commissioners, will jointly investigate the Canadian use of the technology. Lauren Reid, president of Toronto-based privacy consulting company The Privacy Pro, said a joint investigation like this is not uncommon. "This type of technology and this type of data collection doesn't really happen in a single jurisdiction, it happens in cyberspace," she said. "It's borderless." The Canadian privacy watchdogs will look at whether the company's practices comply with Canadian privacy legislation. The investigation follows media reports that raised concerns about whether Clearview AI is collecting and using personal information without consent. This investigation is into Clearview AI under Alberta's private sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection Act. The federal government has a separate private-sector privacy law, which applies in all provinces and territories, except for in Alberta, B.C. and Quebec. Those three provinces have their own privacy laws. Thomas Peter/Reuters Clearview AI's technology allows for the collection of huge numbers of images from various sources that can help police forces and financial institutions identify people. In a statement to CBC News, Tor Ekeland, attorney for the company said, "Clearview only accesses publicly available data from the public internet. "It is strictly an after-the-fact investigative tool for law enforcement, and is used to solve crimes including murder, rape and child exploitation. We've received the letter and look forward to a productive dialogue with Canadian officials." Edmonton, Calgary police usage Alberta's privacy commissioner has already urged caution to the Edmonton Police Service as it explores the use of facial recognition technology. Story continues The Alberta commissioner's office strongly encouraged EPS to submit a privacy review to ensure any future facial recognition program complies with privacy law. "Analytic technologies, such as facial recognition, raise significant concerns regarding privacy and security of personal information," said spokesperson Scott Sibbald in an email to CBC News earlier this month. EPS Informatics Division Supt. Warren Driechel stressed on Wednesday that Edmonton police's use of the technology would comply with various privacy laws. Trevor Wilson/CBC "With any new technology, we realize the concerns this may raise with the public in terms of privacy and whether it will breach the privacy of everyday citizens," he said. "I want to ensure everyone that EPS will be using this technology responsibly and for a very specific purpose." Edmonton police plan to use the technology "in response to existing criminal investigations, using a database of pictures previously obtained for a lawful purpose," such as mug shots, EPS spokesperson Cheryl Sheppard said in a written statement. EPS has said they are not working with Clearview AI. On Wednesday, Driechel said EPS was in negotiations with an unnamed company. I want to ensure everyone that EPS will be using this technology responsibly and for a very specific purpose - Supt. Warren Driechel, EPS EPS is not the only police force to pursue biometric technology. Calgary was the first police force in Canada to publicly roll out a facial recognition program in 2014. Police said the technology there can take a picture of a suspect and, within a matter of seconds, look for a match among over 300,000 mug shots in a police database. What's next? As part of the national investigation, privacy regulators across Canada have agreed to develop guidance for organizations including law enforcement on the use of biometric technology, including facial recognition, said a statement. Reid said the national investigation into Clearview AI and its technology won't bring any immediate changes for the public but could set a precedent. "I don't know that [Friday's] announcement necessarily changes anything for us as consumers but it should give us confidence that our concerns are being heard by the privacy commissioners," she said. "Bringing this issue to national attention by launching this investigation may mean that other police forces and other organizations are now aware of this and aware that it's unacceptable. And so it might prevent the problem from spreading further." MBABANE Is this a historic financial draining project? The Sicunusa-Nhlangano road will now cost the taxpayer E899.66 million to complete. Government has not deferred the project but wants to redesign, supervise and construct the 43.5 km-kilometre road, which was incomplete when the contractor, Kukhanya abandoned the site. Work started in 2014. It has been learnt that the costs for the road have now increased by 48 per cent from its initial budget of E465 990 202.85. Now, the estimated cost is E899 666 000. It has increased by E433 675 798 E433.67 million. The actual expenditure for the project as reflected in the government budget estimates indicates that a sum of E532 701 000 had been spent on the project by March 31, 2019. However, Auditor General (AG) Timothy Sipho Matsebulas report for the current financial year gave a conflicting figure. He said his audit established that government spent E576 101 574.86 on the incomplete project. Budget estimates from the years from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2023 indicate that government is expected to have paid E765.66 million by March 31, 2020. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said he would respond to our questionnaire at a later stage. Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Khangeziwe Mabuza could only say the project was not continuing per se but they would what was never finished there. In the current financial year, government set aside E80 million for the project, which would be used to pay the final account of Kukhanya-Gabriel Couto joint venture. Gabriel Couto pulled out of the project. Govt given 3 options Eswatini News reported yesterday that government was given three options for the reconstruction of the road. First, it was urged to cancel the contract with Kukhanya altogether or allow this contractor to continue with the project in dribs and drabs. The last option was to adopt the much favoured principle of Public Private Partnership (PPP), which would see another contractor taking over the project. Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe said various options were being considered for the project to continue. This is money we were allocated after we said we wanted to continue with the project for this financial year, said the minister. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Phila Buthelezi said government should give clarity on the E80 million but assumed it was budgeted for the settlement of Kukhanyas account. However, the MP, who also doubles as the deputy speaker, mentioned that the PAC recommended the contract should be terminated. Finish project - minister In his budget speech, Rijkenberg said it was necessary to complete the project. The minister mentioned that despite challenges faced during the implementation of the project, it, however, remained imperative to complete it. The Times SUNDAY reported in its last weeks edition that the taxpayer had a huge bill to settle for the construction of this road. For this road, it turned out that government owed two foreign financial entities a sum of E177.89 million. This is contained in an audited statement of public external debt for the year ended March 31, 2019. It is stated in the documents that government owes the Arab Bank of Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) a sum of E100 million (E100 016 191.80) in loans secured for the construction of the road. EmaSwati also owe the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) a sum of E77.87 million for the same project. The exact amount owed is E77 977 059.58. The BADEAs loan term of payment, which includes capital and interest, is repayable in 30 constant and equal semi-annual payments that commenced from 2009. The last instalment shall be paid in 2028. The OFID loan starts from 2009 to 2034. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: At a time when the communal divide is perceived to be widening, Noor Fatima, a Varanasi-based lawyer has breached the boundaries of religion to nourish the essence of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva, immediately after the first namaz in the morning, has been part of Fatimas life for years in Kashi since 2004. And, Mahashivaratri happens to be a celebration of reverence at her place. I have accepted the presence of Lord Shiva. He is in the soul of Kashi. He is a part of the ethos of this holy city, said Fatima, a mother of two daughters. A profound sense of devoutness oozes as she says, Na namaz aati hai, na vazu aata hai, sajda kar leta hoon jab samne tu aata hai (I may be unaware of religious rituals but I bow to you Almighty whenever I am reminded of you)I begin my day with the chant of Har Har Mahadev. That does not mean that I have left Islam, Fatima said. Hailing from Lucknow, Fatima shifted to Varanasi after marrying a railway official. In 2004, I started having dreams in which I could see myself worshipping at a temple. Then we built our house in Varanasi and within a month of it, many of my neighbours died mysteriously. I lost my husband too, she said. In her quest for solace, she built a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 22, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) Democrats, Media Continue to Be Russias Best Allies Commentary Since the election of President Donald Trumpor perhaps even beforethe Democratic Party, assisted or led by the mainstream media, has been Russias best domestic ally. Distaste for Trump by the Democrats and the media is so extreme, its almost as if they dont realize that or dont care. It couldnt be more obvious. The objective of Russian intelligenceas it has been from the time of the czars onwardhas been to sow discord via disinformation among their adversaries. Its a lot cheaper and easier to do than the tedious game of spying. Just get your opponents to hate each other. If you are unaware of how this works, read Disinformation by Ion Pacepa, the highest-ranking intelligence figure from the Eastern Bloc ever to have defected. No one appears to work harder on Moscows behalfconsciously or unconsciouslythan Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), whose nonstop lies about TrumpRussia collusion, followed by the nonsensical, interminable impeachment episode should make him a colonel in the KGB (or the FSB, to be more contemporary). In the old days, it would have won him the Order of Leningiven in secret, of course. The latest round of this endless disinformation, as reported by The New York Times, is a supposed intelligence leak that the Russians are at work once again sabotaging our election, trying to reelect Trump this time. For some reason, we are to believe they prefer Trump to Sanders when it was the latter who took his honeymoon in the Soviet Union. Or maybe its Elizabeth Warren they fear. She did sound fierce in the latest debate. Maybe Putin doesnt want her giving him what for the way she did Michael Bloomberg. Actually, its simple. You dont have to be John LeCarre or Graham Greene to see whats going on here. The Dems and the media are so hungry for something, anything, to get Trump, the Russians dont have to do much of anything. Its like chumming a school of starving catfish. A couple of easily overheard cellphone conversations or maybe a text message or two in Cyrillic, and off we go. Putin and company must be laughing hysterically. They can hardly believe their luck. How much longer can this go on? (Good question.) They have no reason to stop or try a new tack as long as the Democrats cooperate. And doubtless, they will. Given the way the election is shaping up, the Dems and their media friends will do anything they can to invalidate it, cry voter suppression, and whatnot. The FSB will be ready and willing to provide, not to mention a gaggle of freelancers in Novosibirsk or wherever. And, if we are to believe The New York Times article by Adam Goldman linked above (who knows?), the president will then take umbrage, afraid that the Democrats will exploit the situation and give the Russians even more of the dissension they want. My advice to POTUS, if he would like to defuse matters and put an end to the Democrats being the Russians inadvertent besties, he should just relax and make fun of the whole business instead of complaining. As some readers will recall, a year or more ago, some Russian comics showed the way in a phone call to Schiff that had the California congressman desperately looking for nonexistent kompromat on the president. It remains the best, and easily the funniest, political prank of our times. As a lesson in humility, they should play it again and again in front of the House Intelligence Committee. Roger L. Simon, senior political columnist with The Epoch Times, is also an award-winning author and an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. His latest book is The GOAT. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Arshad Khan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Novel Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) is likely to have an adverse impact on airlines operating in Asia Pacific region (APAC) with a potential 13 per cent full-year loss in passenger demand. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), the decline could translate into a $27.8 billion revenue loss in 2020 for carriers in the region, home to some of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Most airlines across the globe have either suspended their operations to China or have drastically reduced their frequency as the pandemic so far has claimed over 2,200 lives and spread to many countries. Bulk of the fall would be borne by carriers registered in China with $12.8 billion loss in its domestic market alone, said IATA. However, the Coronavirus scare could also hurt growth prospects of Indian airlines, especially IndiGo which sees China as a key focus market. IndiGo and Air India have extended suspension of all their flights to China, including Hong Kong for the next three months. While IndiGo has suspended flights till June 14, Air Indias suspension extended till June 30. SpiceJet, which operates daily services to Hong Kong, had earlier suspended flights till February 29. IndiGo has daily flights on the Delhi-Chengdu, Bengaluru-Hong Kong and Kolkata-Guangzhou route, while Air India flies to Beijing and Hong Kong. According to a recent CARE Ratings estimate, the temporary suspension of flights to China and Hong Kong can approximately lead to an Indian carrier missing out on earning gross revenue of Rs 55-72 lakh per flight. IATA in its note said that carriers outside Asia-Pacific are forecast to bear a revenue loss of $1.5 billion, assuming the loss of demand is limited to markets linked to China. This would bring total global lost revenue to $29.3 billion (5 per cent lower passenger revenues compared to what IATA forecast in December). These are challenging times for the global air transport industryThe sharp downturn in demand as a result of COVID-19 will have a financial impact on airlines severe for those particularly exposed to the Chinese market, said Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO, IATA. Three workers were killed in a fire that broke out on the third floor of a garment label manufacturing factory in Ahmedabad on Saturday, an official said. The factory, identified as Lotus Label Industries, is located in Odhav GIDC in Ahmedabad. "Threeworkers were asphyxiatedto death in a fire which broke out on the third floor of a garment label making factory that storedrayon fibre," said MF Dastoor, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Chief Fire Officer. "The labourers were working in a room adjacent to the third floor of the factory where the fire broke out. They died from asphyxiation as the room had no window or ventilation," Dastoor said. He said a cylinder kept in the room blew up in the fire while another was brought out safely. "The fire broke out at 3:30pm and three fire tenders and five tankers took three hours to douse it. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained," Dastoor said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora is criticizing a Sussex County freeholder who justified supporting a pro-2nd Amendment resolution by blaming the gangs in Trenton" and other cities for gun violence. I found it very offensive, Gusciora said Friday. Sussex County Freeholder Herb Yardley said residents of his county should not be blamed for gun violence as he explained his vote for a resolution, on Wednesday night, declaring Sussex a 2nd Amendment / lawful gun owner county. Yardley identified himself as a hunter and National Rifle Association member, and said his guns routinely are checked by state park rangers to ensure he complies with limits on shotgun shells. I wonder how many times the gangs in Trenton - because Trenton had a situation, 11 shootings on a weekend - I dont know, did anybody say, Wait a minute, let me check your gun, I want to see how many bullets you have, Yardley said, according to a video of the meeting. Yardley appeared to be referencing a drive-by shooting that wounded 10 outside a Trenton bar in May. The resolution was approved 5-0 by the all-Republican freeholder board. Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, in hat, with Sussex County Freeholder Herbert Yardley at the township committee meeting in Stillwater, Jan. 21, 2020Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Gusciora, a Democrat who took office in July 2018, countered that crime in Trenton has fallen 20% in the past year. I believe we should all be working on lowering crime together, including the 11 drug deaths in Sussex County, instead of throwing things at each other," Gusciora said, referencing a surge in fatal overdoses in January in Sussex that prompted a State Police alert. Yardley did not limit his critique to Trenton at the meeting. The problem is not me. The problem is not these people out there," Yardley said, referencing the audience in Newton. The problem is the criminal element in New Jersey, in New York, in the major cities with their guns. Its not the average person, Yardley said. Asked about gun violence, Gusciora said the problem is exacerbated by those who buy guns in Pennsylvania, and other lax gun law states, and bring them into New Jersey. The guns from the gangs arent being purchased in New Jersey," Gusciora said. Yardley did not immediately respond to a phone message. Sussex County is the latest jurisdiction in New Jersey to adopt a pro-2nd Amendment resolution, a trend set in motion by the West Milford council in December. State Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, who addressed the Stillwater council on the topic in January, was among those speaking at the freeholder meeting. The rightful gun owners are not the problem in this state. Its the criminals ... we have to lock them up and throw away the key, Space said. Gusciora is a former municipal prosecutor and was in the New Jersey Assembly for more than two decades prior to becoming mayor of Trenton, the states 10th most-populated municipality. He said he meant no ill will to Sussex County and would welcome a dialogue with county officials. Its easy to poke at Trenton. The difficult thing is to work together on mutual problems and find solutions, Gusciora said. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. (GETTY IMAGES) Our goal has been to not only make STEM learning environments more inclusive and diverse, but to integrate entrepreneurial education as a way of challenging our youth to become the next generation of tech-preneurs and job creators! Past News Releases RSS eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. is excited to announce that its youth STEM and entrepreneurship platform, known as the Urban Leadership Lab, was voted to receive a Participatory Budgeting grant to fund the launch of its technology and business education programs in Durhams downtown district. A non-profit provider of startup, leadership, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, eMerging Entrepreneurs has made a commitment to enroll at least 500 teens within the projects first year; providing local students with opportunities to develop the entrepreneurial and computational thinking skills to become leaders in todays digital, technology-driven economy. In March of 2019, eMerging Entrepreneurs proposed the creation of a city-wide educational initiative that would not only introduce young people to the excitement of STEM learning, but would equip them with the business skills to become future leaders and innovators in the science-based industries of tomorrow. The organization submitted its concept via the The City of Durham's Participatory Budgeting (PB) community impact grant competition, a program in which the City Council allocated $2.4 million dollars to implement 40 of the nearly 500 project proposals submitted across the three city wards. The Participatory Budgeting process is designed to equip residents with the democratic power to choose how their local governments resources are being used to impact their communities; from improving sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, to the development of technologies and systems to expand Wi-Fi access. eMerging Entrepreneurs is thrilled to announce that not only did the residents of Ward-1 vote for its youth program to be implemented in cycle-1 of citys PB process, but the City Council voted unanimously in favor of awarding $99,121 to support the development of the educational platform, which will be launched in the summer of this year. We're thankful for having been entrusted with this award and are committed to making access to these kinds of learning opportunities available to young people across downtown Durham, particularly those communities of students who are underrepresented in STEM education, says T.J. Breeden, Founder and Executive Director of eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. Our goal has been to not only make STEM learning environments more inclusive and diverse, but to integrate entrepreneurial education as a way of challenging our youth to become the next generation of tech-preneurs and job creators! This grant and the expansion of our programs across downtown Durham will allow us to do just that. About eMerging Entrepreneurs: eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. is a North Carolina-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to advance the small business, educational, and economic welfare of communities whose interests are under-served; specifically, our nations military families, women, urban youth, and minority populations. To date, the organization has reached over 10,000 veterans, minorities, and youth, with its Founder having received a number national endorsements, ranging from former President Obamas Champions of Change Award and being named the Small Business Administrations Veterans Entrepreneurship Advocate of the Year, to receiving Radio Ones Cathy Hughes Community Service Award, and the Dr. John Hope Franklin Humanitarian of the Year Award. In 2015, eMerging Entrepreneurs launched its Urban Leadership Lab, a tech and startup incubator designed to provide K-12 youth with access to the kinds of resources that will help them unlock the full capacity of their social and intellectual potential. The following year, the organization was invited by the Obama Administrations Office of Technology Policy to publish its 2016 educational commitment alongside over 200 other institutions as part of the White Houses "Computer Science for All (CSforAll) initiative. The organization has continued its annual commitment to the (now privately led) CSforAll platform as an educational services provider, and to date, over 1,800 youth have engaged the Urban Leadership Lab via traditional and web-based learning environments. STEM Meets Entrepreneurship: The Urban Leadership Lab introduces young people to not only robotics and drone-flight education, but provides them with the tools to explore who they can become, says Tivon Madison, the organizations STEM Coordinator. Mr. Madison; a Veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and an experienced Network Engineer; also serves as the NC Director of Infinite Scholars, a non-profit organization that connects high school students to tens of millions of dollars in scholarship opportunities each year. It begins with access. Once kids have been introduced to these sorts of opportunities, it ignites something inside of them that could change the entire trajectory of their lives! Thats why the pairing of business and tech is so important because it helps them to see how what theyre learning in the classroom, can be applied outside of it. Taught in both traditional and web-based environments, the Tech Lab (the STEM division of the Urban Leadership Lab) introduces young people to a range of interactive learning opportunities in science and technology, from LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics education to online coding. Conversely, the Startup Lab teaches students the core elements of creating, building, and operating a successful business, while also placing an emphasis on leadership and financial literacy. The entrepreneurship program is conducted via traditional classroom-style workshops and the organization's e-Launch Academy, which is an online, asynchronous educational platform powered by EdX and Teachable.com. Each cohort aims to bridge the gap between traditional learning, entrepreneurship, and technology, by challenging students to create (and launch) innovative, solutions-oriented business concepts. Achieving Diversity Through Collaboration: The organization is actively exploring partnerships with youth centers, non-profits, public schools, and faith-based organizations to form a network of learning labs across downtown Durham. Establishing labs in neighborhoods across Ward-1 will hopefully stretch our reach into communities that havent had access to these kinds of educational opportunities, Mr. Breeden says. Proximity is key! As a doctoral student whose current research is centered around diversity in STEM education, I find myself constantly examining the social disparities that disproportionately impact access and inclusion within certain segments of our education system; a condition I believe can be combatted through the proper alignment of public and private interests. Coming together with like-minded partners; each doing all they can to push this effort forward; I believe will not only advance equity but ultimately could help to make an emerging sector of our economy more socially and culturally diverse. The team at eMerging Entrepreneurs is eager to get started and are optimistic about the impact they can create! Our program centers around a very simple belief: that access to technology education, coupled with entrepreneurial thinking, is the key to helping our youth explore the full range of career possibilities that lie ahead of them, Mr. Breeden says. If we can create the opportunities and serve as a viable point of access, then we can begin the hard work of preparing our young men and women to lead the next wave of tech, social, and business innovations! For more information on eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc., its mission, or to explore partnership opportunities, please visit: http://www.eMerginginc.org. Details regarding Durhams Participatory Budgeting grant program can be found by visiting: http://www.pbdurham.org. On Friday evening, by a 54 vote, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administrations wealth test for immigrants to take effect in Illinois. All four liberal justices dissented from the order, which changes relatively little: Thanks to the conservative justices intervention in January, the wealth test was poised to take effect in 49 states, and Fridays vote lets the government apply it in the last state left. Whats most remarkable about the decision is Justice Sonia Sotomayors withering dissent, which calls outwith startling candora distressing pattern: The courts Republican appointees have a clear bias toward the Trump administration. Advertisement Trumps wealth test marks a brazen attempt to limit legal immigration by forcing immigrants to prove their financial status to enter, or remain in, the United States. It goes far beyond any statute passed by Congress, forcing immigrants to demonstrate that they will be not a public chargethat is, they wont rely on any public assistance, including Medicaid, housing vouchers, and food stamps. Because the policy departs so dramatically from federal law, several courts blocked its implementation in 2019. In January, however, the Supreme Court allowed the wealth test to take effect over the dissent of all four liberals. The majority did not explain its reasoning. But Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, wrote a concurrence complaining that a district court had blocked it across the country, decrying the rise of nationwide injunctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gorsuchs opinion raised the possibility that the conservative justices disapproved of the scope of the district courts injunction, not the reasoning behind it. If that were true, the conservatives should not have unsettled a narrower injunction limited to Illinois. But they did just that on Friday, once again without explaining themselves. Once again, the liberals dissented, but only Sotomayor wrote separately, in an opinion notable for its caustic tone and candid assessment of her colleagues prejudices. Todays decision follows a now-familiar pattern, Sotomayor began. The Government seeks emergency relief from this Court, asking it to grant a stay where two lower courts have not. The Government insistseven though review in a court of appeals is imminentthat it will suffer irreparable harm if this Court does not grant a stay. And the Court yields. In other words, SCOTUS rewarded the Department of Justice for short-circuiting the appellate process and demanding immediate relief. Advertisement But this application is perhaps even more concerning than past ones, Sotomayor continued. Previously, the DOJ professed urgency because of the form of relief granted in the prior casea nationwide injunction. Now theres no nationwide injunction, so theres no apparent urgency. The DOJ cannot state with precision any of the supposed harm that would come from the Illinois-specific injunction, and the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has scheduled oral argument for next week. Yet SCOTUS lifted the injunction anyway. It is hard, Sotomayor wrote, to say what is more troubling: that the Government would seek this extraordinary relief seemingly as a matter of course, or that the Court would grant it. Advertisement Normally, to justify upending the normal rules, the government must also show a likelihood of irreparable harm. And it has not made that showing here. But this shortcut to SCOTUS has become the new normal; it has happened over and over and over again, as the DOJ leapfrogs over the lower courts to seize a victory at the Supreme Court. Sotomayor explained: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claiming one emergency after another, the Government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases, demanding immediate attention and consuming limited Court resources in each. And with each successive application, of course, its cries of urgency ring increasingly hollow. But the Supreme Courts conservatives repeatedly accept the DOJs declarations of an emergency, giving Donald Trump whatever he wants. This practice, Sotomayor wrote, has benefited one litigant over all others: the Trump administration. And the injustice of this favoritism is especially painful in light of the courts recent refusal to halt unconstitutional executions. This Court often permits executionswhere the risk of irreparable harm is the loss of lifeto proceed, Sotomayor noted, blaming death row inmates for their ostensible failure to raise any potentially meritorious claims in a timely manner. She concluded: Advertisement Yet the Courts concerns over quick decisions wither when prodded by the Government in far less compelling circumstanceswhere the Government itself chose to wait to seek relief, and where its claimed harm is continuation of a 20-year status quo in one State. I fear that this disparity in treatment erodes the fair and balanced decisionmaking process that this Court must strive to protect. Put simply: When some of the most despised and powerless among us ask the Supreme Court to spare their lives, the conservative justices turn a cold shoulder. When the Trump administration demands permission to implement some cruel, nativist, and potentially unlawful immigration restrictions, the conservatives bend over backward to give it everything it wants. There is nothing fair and balanced about the courts double standard that favors the government over everyone else. And, as Sotomayor implies, this flagrant bias creates the disturbing impression that the Trump administration has a majority of the court in its pocket. IND vs NZ 1st Test Day 3: Rahane and Vihari stood tall and resolute and weathered all the storm to take India to 144 for 4 at the end of the day 3. New Zealand are still ahead by 39 runs, and India need to bat well and bat long even on day 4. There is Rishabh Pant in the bunker and then there is R Ashwin. India will need all the batsmen to step up if they have to do put any pressure on New Zealand. New Zealand bowled out for 348. Lead by 183 runs.Ishant Sharma gets the final wicket as Trent Boults cameo came to an end. Ishant completed his five-wicket haul, 11th of his Test career. Ashwin dismissed Colin de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson. While the former nicked one to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps, Jamieson slogged one straight to Hanuma Vihari. Ishant Sharma dismissed Tim Southee who flicked a straying delivery to Mohammed Shami at deep backward square leg region. At the start of the day, Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless yesterday, got the wicket of BJ Watling, prompting the Kiwi batsman to edge one to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. Follow highlights of India vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 3: 12:08 hrs: Stumps - India end the day on 144 for 4, they are still behind by 39 runs. New Zealand are ahead here, but India live to fight another day. 11:52 hrs: Final few overs remain - Rahane and Vihari have remained watchful, the scoreboard has not chugged along at a rapid pace, but they would want to see off the day without any further jolts. 11:35 hrs: Rahane looking good - He has sussed the conditions pretty well. The upper cut over point and then a controlled dab through point gets him consecutive boundaries. India edge closer to New Zealands score. 11:25 hrs: The bouncer tactic - The New Zealand bowling attack has been relentless all day, they have tested all the batsmen. A bouncer and then a length ball on the off side, this has been a proper test for this batting order. 11:07 hrs: Watchful - India still trail by 57 runs and these two have to bat out the rest of the day and take their side as close as possible to New Zealands score. 11:00 hrs: This partnership holds key - Vihari has been a man in good form and Rahane is looking watchful at the other end. This partnership is the key for India as they look to wipe off this deficit. 10:36 hrs: Kohli has been bounced out - The plan and the relentless nature of this attack and finally given New Zealand the prized scalp of Virat Kohli. Boult bounced the ball from around the wicket, Kohli wanted to hook it away ended up feathering it to BJ Watling. Massive moment in this match. 10:27 hrs: Kohli has settled down - New Zealand have tested him out with the wide delivery on the fifth stump, he has allowed them to pass. They have tested him with the short delivery from around the wicket, he is content in sitting down and letting them pass too. Attrition and proper Test cricket. 10:14 hrs: Kohli being tested with the short ball - Tim Southee is around the wicket and he is banging the ball in short. There is a short leg and short square leg in position. Kohli is content in allowing the ball to sail through. This is a battle of attrition. 10:02 hrs: Mayank has been strangled down the leg side - What a filthy way to depart, a full ball down the leg side, Mayank wants to flick it away, the ball kisses the edge and Watling takes the catch. A top innings has come to an end! 9:48 hrs: Jittery start by Kohli - Tim Southee is troubling Kohli who looks rather jittery. He has got two boundaries but those strokes were not convincing. India need their captain to stand tall here, this promises to be a very interesting phase. 9:13 hrs: Pujara has been castled - Boult came from around the wicket and angled the ball in, Pujara lofted his bat in a bid to let the ball pass, the ball keeps coming back in and smashes the stumps. 9:02 hrs: 50 for Mayank - This has been a top effort by the opener. He was tested with the swinging ball, he was tested with the bouncing ball, he took blows on his body, but stayed put and has now a 50 to show for his efforts. Needs to take guard again and keep going. 8:55 hrs: Spin introduced and Mayank is on the charge - Ajaz Patel has the ball and Mayank is down the track. After soaking in all the pressure, he now has the chance to collect some runs. Down the track he comes and thumps the ball over long off for a six. 8:26 hrs: Excellent spell by the debutant Kyle Jamieson: He is keeping the Indian batsmen on their toes with some aggressive fast bowling. New Zealand are really applying a lot of pressure here. Both Mayank and Pujara are not getting too many freebies. 08:02 hrs: Huge appeal for caught behind, the umpire is not interested. New Zealand have reviewed it. It seems to be hitting Pujaras arm guard. New Zealand lose the review as there was not conclusive evidence to support that the ball hit Pujaras gloves. 08:00 hrs: What a debut this has been for Kyle Jamieson. He seems like a threat whenever he gets the ball. He is into the attack and suddenly, the mood has changed in the middle. 07:45 hrs: Mayank Agarwal was splendid in the first innings, and he needs to stick it out in the middle to help his side bounce back in the match. 07:35 hrs: Stats attack: Prithvi Shaw dismissed for 14 by Trent Boult 3rd consecutive innings without a fifty for Shaw in Tests. 6th consecutive innings without a fifty for Shaw in international cricket (Tests + ODIs). 2nd time he has been caught by Tom Latham in international cricket (Tests + ODIs). Consecutive innings with a wicket of an opener for Boult. o Mayank was dismissed by Boult in the first innings. 07:26 hrs: GONE! Fantastic catch from Tom Latham ends Prithvi Shaws innings. Short and straying delivery, and the batsman flicked it, but Latham grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Literally. 07:20 hrs: Crunched! Prithvi Shaw goes on the backfoot, wide and short from Southee, Shaw jumps on his feet, and slams it through midwicket for a boundary. 07:14 hrs: Steady start from Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. There seems to be a change in Prithvi Shaws style of batting. He is setting himself in the middle, understanding the pitch. 07:04 hrs: Stats attack: Boult dismissed for 38 (24) by Ishant Sharma SR of 158.33 by Boult 3rd best by a no. 11 Kiwi batsman with 20+ runs in a Test innings. o 171.42 24* off 14 by Ken Hough vs ENG, Auckland in 1959 o 160.00 24* off 15 by Boult vs ENG, Leeds in 2013 o 158.33 38 off 24 by Boult vs IND, Wellington, TODAY 11th five-wicket haul for Ishant Sharma in Tests & 9th in away Tests. 3rd five-wicket haul for Ishant against New Zealand (all of them in NZ) o 2nd most among Indian pacers after Zaheer Khan (4). Five-wicket haul in consecutive Test for Ishant. 2nd 5-wicket haul for Ishant at Wellington 2nd Indian pacer to do so after Zaheer Khan (3). Joint 2nd most 5-wicket haul among Indian pacers in Tests. 06:50 hrs: Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal came out to open for India. Tim Southee starts the attack with the ball for New Zealand. 06:15 hrs: New Zealand bowl out for 348. Lead by 183 runs.Ishant Sharma gets the final wicket and he has taken 5 wickets. 06:07 hrs: SIX! Boult steps forward to Ashwin and goes big. That has crossed the boundary ropes for a massive hit. 06:05 hrs: FOUR! Boult absolutely smoked it into Sharmas hands. There was no the bowler could have taken the catch. It was rough. He follows it up with another boundary. Smart cameo, this from Boult. 05:50 hrs: GONE! Huge appeal from Ashwin and Pant for caught behind, and the umpire raises his finger. There was a glove on it. Colin de Grandhomme departs for 43. New Zealand 310/9 05:48 hrs: Stats attack: 300+ up for New Zealand 1st 300+ score conceded by India after 9 consecutive innings of bowing out opposition for below 300. 1st score of above 300 conceded by India in an away Test after 7 consecutive innings of bowing out opposition for 300 or below. o The last time India conceded above 300 in away Test innings was at Perth (AUS 326) in 2018. 1st 300+ score conceded by India against New Zealand after 6 consecutive innings of bowing out NZ for below 300. o NZs last 300+ score against India came at the same Wellington (680/8d) in 2014. 05:35 hrs: FOUR! A lucky boundary from Ajaz Patel, he chopped one which went between his pads and the stumps for a boundary. Brings up 300 for New Zealand. 05:31 hrs: WICKET! Ashwin finally breaks the partnership as Jamieson tries to slice across the ball, but Vihari made good ground to get underneath it and complete an easy catch. NZ 296/8 lead by 131 runs 05:21 hrs: Stats attack: Fifty partnership for 8th wicket between Jamieson and Grandhomme 1st ever stand for 50 runs between Jamieson and Grandhomme in Tests. 1st fifty stand since March 2018 for 8th wicket by New Zealand in Tests. o Their last 50+ stand for 8tnh wicket came at Auckland against England in March 2018 for 72 runs between Nicholls and Southee. 1st fifty stand since December 2006 at Wellington for 8th wicket by New Zealand in Tests. o Their last 50+ stand for 8tnh wicket came at Wellington against Sri Lanka in December 2006 for 96 runs between Franklin and Vettori. 05:12 hrs: Good partnership building - this partnership between Jamieson and de Grandhomme. India, once again, are being frustrated by a building partnership. 05:05 hrs: SIX! Kyle Jamieson gets a bouncer from Shami and he pulls it for a six. This also take New Zealands lead past 100-run mark. How good is this shot for a debutant. 04:53 hrs: CHANCE! Shami almost got rid of de Grandhomme, as the batsman tries to defend a straighter one, but the ball almost landed in Shamis hands. Shami tried to dive, but it just dropped short. 04:51 hrs: Bumrahs struggle with the new ball again on display as he gets hammered for two boundaries from Colin de Grandhomme with the new ball. New Zealand closing at 100-run lead. 04:45 hrs: The new ball is available after this over from Mohammed Shami. Will Virat Kohli go for a new ball straight away or will he wait for one more over? YES, HE IS! 04:35 hrs: SIX! Kyle Jamieson can bat! The right-hander hits Mohammed Shami for a massive hit. NZ lead is now 75. 04:28 hrs: India lose review - A caught behind appeal against Colin de Grandhomme was turned down by the umpire. But Ishant Sharma convinced Kohli to go for review as he believed there were two noises. Nope, no bat. 04:23 hrs: GONE! Jasprit Bumrah hits Colin de Grandhommes pads, huge appeal. Umpire Dar raises his fingers. De Grandhomme will review this. This looks to be missing leg stumps, maybe? Yes, its miles away from the stumps. De Grandhomme saved by the DRS. 04:16 hrs: GONE! Tim Southee tries to go for a big one on a bad delivery from Ishant, and gets himself caught at square leg. Mohammed Shami makes no mistake. NZ 225/7 04:13 hrs: Bumrah is breathing fire at the moment with the ball. The ball just went between Southees bat and stumps. PHEW! That could easily have been a wicket. 04:02 hrs: GONE! First ball of the day and Bumrah strikes! All the criticism and Bumrah comes off with a wicket on first day of the 2nd ball. Pace, bounce, and Watling edged it to Pant behind the stumps. NZ 216/6 04:00 hrs: So, here we go, BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme are out in the middle. Jasprit Bumrah starts with the ball. HERE WE GO! 03:55 hrs: Update on Kane Williamsons injury: An x-ray this morning has cleared BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson of any fracture to his right middle finger following a blow at the start of his innings yesterday. He will wear a light protective guard, writes BlackCaps Twitter. An x-ray this morning has cleared BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson of any fracture to his right middle finger following a blow at the start of his innings yesterday. He will wear a light protective guard. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/9s9gtiGf0s BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 22, 2020 03:50 hrs: 10 minutes to go - the play will resume in 10 minutes. BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme will be out to bat. India might look for Ashwin to bring in some turn and Ishant to be his ruthless best. Exciting first session in store. 03:40 hrs: Weather Update from BCCI: A windy and partly sunny morning welcomes us here on Day 3 at the Basin Reserve. A windy and partly sunny morning welcomes us here on Day 3 at the Basin Reserve. New Zealand have taken a lead of 51 runs in the 1st innings and will resume with 216/5 on the board. Early wickets for India will hold the key on Day 3. Updates - https://t.co/tW3NpQIHJT pic.twitter.com/JMGabaVe24 BCCI (@BCCI) February 22, 2020 03:30 hrs: Tim Southee plays Ishant Sharma: Hes been a world class bowler for a long time, Southee said of the tall right handers performance. When youre slightly underdone in terms of preparation and having an injury coming into the series you can call on previous experience. He has played 90-odd test matches and he knows what he needs to do to get himself right for a test match and when the preparation isnt ideal he is able to find ways to perform like he has. 03:20 hrs: How Ishant Sharma spent his days before the Test: I am not happy because I have not slept for two days and I was struggling a lot today (with my body). The way I would have liked to bowl, it did not happen. They asked me to play and I played. Anything, for the team. Not that I wasnt happy with my bowling. I wasnt happy with my body as I could only sleep for 40 minutes last night and day before the Test match, I slept for three hours. READ MORE 03:10 hrs: Ishant Sharma expresses displeasure at fans for criticising Jasprit Bumrah: Its funny that perceptions changed after one innings Ishant told reporters after Day 2. For two years, we have always taken 20 wickets, myself, Boom (Bumrahs nickname in Indian dressing room) and Shami along with Ash or Jaddu (at home). How can people question on the basis of one innings (Test)? I dont think anyone doubts Booms ability. Since his debut, what he has achieved for India, I dont think anyone should raise any questions. READ MORE 03:00 hrs: What India need to do to save the match: 1) Bowl out NZ in the first session. 2) Bat through the final session tomorrow. 02:45 hrs: New Zealands game so far - Skipper Kane Williamsons 89 has put the Kiwis on top after the bowlers did their job well of bowling out India for 165. This is New Zealands game to lose from here on. 02:30 hrs: Hello and welcome to our live blog of Day 3 of India vs New Zealand 1st Test. This match is going the Kiwis way at the moment, with the hosts taking a sold lead of 51 runs. India need to take quick wickets on Day 3 to restrict the lead and then come out with all guns blazing in the match. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has been sharing a number of updates about his company's progress on Starship this week. Along with footage of the assembly process of the current "SN1" prototype of Starship, he explained on Twitter some of the other considerations and strategies the company is working with as it works on the new spacecraft and tries to fly it to space this year. Musk said that SpaceX is iterating at a much faster pace with Starship than it has recently with Falcon, as Falcon's design more or less stabilized once it started working consistently. He noted that the ability to progress with the design toward having a production vehicle is dependent on the number of interactions of the prototypes of the spacecraft, multiplied by the progress achieved between each version. That's been the way that SpaceX has worked in the past, and one of the key reasons it's been able to upend the traditional rocket launch industry. It moves fast, iterating as it goes and making changes based on failures quickly, whereas the industry has largely focused on more stop/start development cycles where things are mostly fixed with brief periods of intense focus on improvement between long-lived vehicle generations. Starship presents the company's biggest challenge yet when it comes to this model, if only because of the scale of the rocket. Starship is by far SpaceX's largest rocket, and building a number of them quickly is actually a significant challenge just from a mechanical perspective, especially when you factor in the considerable changes between generations, and the eventual addition of the very large Super Heavy rocket booster. On top of the scale of the spacecraft, there's also the nature of the vehicle, which SpaceX aims to make fully reusable -- with quick turnaround between each flight. It's fairly easy (relatively speaking, of course) to build a spacecraft that only really needs to work once; it's another thing entirely to build one that you want to reuse tens or even hundreds of times. Story continues Last year, Musk had said at the unveiling of the first completed full-scale prototype of the Starship that they'd aim to have an orbital flight in as few as six months' time. It's increasingly looking like that was yet another extremely optimistic timeline from the SpaceX founder, and SN1 is still aiming to complete a high-altitude suborbital flight before future versions actually make the trip to space. Musk suggested SN3, SN4 or SN5 could be the one to take that trip, according to Ars Technica's Eric Berger. Berger also reports that SpaceX is considering one of three options for actually launching the orbital Starship prototype, which will be powered by six of the company's Raptor engines. These will include either flying from Boca Chica, Texas (this is most likely), where the spacecraft are being built, or from Florida, where SpaceX maintains a launch facility for its Falcon rockets, or as a third option, from a sea-based floating launch platform. SpaceX will need to increase the rate at which it is building, testing and flying these prototypes if it aims to make 2020 for an orbital flight, but it's also hiring up to help it speed up production. Earlier this year Musk sent out a call for job applicants to staff up additional production shifts for round-the-clock operations, and SpaceX hosted a job fair for interested applicants at its Texas site earlier this month. A sentencing date for Jeremy Christian, convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the MAX stabbings, hasnt been scheduled yet. Jurors will return to the courtroom Tuesday and Wednesday to make certain findings about who Christian is as a person and his crimes. That will help the judge determine the sentence Christian will receive. Under Oregons 2019 first-degree murder law, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht has two options: She could sentence Christian to true life -- meaning hell spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility of release or she could sentence him to life in prison with a 30-year minimum. But in the case of the latter, the judge could order that Christian serve two consecutive 30-year minimum terms, for a total of at least 60 years. On top of that, she could add another 7 1/2 years for attempted murder and possibly several years more for the other charges. In all, Christian was found guilty of 12 counts by unanimous votes from the jury on each count. He killed Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53, and seriously wounded Micah Fletcher, then 21, on May 26, 2017. Christian was convicted of the first-degree assault of Fletcher and unlawful use of a weapon and menacing against another passenger, Shawn Forde, when Christian stormed off the train. Christian pointed his knife at Forde and asked if anybody else wanted some. Christian then fled the transit center and was arrested about a mile away, thanks in part to passengers who followed him and notified police of his location. Although a 12-0 verdict was required to reach valid guilty verdicts on the murder charges, verdicts of at least 10-2 were necessary for convictions on the remaining charges, including the intimidation and menacing charges that are misdemeanors. The jurors were unanimous on all charges. If the judge sentences Christian to consecutive sentences, he could be more than 100 years old before hes eligible for release. He was 35 at the time of the stabbings. Washington, Feb 21 (UNI) The United States has reached an understanding with the Taliban and the two sides would sign a peace deal on February 29, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. "After decades of conflict, we have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant reduction in violence across Afghanistan. This is an important step on a long road to peace, and I call on all Afghans to seize this opportunity," Pompeo said in a tweet. In a more substantial statement, released by State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, Pompeo said the talks between the two parties were intended to facilitate a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, reduce United States and Allied Forces presence, and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States or our allies. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and a real opportunity," he said. Afghan officials too confirmed that the peace deal with the militant group. Inter-Afghan negotiations will starts soon after the agreement is signed, Pompeo said. Negotiations for the peace deal resumed after four months in January this year that gad been stuck over the disagreement on the definition of "reduction in violence". US President Donald Trump has constantly promised to end America's wars and bring back its over 10,000 troops home from the war-torn country. The US and NATO forces launched a war against terror in Afghanistan 18 years ago after the global Islamist terror group Al Qaeda sheltered and supported by Taliban attacked the US on September 11, 2001. UNI RHK SRJ Harris County joined 14 attorneys general from across the country who oppose the Trump administrations rollback of chemical safety rules they say will increase the risk of explosions and threaten public safety. The county attorneys office is asking a federal judge to overturn the Environmental Protection Agencys new rules, reversing amendments that placed stricter requirements on companies over how they deal with chemical emergencies. The federal government is failing in its responsibility to protect us from dangerous chemical accidents, County Attorney Vince Ryan said in a written statement Friday. The EPAs action gutted safety protections for chemical accidents and further endangers our neighborhoods in Harris County. The lawsuit was approved by Commissioners Court at its Feb. 18 meeting following a number of high-profile chemical plant disasters in Harris County in 2019. According to the Harris County Attorneys Office, it has cases pending related to fires and explosions at Arkema in Crosby, KMCO in Crosby, Exxon Mobil in Baytown, Watson Grinding in the Spring Branch area and ITC in Deer Park. The lawsuits seek to recover expenses and to order the companies to implement procedures to prevent future incidents, county officials say. In November, the Trump administration announced the reversal of a series of chemical safety regulations, citing potential security risks in disclosing chemical plant inventories and facility locations to the public, the economic cost for companies to follow the rules and the need to reduce unnecessary regulations. Under the new rule, companies will not have to complete third-party audits, explore the use of safer technologies or conduct a root-cause analysis after an incident. They also will not have to provide the public information about what type of chemicals are stored in these facilities. Accident prevention is a top priority of the EPA, and this rule promotes improved coordination between chemical facilities and emergency responders, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens and addresses security risks arising from past changes to risk management rules, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said then. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA requires facilities storing specific chemicals above certain amounts to have risk management plans and to develop programs to prevent and mitigate accidents that could release those chemicals into the environment. In 2017, the Obama administration had introduced rules designed to help prevent and mitigate chemical accidents by requiring more proactive incident prevention efforts, emergency response enhancements and increased public transparency and availability of information, in part as a result of a deadly 2013 explosion in West, Texas. More than 80,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate caught fire at a distribution facility, killing 15 people, injuring 200 and flattening much of the farming community near Waco. Debbie Berkowitz, safety program director for the National Employment Law Project, has told the Houston Chronicle the rules were many years in the making. The EPA had done this really robust outreach effort to industry, communities and firefighters, said Berkowitz, who served as chief of staff at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under President Barack Obama. The rules were designed to protect those who protect us. In developing the rule, the EPA determined that prior protections failed to prevent more than 2,200 chemical fires, explosions, leaks and similar incidents over a 10-year period, according to Earthjustice, a nonprofit representing 13 groups, including Air Alliance Houston, that have also sued the Trump administration to stop the rollback. Matt Dempsey contributed to this report. perla.trevizo@chron.com Kabul: A week-long, partial truce came into effect across Afghanistan on Saturday, with jubilant civilians celebrating in the streets to mark a potentially historic turning point in the war, even as isolated attacks threatened to undermine the process. The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called reduction in violence which, if it holds, will be only the second lull in fighting since 2001. It is the first morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber. I hope it continues forever, Kabul taxi driver Habib Ullah said, while in other parts of the country people danced in the streets. However in Balkh province in the north, Taliban fighters attacked a district headquarters near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing two Afghan soldiers, a local official told AFP. The attack came after midnight, when the partial truce had already kicked in. There were also reports of a separate incident in central Uruzgan province. General Scott Miller, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, stressed that Western forces would continually monitor the reduction in violence. The objective here is that we reduce violence for Afghanistan and that it doesn't spike, Miller told reporters, adding that he was confident of the Taliban's overall commitment to the process. The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could, ultimately, pull US troops out after more than 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future. A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which both the US and the insurgents have said could be done on February 29 in Doha. It also gives a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN's Afghanistan mission said Saturday that more than 10,000 people had been killed or wounded in the war in 2019 alone. In Kandahar in the south, considered the Taliban heartland, and the eastern province of Jalalabad, dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight. Jalalabad residents also celebrated by holding an impromptu bicycle race around the city. In Kabul, which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians, those who spoke to AFP were more wary. A temporary break in war is good but we want a permanent ceasefire, said government worker Fazul Rahman, adding he also wants peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul to begin as soon as possible. Shopkeeper Emamuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, said Afghans want peace whatever it takes. A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye, he said. They should find a long-lasting solution for this country's problem. Dangerous moment Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant. The US has said there is an understanding for a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan, while Afghan security forces will remain on active defence status during the week. The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Twitter. Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners, he added. In Kandahar, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down -- but another said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded joyfully, with Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians hugging, sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes. Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. On Thursday the group's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, penned an extraordinary op-ed in the New York Times in which he stated the insurgents were fully committed to standing by the agreement. Kabul: A week-long, partial truce came into effect across Afghanistan on Saturday, with jubilant civilians celebrating in the streets to mark a potentially historic turning point in the war, even as isolated attacks threatened to undermine the process. The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called reduction in violence which, if it holds, will be only the second lull in fighting since 2001. It is the first morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber. I hope it continues forever, Kabul taxi driver Habib Ullah said, while in other parts of the country people danced in the streets. However in Balkh province in the north, Taliban fighters attacked a district headquarters near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing two Afghan soldiers, a local official told AFP. The attack came after midnight, when the partial truce had already kicked in. There were also reports of a separate incident in central Uruzgan province. General Scott Miller, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, stressed that Western forces would continually monitor the reduction in violence. The objective here is that we reduce violence for Afghanistan and that it doesn't spike, Miller told reporters, adding that he was confident of the Taliban's overall commitment to the process. The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could, ultimately, pull US troops out after more than 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future. A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which both the US and the insurgents have said could be done on February 29 in Doha. It also gives a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN's Afghanistan mission said Saturday that more than 10,000 people had been killed or wounded in the war in 2019 alone. In Kandahar in the south, considered the Taliban heartland, and the eastern province of Jalalabad, dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight. Jalalabad residents also celebrated by holding an impromptu bicycle race around the city. In Kabul, which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians, those who spoke to AFP were more wary. A temporary break in war is good but we want a permanent ceasefire, said government worker Fazul Rahman, adding he also wants peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul to begin as soon as possible. Shopkeeper Emamuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, said Afghans want peace whatever it takes. A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye, he said. They should find a long-lasting solution for this country's problem. Dangerous moment Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant. The US has said there is an understanding for a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan, while Afghan security forces will remain on active defence status during the week. The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Twitter. Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners, he added. In Kandahar, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down -- but another said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded joyfully, with Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians hugging, sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes. Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. On Thursday the group's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, penned an extraordinary op-ed in the New York Times in which he stated the insurgents were fully committed to standing by the agreement. Volkswagen will launch the seven-seater version of the Tiguan, the Tiguan AllSpace in India on 6 March. The Tiguan AllSpace was showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 and it measures 109mm longer than the current model. The upcoming vehicle is part of Volkswagen's SUV offensive under the group's 'India 2.0' project. Visually, as compared to the standard model, the Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace gets a new grille, revised front bumper and tweaked LED headlamps. The SUV features large multi-spoke alloy wheels and LED taillamps. As for the interior, it gets Active Info display, premium leather seats, three-zone climate control, reverse parking camera, panoramic sunroof and more. Mechanically, the Tiguan AllSpace gets a BS6 compliant 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission that produces 190bhp. The upcoming SUV will also get Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. In terms of safety, the Tiguan AllSpace will get seven airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, tyre pressure monitoring system, and a reverse parking camera among others. In terms of pricing, the SUV is expected to be priced around Rs 35-40 lakhs and will compete against the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq , Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour . Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace N/A Onwards Volkswagen | Tiguan AllSpace | Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace Update: Kayleigh O'Brien has been found safe and well. Gardai are seeking the public's help to find a teenage girl who is missing from her home in Dublin. 17-year-old Kayleigh OBrien is missing from the Blanchardstown area since Monday. Kayleigh is 5 7 tall with a slim build. Kayleigh also has long, dark brown hair. It is not known what Kayleigh was wearing at the time she went missing. She is known to frequent the Ballyfermot and Blanchardstown areas. Anyone with information on Kayleighs whereabouts are asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. Kenya Rules Out Evacuating Citizens from Epicenter of Coronavirus By Rael Ombuor February 21, 2020 Kenya's government said that its citizens stranded in Wuhan city the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak are safer staying where they are. The announcement came amid demands for evacuation by the families of about 100 Kenyans stuck in the city, a majority of them students on Chinese scholarships. Speaking Thursday, government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna said none of the students had contracted the disease, but if they flew back home, they could put others at risk. "We are a very wise government that looks at things in broad totality, not based on what others are doing but based on what we think is right for our children," Oguna said. "These Kenyans are coming from different locations of Wuhan and they will be assembled in one central location. Through that movement, the potential of one of them getting infected cannot be ruled out. If one of them gets infected, the possibility of the other 100 getting infected cannot be ruled out." In an effort to keep the virus at bay, a majority of African governments have chosen not to evacuate their citizens. Trade between China and Africa has raised fears of a coronavirus outbreak across the continent because of the volume of air traffic between some African countries and China. Most African countries have increased surveillance in their various ports of entry to ensure that the virus does not sneak in. Some African airlines, including Kenya Airways, have canceled scheduled flights to China as a safety measure. Kenya's Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, said everything is being done to ensure that Kenyans stuck in China including a team of acrobats are comfortable. "However, the situation in China is getting better in terms of the numbers, and we will continue to provide that psychosocial support," Amoth said. "We have also gone ahead to give further support in terms of financials. Yesterday the ministry of foreign affairs released Kenya shillings 1 million, to be distributed to the 100 students plus acrobats in China for their upkeep. Further, the People's Republic of China donated 5,000 US dollars' worth of provisions, which the Kenyan embassy in Beijing is processing for onward transition to the students." Over 2,000 people infected with the virus have died, while more than 75,000 infections have been confirmed. Cases have been confirmed in at least 26 other countries, but none in sub-Saharan Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Met Eireann has issued a Weather Warning for rain for Sunday evening and into Monday for most of Ireland. The Yellow Rainfall Warning is for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare and Tipperary. Rain on Sunday night into Monday morning will lead to accumulations of between 20 to 25mm quite widely, with higher totals possible in upland areas. According to Met Eireann, the rain is likely to be preceded by a period of snow in parts of Connacht, Ulster and north Leinster, before turning to rain later in the night. As the ground is saturated at the moment and river levels are elevated the combined effect of rainfall and snow melt may lead to some localised surface and river flooding. The warning is in place from 8pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday. The weather forecast for Saturday for Ireland from Met Eireann is for a mix of bright spells and scattered blustery showers today. Some of the showers will be heavy with hail and risk of thunder, with some sleet possible in northern parts of the country. Daytime highs will range 4 to 7 degrees generally, but reaching 8 or 9 degrees near the south coast. Winds will be fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest, with gales or strong gales on north and northwest coasts. Cloud will thicken countrywide this afternoon. According to Met Eireann, outbreaks of rain will push into the southwest this evening, spreading countrywide tonight. Some persistent, and at times, heavy falls, will occur through parts of Munster and south Leinster overnight, with accumulations leading to local spot flooding in these areas. Minima will range plus 1 and plus 3 degrees in the north to between 4 to 7 degrees further south. Southwest winds will ease and back southerly before falling light over much of the country, however a strong and gusty westerly wind will affect southwest Munster and the south coast. The weather forecast for Sunday for Ireland from Met Eireann is for a damp or wet start to the day. This will soon give way to sunny spells and scattered showers extending from southwest during the morning. Becoming largely dry for a time during the afternoon, before cloud thickens from the southwest once again on Sunday evening, bringing outbreaks of rain. Highs of 5 and 7 degrees, generally, but 8 or 9 near the south coast. Gusty northwest winds at first, will ease and back southeast in the evening. On Sunday night rain will become widespread, falling as sleet and snow in the north initially but turning to rain as the night goes on. Temperatures will be as low as zero or plus 1 degrees in the early part of the night in the north, but will rise to 10 or 11 degrees through the night as strengthening southeast winds veer southwest and bring milder air over the country. Rain will clear early on Monday morning with showers following. The westerly winds will be very strong through Ulster with showers there turning wintry. The strong southwest to west winds will gradually ease by Monday evening. Day time temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees early on will fall quickly through the afternoon and will bottom out at plus 1 or 2 degrees overnight Monday night. In South Korea, Singapore and Iran, clusters of infections are leading to a jump in cases of the new viral illness outside China. But its not the numbers that are worrying experts: It's that increasingly they can't trace where the clusters started. World Health Organization officials said China's crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. But as hot spots emerge around the globe, trouble finding each source the first patient who sparks every new cluster might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-true public health steps to stamp it out. A number of spot fires, occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic, said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at Australia's University of Queensland. That worst-case isn't here yet, the WHO insists. It isn't convinced that countries outside China need more draconian measures, but it pointed to spikes in cases in Iran and South Korea to warn that time may be running out to contain the virus. What we see is a very different phase of this outbreak depending where you look, said WHO's Dr. Sylvie Briand. We see different patterns of transmission in different places. The World Health Organization defines a global pandemic as a disease spreading on two continents, though some public health experts would call an outbreak a pandemic if the spread is over a wide area or across many international borders. The newest red flag: Iran has reported 28 cases, including five deaths, in just days. The cluster began in the city of Qom, a popular religious destination, but it's not clear how. Worse, infected travelers from Iran already have been discovered in Lebanon and Canada. In South Korea, most of the hundreds of new cases detected since Wednesday are linked to a church in the city of Daegu and a nearby hospital. But health authorities have not yet found the index case, the person among the churchs 9,000 followers who set off the chain of infections. Story continues There also have been several cases in the capital, Seoul, where the infection routes have not yet been traced. In Europe, Italy saw cases of the new virus more than quadruple in a day as it grapples with infections in a northern region that apparently have spread through a hospital and a cafe. A cluster of cases isn't inherently worrying in fact, it's expected as an infection that's easy to spread is carried around the world by travelers. The first line of defense: Isolate the sick to treat them and prevent further spread, and quarantine people who came in contact with them until the incubation period is over. But as the virus becomes more widespread, trying to trace every contact would be futile, Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged earlier this month. If we still hospitalize and isolate every suspect case, our hospitals will be overwhelmed, he said. So far, the city-state has identified five clusters of transmission, including two churches. But there remain eight locally transmitted cases with no links to earlier cases, or to China. Viruses vary in how they infect. The new coronavirus unlike its cousins SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, and MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome spreads as easily as a common cold. And it's almost certainly being spread by people who show such mild symptoms that no one can tell, said Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. If that's the case, all of these containment methods are not going to work, Adalja said. It's likely mixed in the cold and flu season all over the place, in multiple countries and gone unnoticed until someone gets severely ill. These milder symptoms are good news in terms of not as many people dying, said Mackay, of Australia. But its really bad news if you are trying to stop a pandemic, he added. When Hong Kong reported it first death from the virus earlier this month, it also confirmed three locally transmitted cases with no known link to any previous cases or any travel history to China. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection warned then that "there could be invisible chains of infection happening within communities." Officials in both South Korea and Japan have signaled in the past week that the spread is entering a new phase in their countries. On Friday, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said the government would have to shift its focus from quarantine and border control to slowing the spread of the virus. Schools and churches were closed and some mass gatherings banned. Takaji Wakita, head of Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, earlier urged people to work at home or in shifts to avoid being in a crowd, and refrain from holding non-essential and non-urgent meetings. But Adalja cautioned that far-reaching measures like China instituted in the outbreak's epicenter of Wuhan where citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes for weeks can backfire. While it remains to be seen if the new virus is waning, that kind of lockdown makes it hard for people to get other critically important care, like fast treatment for a heart attack. There's no way to predict if the recent clusters will burn out or trigger widespread transmission. For now, health officials should try and contain the infection for as long as possible while preparing for a change in strategy by preparing hospitals, readying protective equipment and bolstering laboratory capacity, said Gagandeep Kang, a microbiologist who leads Indias Translational Health Science and Technology Institute. Although the window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak, we still have a chance to contain it," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. But while doing that, we have to prepare at the same time for any eventualities, because this outbreak could go any direction it could even be messy. ___ Ghosal reported from New Delhi. Neergaard reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press writers Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this story. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. BJP leader Ram Kadam on Saturday questioned the silence of Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik in a video in which all the ministers of Maharashtra government are hailing Maratha warrior Shivaji Maharaj but Malik is apparently silent. "All the ministers were hailing Shivaji Maharaj, why was Nawab Malik was silent? Why can't he raise 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Zindabad' slogan? The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has to explain why their leaders are silent, why Shivaji Maharaj's name is not coming on his tongue, who is stopping him to cheer in the name of Shivaji Maharaj?" Kadam said while speaking to ANI. Kadam also tweeted the said video and asked the Shiv Sena to clear its stand on Malik's silence. He said: "Shiv Sena is having an alliance with NCP. Shiv Sena will also have to clarify its stand that why a minister of their government is not taking the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. What is the reason behind his silence?" The NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena have formed a coalition government in Maharashtra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two-time champion Gilles Simon stunned top seed and world number five Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-0 in just 67 minutes to reach the semi-finals in Marseille. The 35-year-old Frenchman, who was champion at the tournament in 2007 and 2015, will face Canadian seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the final after securing a third win in three meetings with Russia's Medvedev, the US Open runner-up last year. Auger-Aliassime defeated Egor Gerasimov of Belarus 7-5, 6-2 to move to within one win of a fifth career final. The 19-year-old Canadian was runner-up in to Gael Monfils in Rotterdam earlier this month in what was his fourth defeat in four ATP finals. Auger-Aliassime defeated Simon in their only previous meeting, a straight sets win in Stuttgart last season. Defending champion and second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece made the last-four with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Canada's Vasek Pospisil. He will now play Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who knocked out Canadian fourth seed Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, for a place in Sunday's final. World number 55 Bublik will be playing in his third career semi-final. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Since the founding of the Irish Republic, there have been two main political parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. But where in Britain the Tories very much occupy the right side of the political spectrum and the Labour party the left, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have offered up only centre-right politics to Irish voters, taking turns at the top for the last 100 years. Until the most recent election, that is. In 2020, Irelands left in the form of Sinn Fein delivered its strongest ever election performance. Once the counting from Irelands single transferable vote system had concluded (ie a much longer time after polls had closed than we are used to in the UK), Fine Gael had delivered the worst result in the partys history. Fianna Fail fared slightly better though the result was only marginally better than its own personal worst (the 2011 election). Ah yes, the 2011 election where voters took into account the fact that whilst Fianna Fail had overseen the unbridled capitalist wet dream that was the Celtic Tiger, it was actually the architect of an unmitigated disaster in the form of the property bubble, credit crunch and subsequent bank guarantee with its crushing obligations. Once the counts were done, Fianna Fail had gone from 77 seats in the 160-seat chamber to 20 and was, most definitely, no longer in power. Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Show all 23 1 /23 Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein candidate Donnchadh O'Laoghaire celebrates with supporters Reuters Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald speaks to the press at a count center in Dublin. Exit polls in the Irish general election suggest a three way tie between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein EPA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie An activist dressed up as a giant stick of celery who targeted two Irish politicians at a polling station at Kilgarvan Central School in Co Kerry Peta/PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein's Paul Donnelly celebrates with his mother Bridie after winning Dublin West Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Bonnie, a terrier cross waits for her owner outside a polling station in Drumconda Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O'Laoghaire was the first TD to be elected as he topped the poll in Cork South Central PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is greeted by a supporter during the Irish General Election count at the Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Taoiseach Leo Varadkar casts his vote Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein candidate Aengus O Snodaigh with supporters in Dublin EPA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Counting begins in the Cork South-Central constituency Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein's Paul Donnelly celebrates with his mother Bridie after winning Dublin West Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O'Laoghaire with his partner Eimear, their four-month old baby Fiach, and their son Se, aged 9 PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Counting staff PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein supporters celebrating EPA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald during the Irish General Election count at the RDS in Dublin PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie AFP via Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne vote in the Irish General Election at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Counting begins in the Cork South-Central constituency Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie AFP via Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie PA Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Counting begins in the Cork South-Central constituency Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Counting begins Getty Images Ireland Election 2020: Sinn Fein gains suggest three-way tie Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, with local councillor Seamas McGrattan, arrives to cast her vote PA In the 2016 election, it was the Labour Partys turn to be eviscerated by the electorate, falling from 37 to just seven seats. After its spell in coalition with Fine Gael, Labour was bundled up into the establishment, which seemed unable or unwilling to fight back against the excruciating demands of the terrifying troika. It ceased to represent the working people of Ireland at least in the eyes of the voters and it paid the price. By this time, Sinn Fein and a few other left-wing groups had already begun to establish themselves as the only real alternative to the shades of grey in the three main political parties. Sinn Feins then-leader Gerry Adams had served several years as a TD in the dail (the Irish parliament) and recast himself in the eyes of many through his quirky social media presence, posting videos of himself cooking and bouncing on a trampoline with his dog. This, coupled with a growing number of Sinn Fein local councillors, enabled the party to undergo an image overhaul in the eyes of voters, leading to a growing number of TDs. Sinn Fein spoke out against the harsh conditions imposed by the troika on the Irish people, blaming politicians for leading the general public to believe that everything was absolutely grand great, in fact, and that there was nothing odd at all in the world and his plumber becoming a property developer across the country before the crisis hit. The party also complained about the spiralling costs of housing, health coverage and the countrys approach to taxing multinational corporations. People who felt ignored, forgotten and unrepresented by any of the traditional Irish parties finally felt heard, and so Sinn Fein gained traction across the country. It reaped the benefits in the 2020 election, but even the party didnt quite expect what happened. Last year, it performed poorly in the local and European elections and decided to field just 42 candidates for the 160 seats up for grabs. However, the last 12 months has told a tale of two Irelands. To many on the world stage, Leo Varadkar acquitted himself well whilst navigating the brave new world of Brexit. Meanwhile, at home, people grew increasingly fed up with a growing number of societal issues. It felt as though the government was pouring all its time into looking good abroad while the main topics for voters were closer to home: health and housing. It can cost upwards of 50 (42) to see your GP, unless you have a medical card. One hospital in Waterford has just announced it will not be accepting any urology referrals for six months. A recent report by the Health Information Quality Authority found that staff shortages are threatening the sustainability of the countrys maternity services. According to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, there are currently 776,499 patients on waiting lists at an acute care hospital and 53,000 children are waiting for care at one of the countrys three childrens hospitals of a national population of roughly 4.9 million. Meanwhile, house prices generally go only one way in Ireland: up, and way up. In Dublin, queues form outside rental properties for viewings and if youre not one of the first two people to cross the threshold, you often havent got a snowballs chance in hell of making it your home. Home ownership is actually at its lowest in 50 years. The ongoing chatter about Irelands success attracting some of the worlds biggest businesses neglects to mention that these companies tend to set up in the ever-enriching east coast particularly in Dublin itself, with a few exceptions in other cities. So, the appointment of Leo Varadkar as taoiseach (prime minister) in 2017 may have seemed to the world as a sign of increasing social liberalisation of the Irish people. But in reality, whilst having an openly gay man of Indian heritage as the nations leader was without doubt something to celebrated as a historical first, Varadkar was appointed by fellow politicians once his predecessor Enda Kenny stood down, not by the general public. Varadkars Fine Gael did a great job managing outwards, but not so much with the people who put it in power. Huge swathes of the population felt forgotten about, not listened to, not heard. And they pushed back against the establishment in the one way they could in the voting booth. Many of the older generations and plenty of the commentariat here in Britain fail to comprehend why or how its come to this and are scared by the prospect of a Sinn Fein growing in power, influence and size. But for the younger generations in Ireland, it seems the greatest of insults is that their parents and grandparents cant see the struggle they face in trying to pay rent and bills or buy their own home. They are the first generation to face a future where they are worse off than their parents. They are also less concerned about Sinn Feins past; they didnt live through the Troubles, and, despite the fact that questions remain over the partys answerability for some, given that the two main parties in Ireland occupy the same part of the political spectrum, so as far as they were concerned: whats the alternative? The Green Party gained 10 seats, bringing it to 12 TDs, Labour managed just six and a smattering of other left-wing parties secured 12 seats between them. None of them had the nationwide infrastructure and appeal to deliver the same results as Sinn Fein and take up the mantle of the biggest party of the left. Despite Sinn Feins undeniable triumph, Ireland still has no government. It did not win outright and has nowhere near enough seats for a majority government. In fact, once the votes from Irelands single transferrable vote system were tallied, it wound up with the same number of seats as Fianna Fail 37. An intricate deal will need to be struck with all the main parties and it requires support from the smaller parties and independent TDs. (There are now 19 non-affiliated TDs in the dail and they will undoubtedly hold the key to any coalition.) Fianna Fail has recently ruled out partnering with Sinn Fein and is instead attempting to form a government without it. History may yet repeat itself. 22.02.2020 LISTEN Doctors attended to her after she had delivered a healthy baby boy via Caesarean section. He was put on my naked chest to feel his heartbeat and bond with him. I was scared to do any harm to him while we were alone in the hospital room for an unforgettable half an hour. Six months later DNA testing revealed, he was not my son...someone else had impregnated my wife and she had pretended to deliver a child for me, one of my own blood. In Germany each year out of 787.500 birth (2019) approx. 25.900 -50.000 - and potentially higher numbers - children are so-called "cuckoo children", children under the wings of husbands but not from their own blood and unaware of the truth behind the childs birth. At the same time it is believed that in Germany 20.000-80.000 (0,1% of our population) Transgender live forcing the official language in any form of communication, be it job offer or articles, to state all genders possible as (M/W/D) for male, female and diverse. A strong lobby stands behind the campaign and legal achievements. 26.000 cuckoo children make 106.000 directly affected people each year (child, mother, biological and legal father). Grandparents, uncles and aunties get changed, some from one second to the next no more grandmother, others unexpectedly grandmothers; unprepared. Assuming the life of such a child reaches 80 years it can be assumed currently in Germany approx. 30 Mio. Germans are affected directly or indirectly, one-third of the German population. This is not a new phenomena, it goes on in the lives of humans since men and women live, in all societies, in all cultures, at all times around the world with differences in the numbers and dealings with the situation of occurrences which can easily be stopped by women confessing to the husband while pregnant the child to be born is possible not his...in the end the truth will always find its way and even hit harder than the confession made well beforehand. In Germany, the biological father has no right to ask for DNA testing when suspecting his married girl-friend might deliver his baby. The legal father has to go to court applying to be taken out from the birth certificate of the cuckoo child which is an additional emotional and financial burden. He can ask the biological father to compensate him for any expenditure made for the child but has no law by his side that can force the mother to disclose the name of the boy-friend making it impossible to be compensated unless by chance. If the biological father is unable to pay for the upkeeping of the child completely, the legal father stands in the position possibly to add up. The legal father, in another court hearing (how expensive!), can appeal for getting access to the child from time to time once he can prove to be emotionally strongly attached to the cuckoo child. When the mother brakes up with the biological father he will contest alongside him for the right of visitation. One weekend with the mother and her possibly new spouse, second weekend with the biological father and third weekend with the legal father!? Three adults, each with different views on child education and hate in each others heart against the other parties involved. Which responsible legal father, during the precious times of upbringing, would give his ex-son such an emotional and spiritual roller coaster? King Solomon`s judgment about the true mother of a child guides any such legal father for the sake of the child. In many other cases, the children are teenagers or even adults before the truth comes to light causing equally emotional and spiritual pain. In all cases, the mother walks away financially, legally and spiritually unpunished while hearts in ruins are left behind around her. Even in the divorce process, she gets half of the assets acquired during the marriage, not even cut short by the moment of her intentionally violating the legal contract signed at their wedding day. Other societies, especially in Africa, value such women in a much different light and laws judge them in their own ways. Affected men have problems to pay for DNA testing and the involved legal fees. Social Media platforms are full of devastating confessions of men with cuckoo children, yet there is no national or international organization voicing their concerns and asking for laws that bring justice to the affected as well as the demand each child born should be automatically tested right after birth for their DNA and that of the potential father as well as pleading women not to deliver such children...as in the end no one is winning, but all are suffering. As yourself: WHY? An alleged robber covered his face with a plastic bag and used a finger gun during a bizarre attempt to steal from a supermarket. CCTV footage obtained by The Daily Telegraph showed the alleged foolish thief approach the store counter in Airds, Sydney's south-west, in late January. The man allegedly hid his face with a single-use plastic bag and displayed a finger gun during his failed attempt to coerce the female shop assistant. The man, who was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, allegedly moved his finger gun towards the staff member a number of times. He then allegedly demanded she hand over cash. The female shop assistant was not fazed by the alleged confrontation and instead laughed in the man's face. He took a quick look around the empty store before deciding to bolt. Police allege the peculiar attempted hold-up was not a joke and the man has appeared in court for the offence. The Greater Accra Sustainable Sanitation and Livelihoods Improvement Project, GASSLIP, has held a workshop for the Greater Accra region, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) as key stakeholders in the implementation of its policy framework. In her opening remarks, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon Cecilia Abena-Dapaah expressed delight for the commencement of the project According to her, today marks an important milestone in the preparatory works for the implementation of the Greater Accra Sustainable Sanitation and Livelihoods Improvement Project (GASSLIP). "We have all been anxious to see the project take off in earnest so that we can continue to deliver the good sanitation facilities to our people. In spite of the initial challenges and delays, the project will soon gather momentum, we have had very fruitful discussions with the African Development Bank to facilitate a quick and effective roll-out of the project. "Before I continue with the main purpose for our gathering, permit me to comment on the general state of affairs regarding sanitation in the city because we have declared this year An Action Year for Sanitation. As a Ministry, we have been monitoring activities on the ground and I am happy to note that we pulled through the Year of Return, an improvement in the sanitation situation across the city," she noted. The Minister said the main challenges of sanitation is the drains and gutters most of which have been choked with sand and refuse including plastics. "We therefore need to take the cleaning of the drains and gutters very important project. I also wish to appeal to you all to mount speakers on your vans and pickups and help to continuously educate and sensitize the public on general cleanliness. We cannot and dare not fail President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his vision of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa- A bold and positive declaration indeed. "It will take all Ghanaians at all levels to achieve this great feat. Hon. Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives, what this calls for, is for us to intensify our participation and commitment by sensitizing all the citizenry and adopting innovative ways of cleaning the city" the Minister admonished "I have a personal commitment to the successful implementation of the GASSLIP and GAMA SW and GARID projects since these are flagship projects under the Ministry which have the potential of substantially closing the yawning gap of inadequate delivery of sustainable sanitation infrastructure and services particularly in the low income communities in our beautiful city of Accra," she emphasised. She said her outfit in partnership with the MMDCEs and other stakeholders, are hopeful of making a huge impact to change in the insanitary environmental situation in the respective Assemblies by addressing the challenges along the entire sanitation value chain. "The objective of the GASSLIP is to increase access to safe and sustainable sanitation to the residents of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), targeting the urban and peri-urban poor residents. This project will provide domestic and municipal level sanitation infrastructure, support skills development and livelihood improvements, and also enhance the capacity of sanitation service providers and the participating local government authorities to better deliver and manage climate resilient sanitation services," she intimated. Hon Abenap-Dapaah noted that the Project is estimated to cost US$ 53.86 million, of which the African Development Bank will contribute US$ 48.85m whilst the remaining US$ 5.01million is been borne by the Government and Beneficiary Contributions. "It is estimated that the project will benefit 1.9 million residents of GAMA directly and another 1.8 million people indirectly through improved sanitary, environmental and social conditions, contributing to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 6 in particular. Hon. Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives, although the project is expected to last for 5 years it is already in its third year of implementation. "This workshop is a key milestone with the main objective to sensitize our Hon. Chief Executives to enable you play a crucial role and offer requisite political and administrative leadership during the implementation of the project. "I am informed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which spells out the respective commitments and responsibilities during implementation and a guiding framework for partnership between the Ministry and your respective Assemblies have already been submitted to you for inputs. "It is refreshing to observe that about half of the total number of Assemblies in the GAMA have already signed the MoU indicating that you are all in a hurry to implement the project. "We will finalize the MoU and sign off today so we can proceed to implement the project in line with the Project Implementation Manual. "I am convinced that the presentation by the GASSLIP team will provide you additional information to broaden your understanding of the project including your roles and responsibilities," the sector minister stressed. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday informed the media that preparations are underway in some school of the capital for the visit of the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS), Melania Trump to attend a happiness class. However, the minister refused to reveal the name and location of the school in which Melania Trump would be visiting, due to security concerns for the visiting dignitaries. "All preparations are taking place according to the MEA and the Central Government. Yes, in some schools, some preparations are underway for Melania Trump's visit but I cannot tell you more about that due to security issues," he said while speaking to media in New Delhi. The first lady will arrive in India on Monday with President Donald Trump. The Happiness class was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via Associated Press Sen. Bernie Sanders, the 2020 Democratic frontrunner, suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind "ugly" online attacks often attributed to Sanders' supporters. The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Russian government is attempting to interfere in the Democratic primary to aid Sanders. "Some of the ugly stuff on the internet attributed to our campaign may well not be coming from real supporters," he said. An election-security official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told lawmakers in a classified briefing that the Russians are also working to help President Donald Trump get reelected. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the 2020 Democratic frontrunner, suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind "ugly" online attacks often blamed on his supporters after The Washington Post's Friday report that the Russian government is attempting to interfere in the Democratic primary to aid Sanders. Sanders released a lengthy statement condemning the interference on Friday afternoon. "Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia," Sanders said in the emailed statement. "Let's be clear, the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts, and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election." Notably, the Vermont lawmaker suggested that Putin may also be behind the attacks on other Democrats made by apparent Sanders supporters online in recent days. "Some of the ugly stuff on the internet attributed to our campaign may well not be coming from real supporters," he said. Sanders added, "I don't care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president. My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do." Story continues The revelation comes after an election-security official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence told lawmakers in a classified briefing that the Russians are also working to help President Donald Trump get reelected. According to The Post, Trump and congressional lawmakers were also informed of Russia's campaign to help Sanders clinch the Democratic nomination, but the type and scope of the Kremlin's interference are still unclear. The president has so far either refused to acknowledge Russia's meddling or offered a lukewarm condemnation. Sonam Sheth contributed to this report. Read the original article on Business Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 02:28:27|Editor: zyl Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the recent escalation of tensions in Syria's Idlib and confirmed that the two countries will continue intensive military contacts amid Idlib escalation during a phone conversation on Friday, the Kremlin said in a statement. "The talks focused again on the situation in Idlib de-escalation zone. Vladimir Putin expressed serious concerns over the ongoing aggressive actions of extremist groups. The necessity of unconditional respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic was emphasized," the statement said. Putin and Erdogan agreed to intensify bilateral interagency consultations on Idlib, aimed at reducing tensions, ensuring a ceasefire and neutralizing the terrorist threat, it added. According to the Kremlin, the leaders confirmed that intense military contacts would continue. On Thursday, Syrian government troops backed up by Russian warplanes repelled several massive attacks by militants supported by Turkish artillery fire in Idlib. Russia's Su-24 attack aircraft struck the militants, while the Russian military urged Turkey to stop supporting the militants and halt supplying weapons to them in order to avoid future incidents. As a hospice advocate, I find it troubling that patients at Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (RQHC) must leave their trusted physician when they transition to hospice. Because of a billing issue, these vulnerable patients are forced to seek a different physician, sometimes having to travel miles and hours to find an office accepting new patients and willing to accompany them to hospice. Most RHC/FQHC physicians would prefer to remain with their patients, but are prevented from doing so by a quirk in the law. Thankfully, legislators in Washington have taken up this issue and introduced the Rural Access to Hospice Act, which would fix the billing issue and allow patients at RHCs and FQHCs to keep their physician. The bill is bipartisan, bicameral and it is ripe and ready to move this year. I call on all our members of Congress to cosponsor the Rural Access to Hospice Act and ensure that all Americans are able to access quality Kelly Coons, Dillsburg Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora is criticizing a Sussex County freeholder who justified supporting a pro-2nd Amendment resolution by blaming the gangs in Trenton" and other cities for gun violence. I found it very offensive, Gusciora said Friday. Sussex County Freeholder Herb Yardley said residents of his county should not be blamed for gun violence as he explained his vote for a resolution, on Wednesday night, declaring Sussex a 2nd Amendment / lawful gun owner county. Yardley identified himself as a hunter and National Rifle Association member, and said his guns routinely are checked by state park rangers to ensure he complies with limits on shotgun shells. I wonder how many times the gangs in Trenton - because Trenton had a situation, 11 shootings on a weekend - I dont know, did anybody say, Wait a minute, let me check your gun, I want to see how many bullets you have, Yardley said, according to a video of the meeting. Yardley appeared to be referencing a drive-by shooting that wounded 10 outside a Trenton bar in May. The resolution was approved 5-0 by the all-Republican freeholder board. Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, in hat, with Sussex County Freeholder Herbert Yardley at the township committee meeting in Stillwater, Jan. 21, 2020Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Gusciora, a Democrat who took office in July 2018, countered that crime in Trenton has fallen 20% in the past year. I believe we should all be working on lowering crime together, including the 11 drug deaths in Sussex County, instead of throwing things at each other," Gusciora said, referencing a surge in fatal overdoses in January in Sussex that prompted a State Police alert. Yardley did not limit his critique to Trenton at the meeting. The problem is not me. The problem is not these people out there," Yardley said, referencing the audience in Newton. The problem is the criminal element in New Jersey, in New York, in the major cities with their guns. Its not the average person, Yardley said. Asked about gun violence, Gusciora said the problem is exacerbated by those who buy guns in Pennsylvania, and other lax gun law states, and bring them into New Jersey. The guns from the gangs arent being purchased in New Jersey," Gusciora said. Yardley did not immediately respond to a phone message. Sussex County is among the latest jurisdictions in New Jersey to adopt a pro-2nd Amendment resolution, a trend set in motion by the West Milford council in December. Warren County freeholders announced Feb. 11 they unanimously passed a resolution declaring Warren a Second Amendment/Lawful Gun Owner County. The freeholder board desires to express its deep commitment to the rights of citizens of Warren County to keep and bear Arms, the resolution stated, and opposes any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict such rights, according to a news release from the county. State Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, who addressed the Stillwater council on the topic in January, was among those speaking at the freeholder meeting. The rightful gun owners are not the problem in this state. Its the criminals ... we have to lock them up and throw away the key, Space said. Gusciora is a former municipal prosecutor and was in the New Jersey Assembly for more than two decades prior to becoming mayor of Trenton, the states 10th most-populated municipality. He said he meant no ill will to Sussex County and would welcome a dialogue with county officials. Its easy to poke at Trenton. The difficult thing is to work together on mutual problems and find solutions, Gusciora said. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Representative Image Afghans woke up to a week-long partial truce Saturday after the Taliban, the US and local forces all agreed to a lull that could be a major turning point in the long conflict. If the so-called "reduction in violence" holds, it will be a major step towards withdrawing US troops after more than 18 years -- and launching Afghanistan into an uncertain future. "Afghans are tired of war," Bismillah Watandost, a senior member of the grassroots People's Peace Movement of Afghanistan, told AFP, calling on citizens to march and "demand an end to this tragic war". Many Afghans on Facebook were hopeful. "It's a golden opportunity for Afghanistan to bring peace," one, Abu Mahmood, wrote. Both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements on Friday saying they had agreed to sign an accord on February 29 in Doha, following the one-week partial truce. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the US-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," Pompeo said, adding that talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government would "start soon thereafter". Afghanistan's National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal and Taliban sources said a "reduction in violence" between US, Taliban and Afghan security forces had been agreed. The United States has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal in which it would pull out thousands of troops in return for Taliban security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. A reduction in violence would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which would see the Pentagon withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. "The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence," US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Twitter. "Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added. A partial truce could also give a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN said last year that more than 100,000 people have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan in the last decade. However details of what exactly such a truce will look like have remained scant. In southern Kandahar province, seen as the Taliban heartland, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down. However another Taliban commander there said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Worse still, they say warring parties could exploit a lull to reconfigure their forces and secure a battlefield advantage. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded jubilantly, with Taliban fighters and security forces hugging and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes around the country. Civilians also flocked to greet the insurgents as they entered urban areas that they usually visit only to attack, including the capital Kabul, for ice cream and more selfies. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Friday Afghan security forces would remain "on active defence status" during the week. In a statement, the Taliban said warring parties would "create a suitable security situation" ahead of a deal signing. The Taliban's political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, separately tweeted that the agreement would see "all" foreign forces leave Afghanistan. But for now at least, the United States wants to leave troops in Afghanistan on a counter-terrorism mission to fight jihadists such as the Islamic State group. Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusufzai said the move signalled a change in thinking for both the Taliban and the United States after years of fighting. "Both sides have shown their commitment to sign the peace deal, and it's a big development," he said. The United States and the Taliban have been tantalisingly close to a deal before, only to see President Donald Trump nix it at the eleventh hour in September. The attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications, including the fear that competing forces could exploit a lull to secure a battlefield advantage. Since the US-led invasion after the September 11, 2001 attacks, America has spent more than $1 trillion in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. What are the development plans for a large tract of land in the Slate Belt and what would the economic impact be for the region? Those are two of the questions that will be addressed at a meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 27 in Upper Mount Bethel Township. Representatives from River Pointe Logistics Center will give a presentation and answer public questions. Upper Mount Bethel Township Board of Supervisors and the townships Economic Development Committee are hosting the meeting at the Mount Bethel Fire Co. building at 2341 N. Delaware Drive. River Pointe bought 26 parcels of land in the township from Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings LLC for $17,050,000 in September, according to Northampton County property records. The 725-acre property is located between River Road, Marshfield Drive, Potomac Street, Pine Tree Lane and North Delaware Drive, according to the records. Supervisors Chairman John Bermingham said he and Supervisor Robert Teel met with River Pointes operating member Lou Pektor to discuss potential development of the property. Pektor agreed to provide an economic impact statement and meet with the public, Bermingham said. A lot of people have been wondering whats going on with Lou Pektor, Bermingham said. He doesnt have to do this but he wants to develop a good relationship with Upper Mount Bethel Township. The property is in the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance, or LERTA, area that was established in 2018. The LERTA program provides tax exemptions for improvements to properties in the designated zone. A property in the LERTA area would receive a 100% tax exemption for the assessed value of improvements in year one. The exemption reduces 10% each year for 10 years. The improvements would not be eligible for exemption beginning in year 11. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Lovers eternally bound remain in the heart of Phuket forever -The Sarasin Bridge of Love Remembered Every day, people come and go from Phuket to Phang Nga, looking over at the old Sarasin Bridge, having no idea the significance it holds in Thai folklore. Live here for a substantial amount of time and the legend of Saphan Rak Sarasin will be as well known to you as it is among Thais. LifeHistory-of-PhuketHistory By The Phuket News Saturday 22 February 2020, 10:00AM Photo of Ko and Kiw and the Sarasin Bridge Saphan Rak Sarasin, meaning the Sarasin Bridge of Love, is a story that can come right off the pages of any Shakespearean tragedy. From a time when social class and family name in Phuket was as strong as any Montesquieu and Capulet, the legend of the Sarasin Bridge is one that took place 42 years ago this very week. The legend is well known to Thais throughout Thailand, immortalised in both film and folk songs, it is a tale of two young lovers who decided to bind their forbidden love endlessly together with reckless abandon. Historically, the couple, refused permission to marry, tied themselves together with a traditional Pha Khao Ma cloth to symbolize their eternally bound love, and together in each others arms, jumped into the sea from halfway across the Sarasin bridge. Enter stage left, our two star-crossed lovers, who were of different ancestry and socioeconomic status. The young man, a bus driver named Ko Dam Sae Tan, and the beautiful young university student in a respected teaching program named Kiw Kanchana Sae Ngo. Both lived in Tha Chatchai in Phuket and fell in love with each other despite their differences. Kiw would board Kos bus as part of her daily commute. The local route gave them plenty of time to talk and get to know one another and talk about life and their differences as well as the many similarities. The two found love in each others eyes and saw past the social norms of the day that society insisted made their love unacceptable, and decided to make a life together. Though they loved each other greatly, their relationship was shamed in the eyes of those around them but they pressed on insisting love has no bounds. Ko went to Kiws father to request his daughters hand in marriage, but he was swiftly refused. How could he let his daughter who had such potential, marry a man who lived hand to mouth? Kiws father forbade her from seeing Ko again after this bold act of love. Kiws father ruled the family with an authoritarian might, as was the custom of the day. He gave his daughter no freedom to choose her own path, as he expected that Kiw would marry a wealthy man who could elevate the family status as well as provide a substantial dowry for his daughters hand in marriage. As time passed, under her fathers watchful eye, Kiw grew up to have a successful career as a teacher, but her father would remain entrenched in every facet of her love life and continued to demand an end the forbidden love of his daughter. The couples love was muddied by the waters of heredity and social status and though they put every effort to prove that the love they have for each other was strong and true and in no need for the trappings of social norms no matter what they did, Kiws father refused to accept Ko Dam. Kiw was repeatedly beaten by her father and was restrained because she continually would flee to met with Ko Dam. Kiws father attempted to force her to marry wealthy suitors but she refused tooth and nail. After seeing the persistent love of Ko Dam and Kiw, they eventually won the hearts of the people of Tha Chatchai at the time. Shamed and treated as unacceptable at first, later many people would try to persuade Kiws father to accept Ko Dam as a son-in-law, but nothing could change his mind. With growing despair, the couple decided to take their union into their own hands. They arranged to meet halfway across the Sarasin Bridge on Feb 22, 1978, which had been the symbol of their love as the apex of their commute, and bound themselves together with their Pha Khao Ma cloth, and jumped into the water, taking their own lives and ending their pain forever. By binding themselves together, they knew they would be together forever, never to separate, and would be forever bound in the minds of Thailand as well. As William Penn once said, For death is no more than a turning of us over from time eternity. This is perhaps truer this week in Phuket history than in any other. The Legend of Sarasin Bridge is another love lesson inscribed in the heart of Phuket and no matter how many years have passed, the story is told again and again and reminds us all that love has no norms, no class structure, no borders. Love is love and we must all take a leap to be with who we wish to be with. Authorities of Tihar Jail on Saturday said in a local court claims by Vinay Sharma, one of the December 16 gang rape case death row convicts, about his injuries are self-inflicted and he is not suffering from any mental health issues. Vinay Sharmas counsel, AP Singh, had told the court earlier this week that his client suffers from mental illness, schizophrenia and has failed to recognise his counsel and family. Additional sessions judge Dharmendra Rana has then sought a status report from the prison authorities and posted the matter for further hearing on February 22. Sharma had sought directions to authorities to provide him high-level medical treatment to him for his injuries. The plea said that when his counsel found that Sharma had grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm with plaster, and was suffering from insanity, mental illness and schizophrenia. Public prosecutor Irfan Ahmed, who is representing the jail, said in the court Vinay Sharmas application is a bundle of distorted facts. Ahmed said the death row convict himself struck his head on the wall and that it was a self-inflicted injury, he added. Ahmed, in his argument, said the closed-circuit television or CCTV footage in the barrack showed the convict had self harmed. Jail authorities have submitted the footage in the court. On Sharmas plea seeking treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Ahmed said examination by jail doctors and his history reveal that the convict is not suffering from such disease. So his examination at any hospital is not required, Ahmed said. When the court sought to know whether the death row convict are counselled regularly, Tihar authorities informed that the counsellors present in the jail regularly deal with the prisoners. On allegations that Sharma could not identify his counsel or his mother during a legal meeting on Wednesday, Ahmed said there have been two calls from the convict from his mother and counsel on February 17. So all allegations that he cant recognise his mother are also false, he said. Sharmas lawyer AP Singh said jail authorities have concealed fact, contending that the court was not informed about Sharmas injuries. When the incident had taken place on February 16, the court was not informed about the incident on February 17, Singh said as he called for the CCTV footage on the day when he met Sharma on February 18. Singh started crying while presenting his arguments and was offered a glass of water by the judge. He also said he might leave the case and might not continue in this case. This might be my last submission, he said. Sharma along with Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur were sentenced to death by a Delhi court in 2013 after they were found guilty of brutally raping and murdering a 23-year-old paramedic student on a moving bus on December 16, 2012. Their hanging, as ordered by a city court, has been deferred twice. On February 17, a Delhi court had issued fresh warrants, for the third time, to hang the convicts till death on March 3 at 6am. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released an extraordinary statement on their website after they were forced to drop their 'Sussex Royal' brand last night. In the sour-sounding statement Meghan and Harry claimed the Queen does not have 'jurisdiction' over the lucrative term 'royal' overseas. They also appeared to complain that the palace is treating them differently to other family members. Here, MailOnline decodes what each carefully-chosen phrase means. There is 'not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word "Royal" overseas': Harry and Meghan make it perfectly clear that they could use the term 'Royal' as part of their branding overseas if they wanted to Harry and Meghan make it perfectly clear that they could use the term 'Royal' as part of their branding overseas if they wanted to. However, following their transition this Spring, they will drop the term on request of the Queen. The Daily Mail first reported that the Queen had asked Harry and Meghan not to employ the 'Sussex Royal' name when they are no longer working royals. It is a significant blow for the couple, who have spent tens of thousands of pounds building the Sussex Royal-branded website and creating a hugely popular Instagram feed. In an unprecedented legal move, the queen has drafted in top lawyers in a bid to enforce the ban. A string of trademark applications, covering items from clothing and books to stationery and bandanas, were withdrawn. It comes after MailOnline yesterday revealed that Meghan has told friends there is nothing 'legally stopping' her and Harry from using their Sussex Royal name. Meghan complained to her inner circle that using the name 'shouldn't even be an issue in the first place and it's not like they want to be in the business of selling T-shirts and pencils,' the insider said. They added: 'Meghan said she's done with the drama and has no room in her life for naysayers, and the same goes for Harry.' The friend added: 'Meghan said the global projects they are working on speak for themselves and they chose that name to protect the royal name, not profit off of it.' But, the insider added: 'Meghan has told her inner circle that their success is inevitable with or without their current brand name. 'She said regardless of the name, Harry and Archie have royal blood and no one can take that away. And that as a family, they will always be considered royalty.' 'There is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution': Harry and Meghan imply that they are being treated differently to other members of the royal family who can 'seek employment outside of the institution' Harry and Meghan imply that they are being treated differently to other members of the royal family who can 'seek employment outside of the institution'. They say the guidelines are different for them as a 12-month review period has been put in place. They do insist, however, that it is their 'preference' to 'continue to represent and support Her Majesty The Queen albeit in a more limited capacity, while not drawing on the Sovereign Grant'. The couple insist that it is their 'preference' to 'continue to represent and support Her Majesty The Queen albeit in a more limited capacity, while not drawing on the Sovereign Grant' 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son': The couple also insisted that security 'to protect them and their son' is necessary amid controversy surrounding protection costs The couple also insisted that security 'to protect them and their son' is required amid controversy surrounding protection costs. Protection for Meghan and Harry is estimated to cost taxpayers in Canada and the UK between 3million and 6million a year, as staff work round the clock two weeks at a time. The statement read: 'It is agreed that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son. 'This is based on The Dukes public profile by virtue of being born into The Royal Family, his military service, the Duchess own independent profile, and the shared threat and risk level documented specifically over the last few years. 'No further details can be shared as this is classified information for safety reasons.' The couple boldly insist that security is necessary, putting a swift and sudden stop to the naysayers. However, they refuse to provide details about what forms this security will take, claiming doing so would be a breach of 'safety'. By saying that no more details 'can' be shared, the couple imply that they want to give more information but are unable to. 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will become privately funded members of The Royal Family with permission to earn their own income and the ability to pursue their own private charitable interests': The couple plan to relaunch their careers potentially earning millions of pounds a year - in a bid to 'become financially independent' Remaining financially independent has been a key Megxit focal point. The couple plan to relaunch their careers potentially earning millions of pounds a year - in a bid to 'become financially independent'. This will allow them to give up funding from the Sovereign Grant the money taxpayers give to the Queen every year and launch themselves onto the international celebrity circuit. Earlier this year they said they had 'made the choice' to 'no longer receive funding' from the Sovereign Grant, adding: 'Their Royal Highnesses prefer to release this financial tie.' Harry and Meghan's first post-Megxit appearance earlier this month was at an event held by US banking giant JP Morgan in Miami - an organisation which has been embroiled in a succession of controversies. Harry is still 'sixth in line to the throne': The line of the succession to the monarchy is: Prince of Wales followed by Prince William, then Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis finally followed by Prince Harry The statement spells out the fact that Harry is still sixth in line to the throne. The line of the succession to the monarchy is: Prince of Wales followed by Prince William, then Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis finally followed by Prince Harry. The statement reads: 'As the grandson of Her Majesty and second son of The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex remains sixth in line to the throne of The British Monarchy and the Order of Precedence is unchanged.' They will 'be allowed to maintain their patronages': The statement states that the couple will be allowed to keep their patronages even though they won't be allowed to carry out official duties for the Queen The statement states that the couple will be allowed to keep their patronages even though they won't be allowed to carry out official duties for the Queen. By using the word 'allowed' they put the onus on the Queen, who the couple make clear has given her express permission. It comes after Meghan was given until Easter to prove her mettle as Royal Patron of the National Theatre, according to a top West End producer. She was gifted the honour last January by the Queen, who had been the National's patron for 45 years. Nica Burns - who co-owns The Nimax Group, which comprises six London West End theatres including The Palace, the Apollo and the Vaudeville - has said that the Duchess should not hold the position indefinitely. Ms Burns said: 'I think we should give Meghan until Easter to say what she thinks is possible with her patronage.' 'We have to give her a chance, forget who she is and give her some space. 'If she is not going to be doing any work with the National, then she should step down. But as she is a role model, we would rather she didn't.' The Duke and Duchess's statement read: 'It was agreed that The Duke and Duchess will no longer be able to formally carry out "official duties" for The Queen or represent The Commonwealth, but they will, however, be allowed to maintain their patronages (including those that are classified as royal patronages).' Harry 'will retain the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader' The statement makes it clear that Harry will maintain military titles including: the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader The statement makes it clear that Harry will maintain military titles including: the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader. It was earlier revealed that Harry is being stripped of a number of military roles including Captain General of the Royal Marines, the ceremonial head of the Corps. He will also lose Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command. Harry will also be barred from wearing his military uniform after stepping back from Armed Forces appointments, although he can still wear his medals at engagements. The couple's statement read: 'In relation to the military, The Duke of Sussex will retain the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader. 'During this 12-month period of review, The Dukes official military appointments will not be used as they are in the gift of the Sovereign. No new appointments will be made to fill these roles before the 12-month review of the new arrangements is completed. 'While per the agreement, The Duke will not perform any official duties associated with these roles, given his dedication to the military community and ten years of service he will of course continue his unwavering support to the military community in a non-official capacity. 'As founder of the Invictus Games, The Duke will proudly continue supporting the military community around the world through the Invictus Games Foundation and The Endeavour Fund.' Hitting out at AIMIM leader Waris Pathan over his '15 crore Muslims can be heavy on 100 crore' remark, Maharashtra BJP legislator Girish Vyas has said he should remember what happened in Gujarat. Vyas, who is an MLC and a BJP spokesperson, also urged the Muslim community to boycott people like Pathan and "teach them a lesson". "The youths and patriots of this country and each worker of the BJP are ready to give a befitting reply to Waris Pathan in the same language he has used," Vyas said while speaking to TV9 news channel on Friday. "We are tolerant and patient, but this not does mean that we cannot deal with them. Remember Gujarat, the incidents happened in Kalupur. If they take that into account...I feel the Muslims there today do not dare to rise again," he said. Vyas was apparently referring to the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, in which over 1,000 people, mostly of the minority community, were killed. "Maharashtra chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) should take action against Pathan for sedition and the Indian government should send him to Pakistan," he added. Vyas, who is from Nagpur, dared Pathan to come to his city. "We will make proper arrangement for you. Do you think we are wearing bangles? We are ready to deal with you. But we feel that there should not be any disharmony in the society," he said. "We request the Muslim community to boycott such people. The community should teach a proper lesson to those who are trying to create disharmony in the society," Vyas added. GREENWICH Dogs have been banned from Greenwich Point due to an outbreak of distemper in the raccoon population at the beachfront park, the Greenwich Police Department announced Friday night. The closure to dogs goes into effect on Saturday morning and is in effect until further notice, police said. The closure was ordered by the local director of health. If you are walking and see a dead, sick or distressed raccoon, do not touch or approach the animal, police said. Since the start of the month, the town has responded to several reports of dead or very sick raccoons at Greenwich Point. Tests for rabies on the deceased raccoons came back negative about a week ago. But the tests for distemper were positive, as health authorities in town continued to monitor the outbreak of illness in the raccoon population. Distemper, a virus that is very contagious in animals, can be dangerous and even deadly for dogs as well as raccoons, according to Michael Long, director of environmental services for the town. It can also affect ferrets as well as wolves, foxes and skunks. It is fairly uncommon to see an outbreak of disease like this in the raccoon population in Greenwich, and Long could not recall another case. He said it was important for dog owners to keep up with their vaccinations for their pets. Greenwich has seen little of rabies in the wildlife population over the past five years. A rabid raccoon was documented in 2016. Two cases of rabies were reported in 2015 in a bat and a skunk. Last fall, a raccoon bit three people on a September afternoon in nearby Port Chester, N.Y., and was found to be rabid. Anyone who walks in Greenwich Point Park and sees a dead, sick or distressed raccoon should not touch or approach the animal. Instead, call the Greenwich Public Safety Communications Center at 203-622-8004. Deere had a surprisingly strong first quarter after an extended period in which it was bruised by the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. "Farmer confidence, though still subdued, has improved due in part to hopes for a relaxation of trade tensions and higher agricultural exports," CEO John May said in a prepared statement Friday. China announced Friday that it suspended more punitive tariffs on imports of U.S. industrial goods in response to a truce in its trade war with Washington. Under their "Phase 1" agreement signed in January, Washington agreed to cancel additional tariff hikes and Beijing committed to buy more American farm exports. China's retaliatory tariffs have clobbered exports of soybeans and other commodities, hurting farmers, and in turn, farming equipment manufacturers. The Trump administration has provided $27 billion in aid to farmers to ease the pain of his trade war. And in a tweet Friday, he promised to expand the bailout if farmers need it as they await the economic benefits of his recent trade deals with Mexico, Canada and China. He said the aid would be financed by revenue from his tariffs on foreign goods taxes that are paid by American importers. A local restaurant owner has partnered with Spring ISDs culinary program to give their students first-hand experience in a restaurant. Matt Vernon is the owner of Lasagna House III, 217 Cypress Creek Parkway. He works with Spring ISDs Chef LaToya Larkin, who coordinates the culinary program at Spring High School as part of the districts Career and Technical Education program, offering students real experience in sync with their education. Theres 15,000 restaurants in Houston, Vernon said. I dont want somebody that just wants a job. I want somebody thats got a passion. I want somebody thats got a skill. I want somebody that loves foodthat enjoys working with food. Larkin said Spring ISD has a good partnership with Vernon, and that the experience students gain from working in commercial settings helps reinforce what they learn in the classroom. It really helps them figure out if this is what they want to do, Larkin said. One Spring High School graduate, Aliyah Bagley, joined Vernons team the fall of her senior year as a host, later becoming a member of his regular staff. Vernon said he enjoyed watching her learn the ropes and work her way up through various roles like he once did. Its just been absolutely amazing watching her come out of her shell, Vernon said. I mean, literally every position that she worked in, she excelled at, unlike anything that Ive ever seen. Bagley said shes enjoying where shes at but hopes to eventually attend a culinary school and become a full-fledged chef. If you asked me to do this two years ago, I wouldnt have, Bagley said. When I first started, I was scared to talk on the phone. I couldnt take to-go orders or anything. But now I just wont be quiet; I wont stop talking, you know? Through the CTE pathways, students can also gain certifications to help them after graduation, a Spring ISD news release stated. Culinary students can gain certification in areas like food allergens, food handling and customer service. Im really happy about the certifications, Larkin said. I tell them a lot of times, When you get out of school, this is something youre going to pay for. You know, why not get it now for free? paul.wedding@hcnonline.com Ecosystem builder on Mayor Q's budget cuts: Startup support helps fill potholes too Startup support is an investment - not just a cost to the city, a leading ecosystem builder said Thursday following a proposed KCMO budget that would reduce funding for groups aiding KC's emerging innovators and risk-takers. A sketchy premise argues for 12th & Oak to continue to fund the local NEXTGEN biz community. Here's their side of the story: At least one person was killed Friday afternoon in a multi-vehicle crash in Cumberland County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The crash happened around 3:50 p.m. in the 2000 block of Walnut Bottom Road. Walnut Bottom Road was closed as of 4:30 p.m. Motorists are asked to avoid the area. Authorities are still in the area. Life Lion was called to the scene. This is a developing story. UPDATE- avoid this area and expect significant delays on Walnut Bottom Road. We have 3 MICUs on this incident as well as mutual aid units. Life Lion has also been called to the scene. Cumberland Goodwill (@Co40EMS) February 21, 2020 Walnut Bottom Rd. will be closed for an extended period of time. Please avoid the area and allow emergency responders to work safely and efficiently. Thoughts and prayers to all involved and their families. Troopers Megan Ammerman and Kelly Smith (@PSPTroopHPIO) February 21, 2020 This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech. All too often, journalists, activists, and others who use social media in their professional and personal lives are victimized by harassment, impersonation, doxing, and more. (Theres a reason that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey called his platforms response to online abuse a huge fail.) When faced with a torrent of hate on social media, it can be tempting to choose self-censorship and silence. But there are ways to protect yourself. Bring your devices and join Future Tense, PEN America, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation for drinks and a hands-on cybersecurity self-defense session. Well equip you with practical tools and strategies to both prepare for and respond to online harassment. Youll get handy resources to bolster your digital safety and tighten your privacy against hackers and abusersand well even show you how, and why, to dox yourself. This event will be held March 5 at the New America office in Washington from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, visit 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. KYODO NEWS - Feb 22, 2020 - 14:22 | Sports, All Japan won three gold medals Friday on the opening day of the Dusseldorf Judo Grand Slam, with siblings Uta and Hifumi Abe both topping the podium. Nineteen-year-old sensation Uta claimed the women's 52-kilogram gold with victory over French rival Amandine Buchard, while 22-year-old Hifumi won his eighth Grand Slam title in a thrilling men's 66-kg final against Georgia's Vazha Margvelashvili. Three-time world champion Naohisa Takato was the country's other gold medalist on Day 1 of the Grand Slam, which serves as an Olympic qualifier, securing a place at this summer's Tokyo Games with victory in the men's 60-kg division. The younger Abe, who has virtually assured her place at the Olympics, avenged her loss to Buchard in their previous meeting at the Osaka Grand Slam in November. The final came down to golden score, with the match awarded to the Japanese judoka after Buchard was penalized for passivity. (Uta Abe (R) and Amandine Buchard) "My goal is to become an Olympic champion. I want to be in even stronger shape by then," Abe said. Big brother Hifumi withstood a spirited effort from Margvelashvili in the men's 66-kg final, eventually throwing the Georgian to the mat for an ippon victory. "I'm happy I was able to get the win safely, but I'm not satisfied in the least. I want to win the next tournament and secure a national team place, then work toward my dream of victory at the Tokyo Olympics," former world champion Abe said. With his gold in the lightest men's division, Takato extended his record number of Grand Slam titles to 11. The 26-year-old made an impressive run through the preliminary rounds before his scheduled final against Taiwan's Yang Yung-wei, who withdrew due to injury. Japan's Funa Tonaki suffered a surprise loss against France's Shirine Boukli in the women's 48-kilogram final. Despite the defeat, Tonaki's strong past performances should ensure her a place at the Olympics. Related coverage: Olympics: Korakaki to become 1st woman to start Olympic torch relay Olympics: Preparations on track as Tokyo marks 6 months to go 13-year-old Misugu Okamoto blazing trail to skateboarding's 1st Olympic gold Communities have alleged failure to uphold free, prior and informed consent and inadequate compensation for loss of lands and livelihoods Indigenous communities affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project in Nepal have filed complaints with independent watchdogs of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) -- two co-financiers of the project -- requesting an independent mediation process. The communities have alleged failure to uphold free, prior and informed consent and inadequate compensation for loss of lands and livelihoods. At least 32 affected families or landowners organized under the Directly Inundation Affected Peoples Collective Rights Protection Committee have called for land for land and house for house compensation, re-survey of land left out during the Detailed Measurement Survey of the project, and free, prior and informed consent in the project process, among their ten demands, they have submitted to the ADB and the EIB.The Tanahu Hydropower Project is being developed by Tanahu Hydropower Limited, which is fully owned by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project will construct a 140 meter high concrete dam with a reservoir about 25 kilometers long on the Seti river in Tanahu District in western Nepal. The Sino Hydro Corporation constructed affiliated facilities for the project. The ADB, the EIB and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have provided funding to the project.Sher Bahadur Thapa, a community member and one of the complainants, states: As indigenous Magars, our lives depend on land and natural resources. The project has and will cause direct and material harm to our ancestral land, our livelihoods, and traditional practices. Our agricultural land, structures in the farms, cremation sites, bridges, roads and trails and our water resources will be directly affected by the project, and we will be displaced once the farming land is full of water.Despite policies in place at the ADB and the EIB to ensure meaningful consultation in projects, indigenous communities affected by the project claim that they were not given a seat at the table. Til Bahadur Thapa, one of the complainants, states: We did not receive adequate information and opportunity for meaningful participation and proper consultation in the project. Key documents were not provided to us in our native tongue. The form and rates of compensation were determined without our participation and as a result, are unfair, inadequate, and discriminatory against our families and thus are being imposed on us.Indira Shreesh, a lawyer for the Indigenous Womens Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG), one of the advisors for complainants, states: Communities have made many attempts to resolve their concerns with the company, relevant government agencies, and the operations department of the Asian Development Bank. To date, however, their demands remain unresolved. The indigenous communities seek redress through these complaint mechanisms." Wang Junling plays a zheng, also known as a Chinese zither, an instrument which dates back to the time the Great Wall of China was built more than 2,500 years ago. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Herbert Kuehne, of Monroe Township, talks with musician Wang Junling, right. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Herbert Kuehne, of Monroe Township is a self-described "Bach, Mozart and Beethoven person," but after attending a standing room only performance at the Monroe Township Library of traditional Chinese music he concluded, "I was quite pleasantly surprised. I definitely liked it!" Kuehne was among those in attendance at a Chamber Concert of Traditional Chinese Music presented by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in partnership with the Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission. The three performing musicians were part of Music From China, a New York based chamber group playing traditional Chinese instruments, which was founded in 1984. Kuehne added, "I was very impressed with the music, which I didn't know if I was going to like it or not because it's so different." Don't Edit Don't Edit Susan Chang, founder/director of Music from China, speaks to the audience during the show. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Susan Chang founded Music from China in 1984. She says the group also has a Chinese name, which translated means "long wind" and with good reason. "The music is like a wind that blows from ancient times across the continent to the U.S. and everywhere," she said. "So there's a continuity from ancient times to the present." She emphasized the strong connection between flow of the music and the flow of nature, calling to mind images of wind and water. The first song was titled "Melody of the Purple Bamboo." Don't Edit Musicians (from left) Wang Guowei on erhu; Sun Li on pipa and Wang Junling, on zheng. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Wang Junling, right, inherits the Henan style of zheng music from her family. She graduated from Henan University and was a soloist with the Henan Song and Dance Drama Academy. Don't Edit Don't Edit Detail of zheng, also known as a Chinese zither, an instrument which dates back more than 2,500 years. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Musician Wang Junling, right, shows her instrument, zheng, to concert-goers after the performance. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Sun Li on pipa (sometimes called the Chinese lute). (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Sun Li graduated from the Shenyang Music Conservatory where she studied pipa and was a member of the Central Song and Dance Ensemble in Beijing. She has performed with Music From China since 2002. Her recent appearances include the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, and 2013 Lincoln Center Festival. Don't Edit Detail of the headstock of a pipa (sometimes called the Chinese lute). (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Sun Li on pipa. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Musicians (from left) Wang Guowei on erhu; Sun Li on pipa and Wang Junling, on zheng. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit One of the featured musicians was Wang Guowei on erhu. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Wang Guowei studied at the Shanghai Conservatory and was concertmaster and soloist with the Shanghai Traditional Orchestra. Joining Music From China as Artistic Director in 1996 and also maintaining a solo career, Wang Guowei has appeared with such artists as the Shanghai Quartet, Amelia Piano Trio, Continuum, Four Nations Ensemble, Virginia Symphony, Post Classical Symphony, Ornette Coleman, Butch Morris, Yo-Yo Ma. Don't Edit Detail of side-by-side erhus, sometimes known in the Western world as the Chinese violin. The resonator section is made of snakeskin. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Audience members applaud a Chamber Concert of Traditional Chinese Music at the Monroe Township Public Library. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Musician Wang Junling, left, speaks with concert-goers after the performance. Vivian Yee, of Richboro, Pa is at right. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Musician Sun Li , right, speaks with concert-goers after the performance. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit The next performance in The Monday Afternoon Chamber Series at the Monroe Township Library is scheduled for April 6, 2020 Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com's newsletters. Afghans woke up to a week-long partial truce Saturday after the Taliban, the US and local forces all agreed to a lull that could be a major turning point in the long conflict. If the so-called "reduction in violence" holds, it will be a major step towards withdrawing US troops after more than 18 years -- and launching Afghanistan into an uncertain future. "Afghans are tired of war," Bismillah Watandost, a senior member of the grassroots People's Peace Movement of Afghanistan, told AFP, calling on citizens to march and "demand an end to this tragic war". Many Afghans on Facebook were hopeful. "It's a golden opportunity for Afghanistan to bring peace," one, Abu Mahmood, wrote. Both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements on Friday saying they had agreed to sign an accord on February 29 in Doha, following the one-week partial truce. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the US-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," Pompeo said, adding that talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government would "start soon thereafter". Afghanistan's National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal and Taliban sources said a "reduction in violence" between US, Taliban and Afghan security forces had been agreed. The United States has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal in which it would pull out thousands of troops in return for Taliban security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. A reduction in violence would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which would see the Pentagon withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. "The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence," US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Twitter. "Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added. A partial truce could also give a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN said last year that more than 100,000 people have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan in the last decade. However details of what exactly such a truce will look like have remained scant. In southern Kandahar province, seen as the Taliban heartland, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down. However another Taliban commander there said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Worse still, they say warring parties could exploit a lull to reconfigure their forces and secure a battlefield advantage. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded jubilantly, with Taliban fighters and security forces hugging and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes around the country. Civilians also flocked to greet the insurgents as they entered urban areas that they usually visit only to attack, including the capital Kabul, for ice cream and more selfies. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Friday Afghan security forces would remain "on active defence status" during the week. In a statement, the Taliban said warring parties would "create a suitable security situation" ahead of a deal signing. The Taliban's political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, separately tweeted that the agreement would see "all" foreign forces leave Afghanistan. But for now at least, the United States wants to leave troops in Afghanistan on a counter-terrorism mission to fight jihadists such as the Islamic State group. Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusufzai said the move signalled a change in thinking for both the Taliban and the United States after years of fighting. "Both sides have shown their commitment to sign the peace deal, and it's a big development," he said. The United States and the Taliban have been tantalisingly close to a deal before, only to see President Donald Trump nix it at the eleventh hour in September. The attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications, including the fear that competing forces could exploit a lull to secure a battlefield advantage. Since the US-led invasion after the September 11, 2001 attacks, America has spent more than $1 trillion in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We should preface, Mark is an arborist, Leanne Kruse said about her husband, who had just recently asked his neighbors whether they had any spare maple trees they could use. An odd request at face, the Kruses are looking to add to their maple syrup stash this year, after they first tried tapping for syrup in their backyard last year. But their house in their South Side La Crosse neighborhood only has one silver maple tree, giving them just about a gallon of syrup. We had a lot of fun, said Mark, and then we just flew through the syrup, like we ate it all so quickly. This year, the maple syrup connoisseurs are hoping to not only make their newfound hobbys rewards last a little longer, but also cultivate relationships with their neighbors. Last week they posted on Nextdoor, a social media platform that links residents across neighborhoods, and asked whether anyone in the city had a maple tree in their yard they could borrow. We want more maple syrup, essentially, Leanne said. Its expensive and hard to come by, getting land to actually tap trees, and we figured theres trees all around why not reach out to the community and see if anyone is interested. They now have a group on the app called the La Crosse Sugar Shack. Sitting at just 14 members, the Kruses think it will be enough to get them through the off-season. The trees need to be silver, red, sugar or black maples, and they must be at least 12 inches in diameter. Those willing to lend their maple trees sap to the Kruses will get half a pint of the finished product, and they can learn along the way with the couple. The first tap Mark and Leanne met when they were both studying abroad in Norway, and theyve lived in La Crosse with their silver maple tree and their dog, Sunny, since 2018. They started tapping for syrup because of Marks love for trees, and to help get through the last stretch of winter. We needed to find anything to make winter bearable, said Leanne, who is originally from Australia. Its this awesome time, where youre just so sick of winter, said Mark, who is an arborist at Winona State University, adding the end of February into March is the prime tapping season. On Tuesday they once again added the first taps of the year into the silver maple in their backyard, and the sap started flowing almost immediately. Using a power drill, they made three holes a few inches deep scattered around the trees trunk. Then metal spouts were tapped into the holes, and tubes were attached, running the syrup down into a collecting bucket. Once the bucket is full, theyll boil down the sap until it reaches the right level of sugar concentration. Oliver, you paying attention, bud? Mark said to his 9-week-old son, strapped to Leannes chest. It was his first ever tap. A hobby that started with just the two of them is now growing, and soon might include the entire neighborhood. We know some neighbors, but its kind of a fun way to reach out, said Mark, who mentioned many people in the Sugar Shack group didnt have a tree to offer but were just interested in the process, maybe even having a social syrup boiling party. Well invite everybody, or whoever wants to come. 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. Sundays vote is about deciding who gets elected into this parliament. The German city-state of Hamburg heads to the polls on Sunday in an election which is being seen as a test for the countrys established parties. For the last 10 years, Hamburg has been a political stronghold of the Social Democrats. But its coalition partner, the Green party, is eyeing first place. Al Jazeeras Dominic Kane reports. Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi warned Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and asked him to pass a resolution CAA like the governments in Kerala and Bengal. Abu Azmi said, "The way the proposal was passed in the Kerala and Bengal state assembly, Maharashtra should do it the same way. This law will trouble Muslims. And if NPR is implemented like census in Maharashtra, then we will oppose it. Now, we are requesting CM Thackeray but later we may have to say something else and then we will not hesitate." The Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra came into power after stitching up an alliance with other parties like Congress, NCP and the Samajwadi Party. The Congress party too slammed Shiv Sena for their stand to implement the controversial law. Congress MP Manish Tewari urged the Maharashtra CM to understand the link between the three (CAA, NRC and NPR). He even claimed that once NPR is done it will be difficult to stop NRC. Further, Tewari said that the CAA needs to be amended as per the Indian Constitution, a law on citizenship cannot be passed on the basis of religion. Meanwhile, CM Thackeray after his meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday in New Delhi reiterated that the CAA and NPR will be implemented in Maharashtra. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have posted an extraordinary statement on their website claiming that the Queen does not own the word royal across the world after they were forced to drop their Sussex Royal brand. Harry and Meghan put a new statement on their own website hours after announcing they would stop using the word royal in their branding after the Spring. The statement said that while neither the government nor the Queen herself own the word royal internationally, they would stop using the title. The statement read: While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal or any iteration of the word Royal in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020. They also appeared to complain that the palace is treating them differently to other family members. The statement continued: While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place. Per the agreement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties and not undertake representative duties on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. A spokesman for the couple first issued a statement to the media about their use of royal titles shortly after 7.30pm on Friday but around 10pm they shared a much longer statement on their website via their Instagram story. The much-longer statement included the reference to the treatment of other royals, the fact that Harry is still sixth in line for the throne and that they are still entitled to public protection. They said they require effective security to protect them and their son amid controversy surrounding the estimated 3million 6million protection bill that would be split between taxpayers in Canada and the UK. Many sections of the later statement released on their website appear hostile in tone, especially when compared to the earlier statement which was released through a spokesman for the couple. Many royal experts believe the episode is another PR disaster for the couple. Harry and Meghans statement on their website in full A few hours later, the Duke and Duchess shared a link on their Instagram story to this much-longer statement on their website. It is agreed that the commencement of the revised role of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take effect Spring 2020 and undergo a 12 month review. The Royal Family respect and understand the wish of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to live a more independent life as a family, by removing the supposed public interest justification for media intrusion into their lives. They remain a valued part of Her Majestys family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will become privately funded members of The Royal Family with permission to earn their own income and the ability to pursue their own private charitable interests. The preference of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex was to continue to represent and support Her Majesty The Queen albeit in a more limited capacity, while not drawing on the Sovereign Grant. While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place. Per the agreement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties and not undertake representative duties on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. As agreed and set out in January, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will retain their HRH prefix, thereby formally remaining known as His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer actively use their HRH titles as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020. As the grandson of Her Majesty and second son of The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex remains sixth in line to the throne of The British Monarchy and the Order of Precedence is unchanged. It was agreed that The Duke and Duchess will no longer be able to formally carry out official duties for The Queen or represent The Commonwealth, but they will, however, be allowed to maintain their patronages (including those that are classified as royal patronages). It is agreed that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son. This is based on The Dukes public profile by virtue of being born into The Royal Family, his military service, the Duchess own independent profile, and the shared threat and risk level documented specifically over the last few years. No further details can be shared as this is classified information for safety reasons. In relation to the military, The Duke of Sussex will retain the rank of Major, and honorary ranks of Lieutenant Commander, and Squadron Leader. During this 12-month period of review, The Dukes official military appointments will not be used as they are in the gift of the Sovereign. No new appointments will be made to fill these roles before the 12-month review of the new arrangements is completed. While per the agreement, The Duke will not perform any official duties associated with these roles, given his dedication to the military community and ten years of service he will of course continue his unwavering support to the military community in a non-official capacity. As founder of the Invictus Games, The Duke will proudly continue supporting the military community around the world through the Invictus Games Foundation and The Endeavour Fund. Based on the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs desire to have a reduced role as members of The Royal Family, it was decided in January that their Institutional Office would have to be closed, given the primary funding mechanism for this official office at Buckingham Palace is from HRH The Prince of Wales. The Duke and Duchess shared this news with their team personally in January once they knew of the decision, and have worked closely with their staff to ensure a smooth transition for each of them. Over the last month and a half, The Duke and Duchess have remained actively involved in this process, which has understandably been saddening for The Duke and Duchess and their loyal staff, given the closeness of Their Royal Highnesses and their dedicated team. As The Duke and Duchess will no longer be considered full-time working Members of The Royal Family, it was agreed that use of the word Royal would need to be reviewed as it pertains to organisations associated with them in this new regard. More details on this below. As shared in early January on this website, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not plan to start a foundation, but rather intend to develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by so many excellent foundations globally. The creation of this non-profit entity will be in addition to their cause driven work that they remain deeply committed to. While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word Royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation will not utilise the name Sussex Royal or any other iteration of Royal. For the above reason, the trademark applications that had been filed as protective measures and that reflected the same standard trademarking requests as done for The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have been removed. While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal or any iteration of the word Royal in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020. As The Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to develop their non-profit organisation and plan for their future, we hope that you use this site as the source for factual information. In Spring 2020, their digital channels will be refreshed as they introduce the next exciting phase to you. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The Geological Survey of India (GSI) on Saturday said there has been no discovery of gold deposits estimated to be around 3,000 tonnes in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, as claimed by a district mining official. Kolkata/Sonbhadra: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) on Saturday said there has been no discovery of gold deposits estimated to be around 3,000 tonnes in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, as claimed by a district mining official. "Such data was not given by anybody from GSI.... GSI has not estimated such kind of vast resource of gold deposits in Sonbhadra district," GSI Director General (DG) M Sridhar told PTI in Kolkata this evening. "We share our findings regarding any resources of ore after conducting survey with the state units.... We (GSI, Northern Region) had carried out work in that region in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. The report was shared with UP DGM for information and further necessary action," he said. The exploration works of the GSI for gold was not satisfactory and the results were not encouraging to come up with major resources for gold in Sonbhadra district, he added. Sonbhadra district mining officer KK Rai had said on Friday that the gold deposits were found in Son Pahadi and Hardi areas of the district. The deposits in Son Pahadi are estimated to be around 2,943.26 tonnes, while that at Hardi block are around 646.16 kilogram, the official said. Rejecting the claim, Sridhar said that in its report after exploration in the district "the GSI has estimated a probable category resource of 52,806.25 tonnes of ore with 3.03 grams per tonne gold (average grade) for a strike length of 170m in Sub- Block-H, Son Pahadi of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh". "The mineralised zone having an average grade of 3.03 grams per tonne of gold is tentative in nature and the total gold which can be extracted from the total resource of 52,806.25 tonnes of ore is approximately 160 kg and not 3,350 tonnes as mentioned in the media," the DG clarified. The GSI is headquartered in Kolkata. Britains Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have decided not to use the word 'royal' in their branding after they start a new life in Canada following their decision to step back from royal duties. London: Britains Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have decided not to use the word royal in their branding after they start a new life in Canada following their decision to step back from royal duties. The decision follows weeks of talks between the couple and the British royal family about how they will present themselves to the world in the future. The couple agreed last month with Harrys grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, that they would no longer work as royals after their surprise announcement that they wanted to carve out a progressive new role which they hope to finance themselves. It has been agreed that their non-profit organisation when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation, a spokeswoman for the couple said. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use SussexRoyal in any territory post Spring 2020. As things stand, Harry and Meghan use the brand extensively. The couples Instagram account, which has 11.2 million followers, uses the name SussexRoyal, as does a website set up by the couple which they used to declare they were seeking to be more independent. These will now have to be rebranded. They also applied to trademark the phrases Sussex Royal and Sussex Royal Foundation for use on books, stationery, clothing such as pyjamas and socks, charity campaigns and the provision of training, sport and social care. The trademark applications that were filed have been removed, the spokeswoman said. The future role of the couple has been a subject of intense public scrutiny in Britain. There has been much debate about the extent to which the couple should be able to commercialise the royal brand while living independently, at least partly abroad. Earlier this week, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they will formally step down from their roles as working members of the royal family at the end of March. Harry has spoken of his sadness at being forced to give up his royal duties, saying there was no other option if he and Meghan, an American actress, were to seek an independent future away from stifling media intrusion. Under the arrangement, Harry will remain a prince and the couple will keep their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles as they begin a new life split between Britain and North America, where they will spend most of their time. The UAE Space Agency has launched a special contest to design the logo of the Arab Space Cooperation Group. The Group, which aims to boost joint Arab space-related activities, was established in March last year on the sidelines of the second edition of the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi. Open to nationals of all Arab countries, the contest challenges them to come out with creative designs that reflect their understanding of the group's vision. It is part of the UAE Space Agency's initiatives held in line with the UAE Innovation Month, which reflects its commitment to promoting a culture of innovation, a key pillar for sustainable development. The last date for submitting the entries is March 10, following which a specialised committee will select four finalists. The winning logo design will be announced during the next Arab Space Cooperation Group meeting in March 2020. Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, said: "The Group aims to provide a platform that brings Arab countries together to accelerate joint space-related activities." "This contest follows this cooperative approach, as it offers talented Arabs an opportunity to share creative designs that reflect their understanding of the Group's vision," he stated. This contest is a great opportunity for Arab youth to contribute to a group that aims to make the Arab World flourish in the space sector. It raises the Arabs awareness of the Group's mission and objectives, the importance of space-related activities, and the role of Space in paving the way for a bright future, said Al Ahbabi. The Arab Space Cooperation Group is an initiative launched by the UAE, and is currently chaired by the UAE Space Agency. It aims to provide an ecosystem to develop regional skills and competencies to work on advanced projects, and sponsor initiatives and programs to prepare the next generation of space sector leaders in the region.-TradeArabia News Service New Delhi: The Chinese government has not yet cleared the relief-supplies laden Indian flight bound to coronavirus-hit Wuhan. Apart from relief materials the plane that India wanted to send would also bring back Indian students from the city, which has been the epicentre of the outbreak. Though the Chinese side continues to maintain there is no delay (even on Friday, February 21), but inexplicably the clearance has not been given. The flight was purportedly going to fly to the Chinese city on February 21. Sources told WION, India is ready to send relief package but "some reluctance by the Chinese side to give clearance" which authorities in New Delhi are "unable to figure out". Adding, there is "unexplainable silence" on the part of the Chinese government as to why the clearance has not been given. The Indian Air Force's C17 is ready with relief supplies and will bring back over 100 nationals left in the Chinese city. The flight is expected to bring back foreign nationals as well. The sources have questioned the "deliberate delay" and wondered the reason for the roadblock in the evacuation of Indian nationals while other countries are evacuating their citizens. "There are relief and evacuation flights from other countries which are still going on, including by France. Why is the Chinese government delaying clearance for the relief flight? Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating a roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony?" the sources questioned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his letter to the Chinese President earlier this month while expressing solidarity with China had indicted that New Delhi is ready for any assistance to the country to deal with the coronavirus epidemic. So far two Air India flights on January 31 and February 1 brought back more than 640 Indians and 7 Maldivian citizens. There are still some Indian nationals in Wuhan who will have to continue their long wait for evacuation from the Chinese city. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that an unknown number of Indians remain in the area and their number is being ascertained. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish. Meanwhile, the death toll in China's novel coronavirus has climbed to 2,345 with 109 more deaths being reported, while the confirmed cases rose to 76,288. A team of WHO experts are currently in the country to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak and are expected to visit the worst-affected Wuhan city on Saturday, Chinese health officials said. It's too easy for under-age teenagers to get their hands on cheap liquor dropped-off at their doorstep, warn researchers calling for tougher laws to regulate the booming online alcohol delivery market. Two in three online liquor stores are willing to deliver orders to unattended homes without verifying if the buyer is over 18 or intoxicated, found the analysis of the 65 most popular alcohol seller websites. Delivery drivers arent legally required to have Responsible Service of Alcohol certification, a basic requirement for staff at bricks-and-mortar liquor outlets. The study published in Drug and Alcohol Review found 12 per cent of online retailers offered alcohol delivery within two hours and 72.3 per cent of websites accepted PayPal. "It all just makes it easier for minors to access alcohol," the studys lead author Stephanie Colbert said. When are voters, especially on Staten Island, going to wake up to Trump being a con man? This economy is not of his making ... it belongs to the administrations preceding his. Hillary Clinton did not lose the 2016 election by the peoples vote, she lost the rigged electoral vote (Trumps words when he feared hed lose prior to vote.) Three million more Americans cast their ballots for her while some 7 million voted against his candidacy, going for others more qualified than he. He was a loser, not the winner! Instead, he is a dangerous man-child that occupies the Oval Office -- a danger to our future, our childrens, Americas, the worlds future and a gift to Putins Russia. Wake up! Vote in November! Remember, some 40% of eligible voters did not bother to in 2016, allowing for this miscreant to sit in the White House. Vote! (Patrick J. OConnor is a West Brighton resident.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Local artist Scott LoBaido launched on Saturday what he expects to be a long-lasting protest against the increase in speed cameras on Staten Island. We got inundated with these speed cameras, said LoBaido while he was distributing signs and ribbons to volunteers who joined at a parking lot in Midland Beach. This is money sucking BS for the mayor. Volunteers were assigned a location of one of the 80 speed cameras spots on the Island. Each protestor held a sign LoBaido created depicting the face of Mayor Bill de Blasio with a dollar sign and horns on his forehead that read speed cam ahead. The protestors held the signs for two hours on Saturday at all the speed camera locations. Additionally, volunteers were also asked to tie a yellow ribbon about 20 or 30 feet before the speed cameras in order to let drivers know they are approaching them. The Advance recently compiled a comprehensive list of all the speed cameras on Staten Island for January 2020. These invasive, money sucking cameras are just a big F U to Staten Island, said LoBaido. The mayors office didnt immediately respond to Advance inquiries for comment about the protest. The rapid rise in fixed speed camera locations is not specific to Staten Island and is impacting drivers throughout the five boroughs, with citywide speed camera locations increasing 599%, from 80 to 559, over the same time span. Data provided by the DOT during the recent meeting showed that the installation of speed cameras does, in fact, deter speeding in the zones in which theyre installed, with the average daily violation rate for a camera being 104 violations per day in its first month, and just 35 per day in its 18th month, a decrease of 66%. $10M GENERATED An analysis of all the speed cameras in New York City revealed that the city generated over $10 million in speed camera fines throughout the five boroughs. It is past the point of public safety. It is a revenue generator and thats what it is, Jim Gonzalez, of Great Kills, said as he was standing at the speed camera location at Hylan Boulevard at Tysens Lane, which has generated a total of 225 tickets and $11,250 in fines in January. Many drivers who passed by on Hylan Boulevard honked to show their support. On Staten Island there were 23,157 violations between Jan. 1 and Jan. 27, representing about 857.7 violations per day, 35.7 violations per hour or 0.6 violations per hour. In fines, these violations amount to approximately $1,157,850 total, which is $42,883.33 per day, $1,786.81 per hour or $29.78 per minute, the Advance found. This is an unfair tax, said Dan Bahno of Eltingville after receiving his yellow ribbon. Where is the money going?" LoBaido said that the protest will keep going until something changes. We need sings making it clear that you are entering a school zone with the hours the speed cameras are in use clearly displayed. Only then we will believe that the city has these cameras in place to promote public safety instead of raising revenues, said Leticia Remauro, who stood at Midland and Mason Avenues, a speed camera location that issued $41,250 in fines in January. Overall, about 100 volunteers are expected to be at almost all speed cameras locations during the protest, LoBaido said. 'Tireless in his advocacy for the neediest members of the Baptist family' Tributes have been paid to British Baptist and 'Global Ambassador' Paul Montacute, who has died in Virginia, USA after a long illness Paul was involved in youth work in his early ministry. He became national youth officer for the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and was one of the key organisers of the Baptist World Alliance Youth Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1988. After that he moved to the USA to head up the BWA youth work before becoming director of Baptist World Aid for many years. David Coffey, the former BWA President and Baptist Union of Great Britain General Secretary, was a friend of Paul's, having worked closely with him over many years. He paid this tribute: 'If anyone merited the title Global Ambassador it was Paul Montacute. For decades he travelled the globe serving as a Baptist representative who was willing to network with any who shared his passion for justice peace and equality. 'I was privileged to work alongside Paul in the 1980s when we were colleagues on the staff of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Paul was the national youth officer and in 1985 he displayed his characteristic courage when he took a large group of young British Baptists to the BWA Youth Conference in Argentina. This was soon after the Falklands War when Argentina and the UK had engaged in a fierce conflict. It was uncertain what reception awaited the British group but in making the journey Paul was committed to peace and reconciliation with those who had recently been enemies. 'But on the opening night of the conference the British Baptists received a rousing welcome from their hosts in the presence of the President of Argentina. 'As chairman of the BWA Youth Committee Paul led the team that planned the landmark BWA Glasgow Youth Conference in 1988. It was a groundbreaking event which in many ways shaped BWA Congress gatherings in the years that followed. 'In the early 1990s Paul joined the staff of the BWA with responsibility for Baptist World Aid. He was a prodigious global traveller in all the continents, tireless in his advocacy for the neediest members of the Baptist family. 'His eye witness accounts from disaster areas challenged member bodies to give generously to Baptist World Aid and his reports from restricted countries like North Korea addressed critical issues of human rights and religious liberty. 'His years of service with the BWA coincided with a fruitful period for the Alliance. Under the leadership of Denton Lotz, Paul was part of the diverse team of gifted people who initiated some innovative programmes for the BWA. 'In latter times Paul faced with courage and fortitude many years of declining health and through all these challenges he was lovingly supported by his wife Judith. 'I give thanks to God for my friend Monty who in every respect was a big man. He was strong in Christian faith and character; large hearted in encouraging friendship; expansive in his vision for global enterprises; fearless in his truth telling without compromise. Paul fulfilled personally the Great Commission of taking the Gospel to all nations and is now with the Lord he served so faithfully.' European Baptist Federation (EBF) General Secretary Tony Peck spoke of his "great sadness" in learning of Paul's death. Posting in the EBF Facebook group, he wrote, 'In his BWA role Paul worked closely with EBF and BMS World Mission to form Baptist-Response Europe, bringing much needed practical aid to eastern Europe and the Balkans in the turbulent years of the 1990s and early 2000s with its many ethnic and other violent conflicts. 'Above all, Paul was a good friend and encourager to so many in the EBF. Despite the onset of Parkinsons disease he continued to take a keen interest in EBF life and some of us were privileged to visit him at home or meet him at the BWA offices in recent years. 'To Pauls wife Judith, their two sons and their families, we extend our condolences and our prayers for Gods love to surround them at this time. 'We give God thanks for all that Paul Montacute meant to so many of us. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!' In a statement on its Facebook page, the Baptist World Alliance said, 'Today we mourn the passing of a faithful servant of God, our brother Paul Montacute. He is pictured here at his retirement celebration after more than two decades of ministry service at the Baptist World Alliance. 'Through his leadership of Baptist World Aid, the BWA was able to respond to people in need around the world with timely disaster relief, valuable aid in the fight against hunger and poverty, and long-term community development initiatives.' BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown has called upon the global Baptist family to lift up the Montacutes in prayer. He said, 'I am deeply grateful for the partnership Paul immediately offered when I first started attending BWA meetings 15 years ago. Since then he and Judith have been consistent encouragers. 'As I visited with Judith earlier today she noted how much the prayers from friends around the world meant to her and the family during this time. The Baptist world has lost a true champion of the faith.' Image | Baptist World Alliance Baptist Times, 22/02/2020 The home of a key Togo opposition candidate was surrounded by security forces just hours after polls closed Saturday in elections widely expected to see President Faure Gnassingbe claim a fourth term in power. Troops could be seen outside the house of Agbeyome Kodjo, considered an important challenger in the electoral race, as the government confirmed the move and said it was for "his own safety". "We are largely in the lead everywhere, my house is surrounded by soldiers," Kodjo told AFP. A large contingent of security forces were blocking all access to the property in the capital Lome, according to AFP journalists at the scene. Military roadblocks were being put up elsewhere in the city, while internet connections appeared to be sporadically interrupted. Polls closed at 1600 GMT Saturday after what had been a peaceful election day with a moderate turnout. Togo. By Kun TIAN (AFP) Gnassingbe, who was running against six other candidates, has led the West African country of eight million people since 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled with an iron fist for 38 years. Kodjo is seen as a potential dark horse in the polls after winning the backing of an influential former Catholic archbishop. A former prime minister who served under Gnassingbe's father, he appeared to have gained ground during the electoral campaign. "The Togolese want change, they want an alternative," he said early Saturday as he voted in Lome. "And when we see all this mobilisation and all the methods of fraud put in place by the government, if at the end of the election, the government dares to say that it has won, imagine the rest." The Togo security minister Yark Damehame said both Kodjo's home and that of the former archbishop had been surrounded as a precaution. "We have received reports that he is at risk of an attack on his house by unruly individuals, but I cannot tell you from which side," he said. Opposition challenge Results are expected early next week according to electoral officials. The six opposition candidates have suggested they will unite against the president if the vote goes to a second round, which would happen within 15 days of the result announcement if none of the candidates achieves a majority. President Faure Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled Togo since 1967, is the frontrunner. By PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP) Gnassingbe travelled to the family's home region of Kara to vote, and called on Togolese to "express your choice in complete freedom for the sake of democracy". Main opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre of the National Alliance for Change came second at the last two elections but has failed to keep the opposition united. He called on the people to vote in numbers "to prevent fraud and allow for a second round". In Be, an opposition district of Lome that normally goes to Fabre's ANC party, some voters shouted to observers that they had "given our votes to Agbeyome". Results are expected early next week. By Yanick Folly (AFP) The authorities faced major protests in 2017 and 2018 demanding an end to five decades of dynastic rule that have failed to lift many out of poverty. But the demonstrations petered out in the face of government repression and squabbles among the opposition. Last year, Gnassingbe pushed through constitutional changes allowing him to run again -- and potentially remain in office until 2030. In Lome earlier in the day some voters expressed hope for change. "We suffer too much in Togo, this time it has to change," said Eric, a driver in his 30s. "I am not going to tell you who I will vote for, but this time we don't want to be cheated of victory." Observers removed This week, 500 local observers lost their accreditation, accused of interfering in the electoral process, and the system of electronic security of the results was cancelled at the last moment by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre cast his vote in Lome. By PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP) However, some 315 international observers are deployed, mainly from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, with many African states supporting the incumbent. "Where we were, the offices opened on time, the voters were there, the staff and the equipment were there, so we hope everything will continue to go well," Hery Rajaonarimanpianina, head of the AU mission and former Madagascar president, told AFP earlier. Stability and security are central to Gnassingbe's message as Togo eyes the jihadist violence rocking its northern neighbour Burkina Faso. The country has so far managed to prevent the bloodshed spilling over and its army and intelligence service are among the most effective in the region. By Trend Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will shape Italys gas market in several ways, Ashley Sherman, Principal Research Analyst Caspian & Europe at Wood Mackenzie research and consulting company told Trend. "Italy is heavily reliant on gas imports. Commissioning of TAP will therefore be an important diversification of supply options for the long term," said Sherman. "TAP and increased availability of gas supply into Italy will also help shape the countrys gas market in several ways. Firstly, TAP will deliver gas into southern Italy (Puglia region) and will result in additional flows between south and north Italy. Secondly, TAP will also boost the importance of the countrys gas hub (PSV) and integration with neighbouring markets. Finally, the gas contracts signed for deliveries via TAP will set the benchmark for future renegotiation of other piped import agreements in the 2020s," he added. Cyril Widdershoven, a Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, a partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY and Global Head Strategy Risk at Berry Commodities told Trend that the importance of Azerbaijan for Italy is increasing. "Looking at both oil and gas, Italy has shown its interest in the Azerbaijani opportunities, addressing not only importing oil and gas for local consumption, but also actively pursuing other energy options in Azerbaijan at the same time," he said. The expert noted that on a regional level, Azerbaijan is clearly a major player, not only for Italy but for EU as a whole. Azerbaijan is at the Crossroads of several major oil and gas regions, which makes it not only of strategic importance to Italy, but EU, he added. TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries. Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network. The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016. Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe. TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz No18 Capitol Singapore stands out with its cosmopolitan approach and the design here is unique from other brands under the IWG umbrella, says Betul Genc, country manager for IWG Singapore. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore) International Workplace Group (IWG), the parent company of corporate office brands such as Regus and Spaces, has opened its first luxury co-working brand in Singapore. Called No18 Singapore Capitol, the 20,311 sq ft flexible workspace is in the historic Capitol Singapore in the republics Civic District. The facility is the brands first location outside Europe and America and is its flagship centre in the Asia Pacific. Originating from Stockholm, No18 is a cosmopolitan members-only coworking club for businesses and individuals. As part of its global rollout of the luxury co-working brand by IWG, No18 Singapore Capitol joins the original centre in Stockholm and another location in Atlanta in the US. No18 was acquired by IWG in 2017 when it bought the coworking company from its founders Michel Gordin and Ariel Ramirez. Located in Capitol Piazza, No18 is an upmarket flexible workspace by international office solution provider IWG (Picture: IWG/No18) According to Gordin, who is also CEO of No18, No18 provides an environment where work, leisure, and well-being can comfortably co-exist. Our newest location at the heart of Singapores legislative and judicial institutions, as well as the flourishing central business district by the Singapore River enables our members to move effortlessly from premium workspaces and access top quality dining options and cultural highlights that will serve to foster a well-rounded, rewarding business lifestyle. Just before the new centre opened last month, Gordin and his business partner Ramirez spent two days in Singapore to hand-pick and place the wide selection of artwork, furniture, carpets, and European-style interior decorations that adorn the co-working space. Story continues Most of the art, furniture, and interior decorations were hand-picked by the No18 founders, Michel Gordin and Ariel Ramirez (Picture: IWG/No18) What makes No18 different is the cosmopolitan approach and the design here is unique from other brands under the IWG umbrella. It emphasizes health, lifestyle, and art, and offered through the types of personalised services we offer here, says Betul Genc, country manager for IWG Singapore. According to Genc, IWG brands have always performed strongly in Singapore and it is the only country where all its office brands Regus and Spaces, as well as Signature by Regus, HQ, and now No18 are represented. Regus is a very good corporate brand, but we also want to create something unique and special. Spaces, another acquisition, has had strong performance in Europe after it started in Amsterdam, so when the company wanted to do something more upscale, more cosmopolitan, they turned to the No18 brand, says Genc. We definitely see that the demand in the market supports our decision to bring No18 here, she adds. Several elegantly designed meeting spaces can be found in the members-only zone. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore) No18 Singapore Capitol features a spacious member lounge to host visitors, 47 private offices, and four meeting rooms. The largest private office can accommodate 40 people, while smaller offices hold up to two people. To operate the F&B and bar services offered at No18, IWG has partnered with world-renowned Kempinski Hotels, which operates the adjacent Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. Members will benefit from complimentary breakfast every Monday and access to the Capitol Kempinski Hotel gym and spa facilities. Full suite of office solutions No18 Capitol Singapore opened in December last year and is about 50% occupied. This comes as the brand was launched in Singapore over the year-end period in 2019, which included Christmas, New Year, and the Chinese New Year. The ongoing Covid-19 virus outbreak is definitely not helping with any businesses recently, but we are still impressed in the demand for this location, says Genc. The bar and bistro is operated by Kempinski Hotels and offers complimentary breakfast each Monday. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore) Close to half of the members at No18 are corporate clients while the rest are individuals and SMEs. Genc notes that corporate companies, particularly technology-focused companies, are the main drivers of demand from the corporate office market. Corporate real estate demands are changing as the way people work evolves. This is not only about managing your real estate costs, obviously it remains one of the key considerations for corporate companies, but its about retaining and attracting the right talent, adds Genc. It is also becoming more frequent to see corporates seeking a full suite of flexible work solutions for their employees, she says. If youre in frontline sales and your company allows you to have a membership card to access our island-wide locations, it would be a good part of a benefit package the company could offer you, she says. A 20-person private office at No18 Capitol Singapore that overlooks the fountain plaza. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore) Genc says that more corporate companies are offering this flexibility to employees, and IWG is currently in discussions with some financial companies who plan to offer an IWG membership to their customers as a value-added benefit to their product. However, she is unable to disclose the names of the companies at this time. Identifying opportunities IWG has doubled its inventory in Singapore over the past three years. Weve changed the look and feel of our network here, expanded our presence as we open new centres, and consolidated some of our older and relatively outdated centres and upgraded them to better facilities, says Genc. The company is exploring the possibility of opening a second No18 location in Singapore, after it stabilises the operations of No18 Capitol Singapore. While we cant confirm anything yet, given that in the last two months we have created a nice environment [with No18 Capitol Singapore] that has garnered such good comments from our customers and members, we definitely see that there is more potential in getting another No18 in Singapore, says Genc. The strong reception for No18 in Singapore has encouraged IWG to consider open another location in the future. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore) Elsewhere, IWG plans to open a new No18 at Battersea Power Station in London, as well as other locations in Chicago, Zurich, and Berlin. In the Asia Pacific region, Genc says they are eyeing other cities such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Osaka that could open in the future. Since it was established in 1989, IWG has grown to manage over 3,300 office spaces around the world, and about 2,900 locations are under its Regus office brand. This established presence has helped the company grow over the years and it enabled it to seek out longterm partnerships to future growth, says Genc. She adds, At IWG, we also identify opportunities and try to seek partners who see the same growth opportunities that we do. In most cities you can find different types of office space, but whats important are factors such as the location, the connectivity, the accessibility, and visibility for your business. Franchise deals in Asia Besides acquisitions and organic growth plans, IWG is looking for franchise opportunities in Asia to grow its business. This comes as IWG concluded two other franchise deals in Japan and Taiwan last year. Last month, the company signed a franchise partnership agreement with Philippine property developer Damosa Land to open new flexible workspaces in Mindanao. This means that Damosa will be exclusively allowed to develop and operate eight IWG-brand centres in cities such as Davo, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos over the next five years. No18 Capitol Singapore opened in December last year and is about 50% occupied. (Picture: IWG/No18) In Singapore, IWG will focus on stabilising the operations of its office locations around the island, after it opened seven new locations last year. It plans to launch just one new Spaces location in April this year, branching out to the East Coast with a shophouse location in the Joo Chiat area. It will be its seventh Spaces location in Singapore when it opens. It is also exploring opportunities with some developers here to potentially enter into profit-sharing deals in the future, but the talks are still under deliberations and more details could be revealed later, says Genc. Genc remains optimistic on the outlook for the coworking sector in Singapore but expects further consolidation as inevitable. The demand for flexible workspaces will continue to grow, but it is also important to create that demand for the business. We are investing heavily in demand generation, and our back office solutions support our plug-and-play offering. For us, opening a centre is just a matter of time. Read also: See Also: LAS VEGAS - Inside the Little Vegas Chapel, Amanda Schild was smiling in her wedding dress, ready to grab pizza and celebrate her nuptials with husband Jordan Williams. There was no drive-thru window or Elvis Presley impersonator. But the newlyweds had their photos taken in front of the chapels version of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Williams, 30, acknowledged Las Vegas has the stigma of a place to get wasted and get married and then get divorced the next day. But Schild, 33, called it affordable and convenient. Plus, theyve been together for nine years and have three children. I dont like the details of planning a big wedding, Schild told the Las Vegas Review-Journal . Thats just not for me. Tourists and Nevada residents are making what one expert calls smarter marriage choices, including dating longer and ensuring financial stability before getting married. The shift has fueled a decline in marriage rates across the country and in Las Vegas, where weddings are a $2.5 billion industry. The Review-Journal reported the industry peaked at $3.1 billion in 2004, and Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, the elected official overseeing Las Vegas marriage licenses, said the 71,800 permits issued in 2019 was down nearly 44% from a peak of 128,000 in 2004. We have been seen as The Hangover, and thats not a great brand, Goya said of the 2009 film comedy. Its not a place you want to emulate to go get married. So, what were seeing this year is we have really turned around our image. Nevadas marriage rate, measured as the number of new marriages per 1,000 people, dropped to 26.7 in 2018, the lowest since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began providing marriage rate figures in 1990. At the same time, experts said marriages may last longer and divorces may be fewer. Marriage used to be something that people did when they were younger and just getting started, said Karen Guzzo, professor of sociology at Bowling Green State University. Now its the last thing you do when you are becoming an adult what we call like a capstone or an achievement. Guzzo called it likely that people are opting to start careers first, and to live with their partner to test the waters. Patrick McFarland, 45, and Melissa Hill, 50, dated for seven years and lived together before deciding to tie the knot recently at the Little Church of the West while visiting Las Vegas from Florida. We did the career (first), as well as bought our first house three years ago, Hill said, so the evolution is where are we in the next stage. University of Maryland sociology professor Philip Cohen, who released a study last year on divorce trends from 2008 to 2017, said couples who wait longer are less likely to get divorced. That rising age of marriage is definitely a factor in the falling divorce rate, he said. The other thing that goes along with that is higher education. So theres more people who are not getting married before or until they have completed a college degree. The divorce and annulments rate in the U.S. fell to 2.9 per 1,000 people in 2018, marking a consistent decline since 2000, when the divorce rate was 4.0, according to the CDC. In Nevada, the marriage failure rate was cut more than half, to 4.4 from a high of 9.9 in 2000. Essentially, marriage is becoming more of an elite institution, Cohen said. It sort of indicates that marriages is becoming more rarefied. Its more of a select population that enters into marriage and they enter into a more stable marriage. Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce President Jodi Harris said the nearly 100-member group launched a partnership in March 2016 with the Clark County clerks office and the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority to promote Las Vegas wedding tourism. Goya, who also serves on the wedding chamber board, said the Nevada State History Museum plans a wedding retrospective to show how Vegas became a marriage destination, as well as creating wedding-themed walking tours. The tourism authority also plans a Las Vegas wedding photo contest. Las Vegas City Councilwoman Olivia Diaz has proposed designating a portion of Las Vegas Boulevard as a Wedding Way tourist attraction, including a marriage walk of fame. The city also wants wedding chapels to be included in the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency external renovation visual improvement program, Diaz said. Wedding chapels had been categorized along with nightclubs, strip clubs and bars excluded from redevelopment funds. Donne Kerestic, Chapel of the Flowers owner and chief executive, said marriage venue renovations aim to boost Las Vegas marriage rate by building something so unique that you can only see in Vegas. Little Vegas Chapel owner Michael Kelly predicted that Las Vegas will remain a wedding destination because its affordable and couples have to jump through fewer hoops to get married. When you need something done quickly and you want it done right and you want it done professionally thats how I see Las Vegas weddings, he said. They come to Vegas and they think, Hey, I get a vacation. I get a honeymoon and its a fraction of the cost of doing it back home. Its just so much easier. The World Health Organisation warned Saturday that African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak should cases start to proliferate on the continent. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on African Union member states to come together to be more aggressive in attacking the virus, known as COVID-19. Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems, Tedros, speaking by video link from Geneva, said during a meeting of African health ministers at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The outbreak which began in December has already killed more than 2,200 people and infected more than 75,500 in China. More than 1,150 people have also been infected outside China, although Egypt is the only African country to have recorded a confirmed case. There have been more than 200 suspected cases in the WHOs AFRO region, which includes most African countries, though nearly all have been confirmed negative, regional director Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti said Saturday. But if COVID-19 starts to spread on the continent, African health systems will struggle to treat patients suffering from symptoms such as respiratory failure, septic shock and multi-organ failure, WHOs Tedros said. These patients require intensive care using equipment such as respiratory support machines that are, as you know, in short supply in many African countries and thats a cause for concern, he said. AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told officials to take drastic preventive and control measures. Our dear continent, Africa, is particularly at risk, given its relatively fragile health systems, he said. African countries have been scrambling to develop the capacity to test for COVID-19. In three weeks, the number of African countries capable of conducting their own tests has jumped from two to 26, Moeti said. Several African airlines including Kenya Airways have suspended flights to China, although the continents biggest carrier Ethiopian Airlines has kept its China routes open. Liu Yuxi, Chinas ambassador to the AU, on Saturday urged officials to ease travel restrictions I hope that everyone will stay calm and objective. Excessive panic could actually increase the disease, he said. It is in adversity and really difficult times that you really get to know your friends. WATERLOO A Voorhies man has been returned to Waterloo to face charges he led sheriffs deputies on a high-speed chase through two counties in a stolen pickup truck in August 2019. Jefferey Allen Geiger, 32, had been detained in Bremer and Hardin county jails since August on charges he broke into a rural Waverly home to hide following the pursuit. On Wednesday, he was transferred to the Black Hawk County Jail in charges of eluding, second-degree theft and two counts of third-degree burglary. Court records allege Geiger and another person were involved in a break-in at a home at 12714 Jubilee Road in rural LaPorte City on Aug. 8, 2019, and took a Brenina sewing machine valued at $900. Then on Aug. 12, he allegedly returned to the house and took a brass container valued at $50. On Aug. 14, sheriffs deputies investigating the burglaries attempted to stop Geiger on Donald Street in north Waterloo. He allegedly ran a number of stop signs and fled north on Logan Avenue, at time doing about 55 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to court records. The chase entered Bremer County, and Geiger and a passenger evaded authorities through the night. He was found hiding in a home on Hilton Avenue. Deputies said Geiger was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe that was stolen from Dan Deery Motors on Alexandria Street. PHOTOS: Chase, manhunt Aug. 14-15, 2019 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Alisher Sultanov held a meeting with President and CEO of El Sewedy Electric (Egypt) Ahmed El Sewedy, Trend reports with the reference to the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan. The sides discussed possibilities of cooperation and using international experience of Egyptian company in development of Uzbek energy sector. El Sewedy Electric has 30 production facilities in 15 countries with more than 15,000 employees. The company's revenue in 2018 amounted to $2.1 billion. Sultanov briefed the Egyptian company's head on projects under preparation on construction of new generating capacities: 1,000 MW solar power plant and 1,300 MW thermal power plant in Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan. It was noted that Uzbek Ministry of Energy is interested in developing cooperation with El Sewedy Electric in such priority areas as creation of a data center, coal mining, which is based on advanced technologies, as well as investment in deep processing of hydrocarbon raw materials. Ahmed Elsewedy expressed great interest in the processes of reforming the electric power industry of Uzbekistan and those projects to be implemented in the country to ensure energy security and development of generating capacities. An agreement was reached on detailed consideration of the presented projects. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini The RSS said on Saturday that its chief Mohan Bhagwat had quoted a RSS worker, who met him in UK, during a speech in Ranchi on Thursday about the use of word 'nationalism' and had instead remarked that if India grows strong it will be for the good of the world. Arun Kumar, Akhil Bhartiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS, said that the views attributed to the RSS chief in many media reports were not his views. He said it was worker's suggestion to him not to use word nationalism as in his part of the world it is compared to Hitler and Nazis nationalism "He was quoting an RSS worker who met him in UK. It was worker's suggestion to him to not to use word nationalism as in his part of the world it is compared to Hitler and Nazis nationalism. Instead Bhagwat said that our nation if grows strong, will only do good to the world, " Kumar said. RSS leader Indresh Kumar also said that Bhagwat had stated that when India grows strong as a nation, then "business, peace and harmony increase in the world and it moves towards prosperity." "Since the beginning, RSS uses words like 'Rashtra' (nation), 'Rashtriyata' (nationality) and 'Rastriya' (national)," he said. "In terms of nation, the words used are Bharat, Hindustan. In terms of nationality or Hindutva, it is the country's heritage in totality and in terms of being national, it is Bharatiya, Hindustani, Indian, Hindu etc," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DGAP-News: Adrenomed AG / Key word(s): Study results The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Adrenomed Announces Positive Top-Line AdrenOSS-2 Phase II Results with Adrecizumab in Septic Shock - Adrecizumab, given on top of standard of care, was well tolerated and showed a favorable safety profile - Adrecizumab demonstrates a positive trend on survival - AdrenOSS-2 is a biomarker-guided (sphingotest bio-ADM(R)[1]) trial in sepsis - Mode of Action confirmed: Adrecizumab modulates plasma level of bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM), a key hormone for vascular integrity and endothelial function Hennigsdorf/Berlin (Germany), February 21, 2020 - Adrenomed AG, the vascular integrity company, today reported positive top-line results from its proof-of-concept AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial. AdrenOSS-2 evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Adrecizumab, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting the vasoprotective peptide Adrenomedullin to restore and maintain vascular integrity in patients with early septic shock. Septic shock is a life-threatening condition with very limited treatment options. Sepsis is the main cause of death in hospitals worldwide.[2] The biomarker-guided, randomized, international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled AdrenOSS-2 Phase II trial (NCT03085758[3]) enrolled a total of 301 patients with early septic shock and elevated blood levels of bio-ADM(R) throughout Belgium, France, Germany and The Netherlands.[4] In addition to standard of care, patients received Adrecizumab or placebo. Coordinating investigators for each involved country and chairpersons of the Steering Committee are Prof. A. Mebazaa, France, Prof. P.F. Laterre, Belgium, Prof. G. Marx, Germany and Prof. P. Pickkers, The Netherlands. The study achieved its primary endpoint: Adrecizumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated. The safety and tolerability of Adrecizumab in septic shock patients were consistent with observations from the previous Phase I trials.[5] In addition, the mortality rate in the 28-day follow-up in the placebo group was 28%, and a trend of lower all-cause mortality for Adrecizumab-treated patients compared to placebo was observed. Dr. Jens Zimmermann, CMO of Adrenomed said: "These are very promising results and consistent data. The outcome of the AdrenOSS-2 trial indicates that Adrecizumab is of benefit for septic shock patients. By restoring and maintaining vascular integrity, Adrecizumab may represent a new treatment option for septic shock." Prof. Pierre-Francois Laterre, MD, Head of the medical-surgical intensive care unit at Saint Luc University Hospital at the Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels (Belgium), said: "For the first time, we have seen a positive effect on early death in septic shock. The outcome of AdrenOSS-2 is an important step towards successful treatment of sepsis. The data support Adrecizumab being an effective therapeutic agent with an innovative mode of action which may improve survival of patients in the early stage of septic shock. We eagerly await the confirmation of these positive results in the future clinical development of Adrecizumab." "Septic shock is a challenging syndrome with a high mortality rate," said Prof. Alexandre Mebazaa, MD, PhD, Chair of Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care in Paris at the Hopital Lariboisiere, Universite de Paris (France). "Safe and efficacious treatments are urgently needed to change the course of this complex condition. Undoubtedly, AdrenOSS-2 exhibited benefits on survival in septic shock patients, suggesting great potential for endothelial modulation on septic shock outcomes." Dr. Andreas Bergmann, CSO and co-founder of Adrenomed commented: "Endothelial dysfunction is the major driver for organ dysfunction and mortality in sepsis. The biomarker bio-ADM specifically enables the identification of sepsis patients with endothelial dysfunction, who potentially may benefit the most from Adrecizumab treatment. Biomarker guidance of specific drugs will lead to new directions for fighting multi-complex diseases like sepsis." Dr. Jens Schneider-Mergener, CEO of Adrenomed, said: "We are looking forward to further discussions with regulatory authorities and partners regarding the future development of Adrecizumab. With this successful proof-of-concept trial, we believe Adrecizumab has great potential not only in septic shock but also in other serious or life-threatening conditions associated with vascular leakage. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the investigators, study personnel, patients and their families for their participation in the AdrenOSS-2 trial." Detailed data from the AdrenOSS-2 study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal later this year. About Sepsis and Septic Shock Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results in organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis characterized by a rapid fall in blood pressure requiring vasopressor treatment; profound circulatory, cellular and metabolic abnormalities; diminished oxygen supply to organs and finally, multiple organ failure. Septic shock is driven by severe loss of vascular integrity: a breakdown of the endothelial barrier, which results in uncontrolled leakage of intravascular fluid and other compounds into the extravascular space leading to congestion and edema. Today, sepsis and septic shock are major healthcare problems, representing a high unmet medical need affecting millions of people around the world every year. In the United States, sepsis causes or contributes to between one-third and one-half of all deaths occurring in hospitals. With an unacceptably high mortality rate,2 sepsis represents an enormous public health burden. The current standard of care for sepsis patients is based on early treatment with antibiotics and administration of fluids and vasopressors (hemodynamic support). About Adrecizumab and Adrenomedullin[6] Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a free-circulating peptide that is mainly expressed and secreted by vascular endothelial cells. It shows vasoprotective activity inside blood vessels, where it closes the gaps between endothelial cells, subsequently preventing intravascular fluid and other compounds from uncontrolled leakage into the interstitium/extravascular space (= vascular leakage). In the interstitium, however, ADM has vasodilatory properties and causes hypotension when present in higher concentrations, which, in sepsis patients, leads to worsening and progression of the disease. Adrenomed's first-in-class drug candidate, Adrecizumab, targets bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) to restore endothelial barrier function (= vascular integrity). Binding of the monoclonal antibody Adrecizumab to ADM in the blood traps and stabilizes the peptide-hormone, resulting in increased ADM concentrations within the blood vessels. The complex of ADM and Adrecizumab in the blood is still active. This way, Adrecizumab treatment boosts ADM's protective effects on the endothelial barrier. About Adrenomed Adrenomed AG is a German privately financed, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Adrenomed's mission is to rescue vascular integrity in order to save the lives of critically ill patients with limited treatment options. Founded in 2009 by a management team with decades of in-depth experience in sepsis and deep knowledge in diagnostics and drug development, the company's lead product candidate Adrecizumab is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody. Adrecizumab targets the vasoprotective peptide Adrenomedullin, an essential regulator of vascular integrity. Adrecizumab has successfully completed a biomarker-guided, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter proof-of-concept Phase II trial with 301 patients suffering from septic shock. For further information, please visit www.adrenomed.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Adrenomed AG Frauke Hein, Ph.D. (Chief Business Officer) phone: +49 (0)3302 2077814 fhein@adrenomed.com Media Inquiries MC Services AG Eva Bauer / Julia von Hummel phone: +49 (0)89 21022880 adrenomed@mc-services.eu [1] bio-ADM(R) is a registered trademark of sphingotec GmbH [2] JAMA, 2014;312(1):90-92 [3] clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03085758?term=NCT03085758&rank=1 [4] BMJ Open, 2019;9:e024475 [5] BJCP, 2018:84(9):2129-2141 [6] Shock, 2018;50(6):648-654 21.02.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Africa is the richest continent in the world, yet, despite all the resources, it remains the least economically free and most protectionist continent in the world. Why, because the continent is under the leaders who are experts in corruption, looting, stealing, and above all, only a few are intelligent. Decades after independence, poverty still persists today in many African countries because of bad policies, lack of intelligence, and corruption by African leaders. Innocent Africans continue to suffer greatly from the actions of selfish leaders, years after independence. Economists cant find solutions and answers to problems on the African continent. How many loans does the continent need? And how much money is invested in developmental projects on the continent? These questions are simple, yet, the answers are difficult because the financial administrative structures in Africa are not sufficiently transparent to allow rigorous accounting of public finances. The lack of intelligence and the inability of African leaders to utilize resources, have forced them to continue borrowing monies from foreign governments. The fact is, in developed countries, a significant part of economic growth has been achieved through debt but in Africa, because of corruption, economies are always depressed, having adverse effects on poor citizens. The same problem Ghana faces today. Debts increase the burden of African countries, as well as affecting the economy, for example, n Ghana and Nigeria, public interest payments consumed 40% and 24% respectively of total government revenue in 2016. Furthermore, this disproportionate interest payment/government revenue ratio reflects the fact that the perception of taxes and institutional capacity for this purpose remains generally insufficient in the region. Having more foreign debt denominated in foreign currency exposes a country to exchange rate fluctuations. Note that the depreciation of the exchange rate of a local currency increases the real value and the burden of debt denominated in foreign currency. Sometimes, I wonder if countries on the African continent will ever be developed but the fact since the leaders are deeply corrupt, lack the intelligence in managing economies and unification, Africa will never be developed continent. The truth is we can never be, imagine in Ghana, the NPP government has abandoned projects which belong to Ghana because they were started by the opposition government, the NDC. Will any developed country's leader give respect to Akufo Addo? Not at all, they will only pretend when they need something from Ghana. If African leaders are given the respect they deserve, Trump will not call the continent a 'Shithole Nation.' Respect is only given to wise and intelligent people and in Africa, we have only one percent, which goes to the Rwandan leader, Paul Kagame. Before Africans will be respected or considered as human beings like other nationals of developed countries, we need to show our intelligence in whatever we do. Like most African countries, Ghana is also full of hypocrisy and hate. A columnist who lives in America, (I haven't mentioned anyone's name) insults Mahama and the NDC politicians in each of his articles but when I write an article about Akufo Addo and he is not happy about it, he uses false names to call me NPP hater and a weed smoker. I have accepted it but I remind him that I don't need to convince my thousands of readers that I have a fake or genuine Ph.D. India may register an increase in its apparel export as China's market has been hit due to the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), said A Sakthivel, the chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). Since December, more than 2,000 people, mainly in China, have lost their lives to Coronavirus that causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19. "Maybe there will be a 20 per cent immediate increase in the exports and later it may slowly increase up to 50-60 per cent," A Sakthivel told ANI. The European Union, the USA, Middle East are India's major markets and the apparel sector contributes to 4.9% of India's total exports, as per the data provided by AEPC. AEPC is the official body of apparel exporters in India that provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/international buyers who choose India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments. "It is unfortunate (coronavirus outbreak) but there is some opportunity for India to get some orders. Our export is the US $16.2 billion, suppose the US $10 billion are diverted to India, it will not be able to take the order immediately as we do not have the required infrastructure currently," he further added. He also asked the Indian exporters to go for alternatives and said," We were mostly doing cotton garments, we reached a saturation point. Now we advise the exporters that they should immediately go for manmade fibers." "The export was stagnant in the last four years because other countries have come into the picture like Vietnam, Cambodia besides Bangladesh. In the last three years, our export was average while Vietnam which was doing less than us for years has beaten us now, " he said while highlighting as to how countries who were behind India in textile exports have managed to beat us. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'Russia, Turkey to intensify consultations on Syria's Idlib' Iran Press TV Saturday, 22 February 2020 12:51 AM The Russian and Turkish heads of state agree during a phone call to step up their bilateral consultations concerning the situation in the terrorists-infested northwestern Syrian province of Idlib. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed during the conversation that took place on Friday to "intensify bilateral consultations on Idlib with the aim of reducing tensions, guaranteeing a ceasefire, and neutralizing the terrorist threat," the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin, for his part, told his Turkish counterpart that he was "seriously concerned" by the "aggressive actions" of Takfiri terrorists in the province. The province contains the largest remaining concentrations of the terrorists, who have fled there since September 2015, when Russia began lending airpower to Syria's counter-terrorism operations. Backed by the Russian aerial support, the Syrian military has enhanced its anti-terror efforts in Idlib over the past months. The advances have liberated many areas across Idlib, including some hosting Turkish observation posts. Turkey began setting up the facilities in the province in 2018, when it agreed to cooperate with Russia to contain the situation in the vicinity of the Turkish border. Turkey claims that more than a dozen of its troops have died during clashes with the Syrian forces. It has been sending huge reinforcements to Idlib, has threatened an "imminent" assault on the Syrian military, and asked Russia to "stop" the Syrian gains. Speaking with Putin, Erdogan repeated the demand, stressing that the Syrian government "should be restrained in Idlib," the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Damascus, however, has vowed to bring every inch of its soil back under sovereign control. Syria has reclaimed the biggest part of the territory that it lost to the overwhelming foreign-backed violence that began afflicting the Arab country in 2011. The violence, featuring rampant militancy and Takfiri terrorism, has been fuelled by many Western and regional countries, including Turkey, which still supports a number of anti-Damascus militant outfits in Idlib. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on 24 February. New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia are unlikely to be present when US First Lady Melania Trump visits a Delhi government-run school in the National Capital on 25 February, according to sources. As per the original schedule, both Kejriwal and Sisodia were to accompany Melania Trump during her visit to the school, people familiar with the matter said. The Delhi chief minister and his deputy were also to brief Melania about the "happiness curriculum" introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, sources said. When contacted, a US embassy spokesperson referred the query on the matter to the Delhi government. There was no immediate reaction from the Delhi government. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on 24 February for a less than 36-hour-long trip to India. From Ahmedabad, the delegation will travel to Agra before arriving at the National Capital for the main leg of the visit. TITAN SECURES IN EXCESS OF 90% OF CORE GOLD ALL OUTSTANDING CORE SHARES TO BE ACQUIRED VIA SECOND STEP TRANSACTION HIGHLIGHTS At final expiry of the Offer period, Core Gold shareholders have tendered a total of 90.82% of the outstanding Core Shares (1) to the Offer Titan to take-up and pay for the Core Shares tendered prior to expiry Upon take-up of the tendered shares, Titan will own 91.32% of Core Gold shares Titan now intends to pursue the delisting of Core Gold, and the acquisition of all remaining Core Shares via a second step transaction All conditions of the Offer have been met and the Offer has now closed TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titan Minerals Limited (the "Company" or "Titan") (ASX:TTM) is pleased to provide an update regarding its offer (the "Offer") to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Core Shares") of Core Gold Inc. ("Core Gold") (CGLD.V) as part of its strategy to create an emerging Latin American focused gold explorer, developer and producer, with a large portfolio in Ecuador and Peru.(2) As of the expiry of the Core Gold Offer period at 9:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on February 7th, 2020 (the Final Expiry Time), an additional 13,378,190 Core Gold Shares have been tendered to and taken-up by Titan under the Offer. As at the Final Expiry Time, the total number of Core Shares tendered to and taken-up by Titan under the terms of the Offer is 143,243,914 and represents 90.82% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares, such number excluding Core Shares beneficially owned or over which control or direction is exercised by Titan or any person acting jointly or in concert with Titan. With the Core Shares held by Titan prior to the commencement of the Offer, Titan will now own 91.32% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares. There will be no further extensions to the Offer and all of the conditions of the Offer have been satisfied or waived by Titan. In accordance with the terms of the Offer, Titan has already taken up and paid for the Core Shares that were tendered prior to the previous expiry time at 9:00 a.m. (Toronto time) January 27th, 2020 (Previous Expiry Time) and will immediately take-up the Core Shares that have been tendered since the Previous Expiry Time. Titan will pay for the additional Core Shares taken up as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than three business days after the additional Core Shares are taken up. Story continues Copies of the Companys early warning report and circular in respect of the Offer may be obtained free of charge on Core Golds profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Titan Managing Director Laurence Marsland said: Titans Offer for Core Gold has been overwhelmingly welcomed by Core Gold shareholders, and now paves the way for the combined company to accelerate its gold exploration, development and production plans in Ecuador and Peru. I welcome our new shareholders and look forward to updating the market on our strategy to unlock value of these combined assets. Having taken up more than 66.6% of the issued and outstanding Core Shares, Titan intends to take steps to acquire all of the remaining outstanding Core Shares. In due course, a Core Gold shareholders meeting will be held for the purpose of approving a second step transaction in respect of Core Gold. Titan, following the take-up of the most recently tendered Core Shares, intends to vote its 90% holdings in Core Gold in favour of the second step transaction. Having successfully completed the Offer, Titan will take the coming weeks to work alongside the Core Gold team in order to prioritise the Companies combined exploration targets and to finalise the overall development strategy. As part of this process, the Company intends to conduct a strategic review on Zaruma and Portovelo. This announcement has been approved by the Board of Directors of Titan. Advisers Titan has engaged Bacchus Capital Advisers Ltd as its exclusive financial and strategic adviser, from a mergers and acquisitions perspective, in connection with the Offer and the Increased Offer. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as Canadian legal counsel, DLA Piper LLP (Australia) is acting as Australian legal counsel and Gryphon Advisors Inc. is acting as Information Agent. For further information please contact: Investors Mr Laurence Marsland, Managing Director Titan Minerals E: info@titanminerals.com.au T: +61 8 6555 2950 Financial Advisers Peter Bacchus Bacchus Capital Advisers E: peter.bacchus@bacchuscapital.co.uk T: +44 (0) 203 848 1641 Media David Tasker Chapter One Advisors dtasker@chapteroneadvisors.com.au T: +61 433 112 936 Chris Johannsen Bacchus Capital Advisers E: chris.johannsen@bacchuscapital.co.uk T: +44 (0) 203 848 1644 About Titan Minerals Limited Titan is the owner and operator of a copper and gold business in a well-established mining region of Southern Peru. Titan is currently commissioning the Vista gold plant in Southern Peru. A centralised processing facility produces loaded carbon from the Carbon-in-Pulp gold circuit, with feed sourced from third party operators previously averaging 17 to 24 g/t Au head grades. Titans gold assets include the wholly-owned Torrecillas exploration project and an exclusive right to acquire an 85% interest in the Las Antas gold project (refer to Titans ASX release dated 14 January 2019). At Torrecillas, a number of high-grade narrow gold veins have been developed and mined by Titan, and Las Antas is a key prospect within a district of high-grade gold and silver veins located within trucking distance of Titans Vista gold plant. Titan is continuously evaluating projects within Peru for acquisition or joint venture to both provide additional, low cost gold and silver mineralized material feed for existing processing facilities and opportunities for processing growth and expansion. In addition, Titan shall also continue to evaluate projects elsewhere in gold, copper and other commodities to grow shareholder value. Website: www.titanminerals.com.au About Core Gold Inc Core Gold is a Canadian based mining company involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The Company is currently focused on gold production at its wholly-owned Dynasty Goldfield mining unit and continued development at its underground Zaruma mine. Mineral is treated at the Companys wholly-owned Portovelo treatment plant close to the Zaruma mine operations. The Company also owns other significant gold exploration projects including the Linderos and Copper Duke projects in southern Ecuador all of which are on the main Peruvian Andean gold-copper belt extending into Ecuador. Core Gold is currently the largest producer of gold in Ecuador. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Ask anyone there: the table that had the biggest reaction to winning at the 2019 OBrien Awards was most definitely the one that sported the connections of pacing colt Century Farroh. Certainly a colt whose ownership group didnt expect to be in that position a year ago, Century Farroh was the poster boy for the Ontario Sires Stakes in 2019. The son of the late Mach Three won 12 of 16 races as a sophomore, including five in the provincial program and bankrolled almost $720,000 in earnings. We certainly didnt think we were going to win that award, owner Dave Ratchford told Trot Insider. Happy and thrilled and blown away actually by the fact that we did win, but we certainly didnt go in with any expectations that we would. Despite the fact that Ratchford and his family went into the 2019 OBrien Awards with low expectations, they definitely didnt pass up the chance to celebrate the nomination. Ratchford and his clan came to Ontario from Nova Scotia, and the group enjoyed the black tie gala from wire to wire. We (Dave and his wife Marguerite) have four daughters and they were all there. They were born into a horse family, so they know whats going on. They know the breeding, they know what Im buying and theyre interested. They all came; they all wanted to come. We certainly had fun, thats for sure. That was part of the excitement at our table, Ratchford continued. I wasnt surprised but I was definitely impressed by the presentation of the whole evening actually from start to finish. Century Farroh kicked off his 2019 season with a four-race win streak, including the Somebeachsomewhere and an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Division. He took his lifetime mark of 1:49.1 in the North America Cup Consolation and initiated another four-race win streak which included another OSS Gold division. One of his more impressive victories came in the Simcoe Stakes where he tackled Grand Circuit competition with a 1:49.3 victory, but it was his trip to the Hoosier State that impressed Ratchford the most. Its a toss up between the consolation of the North America Cup and the Jennas Beach Boy. I actually think the Jennas Beach Boy to me was more impressive, noted the longtime horseman. He got away in the second tier and was sitting back fifth or sixth, and he moved in the second quarter...The consolation was there, but you always have to mention both I guess. Century Farrohs season had more marvelous moments to mention than most. Along with his 12 wins, he posted two third-place finishes and only missed two cheques -- once after a traffic-mired trip in his North America Cup elim, and once after a hard-fought battle in his Breeders Crown elim. He never had a bad night actually; he had nights that wasnt quite up to par but certainly not bad. The eternal billion-dollar question for any horseman is what makes a good horse good, and Ratchford certainly doesnt have the answer. What he could say is that Century Farroh was a good horse from the minute he was hitched after he was transported back to Cape Breton from the 2017 London Selected Yearling Sale after being purchased from breeder Century Spring Farm for $17,000. When I go to those sales I mark quite a few that I might be interested in, depending on their conformation, and he fit the bill. I dont normally go to the stall before, so I try to watch them coming into the ring when theyre in the back hold or wherever they may be. And we liked the look of him. Im not sure when I was going to stop. I certainly wasnt going to go to any major extreme dollar wise to get him, but he fit the bill on the pedigree and his conformation and obviously the price suited us well. He was a nice colt right from the time we broke him. The second time I qualified him we thought Oh well, hes certainly good enough to go up and we werent quite sure what he would do. We thought he would fit somewhere in the Ontario Sires program. Ratchford thought enough of the colt at two to pay him into the 2018 Metro Pace. But at the end of August when eventual 2018 Metro winner Stag Party was winning Grand Circuit events at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:52.2, Century Farroh was finishing fifth in a Grassroots event at Hanover Raceway and pacing in the 1:57 range. To be quite honest it took him a bit of time to adjust to something down there... I wasnt surprised when he was able to pull off some wins in the Grassroots [at two] and that certainly suffices his purchase price and our expectations; we surely never thought for a minute that wed have this kind of a horse. In fact, I was only just thinking now that the longer it goes and the more exposure that was coming, I was starting to think Ah geez, this is a pretty nice horse. Its almost hard for us to believe. Now that hes pinched himself and gone over to touch the bronze bust of Joe OBrien once or twice and confirmed that hes in fact not dreaming, Ratchford will look ahead to Century Farrohs four-year-old season. The pacer started jogging about a month ago for Moore in Florida, which is about the same time he started back in 2019 as a sophomore. Well stake him to the majority of four-year-old races, both U.S. and Canada, confirmed Ratchford. Im questioning whether we should go to the TVG or not, Im not really sure. But most of the other ones hell be eligible. Hell be eligible, and the harness racing world will possibly see if Century Farroh will be competitive in about two months time. That mid-April timeframe was about the time that he qualified at three, and its also around the time Moore ships his stable back north from Florida. Ratchford noted the possibility of a start at Pompano Park before heading home. In the back of my mind I think he could possibly race once or twice at Pompano, but it just depends on when hed be ready. Refugee applications explode with Cancun being preferred city Cancun, Q.R. The flow of migrants to the state of Quintana Roo continues to increase with the number of refugee application processes rising from 24 in 2015 to 475 in 2019 with Cancun being the preferred city of choice. Gerardo Talavera Cervantes, director de la Asociacion Casa de Refugiados, explained that the applications for refugee status has risen dramatically over the past five years, noting Cancun as the most sought after city. He says statistics show that refugee applications for Quintana Roo have exploded from the 25 that were received in 2015 to 47 in 2016, 372 applications in 2017 and 502 applications in 2018. The last complete updated bulletin of the Mexican Commission for Assistance to Refugees (Comar) is that of 2018. In 2019, the most recent public data is from August with 475 applications. I estimate that by the end of this year, it will be around 700 people only for Quintana Roo, he explained. According to the most recent statistics of la Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (Comar), 78.3 percent of the people seeking refuge status were located in Cancun, while 16.8 percent were located in Solidaridad, 4.6 percent in Othon P. Blanco and 0.2 percent in Cozumel. Talavera Cervantes said that the majority of migrants seeking refugee status flee their environment due to situations of insecurity that endanger their lives and that of their families. For this reason, an agreement was signed with the Human Rights Commission of the State of Quintana Roo (la Comision de Derechos Humanos del Estado de Quintana Roo Cdheqroo) to install a management house to receive migrants that need assistance. It is important to work in a coordinated and sensitive way to the needs of people in terms of management because those who are not Mexican and need international protection require adequate information to access their rights and have decent treatment, he said. Four members of the board of trustees of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust on Saturday inspected the Ram Janmabhoomi campus for shifting of the idol of Ram Lalla from the makeshift temple to another location within the campus. Champat Rai, general secretary of the Trust, along with Ayodhya-based members of the trust, including Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra also known as Ayodhya Naresh, Dr Anil Mishra and Ayodhya district magistrate Anuj Jha inspected the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. Before construction of Ram temple starts, the idol of Ram Lalla will have to be shifted to another location. According to VHP leaders, the idol could be shifted to Manas Bhavan, around 150 metres from the sanctum sanctorum of the makeshift temple. However, there is also the possibility that the idol of Ram Lalla might be relocated to another site within the Ram Janmabhoomi campus instead of Manas Bhavan, said VHP leaders Champat Rai has also suggested that the existing distance of 52 feet between the idol of Ram Lalla and devotees at the Ram Janmabhoomi must be cut down to 35-40 feet. At present Ram Lalla is not clearly visible to devotees due to the 52 feet distance between them. We have suggested that this distance must be cut down to 35-40 feet and devotees must also be able to do parikrama of the deity, said Rai. Ram Lalla must be located to a safe site. This could be Manas Bhavan or any other place, Rai added. The final decision in this regard will be taken at the next meeting of board of trustees, which is proposed in Ayodhya in the next 15 days. Later, Rai addressed VHP cadres at Karsevakpuram to review preparations for Ram Mahotsav starting from March 25 and the Chaurasi Koshi Parikrama in April. Rai, who is international vice president of the VHP, was appointed general secretary of the trust at its first meeting in New Delhi on February 19. Champat Rai is on a routine visit to Ayodhya. He paid obeisance to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi and also inspected the campus. Before construction of Ram Mandir starts, the deity will be shifted to another location, said Sharad Sharma, regional spokesperson, VHP, who operates from Karsevakpuram, Ayodhya. Bank account of trust At the residence of Ayodhya naresh, SBI officials held a meeting with Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra and Champat Rai to discuss modalities for opening the bank account of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust. For carrying out financial transactions during construction of the Ram temple, bank accounts will be opened at the SBIs main branch in Ayodhya. CM in Ayodhya today Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to be in Ayodhya on Sunday for his first visit to Ayodhya after formation of the trust for construction of Ram temple. During his four-hour stay in Ayodhya, the chief minister will review progress of under construction projects. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 11:56 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065f5268 4 Politics BPIP,Yudian-Wahyudi,greeting,salam-pancasila,national-greeting,Pancasila,ideology Free Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIP) head Yudian Wahyudi has drawn public controversy after saying that assalamu alaikum could be replaced by salam Pancasila as a national greeting during an exclusive interview with detik.com. The academic and rector of Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University in Yogyakarta believed that salam Pancasila would be able to represent the greetings of all official religions recognized in Indonesia. We were already comfortable with good morning. But since reformasi, we have replaced it with assalamu alaikum in any place no matter if Christians or Hindus are [in the audience], he said, referring to the reform movement following the downfall of president Soeharto. Because when it reached a point where it had become extreme, the new way emerged on the use of greetings of different religions, Yudian said, pointing at President Joko Jokowi Widodos signature greeting style. It is common practice for President Jokowi who is Muslim and many government officials to open their speeches with a litany of traditional religious greetings. They start with assalamu 'alaikum for Muslims, shalom for Christians, om swastiastu for Hindus, namo buddhaya for Buddhists and salam kebajikan or wei de dong tianfor Confucians. However, Yudian admitted that he personally preferred the greeting of salam Pancasila, which he claimed was created by Yudi Latief, an Indonesian activist and young intellectual whose writing works often raised the theme of the state ideology. Yudians choice was derived from his reflection on the relationship between Pancasila and religion. Read also: Pancasilas biggest enemy is religion: Indonesias ideology chiefs comment sparks outcry In the beginning of the interview, he lamented religious groups and those using religion as a political tool to further personal interests during the transition period from the New Order. Since the Reform Era, he said, political parties and mass organizations were allowed to adopt religious ideologies rather than Pancasila. From that point on, he said, the state ideology had been annihilated at the administrative level. Therefore, religion is the biggest threat to Pancasila, he said. In response to Yudians remarks, former forestry minister MS Kaban said the BPIPs proposal to replace the greetings of Muslims had gone too far that the agency should be dissolved. usulan BPIP gantikan salam kaum muslimin sudah keterlaluan, satu kalimat bubarkan BPIP anti agama.Sejarah menunjukkan yg suka gugat agama khususnya islam itu jls2 PKI,Komunis anti agama.Tolak kehadiran BPIP.Ayo debat terbuka BPIP.Knpa BPIP bawa Pancasila musuh agama. MS Kaban (@hmskaban) February 21, 2020 One sentence, disperse the anti-religion BPIP. History shows that those who dont like religion, especially Islam, are clearly communists, he wrote on his Twitter account @hmskaban on Friday. Jokowi appointed Yudian as BPIP head earlier this month in the hope that the BPIP could promote Pancasila values to society, particularly among the younger generation. Yudian succeeded Yudi Latif, who stepped down in June 2018 and was temporarily replaced by vice chairman Hariyono as acting chairman. (syk) WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has instructed his White House to identify and force out officials across his administration who are not seen as sufficiently loyal, a post-impeachment escalation that administration officials say reflects a new phase of a campaign of retribution and restructuring ahead of the November election. Johnny McEntee, Trump's former personal aide who now leads the effort as director of presidential personnel, has begun combing through various agencies with a mandate from the president to oust or sideline political appointees who have not proved their loyalty, according to several administration officials and others familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The push comes in the aftermath of an impeachment process in which several members of Trump's administration provided damning testimony about his behavior with regard to Ukraine. The stream of officials publicly criticizing Trump's actions frustrated the president and caused him to fixate on cleaning house after his acquittal this month. "We want bad people out of our government!" Trump tweeted Feb. 13, kicking off a tumultuous stretch of firings, resignations, controversial appointments and private skirmishes that have since spilled into public view. The National Security Council, the State Department and the Justice Department are targets of particular focus, according to two administration officials, and there have recently been multiple resignations and reassignments at each of those agencies. John Rood, the official in charge of Defense Department policy who had certified that Ukraine had met anti-corruption obligations, was let go this week. Victoria Coates, the deputy national security adviser who was viewed with suspicion by some White House aides, was removed from her post and was moved to an advisory position in the Energy Department. McEntee spent part of this week asking officials in various Cabinet agencies to provide names of political appointees working in government who are not fully supportive of Trump's presidency, according to administration officials. The president instructed McEntee to find people in the administration who aren't aligned with Trump and "get rid" of them, according to someone familiar with the president's directive. Trump did not provide additional specificity on what exactly he wanted beyond a workforce that more fully reflects his instincts, the person said, and it is unclear what criteria are being used to determine an official's fealty to the president. McEntee's discussions with Cabinet agencies were first reported by Axios. The 29-year-old former campaign aide is planning to prepare a presentation for Trump about what he has found. While Sean Doocey, the former director of presidential personnel, reported to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney's deputy, McEntee reports directly to the president, according to a senior administration official. What began as a campaign of retribution against officials who participated in the impeachment process has evolved into a full-scale effort to create an administration more fully in sync with Trump's id and agenda, according to several officials familiar with the plan. It is unclear whether civil servants will be targeted as well, but it would be harder to dislodge them than removing political appointees. Civil servants, however, could be sidelined in other ways. As he became the third president in American history to be impeached, Trump seethed against his own appointees who defied White House lawyers to comply with congressional subpoenas and testify about his conduct. The process clarified for Trump and his top advisers that they had not focused enough on personnel in the early part of the presidency, creating a loyalty deficiency the president is moving quickly to correct, officials said. The burgeoning effort was reflected in Trump's decision this week to appoint Richard Grenell as the next acting director of national intelligence, placing a fiercely loyal but inexperienced ally atop an intelligence structure against which the president has frequently railed. Mulvaney used a speech this week at the Oxford Union in Britain to inveigh against the "deep state," and he lamented that the administration could not fire more agency employees who do not implement the president's orders. He referred to some of testimony of the witnesses who participated in Trump's impeachment inquiry. Bureaucrats who want to make policy instead of implementing it "should put their name on the effing ballot and run" for office, he said during remarks to a group of several hundred people, according to audio of a speech obtained by The Washington Post. Trump's family members have been among the main champions of the effort to force out officials who have not proved their devotion to Trump. Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and a senior adviser in the White House, has played a central role in the push, concentrating more power in the West Wing and working to combat leaks, officials said. Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter that the impeachment investigation was helpful in "unearthing who all needed to be fired." Cliff Sims, a former White House adviser who wrote a book titled "Team of Vipers," about his time in the White House, has said Trump's presidency has been repeatedly undermined by disloyal underlings. "Loyalist shouldn't be a dirty word," he said. "Loyalty to the duly elected president and his agenda is exactly what we should expect from our unelected appointees." Brendan Buck, a longtime adviser to former House speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said that while Trump is entitled to have political appointees who support his agenda, the purity tests could make it difficult to find qualified people. "If they also insist on hiring only people who've never taken issue with something the president has done, it's going to be slim pickings," he said. Trump selected Grenell, the ambassador to Germany, to lead the intelligence community in place of Joseph Maguire after becoming angry last week when he learned that a U.S. intelligence official had told lawmakers that Russia wants to see him reelected, according to people familiar with the matter. Grenell has moved quickly to concentrate power within the intelligence agencies. Maguire's deputy, Andrew Hallman, resigned Friday. Grenell hired Kash Patel, a National Security Council aide who has worked in the past to cast doubt on the FBI's investigation into Russian election interference. Grenell has requested access to information from the C.I.A. and other intelligence agencies, the New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. The moves reflect the skeptical view the president has had of the intelligence community after his campaign's links to Russia were investigated and several of his associates were prosecuted. The anger extends beyond the intelligence agencies, and Trump has also called for law enforcement officials who investigated his campaign to be investigated or prosecuted. Even some Trump allies are feeling heat over not being aggressive enough about taking on the president's perceived enemies. At a donor roundtable Tuesday at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, one participant pointedly questioned Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on why he was not holding accountable people who were responsible for the Russia investigation. "I see you on Fox News every night, and then you do nothing about it. What are you going to do about it?" the donor asked, according to an attendee. "What a fantastic question!" Trump said. Meanwhile, administration officials are conducting a search for the "Anonymous" author of a tell-all book about Trump titled "A Warning," according to White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who told CNN on Friday that the search had become a "vocation with everybody." McEntee, who lost his job in 2018 over concerns about his online gambling, has long expressed an interest in the personnel office despite having no previous government experience, two administration officials said. Within the West Wing, he is seen as fiercely devoted to the president and is well liked by first lady Melania Trump, the officials said. Some within the White House have bristled at his lack of experience and aggressive approach to ferreting out "Never Trumpers." McEntee "does not have the relevant experience to do this job, unless the job is to purge Never Trumpers and reward loyalists," one official said. Another senior administration official countered that McEntee was talented and up to the task, with the key qualification of having the president's confidence. As he gears up for the reelection contest, Trump has moved to surround himself with longtime allies who have proved their devotion to him while pushing away those who have not earned his trust. This month, Trump rehired Hope Hicks, one of his longest-serving aides and closest confidants. During a podcast interview last week, Trump concurred when Fox News analyst Geraldo Rivera described the White House as "a nest of vipers and snitches and backstabbers and rats." "I inherited a place with, you know, many different administrations, and they worked there for years and were civil service and with unions and all of it," he said on Rivera's "Roadkill" podcast. "You can't do what you'd like to do." Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. Lets talk about Wednesday nights debate. I thought Mike Bloomberg got knocked down two or three times, including on your issue, Julie, enforcing non-disclosure agreements on women with complaints on toxic workplace and sexual harassment. What did you guys think? Julie: I am thrilled that the issue of non-disclosure agreements came up. The national organization I co-founded, Lift Our Voices, has repeatedly called on presidential candidates to join us in supporting a ban on NDAs for toxic workplace issues and half the candidates on that stage have supported us, with the glaring exceptions of Bloomberg, Sanders and Klobuchar. As for Bloomberg saying that women who signed these NDAs at his company wanted them, that statement is blatantly false. Two of these women have proactively reached out to me over the last week and they are desperate to speak publicly but are terrified of retaliation and being sued into oblivion by a guy with a lot of more money. Sounds sadly familiar. Julie: I thought Bloomberg was awful, start to finish. His tone was off and he was out of step with the issues primary voters care about, from sexual harassment to stop and frisk. His debate team should have seen these issues come up. Its an interesting experiment in whether money ultimately trumps preparedness. Good start but not nearly enough. @MikeBloomberg must release all workers from NDAs at Bloomberg LP. Mayor Bloomberg needs to stop protecting predators at his organization and let survivors speak. @LiftOurVoicesUS @GretchenCarlson @dianafalzone https://t.co/eJClnL8sGU Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) February 21, 2020 Mike: I found it fun to watch a socialist who was mayor of Burlington, VT criticize a guy who kept New York safe for 12 years. Bloomberg had a bad night, but he will make up for it with hundreds of millions of dollars in TV ads before the next debate. We have never seen a candidate with his advertising spend, so this will be quite a test. Many more people will see his ads than saw the debate. Legislators from Vermont and Delaware criticizing a guy who was the chief executive of New York City. Mike DuHaime (@MikeDuHaime) February 20, 2020 Q. Did anything happen to knock Bernie Sanders off his perch as front-runner? Julie: Not really. In going so aggressively after Bloomberg (and, in the case of Klobuchar and Buttigieg, one another), the other candidates largely left Sanders unscathed. It reminds me somewhat of how the Republican primarily debates played out in 2016, where the other candidates eviscerated one another in order to establish themselves as the sole alternative to Trump leaving Trump alone long enough to emerge as the clear front runner. Mike: Julie is absolutely right. It seems most of the other candidates view this as a fight to be the one person to take on Bernie later this year. Most of the candidates believe Bernie will be one of the final two, so the competition is to be the one to take the non-socialist lane. That makes Trump happy because his team undoubtedly wants to face Bernie. Really smart move by Bloomberg team. The millions of dollars spent on the ads will outweigh whatever is discussed in the debate or its coverage. https://t.co/ARvgQc3TBv Mike DuHaime (@MikeDuHaime) February 19, 2020 Q. New Jerseys primary in June could actually count this year, if the race remains unsettled. But why do both parties seem content to leave it where it is? Why dont we vote earlier to gain influence? Julie: As I recall, we did change the primary date about a decade ago to an earlier month in the calendar and then changed it back. One reason to keep it as is, is that we would ask voters to go to the polls repeatedly in a three-month cycle: once in, say, February, to vote for president, once in April to vote for school board in some towns and once in June for regular primary elections, which will depress turnout by the time June rolls around. Unless you want to move the whole calendar up and have primary candidates for local, state and other federal offices start campaigning on Christmas, theres a reason to keep it as is. Mike: We should move it earlier. We may not go first, but at least we can be in a cluster of big states where we will matter to the eventual outcome. Voter turnout would be so much higher than for any NJ primary, even for governor or senator, like it was in 2008. That would boost long-term voter participation and increase the ranks of both parties. Q. In Trenton, a coalition of progressive groups presented a budget plan that would raise taxes by about $3 billion, skewed towards higher incomes. But it includes no significant spending cuts. Are they making themselves irrelevant? Julie: No, they are not at all irrelevant. Their priorities may not be yours but it doesnt mean that their opinion is any less relevant. Well determine how relevant they are to the outcome of the budget practically, however, when the governor presents his budget next week and we see how many of their priorities are included in his proposal. Mike: They are giving the governor an opportunity to call for big spending increases yet somehow look moderate by comparison. They are so far left and so far out of touch with the economic realities of the state that they are giving the governor a political gift, allowing him to say no to their demands. By cleaning up the tax code and closing corporate tax loopholes, we can make our communities stronger, protect the environment, and improve our rails, roads, and bridges, writes @NJPolicy President @Brandon_McKoy. Read about #ForTheManyNJ here! https://t.co/EHIzAbrIr4 For the Many NJ (@ForTheManyNJ) February 18, 2020 Q. Despite the reports of sexual harassment on Chamber of Commerce train to Washington, Sen. Loretta Weinberg is encouraging women not to boycott it, but to join the trip to network with other political players. Do you think women will? Julie: If women were to begin boycotting every place they have been harassed, there would be no women working on campaigns, in government, on State Street and in Congress. Its not up to women to boycott these events and they shouldnt have to. Its up to men to cut out the bad behavior or stay home alone if they cant control themselves. Mike: Well said, Julie. I havent been on a Chamber trip this millennium, and I feel okay about that decision. Q. Jack Ciattarelli, the former assemblyman who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, criticized Gov. Phil Murphy for his use of non-disclosure agreements. But when asked, he would not criticize President Trump for using them. Does that damage his credibility? Any advice for him on navigating the Trump issue? Julie: This drives me absolutely batty. If you oppose non-disclosure agreements for toxic work issues, which you should, you must oppose them without fear or favor. This applies both to Assemblyman Ciattarelli with respect to Donald Trump and to so-called progressive Democrats who trash Trump but were mum on Governor Murphys use of them to silence women on his campaign. Just be consistent on this issue, which affects one-third of the American workforce. Its not a trick question and it shouldnt be that hard to stand up for workers, no matter which of your political heroes is trying to muzzle them. Mike: I agree. Voters are not looking for someone who agrees with Trump on everything, or disagrees with Trump on everything. They are looking for authenticity, which often begins with consistency. This is an unforced error. No Republican primary voter would have been upset with Ciattarelli for saying the Trump campaign should hold themselves to the same standard he is setting for his campaign. A note to readers: DuHaime and Roginsky are both deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players we discuss in this column. Given that, we will not normally disclose each specific connection, trusting that readers understand they are not impartial observers. DuHaime, a principal at Mercury Public Affairs, was chief political advisor to former Gov. Chris Christie, and has worked for Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Optimus Communications, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg and Phil Murphy. Henceforth, we will disclose specific connections in the text only when readers might otherwise be misled, at the discretion of the editors. The Nature Institute sets winter events GODFREY The Nature Institutes (TNI) hiking trails at 2213 South Levis Lane in Godfrey may be... Snow possible this weekend, 3-6 inches predicted The National Weather Service says the chance of snow Friday night into Saturday is 60 to 70... Giving a fillip to the skill development in the state, "India Skills Kerala" was inaugurated here on Saturday by Labour and Skills Minister T P Ramakrishnan, witnessing participation of 253 people from as many as 39 disciplines for the three-day event. "The government has initiated several skill development programmes. India Skills Kerala is part of that mission," said Ramakrishnan. He said that Kerala will soon have its own state skills policy. "Government would come up with a career policy shortly considering a recent surge in the importance of technology in the new age," he said. "We must promote a culture where students earn while studying. The state needs its youth in educational institutions to do part-time jobs," he added. The event was organised by the Industrial Training Department (ITD) and Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), both under the Labour and Skills Department. India Skills Kerala comes as a result of its district-level competitions held last month, with 4,298 contestants. The 1,278 winners among them subsequently qualified for the zonal rounds held separately for the north, central and south regions of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newtownabbey's Abbey Retail Park has been sold to a Canadian company for a multi-million pound sum. The park, located close to Abbey Centre, has been sold off by owner Hammerson along with a retail park in Wales for a total of 55m. Slate Asset Management in Toronto has bought Abbey Retail Park, where tenants include Tesco, Carpetright and national retailer B&Q. Hammerson, a plc, also announced the sale of a total of seven other retail parks for 400m. The parks are located around Great Britain and are now owned by Orion European Real Estate Fund V. David Atkins, Hammerson's chief executive, said: "Against a challenged retail and investment backdrop we have exited the retail parks sector. Having achieved disposals of close to 1bn since the beginning of 2019, our focus remains on strengthening our balance sheet to create further resilience." Villasenor has been named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 and Rolling Stones 50 Funniest People Right Now" and will release her second music EP later this year, as well as a book of her art. Asia India: Tamil Nadu public transport workers protest Hundreds of workers from the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) demonstrated in Chennai on February 12 for several demands, including for higher pay and dearness allowances. Their previous wage agreement expired last September. A union coordinating committee said that another protest was planned for March 10 if there was no response from the government. The workers are also demanding urgent construction to improve building infrastructure, and workshop and restroom facilities at depots. In 2017, a bus depot roof collapse in Nagapattinam killed eight workers and injured many others. Thousands of TNSTC workers are employed as reserve drivers and conductors. Protesters demanded that these employees, who have worked for more than 240 days, be made permanent in line with existing standards. Other demands were for benefits for retired staff and the re-introduction of the old pension scheme for workers who joined the service before April 2003. Pune city municipal contract workers on indefinite hunger strike Around 30 contract workers in the sanitary and security departments of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, stopped work on Monday and began an indefinite hunger strike to demand wages in line with minimum pay laws. The skilled and unskilled contract workers are organised by the Maharashtra Kamgar Manch. The union wants the wage of skilled labour to be increased to 14,000 rupees ($US196) per month, semi-skilled 13,000 rupees and unskilled 11,500 rupees as per the 2015 government gazette. They currently receive between 6,000 and 9,000 rupees. Punjab unemployed teachers demonstrate for jobs The Elementary Teacher Training (ETT)-TET Qualified Unemployed Teachers Union demonstrated in Bathinda on February 16 to demand that all vacant posts at government schools be filled. The union claimed that there are around 30,000 vacant teaching posts in Indias Punjab state. Teachers want the authorisation of a minimum of 15,000 Bachelor of Education positions and 12,000 ETT posts. The governments decision to sanction just 2,182 B.Ed. teachers posts and 500 ETT teachers positions was rejected by the union. The demonstration followed protests on February 8 by the Punjab Democratic Teachers Front in Sangrur over the same issue, and against the governments move toward privatisation. Punjab government water and sanitation contract workers protest The Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Contract Workers Union called a demonstration outside the mini-secretariat in Bathinda on February 14 over the non-payment of salaries. Protesters burnt effigies of department officials. The union said that salary payment delays has become a norm. According to the union, the department must release salaries within the first week of every month but that salaries have not been released on time during the past eight months. On some occasions, salaries were delayed by 45 days or more, it claimed. Workers receive below poverty wages whilst those who joined the department a few years ago only get between 7,000 rupees ($US98) and 8,000-rupees a month. Uttarakhand government employees strike in Dehradun Thousands of state government employees struck on February 14 and held a protest march in Dehradun demanding the unfreezing of promotions. Called by over a dozen government employee associations, workers gathered in the Parade Ground and walked to the secretariat building to demand that the departmental promotion committee be restarted in line with a Supreme Court ruling. The government froze promotions in all departments in September. Assam child day-care workers demand pay increase Thousands of Anganwadi (child day-care) workers and helpers staged a demonstration in Guwahati on February 12 to oppose the Indian governments recent budget and to demand a wage increase. Workers protested outside the Social Welfare Directorate office in Uzanbazar, calling for a salary increase and Employee State Insurance facilities. Anganwadi workers want wages lifted from 6,500 rupees ($US92) per month to 21,000 rupees and to 18,000 rupees for helpers. Government workers in Jammu and Kashmir protest over recruitment rules Hundreds of government employees recruited under the restrictive SRO-202 rule have been holding regular demonstrations over several weeks across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The new recruitment rules were applied in 2015 by the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party government that administered the territory for three years. The government workers are organised by the All J&K SRO-202 Employees union. The discriminatory SRO-202 recruitment rule requires that a new employee must spend five years on probation. They do not receive a minimum basic salary and are denied access to the Dearness Allowance, House Rental Allowance and City Compensation Allowance until they have completed their probation period. Pakistan: Punjab government workers strike Agriculture Department workers from the low paid rank of Class IV in Bahawalnagar, Punjab struck on Tuesday and demonstrated in the city against extended work hours. Workers claimed that they are forced to perform duties that are not part of their job function due to under staffing caused by budget cuts. Workers said they are forced to work for other departments including the municipal department and carry out duties such as garbage collection. The workers accused the government of using its Clean and Green Pakistan policy to slash public expenditure and accelerate the privatisation of public enterprises. Bangladeshi garment workers demand wages Garment workers from the Sark Knitwear factory at Ashuila in Savar demonstrated on the Savar-Mirpur road on Sunday morning for three hours, for unpaid wages. At least five workers were injured when police broke up the protest. The demonstration began on Sunday morning after management announced that the factory was shutting for an indefinite period without paying outstanding wages for 500 workers. Sri Lanka: Sacked government workers maintain protest in Colombo Hundreds of workers from several Sri Lankan government departments are maintaining their protest opposite the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo as part of a series of demonstrations that began over two weeks ago by a group of sacked government employees demanding reinstatement. The Rajapakse government claimed that workers from various government departments, including the central cultural fund, archaeology department, national housing development authority and petroleum cooperation, among others, were given politically-biased appointments by the previous government. Terminated workers from the Archaeological Department are maintaining a hunger protest over their dismissals. Sri Lanka Railway workers joined the demonstrations last week demanding that more than 1,500 temporary workers with over five years service be given permanent jobs. A group of railway bamboo gatekeepers demonstrated on Wednesday demanding a hike in their pay. The union stated that 687 gate keepers all over the country only receive a daily allowance of 250 rupees (less than $US2). They further demanded that the authorities make their positions permanent. Wildlife guides have also joined the protests demanding their daily wages be increased to 700 rupees ($US9.8). Burmese footwear factory workers walk out Hundreds of workers at the Li Kyan Footwear factory in Shwe Lin Pan industrial zone, in Yangon, Burmas largest city, went on strike on Thursday to demand a wage increase. Members of the 1,900-strong workforce want their daily wage increased from 5,000 Kyat to 8,000 ($US2.80 to $3.50). Other demands are for payment of the annual bonus, which the company has withheld, and leave without pay for student workers who are attending education courses. Australia Tram and rail network workers in Victoria strike Thousands of members of the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) employed in Victorias rail and tram commuter networks resumed ongoing industrial action this week opposing employers demands that workers accept concessions to wages and conditions and increase productivity. Some 1,500 drivers and customer-support workers from Melbournes privatised tram network struck for four hours on Monday and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and are planning to strike again six more times in the first two weeks of March in opposition to the employers proposed enterprise agreement (EA). Yarra trams is owned by Keolis Downer, a joint corporate venture between Downer Group (annual revenue $12.6 billion) and French transport giant Keolis (annual revenue $9.7 billion). Management want full-time workers to concede an estimated $7,000 per annum in overtime and roster penalties via increases in the current cap on part-time workers from 4 percent to 15 percent and restrict future wage increases to 3 percent annually over four years. Estimations are that Yarra trams would pocket an extra $9.69 million per annum in profits under its proposed EA. Over 600 RTBU members from the state-owned rural commuter rail network V/line, including drivers, station staff and train controllers resumed strike action this week in opposition to the governments proposed EA changes that would limit wage increases to 2 percent per annum, make changes to training provisions and an end to public holiday loadings. The RTBU is demanding annual 6 percent pay increases with no loss in conditions. Striking train drivers, station staff, bookings clerks and train conductors shut down services on the Ballarat Maryborough and Ararat lines on Wednesday and on the Traralgon and Bairnsdale lines for 24 hours. The action followed 24-hour stoppages in late January and December. Jetstar baggage handlers across Australia strike again Some 250 baggage handlers from Jetstar, a Qantas Airways budget subsidiary, walked off the job for 24 hours at six airports across Australia on Wednesday in their dispute over the companys proposed enterprise agreement. Jetstar was forced to cancel 48 domestic flights at Sydney, Melbourne, Avalon, Brisbane, Cairns, and Adelaide airports. The strike followed limited two-hour strikes on December 14 and 15. To protect the companys profits during the summer holiday period, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) suspended further industrial action until now. Rates of pay for Jetstar baggage handlers are the lowest in the Qantas group. Their current agreement guarantees some Jetstar baggage handlers no more than 20 hours work a week on irregular rosters. Jetstar wants to further restrict leave provisions and demote staff without notice. In an attempt to blackmail workers, management is refusing to back-pay wage increases since the current EA expired in March 2019. Jetstar closed off any further negotiations on February 10 after tabling their final offer. Airport baggage handlers want equal rates of pay for equal jobs, improved secure work with a minimum of 30 hours a week, more rest breaks, a guaranteed 12-hour break between shifts and compliance with safety and security. In a recent survey 80 percent of baggage handlers reported they have suffered injury due to high workload and understaffing, while 90 percent said they want to work more hours. I think we need to take every single CEO of every single fast-fashion company and bring them to Botswana and give them a slap, said Eco-Age co-founder and creative director Livia Firth at the global premiere of her latest Fashionscapes sustainability documentary The Diamonds of Botswana on Wednesday. The 14-minute long film, directed by The True Costs Andrew Morgan, gives an inside look at the southern African countrys booming and sustainable diamond trade that has literally paved the way for generations to lift themselves out of poverty. The film follows Firth as she travels to Botswana to understand the diamond industry and meeting with everyone from female truck operators in the mines to the president of the Republic of Botswana. She concludes through the film that the unprecedented collaboration between businesses and the government is the missing link that has led to communities, people, animals, and natural landscapes thriving as a result of the diamond industry. Eco Age For example, 70 percent of sales of De Beers diamonds go to the South African countrys government and are then allocated towards things like education and housing, according to De Beers representative Pat Dambe, who spoke alongside Firth, Morgan, and two other Botswanan diamond industry veterans at the premiere. Dambe also attempted to debunk the notion that all diamonds from the continent are related to highly publicized blood diamonds, or diamonds mined in war zones that perpetuate conflict. There are 18 countries in Africa that are focused on the diamond industry and out of 18, 15 of them are responsibly sourced, she said. RELATED: Fashion Already Knows How to Solve Its Sustainability Problem. Why Isn't It? There is a palpable air of positivity in this film, a welcome respite from the doom-and-gloom news of companies operating with a we believe in tomorrow because were destroying today mentality, according to Morgan. I think what struck me was that it wasn't an afterthought, he added. What you're hearing is stories about an actual intentionality to the way they're doing the work in first place. Story continues Firth has been tackling sustainability with intention on the frontlines of change in the fashion industry well before the term sustainability became as trendy as it is now. Since launching Eco-Age more than a decade ago, she has been highlighting eco-conscious brands who can apply for an Eco-Age approved Brandmark, which means a company meets all of Eco-Ages standards for sustainable excellence, including respecting the rights of workers, enhancing the economic stability of the community, and promoting inclusion and equality across the board. Eco Age Firth has also been able to promote sustainable brands as the founder of the Green Carpet Challenge. The future is about active citizenship, collaboration, new business models, and putting people and the planet above profit, Firth said when she was honored as a one of InStyles 50 Badass Women in our February issue. Social justice is as important as environmental justice, in fact you could argue that it comes first. Firths trip to Botswana seems to have given her a new sense of hope. As she says in the film, I came away from Botswana wondering if this country represents something even bigger a new vision for doing business and if so, it is certainly something that needs to be protected with integrity and vigilance. Delhi Police on Saturday said they have arrested four men suspected to be part of a gang of robbers, who posed as police personnel to cheat people and commit thefts or robberies. Police said they have recovered stolen gold jewellery worth over 8 lakh, along with a car and a two wheeler. Polices said the arrested men were involved in at least 10 cases of thefts, robberies and cheatings reported from Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram. Deputy commissioner of police (crime) G Ram Gopal Naik identified the four suspects as Sadiq Kambar Jafari,25, involved in three cases of robbery in Maharashtra, and his associates Kasim Beg, 30, Khaibar Ali, 23, and Salim Ali, 35. Naik said a number of incidents were recently reported where the suspects, disguised as policemen, robbed and cheated people. A special team was set up to track these suspects. They analysed CCTV footage of some incidents and managed to identify them, Naik said. The DCP said they were tipped on Friday that some members of the gang would come to Okhla Mandi. Acting on the input, we raided the place and caught the four men. They confessed to being members of the gang and from gold jewellery was recovered from them. Further probe revealed their involvement in at least 10 criminal cases reported from Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad, the officer said. The four men also told police that they used to pose as cops and mainly targeted senior citizens with cash or jewellery. They would ask the target to take out the jewellery on the pretext of inspection, and would swap the packet when they were not looking. They would also pose as policemen to passersby and attempt to rob them off their valuables while their associate would be ready with a getaway vehicle, Naik said. A repatriation flight carrying 32 British and European passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship has taken off from Japan. The Foreign Office said the evacuation flight had British and government and medical staff on board, and was expected to arrive in the UK on Saturday morning. The passengers spent more than two weeks trapped on the coronavirus-stricken ship off the coast of Japan. The evacuation plane is due to land at Boscombe Down military base, near Salisbury in Wiltshire. The passengers will then be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral for 14 days of quarantine. Two passengers in their eighties died aboard Diamond Princess after contracting coronavirus, while Israel confirmed its first case of the disease after the return of one person who had been on the ship. Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Show all 9 1 /9 Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Ukrainian law enforcement officers clear the way as demonstrators block a road during a protest against the arrival of evacuees from China REUTERS Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Buses carrying evacuees from coronavirus-hit China drive to a medical facility as law enforcement officers clear the way from protesters AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Ukrainian firefighters clear the way after protesters attempt to stop the arrival of evacuees from China REUTERS Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees A demonstrator throws a stone towards a police van during a protest against the arrival of a plane carrying evacuees from China REUTERS Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees A Ukrainian riot police officer detains a protester, who planned to stop buses carrying passengers evacuated from China AP Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Demonstrators set fire and erect a barricade as they protest the arrival of a plane carrying evacuees from China REUTERS Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Ukrainian riot police run to push protesters outside Novi Sarzhany, Ukraine AP Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Protesters help an injured demonstrator, who attempted to stop buses carrying China evacuees AP Ukrainian protesters attack bus carrying coronavirus evacuees Protesters speak to Ukrainian riot police blocking the road outside Novi Sarzhany AP More than 620 passengers on board the vessel were infected coronavirus - more than any country other than China. Some British passengers had already been evacuated over the last week on flights to Hong Kong, while others were being treated for the virus in health facilities in Japan. At least four UK nationals contracted the virus on board, but those due to arrive home on Saturday had tested negative. Consumer groups want to see coming major reforms in the troubled mortgage broking industry go further, calling for brokers to be required to inform their clients in writing what they have done to match their needs and how many potential mortgages are examined, ruled out and why. From July 1, mortgage brokers will be subject to a "best-interests duty", where consumers' interests must be prioritised over their own. Mike Felton, the chief executive of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, said the new best-interests duty for mortgage brokers would drive the trust and confidence that consumers have in brokers Credit:Janie Barrett The requirement was one of the major recommendations of the Hayne royal commission into misconduct into financial services to help better protect consumers. A law subjecting brokers to a best-interests duty passed in federal Parliament earlier this month but it did not specify how the duty is to apply, leaving it up to industry watchdog the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to decide how to it should work. Srinagar, Feb 22 : The Jammu and Kashmir Police in its recent action against drug dealings in Srinagar have arrested a notorious drug peddler and recovered contraband substance from his possession. Police officers, in a checkpoint at Baba Dawood Khakhi Bridge, intercepted Nazir Ahmad Mir, a resident of Koolipora, Khanyar. During checking, the police recovered 2.5 kilos of 'charas' (a form of cannabis) from his possession. "He has been arrested and shifted to police station Khanyar where he remains in custody," a police officer said on Saturday. A case under relevant sections of law has been registered by the police and further investigation has been taken up. "Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law," police said. A Norton man died Saturday of injuries he sustained when an apparent meth lab he was operating in a Faith Way apartment exploded. Norton police said in a release that police and fire personnel responded to a report of an explosion just before 1 a.m. Saturday morning to find Apartment #2 empty but for what appeared to be a lab for cooking methamphetamine. That lab obviously had exploded, but the resident of the apartment had fled buy the time first responders arrived. A BOLO, or Be On the Look Out, was issued for the resident and police began searching area hospitals. Not long after, Attleboro emergency personnel were called to a Pike Avenue home where a man was reportedly experienced medical issues. Upon investigation, police determined the patient in Attleboro was the suspect in the Norton explosion. He was transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Police have not released the identity of the deceased man. Meanwhile, first responders evacuated the residents of Faith Way complex into the community center. Norton Police, the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, the state Fire Marshalls Office, the State Police Clandestine Lab Enforcement Unit, Crime Scene Services and State Police detectives attached to the Bristol District Attorneys Office continue to investigate and clean up dangerous chemicals used in cooking the meth. The incident remains under investigation. Native American elders and author Alice Walker called on San Francisco school officials Friday to rethink their decision to cover up a controversial mural featuring white settlers stepping over a dead American Indian, saying the art is important testimony to historic atrocities. You take those down, youve taken the visual evidence that that happened to the native people, Tamaka Bailey, a Choctaw elder and teacher from Pacifica, told The Chronicle. Thats how they treated us. The historic, 1,600-square-foot mural at Washington High School features panels with scenes from the life of the first president. Critics have said the mural which features scenes of Native Americans, including the one slain, as well as black slaves traumatizes students. Dozens of current and former Washington students who advocated for the destruction of the mural last spring said they didnt want a daily, gut-wrenching reminder of the enslavement and massacre of black people and Native Americans. Now Playing: Take a walk through the lobby of Washington High School in San Francisco amidst the controversial mural Life of Washington, a 1936 fresco by Victor Arnautoff. Video: San Francisco Chronicle In June, the school board voted to paint over the mural, describing the unanimous decision as reparation for historic racial injustices against African Americans and Native Americans. In August, after an outcry from artists, African American community leaders, students, alumni and academics, the board reversed course and voted 4-3 to obscure the piece with panels. Other students of color at Washington High expressed support for the mural, and in October, supporters sued the school district to stop it from covering the fresco. The fresco, which is a permanent part of the wall, should never have been put in a school, said school board President Mark Sanchez. The artist did not consult Native American or African American groups, he said. The mural constitutes ongoing harm that compounds the generational harm for these communities. The Board of Education has the responsibility to ensure that our students are free from this type of hurtful art. The 1936 mural, painted on wet plaster, is the work of Russian-born artist Victor Arnautoff, and part of the Works Progress Administration public art program under President Franklin Roosevelts New Deal employment projects. Arnautoff, who studied with Diego Rivera, was sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans and black people, meant for the fresco to be a counterbalance to schoolbooks of the era that ignored the mistreatment and offered a rosy picture, the artists grandson, Peter Arnautoff of Marin, has told The Chronicle. Bailey and others who wrote to school officials also see the mural that way. Rather than glorifying what George Washington did, he said, the mural subversively demonstrated the role the first president played in slavery and genocide of the indigenous population. The school now has the truth staring at them, as the students can be told and shown the truth about our first president, he said in his letter to Sanchez and Superintendent Vince Matthews. Where should an art piece be but in a place that teaches history? On Friday, he and a group of elders submitted three letters to the board. He wrote one of them, and author Alice Walker who won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel The Color Purple and the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union Local 10 wrote the others. The elders expect to submit other letters from Native American elders in the coming days. The elders performed a cleansing ceremony outside the school district office on Franklin Street before submitting the letters calling on the board to keep the mural visible. The elders burned sage and waved the smoke over the pages or the letters. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. The elders position stands in contrast to that of some other Native Americans and people of color who urged the board to paint over the mural to alleviate the trauma of walking by a dead indigenous person on the way to class. When I hear from kids that its painful and its damaging to them, I listen to that, said Amy Anderson, an indigenous parent in her Paint It Down video, outlining the history and her concerns about the artwork. Yet John Learned. of the Cheyenne Arapahoe tribe and one of the elders, said its about education, how the younger generation needs to understand the trauma of their elders. When I was growing up in Oklahoma, we had to go to colored-only bathrooms, he said. That history and all that came before it, I think thats something they need to be aware of. The district is moving forward with plans to alter the public building, a process that requires an environmental review. The estimated cost to cover the mural including the review, labor and material is expected to reach nearly $900,000. The district is also grappling with a $26 million shortfall, which will probably lead to layoffs, Matthews told staff this month in a letter outlining the districts multiyear budget crisis. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker Gandhinagar, Feb 22 : US President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Gandhi Ashram has been cancelled by people who don't like to speak the truth and opposed the truth, said former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela here on Saturday. Gujarat was shamed by the money being wasted on the welcome, as Gandhi and Gujarat were known for austerity, he said. Vaghela was at the Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati to pay tribute on Kasturba Gandhi's death anniversary. "Trump's likely visit to the Ashram has been cancelled as Narendra Modi doesn't like the truth. Truth is what Gandhi stood for. But it's Godse mentality, which is wiping out the Gandhian ideology," Vaghela said. He said Gujarat was known for Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and its austerity. "Gujarat is shamed by the huge unnecessary expenditure by the administration to welcome Trump. Why such wastage, when America has shown it doesn't like India. We will hold the Nagrik Abhivadan Samity, which has invited Trump, accountable for public money spent on this welcome," said Vaghela. "The America that denied you (Modi) a diplomatic visa when you were Gujarat CM and insulted Gujarat thereby, why are you being a doormat for them and become his stooge? To propagandise him for his political gains? Trump has stated there won't be any business deal with India," he said. "I pity our Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The poor fellow doesn't know what is going on around him," said Vaghela, head of the National Congress Party's (NCP) Gujarat unit. He quit the Congress in 2017 before the December 2017 Assembly elections. Exhorting party workers in Bihar to spread the message that "BJP is synonymous with development", its national president J P Nadda on Saturday asked them to work towards ensuring the NDA's return to power in the assembly elections due later this year. Nadda inaugurated, through video conferencing, 11 new district offices of the BJP across the state. Speaking at the function, he called upon party workers to make use of technology at their disposal and explain to the people that "Bihar has the blessings of Narendra Modi, who has provided assistance worth billions to the state and these have been effectively utilised on the ground through Chief Minister Nitish Kumar". Nadda also asked workers to dispel "misinformation" about the Modi government's measures such as abrogation of Article 370 provisions and making triple talaq a punishable offence. He said they should explain to the people that these "decisive steps" had brought "happiness" to residents of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir who were previously deprived of many rights and women who were aggrieved by the practice of instant divorce. Apparently mindful of the dissidence that comes to the fore ahead of the elections with many aspirants not being considered for tickets, Nadda said, "Always do remember, is a serious full-time job where there is an entry point but no exit." "Do not get swayed by concerns of individual benefits. Do remember that if the party thrives, the benefits will reach all," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Portugal has taken a big step towards legalising euthanasia by approving proposals from the ruling Socialist Party and some other politicians, BBC reports. Five bills got majority backing from MPs, and now a special committee is to consolidate them into one bill. The country's president can still veto it. The Catholic Church and opposition parties oppose euthanasia. They want Portugal to hold a referendum on it. Euthanasia means deliberately ending the life of a patient who is suffering. It involves a doctor taking an active role in ending a patient's life, whereas assisted death means enabling a patient to take a lethal dose themselves. There is also passive euthanasia, where death is brought about by an omission - by withdrawing or withholding treatment in order to let the person die. Portugal's parliament narrowly rejected a move to legalise euthanasia in 2018, but the Socialists' majority now makes it more likely that the law will get through this time. The Catholic Church and other conservative opponents in Catholic-majority Portugal say MPs should put their efforts instead into improving healthcare for the terminally ill. Anti-euthanasia protesters rallied outside parliament on Thursday, as MPs debated the bills. All the parties behind the bills agreed on strict conditions for euthanasia to take place - a patient must be over 18, not suffering from a mental illness, and the request can be granted only if the patient is terminally ill and suffering unbearable pain, Reuters news agency reported. Tiny homes, big price tag? Not always. Here's what's for sale now Bigger is better? Sometimes, but not always, and it's definitely not as affordable. Living in the Bay Area means some downsizing and 700 square feet and under may be that sweet spot for a home you... Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Seven policemen in Metro Manila were tested positive for illegal use of drugs since the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) conducted random drug test four months ago. NCRPO chief Police Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas on Friday said that one of the cops who tested positive is in the Philippine National Polices drug watchlist. He was identified as Staff Sergeant Ronald Carpio. [Si] Ronald Carpio ay nag-positive for the use of shabu. Kasama po siya sa 357 watchlist ng so-called suspected 'narco cops', said Sinas in a press briefing. [Translation: Ronald Caprio tested positive for the use of crystal meth. He is in the 357 watchlist of the so-called narco cops.] However, the NCRPO chief did not identify the six others. Sinas said that the NCRPO had conducted 6,000 random drug tests since October last year. He added that 31 Metro Manila policemen were among the 357 policemen in the watchlist. Of that number, 22 were already under legal investigation while 9 others were declared AWOL (absence without leave). What's the difference between Room to Improve (RTE1) and the same channel's The Great House Revival? None, really, except that the former is presented by cheeky chappie Dermot Bannon and the latter by the rather more grand Hugh Wallace. Both architects, though, are intent on the same mission of showing the viewer how to turn dilapidated wrecks into homes of wonder - with Bannon the hands-on visionary, and Wallace content to marvel at the efforts of others. The viewer, meanwhile, couldn't care less and may indeed be wondering at RTE's obsession with transforming already overpriced properties into repositories of bling. But if you feel obliged to watch these makeover shows, the trick is to have a gander at the first five minutes, when the house is in a dire state, and then fast-forward to the last five minutes, with everyone going ooh-and-aah at what's been achieved. That way you can avoid all the boringly predictable bits in between: the budget overruns, the time delays, the fiddly snags that no one but the client cares a hoot about. And thus, in Monday night's first instalment of The Great House Revival, when Wallace announced that "the first major task is the demolition of the breeze-block extension", my immediate thought was: I'm out of here. But, for whatever reason, I lingered as businesswoman Fiona Kelly took on the task of restoring the leaky Georgian ruin that she'd bought in Phibsborough for 450,000 and was rebuilding to its former glory for a further 500,000. A very cool customer, she was given to such pronouncements as: "If I want something, I go after it and make sure I get it" and "I'll probably be a little bit of a thorn in everybody's side". And, sure enough, she got her way with a house so striking that Wallace could only summon up superlatives, while viewers who can't afford to buy any kind of home in our capital city could only wonder at the extravagant effrontery of it all. If you wished to put such lifestyle nonsense in perspective, Lost Lives (BBC1) was the film to watch. This was adapted from the 1999 book of the same name in which journalist David McKittrick and four colleagues chronicled the lives and deaths of the 3,637 men, women, children and babies who died as a direct result of the Troubles from June 11, 1966, to October 31, 1998. Everyone should have this great book on their shelves and should open it regularly at any page, where they'll find heartbreaking reminders of the savagery and futility of violent conflict. And if this film, which focused on just some of these lost lives, sent viewers out to buy the book, it will have performed a noble service. It wasn't easy to watch, starting with the killing of nine-year-old Patrick Rooney, hit while in his West Belfast bed by an RUC tracer bullet in August 1969, and ending with the September 1998 suicide of 42-year-old Billy Giles, who had been jailed in 1982 for killing a Catholic friend, though "it didn't matter who it was", he recalled soon before he took his own life. The spoken text throughout the film came from the book and was read by professional actors, including Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, Brid Brennan, Susan Lynch, Ciaran Hinds, Adrian Dunbar and Bronagh Gallagher. And the archive newsreel footage, which was expertly woven into the narrative, contributed to a wrenching film. Video of the Day I never liked comedian David Baddiel, especially in his 1990s heyday with similarly blokey Frank Skinner, but both men have become more thoughtful (and bearable) as they've aged, and this week's Confronting Holocaust Denial with David Baddiel (BBC2) had its arresting moments. Jewish and with family members who perished in the concentration camps, he wanted to know how one in six people around the world believe that either the extermination of six million people by the Nazis never happened or that the figure was greatly exaggerated. This led him to a dilemma. "Will this programme inadvertently fan the flames of denial?" he wondered aloud and he wondered it again in the presence of Deborah Lipstadt, who had been unsuccessfully sued by rogue historian David Irving for calling him a Holocaust denier. "I don't want to give legitimacy to these people. I don't want to give them a platform," he told Lipstadt's lawyer Anthony Julius. "So don't," Julius replied. Instead, he took himself off to Ennis in Co Clare, where he met Irish denier Dermot Mulqueen, who had received a five-month sentence in 2015 for smashing a TV set in the town square with an axe on Holocaust Memorial Day and declaring it to be Fake Holocaust Memorial Day. Mulqueen told him that there were no gas chambers in Auschwitz or other camps and then asked why, if these things had happened, so many Jews opted to buy Mercedes cars. After that, he sang a virulently antisemitic song, which Baddiel thought "one of the weirdest moments of my life". So why give this poisonous rubbish any publicity? Homeland (RTE2/Channel 4) started its eighth and final season with Carrie back on her meds, having been deprived of them in the Russian gulag where she'd been incarcerated for almost a year. So had the Russians turned her into a double agent? Well, mentor Saul doesn't think so and has sent her back into the Afghan fray. But so far this season there's been too much about Carrie and her mental state and too little about the state of the world, which is where this series used to excel. A second Australian university is offering cash incentives to Chinese students to keep up their studies despite the coronavirus travel ban. The University of Adelaide is not encouraging its students to dodge the entry ban on Chinese citizens as Western Sydney University has done. Instead, it is offering a care package worth about $5000 to about 3000 Chinese students. The University of Adelaide is offering a care package and remote study to keep Chinese students enrolled as students become increasingly desperate to start term Travellers at Brisbane International Airport on January 29. Western Sydney University said it will subsidise its international students to get around the coronavirus travel ban The package includes a 20 per cent discount on semester one tuition fees and up to $2000 towards airfares which they can access only once the travel ban is lifted. It also offered online study help including videos of lectures, peer networking support and library resources so Chinese students who cannot be on campus by the March 26 start date, so can keep up with their courses remotely. By contrast, Western Sydney University encouraged its students to dodge the travel ban by paying Chinese students up to $1500 to subside the cost of airfares and accommodation to reach Australia 'through a third country'. About 100,000 Chinese students are enrolled in Australia's universities providing a large source of profits each year for the $36 billion education-selling industry. The Australian Government banned direct travel from the Chinese mainland where the majority of COVID-19 cases are in an attempt to keep the highly infectious new virus out of Australia. Of those who develop COVID-19, 14 per cent suffer a serious illness while 5 per cent become critical, needing intensive care in hospital. The SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus which causes COVID-19. Because nobody is immune the highly infectious virus spreads quickly through the population. Latest studies show 14 per cent of those infected become seriously ill while 5 per cent go into critical condition COVID-19 has an overall fatality rate of 2.3 per cent, according to official figures from the Chinese Centres of Disease Control, with people over 60 most likely to die. The Australian Government has said it plans to relax the coronavirus travel ban on February 29 to allow 1000 Chinese research students to come directly to Australia with more to follow later, The Australian newspaper reported. Most of the Chinese students affected by the ban are enrolled at top Group of Eight universities. Group of Eight Australia has denied it is lobbying the government to drop the medical ban. Chinese students are increasingly desperate to start term before the semester one cut-off as an interruption in their studies can affect their visa requirements. The Australian newspaper quoted a student enrolled at RMIT named Ben, who did not want to give his full name, but said he was going to risk flying to Australia on February 23 even though he might not get in. Western Sydney University (pictured) told its international students it would subside the cost of airfares and accommodation to allow them to reach Australia 'through a third country' Rising numbers of Chinese students have been able to beat the travel ban by detouring via third countries where they spend 14 days before they can enter Australia. The ban can be dodged though by going through a country which does not have a travel ban on those coming from China. Those countries include Thailand, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates and Japan. Melbourne education consultant Gary Li is based in Bangkok where he is helping Chinese students to transit to Australia via Thailand, told The Australian his students did not regret going via a third country as they did not know how long the travel ban would be in force. Western Sydney University told its international students on Wednesday it would subside the cost of airfares and accommodation to allow them to reach Australia 'through a third country'. In the email being circulated online this week, the university said the $1500 payment would be made after arrival in Australia. 'We consider the Australian Government's endorsement of entering Australia through a third country an important development, opening up the opportunity to arrive in time to commence study in Australia,' the e-mail said. A Western Sydney University spokesman confirmed the payment and told Daily Mail Australia it had encouraged its students to take this option after advice from the federal Department of Health. 'Our students are keen to travel to Australia and start the new academic year as soon as possible,' the spokesperson said. Travel agents are taking advantage of the loophole in the travel ban by selling 14-day travel packages to go-between countries such as Dubai. One package included a stay in a four-star hotel, a personal guide and face masks. Foreign nationals - excluding permanent Australian residents - who have been in mainland China will not be allowed to enter Australia for 14 days from the time they left China. Universities Australia, which represents tertiary institutions, told Daily Mail Australia that Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly advised universities that students who had been in a third country for more than 14 days would be welcomed. 'Students can only travel to Australia when health officials deem it safe, and universities will continue to comply with all of that advice,' said Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson. As of Saturday, there were 77,275 confirmed cases worldwide of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus. In the e-mail being circulated online this week, Western Sydney University said the $1500 payment would be made after arrival in Australia Of those cases, 63,088 were in the worst-affected Chinese province of Hubei, BNO News reported. The Government has said it will only ease the travel restrictions on medical advice if Chinese case numbers outside of Hubei province do not show a 'material increase'. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which medically advises the Government on its COVID-19 travel ban, said on Thursday that the government could relax its ban temporarily for tertiary students as long as they agreed to isolate themselves when in Australia. 'Universities would need to provide appropriate advice to students and support students to access health services if symptoms develop,' the committee said. It is unclear how university students could isolate themselves in Australia while at the same time needing to attend their classes. As of noon on Saturday, confirmed case numbers outside Hubei province had risen to 1333 in China's Guangdong province, 1267 in Henan province, 1204 in Zhejiang province and 396 in the capital Beijing, according to BNO News which has been tracking the virus in depth since the outbreak began. Of the 75,893 people with COVID-19 in mainland China, 11,633 were in a serious condition, BNO News said. Health workers in Australia are concerned about the strain an outbreak would put on the country's already-stretched public hospital resources. The highly-infectious virus is able to spread even when those infected do not show symptoms making it difficult to stop and because the virus is new to humans, nobody has any immunity. A report from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP) which analysed more than 44,000 people with COVID-19 found 14 per cent of those who catch it suffer severe symptoms including pneumonia, the BBC reported. Five per cent of those who catch it become critically ill, the BBC reported, meaning they require complex intensive care in hospital. The virus has an overall death rate of 2.3 per cent, with those aged over 60 the worst affected according to the CCDCP. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov will pay official visits to the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Estonia on February 24-26, the parliaments press service has reported. "February 24-25 are set down for visiting Latvia, where the chairman is to meet with Latvias president, prime minister and Saeimas speaker. He also plans to visit the Riga Ukrainian secondary school, lay flowers at the Taras Shevchenko Monument, visit the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and take part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument," the statement reads. On February 25-26, Razumkov will pay an official visit to the Republic of Estonia. He will have meetings with Estonian president, Riigikogus president, and the ministers of defence and foreign affairs as well. The speaker of the Ukrainian parliament will also visit the Estonian electronic administration centre e-Estonia. ish POLSON Brutal cold. An almost impossible nighttime climb up a cliff high in the mountains of northern Italy. The heavy backpack he lost, and with it all his ammunition, food, blanket and letters from back home. The artillery blast that crippled Orville Bjorge on Riva Ridge 75 years ago Thursday, Feb. 20. The dangling stretcher ride over a steep canyon on a makeshift tram. Hes 97 now, retired from a life of cattle ranching and farming on his spread between Polson and Hot Springs. But Bjorge is still standing, and he still remembering clearly his days with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in World War II. Most of the time I feel like Im in fairly good health yet, Bjorge said Thursday. Im walking around with this walker, though, so I try to be careful I dont stumble and fall. Bjorge is the only member of the 10th Mountain Division Associations Big Sky Chapter left in Montana. There may be others but they arent active members who attended the meetings over the years, said Suz Rittenhouse, the oldest child of another 10th Mountain hero, the late John Cramer of Missoula and Big Arm. Rittenhouse is an organizer of the almost-annual Big Sky Chapter luncheon Saturday at Jakers, where theyll raise a toast to the 10th Mountain Division, then call it an era. This week marks 75 years since the men of the 10th Mountain completed daring conquests of Mount Belvedere and other German-held peaks of the snowy Apennine Range. At tremendous cost of lives and limbs they opened the way to Allied forces who within six weeks secured a noose around Hitlers armies. Then they came home to establish a lasting legacy in the alpine ski industry. The specially trained men in snow-white fighting suits had hands in the founding or management of United States ski resorts at Aspen and Vail in Colorado, Montanas Whitefish Mountain and Red Lodge, and dozens of others. Its said more than 2,000 of the divisions original 10,000 soldiers became ski school instructors. The Big Sky Chapter of the 10th Mountain Division Association was established following the war and gradually turned over to the veterans children, who formed a support group of their own about 15 years ago. Were down to three living veterans, and they can no longer travel to these reunions, Larry Wilson of Columbia Falls, son of Ross Wilson, said this week. So weve decided that were going to stop having our formal reunions. I guess basically were disbanding the descendants group. The group will present the Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History at Fort Missoula memorabilia and photos from the 10th Mountain, and about $4,000 left over from chapter dues. Rittenhouse said the chapter has held annual luncheons, produced newsletters and funded memorial benches at veterans cemeteries around the state, including one near the entrance of the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery on Tower Street with a skier logo. Bjorge won't make it to Jakers on Saturday. He's living at an extended care home near the Flathead River in Polson, not far from the ranch his father homesteaded in 1910 on Garcon Gulch, between Hot Springs and Polson. Until a few years ago he made it to the Mountaineer reunions to swap memories and stories. Wilson said they were held at ski resorts around Montana and Idaho until elevation became an issue for the aging veterans. Recent reunions were at Rubys Reserve Street Inn in Missoula before it disappeared. Bjorge, from Company C in the 86th Infantry Regimen, wasnt a skier. He joined the Army in May 1944 and the 10th Mountain Division later that year at Camp Swift in Texas, where all three infantry regiments the 85th, 86th and 87th were sent after high-mountain training at Camp Hale, Colorado. His war memories remain vivid. There was the Christmas of '44 spent in Naples, where a year earlier German troops had lodged. Italy was very friendly to us, and Italy was very hungry, he said. Bjorge and other Americans shared what food they could on their march north to the mountains. The infantry divisions were charged with overrunning a series of peaks in the Apennines to provide an anchor to mount a spring Allied offensive north to the Po River Valley. Foremost among the targets was Mount Belvedere, which had been secured and lost twice before. The Germans had retaken it each time by controlling Riva Ridge to the east, which dominated approach routes to the Mount Belvedere-Mount della Torraccia Ridge. The 10th Mountain Division, augmented by a Brazilian Infantry Division, faced a cliff face 1,500 feet high in some places. The assault began after dark on Feb. 18 and Bjorge remembers it was just turning daylight when he made it to the top. That was a climb," he said. "The element of surprise is what they called it. The Germans thought it was impossible for any army to climb that mountain. He remembers one of his buddies, somewhat higher on the cliff, poking his rifle Bjorges way. Then he braced his feet, and I grabbed ahold of the barrel and he helped me get up to the next little ledge. Not only was it dark, it was numbingly cold. On top the lead patrols literally caught the entrenched enemy sleeping and easily secured the ridge. That morning, Feb. 19, the soldiers dug in to wait for their next move. Unable to make a dent in the rocky, frozen ground, Bjorge dug his foxhole in a snowdrift. Thats where he left his pack later in day, letting a wounded comrade use it for a pillow. I thought I could go right back to get it, but when I went back the medics had already moved my buddy with it, he said. That was the way I got caught without a blanket. I ran out of rations, also. He spent a miserably cold, hungry night on the ridge. The following day Bjorge was on patrol when shrapnel from an artillery blast lodged into the back of his right leg and knocked him out of the war. He was one of first casualties to be taken down the mountain on a 1,700-foot tramway installed by an advance party of engineers. Bjorge remembers spending months in an Army field hospital not far from the mountain. On March 16, 1945, almost a month after the battle on Riva Ridge, the Missoulian reported that Morris Bjorge had received word in Hot Springs that his younger brother, Private Orville M. Bjorge, had been wounded in action "while on active duty in France (sic)." The Flathead Courier of June 23 said Bjorge was spending a 30-day furlough in Polson with relatives "after his recent return from Italy." Bjorges last day in the Army was Sept. 15, 1945, in Walla Walla, Washington, where he received his honorable discharge. Besides the Purple Heart for his wounds, he would be awarded a Bronze Star, a World War II victory medal and a combat infantry badge to pin on the uniform he said still fits him. The 10th Mountain Division proceeded to capture the mountains of Italy and participate in spring battles in the Po River Valley and beyond. It wasnt easy. The final toll of 1,000 deaths and some 3,134 wounded in a few months of battle was among the highest rate of any American units in the war. German forces in Italy agreed to surrender on April 29, the day before Adolf Hitler committed suicide in a Berlin bunker. The formal unconditional surrender was finalized on May 2, the same day commanders of Germanys two armies surrendered in Berlin. Bjorge recalled the warm welcome home he and other wounded troops received when they returned to the States on a hospital ship. When we got off the boat we could see the Statue of Liberty, and then they took us off the boat and down the gangplank and the civilian people were right there to greet us, he said. They had a sign there that said Welcome Home, and the American Red Cross was there, also. They were good to us. The Army was good to us. The soldiers were treated to a tour of the Empire State Building and a meal, and given a place to stay for a few days. Then it was on to Walla Walla for Bjorge and his formal discharge in September. He headed home to the ranch in Garcon Gulch, where his parents Martin and Clara waited. Both were Norwegian immigrants who'd met in Kalispell. Bjorges reflections of his war experience echo those of most World War II veterans, and many since then. It was an honor to serve, he said, sitting on the bed in his room at the Pines of Polson. Its a patriotic obligation to serve in the United States Army, and I feel it was an honor for me and an honor for my dad and mother, my family too. Its respect for them all. The 10th Mountain Division, established in 1943, is alive and well today, the only unit in the U.S. military to be specially trained for mountain and arctic fighting. Based at Fort Drum, New York, its motto is Climb to Glory. We knew how important it was to these people, Rittenhouse said of the 10th Mountain Descendants. The Greatest Generation is such a great name for them, and you really want to honor them. Heads down, marching forward, taking care of the kids and family. Just think how weve personally benefited from them having that kind of attitude. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Ennis (the Preacher series) pays tribute to the Royal Navy pilots who flew Fairey Swordfish biplanes to stunning underdog victories in WWII in The Stringbags (Dead Reckoning, Apr.). What attracts you to war comics? I grew up in Northern Ireland. Due to a quirk of distribution, we didnt get many superhero comicsso I found myself reading a great deal of war comics. Once I realized that they were based, broadly speaking, on real life, that took me into an interest in military history and eventually to writing my own. Theres something about the epic quality, particularly of WWII stories, of the far-reaching effects that the war has had on life even up to the present day. More than any other genre, war stories bring out the extremes of human behavior on the very knife-edge of experience. Why did you want to tell the story of the Fairey Swordfish pilots? Flying in open-cockpit planes in conditions in the mid-Atlantic, or winter in the Mediterranean, against giant German and Italian battleships seems beyond David and Goliath. It was an incredible mismatch. The planes look as if they belong somewhere else, somewhen else. How much of the story is fictionalized? The three lead charactersArchie, Ollie, and Popsand their occasional nemesis Captain Shanks are invented. Everything else is pretty much true. Someone did the things you read about in the story at some point. To avoid disrespecting any of the real figures who took part in these actions, it seemed smart to create fictional characters, who readers can stay with throughout the plot. I was also anxious to avoid that kind of dry documentary feel that can creep in when youre writing about real-life events. Ive read military history most of my life, but I did consult pilots accounts, crews accounts, and other sources. P.J. Holden, the artist, also doesnt stint on research and filled in details. Those British roundels they paint on the aircraft can be quite tricky. What are some of your favorite war comics? Again, the distribution problems where I grew up meant we got almost no American comics, so my favorites are all British. Charleys Warthe story of a 16-year-old lad who joins the British army during WWI, in time for the Battle of the Somme in 1916, written by Pat Mills and drawn by Joe ColquhounI believe to be the finest comic strip ever produced. Im glad to say its back in print. What do you hope readers take away from the book? Its a tremendous story of courage and sacrifice. And, of course, its about men who fought the forces of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and gave us the world that we have now. No matter how much of a hash we seem to be attempting to make of it, they are the ones who gave it to us. Things could have been far worse, and men like that saw to it that they werent. You are here: Business The African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Feb. 21 that it will loan Morocco 204 million U.S. dollars for the Social Protection Improvement Support Program, official news agency MAP reported. The loan will be spread over four years in company of an integrated support program for the improvement of social protection in Morocco, said Minister of Economy and Finance Mohamed Benchaaboun during the signing ceremony. The aim is to achieve 80 percent social security coverage in Morocco by 2023, Benchaaboun added. The program covers the construction of hospitals in the southern cities of Guelmim and Ouarzazate, the upgrading of some 100 hospitals in rural areas and 31 social protection facilities in the regions of Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Guelmim-Oued Noun and Daraa-Tafilalet, he noted. Leila Farah Mokaddem, resident representative of AfDB's national office in Morocco, said the program will help strengthen medical coverage and develop quality health services. Morocco is one of the main beneficiaries of AfDB's funding, with a cumulative commitment of more than 10 billion dollars. There may be a solution on the horizon to combating superbug infections resistant to antibiotics. The tenacious bacteria and fungi sicken more than 2.8 million people and lead to more than 35,000 deaths in the United States each year. An international team of researchers has found that a combination of ingredients (acidified nitrite and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) known as AB569 and developed by a University of Cincinnati scientist kills a bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), one of the most serious pathogens that exhibits multidrug resistance and virulence. Their findings are available online in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "AB569 kills these pathogenic bacteria by targeting their DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as well as energy and iron metabolism at concentrations that do not harm human cells," explains Daniel Hassett, a professor in the UC Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology. "These were tested in laboratory mice with humanized cells. Our data implicate that AB569 is a safe and effective means that could be applied to eradicate these superbugs." Pseudomonas aeruginosa was applied to the lungs of laboratory mice for five days. This pathogen in humans causes pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and many other opportunistic infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered one of six ESKAPE pathogens, known by their acronym and considered among the most resistant and deadly to humans. The ESKAPE pathogens include Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. These ESKAPE pathogens typically result in hospital-acquired infections leading to illness such as pneumonia and MRSA infections. Urinary tract infections that are resistant to antibiotics are also among illnesses caused by these organisms. advertisement "These superbugs have an ingenious mechanism of being able to resist traditional antibiotic therapies by a vast number of acquired strategies," explains Hassett, also the paper's senior author. "Antibiotics affect specific processes in the bacteria, but not all of them. AB569 affects multiple processes at once leaving the exposed bacteria simply overwhelmed." AB569 was patented in March 2018 in the United States by Hassett and initially was seen as a potential treatment for many antibiotic-resistant organisms that cause pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and many other opportunistic infections. In addition to tackling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis, AB569 may also be effective in addressing infections related to severe burns, urinary tract disorders, endocarditis and diabetes, said Hassett. "Multidrug resistance, a trait of superbug bacteria, is one of the greatest threats to global public health," says Hassett. "It is usually caused by excessive drug usage or prescription, inappropriate and often compliance-related use of antimicrobials, overuse in the chicken, beef and pork industries and/or substandard pharmaceuticals." Hassett says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers antibiotic resistance to be among the most serious threats to human health because pathogens rapidly evolve new means to combat drug therapy leaving those who are susceptible at risk. "Superbugs typically are found in areas of the world where there is a high population density, thereby facilitating rapid spread of such organisms. People who have traveled to areas of the world with high rates of antibiotic resistant bacteria such as South Asia and the Middle East are more likely to carry superbugs," said Hassett. "This is why patients are often quarantined if they test positive for such organisms while epidemiologists are on their toes tracking a pathogen's spread." He said these superbugs may be naturally occurring but there are some things individuals can do daily to lessen exposure such as avoiding travel to destinations that report a high incidence of infection, washing hands religiously and if you feel ill and have been to place with an outbreak, notify a physician or appropriate health authority right away. New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday told the Congress not to do "petty politics" over US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India during which he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said India's stature across the world is rapidly growing, and termed the Trump-Modi meet as the "meeting of world's largest and oldest democracies". "It's a matter of happiness... why the Congress is in pain?" Patra said, adding that the party should not worry about the interest of the country. Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are scheduled to visit India on February 24-25. "Meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Chinese President Xi Jingping in Mahabalipuram, and now Trump... is a result of PM Modi's hard work," the BJP leader said. Slamming the Congress, he said: "What did the Congress government do after the 26/11 terror attacks?" "The entire world stood in solidarity with PM Modi when his government conducted the surgical strikes," he said. "Today, the US is sharing the latest technologies with India. This did not happen earlier during the Congress-led UPA regime. India-US cooperation has also increased in every field of trade and security," he said. "There should not be petty politics over certain things... and large-heartedness should be shown. The government is for everyone... the government of India represents everyone," he said. The official inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people in June 2017 stands ever more exposed as a sordid whitewash of those responsible for the catastrophe. Proceedings are currently adjourned until at least February 24. Their resumption is waiting on the decision of the attorney-general as to whether to promise immunity on oral testimony of witnesses. Sir Martin Moore-Bick, who is heading the inquiry, described the request for immunity by corporations responsible for transforming Grenfell from a safe building into a death trap as relatively narrow and focused in a letter of February 7. He said any immunity granted would not extend to statements made by one witness against another nor to the oral and documentary evidence already given. He was less clear, however, on whether personal immunity extended to corporate entities. Moore-Bick urged the attorney-general to make a rapid decision as the inquiry was concerned with matters that directly affect the safety of the public at large. The show of concern over the thousands of people living in buildings surrounded by flammable cladding is belied by the inquirys timetable and the fact that the criminals responsible for the fire remain at large and free to do as they please. It had initially been scheduled to continue until summer 2021 and may now drag on until 2022 before any final conclusions are reached. The cost of the inquiry has already surpassed 40 million, a figure that dwarfs any assistance provided to the victims and their families. The Inquirys chief lawyer, Richard Millett QC, urged Moore-Bick to ask for the immunity, arguing, Without it you will not get to the truth. Moore-Bick agreed, stating that he realised many survivors may be indignant over such a decision. Michael Mansfield QC, representing the bereaved and survivors, observed that there had already been enough documentary evidence to reconstruct a narrative, and called the delay abhorrent. The potential perpetrators of this inferno, he said, were out to essentially dictate the terms in which they will provide their assistance. Indeed, in the period shortly after the fire, both Rydon Maintenancewho oversaw the Grenfell refurbishmentand Harley Facades announced they would cooperate fully with the investigation. But last month they joined architects Studio E and cladding and window fitters Osborne Berry in the application for immunity. Less reported are legal battles occurring in Philadelphia in the US and the staggering lengths that the corporations involved in the Grenfell fire are going to in order to evade justice. Last June, a US law firm filed suit in Pennsylvania against cladding manufacturer Arconic, insulation maker Celotex, and refrigerator manufacturer Whirlpool on behalf of 177 Grenfell survivors and 69 relatives. The state was chosen as the venue because it is where Arconic and Celotex have their American headquarters. Under US product liability law, a civil case for damages needed to be filed within two years of the fire under the statute of limitations. The suit accuses the companies American branches of taking advantage of looser British regulations to sell products they realised were unfit for high-rises, and in some cases manipulating results of tests to mask worries about flammability. Jeffrey P. Goodman, a partner of the firm representing the plaintiffs, stated, Although the devastation may have occurred abroad, the decisions that led to it took place here in America. Robert J. Mongeluzzi, president of the firm, said, We want to go through their design and testing phase: what they know about flammability, why they made the decision not to sell it in the US but supply it to other countries. Unlike in Britain, the case will be tried before a jury and could result in compensation and punitive damages of hundreds of millions. British courts rarely award punitive damages, fearing that the penalties would impose too great a burden. In the US, such damages are viewed as an incentive to follow legal practices, especially when corporations and other entities may have to defend their actions in front of juries. Jill Patterson, a partner with British consumer law and product safety solicitors Leigh Day, said, The concept of UK compensation is restorative justiceputting people back in the position they were in before the accident happenedas opposed to punishing the company if theyre found to be at fault. However, the Grenfell families face what the New York Times describes as steep legal obstacles. Last autumn, the three corporate defendants attempted to have the case dismissed, claiming all the alleged activities had been done by foreign subsidiaries or affiliates in other countries. The plaintiffs replied that communications and other new information showed the companies to have distinct control over the products involved. A decision in the case is not expected for two years. Earlier this month, the Daily Mail discovered 900 pages of court papers in which, among other things, one of the corporate defendantsSaint-Gobain Construction Products UK that owns Celotexsuggested some of the towers residents may have died due to pre-existing medical conditions. The defence document of SCG reads, Claims are barred, in whole or in part, to the extent damages, if any, were the direct result of pre-existing medical conditions. Giannino Gottardi, who lost his son and his sons girlfriend in the blaze, observed from his home near Venice, These companies put profit ahead of everything. They want to save the name of the company and dont care about anything else. Between 2014 and 2016, when the less expensive, flammable cladding was wrapped around Grenfell Tower, Rydon received 8.6 million for its part in the refurbishment. Over the same period, Robert Bond, the companys highest paid director, had a salary increase of 12 percent to 473,000 per annum. The fire has done nothing to dent the companys ability to reap profits. Rydon collected four awards at a building industry ceremony at the Four Seasons in London just five months after so many died in late 2017including a special prize for relations with the community on the Chalcots estate in North London. Along with other contractors, Rydon now faces a 130 million suit filed by Camden Council in the London High Court to enable it to rip down the dangerous flammable cladding and take other suitable fire prevention measures. Even so, just three months ago the corporation was named on the official government approved list of firms suitable for work on high rises. Only public outrage led Conservative government housing minister Robert Jenrick to opine that Rydon might do better not to bid for contracts worth billions until the Grenfell inquiry finished. After the fire, Rydon watched its profits jump from 12.7 million to 20.5 million. Bond lives in a 3 million mansion in southeast London, driving an Aston Martin with a personalized number plate. Last week, Moore-Bick wrote to the attorney-general, warning him that upcoming inquiry discussions regarding marketing the faulty products responsible for the disaster would very likely introduce possible fraud charges, in addition to any manslaughter and corporate manslaughter charges that may be brought. He continued to insist, however, that the granting of immunity would not discourage prosecution: Given the vast volume of documentary evidence and witness statements already available to the police, any admissions or inconsistent statements, although a potential bonus, are unlikely to provide the foundation for a decision to prosecute. Moore-Bick is at least correct in citing the vast quantity of evidence. Evidence in the public domain from the day after the fireand that emerging from the investigations on both sides of the Atlanticreveals a wealth of material demonstrating that those responsible knew of the potential consequences of their actions. In other words, there is no excuse for a drawn-out public inquiry, followed by further years of police investigation in the UK that may not even be completed until 2025 fully eight years after the fire! The delays, requests for immunity, attempts by the corporations to dismiss in the US courts, and the despicable arguments about how some of the Grenfell victims have died because of pre-existing medical conditions are all methods of obstructing justice and justifications for putting profits before human lives. The Socialist Equality Party and its Grenfell Fire Forum call on the entire Grenfell community and their supporters everywhere to insist on an immediate halting of the inquiry, which serves only to frustrate justice and protect the guilty. Withdrawing all co-operation from the inquiry must go hand in hand with the demand for the immediate and unrelenting prosecution of all parties who colluded in the social murders of 72 men, women and children. SRINAGAR: In a major breakthrough, the security forces on Saturday (February 22, 2020) arrested a top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who has been identified as Junaid Farooq Pandith. The Hizbul terrorist, who was wanted in several terror-related incidents, was arrested after a trap was laid for him in Baramulla district's Tapper Pattan following specific inputs about him. He was arrested in a jointly coordinated operation by the J&K Police, Army and the CRPF personnel. Sharing more information, DIG Baramulla M Suleman said, ''J&L Police, Army and the CRPF arrested a local terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith of Hizbul Mujahideen. A trap was laid for him in Tapper Pattan in Baramulla district.'' ''One Chinese pistol, 13 live rounds and 2 magazines have been recovered from local terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith. His questioning is underway,'' the DIG said in a press conference. The arrest came hours after two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists - Naveed Ahmed Bhat alias Furkan and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat - were killed in an encounter. Sharing details, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh said, "Security forces killed two LeT terrorists named Naveed Ahmed Bhat alias Furkan and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat in an operation last night. They were involved in many terrorist activities.'' DIG Dilbagh Singh further claimed that "in 2020 so far, there have been 12 successful operations, in which 25 terrorists have been killed, 9 terror operatives in Kashmir and 3-4 terrorist operatives arrested in Jammu area.'' ''More than 40 over-ground-workers have also been arrested," Singh said. Thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts have launched a coordinated effort to spread alarm about the new coronavirus, disrupting global efforts to combat the epidemic, US officials told AFP. The disinformation campaign promotes unfounded conspiracy theories that the United States is behind the COVID-19 outbreak, in an apparent bid to damage the US image by seizing on international health concerns, they said. False personas are being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to advance Russian talking points and conspiracies, including suggesting that the CIA is behind the virus that has claimed more than 2,300 lives, mostly in China. "Russia's intent is to sow discord and undermine US institutions and alliances from within, including through covert and coercive malign influence campaigns," said Philip Reeker, the acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia. "By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting from the global health response," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) American technology company SpaceX says it plans to launch as many as four private citizens into a higher orbit than ever before. SpaceX is working with U.S.-based Space Adventures Inc. to offer the space flights, the two companies recently announced. No dates or costs for the flights were announced. Space Adventures has already helped send seven space tourists to the International Space Station, or ISS, aboard Russian Soyuz rockets. The SpaceX trips will not send the space tourists to the ISS. Instead, the tourists will be launched to an orbit two to three times higher -- about 800 to 1,200 kilometers above Earth. The citizens will be carried by SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft, which was developed to transport NASA astronauts. SpaceX is planning to use the Crew Dragon to launch its first NASA-crewed flight later this year. The spacecraft has only flown in space once so far, completing a successful test flight last year with no crew. A spokeswoman for Space Adventures, Stacey Tearne, told The Associated Press that the tourist flights could take place by the end of next year. She said the company was already in talks with several possible customers. Tearne noted that no professional pilot or astronaut would be required on the tourist flights because the Dragon operates fully autonomously. Passengers, will, however, be able to control the spacecraft if required, she added. The cost will be similar to earlier tourist flights, Tearne said. Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, paid $35 million for a 10-day space station flight in 2009. Laliberte said from orbit that the flight it was worth every penny and more. The first private citizen to fly in space was Dennis Tito, a California businessman. He paid $20 million for an eight-hour stay on the ISS in 2001. "This historic mission will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it, said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX. The president of Space Adventures, Eric Anderson, said the tourist flights would be able to reach at least twice the orbit of any past citizen astronaut mission or space station visitor." That orbit would also place the tourist flights well beyond the levels of other companies that currently offer space tourism flights. Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin are both developing spacecraft to send private citizens to just beyond the border of space, about 80 kilometers above Earth. The price for Virgin Galactic flights started at $250,000 when they first went on sale in 2004. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Space Adventures. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story tourist n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure customer n. a person who buys goods or services autonomously adv. the ability to operate independently penny n. a monetary unit of one cent forge v. to make or produce mission n. a task or job that someone is given to do Businessman Jeff Coleman of Dothan was the top fundraiser in the race for the Republican nomination in Alabamas 2nd Congressional District for the first month-and-a-half of 2020. The candidates filed reports Thursday with the Federal Election Commission. The reports cover fundraising from Jan. 1 through Feb. 12. The candidates are Coleman, Prattville businesswoman Jessica Taylor, former Attorney General Troy King, former state representative and businessman Barry Moore of Enterprise, and Terri Hasdorff of Wetumpka, a former congressional staffer and former head of the Alabamas Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. They are running for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, who decided not to run for a sixth term. The district extends from the Montgomery area across southeast Alabama. Coleman: $131,000 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12. $932,000 in campaign contributions for the election cycle. Has also loaned his campaign $975,000. Has spent $1.5 million and reported cash on hand of $397,000. Taylor: $96,000 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12. $304,000 in contributions for the election cycle. Has spent $238,000 and reported cash on hand of $69,000. King: $80,000 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12. $256,000 in contributions for the election cycle. Has spent $185,000 and reported cash on hand of $68,000. Hasdorff: $25,000 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12. $51,000 in contributions for the election cycle. Has spent $28,000 and reported cash on hand of $24,000. Moore: $7,000 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12. $71,000 in contributions for the election cycle. Has also loaned his campaign $70,000. Reported cash on hand of $56,000. Coleman also led the way in fundraising on the last report. The primary is March 3. Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein has issued a plea for Democrats to nominate anyone but Senator Bernie Sanders, saying he might vote for President Donald Trump otherwise. 'I think I might find it harder to vote for Bernie than for Trump,' Blankfein, who is a registered Democrat, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday. 'The Democrats would be working very hard to find someone who is as divisive as Trump. But with Bernie they would have succeeded,' he added. Sanders quickly fired back on Twitter, referring to Goldman's key role in the subprime mortgage crisis under Blankfein's tenure: 'I welcome the hatred of the crooks who destroyed our economy.' Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein (above) has issued a plea for Democrats to nominate anyone but Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders quickly fired back on Twitter, referring to Goldman's key role in the subprime mortgage crisis under Blankfein's tenure, triggering the Great Recession Blankfein responded in a tweet of his own, writing: 'I don't have 'hatred for' [Sanders]. I just disagree strongly with policies that would have the gov manage so much more of our economy.' 'Perhaps the Sen wants to feel hated because HE hates. This time around, how 'bout picking someone who'll respect and work with all groups?' Blankfein continued. In the Financial Times interview, Blankfein was pressed on whether he was skeptical of Sanders merely because he is a billionaire who fears a wealth tax. 'I don't like that at all,' Blankfein responded. 'I don't like assassination by categorization. I think it's un-American. I find that destructive and intemperate. I find that just as subversive of the American character as someone like Trump who denigrates groups of people who he has never met. At least Trump cares about the economy.' Blankfein expounded upon what he found worrying in Sanders as a candidate. 'I'm not sure Bernie likes people he's ideological,' said Blankfein. 'In my view Bernie could talk to a six-year-old kid and he is looking over their heads out to the great expanse.' The finance mogul also expressed doubts about the Democrats' decision to impeach Trump, which ended in a Senate acquittal. 'Look, I am a Democrat, but they said those things in a shrill way to raise the stakes on the outcome,' Blankfein said. 'I don't think it's unreasonable or cynical for a legislator to have said that what Trump did was wrong, and showed bad character, but it was not at a level where we're going to overturn an election nine months before the next one.' It was not the first time that Blankfein has lashed out at Sanders, or the similarly far-left Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren. Blankfein tweeted criticism about Sanders earlier this month on the day of the New Hampshire primary, which Sanders won. 'Sanders is just as polarizing as Trump AND he'll ruin our economy and doesn't care about our military,' Blankfein wrote. He also alleged that Russia would be supporting Sanders. Sanders' supporters were quick to point out Blankfein's connection to the financial crisis. Goldman, which Blankfein led for 12 years, played a key role in the subprime mortgage market collapse that caused the Great Recession. 'This is what panic from the Wall Street elite looks and sounds like,' Faiz Shakir, Sanders' campaign manager, responded on Twitter. 'Let me see, a billionaire executive on Wall Street doesn't like me,' Sanders said on CNN Wednesday, when asked about Blankfein's comments. 'Hmm, I am shocked by that.' Sanders and Warren have made fixing the country's wealth inequality a focus of their presidential campaigns. Blankfein, who supported presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race, has criticized the 'wealth tax' proposal floated by Sanders and Warren. The policy would be 'completely unworkable,' he said in November, because it would require annual assessments of the value of an individual's estate. At their recent meeting in Seoul, Vietnam Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh and the RoKs Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) Park Ki-young agreed on four main orientations for the two ministries action plan to achieve the goal. Vietnam Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh (Source: VNA) The orientations include intensifying RoK investment attraction; supporting RoK businesses in Vietnam; increasing the competitiveness of Vietnamese exporters and creating favourable conditions for them, especially those operating in the fields of garment and textiles, footwear, wood processing, agro-fishery, and food processing; and stepping up the transfer of technology from the RoK to raise the competitiveness of Vietnams automobile, garment, chemical, and manufacturing sectors. The action plan is expected to be signed by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and RoK Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo during the latters Vietnam visit slated for late March or early April. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Khanh said that his ministry is willing to support RoK enterprises which are facing difficulties in customs clearance of imports from China. For his part, Park affirmed Vietnam is the RoKs important partner, and hoped that Vietnam will become an essential link in the supply chain of Korean businesses, particularly in automobile manufacturing and electronic sectors. Emphasising the necessity of diversifying the supply chain in the region, the Vietnamese official expressed his hope that the RoK will become a supplier of materials for Vietnam, especially in the fields of garment and textiles, footwear, and wood processing. He suggested the RoK side to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade to push up the RoK Ministry of Agricultures permission of Vietnams exports of fresh fruits such as red-flesh dragon fruit and grapefruit. During his stay in Seoul, Deputy Minister Khanh also had working sessions with Yoo Myung-hee, Minister for Trade under the MOTIE, and Kang Myung-soo, Standing Commissioner of the Korea Trade Commission./. When officers activated their emergency lights and siren, the driver of the vehicle refused to stop and led officers on a pursuit, police said. The driver lost control of the car, struck a curb and stopped. Multiple people were taken into custody Tuesday after the chase, officials said. A trail of pill bottles stolen from a Florida drug store led detectives to a home where they found two men matching descriptions of the robbers seen on surveillance video, sheriffs officials said. The men and another accomplice robbed a CVS in Clearwater about 5 a.m. on New Years Day, waving guns at employees and binding several of them with zip ties, according to the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office. The trio made off with more than 10,000 pills containing the opioids hydrocodone and oxycodone, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The drugs had a street value of about $320,000. But they left behind some obvious clues. First, the surveillance video captured the men and a white Chrysler 200 fleeing the scene. And apparently the men emptied pills from bottles, which they tossed out the window as they drove home, the newspaper reported. Detectives followed the trail of pill bottles to a home where they found two of the men, sheriffs officials said. Investigators said the three men had planned the robbery, even staking the location out the day before, the Times reported. Detectives saw one of the men casing the store in the surveillance video they reviewed, officials said. Chinese Embassy here on Saturday refuted reports that Beijing has 'deliberately delayed' India's application of sending a flight to Wuhan to bring back the Indian citizens. "We are carefully assessing the ground situation, as prevention work requires. Competent departments of the two countries are keeping communication and coordination in this regard. There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying granting flight permission," a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said in a statement. "The Chinese side always attaches great importance to the health and safety of Indian nationals in China, and provided assistance and convenience for the return of Indian citizens. The current epidemic situation in Hubei province is complicated, and the prevention and control of Covid-19 has entered into a critical stage," the spokesperson said. Beijing is yet to grant clearance to the third flight from New Delhi, which will carry relief supplies to the virus-hit nation and also bring back the remaining Indian nationals from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 2300 people in the East Asian country itself, informed sources told ANI on Saturday. The Chinese side continues to maintain that there is no delay (even on Friday), the day the flight was supposed to go, but inexplicably the clearance has not been given. An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 Globemaster aircraft was supposed to fly to China on February 20 to evacuate Indians from coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan. Earlier this month, India had evacuated over 650 of its citizens from Wuhan in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzanian Gold Corporations, (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (the Companys) Board of Directors wishes to retract in its entirety, as a result of a review by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the disclosure of unclassified resources included in the Companys press release of February 14, 2020 (the Prior Release) regarding the Buckreef Project. Unclassified resources are not a CIM category of mineral resources and such disclosure is contrary to paragraphs 2.2(a) and 2.3(1)(a) of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. For information in respect of the Companys Buckreef Project, please refer to the Companys Technical Report dated June 26, 2018 available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com , rather than the Prior Release. The Company is very pleased with the progress and outcome of its 2019 drilling program at the Buckreef Project and looks forward to providing revised disclosure within approximately 14 working days. Respectfully Submitted, James E. Sinclair James E. Sinclair Executive Chairman For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor Relations, via email at m.martin@tangoldcorp.com , direct line 860-248-0999, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com . The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE MKT LLC have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - The United States Securities and Exchange Commission limits disclosure for U.S. reporting purposes to mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms on this news release, such as reserves, resources, geologic resources, proven, probable, "measured", "indicated", or "inferred" which may not be consistent with the reserve definitions established by the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our SEC filings. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml . This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that involve various 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario provincial securities regulatory authorities. Certain information presented in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to our description of the risk factors affecting the Company, as contained in our SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 20-F and Registration Statement on Form F-10, as amended, for more information concerning these risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Donald Trump, Bill Barr and Roger Stone should be Sharing a Jail Cell Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued a statement on Attorney General Bill Barrs decision to recommend leniency in the sentencing of Roger Stone, one of Donald Trumps closest advisors, who was found guilty on seven federal counts, including obstructing official proceedings, making false statements to Congress, and witness tampering: When the impeached president appointed Bill Barr to lead the Department of Justice, we knew the fix was in. Since his contemptible confirmation by Senate Republicans, Barr has protected Trump instead of the rule of law at every turn. He lied about the findings of the Mueller report. Rather than prosecuting Trump for the 10 instances of obstruction of justice that Special Counsel Mueller identified, Barr decided to launch a criminal investigation aimed at discrediting the findings of FBI agents who uncovered Trump and his allies unlawful behavior. Barr colluded with Rudy Giuliani and Trump in the illegal Ukrainian scheme that is the basis of Trumps impeachment, and has admitted to establishing an intake process for information obtained by Giuliani in pursuit of their ongoing efforts to get dirt on Trumps 2020 political opponent. Now, Barrs so-called Justice Department has taken marching orders directly from Trump, and sought a lesser sentence for one of the Trump Kremlin Klans most deplorable members: Roger Stone. Bill Barr should not only be disbarred, but he, Donald Trump, and Roger Stone should be sharing a jail cell. Roger Stone has made a career off of lies, deception, and all manner of dirty tricks to win elections. Hes engaged in the kind of underhanded tricks that I witnessed and experienced firsthand. Roger Stone is lucky he was only found guilty on seven federal charges including obstructing official proceedings, making false statements to Congress, and witness tampering. He has shown no remorse for his crimes, and is absolutely unworthy of any leniency whatsoever. Trump is intervening on Roger Stones behalf in order to prevent him from exposing Trumps criminality and collusion with Russia and Putin in the 2016 election. Rest assured, Trump will soon issue a presidential pardon for Stone if Bill Barr cant save him. ADVERTISEMENT The impeached, mob-boss president appointed Bill Barr a yes-man and Trump acolyte to be our nations top attorney in order to protect his criminal enterprise. As long as Trump is the president, there will be no such thing as justice in America. The citizens of this country had better take notice. Impeached Trump is unhinged, unchecked, and out for revenge. The worst is yet to come. The details of Mr. Fernandezs proposal including the latest stage at which pregnancies could be terminated have yet to be announced. But tens of thousands of women took to the streets in Argentina on Wednesday to support the bid to do away with the countrys restrictive abortion laws. Across the country, as they did in 2018, demonstrators waved or wore the green handkerchief that has become synonymous with the abortion rights movement. The abortion law is much more than the right to perform an abortion, said Maria del Valle Stigliano, 30, a copywriter. It recognizes women as independent people who have the right to decide over our bodies. The church is never going to be in favor of this and there are people who are always going to be against legalizing abortion, but that doesnt matter, Ms. del Valle said. We need to focus on the people who still havent made up their mind. Thats how were going to win. For Denise Cutuli, a 20-year-old communications student, there is a sense of inevitability to the debate. Sooner or later, abortion will be law, but the sooner we can get it approved the fewer women who will die from clandestine abortions, she said. We arent asking for anything crazy. Lots of other countries have already done this, and it has shown that the rate of mortality decreases when abortion becomes legal. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia may have been dropped from the list of dignitaries accompanying US first lady Melania Trump during her February 25 visit to a Delhi government school here, according to sources on Saturday. The development is significant as she will be witnessing the AAP government's flagship happiness curriculum that was introduced by Sisodia two years ago as an attempt to reduce stress among school children, which involves 40 minutes of meditation, relaxing and even outdoor activities. Taking on the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, AAP's National Executive member Preeti Sharma Menon in a tweet responded to the media reports. She said: "There is no match for the pettiness of Narendra Modi. You may not invite Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, but their work speaks for them." AAP Minister Gopal Rai during a press conference though said that he has no knowledge of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister being dropped from the guest list of Melania Trump visit to a government school. "We have not received any official information on the same. And till the time we don't receive any official information regarding the same, we are not in a position to comment on it," Rai said. According to senior Delhi government sources, the US First Lady is likely to visit the school in south Delhi and see first-hand the impact of the 'happiness curriculum' introduced by Delhi's AAP government in 2018. Trump is scheduled to visit India on February 24 and 25. The US first couple will spend the first day of the trip in Gujarat's Ahmedabad and Uttar Pradesh's Agra before moving to Delhi for official reception and bilateral talks. This is Donald Trump's first state visit to India and also a first standalone visit by a US President to India. Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitnedra Kumar's gay rom-com 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhaan' seems to have caught the eyes of US President Donald Trump, who tweeted "great", describing the film. A gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell had tweeted earlier praising the film, which Trump retweeted. Tatchell had tweeted, "India: A new #Bollywood rom-com featuring a gay romance is hoping to win over older people, following the decriminalisation of homosexuality." After Donald Trump's tweet, several Indians replied tagging Ayushmann in the comment thread saying that he should be proud the US President was endorsing his film. Moreover, Trump supporters in America too jumped at the opportunity to call him a "LGBTQ hero." THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR US PRESIDENT TRUMP sam (@onegoodsam) February 21, 2020 Thanks for endorsing FRANK DRAKE JR (@FDRAKEJR1) February 21, 2020 Thank you, President Trump, for supporting the gay community. I cant wait to vote for you this November. #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) February 21, 2020 But is Trump really a hero? His record, as far as LGBTQ rights are concerned, says otherwise. In August 2019, the Labour Department proposed to roll back an order which had been passed by former US President Barrack Obama in 2014, banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity among federal contractors. This is the very same order that the Trump administration had promised would remain untouched in 2017. But alas. That's not all. In 2017, Trump had withdrawn the federal protections that Obama had put in place for transgender students in public schools. In the same year, he also tweeted he would reinstate the ban on appointing members of th LGBTQ community in the military. After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow...... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017 ....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017 At this point, given that Trump has never really been an advocate of gay rights, we don't really know what his "great" means. Or may be it's just one of his many Twitter faux pas? Ive been enthusiastic about Mike Bloombergs race for president from its inception, partly on the theory that he was best positioned to rescue and represent the Democratic Partys moderate wing. After Wednesday nights debate debacle in Las Vegas, Im starting to fear his candidacy might inadvertently destroy that wing while wrecking the partys chances in November. It was a debacle in three parts. The first part was Bloombergs performance, the only virtue of which was its real-time reminder of all the things money cant buy. Everything about it was bad. Bloomberg was ill-advised to go onstage. He was ill-prepared to be on it. He showed ill grace toward the people with whom he had signed nondisclosure agreements. He showed ill will toward Bernie Sanders for the sin of owning homes whose aggregate value probably doesnt exceed that of a maids room in a Bloomberg mansion. His suggestion that Sanderss political program amounted to communism turned critique into parody. His apologies for stop-and-frisk made him seem like he was running away from his record, not on it. Bloomberg will now try to recover with another huge ad spend, and hopefully a better debate performance in South Carolina next week. But he will do so having lost the aura of formidability that, until Wednesday, had been his chief selling point. He entered the fray looking big but now seems all too small. The Little Mike moniker that Donald Trump has given him will stick. Enjoying your favourite tipple every day could boost your chances of living to 90, scientists have discovered. They found men and women who enjoyed a daily drink were up to 40 per cent more likely to make it to their 90th birthday than those who were teetotal, or rarely touched booze. The age-extending effects were confined to those who stuck to one drink a day - binge drinkers died earlier. According to experts a nightly glass of wine come with a range of health benefits including boosting your antioxidant count and helping with stroke prevention (stock image) And while women seem to live longer when they drink wine, for men the greatest benefit is from spirits like whisky, brandy or gin. The study, by a team of researchers at Maastricht University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, suggests enjoying alcohol in moderation may be better for a long life than not drinking at all. Some previous studies have found similar advantages but others have ruled out any impact on longevity. The Dutch team tracked more than 5,000 men and women, most of whom were born during World War 1 of 1914-18. When they were in their sixties and seventies, the volunteers were quizzed on their drinking habits before researchers then monitored them to see how many made it to 90. The results, published in the journal Age and Ageing, showed 34 per cent of the women and 16 per cent of the men survived to that age. But when they compared daily drinkers with abstainers, they found men and women downing five to 10g of alcohol a day were 40 per cent more likely to become a nonagenarian. Ten grammes of alcohol is roughly equivalent to a small glass of wine, a pub measure of a spirit or half a pint of beer. Drinking up to 15g a day improved volunteers chances of reaching 90 by a slightly smaller amount. Any more than 15g and the benefits disappeared as larger daily intakes of alcohol led to premature death. UK government guidelines recommend men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week equivalent to a daily tipple of two small brandies, a pint of medium strength lager or one 175ml glass of average strength wine of around 12 per cent. In a report on the findings, researcher Dr Piet A. van den Brandt said: We found alcohol intake was positively associated with the probability of reaching 90 years of age in both men and women. Wine was associated with women reaching 90 but not with men. Instead, intake of gin, brandy and whisky increased their longevity. Researchers said its not clear why small daily amounts of alcohol add years to our lives. But one possible explanation is a scientific phenomenon called hormesis where something is potentially beneficial in small doses but highly toxic and dangerous in large doses. However, they warned alcohol can interfere with prescription medications taken by most older people and although their findings showed drinkers live longer, its not necessarily the case that are healthier. Dr van den Brandt said: This should not be used by anyone who does not currently drink alcohol as motivation to start drinking. In 2018, there were 584,024 people aged 90 and over in the UK up from 579,776 in 2017. Lucy Holmes, director of research and policy at Alcohol Change UK, said: This study shows again what all the evidence points to and what the UKs top doctors tell us - the healthiest choice is to drink 14 units a week or less. Thats a bottle and a half of wine, or six pints of normal strength lager, spread over three or more days. But if you dont drink at the moment, this isnt a reason to start. UNI Colombo/IBNS: In the wake of the terror attack in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday last year, a Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security in the country has proposed to immediately ban attire such as the burqa and suspend the registration of political parties on an ethnic and religious basis, media reports said. The proposals presented in the Sri Lankan Parliament on Thursday aims to resolve 14 controversial issues in the society following the Easter Attack. The report was tabled in the Parliament by Committee Chairman MP Malith Jayatilaka. The report states that a number of countries have already banned the burqa and the ISIS headquarters in Syria also banned the burqa on September 5, 2019, reported Daily Mirror newspaper. The report has suggested that the police should have the power request any person wearing a face covering in a public place to take off such face covering in order to establish the identity of such person and If such a request by police officer is not complied with, police should have the power to arrest the individual without a warrant, the newspaper reported. The report has recommended to the Election Commission to enact legislation to suspend registration of political parties on ethnic and religious basis, reports Daily Mirror. The report states that all students studying in madrassa institutions should be absorbed into the normal school system under the Ministry of Education within three years. It has been proposed that madrassa schools should be operated only for the education of Islamic Moulavis after GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students. The report also proposes to establish a special committee to regulate the Madrasa institutions under the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Sri Lankan newspaper reported. Eight blasts by Islamist groups rocked the Island nation on Easter Sunday last year left over 250 people dead. Terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the eight blasts. Sri Lankan officials suspected the little known local Islamist group called the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) behind the execution of the attacks. Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has thrown his support behind Mike Bloomberg in the race for the White House. He also thinks that Donald Trump should act in a more genteel way, without tweeting and calling people names, although he does admit that he supports certain things that Trump has done. Eastwood made the comments in a wide ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal, in which he was blunt about his personal preference in the 2020 presidential election: The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there. The four-time Academy Award-winning actor and director has always been upfront with his political views. He is a longtime Republican but is registered as a Libertarian. Therefore, out of the other primary contenders, his support for Mr Bloomberg, the Republican, turned Independent, turned Democrat, former mayor of New York, is perhaps not that surprising. 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 2016 Eastwood voiced his support for Mr Trump in an expletive filled interview with Esquire. However, his most famous foray into presidential politics was a memorably bizarre on-stage conversation with an empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. An invisible Barack Obama was supposed to be seated in the chair. He regrets the speech. Several years later, when asked what troubles him most he said: I guess when I did that silly thing at the Republican convention, talking to the chair. His own political ambitions are now in the past. From 1986 to 1988 he was mayor of the picturesque Californian town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, near Monterrey. In 2001 he was appointed to the California State Park and Recreation Commission by then governor Gray Davis. Eastwood is not alone as an entertainer whose political ambitions have gone beyond supporting and campaigning on behalf of others. California alone has seen Arnold Schwarzennegar become governor, Sonny Bono become mayor of Palm Springs, and most famously, saw Ronald and Nancy Reagan make the journey from Hollywood to the governor's mansion to the White House. FORT EDWARD The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted Friday to enact on April 1 a new mortgage tax of $1.25 per $100, ending a long search for a way to pay off a SUNY Adirondack capital construction loan. Washington and Warren are the two sponsoring counties for the college. In 2015, Washington County took out a $2.74 million loan for construction and expansion at the college, including expansion of its science building. County supervisors tried unsuccessfully for years to get Republicans in the state Senate to support a mortgage tax increase of 25 cents per $100, which would raise Washington Countys rate to match the $1.25 rate in Saratoga and Warren counties. Supervisors were able to succeed with the Legislature last year, after Democrats took over the state Senate to control both houses. All supervisors present except for Hartfords Dana Haff voted for raising the tax, which is paid only when taking out a mortgage. Haff argued that a 25% increase, from $1 to $1.25, was too much. He said he would have supported a 2% increase. Other supervisors have argued that the mortgage tax increase, which will come to $250 on a $100,000 home, was better than a property tax increase that would have to be paid every year. Argyle Supervisor Bob Henke, until recently the chairman of the board, led the push for the increase, saying it would bring stability to the countys funding of the college. Henke took county delegations, including college officials, to meet with state legislators and lobby for the increase. The new county law specifies that the money raised is for expenditure on the support of community colleges. Supervisors also discussed Friday the situation with the former dewatering plant property in Fort Edward, which WL Plastics is interested in buying. Company officials want to make sure they have access to the site and a clean title, supervisors said. Prospects for a deal are complicated by the involvement of WCC, a real estate holding company for D.A. Collins, which owns access points to the parcel. WCC has agreed to cooperate with the Warren-Washington Counties Industrial Development Agency in making sure WL Plastics acquires clear access to the site, said Brian Campbell, supervisor for Hebron and a member of the IDA board. Because of the absence of a few supervisors, including Dana Hogan of Kingsbury and Dan Shaw of Easton, even a unanimous vote would not have amounted to the two-thirds in weighted votes necessary to pass bonding resolutions. As a result, the board tabled three resolutions to issue bonds, as follows: Up to $1 million for the purchase of highway vehicles, including three plow trucks; Up to $1 million for sewer infrastructure improvements; Up to $1.5 million toward a $2.6 million capital project to improve the county municipal buildings. The board recessed its meeting and will reconvene at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, in the supervisors room at the county Municipal Center to take up the bonding resolutions. Will Doolittle is projects editor at The Post-Star. He may be reached at will@poststar.com and followed on his blog, I think not, and on Twitter at @trafficstatic. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 8 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. Investors may wish to note that an insider of China Minsheng Financial Holding Corporation Limited, , recently netted from selling stock, receiving an average price of . On the bright side, that's just a small sale and only reduced their holding by . See our latest analysis for China Minsheng Financial Holding The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At China Minsheng Financial Holding Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Xueyi Liu for HK$368m worth of shares, at about HK$0.08 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of HK$0.098. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider bought shares at close to current prices. Xueyi Liu was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! SEHK:245 Recent Insider Trading, February 22nd 2020 China Minsheng Financial Holding is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Does China Minsheng Financial Holding Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that China Minsheng Financial Holding insiders own 15% of the company, worth about HK$516m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About China Minsheng Financial Holding Insiders? The recent insider purchase is heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss last year, which makes us a little cautious. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about China Minsheng Financial Holding. That's what I like to see! I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. 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. STAMFORD City police have arrested a Stamford woman for allegedly striking and killing Stratford resident Nancy Flores as she was walking on Washington Boulevard last November. Courtney Sabia, 24, turned herself over to police Friday morning and was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle. She was released after posting a $10,000 court appearance bond, according to Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad Sgt. Jeffrey Booth. She will be arraigned on the charge at the Stamford courthouse on March 6. Sabias attorney Philip Russell said he did not know why his client was arrested. Courtney cooperated with the police investigation both at the scene and in the ensuing weeks after the accident. We are puzzled by her arrest and we intend to refute the charge, Russell said. We know there is political pressure in the city of Stamford because of the increase in collisions involving pedestrians. As most motorists know not every vehicle accident involves criminal conduct. Flores, 60, a Stamford Target employee was struck and killed at 9:16 p.m. on Nov. 13 as she was crossing Washington Boulevard at Tresser Boulevard. She was struck by a 2009 Jetta being driven by Sabia, who was traveling eastbound on Tresser, police said at the time. Flores, who was walking to the Stamford train station at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene. Booth said there has been no major increase in pedestrian accidents. We are under no political pressure to make arrests and that pedestrian death was the only one to occur in Stamford last year. We do our investigations and present the facts to the Stamford States Attorneys office, he said. But he said that Sabia was speeding at the time and she made no effort to avoid striking Flores. She had a long line of sight to see the pedestrian walking across the street and the intersection was very bright and well lit. She took no actions or made any maneuvers at all to avoid striking Mrs. Flores, Booth said. According to the state Department of Transportation, there were 1,537 crashes involving pedestrians in Connecticut in the span from 2015 through 2017. Of those, 55 resulted in deaths. During that time, Stamford tied with Hartford for third place for total number of fatal pedestrian crashes, with seven. Waterbury had 11 and Bridgeport had 14. Flores was the only pedestrian killed in Stamford last year; two pedestrians were killed in Stamford in 2018. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com EDWARDSVILLE Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles commitment to service was on display for the third consecutive year as the School of Nursing (SON) took a 12-person team comprised of students and faculty to Costa Rica Jan. 4-11, where they saw approximately 850 patients in four days at different locations. Valerie Griffin, DNP, SON assistant clinical professor and director of Nurse Practitioner Specializations, and Sheri Compton-McBride, SON instructor and director of clinical acquisitions in the Department of Primary Care and Health Systems Nursing, led the team that traveled in partnership with Central America Mission Projects (C.A.M.P.). In seven days, they visited La Carpio, Alajuela, Coco and Casa Vida. Every student has a different goal going in, Griffin said. Every student is transformed in ways they could not even imagine. We all enter these experiences thinking we are going to provide a service to the underserved. What we all quickly realize is that we personally have been served in meaningful ways we never expected. Ten graduate students included nine family nurse practitioner students and one nurse educator student. Four of the doctoral students, Gabrielle Giamonco, Wendy Rogers, Ashlee Schoby and Tyler Tanzyus shared their thoughts and experiences. Decatur native Tanzyus said, For seven days, this group touched lives of and provided medical care to the underserved. We placed 2,000 pairs of shoes on childrens feet. Tanzyus said arriving in Costa Rica was an absolute culture shock. I had no expectations in mind, but was soon in awe of the condition in which I found these families, he said. For some, this would be the only hot meal they received all week. The first lesson quickly learned was to stop taking things for granted, such as a warm meal. These families struggle day-in, day-out not knowing how or when they are going to get their next meal. Tanzyus described his encounter with a little boy who talked to him in Spanish. I asked one of the translators, as I couldnt understand what he was trying to ask, he said. The translator looked at me with a smile, He is asking when you will be back. My eyes filled with tears as I tried to hold back my emotion. Which brings me to lesson No. 2: find joy in the simple things in life, the connections you make, the people you encounter and the memories that can be shared. As the week came to an end, I was not able to completely grasp the transformation I just went through. Positively influencing the lives of the underserved has truly changed my attitude and perspective on life. It has given me meaning and helped refocus my energy. Schoby, of Athens, said putting shoes on the childrens feet was a beautiful experience. Each child also got a new clean pair of socks to wear with their shoes, she said. I cant put into words the feelings I had while doing this. The pure joy of getting new shoes. Some of the children even gave me a hug after I put on their shoes for them. Schoby expected the trip would be special and change her. But I am changed in ways I did not expect, she said. Heading home was such a bittersweet experience. I was sad to be leaving this beautiful place and the people there, who I knew needed more healthcare. On the way to the airport, I truly felt that it wont be goodbye forever. I will be back in Costa Rica in the future! Rodgers, of Lincoln, remarked how the Costa Ricans were so patient, relaxed and kind. They waited patiently for their turn and gently explained their symptoms or concerns, she said. Even with the language barrier, they never became negative or agitated. One of the real-life lessons I want to remember is patience and kindness, because nothing is so stressful that anyone deserves anything less. If people with nearly nothing can find happiness and treat people with kindness all the time, so can I. As I move forward in life, I will seek opportunity to help others whenever I can. I will pay it forward by performing simple or small random acts of kindness. Everyone can benefit from kindness and humility. Chancellor Randy Pembrook introduced the C.A.M.P. concept to the SIUE campus upon his arrival in 2016 and has made the excursion three of the past four years, preceded by 11 consecutive annual trips prior to his SIUE tenure. Pembrook split his time working with a construction crew, and helping with nursing and dental equipment set up and tear down. Meanwhile, Mary Jo Pembrook, his wife, worked with the nurses during the week, checking-in people and securing initial patient information. The construction project included building an outdoor meeting area with a restroom, kitchen and gathering space as an extension to an apartment facility, Pembrook said. The apartment facility is called Casa Luz and is used by pregnant young girls who have been trapped in the sex trafficking industry. The complex gives them a safe place to receive treatment, care for their children and learn skills to re-enter society. It is a transformational experience for me and the students, Pembrook said. I also call it a calibrating experience. Seeing people who have practically nothing and are dealing with almost inconceivable challenges puts a lot of things in perspective. There is something quite special that happens when giving of oneself ends up returning more than what is expended. Giamanco, of St. Louis, related a quote from the Japanese Village of Fudais late mayor Kotaka Wamura: A persons most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others. Giamanco said, I believe each and every one of the SIUE team accomplished that quote. In March, the SON will return with six undergraduate nursing students and nine alumni. Three of the alumni joined the Costa Rica trip in 2018, while six went in 2019. What began as a campaign of retribution against officials who participated in the impeachment process has evolved into a full-scale effort to create an administration more fully in sync with Trumps id and agenda, according to several officials familiar with the plan. It is unclear whether civil servants will be targeted as well, but it would be harder to dislodge them than removing political appointees. Civil servants, however, could be sidelined in other ways. The female Home Secretary fell out with her Permanent Secretary and the latter eventually left the Department. We refer not to Priti Patel and Philip Rutnam, but to Theresa May and Helen Ghosh, who at one time held the position. The latter reportedly found the former difficult to get with. May herself was on her fourth Permanent Secretary by the end of her record-breaking spell at the Home Office. The capacity to make changes, plus her Stakhanovite work ethic, not to mention a team of committed Special Advisers, helps to explain why she lasted so long. For the department has a way of getting through Ministers. Of the last ten Home Secretaries, three have resigned in post: Charles Clarke, David Blunkett and Amber Rudd. A fourth, Jacqui Smith, left saying that she survived more by luck than by any kind of development of skills. I think we should have been better trained. I think there should have been more induction. It may seem at first glance that Home Secretaries have less to do than when Michael Howard held the post. After all, prisons was hived off under Labour to the then newly-created Ministry of Justice. This would be a mis-reading of developments. There was no Islamist or neo-nazi terror on any significant scale when Howard was Home Secretary. Immigration was less extensive. Judicial Review was not the instrument that it is today. And Britain was still a member of the European Union. Patel must thus implement a new migration system at the same time as ensuring that none of the many skeletons in the departments cupboard leap out to bite her. She cannot necessarily rely on the information provided to her by the civil service invariably being accurate. It was this that did for Rudd over Windrush. By the time she left the Home Office in 2018, Downing Street was a weak operator damaged by the failed election gambit during the previous year. Today, it is a strong one: the reshuffle suggested that Dominic Cummings is as well-placed asNick Timothy and Fiona Hill were during Mays heydey. So Patel has pressure on her to deliver that her predecessor under May, Sajid Javid, did not. That is no bad thing. But regardless of the rights and wrongs of who said what to whom over Extinction Rebellion, deportations or any other subject, one point is clear. Which is that senior civil servants, or their allies, cant be allowed to run amok publicly using The Times yet again as their vehicle of choice. As journalists, we cheer whenever details of rows reach the media. As Conservatives (and indeed as citizens), we boo, or should do. If Sir Philip or his friends have a complaint about the Home Secretary, it should be pursued through the official channels, not splashed all over the papers. If Number Ten doesnt get a grip on this furore David Normington, a former Home Office Permanent Secretary, has now joined the fray it threatens to drag on into the Sunday papers, and thus onward into the start of next week. If his successor cant quieten his allies, he should be given the Ghosh treatment. At a makeshift camp in Matamoros, tents crowd a muddy levee, housing around 2,500 migrants. Families cook on homemade stoves built out of old washing machines. From a trailer, Dr. Maura Sammon, the medical director for Global Response Management, leads a team of doctors, some of whom are migrants themselves. Dr. Sammon said the team treated at least 40 patients a day. She listed the more serious medical issues: sickle cell anemia, hypoxia, third-degree burns and sepsis. Other patients included a 70-year-old with chest pains, children with epilepsy or development disorders, a migrant with H.I.V. as well as one with ovarian cancer. This is 100 percent a creation of M.P.P., Dr. Sammon said. It is not a virtual wall it is a wall. You see how close that river is. You see people looking at that river every day and saying, The United States is right there. Her team sends patients in need of emergency care to a nearby hospital, but the care can be inadequate. A boy who went to the hospital with appendicitis was discharged, then his appendix ruptured, Dr. Sammon said. Some migrants refuse to go to the hospital for fear of being kidnapped by cartel organizations, the same threat that prompted the State Department to advise Americans not to travel to Matamoros. On Thursday, a drive-by shooting near the camp forced the evacuation of Dr. Sammons medical team. Homeland security officials say the new asylum policy, more commonly known as Remain in Mexico, quelled a surge of migration last year and eased overcrowded detention facilities in the United States. Forcing migrants to wait in Mexico has also discouraged those unlikely to qualify for asylum from participating in the process, officials say. A medical issue by itself usually has not been enough to gain entry into the United States, and was rarely grounds for a claim of asylum, typically granted to those fleeing political oppression and violence. Foreigners with health conditions typically have obtained visitor visas and must prove they can sufficiently pay for medical treatment in the United States. Movie House Cinemas has confirmed their Dublin Road cinema will close on April 26. The managing director of Movie House Michael McAdam said he wished to thank staff who kept the cinema operating in uncertain conditions while the final closing date was agreed. It's after IT company Kainos started the process of seeking planning permission for new headquarters expected to cost tens of millions of pounds at the site earlier this month. Staff at the Dublin Road cinema have been offered employment at other cinemas. Mr McAdam said: "We were moved by the many stories people shared with us about their visits to the Dublin Road cinema and we know it was an important part of the local community. "We will continue to show movies until Sunday, April 26th and hope our customers old and new will come to say goodbye. We wish Kainos well in their new development and to thank them for extending our time at Dublin Road." The IT company said the new headquarters will allow it to relocate more than 700 Belfast-based employees from multiple office spaces across the city into one building ahead of a planned moving date in Spring 2021. A spokesperson said they intend to retain some of the building's iconic characteristics throughout the design process. They may lack centralised organisation or even a common goal, but white supremacists encouraged by the exploits of extremist "heroes" canonised on social media pose an ever-growing security threat, analysts say. After nine people in Germany were killed by a gunman with "a very deeply racist attitude," the country's interior minister on Friday warned that the far right still posed a "very high" security threat. The shootings on Wednesday at a shisha bar and a cafe in the city of Hanau were the latest in a growing list of attacks in the West attributed to self-appointed defenders of a "white race" perceived to be under threat from migration, globalisation and Islam. From Christchurch to Pittsburg, Halle to El Paso, militants have been emboldened by a narrative of hatred spread on the internet with an ease that observers find worrying. "This digital ecosystem is fuelling a cumulative momentum, which serves to lower 'thresholds' to violence for those engaged in this space, both in the United States and elsewhere," Graham Macklin, assistant professor at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo, said in a recent article. One attack "encourages and inspires another, creating a growing 'canon' of 'saints' and 'martyrs' for others to emulate," he wrote -- noting that Norwegian neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik, who massacred 77 people in 2011, had become "an aspirational figure" for many. - Internet a 'facilitator' - According to the Soufan Center, a global security think-tank, white supremacism has entered a phase of globalisation driven by niche websites popular among neo-Nazis, such as Gab and 8chan, and even the so-called "white power" music scene. "White supremacy extremists rely on a diverse set of techniques to radicalise potential recruits," it said in a recent report, with attackers "lionised" on such platforms "as heroes, martyrs, 'saints,' 'commanders' and other honorifics." White extremists do not share a single, common goal -- some seek self rule, others the expulsion of minorities -- but all believe their "race" to be under threat. "Many adherents to transnational white supremacy extremism hold millenarian and apocalyptic beliefs about an imminent race war, with some ardent believers in the end of time and influenced by elements of Christian identity," Soufan said. Some believe their governments are conspiring with minority populations to bring about their demise -- the so-called Great Replacement theory, based on the title of a 2011 book by French writer Renaud Camus. Anais Voy-Gillis, an extreme right specialist at the French Institute of Geopolitics, said: "The current context, with notably the migrant crisis of 2015, has surely contributed to the radicalisation of many people who are now ready to cross over to action." Not only fringe sites are used to spread messages of fear, hate, and racial superiority. The gunman who attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, last March, killing 51 Muslim worshippers, live-streamed his attack live on Facebook. A few months later, an anti-Semitic attack in the east German city of Halle, which claimed two lives, was posted on the streaming platform Twitch. "There are many radical groups in the world and the internet is a facilitator for them to get together nationally and even internationally," Voy-Gillis told AFP. - 'Exporter' of white supremacism - In Europe, a well-organised coordination of far-right efforts seems unlikely, for now. Last June, a French parliamentary committee conducted an analysis of far-right groups in the country, including attempts to make contact with like-minded organisations elsewhere in Europe, notably in Germany, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Britain, Spain and Austria. At the time, the boss of France's DGSI domestic intelligence service Nicolas Lerner told investigators the chances were "extremely limited" that these movements would have the ability to work together at a European level. But within a country's borders, the threat is real. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said Friday that right-wing extremism was the "biggest security threat" facing his country, as he announced a more visible police presence and bolstered surveillance at mosques, train stations, airports and borders. In the United States, an FBI report last November showed that 65 percent of "lone wolf" perpetrators of terror attacks where white. Nearly a fifth (19 percent) of 52 such attacks committed in the United States between 1972 and 2015 were motivated by ideologies "advocating for the superiority of the white race," it found. It was the same percentage as attackers motivated by radical Islamist doctrine. "For almost two decades, the United States has pointed abroad at countries who are exporters of extreme Islamist ideology," Russell Travers, acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in November. "We are now being seen as the exporters of white supremacist ideology; that's a reality with which we are going to have to deal," he said. How China Handled Two Self-Immolation Incidents: One Broadcasted, One Censored In an era where it is hard to discern fake news from factual reporting, it is the common man who tends to suffer the most. In some cases, it is a countrys government that decides how a piece of news is presented to its citizens. Below are two such cases of self-immolation incidentsone real and another a hoaxthat were handled very differently by the Chinese communist regime. Self-Immolations by Tibetans Ever since Tapey, a Tibetan monk in his 20s, first set himself on fire on Feb. 27, 2009, to protest against the years of repression from the Chinese regime, more than 150 Tibetans, including monks and nuns, were known to have followed suit, as per the International Campaign for Tibet. Many believed that the Chinese regimes forced reform had caused this desperate act of protest. This photo shows a wall at the Tibet Museum in McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh state covered with portraits of young Tibetans who self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. (Getty Images | LAURENE BECQUART/AFP) Dhondup Tashi Rekjong, a Tibetan writer and editor of Karkhung newspaper, told VOA News in 2013 that since 1959, the Chinese regime has attempted systematic destruction and annihilation of Tibetan culture, religion, politics and so forth. All these have accumulated as causes for the Tibetan self-immolations, he continued. Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Tibetan government in exile in India, echoed similar sentiments. He told Free Tibet in 2011 that The incidents are a clear indication of the genuine grievances of the Tibetans and their sense of deep resentment and despair over the prevailing conditions in Tibet. Despite the number of Tibetans who had set themselves on fire, the Chinese regime denied any self-immolation cases. None of the 46,000 monks and nuns in Tibets 1,700-plus monasteries, nor any local residents, have self-immolated, said Padma Choling, then-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Peoples Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), TIME reported in 2014. A woman at an exhibition showing portraits of reported self-immolation victims in Tibet, presented by Amnesty Internationals Taiwan branch in Taipei on June 29, 2012. (Getty Images | Mandy Cheng/AFP) The Chinese regime also scrambled to cover up the news and prevent it from getting out to the world. Those found to have delivered the news faced dire consequences. Lobsang Thinley, a Tibetan, was arrested and tortured for sharing a firsthand account of witnessing a monk self-immolating himself in 2011 to his friends in India. He was first arbitrarily detained for one and a half years and then later sentenced to three years in prison on charges of leaking state secrets, as per what he said to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) (pdf) in 2017 after fleeing to India. Family and friends of Tibetans who tried to share self-immolation accounts were also targeted by the Chinese regime. Tsangyang Gyatso, president of the Jonang Welfare Association, was born and raised in Tibet but now lives in India. He told TCHRD that after he exposed his identity and informed the world of the self-immolations that were happening in Tibet, having received the information from Tibetans in Tibet, his family had to deal with repercussions. After the Chinese regimes state media, Qinghai TV, aired a program naming Tsangyang as one of the instigators of self-immolation protests, his siblings were interrogated several times by the authorities. Both of them were subjected to long hours of interrogation to obtain information about my background and what I did in India, he recalled. My family members were kept under constant watch. Here the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was trying to keep the Tibetans self-immolation incidents under wraps but on the other hand had no qualms in broadcasting another self-immolation instance widely to the world. Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation On Jan. 23, 2001, as many people in China were busy preparing for the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the state media reported that five individuals who were reported to be Falun Gong practitioners had set themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. In 2001, the CCP staged a clumsy self-immolation drama in Tiananmen Square in an attempt to turn public opinion against the peaceful practice of Falun Gong. (Video Screenshot | False Fire) First introduced to China in 1992, Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a mind-body practice rooted in Buddhist traditions. The practice consists of five sets of meditative exercises based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. As many as 70 million people took up the practice after recognizing the health benefits of it as well as improving the morality of society. However, due to the sheer number of people practicing it, the Chinese regime launched a crackdown on the practice in July 1999. Many practitioners were arrested, detained, and tortured. Initially, after the persecution started, many Chinese citizens were sympathetic towards the persecution of Falun Gong. However, people became enraged with the practice after the self-immolation incident was broadcast. However, it was not only the Chinese who were aware of this, but western media outlets also reported on the self-immolation incident. The Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation Was Staged Shortly afterward, evidence on the self-immolation being staged by the Chinese regime started surfacing, such as the number of self-immolators going from five in the original reports to seven people a week later. A report by The Washington Post on Feb. 4, 2001, stated that the neighbors of two of the alleged self-immolators, namely Liu Chunling, who died from the incident, and her 12-year-old daughter, Liu Siying, who died a few weeks later, had never been seen practicing Falun Gong. Chinese television footage shows a badly burned individual from the self-immolation incident at Tiananmen Square from Jan. 23, 2001. (Getty Images | Newsmakers) The neighbor went on to explain that there was something strange about Liu Chunling, who was working at a night club, as she would hit her child and would drive her elderly mother away. However, her behavior contradicted what Falun Gong teaches its adherents, namely, the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The Washington Post report also mentioned that only state media were allowed to interview survivors and interact with their relatives. There was further evidence that showed that the incident was staged. Foreign reporters who were familiar with Tiananmen Square said that the police usually would not be carrying fire extinguishers and the nearest building was a 20-minute round trip. However, footage of the incident showed that the police were able to put out the fire quickly with fire-fighting equipment. The Chinese media also reported that the close-up footage of the incident came from CNN, a claim denied by the media outlet. Eason Jordan, a then-CNN-chief-news-executive, told the Washington Post that the footage used in the Chinese television reports couldnt have been obtained from CNN videotape as their cameraman was arrested almost immediately after the incident began. Another piece of evidence showed one of the self-immolators, named Wang Jindong, had his hair still intact when hair is the first thing to burn in a fire incident. In addition, it was stated that Wang used a sprite plastic bottle filled with gasoline to set himself on fire, but the bottle between his legs remained untouched and did not melt. Chinese television footage showing one of the self-immolators at Tiananmen Square on Jan. 23, 2001. (Getty Images | Newsmakers) The incident was later analyzed and made into a documentary called False Fire, which won an honorary award at the 51st Columbia International Film Festival for exposure of the tragic event in November 2003. The Epoch Times also reported that according to Sun Yanjun, who was an associate professor of psychology at Capital Normal University at that time, Chinas state media quieted down after NTD, a sister media of this publication under the Epoch Media Group, broadcast the documentary. Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is one of eight chief ministers who have been invited for the Rashtrapati Bhawan banquet that President Ram Nath Kovind will host for visiting US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to host a sumptuous lunch for President Trump earlier in the day. Mr Rao will be joined by seven other chief ministers from Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Karnataka for the presidential banquet. According to sources close to the Telangana chief ministers office, Mr Rao will fly to Delhi on February 25 to attend the banquet where it is expected that he will interact for a while with the visiting US President. In 2017, when Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Trump, had visited Hyderabad, she had interacted with Mr Rao during her visit to the city where she saw historical places and monuments and was accorded a grand reception. New Mexico AG Sues Google for Collecting School Kids Personal Data SAN FRANCISCONew Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas on Thursday sued Alphabet Incs Google search engine, alleging that its educational software collects young students personal information without the required parental consent. Google called the allegations factually wrong and did not respond to a request to elaborate. The company sells its Chromebook laptops to schools around the world alongside its free or low-cost G Suite for Education software package, which includes email and writing tools. Brian McMath, an assistant attorney general under Balderas, said recent testing by his team and outside technical experts found that students aged below 13 who are given Chromebooks by their schools have their Web browsing, location, passwords and other personal information transmitted to Google. The lawsuit states that Google failed to gather verifiable parental consent before collecting the data, a violation of the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act. McMath said while there was no evidence that Google had misused the students personal information, he was concerned that the company might generate revenue from the data. Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said, G Suite for Education allows schools to control account access and requires that schools obtain parental consent when necessary. The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the child privacy law, has said that school districts essentially provide consent when evaluating and purchasing educational software. But Balderas and about two dozen other state attorneys general last year urged the FTC to reconsider, contending that it gave companies such as Google too much latitude to track children under 13 without their parents knowledge. In 2018, Balderas sued Google and a few other tech companies, accusing them of illegally collecting data from mobile apps made for children. The companies have denied any wrongdoing, and the case awaits a decision by a federal judge. In September, Googles YouTube video service was asked to pay the FTC $170 million to settle allegations that it broke federal law by collecting personal information about children. Social media companies have been facing regulatory scrutiny globally over their policies and data monitoring practices, particularly for children. On Feb. 4, Facebook Inc said it planned to add new tools and features for parental control in its messaging app for users under the age of 13. By Amal S and Paresh Dave With nothing to sell to voters, Democrats have been going off with pop guns against each other in this long season of debates, each taking aim at the next guy while President Trump stands by in the distance. patiently with his Howitzer, nicknamed 'Economy.' That's put them in a quandary. Some, such as Pete Buttigieg, are trying to claim the economy isn't so good after all. Others, such as Bernie Sanders, are trying to claim that as the economy goes up, wages remain stagnant, so only billionaires are feeling it. Then there's President Obama, who from the sidelines admits the economy is good -- and at this late date now tries to claim that he did it. Trump will blow all of those argument to pieces. Now there's these guys, the smarter ones, crossing their fingers and hoping for a global economic collapse as a means of Getting Trump. According to Newsbusters: On Friday, MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle talked to CNBC contributor Dan Nathan about how the booming economy may factor into the 2020 presidential race. Without any substantiation, Nathan wildly speculated that there could be another global financial crisis which would provide something Dems can run on in the fall. Nathan, a longtime Democratic Party donor and principal at the investment consulting group RiskReversal Advisors, began by arguing that the nations historically low unemployment was actually a bad thing: ...the labor market is really tight, and economically, in an election year, that could pose a really big problem when you think about it here because were just not seeing the sort of economic growth that you might expect at this stage of the recovery over the last ten years. They're rooting for an economic cash, hoping against hope that that will be what it takes to knock the incumbent Republican out. They at least understand why Trump is popular. But to root for an economic collapse in the name of installing a Democrat, is disgusting stuff. The Democrats already have a variety of well-honed plans to crush the U.S. economy and make America weak. With guys like Nathan saying they hope China with its economic troubles can do the job sounds rather like speculator profiteering, with a whiff of treason. Democrats have been ignoring the economy for so long they no longer sense its importance. Lefty market guys, though, do. They can see that the voters are repelled by what's on offer. Now they're looking for a crisis they can not let go to waste. Smell the desperation. In Pics: PM Modi to inaugurate new campus of Classical Tamil institute in Chennai today Mahatma Gandhi's life was devoted to truth and service: PM Modi India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Feb 22: On the occasion of inaugurating the International Judicial Conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Mahatma Gandhi's life was devoted to truth and service, which are considered the foundation of the judiciary. Addressing the gathering at the International Judicial Conference, PM Modi said, "Mahatma Gandhi Ji's life was devoted to truth and service, which are considered the foundation of the judiciary. He was a barrister. He has written in great detail in his autobiography about the first case he fought." PM Modi also said that the judicial conference was at a "great moment for India" as the nation is celebrating the 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. "It is a great moment for India as this conference is taking place when our country is celebrating the 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji was asked to give commission for the case, which he refused. Gandhi was so clear about upholding truth which came from his upbringing, culture and Indian philosophy," he added. The conference was organised at the Additional Building, Supreme Court Complex in Delhi. From vision to spectacle: Why US president's India visit may not just be about Modi-Trump optics In the evening, PM Modi is expected to address the opening ceremony of the Khelo India University Games, which will be held from February 22 to March 1 at Bhubaneswar in Odisha, via video conference. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the opening ceremony of Khelo India University Games at 7 pm. The Khelo India University Games are launched by the Government of India in association with the Government of Odisha. It is said that this would be the largest ever competition held at the university level in India. More tham 3,000 athletes from over 150 universities across the country would be taking part in it. Haftar says any ceasefire depends on Turkey's withdrawal from Libya Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 10:31 AM Libya's self-styled commander Khalifa Haftar says he would be ready for a ceasefire, on condition that Turkish forces leave the country and Ankara stops providing the country's UN-recognized government with weapons. "A ceasefire (would be) the result of a number of conditions being fulfilled," Haftar said in an interview with Russian news agency, RIA on Friday. He called for "the withdrawal of Syrian and Turkish mercenaries, an end to Turkish arms supplies to Tripoli, and the liquidation of terrorist groups" in the capital. Haftar's eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), backed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, launched an offensive in April to wrest control of Tripoli from the Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. Prime Minister of Libya Fayez al-Sarraj, visits Tripoli's port after an attack on February 19, 2020. (Photo by AFP) The offensive has so far killed 1000 people and displaced some 146,000 people, according to United Nations figures. Serraj's government has sought Turkey's support to fight against Haftar's forces. Back in November, he signed a military cooperation deal with Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan, under which Ankara agreed to send troops to support GNA forces. As part of the offensive, Haftar's forces attacked a key port in the capital on Tuesday. In response, Seraj said he suspended UN-brokered peace talks. "There can be no peace under the bombing," the GNA said. "We are announcing the suspension of our participation in the military talks taking place in Geneva until firm positions are adopted against the aggressor [Gen Haftar]," it said. Meanwhile, the UN envoy attempting to mediate the two sides in Libya said the two sides resumed talks in Geneva on Thursday. "The representatives of GNA returned this morning after a short, 24-hour interruption," Ghassan Salame said on Thursday. He also said that his mission to secure a lasting ceasefire and eventually a political solution was extremely difficult, but "possible." A UN spokesman also said on Friday that a new round of talks will begin on Friday. The oil-rich county has been plunged into chaos since 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, and his execution by unruly fighters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Omicron variant of COVID-19 identified in Antrim, Charlevoix counties The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been identified in one Antrim County resident and one Charlevoix County resident. Democratic voters in Texass 10th Congressional District have a difficult choice to make, as the three candidates in the primary race Shannon Hutcheson, Pritesh Gandhi and Mike Siegel all offer compelling reasons why they should be selected to take on seven-term U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul. Hutcheson, a lawyer who has represented Planned Parenthood, impressed us with her passion for education and bringing affordable health care to Texas families. Gandhi, a doctor and Fulbright scholar, protested the treatment of migrant children at the border and founded Doctors Against Gun Violence. All promise solutions to issues such as climate change, gun control and health care, but in this race, we give the edge to Siegel. His efforts in 2018, a race he lost by 4 percentage points to the powerful incumbent, convinced Democrats that the district was within grasp. He formed that challenge on a grassroots appeal that built upon his record of service as a teacher and assistant city attorney in Austin, where he led the charge in the suit against Texass anti-immigrant SB 4 law. During his campaign, he succeeded in protecting the voting rights of students at the historically black Prairie View A&M University. As Democrats, the way were going to win in Texas is by establishing this reputation that we will fight for the people here, he told the Editorial Board. Siegel quit his job last year to bring that fight full-time, dedicating himself to knocking on doors to help Democrats get elected, mobilizing against the confirmation of David Whitley as secretary of state over his botched voter purge and suing the state over changes to mobile voting. That willingness to show up and put in the time has gained him the endorsement of local Democratic groups, including the Harris County Tejano Democrats and the Black Austin Democrats, as well as youth-oriented groups such as Jolt Action and Sunrise ATX. His support of the Green New Deal has earned him pushback from some energy industry workers, he said, but his position is not dogmatic. He recognizes that compromise is necessary but understands that you need to push as hard as possible if you want to get the best deal. Siegel has put in the work and earned our recommendation and the support of Democratic voters. Abdullah rejects presidential results at a time Kabul is to take part in intra-Afghan talks to end the conflict. Hours after Afghanistans incumbent President Ashraf Ghani was declared last week the winner of the September 28 presidential election, runner-up Abdullah Abdullah contested the much-delayed results, highlighting the power struggle between the two leaders. Following a recount and a total delay of nearly five months, Abdullah, who served as Afghanistans chief executive for the past five years, yet again questioned the fairness of the countrys electoral process, in a repeat of the 2014 election that was marred by irregularities. Abdullah announced that he would be setting up a parallel government, in his capacity as chief executive, he barred electoral officials from travelling out of the country. Both the leaders issued invitations last week to parallel swearing-in ceremonies on Monday, as US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was making efforts to shepherd a deal between the two political camps. The political crisis come ahead of possible intra-Afghan talks between the government and the Taliban armed group aimed at reaching long-term peace. The talks are predicated on the peace deal signed on February 29 between the Taliban and the US government, delineating the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the Talibans pledge to not allow Afghan territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks outside the country. On February 22, the Western-backed Kabul government, US and Taliban announced the beginning of a week-long reduction in violence (RIV). Hours after the RIV pact took hold, reports emerged of Abdullah replacing the governors of Sar-e-Pul and Baghlan provinces. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed concern over the action, saying it could jeopardise the peace process. Resorting to force or any other unlawful means at the very time that efforts are ongoing to realize a reduction in violence with the expectation that it can lead to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations on peace jeopardizes the populations hope for peace, the statement said. Chief executive of Afghanistan After bitterly disputing the results of the 2014 election, Abdullah and Ghani were brought to the negotiating table by the US and agreed to run the government together but fissures within the national unity government often came to the fore. Their five years of partnership were often fraught with disagreements, bickering and rifts, bringing the government to a standstill on several occasions. But the recent dispute between the countrys two most senior leaders could not have come at a more sensitive time for Afghanistan. US President Donald Trump initiated talks with the Taliban in 2018 as part of his campaign promise to bring US troops home. The Taliban has been fighting NATO and Afghan government forces since 2001 when the group was toppled from power in a US-led invasion. As the US-Taliban deal is now signed, Taliban and Afghan leaders are to sit down to discuss the political future of the country. The Taliban made the deal with the US its condition for agreeing to speak to the Kabul government, which for years it dubbed a puppet of the US. A broad political consensus is critical when Kabul sits face-to-face with the Taliban as part of the intra-Afghan peace talks. However, the Ghani-Abdullah rivalry could spill over into violence that would weaken the Afghan governments hand in the negotiations. This has created fragmentation in Kabul government. This will certainly lead to a weaker position of Kabul when they sit face-to-face with the Taliban at the intra-Afghan dialogue, Habib Wardak, a Kabul-based security analyst, told Al Jazeera. But before we even reach to the point of sitting with the Taliban, it will be a challenge to form an all-inclusive team and build confidence among the political elites, most of whom reject the outcome of presidential elections. As well as struggling to maintain consensus, the Afghan government is also faced with mounting socioeconomic issues, including unemployment, deteriorating security conditions and a collapsing economy. Mariam Solaimankhail, a member of Afghanistans parliament, said the election results should indicate a clear mandate to the government to partake in any discussion of national significance. The election results were necessary for the continuation of the democratic process. No discussions with any group should disrupt the constitution, democracy and the overall achievements of the last two decades, she said. Shrouded in controversy The counting of votes in the September 2019 election has been shrouded in controversy since the beginning, with repeated delays to the results election officials attributed to technical issues, allegations of fraud and protests from candidates. The Talibans announcement at the time that it was boycotting the elections and its threats of violent disruptions combined with a general distrust of politicians and corruption to prevent many Afghans from exercising their ballot. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced preliminary results in December, saying Ghani had won re-election by a slim margin in a vote that saw a total turnout of more than 1.8 million. Abdullah dismissed the results as fraudulent. On Tuesday, the IEC announced the final results after a recount, saying Ghani had won with 50.64 percent of the vote, beating Abdullah who secured 39.52 percent. The Abdullah camp was swift in its rejection, casting a shadow over the future of the democratic process in the war-torn country. They took Ghanis side. They were working directly for them. They surrendered to their power, status, influence and money, Faraidoon Khwazoon, a spokesman for Abdullahs campaign team, told Al Jazeera. That is why, not just us, but also the electoral complains commission, monitoring organisations and other teams did not participate in the audit and recount process of votes and this process had lost its legitimacy and credibility. That is why the result and outcome do not have legitimacy too. Addressing Abdullahs announcement of forming a parallel government, potentially creating a constitutional crisis, Khwazoon said: Our government will conduct its oath-taking ceremony We have already formed groups and we will also announce our high-level appointments. Saif Khalid Sadat, a senior member of Ghanis electoral team, rejected the Abdullah camps allegations, saying the election results had been announced by the IEC, as was within their legal authority, and should be implemented by all means. The elections have successfully been conducted on the basis of all electoral laws and procedures. Ghani gives high priority to the peace talks with Taliban and I believe it will be better for an elected government to negotiate with the Taliban, he told Al Jazeera. Some analysts have accused Abdullah of pursuing narrow political interests. Abdullahs grievances are not political and it is based only on his very personal narrow interest and the interests of many warlords part of his political coalition, Harun Mir, a Kabul-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera. President Ghani has campaigned over preservation of the republic and the democratic constitutional political process. However, Abdullah Abdullah and his coalition partners hope that through a new provisional government, they might be able to preserve their government seats and political influence. Sadat, Ghanis aide, reiterated the importance of having all Afghan political forces come together under the umbrella of the government of Afghanistan when doors for intra-Afghan talks open. All sides should reach a common goal which could put an end to this war forever. With reporting by Mohsin Khan Mohmand in Kabul Bulgarian Prosecutors Identify Three Russians Suspected In 2015 Poisoning Case By RFE/RL February 21, 2020 Prosecutors in Bulgaria have filed criminal charges against three Russian citizens in connection with the attempted poisoning in 2015 of arms dealer Emilian Gebrev. Officials identified the suspects as Sergei Pavlov, Sergei Fedotov, and Georgy Gorshkov, saying that they are believed to be residents of Moscow. In January, Bulgaria announced charges against three Russians in connection with the same case, but did not identify the suspects. Earlier on February 21, the Bellingcat independent research organization posted on Twitter that it had "identified the true identities" of "the team of GRU officers" allegedly involved in the poisoning, using the abbreviation for the Russian military intelligence service. "We have submitted relevant data to law enforcement," the Bellingcat post said. In a further post, Bellingcat said it would make additional information public "next week." In January, Bulgaria expelled two Russian diplomats believed to have been involved in the case. Bulgarian authorities believe Gebrev, owner of the EMCO Ltd. arms trader; his son, Hristo Gebrev; and company manager Valentin Takhchiev were targeted in a poisoning attack "by intoxication with an unidentified phosphorus-organic substance." All three survived the attacks. In February 2019, Bellingcat identified Russian GRU officer Sergei Fedotov as possibly being involved in the March 2018 poisoning in the United Kingdom of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Bellingcat alleged that Fedotov traveled to the United Kingdom two days before the attack on Skripal. Russia has denied involvement in the attacks against Skripal and Gebrev. With reporting by TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgarian- prosecutors-identify-three -russians-suspected-in-2015 -poisoning-case/30447640.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The tech sector has a reputation for taking all the oxygen in the markets and for good reason. Tech stocks are the go-to thing in the todays economy, where profitability is based on digital information. Thats just where the money is. And the numbers show it, as far as they can. Just two of the biggest tech companies, Apple and Microsoft, brought in a whopping 15% of the total return on the S&P 500 last year. It was truly an impressive performance. But for return-minded investors, the tech giants are not the only game in town. The small- to large-cap companies may not generate the buzz and the headlines, and their share of the broader market may not match the giants, but Wall Streets analysts say they are upward bound. With that in mind, weve used the TipRanks Stock Screener to search the database for smaller tech stocks with unanimous Buy ratings and better than 20% upside potential. Lets take a closer look. Harmonic, Inc. (HLIT) The rise of the digital world has brought video content to the fore. From YouTubes early days, to todays video on demand streaming sites, its clear that online content consumers want to see and hear more than just read. Harmonic inhabits the online video ecosystem, providing technology to develop and market video routing, server, and storage systems for producers and distributors. HLIT shares saw a recent drop, losing 15% year-to-date, despite a solid final quarter in 2019. Q4 results were solid, beating the estimates on both earnings and revenue. EPS, at 12 cents, was 50% better than expected, while the $122.2 million in revenue was 8.1% over the forecasts. It is the fourth quarter in a row that HLIT has beaten expectations. Forward guidance, however, overshadowed the earnings beat. The company issued projected 2020 earnings of $390 to $430 million, well below the $438.8 million consensus. Wall Street sees that pullback as creating a better entry point for the stock. Richard Valera, 5-star analyst with Needham, writes, HLIT saw solid progress on the transition to SaaS/OTT in its video business, even as it issued below consensus revenue guidance for 2020. Net, with a solidified, if not enhanced, strategic position in the $1B+ CCAP/DAA market, and a conservatively set bar for 2020, we see HLIT shares as very attractive at current levels. Story continues Valeras $10 price target implies a 50% upside for the stocks, and reinforces his Buy rating. (To watch Valeras track record, click here) Shares in Harmonic are selling for $6.67, and the average price target on the stock, $9.17, suggests room for 38.5% upside growth. The Strong Buy analyst consensus is based on 3 recent reviews, all Buys. (See Harmonic stock analysis at TipRanks) IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC) Next up is the largest tech company on todays list, with a market cap of $20 billion. InterActiveCorp is a holding company, owning media and internet brands in 100 countries worldwide. IACs brands include Match Group the parent company of internet dating sites Tinder, OkCupid, and Match.com as well as Vimeo, HomeAdvisor, and Investopedia. The company brings in well over $3 billion in annual revenues. IAC has a history of frequently shaking up its brand line-up. Last month, the company shed the CollegeHumor websites, while earlier this month it closed a $500 million deal to acquire Care.com. The acquisition represents a new move for IAC, as the companys first step into the family care market, a $300 billion market. In another move of similar import, IAC will be spinning off the Match Group brands later this year. In the last four reported quarter, IAC has beaten the forecasts three times. The miss came in the most recent quarter, Q4 2019. The company reported EPS of $1.08, missing the estimates by 8.5%, based on revenue of $1.22 billion. While the total revenue missed expectations by just under 1%, it did represent an 11% gain year-over-year. Weighing in on the stock for Nomura after the earnings came in, 4-star analyst Mark Kelley sees a clear path forward for IAC. He wrote, Results in IACs stub businesses were mostly positive. Dotdash continues to generate strong results... Vimeo was led by 45% YoY growth in Enterprise offerings, which continues to be a clear focus... The emerging businesses and expansion into the home care market will become all the more important following the Match spin, expected at the end of 2Q. Kelley puts a Buy rating on IAC, along with a $304 price target. His target indicates confidence and a 32% upside to the stock. (To watch Kelleys track record, click here) IACs unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating is based on no fewer than 13 recent Buy-side reviews. The stock is currently priced at $230.97, and the $294.50 average price target suggests room for 28% growth to the upside. (See IACs stock analysis at TipRanks) PROS Holdings (PRO) We finish todays list with PROS Holdings, a business computer software company. PROS offers cloud-based SaaS products for price optimization, revenue management, and sales effectiveness. The company is based in Houston, Texas, and has offices London, Paris, and Sydney. PROS made its start marketing revenue management systems to the airline industry; the company is expected to bring in $297 million for the current fiscal year. To finish up 2019, PRO reported an earnings loss and revenue beat. EPS came in 37% worse than expected, at a net loss of 11 cents per share. Revenues, on the other hand, were up, as the company reported $66.18 million for the final quarter of the year. That was 3% above the forecast, and an impressive 26% year-over-year gain. Analysts expect Q1 2020 to show results similar to Q4. PRO shares dropped on the earnings release, as the stock has slid 16% since the report went public. Investors were clearly concerned by the slip in earnings. RBC Capital Alex Zukin, however, sounds a different note, emphasizing the companys strengths in his post-earnings review of the stock. Zukin, a 5-star analyst, says up front, PROS reported a record bookings quarter, its second of the year, and delivered revenue above expectations. Regarding PROs forward prospects, he gets into greater detail, seeing three points to bolster optimism: First, we think alignment with CRM/CPQ software means there is a clearer buyer for price optimization software. Second, we think a cloud delivery model helps It also means the software can be consumed in smaller deals with faster time to value. Third, we think the digitization of B2B commerce likely increases the need for dynamic pricing across more companies and industries. Zukins Buy rating on the stock comes with a $75 price target, suggesting a robust upside here of 47%. (To watch Zukins track record, click here.) All in all, PROS has 3 recent Buy ratings backing up its Strong Buy consensus. Shares are priced at $51.35, a bargain for such a high-potential stock. The average price target of $71.75 indicates room for 42% upside growth. (See PROS stock analysis at TipRanks) Repeat visitors to the Canadian International AutoShow will notice a theme emerging at the Infiniti stand: last years focal point was an electrified concept vehicle, and this years falls into the same category. In fact, Infiniti has shown a concept vehicle at the Toronto AutoShow for the past four years. In 2019, it was the QX Inspiration, a look at what an electrified SUV could look like for Nissans premium brand. This year, the centrepiece is the Qs Inspiration, a preview of an electrified sport sedan thats destined for production. Whats really interesting about the car is that its different than what the normal understanding of the sedan is, Adam Paterson, managing director of Infiniti Canada, said in an interview. Its slightly more lifted. Its a hatch as opposed to the standard trunk format. Its a little bit different than what todays Q50 looks like, and it really nods to the future of electrified Infiniti sedans. The time appears ripe for new product from Infiniti. Sales for the brand were below the industry average in 2019, but the bright spot is its most recently redesigned product, the QX50 compact SUV. This nameplate saw sales increase last year by more than 22 per cent. If thats any indication of what updated offerings can do for the brand which, as a subsidiary of Nissan, has also been grappling with the scandal surrounding Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance who faces charges relating to financial misconduct and who fled house arrest in Japan by escaping to Lebanon then the arrival of new products could be a salve. Five new models are expected within the next five years, three of them electrified. The first will be QX55, which is a cousin of QX50, Paterson said, explaining that the QX55 will be a mid-size SUV with a coupe roofline. We think it will bring back some of that uniqueness to the showroom that we 100 per cent had when we launched FX back in the early 2000s. Its not the exact same product, but it really does hearken back to that as far as design is concerned. It will be shown at one of the major auto shows later this year and be on sale shortly after that in Canada. Following that in the cadence, the QX60 (mid-size SUV) will be redesigned. And then, after that is when the electrified powertrains start to arrive. Note that the term used repeatedly is not electric but electrified. Infiniti is planning a two-pronged approach to electrification: through fully battery electric vehicles in the same style drivers are already used to, such as the Nissan Leaf, and through a new powertrain that combines an electric architecture with an on-board fuel tank and internal combustion engine to power it. (Its) our solution as a transition to EV, Paterson said. Todays two-mode hybrids can actually drive the wheels with the gasoline motor on board, and a plug-in hybrid allows you to plug in your smaller battery to run (as an) EV for as long as the battery lasts and then you switch over to the gasoline motor. Well operate with that gasoline motor as a generator feeding the battery, but all of the drive will exclusively come from the electric motor, so youll never have a connection directly between the gasoline motor and the wheels. Paterson said that Infiniti has chosen this direction to avoid having vehicles take on the weight demanded by plug-in hybrid systems, retaining a lighter and sportier drive feel. One of the key things that people love about driving EVs is their sportiness, their acceleration, he said. The torque is almost instant. While it started as economy was the goal, theyve really become sporty, fun-to-drive cars. We feel that plug-ins, while they may have proper applications, are not for Infiniti. Youre carrying around a big, heavy battery that you can only use for a portion of your drive. Our solution is to have a smaller, lighter battery, which will really allow that enjoyable drive but not have you carry the heavy weight that a battery would provide for a plug-in hybrid. With Infiniti now looking to the future, Paterson said the company is ready to leave the past few months behind. (Makoto Uchida), the new CEO (of Nissan), was in Nashville (in January), where North American headquarters are, Paterson said. He reiterated, like he has before, that any turmoil ... is behind the company. While that may play out in the media and people may say things, the company feels like that chapter is closed. Were working on bringing new products to market and focusing on improving our offerings for both consumers and dealers. by the advertiser. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 03:38:35|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces said Saturday that a leading figure of the Islamic State (IS), working as a coordinator for the extremist group outside Iraq, was captured in northern Iraq. A paramilitary force, affiliated with the Hashd Shaabi Operations Command of Nineveh province, conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of the leading militant in the provincial capital of Mosul, the forces said in a statement without giving further details. In a separate incident, a Hashd Shaabi intelligence force in cooperation with the Iraqi intelligence service captured an IS militant in al-Salamiyah refugee camp in the west of Mosul. The militant was planning to flee to nearby Syria, the Hashd Shaabi said in a separate statement. The security situation in Iraq has been improved since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. REDDING, Calif. - A new case of the coronavirus makes its way to Northern California. We are continuing to monitor these cases as well as looking at any close contacts of those individuals, said Dr. Teresa Frankovich, a health officer with Humboldt County. Health officials in Humboldt say, the infected person did travel to China and is now in isolation. They are also testing another person who was in close contact. Here at home, the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency is keeping a close eye on the situation. We are also monitoring travelers who have traveled from China within the last two weeks, said Stephanie Taylor, a Communicable Prevention Supervisor with Health and Human Services. The agency also continues to communicate with all the local hospitals. We are preparing our plans actively for lab testing, notification, and isolation of patients, said Taylor. But the news has some people uneasy. Action News Now spoke Redding resident Kylee White who has friends who go to school at Humboldt State University. She says, shes concerned about their safety. Im worried about them because not a long of young people get vaccinated, said White. I feel like there's probably someone that will get it. There are fears that the virus could make its way to Shasta County. I feel like there's a high chance of getting it here, said White. There's a lot of people that go from here to the coast. But there are others who are not as worried since there are no confirmed cases. It just seems a little conflated to worry about the coronavirus, said one Redding resident. China has not responded to requests from India to allow the Indian air force (IAF) relief aircraft to land in the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, the Indian embassy said on Saturday. In a message circulated among the Indians waiting to be evacuated from Wuhan in the IAF flight on its way back, the embassy said that Beijing has gone silent despite the request for clearance. The Chinese foreign ministry didnt respond to questions from HT on Saturday asking for reasons behind the delay in giving the required clearance. On Friday, spokesperson Geng Shuang had said There is no such a thing as China delaying giving flight permissions. However, his response didnt reveal the full picture. The Indian embassys message to the Indians in Wuhan indicated that theres been a delay from Beijing. We are continuously pursuing with the Chinese authorities necessary clearance for the relief flight at the earliest. The Chinese side has not yet given these clearances despite being requested to do so, the message said. We will intimate you all as soon as we get the same from the Chinese side, the message told the Indians. We do realise that some of you are getting apprehensive due to the delays and some others are posting speculative information. We would urge you all to remain calm and wait for further updates from the Embassy, the message said. Around 100 Indians had registered to be evacuated in the IAFs C17 transport aircraft on its way back. It was learnt that the embassy had given the details about the incoming IAF aircraft to the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday. The flight was scheduled to land on February 20th Usually, the clearance in such cases is given within 48 hours, sometimes earlier depending on the urgency of the situation. The clearance, a specific number allotted to the aircraft scheduled to land, however, did not come this week. No rational or reasonable explanation was given for the delay, people following the matter said, on condition of anonymity. It had also been conveyed to the Chinese that the aircraft is primarily coming to China to provide aid following the phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. An IAF transport aircraft was chosen because of the voluminous cargo including protective clothing it will be bringing in. If it was only for evacuation, an Air India aircraft could have been dispatched as was done for the first two rounds of evacuation earlier in February. It wasnt clear until late on Saturday as to when Beijing will issue the clearance. Meanwhile, Indians in Wuhan, many of them young students, who had packed to leave by Friday, remain anxious and uncertain. And, the C17 loaded and ready to take off from New Delhi. Pat Shortt will bring his stage show, Hey!, to the Arklow Bay Hotel on March 13. Hey! delivers a peculiar take on modern life that only the unique imagination of Pat Shortt could conjure up. The show is a hilarious and quirky look at Irish life and features a rogues gallery of oddball characters, bizarre situations and even a song or two. Alongside Jon Kenny, Pat created DUnbelievables, Irelands most popular comedy duo, and together they performed their unique brand of comedy in theatres all over Ireland, the UK and the US. Pats solo shows have been sell-out successes and he has also achieved critical acclaim as an actor on TV and film screens. Tickets cost 28 plus booking fee. To book, call the Arklow Bay Hotel on 0402 26200 or visit www.ticketmaster.ie. I want this center to steer clear of todays policy issues, he said, and I want us to be surveying the questions that are going to be with us for a long time, the legal or technical issues that are going to be at the forefront five to 10 years from now. The center will explore the effects social media has had on speech and democracy, for example, or examine the impact automation will continue to have on industry and air travel. Nebraska Law Dean Richard Moberly said the interdisciplinary center will be housed in the law college, where two new tenure-line faculty positions will be added, but will also initially partner with the College of Business and College of Engineering. Theres all sorts of regulatory tools in our toolbox we can use in various ways based on the technology, Moberly said, so by including the people who create the technology, who exploit the technology and think about its impact on society through policy and law, we hope we will create a conversation in that area. This is the astonishing moment a herd of wild elephants smashed through a concrete wall to reach the jungle. Wildlife workers were alerted to the family of jumbos roaming around Chachoengsao, central Thailand last Thursday (February 13) evening. The beasts were tracked as they stomped towards a white barrier put in place to prevent them from getting onto a nearby road. However, the elephants found a small gap in the white, concrete wall and charged through, destroying the section. Park rangers can be heard in the video shouting ''go, go, go'' as the elephants crossed the road and disappeared into the dense woodland. Workers later alerted drivers in the area that a herd of elephants were on the move, amid fears that they could crash into them. Wildlife officer Anuchit Chakkaew said: ''There are lots of elephants living in this area so drivers have to be careful when they are using this route. ''We would never want humans or elephants to be injured again from the car accident." Anuchit said a team was assigned to the area to track the elephants and warn farmers that they could be trample across their land. He added: ''The wall is there to keep the elephants away from the road and prevent accidents. Unfortunately they didn't pay any notice to that.'' By Associated Press CODOGNO (Italy): Italy reported its first death from the new virus from China early Saturday and the number of people infected more than quadrupled due to a cluster of cases that prompted officials to order schools, restaurants and businesses to close. State-run RAI television reported a 78-year-old man, one of two people in northern Veneto region to have been infected, died Friday. Italian news agencies ANSA and LaPresse also reported the death, citing the Veneto regional president, Luca Zaia. ALSO READ | WHO team to visit Wuhan to investigate coronavirus outbreak In Lombardy, at least 14 new cases were confirmed, representing the first infections in Italy acquired through secondary contagion and bringing the country's total to 19. The cluster was located in a handful of tiny towns southeast of Milan, said Lombardy regional health chief Giulio Gallera. This was foreseeable even if we hoped it wouldnt have happened, Gallera said. The first to fall ill was a 38-year-old Italian who met with someone who had returned from China on Jan. 21 without presenting any symptoms of the new virus, health authorities said. That person was being kept in isolation and appears to present antibodies to the virus. The 38-year-old is now hospitalized in critical condition. His wife and a friend of his, who was a member of his running club, also tested positive for the virus. Three patients at the hospital in Codogno where he went with flu-like symptoms on Feb. 18 also have infections, as do five nurses and doctors. In addition, another three elderly people, who frequented the same cafe as the runner's father, also tested positive Friday, Gallera said. Tests were underway, meanwhile, on the 38-year-old's doctor, who made a house call on him, as well as on 120 people he worked within the research and development branch of Unilever in Casalpusterlengo, Gallera said. Word of the contagion sparked fears throughout the region, particularly given the closure of the emergency room at the Codogno hospital. We are old and we are very concerned," said 76-year-old Codogno resident Carmelo Falcone. I live on my own. I really dont know what to do. ALSO READ | Iran says two more deaths among 13 new coronavirus cases Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the country is now seeing the same sort of "cluster" of cases that Germany and France have seen. He signed an ordinance with Lombardy's regional president outlining measures to contain the cluster to the 10 towns so far affected: Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Maleo, Fombio, Bertonico, Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Somaglia and San Fiorano. The towns, which have between 1,000-15,000 residents each, are located around 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Milan, Lombardy's capital and Italy's business centre. The ordinance suspends public gatherings, commercial and business activity, sport, education, and other recreational activities throughout the region, Speranza, the health minister, said. He defended the precautionary measures Italy took previously, noting that Italy remains the lone European country to have barred flights to and from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. We had the highest measures in Europe," he said. The health ministry ordered anyone who came into direct contact with the victims to be quarantined for 14 days. And it recommended others in the region stay home. Italy's civil protection agency, meanwhile, was working to identify military buildings, hotels or other structures that could serve as isolation wards if necessary. ALSO READ | 59 Hong Kong police quarantined after having meal with colleague who has coronavirus "In other parts of the world, and also in China, it has been demonstrated that this system (of self-isolation) helps in a substantial way to block the spread, Lombardy regional president Attilio Fontana said. But we must not let ourselves be overcome by panic." The Codogno hospital closed its emergency room, and staff were seen wearing masks as movers brought in new beds and furniture as the quarantine got underway. Romes infectious disease hospital is currently caring for three other people who were infected weeks ago, including a Chinese couple from hard-hit Wuhan and an Italian who is now testing persistently negative for the virus after two weeks of anti-viral treatment. Despite the calls for safeguards, Italians were having a hard time finding protective face masks. A sampling of Milan pharmacies reported selling out out weeks ago, as did a pharmacist in Codogno who said Italy had been sending masks to China for weeks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 22:16:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng has asked to take differentiated and targeted measures to gradually normalize nationwide transportation disrupted amid the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. He made the remarks at the Ministry of Public Security on Friday, while attending a national teleconference on restoring traffic and transportation order. The central authorities attached great importance to restoring transportation order, which is vital to facilitating the resumption of work and production, Han said. He said in areas with low risk of epidemic situation, road traffic restrictions should be completely lifted and normal transportation order should be restored. In areas with medium risks or high risks, traffic control measures should be optimized and refined in accordance with actual epidemic situations, he said. However, Hubei Province, the center of the COVID-19 epidemic, must continue to prevent the epidemic from spreading out of the province by resolutely cutting off the transmission channels, while Beijing should focus on guarding against the "inflow" of infection cases, he said. The restrictions on freight logistics should be lifted in a scientific way, while in non-epidemic key areas, traffic restrictions on freight vehicles and ships should be completely lifted to ensure that raw materials can come in and products can go out, he said. More work should be done to resume road passenger transport gradually and provide "point-to-point" services to ensure rural migrant workers can return to work safely and orderly, he said. South Korea lodged a strong protest Saturday against Japan's renewed claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. Seoul's foreign ministry called in Hirohisa Soma, a senior official at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, and expressed regret over Japan's annual event meant to publicize its territorial claim to Dokdo. "We again sternly urged Japan to immediately repeal" its event on Dokdo, the ministry said in a statement. The protest came hours after the Japanese prefecture of Shimane held the Takeshima Day event and a senior Japanese government official attended the ceremony. Shimane has held the annual event on Dokdo, which is called Takeshima in Japanese, since 2006. South Korea has been in effective control of Dokdo, with a small police detachment, since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Still, Japan claims sovereignty to the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea that divides the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Dokdo has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries. (Yonhap) The Union government has so far sanctioned 75 advanced medical colleges-cum-hospitals in as many "aspirational districts" in the country in the current Financial Year, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said here on Saturday. He also said 500 more such hospitals are needed to be set up to provide immediate health services under the Ayushman Bharat and other health schemes of the Central government. On Saturday, Harsh Vardhan inaugurated a new Institutional Campus and laid the foundation stone for a Residential Complex of the National Institute of Public Health Training & Research (NIPHTR) in Panvel in Raigad district neighbouring Mumbai. Speaking on the occasion, the health minister blamed "negligence" of the post-Independence era for the missing focus on the public health, which is the "fundamental right" of every citizen. "The Union government sanctioned 75 advanced medical colleges in 75 aspirational districts in the country in the CFY (current Financial Year). "In the last 57 years, only 82 advanced medical collages were set up in the country. However, more than 500 advanced medical colleges are needed to set up across the country to provide immediate health services to the masses under the 'Ayushman Bharat' and other health schemes of the Union government," he said. Harsh Vardhan further said that sanction was given to build 75 medical collages in the aspirational districts under the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "Transformation of Aspirational Districts" programme aims to quickly and effectively transform these districts with States as the main drivers. Harsh Vardhan said the newly-introduced Robot National Surveillance System can work to reduce the mortality rate due to Ebola and novel Coronavirus. "I am requesting all retired medical officers, gynaecologists and other doctors who can contribute their ideas on public health to share their ideas to build a new public health system," he said. He said India faced many epidemics like plague, polio, Malaria and Tuberculosis, but every time the combined efforts of health ministries helped in the overall reduction of the mortality rate and in eradication of such diseases. The minister also touched upon urban and rural health mission programmes of his ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A demonstration will be held this Monday outside the US Consulate in Montreal in defense of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. A courageous journalist and publisher, Assange is being persecuted by the US, British and Australian governments, with the complicity of Canada, for exposing great power intrigues around the world and American war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently held in solitary confinement in a high security prison in Britain, Assange is facing extradition to the United States and a show trial on charges of espionage, with the prospect of a life sentence of 175 years. UN Special Rapporteur for Torture Nils Melzer and other medical experts have stated that Assange shows signs of prolonged psychological torture, and that he could die unless he is released to receive proper medical care. Assanges extradition hearing begins in London on February 24, the same day as the Montreal demonstration. Similar actions are being organized around the world. Julian Assange In an e-mail interview with the World Socialist Web Site, demonstration organizer Elizabeth Leier, an independent journalist, stressed the urgency of coming to the defense of Assange. Im holding the rally because I feel this case is tremendously important and holds serious implications for journalism, free speech and human rights around the world, wrote Leier. Unsurprisingly, given the state of our mainstream media, this issue has had very little traction in Canada. This is deplorable as the prosecution of Julian Assange has very concrete and serious implications for Canadian journalism and sovereignty, she continued. Should he be extradited, this will set a precedent by which it will be possible to prosecute and extradite a foreign journalist for publishing truthful and meaningful information outside of the prosecuting jurisdiction. This is an absurd and dangerous prospect that should alarm all those who value freedom of the press, democracy and sovereignty. Asked about the response she has received to this important initiative, Leier had the following to say: The response has been quite lackluster thus far, which doesnt surprise me. [T]he lack of media attention this case has received is quite significant. When Assange has been covered in mainstream Canadian media, the coverage simply echoes the same misinformation weve heard time and time again. Those organizations which should know about this case, the media and their unionthe Federation Profesionnelle des Journalistes du Quebec (FPJQ) have remained silent as to their position regarding this prosecution. I think we can infer from that silence that they prefer to toe the line and not disrupt official narratives, in spite of it being against their own professional integrity and interests. I do want to highlight the positive response Ive received from many independent media outlets, individuals and political organizations, including the World Socialist Web Site. Hopefully more people will learn about the event and recognize the importance of this issue. The Socialist Equality Party (Canada) and the World Socialist Web Site strongly urge all their readers and supporters in the Montreal area to participate in this demonstration as part of the global campaign in support of Assange and the courageous whistleblower Chelsea Manning. The demonstration will take place on Monday February 24 at 5:30 PM, in front of the US Consulate in Montreal, 1134 Sainte-Catherine St West (corner of Stanley St and near the Peel Metro station.) Overall, of course, South Carolina is still Trump country, much to the dismay of Democrats and at least some Republicans, who are forced to meet in undisclosed locations. But its a pivotal state for Democrats in presidential election years. We tend to make or break Democratic presidential campaigns: Clinton clobbered Sanders here 3 to 1 in 2016; she won every county that year. Obama got more than twice the vote of Clinton eight years before that. Although Joe Biden still leads here, thanks to support from African American voters, his light has dimmed with each debate. And it may surprise some people to learn that Tom Steyer has had more events here than any other candidate still in the race. Former Vice President Joe Biden has a pretty good tale to share but it may be a little tall. Biden, who is running for president, has been spicing up his recent campaign stump speeches with a story of how he was arrested while in South Africa trying to see Nelson Mandela, The New York Times reports. But that recollection of events has only recently come to light, and it was reportedly omitted from Biden's 2007 memoir that detailed his escapades in the country around that time. During recent campaign speeches, Biden says he "had the great honor" of meeting Mandela and "of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto." As Miami Herald reporter Alex Daugherty points out, Soweto is a ways away from Robben Island, where Mandela's maximum security prison was located. Adding to @katieglueck's story is Biden's quote doesn't make geographical sense. "I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robbens Island." Soweto is almost 900 miles away from Robben Island https://t.co/WtlZMdkexq Alex Daugherty (@alextdaugherty) February 21, 2020 The arrest, which has seemingly only been brought up publicly by Biden in the last few weeks, was not found referenced anywhere by readily available news outlets, per the Times. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. from 1977 to 1979 was Andrew Young. While Young reportedly acknowledged going to South Africa with Biden, he said he was never arrested in the country, and he told the Times he didn't think Biden had been arrested there either. "I don't think there was ever a situation where congressmen were arrested in South Africa," Young told the Times, although he did say some people were being arrested in Washington. Story continues The story, which was seemingly nonexistent before a few weeks ago, has been told three times on the trail as Biden heads into Nevada and South Carolina, where he needs to pull in big numbers in order to counteract a lackluster showing in Iowa and New Hampshire. Word of advice: there are other ways to make yourself look tough to voters that don't include broadcasting a trip to the slammer. More stories from theweek.com Trump's host on his India visit is a fervent vegetarian. The White House is apparently nervous about the menus. Donald Trump Jr. just won a permit to hunt a grizzly bear in Alaska The stunning Southern Baptist controversy over Donald Trump and Russell Moore, explained Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday ordered an investigation into a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters in Khartoum. Hamdok said in a televised speech: I decided to form an investigative committee in the events that occurred on February 20-21. He said Attorney General Taj-Elsir Ali would head the committee and a final report would be issued within seven days. On Thursday, Sudanese security forces used teargas and batons to disperse thousands of protesters. They were demanding the reinstatement of army officers dismissed for refusing to crack down on demonstrations against former President Omar al-Bashir, witnesses said. A doctors committee linked to the opposition said in a statement that at least 17 people were wounded, and many of the wounded were hit by teargas canisters. Search Keywords: Short link: HENRICO COUNTY (dpa-AFX) - The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation into Altria Group, Inc's. (MO) investment in e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The SEC reportedly is investigating whether Altria adequately disclosed to shareholders the risks when it invested $12.8 billion for a 35% stake in Juul in 2018. Juul has turned over documents including correspondence with Altria and financial projections shared with Altria before the deal, the report 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. Im a New Yorker. I know how to take on an arrogant con man like Donald Trump. Id like to talk about who were running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. And no, Im not talking about Donald Trump. Im talking about Mayor Bloomberg. You should also ask how Mayor Bloomberg in 2004 supported George W. Bush for president. The mayor says that he has a great record, that hes done these wonderful things. Well, the fact the fact of the matter is, he has not managed his city very, very well when he was there. Senator Klobuchar, my colleague specifically asked you if you could name the president of Mexico Yes and your response was no. Youre literally in part of the committee thats overseeing these things. Are you trying to say that Im dumb? Are you mocking me here, Pete? Im saying that you shouldnt trivialize that knowledge. I said I made an error. No, no, no, no. You, Pete you, Pete Hello, hello, hello, hello. Thank you. The best-known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses what did I miss here? Well, you missed that I work in Washington, house 1 Thats the first problem. live in Burlington, house 2 Thats good. and like thousands of other Vermonters, I do have a summer camp. Forgive me for that. Where is your home? Which tax, which tax haven do you have your home? New York New York City, thank you very much. We shouldnt have to choose between one candidate who wants to burn this party down and another candidate who wants to buy this party out. If speaking to the needs and the pain of a long-neglected working class is polarizing, I think you got the wrong word. Ive apologized, Ive asked for forgiveness, but the bottom line is We stopped too many people, and weve got to make sure that we do something about criminal justice in this country. I make a lot of money. Theyll be out in a few weeks. And thats just as fast as I can do it. He has gotten some number of women dozens? who knows to sign nondisclosure agreements both for sexual harassment and for gender discrimination in the workplace. We have a very few nondisclosure agreements How many is that? Let me finish How many is that? None of them accuse me of doing anything other than, maybe they didnt like a joke I told, and let me just, let me I just want to be clear: Some is how many? And, and when you and when you say they signed them, and they wanted them, if they wish now to speak out and tell their side of the story about what it is they allege, thats now OK with you? Youre releasing them on television tonight? Senator, no. Is that right? Within five to seven years, India is set to become the third busiest aviation market in the world, capable of sustaining at least 1.5 billion trips out of eight billion trips globally but this planned increase could potentially wreck the countrys commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. At a conference on the future of aviation and aerospace organised by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and Toulouse Business School, France, here on Saturday, aviation industry experts called on the government to institute reforms to help the industry fulfil its potential. Among the recommendations were to upskill aviation workers and attract better talent, while carrying out structural reforms in the sector. I have every confidence that Indian aviation can take on the Americans and Chinese within two decades. Our aviation is in a great place right now. It is time to make business and money, said Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. At least one aviation insider, however, pointed out that rampant growth could defeat Indias other commitments to sustainability. Manish Raniga, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of South African Airways, said that with a single long-haul flight consuming a persons annual carbon credit, and with Indias lack of a sustainability policy for air travel, airliner proliferation may not be the panacea that the government believes it will be. Is there infrastructure to support an expansion of 300 airliners? In other countries, governments and airlines seek to reduce their carbon print by employing more efficient models of aircraft with quieter engines and less fuel burn, by utilising biofuels and other zero-footprint technologies and by gaining carbon credits such as planting trees. In the Indian context, these measures are totally missing, Raniga said. He added that Indian airlines may be too aggressive in chasing economic shares to the point of neglecting sustainability. Dubey admitted that the lack of policy on environmental sustainability and growth was hurting the sector. There is a crying need to formulate it. Everyone focuses on numbers but a lack of attention to the environment can delay projects and incur losses for the service provider, he said. Growth not the answer When Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, BIAL, questioned why so many Indian airlines were struggling and why every five years, an airline collapsed, Dubey admitted that perhaps growth was not the answer. It is better to have flatline growth and profitability rather than a 20% growth and frequent collapses, he said. Always look on the bright side of death, Eric Idle once sang. But the loss of Terry Jones, the second member of the Monty Python comedy group to cease to be, is still a bit raw. It was a terrible shock, you know, Idle says, at the other end of a phone call to LA. Jones passing in January came after a slow departure due to dementia, in contrast to the sudden 1989 loss of the first Python to join the bleedin choir invisibule, Graham Chapman, who died aged 48 to an aggressive cancer. But still, in the end, it hit hard. The signing of the MoU aims to prepare for the operation of the HCM City Urban Railway Line No.1 and Ben Thanh Suoi Tien metro line. The sides concerned are the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company Limited No.1, and the Tokyo Metro. Accordingly, the Japanese company will share thier experience in urban railway management, technical cooperation, construction consultancy, and personnel exchange. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong expressed his thanks for the support from the Japanese Government and people, saying that the aid will pave the way for Japanese companies to mobilise capital and utilise technology to implement projects in Ho Chi Minh City. For his part, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda thanked Ho Chi Minh City authorities for supporting Japanese firms in implementing the construction of the metro Line 1 and hoped for more attention from them to complete the project as scheduled. On this occasion, Japan also pledged a non-refundable aid package for Ho Chi Minh City to upgrade its outdated sewer system. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 05:23:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 10,000 civilians in Afghanistan were killed or injured last year, UN News reported Saturday, citing a United Nations report that details record-high levels of civilian harm in the ongoing conflict. "Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), was cited as saying. The report, titled "Afghanistan Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict: 2019," documents 3,403 civilians killed and 6,989 injured, with most of the civilian casualties inflicted by anti-government elements. It is the sixth year in a row that the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan has exceeded 10,000. The report also said civilian casualty figures for 2019 surpassed a grim milestone. After more than a decade of systematically documenting the impact of the war on civilians, the UN found that in 2019 the number of civilian casualties had surpassed 100,000. "It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue; civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are underway," Yamamoto said. The figures outlined in the report, released jointly by the UNAMA and the UN Human Rights Office, represent a 5 percent decrease over the previous year, mainly due to a drop in civilian casualties caused by the terrorist group ISIL. However, civilian casualties caused by the other parties rose, including a 21 percent increase by the Taliban and an 18 percent surge by the international military forces, mainly due to an increase in improvised explosive device attacks and airstrikes. "All parties to the conflict must comply with the key principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian casualties," Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was cited as saying. To ensure accountability, the report calls on all conflict parties to conduct prompt, effective and transparent investigations into all allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. "Belligerents must take the necessary measures to prevent women, men, boys and girls from being killed by bombs, shells, rockets and improvised mines; to do otherwise is unacceptable," said the high commissioner. Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE:NBHC) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. You will need to purchase shares before the 27th of February to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 13th of March. National Bank Holdings's next dividend payment will be US$0.20 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$0.80 per share. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that National Bank Holdings has a trailing yield of 2.3% on the current share price of $34.32. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether National Bank Holdings's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to investigate whether National Bank Holdings can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. View our latest analysis for National Bank Holdings Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. National Bank Holdings paid out a comfortable 30% of its profit last year. National Bank Holdings paid a dividend despite reporting negative free cash flow over the last twelve months. This may be due to heavy investment in the business, but this is still suboptimal from a dividend sustainability perspective. When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:NBHC Historical Dividend Yield, February 22nd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. That's why it's comforting to see National Bank Holdings's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 64% per annum for the past five years. Story continues Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. National Bank Holdings has delivered 22% dividend growth per year on average over the past seven years. It's great to see earnings per share growing rapidly over several years, and dividends per share growing right along with it. Final Takeaway Is National Bank Holdings worth buying for its dividend? When companies are growing rapidly and retaining a majority of the profits within the business, it's usually a sign that reinvesting earnings creates more value than paying dividends to shareholders. Perhaps even more importantly - this can sometimes signal management is focused on the long term future of the business. We think this is a pretty attractive combination, and would be interested in investigating National Bank Holdings more closely. Ever wonder what the future holds for National Bank Holdings? See what the five analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. 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. From the wilds of the Australian jungle before Christmas, a whirlwind few months for Andrew Maxwell continues with his Irish Tour this spring. The Dubliner - who appeared in ITV's I'm a CelebrityGet Me out of Here before Christmas - takes to the stage at Andersons as part of his Reality tour on Saturday, February 22nd, having played the first of 16 gigs over the next month last Thursday. His visit will be his first time in the north west for two years, and he says it's a place he always looks forward to returning to. "It'll be my first time in Sligo for two years, so I'm really looking forward to it," Maxwell told the Sligo Champion. "I've been there loads of times and love getting over to the west coast - maybe other counties get more of the limelight but Sligo has a real quirky vibe to it." The well-travelled comic has become an established name to audiences around the world, having entertained in all corners of the globe. Many Irish people will remember his appearances on RTE's The Panel, while he has also become a household name in the UK through his many media appearances on prominent BBC shows such as Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You. However, the most recent departure for Maxwell was a stint in the jungle on I'm a Celebrity, and he says the unique experience provided an opportunity for reflection. "It changed my perspective on life," he says, having spent 16 nights there in total. "It's a really amazing experience. Before you go into the actual jungle, you're in lockdown in a hotel where your phone and all that is taken away, the means by which you live is taken away. You don't even know the time of day. "In there, there's a lot of time to contemplate. But you're not missing your phone. There's no sugar or sweets, maybe a tiny bit of fruit. For the first three or four days, everybody is shaking almost. Like, there are two killer animals in the jungle with you - deadly snakes and the funnel-web spiders - you don't want to get bitten by either of them! "But you do become at one with the jungle. The only way to tell the time is by listening to the jungle, because it changes as the day goes on. You've so much time on your hands - even on days with a trial, they only take an hour or an hour and a half - I was there for 16 nights and for 4 or 5 days I did absolutely nothing. Obviously, you're interacting with your campmates but like one day I spent four or five hours watching birdies twitter to each other. Of course at certain times your mind turns to your loved ones." The attraction of touring his home country is one that always appeals to Maxwell, who still spends a lot of time this side of the Irish Sea despite being UK-based for over 20 years. "I live in the UK, near London. I moved to England in my early 20s with a load of other Irish comedians to do the circuit over here, because it was quite a small circuit in Ireland. "But I'm still at home a lot of the time. I still mix with all the lads I grew up with, my Mum and Dad are still here and I work a lot here as well. "The thing about Irish audiences is they are laughing all the time, even between jokes. It's almost like they've decided before they arrived that you're funny - that they say 'I'm going to a gig, and I'm going to laugh'. "It's always a pleasure coming back to Ireland and I love the chance to get to go to the west coast and Sligo, so I'm delighted." Andrew Maxwell's Reality Tour comes to Andersons in Sligo on Saturday, February 22nd. Tickets are currently available on www.ticketmaster.ie. DIKE Two state legislators kicked off a day full of public town hall meetings around their Northeast Iowa districts Friday after an exhausting funnel week at the Iowa Capitol. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, who represents Grundy County as well as parts of Butler and Hardin counties in House District 50, and state Sen. Annette Sweeney, who represents Grundy, Hardin and parts of Butler and Story counties in Senate District 25, sat down with a half-dozen constituents at 8 a.m. Friday at the Dike City Hall council chambers. Its not the first Friday Grassley and Sweeney who once ran against each other for Grassleys Senate seat have held joint town hall forums together. Annette and I try to pick Fridays that work in our schedule, Grassley said. This was a squeeze-in, Sweeney said. We like doing these together, Grassley added. Its better for folks to only have to come to one. The pair took a few questions on bills that had come up during the Iowa Legislature, with Grassleys caveat that he wasnt privy yet to all the bills that made it out. This week was funnel week, Grassley said, adding that meant bills had to have won support of a House or Senate committee by Friday to stay alive this session. If we did not start weeding out the bills, wed be there until the end of time. The duo was asked questions about rebuilding Iowas roads and bridges, the statute of limitations on child sex abuse and addressing mental health issues. On mental health, Sweeney noted she was chair of the Senates human resources committee and, though she didnt like to raise taxes, she believed adding a penny to the sales tax would help the new Iowa Dept. of Human Services director, Kelly Kennedy Garcia, do her job. She is ready to attack these issues it has been pushed to the side, and she understands, Sweeney said. For this to really take off, that penny needs to happen. Another questioner asked about mental health issues in schools. Grassley noted a social worker was being shared for the first time among area school districts, and Sweeney added she recently helped to pass a bill on mental telehealth in schools. Hopefully, weve created a model to help on the front lines. Our school counselors are not necessarily equipped to fix it, Grassley said. Both also touched on the state supplemental aid funding for K-12 schools, noting they still had some work to merge the Senates 2.1% growth and the Houses 2.5%. Both are below Gov. Kim Reynolds proposal. There are differences, but were looking at what the total package is, Grassley said. We want to get it done close to when school districts set their budgets in March. If superintendents want to start budgeting, Id take the lower amount well probably end up in the middle, Sweeney advised. Democrats had been pushing for 3% growth, but Grassley and Sweeney defended their lower amounts. I will tell you, we would have heard loud and clear from school boards if it was a horrible amount, Grassley said. As far as people being upset about it, it was very minimal. The pair held four other town halls Friday in Reinbeck, Grundy Center, Conrad and Wellsburg, and will hold four more town halls next Friday, Feb. 28. Theyll be at Aplington City Hall, 409 10th St., at 8 a.m.; Parkersburg City Hall, 608 IA Highway 57, at 9:15 a.m.; the New Hartford City Library, 406 Packwaukee St., at 11 a.m.; and the Shell Rock Library, 104 S. Cherry St., at 12:30 p.m. Grassley, the grandson of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, is a Republican who was first elected in 2006 to House District 17 and served for three terms before defeating Sweeney in 2012 for the redrawn House District 50. He was elected Speaker of the House this year. Sweeney is a Republican who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2008 and served until 2013, when she unsuccessfully ran for Iowa House in the redrawn district and lost to Pat Grassley. She won a special-election seat in the Iowa Senate in 2018 to replace Bill Dix, who resigned. Photos: Pat Grassley becomes Speaker of the House, Jan. 13, 2020: Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Oncologist Cameron McLaren witnessed 13 people end their lives under Victoria's voluntary assisted dying laws says patients never flinch when taking their final drink A doctor who has witnessed 13 people end their lives under Victoria's voluntary assisted dying laws says patients never flinch when taking their final drink. The state's Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board confirmed there were 52 deaths under the scheme between June and December last year, in a report released on Wednesday. Nine of those died using medication administered by a practitioner, while 43 administered medication themselves. Medication has been dispensed for 66 people. Oncologist Cameron McLaren said all patients he observed were so confident in their decision they were not fazed by taking the cocktail of drugs. 'The atmosphere has been very peaceful. It's been a real moment of closure for the families to say goodbye,' he told The Weekend Australian. The state's Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board confirmed there were 52 deaths under the scheme between June and December last year in a report released on Wednesday (stock image) 'I'm still surprised by how I've never seen a person flinch about picking up or taking the drink. They are so committed to it.' Dr McLaren administered fatal drugs through intravenous injection on three occasions. He was also in the room an additional 10 times when a person drank a dose of Pentobarbital to end their life. Dr McLaren, who has always been a supporter of an individual's choice to voluntary assisted dying, said he doesn't like to see people suffering. 'I grew up with animals and we always did the humane thing for them, but we didn't do it for humans,' he explained. Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says there has been 'strong demand' to access the scheme, even with its strict eligibility criteria. Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board chair and former Supreme Court justice Betty King said some family members of those who chose to die have not agreed with their decision, but supported them nonetheless. Despite the trauma of watching their loved one die, they largely had positive reflections on the experience. 'The feedback has been predominantly about how peaceful it was,' Ms King told reporters. Ms King said she had seen no evidence of children or others pressuring their loved one to access the scheme, an issue that concerned some parliamentarians when the legislation was debated in 2017. 'I have not seen - and I have been looking, believe me, I have seen no indication of any type of coercion,' Ms King said. How euthanasia was legalised in Australia: Voluntary euthanasia became legal in Australia for the first time in more than two decades last year. Terminally ill Victorians who meet 68 criteria are be able to ask their doctor for access to a lethal concoction of drug. An independent review board and the coroner will keep track and monitor all deaths under the scheme. In December 2019, Western Australia voted to legalise voluntary assisted dying. The scheme expected to be implemented in 18 months. Advertisement But the board's report states they are worried about the impact of a 2005 federal law which makes it a crime, punishable by a fine, for people to incite or counsel someone into suicide using a carriage service. The law prevents doctors from consulting with people seeking voluntary dying through standard telehealth channels, the board's report says. Terminally ill adults need two medical professionals to sign off on their application, and the Victorian government may help pay for doctors or applicants to travel for face-to-face meetings. But Ms Mikakos says the federal government needs to consider the unintended consequences their legislation could potentially have, particularly now that WA has passed its own assisted dying laws. 'It is time now for them to reconsider their legislation, and we certainly hope that they'll take this issue very seriously,' she said. A total of 136 people began assessment for the scheme, but not all were able to proceed. There were 19 permit applications withdrawn, in some cases because people had died by other means or due to an administrative error. A total of 70 people were approved for a permit to die by self-administering medication, while 11 were approved to have the medication administered by a practitioner. Lifeline - 13 11 14 beyondblue - 1300 22 4636 Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who played a key role in the House of Representatives hearings on the impeachment of President Donald Trump last November, has signed a deal to write a book about her career. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt told the AP news agency on February 21 that it had struck a deal with Yovanovitch to publish her planned memoir. The book, currently untitled, will focus on her long diplomatic career, in which she served in places such as Kyiv and Mogadishu, Somalia. It is expected to be published in early 2021. Yovanovitch was abruptly recalled from Kyiv in May 2019 following an intense campaign to oust her that was coordinated by Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. After her recall following a 33-year career in the foreign service, Yovanovitch retired from the State Department in January. In November 2018, Yovanovitch testified before the House impeachment inquiry into Trump's actions with Ukraine, accusing Giuliani of organizing an "irregular channel" of diplomacy in Ukraine that was aimed, in part, at promoting Trump's domestic political interests. "Shady interests the world over have learned how little it takes to remove an American ambassador who does not give them what they want," the 61-year-old Yovanovitch told the inquiry. Trump denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted in a historic Senate impeachment trial. Yovanovitch was appointed U.S. ambassador to Kyiv in 2016 by President Barack Obama. Based on reporting by AP LONDONJulian Assanges extradition hearing is due to begin at a London court on Monday. The Australian WikiLeaks founder faces 18 charges in the U.S. relating to computer hacking and espionage. If found guilty in the United States, he could face 175 years behind bars. Assange came under scrutiny in 2010 after hundreds of thousands of classified American documents were published on the WikiLeaks website. He is charged with offenses relating to one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States, in the words of the U.S. Department of Justice. UK police arrested Assange in April 2019 at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had claimed political asylum for seven years. Julian Assange Timeline How did Assange end up where he is now? Heres a look back at some key dates. In 2010, the year that WikiLeaks published the classified documents, Swedish prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Assange over allegations of serious sexual assault, which he denied. The UKs Supreme Court granted his extradition to Sweden in 2012. But Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and avoided Swedish extradition. In 2015, Swedish prosecutors dropped the molestation investigation, and in 2017, they dropped the rape allegation. In April 2019, UK police dragged Assange out of the embassy, after Ecuador withdrew his asylum status. He was jailed in London for skipping bail. In May 2019, the U.S. filed 17 new charges against Assange and submitted a formal extradition request a month later. Later that year, Sweden reopened its investigation, but it was later dropped. Health Concerns Assanges supporters have expressed concern for his health. WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said that Assange is in better condition out of isolation, after pressure from his legal team, the public, and inmates. I saw him about 10 days ago. He has improved, he said in a press conference in London. Two Australian politicians flew to the UK this week to visit Assange in prison. You can love him or hate him, but if hes a ratbag, hes our ratbag, and he should be brought home, said George Christensen, a Liberal-National politician for the ruling party in Australia. Assanges lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, said that arguments expected to be heard in court include the political nature of the charges, issues around free speech, and the terms of the U.S.UK treaty. The first week of legal arguments is due to begin on Monday. The case is set to pick up again in May for another three weeks. The losing side is likely to appeal. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/21/2020 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. host Chris Harrison is defending Peter Weber 's controversial decision to keep Victoria Fuller in the running for his heart despite being warned she's allegedly broken up relationships.Chris said it's not that surprising Peter has stayed in his "volatile" relationship with Victoria during an interview with Us Weekly."It's one of those relationships, I see it often on the show, and you see it in life, where there's passion, there's chemistry, but it's so volatile," Chris explained to Us on Wednesday."And from the outside looking in, you think, 'What do you do? What are you doing?' It's so clear."Chris suggested Peter probably wasn't aware of how unhealthy his romance with Victoria truly was while they were dating on the show."It's what makes the show so relatable. When you're in those relationships. It's really a lot easier said than done to just walk away," Chris insisted."If you've ever been in those relationships, the magnetic draw -- and I've been in it! I've been in a relationship exactly like it as well, and I stayed and I went back and I stayed, went back and I made those same mistakes."Peter has struggled in his relationship with Victoria ever since he realized he was smitten with her.Victoria told star in previous episodes the competitive process was especially difficult for her because she's shy and never tends to be the most outgoing girl in a room.Victoria has also had trouble expressing her emotions and feelings to Peter, claiming she's afraid to fall and get hurt. Because of those fears, she has also threatened to quit the show and give up on the pilot."So you have to, you have to give Peter a little bit of a wide berth. You know, this is the craziest thing. We've all -- we all do stuff like this," Chris added.But drama came to a head during Victoria's hometown date in Virginia Beach, when one of Peter's ex-girlfriends from years ago, Merissa Pence, showed up to warn him that Victoria's character is questionable and she's allegedly responsible for breaking up relationships.During Monday night's episode, Peter and Victoria fought about Merissa's allegations outside of the home in which Peter was going to meet the bachelorette's entire family.Things quickly spun out of control and so Peter left Victoria standing outside, bawling her eyes out.The next day, however, Victoria paid Peter a visit to his hotel room and asked for a second chance because she allegedly really cared for and was falling in love with him.Despite red flags and the fact Peter and Victoria seem to fight on 's 24th season more than they get along, Peter gave her a rose and advanced her to Fantasy Suites along with Hannah Ann Sluss and Madison Prewett Peter has therefore received backlash from many fans for being indecisive and making poor choices."You know, one of the things I appreciate about that franchise and the fans is they are loyal, and they are sincere and serious and they are passionate, and their resolve and following the show... I do love that and I listened to it," Chris told the magazine."I do hear it all. And so I love and I respect all of their opinions, too."But Chris said "luckily, Peter has a thick skin" and he's able to brush insults and criticism off his shoulder."And it's getting thicker by the day," Chris noted. "I know he's taken a little bit of a beating, but he has a good support system. He has a great family, a lot of people that love him."Merissa recently elaborated on her allegations, telling Us that Victoria ruined four marriages because she had affairs with the husbands.Merissa called Victoria a "self-centered" woman who craves attention and thinks the world revolves around her.Merissa casually dated Peter for five months in 2012 and lives in the same Virginia Beach area as Victoria.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Gov. Noem lauds state economy, but big legislative fights are coming Noems speech flowed between business and economic development, lifestyle issues and social issues that were united by their conservative themes. Supreme Court Lifts Last Obstacle to Allow Enforcement of Public Charge Rule The Supreme Court has voted to allow the Trump administration to enforce its public charge immigration rule in Illinois after previously allowing the rule to be enforced in other parts of the country. The top court justices voted 5-4 on Feb. 21 to grant a stay on an injunction issued by a lower court in Illinois, allowing the Trump administration to enforce its public charge rule in the state while the appeal plays out in courts. This comes after the Supreme Court lifted nationwide injunctions issued by a New York District Court and upheld by the 2nd Circuit at the end of January. The January decision allowed the Trump administration to enforce its rule across the country, except for Illinois, due to a separate injunction ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois that applied to only that state. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor voted to deny the governments request to lift the Illinois injunction. The public charge rule, which was issued in 2019, provides clarification about what factors would be considered when determining whether someone is likely at any time in the future to become a public charge. A public charge refers to an individual who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence through assistance such as food stamps or Medicaid. The rule will consider a person a public charge if they receive at least one government benefit for more than 12 months in a three-year period. The Trump administration said the rule was implemented because it wanted to see people coming to this country who are self-sufficient. But opponents say the rule impedes immigrants and their families from accessing necessities such as health, food, and housing programs that supplement their wages and help them make ends meet. The rule was challenged by several states and immigration groups, leading to injunctions that prevented the rule from going into effect on Oct. 15, 2019. Two federal appeals courtsthe 4th Circuit and the 9th Circuitlifted similar injunctions in December 2019. But the 2nd Circuit had refused to set aside a pair of injunctions issued by a New York District Court, prompting the Trump administration to file an emergency request (pdf) to the top court earlier in January to lift those blocks. The Trump administration filed another request (pdf) to the top court on Feb. 13 to lift the remaining injunction affecting Illinois so that the rule, which is scheduled to go into effect next week, could be applied in all 50 states. As part of the decision, Justice Sotomayor wrote a dissent that was critical of the administration and her colleagues who granted the governments request. She said the government had failed to show an important element to warrant a grant of their request to lift the injunction as they were unable to show a likelihood of irreparable harm. The government is unable to articulate how many casesif anythis narrow injunction would affect in the meantime, Sotomayor wrote (pdf). In sum, the governments only claimed hardship is that it must enforce an existing interpretation of an immigration rule in one statejust as it has done for the past 20 yearswhile an updated version of the rule takes effect in the remaining 49. Sotomayor also reproved other members of the court, saying that the court is partly to blame for the breakdown in the appellate process. That is because the courtin this case, the New York cases, and many othershas been all too quick to grant the governments reflexiv[e] requests, she wrote, adding that the courts decision to grant the stays on injunctions comes at a cost. [Stay applications] upend the normal appellate process, putting a thumb on the scale in favor of the party that won a stay, she wrote. They demand extensive time and resources when the courts intervention may well be unnecessaryparticularly when, as here, a court of appeals is poised to decide the issue for itself. She contrasted the courts decision to grant the governments request to how the court treats death-row inmates who request a stay on execution. This court often permits executionswhere the risk of irreparable harm is the loss of lifeto proceed, justifying many of those decisions on purported failures to raise any potentially meritorious claims in a timely manner,' she said. The White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement on Feb. 22 that they were gratified by Fridays ruling. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security will be able to implement its regulation on Monday, Grisham said. This final rule will protect hardworking American taxpayers, safeguard welfare programs for truly needy Americans, reduce the Federal deficit, and re-establish the fundamental legal principle that newcomers to our society should be financially self-reliant and not dependent on the largess of United States taxpayers. In the courts January decision to lift the New York nationwide injunction against the same immigration rule, Justice Gorsuch raised concerns about nationwide injunctions in a concurring opinion, while granting the governments request to lift them in that case. He said nationwide injunctions raise serious questions about the scope of courts equitable powers under Article III of the Constitution and have caused judges to make rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions because this practice forces parties to rush from one preliminary injunction hearing instead of spending their time methodically developing arguments and evidence in cases limited to the parties at hand. The oral arguments for the Illinois appeals case in the 7th Circuit are scheduled for Feb. 26. Update: Article updated with White House statement on Feb. 22. Another dozen reactors must close by 2035 to meet the phase-down target. The plan also sees France closing its remaining coal plants, and moving to renewables like solar and wind to close the energy gap and help fight climate change. On Saturday, the country begins a gradual shutdown of its aging Fessenheim plant. The move fits into the government's broader energy strategy to reduce French dependence on nuclear energy from supplying three-quarters of its electricity to about half by 2035. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe says the plant's first reactor will be closed Saturday, and the second in June. France, the world's most nuclear energy-dependent nation, is taking its first steps to shift to more renewables to power up. For Charlotte Mijeon, spokesperson for anti-nuclear group Sortir du nucleaire, the Fessenheim shutdown is welcome news -- but not enough. "It's great that it's eventually closed; however, we fear that Fessenheim is something like the tree hiding the forest," she said. "The government is closing one nuclear power plant, but it should not make us forget that the rest of the nuclear fleet is aging." France has 58 nuclear power plants, thanks to an energy strategy dating back to the 1970s oil crisis. Supporters say nuclear energy is a clean way to fight climate change while also meeting national energy needs. But critics say the plants have received billions in subsidies and nuclear lobbies are powerful, making it harder for renewables to compete. And they say the remaining plants pose mounting safety concerns as they age. "Regarding the climate emergency, we have no time left," Mijeon said. "So we have to invest in green climate solutions, not in nuclear power, which is not only dirty, but also very expensive and slow." While the reactor shutdown is a first for France, other countries, including Switzerland, Sweden and the United States, have also shut plants for a mix of budgetary, safety and environmental reasons. Neighboring Germany aims to phase out of nuclear power completely by 2022. It has been pushing for years for the shutdown of Fessenheim, which is located near its border. Friday, February 21, 2020 at 2:08PM It's long overdue, but Microsoft is finally refreshing the icons on Windows 10. It should be coming to the core apps in the months ahead, starting with the Calendar and Mail apps. Those in the Release Preview for Windows Insiders can already see the new look for these two apps. According to Microsoft's design team, they aim to break away from the colourless, flat-looking icons to make ones that match the company's branding. At the same time, their goal is to make it easier for you to spot these programs. Source: Engadget Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The eighth General Assembly of the Coalition for the Development of Rice Cultivation in Africa (CARD) will be held from 3-5 June in the Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan, an official statement said on Saturday The indefinite "economic bandh" in the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur was called off on its second day on Saturday after an arrested NSCN(IM) militant was released by the chief judicial magistrate of CJM Senapati district. The NSCN(IM) cadre was released on Saturday morning, officials said. Student organisations and the locals were demanding his unconditional release. The "economic bandh" was called by All Naga Students Association Manipur(ANSAM), which also supported the "lightning strike" by the Senapati District Students Association. He was arrested Friday afternoon by Assam Rifles personnel from Senapati town. When the spread a mob of locals vandalised a truck of the para military force and blocked movement of all vehicles on the Mayangkhang-Senapati section of NH-2, the officials said. The AR personnel had captured the man during an operation to locate culprits who had on Thursday snatched the AK 47 rifle of an officer of the force in the district, they said. The weapon was returned on Thursday evening through civil bodies, the officials said. The confrontation between AR and NSCN-IM took place at a time when the two sides are engaged in peace talks and a ceasefire agreement is in progress in Nagaland but not in Manipur. The AR personnel had taken a "soft approach" to defuse the tension and restore normalcy, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bus rolled down an embankment off Interstate 15 in North San Diego County Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Three people were killed and 18 injured when a charter bus rolled off a Southern California highway Saturday, according to a county fire department. The bus was on southbound Interstate 15, south of Highway 76, North County Fire Protection District said in a tweet. The incident was reported around 10:30 a.m. local time about 45 miles north of San Diego. Some people trapped inside the bus were rescued and taken to the hospital, the department said. Three people died at the scene. The department shared an image of the crash site on Twitter, showing the bus upside down on the highway embankment. #FreewayIC patients have been extricated from the bus. All patients have been transported off scene. This incident is creating significant freeway delays. Please use an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/578DGZdlQZ North County Fire (@NorthCountyFire) February 22, 2020 North County Fire Protection District spokesman John Choi told the Associated Press that there were no seat belts on the bus. It was not immediately clear why the bus crashed. The crash caused a back-up for miles on southbound on I-15. Southbound traffic backed up after a bus rolled down an embankment off Interstate 15 in North San Diego County Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, killing several people and injuring others. Related: Charter Bus Carrying College Students Burst Into Flames Follow Grace Hauck on Twitter @grace_hauck. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Diego bus crash: 3 dead, 18 injured in charter rollover Bollywood writer, director, producer Tigmanshu Dhulia said India didnt need any ideology but only good governance at the livehindustan.com event-- Hindustan Shikhar Samagam-- at Lucknow during a panel discussion on the perspective of the young generation on the current affairs in the country on Saturday. We dont need any ideology, just good governance, tell me what is the ideology of Japan and Belgium, Tigmanshu said and added, We dont need the Left, we dont need the Right. Dhulia was full of praise for the youth and said they had regained his faith after having lost it in the past by leading the protests across the country. I have become optimistic, now, that I see that young people are raising their voice against the government, he said, and added that initially, he thought the current generation was good only for sipping coffee and having fun. Tigmanshu seemed to be referring to anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests spearheaded by university students in Delhi, UP and other parts of the country. Explaining his own struggles with the government, he said he had become reluctant to voice opinion against the government fearing he will not be paid for the work he had done for Rajya Sabha TV, a government-controlled national network. For the past two and a half years I have held back speaking against the government, however, I do speak out when I cant take it any further, he said. Elaborating further he said was not paid for the film, Rag Desh, he made for the network, which was based on Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and his followers in the Azaad Hind Fauz. I have been fighting (litigation) with the government for the 2.5 years. I had made something for the government but I was not paid, then the government changed, but I dont want to talk about it. Lets talk about something else, he said On further prodding, he said, It was a big amount and I had to pay several vendors (for) camera, lights, who would start protesting outside your office if not paid, so I had to take a loan to pay them off, he said and added that he has been paying an interest of Rs 2.15 lakh for more than the last two years, I have not been paid yet. When asked if he believes that the government blocked his dues because of his criticism, he said, I feel like that, maybe it was also to do with my work, my work had truth, he added. HEXO (NASDAQ:HEXO) was hit by an analyst downgrade on Friday. In a research note, investment bank Jefferies Financial Group shifted its recommendation on the stock to underperform from the previous hold. It also cut its price target on the shares nearly in half, from 1.90 Canadian dollars ($1.43) to CA$1 ($0.75). In the note, analyst Owen Bennett opines that sales forecasts for marijuana and cannabis products in Canada are too optimistic. He also feels that the profitability of Cannabis 2.0 products -- the derivatives that were sanctioned in the second wave of Canadian recreational-use legalization last year -- could be "nonexistent," at least during the early stages of their rollout. HEXO is particularly eager to capitalize on the Cannabis 2.0 market. The company is focused on the market for cannabis-infused beverages, due in no small part to a joint venture it operates with brewery giant Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP). The two are collaborating on a line of such drinks. Management has not formally responded to Jefferies' recommendation downgrade and price-target cut, but this is not the first time in recent months that it has lost favor with an analyst. In October, for example, Bank of America reversed its recommendation from buy to underperform, and cut its price target significantly from CA$9 ($6.79) to CA$4 ($3.02). Shares of HEXO, one of the more prominent marijuana companies on the New York Stock Exchange, closed 2% lower on Friday. Your browser does not support the audio element. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to send a delegation to Vietnam in March as it hails the Southeast Asian country's effective fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.S. said Thursday. The plan was discussed during a recent meeting between the embassy, the CDC, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the United States. The meeting was attended by HHS Asia and the Pacific Office of Global Affairs Director Erika Elvander and CDC Chief Medical Officer Mitch Wolfe on Wednesday. According to the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.S., the U.S. side gave positive assessments on Vietnam's medical capacity in general and in the prevention and control activities of COVID-19 in particular. The U.S. Department of Health said that Vietnams leaders from the central to local levels had paid attention to and given timely directions, taking comprehensive, drastic and thorough measures to deal with COVID-19, especially in raising awareness of the people and the community, the embassy said in an update in Vietnamese on its website. In addition, Vietnam has a good network of healthcare facilities and has been widely and thoroughly implementing its vaccination and disease prevention works for a long time. Therefore, the U.S. side believes that Vietnam will fight COVID-19 "effectively," the post reads. The HHS and CDC also highly appreciated the close and effective cooperation of Vietnam in regular information and experience sharing and disease prevention. At Wednesdays meeting, HHS and CDC said that scientists in the U.S. are actively researching on the new strain of the coronavirus to understand its nature and mechanism of action and to propose preventive measures and effective containment against the virus. The U.S. health officials also said that some laboratories in the States have developed vaccines that are expected to be tested in humans in the next two months and can be put in use in 6-12 months. Regarding the ASEAN-U.S. cooperation, the U.S. side hailed Vietnam, as the ASEAN Chair for 2020, for having responded promptly and had regional cooperation initiatives on COVID-19. The HHS is willing to talk with ASEAN through the ASEAN-U.S. dialogue relations and at international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote health cooperation activities, especially in preventing and containing COVID-19. Meanwhile, the CDC plans to send a delegation to Vietnam in March to discuss cooperation and the establishment of a regional CDC Office in Vietnam. At the same time, U.S. agencies, including the International Reagent Source Center (IRR), are willing to share with Vietnam the results of COVID-19 researches, exchange experts, and supply trial kits and personal protective equipment for Vietnam to improve the countrys capacity of disease prevention. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! At the ongoing Berlin International Film Festival (BIFF), Indian delegation met representatives from global film industry who expressed their interest in working with the country and participating in the 51st International Film Festival of India. The meeting organised on the second day of the film gala, was attended by Lior Sasson, head of operations (Israel Film Fund) and artistic director of Israeli pavilion, Ministry of Culture and Sports, state of Israel. Sasson said the country is looking forward to exploring opportunities for future collaboration with IFFI 2020. Proposal of showcasing India as a focus country at the Jerusalem International Film Festival (JIFF) was also discussed. Makhosazana Khanyile, chief executive officer, National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF) said she was willing to work with India on animation, gaming, VR/ AR sector and IFFI. The Indian Pavilion at Berlinale has been organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in association with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Over 40 Indian film companies are participating at Berlinale 2020. The Indian delegation also released the February 2020 edition of film business magazine Pickle. BIFF runs till March 1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was a mistake for Mike Bloomberg to mix it up with the other Democratic candidates for president in Las Vegas the other night, but in a strange way he might come out the winner in the long run. Early on, I warned Bloombergs people to keep him out of the Democratic debate debacles. The key to Bloombergs strategy has been to stay above the fray and blitz voters in the big Super Tuesday primary states with positive national media, with the idea of emerging as the most competent-looking candidate to take on President Trump. Engaging on a debate stage with a couple of far-left senators and an ex-mayor of an Indiana college town was never going to help him with that. But Bloombergs people didnt listen, and on Wednesday he got mauled. He couldnt have done worse if hed left during the commercial break and not come back. The former New York mayor appeared stunned at the assault, which he surely must have known was coming. It may be that there simply is no good answer to why he entered into legal deals to muzzle women who complained about his behavior and that of others in his financial empire. But he could at least have prepared a decent comeback when he was hammered for being rich and funding his own campaign. How about this? You all spend a great part of your time asking people to donate to your campaigns. I spend a great part of my time asking people if they need donations. There are those who say Bloomberg had to accept the invitation to debate or risk being branded a coward. Not true. He could simply have said that bending the rules to eliminate the need for candidates to show a certain number of small-dollar donors, just to accommodate him, was wrong. That it was unfair to the candidates of color who had been denied admission to earlier debates. Whatever the case, Bloomberg is tough enough and rich enough to dust himself off and keep going. Besides, its not like other candidates shined on the Vegas stage. They were so busy knifing each other that they forgot who the real enemy is: Donald Trump. He barely got a mention. Their failure still leaves the door wide open for Bloomberg to present himself as the competent alternative to the current occupant of the White House. Trump must have been having a ball watching his opponents carve each other up. And did you notice? He didnt tweet about it once. He knows that when your opponents are killing each other, its best to just shut up and watch. Gavins gamble: Historically, the governor has delivered the State of the State address around the second week in January as a prelude to a proposed state budget. So by my count, Gov. Gavin Newsoms second State of the State address was about a month late. Given that there was no huge disaster or emergency that called for the address to be postponed, one has to wonder whether this shows a certain ineptness on the part of Newsoms staff. Whatever the case, Newsom decided to make homelessness his biggest issue. He called it a disgrace, which just about everyone can agree with. Newsoms decision to very publicly declare war on homelessness may be well intentioned, but in terms of the politics, its a mistake. The key to good politics is solving problems you can solve. And as we have seen in San Francisco, government cannot solve homelessness. As a former mayor, Newsom should know this better than anyone. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The three underlying causes of homelessness are poverty, mental health problems and drugs. No governor or even president is going to wipe out poverty. For years the federal government waged a War on Poverty, and we lost. The laws that put the rights of mentally ill people to wander the streets ahead of their need for care have been a resounding failure as well. And now we have the scourge of addiction to opioids and meth. No one has an answer for this problem, let alone the money to implement one. There may be some pilot programs that show promise for a few, but nothing that will work for 151,000 homeless people in the state. As bold as Newsoms intentions may be, he has set himself up to be measured annually on the homeless count. And while he might bring the number of homeless people down, he will not get it to zero or anywhere close to it. At best hell get a mixed grade. RSVP: I just got an invitation to a City Hall event from a friend. It read, Attire: Black tie or wire optional. Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has said four banks under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework are making efforts and they are being monitored. Currently, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Central Bank of India, UCO Bank and United Bank of India are under this framework, which puts several restrictions on them, including on lending, management compensation and directors' fees. "We would like them to improve their performance and come out of PCA as quickly as possible. We are engaged with the banks. We are monitoring it. They are taking efforts. Banks are ... I do apologize for misleading everyone listening to our board meeting last month, Dorsey said at the start of the boards monthly Saturday hearing. I realize now that in attempting to explain the chronology of my actions, I left you with the impression that I had returned the contribution. I did not intend to mislead you, but by not clearly stating that I did not have the funds to repay the donation, my remarks had that effect. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 19:33:56|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A 25-year-old Japanese man was accused Friday of fatally stabbing his girlfriend at an Airbnb rental home in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States, local media said. The suspect, identified as Ryoichi Fuseya, stood for an arraignment hearing in Santa Clara County Superior Court in Southern Bay on one count of murder with a weapon enhancement for the killing of his girlfriend Yuiko Takaoka. Local KRON4 TV said the two lived in a shared Airbnb home in San Jose, where Takaoka's body was found earlier this week under blood-soaked sheets "with a bloody kitchen knife nearby." Court documents showed the 26-year-old victim was also a Japanese national, and if Fuseya is convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison for the killing. No motive for the murder has been revealed, and Fuseya is being held without bail before his next court appearance in March, KRON4 said. The homicide is the latest at an Airbnb home in the Bay area in recent months. Last year, five people were killed at a Halloween party at an Airbnb rental in Orinda city north of San Francisco. AHMEDABAD, India The roads are a hive of activity: women hoisting buckets of sand, work crews laying down fresh tar, an army of sweepers attacking debris and a new wall going up in front of a slum, apparently to hide it from passersby. President Trump is scheduled to land in the western city of Ahmedabad on Monday for his first presidential visit to India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has planned an epic spectacle. The city is being scrubbed clean, and thousands upon thousands of Modi loyalists have been drafted to stand for hours on the sun-baked streets, there to cheer for a president who loves nothing more than to draw a crowd. It is the second act of a budding friendship between the two men, leaders of the worlds most populous democracies. Last year, Trump and Modi shared a stage in Houston at a rally called Howdy, Modi! This one is called Namaste Trump, which translates roughly as Greetings, Trump. But beneath the projected bonhomie lies a pricklier reality. The United States and India are strategic partners, in no small part because of a mutual concern over China, but they still cant agree on crucial issues. Even a small trade deal that was supposed to be the centerpiece of this trip appears increasingly unlikely. Modi seems to have enticed Trump to fly 8,000 miles and spend two days in India by his promise to stage a huge, tightly controlled show, with Trump at its center. The president has repeatedly claimed that he has been guaranteed a crowd of 5 million to 7 million people lining the roads to greet him, and on Thursday he upped that to 10 million. Ahmedabad officials said it would be nowhere near that. For both leaders, its a welcome distraction. Trump is eager to change the subject after his impeachment trial, and Modi would love a reprieve from protests over a new anti-Muslim citizenship law that has ratcheted up tensions between Indias Hindu majority and Muslim minority. Modi has also been widely criticized for his crackdown on Kashmir, the predominantly Muslim territory caught up in a generations-long dispute between Pakistan and India. By coming such a distance to see Modi, the president will be essentially giving him a stamp of approval. There are more questions in the last six months about Indias commitment to democracy, said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, than weve really seen in the history of the U.S.-Indian relationship. But, he added, The good news for India is that the last person in the world likely to raise any of these issues is Donald Trump. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jeffrey Gettleman and Vindu Goel are New York Times writers. Feature film adaptation Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears held its Victorian premiere last night at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville before an audience all dressed in period costume. In attendance were stars Essie Davis, Nathan Page, author Kerry Greenwood and producers Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox. Previous screenings were held at Palm Springs USA and Hayden Orpheum in Sydney. Filmed on location in Melbourne, Australia, and in Morocco, Essie Davis returns in the eponymous lead role as the glamorous private detective, The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, whose exploits in 1920s Melbourne, Australia, lead her to murder, mystery and mayhem from London to British Palestine. Private investors and fans contributed more than $AUS1 million to the budget for Miss Fisher & The Crypt of Tears through an extraordinarily successful crowd funding campaign. The film is produced by Fiona Eagger, with Every Clouds Eagger and Cox also acting as executive producers. Lucy Maclaren is co-producer. It opens in cinemas on Thursday. The film opens with the Hon. Miss Phryne Fisher rescuing Shirin Abbas, a young Bedouin woman, who has been thrown into jail in British Mandated Palestine, for making trouble at a time of colonial unrest. After a perilous escape from Jerusalem, she rejoins Shirin as a fellow guest in the home of Lord and Lady Lofthouse, for the London season and she pledges to help her right a wrong and discover the truth about the Crypt of Tears an ancient crypt rumoured to lie somewhere beneath the rolling sands of the Negev Desert. Essie is joined by her co-stars from the series including Nathan Page as Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, Miriam Margolyes as Aunt Prudence and Ashleigh Cummings as her loyal companion Dorothy Dot Collins. The international cast includes Britains Rupert Penry-Jones (Vita & Virginia, Spooks, Black Sails), Egyptian star Kal Naga (Vikings, The Last Post) and, returning to Australia, Daniel Lapaine (Muriels Wedding, Upright, Zero Dark City). From a screenplay by Deb Cox, Miss Fisher & The Crypt of Tears is directed by Tony Tilse. who was the set-up director on the television series Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries. Tony has built a formidable international reputation for work such as Serangoon Road and Grace (HBO Asia), Wolf Creek, multiple episodes of Ash vs Evil Dead for producer Sam Raimi and Chosen for Playmaker / Chinas iQiyi. Photos: Instagram The Annual General Meeting of Dundalk Railway Heritage Society will be held on Wednesday February 26 at 2.30pm in Louth County Museum, Jocelyn Street,Dundalk. All members are invited to attend. After the business of the AGM is concluded, a film of railway interest will be shown. This will be followed by tea/coffee and chat. Non members welcome. Pancake morning A special coffee morning takes place in St Patrick's Parochial House to mark Shrove Tuesday on February 25. Pancakes will be served from 10am to 2pm and can also be purchased and taken home. All proceeds from the event will go towards the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation. IHF mobile unit to visit library The Mobile Health Unit from the Irish Heart Foundation will be in the car park of Dundalk Library, on Thursday February 20 from 10am until 4pm. The visit is part of the Healthy Ireland initiative. Tidy Towns thanks Louth Tidy Towns Together would like to thank all fifteen candidates in the general election for supporting their voluntary code of conduct to keep towns and villages poster free during the campaign, and for dealing with any minor breaches in a prompt and efficient manner. 'Fourteen towns and villages in the county participated in the initiative, and candidates were exceptionally co-operative with our local Tidy Towns groups' aesthetic and environmental objectives by not erecting posters within the 50km/h speed limits nor at landscaped approaches to these centres,' said a Louth Tidy Towns Together spokesperson. 'We want to wish all five successful candidates the best in representing the county in Dail Eireann and we look forward to working closely with them.' School extension Planning permission has been granted for the building of an extension to St Nicholas Primary School. The Board of Management have been given the go ahead by Louth County Council to construct an extension to the existing school at Nicholas Street to include a new entrance, three additional mainstream classrooms, a new dedicated special needs unit consisting of two safe base classrooms, central activities space, multi-sensory room, new school office, ancillary accommodation and all associated site development works, with new boundary treatments to the west and north and south of the site AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Government-backed Iranian hackers have targeted universities in Europe, the United States and Australia in recent months, consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers has found, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported on Friday. It is unclear whether the attempts to break into computer systems, including those of three Dutch universities, were successful. The hackers were attempting to steal academic literature and course material to use in Iranian schools, the NOS said, citing PricewaterhouseCoopers' cyber security specialist Gerwin Naber. Diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Iran have been strained since the Dutch accused Tehran of plotting two political killings in the country that triggered new European Union sanctions against Tehran last year. Tehran has denied involvement in the shooting of the Iranian dissidents in the Netherlands. (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Jan Harvey) Ministers are expected to abandon plans to allow people to change their gender by simply declaring amid concerns for the impact of children. A government source said ministers have concerns about the effect the proposals will have on children who are still developing their 'decision making capabilities' while being helped to transition. 'While we believe adults should be able to live their lives, and trans rights should be respected and protected, the government also has a role to play in protecting children,' a government source told The Times. Ministers have concerns about the effect the proposals will have on children who are still developing their 'decision making capabilities' while being helped to transition (file image) The government is set to respond to a public consultation on updating the Gender Recognition Act by the summer after it was launched by Theresa May in 2018. The former prime minister proposed to change the law allowing people to officially transition by making a declaration. Mrs May outlined her plans for a process that was 'more streamlined and demedicalised' and told how trans should not be treated as an illness. People have to currently wait two years for their new gender to be legally recognised after receiving medical diagnosis, a 140 fee and appearing before a specialist panel. Former prime minister Theresa May proposed to change the law allowing people to officially transition by making a declaration However some feminist groups have criticised the proposals to update the Gender Recognition Act amid concerns over trans people using single-sex spaces such as changing rooms. Former Minister for Women and Equalities Victoria Atkins said last month the government was looking over responses to the consultation and said she wanted to protect trans adults' rights while ensuring single-sex spaces for women. Penny Mordaunt who was previously a backbench MP but has since been made a minister in the Cabinet Office said there were 'some outdated barriers facing people wanting to change gender'. 'You can't grow healthcare and support capacity overnight, but I think all sides of the debate will be reassured when the consultation results are published,' she told The Independent. NHS rules allow children who are unhappy with their birth gender to start transition treatment before puberty and without their parents' support. Children as young as 12 can begin treatment such as hormone blockers after three therapeutic assessments and are encouraged to develop independence in decision making. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has been requested for the first time to create guidance about referring children to gender identity services. And NHS England is set to look into the use of puberty suppressant drugs and cross-sex hormones. Reputation on our integrity: Our reputation is based upon our actions past and present. We do not look good anymore in the worlds eyes. We just have the biggest stick to beat the others down with and that is changing Yes: If we go by past records of our stellar reputation, within just the last half century, we Americans just in Iraq, killed a million people (Even we Americans admit to a lessor huge number ~ What is face saving about shaving a few hundred thousand deaths off the numbers to feel good about?) with sanctions only in Iraq.this does not include actually walking in a shooting the people in the head and we did a fine job of that for many many years and we are still there and doing it https://rss.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2010.00437.x j.1740-9713.2010.00437.x This is just Iraq and we have many more countries we are able to present as victims of our American policy of love and democracy (Afghanistan is a prime example!) Using biological weapons against its greatest adversary is certainly a possibilityone I will not ignore, as many of you will do just that, with head in the sand http://www.siis.org.cn/UploadFiles/file/20200214/SIIS%20Report%20.pdf SIIS Report The US has been the most murderous country in the past several decades With that thought above: This new report (links SIIS Report above) by China is starting to look interesting May us Americans hope that our innocent government within the USA, did not do something as stupid as Biological Warfare against China! What with South Korea looking in the face of the Abyss as the virus is spreading there exponentially at this writing.it is starting to look like South Korea will be in Chinas leaking boat real soon I am not saying we did it or that we did not. I am just saying look at the US track record of human rights within other countries. Look at how many wars we have started. Look at how many countries we try to change the government in. Look at our dismal track record that reflects who we are and what we would do.what we would do and not bat an eye at how many die Would the USA intentionally? You know the answer, just like I do! Yes! WtR Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Friday announced a flood recovery proposal providing nearly $12 million in additional aid to hard-hit eastern Oregon communities. In early February a wide stretch of the Umatilla River overflowed its banks, upending communities for several days as floodwaters claimed areas in Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties. Residents fled in search of dry land as rapidly rising waters submerged homes and destroyed infrastructure. All told, the flood destroyed hundreds of homes, racked up an estimated $60 million in damages and resulted in one death. In Pendleton, which saw severe flooding, two mobile home parks were saturated with floodwaters that rendered homes uninhabitable and displaced several hundred residents. Floodwaters also consumed multiple businesses, including an RV manufacturing business that employed an estimated 300 people. A state of emergency was declared Feb. 7 providing Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa Counties with access to state emergency relief funds, but long term funds are needed to aid recovery. We are very grateful to get money, its going to help us solve an immediate need, said Pendleton Mayor John Turner. State relief funds will be key for providing aid in the short term while the damage assessments needed to access Federal Emergency Management Agency money are underway, but even after monies have been allocated the process is lengthy, said David Yost, a FEMA spokesman. The proposed state award package, which has bipartisan support, would provide $11. 65 million to fill gaps in federal relief aid and include money for an imminent housing crisis, business recovery, levee repairs and long-term rehousing efforts. Two weeks ago, hundreds of Oregonians' lives and livelihoods were completely upended, Brown said in a news release. As anyone who has faced enormous loss knows, the hardest time can be in the weeks and months after, when everyday life resumes for others, and youre still left to pick up the pieces. The governor also supports HB 4090, a bill that would assist Pendletons housing recovery efforts by expanding its urban growth boundary and allowing more options for new housing development. The Senate will likely vote on it next week. -- Piper McDaniel; amcdaniel@oregonian.com; 503-221-4307; @piperamcdaniel Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A haunting image has emerged of a French language teacher who was allegedly tied to a chair and later hit by a truck. Anthony Stott, 43, a teacher at prestigious private school St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane, was pictured on a chair with a blank expression on his face and with rope wrapped around his body, the Courier-Mail reported. The shocking image was tendered to the court on Monday and was allegedly sent by his abductors Lauren Clair Grainger, 39, and Mark Francis Frost, 46, hours before his death on the M1 at Cudgera Creek, south of Tweed Heads in New South Wales on February 10. A third person was arrested on Thursday in relation to Mr Stott's murder. Police are yet to find the chair and rope allegedly used to tie up Mr Stott, despite an extensive search of the property. Anthony Stott, 43, a teacher at prestigious private school St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane Police allege the 43-year-old had earlier been tied to a chair at a property on Kanes Road in Cudgera Creek. It is not known if he was freed or escaped before somehow making his way to the motorway. Grainger allegedly told police Mr Stott was released the next morning and 'casually' walked towards the M1. Witnesses said he raised his arms as he emerged from bushes by the side of the highway before he was hit. Mark Francis Frost, 46, (left) and Lauren Claire Grainger, 38, (right) have been charged with detaining with intent to obtain advantage Dashcam footage of the moments prior to Mr Stott arriving on their farm show his silver BMW stopped dead in its tracks on the left hand lane of the M1 Police opposed bail for Grainger, allegedly she had not been 'completely honest' with detectives and that knives similar to the one she claimed Mr Stott had were in the farmhouse' kitchen. Police on Thursday arrested a third person over Mr Stott's (pictured) alleged killing Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy denied her bail despite her brother putting up a large bond and offering a place to stay. He said he was concerned Grainger would interfere with the ongoing police search for the rope and chair - key pieces of evidence. Frost has not applied for bail and is still behind bars. Grainger and Frost have previously been charged with taking or detaining Mr Stott with the intent to obtain advantage. The duo remain before the courts. Police on Thursday arrested a third person over the incident. A 49-year-old man was charged with taking or detaining a person in company with the intent to obtain advantage occasioning actual bodily harm, NSW Police said in a statement on Friday. The man has been refused bail to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court on Friday. NSW Police say Mr Stott's BMW was found in the middle of the M1 at 2am on February 10 - a short distance from the Kanes Road home where he was allegedly tied up. He was struck by the truck about 7am. The University of St. Thomas will join a growing number of colleges that do not require prospective students to submit an ACT or SAT score. President Julie Sullivan announced the change during her state of the university address Thursday. "We are acknowledging overwhelming evidence showing standardized test scores do not tell the full story of a students potential," she said. "As such, we believe they should not stand between a students ability to attain that future." More than 1,000 U.S. colleges are test-optional, according to the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, which says the number is growing. Al Cotrone, vice president for enrollment at the St. Paul private school, said the trend caused St. Thomas officials to take a close look at the research. They concluded their admissions process likely misses quality students who, for whatever reason, didnt do well on a college admissions exam. ADVERTISEMENT "For a lot of students, that standardized test, whether its the ACT or SAT, is not necessarily the best reflection of how theyll perform in the classroom or after college," he said. A 2018 study of 28 colleges that made the change found the number of applications increased after going test-optional, especially from underrepresented groups such as African Americans and Latinos. And those who were accepted and enrolled without submitting a test score were at least as likely as their peers to graduate on time. St. Thomas says its concerned about "inherent bias" in college admissions tests and that scores are a better predictor of family income than success in college. Just 20% of enrolled Tommies are students of color a number that figures to increase as a result of the test-optional move. "If that happens, thatd be great but I wouldnt say that was a primary motivator," Cotrone said. The nonprofit ACT, Inc., has responded to criticism over the fairness of its test by offering free test preparation to anyone who wants it. Just over half of U.S. high school graduates last year had taken the ACT, down sharply from three years prior. More Applications The change at St. Thomas starts with the incoming class of 2021. Prospective students will decide for themselves whether to include an ACT score. ADVERTISEMENT For students who dont list their scores, admissions officers will rely more heavily on extracurricular activities, high school grades, essays and whether students took difficult classes. "We are really going to have to dig into a students application in great detail," Cotrone said. "I do worry about the increased resources its going to take to review these applications." St. Thomas admits about 80 percent of all applicants. The middle half of the 2016 freshman class had composite ACT scores between 24 and 29 on a 36-point scale fifth-highest among all Minnesota colleges and universities. Other Schools Augsburg University and Concordia University, St. Paul both made the change to test-optional in 2018. The University of Minnesota Crookston began a four-year trial for test-optional admissions last year, partly as a response to declining interest in the school. The Us Twin Cities campus, where the median ACT score has climbed past 28, still requires test scores despite some interest in going test-optional among members of the Board of Regents. Officials at the U have said the ACT remains a useful predictor of college success, especially as many high schools have stopped including class rank on students transcripts. Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday termed the Shaheen Bagh protest against CAA an an example of the struggle between rights and duties of the people. "They (protesters) understand their rights but not their duties. I do not think one can achieve their rights by abducting (blocking) a road," Naqvi said at Indian Student Parliament event held at Vigyan Bhawan here. "We will always be caught up in confusion if we do not understand our rights and duties," he said. The protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), primarily by local women, started in Shaheen Bagh in mid December, has led to blocking of a road connecting southeast Delhi areas to Noida causing daily hardships to commuters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The series represents a homecoming for Helms, who broke out as Andy Bernard on the hit NBC sitcom "The Office." He is also set to write, co-executive produce, and star in the comedy "Rutherford Falls" for the NBCUniversal streaming service Peacock. He also has several other TV projects in the works at various networks, including Netflix, FX, and Apple. County Wexford has lost the battle for the shooting of a key scene in Ridley Scott's latest movie, 'The Last Duel'. A bridge at Tintern Abbey was on a short-list of locations across Europe for the shoot, with actors Adam Driver and Matt Damon due to be filmed. Scott will be filming in Ireland next month, but Co Meath - and not the Model County - is his preferred location, specifically around Bective Abbey. The bridge will be used in the upcoming movie during the last week of March, with the road over the bridge being closed at that time. Bective Abbey, which is right across the road from Bective Bridge, was used in 1995's 'Braveheart', where it doubled as the Tower of London where William Wallace - played by Mel Gibson - was hung, drawn and quartered. Based on Eric Jager's book of the same name, 'The Last Duel' tells the story of the last trial by combat in medieval France, where a Norman knight and a squire intended to fight to the death over the alleged rape of the knight's wife by the squire. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener adapted Jager's book with Scott set to direct the movie next month. MDb lists Adam Driver as Jacques LeGris, the Norman knight, while Matt Damon will be playing Jean de Carrouges, the squire, with 'Killing Eve' star Jodie Comer set to play the wife Marguerite. Scott arrived at Tintern Abbey in November by helicopter, landing in a field beside the abbey which had been strimmed to ensure a smooth landing. The Gladiator and Alien films director was looking for a bridge upon which to shoot a major scene for his film which is being produced by Fox. The film is scheduled for limited release to American audiences on December 25, 2020, and looks set to open globally on January 8, 2021. Scott previously visited Tintern Abbey's battlemented bridge in early October. The OPW have been liaising with Pearl Street Productions and Scott Free Productions on the shoot. The scene Scott has in mind is a horseman crossing a wet, muddy old bridge facinf conflict. There has been disappointment locally as any the arrival of Hollywood stars of the calibre of Driver, Damon and Driver would have generated enormous interest in south Wexford, the likes of which hasn't been seen since Tom Hanks and the cast of Saving Private Ryan arrived with Steven Spielberg in the mid-90s. RTHK: Italy's second virus death sparks fears, lockdowns Two deaths from the new coronavirus have sparked fears throughout northern Italy, as towns shuttered shops and schools to try to halt a rise in new infections. Italy on Friday became the first country in Europe to report the death of one of its own nationals from the virus, triggering a lockdown in about a dozen towns. A 77-year-old woman died on Saturday near the small town of Codogno in Lombardy in the north, a day after a 78-year-old retired bricklayer succumbed to the virus in the neighbouring region of Veneto. In Lombardy, health officials confirmed 39 cases of the virus that first emerged in China, with another 12 in Veneto. "The contagiousness of this virus is very strong and pretty virulent," Lombardy's health chief Giulio Gallera told a press conference on Saturday. But he cautioned: "Today it's not a pandemic." He said health authorities had identified "patient number one", a 38-year-old man in intensive care in Codogno. All cases in the region are connected to him, Gallera said, whether medical workers, relatives or friends, he said. The man's wife has also tested positive for the virus. Italian media have reported that the man dined in January with a friend who had returned from China, but the friend has since tested negative for the virus. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who has called an emergency meeting with the health authorities, expressed his sympathies on Facebook for the deaths and said the government was considering "extraordinary measures" to fight the onslaught of new cases. More than 50,000 people from about a dozen towns in the two northern regions were asked to stay at home by the local authorities. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that a Russian official was detained by Spanish police during a working trip on Feb. 14 after her arrest was requested by the United States. The Russian woman, who is now in jail in Tenerife, works for a government organization overseen by a Russian agriculture watchdog and was a part of an official delegation, the ministry said. It added in a statement that her detention "could have been linked to a request from the United States". Spanish police declined to comment. (Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; additional reporting by Nathan Allen in Madrid; Editing by Alison Williams, Kirsten Donovan) WHO WILL ever forget that RTE News bar chart on the TV screen on Sunday, February 9? RTE News displayed a national summary, with 37 out of 160 seats filled. On the chart, Sinn Feins bar stretches up like a skyscraper, dwarfing every other party and grouping. It was jaw-dropping, so beyond all expectations. Mary Lou McDonald called their overwhelming result a revolution and said that obviously this election was all about change. She said that their platform is about solving the housing crisis, its about getting to grips with the crisis in our health service, its about giving families and workers a break, giving them breathing space so that ordinary people begin to experience this economic recovery that theyve heard so much about. And yes, people were and are angry about the housing crisis. Its very hard for people to stomach a housing and health services crisis when they keep hearing about a flourishing economy. The fact that people experience homelessness is a scandal. The fact that hard-working young people cannot save to buy a house due to soaring rents is a scandal. And the fact that record numbers of people wait on trolleys in hospitals and join hospital waiting lists is a scandal. So, people voted for change. We definitely need it its not coming a minute too soon. Whatever the final outcome in terms of Government, as a young person, this dramatic result for change is very welcome. For so long, Irish people have been frustrated by the business as usual approach of our main parties. Ireland has one of the most unequal distributions of market income in the EU. And, we are part of a worldwide system where the rich seem to be getting richer: Oxfams recent report, Time to Care, highlights how global inequality is out of control with the worlds 2,153 billionaires owning more wealth than the 4.6 billion people, who make up 60 percent of the planets population. But, as a climate activist, am I happy with the importance that the climate emergency was given by parties and voters during this election? Not really. We had to fight to convince RTE to host a debate on climate issues. In an Exit poll, people were asked Which one of these was most important to you in deciding how to vote today? and were presented with options: health, housing, homelessness, pension age, climate change, jobs, taxation, childcare, crime, Brexit, immigration and something else. For 6% of the voters only, climate change was the most important issue. Our election seemed to lose focus on the climate emergency, in the same way as happened in Australia last year. The bread and butter issues become more urgent in peoples minds. Thats fair enough if people are experiencing massive daily struggles, which they are. But, the climate emergency hasnt gone away. If anything, its getting more urgent. Last November, 11,000 scientists declared that greenhouse gas emissions are still rapidly rising, with increasingly damaging effects on the Earths climate, and that an immense increase of scale in endeavours to conserve our biosphere is needed to avoid untold suffering due to the climate crisis. Most of our political parties recognise the emergency, but not all of them are acting like it. The progressive parties see that creating a just social and economic system is part and parcel of climate action and ensuring a just transition that we cant separate out all these issues at all. One Future Ireland puts FF and FG at the bottom of the league in terms of their manifesto climate issues. Sinn Fein is one up from them, with the remaining (GP, PBP, Labour and SD) topping the league. I dearly hope that, once our government is formed, the climate and biodiversity emergency is placed back on the table. The direction for change is wonderful. However, the job of climate activists is far from finished. Veteran actor Raghuvir Yadav has hit headlines after his estranged wife Purnima Kharga filed a divorce at the Bandra Family Court after 32 years of marriage. Purnima, a former Kathak dancer, sought divorce from her husband alleging adultery and desertion, reported Mumbai Mirror. She has sought an interim maintenance of Rs 1 lakh and a final alimony of Rs 10 crore from Raghuvir. Raghuvirs wife has also made his partner and manager Roshni Archeja a party to the petition. Raghuvir and Purnima tied the knot in 1988 and they have a son, who is now 30-year-old. However, things did not turn out well and they decided to part ways in 1995. Purnima claimed that she supported Raghuvir when he was a struggling actor but, he left her for other women after he started getting fame and success. The petition filed through lawyers Ishika Tolani and Tuooba Khan states, The petitioner(Purnima) states that it is the Respondents (Raghuvir) aforesaid conduct and behavior, his act of cheating and living in an adulterous relationship which has created a marital discord and is therefore guilty of treating the petitioner (Purnima) cruelly. The petition further says that Raghuvir is entitled to a Decree of Divorce u/s 13(1)(i) and 13(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act. Raghuvir had himself filed divorce in 1996 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, but later withdrew it many years later. Currently, Raghuvir reportedly pays Rs 40,000 a month to his wife for maintenance, but Purnima says that payments are not made on time. Follow @News18Movies for more By Trend An appeal in connection with the 48th Yevlakh constituency was considered at the meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) following the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan on February 9, Trend reports. In accordance with the appeal, the offenses were committed in some polling stations during the voting. CEC Secretary Arif Mukhtarova said that violations were revealed only in one polling station. The legal grounds have arisen for canceling the voting results in the sixth polling station. Mukhtarova proposed to declare the election results of the abovementioned polling station invalid. The proposal was accepted by a majority of votes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High near 75F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. If a giant object looks like it's going to slam into Earth, humanity has a few options: Hammer it with a spacecraft hard enough to knock it off course, blast it with nuclear weapons, tug on it with a gravity tractor, or even slow it down using concentrated sunlight. We'll have to decide whether to visit it with a scout mission first, or launch a full-scale attack immediately. Those are a lot of decisions to make under existential duress, which is why a team of MIT researchers have come up with a guide, published February in the journal Acta Astronautica, to help future asteroid deflectors. In movies, an incoming asteroid is usually a very last-minute shock: a big, deadly rock hurtling right toward Earth like a bullet out of the darkness, with only weeks or days between its discovery and its projected impact. That is a real threat, according to an April 2019 presentation by NASA's Office of Planetary Defense that Live Science attended. But NASA believes that it's spotted most of the largest, deadliest objects that have even a small chance of striking Earth the so-called planet killers. (Of course, there are probably plenty of smaller rocks still large enough to kill whole cities that remain undiscovered.) Related: Top 10 ways to destroy Earth Because most of the large objects in Earth's neighborhood are already being closely watched, we'll likely have plenty of warning before one strikes Earth. Astronomers watch these space rocks as they get near Earth to see whether they're likely to cross through one of their "keyholes." Every Earth-threatening asteroid gets closer and further from Earth at different points in its orbit around the sun. And along that path, near Earth, it has keyholes. Those keyholes are regions of space that it has to pass through in order to end up on a collision course during its next approach to our planet.. "A keyhole is like a door once it's open, the asteroid will impact Earth soon after, with high probability," Sung Wook Paek, lead author of the study and a Samsung engineer who was an MIT graduate student when the paper was written, said in a statement. Related: This newly discovered asteroid is the second-closest natural object to the Sun The easiest time to stop an object from hitting Earth is before it hits one of those keyholes, according to the paper. That will keep the object from getting on the route toward an impact in the first place at which point saving Earth would require far more resources and energy, and involve much more risk. Paek and his co-authors tossed out most of the more exotic asteroid-deflection schemes out of hand, leaving only nuclear detonation and impactors as serious options. Nuclear detonation is problematic as well, they wrote, because it's uncertain exactly how an asteroid will behave after a nuclear explosion and because political concerns about nuclear weapons could cause problems for the mission. In the end, they landed on three options for missions that could reasonably be prepared on short notice if a planet-killer asteroid were spotted heading toward a keyhole: A "type 0" mission where a single, heavy spacecraft was fired at the incoming object, aimed using the best available information about the object's makeup and trajectory to knock it off course. A "type 1" mission where a scout is launched first and collects close-up data about the asteroid before the main impactor is launched, in order to better aim the shot for maximum effect. A "type 2" mission where one small impactor is launched at the same time as the scout to knock the object a bit off course. Then all the information from the scout and the first impact are used to fine-tune a second small impact that finishes the job. The problem with "type 0" missions, the researchers wrote, is that telescopes on Earth can only gather rough information about planet killers, which are still faraway, dim, relatively small objects. Without precise information on the object's mass, velocity, or physical makeup, the impactor mission will have to rely on some imprecise estimates, and has a higher risk of failing to properly knock the incoming object out of its keyhole. Type 1 missions are more likely to succeed, the researchers wrote, because they can determine the incoming rock's mass and velocity far more precisely. But they also take more time and resources. Type 2 missions are even better, but take yet more time and resources to get underway. Related: Crash! 10 biggest impact craters on Earth The researchers developed a method for calculating which mission is best based on two factors: the time between the mission start and the date the planet killer will reach its keyhole, and the difficulty involved in properly diverting the specific planet killer. Applying those calculations to two well-known planet-killer asteroids in Earth's general neighborhood, Apophis and Bennu, the researchers came up with a complex set of instructions for future asteroid deflectors in the event one of those objects started heading for a keyhole. Given enough time, they found, type 2 missions were almost always the right way to deflect Bennu. If time was short, though, a quick-and-dirty type 0 mission was the way to go. There were just a handful of instances where type 1 missions made sense. Apophis was a different, more complicated story. If time was short, a type 1 mission was usually the best option: collect data quickly in order to properly aim the impact. Given more time, type 2 missions were sometimes better, depending how difficult it appeared to be to deflect from its course. There were no situations where a type 0 mission made sense for Apophis. In both cases, if the time got too short, the researchers found no mission would be successful at diverting the rock. The differences between the rocks came down to the level of uncertainty about their masses and velocities, as well as how their internal materials would react to an impact. These same basic principles could be used to study other potential planet killers, and future studies could incorporate other options for deflecting the asteroids, including nuclear weapons, the researchers wrote. The more complex the list of options, the more difficult the calculation gets. Eventually, they wrote, it would be useful to train machine learning algorithms to make decisions based on the exact available data in any planet-killer scenario. Originally published on Live Science. As of today, the state has 39 isolation wards and 361 beds available. To increase surge capacity and for future preparedness, the state has set up isolation wards in all district hospitals and government medical colleges. (Photo: PTI) Mumbai: Till Friday, 44,517 passengers have undergone screening at the Mumbai International Airport for coronavirus. Field surveillance is also actively underway all across the state in search of people coming from coronavirus-affected areas, state health department officials said. Dr Pradeep Awate, Maharashtra state disease surveillance officer, said, From January 18 till date, 77 symptomatic travellers have been isolated in identified isolation facilities. Till Friday, all 77 samples sent by the state have been found negative as per the reports of the National Institute of Virology, Pune. At present four travellers are still in hospital; two each at Mumbai and Pune. To increase surge capacity and for future preparedness, the state has set up isolation wards in all district hospitals and government medical colleges. As of today, the state has 39 isolation wards and 361 beds available. As per guidelines from the MoHF, all passengers coming from Wuhan city of China are being isolated and tested for corona, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. Whereas follow-ups are being carried out for 14 days of travellers coming from other affected parts. Till date, out of 279 travellers, the 14-day follow-ups of 170 have been completed. Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane, travellers are also being monitored in Nanded, Buldhana, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and not seen before. Common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain are respiratory such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the WHO. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report on "Vietnam Cashew Standard Report Q4/2019" under Food category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and industry reports. VIETNAM CASHEW MARKET Cashew is grown mainly in India, Ivory Coast, Brazil and Vietnam. The raw cashew production volume continued to increase with a CARG of 3% during the crop 2009/2010 2018/2019. In the 2018/2019 crop , India was the worlds largest raw cashew producer, accounting for 22.32% of the world raw cashew production. Vietnam is currently the largest exporter of cashew nuts in the world with the export volume accounting for 55% of the global production in 2018. Despite being the worlds largest cashew exporter, Vietnam Cashew industry is still facing many challenges, the domestic production only meets about one-third of the demand of export processing enterprises. In the first 9 months of 2019, the processing enterprises exported about xx.xx thousand tons of cashew of all kinds, the export turnover reached xxx.x million USD. Vietnam cashew exports continued to hold the leading position in the world, accounting for 50% of the processed raw cashew volume and over 60% of the cashew nuts exported globally. Request a free sample copy of Vietnam Cashew Market Report @ https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/sample/reports/1994209 The prospect of Vietnams cashew industry still has many growth opportunities in the coming years due to the increasing demand for nuts and dried fruits to protect the health of consumers in the world. Many businesses are actively researching to bring to the market many traditional dishes and cakes that use raw materials as cashew kernels. In 2018, most businesses in the industry had positive growth in net revenue and the average net revenue growth rate of the whole industry reached 0.57% due to the remarkable growth of cashew exports in 2018, the record cashew processing production as well as the stability of the market and the rise of export prices. Abbreviations Report summary 1. Business Environment 1.1 Macroeconomic situation 1.2 Legal Framework 2. Global cashew industry 2.1 Production 2.2 Consumption 3. Vietnam market 3.1 Definition and Classification 3.2 Producing procedures and technology 3.3 Export Import 3.4 Price 4. Plan 5. Prospects 6. Enterprise Analysis List of Figures Figure 1: GDP growth by quarter, 2016 2019 Figure 2: GDP at current prices and per capita GDP, 2013-2018 Figure 3: Usable income and household expenditure, 2008 2017e Figure 4: Population structure by stratification (spending), 2013 2020f Figure 5: Export structure of major agricultural products of Vietnam, Q1 / 2019 Figure 6: Value and density of major agricultural exports, 2010 2019 Figure 7: VND / USD exchange rate, 1/2013 3/2019 Figure 8: Manufacturing index of processing and manufacturing industry, 2012 Q1 / 2019 Figure 9: World Cashew Planting Structure, 2016/2017 Figure 10: Planting area in the world, 2009/2010 2016/2017 Figure 11: World cashew growing areas Figure 12: World Raw Cashew Production Output, 2009/2010 2018/2019 Figure 13: World Raw Cashew Production Structure , 2018/2019 Figure 14: World cashew kernels Production Output, 2006/2007 2018/2019e Figure 15: Structure of Cashew Kernel Production 2018/2019 Figure 16: World cashew kernel production output, 2018/2019 Figure 17: World production value of dried nut, 2017/2018 Figure 18: Production of cashew nuts compared to other nuts, 2006/2007 2018/2019 Figure 19: Structure of cashew kernel consumption, 2017e Figure 20: World cashew kernel consumption output, 2011 2017e Figure 21: Average consumption per capita of largest cashew consumption countries, 2011 2017 Figure 22: Consumption of dried nuts, 2011 2017 Figure 23: Vietnam cashew export value and volume, 2013 Q1/2019 Figure 24: Structure of cashew export value by type, 2T/2019 Figure 25: Structure of cashew exporting market by volume, Q1/2019 Figure 26: Top cashew export enterprises, 2T/2019 Figure 27: Main means of transportation, 2018e Figure 28: Cashew import value and volume of Vietnam, 2013 Q1/2019 Figure 29: Structure of cashew import market by price, Q1/2019 Figure 30: Cashew price fluctuation in Binh Phuoc province, 9/2017-3/2019 Figure 31: Net revenue, 2017 2018 Figure 32: Profit target, 2017 2018 Figure 33: Credit-worthiness, 2017 2018 Figure 34: Fixed asset turnover, 2018 Figure 35: Days sales in inventory, 2018 Figure 36: Administrative Expenses/Net Revenue, 2017 2018 Figure 37: Selling expenses / Net revenue, 2017 2018 Figure 38: Interest expenses and interest expenses / net revenue, 2017 2018 Figure 39: Liquidity, 2017 2018 Figure 40: Profit margin, 2017 2018 List of Tables Table 1: Abbreviations used in cashew kernels level grade Table 2: Table of cashew kernels level grade Table 3: Classification of cashew kernel Table 4: Flowering and harvesting time of cashew trees Table 5: Top Exporting and Processing Enterprise of Vietnam, 2017 Browse our full report with Table of Content : https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/vietnam-cashew-standard-report-q4-2019/1994209 About Bharat Book Bureau: Bharat Book is Your One-Stop-Shop with an exhaustive coverage of 4,80,000 reports and insights that includes latest Market Study, Market Trends & Analysis, Forecasts Customized Intelligence, Newsletters and Online Databases. Overall a comprehensive coverage of major industries with a further segmentation of 100+ subsectors. Contact us at: Bharat Book Bureau Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: poonam@bharatbook.com Website: www.bharatbook.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook By Trend Azerbaijan pursues quite balanced foreign policy, in particular in Europe, Russian political analyst Georgy Bovt told Trend. Bovt was commenting on the state visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy. Bakus foreign policy is aimed at strengthening Azerbaijans position in Europe, the political analyst noted. This can bring certain dividends to Azerbaijan not only in the energy market, but also as part of cooperation with the EU in a number of areas, Bovt said. In addition, the EU confidence in Azerbaijan has increased significantly in recent years, the analyst added. Compared to the end of the 90s, when Azerbaijan was just starting to enter big European energy market, today it looks like an increasingly profitable partner that inspires great confidence, Bovt noted. If in the 90s there were quite a lot of skeptical forecasts and assessments about the energy projects that Azerbaijan implements, now we can say with confidence that almost all of them are successful and bring great benefits to Azerbaijan, as well as contribute to the diversification of the European energy market. The expert added that other countries of the region also benefit from energy projects being implemented by Azerbaijan. If we look what a leap in economic development Azerbaijan has recently made, it becomes obvious that this has a positive effect on the development of the entire region as well, Bovt said. For example, the flow of Azerbaijani tourists to Georgia suggests that Georgia also receives indirect dividends from Azerbaijans economic success. As for Armenia, as long as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved, Armenia will remain outside all the projects being implemented by Azerbaijan. On Feb. 19, President Ilham Aliyev paid a state visit to Italy, and on Feb. 20, the head of state held a number of official meetings in Rome. On the same day, after the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the Italian Council of Ministers Giuseppe Conte in an expanded format, a ceremony of Azerbaijani-Italian documents exchange was held. Azerbaijan and Italy signed 17 documents aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields. In particular, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the Italian Council of Ministers Giuseppe Conte signed the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Multidimensional Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 22:30:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close File photo taken on Dec. 26, 2018 shows Alaa Mubarak (2nd R) and his father, ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak (C), in a court in Cairo, Egypt. An Egyptian court acquitted on Saturday Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, the sons of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, in a corruption case, state-run Ahram Online news website reported. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court acquitted on Saturday Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, the sons of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, in a corruption case, state-run Ahram Online news website reported. According to Ahram Online, the Cairo Criminal Court acquitted Alaa and Gamal, and others, in the case known in the media as "manipulating the stock exchange." The defendants faced charges of violating the rules of Egypt's stock exchange market and the Central Bank of Egypt. They were also accused of making illegal profits through the Cyprus-based company in their control which acquired a majority of shares in several banks on their behalf to escape the monitor of the stock market. The prosecution said the defendants made illegal financial gains of over 493 million Egyptian pounds (about 31.7 million U.S. dollars) by allowing a Cyprus company to get a national bank's shares through hidden deals. In September 2018, a Cairo criminal court ordered the release on bail of the two sons of toppled president Mubarak, just five days after their arrest over charges in the same case. After Mubarak's ouster in early 2011, Gamal and Alaa were in custody for a number of alleged corruption crimes. Along with their father, they were sentenced in May 2015 to three years in jail for embezzling funds meant for maintaining presidential palaces. They have been free for the past four years since their sentences were covered by the years they had already served in provisional detention and they were released in the same year. In March 2017, Mubarak was acquitted of the charges of killing protesters during the 2011 uprising that led to his ouster. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 19:26:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan on Saturday reiterated the importance of reaching national comprehensive consensus involving all Sudanese to achieve peace and stability in the country, said the sovereign council in a statement. Al-Burhan met on Saturday in Juba, capital of South Sudan, with the government negotiating delegation and the experts supporting the peace talks of the Sudanese parties, according to the statement. "We, civilians and military representatives, are willing to reach a peace deal instituting for a consensus that removes all grievances of the past and cross the transitional period to safety as the objective of all of us is to build the homeland," said Al-Burhan. Al-Burhan arrived in South Sudan on Saturday for a one-day visit. Weekend's photographer for today couldn't be happier when she hears where she's going to be taking pictures. "I love that place," she says. "The cinnamon buns are amazing. They're the reason I go running." We're at Izz Cafe on Cork's George's Quay to meet husband-and-wife team Izzeddeen and Eman Alkarajeh, whose restaurant this is. The cafe serves Middle Eastern food, and alongside its mezze - hummus, proper tabbouleh (in which parsley, rather than bulgar, is the main ingredient), vine leaves and babaganoush - the specialty of the house is manaeesh, traditional Palestinian flatbreads topped with ingredients such as labneh and za'atar, minced lamb, halloumi, and spinach. There's even a Nutella version for those with a sweet tooth. Manaeesh are eaten across the Middle East with different versions served in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, but the musakhan, topped with slow-cooked chicken and sumac, is specific to Palestine and is the cafe's best-seller. It's past lunchtime, but there's still a steady stream of customers and the Deliveroo bikes are lined up outside. Customers are given complimentary Arabian coffee - green, unroasted, fragrant with ginger, cardamom and saffron - while they wait for their food. Expand Close Passion for food: Izz and Eman lkarajeh outside their cafe in Cork / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Passion for food: Izz and Eman lkarajeh outside their cafe in Cork These days it's tough for anyone without either a track record in the restaurant business or deep-pocketed backers to open a place of their own, so the couple's achievement is even more impressive when you know that the couple and their four children arrived in Ireland as asylum seekers less than four years ago. They did, however, have some help, in the form of Cork chef Darina Allen, who gave the couple some useful insights into how their Palestinian dishes might appeal to Irish diners. "I left Palestine in 1999 after I graduated from the university," explains Izz. "I had studied software development but in Palestine there are no IT companies, so there was no opportunity to work in that industry. He then moved to Saudi Arabia for a job, Izz explains, while his wife Eman, who comes from Jordan, works preparing the manaeesh in the kitchen. "I was introduced to Eman in Jordan - her grandparents came from Beit Jibrin, the same village in Palestine that my grandparents came from. "We decided to get married but we had a technical issue in that Jordan didn't offer me a status based on our marriage - nor did Palestine allow me to bring a spouse back to Palestine. So she came to live with me in Saudi Arabia, where she was not allowed to work, although she did have a small business making and decorating cakes." In 2005, the couple applied for a family reunification so that they could return to Palestine. "We waited for the Israelis to process our application for years." Expand Close Izzeddeen Alkarajeh and his wife Eman Abu Rabi of Izz Cafe, Cork City. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Izzeddeen Alkarajeh and his wife Eman Abu Rabi of Izz Cafe, Cork City. Fast-forward 11 years and, with Saudi Arabia facing into a reccession, Izz's employer told him that they would have to terminate his contract within five or six months. "At that time, I had been living in Saudi Arabia for 17 years - 15 of them with Eman - and we had had four children there. I panicked, because we had still found no solution to our status and my visa for Saudi Arabia depended on my being employed. "My priority was for us to stay unified as a family. I made an application for skilled immigration to Canada, but the application took longer to process than we could wait." Next, the family considered an asylum application and, with their children being educated through English at the time, it came down to the UK or Ireland. "I became convinced we were qualified for protection in Ireland so we applied for a tourist visa, which we were granted because we had enough funds to cover our stay." The family came to Ireland for a visit in September 2016. Initially, Izz, Eman and their four children - Jana (then 12, now 15), Lama (then 9, now 13), Jouri (then 6, now 10) and Omar (then 4, now 7) - stayed in an Airbnb in Dublin for a week while they decided whether Ireland was somewhere they felt that they could live. Then they applied for asylum. "The authorities explained that there was a system called Direct Provision that asylum seekers must join," Izz recalls. At first, the family was housed in the Balseskin temporary reception centre in North Dublin, where new asylum seekers are accommodated before being dispatched to Direct Provision centres around the country. "At first, the rooms we were given were very dirty," says Izz. "We were shocked. We considered returning to Saudi Arabia but when we thought of the options that we had there, with only a few months remaining on our visa and knowing that when that came to an end I would have had to take my kids with me to Palestine and Eman would have had to go to live in Jordan on her own, we decided to make the hard choice and stay in Ireland." As Balseskin is a temporary reception centre there was no schooling for the children, and at the time there were no cooking facilities there or in any Direct Provision centre. "That was really a big problem for us," says Izz. "My kids did not accept the food that they were being served there, although it was good quality. It was just not their food, the food that they were used to. We were afraid it would be the same situation in Cork but, fortunately, one week after our arrival at the Kinsale Road centre, they introduced the first kitchens for families." At the time, asylum seekers were not able to work while in Direct Provision, so Izz divided his time between minding the children with Eman and researching options for when their status was approved. "I was looking for jobs as a software developer but I also researched starting a food business. I knew it was a passion of Eman's and that she had good skills in that area and if we combined my skills and her skills, we would be able to do something good for the family." It was at this time same time that Izz and Eman started to make connections with people in the food world. "Our friend Sean O'Flynn [of the RTAI, the Retired Teachers Association of Ireland], who we met because he used to visit the centre, happened to be friends with Darina Allen and he arranged for us to meet her. She was so generous and helpful. "We decided to focus on manaeesh on the basis of the advice we got from Darina. Palestinian food has a lot of different dishes and we were considering most of them, but she thought that manaeesh would be very successful in Cork because it's so close to pizza and not so different to what people know already. In Palestine, manaeesh is a street food, and many restaurants would offer it as a second option to stews and barbecued meat." Darina then introduced Izz and Eman to Rupert Hugh-Jones, her son-in-law, who runs three farmers' markets in Cork City. "He gave us a free trial in the market in Douglas. We bought a small pizza oven that we could put in the car for about 600 and started selling manaeesh at the market. We were still in Direct Provision and prepared the food in the kitchen there. It turned out to be golden advice from Darina - that first day we sold out in a few hours. Soon we started doing the market in Douglas too." After a year in Direct Provision, Izz, Eman and their children were granted settled refugee status. They spent six months looking for a house and moved out of Kinsale Road in May 2018. With the farmers' markets going well, the search for premises for a cafe was the next challenge. "Every landlord would ask us for references or proof that we had previous businesses," says Izz. "It's like applying for a job, you can't get one without experience but how do you get experience if you can't get a job? They want proof that you will be a successful business before they give you the premises." Eventually, the space on George's Quay became available and Izz Cafe opened last May. "There's a lot of competition in Cork for the pizza market and there had been four different pizza businesses in the same premises. The fact that we were doing something different was good. We had gained in popularity in the farmers' markets, and we got a real boost when Darina cut the ribbon, and then again when Rachel Allen and her friends came in and posted about us on social media. Within a month we were really busy." Nine months on, and the novelty of running a restaurant that's open six days a week has yet to wear off. "We enjoy it so much, although it is much more frustrating than software development," says Izz, who's forgotten to pick up lemons for the kitchen. While Izz looks after the business side of things, Eman is in charge of the food, although she demurs when Izz calls her the head chef. The cafe has a staff of seven, but Eman is the only cook and baker; her kitchen assistants help with chopping and prep. "I love to cook and spent lots of time cooking with my mum growing up," says Eman. "We'd make traditional dishes such as masaf, lamb with dried yoghurt, rice and vine leaves, and maqlooba, an upside-down dish with chicken and vegetables. At first, I found the transition from home cook to chef hard work, but then people started eating my food and loving it, and it made me very happy. I spent a lot of time at home with my kids when they were small, and I am pleased to be working now, although I still love cooking at home when I have time." The dough for the manaeesh at Izz Cafe is much lighter than pizza dough, made with flour, water and olive oil that gives it a delicious crispness. "It's a secret recipe," says Eman. "She won't even tell me what's in it," says Izz. Most of the ingredients for the manaeesh are sourced locally, but one of the most important spices - tart, lemony sumac - is imported fresh each month directly from Izz's home town of Halhul, north of Hebron. Even though Izz Cafe doesn't have a wine licence or allow BYOB ("it keeps the insurance premiums down", says Izz), there are queues down the street at weekends, and the couple have recently started taking reservations. "The next thing is to find bigger premises with seating for more customers," says Izz. "We will focus on Cork for the time being, but we might expand to Dublin and elsewhere in the future." The couple are positive about their experience of Ireland and of Direct Provision and have recently applied for citizenship. "I believe there is potential in every person and that every asylum seeker can do what we have done," says Izz. "If you seek the help you need, you will find it, and there are a lot of people who are offering language courses, retraining and business support for asylum seekers who are willing to work and integrate in the community. "I feel that there is some exaggeration about how bad the Direct Provision system is, but perhaps we have been lucky in our experience and it is different in other centres. In Kinsale Road the management and staff are really great people. The difficulties that lie with the system itself are not their fault, they are just employees, doing the work they are asked to do. "I tell my Irish friends that the problem is not in the quality of the Direct Provision centres, but the system that is not working. If you make someone wait in Direct Provision for five years and then decide to deport them, that is really hard and unfair. "Why leave someone in the Direct Provision system for five years, when they could have established their life in that time? Even if you put them in a five-star hotel for five years it's still unfair. They are in limbo, and don't know what's going to happen." Photography by Clare Keogh Top spots to eat Middle Eastern cuisine AL MEZZA, 6 Bastion Street, Athlone, Co Westmeath Facebook: almezza.athlone Milad Serhan's Lebanese restaurant in Athlone's Left Bank serves a Middle Eastern menu with grilled meats, salads and dips all featuring. Service is friendly and there are well-priced set menus. Also in Athlone, Bacchus (bacchusrestaurant.ie) serves a good mezze platter alongside dishes from the Eastern Mediterranean, this time with a Turkish influence. MEZZE, Main Street, Tramore, Co Waterford mideastmezze.com You may already know the (delicious) lavosh crackers sold under the Mezze range developed by Nicola and Dvir, the couple behind this popular deli/cafe in Tramore. Stop in for breakfast or a lunch of falafel, dips and salads, or put together a picnic to take to the beach. ORSO, Pembroke St, Cork City orso.ie Part of the Market Lane Group, Orso serves a Middle-Eastern-ish menu with enough in the way of hummus, flatbreads, dukkah and pomegranate molasses to keep the most ardent of Ottolenghi fans happy. THE CHARCOAL GRILL, Prospect Hill, Galway charcoalgrilltakeaway.com The Charcoal Grill is not just any old kebab shop, it's the one that kebab aficionados think of with a faraway look in their eye. From shish to donner, kofta to sucuk, these guys are maestros of the real-deal Turkish kebab. MEJANA, Bridgewater Court, Harvey's Quay, Limerick mejana.ie Locals love the Lebanese food at Mejana, where customers are encouraged to order lots of small plates to share. Amongst the favourites are kebbeh krass - parcels of deep-fried lamb and pine nuts served with a yoghurt dip - and, in summer, the fattoush salad made with ripe tomatoes. THE CEDAR TREE, St Andrew's St, Dublin 2 facebook.com/cedartreedublin/ Delicious food, a great selection of Lebanese wines - if you haven't ever tried the famous Chateau Musar from the Bekaa Valley, this is the place to do so. The Cedar Tree is the longest-established of all the Middle Eastern restaurants in Dublin and has a coterie of loyal clients. SHOUK, Drumcondra, Dublin facebook.com/shoukdublin/ Is there a person in Dublin who doesn't love Shouk? The menu has evolved from the simple Israeli offering that was in place when it first opened to a more sophisticated menu that takes in a wider geographical area, but it's still firmly rooted in the Middle East. FAYROUZ, Cork Street, Dublin facebook.com/FayrouzRestaurantDublin/ All the usual dishes - baba ganoush, tabbouleh, lamb shawarma and koftas - are on the menu at Fayrouz, a new-ish opening on Cork Street, but the quality of the food and the friendly service sets this place a cut above. Only nine players make up the O'Neill St. Mary's girls basketball roster in 2021-22 and three of those nine are sophomores. All three started last year as freshmen, all three are averaging in double figures this year and all three have led the Cardinals to an 8-2 start. Iranian law enforcement has arrested the chairman of the city council in Lavasan, a posh suburban town near Tehran, according to a tweet by the towns Friday Prayer Leader. The cleric said authorities arrested Amir Afrasiabi in line with the campaign against corruption. In recent years there have been many controversies surrounding Lavasan and illegal construction of villas and luxury buildings on government land or in protected areas. Well-off government officials and wealthy people prefer to live in Lavasan surrounded with natural scenery and clean weather or have their second residence in the area. In September 2019 the head of Tehran's Justice Department announced that a half-built residential tower owned by several members of Iran's parliament in Lavasan will be demolished. According to local news outlets, the land was granted to the legislators by circumventing legal procedures. Last year, two members of Lavasans city council and the mayor were arrested for financial violations. Another publicized case involves the former head of Irans Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani and a senior politician concerning the construction of a township in Lavasan on a 247 acre illegally acquired parcel of land. Reports about land-grabs of public real-estate by influential officials and politicians have been rife in recent years. Amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in China, India on Saturday issued a fresh travel advisory asking people to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore. This is in addition to the advisory issued last month barring people from travelling to China and Hong Kong. Passengers returning from flights from six more countries, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, will be screened at the airports for symptoms of Covid-19. As per the earlier directive of January 17, passengers coming from China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore were being screened using thermal scanners. Passengers from 10 countries will now be screened and the directive will come into effect from Monday, February 24, said Union health ministry in a statement. The decision was taken after a high-level meeting chaired by cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday. Secretaries of Union health and family welfare, civil aviation, defence, information and broadcasting, director general armed forces medical services, and officials from the ministries of external affairs, home affairs, and bureau of immigration, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and Army were also present. Since the passenger screening began at 21 airports and major sea ports across the country, 3,97,152 flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at sea ports have been screened for symptoms. Under the integrated disease surveillance programme, 21,805 passengers with a travel history from China are being observed. Close to 3,000 samples have been tested for Covid-19 so far by various designated laboratories across the country. Apart from the initial three, no new sample has tested positive for the virus, said a scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research. In Pics: PM Modi to inaugurate new campus of Classical Tamil institute in Chennai today Namaste Trump: PM Modi unlikely to visit Taj Mahal along with Donald Trump India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to accompany US President Donald Trump and his family members during their visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday, official sources said. The US President will arrive in Ahmedabad at around noon on February 24 for a less that 36-hour visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including First Lady Melania Trump, the President's daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and a galaxy of top US officials. After attending an event at Ahmedabad, Trumps will travel to Agra on Monday afternoon to visit the Taj Mahal before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. When asked about reports that Modi may accompany Trump to Agra, official sources said there was no such plan. NRC, religious freedom likely to be discussed by Trump, Modi They said the visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra by the US President and his family members will afford them the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably. Therefore, no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there, the sources said. Modi will be in Ahmedabad on Monday where a public reception will be accorded to the US President and the First Lady. The Prime Minister will also be present for the Delhi leg of the visit where official engagements are envisaged on February 25, the sources said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 11:05 [IST] A Lehigh County man was charged with DUI after allegedly getting a rented SUV stuck in mud on private property, then trying to drive it while a tow truck operator was underneath. John M. Pavelko Jr., 53, of the 2200 block of Irma Drive in Hanover Township, allegedly had a blood-alcohol content of 0.18, according to results of a blood test taken after the incident. Colonial Regional police in a news release Thursday said Pavelko got stuck about 4:30 p.m. Feb. 10 in a field owned by the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority along Orchard Lane near Airport Road in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The operator identified as John Pavelko operated a rented Nissan Pathfinder intentionally through the field and got stuck in deep mud, police said. Bath Auto tow truck operators called for police after Pavelko allegedly tried to drive the vehicle while a tow truck operator was underneath it. Drunken driving penalties for most drivers begin at 0.08, and Pavelko was charged with both DUI-general impairment and DUI-highest rate of alcohol (BAC of 0.16 or higher). He also faces charges of reckless endangerment, trespass by vehicle on cultivated land, careless driving and reckless driving. Police charged Pavelko Friday, court records show. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled March 19 before District Judge Charles Crawford to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial in Northampton County Court. Efforts to reach Pavelko for comment were unsuccessful. A number listed for him had been disconnected. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Three people were arrested and three women were rescued after police raided a spa in Oshiwara area of Mumbai on Saturday, an official said. The raid was carried out at 2pm after a decoy customer established a tip-off about illegal activities in the spa, he said. "We have arrested two managers and the owner of the spa under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). Three women were rescued," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mr. LeMoignes presentation will take place at Noon on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Michelman will exhibit in Hall #5, Booth G73, at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre. Michelmans Mr. Gilles LeMoigne, Regional Marketing Manager, EMEA, will lead a technical presentation entitled Effect of Sizing on the Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber (CF) Reinforced Polyamide (PA6,6) Composites as part of JEC World 2020s Carbon - What Materials and Processes for the Future? conference track. Mr. LeMoigne will discuss the effects of fiber surface-treatment and sizing on the interfacial and mechanical properties of carbon fiber/nylon (PA6,6) composites. Michelman, known in the fibers and composites industry as the interface experts, and manufacturer of industry-leading Hydrosize fiber sizing solutions, will feature its Hydrosize Carbon family of products at JEC World 2020. Hydrosize Carbon allows carbon fiber manufacturers to optimize the interfacial adhesion between polymers and fibers by tailoring the surface chemistry of their reinforcement fibers to the chemistry of the matrix resin. Their diverse range of grades offer a wide variety of solutions depending on resin compatibility, fiber type, and desired composite performance. Designed for high-temperature polyamides applications, the Hydrosize Carbon 200 Series is APE, solvent, and VOC-free and is perfect for fiber-reinforced nylon composites where greater thermal stability is required. Formulated for polycarbonates (PC) and other PC blends such as PC-ABS, the Hydrosize Carbon 300 Series produces good chemical resistance along with interfacial adhesion to these polymer systems. Their Hydrosize Carbon 400 Series includes high-performance grades that can withstand the extreme processing temperatures that many high-temperature thermoplastics require. Appropriate materials include PEEK, PPS, PEI, and others used to produce various composite engine components. This series exhibits excellent thermal stability, mechanical properties, and low creep. Finally, the Hydrosize Carbon 700 Series, currently under final stages of development and formulated to improve the performance of carbon fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites, is targeted for SMC applications. Its proprietary chemistry allows for increased adhesion between the carbon fiber and various vinyl ester compounds. Mr. LeMoignes presentation will take place at Noon on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Michelman will exhibit in Hall #5, Booth G73, at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre. About Michelman Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing & packaging, and industrial manufacturing markets. The companys surface additives and polymeric binders are used by leading manufacturers around the world to enhance performance attributes and add value in applications including wood and floor care products, metal and industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers, and composites. Michelman is also well-known as an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings, as well as digital printing press primers used in the production of consumer and industrial packaging and paper products, labels, and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its customers with production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel. Security forces have arrested a terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith of the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. A trap was laid for him in Tapper Pattan in Baramulla district. Meanwhile, last night two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists named Naveed Ahmed Bhat alias Furkan and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat were killed in an operation. Sharing details, Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh told media here, "Security forces killed two LeT terrorists named Naveed Ahmed Bhat alias Furkan and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat in an operation last night. They were involved in many terrorist activities. Baramulla Police have also arrested one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith." "In 2020 so far, there have been 12 successful operations, in which 25 terrorists have been killed, 9 terrorist operatives in Kashmir and 3-4 terrorist operatives arrested in Jammu area. More than 40 over-ground-workers have also been arrested," Singh said. DIG Baramulla, M Suleman said, "One Chinese pistol, 13 live rounds and two magazines have been recovered from local terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith of Hizbul Mujahideen. His questioning is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain on Saturday questioned the silence of the Muslim and other secular leaders over the controversial statement made by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan. "None of the established leaders, including (Asaduddin) Owaisi, has yet criticised the statement of Waris Pathan. It is befuddling why the Muslim leadership and other secularists, who do not miss any opportunity to make exaggerated comments even on trifles, have maintained silence on this issue. It also raises many questions," Jain said in a statement. Pathan, at an anti-CAA rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on February 19 said that if the 15 crore Muslims of the country take to the streets, it would be enough to bring the 100 crore of the country down on their knees. Jain said that the same leaders were also silent when there was violence at many places during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but they "made a hue and cry" when the state governments took action against the protesters. Jain further alleged that in the name of opposing CAA, a conspiracy to repeat 1947 is going on. "They are trying to destabilise a popular government by firstly trying to create a riot like situation in the entire country and now carrying out an experiment in Shaheen Bagh to create mayhem," he claimed. "VHP appeals to the Centre as well as state governments to take strong action against people raising such seditious slogans and rabble-rousing speeches," he added. The Karnataka police have lodged an FIR against Pathan over the remarks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad, capital of the eastern state of Gujarat, on February 24 as a demonstration of strong and enduring ties between India and the United States that, in parts, have earlier been exemplified by close bond shared between the American President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State Department said here on Friday (local time). Divulging his scheduled in one his most awaited tour to South Asia, the Department said after arriving in Ahmedabad, the President is scheduled to deliver a speech at the newly built Sardar Patel Stadium, in the presence of Prime Minister Modi. "The visit will focus on several key areas, including building economic and energy ties between India and the US. Just to note that two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $142 billion in 2018, and there's certainly much more room to grow, particularly in energy," the Department officials said at a weekly briefing while recalling the Strategic Energy Partnership that was launched by Trump and Modi in 2017 that further facilitated Indian imports of American crude oil, LNG, and coal. As per the schedule, the President, who will be embarking on his official two-day visit to India, along with First Lady Melania Trump and Prime Minister Modi will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. With the President and the First Lady, there will be a 12-person official delegation that includes US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and senior advisors to the President daughter Ivanka Trump as well as son-in-law Jared Kushner among others. The team will then fly to New Delhi and receive a ceremonial welcome, attend bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister on Tuesday, apart from holding a business event with Indian investors, with a special focus on companies that are investing in manufacturing in the US. Trump will also have a meet-and-greet with the American embassy staff and a meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind that will further follow a state dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday evening. The Department said that the visit will focus on defence and security cooperation to both fight terrorism and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. "The US wants an India that is strong, with a capable military that supports peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. Indeed, India is a pillar of our Indo-Pacific strategy, and we continue to work together to promote this vision of a free and open international system based on market economics, good governance, freedom of the seas and skies, and respect for sovereignty," it added. As per his itinerary, the American President will hold talks over religious freedom and the shared tradition of democracy. "Prime Minister Modi, in his first speech after winning the election last year, talked about how he would prioritise being inclusive of India's religious minorities. And, certainly, the looks to India to maintain religious liberty and equal treatment for all under the rule of law," it stressed. While the long-awaited trade agreement appears to be off the table during Trump's upcoming visit to India, "significant commercial" deals are in the offing, according to a senior administration official. "We have a number of significant commercial deals, which are of great significance that we are very pleased to announce in a number of key sectors," the official said. Replacing US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer, who has been piloting the trade deal negotiations, Ross will be included in Trump's delegation. The official said that revoking the special concessions to some Indian imports under the General Scheme of Preferences (GSP) "was really the failure of the Indian government to provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors". The official did not expect it to be reinstated unless there was reciprocal action by India. "Our trade teams led by USTR have been in touch with their counterparts over the past several weeks. That engagement will continue," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zarif briefs reporters on FATF meeting IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Feb 21, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday briefed the reporters on an ongoing plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The international body had given Iran a final deadline of February 2020 to comply with its rules. As the Iranian officials did not agree on the case and the Iranian Parliament failed to ratify legislation on complying with FATF demands, the five-day meeting is expected to determine whether to put Iran under its blacklist or extend the deadline for the country. Zarif, who had just cast his vote for the 11th parliamentary elections and the mid-term election for the Assembly of Experts at a voting station in Tehran, made the remarks in response to a reporter who said that the news reports suggest that the FATF will extend the deadline set for Iran. A vast majority of the speeches over the past days of the meeting suggest that the deadline will be extended, Zarif said that the two countries as well as "a pro-terrorist regime" are opposing the extension of Iran's time. He elaborated on the three supporters of blacklisting Iran, tacitly referring to the US as a country which "is itself terrorism" as it has shown its state terrorism with the assassination of Iranian Lieutenant-General Qasem Soleimani and has demonstrated its economic terrorism with the imposition of sanctions on Iran and other countries. Saudi Arabia is a real model of terrorism, the Iranian minister said, referring to the Zionist regime as a regime, state terrorism has been basically named in its name. However, he noted, "We have to wait and see what will happen." 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A 22-year-old woman was found unconscious, with critical head injuries, inside Bonta Park in north Delhi on Saturday afternoon. Police said the woman is undergoing treatment and that they are trying to identify the attacker, who may possibly be someone known to her. Police said preliminary medical reports have ruled out sexual assault. Investigators said around 12.30pm, some passersby called the police and reported that they had spotted a woman lying in the bushes with head injuries. A police team that reached the spot found that the woman had been hit on her head repeatedly with a rock. She was shifted to a hospital where her condition is critical, said a senior police officer. The womans clothes were intact. She had not been robbed and her cell phone was also with her. We identified the woman with the help of some documents she was carrying. We have found that she is pursuing a computer course from Indirapuram in Ghaziabad. Her father, who owns a general store in north east Delhi, has been informed. Doctors have said that she is being treated for serious head injuries, the officer said. Deputy commissioner of police (north) Monika Bhardwaj said the doctors have ruled out the possibility of sexual assault. From her cell phone, we have found that she had spoken to some persons just hours before she was found injured. We have asked them to join the probe. Some had switched off their phones and we are tracking them, the DCP said. Bhardwaj said they have registered a case of attempt to murder and are checking the CCTV footages to find at what time the woman arrived at Bonta Park and if anyone was accompanying her. Her parents are being asked if she had enmity with anyone who could have attacked her, Bhardwaj said. Up until relatively recently, non-alcoholic cocktails seemed like merely an afterthought for most bars. As a result, teetotalers were often left with little choice but to guzzle juice, soda or water all night. Those booze-free cocktails that did feature on drinks menus tended to be made up of popular cocktails minus the alcohol, which often left those buying them feeling shortchanged. But the demand for non-alcoholic drinks has risen rapidly since then, as has the amount of high quality low and zero proof alcohol products available. Now it seems mixologists are finally devoting as much time and effort into creating booze-free cocktails as alcoholic ones. The spirit is usually replaced with something like Seedlip, a non-alcoholic botanical spirit, or Everleaf, an alcohol-free aperitif drink, although some bars have gone as far as to make their own hydrosols, or "flower waters," using a rotovap, a device used for distilling. Hamish Smith, Bars Editor of Drinks International, a revered global drinks journal, says this is a much welcome change. "[It's] not an apologetic few lines at the back," says Smith. "We're talking crafted cocktails that just so happen to not contain alcohol." Burgeoning market The success of Dry January, which encourages participants to forgo alcohol for the first month of the year, has also had an impact -- 21% of US drinkers took part last year according to market research firm Nielsen. Unsurprisingly, non-alcoholic cocktail sales are usually at their highest during this time, which means bars are having to up their game to ensure they can attract and cater for every type of customer. "I definitely think we're moving away from a world where syrup topped up with a soft drink constitutes a non-alcoholic cocktail," says Will Meredith, head bartender for Lyaness, a popular London cocktail bar. At Lyaness, the reincarnation of World's Best Bar 2018 winner Dandelyan, the commitment to non-alcoholic cocktails is clear. When dreaming up their drinks menu, the team went to great pains to ensure there was a booze-free version of as many cocktails as possible. "Non-alcoholic drinks are massively important to us. It's something we've always put a lot of love and time into," adds Meredith. "Consumers who come into this bar, come for the whole experience. The experience isn't [and shouldn't be] dependent on what they're consuming." While the numbers vary from country to country, alcohol consumption is declining globally on the whole. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a nearly 5% point decrease, from 47.6% to 43%, in the number of drinkers across the world since 2000. Inclusivity factor Although there doesn't seem to be a definitive explanation for this -- health consciousness is thought to among the contributing factors -- it's clear there's been a shift in attitudes towards alcohol. According to Meredith, the customers who opt for non-alcoholic cocktails at Lyaness range from bankers to new mothers, while some choose to switch between booze-free cocktails and alcoholic ones. "Non-alcoholic serves aren't anything new, but what is new is that they are taken seriously -- by bartenders and their customers," says Smith. "Millennials and (drinking age) Generation Zs are drinking less, but don't want to be left out -- they want to experience cocktail bars in the same way drinkers do. "The bar world has reacted -- it has to. After all, bartenders' raw material is liquid -- it doesn't always have to be alcoholic." The cocktails at Lyaness consist of seven core ingredients -- infinite banana, purple pineapple, king monkey nut, ONYX, aromatized milk wine, old fashioned whiskey and ultra raspberry. Meredith says the mixologists always have a non-alcoholic version in mind when choosing a base spirit to compliment the main ingredient, and will keep looking for a suitable booze-free option until they've exhausted all avenues. He makes a point of referring to the drinks as non-alcoholic cocktails rather than "mocktails," as they're often called, explaining the label has negative connotations. "The word 'mock' in itself means a bit of a lighthearted joke," Meredith points out. Of the 20-plus cocktails on the menu here, there are seven non-alcoholic versions. Among the most popular is Tattie Milk Punch, made up of vegan honey, "potato cream" and Aecorn (a non-alcoholic aperitif) and Seedlip Spice. Pina Leaf High Ball, consisting of purple pineapple, gooseberry, salted pineapple leaf, soda and Seedlip Grove is also a favorite. Costly experience? One of the most surprising elements about the rise in non-alcoholic cocktails is the amount customers are prepared to pay for them -- although some may argue waking up without a hangover after a night out drinking is utterly priceless. A standard cocktail at Lyaness, costs between 10 to 15 ($13 to $19) while a non-alcoholic cocktail is priced at around 7 (around $10). Although the booze-free versions are significantly cheaper, $10 still feels like a sizable amount for a non-alcoholic drink. So why are customers seemingly happy to splash the cash? "I think the driving force has been this transition away from putting the value of a drink on the alcoholic content," says Meredith, stressing that bartenders have to put a lot of effort into crafting great tasting non-alcoholic cocktails "without the luxury of booze." He also emphasizes Lyaness' non-alcoholic cocktails are made with high end products such as vegan honey and homemade cordials, which are factors in the total cost. "Non-alcoholic cocktails are becoming so much more in depth, intricate and balanced than they've ever been," he adds. "So the people who weren't drinking [before] now finally see something of value they can consume, and they're willing to pay the money that's required to enjoy it." The ever-growing number of non-alcohol products entering the drinks market has allowed bars like Lyaness to be even more creative with its non-alcoholic additions. These include Stryyk, a non-alcoholic rum made of cane sugar, vanilla and oak and Caleno, a distilled spirit with botanicals, as well as Seedlip and Everclear. And with more and more similar products launching every year, as well as the emergence of new alcohol-free bars such as New York's Getaway bar and Redemption Bar in London, it's likely demand will continue to grow. "There are a lot of people who are doing amazing things in the non-alcoholic industry at the moment," says Meredith. "As long as we put our foot on the gas and don't let up, it's only going to get better." In fact, the non-alcoholic beverage market is expected to reach a record value of $1,650.28 billion globally by 2024, according to a report by Zion Market Research. "This isn't a trend," says Smith. "It's how things will be from now on in." Lyaness, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD General Motors will receive a 75 percent local tax abatement over 15 years for a new battery plant next to the shuttered Lordstown Assembly Plant in northeast Ohio. The historic Lordstown plant, which operated for 50 years, was one of four US facilities shuttered by the company last year. The closures were ratified by a sellout contract engineered behind closed doors with the United Auto Workers, which was forced through after the 40-day strike last year by nearly 50,000 GM workers. In order to save face and shield itself from media criticism, GM sold the Lordstown plant to a startup, Lordstown Motors, which hopes to eventually use the site to manufacture electric trucks. However, the company has never manufactured a single car and these plans may never come to fruition. The new battery plant will employ only 1,100 workers, a quarter of the more than 4,000 who once worked at the Lordstown plant. The plant, which GM will jointly operate with the Korean company LG Chem, will operate on a separate UAW contract making poverty wages of between $15 and $17 per hour. Moreover, the new plant is not scheduled to come online until 2022. However, as is the norm for investments by major US companies, the project was contingent upon extracting massive tax breaks from the local government. The Village of Lordstown government is already hurting from loss of tax revenue stemming from the closure of the assembly plant last year. It is unclear from reports what the ultimate dollar value of the tax abatement is expected to be, but it will easily be in the millions. The overall cost to build the new plant is $2.3 billion. Under state law, a tax abatement of this magnitude requires approval from the local school board, which has been provided. The local government is asking the school district to cede to it its share of the income tax revenues from the new plant, expected to be $450,000 per year. Local environmental groups have also expressed concern over the plan of development. The 158-acre footprint of the plant includes 66 acres of wetlands. At a meeting with local environmentalists last month, GM officials said that their decision to build on undeveloped land rather than brownfield land stemmed from their desire to push through the project as quickly as possible. The plant will produce batteries for new electric vehicles, an emerging and intensely contested segment of the auto market into which GM has poured billions of dollars. The massive tax concessions in Lordstown are only the tip of the iceberg of corporate Americas looting of public money. GM is set to receive $2.28 billion in tax cuts from the state of Michigan through 2029. General Motors has also paid virtually no federal income tax since it came out of bankruptcy in 2009, during which it received a $49.5 billion federal bailout. The chief mechanism for this, according to a report last year in the Detroit Free Press, is a mechanism in US tax law called loss carryfowards, which allow companies to deduct losses from previous years from their current tax liabilities. A former GM executive told the newspaper that the company would continue to pay zero income tax for the next several years. This money is being forked over to General Motors in the name of job creation in spite of a global jobs massacre in the auto industry. In 2018, GM announced 14,000 layoffs in the United States, including 8,000 white collar jobs. Its US workforce of 48,000 hourly workers is less than 10 percent of the 511,000 GM workers at its peak four decades ago. Elsewhere in the industry, Ford announced 7,000 white collar job cuts worldwide and 12,000 layoffs in Europe last year. Its disastrous 2019 financial report has created renewed pressure for the company to accelerate the pace of layoffs. Currently, around 100,000 layoffs are currently being planned by automakers worldwide. In the US, at least 60 Fortune 500 companies paid no income tax in 2018, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Together these companies would have paid $16.4 billion in taxes if they paid the nominal rate of 21 percent. This list includes online shopping giant Amazon, whose market valuation is roughly $1 trillion. Amazons public bidding war from local governments for the site of its second headquarters, or HQ2, produced one of the most naked expressions of the domination of major corporations over American society. The ultimate cost to state and local governments for HQ2, which will be built in a suburb of Washington, DC, will be $4.6 billion. The current 21 percent corporate income tax rate, less than half of the 52.8 percent rate in the 1960s, is itself the outcome of decades of successive tax breaks for corporations. It was slashed by 35 percent to the present rate in the Trump administrations tax cuts in 2017. While no Democrats voted for the bill, the cutting of taxes for major corporations and the wealthy is a bipartisan policy. Democrats themselves offered an alternate plan which would have cut corporate tax rates to between 25 and 28 percent. The death toll from a flash flood which hit a large group of students trekking along a river in Indonesia rose to eight Saturday, officials said as rescuers searched for two still missing. Two dozen students from the group of 249 scouts were injured and taken to hospital after being hit by the flood while trekking along the Sempor river near Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta on Friday. Rescuers found six bodies on Friday afternoon. "Today's search will take place until 17:30, but it all depends on the weather conditions," Yogyakarta search and rescue agency spokesman Pipit Eriyanto told AFP on Saturday. The students were from local school scout clubs. The dead were all female students aged between 12 and 15. River trekking is banned for children and teenagers during the rainy season, National Disaster Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said. The police have launched an investigation for possible negligence in the deadly incident. At least six teachers were questioned on Saturday. Indonesia is regularly hit by floods during the rainy season, which started in late November. Three university students were found dead in a cave in West Java in December after they were trapped inside by flood waters. Torrential rain in January triggered flooding and landslides that killed nearly 70 people in and around the capital Jakarta while thousands more were forced to evacuate to shelters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Chief Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Syria's Idlib By VOA News February 21, 2020 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Friday for an immediate cease-fire in Syria's northwestern region of Idlib to end a humanitarian crisis "and avoid an uncontrollable escalation" in the area. Guterres told reporters in New York that Russian-supported Syrian military campaigns waged in the area for nearly a year had been compounded by "repeated deadly clashes between Turkish and Syrian government forces." U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told the Security Council on Wednesday that hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Russian-backed offensive were being packed into increasingly smaller areas near Turkey's border "under horrendous conditions," a scenario confirmed Friday by Guterres. "Nearly 900,000 people the vast majority women and children have fled in the latest fighting under the most tragic circumstances," Guterres said. "Hundreds have been killed. Many have been uprooted multiple times. Young children are freezing to death." 2.8 million in need Guterres said about 2.8 million people in the Idlib region needed humanitarian aid, a much greater number than the 800,000 the U.N. thought earlier would need assistance. The crisis has forced the U.N. to appeal for an additional $500 million "to cover the needs of the newly displaced people over the next six months." The United States, Germany, Britain and other countries have emphasized that negotiations among Syrian allies Russia and Iran and opposition supporter Turkey have been ineffective. German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen told the council that since the talks were not working, "it's time also for the secretary-general to step up to the plate." U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft told the council, "The clearest path we see to an immediate end to violence in northwest Syria is for the U.N. to take full charge of a new cease-fire initiative." On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the Syrian government's violence in Idlib. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sidewalk Labs will have to cede a little more ground on its vision for Quayside, a planned smart neighborhood in Toronto. The company, which is owned by Google-parent Alphabet, published a draft version of its Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) last June. The technical document, which spans four volumes and almost 1,000 pages, is packed with proposals for how the district should be designed, funded and governed. Waterfront Toronto, a tri-government organization spearheading the city's lakeside overhaul, has now completed a technical evaluation of the draft MIDP, which will help its board decide whether to approve the project or sever ties with Sidewalk Labs entirely. The technical evaluation broke the four-volume MIDP into 160 distinct proposals. Sixteen of those suggestions were labeled "non-support," which means "new solutions must be explored," Waterfront Toronto explained in a discussion guide that will inform a second round of public consultation. The organization rejected an "efficient" and "ultra efficient" housing concept that would have been roughly seven percent smaller than Sidewalk's equivalent "standard" unit. The proposed homes would have used multipurpose furniture, such as height-adjustable benches that could double as desks or shelves, and flexible walls that could shrink and expand rooms. Sidewalk thought communal eating and co-working could work too, alongside a combination of in-building and off-site storage services. Sidewalk Labs Waterfront Toronto supported buildings with shared building amenities, but thought the "efficient" units were still too small, according to The Star. Sidewalk Labs wants 40 percent of Quayside homes to be below market rate -- of these apartments, it said in the MIDP, the average "efficient" unit would be 578 square feet, compared to the average "standard" of 638 square feet. Waterfront Toronto also threw out a categorization system that would allow buildings to contain "a shifting mix" of residential, commercial and industrial spaces. Alphabet wanted to move away from single-use zones and adopt a "digital building code system" instead. The approach would measure noise, air pollution and other forms of general nuisance caused by its occupants. For this to work, Sidewalk Labs wanted to shrink Toronto's building code system down to nine "use-neutral" categories in Quayside. Anything that fell under these categories, which included one-person homes, restaurants and stores, could occupy a space, provided it didn't breach the building's predefined nuisance levels. Story continues Alphabet was considering a "lantern forest" that used eight-meter-tall kiosks, clumped together like trees, to protect people from the wind. Other rejections fell outside Quayside's brick-and-mortar buildings. Sidewalk Labs had prototyped a special "raincoat" awning that could protect nearby pedestrians from rain, wind and dazzling sunlight. The company thought they could be attached to a single building and moored with peg-like piles, or set up between two buildings like a canopy. In a similar vein, the draft MIDP had proposed "fanshell" shelters for parks and other outdoor spaces. They would come in two styles -- a ground-hugging "shell" or a "fan" that sprouted upward like an umbrella -- and be constructed from an origami-style fabric that could be folded and packed away when required. Alphabet was also considering a "lantern forest" concept that used eight-meter-tall kiosks, clumped together like trees, to protect people from the wind. They could be deployed in open spaces that are exposed to the elements, the company said, or placed strategically in so-called "urban canyons" that create narrow wind tunnels between stores and apartments. Waterfront Toronto rejected the raincoat, fanshell and lantern forest concepts, though. "We're excited to keep looking into solutions for outdoor comfort in our building designs at Quayside, which we will review with Waterfront Toronto on an ongoing basis," Keerthana Rang, a spokesperson for Sidewalk Labs said. Sidewalk Labs To power and heat its smart neighorbood, Sidewalk has proposed an advanced power grid, thermal grid, waste management system and stormwater management system. The company said that the thermal grid could be connected to the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant in Toronto -- the second-largest facility of its kind in Canada -- which it argued has the "thermal energy potential" to heat "some 35 Quaysides." The Alphabet subsidiary also proposed a two-part system for processing food waste in the neighborhood. First, a building inside Quayside would separate the waste and send it to a "neighborhood collection point." An off-site facility would then remove any contamination and process the waste with anaerobic digesters microorganisms that can break down biodegradable waste into biogas. Waterfront Toronto rejected the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant connection and the use of anaerobic digestion for food waste because it didn't believe they were feasible for a 12-acre neighborhood, according to The Star. Most of the other rejections relate to funding. Waterfront Toronto took issue with a suggestion that it would need to make recurring payments to subsidize advanced infrastructure including the thermal grid. It also didn't agree with the funding required for a Quayside Neighborhood Association, or the idea that 5 percent of homes should be available for owners to part rent and part own through a shared equity program. These setbacks are dwarfed, however, by the preliminary approvals in the technical evaluation. There were 92 solutions that Waterfront Toronto said it would support provided all funding and delivery was handled by the private sector. The organization approved a further 24 with the promise that it would advocate for additional funding from the government. The final 17 were solutions that it would support while pushing for relevant policy changes and regulatory reform. The 144 approved measures include mass timber buildings, solar-panel and/or vegetation-covered rooftops, EV ownership incentives and charging infrastructure, smart waste chutes and the thermal grid. Sidewalk Labs According to Sidewalk Labs, most of the "non-support" decisions were merely confirmation of "agreed changes in project geography, governance, or roles." "That said, we are still in active negotiations with Waterfront Toronto and are still reviewing what will be possible at Quayside," Rang said in a tweet today. Those "agreed changes" likely relate to the "threshold issues" that Waterfront Toronto had with the draft MIDP upon its release. The tri-government organization's biggest concern was Sidewalk's intent to expand beyond Quayside with a 62-hectare River District that would comprise of five neighborhoods: Keating East, Villiers West, Villiers East, Polson Quay and McCleary. Google also asked to be the lead developer at Villiers West and to build a new Google Canadian headquarters on the 8-hectare land. In an open letter, Waterfront Toronto said the proposed expansion was premature. "Waterfront Toronto must first see its goals and objectives achieved at Quayside before deciding whether to work together in other areas," Steve Diamond, the chair of Waterfront Toronto's board of directors said. "Even then, we would only move forward with the full collaboration and support of the City of Toronto, particularly where it pertains to City-owned lands." It also rebuffed Sidewalk Labs' proposal to be lead developer and reiterated that it would go through a "competitive, public procurement process" instead. Sidewalk Labs agreed to all of Waterfront Toronto's demands. For now, that means the evaluation process can continue. The project has divided citizens, though, who want change but are wary of Sidewalk's ties to Google. Waterfront Toronto has until the end of the year to decide once and for all whether the project should go ahead. Before then, it's likely that Sidewalk will have to negotiate and compromise further on its master plan. "It will not be an easy negotiation, but I believe there is a will on both sides to make it work," Sheldon Levy, a member of the six-person committee that reviewed the technical evaluation told George Zegarac, a fellow member and the CEO of Waterfront Toronto in a letter. Update 02/21/20 12:10PM ET: Added comment from Sidewalk Labs that many of the "non-support" decisions were a result of the "threshold issues" that were negotiated and remedied last year. Prince William has hailed Welsh dairy farmers as 'seriously tough' after he spent the week lambing with his family in Norfolk. Speaking in Cardiff ahead of this afternoon's Six Nations clash against France, the Duke revealed how George revelled in the experience, Charlotte was initially hesitant, and Louis 'loved the tractors'. The royal was pictured cheering with the crowds packed inside the Principality Stadium, where Les Blues sneaked a four-point win. Ahead of the match, William carried out his duties as patron of the Welsh Rugby Union and met with injured players such as Rhian Roberts, 34. Prince William applauds with crowds in Cardiff's Principality Stadium as Wales take on France in the Six Nations William meets with injured players of the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust before this afternoon's kick-off Speaking in Cardiff ahead of this afternoon's Six Nations clash against France, the Duke (left) revealed how George (right) revelled in the experience, Charlotte (middle) was initially hesitant, and Louis (left) 'loved the tractors' Mrs Roberts, a primary school teacher, told William she had married into a dairy family in West Wales. She has been supported by the trust after suffering damage to her neck during a tackle in March 2018. 'We've been lambing with the children this week,' William told Mrs Roberts, who played with club Y Piod Pinc for two seasons. 'Charlotte wasn't sure at first but George was straight in there. Louis loves the tractors. 'They love seeing the lambs and feeding the lambs. Dairy farming - you are all seriously tough.' Mrs Roberts, who was meeting William for the first time, described him as 'down to earth' and said he took a real interest in farming. 'We were talking about the land where he was and the land where we are, which is a mining area,' she said. 'He said they've been lambing this week up in Norfolk. They want the children to see the country way of life as well as the city way of life.' The Duke enters the arena for the match, sporting a red tie, the colour of the team he will be cheering, Wales Mrs Roberts, who joined the trust last year, said she felt as if she had 'gained an extra family' through it. The trust was set up in 1972 as an organisation with a range of education, social and sporting objectives. Its principal aim is to support those who have been severely injured while playing in Wales, as well as their families. William also spoke to Simon Hart, the Secretary of State for Wales, and asked whether he had been with his father Prince Charles on Friday. Charles visited Pontypridd and met residents and businesses affected by flooding caused by Storm Dennis. Record river levels during the storm left more than 80 businesses flooded in the town centre. Across the county of Rhondda Cynon Taf, more than 1,000 properties - both residential and commercial - have been damaged. William jokes with one of the injured players before settling into his seats in Wales's flagship rugby ground The Welsh Rugby Union had 60 buckets for fans to make donations to those affected by the floods, and has pledged 100,000 to support clubs. Staff have volunteered to help with the clear-up operation across the country. The union is also taking steps to help with equipment lost in the flooding, as well as providing specialist expertise with recovering and maintaining damaged pitches. Martyn Phillips, group chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, speaking ahead of the match, said: 'These are exceptional circumstances and we have therefore decided to allocate dedicated funds and resources to help out rugby clubs in need in communities throughout the country. 'There is money put aside for emergencies such as these and we will take great care to ensure that we target both money and resources in the right areas so that we are helping those who need it most.' After 50 years of research and the testing of over 1,000 drugs, there is new hope for preserving brain cells for a time after stroke. Treating acute ischemic stroke patients with an experimental neuroprotective drug, combined with a surgical procedure to remove the clot improves outcomes as shown by clinical trial results published today in The Lancet. The multi-centre, double-blinded, randomized trial, led by a team at the Cumming School of Medicine's (CSM) Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Health Services, investigates the use of the neuroprotective drug nerinetide, developed by NoNO Inc, in two scenarios in the same trial. In one scenario, nerinetide is given to patients in addition to the clot-busting drug alteplase. In the second scenario, patients who were not suitable for alteplase received only nerinetide. Both groups of patients had concurrent endovascular treatment (EVT) to remove the clot. "Compared to placebo, almost 20 per cent more patients who received nerinetide along with endovascular treatment, but did not receive alteplase, recovered from a devastating stroke -- a difference between paralysis and walking out of the hospital," says Dr. Michael Hill, MD, a neurologist at Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) and professor in the departments of Clinical Neurosciences and Radiology at the CSM. "In the patients who received both drugs, the alteplase negated the benefits of the nerinetide." Hill says the study provides evidence of a biological pathway that protects brain cells from dying when they are deprived of blood flow. Nerinetide targets the final stage of the brain cell's life by stopping the production of nitric oxide within the cell. "We really believe this is a new scientific observation," says Hill. "There is evidence nerinetide promotes brain cell survival, offering neuroprotection until we can extract the clot. It opens the door to a new way of treating stroke." Images of patients' brains from the study show the expected size of the damage from the stroke is sizeably reduced when nerinetide is administered and EVT is performed among patients not concurrently receiving alteplase. advertisement "After so many studies investigating neuroprotective drugs failed, we are extremely excited by these results," says Dr. Mayank Goyal, MD, PhD, a neuroradiologist at the FMC, and clinical professor in the Department of Radiology at the CSM. "While nerinetide is not approved for use yet, it shows the potential of a new tool to promote recovery from stroke." Worldwide, 15 million people suffer a stroke each year -- that's one every nine minutes in Canada and every 90 seconds in the United States. The results can be devastating. Ischemic stroke, the most common, is caused by a clot in a blood vessel in the brain. The sudden loss of blood flow causes brain cells to die, which can permanently affect speech, vision, balance and movement. The international trial enrolled 1,105 patients between March 2017 and August 2019 at centres in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia -- a global academic collaboration bringing together scientists, clinicians, funding agencies, and industry. "The collaboration between NoNO Inc., the University of Calgary and investigators at 48 leading stroke hospitals around the world has shown how effective such an academic-industry partnership can be in running high-quality, foundational stroke trials that can lead to positive changes in clinical practice," says Dr. Michael Tymianski, MD, PhD, CEO of NoNO Inc. and the inventor of nerinetide. The results in the current study, called the ESCAPE-NA1 Trial, build on the success of the ESCAPE trial, in which the Calgary Stroke Program proved that a clot retrieval procedure known as EVT can dramatically improve patient outcomes after an acute ischemic stroke. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted in the groin and guided through blood vessels into the brain. A tiny metal mesh device is used to grab the clot and pull it out. The current study investigates whether administering nerinetide in addition to clot retrieval improves the patient's ability to recover. The study is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Alberta Innovates, and NoNO Inc. It was designed by the academic investigators (University of Calgary) and the sponsor (NoNO, Toronto, ON, Canada). Dr. Hill is a member of the scientific advisory board for NoNO Inc. It is an unpaid position and he receives no financial benefit from the results. According to him, meeting with local residents will be held today at 15:00 Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov announced that the well-known doctor Yevgen Komarovsky will come to reassure the indignant residents of Novi Sanzhary. This was announced by Danilov at a briefing that was broadcast on 112 Ukraine TV channel. In particular, at 3 p.m., Dr. Komarovsky will hold a meeting with local residents, at which he will explain information about the Chinese coronavirus. "Today, Dr. Komarovsky will be in this locality. He will have a meeting with the local population, where he, as an independent specialist, will explain to them what is happening with the coronavirus and many other things," Danilov said. According to him, people are slightly exaggerating the danger that exists here, and there is no threat for local residents from those evacuated from Wuhan. "It is localized, there is complete sanitary control on the part of all institutions, which should take place. And everything that happens here is under full control. There is no danger for local residents and other people," Danilov said. As we reported before, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, on behalf of President Vladimir Zelensky, flew to Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, where clashes occurred on February 20 due to the deployment of Ukrainians from China for medical observation. Winter will return to the Great Lakes region by mid-week next week. The catalyst for this winter weather will be two storms merging over the region, and stretching east to New England. Heres a forecast animation showing how the second storm pulls the first storm back toward the Great Lakes. Forecast from Monday evening, February 24, 2020 to Friday, February 28, 2020 Much of the modeling shows the two areas of weather merging over the Great Lakes on Wednesday and producing an accumulating snow. Behind the snow-maker could be cold winds and some drifting Thursday. The U.S. model shows almost the same weather scenario as the European Model. The blue and red lines on the animation are pressure lines. The tightly-packed pressure lines signify a windy situation once the two storms merge and move east of Michigan. Since the storms have been so consistent in the past two months, we can look at possible snowfall already. Northwest of Ohio, a 3-6 inch band of snow is being forecast already. Well want to wait until we get further into the week to see what the forecast holds for the greater Cleveland area. This weekend, though, is all about the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Heres hoping you can get outside and enjoy them. It's not too often we advertise a full day of sun across NE OH and NW PA in February. It will be a little windy out there, but don't let that damper your mood! #OHwx #PAwx Posted by US National Weather Service Cleveland OH on Saturday, February 22, 2020 READ MORE: Polar Vortex remains intense, could end any harsh winter outbreaks in Great Lakes Lake Erie just broke February high water record -- and the lake level keeps rising The judge was arrested with a bribe of EGP 250,000 in return for mitigating sentences in a number of cases Egypt's Court of Cassation upheld a life sentence against a former Alexandria-based judge in a bribery case. The court rejected a lodged appeal by the former judge against a life imprisonment term handed by a criminal court. In 2018, the Alexandria Criminal Court sentenced the judge, who presided over the district's appeals court, to life imprisonment after arresting him red-handed with a bribe of EGP 250,000 ($16,069) in return for mitigating sentences in a number of cases. He was dismissed from office and fined EGP 700,000. Saturday's verdict is final and cannot be appealed. The case was one of the latest in a string of corruption cases brought by the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), the country's anti-corruption watchdog, against top state officials in recent years. Last month, the ACA arrested the head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) Abdel-Azim Hussein while receiving a bribe from private-sector accountants dealing with the authority. Search Keywords: Short link: Sending non-consensual intimate images, often referred to as revenge porn, is currently a misdemeanor in Connecticut, but legislators and advocates are working to make it a felony, to heighten penalties and deter people from the increasingly common crime. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said a constituent who was a victim of voyeurism and dissemination of non-consensual images reached out to her about the issue, calling it a very traumatic experience. We view that domestic violence offenders use a series of strategies to try to threaten and harass and intimidate their partners, said Karen Jarmoc, President and CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. More and more often, as technology use progresses and becomes more the norm, we are finding victims are really grappling with these types of circumstances,where there are threats to publicly release photos or conversations. It has become more common over the last decade, she said. We, as policy makers, have to make sure that we take this in our hands and show, by making policy, by making law, that this is as serious as it is, Klarides told the Judiciary Committee on Friday. The woman who spoke to Klarides, who decided not to testify because of the traumatic experience, believes the penalty should be higher, she said. Victims pursuing cases under the law have to continuously show the invasive images to police and in court, which has caused a lot of emotional distress, as you can imagine, for a lot of people, she said. As a class A misdemeanor, perpetrators who share intimate photos without consent can be sentenced to up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. As a class D felony, that would increase to a maximum of five years and $5,000. Under the bill proposed, unlawful dissemination of an intimate image to a person by any means would remain a misdemeanor, but sharing the image to more than one person online, by internet or by phone would become a felony. An identical bill passed the Senate almost unanimously last session, but died on the calendar in the House. The prevalence and invasiveness of non-consensual pornography has grown and expanded from unauthorized sharing of intimate images (revenge porn) to the criminal enterprise of sextortion, the Division of Criminal Justice said in written testimony they submitted to the committee. Those have horrific effects on the victim. Senior Assistant States Attorney Lou Luba said that in studies of offenders, more than half said they would not have committed the crime if they knew it was a felony offense, a slightly higher percentage than those who said they would be deterred by a misdemeanor charge. The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity is also in favor of the bill, Executive Director Steven Hernandez said in written testimony. Victims suffer from negative health outcomes, Hernandez said. The exploitation of nude images and videos can lead to emotional distress, physical and mental trauma, harassment, stalking, relocation, unemployment, physical partner violence and suicide. Judiciary Committee co-chair Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, who voted for last years iteration of the bill, said he understands the significance of the issue, but has a natural inclination against increasing penalties, especially when it is likely to have many people who are very young wrapped up in it. I dont think thats really what were intending to do, he said, adding that racial disparities are always a concern when increasing penalties. He said he anticipates discussing what consequences might be for young people, as they move forward on the bill. The Department of Criminal Justice in its testimony said there are sufficient safeguards to prevent the disproportionate punishment of adolescent and young adult offenders. The division pointed to closed proceedings and confidential records in juvenile court, accelerated rehabilitation for offenders older than 18, which can result in dismissing charges and expunging the offense. Questions have also been raised about whether images collected as evidence by law enforcement are subject to public disclosure. Bridgeport Assistant City Attorney Dina Scalo said in written testimony that the Freedom of Information Act has also been utilized as a tool to gain access to these otherwise highly sensitive and private materials. She said it is beyond comprehension that someone could be arrested for sharing an intimate image, and a city then be required to release it in response to a Freedom of Information Request, and asked that the bill be amended to explicitly prevent their disclosure. Liz.teitz@hearstmediact.com Two terrorists were killed in an encounter at Gund Baba Khalil in Sangam town of Anantnag district on the wee hours of Saturday (February 22). The two terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in a joint operation conducted by the police, CRPF and the Army. Police recovered one AK-47, one pistol and several magazines and other ammunition from the scene. Giving more details about the incident, the Kashmir Zone Police on Twitter wrote, "Two LeT terrorists have been killed in this operation by Police, CRPF and Army. Arms & ammunition recovered. Details shall follow." The two terrorists have been identified as Naveed Bhat, resident of Qaimoh and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat also a resident of Qaimoh. Earlier, there was an exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants. (More details to follow) The shamed former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, who was jailed for perverting the course of justice, has written a memoir about her struggles in prison. Onasanya, 36, was jailed for three months in January last year after she was convicted of lying to police about a speeding ticket. But the former MP spent just a month in prison and has since complained in a 122-page memoir about a lack of almond milk and 'measly meals like Spaghetti hoops' during her time behind bars. The shamed former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, who was jailed for perverting the course of justice, has written a memoir about her struggles in prison The ex-Peterborough MP made her remarks in a book, titled Snakes And Adders. In one passage, she recalled being ridiculed during her first breakfast behind bars. She claimed another inmate shouted 'This ain't Costa' after she asked for almond milk or 'soya if there's no alternatives'. She also complained of a lack of sleep while imprisoned at HMP Bronzefield but said she now hopes to 'become a voice' for women she met in prison. Onasanya became the first sitting MP in nearly thirty years to be jailed when she was convicted of lying to police about a speeding ticket. Her brother, Festus Onasanya, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was jailed for ten months. Onasanya, 36. was jailed for three months in January last year after she was convicted of lying to police about a speeding ticket. She spent just a month behind bars, at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey (pictured) Ms Onasanya's book is described as a 'candid account of life both behind and beyond the door as a sitting MP'. And in an apparent explanation of the title of her book, Onasanya wrote: 'I remember the board game snakes and ladders and thinking it is quite symbolic. 'This journey called life is full of peaks and troughs, but this was something very different. Onasanya became the first sitting MP in nearly thirty years to be jailed when she was convicted of lying to police about a speeding ticket. Pictured: CCTV footage showing Fiona Onasanya speeding 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney near Peterborough Her brother, Festus Onasanya, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was jailed for ten months 'No-one tells you that at the top of ladders can be a pit of adders!!! 'Adders are Britain's only venomous snake but in the world of politics, I think there are two types which comes disguised as what I will call constituents and comrades!! 'I am referring to constituents as those people who share your ideals and support your vision but do not necessarily support you. 'Neither group should be considered confidants anymore than Adders should be considered ladders!' The former solicitor, who was struck off from the profession in August, also said she helped fellow inmates with drafting legal letters. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). "The reason why I always have the US in mind, even though Australia is home and the foundations are here, is because in Australia, it's so hard to build a great business," he says. In Australia, it's so hard to build a great business. [...] So if you build a brand here that people love, and you can be successful financially, you can go anywhere. Steven Marks "There's a small population, right, labour costs are so high, fresh fruit and veg is so expensive and rents are so high. So if you build a brand here that people love, and you can be successful financially, you can go anywhere. I truly believe that." Marks says labour costs are a major issue in Australia, with 10 staff full-time at Guzman y Gomez's head office of 100 just ensuring staff are paid correctly. "The labour laws here are so hard to interpret," he says, pointing to the collapse of celebrity chef George Calombaris' restaurant empire following staff underpayment. "All I know is 400 people have lost their jobs and that is not good," he says. "Calombaris, I don't know him, I don't know if he's a good guy or he's a bad guy, [...] but I think we have to do a better job." Marks says the issue is the complexity of the system and labour laws need to be updated to reflect a 24-7 economy. "The labour laws in Australia are so antiquated, it's all we talk about because it would absolutely kill me, like everything our guys have to be paid correctly," he says. "But to interpret it is so difficult, man that's all we do. I think some people are fraudulent but I think a lot aren't. And that's the problem." From street kid to hedge funds Marks describes himself as a "street kid" growing up in New York with a single mother who raised three boys. "My dad growing up was a pool hustler out of Miami Beach and he died homeless and a drug addict," he says. "So I've seen how bad life is." However with a mind for numbers Marks went to the prestigious Wharton business school at the University of Pennsylvania and got his start working for legendary hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, whose life proved the inspiration for the television series Billions. "I don't know anything else, I just know complete failure or success," Marks says. Marks and Hazan started Guzman y Gomez with their own savings and then brought in 10 shareholders including Peter Ritchie, the founder of McDonalds Australia, Guy Russo, former chief executive of McDonald's Australia, Kmart and Target, and former McDonald's executive Steve Jermyn, before attracting $44 million from private investment firm TDM Growth Partners in 2018. These experienced shareholders have helped Guzman y Gomez use franchising to achieve its fast growth. Franchisees pay up to $1 million to buy a Guzman y Gomez store and then ongoing fees of 8 per cent royalty and 3 per cent marketing. Aligned interests Marks says franchising has had a "bad rap" in Australia which has often been deserved with the parliamentary inquiry into franchising highlighting structural issues with the system. He claims Guzman y Gomez is different, with 30 company-owned stores ensuring the owners of the business have the same interests as the franchisees. "Be very wary of a franchise that don't own, doesn't have any corporate restaurants," he says. "We're growing our corporate restaurants. We don't take any rebates. I believe that anybody sort of buys into your dreams that you're accountable to making sure that they fulfil theirs." Russo, who also chairs the Guzman y Gomez board, was on board as soon as he met Marks. Loading "I fell in love with him and his food immediately," the fast food and retail veteran says. "I normally don't invest in startups but I thought this could be great for our grandchildren or we could lose all our money," he says. "I loved the food and I loved him, he had all the passion you wanted in an executive." Russo says it is "too early to call" whether Guzman y Gomez can succeed in the US. "I have a pretty philosophical view of overseas expansion because of McDonald's, which is open one shop and wait patiently to see if the customers love it, and if you can get the right economics out of the store," he says. Former McDonald's Australia, Target and Kmart chief executive Guy Russo is an investor in Guzman y Gomez and chairman of the board. Credit:Peter Braig All board members are unpaid and Russo is so enthusiastic about the business he was mopping the floors and taking a shift on the drive-through at Guzman y Gomez's Chicago store opening. "It's exciting to be part of the journey," Russo says. Investor Tom Cowan of TDM says Guzman y Gomez faces significant competition in the US from incumbent Mexican chains Chipotle and Taco Bell, which between them turn over more than $US10 billion ($13 billion) a year. "We think Guzman y Gomez has a far better customer experience both in terms of the quality of the food and also being able to deliver at speed," he says. "Ultimately if you have a better customer experience and the right management team you should be able to execute on that opportunity." Loading The next step for Guzman y Gomez is an initial public offering in two to three years, with Cowan describing the franchise as having "all the qualities required" for a successful IPO. "My dream as a kid was I always wanted to list the business," Marks says. "I want people to be able to own Guzman y Gomez, to have shares in something that they love. "I'm going to build the next McDonald's, I'm going to build the next Chipotle, and the team believes in it and I believe in it. I really want us to build the best restaurant company in the world and I want to change the way people eat." The reporter attended SuiteConnect in Sydney as a guest of NetSuite. Chinese companies bought Colombian gold mines and are building Bogotas new metro system and much more. Bogota, Colombia Chinas interest in what the International Monetary Fund ranks as South Americas fastest-growing economy is deepening. Within the last three months, Chinas Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd bought a gold mine in Colombia, and a consortium led by China Harbor Engineering Co won a contract to build the Bogota metro system. Colombias President Ivan Duque made an official visit to Beijing in July 2019 to bolster Chinese demand for his countrys agricultural products and encourage continued Chinese investment in the Andean nation. [Duque] is the first Colombian president that has visited China during his first year as president. This means a lot because if you visit a country in your first year, it means that it is a priority for your government, Juan Felipe Roldan, a lawyer who specialises in Chinese firms operating in Colombia, told Al Jazeera. We believe it is going to strengthen Colombian relationships a lot. The buying of [the mining firm] Continental Gold by a Chinese company is a reflection of what is going on in the Colombia market right now regarding Chinese investors, Roldan said. Colombia is becoming more and more attractive. While the two countries appear to be growing closer, Colombia has not signed onto Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Since 2013, the multibillion-dollar initiative designed to help the Asian giant partner with countries around the world through trade and various infrastructure projects has drawn in 19 Latin American nations but not Colombia. And yet, that could change. Roldan says Chinas recent large-scale projects in the South American country suggest Colombia my join the BRI. Colombias strategic value to China In just four years, the presence of Chinese companies has quadrupled in Colombia, increasing from 20 to around 80 companies, according to documents provided to Al Jazeera by ProColombia. The Economic & Commercial Counselor for the Chinese Embassy in Bogota Dong Wei told Al Jazeera that China is pleased more Chinese companies are investing in and operating in Colombia. Colombia is strategically important in the region and is the only country in South America that connects the [Pacific and Atlantic] oceans and is politically and economically stable. This year will mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Colombia. Economic relations between the two countries started picking in the late 1990s. ProColombia data shows Chinese direct investment in Colombia went from almost nothing in 1994 to a height of $55.7m in 2016 and since then routinely hovers around $30m annually. Areas of concern The International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) conducted an investigation that points to a pattern of human and environmental rights violations committed by Chinese companies in Latin America. IFHR is a coalition of more than 20 human rights organisations. Its report, released in 2018, slammed Chinese firms for not complying with international standards and for a reported lack of accountability for human rights violations in countries where they operate, including Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. The report alleges Chinese companies operating in Latin America failed to implement environmental consultation processes aimed at the general population, as set out in Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Nor did they follow processes of free, prior, and informed consultation with indigenous groups meeting the standards established in Convention 169 of the ILO and in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Chinese officials deny those allegations, and say Chinas companies abide by host-country laws and commonly accepted standards. The Chinese government always demands and guides Chinese companies to maintain an operation that complies with laws and regulations abroad, and for years has published several regulatory documents in regards to this, said Wei. Last year, Beijing enacted new regulations governing how its companies should operate outside of China. The new rules call on companies to follow the host countrys standards. They also require Chinese firms to conduct environmental assessments before beginning operations and to consult local stakeholders and people most likely to be impacted by a project. It will be an interesting test to see if Chinese companies really follow those guidelines or if its empty rhetoric, said David Castrillon, a research professor on China-related issues at Bogotas Externado University. Risky business Some see Zijin Mining Group Co Ltds purchase of a gold mine in Colombia as a brave investment given the mines troubled past. Continental Golds operations are situated in the small town of Buritica, in Colombias central northwestern Antioquia region. Last year, four Continental Gold workers were killed by gunmen within a few weeks. One of them was shot near Buritica, and the others were murdered at a different exploration site. Al Jazeera made several requests to Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd for comment about the companys future work in Colombia, but by the time of publication, had received no response. A lot has been written about the Supreme Court (SC)s recent ruling on women in the Indian Army, but I wonder how many people have a clear idea of the full picture? The assumption that, hereafter, the Army will treat women officers as the equal of men is only partially correct. In critical areas it is, in fact, wrong. When you grasp this, youll understand the reservations which the SC dismissed, but many serving and retired officers stand by. First, a few critical facts. Women officers comprise less than 4% of the Army officer corps. In the Navy, it is nearly 7%; in the Air Force, it has crossed 13%. So the Army is the laggard. This needed rectification. Now women can serve in all 10 non-combat units. Since 1992, the eight support and services arms as well as the Army Education Corps and the Judge Advocate Generals Branch have been opened up to women at different times. But they can only serve on short service commissions. That gives them a 10-year tenure, extendable to 14. It also means they retire before reaching command position levels i.e. the rank of a colonel or above, and they do not get pensions. This is what the SC has rectified. In all the 10 non-combat units, women officers will now get permanent commissions. Those presently on short service commissions will also get the same right. Second, women officers will no longer be restricted to staff appointments. Hereafter, they are eligible to compete, at par with male officers, for command appointments. It, therefore, follows they are eligible for further promotion to higher ranks. This is undoubtedly the most significant aspect of the SCs judgment. However, this doesnt mean youll see a surge in women brigadiers, major generals and lieutenant generals. The Army has a sharply narrowing pyramid structure and just as an increasingly diminishing proportion of men rise upwards so, too, will be the case with women. Nonetheless, a ceiling has been broken and the sound of shattering glass is discernible. That said and done, the Armys combat units remain closed to women. These are the infantry, mechanised infantry, armoured corps and artillery. This means women will not be direct participants in war. The SC did not consider this because it wasnt part of the appeals before it. Yet this is where the reservations of serving and retired Army officers carry a fair measure of validity. Its not just that our jawans come from conservative rural backgrounds where acceptance of women as superiors or commanders is absent, if not resisted; you also have to bear in mind the actual conditions which jawans and officers experience during war. For instance, they sleep under tanks and armoured cars or huddle together in trenches. Their objections can be questioned on moral grounds but you cant overrule them in a way that risks efficacy in battle, particularly when India faces threats on two borders. This is why the Army wants to make haste slowly. With time this will change. Women serve as fighter pilots in the Air Force and perform combat roles on naval ships. Its just that in the Army combat includes the possibility of hand-to-hand fighting. Finally, two things we mustnt forget. Women are not about to become jawans. The SC ruling concerns officers not other ranks. The second point has been overlooked by many commentators. If women are to rise to command positions, they must have the same rigorous training as men. So if male officers have to pass through the National Defence Academy and graduate from the Indian Military Academy that, presumably, must be the norm for women too. Just as gender and physiology were wrongly used to exclude they cannot now be disregarded either. As the SC said: Soldiers must have the physical capability to do ones role. Karan Thapar is the author of Devils Advocate: The Untold Story The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A man in New York was arrested on Feb. 19 for allegedly making death threats to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) over their roles in the impeachment of President Donald Trump. During the trial, Schumer, the Democratic leader of the Senate, voted to convict Trump on both articles, accusing the president of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Schiff served as the lead House impeachment manager during the trial and led the prosecution against Trump. Schiffs Washington office received a voicemail on Jan. 23 threatening to kill Schiff, according to Roll Call. I dare you to come, I dare you to come to New York, because I will put a bullet in your head, the caller said, adding that Schiff could look up his number if he thought he was joking. Ill come to Washington and kill you, he said. Two weeks later, on Feb. 4, Schumer also received a voice message at his Albany, New York, office. Hey Schumer, you and Nancy Pelosi are two of the biggest scumbags who ever lived. And let me tell you something, somebody wants to assassinate you, Im going to be the driver, the caller said. The calls were reported to the Capitol Polices Threat Assessment Section and they traced both phone calls back to Salvatore Lippa II, 57, of Greece, N.Y., according to Roll Call. Lippa admitted to his calls when he was questioned by the U.S. Capitol Police. Lippa admitted to making the threatening calls to Congressman Schiff and Senator Schumer because he was upset about the impeachment proceedings, the Justice Department said in a press release. U.S Attorney James Kennedy said in a statement: The rights secured in our Constitution carry with them certain responsibilities. When it comes to the First Amendment, that responsibility includes the obligation not to threaten to kill others. Lippa now faces up to 10 years in prison, a 250,000 fine, or both according to The Hill. He was released from custody with limited restrictions and monitoring devices. Two workers of the Shiv Sena were arrested for allegedly beating a 38-year-old man, accused of molesting several women near a railway station in Mumbai, news agency PTI reported on Saturday. The Press Trust of India said they were arrested by Antop Hill Police on Friday. Sena workers, identified as Nitin Nandgaonkar and Darshanbir Singh Surjeet Singh Kochhar, were arrested and later released on bail, an official was quoted as saying by PTI. The man, Raziwur Rehman Habibur Rehman Khan, had lodged a complaint against the Sena workers. The Shiv Senas Nitin Nandgaonkar had beaten up Khan after he was seen in a video clip, running up to a young woman and kissing her on the face before turning back. The video was recorded on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera installed on the foot overbridge at Mumbais Matunga railway station. In his complaint, Khan said that Nandgaonkar and Singh got his phone number and asked him to come to the partys Antop Hill branch. When Khan went to Nandgaonkars office, the Sena worker thrashed him and also uploaded a video of beaten him on his Facebook account, police said. Khan was arrested in January on a charge of pickpocketing since no woman came forward to file charges against him. Police probe later showed that he was a serial offender. Khan was released on bail soon after. Nandgaonkar and Kochhar have been booked under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the information technology act, police said. Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has revealed she was fired as a teenage waitress after berating a diner who grabbed her bottom. The actress, who champions equality issues in the film industry, retold one of her first experiences facing down sexism as a 19-year-old aspiring star. But following the spiky Paris restaurant exchange, she recalled feeling guilty for lashing out at the groper despite her being the victim. Speaking to the Telegraph magazine about her male co-stars taking home bigger pay cheques, which she used to put up with, Dame Kristin said: It's like when I was working as a waitress, years ago, and one of the clients grabbed my a***. 'I was rude to him. He reported me and I got fired. But I believed that I had done something wrong.' Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has revealed she was fired as a teenage waitress after berating a diner who grabbed her bottom The actress, who champions equality issues in the film industry, told how she first faced down sexism as a 19-year-old aspiring star (pictured in the 1980s, a Handful of Dust, left and Under the Cherry Moon, right) The flare-up 40 years ago was during a time when sexism was rife and many women 'sucked up' unwarranted behaviour from men. Yet, looking back, Dame Kristin doubled down on her retaliation: 'Why should I put up with some bloke grabbing my bum when I am 19?' Now, the Fleabag actress is much less squeamish about speaking out on sexism in the workplace. She said: 'I started thinking about it, and actually, that really p****s me off, when I find out that someone who does the same job as me got paid more because he has a penis.' The wide-ranging interview also saw the actress open up about her horrible teenage bullies who teased her for her middle-class background. During her studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama She told how 'super mean' students would relentlessly claim she was born 'with a silver spoon'. The Four Weddings star said: 'It was very uncool to be middle class at the time, so I got bullied because of the way I spoke. It was horrible.' Dame Kristin, who quit drama school and moved to Paris, recalled her amazement at how her tormentors assumed she had enjoyed a comfortable upbringing - when in reality she had been on a rollercoaster of grief. The Fleabag actress (pictured middle Phoebe Waller-Bridge, right) and Sian Clifford, left)with is now much less squeamish about speaking out on sexism in the workplace Her naval pilot father Simon was killed in a flying accident when she was four, leaving her then 27-year-old pregnant mother Deborah to care for her three daughters. Deborah remarried, but, in a cruel twist of fate, her new husband also died in an airplane seven years later. Despite suffering terrible heartbreak at such a young age, Dame Kristin spoke of the woeful lack of support. She told the Telegraph: 'My stepfather was missing. My sister and I were sent back to school It was my housemistress who told me that he was dead. 'We were given no counselling, anything like that. None. Zero What we did to our children' In a Channel 4 documentary called My Grandparents War, Dame Kristin was overwhelmed with emotion to be told that her grandfather captained the HMS Impulsive into the treacherous waters off Dunkirk as part of the daring Operation Dynamo in May 1940. 21.02.2020 LISTEN When senior superintendent of police Helen Essoka Dina resigned from the Cameroon police force, she said ....I am victim of gross injustice and abuse of power by my hierarchy; I am victim of human rights violations by my hierarchy; I fear for my safety because of death threats from my bosses; my health has deteriorated badly of late, after the long periods of torture I have suffered in the hands of my hierarchy. Helen's predicament captures some of the issues and worries around the Nomen Estates Land Grab Saga. The preliminary investigations were carried out by the Buea police department. Investigations concluded that the land belonged to Nomen George Tchaptchet. Superintendent of police Helen Bessem Njoh became interested in the land and grabbed a plot on the disputed property. At the same time she became part of the cabal fighting, threatening and disturbing Nomen George Tchaptchet from quietly enjoying their estate. Abusing her office and powers, the superintendent emboldened others to grab more land and file nuisance suits against Nomen George Tchaptchet. Superintendent of Police Eric Anagho working at South West territorial surveillance encroached on the Nomen Estates just when the administration had placed an injunction on any development of the land. Anagho uses his police position to intimidate people from entering the land on behalf of Nomen George Tchaptchet. If superintendent of police Helen Essoka Dina ... was for many months made to suffer injustice, traumatizing... her to the level of quitting her job, then Nomen George Tchaptchet should be congratulated for standing up to the encroachers and harassment by administrators, magistrates and police for five years ending with his shooting on 19 January 2019. Magistrates who come to the disputed land as umpires end up as rugged players exchanging roles with grabbers and abusers of their offices. This wanton show of conflict of interest goes unpunished and make a laughing stock of Cameroon. For a bargain to dis-inculpate Asong LAWRENCE for FRAUD, the presiding magistrate in a case of encroachment received two hectares as bribe to let a criminal go free. Whereas one of the few incorruptible judges in Cameroon, Joseph Malegho Aseh had ruled in 2005 that none of the people squatting on the land owned it and that the owner was unknown, subsequent judges on the land did not draw wisdom from this un-appealed ruling. By implication, everybody acquiring land on Nomen Estates after 2005 did it knowing they were not buying from the rightful owner. The infamous land grabbing saga in Fako Division is only possible because of intractable corruption and a nebulous of administrative injustice. The land department complicates matters by complicity in the fraud and administrative errors they make to deny people their right to their property. Nomen Estates has been occupied and developed for over 60 years with an abundance of cocoa, coffee, fruit trees and a farmhouse. By 1976 Cameroon Land Tenure Law, possessory rights belong to the person who has developed land. Such land is not subject to prescription, alienation or attachment. Even the state must compensate the first occupant who developed land before expropriating it for public interest. How did any land and surveys agents find it normal to demarcate Nomen Estates for sales without the expressed opinion of Nomen George Tchaptchet falls in the ambit of administrative harassment, negligence and corruption. The regional order was signed on 28 April 2017 and published on the national daily Cameroon Tribune on 4 October 2017. Cameroonians were duly informed of this executive act. A regional order is the highest administrative act resolving any dispute as to official recognition and registration of land in favour of an applicant pursuant to the 1976 land law. Office holders in the South West Region have not only despised this document but have gone ahead to encourage resistance and rejection of the ORDER. Cameroon is frightfully corrupt with people taking the laws into their hands. It is in this context that encroachers on Nomen Estates picked up guns to shoot Nomen George Tchaptchet on 19 January 2019. If justice had been delivered the outcome could have been different. Bias and interest pushed almost all segments of a functional state to abuse their power leading to the harassment, threats of life and attempted murder of Nomen George Tchaptchet. A flight carrying 32 British and European evacuees from a coronavirus-hit cruise ship has landed back in the UK. The plane touched down at Ministry of Defence (MoD) base Boscombe Down in Wiltshire shortly after 11.30 am on Saturday. Passengers have been driven to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for 14 days of quarantine to protect against the spread of the illness should any of them be infected. They have so far all tested negative for Covid-19. Read more: Cruise ship coronavirus patients post pictures from hospital after being treated The plane carrying 32 British and European evacuees has landed in the UK (Picture: PA) Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire (Picture: PA) The evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have spent more than two weeks stuck off the coast of Japan. It is unclear where the small number of EU citizens will be taken following the plane landing in the UK. In a statement issued after the plane landed, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: We have brought 32 British and European citizens safely home from Japan. The FCO worked hard to get them back to the UK securely. Our number one priority has consistently been the health and safety of UK nationals. Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire (Picture: PA) The four Britons on board the Diamond Princess who have tested positive for coronavirus were not on the flight. Since being kept on board the cruise liner in the port of Yokohama, a total of 634 passengers and crew have been infected, accounting for more than half of all the confirmed coronavirus cases outside of China. It is understood some British nationals who are part of the Diamond Princess crew opted to remain. Read more: Four Britons on board cruise ship in Japan test positive for coronavirus Passengers leave a plane to board a coach at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire (Picture: PA) The passengers were repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan (Picture: PA) One British couple on board who were diagnosed with coronavirus have both since been diagnosed with pneumonia. The family of David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, said they have now been moved to a prison-like hospital. Read more: New coronavirus cases fall as Wuhan round-up under way The couple were on the cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary when it was placed into quarantine. Arrowe Park was previously used to host 83 British nationals for a 14-day quarantine period earlier in February after they were flown out of Wuhan in China, which has been at the centre of the outbreak. Advertisement Thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts have launched a coordinated effort to spread alarm about the new coronavirus, disrupting global efforts to combat the epidemic, U.S. officials say. The disinformation campaign promotes unfounded conspiracy theories that the United States is behind the COVID-19 outbreak, in an apparent bid to damage the U.S. image by seizing on international health concerns, they said. Meanwhile, alarm bells were sounding as three countries reported clusters of infected patients with no traceable source vector from China, the first sign that the virus is spreading uncontrollably and could reach pandemic levels. Doctors are unable to identify the source of coronavirus clusters in South Korea, Singapore and Iran, the World Health Organization said Saturday. WHO officials said China's crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. But as hot spots emerge around the globe, trouble finding each source - the first patient who sparks every new cluster - might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-true public health steps to stamp it out. In South Korea, medical workers wearing protective gear transfer a suspected coronavirus patient to another hospital from Daenam Hospital where a total of 16 infections have now been identified with the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Cheongdo county In Singapore, visitors wearing masks as a precaution against a new coronavirus arrive for the Singapore Airshow. The virus becomes more widespread, trying to trace every contact would be futile, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said In Iran, a young woman wearing a protective mask crosses a busy street in the capital Tehran on Saturday. Iran today reported one more death among 10 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the Islamic republic to five 'A number of spot fires, occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic,' said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at Australia's University of Queensland. That worst-case isn't here yet, the WHO insists. It isn't convinced that countries outside China need more draconian measures, but it pointed to spikes in cases in Iran and South Korea to warn that time may be running out to contain the virus. 'What we see is a very different phase of this outbreak depending where you look,' said WHO's Dr. Sylvie Briand. 'We see different patterns of transmission in different places.' The World Health Organization defines a 'global pandemic' as a disease spreading on two continents, though some public health experts would call an outbreak a pandemic if the spread is over a wide area or across many international borders. The newest red flag: Iran has reported 28 cases, including five deaths, in just days. The cluster began in the city of Qom, a popular religious destination, but it's not clear how. Worse, infected travelers from Iran already have been discovered in Lebanon and Canada. In South Korea, most of the hundreds of new cases detected since Wednesday are linked to a church in the city of Daegu and a nearby hospital. But health authorities have not yet found the 'index case,' the person among the churchs 9,000 followers who set off the chain of infections. There also have been several cases in the capital, Seoul, where the infection routes have not yet been traced. In Europe, Italy saw cases of the new virus more than quadruple in a day as it grapples with infections in a northern region that apparently have spread through a hospital and a cafe. A map shows the spread of coronavirus worldwide, with untraceable clusters now in Iran, Singapore and South Korea People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Friday. The epidemic-stricken city plans to build 19 more makeshift hospitals to ensure enough beds for COVID-19 patients Medical personnel work in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan on Friday. The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has so far killed more than 2,000 people A cluster of cases isn't inherently worrying - in fact, it's expected as an infection that's easy to spread is carried around the world by travelers. The first line of defense: Isolate the sick to treat them and prevent further spread, and quarantine people who came in contact with them until the incubation period is over. But as the virus becomes more widespread, trying to trace every contact would be futile, Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged earlier this month. 'If we still hospitalize and isolate every suspect case, our hospitals will be overwhelmed,' he said. So far, the city-state has identified five clusters of transmission, including two churches. But there remain eight locally transmitted cases with no links to earlier cases, or to China. Viruses vary in how they infect. The new coronavirus - unlike its cousins SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, and MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome - spreads as easily as a common cold. And it's almost certainly being spread by people who show such mild symptoms that no one can tell, said Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 'If that's the case, all of these containment methods are not going to work,' Adalja said. 'It's likely mixed in the cold and flu season all over the place, in multiple countries' and gone unnoticed until someone gets severely ill. These milder symptoms are good news 'in terms of not as many people dying,' said Mackay, of Australia. 'But its really bad news if you are trying to stop a pandemic,' he added. Nurses distribute meals to patients at a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan on Friday A doctor instructs recovered COVID-19 patients to be discharged from a temporary hospital in Wuhan on Friday When Hong Kong reported it first death from the virus earlier this month, it also confirmed three locally transmitted cases with no known link to any previous cases or any travel history to China. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection warned then that 'there could be invisible chains of infection happening within communities.' Officials in both South Korea and Japan have signaled in the past week that the spread is entering a new phase in their countries. On Friday, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said the government would have to shift its focus from quarantine and border control to slowing the spread of the virus. Schools and churches were closed and some mass gatherings banned. Takaji Wakita, head of Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, earlier urged people to work at home or in shifts to avoid being in a crowd, and refrain from holding non-essential and non-urgent meetings. But Adalja cautioned that far-reaching measures like China instituted in the outbreak's epicenter of Wuhan - where citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes for weeks - can backfire. While it remains to be seen if the new virus is waning, that kind of lockdown makes it hard for people to get other critically important care, like fast treatment for a heart attack. In Beijing, a worker wears a protective suit in the Central Business District following a nationwide outbreak of coronavirus A man wearing a face mask and sunglasses sits in a deserted shopping street in Beijing on Saturday Motorcycle delivery worker Gao Yuchao, driving on an overpass to deliver goods ordered online along a street in Shanghai. China's armies of racing, swerving motorcycle deliverymen have been hailed as saviors during the coronavirus crisis, keeping shut-in citizens fed and stocked up. But it come with major adjustments for couriers like Gao Yuchao There's no way to predict if the recent clusters will burn out or trigger widespread transmission. For now, health officials should try and contain the infection for as long as possible while preparing for a change in strategy by preparing hospitals, readying protective equipment and bolstering laboratory capacity, said Gagandeep Kang, a microbiologist who leads Indias Translational Health Science and Technology Institute. 'Although the window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak, we still have a chance to contain it,' said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 'But while doing that, we have to prepare at the same time for any eventualities, because this outbreak could go any direction - it could even be messy.' Malicious disinformation isn't helping as authorities attempted to inform the public, however. State Department officials tasked with combating Russian disinformation told AFP that false personas are being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to advance Russian talking propaganda about coronavirus in multiple languages. 'Russia's intent is to sow discord and undermine US institutions and alliances from within, including through covert and coercive malign influence campaigns,' said Philip Reeker, the acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia. 'By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting from the global health response,' he said. The claims that have been circulating in recent weeks include allegations that the virus is a US effort to 'wage economic war on China,' that it is a biological weapon manufactured by the CIA or part of a Western-led effort 'to push anti-China messages.' US officials say that false personas are being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to advance Russian talking propaganda about coronavirus. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen above A health worker disinfects an office in Daegu, South Korea on Saturday. South Korea's prime minister declared the southeastern cities of Daegu and Cheongdo as 'special care zones' after a cluster of COVID-19 cases has been reported A confirmed coronavirus patient is wheeled to a hospital at Chuncheon, South Korea on Saturday US individuals including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a philanthropist who has spent billions on global health programs, have also been falsely accused of involvement in the virus. The disinformation campaign was identified by US monitors in mid-January after Chinese officials announced a third death from the new coronavirus in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. More than 2,340 people have since died, mostly in China. The number of cases exceeds 76,000 and the virus has reached around 25 countries. Among them is Iran, which on Saturday ordered the closure of schools and universities in two cities, after a fifth death. Several thousand online accounts -- previously identified for airing Russian-backed messages on major events such as the war in Syria, the Yellow Vest protests in France and Chile's mass demonstrations -- are posting 'almost near identical' messages about the novel coronavirus, according to a report prepared for the State Department's Global Engagement Center and seen by AFP. The accounts -- run by humans, not bots -- post at similar times in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French and can be linked back to Russian proxies, or carry similar messages to Russian-backed outlets such as RT and Sputnik, it said. Russian state-funded media started pushing anti-Western messages about the cause of the epidemic on January 20, with operators of the social media accounts beginning to post globally the following day, US officials say. 'In this case, we were able to see their full disinformation ecosystem in effect, including state TV, proxy web sites and thousands of false social media personas all pushing the same themes,' said Special Envoy Lea Gabrielle, head of the Global Engagement Center, which is tasked with tracking and exposing propaganda and disinformation. During many past news events, the accounts would post actively for up to 72 hours. But messages about the new coronavirus have been uploaded every day over the past month -- a sign, US officials said, of Russia's investment in a story unlikely to disappear soon from the headlines. 'In the Russian doctrine of information confrontation, this is classic,' said another official from the Global Engagement Center. 'The number of coronavirus cases globally hasn't reached its apex, so the Russian strategy is to very cheaply but very effectively take advantage of the information environment to sow discord between us and China, or for economic purposes.' In Italy, ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital Saturday. A woman of Milan's Lombardy region has died after being infected with the coronavirus, becoming the second death following that of a 78-year-old man who died on 21 February. The new wave of cases in Italy's northern regions have triggered shut-downs of shops and offices Health workers respond to a suspected coronavirus case in northern Italy on Saturday Experts saw parallels with previous conspiracy theories traced to Moscow, including a KGB disinformation campaign in the 1980s that convinced many around the world that US scientists created the HIV virus that causes AIDS. US intelligence has also said that Russia interfered through social media manipulation in the 2016 election and seeks to do so again in 2020. The Kremlin has denied the charges and President Donald Trump has scoffed at suggestions of Russian help. The US believes the latest Russian disinformation campaign is making it harder to respond to the epidemic, particularly in Africa and Asia, with some of the public becoming suspicious of the Western response. The World Health Organization warned Friday that the window to stem the outbreak was narrowing, voicing alarm at a surge of cases with no clear link to China. A State Department official said that Russian operatives appeared to have been given 'carte blanche' to attack the US reputation. 'Whether or not a particular theme is being directed at the highest levels doesn't matter. It's the fact that they have freelance ability to operate in this space to do whatever damage they can, which could have seismic implications.' Scientists believe the COVID-19 illness originated in late December in Wuhan at a market selling exotic animals for human consumption. Bats are known carriers of this strain of the coronavirus, whose official name is SARS-CoV-2, but scientists think it spread to humans via another mammal species, possibly pangolins. The US believes the latest Russian disinformation campaign is making it harder to respond to the epidemic, particularly in Africa and Asia, with some of the public becoming suspicious of the Western response. The World Health Organization warned Friday that the window to stem the outbreak was narrowing, voicing alarm at a surge of cases with no clear link to China. A State Department official said that Russian operatives appeared to have been given 'carte blanche' to attack the US reputation. 'Whether or not a particular theme is being directed at the highest levels doesn't matter. It's the fact that they have freelance ability to operate in this space to do whatever damage they can, which could have seismic implications.' Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. India, US line up major defence advancements With a trade deal off the table, India and the US are looking to focus sharply on defence cooperation during the two-day visit of US President Donald Trump to India, and will, in all likelihood, indicate a calendar for the signing of the third foundational military communication agreement between the two countries during the visit, top officials familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Read more Trump to raise trade barriers, religious freedom on India visit, say officials US President Donald Trump will raise concerns over rising trade barriers and tariffs during his India visit, which begins on Monday, but the onus for the announcement of a deal was wholly on India, senior Trump administration officials said Friday. Read more Assam NRC had names of ineligible persons, says coordinator The final National Register of Citizens (NRC) published for Assam last year includes the names of ineligible persons, the coordinator of the exercise has said while issuing a memo to all district commissioners in the state to seek details of such people. Read more Two LeT terrorists killed in encounter in J-K Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Sangam on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said. Read more Act soon or get blacklisted: FATF warns Pak on terror funding he Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday warned Pakistan it faced the possibility of being added to the watchdogs black list and face greater scrutiny of all transactions in its financial system if it fails to fully implement an action plan to counter terror financing by June. Read more India vs New Zealand: Rishabh Pant gets run out, twitterati blame Ajinkya Rahane The decision was criticised by Harsha Bhogle in a series of tweets on Friday morning. With India reeling at 122/5, Pant needed a big innings to silent the critics and justify his selection in the team, and in process, help his side to a decent first-innings total. But an unfortunate run out ended his hopes of playing a big innings. Read more Happy Birthday Sooraj Barjatya: How Hum Aapke Hain Koun changed Indian cinema, brought families back to theatres On Sooraj Barjatyas 55th birthday, a look at the most film in his career -- Hum Aapke Hain Koun. Read more A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed a plea by one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case claiming he has mental illness and needs treatment. Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana rejected the plea by Vinay Kumar Sharma. The plea had claimed that Sharma had sustained grievous head injury and fracture in his right arm, and was suffering from "insanity", "mental illness" and "schizophrenia". Tihar jail authorities had termed his claims as a "bundle of distorted fats" and told the court that CCTV footage established that the convict had inflicted "superficial" injuries on himself and was not suffering from any psychological disorder. The psychologist, who appeared on behalf of the jail, said medical checkups of all four convicts were done on a daily basis and they are all fine. Nearly two years of work on an updated sewer plan will be presented to the Rochester City Council on Monday. The citys last plan was completed in 1996. "The plan identifies deficiencies in the current sanitary collection system that need to be addressed for future development, along with new trunk extensions needed for additional development," states a memo from Public Works project development manager Matt Crawford. "The plan also provides the costs to complete the needed projects and the preferred option to fund the projects." Estimated rates for developing trunk sewers, based on developable acres served, range from $2,865 an acre in the Willow Creek area to $38,000 in the South Zumbro district, according to the 49-page plan prepared by engineering consultants at WHKS. During its weekly study session, at 3:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, the council will review the findings. ADVERTISEMENT With discussion of the plan, Public Works staff is also expected to ask the council for direction on how to deal with growth in areas not already connected to wastewater services. The issue has been raised in discussions surrounding the Rochester Public Schools proposal for a new school on land commonly known as Hart Farms, which is along 40th Street Southwest, west of 18th Avenue. The site sits outside city limits, but the school district is proposing annexation. The district has a $2.9 million purchase agreement for 150 acres of land but has stated it only plans to request annexation of 80 acres, which are within boundaries considered for expansion by 2040 under the citys comprehensive plan. The proposed annexation is slated to be reviewed on March 11 by the citys Planning and Zoning Commission. In January, Rochester City Administrator Steve Rymer suggested the districts plans could spur development that would tax limited infrastructure and alter the citys plans for future sewer needs. The updated sewer plan indicates expansion into the area isnt considered as a top priority and is considered a longer-term project to provide for future development. Meanwhile, the Rochester School Board continues to study options for new property. The board is planning a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday to conduct a closed session to discuss an alternate property in Northeast Rochester, Mark Kramer, an Iowa-based developer has offered the land, according to Heather Nessler, RPS executive director of communications, marketing and technology. Kramer has offered the district up to 40 acres on approximately 500 acres he owns north of Valleyhigh Drive Northwest, between 50th and 60th avenues. ADVERTISEMENT Nessler said no immediate action is expected as a result of Mondays meeting, but the board is planning a goal-setting retreat at 5:30 p.m. Monday, following the special board meeting. Meetings during the week of Feb. 24 include: Rochester City Council study session, 3:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE Heritage Preservation Commission, 5 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 of City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments, noon Wednesday in conference room A at 2122 Campus Drive SE. Planning & Zoning Commission, 6 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. ADVERTISEMENT Olmsted County Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments, noon Wednesday in conference room A at 2122 Campus Drive SE. Soil and Water Conservation District Board, 8 a.m. Thursday in conference room A at 2122 Campus Drive SE. Rochester Public Schools School Board special meeting, 5 p.m. Monday in the boardroom of the Edison Building, 615 Seventh St. SW. School Board retreat, 5 p.m. Monday in the boardroom of the Edison Building, 615 Seventh St. SW. Munoz maintains proposed donation not right for middle school School district encouraged to look at alternatives to annexation School district preparing to seek annexation of proposed middle school site On Thursday, Britain's Daily Mail ran a story that America's media have refused to cover: the strong evidence that Ilhan Omar married her own brother, Ahmed Elmi, in order to commit immigration and student loan fraud. Omar's first response was precisely what everyone expected: she claimed anti-Muslim hate speech. By Friday, though, Omar had escalated her rhetoric, not directly but by proxy. She retweeted a post from Humans 4 Human Rights asserting that any challenge to Omar is a Zionist conspiracy. Reading through the site, it's apparent that the people behind it are from the Jeremy Corbyn left. It calls Boris Johnson a "rich men's lapdog" and inveighs against the "BLATANT UGLY FACTS of the SLEAZY SCHEMING foundation & agenda of #BREXIT, pushed & supported by the WHITE PRIVILEGED CORPORATE BANKSTERHOOD, #UK's elite #RulingClass, whose only aim is to get richer and damn the ordinary poor f***ks, the #BRITISH #PEOPLE." It warns that, in a post-Brexit U.K., "children ... the sick, vulnerable and homeless" won't survive. The site doesn't like Trump, calling his administration a "kakistocracy" (rule by bad people), and it hates and fears Jews. On the subject of a "Free Palestine," it states that "'Antisemitism' is the weapon of choice for Psychological Warfare to silence all of us who demand a #FreePalestine!" The one thing it really loves is Ilhan Omar. With widely publicized news that Ilhan Omar has been gaming the American system, so much so that federal law enforcement is investigating her, Humans 4 Human Rights went into overdrive to defend Omar. It published a post entitled "Enemy collaboration: Character Assassination of Ilhan Omar tabloid brainwashing saga continues." The article oozes sympathy for Omar, while showing a paranoid level of dehumanization when it comes to Jews and Israel, as well as a manic conspiracy theory tying Jews and Israel to the Murdochs. Here are a few select quotations: Pro-Israel Zionist / Far-right fraternization may be surprising to some, as their factions' "public image" apparently insists they violently despise each other. However, their fascist dystopian ideology [i.e., Zionism] is pretty much one and the same. Domination and oppression by any and all means necessary. [snip] The latest tabloid slander by the Daily Mail and The Sun stink of brazen collusion, referring to articles by the New York Post, whose owners the Murdoch family, conveniently own The Sun, and self-proclaimed "investigative journalist", Pro-Israel touting David Steinberg, who's been out to destroy Ilhan Omar since 2018. Aside from that ugliness, what's really not nice is an elected member of the United States House of Representatives retweeting this anti-Semitic garbage as a defense to charges that she's engaged in immigration fraud. Omar has a right to respond substantively (which she has not done), but, given that she's a member of Congress, it's not unreasonable to expect her to maintain some sort of dignity and decency...but that's not Omar's style. Instead, she retweets anti-Semitic muck: Bring it on Enemy collaboration: Character Assassination of Ilhan Omar tabloid brainwashing saga continues HUMANS 4 HUMAN RIGHTS https://t.co/HcROgbQZRN Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 21, 2020 The problem with having Omar in Congress isn't just her socialism, no matter how terrible an idea socialism is. Instead, it's her blatant, unrelenting hatred for America and American values. One expects a person who was welcomed here as a refugee and reached one of the highest pinnacles in the land to show at least smidgen of gratitude...but not Omar. She's the bad guest who moves in and then tries to burn down the house and then tries to burn down the neighbor's house, too. A passenger who got off the Diamond Princess after completing the cruise ship's quarantine this past week tested positive for the new virus Saturday, becoming the first known case of infection among those released at the end of the ship's containment period, Japanese officials said. The patient is a woman in her 60s from Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, who was on the ship with her husband, Tochigi Gov. Tomikazu Fukuda said at a televised conference. The woman had tested negative for the virus on Feb. 15, four days before she got off the ship with her husband, with neither showing any symptoms at the time. The couple took a train home, officials said. Despite strong doubts raised from inside and outside the country, Japanese health ministry officials have insisted that any passengers who completed the 14-day quarantine, tested negative for the virus and showed no symptoms had nearly zero risk of becoming a virus patient. "I would like to urge the government to take more thorough preventive measures," Fukuda said sternly at the conference. Some experts and former passengers have criticised the quarantine, saying anti-infection measures were inadequate. The US, Australia and other governments that evacuated their citizens from the ship are requiring them an additional two-week quarantine. Japan's health minister, Katsunobu Kato, said Saturday that 18 Americans, six Australians and one Israeli passenger who were flown out of Japan by their respective governments before the end of the ship's quarantine tested positive after returning home. He said the results were understandable because those passengers did not fully meet the stricter requirements for release from the ship. Kato said Japanese officials were working closely with their respective countries' health officials to follow up the cases. Kato also said Saturday that 23 passengers had been released from the Diamond Princess at the end of the quarantine without being tested for the virus due to procedural mistakes, another sign of sloppiness in the quarantine of the ship, where more than 600 people were infected. He said the 23 were tested before the quarantine began February 5, but were allowed to leave the ship on Wednesday and Thursday without being tested again. Three of them have since tested negative, and most of the others have agreed to be tested, he said. Kato said officials have tracked all 23 passengers down and asked them to self-quarantine at home for 14 days. "We deeply regret that there was an operational error," he said at a conference. "We will examine what went wrong so we will not repeat the same mistake." Japan has confirmed more than 760 cases of the new virus, which first emerged in China, including at least 634 from the Diamond Princess, which docked and was quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo. The ship initially carried about 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew members. Most of the passengers were either taken to hospitals, disembarked or took chartered flights home. About 100 others who had infected roommates or contact with other passengers during the quarantine period were taken to a government facility to complete the 14-day quarantine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Coronavirus: China 'deliberately delaying' IAF flight to evacuate Indians India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 22: China is delaying grant of clearance to India's proposal to send an Indian Air Force flight to carry relief material for people affected by coronavirus in the neighbouring country and bring back Indians from its city of Wuhan, official sources said Saturday. India was to send a C-17 military transport aircraft to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on February 20 but the plane could not take off as permission was not granted for the flight. "China is deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight," a high-level source said. The aircraft was to carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan. Sources said the Chinese side continued to maintain that there was no delay in granting permission for the flight to go, but "inexplicably" the clearance has not been given. In a letter to President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India's solidarity to the people and government of China in meeting the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak and offered to provide assistance to the country. Coronavirus kills 2,118 in China exceed SARS fatalities in 2003 India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of Modi's commitment as a token of India's solidarity, particularly in the 70th year of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "These supplies have been offered even as India faces tremendous shortage itself, given our ethos of helping others in their hour of need," said a source aware of the issue. The items being supplied are gloves, surgical masks, feeding pumps and defibrillators based on the requirements as indicated by the Chinese side. India's national carrier Air India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still living in Wuhan. A sizeable number of countries have evacuated their citizens from China and restricted movement of people and goods to and from the country in view of the massive outbreak of coronavirus there. Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish, said the sources. Coronavirus not man-made, says Chinese Ambassador dismissing the rumours They said relief and evacuation flights from other countries including by France are allowed to operate by China but the permission has not come through in India's case. "Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony?" said a person aware of the issue. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 10:34 [IST] Author's Note: I usually write these reviews with the aid of extensive notes taken during the show. The Caribbean damaged my phone, temporarily broke my smart watch (messing up my timings), and destroyed a lot of my paper to take notes. We will soldier on anyway! While Phish have played in Mexico before, this was my first year attending instead of watching on the couch. The one thing that most fascinated me as a spectator were the people dancing in the Caribbean Sea. The waves might have pummeled them, but they were having an amazing time splashing and cavorting. It was a beautiful, warm night in Cancun, and we decided that we would do the splashing ourselves, posting-up not far from the stage but surprisingly far from land... ok, about 20 feet from dry land, but that still is a somewhat abnormal perspective to see the band. 2020 Phish (Rene Huemer) The previous day, we did a day excursion to Beach Palace, where there were signs about how to handle a turtle that had washed ashore on the beach. What they did not address is what we should do if there were one in the clouds. Phish helped educate us by opening with Kasvot Vaxt's hit single. Apparently, you should say things out loud, and decide that you do indeed want to live another day. While "Turtle" might be about defiant optimism, it was immediately followed by a mirror image. The first "Shafty" in nearly 8 years told a different story. We might be in paradise, seeing our band in warm water with unlimited drinks and churros, but what if it turns out that we've really been damned all along? The dark, melodic jam that followed the "Shafty" made the odds of that being true even less likely, but that's what makes it so insidious. The jam out of "Shafty" had the feel of "Plasma," so it made sense that it resolved itself into that song. The dark jam continued after we were plasmatized, continuing the contrast between the celebration of the stunning locale and the theme of the music. But perhaps we needed to reflect on things, as---after a moment that reminded of the apropos "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing's" coda---they resolved it back to "Shafty," playing it again from the beginning. This second "Shafty" was a bit of a mashup, as they sung the music over the music to "Plasma," before ending the "Plasma." The "Shafty > Plasma > Shafty > Plasma" is an impressive piece of work: not driven by peaks but by beauty, and quite unexpected that early in the show. 2020 Phish (Rene Huemer) After a brief palate-cleansing trip to the land of "Lizards"---complete with people throwing water in the air for the choruses---we had the second big jam of the set: "Bathtub Gin." These days "Gin" is largely about the big peak, which would have been incredible in the environment, but when Trey hit the "Shafty" theme almost as soon as the jam began, it became obvious that there was a different path being explored here. That's not to say that there was no bliss here, but it was one with effects and intriguing melodies, not fast playing. It was a "Gin" that called-out to the mysteries of the deep, asking us, "What could be out there..." ...apparently, lurking underneath the surface of the sea, is revelation: the realization that maybe---just maybe---we actually are in Hell. After so much reflection, Trey finally brought the jam into a peak, and the darkness was about to be resolved into bliss, when suddenly, "The terrible thing about Hell." This version of "Shafty" was largely sung over the feeling of "Bathtub Gin's" jam. We had three different revelations that euphoria was really a trick to disguise where we were, all with different ways to bring us to the revelation. Paradise really being a trick: maybe it was an homage to the recently ended The Good Place, specifically the episode "Dance Dance Resolution." Does anyone know if Trey is a fan? 2020 Phish (Rene Huemer) After two interesting jams and a crowd-pleasing favorite, it figured it would be time to take a breather. Instead they retapped the space with "Blaze On." The third extended jam of the set flirted a bit with "Shafty," "Plasma," "Crosseyed," and "What's the Use?" but largely just stayed true to the reflective theme of the set. As the jam petered-out, Page started up a piano solo. After years playing on the beach, we finally were getting the perfect song for the environment. "Sea and Sand" made its first appearance since 1998 in a stunning version, albeit with a few lyrical hiccups. Seeing "Sea and Sand" as the sea was washing over us is something that made the sacrifices involved to get here worth it by itself. After a fun "Possum" gave us a chance to splash around for a bit, the first set came to a close. Two bustouts, one song that was underplayed, some setlist games, and three interesting jams; sometimes people think of first sets as just an appetizer for what's to come, but this was a full-fledged meal. After the break, we started out with the second performance of the new "Sigma Oasis." As another beach/sea song, it was quite appropriate. I don't know what will become of this song, but I want to point something out about this performance. Right before "Our ligaments falter, we scatter like art," Mike plays a stunning bass fill. It was a short, blink and you'll miss it moment, but these little landscapes are one of my favorite things the band does. "2001" was an interesting call for the second spot. While it used to be slotted there, lately it largely is an end-of-the-night song, one brief last jam before we get to the closers. Being placed earlier in the night gave it a chance to breathe, clocking in at over 12 minutes. It's not quite the 1997 funk show stopper of yore, but for those who want to see meatier "Zarathustras," this is a good omen. The rest of the second set will have a potential split between attendees and webcasters. Instead of extended jams, bustouts, and crowd pleasers, we moved to new material and microjams. This is another case though where setting makes a difference. The euphoria of the "Drift While You're Sleeping" peak, the energy of the "I Always Wanted It This Way," the peak of the "No Man's," all worked so well as the waves began to pick up and become more powerful. It was finally during "Piper" when it became obvious what was happening. The quiet build was punctuated with the sound of the waves crashing due to the wind picking up. And then the skies opened. Rain at a show is a wild card. Sometimes it can make everyone miserable, but the warm rain just felt incredible. The waves picked up in intensity and almost knocked us over a few times. I don't know how it will play for those on the couch, but for the sea dancers, it was a time that will never be forgotten. 2020 Phish (Rene Huemer) Phish is not a band that's known for its encores, but we had a surprise left. After a very strong "Sand," we got a surprise segue into "Weekapaug Groove." This is only the 4th known time "Weekapaug" has been played in a show without "Mike's Song" and they gave it a chance to breathe. After "Smoke on the Water" teases and a funk jam, it was building-up to a great peak. The rain was falling! The waves were crashing! The band was playing well! This is paradise! It must be heaven! ...but that's the reminder for the night. The terrible thing about Hell is that you can't even tell when you're there. Instead of ending the "Weekapaug," we got one last reprise of "Shafty," this one infused with the joy of the illusion that we might not be in an infernal dimension, and we were sent off into the night. This show was atypical in many ways, with the location and the setlist calls, but the weirdest thing about it is that this easily could be the rare Phish concert where both the first set and encore are preferred to the second set. And while that does say something about how the usual peak of the night went, it also speaks to the impressive nature of the rest of the evening. We might have learned about the insidious nature of Hades, but the reverse is true too. The amazing thing about Heaven is that you can also get there when you least expect it. Sometimes the fool is not actually oblivious. Islamabad: Taking credit for the imminent peace deal between the US and Afghan Taliban, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that his country played the role of a facilitator and was closely involved in the entire process. Qureshi also said that Pakistan has also fulfilled all its promises made to America by playing its role in the successful negotiations. On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that an agreement between the US and the Taliban could come as soon as February 29 in Afghanistan. According to Pompeo, the United States "reached an understanding with the Taliban" on a reduction of violence that could lead to the signing of the US-Taliban agreement next week. It is widely believed that the historic agreement would pave the way for ending America's longest war. "The deal will be signed in the presence of Pakistan because it was impossible for the deal to come through without our efforts," the Foreign Office quoted Qureshi as saying. "Pakistan has played its role in the peace process with wholeheartedness and honesty and it is now incumbent upon the Afghan government to do the same," he said. Qureshi asserted that when Pompeo came to Pakistan for his maiden visit last year, relations between the two countries were at its lowest ebb. "Pompeo told me that the pathway to fixing relations between Pakistan and the US came through Kabul. Now I would like to remind him that we have fulfilled all our promises. Not only did we build a peace team but we also played our role in ensuring that the negotiations were successful," said Qureshi. Though intelligence officials have disputed that the officer who delivered the main briefing said Russia was actively aiding the presidents re-election, people in the room said that intelligence officers responses to lawmakers follow-up questions made clear that Russia was trying to get Mr. Trump re-elected. Intelligence is hardly a perfect process, as Americans learned when the nation went to war in Iraq based in part on an estimate that Saddam Hussein was once again in search of a nuclear weapon. Not surprisingly, the Kremlin says this is all an American fantasy, aimed at demonizing Russia for the United States own failings. These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the election, Mr. Putins confidant and spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, was quoted by Reuters as telling reporters on Friday. They have nothing to do with the truth. No matter who is elected, Mr. Putin has probably undermined one of his own primary goals: getting the United States and its allies to lift sanctions that were imposed after he annexed Crimea and accelerated a hybrid war against Ukraine. By actively exploiting divisions within American society and having its activities revealed, the Kremlin has ensured that its longer-term goal of having the U.S. remove sanctions and return to a less confrontational relationship so far has been thwarted, Angela E. Stent, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and now a professor at Georgetown University, said in her book Putins World: Russia Against the West and With the Rest. Ms. Stent noted on Saturday that if the Russians were in fact interfering in this election, it could bring about new energy sanctions. She said that one piece of legislation in the Senate would require new sanctions if evidence of Russian meddling emerged from intelligence agencies. So far, Mr. Putin may have concluded that the penalties are a small price to pay if he can bring his geopolitical rival down a few more notches, she added. And the early intelligence analyses suggested that by backing Mr. Sanders in the primary and Mr. Trump in the general election, Mr. Putin would probably have a good chance of maximizing the electoral tumult. Robert OBrien, the presidents national security adviser, said in an interview with ABC to be broadcast on Sunday that he had not seen evidence that Russia sought to intervene in Mr. Trumps favor, and that the reports of Mr. Putin helping Mr. Sanderss campaign came as no surprise. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Recipients are awarded a red ribbon (center) presented in a gold frame to be worn at all times on the uniform. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) It's about saving lives. That's New Jersey State Police Lt. Lawrence Williams' take on the 2019 Trooper of the Year award he received Friday in a ceremony inside the building affectionately known as the Log Cabin at State Police headquarters in West Trenton. Williams developed a creative strategy and a new investigative approach to combat the flow of opioids in the state. Under the guidance of Williams, in a 1-year period, the Opioid Enforcement Task Force spearheaded 27 criminal investigations and operations, which resulted in the dismantling of six and disruption of four narcotics processing mills, 53 arrests and the seizure of nearly $3 million worth of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, according to state police. Don't Edit Williams' wife, Pam, right, and their sons, Drew, 6, on her lap and Cole, 8. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "Sometimes it's for one day and one heroic act, and sometimes it's for an investigation, but to me, the work ethic and that day in and day out of getting up, feet on the floor, and going out there, that's a daily, weekly, monthly, struggle, really," said Colonel Patrick Callahan, in speaking of the highest award a trooper can receive from within the division. And addressing Williams, added, "And I think that the other men and women, whether they're a rank above you or ranks below you, can look to you as a role model." Don't Edit Clockwise from top left, Colonel Patrick Callahan, Lieutenant Lawrence Williams, Williams' wife, Pam and their sons, Cole, 8 and Drew, 6. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "The Trooper of the Year Award is such an honor," Williams said. "I think this particular award this year, even though I won it, is really for the task force we created and is set up throughout the state to tackle the opioid epidemic. "The task force officers from State Police to all our allied agencies that are helping us out have been phenomenal and we've had a direct impact on the supply before it hits the streets. And I think that's the most important thing. We're saving lives." Don't Edit Don't Edit Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, left, told Williams, "Because of your efforts, we're in a better place." Here, he speaks with Williams' two sons Drew, 6. and Cole, 8. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com's newsletters. China is delaying grant of clearance to India's proposal to send an Indian Air Force flight to carry relief material for people affected by coronavirus in the neighbouring country and bring back Indians from its city of Wuhan, official sources said Saturday. New Delhi: China is delaying grant of clearance to India's proposal to send an Indian Air Force flight to carry relief material for people affected by coronavirus in the neighbouring country and bring back Indians from its city of Wuhan, official sources said Saturday. India was to send a C-17 military transport aircraft to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on 20 February but the plane could not take off as permission was not granted for the flight. "China is deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight," a high-level source said. When contacted, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said there was no deliberate delay in grant of permission for the Indian flight to reach Wuhan. "The current epidemic situation in Hubei province is complicated, and the prevention and control of Covid-19 has entered into a critical stage. There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying granting flight permission," the spokesperson, Ji Rong, said. The aircraft was to carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from Wuhan. Sources said while the Chinese side continues to maintain that there was no delay in granting permission for the flight to go, the clearance has "inexplicably" not been given. In a letter to President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India's solidarity to the people and government of China in meeting the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak and offered to provide assistance to the country. India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of Modi's commitment as a token of India's solidarity, particularly in the 70th year of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "These supplies have been offered even as India faces tremendous shortage itself, given our ethos of helping others in their hour of need," said a source aware of the issue. The items being supplied are gloves, surgical masks, feeding pumps and defibrillators based on the requirements as indicated by the Chinese side. "The Chinese side always attaches great importance to the health and safety of Indian nationals in China, and provided assistance and convenience for the return of Indian citizens," Rong further said in reply to the query. "We are carefully assessing the ground situation, as prevention work requires. Competent departments of the two countries are keeping communication and coordination in this regard," he said. India's national carrier Air India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still living in Wuhan. A sizeable number of countries have evacuated their citizens from China and restricted movement of people and goods to and from the country in view of the massive outbreak of coronavirus there. Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish, said the sources. They said relief and evacuation flights from other countries including by France are allowed to operate by China but the permission has not come through in India's case. "Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony?" said a person aware of the issue. Iran will close schools, universities and educational centres in two central cities to prevent a deadly coronavirus outbreak spreading, state TV reported on Saturday. It said the shutdown would begin on Sunday and last two days in Qom, where two people have died from the virus, and a week in Arak. Search Keywords: Short link: CNBC's Jim Cramer gave viewers a preview of what's circled on his earnings calendar next week and warned that the coronavirus could weigh on how investors react. The "Mad Money" host dove into the earnings reports of the top social media stocks of Facebook, Twitter, Snap and Pinterest. Cramer's week ahead CNBC's said Friday that investors are worried about how the coronavirus epidemic in China could impact U.S. businesses and the market is feeling the impact as the novel virus continues to spread outside that country. The plunged more than 227 points, or 0.78%, the declined 1.05% and the plummeted almost 1.80%. "The most important thing you need to know about next week is that the coronavirus will color everything," the "Mad Money" host said. "If the situation remains as fluid ... or if it remains dynamic, get ready for February to end with a nasty whimper and a bear full of bang." Cramer went on to present his game plan for the week ahead. Social media earnings Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, Instagram and LinkedIn apps shown on a smartphone screen. Chesnot | Getty Images The four major social media companies are all performing well, but the diverging moves that the corresponding stocks made coming off earnings were have been defined by investor expectations, CNBC's said Friday. The host crowned the stocks of and as winners; denoted and Snapchat-parent as losers. "It was about the expectations," he said. "None of them had perfect results, but Facebook and Snap had run going into the quarter, while Twitter and Pinterest had sold off ahead. So Facebook and Snap got pulverized while Twitter and Pinterest caught fire." Cramer gave his assessment of their quarterly reports and stock actions. Cramer's lightning round By Express News Service VISAKHAPATNAM: As many as 81 persons, who returned from China to the city since January 15, are under house observation, according to District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) S Tirupati Rao. He said on Friday that they include 16 young engineers from Wuhan. He said most of their quarantine period of 28 days will end in four to five days. He said two girls admitted to isolation ward at the Chest hospital tested negative for coronavirus. Both of them arrived from China recently. Test reports of one of the two girls, a medical student, tested negative and has since been discharged. As per her blood test reports received on Thursday night, the other girl, a house surgeon, has tested positive for swine flu and accordingly treatment has been started. Nodal officer for coronavirus, Vizag, Pardhasaradhi said all those under house observation are normal. However, they were advised all precautions till their quarantine period ended. Pardharsadhi said since January 26, as many as 5,000 international passengers who arrived at the airport were screened at the help desk. He also said Gangavaram Port and Visakhapatnam Port are also screening the crew of foreign vessels. He said an awareness workshop was held for all hospitals, nodal officers and staff at help desk with regard to precautions to be taken to deal with the positive cases and also discuss and plug if there are any lapses in this regard. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Want to get out of Staten Italy and be a part of the real deal? A town in Italy is looking to pay for new residents to join relocate only a short drive from the coast, the New York Post reported. Teora is a small town in the Campagna region of Southern Italy, and theyre desperate for new residents to reinvigorate the town, according to the New York Post. The location of Teora is ideal for a retreat from city life, but it is only a drive away from nearby towns with a more active lifestyle. The picturesque Amalfi Coast and Naples are only a two-hour drive away. Willing newcomers will be offered 150 a month to help pay their rent. If youre thinking of buying a home to settle permanently, they will offer up to 5,000 to help pay for a new home. Mayor Stefano Farina doesnt simply want to give away houses, though. He wants the houses to become a home. Like many other towns in Italy, Teora is trying to attract residents to help with their financial disparity and low population. After a historic earthquake in 1980, the population has never been the same. 157 residents were killed and many people left the town and didnt return, the Post reports. Today, the town is down to nearly 1,500 residents. Because of this issue, Farina has set the requirement of new residents taking up residence for at least three years. Interested parties also need to have a minimum of one child to apply. I dont believe in selling empty houses for 1, that doesnt incentivize people to stay in town. They just come a few months a year as holiday makers. Thats not the solution. But taking up residency and enrolling kids at the local school, that does breathe new life," Mayor Farina told CNN. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jennifer Jacobs, Billy House and Chris Strohm (Bloomberg) Washington, United States Sat, February 22, 2020 15:16 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20660110b 2 World Donald-Trump,US-presidential-election,US-presidential-race,Russia-medlling Free President Donald Trump felt blindsided when he learned belatedly that intelligence officials briefed House lawmakers that Russia is continuing to interfere in US elections -- and that Democrats elicited their view that the Russians favor Trumps re-election, according to people familiar with the situation. Trump blamed Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, for the episode and the failure to inform him. On Wednesday, the president announced that he was replacing Maguire, a veteran intelligence official, with Ric Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and a staunch Trump supporter. The chain of events underscores the continued tensions between Trump and intelligence officials that he and his supporters often depict as part of a deep state undermining his presidency. The classified briefing on Feb. 13 was delivered by Shelby Pierson, the intelligence official charged with monitoring issues related to election security. Among those attending were Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who led the House Democrats who impeached Trump, and the panels top Republican, Representative Devin Nunes of California. In response to questions from Democrats, lawmakers were told that Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, prefer Trump over his Democratic challengers and is still actively interfering in this years election, according to the people. But little information has emerged on any specific or ongoing interference by Russia detailed in the briefing last week. Its disinformation Trump said at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Friday that he was told last week that Democrats were promulgating a rumor that Russia sought his re-election. I was told it was happening, I was told a week ago, he said. They said, You know theyre trying to start a rumor. Its disinformation -- that Putin wants to make sure I get re-elected. He added: Doesnt he want to see who the Democrats going to be? Doesnt he want to see Bernie, who honeymooned in Moscow? These people are crazy. Sanders has said he has visited Moscow but didnt honeymoon there. Trump has sought to cultivate a relationship with Putin, regarded by most US lawmakers as an adversary. Trump acknowledged at his rally: We want to get along with Russia. We want to get along with China. The information provided to the House committee was described by one official as more of a general assessment. Democrats asked leading questions to obtain the analysis that Russia favors Trumps re-election, according to a US official and another person familiar with the matter. The White House suspects Democrats hoped the intelligence analysis would be leaked, an official said. Schiffs role Another official said Pierson was challenged by Republicans during the briefing about the raw intelligence behind the claim, and werent given specifics. The same officials said Trumps anger at Maguire focused on the role that Schiff -- who Trump considers a prime nemesis -- allegedly played. The president expressed his frustration to Maguire in an Oval Office meeting the day after the House briefing, according to officials. Trump was told that Pierson, who delivered the briefing, felt her comments were being misrepresented and that she could only say that the Russians were continuing to interfere in US politics -- not that they were putting a finger on the scale to help Trump. Trumps ire over the intelligence briefing was reported earlier by the New York Times. Schiff tweeted that we count on the intelligence community to inform Congress of any threat of foreign interference in our elections. At the same time, Schiff seemed to hedge on what information, exactly, had been provided to him and other House members. If reports are true and the President is interfering with that, he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling, Schiff said. Democrats have blasted Trump for replacing Maguire with Grenell, who has little experience in intelligence-gathering or analysis, and several key Republicans have remained silent on the decision. Inviting interference By firing Acting DNI Maguire because his staff provided the candid conclusions of the Intelligence Community to Congress regarding Russian meddling in the 2020 Presidential election, the President is not only refusing to defend against foreign interference, hes inviting it, House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi complained in a statement. On Friday, Maguires deputy Andrew Hallman said he was stepping down as the DNIs principal executive, offering praise for his former boss, who he called a lifelong patriot and public servant. As I prepare to depart, I have complete confidence in the IC workforce and the enduring qualities of the community stability, integrity, and relentless dedication to serving the nation, Hallman said in a statement, referring to the intelligence community. These qualities will guide the IC through this next chapter and the uncertainties that come with change. Grenell is expected to fill the senior DNI role on a short-term basis. Trump tweeted on Friday that he has four candidates under consideration to be nominated for the job. But one potential candidate who Trump floated as a potential nominee late on Thursday -- Georgia Representative Doug Collins -- said he wasnt interested. Collins called Trumps comments humbling and amazing, but said he wants to stick with plans to challenge Senator Kelly Loeffler for the Georgia seat this fall, even though Loeffler is backed by the much of the Republican establishment including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Earlier, Trump was close to nominating Representative Chris Stewart, a Utah Republican, as director of national intelligence, according to two people familiar with the deliberations. But that idea was scrapped when Trump learned of a 2016 video clip in which Stewart said Donald Trump does not represent Republican ideals, he is our Mussolini. Ireland is facing a third consecutive weekend of wet and windy weather with Met Eireann issuing three Status Yellow wind and rain warnings for five counties. Donegal, Galway and Mayo were under a Status Yellow wind warning from 3am yesterday until 3am this morning with south-westerly winds reaching average speeds of between 50kmh and 65kmh, with gusts of up to 95kmh. Another yellow wind warning will remain in place for Co Donegal from 6am today until 8pm tonight with gusts reaching 90kmh to 110kmh or higher in exposed coastal areas, which are also at risk of flooding. A Status Yellow rainfall warning was in effect from 3am yesterday for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo until 3am today with between 25mm and 35mm of rain expected over ground that is already saturated with swollen rivers due to Storm Dennis and Storm Ciara. It could lead to localised surface and river flooding, the national forecaster warned. The rest of the country can expect a cold and blustery day today with showers of sleet and hail in the north and temperatures of just 4C to 7C, but 8C or 9C on the south coast, with strong gales along northern coasts. Rain will extend nationwide with a clearing in the afternoon but more rain will arrive tonight, with possible snow in Ulster and Connacht. By PTI NEW DELHI: All roads leading to a Delhi government school where US first lady Melania Trump is scheduled to pay a visit next week have been repaired, an official said here on Saturday. According to a senior MCD official, roads and footpaths have been repaired and saplings planted to welcome the first lady. The official said the civic body concerned has been tasked with sanitation arrangements and all garbage has been removed from the vicinity of the school. Melania Trump is likely to visit the Delhi government school on Tuesday. Earlier on Saturday, sources said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will not be present during Melania's visit to the school in the city on Tuesday as their names were dropped from the guestlist for the event. Melania, the wife of US President Donald Trump, is scheduled to visit the school to watch "happiness classes" and interact with the students. Sources in the Delhi government said the US embassy communicated to the city administration on Saturday morning that names of Kejriwal and Sisodia do not figure in the list of invitees for the event. When contacted, a US embassy spokesperson referred the query to Delhi government on the matter. According to the original schedule, Kejriwal and Sisodia were to welcome Melania at the school and brief her about the rationale behind the introduction of happiness classes as well as the Delhi government's overall reform initiatives in the education sector, officials in the city said. "Names of Kejriwal and Sisodia have been dropped from the list of invitees for the event. We do not know who will receive and brief the First Lady about happiness classes when she visits our school," said a Delhi government official, who wished not to be named. ALSO READ | Washington, New Delhi struggling to bridge trade dispute ahead of Trump's India visit Though there was no official reaction from the Delhi government on the issue, a series of tweets by Sisodia, credited with educational reform in Delhi schools, indicated the AAP dispensation's unhappiness over it. He said "happiness class" is "the solution to all hate and narrow mindedness". "Education is meaningless without happiness. I am happy that Delhi govt schools are showing a path to the world. And the world is curious to know what we are doing in happiness class," he said. Earlier in the day, the deputy chief minister told reporters that the Delhi government had received a request about Melania's visit to a government school. "If she (Melania) wants to come (to a government school), we welcome her," he said. An AAP functionary argued that in the absence of the chief minister and his deputy, who will brief Melania about the 'happiness curriculum'. "Delhi government's happiness curriculum has been lauded across the globe. Who will brief Melania Trump if the chief minister and the deputy chief minister are not present during her visit," he asked. Expressing anguish over the exclusion of names of the two leaders from the event, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said it has been a "protocol" and "convention" that the state leaders are present when any foreign dignitary attends events in their states. He also alleged that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia have been dropped from the guest list at the behest of the BJP-led central government. He referred to a press conference by a BJP spokesperson to clarify the saffron party's stand on the issue. "The BJP is claiming that it (Centre) did not ask the US Embassy to drop the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia from the guest list. The comments actually indicated that there is something fishy," Bhardwaj claimed. "If it (the Centre) has not asked it (the US Embassy) to drop names of the CM and deputy CM, then it could have simply requested the embassy to include their names," he said. "Instead of asking the US embassy for the same, holding a press conference by a BJP leader is a clear indication that it (BJP) is involved in the entire matter," Bharadwaj said when asked about the issue. On Kejriwal not being part of the guestlist for Melania's visit to the Delhi school, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that there shouldn't be any "low-level politics or petty politics" on issues which are of national interest. "India comes under disrepute if we start pulling each other's legs. The Modi government doesn't influence the US, as to whom they invite or not," he said. The Delhi government introduced the happiness curriculum in July 2018. According to the curriculum, students studying in classes 1-8 at Delhi government schools spend 45 minutes every day to attend "happiness classes" where they participate in activities like storytelling, meditation and question and answer sessions. Similarly, for nursery and kindergarten students, the classes are held twice a week. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has been spending a large chunk of its budget on education in the city in the last several years. In its last budget, the Delhi government had set aside 25 per cent of its total budget for the education sector, perhaps highest among other states. Kejriwal led AAP to a spectacular victory in the assembly elections earlier this month primarily riding on his development agenda including reforms in the health and education sectors. The reforms initiated by the AAP government have been lauded by several prominent personalities. On Friday, Kejriwal said his government will provide all possible help to the Maharashtra government to implement education reforms which he said reflected "cooperative federalism at its best". Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images In Chiles streets, protesters chant a message now heard by the rest of the world. Chile is waking up, they say. But the center-right government of the countrys president, Sebastian Pinera, would prefer they stayed asleep. Chile is rich, but on Pineras watch, its also the most unequal country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Reuters reported that it has an income gap 65% wider than the OECD average. A new subway fare hike, then, represented something more than an inconvenience to the people of Chile it became a symbol of that stark wealth gap, and subsequently, a rallying point for protesters. Since early October, people have protested daily in the countrys capital, Santiago, and elsewhere, demanding not just the reversal of a fare hike, but fundamental political reform. They want Pinera gone. La dictadura corto tus manos, Victor Jara, y hoy #Chile toca y corea tus canciones. #ChileDesperto #NoMasNeoliberalismo. pic.twitter.com/bhUe8RLTKM Erika Ortega Sanoja (@ErikaOSanoja) October 26, 2019 In response, Pinera declared a state of emergency, and sent the military into the streets. For many Chileans, the move was troublingly evocative of the kind of government tactics that were commonplace under the bloody rule of Augusto Pinochet, a far-right dictator who ousted the countrys democratically elected socialist president, Salvador Allende, with help from the U.S. government in 1973. Pinochets government murdered thousands, and tortured and raped thousands more. Pinera is certainly no Pinochet, but protesters are reporting serious injury at the hands of riot police and the military. At least 20 have died, though its not yet clear how many were killed by police, and how many died in protest-related violence. Though Pinera has made some concessions freezing the rate hike, appointing more centrist ministers to his Cabinet protests continue. Pablo Abufom is a freelance translator based in Santiago, Chile. Hes also an organizer with the feminist, anti-capitalist Solidaridad movement, and spoke to New York about the protests and the years of activism that preceded them. Sarah Jones: Things in Chile have obviously been unequal for a long time. Why did the protests start right now? Pablo Abufom: The government announced on October 4 a hike in the subway fare, and at that time the high-school students who have been very active politically for the past, I would say, 15 years organized to protest against it. And they did this by organizing mass fare-dodging. They went from their high schools to the subway station and started jumping the turnstiles. Students in New York City are doing this now, right? Yes, thats right! Amazing. Anyway, the government responded by saying they were just criminals. Then people reacted in a very interesting way. Even grown-ups joined the protest, and started jumping turnstiles to evade the fare. That was on Monday, the 14th. By Wednesday, a lot of people started talking. And I remember watching a video of like 100, 200 people inside a subway station chanting, The people united will never be defeated. That, you may know, is a super-relevant song for the Chilean people during the 60s and 70s. On Friday, they suddenly decided to suspend the subway service. Thousands of people that would normally use the subway were just walking around the city trying to find a bus or just walking back to their houses after work. So people were really fed up. You could sense that in the air. And then people started attacking subway stations. Some were burned. We still dont know how much of that was done by protesters. There has been some evidence that the fires started inside the stations, in places with restricted access. That created the idea that maybe it was a setup. We dont know. By Friday night, the government decided to declare a state of emergency, and that means basically bringing the military to be in charge of public order. That was when definitely this thing exploded. No one wants to see the military in the streets. It reopened a very deep historical wound. Theres also been a lot of police brutality, correct? Yeah. During the first week and a half that weve had the military out, there was also military violence against civilians. Were somewhat used to riot police responding to demonstrations. But it was a completely new thing to see the military not just beating people up, but also shooting at them, shooting up their buildings, trying to make them go into the buildings after curfew hours. Because, also, a state of emergency was not enough. They put in place a curfew. From the first day, the National Human Rights Institute started putting out reports every day. And by a week later, after the state of emergency was declared, you had over 3,000 people detained. A lot of them were children and teenagers. Minors in general. You have over 200 people who lost one or two eyes due to being shot by nonlethal ammunition. And then at least 20 people killed on official records. And thats only one week. Thats really brutal, man. Do you think the government anticipated that there would be such a backlash? It seems like they should have. I still dont know if theyre really stupid, or do they have their own calculator that works in a completely different way? Because from my point of view, it was a complete mistake to declare the state of emergency. They didnt even try a political solution for it. It was only two or three days after the state of emergency was declared that the president announced that they were going to freeze the fare hike. And of course people didnt really care about it at that point, with the military in the streets, with people being accused of being criminals by just being on the streets and protecting their living conditions. Pinera literally said we are at war with a powerful enemy that doesnt respect anything, which is basically a word-for-word repetition of something that Pinochet said during the dictatorship. Of course the reaction to that is very angry. People definitely didnt believe in the government at that point. Or the media, who are being complicit with this narrative of criminals on one side and good citizens on the other side just protesting peacefully. The good citizens were in the streets making barricades after curfew hours. People knew that even though some of their neighbors were looting the supermarkets, their neighbors werent the ones bringing them down. For instance, in my neighborhood, theres a Peruvian neighbor who died in a fire inside a supermarket. The official autopsy said he was shot in the chest, and the body was found in a way that made it obvious he didnt die by fire. His body was sort of relaxed before he was burned, so that means that he was already dead. It happened several times that people were killed in fires, but it seems that they were really killed by either the military or the cops and then put in supermarkets or other stores and then burned down. Theres really no trust in the government right now. Who is Pineras base right now? Mostly old people. [Pineras party] has been appealing to old people with law-and-order-type discourse for a long time. Thats the thing the right wing does here and everywhere. The law-and-order approach to public order, and then neoliberal capitalist economy, as a way to make society wealthy and good for everyone. There is a very committed right wing in Chile. Some of them still adore Pinochet. And then the liberals: Of course, Im not for the human rights violations, but the dictatorship basically created an economic miracle. Thats a very common narrative in the generation of the 80s. They saw the country change. I mean, everyone has a TV and a smartphone in Chile, so that gives you a sense of a developed country. And then we have a very high per capita income, but its completely unequally distributed. What economic policies led up to todays unrest? All of this is also within the context of strong neoliberal policies and reforms implemented during dictatorship in the 70s and 80s. They basically transformed the labor market in Chile, and destroyed and displaced any manufacturing job that existed in Chile at the time. One of the things that may be the most direct cost of the whole crisis right now is the general privatization of public services in cities. So you have water, you have electricity and the phone company and education and health care and even the pension system is all privatized. That combined with low wages means that people dont have enough to pay for their living. Whats the mood like among the protesters? People continue to protest, and not just in Santiago. Thats important. The protests began in Santiago, but then spread throughout the country, especially after the state of emergency. People continue to go out to the streets spontaneously. They gather around the presidential palace and they confront the police there. You mentioned the student movement earlier, but I want to talk about it a little more. How influential has student organizing been on todays protests? I would say the first organized student protest in Chile was in 2001. But then in 2006, we had what they called the Penguin Revolution. Thats because the high-school students in public schools wear black-and-white uniforms. It was a massive occupation movement throughout the country when almost the entire public system was occupied. I would say they were the first to publicly, and in an organized way, reject neoliberal policies. So the slogan, no mas lucro, no more profit, became the slogan of the movement. Then it sort of entered Chilean society as a way to understand that our problems were related to, basically, a society that was organized for the profit of a few big companies. Those same students, in 2011, were in college. And they organized the schools then. Definitely all the public universities were occupied and then a lot of the private universities. So that was definitely the moment that the more general criticism of neoliberal policies started. That also opened the way for new political parties and a new social democratic politics for the left in Chile, formed by students who were radicalized. What do demonstrators want? There isnt one single set of demands right now. But people in the streets are experiencing an awakening and thats interesting. I would say that if you go out and hear what people are saying, its basically three or four things. One, that Pinera and the government should resign. Two, that Chile has awakened. And then the call for a constituent assembly and a new constitution is also an important part of the demands. There is this feeling that the constitution that was written and imposed in 1980 by the Pinochet dictatorship is the root of every problem. Its definitely not, but it is very important. It is a very conservative and pro-private-property constitution. What do the protests tell us about this kind of heavily privatized economy? It doesnt work! People in Chile are living in very precarious conditions. They dont live in extreme poverty, but they have to work two or three jobs. Like every Uber driver you talk to is working his or her second job of the day, maybe except for young people who are in between jobs or something like that. Most women in Chile have to work several jobs because they have to care for other people and they dont get paid, or they dont get pensions or any kind of insurance for that. The pension system was destroyed in Chile and we have basically a savings account that people are forced to put their money into every month. And that money goes to financial institutions who make a lot of profit out of that. You get paid whatever is left when youre old. An interesting precedent of the current wave of protest is the March 8 feminist general strike earlier this year. At the time, it was the biggest in the post-dictatorship period. Five or six hundred thousand women marched through the main avenues of Santiago and other cities in the country. This wave of protest, this rebellion, however you want to call it, it is standing on the shoulders of gigantic movements that have come before. This interview has been edited for clarity and condensed for length. Botswana has hanged a 29-year old man for murdering his employer, prison services announced, despite mounting calls by rights groups to abolish the death penalty. Mmika Michael Mpe is the second convict to be executed since President Mokgweetsi Masisi took office in October. He was sentenced to death in 2018 for the 2014 murder of his employer and his appeal was dismissed last year. The Botswana Prison Service confirmed the execution in a statement on Friday. It follows the December hanging of 44-year old bricklayer Mooketsi Kgosibodiba, who was also handed capital punishment for murdering his employer. Amnesty International called on Masisi to abolish the practice after two other people were hanged in 2018. It described Botswana as the only southern African country that "consistently executes people" and said the sentence was often carried out without prior notice. The death penalty has been enforced in Botswana since its independence from Britain in 1966. Masisi's predecessor Ian Khama has previously defended it as a tool to combat rising murder rates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi cheif minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's names have been dropped US first lady Melania Trump's visit to a Delhi government school. New Delhi: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday said that Indian government doesn't influence the US government on whom to invite and whom not to invite, when asked about the allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on names of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia getting dropped from the US first lady Melania Trump's school visit . He further stated that petty politics should not be played on important government occasions. "Petty politics should not be played on important occasions. The Indian government doesn't influence the USA on whom to invite and whom to not. So, we don't want to get into any arguments," Patra said. Kejriwal and Sisodia's names have been dropped from the event where US First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to visit a school on 25 February. Sources claim that the two were earlier scheduled to be part of the event as it was a Delhi Government school. US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit on 24-25 February. Melania after reaching Hyderabad House in Delhi on 25 February will move to a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh to meet school children. The school is getting ready to welcome the First Lady of the US. ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) An eastern Missouri man is facing possession of child pornography charges, and authorities are reaching out to determine if there are additional victims. Larry Deutsch, 54, of Lake St. Louis, was charged Thursday. He is jailed on $100,000 bond and doesnt have a listed attorney. A landlord, Mr Adisa Lukman, has been accused of openly brutalising his tenants wife, Mrs Comfort Giwa, for turning down his love advances at their residence at 3, Idiatu Kilani Street in the Fagba area of New Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos State. Mrs Confort said the landlord had made passes at her, which she rejected on several occasions, after which he threatened to deal with her. On February 9, 2020, while she was talking to a friend outside their residence, the landlord attacked her mercilessly during which she sustained varying degrees of injury on several parts of her body, including a wound on her arm. Speaking with the The Nations, the married woman narrated how it all happened. I started having issues with our landlord(Adisa), shortly after we moved into his house three years ago when he made several passes at me. He said he liked me and that he would like to date me but I rebuffed him knowing full well that I am a married woman living with my husband in his house. He was persistent in asking me out and at a point, I reported him to my husband. He then threatened that he would deal with me for spawning him. He has his own wife, yet, he had been disturbing, asking me to date him. Last night, I was seated beside one of my friends outside our residence when a woman living near our house told me that my landlord said my daughter was fond of harassing her own daughter. I told the woman that my daughter was innocent of the allegations and that God would expose whoever is behind the false allegations. Suddenly, my landlord rushed to where I was engaging the woman and attacked me for no just cause. He beat me to pulp. He held me down, while he called on one of his friends, who joined him to further brutalise me. The beating was so much that I sustained injuries on my body. Theres a deep cut on one my arm, as I speak. I was rushed to a hospital and placed on admission, while my husband reported the incident to the police at Oko-Oba Division. However, nothing came out of the police intervention because our landlord sought the help of some community leaders, who used their connection with the police to deny me justice. Comforts husband, David Giwa, said was planning to move out of the building before his landlord brutalised his wife for refusing his love advances. My wife had told me that our landlord was fond of peeping through the bathroom door to look at her naked body whenever she is having her bath. After he was cautioned, I figured out that his attitude was a signal to leave his house and I started saving money to get another accommodation in order to save my wife and children from the incessant harassment by my landlord. I was then shocked when my landlord and his associates descended on my wife and brutalised her, to the extent that she sustained injuries. She was placed on admission in a hospital for some days and she is still nursing wounds from the attack, as we speak. After I visited my wife in hospital, I made a report on the incident at Oko-Oba Police Division, but nothing came out of it because my landlord and some community leaders used their connection to circumvent justice. The landlord, however, denied the womans allegation that he inflicted injuries on her. According to him, Comfort injured herself when she made a fruitless attempt to hit him with one of her hands. Mr Adisa said the police had investigated the matter and exonerated him of any wrongdoing. Police have investigated the matter and found out that it was not true. Comforts daughter and another girl whose mother lives in the neighborhood ganged up to harass my daughter on her way to school. I warned her and the other woman to reprimand their daughters and she suddenly held my dress and attacked me. I did not beat her. The wounds on her hand were as a result of the attack she launched on me. She wanted to hit me with her hands but I dodged and she landed one of the hands on a plank used to erect a shop extension at the scene. The landlord said gave Comforts husband a quit notice months ago and he tore the notice in m0his presence, adding that even the community leaders have reprimanded the couple to no avail. ALSO READ: Lady Demands Receipt After Paying N1.3 Million Rent By Having Sex With Her Landlord In Lagos UPDATE: The missing alert has been cancelled, according to Notify NYC. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A missing child alert has been issued for an 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy who is believed to have been taken to Manhattan, according to Notify NYC. Andray Knighton, 11, a black male from Danville, Penn., may be in imminent danger, the alert warns. Knighton has been described as 4-feet 9-inches tall, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen on Northumberland Street, Danville at about 3 p.m on Friday wearing black pants; a black hooded sweatshirt; gray, white, and green sneakers and a tan and gold jacket, the alert says. The Danville Borough Police Department can be called with any leads at (570) 275-2101, or call 9-1-1. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER Actor Michael J. Fox warmed up a crowd of Pete Buttigieg supporters at a middle school in Las Vegas Friday night, saying that when he met the 38-year-old gay war veteran he felt the same way he did when he met Barack Obama in 2006. 'Read my lips,' the 'Back to the Future' star said. 'This guy's going to be the next president of the United States.' Fox described Buttigieg as 'magical,' contrasting his calm, thoughtful demeanor to that of Bernie Sanders, currently the Democrat to beat. 'Bernie why are you yelling at me?' Fox asked, earning laughs from the crowd. Actor Michael J. Fox returned to the campaign trail Friday night to introduce Pete Buttigieg who he also had stumped for in New Hampshire Michael J. Fox (right) played opener for Pete Buttigieg (left) on the eve of the Nevada caucuses, where the 38-year-old ex-mayor will be tested to see if he can win in a more diverse state after strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire Pete Buttigieg addresed more than 1,000 supporters Friday night at a rally at Faiss Middle School in Las Vegas Michael J. Fox likened Pete Buttigieg (pictured) to Barack Obama, who the actor met in Chicago two years before Obama became president The actor recalled being in Chicago for an event on stem cells in 2006 and meeting a man outside the venue, smoking a cigarette. 'And it was Barack Obama,' Fox said, explaining that they had a great discussion on medical research. Fox has Parkinson's Disease and his Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure. 'I called my wife and said, I just met the next president of the United States,' he said of Obama. Fox felt the same way about Buttigieg. The actor already trekked to New Hampshire to stump for the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The Las Vegas event Friday night was Buttigieg's last of the day before Saturday's Nevada caucuses. It attracted 1,172 according to the school's principal, via the Buttigieg campaign. Buttigieg won the Iowa caucuses by the traditional metric - earning the highest percentage of delegates. He then came in a close second to Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire. Pete Buttigieg has been campaign in Nevada this week in the run-up to this Saturday's Nevada caucuses, the ex-mayor's first test before a more colorful electorate But while Joe Biden has said he'll improve standings when more diverse states start to vote, the question for Buttigieg is if he'll maintain his performance when the electorate is less white. The final two Nevada polls that dropped Friday, on the eve of the Saturday caucuses, show Buttigieg in second and third place, with Sanders in a comfortable lead The Emerson University poll shows 30 per cent of likely Democratic primary voters supporting Sanders, 17 per cent liking Buttigieg, 16 per cent behind Biden and 12 per cent for Warren. Data for Progress data shows Sanders with 32 per cent support in the state, followed by Warren with 17 per cent, Buttigieg with 15 per cent and Biden with 14 per cent. Democrats are hoping that Nevada's caucuses go off without a hitch after an app glitch led to chaos in Iowa at the beginning of the month, with Sanders' campaign still challenging the count that saw Buttigieg win by a tiny fraction. Johanna Fateman at The New Yorker: The young Swiss photographer Senta Simond shoots her subjects in natural light, but its the platonic-erotic bonds of close friendship that give them their particular glow. Simond credits the intimate, spontaneous mood of her portraits to her unfussy process: her subjects are women she knows, some of whom have been her models for a decade; she uses minimal equipment, in non-studio settings, and seeks out plain white backgrounds to position her subjects against. Its familiarity and trust that produce her transfixing imagesimages that once upon a time mightve been said to smack of the male gaze. The photos in her U.S. debut, at Danziger Gallery (all from 201718), are collaborative as opposed to voyeuristic, the press release asserts, but this doesnt quite ring true. Theyre portraits of both obsession and self-possession. The exhibitions fifteen black-and-white prints show women in deep thought and in varied states of undress, their mischievouslyor lazilyuninhibited poses made thrilling by Simonds bold camera angles, cropped compositions, and unmistakable fascination with the bodies before her. more here. Prabhu Chawla By 'Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.' said Albert Einstein. One mans nationalism is another mans patriotism. When RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visited London recently, a RSS sympathiser counselled him to refrain from using the word nationalism since it is associated with Nazis and Fascism. Recalling this advice at a public function last week, Bhagwat strongly advised the Parivar to do the same saying, Nationalism shabd ka upyog mat kijiye. Nation kahenge chalega, national kahenge chalega, nationality kahenge chalgea, nationalism mat kaho. Nationalism ka matlab hota hai Hitler, naziwaad. (Dont use the word nationalism. Using nation or nationality is okay but dont use nationalism which means Hitler and Nazism.) Since nationalism is an English phrase which lacks specific translation in largely non-English speaking India, it has been hijacked by a sentiment that veers closer to a standpoint North Indian cultural matrix rather than Desh Bhakti. In its name, acts are committed which has given right wing politics a bad name. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who famously identified himself as a Hindu nationalist, is constantly at the receiving end of liberal acid, because his party and its far fringe fellow travellers are unable to explain his idea in its truest sense because BJP itself is unable to explain the difference between nationalism and patriotism. For decades, the RSS and the Sangh Parivar have been curetting patriotism brick by brick. But its vocabulary and slogans define it as the citadel of nationalism, not patriotism. For the last few years, the RSS has been trying to distance itself from hardcore nationalism. For a while, religious chauvinism has been a cause of confrontation between the Sangh and liberals who have been marginalised by Modis ascent. Westernised Indians and the elite have cracked the conflict code: they allege BJP is weaponising Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Matram and Gau Seva to torpedo the national identity of a section of the population. Moreover the Parivars inability to make a substantial part of the minorities equal stakeholders in Indias politics and culture has come back to bite. Its adversaries pitch the patriotism patent-against-nationalist narrative, opining that a nationalist can at best be a pseudo-patriot. On the eve of retirement, Charles de Gaulle had said, Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first. In this context, the BJP and its affiliates are projected as forces which patronise me and mine while targeting ideological dissenters. When a saffron Sadhvi mocks Mahatma Gandhi, it smacks of nationalism. When a gross sadhu asserts that menstruating women (in spite of Modis push to dispel the stigma) will be reborn as female-dogs if they cook and serve food, such travesty of taste is attributed to nationalisms regressive recipe. When a young minister asks followers to goli maaro, nationalism gets the blame. Chants like Garv se kaho, hum Hindu hain (say with pride that we are Hindus) provide enough fuel to pencil in the religious overtones of nationalism on the Indian canvas. Another ministers proclamation that all Indian Muslims must be sent to Pakistan is celebrated as nationalisms gold standard. Ironically, this mismatch becomes glaringly apparent when Gandhi is considered a patriot and Godse a nationalist. Using regional culinary preferences to define nationalist ipseity is getting no laughs. Political parties thrive on short-term memory: the saffron lot seems to have forgotten the difference between the contrary food and views choices of Vajpayee and Advani. Liberal Vajpayee was strictly non-vegetarian while hardcore Hindutvas forgotten political prophet Advani is a committed vegetarian. But their loyalty to India, its people and kaleidoscopic cultures remain unquestionable. In fact, in spite of a large majority of politicians being non-vegetarian, their patriotism has never been in doubt. The unending invective laden debate on nationalism, liberalism and patriotism has ignited a conflict of identity-based on religionMajoritarism vs. Minorityism. Since elections are won on playing either the caste or religion card, the nationalism vs non-nationalism stance is linked to the fight for Hindu supremacy over the rest. A Muslim lawmakers threat that 15 crore Muslims can teach 100 crore Hindus a lesson makes it obvious that the battle lines have been drawn. The nationalist argument owes its birth to vote bank politics. Jan Sangh-turned-BJP reengineered itself as a party with Kashmir, Uniform Civil Code and Ram Mandir at its ideological core. Liberating PoK and abrogation of Article 370 has always occupied saffron mind space with contrarians being seen as anti-national. While BJPs top leadership has been hesitant to paint its opponents as the enemies of the nation, its lower and middle-level followers have made its agenda non-negotiable tenets of faith. The Congress and companions, though committed to Kashmir unification, categorise the BJP as an outfit, which wants to get rid of the minorities. It was the Congress and its chief ministers who have been seeking permanent citizenship for persecuted Hindus and other minorities from Pakistan. Modi and Amit Shah did what the Congress couldnt because they feel that giving legislative legitimacy to the persecuted is in the national interest. As they say, give a dog a bad name and kill ita fate awaiting nationalism as a concept which defies geographical boundaries. With RSS pushing for Bharatiya over Hindu, National over Nationalist and Hinduism over Hindutva, India is heading for cultural unity. Ever since Modis aggressive religious politics made others taste the dust, even secular satraps have been on temple runs. Rahul Gandhi publicised his Janeyu (sacred thread) as proof of his Hindu accreditation. Mamata Banerjee, Kamal Nath, Akhilesh Yadav et al have revived their connections with Indian traditions and heritage. Left leaders are conspicuous by their presence at religious functions. RSS claims that anyone who lives in India or was born here is a Hindu by association. However, the emphasis on nation over national is what puts a leader in the high chair. Be it Donald Trump in the US or Modi in India, seeking power in the name of Great America and New India attracts more votes than the promise of eradication of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Nationalism is truly the opium of the masses. ( The author can be contacted at prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com or follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla ) India's protectionist policy has remained a concern for the United States with respect to the trade deal between the two countries, a senior US administration official said on Friday, ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to India, adding that the "Make in India" campaign makes the discussion on trade difficult. "The protectionism policy has been a concern for us. We have had a number of announcements coming from India which are making the discussions more difficult perhaps," the official told the reporters here. "The recent one being the 'Make in India' announcement, (which) has made the protectionism concern even greater. There has been an increase and not a decrease of concerns and this would certainly come up among the leaders," the official added. Tensions on the trade front between the two countries had emerged in June, last year, after Trump revoked preferential trade privileges, in response to which India imposed tariffs on 28 US products, including almonds and apples. Despite several meetings held over the past 18 months in Washington DC, New Delhi, and New York, trade negotiators of the two countries are yet to finalise on a deal. Trump will arrive on his maiden visit to India on February 24. US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner will be part of a 12-level delegation accompanying the US President during his visit, a senior US Administration official said on Friday. The other eight members of the delegation are: US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller, White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino, First Lady Melania Trump's chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds, White House advisor Robert Blair, and White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, the official said. The participants at the bilateral meetings will be: Adam S Boehler, the chief executive of the US International Development Finance Corporation, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, Lisa Curtis, the senior director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council, and Kash Patel, a former top National Security Council official. The official further said that Trump will discuss the issues concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that the US has great respect for Indian Democratic traditions and institutions and "will continue to encourage India to uphold" them. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom, both, in his public remarks and certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue that's very important for this (Trump) administration. We have our shared commitment of upholding our universal values, the rule of law," the senior official said. "We have great respect for Indian Democratic traditions and institutions and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions. We are concerned about the issues that you (the reporter) have raised," the official said, referring to the reporter's questions on whether the CAA and NRC issues would be raised. "The president will talk about these issues, in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the is looking at India to continue to uphold its democratic tradition," the official added. CAA, which promises citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, is facing stiff opposition across the country with some states including Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Punjab refusing to implement it. On being asked about whether the US President will repeat his offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue between New Delhi and Islamabad, the official said that Trump will encourage the two neighbouring countries to engage in bilateral dialogue to resolve their difference. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," the official said here. "President will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the line of control and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region," the official added. The official added that the United States believes a core foundation of any successful dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. Last month, Trump had repeated his offer to "help" resolve the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. India has maintained that there is no scope for third-party mediation. Calling US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo statement -- that the country has reached an understanding with the Taliban to reduce violence in Afghanistan -- a major step forward, the official said Washington would look to India's support for the Afghan peace process."We would just encourage India, as we are all regional countries, to do whatever they can to support this peace process so that it can be successful and we can potentially end 19 years of military, diplomatic, economic engagement. You know, that we can end the military engagement. We will be continuing our diplomatic and economic engagement, which has been there over the last 19 years," the official said."But we certainly would look to India to support this peace process -- an important country in the region, important to the overall stability of the region. So I think if the issue comes up, that is what would be the request from the President," the official added. The official said that the visit would focus on enhancing economic, energy, defense and security cooperation between the two countries. "The U.S. wants an India that is strong, with a capable military that supports peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. Indeed, India is a pillar of our Indo-Pacific strategy, and we continue to work together to promote this vision of a free and open international system based on market economics, good governance, freedom of the seas and skies, and respect for sovereignty," the official said."And our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific really goes to the heart of what binds our two countries together, and this is our shared democratic systems that place a premium on citizen-centric governments. In fact, India has a strong foundation of democracy, going back to the early days, right after independence. India is a country rich in religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity. In fact, it's the birthplace of four major religions," the official added. On being asked about the restoration of India's participation in the Generalized System of Preferences, the official said, "The concerns that led to the revocation, suspension of India's GSP access remains a concern for us. And to remind those on the call it was really the failure of the Indian government to provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors." Accompanied by a 12-member delegation, President Trump will arrive in India on a two-day visit on February 24. The visiting dignitary is also expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, named 'Namaste Trump,' on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Modi in Houston in September last year. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will have an extensive schedule for February 25 when they arrive in the national capital of India. According to sources, there will be multiple meetings and delegation-level talks apart from the exchange of agreements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) His remarks were made during the swearing-in ceremony of National Assembly of Regional Governments (ANGR) Chairman Servando Garcia. In this respect, the Head of State reaffirmed his political will to work hand-in-hand with regional governments in order to consolidate the objectives set as a country, a commitment that has yielded positive results. On the matter, he said reducing significantly anemia in children is a remarkable achievement in this shared effort to fight poverty and inequality, as it has marked a turning point to reduce the indicators for this condition, which has a negative impact on the development of children. In addition, Mr. Vizcarra noted that in the first month of 2020, public investment totaled S/1.023 billion (around US$302 million), up 89% compared to January last year. "This is a very important execution, which will continue in February, and should be maintained until the fiscal year is over. A greater execution translates into projects in favor of Peruvians, such as roads, channels, schools, hospitals, and productive works throughout the country," he emphasized. (END) NDP/JCC/RMB The National Government's commitment is to continue working with regional governors for the development and progress of citizens, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said on Friday.Published: 2/21/2020 Trump Dismisses U.S. Intelligence Reports Warning Of Russian Help In His 2020 Relection Bid By RFE/RL February 21, 2020 WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected reported assertions by U.S. intelligence officials that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in a bid to help his reelection campaign. In a post on Twitter on February 21, Trump described the reports as "another misinformation campaignlaunched by Democrats in Congress." The same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also rejected the reports as "more paranoid announcements." "They have nothing to do with the truth," Peskov said. The New York Times, The Washington Post, and AP separately reported on February 20 that the warning was given during a closed-door briefing by U.S. intelligence officials on February 13. They cited two officials familiar with the briefing who asked for anonymity. The Times said the briefing angered Trump, who said Democrats would use the information against him. The Kremlin on February 21 denied that Russia was interfering in the 2020 election campaign. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on February 21 that the warnings made by U.S. intelligence officials were false. "This is another in a series of paranoid reports, and we regret to say that they will become more frequent as the election approaches," Peskov said. "They certainly have nothing to do with the truth." The U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election through social-media campaigns and the hacking of e-mail accounts of leading Democrats in order to boost Trump's campaign and undermine his Democratic rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump has called the conclusions a "hoax." He has also vehemently denied suggestions that his team worked together with Russian figures during the election. Russia has denied it interfered in the 2016 vote. The Times reported that, during the recent congressional briefing in Washington, Trump's allies challenged the intelligence warnings and said the president had been tough on Russia. At a public hearing earlier in February, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee that Moscow was engaged in "information warfare" ahead of the November election through a covert social-media campaign aimed at dividing the American public and sowing discord. With reporting by AP, dpa, Reuters, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-2020- election-russia-meddling-efforts- intelligence/30446735.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The World Health Organisation warned Saturday that African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak should cases start to proliferate on the continent. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on African Union member states "to come together to be more aggressive in attacking" the virus, known as COVID-19. "Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems," Tedros, speaking by video link from Geneva, said during a meeting of African health ministers at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The outbreak which began in December has already killed more than 2,200 people and infected more than 75,500 in China. More than 1,150 people have also been infected outside China, although Egypt is the only African country to have recorded a confirmed case. There have been more than 200 suspected cases in the WHO's AFRO region, which includes most African countries, though nearly all have been confirmed negative, regional director Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti said Saturday. But if COVID-19 starts to spread on the continent, African health systems will struggle to treat patients suffering from symptoms such as respiratory failure, septic shock and multi-organ failure, WHO's Tedros said. "These patients require intensive care using equipment such as respiratory support machines that are, as you know, in short supply in many African countries and that's a cause for concern," he said. AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told officials to take "drastic preventive and control measures". "Our dear continent, Africa, is particularly at risk, given its relatively fragile health systems," he said. African countries have been scrambling to develop the capacity to test for COVID-19. In three weeks, the number of African countries capable of conducting their own tests has jumped from two to 26, Moeti said. Several African airlines including Kenya Airways have suspended flights to China, although the continent's biggest carrier Ethiopian Airlines has kept its China routes open. Liu Yuxi, China's ambassador to the AU, on Saturday urged officials to ease travel restrictions "I hope that everyone will stay calm and objective. Excessive panic could actually increase the disease," he said. "It is in adversity and really difficult times that you really get to know your friends. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) mangamma wrote: Gandiva wrote: Hi GMAT Club, I am deeply thankful to this forum, the vision & wisdom of its founder, the passion of its moderators/managing team and the healthy environment prevalent among its members. Because of this forum, I have been able to get a score of 730(Q48,V41,AWA6 & IR6) in GMAT. I started off with a 660 initially through various standard books ( , and ). When I was lost for sources of improvement, I came by the difficulty wise verbal and quants sections in this forum and kept practicing the questions posted there. So my move from 660 to 730 can be attributed (80% )to this club. I am open to co-operating with members of this forum, if I can be of any help. Please don't hesitate to connect if need be. I have started applying for colleges and hope to benefit from this forum in this new phase as well. Thank you very much GMATclub. Congratulations!! How did you prepare for verbal? I have exam in 20 days. Are there any suggestions? I am scoring 20-30 in verbal Congratulations!!How did you prepare for verbal?I have exam in 20 days. Are there any suggestions?I am scoring 20-30 in verbal understanding Hi! On any section, the first things I have found, will immediately give a quick boost is removing that lingering fear about that section. Though the result of this action cannot be measured quantitatively, it will increase your score in the exam hall without you noticing it.Now specific to verbal and more specific to your current marks, strategy for a V35 is different from that for a V25. In your case,SC- I think thoroughlywill give an uplift. Read one chapter-understand-move to GMATclub's difficulty wise SC questions on that topic-Try as many as possible on that topic- More importantly read ALL the responses under that question-dwell on that question and all responses for a while before moving to the next question.One different source is Princeton's Pdf material. Some presentations mistakes exist in this pdf. But reading all the explanations for each answer helped a lot.CR- Since you have only 20 days to go, concentrate on mastering assumptions,strengthen,weaken, evaluate questions. Powerscore gave me a good foundation. Then attempt as many questions in gmatclub in the same manner as explained for SC. I felt my CR abilities to increase with the number of questions I attempted.RC-In my case, I never wrote even one word in my worksheet while trying to understand RC passages. I read each para given, spent 5-10 secs mentally understanding and placing the purpose of that para mentally before moving to the next para of the passage. This saved me a lot of time and worked well for me. Try to bring in the knowledge gained in CR to solve RC questions. Start with reading the first question of RC before even reading the passage as it will help you get ready to solve the problem immediately without vaguely losing some time understanding the passage for the sake of understanding, which by itself is not required at the end of the day as you just have to answer 3-4 specific questions, one of which you can answer surely by a cursory read of the passage.If you have more doubts, please feel free to ask.All the best. PRINT THE LEGEND A phalanx of RDS security guards in high-vis jackets had to provide a cordon around Mary Lou McDonald to allow her to move about. The Sinn Fein leader arrived into the election count centre in the Simmonscourt Pavilion last Sunday week and was swamped by supporters as she did her rounds. Moving from RTE to Newstalk, the security guards had to block entry to the radio station's makeshift studio. The first counts weren't in yet, but the tallies had reiterated what the exit polls had confirmed from the opinion polls: Sinn Fein was having a brilliant day. Chatting during an ad break, she agreed the party was heading for about 35 seats. She smiled as she was particularly pleased about the win in Tipperary, as her mother was from the Premier County. At that stage though, Fianna Fail was still heading for 50 seats as the transfer starvation, which saw them losing so many seats due to an inability to get second preferences, had not yet kicked in. From the off, McDonald had a clear message as she spoke of Sinn Fein entering government. She stressed how her party was open to talking to everyone, people voted for change and Fianna Fail could not exclude a party with a quarter of the national vote. "The best outcome is a new government without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael," she said. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin appeared to backtrack and leave the door open to business with Sinn Fein. By Monday afternoon, Sinn Fein was heading for 37 seats and Fianna Fail was haemorrhaging seats, heading for a similar number. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein continued to act like it had won the election and was heading into office. Down on Moore Street, McDonald said she "may well be the next Taoiseach". "Sinn Fein won the election, we won the popular vote, we've recorded a historic victory for our party but the election is much more than that. "The election is about a real appetite for political change, and that means a change in government," she said. Achieving that "change" was nigh impossible though without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael involvement. But it didn't stop McDonald repeatedly saying Sinn Fein represented the "change". Repeating the same simple message, no matter how improbable, is straight out of the propaganda playbook. As the immortal line from John Ford's 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' goes: "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Sinn Fein is banking on people believing it won the election and is being excluded from power because it sounds so convincing. DANCING QUEEN Queen's 'We are the Champions' was among the tunes played during McDonald's visit to the Ringsend Community Centre. After a weekend of focus on a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael grand coalition, McDonald was back on message as she danced the 'Macarena' and outlined how Sinn Fein would continue to talk to other parties. "It's game on, as far as I am concerned," she said. The previous Friday, the wheels had come off the 'Mary Lou for Taoiseach' bandwagon. Sinn Fein's housing spokesman and strategist Eoin O Broin realistically admitted the party couldn't form a government without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael - both of whom were ruling it out. Now a symbolic trophy was still up for grabs: winning the first vote for Taoiseach in the Dail, albeit falling well short of what was needed to form an actual government. Provisional talks with the Green Party, Social Democrats and the Rural Independents group failed to deliver an immediate result. But a more fruitful outcome came from Solidarity-People Before Profit-Rise and left-wing Independents. Many of these TDs owed their seats to Sinn Fein surpluses and had set out their stall as opposition to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Yet they had not voted for Gerry Adams four years earlier and Richard Boyd-Barrett had been nominated for Taoiseach himself, in a futile act. Within Solidarity-PBP, another issue arose as they organise on a 32-county basis. In Northern Ireland, they represent nationalist and unionist alike. People Before Profit's socialist flagbearer in Northern Ireland, Gerry Carroll, is fighting a pitched battle with Sinn Fein in Adams's old west Belfast stronghold. He has Belfast City Council and Assembly seats at Sinn Fein's expense. In the past two campaigns, he has accused Sinn Fein of "slander" and "dirty tricks". The prospect of supporting a Sinn Fein candidate for Taoiseach prompted much agonising within the party. All five came on board though, signalling McDonald would be ahead in the early stages of the race for Government Buildings. Independents like Thomas Pringle also indicated support. Sinn Fein benefited from its opponents floundering about. Fianna Fail belatedly got going with talking to other parties and Fine Gael attempted to sit out the early stages. SHOW OF STRENGTH The red hatchback had to wait. Never missing an opportunity for a show of strength, Sinn Fein's 37 TDs marched across Kildare Street from Buswells Hotel into Leinster House. Mary Lou McDonald halted to pose for photos with her new team. "I'm smiling. My cheeks hurt," she joked. McDonald said her party was continuing its discussions with other parties. She hit home the point there was a choice of change or more of the same and again bemoaned Fianna Fail seeking to marginalise her party. "I do know this much, I know that nobody voted for a return of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael." She batted off questions about anti-Semitism from one of her TDs, just as she has deflected her party's links to the Provisional IRA. The red hatchback still waited patiently at the security barrier for the Sinn Fein TDs to disperse. The driver was Peadar Toibin, the Aontu TD, who had to hold on for his former party colleagues to move on. They owned the turf now. The confidence was justified. As the Dail sitting progressed, McDonald not only had the votes of Boyd-Barrett's five TDs, but also Pringle, Joan Collins and Catherine Connolly, giving her 45 votes. Martin secured 41, with four Independents weighing in behind his bid - Sean Canney, Noel Grealish, Michael McNamara and Cathal Berry. And the Fianna Fail leader made it clear he would not be getting on the Sinn Fein bandwagon. What followed was described by a number of TDs from all sides as an "iconic moment". Martin made a powerful speech outlining his opposition to Sinn Fein, citing its internal structures, IRA glorification and legitimising of the Provos' campaign of murder. And McDonald responded with a compelling retort, holding her line and hitting back at Fianna Fail. The exchange was vicious, venomous, vituperative and killed off any chance of a Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein alliance under Martin's leadership. McDonald hailed her win as historic: "Tonight, for the first time in history, someone other than the leader of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael got the most votes for Taoiseach." Sinn Fein immediately put the video of McDonald's speech on social media. By teatime on Friday, it was viewed 1.2 million times on Facebook and Twitter. However, it's hard to see where she goes next if she can't secure the support of the Green Party or Social Democrats, with whom Sinn Fein will be intensifying negotiations. A number of undeclared Independents are also up for grabs: Denis Naughten, Peter Fitzpatrick, Michael Lowry and Verona Murphy, all formerly Fine Gael; Mattie McGrath, Michael and Danny Healy-Rae and Richard O'Donoghue, all formerly Fianna Fail; Peadar Toibin and Carol Nolan, formerly Sinn Fein but bitterly split; and the unaligned Michael Collins, Michael Fitzmaurice, Marian Harkin and Matt Shanahan. None of the Independents are Sinn Fein oriented. And even then, if McDonald got the support of 60 to 70 TDs for a minority left-government , she would need the acquiescence of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael to serve in power. McDonald stays in the race for another two weeks, at least. Importantly for the party, the narrative will continue: Sinn Fein won the popular vote, McDonald won the first Dail vote, wanted to form a government to bring about change and was excluded by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Come the next election, whenever it may be, Sinn Fein's message will have been written on the day of the count of Election 2020. ASUS ROG 3 gaming smartphone to come pre-loaded with Google Stadia New Delhi, Sat, 22 Feb 2020 Sangita Roy ASUS ROG 3 gaming smartphone will come with the pre-installed Google Stadia application, which will enable gamers to take full advantage of Googles new gaming platform. Last year Google released Google Stadia gaming platform for the Pixel device. Now Google Stadia platform will be available out of the box for the ASUS ROG 3 gaming phone. Initially Google launched Google Stadia as a Pixel-exclusive on the smartphones, but after a few weeks it was expanded to the few other smartphones. So, Google is gradually expanding the reach of Google Stadia service to other devices including smart TV. Now Google and Asus teaming up to provide this service for upcoming ASUS ROG 3 smartphones. As per the reports Asus is working with Google to provide Google Stadia out of the box in the ASUS ROG 3 gaming smartphone. The ASUS ROG 3 gaming smartphone is rumored to be released on March 12, 2020. ASUS ROG 3 phone is going to be a high budget smartphone, but in-spite of high budget people seems waiting for pre-order. Asus ROG 3 will come pre-loaded with Google Stadia streaming platform service, which will give easy access to this service to the users of ROG 3 smartphone. With this decision Google and Asus seems to grab decent mobile gaming market share in coming months after the launch of this phone. Google Stadia is fast growing game streaming service from Google which was released last year in November. Initially this service was launched for few Pixel devices, but later on Google released this service for other devices. Currently Google Stadia service is enabled in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. Once Asus ROG 3, the Google Stadia service will be available on the new Asus ROG 3 phone in these countries. With this partnership, ASUS will become first gaming phone to partner with Google for providing out of the box Google Stadia service. According to the reports other mobile phone manufactures such as Razer, Xiaomis Black Shark, and Nubia has yet not expressed their interest in the Google Stadia streaming service. The ASUS ROG Phone 3 is rumoured to be high end smartphone with decent specifications and top features. Phone is expected to come with a 6.59-inches AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. This phone may come with the Corning Gorilla Glass v6 with a pixel density of 391 ppi. CNN Philippines (February 22) The Department of Health said Saturday they cannot accommodate the request of a Tarlac town mayor to house other Filipino evacuees from the coronavirus-infected vessel docked off Japan in quarantine sites outside Luzon, saying it is unsafe. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines explained that the decision of authorities to monitor people in one place was to prevent the spread of infection. Ang ating objective po pag tayo ay nag-iinfection control ay para ma-minimize natin ang mga exposures. [Translation: Our objective when we do infection control is to minimize the exposure to the virus.] The reaction stemmed from Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutans public opposition to solely use New Clark City as a quarantine area for more than 400 Filipinos heading home from Diamond Princess, where two people have died because of and more than 600 people have tested positive for the virus, the biggest cluster of COVID-19 cases outside mainland China. Of the 600, 49 are Filipinos. Two of them already recovered. New Clark City, which is completely under the control of the government's Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), is located in the towns of Capas and Bamban in Tarlac province. Catacutan wanted the task force to send those who are not from northern Philippines to other well-prepared facilities in Visayas and Mindanao as he expressed concern over the health and welfare of thousands of residents living near the New Clark City. Catacutan stressed the number is just too much too handle. Vergeire responded that while they understand his sentiment, they cannot give in to his appeal. New Clark City was first used to quarantine 49 Filipinos from Hubei, China, particularly in Wuhan City, where the COVID-19 outbreak began. The municipal council of Capas opposed to using that, too, after claiming they were not informed and blindsided about the sudden move, and worrying about the possible economic implications of labeling the area as a quarantine zone. Catacutan said they agreed to the evacuation plan of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases after being assured Capas residents would be safe and that it would be the first and last time the New Clark City would be used as quarantine facility. Togo voters expected to extend Gnassingbe's tenure: Togolese citizens voted Saturday in a presidential election expected to extend Faure Gnassingbe's 15 years in office and his family's more than half a century in power. Many in the West African country of 8 million say they are fed up with the dynasty of Gnassingbe and his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who seized power in a 1967 coup, but the family has fended off challenges, including protests that were met with deadly force in 2005 and 2017. Provisional results are expected Friday. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close ALBANY, N.Y. In an effort to end vaping across the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched the #NoVapeNY campaign, as well as a new anti-vaping website in support of his legislation to combat vaping. The campaign calls for a ban on all flavored vape products and restriction on advertisements aimed at kids. "This is a scourge on our state and our nation: if these chemicals don't kill you, you wind up addicted to nicotine. New York is leading the nation in confronting this new and deadly epidemic, and this year we will continue to lead by banning flavored e-cigarette products and vaping ads aimed at youth, helping to keep our children safe and preventing them from forming unhealthy and life-long addictions," said Cuomo. The legislation would authorize the Department of Health to regulate vape sales and prohibit the sale of vaping products online, over the phone or through the male. This would allow only registered retailers to purchase and sell vape stock. To visit the new website, click here. (Newser) A Texas demolition company made a huge mistake Wednesday when it bulldozed the wrong houseand tore a hole in the heart of a neighborhood, the Advocate reports. JR's Demolition levelled the Dallas property without realizing the correct address was two blocks away. "All the windows were intact, there was plastic covering the hardwood floors," listed owner Robb Hagestad tells WFAA. "I can't even imagine that they wouldn't pick up a phone and check if they were at the right place. It's insane they would drive a bulldozer through it." Worse, the property held a sentimental value rooted in friendship and a promise to care for the historic 1923 craftsman home. The Dallas Morning News reports that the previous owner, Mary Ann Degataire, died of a terminal illness in 2018. story continues below A longtime friend of hers, Jeremy Wenninger, promised he'd save the pink house and maintain the neighborhood's old-fashioned feelso he and Hagestad went through a grueling two-year process to buy the property. As of Wednesday, a contractor was already working on the house and a new one was slated to begin. "We sort of planned to maybe move back someday, or maybe put a family member in there," says Hagestad. "And now it was destroyed, because of human error. It was literally heartbreaking." To be fair, JR's owner Bobby Lindamood is nothing if not contrite. "The house wasn't marked [with an address], and it had no power and no gas," he tells WFAA. "All I can say is I'm sorry. It's our worst mistake and we'll make it right." (Another Dallas demo didn't quite finish the job.) New Delhi, Feb 22 : Ahead of the visit by US President Donald Trump next week, which could result in a limited trade deal between US and India, the Poultry Federation of India has urged PM Modi to protect the domestic dairy sectors and not succumb to pressure to offer duty concessions to US. The federation in a letter to the Prime Minister has urged him to "resist the temptation" of opening the poultry sector and slashing the import duty for American dairy products as sought by the US as it might put over 2 crore jobs at risk. "About $100 million worth Indian economy and about 4 crore rural jobs involved in poultry, maize, oil seed, bajra and wheat will be destroyed if India reduces the duties on poultry products from US, " the letter read. "If the Indian government is keen on pleasing Trump, it should allow import of feed raw materials like soya and maize at lower duty," it added. Earlier RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) had said that it remains opposed to any tariff concession or market access for products that might impact farmers' income. "If it is related to the livelihood of the people or religious issue or supplementation of the farmers' income, one can not support (it)," SJM National Co-convener Ashwini Mahajan had said referring to media reports of India offering to open up dairy and poultry sector for American companies. The SJM and many farmers' groups had last year asked the government to not include dairy sector in the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega trade deal including China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand apart from 10 ASEAN countries as it will adversely affect the livelihood of millions of people in the country. The government later pulled out of the proposed pact saying the deal was not in national interest. After India put price caps on medical devices such as stents and knee implants, the Trump administration had in 2019 suspended India's preferential trade status, thus withdrawing duty benefits for various items shipped from India. During President Trump's visit on February 24-25, it is widely expected that India and the US would sign a limited trade deal. Further, in order to get some of the preferences restored, India may offer some concessions such as opening the dairy sector and cutting tariff on chicken legs from 100 per cent to 25 per cent. Industry sources said that Indian government is well aware of the concerns of the local dairy and poultry sectors and would unlikely go against them. In what seems to be giving credence to it is that the US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer this week put off his trip to India suggesting that any trade deal compromising the interests of local farmers would be difficult to finalise. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Ambassador Nguyen Thai Yen Huong, Vietnams AICHR representative and Chair of AICHR 2020, chaired the event. At the event (Photo: vov) It was the first activity during Vietnams tenure in the post in order to review the progress of AICHRs priority programmes and reports on rights regarding education, environment, women, children and people with disabilities in tandem with priorities in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The meeting also discussed the building of a working plan for the 2021-2025 period and AICHRs priority programmes for 2021, measures to enhance working efficiency of AICHR and its relations with partners so as to further step up the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. In its role as AICHR Chair, Vietnam actively and proactively pushed for important agenda to promote and protect human rights in line with AICRHs terms of reference and ASEAN Charter. Vietnam also continued upholding the spirit of solidarity, responsibility and cooperation among ASEAN member states, contributing to building a cohesive and responsive ASEAN in line with theme of ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. ASEAN member states pledged to work closely with Vietnam to help fulfil important tasks this year. The next meeting of AICHR is scheduled in April at the ASEAN Secretariats headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia./. 'While many Chinese policy makers dismiss the political, economic and technological component of US-India relations, they express caution on the defence-related ties which also happens to be a major driver in US-India relations,' explains China expert Srikanth Kondapalli. IMAGE: China's President Xi Jinping and US President Donald J Trump at a State dinner at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, November 14, 2017. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Pool/Getty Images Even though China is currently engrossed in countering the debilitating coronavirus spread across the country, daggers would soon be drawn as India hosts United States President Donald J Trump. Opinions from China are likely to highlight the 'containment' thesis -- that the US and India are making preparations to address China's rise and its flagship Belt and Road Initiative. For, there are many stakes for a beleaguered China. China's plans to assiduously place itself in the leadership position in Asia is being questioned increasingly by Japan, India, Australia and other neighbouring countries. With the US's renewed 'isolationist' policies, Beijing initially thought such a move is an opportunity. China of late had been making preparations to anoint itself the undisputed leader in Asia without providing goods and services on that scale. In May 2014, it suggested that Asian countries should look after their own security, instead of depending on the US. The 19th Communist party congress in October 2017 went further by suggesting to 'occupy the centre stage' in global and regional orders. The reaction from the US and its allies has been swift, if bordering on hyperbole. The Trump administration became a proactive critique of the BRI in terms of its violation of sovereign principles or debt financing, environmental fallout and others. It passed the travel act in regard to Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan, besides initiating freedom of navigation and overflight operations in the disputed South China Sea, where China attempted to push everyone else through militarisation and a proposed code of conduct. The above is typical of the Cold War rendition. What has changed is India, and other countries joining such efforts. In November 2017, the Trump administration widely popularised the Indo-Pacific strategy of free and open system, rule of law, freedom of navigation, maritime security and connectivity, curbs on nuclear and missile transfers and terrorism. Initially, China dismissed such moves as merely ocean 'froth' that would recede eventually, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi put it. However, as the idea of the Indo-Pacific is gathering storm, China is concerned. In June last year, the US has released its first comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy document mentioning India's 'vital' role in the scheme of things. Major US official documents mentioned China as a revisionist power and a strategic competitor. Indian official documents do not mention China as a threat even though the highest level leadership had taken objection to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, with no budging from Beijing. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with US President Donald J Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo meet ahead of the G-20 summit in Osaka, January 28, 2019. Last September the four Quad countries's foreign ministers met in New York that raised alarm bells in Beijing. Some Chinese scholars like Zhao Minghao termed this as a movement towards an 'Asian NATO'. India and Japan conducted a 2+2 foreign and defence ministerial meeting in New Delhi on November 30, 2019. Later, in December, the second 2+2 dialogue between the US and India occurred in Washington with renewed defence agreements. With India joining the Quad, and initiating a 'neighbourhood first' policy, China's radars have gone up. While many Chinese policy makers dismiss the political, economic and technological component of US-India relations, they express caution on the defence-related ties which also happens to be a major driver in US-India relations. Even though the then prime minister Manmohan Singh assured President Hu Jintao that India is not containing China, the latter was not satisfied. On the other hand, there is no evidence to suggest any Beijing's promise not to contain India -- except for a few bland statements on peace in South Asia. China's perceptions of India-US relations are coalescing into two main policy streams. One prevalent and persuasive school suggests that India should distance itself from the US and follow 'strategic autonomy' argue that relations with China should be expanded including cooperation in the World Trade Organisation, climate change issues, in multilpolar/multilateral political institutions like BRICS or the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or in economic groupings like G-20 and for higher voting rights in the International Monetary Fund. Recently, as China faced intense pressure from the US, former Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui suggested a united front between India and China to counter US tariff increases although wide discrepancy exists between trade surpluses. The doyen of Indian studies, Zhao Gancheng argued that India is unlikely to take sides in the US-China rivalry, but will use the differences for its economic and security benefits. According to Zhang Jiadong, 'New Delhi wants to utilise Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy to restrain China; on the other, this South Asian country hopes to maintain its status as an independent power.' Another was that of Hu Weijia who suggested that instead of the Indo-Pacific strategy, India should align with China so that latter will help New Delhi in economic development. 'If New Delhi relies on Washington to counter China's influence in the Indian Ocean region, India will miss growth opportunities brought by the Chinese economy.' Ding Gang of the People's Daily suggested as 'China's development is unstoppable', India should not follow a balance of power relations with the US to counter China as this is 'highly likely to lead to the loss of opportunities for cooperation with China'. For Ling Shengli of Foreign Affairs University, differences exist between the US and India. While the US interest in the Indo-Pacific is to counter China's rise and the Belt and Road Initiative, on the other hand, India wants to increase its economic and security linkages with the region. Others suggest that India's strategy is to maintain equidistance between the US and China as it cannot counter either of these nor side with them explicitly given its limited resources. However, on why China's economic cooperation with India so far has been minimal is not explained. For instance, for an economy boasting of $14 trillion GDP, China has a cumulative investment of $8.2 billion in India so far. Also, China's scholars do not propose closure to the many differences between the two countries over the Nuclear Supplies Group, terrorism, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or the vexed territorial dispute or China's submarine activity in the Indian Ocean. China would gather more leverages to keep these issues on the boil. A second school of thought that has become dominant in China's policies suggest that China should be more proactive in countering US-India relations. Some influential scholars like Hu Shisheng suggest that in order to counter the US Indo-Pacific strategy, China needs to 'promote pragmatic cooperation with Japan, India and ASEAN members (but he suggests that China) also care for the appeals of small neighboring countries', presumably Pakistan. Another prolific writer Liu Zongyi is for assiduously replacing the Indo-Pacific strategy, by building a 'democratic, egalitarian and inclusive regional security architecture' -- a euphemism to building a Sino-Centric order. Thus, the acrimony among China's policy analysts will increase further as the American president lands in India. Surely once again they will raise the 'containment' bogey without making policy readjustments nor reciprocating on India's concerns. India then needs to clearly set a pro-active agenda based on its national interests. Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. A jailed Irish drug dealer has lost his ill-gotten 46million Bitcoin fortune after the piece of A4 paper he had the access codes on and hid for safekeeping was 'thrown out' by his ex-landlord. Clifton Collins, 49, had stashed the codes in the aluminium lid of a fishing rod case at his rented home in Farnaught, Cornamona, County Galway. After he was arrested for having 1,500 worth of cannabis in his car and sentenced to five years in jail, his landlord cleared out the house. The fishing rod case was sent to be incinerated. The missing codes have not been found. Clifton Collins, 49, converted money made from selling cannabis in Dublin to Bitcoin in late 2011 and early 2012 when their value was at around 3. It has rocketed to 7,427.43 Collins has allegedly told the Irish police that the loss is punishment for his own stupidity and that he has come to terms with it, reports The Guardian. He worked as a security guard and beekeeper before starting to grow cannabis in properties across Ireland in 2005, including the County Galway house. The money he made from sales in Dublin was then stored in 6,000 Bitcoins between late 2011 and early 2012, when the value hovered at around 3 each. It was stored in accounts with 500 Bitcoins each. Since then, the value has rocketed, and currently sits at 7,427.43 per coin. Irish police have been frantically searching for the codes. Officers visited the dump where workers said they remembered seeing discarded fishing gear, but that it had probably now been shipped to Germany or China for destruction. The fishing rod case the Bitcoin access codes were stored in was sent to the dump The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau had seized the Bitcoin after applying to take ownership of them as a forfeit under the proceeds of his crime, reports the Irish Independent. However, they have been unable to access them. Officers are hoping that advances in technology will eventually enable them to access the accounts. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) A Filipino was one of two new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing the total number of cases in the country to 11, a statement Friday from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention said. The ministry said COVID-19 was detected in a 34-year old Filipino and 39-year-old Bangladeshi. But they are now both in stable condition, it added. The Health Ministry also noted that the new reported cases had close contact with the recently confirmed case of a Chinese citizen. The Department of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the news, citing the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. This is the second Filipino in the UAE who tested positive for COVID-19. The DFA said the earlier case - a 43-year-old man who was confirmed to be infected on February 8 - has been transferred to a medical facility "as his condition is not improving." Of the 11 cases in the Arab nation, three of them have fully recovered. The UAE government has since suspended passenger flights to mainland China, with the exception of Beijing. The ministry also affirmed it was screening all persons who had close contact with the confirmed cases to avoid spreading the disease. It also said that it was coordinating with other concerned authorities and had been following necessary precautions and monitoring per the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). All the necessary precautions to ensure highly efficient preventive measures were taken, including check-ups and observation of people in contact with patients, the ministry said. The ministry added, The public are also advised to adopt protective health behaviors to avoid infectious diseases, including washing hands with soap and clean water, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing to stop the spread of germs and viruses. The WHO had so far reported more than 76,000 confirmed cases globally. Meanwhile, 2,239 deaths were already reported in China since the virus emerged from the Wuhan province. The History of Phuket: The social fabric of early Phuket Prostitution and the availability of slave women for sale meant that sex workers were never a thriving business in Phuket until later in the 19th century when thousands of single Chinese male coolies arrived to work in the tin mines. LifeHistory-of-PhuketHistory By Colin Mackay Saturday 22 February 2020, 12:00PM Traditional women in Phuket at the Market Photo: History of Phuket Prostitution and the availability of slave women for sale meant that sex workers were never a thriving business in Phuket until later in the 19th century when thousands of single Chinese male coolies arrived to work in the tin mines. Before that, concubinage served the purpose for many foreign sailors visiting the island. The Dutchman Admiral Van Neck, who visited Patani in 1604, explained the system at the time stating: When foreigners come there from other lands men come and ask them whether they do not desire a woman. These young women and girls themselves also come and present themselves, from whom they may choose the one most agreeable to them, provided they agree with what he shall pay for certain months. Once they agree about the money (which does not amount to much for so great a convenience) she comes to his house and serves him by day as his maidservant and by night as his wedded wife. He is then not able to consort with other women or he will be in the gravest trouble with his wife. She is, similarly, wholly forbidden to converse with other men, but the marriage lasts only as long as he keeps his residence there, in good peace and unity. When he wants to depart he gives her whatever is promised and so they leave each other in friendship and she may then look for another man as she wishes, in all propriety, without scandal. In the 18th century, Portuguese sailors in the peninsular West Coast ports also tell of women paddling out to their ships in boats to offer their temporary services. Alternatively, a visitor could buy and use a slave woman then simply sell her on when he left. Edmund Roberts, the American ambassador in the 1830s, noted, Temporary marriages are so notorious, that to sell a daughter wholly to a stranger, or for a stipulated term of time, is as common among the middling and lower classes of people, as to sell any common commodity to be found in a bazaar. One British officer, Col Garnett Wolseley, wrote triumphantly back to his brother in England that in the East he had acquired a woman who fulfilled all the purposes of a wife without giving any of them bother. Captain Edmund Scott, in 1606, tells us the Chinese used this method, buying women slaves by whom they have many children when they return to their own country they sell their women but the children they carry with them. Straight prostitution in Siam was usually organized via a farm a license for a monopoly purchased from the local lord or king. In 1680, for example, the king in Ayutthaya sold the prostitution farm rights for the city to one Chinese official, who used a stable of 600 enslaved women. The Frenchman De La Loubere, in 1688, however, felt that the Siamese are naturally too proud easily to give themselves to foreigners or at least to invite them. He thought that Mon, not Siamese women, do more highly esteem of foreigners, and without their blackened teeth, were generally of a more amorous complexion than Siamese. Children of mixed-ethnicity Ibn Majid, in 1462, was taken by the relaxed mores of the peninsula: The infidel marries Muslim women while Muslims take pagans to wife. It was also an official Portuguese colonial policy to encourage interbreeding and by the 17th century, significant Portuguese Catholic mestizo communities existed in Tha Reua in Phuket and Takua Thung in Phang Nga. Most of the local women the Portuguese took as wives and their children were converted to Christianity. However, as increasing numbers of European and Chinese arrived wanting women, often on a temporary basis, a sense of the impropriety of temporary marriages with foreigners grew among the Siamese. In the 17th century, King Prasat Thong forbade Siamese women to marry foreigners, and, always in need of manpower, strictly forbade the removal of any mixed-race offspring from the kingdom. Medicine There was the normal range of diseases in Phuket as anywhere else, the worst being fevers, malaria, dengue, cholera, leprosy, smallpox, measles, tuberculosis, cholera, polio and of course sexually transmitted diseases, all of which could kill. Medicine was not very advanced, remedies were usually herbal and spiritual. The 17th-century Persian envoy Al Ibrahim reported, In general the science of spells and incantations is practised to a great extent in Siam. At the same time, the French envoy Simon de la Loubere was particularly depreciative, stating, medicine cannot merit the name of Science amongst the Siamese. They are utterly ignorant of Anatomy, they know nothing of surgery. Monks and doctors studied remedies written in books or passed down orally. One 19th-century traveler in Siam tells us that, if patients were not cured, it was not thought to be the fault of the remedy, but due to the want of sufficient goodness in the life and character of the doctor or the patient. He also explained, if a sick man dies, the doctor gets no remuneration for his services The locals invested a great deal of faith in spells, incantations, and talismans. Alfonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese leader in the siege of Malacca in 1511, tells us of one Malay fighter who did not bleed from the many sword wounds they had inflicted on him until a sacred bone amulet was removed from his arm. When they took this off all his blood flowed away and he expired. Childbirth Commentators and historical evidence show that Malay and Siamese women tended to start giving birth earlier, had fewer babies and finished sooner than elsewhere in the world. Pallegoix tells us in the 19th century that, by tradition, Siamese women do not suckle their children for six months, but for two and even three years, even while giving them rice and bananas to eat. The Sejarah Melayu notes that abortion was not uncommon, being accomplished by herbs and massages. The prevalence of abortions may have had something to do with the extremely unpleasant ordeal of roasting pregnant mothers; one 18th century missionary in 1818 said that this frequently caused the women to emerge scorched and blackened [with] severe blistering of the skin It is difficult to explain this singular custom in a country where it is so hot. Nevertheless, everybody is convinced that it is indispensable and that one must go through it. Dr Bradley, an American missionary doctor in 19th century Siam, similarly writes of witnessing one of these cruelties of Siamese midwifer fiery ordeals. The poor woman was doomed to lie before a hot fire a full month on a narrow wooden bench without a cushion exposed to fire about eighteen inches distant. The fire was sufficiently hot to have roasted a spare rib at half the distance she complained much of soreness. In this case, as in many, the child died. Dr Bradley was unable to persuade the midwives conceited and headstrong old women to change their ways. Many Siamese children died within a year or so of childbirth. The French missionary Nicolas Gervaise in 1683 tells us, As soon as the child comes into the world they go and wash it in the river, after which, without a single swaddling cloth, it is placed in a little bed where it remains until it is six months old many children cannot get accustomed, at so early an age, to this Spartan code of life and die within a few days or months after their birth. It is by great luck, that of every 10 or 12 born, two or three are saved. Adapted with kind permission from the book A History of Phuket and the Surrounding Region by Colin Mackay. Available from good bookshops and Amazon.com. Order the softcover 2nd edition directly at: historyofphuket.com [February 21, 2020] ANADARKO 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 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation - APC Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until April 20, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC (News - Alert)), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 20, 2015 and May 2, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Anadarko 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-apc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by April 20, 2020. About the Lawsuit Anadarko and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 2, 2017, the Company announced it 1Q2017 financial results disclosing a $467 million impairment charge and a $435 million expense related to its Shenandoah oil field project, touted by the Company in prior periods, stating that it had "suspended further appraisal activities" due to testing results and the commodity-price environment and that the exploratory well costs could no longer be capitalized. On this news, the price of Anadarko's shares declined, injuring investors. The case is Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, et al., 4:20-cv-00576. 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/20200221005502/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MAGNOLIA, Miss. - A deputy sheriff responding to a domestic dispute was killed by a shot to the left side of his head, a forensic pathologist testified Friday in the death-penalty trial of a man charged with killing the deputy and seven other people in Mississippi. The defendant, Willie Cory Godbolt, kept his head lowered as photos of the deceased Lincoln County deputy, William Durr, were shown on a screen in the courtroom during the seventh day of testimony, the Daily Leader reported. Godbolt, 37, previously pleaded not guilty to four counts of capital murder, four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery. According to testimony earlier in the trial, law enforcement was called after Godbolt went to his in-laws home on May 27, 2017, and argued with his estranged wife about their children. Durr, Barbara Mitchell, Toccara May and Brenda May were shot to death that night. Two more people 18-year-old Jordan Blackwell and 11-year-old Austin Edwards were killed at a second home in the early hours of May 28, 2017. Ferral Burage and Sheila Burage, a married couple, were shot to death at a third home a few hours later. Godbolt was arrested near a business as he walked from the Burages house, investigators said. Jurors and about 75 other people in the courtroom Friday saw autopsy photos of Durr, Brenda May and Blackwell. Circuit Judge David Strong warned people about the graphic nature of the photos, and about 10 spectators left before they were shown. J. Brent Davis with the state medical examiners office said Durr was shot three times in his face, his back and the back of his head. Earlier in the week, Sheena May, Godbolts ex-wife, testified she saw Godbolt shoot Durr in the face. Davis said small hemorrhagic marks on Durrs face produced by the impact of unburned or partially burned gunpowder particles show the assailant was close to Durr when the gun was fired. The autopsy photo showed an exit wound on the back left of Durrs neck. Davis said all gunshot wounds are potentially fatal, but in his opinion, the face shot wouldnt have killed the officer. With medical treatment, could he have survived this? Assistant District Attorney Brendon Adams asked. I believe so, yes, Davis said. The shot to Durrs back also could have been treated and may not have been fatal, Davis said. However, the shot to the left side of his head, and the exit wound to the top of his head, killed the officer instantly, Davis said. The jury also saw autopsy photos of Blackwell and May that showed multiple bullet entry and exit wounds to torso, arms and head. Fewer people will live at Californias military retirement homes in decades to come but a larger share of them will require long-term care and skilled nursing, in Yountville and statewide. That was the conclusion of a master plan recently published by the state Department of Veterans Affairs to guide the future direction of Californias eight Veterans Homes for retired service members and their spouses. For the Yountville campus by far CalVets largest and oldest the future may include a growing commitment to residents needing round-the-clock care, even as its overall population continues to shrink. Authors of the 300-page plan which analyzes the needs of military senior homes from Redding to suburban San Diego recommended gradually overhauling the 600-acre Yountville facility to place long-term care at its center, starting with a 240-bed skilled nursing facility currently in the planning stage and estimated to cost $300 million. With demand for independent or assisted living quarters decreasing in recent years, organizers should consider slowly consolidating those residences into fewer buildings and freeing up more space for affordable housing, outpatient care and other uses, the report recommended. Such deep changes in the types of care offered and the way buildings are used are needed to clear up lengthy waiting lists for nursing care, and to better align the Yountville home with the needs of current and future veterans, according to the master plan, which CalVet released in January. Failure to implement the most critical proposals would be a disservice to veterans in need of effective, appropriate, and comprehensive long-term care, authors wrote. Californias veterans are changing, and their Veterans Homes should change to accommodate them. Waiting lists to enter California Veterans Homes cast light on what types of housing and support are in greatest demand, CalVet authors wrote. Eighty-five percent of those waiting for a place in the network are applying for skilled nursing or memory care, while the numbers of able-bodied residents has fallen well below the states budgeted maximums. Robust demand for long-term care in Yountville makes its future nursing center perhaps the most critical piece of its future, CalVet predicted a 285,000-square-foot building at the Veterans Homes southwest corner that would bring three existing facilities under a single roof, with kitchens, dining rooms, exam rooms, nurses stations, laundry facilities and more. Shifting nursing care out of the 1930s-era Holderman building into modern quarters must be CalVets top priority in Yountville, the report argued, both because of the Holdermans antiquated design and also because of upkeep costs that have grown into the millions of dollars. If the new (skilled nursing facility) complex is not built in Yountville, then the Home must end its existing SNF program, the master plan starkly proclaimed. The proposal is costly, but the alternative would be to discharge veterans to other Homes or to facilities in the community. By contrast, state officials painted a portrait of declining interest in non-medical accommodations at its Veterans Homes especially the dorm-like quarters in Yountville, which offer less privacy than the single-room design of new homes like the Fresno and Redding centers that opened in 2013. In Napa County, the Yountville center is funded to house 522 people in its domiciliary (independent living) program, but counted only 461 such residents in July 2019, with four people waiting to be admitted. By contrast, 71 people were waiting to enter Yountvilles skilled-nursing unit in the Holderman building, which held 138 residents, and another 113 people were seeking spots in the memory-care center, which was treating 71 patients. Overall, the Yountville homes population in 2019 was 775, well below the 906 beds budgeted by CalVet and the physical capacity of 1,069. The Yountville home struck 115 beds from its budget in 2018, but Californias master plan recommends removing another 30 beds from the roll and considering further cuts in the years ahead. Meanwhile, the CalVet master plan contemplates combining assisted-living dwellings currently spread across two buildings into one, the Eisenhower building at the south end of campus. Later, more assisted-living units could be created, if needed, at the nearby Roosevelt building, which hosts a memory-care center that would be merged into the future skilled-nursing hub. Though the Yountville home is coping with a falling population and aging facilities, CalVets report saw great long-term potential in an asset unique among the states retirement centers its 600 acres of land that can provide ample room and buildings for housing, services and revenue-raising partnerships. One of the most valuable potential reuses for Veterans Home building could be the creation of affordable housing for staff members, a critically scarce resource that could bolster recruitment into a notoriously high-cost community, according to the master plan. CalVet also called for the opening of an outpatient clinic on campus to spare veterans lengthy trips to the San Francisco VA hospital, and suggested finding a partner to restore the aged Holderman building, either for housing or hotel use. You can reach Howard Yune at 707-256-2214 or hyune@napanews.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three persons, including a sarpanchs husband and son, died when the car carrying them plunged into an irrigation tank in Telanganas Yadadri Bhongir district on Friday night, the police said. The bodies of Dharne Madhu (37), husband of D Swapna, Sarpanch of Sarnenigudem gram panchayat, their son Manikantha (9) and their family friend N Sridhar Reddy (25), a ward member of the same gram panchayat, were fished out of the tank at Vellanki village of Ramannapet block on Saturday afternoon. Ramannapet sub-inspector of police Chella Sailu said Madhu, along with his son and friend Sridhar Reddy, went out in the car late in the evening apparently to watch Maha Shivratri festivities in the neighbouring villages. When they did not return even after late in the night, the Sarpanch lodged a complaint with us. We began searching for them till the late hours, but did not succeed. On Saturday, we checked the CCTV footage in the area and found that the car had gone towards Vellanki tank, the SI said. With the help of local people and professional swimmers, the police searched in the tank and found the car in the waters at around 11 am. The car was pulled out of the tank and the bodies of the three victims were retrieved in the afternoon. Preliminary investigations revealed that the car could have plunged into the tank due to over-speeding. The bodies were shifted to the government hospital at Ramannapet for post-mortem. A case of accident has been booked, the SI said. Telangana Rashtra Samithi legislator from Nakirekal Chirumarthi Lingaiah went to Ramannapet hospital and consoled the members of the bereaved family. This is the third such incident in Telangana this week. On February 17, the bodies of TRS lawmaker D Manohar Reddys sister Radha, her husband Satyanarayana Reddy and their daughter Vinaya Sri, who had gone missing since January 27, were fished out along with their car from Kakatiya Canal near Karimnagar town. On February 16, a car carrying a couple to a temple fell off the bridge into Kakatiya Canal almost at the same spot. The husband died and the woman survived with injuries. A constable, who rushed to the spot, also fell off the bridge to death. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail One of the BBCs most highly revered journalists has accused Boris Johnson of being a serial liar who is apeing Donald Trumps attempts to control the media. David Dimbleby, who trailed the prime minister for a BBC documentary during the 2019 election campaign, said Mr Johnson was doing everything he can to undermine the UK's national broadcaster. The 82-year-old became a national staple through his work on political programming such as Question Time, which he hosted for 25 years, as well as coverage of every general election from 1979 to 2017. The veteran broadcaster launched a scathing attack on Mr Johnson in an interview with German broadcaster ARD He reportedly said: Nobody trusts Boris Johnson. Who could trust Boris Johnson? He lies everywhere to everyone. He lies to his family. He just makes it up, you know. Boris Johnson, above all politicians, does it his way. He doesnt take any notice of what people say. He doesnt care what people think. He just wants to be prime minister. Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Show all 17 1 /17 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Sajid Javid Resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Javids departure comes just one month before a crucial budget, intended to chart the course for the new government and makes him the shortest-serving chancellor for more than 50 years Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Rishi Sunak Promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Chancellor of the Exchequer after the dramatic resignation of Sajid Javid Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Esther McVey Sacked as housing minister AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Andrea Leadsom Sacked as business secretary EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Alok Sharma Appointed business secretary (previously international development secretary). He has also been put in charge of the UKs COP26 climate change summit PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Attorney General Geoffrey Cox Resigned as the government's most senior law officer AFP via Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Suella Braverman Appointed Attorney General and she will attend cabinet EPA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Theresa Villiers Sacked as environment secretary PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: George Eustice Appointed environment, food and rural affairs secretary. He was a farming and fisheries minister Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Changed role: Anne-Marie Trevelyan Appointed international development secretary (previously parliamentary under-secretary for defence) Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Julian Smith Sacked as Northern Ireland secretary Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Brandon Lewis Appointed Secretary of Northern Ireland Reuters Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Stephen Barclay Appointed chief secretary to the Treasury PA Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out In: Oliver Dowden Appointed culture secretary, succeeding Nicky Morgan Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Chris Skidmore Sacked as eucation minister Getty Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: Nus Ghani Sacked as transport minister Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/CC BY 3.0 Boris Johnson's cabinet reshuffle: Who's in and who's out Out: George Freeman Sacked as transport minister Getty He added: Johnson is apeing some of the attitudes of Trump. He is a different kind of political animal, like Trump, very similar rulebook. If you are like that the one thing you dont want is people questioning what youre doing, which is why he wont let his ministers go on television or any serious programme. The remarks were first reported by the by the Daily Mail, which obtained a transcript of parts of the interview which were not broadcast. Mr Dimbelby, part of a broadcasting dynasty within the BBC stretching back to his fathers time as its first war correspondent in the 1940s, hit out at Mr Johnson after Downing Street briefed it would introduce a sweeping overhaul to the corporation. He said: If youre in the glorious moment of supreme power the one thing you dont want is to be held to account. You do it your way. Recommended How Dominic Cummings turned the PM from puppet master to puppet It comes after conservative MPs hit out against the prime ministers chief aide Dominic Cummings over his brutal attack on the national broadcaster. An unnamed adviser vowed to whack the BBC by abolishing the licence fee and scrapping a number of TV and radio stations. Huw Merriman, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the BBC, hit out at ideological trench warfare against the corporation. Where I get concerned is the somewhat brutal way behind [his methods]. So the BBC is a good example of that, the MP said. Its fair enough to say we need to have a conversation about whether the licence fee is going to still be relevant in 2027. Theres nothing wrong with that. I agree with that conversation. But this whole thing about whacking, about its got hundreds of radio stations, and were going to close them down. It doesnt, it has 63, and so, therefore, the facts arent correct. And there seems to be a sort of nasty streak behind some of these briefings. And if our whole mantra is to try and unite the country, after the difficulties weve had over the last couple of years and this government has a mandate to do that then Im not sure why we need to be quite so divisive in the tone and language that were using. I just dont think its going to end well. The north entrance of the Philadelphia Art Museum prior to a staff meeting in January. Read more Some employees at the Philadelphia Museum of Art dont believe the institution is committed to protecting its workers from abusive bosses, and that concern could fuel a fledgling labor movement in the art world. In a story published Friday, one month after the museum came under fire for protecting an executive after numerous complaints about his conduct, The Inquirer reported on a similar situation concerning another former museum leader. Workers had filed complaints to management against the museums retail director, James Cincotta, saying he slapped, punched, and verbally abused employees. But after an internal investigation, Cincotta kept his job for two more years. He was let go in 2018. The result, The Inquirer story said, is that workers felt that managements inaction was emblematic of a culture that protected senior staff at the expense of lower-tier workers. From the story: That they would allow a known abuser to participate in the museum in any way was very demoralizing and upsetting, said one employee, who stated that Cincotta slapped him in the face in 2017 in view of several people. He asked not to be named for fear it could hurt his future job prospects. It was a clear signal to many people that they did not value workers rights, he said. Workers rights have increasingly become a rallying cry in the art world part of a broader trend of young people seeking collective action for labor protections. Employees at institutions like New Yorks Guggenheim and New museums, as well as the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, have joined unions in the last few years. They cite issues like low wages for jobs with high educational requirements, which contributes to a lack of diversity in the field; outsize pay disparities between executives and the rank and file; and a move toward more part-time and contract work, rather than full-time positions with benefits and other protections. Museum workers have also turned to new forms of organizing, outside of traditional unions. Last year, museum workers began a pay transparency movement, using a Google spreadsheet to crowd-source salaries and benefits, and driving workers in other sectors to follow suit. A Philadelphia Art Museum curator, Michelle Millar Fisher, was part of the group that started the spreadsheet, which has developed into a grassroots labor collective called Art+Museum Transparency. READ MORE: Why a Google spreadsheet was the most powerful tool for labor in 2019 There have already been signs of solidarity among workers at the Art Museum: Hundreds of current and former museum staffers signed a petition backing the women who spoke out against Joshua Helmer, the former executive alleged to have abused his power by entering into romantic relationships with subordinates. After a New York Times story detailed the allegations, museum staffers wore We Believe Women buttons. High-profile scandals can lead to workplace organizing, worker advocates say whether its union organizing or collective action around an issue, the way tech workers at Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have fought for and won demands at their workplace. When theres a high-profile scandal in any kind of workplace or institution, what usually happens is it peels away the veneer that management and the institution itself know what its doing, and that they have the best intentions for both the organization and the people that work there," said Randa Ruge, a health-care organizer at the International Association of Machinists. Consequently, she said, "workers will want to take it into their own hands to make improvements and speak up for themselves. A similar scandal sparked a union drive at the Mazzoni Center, an LGBTQ health organization in Center City. Workers accused medical director Robert Winn of sexual misconduct and said management did not address the situation. They voted to unionize in 2017, the same year the allegations were reported by Philadelphia Weekly. READ MORE: At LGBTQ Mazzoni health center, a bitter battle over union recognition The security guards at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, who are employed by Allied Universal, unionized in 2009. Museum officials have said they are working with outside experts to review the museums workplace culture, including a review of past incidents, general work environment, and existing policies, programs and training activities. The goal, a statement said, "is to build upon our commitment to providing an environment where every member of [the] staff feels secure, respected, and valued, and where issues that arise are handled not only appropriately but as swiftly as possible. A mob vandalised an Assam Rifles (AR) vehicle in Manipur's Senapati district on Friday following the arrest of a cadre of the NSCN(IM), officials said. Imphal: A mob vandalised an Assam Rifles (AR) vehicle in Manipur's Senapati district on Friday following the arrest of a cadre of the NSCN(IM), officials said. Movement of vehicles on the Mayangkhang-Senapati section of the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway was also blockaded by locals who burnt tyres in the middle of the road. AR personnel captured the cadre of the NSCN(IM) during an operation to locate culprits who had on Thursday snatched the firearm of an officer of the force in the district, officials said. Soon after news of the arrest spread, locals came out to the streets and attacked the vehicle belonging to the force. Adopting a "soft approach" to tackle the situation, the AR personnel abandoned the vehicle and left the area, the officials said. An Assam Rifles officer on Thursday came across a marked cadre of the NSCN(IM) who had violated ceasefire ground rules, leading to a hot pursuit. During the melee, the officer's AK-47 rifle was snatched but later, recovered, they said. Senior Manipur Police officials refused to comment on the issue. The University of Houston-Sugar Land campus is hosting a Spring Showcase highlighting their graduate programs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the multi-purpose room of Brazos Hall. Information will be available from the Colleges of Business, Education, Nursing, Technology, Social Work and Engineering. Refresments will be served. As a bonus, all attendees will receive an application fee waiver. The UH Sugar Land campus offers 11 graduate and doctoral degree programs including graduate program including a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Administration and Supervision, Master of Education in Counseling, a Masters program in Curriculum & Instruction - Learning, Design & Technology, an Executive Master's in Human Resource Development, a Master of Science (MS) in Technology Project Management, Graduate College of Social Work, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master of Science in Nursing program (Education, Administration, and FNP), doctoral program in Professional Leadership (K-12) and a doctoral program for in Professional Leadership with an emphasis in mathematics education. Brazos Hall is located at 14000 University Blvd. Last month, university officials announced new undergraduate degree and courses offering would be available next fall for students attending the University of Houston Katy and Sugar Land campuses after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved plans approved for the UH Bauer College of Business to offer upper division classes at the UH at Sugar Land campus. Plans were also approved to offer three new undergraduate engineering degrees in Katy. Related: Grand opening celebration for new $54M College of Technology facility at Sugar Land campus Jay Neal, associate vice president for academic affairs and chief operating officer at UH at Sugar Land and UH at Katy, said expanding offers at the two campuses has been an intentional process. We want to provide our students with courses and degree plans that have relevance to the industry around us," Neal said in a press release. "As leaders and good neighbors, we want to be part of what strengthens the community." The UH College of Nursing offers both undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees at UH at Sugar Land, as well as a bachelors degree and some graduate classes at UH at Katy. The UH College of Technology also offers a number of classes in Sugar Land, including for its degree programs in biotechnology and digital media. For more information about the University of Houston, visit uh.edu President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed late Friday the developments in war-ravaged Idlib town in northwestern Syria, which has recently seen a humanitarian disaster due to heavy bombardments by the Assad regime and its main backer Russia. In the phone call, the leaders reiterated their willingness to fully implement all agreements regarding measures to defuse tensions in the city, Daily Sabah reports. According to a statement by the Presidency, Erdogan told Putin it is imperative that Assad regime's actions and the consequent humanitarian crisis must be stopped in Idlib, and that the Sochi deal must be implemented in full. According to the statement, developments in Libya were also discussed. Claiming one emergency after another, the government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases, demanding immediate attention and consuming limited court resources in each, she wrote. And with each successive application, of course, its cries of urgency ring increasingly hollow. The courts earlier order, she said, at least had the virtue of blocking a nationwide injunction, a form of relief that has been criticized by judges and scholars. Indeed, two members of the court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas issued a concurrence in last months case indicating that the central problem was the geographic scope of the injunction. It has become increasingly apparent that this court must, at some point, confront these important objections to this increasingly widespread practice, Justice Gorsuch wrote. As the brief and furious history of the regulation before us illustrates, the routine issuance of universal injunctions is patently unworkable, sowing chaos for litigants, the government, courts, and all those affected by these conflicting decisions. I concur in the courts decision to issue a stay, Justice Gorsuch continued. But I hope, too, that we might at an appropriate juncture take up some of the underlying equitable and constitutional questions raised by the rise of nationwide injunctions. SAGINAW, MI Police are investigating a report of a shooting on Saginaws East Side. After 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, Saginaw County Central Dispatch paged out an alert about Saginaw City Police investigating a shooting at 1503 Annesley St. Several police vehicles were at the scene as well as a MMR ambulance. Detective Sgt. Matt Gerow told MLive/The Saginaw News that the Michigan State Police are handling the case. MSP Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser didnt have any details immediately about the incident. Follow MLive for more updates on this developing story. Related news: Police investigating double shooting at Saginaw bar Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 21:21:05|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LOME, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Togo's presidential election kicked off on Saturday at 7 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Seven candidates, including the incumbent president Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005 and is looking for a fourth term, compete for presidency. Among the other candidates, the former Prime Minister and former President of the National Assembly Messan Agbeyome Kodjo and the former leader of the opposition Jean-Pierre Fabre present themselves as the real challengers. Leaving the office where he voted at 10:40 am in Lome, the candidate Agbeyome Kodjo indicated that he had noted a "strong mobilization" of the Togolese and that "the Togolese want change ". For his part, Jean-Pierre Fabre voted at 9:30 am in a voting center near his home in Lome. "I am confident," he said after leaving the polling station. The former Madagascan president, president of the African Union observation mission Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina, noted that "everything has started well and everything is going well". Rajaonarimampianina made his remarks during his visit, accompanied by some members of his delegation, to the voting centers of the Camp Public Primary School, Hounkpati College and Kodjoviakope College. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, nearly 3.6 million voters, including 348 in the diaspora, registered on the electoral roll are expected to express their choice in 9,389 polling stations. A security system Force Security Presidential Election, comprising 10,000 police and gendarmerie elements, ensures the security of the electoral process. According to a decree adopted on December 2019 by the Council of Ministers of the Togolese government, the polling stations are set to close at 4:00 p.m. throughout the national territory. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.22 Trend: On February 21, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly of Pakistan adopted a resolution on reaffirming the respect to territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry. In the resolution the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa values the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan based on principles of respect, trust and mutual understanding and underlines the shared cultural values, common perceptions on global and regional issues and close cooperation in international arena between the two countries. The resolution states with appreciation Azerbaijans unequivocal support for the principled stance of Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir issue based on norms and principles of international law and active membership of Azerbaijan in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The Assembly reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders and condemns the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia and the genocide committed by Armenian armed forces in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly on February 26 1992, against the civilian population and ignorance of the OIC and UN resolutions and supports the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means. The Assembly reiterates that diplomatic relations will not be established with Armenia until it withdraws from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and genuine peace between the two countries is achieved. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of the four administrative provinces of Pakistan and located in the northwestern region of the country and it is the third-largest province of Pakistan by the size of both population and economy. The Provincial Assembly is a unicameral legislative body consisting of 145 elected members. The relevant resolutions recognizing the Khojaly genocide and urging the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani lands, supporting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan were adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate of Pakistan in 2012 and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Pakistani National Assembly in 2017. New Delhi: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has condemned AIMIM leader Waris Pathan for his statement that 15 crore Muslims would be more than a match for 100 crore Hindus. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis demanded an apology from Pathan and asked the Uddhav Thackeray government to take action. "We condemn the statement made by Waris Pathan and demand an apology. In case he does not apologise, the state government must take action against him," he said. Fadnavis said Pathan should understand that minorities were safe and enjoyed full freedom in India because 100 crore Hindus live in the country. He said no one would dare utter such a statement in a Muslim-majority nation, adding that the "Hindu community is tolerant but its tolerance should not be mistaken for weakness". "Pathan should apologise to the nation and the Hindu community," he said. Waris Pathan has been booked under Sections 117, 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code. He purportedly made these comments while addressing an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Kalaburagi in north Karnataka on February 16. The AIMIM leader, however, claimed he has been quoted out of context. Mackenzie Leigh Jacks and William Lawrence Frantz could not help but notice each other every time they crossed paths in the shared parking lot that stood between their Detroit apartment buildings in September 2014. I kept telling my roommate about this guy with a beard who was super hot, said Ms. Jacks, 30, a physician assistant at Park Medical Centers in Detroit. I needed to find a way to talk to him. Mr. Frantz, who is also 30 and works as a product line supervisor with the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, was feeling much the same. I kept seeing this beautiful woman when I would come home from work, he said. One day I got a really good look at her as she was helping an elderly woman out of her car, whom I later found out was her grandmother, and I thought, Wow, thats someone I would like to know. How can I approach her? Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 22:03:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A medical team member bids farewell to his family before leaving for Hubei, at the Shijiazhuang Railway Station in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 22, 2020. The ninth batch of medical team comprising 31 medical personnel from Hebei left for Hubei on Saturday to help fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak there. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Portland police released the names Saturday of two men killed in the citys seventh and eight traffic fatalities of 2020. Stacey A. Eaton, 42, died when a truck pulling into a convenience store in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood ran over him on Feb. 14. Police said Eaton had been lying on the sidewalk. Separately, police identified 37-year-old Jerry M. Stites III as the man hit by a truck and killed in the early morning hours of Feb. 17. Police indicated the driver who struck Stites was passing through an intersection with a green light at the time of the collision. Police have reported no citations to the drivers in either incident. Officers withheld the victims names until notifying their families. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Rio Tinto has appointed three female non-executive directors in its latest diversity drive. The FTSE 100 miner was mocked last year for having three times as many men named Simon on its board than women. Hinda Gharbi, an executive vice-president at oil fields services group Schlumberger, and Jennifer Nason, a global chairman at American banking giant JP Morgan Chase, will take up their roles on Rio Tinto's board on March 1. Rio Tinto was mocked last year for having three times as many men named Simon on its board than women And Ngaire Woods, dean of Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government, will join on September 1. Former Royal Mail boss Moya Greene stepped down from the Anglo-Australian miner's board last year, leaving it with just one woman director, Megan Clark. Three directors were called Simon, however: non-executive directors Simon McKeon and Simon Henry, as well as chairman Simon Thompson. Its board will now have 12 members, of which a third are women. Thompson said last night: 'I am delighted to welcome Hinda, Jennifer and Ngaire and look forward to benefiting from their insights and expertise in natural resources, finance, technology, governance and public policy.' New Delhi [India], Feb 23 (ANI): A large number of people including over 1,000 women on Saturday night gathered at Jaffrabad metro station area here to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The protesters have blocked the road under the metro station. The police force has reached the site. Similar scenes were witnessed in December last year when thousands of protesters holding placards and national flags raised slogans against the Act, which seeks to grant citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31, 2014. (ANI) Police at the scene of an attempted theft of an ATM machine on Largy Road, four miles outside Ahoghill, yesterday Police at the scene of an attempted theft of an ATM machine on Largy Road, four miles outside Ahoghill, yesterday Customers at a Co Antrim shop hit by a ram raid attack where an attempt was made to steal an in-store ATM have spoken of their anger. Local people told of their disgust at the attack at the Largy Road Filling Station, around four miles outside Ahoghill on the main road between Portglenone and Randalstown. Another shop owner in Ahoghill, who had an ATM stolen last April, also said the long-term impact on his business had been "devastating". The latest raid happened around 2am on Friday and police are appealing for information. PSNI Detective Sergeant Lenaghan said: "Shortly after 2.05am, it was reported that a car believed to be a dark coloured Vauxhall Vectra arrived at a garage forecourt in the area. "The vehicle then reversed, ramming the outside shutters of the premises a number of times. "A male then got out of the car and attempted to break into the ATM on site. The male made off in the vehicle from the scene empty handed. Damage was reported to the shutters following the incident." At the scene on Friday morning the shop owner did not wish to speak about the raid. Local people said more than a dozen people work in the filling station, which also has a Mace shop. Some workers at offices and businesses beside the shop were also unable to get to work on Friday morning while police conducted their enquiries. One man at the scene said: "This is a big shock and there is a lot of anger that these type of raids are continuing. This seems to be a different approach from using diggers as there is not a hole-in-the-wall cash machine here but it is in-store." Another man added: "It is a busy shop. I go into it every day and around now I would normally be in getting something to eat. What has happened is not good for the community." A spate of ATM raids took place across Northern Ireland last year. Last April a shop on Brook Street was targeted with a digger which ripped down a wall before taking the cash machine. Shop owner Walter Millar, who has been in business for over 30 years, said on Friday he was still trying to recover. "The insurance won't cover another ATM, unfortunately," he said. "The long-term effect of it is quite devastating. The cost of repairs, the disruption to business and waiting for insurance companies to pay out. "People are now going elsewhere to lift their cash and spending it elsewhere so it really is a terrible knock-on effect." A PSNI spokesperson appealed for anyone who witnessed any suspicious vehicles in the area between 2.05am and 2.25am [on Friday] to call detectives on 101, quoting reference 118. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Samsung Electronics' offices in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. Korea Times file Samsung Electronics Co. said Saturday it has temporarily shut down a smartphone plant in the southeastern city of Gumi, shortly after a plant employee tested positive for the new coronavirus. Samsung plans to complete disinfection work at the plant in Gumi, 260 kilometers southeast of Seoul, by Sunday and resume operations at the plant on Monday, the company said. Deepak Sathish By Express News Service COIMBATORE: The whole world would be closely watching India during US President Donald Trump and First Lady of the US Melania Trumps visit to the country on February 24 and 25. While political analysts and economists expect a striking deal by Trump during his visit to India, an 84-year-old man from a nondescript village in Coimbatore's Pollachi chose to express his talent amidst this tornado. V S Vishwanathan, the handloom weaver from Vettaikaranpudur in Pollachi taluk weaved a Khadi kurta for Donald Trump. The reason: To sensitise the citizens of India to use Khadi clothes, accomplishing the vision of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. ALSO READ: Jaipur airport to be alternative landing for Trump's aircraft in case of bad weather: Official The weaver had parceled the Khadi kurta to Prime Minister's Office, seeking to present the same by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Donald Trump during his visit to the national capital. Nevertheless, Vishwanathan had presented handcrafted Khadi kurta to notable figures who had visited Coimbatore notably former presidents VV Giri and R Venkataraman, veteran Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan. He also previously presented the Khadi kurta to PM Narendra Modi and former US president Barack Obama. Speaking with TNIE, Vishwanathan said, Whenever the political leaders are visiting Coimbatore, I would weave a Khadi kurta to them. This is to create awareness about the need to use Khadi clothes. He recalled that he first presented the Khadi kurta to former president VV Giri during the latter's visit to Coimbatore in 1969. "Later, I made it a practice to weave Khadi cloth to the famous leaders," he added. ALSO READ: As Trump visit draws near, Yamuna and Taj Mahal make over take centre-stage By calculating the height of a person, Vishwanathan said he could weave a kurta for them. For Donald Trump, he weaved 42-inch sized kurta. According to Vishwanathan, the handloom field has slightly lost its sheen. Most people are fond of western outfits but not Khadi clothes, he said. The 84-year-old man also provides free tailoring classes to the married women in his locality to make them self-sustainable. "I don't know whether the Khadi kurta would be presented to Donald Trump. But, I will not be disappointed if it did not happen," he concludes. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar lll says God is using Boko Haram insurgency to punish Nigerians for their sins and for disobeying his commands through the years, He stated this at the 5th International Conference on Love and Tolerance: Countering Violent Extremism for Peaceful Coexistence in Abuja, on Thursday. The Sultan of Sokoto, represented by the Emir of Jiwa, Dr. Idris Musa, said that the challenges of insurgency would would come to an end when Nigerians stop committing sin and starts to abide by the teachings of the Quran and Bible. The security challenge is our problem. The Holy Quran is a message to mankind. The Holy Bible is a message to mankind. If we cannot listen to what the Bible and Quran have taught us and we continue in our bad ways, what do we expect? Abubakar reportedly asked. It is part of the punishment we are receiving based on our sins. If we can stop committing sin and abide by Gods words, things will change. The Sultan however expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome the security challenges bedeviling it. He said: We can win the fight against insurgency. Everyone is afraid of each other, but I am sure that we are going to win the war. Today, it has reached a situation where a senior citizen is running away from the common man, because, he is thinking that he would lose his life, why? The Sultan of Sokoto charged Nigerians to leave in peace with each other irrespective religious believer or region. Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has declared a one day fasting and prayer session to salvage the state and the country against Boko Haram insurgency. The governor, who made the declaration in a six minutes broadcast, fixed Monday, February 24, 2020, for the exercise which will be held across the state. Ex-military vehicles could become street legal under legislation passed in the Michigan Senate this week. Currently, Michigan residents can purchase decommissioned military surplus vehicles from the federal government. But the vehicles have to be titled as an off-road vehicle, meaning owners can only drive them on off-road trails and cant register them for general use. Senate Bills 344, 345 and 346, sponsored by Sens. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, and Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, would let owners of military surplus vehicles like Humvees register them as historic vehicles. That designation wouldnt mean people could use the vehicles as their main source of transportation, although the Secretary of State allows vehicles with historic or authentic plates to be driven without restrictions during August. The $30 historic registration fee is good for 10 years and lets owners of eligible vehicles drive to participate in parades, tours, exhibitions and other events. Under the legislation, a person applying for historic registration for their military surplus vehicle would have to have it inspected by a police officer to ensure it has all required safety features before the Secretary of State could issue the plate. Owners of these types of vehicles want them for their personal use, collection and restoration, Barrett said in a statement. My bills would enable folks to register these vehicles for parades, events and general use. The bills are supported by many collectors, military service members and veterans, although they were met with mixed reviews in the Senate, where many Democrats voted against the bills. The Secretary of States office opposes the bill. Spokesperson Jake Rollow said the opposition stems from concerns that the vehicles werent designed for regular street use and arent subject to the same safety and emissions standards as other cars and trucks. Were concerned about their ability to be safe, both for people operating them and for others, he said. Rollow said the Secretary of State is open to conversations about another kind of historical designation: We fully understand and appreciate their cultural significance. A similar plan cleared the legislature last session, but then-Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the proposal. In a message to the legislature, he wrote that if military surplus vehicles were given historic registration status, vehicles that were never manufactured or intended for on road passenger use could be registered and permitted on public streets and roads. The bills now head to the House for further review. They would need to pass the House and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law. By Gram Slattery and Marta Nogueira RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors on Friday slammed Vale SA's corporate risk management policies, saying a report released by the iron ore miner a day earlier highlighted governance issues that contributed to a dam burst last year that killed 270 people, just four years after a similar disaster. "It's obvious from the report that profound changes in corporate governance and risk management need to be made if new disasters like those which happened in Brumadinho and Mariana are to be avoided," Jose Adercio Sampaio, the head federal prosecutor investigating the dam burst, told Reuters. Brazil-listed shares in the company, which reported middling fourth-quarter results on Thursday, were down some 4% in Friday afternoon trade, a much steeper decline than the Brazil's benchmark Bovespa equities index which was off 1.1%. In January 2019, the company's B1 dam in the town of Brumadinho burst, unleashing a river of toxic mining waste that crushed a Vale dining hall and destroyed parts of the nearby countryside - the miner's second fatal tailings dam accident in less than four years. A similar disaster at a joint venture with BHP Group in 2015 left 19 people dead in the town of Mariana and brought even graver environmental consequences. Since the Brumadinho collapse, evidence has emerged that employees at Vale and at inspection companies it hired knew the dam was risky but did not act. In January, state prosecutors indicted Fabio Schvartsman, chief executive at the time of the dam burst, for murder. The 50-page report, released a day before a five-day holiday break in Brazil, had been commissioned by Vale, and was prepared by an independent committee that included a former Brazilian Supreme Court justice. It said the company had information dating back to at least 2003 attesting to the B1 dam's instability, but no significant action was ever taken. Story continues The report found that Vale's divisions were "siloed" in such a way to prevent internal issues or problems from being aired widely. It also cited "a work environment that lacked transparency and that did not encourage personnel to raise concerns and/or question leadership decisions." Echoing independent reviews of Vale's structure, the investigation found that bonuses of employees in the geo-technical area overseeing dam safety were linked almost exclusively to financial targets with safety goals representing a small portion of compensation metrics. Vale changed compensation practices after Brumadinho to give greater weight to safety and also created a new risk management structure including a an executive board focusing on safety and operations that reports to the company's new CEO, Eduardo Bartolomeo. Vale's general counsel downplayed the report during a call with analysts on Friday, saying there were "no new facts" that police and prosecutors did not have already. The company faces billions of dollars in potential liability and criminal cases that could go on for years. On Friday, it acknowledged that it could have to boost provisions by $1 billion to $2 billion as part of a global settlement. (Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Christian Plumb and David Gregorio) Doris Uche Ogunmakin A Nigerian widow living in the United States of America with her 5-year-old son has accused pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) of scamming her following her husbands death. Ms Doris Uche Ogunmakin said that certain pastors heading the RCCG church she attends in the US borrowed a huge sum of money from her husband but after his death, they refused to pay her back. She added that she and her late husband, Tolulope Ogunmakin, bought a property worth 45,000 Dollars (15 million Naira at the time) in River Park Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, through the pastors. However, after her husbands death, they went behind her to allegedly sell the land and kept the money for themselves. She said shes been spending money on lawyers in the US so as to get back what is rightfully hers. Speaking to LIB, Ms Doris said a particular Pastor Bimbo Olushola and her husband Pastor Segun Olusola borrowed 60,000 Dollars from her husband before he died and asked him not to tell his wife. She added that the couple milked and sucked her husband dry. She also said they made arrangements for him to marry Pastor Bimbo Olusholas sister but their plans failed and Mr Ogunmakin married Doris instead. The bereaved widow said this is because I suffered with my husband till he became someone. She further accused Bami Abigail Akinkunmi, who is an RCCG pastor, of allegedly selling her Abuja property after her husbands death. Bami Abigail is the mother-in-law of Pastor Olusegun Olusola. According to Ms Doris, Pastor Olusegun Olusola encouraged her and her late husband to buy a property in Abuja with help from his mother-in-law. When they agreed to it, they transferred the money to Bami Abigail to make the transaction on their behalf since they werent in Nigeria. However, after Mr Ogunmakins death, Ms Bami Abigail allegedly sold the property, according to Doris Ogunmakin. Doris told LIB: We wired the money to her and she claimed she bought the property and refused to release the documents or even show the place to my husband. When his health started getting bad she sold the property when my husband died without my permission although I requested for those documents rather she sent threats. The bereaved widow reported the incident to Pastor James O. Fadel and Pastor AdeGrace Okorende, who are the pastors in charge of RCCG in Dallas, Texas, where she worships, and she said they did nothing about it. She told LIB: Pastor Ade Okorende and Pastor Fadel, I reported to them as the G.O here in America. They promised to get these resolved but since they are somehow related, they decided not to do anything on this matter. Ms Doris, who is raising her 5-year-old son without help from any quarters, has asked for justice, if not for herself then for her son. She said: Please help me I am a widow. RCCG pastors scammed me and my late husband. They borrowed 60, 000 Dollars before he died and now they are refusing to pay me, making me spend money on lawyers here in the U.S. . We bought property through them in Abuja, 45,000 Dollars. And as soon as they herad hes dead, they sold my property without telling me. Please, help me and my son. Please. Below are documents Ms Doris shared exclusively with LIB to back her claims. *** Source: LIB Officials of Tihar Jail in Delhi have written to all the four death row convicts in the December 2012 gang-rape and murder case about their last meeting with families ahead of their March 3 hanging, news agency ANI reported on Saturday. A Delhi court had issued fresh warrants on February 17, for the third time, to hang Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur till death on March 3 at 6am. They were sentenced to death by a Delhi court in 2013 after they were found guilty of brutally raping and murdering a 23-year-old paramedic student on a moving bus on December 16, 2012. Their hanging, as ordered by a city court, has been deferred twice. Mukesh and Pawan were told that they had already met their families before February 1 death warrant. Akshay and Vinay have now been asked when they want to meet them, a jail official as quoted as saying by ANI. One of the convicts, Vinay Sharma, has filed a plea seeking treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS). His counsel, AP Singh, told a Delhi court that his client suffers from mental illness, schizophrenia and has failed to recognise his counsel and family. Additional sessions judge Dharmendra Rana sought a status report from the prison authorities and posted the matter for further hearing on February 22. In his plea, Sharma has sought directions to authorities to provide him with high-level medical treatment to him for his injuries. The plea said that when his counsel came to meet Sharma in jail, he found that Sharma had a grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm with plaster, and was suffering from insanity, mental illness and schizophrenia. The application contended that the convict was also found to have decreased sleep since a long time and was prescribed medicine by a senior psychiatrist in view of drug dependence. It said that based on medical records, it was contended that Sharma has been on psychiatric medication and was diagnosed with adjustment disorder. Jail officers, when contacted, however, said that Sharma appears to be perfectly normal and in sound mental health. Vinay Sharma had also attempted to hurt himself by banging his head against a wall in his cell on February 16 and received minor injuries, a Tihar Jail official had said. The four men were among six people, including a juvenile, who had brutally raped and assaulted the 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adults accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case. 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. The US bid to dominate Venezuelas oil sector through secondary sanctions could unite foreign competitors against Washington and spark a global conflict, analysts said, Sputnik reports. Earlier this week, the United States imposed sanctions on Russias Rosneft Trading SA and its head Didier Casimiro for operating in Venezuelas oil sector. Moscow accused Washington of unfair trading practices and said the new sanctions will harm US-Russian relations. The US oil giant Chevron was not penalized in any way by the new sanctions even though it would continue to operate in Venezuela. Historian and political analyst Steve Ellner, associate managing editor of Latin American Perspectives, warned that this conception risks driving the United States into a catastrophic full-scale war with both Moscow and Beijing. "By granting Chevron and other US companies waivers the Trump administration is obviously favoring US economic interests. This is in many ways a throwback to the pre-1914 period when the rivalry between European powers intensified and eventually led to World War I", Ellner said. Chevron has been able to take advantage of this obsession among Trump administration officials to continue their lucrative activities in Venezuela, Ellner observed. "Chevron spokespeople argue that by not investing in Venezuela, Russia and China are able to penetrate such a strategically important industry like petroleum", he said. The US sanctions, imposed on Venezuela, contradicted US official rhetoric about favoring free markets and free trade and was also an expression of the economic nationalism championed by President Donald Trump, Ellner pointed out. "The system of secondary sanctions in which non-US companies are forced to abide by unilateral sanctions imposed by the US government has two dimensions. In the first place it is an instrument of US foreign policy designed to penalize those governments that Washington considers to be political adversaries. In the second place, in many cases, it favors US corporate interests over those of the rest of the world", Ellner said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has criticized a mob that attacked buses carrying dozens of Ukrainians evacuated from China amid concerns about the COVID-19 virus. Hundreds of people, fearing the evacuees could bring the virus to Ukraine, attacked the buses with rocks and metal bars near a National Guard clinic about 300 kilometers east of the capital, Kyiv. Several hundred police were mobilized to the scene, and about two dozen protesters were arrested. Most of the detainees were released after being held briefly. Nine police officers were reportedly injured. "We keep saying that Ukraine is in Europe," Zelenskiy said in Kyiv. "But yesterday it seemed like we were in Europe in the Middle Ages." Zelenskiy also said "we know that someone deliberately and purposefully sowed panic among the people." The 45 evacuated Ukrainians, 27 nationals from other countries who were also evacuated from China, and the medical staff and aircraft crew will spend the next two weeks in quarantine at the clinic, officials said. None of them has shown symptoms of the virus. With reporting by dpa and Interfax The Cairo Criminal Court acquitted Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, the sons of ousted president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, and others, in the case known in the media as "manipulating the stock exchange" on Saturday. The court also postponed its rule on preventing nine defendants accused in the same case from disposing of their money, including Gamal and Alaa Mubarak, till 11 March. Alaa and Gamal Mubarak were among seven defendants who were acquitted in the same ruling, issued by judge Khalil Omar Abdel-Aziz. The other five defendants who were acquitted are: Ayman Hussein Suleiman, 51, former chairman of the National Bank and the current chairman of Drexel Petroleum Equipment Company; Yasser Suleiman Hisham El-Mallawani, 50, member of the National Bank board; Ahmed Naim Badr, 44, a former member of the board of directors of the National Bank and current managing director of El-Naeem Holding Company; Amr Mohamed Ali El-Qadi, 52, member of the board of directors of the National Bank and current general manager of ASEC Company; and Hussein Lotfi El-Sherbiny, 45, a former member of the board of directors of the National Bank and current managing director of HC Securities and Investment. Earlier, former prosecutor-general Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud referred the defendants to the Cairo Criminal Court, accusing them of illegally acquiring EGP 51 million. The prosecution also charged Gamal Mubarak of participating in the crime of profiteering and illegally acquiring for himself and his companies more than EGP 493 million by agreeing to sell the National Bank to achieve financial gains for them and others, and enabling him to acquire shares from the bank via a company in Cyprus. In September 2018, a Cairo criminal court ordered the release on bail of the two sons of toppled president Mubarak, just five days after their arrest over charges in the same case. The case began in 2012 but Mubarak's two sons had been released on bail and banned from travel. Search Keywords: Short link: A young woman was rejected by two doctors before she was told she had cervical cancer - eventually leaving her fighting for life and infertile. Maddy Brown, from Townsville, Queensland didn't think much of the abnormal symptoms of pain and bleeding in her pelvic area. But after a few days of the same excruciating pain, the 22-year-old went to her doctor for some answers. 'This first doctor that kind of straight up whooshed me out the door and sent me for an STD check without listening to me,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Maddy Brown (pictured) from Townsville, Queensland didn't think much of the abnormal symptoms of pain and bleeding in her pelvic area An 8cm tumour was found in Ms Brown's cervix and was pushing against her bladder Having already been tested recently, Ms Brown went to another GP but was once again told her pain was likely caused by a sexually transmitted disease. Frustrated, she spoke to her mother who is a registered nurse, and suggested she go see her regular GP. Upset and overwhelmed at being brushed to the side the first two times, Ms Brown finally underwent a pap smear. 'I was very confused as to why the past two doctors didnt take concern so quickly like this doctor did,' she said. What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer begins when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix grow uncontrollably. Commonly starts in the area of the cervix It may spread to tissues around the cervix, such as the vagina, or to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs or liver. About 850 women in Australia are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women over 30, but it can occur at any age. About one in 195 women will develop cervical cancer before the age of 75 Source: Cancer Council Australia Advertisement The doctor suggested she go see a specialist. 'It looked like an ectropion which is where your cells can grow on the outside of your cervix due to change in hormones from the contraception pill and so forth,' Ms Brown said. A week later on November 16, 2019, Ms Brown was told the horrifying news that she had cancer. 'I was told my pathology came back as adenocarcinoma [cancer]. In that split second I was just speechless. I had no idea what to think or say,' she said. 'I didnt know what was on my mind more. The fact I could of found this out weeks earlier to get on top or the fact that I had just been told I actually had cancer. 'It was terrifying. I feel like I just saw everything flash before my eyes.' On November 25, Ms Brown was booked in for surgery, where she was told they would remove the tumour. Once inside, the doctor realised it would be far more complicated and would not complete the surgery until further consultation. Two centimetres of the tumour was taken from the top and bottom for a biopsy, but Ms Brown was losing a lot of blood. 'She was originally going to take it out but when she went in it was a whole lot bigger than what she thought so only ended up taking a biopsy from the top and bottom,' Ms Brown explained. Ms Brown (middle) and her brother-in-law Lachlan (right) launched a GoFundMe page to support her fight with cervical cancer A complication in the surgery saw Ms Brown lose a lot of blood and had to be packed in The next day the doctor informed them of 'how bad it actually was' and Ms Brown's family jumped to ensure she was comfortable. 'All I really remember was her walking in to tell us how bad it actually was and next thing,' she said. Cervical cancer symptoms vaginal bleeding between periods menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual bleeding after intercourse pain during intercourse unusual vaginal discharge vaginal bleeding after menopause excessive tiredness leg pain or swelling low back pain Source: Cancer Council Australia Advertisement 'I know my mother and sister were down at work organising my PET and MRI scan and my brother-in-law Lachlan just jumping straight into the bed with me to hold me cause I just lost it.' Lachlan launched a GoFundMe page to help ease Ms Brown's worries as she was out of work for six weeks and had another three months ahead of her. Ms Brown was given 24 hours to decide whether or not she wanted to save her eggs. 'It was the most terrifying decision I had to make in such a short time,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'In the end I chose to do whatever had to be done and not to worry about fertility because I knew if I didnt do the whole works I wouldnt of been able to cope mentally.' On January 22, a doctor performed a biopsy where he removed more of Ms Brown's cervix and her 20 pelvic lymph nodes. A week after 'probably the worst recovery I've gone through', Ms Brown was told the cancer was gone. 'It was incredible and I couldn't believe it,' she said. 'To me it was perfect timing cause that weekend I was flying to Mackay for my sister's engagement.' After finally returning back home to Townsville where she spent time recovering in Brisbane, Ms Brown received a call from her specialist. 'He decided to send me to a radiation oncologist here in Townsville where it was decided I would undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy and brachytherapy. 'Even though the pathology was clear from the lymph nodes that were taken, there are still nodes where all it would take is one cell to have gone to one of those so we would have missed it. 'I was heartbroken. I thought I jinxed myself and had celebrated too soon. 'I felt like I was never going to get a final decision cause I was always told one thing and then had it changed on me. 'But I didnt even think twice because I told my very first specialist that I wanted it done because then in future if it comes back I know that we did everything we could the first time rather than me questioning why they wouldnt listen to me.' Ms Brown's friend Heidi (left) who is a registered nurse stayed in hospital while and helped her friend change, shower as she continued to recover The 22-year-old on Monday will begin planning for her five weeks of treatment radiation and chemotherapy The 22-year-old on Monday will begin planning for her five weeks of treatment radiation and chemotherapy - 25 sessions of radiation and five of chemotherapy. After that she will undergo three sessions of brachytherapy. Unfortunately, Ms Brown didn't have enough time to save her fertility and her ovaries will be radiated with treatment. 'Its been the most hectic roller coaster ever. No words truly explain what its been like,' she said. 'Its been horrific and terrifying. The amount of emotions you get filled with just shouldnt exist. 'And it just shows that no matter your age you are the one that knows your body the best so no one should take no for an answer. 'My first specialist here in Townsville openly admits I saved my own life by not taking no as answer cause mine was so aggressive and growing so quickly. 'I wouldnt have made it to 25. Im just trying my best to keep pushing through with my amazing support in my life and having all the chances to get the awareness out.' The Loudoun County initiative, experts said, marks a new frontier in vaping prevention as schools nationwide struggle with the popularity of e-cigarettes. One in 4 high school sophomores and 1 in 3 seniors used vaping products as of December, according to the most recent data published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That study found that nicotine vaping doubled over the past two years across all grades. Fourth-year medical student Christine O'Sullivan is looking for a little of your pocket change - just two euros - to make a lot of change in the developing world. As the Mounthawk, Tralee, native is flying out to east Africa this summer alongside over forty of her med students pals as part of a healing mission bringing vital medical supplies. St Brendan's Parish Priest Fr Padraig Walsh was on hand to help Christine launch the new campaign in Kerry this week - simply called T4T. "My fundraising initiative is called T4T which stands for 2 for Tanzania," Christine explained. "I appreciate this is a difficult time of the year for many people after the Christmas spending." "However, all I'm asking from people is 2 which is less than the price of a cup of coffee.!" To that end there will be a collection outside Masses at St Brendan's over the weekend. 2 from each Mass-goer could amount to quite a lot indeed for the needy of Tanzania. It's the basics, the kind of things we take for granted here, that can make an inordinate difference to daily life in the country that Christine and fellow students will be bringing with them. "We're going out in July, 41 of us and we will be volunteering in hospitals across Malawi, Tanzania, Ghana and Zambia. These hospitals are desperately lacking in basic analgesics, antibiotics, vitamins and sterile medical equipment," Christine said. These items will be foremost among the supplies leaving Ireland with the group. All have been campaigning and fundraising already: "T4T,a registered college charity, is run entirely by UCC medical students as we volunteer our time during the year to work towards reaching an annual goal of 100,000. All of the donated funds will go directly towards the improvement of the hospitals in Africa. The projects in previous years included the building of new hospital wards, a surgical unit and the introduction of an HIV Outreach Clinic. "Every student funds their own flight, accommodation and vaccines. This year we have raised 75,000 to date, with five months remaining," Christine added. It has been 10 years since Isabel Wilkersons award-winning The Warmth of Other Suns told the epic story of the Great Migration, the decades in the 20th century during which six million black Southerners relocated from the rural South to the North, Midwest and West. Chicago, of course, was one of the great beneficiaries of that exodus. In the book, Ms. Wilkerson, a former Chicago bureau chief of The New York Times and Pulitzer Prize winner, accompanied Ida Mae Gladney, back to a field in Mississippi where Ms. Gladney used to pick cotton. They also visited a cemetery, where she was asked by a relative: Ida Mae, you gonna be buried down here? She answered: No, Im gonna be in Chicago. But today, many black Chicagoans are leaving the city. Since 2015, almost 50,000 black residents have left; 200,000 have moved out in the last two decades. Julie Bosman, a correspondent in our Chicago bureau, and the photographer Todd Heisler documented a reverse migration, which was published in The Times this week. They profiled three generations of the White family to show what goes into the decision to leave or to stay. Dan DiDio, who served as publisher of DC alongside Jim Lee since 2010, is no longer with company https://t.co/r6RRFM7s4U The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 21, 2020 Big comic books news: Dan DiDio is no long with DC Comics as of today. It's unknown whether he quit or was fired. Dan joined the company in 2002 as VP of Editorial before becoming the VP Executive Editor in 2004. Since 2010 he has been Co-Publisher along with Jim Lee. As of now Lee will remain as sole Publisher.DiDio has been a big name at the company, as he was a major talking head and helped spearhead the year-long series 52, The New 52 reboot in 2011, as well as the Rebirth relaunch in 2016. He's also the man behind the upcoming Generations miniseries that is set to explore the history of the DC Universe, all before the yet-to-be-announced and supposed relaunch called "5G." Whether the relaunch still happens as planned - or at all - is unknown.DiDio hasn't been a very well liked figure in the comic community and is noted for his dislike of characters like Dick Grayson and Wally West. DiDio also caused an uproar several years ago when he tossed out the idea of Batwoman getting married and stated superheroes shouldn't have happy private lives. Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi on Saturday threatened to resign as minister as well as the member of the Assembly if injustice is meted out to his confidant-Athani MLA Mahesh Kumathalli. Jarkiholi and Kumathalli were among the 17 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs who brought down the coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy in July 2019 and helped install the BJP government with full majority in the state. The rebels had claimed that they were promised ministerial berths by the BJP leadership but Kumathalli was not accommodated despite winning the bypolls in December 2019 from Athani constituency. Since then, he has been sulking and constantly reminding the BJP of its 'Vachana Dharma.' "Certain things cannot be said openly. Mahesh Kumathalli was mainly responsible for the formation of the BJP government in the state. He may get a good post. We will not let injustice happen to him," Jarkiholi told reporters in Belagavi. When journalists reminded Jarkiholi of Kumathalli's statement that the team responsible for bringing down the coalition government has left him in lurch, Jarkiholi said, "He has not said yet. The moment he says I will resign as MLA. I will resign as minister also. Let him come out and say once. It's not possible." Meanwhile, Kumathalli said he was no longer discontented. "No injustice has happened to me. The irrigation facility in our area has improved and we are quite content," he added. He also said the projects that were pending for decades have now been taken up. To a question on the denial of ministerial berth which he had been yearning for, Kumathalli said, "When the time comes, I will become a minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After taking a lead of 51 runs against India on day two of the first Test, New Zealand pacer Tim Southee on Saturday said that he does not think there is anything wrong with Jasprit Bumrah. His remarks came as Bumrah did not manage to take a wicket on the second day of the first Test. The Indian paceman also failed to take a single wicket in the three-match ODI series against the Kiwis. "I do not think there is anything wrong. Bumrah is a world-class bowler, great performances are not far away when you have quality. I am sure that he is working extremely hard, there were games when he bowled really well but was not able to take wickets. Hopefully, we can keep Bumrah quiet for the rest of the tour," Southee told reporters. New Zealand has gained a 51-run lead over India in the first Test. The Kiwis ended the day at 216/5 after bundling out India for 165. Ishant Sharma took three wickets for India on day two. He took the crucial wickets of Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, and Ross Taylor. "He (Ishant) has been a world-class bowler for a long time now. He is coming back from an injury, he has played 90 odd Test matches, so he knows what needs to be done," Southee said. "There is a long way to go in the Test, it has been an interesting wicket, the odd one is holding and staying up a little bit. If we can carry on tomorrow morning and get partnerships together, then it will order well for us. The run-out of Pant was a crucial thing this morning," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sana Khan EXPOSES Boyfriend Melvin Louis for CHEATING on her | FilmiBeat Post-break-up with choreographer Melvin Louis, Sana Khan has been making some shocking revelations about her relationship and break-up. And now, the former Bigg Boss 6 contestant has opened up about the toll the heartbreak has had on her health and wellbeing. Sana told SpotBoyE, "I'm suffering from depression and anxiety. I'm healing and taking care of myself. My family is there. I was on sleeping pills from 20 days. Luckily from last 2 days, I'm sleeping without any pill and I'm really happy about that. But obviously, when people write on my page saying 'Move on', I want to tell them that its not easy. Cheaters move on fast. People who are committed, take time. We were supposed to get married, our families had met, everything was being arranged." She went on to add, "He was there with me till April 2019. I saw a change from May and lots of misunderstandings started happening. I told him I can't be in a relationship where we are fighting so much. But then, you feel ki doh alag log hai, so let's try and adjust. You won't believe but I have not met anybody in this one year. He used to come with me everywhere." (sic) For the uninitiated, Sana had previously shared screenshots of an article and revealed that Melvin is a compulsive liar and cheater. Calling him disgusting, she also mentioned in her former posts on social media that he had cheated on her with multiple girls. ALSO READ: Sana Khans Shocking Revelations On Melvin: He Made One Small Girl Pregnant; Flirted With Students! ALSO READ: Post Break-up With Melvin, Sana Khan Shares Meme 'When Waiter Looks Better Than Your Boyfriend' US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to India demonstrates the strong and enduring ties between the two largest democracies of the world, the White House said on Friday. The US president and First Lady Melania Trump will lead a 12-member American delegation to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. "The president is going to India as a demonstration of the strong and enduring ties between our two countries," a senior administration official told reporters less than 48 hours before Trump departs for his maiden presidential trip to India. "These are ties based on shared democratic traditions, common strategic interests, and enduring bonds between our people. And, in part, this has been exemplified by the very close relationship between the President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said the official, requesting anonymity. The visiting American delegation includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and National Security Advisor Robert O' Brien. Trump's daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who serve as Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President respectively, will also be visiting India. Senior advisors to the President Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino, Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds, Assistant to the President and Special Representative for Telecommunication Policy and Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff Robert Blair, and White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham are the other members of the delegation. United States Ambassador to India Ken Juster will be travelling with the visiting delegation. Participants in additional bilateral meetings include Chief Executive Officer of US Development Finance Corporation Adam Boehler, Chairman of the FCC Ajit Pai, Deputy Assistant to the President for South and Central Asian Affairs Lisa Curtis, Special Assistant to President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism Kash Patel and Director for India, National Security Council, Mike Passey. "The visit will focus on several key areas. First, we'll focus on building our economic and energy ties," the official said, noting the two-way trade in goods and services exceeded USD 142 billion in 2018. Observing that India is the fifth-largest economy in the world with massive energy needs, the official said the US is ready to help India meet those demands. In 2016, energy exports from the US to India grew by 500 per cent to nearly USD 7 billion. During the trip, the two countries will focus on defense and security cooperation to fight terrorism and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US wants an India that is strong with a capable military that supports peace, stability, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, the official said. "Indeed, India is a pillar of our Indo-Pacific strategy, and we continue to work together to promote this vision of a free and open system based on market economics, good governance, freedom of the seas and skies, and respect for sovereignty," said the senior administration official. "This visit will build upon our many shared values, our strategic and economic interests, and lock in those gains made in the relationship by the administration over the last three years," the official said. According to the White House official, Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad on Monday, where he will deliver remarks at Sardar Patel Stadium with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thereafter, the President and the First Lady will be accompanied by Modi to the Taj Mahal in Agra. "They will then fly to New Delhi and rest overnight, and have a full program on Tuesday. This will include ceremonial events, bilateral meetings with the prime minister, a business event with Indian investors, with special focus on companies that are investing in manufacturing in the US," the official said. "He'll have a meet-and-greet with embassy staff and a meeting with the President of India. And to cap it off, there will be a state dinner at the presidential palace -- Rashtrapati Bhavan -- on Tuesday evening," the official said. T he UK is bracing for more wind, rain and snow this weekend, as people scramble to recover from the damage inflicted by Storms Ciara and Dennis. Gusts of up to 75 miles per hour are expected in parts of the UK, bringing with it snow from Canada which is set to fall in Scotland this weekend. But it is very unlikely that the bad weather will develop into Storm Ellen - the next name on the list, the Met Office said. South Wales is at risk of even more flooding, with a yellow weather warning for rain in place on Sunday. The south of the UK is expected to have slightly calmer weather, although there is a chance of some rain at Twickenham as England take on Ireland in the Six Nations third round on Sunday. Storm Dennis: UK Flooding aftermath - In pictures 1 /33 Storm Dennis: UK Flooding aftermath - In pictures PA A rainbow appears over flooded fields in the Wye Valley Getty Images A Land Rover wades through flooded roads in the Wye Valley Getty Images A dog takes a drink from flood water as water levels in the River Ouse in York Getty Images South Wales Fire and Rescue personnel fit an outboard motor to a Rigid Inflatable Boat AFP via Getty Images A man cycles through floodwater after the River Ouse burst its banks in York AFP via Getty Images PA PA Getty Images Getty Images AFP via Getty Images A taxing time: Firefighters rescue people from a care home in Whitchurch on the banks of the River Wye after flooding from Storm Dennis. A proposal has been put forward to increase council tax and use the proceeds for a ring-fenced climate fund Getty Images A man walks through flood water, as pumps and flood barriers help to keep the water from flooding homes in Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury PA A section of road that has been closed off due to flooding in Monmouth PA Flooding in Ironbridge PA Residents picking up sandbags in Gloucester Road in Tewkesbury PA Authorities have warned that the current levels of flooding are unprecedented PA Temporary flood barriers hold back the river Severn in Ironbridge PA Residents bail out their homes in Ross-on-Wye AFP via Getty Images Swamped: rescuers help two women after the River Wye burst its banks in flood-hit Hereford Getty Images A man uses a plank of wood to paddle a kayak on flood water after the River Wye AFP via Getty Images A resident is rescued from a home in a boat by the emergency services amid flooding in Hereford on Monday AFP via Getty Images An aerial view showing flooding from the River Wye on Monday following Storm Dennis Getty Images A bin floats in flood water in a street in Tenbury AFP via Getty Images A man wades through flood water towards an ambulance in a flooded street in Tenbury Wells AFP via Getty Images As of 1pm on Saturday, there are 85 flood warnings in place in England, and two severe warnings. The two severe warnings are both for Hampton Bishop near Hereford. Marco Petagna, a forecaster at the Met Office, told the Standard: Our main concern is for the northern areas. Its going to be wet and windy this weekend for the northern half of the UK. We could see winds as high as 75 miles per hour in the west and north of Scotland. There is also a weather warning in place for snow and ice for parts of Scotland." Scotland is facing more flurries of snow / Getty Images He added: The bad weather is coming over from the northern Atlantic from Canada, the US and Greenland. "The south of the UK will brighten up on Saturday. Overnight into Sunday wet weather will push through into the south and west. Rain across the south and other areas will clear over the day. And then on Monday it will be wet and windy, with snow in parts of Scotland. The weekend will be milder in the south, with temperatures of around 13 degrees, while the north will see around five degrees. By Tuesday it will have gotten colder in the south, down to around eight degrees. The damage wreaked by Storm Dennis last weekend and Storm Ciara the week before is projected to run into the billions to repair. Prince Charles visited Pontypridd in South Wales on Friday, which has been badly hit by the floods. It is estimated that 1,100 properties both residential and commercial have been affected in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area. Charles walked down Pontypridds high street, where many shops are closed due to flood damage. Prince Charles visits flood-hit town in South Wales 1 /22 Prince Charles visits flood-hit town in South Wales REUTERS Chris Jackson/Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS PA Chris Jackson/Getty Images Chris Jackson/Getty Images PA Chris Jackson/Getty Images Chris Jackson/Getty Images REUTERS Chris Jackson/Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS PA REUTERS PA Caroline Douglass, director of incident management at the Environment Agency (EA), said on Friday: This will be the third weekend of exceptional river levels and stormy weather. With the effects of climate change, we need to prepare for more frequent periods of extreme weather like this. People need to be aware of their flood risk, sign up to flood warnings, make a flood plan and not to drive or walk through floodwater. The EA said that river levels have exceeded existing records with the Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg and Derwent among the many rivers where records have been broken. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has exposed the risk of automakers' heavy dependence on China. As factories in China came to a standstill, manufacturing activities as far as Europe and the US were hit. We take a look at how much India, the worlds fifth-largest automaker, is impacted by the turn of events in China and where the country stands amid this crisis. But first here is a look at all the major news in the auto space this week. Automobile retail sales decline 5% in January The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on February 20 said passenger vehicle (PV) retail sales in January declined 4.61 per cent to 2,90,879 units as compared to the same month last year, hit by the tepid response by end customers. According to the automobile dealers' body, which collected vehicle registration data from 1,223 out of the 1,432 regional transport offices (RTOs), PV sales stood at 3,04,929 units in January 2019. COVID-19 to hit vehicle production India's automotive industry is likely to bear the brunt of the recent outbreak of COVID-19 across China and neighbouring countries in South-East Asia. The Indian auto industry is dependent on imports from China and also from countries that depend on Chinese companies for raw materials and the COVID-19 outbreak is set to have an adverse impact on the sector, ICRA said. Bajaj sells more bikes outside India than at home Bajaj Autos relentless focus on markets outside of India has helped the maker of Pulsar and KTM bikes to clock more sales in exports for two consecutive months. The company sold more two-wheelers outside of India in January and December than in India during the two months TVS leads the race in BS-VI switch TVS Motor Company, the Chennai-based maker of Apache and Jupiter brand of two-wheelers, has taken the lead in switching over to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) even as rivals Hero Motocorp and Bajaj Auto continued to produce BS-IV models well into February. TVS completely shut production of the soon-to-be outdated BS-IV models in January itself while introducing BS-VI upgrades including that of Jupiter, Apache, RR310 and XL (moped). Hero lines up Rs 10,000 crore investments Hero MotoCorp, Indias largest two-wheeler maker, has lined up an investment of Rs 10,000 crore over five-seven years towards new products, alternate mobility solutions and setting up of new manufacturing facilities. The Delhi-based companys announcements come at a time when the two-wheeler demand has been at its recent worst with sales falling nearly 16 percent during the April-January period BS-VI shows Indian auto may no longer be as reliant on China as before As India marches steadily to make its biggest shift ever in emission-related norms, neighbouring China, hit by the deadly virus, is battling a cut of up to 95 percent in automotive sales in February. Carmakers in China are launching new models online to avoid a public gathering at a physical event. Daimler, one of the world's premier automotive groups warned of a direct business impact because of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. After the virus claimed over 2,000 lives, Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover said it has flown in auto parts from the crisis-hit nation in suitcases to keep production going at its UK-based factories. But India has remained largely less impacted by the events. Indian companies who are busy making the switch to BS-VI from BS-IV have shown the way on how to be self-reliant. So far no Indian automaker has raised a red flag over non-availability of components from China for shifting to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms. Multiple cars, SUV and two-wheeler models have been shifted to BS-VI standard successfully since the past 10-11 months and many more and due to debut well before March-end. A couple of Indian companies, Hero Motocorp and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) warned about a possible impact in production due to non-availability of components from China. But this loss is for production of soon-to-be-outdated BS-IV models and not for the upcoming BS-VI. BS-VI has pushed automakers to employ a greater degree of locally manufactured parts in their vehicles thereby making India much more self-sufficient than under BS-IV. Further, the basic customs duty on catalytic converters and parts used to make catalytic converters such as ceramic parts and compounds were raised by the government. The level of auto components sourced from within India has significantly grown for BS-VI compared to BS-IV. For instance, German giant Volkswagen and Skoda have started with 95 percent localisation which will further grow to even beyond that next year. New generation Tata Motors vehicles also have a very high degree of auto parts sourced from within the country. Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai are also pushing for more localised content by engaging its vendors more proactively than before. This will discourage automakers in sourcing parts from outside of India boosting businesses for Indian vendors. India is also getting self-reliant in other spheres of automotive production too. At least a couple of companies have confirmed plans to make battery cells, a key component going into the making of battery packs for electric vehicles (EVs), in India. China controls nearly three-fourths of the world's battery supplies at present. The current generation of battery EV manufacturers such as Tata Motors, M&M, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motors, Ashok Leyland and a host of start-up companies import batteries from China directly or through a vendor. Demat Account has made a whole lot of changes in a traders life. The entire procedure of investing, trading, holding, and monitoring has been made convenient, cost-efficient, and faster. You, no longer, worry about your shares and other investment papers getting stolen or damaged. You no longer run helter-skelter to get the certificates of your stock tradings. Everything is taken care of by just passing instructions to your Depository Participant (DP) from the comforts of your home, even as you enjoy your life and go about with other important things. However, it is impossible for a person to get something for nothing. In the case of Demat accounts too, you have to pay a small amount for making your trading possible with the click of a mouse. Charges may come in the form of opening charges, safety (or custodian) charges, Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC), transaction charges, and Demat & Remat charges. With more and more brokers and banks offering Demat facilities and with competition on the rise most of the DPs are making a lot of incentives in these payments these days. Many of the DPs have waived off Demat Account opening charges, as well as the Annual Maintenance Charges for the first year. Some DPs are offering some other benefits like better transaction charges. Demat Account opening charges Earlier, the banks used to charge anything between Rs 700 to 900 as opening charges. Despite the opening charges, the prospective investors were flocking towards them for opening Demat account because of the well-integrated banking network and investment services and easy stock market investment through the three-in-one account, that encompass trading as well as a bank account. However, nowadays the Demat account opening charges levied by the Depository Participant (DP) are either nominal or Nil. Brokerage firms and banks make it a point to offer it as an incentive for opening two-in-one accounts or three-in-one accounts. Such accounts make it extremely easy for beginners and casual investors to trade or simply invest in the stock market. All the transactions involving these accounts are seamless and integrated under one common platform. Broking firms, however, charges for the additional costs, if involved, such as stamp duty, GST or other statutory levies by SEBI. Demat Account custodian fee (Safety charges) Most of the Depository Participants (DPs) do pay the custodian fees as one-time charges to the depository, and a number of them do not levy any custodian fees from the investor for maintaining a demat account. DPs who charges custodian fees do it on a monthly basis. These charges depend on the number of securities that are held in a demat (otherwise known as a dematerialised) account. The charges normally are in the range between Rs 0.5 and Rs 1 for each ISIN (International Securities Identification Number). The DPs, i.e. your bank or the broker, do not charge any custodian /custodial fees for the ISIN for those companies that have already paid the one-time charges to the depository. Earlier most of the DPs did charge the clients for both credits and debits to their demat account. But nowadays utmost DPs only charge for the debits to your demat accounts. Demat account annual maintenance charges Like other charges, some of which are waived off, a Demat account holder will have to pay an annual maintenance charges (AMC) to the Depository Participant (DP) for the services rendered. Also known as folio maintenance charges, these charges are to be paid in advance and typically ranges from Rs 300 to 900 per annum. Some DPs may also charge quarterly fees, while others may charge a lifetime fee of over Rs. 2000 and above. However, with a number of DPs competing among each other to lure customers, many of them have waived off AMC charges for the first year and initiate billing from the second year only. The DPs under banks normally have differential rates of AMC. Those banks who offer three-in-one (demat, trading & savings) account generally charge lower as the mapping of the trading account is with the same bank's savings account. However, in a case when the mapping is with other banks savings account they charge higher. Demat account transaction charges The transactions that are happening in your Demat account is with the ultimate aim of making a profit out of it. Your DP, for its services in helping you earn money, charges a nominal fee as transaction charges. You will have to pay this per transaction fee each time financial securities comes in or goes out from your Demat account. However, most of the DPs charge it on a monthly basis. The transaction fees differ with DPs depending on the kind of transaction like for buying and selling. Usually, when you buy shares your Demat account gets credited. Similarly, when you sell shares your demat account goes debited. Some DPs only charge when the securities are debited while some others charge for buying and selling. Some DPs levy a charge either based on the number of transactions you have made or a flat rate for the entire month. Some tend to charge roughly Rs 1.5 for each share you trade. FAQs Is Demat account a necessity for trading? As per the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Regulator for the Securities market in India owned by Government of India, to trade in the stock market it is mandatory to hold a Demat account. How does a Demat account work? Demat account works just like your bank account. When shares are purchased money gets deducted and vice versa. The purpose of Demat account is to eliminate the risk of holding physical share certificates. When securities are purchased or sold it immediately gets reflected in the account, which holds shares and securities in an electronic form. Should I necessarily dematerialise my physical certificates? It is not compulsory for you to dematerialise your physical certificates. As per the Depository Act of 1996 you have an option to hold shares either in physical or dematerialised form. How can I buy/ sell shares through a DP? One has to give clear instruction to his/her DP for any transaction in the prescribed forms, which will be provided at the time of opening the Demat account. Your account will be given a credit/debit after settlement. What role a DP has? Is it essential to have a DP? By opening an account with a DP you can buy and sell shares in the electronic form through any broker. All you need to do is to give your DP account details. On buying shares in the depository mode you must similarly inform the broker about your depository account details so that the shares bought would be re-credited to your account with the DP. Five young traditional musicians who play with Nos Nua, the Louth Youth Folk Orchestra, travelled to New York last week for the Irish Government's launch of 'The Drive For Five', a global call to action for the education of adolescent girls. Flautist Kerrianne McCardle, harpist Evelyn McCaul, bodhran player Saoirse McGahern uileann piper Iarla McMahon and fiddler Kim Poole represented Music Generation at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City at the event attended by Mary Robinson (Chair of The Elders), Antonio Guterres (UN Secretary General) and Bono (co-founder of the ONE Campaign). They were introduced by Irish Ambassador to the UN, Drogheda woman Geraldine Byrne Nason, before they performed to an audience of 500 guests in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. Guests included including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Along with members of the UN Choir and the Pihcintu Multicultural Chorus - a choir of immigrant and refugee girls based in Portland, Maine, they performed a version of the traditional Irish lullaboy Seothin Seo, arranged by Music Generation National Director Rosaleen Molloy, followed by the well-known ballad You Raise Me Up, the lyrics of which were written by Irish songwriter Brendan Graham. The event was live-streamed on UN Web TV. The five young musicians who took part in the event originally came together through their membership of 'Nos Nua', a collaborative initiative between Music Generation Louth and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann based at The Oriel Centre, Dundalk. Buttigieg's brother-in-law denounces candidate for advancing ideas against Scripture Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The brother-in-law of former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has denounced the Democratic candidate for claiming it was unbiblical to support President Donald Trump. At a CNN town hall event in Nevada, Buttigieg was asked whether he believed it was possible for someone to be a Christian and support Trump. Buttigieg, a devout Episcopalian who is in a same-sex marriage, began cautioning that he did not feel he had a right to tell other Christians how to be Christians. But I will say, he said, as reported by CNN, I cant find any compatibility between the way this president conducts himself and anything I find in Scripture. Pastor Rhyan Glezman, the head of a small congregation in Michigan who is the brother-in-law of Buttigieg, took issue with the candidates remarks. In a recent interview with Fox News personality Tucker Carlson, Glezman argued that it is Buttigieg who is advancing ideas that are clearly against Scripture. The height of intellectual dishonesty for Pete to make claims that there's no compatibility with being a Christian and voting for Trump, which Pete, in fact, is the one who is pushing agendas and rhetoric that is clearly against Scripture, stated Glezman. The pastor went on to also denounce Buttigieg's recent comments on The View, when the candidate said that he believed the government should not restrict late-term abortion. I'm just in a state of lament when you hear that we have someone running for commander in chief who can't make a moral decision on whether to keep a child after it's already been born or to have it killed, Glezman told Tucker, labeling the stance alarming and extreme. I encourage Pete, and everyone in America, to read Psalm 139:13-16, where God says in His word that every single person is 'fearfully and wonderfully made' in the image of God. Go to Jeremiah 1:5, where it talks about God knew us before we were ever in our mother's womb. Buttigieg has often tried to challenge conservative Christians on moral matters. Last July, he cited Proverbs 14:31 during a debate when going after conservative Christians in Congress who opposed a minimum wage increase. And so-called conservative Christian senators right now in the Senate are blocking a bill to raise the minimum wage, when Scripture says that whoever oppresses the poor taunts their maker, said Buttigieg at the time. Glezman has been openly critical of his brother-in-law in the past. Last year, the pastor responded to Buttigiegs argument that the Bible says life does not begin until the first breath. "I feel a sense of responsibility and stewardship of my faith to stand up and say something, to say, 'No, that's not true,'" said Glezman, as reported by the Washington Examiner at the time. "God places a very high value on all human life. Everyone is created fearfully and wonderfully in the image of God with intrinsic value. That doesn't start at the first breath, it starts when we enter our mother's womb." (Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Saturday defended Berkshire Hathaway Inc's decision to invest heavily in the stocks of companies such as Apple Inc, as the conglomerate struggled to find whole businesses to buy. Buffett made his assessment in his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, where the 89-year-old also assured that Berkshire is "100% prepared" for the eventual departures of himself and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, 96. Berkshire also reported record net income for the year of $81.42 billion, reflecting enormous gains in its common stock holdings, though ... Faced with knotty challenges like prison reform, improving public schools, funding road construction and finding new revenue streams, some Alabama lawmakers are reaching for the low-hanging fruit. Wes Allen, a state representative and probate judge in Pike County, was alarmed to learn that physicians dealing with young patients struggling with gender-identity issues sometimes prescribe drugs, hormones or both. I was shocked when I found out doctors in Alabama were prescribing these types of drugs to children, Allen said in a news release. This is something you hear about happening in California or New York, but it is happening right here in Alabama and its time we put a stop to that practice. Allen says its a psychological issue. His legislation, House Bill 303, would make it a felony carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for doctors to prescribe puberty-blocking medications or opposite-gender hormones to minors and would prohibit hysterectomy, mastectomy or castration surgeries for minors. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization have a different view of gender identity, saying the condition is far more complex. Candidates affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards looked on course to win a parliamentary majority on Saturday, reportedly leading in the race in Tehran and across the country after a vote stacked in favour of loyalists to the supreme leader. The Interior Ministry said a list of candidates affiliated with the Guards led in the capital. An unofficial tally by Reuters shows hardliners have so far won about 178 seats in the 290-seat parliament, independents 43 and moderates 17. In some constituencies, where candidates failed to get 20 percent of votes cast on Friday, a ... Wells Fargo & Co. will pay $3 billion to settle U.S. investigations into more than a decade of widespread consumer abuses under a deal that lets the scandal-ridden bank avoid criminal charges. The deferred-prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice spares the San Francisco-based lender a potential criminal conviction that can create serious complications for banks, if it cooperates with continuing probes and abides by other conditions for three years. The accord also resolves a complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investigators found Wells Fargos overly aggressive sales targets led thousands of employees to open millions of bogus accounts for customers or foist other products on them from 2002 to 2016, often by creating false records or misappropriating their identities, the Justice Department said Friday in a statement announcing the penalties. That generated millions of dollars in fees and interest and in some cases damaged customers credit ratings. Our settlement with Wells Fargo, and the $3 billion criminal monetary penalty imposed on the bank, go far beyond the cost of doing business, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray for the Western District of North Carolina said in a statement. They are appropriate given the staggering size, scope and duration of Wells Fargos illicit conduct. The settlement marks the banks largest yet from a series of scandals that claimed two chief executive officers, but for shareholders its in line with the more-than $3 billion the bank set aside for legal matters in the latter half of last year as negotiations progressed. Its another step in efforts by CEO Charlie Scharf, who took over in October, to turn around the lender as he conducts a review of all operations. Still, its hardly the end of its legal woes. The firm remains under a growth cap imposed by the Federal Reserve. Last month the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced civil charges against eight former senior executives, some of whom settled. And probes into other suspected misconduct in other businesses are continuing. The scandals in Wells Fargos consumer operations erupted in 2016, when the bank conceded that employees may have opened millions of fake accounts to meet sales goals. The companys expenses surged as new details emerged and as additional lapses and wrongdoing surfaced across business lines including mortgages and auto lending. While the sales abuses have been described repeatedly in earlier probes, the settlement announced Friday provides yet more details on the high-pressure environment that led legions of low-level employees to break the law -- often costing them their own jobs when they were caught by the firms internal controls. Many inside the bank referred to abusive sales practices as gaming, according to prosecutors. That often included misappropriating customers identities to open checking and savings accounts, issue debit or credit cards, or enroll people in bill-pay or remittance services, prosecutors said. Employees sometimes forged client signatures, created PIN numbers to activate cards and moved money to simulate account funding. Some staff even altered contact information to prevent customers of learning about their unauthorized accounts or receiving satisfaction surveys. Senior managers were aware of the issues as early as 2002, with one internal investigator describing it as a growing plague two years later, and another remarking that it was spiraling out of control, investigators found. Yet senior leaders in the community banking division refused to alter their sales model or ratchet down unrealistic targets. They later minimized the problems to higher-ups and the board, blaming them on rogue employees, prosecutors said. The Justice Department said it considered Wells Fargos cooperation and prior settlements when deferring prosecution. The bank previously paid more than $1 billion to federal regulators for consumer mistreatment, $575 million to 50 states and the District of Columbia and $480 million for an investor class-action lawsuit. (With assistance from Steve Dickson.) Hannah Levitt and Tom Schoenberg of Bloomberg News wrote this story. Steve Dickson assisted on the story. 2020 Bloomberg News Visit Bloomberg News at www.bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday named the law college of Anjuman-i-Islam in south Mumbai after former chief minister AR Antulay while NCP supremo Sharad Pawar released a book on him. Pawar said Antulay was an excellent administrator and strong political leader, and described the book 'Banaam Nargis Baqalam AR Antulay' as a compilation of letters written by "barrister saheb (Antulay) to his wife which shows his commitment and dedicationto his relationship of love". Thackeray said Antulay was a good friend of Sena founder late Bal Thackeray and described the book as "dil ki baat which is different from mann ki baat", an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his radio address. "Antulay saheb wrote these letters every day and his wife preserved them for so many years...this shows the relationship was strong from both sides," Thackeray added. He also said the book was a lesson in letter writing. The CM recalled that the late Sena patriarch and Antulay never hid their friendship. "I remember after becoming Union minister, Antulay had said he was the Shiv Sena's ambassador in Delhi. I think the Congress took action against him. Now what wrong did he say? If he was alive today, he would have been proud that his friend's son is the state's chief minister," Thackeray said. Looking in the direction of Pawar, Thackeray added that "all my father's friends love me". "Many people must be thinking what is Balasaheb's son doing at Anjuman-I-Islam. After joining hands with the Congress, have I converted? But the knowledge imparted at this institution has kept its foundation strong," he said, going on to add that film legend Dilip Kumar was also a friend of the Sena founder. Both Antulay and Kumar are alumni of Anjuman-i-Islam and the Sena always stood by nationalists, be it Hindus or Muslims, Thackeray added. "In troubled times like now, educational institutions need to give right direction to the youth. Creation of human wealth is the responsibility of education institutions," said Thackeray. Hindus and Muslims must know that stones are good when they are used to construct centres of knowledge, the CM said, adding he was a neighbour of the institution as he studied at the JJ School of Art next door. Pawar said the book highlighted the strong bond between Antulay and his wife. He said Antulay was a "dashing chief minister" and an excellent administrator who knew the pulse of the people. "When the country opposed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for Emergency, (Bal) Thackeray had said its imposition would bring discipline among people," Pawar said. After Emergency was lifted, Thackeray decided against contesting polls as a mark of support for Gandhi and Antulay, Pawar told the gathering. Pawar said Antulay and he started out around the same time and became ministers for the first time in the Vasantrao Naik government, and remained friends despite heated exchanges in the Assembly when Antulay was CM and he was leader of opposition. Pawar praised the book and recounted that Pandit Nehru's letters to his daughter Indira and YB Chavan's letters to his wife about his travels as Union minister had been published before. Antulay's daughter Neelam, who has published the book, said she was touched by how beautifully her father could express himself on paper and claimed the letters were art which revived a feeling of nostalgia. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six people have died in Iran while in South Korea a spike in new cases took the total number of infections to 433. Fears have mounted over the rise of new cases and fatalities outside China from the new coronavirus outbreak, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a shrinking window to stem the spread of the deadly disease. The warning came as the first deaths from the new COVID-19 strain were reported in the Middle East. COVID-19, as the new coronavirus is known, first emerged in December in central China but has now spread to almost 30 countries and caused more than a dozen deaths outside of China. The death toll reached six in Iran, and a number of cases have been reported across the Middle East, including the first infections in Israel and Lebanon. On Friday, a 78-year old Italian man died after testing positive for the virus and a second death was reported on Saturday. A second person died in South Korea, authorities reported on Saturday, as the number of cases in the country surged to 433. Italy has locked down 10 towns and asked more than 50,000 people to stay home echoing Chinas lockdown of entire cities in Hubei province at the centre of the outbreak. The second Italian victim, a woman, died in the northern region of Lombardy, a spokesman for the Italian Civil Protection agency said on Saturday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the window of opportunity to contain the international spread of the outbreak was narrowing. He warned that if countries did not quickly mobilise to fight the spread of the virus: this outbreak could go in any direction. It could be messy. Middle East on alert Israel and Lebanon confirmed their first cases of coronavirus on Friday, becoming the fourth and fifth countries in the Middle East to do so. Meanwhile, Iran reported 10 new cases on Saturday, taking the number to 28 infections with five deaths. A sixth death was later reported, though it is not clear whether this case is included in the 28 confirmed cases. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari cited sources confirming that schools and universities in the holy city of Qom, where Irans first two fatalities from the virus occurred, were closed. Reports were also circulating that authorities are looking at restricting visitors to the holy shrines of the city to try and limit peoples movement and control this disease, she added. Iran has suspended religious pilgrimage trips to Iraq over coronavirus fears, an official who oversees pilgrimage trips said on Saturday, according to the Fars news agency. Iran closed its border with Iraq, which, along with neighbouring Kuwait, was on high alert for a potential outbreak after banning travel to and from Iran. No cases have been confirmed in Iraq or Kuwait. Kuwaits civil aviation authority decided to ban international travellers as well residents or those with entry permits who had been in Iran during the past two weeks, adding that any Kuwaiti national arriving from Iran will be directed to isolation. Major spike in South Korea South Korea on Saturday reported a major jump in viral infections in the past four days, taking the total tally to 433. Many of the cases have been linked to a church in Daegu the fourth-largest city and a hospital in the southeastern county of Cheongdo. Schools in Daegu were closed and worshippers and others have been instructed to avoid mass gatherings. Of the 142 new cases in South Korea, 131 are from Daegu and nearby regions, which have emerged as the latest front in the widening global fight against COVID-19. Reporting from Daegu, Al Jazeeras Rob McBride said some hospitals in the city have been designated to deal only with cases of coronavirus, with wards and rooms that specialise in treating infectious diseases. There are testing centres where people come and get tested to see whether or not they have the virus, he added. South Koreas Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said on Saturday that the outbreak had entered a serious new phase but expressed cautious optimism that it could be contained to the region surrounding Daegu. Some 800 schools in the area, due to start a new academic year on March 2, delayed their opening by a week. CNNs Anderson Cooper eviscerated former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich during an interview in which the now-free politician described himself as a political prisoner with a straight face. Blagojevich went on CNN on his third full day of freedom after his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump. The former governor had served eight years of a 14-year-sentence for corruption. During the interview, Blagojevich pushed back against those who had criticized his commutation. I dont think theyve looked carefully because I am a political prisoner, he said. I was put into prison for practicing politics. Cooper seemingly couldnt believe what he was hearing. Wait a minute. Youre a political prisoner? Cooper asked. Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner. Political prisoners have no undue process and are unjustly jailed, you had a jury convict you. Blagojevich refused to back down from his assertion. I bet if you were to ask Nelson Mandela whether he thought the process was fair back in the early 60s in South Africa, he would say what Im saying today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am a political prisoner," former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tells @AndersonCooper, adding "if you were to ask Nelson Mandela whether he thought the process was fair back in the early '60's in South Africa, he would say what I'm saying today." https://t.co/bTlyAqZmL6 pic.twitter.com/Z5ypvNiHAO Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) February 22, 2020 Blagojevich went on to blame a handful of corrupt prosecutors for his conviction. Theyre uncontrolled and theyre the ones Chief Justice Breyer talked about when he said our country is in trouble because of these uncontrolled prosecutors. Cooper then seemed to really lose his patience when Blagojevich asked Cooper to join him in the fight to reform our criminal justice system. The CNN anchor said it was a little ironic and frankly a little sad and pathetic and hypocritical that Blagojevich was talking about reforming the justice system when he didnt do anything about it when he actually had power. Blagojevich then proceeded to defend himself by saying that he didnt realize how corrupt the criminal justice system was until he was personally affected. Advertisement Advertisement Things got a little heated during the final moments of @andersoncooper's interview with former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.https://t.co/RYsHv98J5d pic.twitter.com/Q0HhCUb5JS Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) February 22, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Cooper really seemed to be really tired of Blagojevichs defense. You got out, you do have an obligation to at least admit what you did wrong and you refuse to do that and youre creating a whole new alternate universe of facts and that may be big in politics today but its still frankly just bullshit, Cooper said. Blagojevich stammered a response: Well, no, its not bullshit. I lived it myself. Its not bullshit at all. Advertisement I am floored by Anderson Coopers masterful interview of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He laser focused on Blagos incredible hubris, hypocrisy, and lies. He did everything but make the shriveled up ex-con beg for mercy. This segment should be shown in all journalism classes. pic.twitter.com/OtEj9LpJuv Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) February 22, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Many praised Cooper for the interview, characterizing it as an example of how journalists should push back when those they are interviewing utter obvious lies. Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of security force personnel have intensified their operations in the core Maoist areas and strongholds this year as their area domination strategy in all the seven districts of Chhattisgarhs Bastar region, senior officials have said. The special operational teams of the district reserve guard (DRG), special task force (STF) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have started massive combing operations before Maoists tactical counter-offensive campaign or TCOC, during which the rebels carry out attacks between April and July every year. We have launched operation Prahar 2020 in which about 2500 security personnel are in the core areas of Maoists for operations. We have got major success in dominating the area till now, director general of police (DGP) DM Awasthi said. During the last two months in more than 16 exchange of fire between the Maoists and security forces, the bodies of five Maoist has been recovered whereas 59 Maoist cadres have been arrested. And, 35 Maoist cadres decided to shun violence and surrendered, Bastars inspector general of police Sundarraj Patilingam said while speaking to HT. As a part of this strategy recently, the teams of DRG, STF, CoBRA operated in Tondamarka or Bade Kedwal area, considered to be stronghold area of Batallion No 01 of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the banned Communist Party of India Maoist), in January and February. As an outcome of the operations, one unidentified male Maoist dead body was recovered after an exchange of fire near Tondamarka. During the operation, one STF jawan Madavi Podiya got injured but was safely airlifted to Raipur, Sundarraj Patilingam said. Now his condition is stable and recovering well, he said. The senior police officer added that the operations were also conducted in Narayanpur, where security forces gunned down a Maoist. Police officers believe the strategy of intensifying operations in the region will work. There are two reasons for intensifying the operations. Firstly, pre-TCOC domination, which means who dominates in February- March will set the rhythm for what happens April to June. And secondly, with all elections over, the state government has decided to take the battle to the finish line, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer posted in Bastar said. The message is clear. Hit the top Maoists, spare the militias. Armed action in core areas and civic action in mild to moderately affected areas are working. We are focusing on liberating as much land as possible on trust-based operations, the officer, who did not want to be named, said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 25-year-old man from Japan has been arraigned for the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend in an Airbnb rental home in San Jose. Ryoichi Fuseya was arraigned on murder charges Friday in San Jose and is being held without bail in Santa Clara County Jail, the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. An 'extremely heinous crime' was how a judge described an assault by a young man on a neighbour with a poker. Judge Francis Comerford said that Thomas Sheerin of Mountain Drive, Ballymote inflicted a 'nasty dangerous injury' on his neighbour Jacek Nowak when he struck himoutside his home. At Sligo Circuit Court, the judge sentenced Sheerin to 18 months in prison, suspending the final 15 months after ruling that the matter was too serious to consider community service in lieu of a prison sentence. The court heard that on December 2nd, 2018, Mr Nowak was at the front of his house having a cigarette with a friend when Sheerin shouted across the street at them. Mr Nowak crossed the street to ask Sheerin what problem did he have. Sheerin pushed him to the ground and pushed him a further two to three times. Mr Nowak's friend came to help and pushed a friend of Sheerin's. Sheerin then went into his house and came out with a fireside poker which Nowak could not clearly see. He saw a movement by Sheerin and felt a bang to his head. Mr Nowak wrestled Sheerin to the ground and gardai were called. Gardai arrived to the scene and saw Mr Nowak on the ground with blood coming from his head. The blood-stained poker was handed to gardai. CCTV from outside Mr Nowak's house was viewed by the judge. On January 19th, 2019 gardai executed a search warrant of Sheerin's home and found a fireside set with a shovel, tongs and brush and believed the poker missing was the one used on the night. DNA taken from the poker matched the DNA of Mr Nowak. In a garda interview Sheerin said he was attacked by his neighbour and said he did not know how it started. He said he was 'jumped' by two men. Asked if he struck his neighbour, Sheerin said, 'No'. Mr Nowak sustained a 10cm wound to his head which required seven staples. He also dislocated his right thumb which required a cast and had cuts and grazes to his elbows and legs. In his victim impact statement, Mr Nowak detailed he had been off work for 15 weeks following the assault, resulting in a financial loss of 7,620. Mr Nowak has not regained full strength in his hand and gets a lot of headaches. He said his wife is in fear since the assault and friends no longer call to their home after what took place. The couple ordered a reinforced door for their home in case of a further attack. The Polish man said it was he and his wife's dream to own a house and they had lived in the estate for ten years and just wanted to be left alone by Sheerin. The court was told 5,000 by way of a token of remorse was brought to the court by Sheerin, however, Mr Nowak indicated he did not wish to accept it. Mr Keith O'Grady, BL, instructed by Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor, told the court his client was not working, but, along with his family had raised 5,000 to bring to the court. He detailed the Probation Report classed Sheerin at moderate risk of reoffending. Addressing the court, Sheerin apologised and said it would not happen again and said he did not want Mr Nowak to be in fear. Mr O'Grady said his client had consumed alcohol and other substances on the night and had invited friends to his mother's home and they had planned on watching a Tyson Fury fight on TV. Judge Comerford noted Sheerin had returned to his home on the night in question and returned with the metal poker with a spike at the end. He highlighted that though no damage to Mr Nowak's skull was sustained it was still a nasty injury which resulted in long term consequences for him. Judge Comerford ruled that the assault came at the higher end of of the Section 3 assault scale and there was a degree of premeditation. He acknowledged money was offered to Mr Nowak and that there was prospects for rehabilitation for Sheerin. The judge said the attack on his neighbour was too serious to impose community service and instead a sentence of 18 months in prison with the final 15 months suspended, for a period of three years, was handed down. It was directed Sheerin be of good behaviour for the three year suspension period and to have no contact with the Nowaks. We finally got it: Grimes' follow-up to her 2015 worldwide smash, Art Angels, is here and it's an electronica-infused journey through the fear and fire she's encountered while navigating the general abyss of fame. So get streaming, girlies! It may have taken half a decade for Miss Anthropocene to get an official release, but die-hard Grimes fans haven't been starving for very long. Over the past several years, Grimes has been teasing fans with singles and mixes here and there, but only her 2018 single "We Appreciate Power," featuring HANA, would make the final cut for her 2020 record. Related | How HANA Created Her New Album on Twitch in Just Four Weeks The end result of Miss Anthropocene, consisting almost entirely of un-recycled material from her official release hiatus, is concise in its tracklisting, but sprawling in terms of its overall experimental pop soundscape. "We Appreciate Power" ends up representing a non-dominant sound on the full album one that's more abrasive and less accessible. If the 2018 track represents an undying devotion to sonic dictatorship, then the rest of the album is dedicated to a broad empathy only unlocked within reverberating synth patterns and downtrodden lyrics. Songs like "Delete Forever" and "Before the fever" are melancholy monuments to the opioid crisis and the potential loss of a generation; the most moving tracks aren't full-volume head bangers, but ethereal scenes set to uniquely-Grimes drum and basement synth patterns. Whether or not the media has influenced her darker direction since Art Angels Miss Anthropocene can't be considered "angelic" in any sense of the word Grimes has been the subject of scrutiny, almost daily, for years. It's hard to think that the constant badgering, scandals involving a range of characters like Azealia Banks and Elon Musk, and overall toxicity of social media hasn't led to a decay in her tone. Regardless, it's evident that Miss Anthropocene is a product of the five years it took to put the record out. For better or worse, that timespan led to the creation of something so much more connective than a clickbait TMZ article about her pregnancy or a viral Twitter thread. It led to in the words of "IDORU" a "beautiful game" that only Grimes could be capable of refereeing. Photo courtesy of Mac Boucher and Neil Hansen A close friend of killer Rowan Charles Baxter has revealed the chilling final conversation they had just days before he burned his wife and kids alive. The controlling fitness fanatic murdered his wife Hannah Clarke and their three children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, on Wednesday. But just three days earlier, Baxter - who was estranged from his wife after years of domestic violence - had tearfully told a friend he 'wouldn't do anything stupid.' The friend, who has not revealed his real name, had known Baxter for 10 years and went for a two-hour lunch with him in Brisbane on Sunday. 'The last thing I said to him as he was walking away was, "Mate, don't do anything stupid",' he told the Brisbane Times. Hannah Clarke and her three children were torched in their car on Wednesday morning by Rowan Baxter (all pictured together) who stabbed himself to death at the scene in Camp Hill The friend, who did not reveal their name, said he had worried Baxter might hurt himself, but didn't imagine he could hurt his family (stock image) 'And he sort of turned as he was walking away and he just said: "No mate, I'm not going to do anything stupid." The friend said he was concerned that Baxter might hurt himself, but didn't think he was capable of hurting his family. He had tearfully told the friend his children were 'all I've got in life'. But he tore away their future just three days later, when he set fire to the family car during the morning school run in Camp Hill, Brisbane. Strapped into the back seat, the three youngsters didn't stand a chance. The shocking murder-suicide that has left Australia reeling unfolded just metres from the home of Ms Clarke's parents on Raven Street, Camp Hill, as she drove her children to school Hannah Clarke (pictured with daughters Aaliyah and Laianah) made a final emotional post on Instagram after breaking free from her abusive husband On Thursday morning dozens of family and friends visited the scene of the tragedy to pay tribute to the family (pictured) Their brave mother fought to save them, despite suffering burns to 97 per cent of her body, but later died in hospital. Baxter had stalked his estranged wife for weeks, despite being under a domestic violence protection order (DVO). The friend said that while he was not justifying Baxter's actions, he thinks more attention should be paid to men's mental health to prevent such atrocities. 'We need to get to a point where we ask: what did drive this guy to this point where he reached a state in his mind where all rational thinking disappeared and he became the monster that he was on that day?' he said. Left: Hannah Clarke pictured with her 'main man', son Trey in a beach snap. Right: The couple on their wedding day He confirmed Baxter was receiving counselling before the horrific murder-suicide. It comes as Baxter's cousin described him as a pathological misogynist who viewed women as only good for two things - cleaning and sex. 'Rowan believed that women are two things - to be a house cleaner, and to be a prostitute,' Sandra Taylor told Nine News. 'For everybody else - they're shocked. I'm not.' He had made his wife suffer through years of sexual, emotional and financial abuse, before she finally broke free from his clutches and planned to start a new life. The family's car (pictured) is removed from the scene in Camp Hill, Brisbane, after Hannah Clarke and her three children were set alight inside Hannah Clarke (pictured with her three children, aliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3) died of her injuries on Wednesday But he soon made sure her dream could never be realised. Hannah was taking the children to school just after 8am from her parents' house in Camp Hill while her killer lay in wait. A notorious control freak, Baxter had been spiralling since Hannah left him after years of abuse. 'Rowan must have been lurking somewhere close, either hidden around the side of the house or in the neighbour's driveway,' her father Lloyd Clarke told Daily Mail Australia. 'His car was found down the street, this was definitely premeditated.' Hannah's devastated mother Suzanne revealed she had even discussed writing a will, saying: 'She said to me only last week, 'Mum should I do a will? 'What happens to my babies if he kills me? Because he'll go to jail for murder, who gets my children? She said, 'I want you and dad to have them or Nat. I don't want his family to have them'. Tihar Jail authorities have filed their response in a Delhi court on the application filed by one of the death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case -- Vinay Sharma -- claiming insanity and informed that there is no medical history of mental instability. Public prosecutor Irfan Ahmad, appearing for Tihar Jail on Saturday, appraised the court of additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana that convict Vinay injured himself and that the prison has CCTV footage of the incident. "He was attended by the doctors immediately," Ahmad said. "All the convicts are regularly examined by the jail doctors. We have all the medical history of the convicts. There is no medical history of mental instability of convict Vinay as claimed by his counsel AP Singh," he told the court. Advocate Singh, representing the convict, alleged that there have been concealment of facts by the authorities and said that only the facts which suited their (Tihar's) case are been provided while the rest of the facts are not. The court had, on Thursday, issued a notice to Tihar Jail seeking a report from it on the application which sought high-level medical treatment for Vinay, who according to the application, sustained a "grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm, insanity, mental illness, and Schizophrenia". "At the time of a legal meeting with counsel and convict, and family meeting with the convict, it was a very serious matter that the convict -- Vinay Sharma -- could not identify his counsel and mother in jail," the application said. Meanwhile, a fresh death warrant has been issued for the four death row convicts -- Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh -- in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case for their hanging at 6 am on March 3. The case pertains to the brutal gang-rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adult accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump's visit to India will make Indo-US ties stronger. "India and the US are strong democracies. India is the largest democracy and the US is the oldest democracy. Donald Trump's India visit will make India-US relations stronger," Maurya told ANI here. Trump is slated to be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi. Meanwhile, speaking on the controversial statement made by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan recently, Maurya said, "In this country, instigating statements to create enmity among communities cannot be accepted. Such statements fall under the sedition charge and strict action should be taken against such individuals. If Waris Pathan will not apologise then he will go to jail." He also said that all decisions regarding the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be taken by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There is an increased use of technology and informatics, heavier workloads and constant changes in the way in which disease processes are managed. Yet, when compared with other health professionals, nurses still spend a great deal of time in direct contact with patients and clients The Ethic of Care: A Moral Compass for Canadian Nursing Practice motivates the nurses in achieving accountability and sustainability in healthcare systems around Canada with great emphasis to overcome social biases. Encourages in the development of skills and compassion in order to leave the patient with better impression. Nurses should be the ethical leaders at client, community as well as global level. This book is unique from other nursing ethics textbooks in several key ways. The book adds a heightened dimension to the already rich knowledge in the field of applied nursing ethics and the ethic of care. The author argues that the ethic of care, or the moral imperative to act justly, be the guiding compass for everything that nurses do. It is with passion and conviction that nurses are encouraged to embody the ethic of care as a "lived virtue." Nurses are also inspired to be the leaders of tomorrow by working toward achieving accountability and sustainability in the Canadian publicly funded health care system and by effectively addressing social inequities. At the end of each chapter the author conveys real life case studies, as derived from her experiences as a critical care nurse, psychiatric nurse clinician and former Coroner. These vignettes bring the subject to life and serve as a means for applying newly acquired ethical knowledge. The aim of this book is to inspire nurses to be as skillful, and compassionate as they can be so that they will leave every encounter with their clients, better than when they first arrived. The book attempts to inspire nurses to be ethical leaders for social change at the patient/client, community and global level. This revised edition of the book includes additional information about trauma-informed care to combat systemic racism and improve the health outcomes for Indigenous people; ethics, gender and sexual orientation is dealt with in an inclusive and sensitive way, and a new Code of Conduct has been included. About the Author: Dr. Kathleen Stephany PhD is a Registered Nurse with British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals and a certified Psychologist with the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Kathleen has a PhD in Counselling Psychology and currently working as Nurse Educator in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Douglas College in Coquitlam, BC where she teaches courses in applied nursing ethics and mental health. Prior to being awarded her doctorate degree, she earned an MA in Counselling Psychology, BA in Psychology, BScN and a Diploma in Nursing. Dr. Kathleen is a member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. She is also a member of other professional associations such as The Canadian Nurses Association, The Canadian Mental Health Association, the Xia Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, and The Western Northern Region of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. In January 2016 Dr. Kathleen was recognized by World Wide Branding for Excellence in Nursing Education. She is the author of several textbooks and self-help books and also serves as an Ethicist, Ethic of care Theorist, Suicidologist, motivational speaker and media consultant. Keywords: Nursing, Canadian nursing practice, Ethic of care, Nurse's Code of Conduct, Healthcare system, Patientcare, psychiatric nurse ### The US First Lady Melania Trump will visit government school in Nanakpura near Moti Bagh in the capital on February 25, Vasant Vihar Councilor Manish Agrawal said on Saturday. She is expected to attend Happiness Classes being run at the Delhi Government school. He said that all departments including the sanitation department and horticulture department are engaged in beautifying the path through which the First Lady will visit the school. "We have been beautifying the path through which Melania Trump will go to the school. All municipal departments are busy in the preparations," he said. He expressed happiness over the visit of Melania Trump. "This is a very proud moment for us that the US First Lady Melania Trump is visiting the school in our ward. As soon as we got the news by school's administration we began our preparations for the visit," Agrawal told ANI. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit on February 24-25. Melania after reaching Hyderabad House here on February 25 will move to a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh to meet school children and is also scheduled to attend the Happiness class. Special classes by the name of Happiness Classes were started by the Delhi government in its schools in 2018. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays and basic obedience with an aim to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. President Trump speaks about trade at the Granite City Works steel coil warehouse in Granite City, Illinois WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Court of International Trade has issued a temporary order under which U.S. customs agents cannot collect duties from a U.S. company under President Donald Trump's recently-announced expansion of steel and aluminum tariffs. PrimeSource Building Products had challenged Trump's surprise expansion of existing tariffs to include derivative products such as steel nails and aluminum cables. It withdrew its request for a temporary restraining order after reaching an agreement with U.S. government officials under which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other U.S. government agencies agreed not to impose the duties for now. Heritage Foundation trade economist Tori Smith said the decision was great news for PrimeSource and foreshadowed another setback for the Trump administration in its imposition of steel tariffs. The New York-based trade court had ruled against Trump in November, concluding that he had exceeded the time limit on his "Section 232" authority when he tried to double the tariff on steel imports from Turkey last year. "Given the court's position on the Turkey case, it is likely that the (Court of International Trade) will determine these derivative tariffs are also not permitted under Section 232," Smith said in a statement. She said it should strengthen moves by Congress to reform the Section 232 law. "It is a broken trade law that the Trump Administration continues to abuse," she said. A number of U.S. lawmakers have chafed at what they see as Trump's abuse of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, a U.S. law aimed at protecting America's Cold War-era defense industrial base, which allows the president to tax imports if they are deemed to threaten national security. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a critic of the Trump administration's threat to impose tariffs on imported cars under Section 232, has drafted legislation to reform the section and limit the president's powers. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Daniel Wallis) The Oscars were an Inhuman Miss The red carpets have been rolled away and the gowns are back on their hangers. The Academy Awards are won and done for another year, and while film journalists right around the world have dissected and discussed every winner, every nomination there is something that has become crystal clear in the wash-up, this year might be the year where the Oscars finally see a change occur that is long overdue. EntertainmentLife By David Griffiths Saturday 22 February 2020, 04:00PM Inhuman Kiss, a tale of a Krasua of an innocent girl inherits a curse that causes her head to detach from her body at night to hunt for human flesh. Photo: Buoyancy, an Australian International film set with all Thai and Cambodian cast and crew. The film won awards at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards (AACTA) as well as earning awards in Mumbai, Berlin and Oslo but did not get nominated by the Academy Awards. On the surface, it appears that change may have already occurred, but has it? Read most of the headlines the morning after this years Oscars and they all labelled the fact that South Korean film Parasite won Best Picture as the dawn of a new time in Hollywood, a time when films from right around the world now have more than a slight chance of walking away with the top Oscars on Academy Awards night. But is that really the case? Lets call it for what it is the Oscars for a long time now have been a celebration of American films, not a celebration for international films like many would have believed. Yes, there has been a Best Foreign Language section for a while now but that always felt like a token award because if you really scratched under the surface you would find that filmmakers had to hurdle over each other to even earn a nomination. That award is now known as the Best International Feature Film Award which does make more sense given that even films from English speaking countries outside of America could also be nominated in the category, but that still doesnt fix the biggest problem of all with the category. Isnt the fact that there is even a Best International Feature Film Award part of the problem? After all the Academy Awards are supposed to be a celebration of film yet the mere fact that there is a Best International category means there is an instant separation from the American films also in the running for awards. That divide becomes even wider when you realise that in order for a film to be considered in the Best International Feature Film Award that film has to be submitted by the country where it originated. Thats right if a country like Thailand makes two great movies in one year tough luck only one can be selected. America, on the other hand, can have as many films nominated as they wish. When you consider the great films that have come out of countries like France and Germany over the years, that one film submission rule seems like a joke, but perhaps the biggest losers because of the rule this year were Thailand and Australia. Thailands submission to the category this year was Sitisiri Mongolsiris Krasue: Inhuman Kiss while Australias submission was Buoyancy, a film shot in Thailand with all the actors coming from Cambodia and Thailand. Neither film ended up making the shortlist of nominations for the actual Best International Award, but it is here where the murkiness of the Award is exposed. To receive its submission Buoyancy defeated The Nightingale. There is nothing wrong with that but when you look at how both films were received by other Award ceremonies and by critics you see just how unfair it was that both films couldnt be in the running for the major award. Buoyancy explores the human rights issue of young Cambodians being forced to work as slaves in the Thai fishing industry which meant it was a powerful film that received a lot of praise. The film won awards at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards (AACTA) as well as earning awards in Mumbai, Berlin and Oslo. On the other hand, The Nightingale looked at the harshness of living in colonial Tasmania including the brutal murders of the local Aboriginal people. Like Buoyancy, it also received a lot of five-star reviews and found itself winning a plethora of awards including six AACTAs and eight Australian Film Critics Association Awards. There is little argument that both were great films and should have equally had the right to be nominated for Best International Film yet somehow werent. If you dig a little deeper the whole divide between how American cinema and International films at the Oscars became even wider. If Parasite was, in the end, considered such a great film by the Academy, then how come none of its cast found themselves nominated for Best Actor or Best Actress? That point was also not lost on fans of the film Buoyancy who wondered why actors Sarm Heng and Thailands Thanawut Kasro didnt receive nominations despite being praised worldwide for their intense roles in the film. The host of popular film podcast The Popcorn Conspiracy, Kyle McGrath, recently talked about Kasros Oscar snub and said, When you look at the performances in Buoyancy and you take the performance of Thanawut Kasro in the role of a Supporting Actor he was miles ahead of where Brad Pitt was in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. That is not to say that Brad Pitt didnt deserve it but if I was going to pick between those two actors who gave the better performance it would have been Thanawut Kasro over Brad Pitt, but with the way it works at the moment perhaps it needs a little bit more work on how the voting system works. Will that voting system ever change? I guess the best answer to give to that question is perhaps. Certainly, Parasite doing so well may open up more opportunities for Asian cinema right around the world. Even in the past few months, it has been interesting to see how many cinema lovers around the world have been eagerly anticipating the release of The Cave (another film that Thanawut Kasro appears in), but for international films to finally receive the recognition that they deserve it is time for the Oscars to place all films on a level playing field no matter what country they come from rather than it just be a celebration of American cinema like it is now. Naas Community College is participating in Cycle Against Suicides Schools Go Orange campaign to support positive mental health. The statistics on suicide are devastating. Worldwide it is the second leading cause of death in the 15 to 29 year old age group. Ireland has the fourth highest suicide rate in the 15-19 age group across 31 European countries. Secondary schools across Ireland are joining with the national charity, Cycle Against Suicide, to take part in their awareness day (#SchoolsGoOrange) to try to reverse this trend and offer hope to students who may be battling mental health issues. NCC guidance counsellor Cliona OSullivan says the programme sets out to create a caring, respectful and safe learning environment that supports mental health in schools; building hope and resilience and fostering a sense of belonging among students in the school. She added: It is so important for all schools to take a proactive approach to mental health as research highlights that one in three young people in Ireland will experience some form of mental health issue in any given year. Furthermore, evidence shows that early intervention is critical if treatment is to have the most positive outcomes for the future life chances of those affected. Cycle Against Suicides main campaign for raising awareness into communities is the annual cycle. And by not raising awareness of the realities of mental illness, society is creating untenable situations for those who then need to seek help. CAS says that we understand this reality intuitively, and there are many people who would like to do something but are unsure what. This years cycle takes place from April 25 to May 3 and passes through Enfield. Dundalk based Spectac International are bringing the traditional copper pot still used for distilling whiskey, back to life. The company is now offering copper pot still distillery solutions that are uniquely designed and made in Ireland. Spectac are the only producer of Irish made copper pot stills that are 100% Irish designed and made, reviving a piece of Ireland's whiskey heritage. Commenting on the launch of this new product offering, Tony Healy founder and CEO of Spectac International, said 'Since the 1800's Copper Pot Stills have not been manufactured in Ireland and we are now proud to be a part of the revival of this Irish heritage. The making of copper stills has been a project we have been developing for quite some time now and significant R&D has gone into the development of this new product.' Copper metal is resilient yet very flexible and malleable making it easy to be shaped and suitable in constructing alembics and bespoke still designs. Pot stills are employed as a distillation device to distil alcoholic spirits such as whisky or cognac. Spectac can produce copper pot stills in various shapes and sizes depending on the desired quantity and style of spirit being produced. By law, cognac, Irish and Scotch malt whiskies, and single pot still whiskey must be distilled using a pot still. In recent years Ireland has experienced a resurgence in the number of whiskey and poitin producers. In fact, whiskey has been the fastest-growing spirit in the world every year since 1990. Due to the ever-increasing demand for these spirits, both nationally and internationally, pot still whiskey and poitin are now being widely produced across the country. Back in the 19th century there existed over 88 licensed distillers in production on the island of Ireland. Current records indicate that there are a little over thirty whiskey distilleries in Ireland. Much of the Irish produced spirits are sent to markets such as the USA, for example. According to the Irish Whiskey Association exports of Irish whiskey were worth 647 million in 2018, with over 12 million cases expected to be sold in 2020. In the USA, which is Ireland's biggest consumer of Irish whiskey, millennials are seen to be the root cause of the resurgence its popularity. A report, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, found that spirits represented 20.5% of the alcohol sold in 2018, a 5.6% increase compared to the previous year. The revival of copper stills and distilling in general has also had a positive impact on the tourism in Ireland, with many people travelling from afar to see the traditional production process of Irish Spirits first-hand. The largest still in the world is based in Co. Cork, and was constructed in 1825. While no longer in use the still can be seen at the Midleton Distillery which today hosts the Jameson Experience. The oldest distillery in the world is believed to be the old Bushmills distillery in north Antrim which began distilling in 1608. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 17:29:45|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The fifth-largest air carrier in the United States Alaska Airlines is planning to buy 200 new aircraft, including the ill-fated Boeing 737 MAX, in the next 10 years, an internal notice to the company's pilots showed. The Seattle Times newspaper on Friday quoted the notice as saying that the airlines has told its pilots that two 737 MAX simulators have been bought for their training, which would be put to use in June and the end of this year, respectively. The 737 MAX has been grounded across the world since last March after two such airplanes crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia in two separate fatal incidents that killed 346 people. U.S. federal aviation regulators have not indicated when the grounded 737 MAX would return to service as a certification flight has been delayed until April 2020. The Seattle daily said the 737 MAX aircraft will constitute a significant part of Alaska Airlines' fleet, which will also include Airbus A321 jets that the company took over from an acquisition deal with Virgin America in 2016. The worlds newest country has been ravaged by a ruinous civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Just two years after gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan descended into a devastating civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people, forced millions from their homes and plunged parts of the country into famine. On Saturday, the countrys warring sides formed a transitional coalition government in what is seen as a significant step to create peace in a country ravaged by conflict. Here is a look at key events in South Sudan since independence. 2011: Worlds newest country On July 9, 2011, South Sudan formally declares independence from Sudan following six years of autonomy and 20 years of war. The proclamation of independence comes after a referendum that saw a nearly 99 percent vote in favour of secession. Salva Kiir is sworn in as president, with Riek Machar as his deputy. The two men are rivals but also leaders in the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) that led the push to secede from Sudan, which is now South Sudans northern neighbour. The new country takes over three-quarters of the oil reserves in Sudan which retains control of all pipeline and export facilities. Other thorny issues are the tracing of their common border and the status of disputed regions such as Abyei. 2012: Oil clashes The two countries clash for nearly two months starting March 2012 over rights to the oilfields around Heglig, a town just inside Sudan. South Sudanese troops briefly occupy the area, which accounts for half of Sudans crude oil production. Arguments erupt over pipeline transit costs and Sudan confiscates millions of barrels of South Sudan crude. South Sudan halts its production in January for more than a year accusing Khartoum of theft. 2013: Civil war On July 23, 2013, Kiir fires Machar as well as all government ministers, their deputies and several police brigadiers. On December 6, Machar accuses Kiir of dictatorial behaviour. After a night of fighting in the capital, Juba, Kiir says on December 16 his forces had thwarted an attempted coup by Machar, who denies the claim. Rival army units clash in Juba and the fighting spreads beyond the capital, fuelled by rivalries between Kiirs majority Dinka ethnic group and Machars Nuer, the countrys second-largest ethnic group. The country descends into civil war marked by ethnic massacres, widespread rape, the recruitment of child soldiers and other atrocities. 2016: Machar back, briefly Machar and Kiir sign a peace accord in August 2015 that provides for Machars reappointment as vice president. He returns to Juba and is sworn in on April 26, 2016. But fighting between supporters of both leaders breaks out again in July. Machar goes into exile, accusing Kiir of trying to have him killed. He is replaced as vice president. 2018: Unity delays On June 20, 2018, Kiir and Machar meet for the first time in two years. On September 12, they sign a new peace agreement to end five years of war that killed more than 380,000 and forced roughly four million people from their homes. It paves the way for a power-sharing government to be installed on May 12, with Machar again as the vice president. Days before the deadline, they agree to a delay until November 12 because of outstanding differences. On November 7, they extend the deadline by another 100 days. Sticking points include the carving out of state boundaries, creation of a unified national army and protection for Machar. 2020: Coalition government On February 22, Machar is finally sworn in as the first vice president after he and Kiir agree to move forward with a power-sharing government. The two men have said outstanding issues will be negotiated under the new government. Tens of thousands of rival forces still must be knitted together into a single army, a process that the United Nations and others have described as being behind schedule and poorly provisioned. The current peace is extremely fragile, a UN report that was released on Thursday warned. High-level corruption is rampant, militias are being armed and civilians deliberately starved, the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said in its report. More than half of the 12-million strong population face food shortages, it added. SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - The politics of this Caribbean island nation do not frequently capture the attention of the stewards of America's foreign policy, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo phoned down last summer with a clear message. Dominican President Danilo Medina's supporters were pushing to change the country's constitution to allow him to run for an unprecedented third term. In a call with the president, Pompeo emphasized the importance of "adherence to rule of law and the constitution," according to a State Department readout. That message was echoed a week later in person by President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani. "If you want to change the constitution, change it for the future," Giuliani told reporters during a July 2019 visit to Santo Domingo. "Don't make it look like you're changing it for you. Don't change it for this election." Giuliani was not in the Dominican Republic as Trump's representative. He was speaking as a paid consultant to an opposition presidential candidate, Luis Abinader, a businessman who had been protesting the possibility of a constitutional change allowing the incumbent to run again. Days later, Medina announced that he would not seek reelection. The overlapping interests of the U.S. administration and Giuliani's paying client underscores how his decision to work as an international consultant while serving as Trump's lawyer has caused disquiet, both among foreign leaders and U.S. administration officials. Giuliani's presence in Santo Domingo annoyed rival Dominican presidential candidates who felt Abinader was trying to buy his campaign an American seal of approval, according to candidates and their advisers. And it concerned officials in the presidential palace who scrutinized Giuliani's comments for signs he was speaking for Trump, according to a person familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal talks. Giuliani's visit to the Dominican Republic came around the same time that he - with Trump's backing - had been pressing Pompeo and U.S. diplomats to push Ukraine to announce investigations into Trump's political opponents, a gambit that led to the president's impeachment. The State Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Giuliani did not respond directly to a question about whether he met with anyone at the State Department about his client there. "Why in the world would you care about my work in the DR except to once again try to suggest falsely that there is some question about it?" he asked in a text message. "Don't you have anything better to do? Whatever I did in DR was perfectly lawful and appropriate." The full scope of Giuliani's clientele is not known. The uncertainty about who he represents - and his willingness to take on foreign clients with interests before the U.S. government while working for the president - has alarmed senior administration officials, as The Washington Post has previously reported. In his various meetings last year with foreign and U.S. officials, Giuliani toggled between serving as Trump's emissary and representing other interests. During a sit-down in August with a top Ukrainian official to discuss the investigations Trump wanted, Giuliani advocated for a former client, the mayor of Kyiv. On that same trip, he stayed at a historic estate of a client, Venezuelan energy executive Alejandro Betancourt Lopez - and later met with top Justice Department officials to urge them not to charge him in a money-laundering case. Giuliani, who says he works for Trump free, has told The Post that he is always careful to make clear he is a private lawyer for the president, not a representative of the U.S. government. Since 2015, Giuliani has been hired by Abinader as a security consultant two times, according to Samuel Pereyra, an official in the Abinader campaign who managed the contracts.His most recent contract, for $75,000, was secured last June, Pereyra said, more than a year after Giuliani joined Trump's legal team. For that sum, Giuliani made a two-day trip to the Dominican Republic in July, appearing with the candidate at a briefing for reporters and visiting a poor neighborhood in the capital, where he said people shouldn't have to live behind bars like prisoners. While he was there, Giuliani also puffed cigars at his favorite Dominican cigar club and dined at the residence of the U.S. ambassador, Robin Bernstein, one of Trump's longtime Palm Beach, Florida, friends and an original member of Mar-a-Lago, according to people familiar with his activities. Some members of Abinader's campaign team felt it was a mistake to rehire Giuliani, saying he spoke in generalities and provided little of value, and worried that the candidate had brought him aboard to get access to the president. "I think [Abinader] wanted a direct line to Trump," said one adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. "For me, that's the principal reason he was hired: It's a link to the White House and the State Department." Abinader denied that, telling The Post in an interview that he did not hire Giuliani to curry favor with the Trump administration. The two discussed only security issues, he said. - - - The campaign caravan inched through the narrow streets of Villa Altagracia, a working-class exurb north of Santo Domingo, blasting merengue and reggaeton basslines for the dancing crowds. Abinader stood up through the sunroof of his armored SUV and blew kisses to those below. "Here he is, the next president of the republic!" the emcee called out last month. With his composed, somewhat stiff persona, Abinader is not known for his charisma with the masses. But his pro-business, law-and-order message has resonated with voters who are tired of persistent crime and allegations of corruption in a ruling party that has been in power for 20 of the past 24 years. The Dominican Republic was ranked last year in the bottom quarter of Transparency International's list of most corrupt countries in the world. Abinader is a wealthy businessman of Lebanese descent whose father had been a cabinet minister, a presidential candidate and the founder of a private university. His family's diverse holdings included hotels, cement plants and data processing centers, according to Abinader's advisers. Before Abinader's first run for president in 2016, public opinion surveys showed that Dominicans' most pressing concern was crime and violence, and his polling numbers on these topics trailed other candidates. Like many Dominicans, Abinader had relatives in New York City, with particularly strong connections to Queens: His grandfather ran Corona Hardware in the borough. One of his cousins, Rodolfo Fuertes, was the president of the National Supermarket Association at the time, and suggested in 2015 that Abinader's campaign might benefit from Giuliani's help, Abinader said in an interview. The former New York mayor was famous for reducing crime during his tenure. After leaving office, Giuliani sought to capitalize on that reputation, offering consulting services on security and police reform to countries around the world. "You have to see Giuliani, he can clean up Santo Domingo," Abinader recalled being told in a meeting with Fuertes and others. After being hired on a $100,000 contract, Giuliani Security and Safety produced a 38-page report for the campaign in April 2016 that discussed crime trends and recommended several reforms of the Dominican police, Pereyra said. That year, during a visit to Santo Domingo, Giuliani told an audience that the solution to the country's crime problems boiled down to one thing: eliminating corruption. "No tolerance. Not allowed. It has to end," Giuliani told the crowd. "Corruption no mas." Abinader lost that bid. After Trump won his White House race later that year, Giuliani invited Abinader to the inauguration, where he attended a Latino gala at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Washington and met with Giuliani and others, Abinader said. Abinader decided to rehire Giuliani last June, Pereyra said. Abinader said in an interview that he valued Giuliani's counsel on security matters and the firm's advice helped him generate a security plan for the country. "It was a very important campaign issue," Abinader said. "I ended up highest in the polls in terms of fighting criminality." - - - By last summer, with Giuliani's Ukrainian efforts at full steam, he made a return trip to Santo Domingo. At that point, Giuliani had been Trump's personal lawyer for nearly a year and a half. He also had been in contact with the secretary of state. In late March, Giuliani spoke to Pompeo by phone at least twice, according to State Department emails. In May, he sent Pompeo a packet of materials about his Ukraine research in a Manila envelope with "The White House" written as the return address, according to documents released during the impeachment probe. Giuliani has said repeatedly that he did not do any lobbying related to his consulting in the Dominican Republic. In a previous interview with The Post, he described his work there and in other countries as focused only on security services. Given his prominence, the Abinader campaign asked the U.S. Embassy if it wanted to provide security for Giuliani's visit in July. Embassy officials declined, as Giuliani was not a U.S. government employee, according to Abinader advisers. The embassy referred questions about Giuliani's visit to the State Department, which did not respond to requests for comment. Abinader's team picked Giuliani up from the airport on July 16. The candidate and his aides met with Giuliani in a JW Marriott conference room for a couple of hours to discuss what Giuliani would tell the press the following day. "Giuliani was the front man, the personality," said Roberto Alvarez, a former Dominican ambassador to the Organization of American States and a foreign policy adviser to Abinader who met with Giuliani that day. "He knows nothing about the cultural context." During his visit, Giuliani had dinner with Bernstein, the U.S. ambassador, and her husband, Richard, who were Republican donors and had both sold insurance to Trump while in Palm Beach. One person who attended the embassy dinner with Giuliani described it as a social call, not a political gathering. The only topic of conversation this person recalled was the recent deaths of tourists at Dominican resorts, an image crisis for the government at the time. The morning after his arrival, Giuliani had a breakfast meeting with Dominican journalists and then gave a news conference at the JW Marriott, according to the campaign. At that time, the constitutional question had seized Dominican politics. Critics of the proposal, including Abinader and other opponents, had staged protests and rallies to demand that the pro-Medina legislature not move forward with allowing a third term. "Keep the rules the way they are. Respect democracy," Giuliani told reporters that day. He mentioned he was speaking as a "private citizen." A story in the Diario Libre newspaper about his visit referred to him as "the lawyer for the president of the United States." A headline that day on Dominican Today, an online news site, read: "Giuliani jumps into Dominican Republic's reelection fray." His visit was closely monitored by aides to Medina, the current president, who scrutinized Giuliani's remarks to see if he was speaking on behalf of Trump. Abinader wanted "to associate himself with the Trump administration and show that he is America's man," said one senior Dominican official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Abinader's rival candidates also saw Giuliani's presence as an attempt to signal an endorsement from the U.S. president. "It's a game of perception; they're trying to leave the impression" that "the government of the United States favors them," said Leonel Fernandez, a former president who is running again this year. "In the end, the Dominican voters are going to decide. They don't care whether President Trump is in favor or against." Alvarez, the adviser to Abinader, denied that, saying the relationship with Giuliani was only about advice on security matters. "Never did we use his contact in order to move U.S. policy," he said. After two days, Giuliani jetted out of Santo Domingo. The Abinader campaign is now getting consulting advice on security issues from a former Giuliani partner, John Huvane, who left Giuliani's firm in October, officials said. Huvane did not respond to a request for comment. In recent polls, Abinader has held a strong lead - more than 10 points - over his two main rivals, including Medina's handpicked successor. The election will be held in May. - - - The Washington Post's Anthony Faiola, Tom Hamburger and Alice Crites contributed to this report. KAMPALA The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) have hosted a Kenya delegation from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mines. The two-day official visit focused on benchmarking and familiarisation as the republic of Kenya also moves to the process of setting up a Petroleum Regulatory Authority. The three institutions held a series of meetings with the five-man delegation led by Mr. James Nganga [Kenya] the Ag. Secretary Petroleum at the Ministry and the PAUs offices in Kampala. Ugandas collaboration with our Kenya counterparts in the oil and gas sector dates to the 1990s when both countries were acquiring data to promote the sector in the region. It is important to keep up the momentum to collaborate and learn from each others achievements, said Mr. Robert Kasande, Permanent Secretary, MEMD, Uganda. Mr. James Nganga revealed that that the objective of the Kenyan Government is set to put up a regulatory institution with structures, business processes, operating procedures and relevant job profiles. It is in this regard and recognition of the efforts of the Government of Uganda towards the successful establishment and operationalisation of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda that we are here to learn from you how we can as well set up a similar institution, said Mr Nganga said. The Petroleum Authority of Uganda was established by Ugandas Upstream Petroleum Act of 2013, and operationalised in October 2015 when the Board of Directors was appointed and the Executive Director recruited in September 2016. While Kenyas Petroleum Act 2019 provides for the establishment of a Petroleum Regulatory Authority to monitor and regulate the exploration, development and production, together with the refining, gas conversion, transportation and storage of petroleum. Mr. Ernest Rubondo, the Executive Director PAU emphasised the need for the Government of Kenya to clearly define the roles and objectives of the regulatory institution. Different countries have different models of institutional set up for the oil and gas sector; therefore, the objective must be clear from the start. This will guide the selection of the personnel to run the Authority, which must be aligned to your objectives, thorough and based on expertise, experience and merit, said Mr Rubondo. The Kenyan delegation had an opportunity to further engage with the technical teams from the institutions and have a deeper understanding of the role each entity plays and the lessons learnt during the transition. Mr. Kasande cautioned the visiting delegation on the need to manage the transition especially in terms of staffing and the importance of clear separation roles of between the established and new institutions. Once the institutions are established, you must separate the roles, have comparable budget lines so as not to have all your technical officers leaving one institution to go to the other due to differences in operational budgets, Mr Kasande said. The PAU highlighted its strategic direction, how it undertakes its key regulatory functions, the staffing and skills required and the outlook for the sector. The delegation visited the PAU and Directorate of Petroleums(DoP) offices premises in Entebbe where they were taken through the different software, databases and applications used in regulation, the core store and laboratories and the ongoing construction of the PAU and DoP office premises that will host the National Petroleum Data Repository and modern Laboratories in Entebbe. The regulatory functions of the PAU are laid out with a focused direction indicated in the institutional manuals that have been put in place. The institutional systems are well-coordinated, with brilliant and passionate staff administering systems such as the National Suppliers Database and the National Oil and Gas Talent Register. Mr Nganga said. The East African partner states have continued to work closely to promote and grow the emerging Oil and Gas sector under forums like the East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE) that is held biannually. And Uganda will host the next edition slated for 2021 after Kenya hosting the 2019 edition in May in Mombasa where Uganda announced its Second Competitive Licensing Round five blocks. Related Continue Reading On Monday at 7 PM Eastern, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) will hold a town hall campaign event featuring SEP national secretary and 2020 presidential candidate Joseph Kishore and WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North. The meeting will take place at the University of Michigan in the Vandenberg Room, on the second floor of the Michigan League. It will be live streamed to an international audience on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I am eager to kick off our campaigns national tour with David North in Ann Arbor, Kishore told the World Socialist Web Site. Joseph Kishore We welcome the participation of workers, young people and WSWS readers via livestream and encourage those interested in attending to submit questions in advance by signing-up at socialism2020.org/townhall, he added. Our campaign is aimed at building a revolutionary socialist leadership in the international working class. For this reason, workers across the world should participate and join our meeting from wherever they live. The town hall meeting takes place even as the US corporate media acknowledges that the subject of socialism is dominating the 2020 elections. Donald Trump and his fascist allies declare the US will never be a socialist country. Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg and Pete Buttigieg proclaim their desire to save the Democratic Party from socialists, while Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) claim socialism means working within the Democratic Party for mild reforms. The ruling class, presiding over a society dominated by inequality, war and state repression, increasingly views socialism as an immediate threat. The Socialist Equality Party is running in the 2020 elections to explain what socialism really means. Join the SEPs candidatesJoseph Kishore for President and Norissa Santa Cruz for Vice Presidentin the historic struggle to unite all workers internationally, independent of the political parties of the ruling class. David North The working class is the social force that can replace capitalism with international socialism. Sign up to attend Mondays town hall campaign meeting and join the fight for socialism today. Meeting location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Monday, February 24 at 7:00 PM Vandenberg Room Michigan League, 2nd floor University of Michigan Central Campus 911 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Map Speakers: Joseph Kishore is the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party and the SEPs candidate for president in the 2020 elections. He is a prolific writer on the World Socialist Web Site, covering subjects ranging from US history and US politics to democratic rights, social inequality and war. David North has played a leading role in the international socialist movement for forty-five years and is presently the chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party (US). His many published works include The Heritage We Defend; The Crisis of American Democracy; In Defense of Leon Trotsky; The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century; The Frankfurt School, Postmodernism and the Politics of the Pseudo-Left and A Quarter Century of War. Pupils from St Patrick's primary school in Bray have been commended by humanitarian aid agency GOAL for demonstrating their contribution and commitment to helping achieve the Global Goals. Third-class students were named runners -up in the GOAL Changemakers Award for developing a 100 per cent recyclable Christmas wrapping paper. Primary school students all over Ireland were asked to share their actions for global change through the awards. The St Patrick's Loreto pupils discussed the unsustainability of many traditions at Christmas and felt they should take action in their community. They felt a very pressing issue is the excessive waste caused by wrapping paper and gift wrapping. In a bid to achieve 'Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production', the children created their own wrapping paper which was 100 per cent recyclable. To explain their actions and raise awareness to a wider audience, the children crafted Christmas bauble shaped information cards to accompany the wrapping paper. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were listed on the festive information leaflets. To continue their efforts in 2020, the class have decorated a box in the classroom for toy donations that will be donated to local charities throughout the year. The young students submitted their entry to GOAL via a song they composed themselves. Third-class teacher Breda Dunleavy said: 'The class loved getting involved in the GOAL Changemakers Award as they are all so passionate about this topic. They worked together and displayed fantastic teamwork where they all treated each other equally and showed each other respect which in turned contributed to global goal 10: reduced inequalities. The award is wonderful because the project was driven by the students and it inspired me to watch them discover how the tangible changes they make will help tackle global issues.' The students discussed their entry and said: 'We know that metallic wrapping paper is not recyclable and a more sustainable option should be available. We wrote the notes about the global goals because we want to share what we know with other people. We know about the global goals but not everybody does so we wanted to share our knowledge.' The judging panel, comprised of Newstalk presenter Jonathon McCrea, children's author Sarah Webb, activist and founder of Flossie and the Beach Cleaners, Flossie Donnelly, and GOAL deputy-CEO Mary Van Lieshout, were blown away by the quality of the entries. Police in North Carolina found the body of a 6-month-old baby near a cemetery Saturday. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police discovered the remains of the baby who went missing with his mother on the evening of Feb. 20. In a news release, police said the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiners Office confirmed that the discovered remains are those of Chi-Liam Cody Brown-Erickson. Police had arrested the mother, Tamara Jernel Brown, Friday night after an incident. Brown was charged with common law robbery and two counts of assault on a government official, according to records posted on the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office website. Authorities also said Brown possibly suffers from a mental health disability. Cody Brown-Erickson was not with his mother when she was arrested, and police said she refused to tell authorities where he was. The baby had last been seen with her in Charlotte around noon on Friday. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit is conducting an investigation. NTD staff contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Michael OLeary sparks outrage after suggesting Muslim men should be singled out for extra scrutiny at airports. The chief executive officer of Ryanair has sparked outrage after calling for the profiling of Muslim men at airports, claiming bombers will generally be of a Muslim persuasion. Michael OLeary made the remark while discussing airport security with the Times of London newspaper. In the interview published on Saturday, the airlines controversial boss said: Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males travelling on their own If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero. The 58-year-old added: You cant say stuff, because its racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish. If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat. The Ryanair CEO is known for his controversial views and has floated proposals to charge fliers to use the toilet during Ryanair flights and a fat tax on obese passengers. The Muslim Council of Britain called the comments racist and discriminatory. A spokeswoman said it was a scandal that such racism was expressed so openly and brazenly. OLeary was encouraging racism, Labour MP Khalid Mahmood told the Times. In Germany this week a white person killed eight people. Should we profile white people to see if theyre being fascists? the legislator said, referring to a mass shooting in the southwestern town of Hanau late on Wednesday. OLearys comments also sparked outrage online, with some people calling for a boycott of the budget airline. Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks, a monitoring group in the UK, said the remarks were abhorrent. Scotlands Justice Minister Humza Yousaf condemned the comments on Twitter, writing, awful from Michael OLeary suggesting racial profiling to be introduced at airports. The level of casual Islamophobia in the CEO class is incredible. Remember that there are so many people who have tremendous power who are also racists and can enforce their racist views. https://t.co/rV3z7EUWEU Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) February 22, 2020 Yeah you've lost my business. I fly with you regularly, but you're after calling me a terrorist because of my religion, so I'll take my money elsewhere. I'm tired (@ginmhilleadh1) February 22, 2020 The Uttar Pradesh Police said Saturday that allegations of rape against a BJP MLA, three of his sons and two nephews were false while another nephew was arrested from Bhadohi for the alleged crime. Police said an FIR was registered on February 19 against seven people, including sitting BJP MLA from Bhadohi, Ravindranath Tripathi, his nephew Sandip Tripathi and five family members after a woman accused them of raping her between 2016 and 2017 and alleged that she was forced to abort when she was two months pregnant. The FIR was registered at Bhadohi police station. Though the MLA has denied the charges saying he and his family has never known the woman. Police said the 40-year-old victim, who belongs to Varanasi, told the police that the MLAs nephew had established sexual relations with her in 2016 after promising to marry her. Claiming that her exploitation continued ever since, she alleged that during 2017 UP polls she was made to put up in a hotel in Bhadohi where the lawmaker, his three sons and two nephews also established physical relations with her. A senior police officer said a case had been registered under section 376 D (gang rape), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC against MLA Tripathi, his three sons Nitesh, Prakash, Deepak and nephews Sandip Tripathi, Sachin Tripathi and Chandrabhushan Tripathi following the complaint by the woman. A team had been constituted to investigate the matter, he said. A police team led by additional Superintendent of Police completed the investigation and submitted its report to Superintendent of Police Rambadan Singh. The investigation revealed that allegation against MLA his three sons were found to be false. The probe also revealed that his nephew Sandip Tripathi was involved in the incident for which he has been arrested, the SP said. The woman alleged that Sandip Tripathi met her on a Mumbai-bound train in 2014 when she was going to meet her parents. She claimed that Sandip took her mobile number and started talking to her. She alleged that MLAs nephew had established physical relations with her on the pretext of marrying her. According to police the woman, claimed that when she informed Sandip about the Bhadohi hotel incident, he asked her to keep mum and started ignoring her requests of marriage and recently threatened her with dire consequences if she talked about marriage. The MLA rejected allegations calling them baseless and a conspiracy of people involved in illegal sand mining and land mafia to defame him and his family. MANCHESTER, N.H. - A Lebanese-American man in custody in Lebanon isnt guilty of charges brought against him by the Lebanese government, according to a U.S. lawmakers top aide. Naz Durakoglu, senior foreign policy adviser to Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, said in a conference call with media outlets Friday that colleagues in different U.S. government offices have found no evidence that Amer Fakhoury is guilty of the murder, prison torture and other allegations levied by his native country. Durakoglu said that in such cases there are often made-up allegations or charges, forcing defendants to try to refute lies. She said the U.S. government is instead focusing on the distinct lack of evidence. In this case were confident that he is not who they say he is, Durakoglu said. Fakhoury is a 57-year-old restaurant owner from Dover, New Hampshire, who became a U.S. citizen last year. He is accused of working as a senior warden at Khiam Prison, which was run by an Israel-backed Lebanese militia during Israels occupation of southern Lebanon two decades ago. The prison has been described by human rights groups as a centre for torture. He was detained in September after he returned to his native Lebanon from the U.S., and Lebanons intelligence service says he confessed during questioning to being a warden. A military investigative judge charged Fakhoury earlier this month. The accusations could carry a death sentence. However, Fakhourys lawyer and family in New Hampshire say that while he was indeed a member of the Israel-backed militia and worked at the prison, he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in the interrogation or torture of prisoners. Durakoglu said she could only broadly speculate on the motives of the Lebanese government but said that U.S. government officials believe Hezbollah-linked officials may be using Fakhoury as a way to distract the Lebanese public from ongoing political unrest. Fakhoury is in poor health because of injuries suffered and left untreated after being beaten by Lebanese security officials, Durakoglu said. He is also undergoing cancer treatment. His proceedings have been delayed as a result and it remains unclear if hell be able to stand trial. We have a dying American citizen there, his lawyer, Celine Atallah, said previously. By keeping him there, its evident theyre trying to kill him. Shaheen said she is drafting sanctions legislation against Lebanese officials in order to push for Fakhourys release. Details of the bill were unclear as of Friday. No details or firm timetable were available Friday on when direct actions might be taken to attempt to get Fakhoury home or when the Lebanese governments legal process might conclude. FILE PHOTO: A palm oil seed is seen at a plantation in Pulau Carey KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has not abandoned an option to file a World Trade Organization (WTO) suit against European Union (EU) restrictions on palm oil-based biofuel, the minister in charge of palm oil said on Friday. She was responding to a Reuters story that said the Southeast Asian country no longer planned to file a lawsuit and would instead seek to convince the EU to change its treatment of the crop in a review scheduled for 2021. The European Commission concluded last year that palm oil cultivation results in excessive deforestation and passed a law to phase out its use as transport fuel by 2030. Palm's biggest producer Indonesia challenged the law in December, but second-biggest producer Malaysia is still considering its options, its Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said in a statement. "In fact, our highest level legal team is examining with a fine comb, our potential response to make our petition as watertight as possible," she said. "We have thus always agreed to intervene as a co-complainant and join the likes of Indonesia and other palm oil producers at the opportune juncture at the WTO proceedings." Kok, who earlier said Malaysia would launch a WTO case by November last year, spoke with Reuters in Brussels on Thursday during a trip to explain to European leaders the initiatives taken by the country to grow palm in a sustainable way. "We did have this intention, but we thought that before we come to Europe... we shouldn't file the suit hastily," Kok said. "This is what we told Indonesia too." Kok, who met EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson on Thursday, said Malaysian palm oil was much greener than its critics claim. Forest cover in Malaysia has stayed above 50%, the government says, and the yield for palm oil per hectare far surpasses competing oils, such as from rapeseed or soybeans. EU consumption of palm oil in food has been in steady decline, but its use as a biofuel has increased. Last year, the bloc consumed more than 7 million tonnes, with some 65% for energy. Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce more than 85% of the world's palm oil, and the EU plan to discuss the issue together. Kok said she wanted those discussions to speed up. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Mei Mei Chu, Editing by William Maclean) A respected Catholic figure who helped improve conditions for the developmentally disabled in multiple countries over half a century sexually abused at least six women, a report produced for his French-based charity has found. According to the report released by L'Arche International Saturday, the women's descriptions provide evidence enough to show that Jean Vanier engaged in "manipulative sexual relationships" over a period from 1970 to 2005, usually with a "psychological hold" over the alleged victims. Vanier, a Canadian, died last year at age 90. "The alleged victims felt deprived of their free will and so the sexual activity was coerced or took place under coercive conditions," the report said. It did not rule out potential other victims. None of the women was disabled, a significant point given the Vatican has long sought to portray any sexual relationship between religious leaders and other adults as consensual unless there was clear evidence of disability. The #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, however, have forced a recognition that power imbalances such as those in spiritual relationships can breed abuse. During the inquiry, commissioned by L'Arche last year and carried out by the independent, UK-based GCPS Consulting group, six adult, non-disabled women said Vanier had engaged in sexual relations with them as they were seeking spiritual direction. According to the report, the women, who have no links to each other, reported similar facts and Vanier's sexual misconduct was often associated with alleged spiritual and mystical justifications." A statement released by L'Arche France Saturday stressed that some women still have deep wounds." The report noted similarities with the pattern of abuse of the Rev Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest Vanier called his spiritual father. Philippe, who died in 1993, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women. A statement from L'Arche International said analysis of archives shows that Vanier adopted some of Father Thomas Philippe's deviant theories and practices. Philippe was banned from exercising any public or private ministry in a trial led by the Catholic Church in 1956 for his theories and the sexual practices that stemmed from them. In a letter to the charity members, the Leaders of L'Arche International, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney, told of their shock at the news, and condemned Vanier's actions. For many of us, Jean was one of the people we loved and respected the most. ... While the considerable good he did throughout his life is not in question, we will nevertheless have to mourn a certain image we may have had of Jean and of the origins of L'Arche, they wrote. Vanier worked as a Canadian navy officer and professor before turning to charity work. A visit to a psychiatric facility prompted him to found the charity L'Arche in 1964 as an alternative living environment where those with developmental disabilities could be full-fledged participants in the community instead of patients. The charity now has facilities in 38 countries that are home to thousands of people both with and without disabilities. Vanier, who was unmarried, also travelled the world to encourage dialogue across religions, and was awarded the 2015 Templeton Prize for spiritual work, as well as France's Legion of Honor. He was the subject of a documentary shown at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival called Jean Vanier, the Sacrament of Tenderness. The allegations against Vanier reveal a major gap in the Catholic Church's handling of sex abuse allegations to date: Because he was a layman, he was exempt from the Vatican's in-house sanctioning procedures for abuse, which only cover priests, bishops and cardinals. For these offenders, the worst penalty the Vatican can impose is defrocking essentially, making the priests laymen again. A similar case concerned the lay leader of a Peru-based organisation, Sodalicio, who escaped Vatican justice for years even though there were credible allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against him. The Vatican finally ordered him to live in isolation from his followers, a penalty that drew scorn from his victims given that it amounted to an all-expense-paid retirement in Rome. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nevada Democrats began to weigh in on their party's presidential nomination fight on Saturday in the third contest in a 2020 primary season. Seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip are among the 200 caucus locations statewide that are hosting the presidential caucuses in a primary season that has so far been marred by chaos and uncertainty in overwhelmingly white, rural states. The exercise of democracy inside urban temples of excess is just one element that distinguishes the first presidential contest in the West, which will, more importantly, test the candidates' strength with black and brown voters for the first time in 2020. Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a Get Out to Caucus Rally at Springs Preserve Amphitheater in Las Vegas on Friday evening Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and Vice President Joe Biden speaks as he campaigns on the eve of the Nevada Caucus at Hyde Park Middle School in Las Vegas US Democratic Party presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg delivers a speech during a campaign rally at Faiss Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada Democratic candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks while visiting a campaign office Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren greets people during a campaign stop at Tacos El Gordo on February 21, 2020 in Las Vegas ahead of the state's caucus 'Nevada represents an opportunity for these candidates to demonstrate their appeal to a larger swath of our country,' said state Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is not endorsing a candidate in the crowded field. Nevada's population, which aligns more with the U.S. as a whole than the opening elections in Iowa and New Hampshire, is 29% Latino, 10% black and 9% Asian American and Pacific Islander. The vote comes at a critical moment for the Democratic Party as self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders emerges as the clear front-runner and a half dozen more moderate candidates savage one another for the chance to emerge as the preferred alternative to Sanders. The ultimate winner will represent Democrats on the ballot against President Donald Trump in November. Former Vice President Joe Biden greets voters waiting in line to register and participate in the Nevada Democratic Caucus at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas on Saturday Oona Ryle, a campaign volunteer for Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, greets voters arriving to participate in the Nevada Democratic Presidential Caucus Nevada Caucus voters, campaign volunteers and precinct workers wait for the start of the caucus at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, February 22 Stacks of Democratic ballots sit ready to record Nevada Caucus votes at a caucus site Nevada Caucus precinct captain Timothy Boytor gives voters instructions inside the caucus at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas o Saturday as the voting starts to get underway Volunteers for various campaigns talk to voters as they enter a presidential caucus site at Mendive Middle School in Sparks, Nevada, one of 200 caucus locations around the state Yet on the eve of the caucuses, questions lingered about Nevada Democrats' ability to report election results quickly as new concerns surfaced about foreign interference in the 2020 contest. Campaigning in California, Sanders confirmed reports that he had been briefed by U.S. officials about a month ago that Russia was trying to help his campaign as part of Moscow's efforts to interfere in the election. 'It was not clear what role they were going to play,' Sanders said. 'We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign.' He added: 'Heres the message to Russia: Stay out of American elections.' Voters stand in line to participate in the Nevada Democratic Presidential Caucus at Liberty High School in Henderson. Questions linger about Nevada Democrats' ability to report election results quickly after a messy Iowa caucus with took several days to announce Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders hold a 'Bernie' sign Despite the distraction, Sanders enters Saturday increasingly confident, backed by strong support from Latinos and rank-and-file union workers who have warmed to his fiery calls to transform the nation's economy and political system to help the working class. In a fiery speech the night before the caucuses, Sanders lumped the 'Democratic establishment' in with the corporate and Republican establishment, saying they cant stop him. He said the establishment was 'getting worried' about a multiracial coalition that wants higher wages and health care. The outlook was dire for virtually everyone else. Long before voting began, there was skepticism about Pete Buttigieg's ability to win over a more diverse set of voters after strong finishes in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire. It was the opposite for Joe Biden, who struggled in Iowa and New Hampshire but looked to Nevada's voters of color to prove he still has a viable path to the nomination. Former Vice President Joe Biden campaigns on the picket line with members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 outside the Palms Casino in Las Vegas on February 19 Democratic presidential hopeful Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks to supporters during a visit to her field office in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 20, 2020 Supporters listen to Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren during a campaign town hall event at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater in Las Vegas The two women left in the race, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, were fighting for momentum, hoping to benefit from a sudden surge of outside money from newly created super PACs. Billionaire Tom Steyer has invested more than $12 million of his own money on television advertising in Nevada, according to data obtained by The Associated Press, which details the extent to which several candidates have gone all-in ahead of Saturday's contest. The pro-Warren Persist super PAC, created in recent days, is spending more money in Nevada this week than any other campaign or allied outside group. Persist, which hasn't yet disclosed any donors and cannot legally coordinate with Warren's campaign, has invested $902,000 this week in Nevada television on her behalf, according to spending data obtained by The AP. That's more than Klobuchar's and Biden's campaigns have spent over the entire year. New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, won't be on the ballot. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, pictured right, greets supporters at a Nevada caucuses kickoff event on Saturday, February 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (R) shakes hands with US-Canadian actor Michael J. Fox (L) during a campaign rally at Faiss Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday Former U.S. Senator Harry Reid remains one of the most powerful Democrats in the state and predicts that that Sanders' signature health care policy could not win support in Congress 'I think right now predicting who's going to win here in Nevada would be a wild guess,' former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in an interview. 'And if I were a gambler, which I'm not, I wouldnt be betting on who's gonna win here in Nevada.' The political world, meanwhile, hoped there would be a winner at all. Saturday's caucuses are the first since technical glitches and human errors plagued Iowa's kickoff caucuses. Nearly three weeks later, state Democratic officials have yet to post final results. Nevada Democrats have projected confidence in their process, although Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez this week refused to commit to releasing the full results on the day of the vote. He said a number of factors, including early voting and potentially high turnout, could affect the tabulation and timing of results. In addition, Nevada, like Iowa, reports three sets of data from the multistage caucus process. 'We're going to do our best to release results as soon as possible, but our North Star, again, is accuracy,' Perez told The Associated Press this week. People wait in line at an early voting location at the culinary workers union hall in Las Vegas. People wait in line to vote early at the Culinary Workers union on Monday, February 17. The Nevada caucus takes place on Saturday in 200 locations across the state A woman votes at an early voting location at the culinary workers union hall in Las Vegas One potential complication: Early voting. The state party has added to its responsibilities by offering early voting - something Iowa did not attempt. Nevada voters have been eager to partake, given the alternative is to spend significantly more time voting at a chaotic caucus site. The party said nearly 75,000 Democrats cast early ballots, and a majority were first-time caucus-goers. In 2016, a total of 84,000 Nevada voters participated in the Democratic caucuses. A small, but significant number of the ballots cast early were disqualified. Of the more than 36,000 ballots that were cast through Monday, 1,124 ballots were voided largely because voters forgot to sign them, according to the state party, which did not release the final numbers. Party officials said they were reaching out to these voters and encouraging them to caucus in person on Saturday. Elvis Presley impersonators entertain the crowd before a Trump rally in Las Vegas on Friday President Trump gestures to the crowd at a campaign rally at Las Vegas Convention Center Campaigning in Las Vegas on the eve of the caucuses, Trump sought to raise doubts about the process. 'I hear their computers are all messed up just like they were in Iowa. They're not going to be able to count their vote,' Trump charged. 'They're going to tell you about health care. They're going to tell you about our military and jet fighters and the missiles and rockets, but they can't count votes.' Amid such concerns, Nevada Democrats tried to stay focused on the candidates and the issues they represent. Reid, who at 80 years old remains one of the most powerful Democrats in the state, predicted that Sanders' signature health care policy, 'Medicare for All' could not win support in Congress. Yet he said he thinks the fiery Vermont senator could bring Democrats together. 'I have no doubt that if Bernie Sanders is the nominee, the party will unite behind him and beat Trump,' Reid said. Skipper Craig Ervine scored a dogged century as Zimbabwe shared the honours with Bangladesh on the opening day of the one-off Test here on Saturday. Ervine hit 107 off 227 balls -- his third century in Tests -- as the visitors reached 228-6 at stumps after opting to bat first in what is the 100th international match between two teams. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan bowled Ervine, who struck 13 fours, shortly before the stumps before finishing with 4-68, the best return for the home side on the opening day. Nayeem helped Bangladesh restore balance in the contest with two wickets each in the final two sessions after Zimbabwe made a cautious start. Pace bowler Abu Jayed struck early to remove opener Kevin Kasuza for two as Nayeem took a catch at gully after first run from the bat in Zimbabwe's innings came in the seventh over. But other opener Prince Masvaure -- who made 64 off 152 balls with nine fours -- shared a 111-run with Ervine for the second wicket to put Zimbabwe in control. Nayeem removed Masvaure with a sharp return catch shortly after the batsman was dropped by Najmul Hossain at slip on 59 runs. Brendan Taylor, who scored a century in both innings in his previous Test in Mirpur in 2018, soon followed Masvaure as Nayeem bowled him for 10. The experienced right-hander attempted a reverse sweep but could only connect the ball with his gloves before it smashed onto his stumps. Ervine and Sikandar Raza added 40 runs for the fourth wicket, before Nayeem removed Raza in the final session of the day. Jayed trapped Timcyen Maruma leg before for seven for his second wicket after the batsman was reprieved by a TV umpire on one off Taijul Islam. Wicketkeeper-batsman Regis Chakabva was batting on nine alongside Donald Tiripano, not out zero, when stumps were drawn at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Mushfiqur Rahim returned to the Bangladesh lineup after missing out on their previous Test against Pakistan. Zimbabwe handed Charlton Tshuma his Test debut. Bangladesh have lost their last six Test matches -- five of them by an innings or more -- but they have also beaten Zimbabwe five times in their last six encounters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philly Jesus kicked out of cathedral, handcuffed and cited for trespassing Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A former heroin addict who dresses like Jesus Christ and preaches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was kicked out of a Roman Catholic cathedral and cited for trespassing. Michael Grant, commonly known as Philly Jesus, was removed from an installation service for Archbishop Nelson Perez at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Tuesday. Law enforcement removed Grant from the ceremony and he was eventually given a $25 citation for trespassing at the service and released from custody shortly after being detained. I said, Im a priest. He said, Youre not a Roman Catholic priest. Im a universal priest, Grant told NBC's affiliate in Philadelphia. I just kept standing my ground I brought up my religious rights, he added, explaining that police dragged me out like head first through the double doors. Grant said he considered the citation to be bogus and was planning to take legal action due to his belief that he was unjustly targeted. Its a disgrace how I was treated. I was extremely embarrassed. It was a horrible feeling, he continued. They were just hating on me. But Jesus said, Haters gonna hate. He said that in John chapter 15, verse 18. Jesus said, If the world hates you, remember it hated Me first. According to an entry on his website, at one time Grant was a satanic rocker who went by the stage name Opal Weaver. While undergoing rehab, he became a Christian. "JESUS came into my Life and brought me to my knees in tears of JOY ... and broke every chain of addiction in my life. ... He broke the chain of sin in my life ... ripping its veil completely," stated Philly Jesus. "The people of Philadelphia have coined me with the name Philly Jesus ... so I decided to run with it ... I have decided that I will be doing this Philly Jesus street ministry for the rest of my days on Earth to HONOR and GLORiFY ONE MAN." Grant has been known to go about Philadelphia with long hair, a beard, and wearing a robe, evangelizing and even occasionally baptizing people at the LOVE Park fountain. In September 2016, Grant was found guilty of trespassing at an Apple Store when he came in to charge his phone due to him bringing a large cross inside with him that was blocking an aisle. Following the 2016 verdict, Grant took to Facebook to forgive the prosecution, maintain his innocence, and express his intention to appeal the decision. "Mixed verdict for me Not guilty of disorderly conduct but was found guilty of defiant trespass .. but I forgive them for trespassing against me ... for they know not what they do ... I will appeal ... ALL iS WELL ... GOD iS GOOD NO MATTER WHAT..I'AM iNNOCENT IN JESUS CHRiST MiGHTY NAME," wrote Philly Jesus at the time. Philly Jesus was cited for trespassing during the installation of Archbishop Nelson Perez.https://t.co/Jy8HRKlsJCpic.twitter.com/8xPeMY7G4f The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) February 18, 2020 Chikkamagaluru: With the dust settling a bit after activist student Amulya Leonias startling impromptu performance at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru two days ago, her family, after initially being bullied by Bajrang Dal busybodies, are rallying behind her. After having depicted her, under duress, as a compulsive rebel , the family is now throwing its weight behind Amulya. They now say that her Pakistan Zindabad slogan was part of a point she intended to make, that of internationalism and good neighbourliness, but she was cut short in mid-speech by others on the dais at the anti-CAA protest, causing her to be misunderstood. Stopping her in mid speech did create a problem, said a family member who said he has viewed the footage of Amulyas speech several times. Amulya is a Roman Catholic who was brought up on the principle of love for all and had she been allowed to finish her speech, she would have made sense. However, at the same time, they urged the Karnataka government to conduct a free and fair investigation into Amulyas case and come out with the names of persons or organizations who encouraged Amulya to make incendiary speeches. Somebody has used Amulya because she has been a good orator since third standard, said one members of her family. The family firmly ruled out Amulya Leona having any links with naxalites, as alleged by chief minister B S Yediyurappa in Mysuru yesterday. Nxalites used to be active in parts of Chikkmagaluru districts once upon a time but have now departed from the place. Members of the family said it was the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that inflamed Amulya Leona's activist fervour about a month and a half back.Amulya is still young (18). She can mend her ways if she has done wrong, he said. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Amulya's father Oswald Leona said he is unfazed by the attack on his house by miscreants. Friends and relatives met him at his house on Saturday to express support. Some of my friends called me on the phone to support me. I have received about 72 messages till noon today but I'm too busy attending to friends and relatives to go through the messages, said Mr Noronha. She recently wrapped filming on her latest production and acting role in Yes Day. But Jennifer Garner isn't slowing down anytime soon, she took a business meeting in Santa Monica. The actress, 47, looked chic in a cozy outfit as she headed to her car on Friday. On the go: Jennifer Garner went straight from a meeting to a phone call on a busy afternoon in Santa Monica on Friday The 13 Going on 30 actress paired a black midi skirt, with knee-high black leather boots with a tall heel. Her marled grey, black and white turtle neck sweater featured small feathered sleeve cuffs. Garner carried a large black tote on her shoulder while chatting on the phone. Her look: The 13 Going on 30 actress paired a black midi skirt, with knee-high black leather boots with a tall heel, and a marled sweater The mother-of-three's signature brunette locks were down in a sleek style. She juggles her glittering Hollywood career with raising her three children - Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, seven. She shares the kids with her former husband Ben Affleck and the two co-parent the youngsters. The couple had tied the knot in 2005 after working together on the movies Pearl Harbor in 2001 and Daredevil in 2003. Natural: She opted for a natural makeup look and left her brunette hair down in a sleek look But they called in quits exactly ten years to the day in 2015. Despite their split Jennifer stood by Ben as he subsequently sought treatment for alcohol addiction, finally finalizing their divorce in October 2018. Jennifer's latest movie, Yes Day, follows the story of parents who attempt to make it through an entire day by only saying, 'yes' to their children's requests. The film is taken from Amy Krouse Rosenthal's book of the same name, and follows the idea which Jennifer honors annually with her own children. The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board will meet on February 24 and hold discussions over the five acres of land allotted for the construction of a mosque. The board accepted the Supreme Court's decision, though sources in the Sunni Central Waqf Board maintain that they never had the liberty to reject the order. According to sources, different people have different ideas about what to do with the land. Some people want to build a school while some people want to build a hospital there. "We have five acres of land, so much can be done on the land. But all this will be decided in the meeting on February 24," a source said. Also, the Sunni Waqf Board may announce setting up of a trust for the construction of a mosque. "The Sunni Waqf Board may also announce a trust for construction of a mosque. The trust can be named Indo Islamic Culture Foundation," sources said. On November 9 2019, the apex court had directed the Centre to allocate an alternative five acres of land to the waqf board at a prominent location in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque. iWatch Africa has launched a digital rights initiative in Accra to curb online harassment experienced by human rights activists and journalists in Ghana. iWatch Africa in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the police will monitor and prosecute individuals who use various online platforms to trample on the fundamental human rights of the targeted group. The Co-Founder of iWatch Africa, Gideon Sarpong in his address at the event to launch the initiative decried the impact of online harassment on the quality of journalism practised in the country. He called on the general public to be conscious of their social media posts so they dont undermine the democracy and Constitution of Ghana. The launch hosted 20 selected participants from diverse backgrounds to undertake the project which will help create a conducive environment for human rights activists and journalists in Ghana. The Project Lead of iWatch Africa, Nana Boakye-Yiadom highlighted the adverse effect normalizing cyberbullying could have on the country and called on participants to refine their social media interaction modules. About iWatch Africa iWatch Africa is a non-governmental media and policy organisation with considerable national repute and significance. iWatch Africa has carved a niche in Ghana's policy and journalism environment by putting out objective, fact-based and independent assessment on many issues. iWatch Africa tracks digital rights in Africa, trans-national organised crime, human rights abuse and government overall performance in Ghana. ---citinewsroom CROMWELL When the staff and leadership of the Cromwell Belden Public Library celebrated the completion of its $3.2 million renovation project, being librarians, they did so in a muted and dignified manner. Joined by a bevy of town officials, Library Director Kara Canney threw open the doors of a re-made 21st century facility to residents. As she surveyed the results, Library Commission Chairwoman Marie Roberto said, Isnt this great? Isnt it grand! In doing so, Canney underlined the completion a project that began 12 years ago and ended with a dazzling new vision of a library with an expansive technical department and imaginative re-working of the Childrens Library. Long-time Library Director Eileen Branciforte was not present for the ceremony. But her commitment to the renovation and expansion of the library, which adjoins Town Hall, was crucial, speaker after speaker said. She was the driving force that animated the project, Mayor Enzo Faienza said. Recognizing the library was outgrowing its space, Branciforte applied for and received a $1 million state library grant to update and expand the facility. The grant was awarded to the town in 2008, just as the worldwide economy was sliding into recession. But, as important as it was in getting the grant, it was equally important in keeping it, Faienza said. Branciforte cared for and tended to it as the precious gift it was as she waited for the economy to be restored to good financial health. In that effort, she was aided by the Library Commission, an all-volunteer group that is appointed by the Town Council. In 2014, as the economy was reviving, Faienza said he was reviewing a list of proposed capital improvements for the town. He was doing so in the company of then-Town Manager Jonathan B. Sistare and Director of Finance Marianne Sylvester. We werent sure what we were going to do with that grant, Faienza said. At that moment, in walked Marie Roberto, the chairwoman of the committee, and several of her members. We dont want to see that library grant go away, they told the three officials as Faienza recalled. Weve got to start thinking about the future, Roberto added. The message was not lost on Sistare, Sylvester and Faienza. We came together as a team to get this done, he said. He asked state Rep. Christie Carpino to keep this grant together as the town began working first on ideas and then plans for renovating the library. And then another crucial piece fell into place, with the hiring of Canney as library director in 2017. We wouldnt have been able to get this done with Kara, Faeinza told the assemblage gathered the technology center. Were very fortunate to have Kara here, Roberto said. She dots all her Is and crosses all her Ts, and she keeps people accountable. Town Manager Anthony J. Salvatore added his praise to Canney, explaining the smart, funny, energetic and take-no-prisoners director gave me my marching orders about the library. Town Engineer Jon Harriman was equally crucial to the success of the project, Salvatore said. When Canney showed up in his office, Salvatore said he knew it was going to be challenging. He thanked Sylvester, Public Works Director Louis J. Spina and his department, and Town Planner Stuart Popper for their contributions as well. We dont get anything done if its not a team effort, Salvatore said. For her part, Canney began by thanking Branciforte and the Library Committee and then expanded her thanks to Faienza (He always supported this project) and the Town Hall staff who had to put up frequent inadvertent fire alarms as well as construction trailers in the town hall parking lot. Canneys staff suffered, too, throughout the construction. At one point, Canney said, the staff wound up working in tents. In August. She also thanked Harriman. I think I called him at least 327 times a day, Canney said. But now, those irritants are behind her, and now she is able to share with residents a beautiful multi-media center. BY CHIEF MIKE A. A. OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIArb, Ph.D, LL.D The attack on the honourable justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili is highly condemnable, provocative, uncalled for and is certainly dangerous for the Independence and courageous decisions template of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is the apex court. It is sickening and outrageous that Justice Mary Peter Odilis residence was singled out and attacked by hired political hoodlums, miscreants and thugs, just for merely carrying out her judicial functions of heading a five-member panel that delivered the judgement sacking the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State(a state controlled by the APC). It is interesting to note that Justice Mary Peter-Odili did not even write or deliver the lead judgement. The lead judgement was written and delivered by the Honourable Justice Ejembi Eko, JSC. More significant is the fact that the entire judgement was an unanimous decision and pronouncement made by the entire five members of the Supreme Court panel that heard the matter. Why would she be singled out just because she is from Rivers State, near Bayelsa state? Could not the people doing this read simple history of the last two to three months, to see that the governors of Bayelsa State and Rivers States had not been in the best of terms even though they belong to the same political party (the PDP)? The danger inherent in this ugly episode will reverberate and ricochet in the foreseeable future. What this simply boils down to is that once a judgement is given and the political party that is negatively affected does not like it, then members of that political party can take the laws into their hands, go to the houses of the Judges or Justices that delivered the judgement and attack them. Where then is the Independence of the Judiciary? What happened to Imo state where the entire panel headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria removed a whole government and enthroned the APC and its governor, a person who had come 4th in the election and whose party did not even win a single House of Assembly seat? Why were the Supreme Court Justices not also attacked for that judgement? Why did selective amnesia engulf these sponsored political thugs? Why this ethnical colouring of an attack? Why this religious colouring of an attack? Why this political delinquency? Why this attempt to annex the Judiciary to the apron strings of the Executive? Why this attempt to intimidate, overawe and humiliate a very well-known, dispassionate, brilliant, intelligent and intellectually-grounded Jurist of impeachable credentials? This is a Judge who rose gradually from the rungs of the ladder, first as a magistrate; then a Chief Magistrate; and then a High Court Judge; and then a Justice of the Court of Appeal; finally anchoring at the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land. This is a distinguished iconic Jurist who, even as First Lady of Rivers State, never allowed the lure of office to entrap her, or to colour her vision. She carefully kept away from public limelight. She kept to her duties strictly as a role model Judicial Officer, refusing to be deified, or heroine-worshiped by politicians, as others in her position are want to do. It is that great woman that some miscreants attempted to attack and to destroy her house. I condemn this unwarranted and unprovoked attack on the residence of The Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili in the strongest words possible, not just because she is a Justice of the Supreme Court, but because she belongs to the Judiciary that has already been thoroughly brow-beaten and humiliated enough by the Executive branch of government. This started especially on October 8, 2016, when houses of Supreme Court Justices were mindlessly raided and their family members intimidated and overawed in the ungodly wee hours of the morning by members of the DSS. We must stop this chicanery before we all get engulfed by the entire infamous conduct of those miscreants. When the Judiciary is finally taken out and a reign of terror is institutionalized, then nobody will have anywhere to run to. Remember the immortal words of Martin Niemoller, the great German Cleric in 1946, after watching the execution of millions of Jews in gas Chambers. He made the following immortal statement: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak outbecause I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak outbecause I was not a Jew. Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak for me. We must be careful to nurture and guide this nascent democracy which some people have deliberately disallowed from growing. This is not an ordinary incidence. Nay, not one of those that should be swept under the mat by the powers that be. The government, through the DSS, the Inspector General of Police must immediately rise to the occasion and fish out the ignoble perpetrators that committed this heinous crime and this desecration of the citadel of Justice. They must be singled out and prosecuted immediately; and where found guilty, be given adequate punishment that they richly deserve. No attempt must be made to further cow and intimidate the Judiciary; and no attempt must be made to cow and intimidate Justices of the Supreme Court (the apex court) of the land. No attempt must be made by any political party, or by any person or group of persons, however so highly placed, to intimidate the Judiciary and beat it to submission in such a way and manner that decisions of courts are procured by executive or political fiat. This is a country that is always on the precipice, on tenterhooks, always being salvaged by God on a daily basis. It is very sad that whenever politicians win a case, they say the Judiciary is on song. They say justice has been delivered and served. They say democracy works. But once they lose a case, not only will they criminalize the Judiciary; not only will they vilify the Judge that delivered the judgement; not only will they use expletives against the judges that delivered the judgement; they will quickly say democracy is on trial, or that democracy or Justice has been purchased. This is because our politicians have never learnt to accept defeat honorably. They are bad losers. What we shall see very soon will be a situation where the Supreme Court will be turned into a Customary Court, or a Magistrate Court, where every person or every party that loses a case will come forward for judicial review of that case. Let them go and read Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2010, as amended in 2014. Let them go and read the new 2020 decision of the Stanbic Bank Case delivered by Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji of the same Supreme Court. They will find out how, when and where the Supreme Court can intervene in its earlier decisions. In this very recent decision, the Supreme Court gave certain grounds/conditions that must occur before its judgment may be varied. That is the case of STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC V L. G. C. LTD (2020)2 NWLR (PT. 1707) 1 @ 17. For now, this is to assure Justice Mary Peter-Odili that the Judiciary and the entire nation hold you in very high esteem. Do not be discouraged or afraid in carrying out your judicial functions. God is with you; and if God be with you, who can be against you? No one. PV: 0 MBABANE When two bulls fight, its the grass that suffers. As the talks between the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and MTN Eswatini regarding termination of their controversial Joint Venture Agreement continue to drag, the consumer is the one that bears the brunt. This has even been admitted to by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), which said even other industry players were casualties of this ongoing debacle. This has affected consumers and other industry players because it limits competition and that other service providers are not able to offer some services they wish to offer to the public, said ICT Principal Secretary Maxwell Masuku. The other industry player in this case is Eswatini Mobile, which holds the same technology neutral licence as MTN Eswatini and EPTC. EPTC, however, cannot utilise its own licence because of the JVA with MTN Eswatini that bars the corporation from engaging in services that compete with MTN Eswatini. majority EPTC is also the majority shareholder at MTN Eswatini with 41 per cent. The corporation now wants to operate its own mobile telephone network hence it wrote to the regulator the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) seeking a way out of the JVA. The regulator then gave the two parties a period of six months until August 7, 2019 to ensure divesture of EPTCs shareholding in MTN Eswatini. EPTC was ordered to take any actions, as may be necessary, to ensure it divests its ownership in MTN Eswatini and the latter was ordered to assist EPTC in implementing the divesture. However, the six months lapsed without the divesture having been implemented and this led the regulator to afford the two telecommunications companies an extension of six months. regulator The extended deadline lapsed on February 7, 2020 and this was confirmed by the regulator after the Times SUNDAY made enquiries on what the forward was now that a second cut-off date had come and gone. It is true that the extended deadline for the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) to divest its shareholding in MTN Eswatini ended on February 7, 2020. The Commission can confirm that discussions on the matter are still ongoing and ESCCOM is privy to the engagements between the parties, responded Lindiwe Dlamini, ESCCOMs Head of Strategy and Economic Regulation. She did not divulge what had been agreed on between the two parties. When asked if the regulator believed its decisions to be binding and respected by industry players in light of the failure by EPTC and MTN Eswatini to resolve the divesture as per ESCCOMs order, Dlamini said their decisions and directive were adhered to as per the dictates of the industry players licence provisions. She said the legislative instruments establishing the Commission provide for recourse in the event parties failed to abide by decisions and determinations. fail Clause 4.4 of the JVA Investigation into the Joint Venture Agreement between MTN Eswatini (MTN) / Eswatini Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) of 2019, divestiture decision, provides as follows; in the event the parties fail to ensure the divestiture on the lapse of the Implementation Period, the Commission shall convene a hearing to establish whether any party is at fault, and in the event fault can be attributed to any of the parties, consider an appropriate penalty to be imposed, Dlamini said. Unlike the ICT Ministry which admitted that the consumer and industry players were adversely affected by the ongoing unresolved divesture talks, she sought to portray a positive image of the obtaining scenario. She said as part of the ESCCOM mandate, the regulator was entrusted with the responsibility of creating a conducive environment for competition in the industry. As such in 2017, the Commission licensed Eswatini Mobile as the third Operator in a bid to create a competitive telecommunications market. The telecommunications industry is highly competitive and there are several products and services that have been launched in the market, despite the JVA being in place, she said. There is perception, which Dlamini refuted, that the regulator was treating one of the two companies with kid gloves and, by so doing, putting consumers and other industry players at a disadvantage, much to the benefit of this other player. dictates Dlamini said the Commission was impartial in its operations and decision making, something he said was evidenced by the dictates of the decision that was taken when the EPTC and MTM Eswatini were ordered to ensure that the divesture was implemented. The Commissions decision was equally binding to both operators and called upon both EPTC and MTN to ensure the divesture takes place, she stated. Asked whether the continued failure t resolve the JVA issue did not maintain the status quo that see MTN Eswatini continue to exercise dominance in the industry, Dlamini cited the Commissions 2017 decision on dominance in the mobile voice market and in the fixed wireless voice market which declared MTN dominant in the mobile voice market and EPTC dominant in the fixed voice market. The introduction of competition is an indication of the steps being taken to address competition in the market, she said. Adding, Dlamini said pursuant to the provisions of the Electronic Communications Act of 2013, the Commission converted an issued technology neutral licences to EPTC and MTN Eswatini, which allow all operators to enter and provide services using any technology deemed appropriate. This was after she was asked if it was fair to those who want to enter the industry to have MTN holding a mobile licence and also one of its majority shareholders (EPTC) holding a similar licence; whether this wasnt some form of monopoly or continued dominance? Meanwhile, Masuku, the ICT Principal Secretary, responding to a question on whether there was any possibility of the EPTC/MTN Eswatini being realised soon, said: Once the exercise to evaluate the shares has been completed, the divorce will take place. evaluating He said at the moment, the process of evaluating the shares was still ongoing. Senior attorney Bongani Mdluli, who is the Chairman of the Swaziland Consumer Association, decried the continued failure to conclude the EPTC, MTN Eswatini separation. This is a big problem for us consumers because we need more competition in the industry; the continued delay in the separation is a huge disservice to us consumers. The separation must happen as soon as possible, he said. Mdluli said there more industry players the country had; the more the competition and these would result in consumers having a number of alternatives in terms of the products and services to be available. More details emerged yesterday on what led to the death of Ms. Dagan Laetitia Naankang, an Assistant Director, Administration at the State House, Abuja, who was murdered on Monday night in her apartment by yet-to-be identified killers. . Naankang, aged 47, it was learnt was gruesomely murdered by some criminals also known as Yahoo boys. It was gathered that the deceased discovered that her neighbourhood in Lokogoma area of Abuja was populated by Yahoo boys, making her uncomfortable in the vicinity. . The development also prompted her to confide in her close friends the plans to relocate. It was also learnt that out of concern for her safety, she opted to report them to the Police. . However, it was learnt that the police, rather than take advantage of the report and ensure that the wrath of the law took its full course, later freed the suspects. . The information was allegedly leaked by Police operatives to the assailants, who it was learnt, later resolved to take their pound of flesh on Naankang for reporting them to the Police. . The assailants, who on a revenge mission, resolved to subject Naankang to the agony of slow death. She was said to have first been tied in her apartment where she lived alone and subjected her to all manners of indecent acts before strangulating her to death and setting the body ablaze. . It was further leant that her gateman who was suspected to be an accomplice in the gory event has been arrested by security operatives and already provided useful information that could help in tracking the killers. . Also, one of the killers took their victims mobile telephone, having mistaken it for his and left his own telephone at the crime scene. . The deceased, who hailed from Plateau State, according to a statement by Deputy Director, Information, Mr. Attah Esa, on Tuesday, worked in State House office on Monday till 8:00p.m, only to be gruesomely murdered in her apartment at 11:00p.m. . It is believed that the telephone will also assist the Police in tracking down the killers. Source: Guardian Share this: Tension continues to arise in the royal family after the exit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It did not help that the Queen and other members of The Firm reached a mutual decision to "ban" the couple from using "royal" in their "Sussex Royal" brand. All these recent happenings, however, have left the Queen Elizabeth II being really emotional. Per Express, the Queen deeply "saddened" about the choice of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step down as senior royals. According to royal expert Ingrid Seward during his interview with talkRADIO host Mike Graham, she claimed that the Queen has "compromised" and respected the couple's decision. "I think the Queen has compromised. I think it is a compromise all round," Seward said before mentioning that she has no doubts "the Queen is very saddened about losing Harry and Meghan." "But she is the custodian at the moment." she added, referring to the Queen's role as the head of the monarchy and not as a grandmother. "Sussex Royal" No More Earlier this week, it was reported that Queen Elizabeth II has barred the couple from using the name "royal" for their future projects outside the royal family. A royal source told Harper Bazaar: "As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are stepping back as senior members of the royal family and will work towards financial independence, use of the word 'royal,' in this context, needed to be reviewed and discussions are still ongoing." Despite spending tens of thousands of pounds for the website "Sussex Royal" and after applying for its global trademark in December 2019, it was revealed that Meghan and Prince Harry have now withdrawn their trademark application. However, it is worth noting that they have refused to change "Sussex Royal" in their website and Instagram. Being Financially Independent As the Sussexes steppd back from their position as senior royals, the couple also annpunced their desire to be "financially independent." It means that they are ready to hold an actual job as they will no longer receive any income from the Sovereign Grant. Being in the royal family, their income previously came from the the British taxpayers' money paid to support the Queen's official duties. Moreover, they were also earning from Prince Charles' Duchy of Cornwall -- a vast estate of land, property, agriculture and commercial interests. Queen's Blessing After Prince Harry and Meghan dropped their bombshell news to quit the royal family, the Queen has accepted their decision and issued an official statement to address the issue. Queen Elizabeth II also thanked the couple for their support towards the British monarchy. "Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," The Queen stated. "Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life." : The Congress will try to convince Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on issues relating to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and urge him not to implement it, partys Bandra East MLA Zeezhan Siddique said here on Saturday. Addressing reporters here, Siddique, the youngest MLA of Maharashtra, who is on a visit to the city, said the Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra will make its stand clear on the CAA in the assembly session beginning on Monday. Thackeray, after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, had said that no citizen of India needs to be scared of the Act. Siddique said the Maharashtra government has already taken several steps to create job opportunities. He wanted to develop his constituency through empowering youth. The MLA, on his maiden visit to he city, said he wants to emulate some of the concepts by which Mangaluru became an educational hub. Dakshina Kannada district Congress committee president Harish Kumar, MLC, was present. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you ever wanted to own property at the Jersey Shore, now you can but not just any property. A whole island. Theres a 19-acre private island for sale that costs less than some condos at the shore. For $200,000, No Mans Island just north of West Wildwood can be yours. The completely undeveloped piece of land is located in the Grassy Sound in Middle Township between the mainland and the barrier island of the Wildwoods. A video tour of the island, taken by boat and drone and posted online by its owner, shows an untouched, marshy oasis in the middle of the bay, just south of the North Wildwood bridge. You know sitting on your own island and watching people go by, its just the most relaxing feeling in the world, said owner Omer Fahim. Fahim, who describes himself as a land investor from Queens, New York, has owned the property since 2017. "I was on an MLS listing site (Multiple Listing Service) Zillow, and I was just browsing through one day and I came across this island. And then, you know, I just knew I had to have it, Fahim said. The views are amazing, he said, Its just gorgeous The island has been up for sale for seven months but just recently interest has been picking up, he said. If you love it, why sell it? "Because I want to buy a mountain next," said Fahim. "I just want to really experience every type of land there is in the world." And how does a little island in the middle of the bay end up on the market in the first place? Tai Menz said he put it there. Menz, a real estate agent with Coastline Realty, was the owner who sold it to Fahim. Tax records show Fahim bought it for $7,000. Menz said his grandfather, Robert Menz of Cape May, bought the land and a few other islands just like it the Grassy Sound likely in the 40s or 50s, when the elder Menz was a teen. He bought it with, I think, two other people and they ran a duck hunting business out there, Tai Menz told NJ Advance Media this week. He and his two brothers Albert and Franklin Menz were big duck hunters and bay men hunting, fishing, clamming. Robert Menz's duck hunting business card. (photo courtesy of Tai Menz) Duck hunting was just one of the Menz familys business ventures. Robert Menz, who died in 2012, owned and operated the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel, the Top of the Marq and the Gold Whale Restaurants in Cape May, and for more than three decades the Menz family has operated the Inn of Cape May and Aleatheas Restaurant, according to Robert Menzs obituary. When Robert Menz died, he left No Mans Island to his family. Tai Menz said the duck hunting business went by the wayside and rather than continue to maintain the land with posted signs to keep trespassers away, he opted to sell it. But he never expected anyone to buy it or even consider building on it. I was hoping when I put it on (the market) the state would pick it up to preserve it. No Man's Island in Middle Township, Cape May County is up for sale for $200,000. The land is located in the Grassy Sound in Middle Township between the mainland and the barrier island of North Wildwood. (photo courtesy of Omer Fahim) Menz said a few islands in the sound are still in his grandfathers name. Tax records show two that are just about 14 acres each, and one thats only about a half an acre. Menz said No Mans Island is completely under water during most high tides which is what happened to another parcel his grandfather owned. That piece of land, located east of the land thats up for sale, used to be about the length of two cars, Menz said. Now, its barely a tuft of grass poking above the water. Another island in Robert Menz name thats further to the north and identified as Anglesea Island was the best one for hunting, Tai Menz said. However, when a jug handle was constructed to connect Route 147 with Ocean Drive leading into Stone Harbor, it made hunting there too dangerous for anyone driving by. Menz said his hope is that the land eventually becomes protected and reverts back to public use. However, the real estate listing describes the island as having the potential to be built upon. Though just 3 feet above water and lower in certain areas, the island can be raised with proper permits, allowing for a multitude of development scenarios, the listing says. "The island also features very low taxes, at less than $360 a year. Middle Township and state Department of Environmental officials dont make it sound so easy, though. Kayt Keating, assistant zoning officer and land use administrator for Middle Township, said that approval from the DEP is the first step. The privately-owned island located in Grassy Sound and to the west of North Wildwood is a highly environmentally-sensitive property, a spokesperson from the DEP said. According to the DEP, the entire island is mapped as coastal wetlands and any development at the site would require a coastal wetlands permit, waterfront development permit and a tidelands instrument at the minimum. A threatened and endangered species review would also have to be conducted. In addition to the permits and reviews, another stumbling block would be the sewer service. DEP said that sewer generating structures could not be built on the island because it is not in the sewer service area. But even if it is approved, Middle Township requires road frontage in order to build, said Keating. Since the only way to get to the island is by boat, any approval would require many variances. Jessica Beym contributed to this report. Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Tim on Instagram@photog_hawk and Twitter @photogthawk. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A citys plan to address vacant properties by fining owners as much as $1,000 daily is being challenged in state court by a group of landlords who say its purely a money-making scheme. The lawsuit by Pro Capital, a Pennsauken real estate investment firm, and a similar suit filed by another landlord, allege Burlington City used the threat of potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to extract plea agreements from defendants for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. The complaints also said the citys laws are not intended to resolve vacant property issues in accordance with the state statutory scheme, but rather is a fee-generating scheme which is not authorized. The landlords hope their suit will become a class-action and lead to the refund of tens of thousands of dollars in fines for anyone who had to pay. Burlington City Mayor Barry Conaway said he welcomes a chance for the city to have its day in court. They put it into a lawsuit and were obviously going to defend ourselves, Conaway said. "We had over 300 vacant homes out of like 3,800 properties. Vacant properties are a challenge for most towns. Burlington City has a quaint, historic downtown ringed by a worn, blue-collar bedroom community on the Delaware River waterfront facing Philadelphia. The lawsuits were filed in Burlington County Superior Court in September and are scheduled to be heard later this month. The court action also challenges the citys decision to hire the firm of Borgers, Saunders, Taylor and Associates, BSTA, to collect the fees and keep 30 percent of the proceeds. It accuses the city of allowing the company to issue violations and collect them. It contends only sworn officers such as building and health inspectors should be code-enforcement officers, according to city ordinances. It also claims the citys law targets all property owners and not just lenders foreclosing a residential mortgage. The complaint says state law only allows fees against owners of foreclosed residential properties. BSTA also had a similar vacant property management contract with Bridgeton, the Pro Capital suit said. We dont just write the tickets, but when the bank comes to court and wants to negotiate, we go there and were tough on them, an exhibit in the suit said BSTA told Bridgeton officials in a public meeting on Feb. 6, 2018. During the same presentation, the company said one of its officials had earned the nickname Gun Smoke because he is not very forgiving in court. Burlington City amended its vacant property rules last year. The ordinance originally passed in 2013 had required vacant residential property owners to register yearly with fees starting at $250, increasing to $500 the next year and then $750 yearly thereafter. The fees were increased to $500 for an initial registration, $1,500 for the first renewal, then $3,000 and finally $5,000 yearly for renewals after the third year. Additionally, owners are required to have between $300,000 to $1 million in insurance for each property and maintain signage identifying the owner and other compliance points. Violations for that could be as much as $1,000 daily. We felt we had to address and reduce the number of vacant homes in our town, Conaway told NJ Advance Media earlier this month. They [BSTA] came to us and council liked what they heard. Conaway and other public officials are listed as defendants in the lawsuit. BSTA was paid $95,429.00 for its [vacant, abandoned property] services for the period March 20, 2018, through March 12, 2019, the court filing said. Assuming this amount is equal to 30 percent of the total fees and fines recovered, this would mean the BSTA Defendants collected at least $318,096.70 in total fees and fines. The complaint also said the company told city officials it had also "obtained a six-figure settlement that was actually, you know, significantly more than the value of the home. An attorney for James Isaia, a resident of Southampton who owns three rental homes in Burlington City, filed a companion suit to Pro Capitals. James Pinto, his attorney, said Burlington City dropped all fines and fees against Isaia in October, a month after he filed the suit. He provided a copy of a municipal court document dismissing the claim to NJ Advance Media. Pinto said city officials never told him why the fines were dismissed. Pinto and Conaway both confirmed the citys contract with BSTA ended in December and was not renewed. Conaway didnt specify why the contract was not renewed. Pinto said they still want a court ruling . We had a 40-percent decline in vacant homes from over 300 to about 200 now, Conaway said. They helped the code department. We were able to put extra feet on the street and able to write more violations. We needed help. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Jon Lee Anderson in The New Yorker: The week before Christmas, Richard Leakey, the Kenyan paleoanthropologist and conservationist, celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday. He is lucky to have reached the milestone. A tall man with the burned and scarred skin that results from a life lived outdoors, Leakey has survived two kidney transplants, one liver transplant, and a devastating airplane crash that cost him both of his legs below the knee. For the past quarter century, he has moved around on prosthetic limbs concealed beneath his trousers. In his home town of Nairobi, Leakey keeps an office in an unlikely sort of placethe annex building of a suburban shopping mall. His desk and chair fill most of his cubicle, which has a window that looks onto a parking lot. When I asked Leakey for his thoughts about the future of Kenyas wildlife, he was uncompromisingly bleak, predicting that most of the animals are unlikely to survive far beyond the middle of the century. The next thirty to fifty years would be decisive. Over all, Im in a very pessimistic short- to mid-term attitude, he said. While I applaud the good efforts being made to get microcosm survival and improvement, I am not persuaded of the prospects for wildlife unless something gives, and I dont see it.For Leakey, it all comes down to global climate change: Our population is growing too fast; our resource base isnt growing with it, and, with the crisis of climate change, whether you have a capital C or not, the fact is that the mean temperature is getting warmer, the rainfall is getting less, the snowmelt is increasing, the ice formation is less, oceans are rising. Its a strangulation grip on the environment, and theres nothing Kenya can do to arrest climate change globally, he said. So if you take the change in climate and you take the impact of temperature and the unavailability of land to grow viable crops on, your animal husbandry is getting squeezed out because there isnt the open-range land on which you can raise cattle which you can sell in markets, so theres a narrowing down of the options for humanity, and how you fit people and animals into that has to be a big question mark. Buenos Aires, Feb 22 : Former Bolivian President slammed the rejection of his senatorial candidacy by his country's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and called it an "attack on democracy". "We complied with all the requirements. Afterwards, two former members of the electoral agency informed me that, by instruction of the US embassy, they did not approve the legality (of the candidacy)," Xinhua news agency quoted Morales as saying at a press conference here on Friday. "They forced me not to be a candidate in these elections. I have accepted it; I am not a candidate. I accept it all for Bolivia," he said. Morales said that the rejection of his candidacy for the Cochabamba department's senatorial seat "is an attack on democracy. They don't want Evo to return to Bolivia. It's an instruction of the US". Bolivia's electoral tribunal said on Thursday that Morales did not fulfil the residency requirements necessary to be considered for senator candidacy for the Cochabamba department in the general elections slated for May 3. The Bolivian constitution requires that candidates for the Plurinational Legislative Assembly have residency in their jurisdictions for at least two years prior to elections. Morales has been residing outside of Bolivia since last November, first going to Mexico, then Cuba, and finally to Argentina, where he claimed political asylum on December 12, 2019. An Australian Bureau of Statistics researcher explains that China's demographics from the Great Leap Forward and the more than doubling in the birth rate is a major contributing factor. And, in a country where the retirement age for women is either 50 or 55 depending on a person's type of work, there is a huge group of people who have ridden the wave of China's economic transformation to the point they can travel overseas. And in many cases they've headed to Australia. James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the the University of Technology, Sydney, thinks it is a case of this being the "first generation of Chinese retirees that has access to a decent savings pool". But a compounding factor is the different way travellers now like to spend their time, and a concerted effort from industry and government to make Australia a primary destination for Chinese tourists who in 2019 spent a combined $12 billion when they visited. An evolving industry The stereotype of a bus filled with Chinese tourists sight-seeing at hot-spot locations is one most Australians are familiar with. But it's a vastly outdated notion of what many people from China do with their time when they visit, Australian Tourism Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway says. Westaway estimates that 10 years ago about 80 per cent of Chinese tourists visited in sight-seeing groups but this has now reduced to about a quarter of the market. A major driver for this shift has been the growth in international students, who are statistically considered visitors, but he says there is also a "maturing of the market" due to changes in China that have resulted in more individuals travelling. "In the early days, due to the way visas were done, it was the majority [in tour groups]," Westaway notes as another reason for the shift. However, a concerted effort between government, private enterprise and groups such as Tourism Australia to promote the country offshore has resulted in a "miracle" decade of growth, he says. Loading Chinese tourists are also crucial to the local tourism industry because they typically spend up to three times more per person than their counterparts from other countries, and when they go home they continue to buy products they tried during their trip, Australia China Business Council national chief executive Helen Sawczak says. "[The number of tourists] did drop last year but it's still a huge market for us," she says, adding that only 10 per cent of the 1.4 billion-strong Chinese population has a passport and this figure is growing. "I'm not surprised there are more solo women coming here. We have moved away from busloads of Chinese tour groups to the independent free traveller," Sawczak says. Another "pull" factor for visitors is the growth in Chinese nationals moving to Australia, to study, work or live permanently. "We have more international students, more mums visiting kids and family reunions, visiting people who work here," she says. "The internet and the digital economy has also made it much easier for people to travel." However, over 2019 about 59 per cent of Chinese women aged 50 to 59 visiting Australia said they were having a holiday (compared to 52 per cent in 2009) and 36 per cent said they were visiting friends and family (40 per cent in 2009). A crossroads There's no doubt that the growth in Chinese tourists has been unprecedented and the major driver behind the rise of the tourism industry, which is now worth 3 per cent of Australia's GDP. Yet the future of this booming industry is now at a crossroads. With a travel ban in place to help limit the spread of coronavirus, some tourism operators are concerned about how damaging this crisis will be to the industry and the broader economy. This includes Westaway who has called on the government to pour millions of dollars into the sector, which was also hit by the bushfires over the summer. Coronavirus has hit Australian tourism but there are other forces affecting Chinese visitors to Australia. Credit:AP While these immediate concerns are the focus of most tourism operators, there's another overarching problem. Chinese tourism started to slow down in 2019 after many years of booming. A Tourism Australia spokesman says the slowing Chinese economy has hit outbound travel to most favoured destinations, including tourism rivals the United States, Britain and New Zealand. "China remains our largest and most valuable tourism market, but is also maturing," he says. Some of the reason for the slowdown could simply be that it's reaching a natural peak. "A key factor to consider is the unwinding of the huge aviation capacity increases that happened around 2015. That drove huge double digit growth, which is just not sustainable off such a large base." NEW HAVEN Eight months since he was put on paid administrative leave by the former administration during a federal probe, the city of New Haven Friday dismissed Youth Services Director Jason Bartlett. Mayor Toni Harp put Bartlett on leave in late June 2019 after the city received federal subpoenas requesting information on grants that were overseen by the Youth Services Department, as well as the stalled construction of the Escape Teen Center. In addition to heading up the Youth Services Department, Bartlett was Harps liaison to the Board of Education and her main political adviser, heading up her campaign when she first won election to the mayors seat in 2013. Mayor Justin Elicker, who had called on Harp to fire Bartlett as he ran for mayor, had no comment on the dismissal of the former youth director Friday, calling it a personnel issue. Elicker did not immediately know how much the city had paid Bartlett since last June. In fiscal 2018-19, Bartletts salary was listed at $105,000. The mayor, in a recent interview, said he had been briefed on the Escape program in early February. We are exploring options to address the situation, he said. Basically this project is on hold and the city needs to determine what our legal obligations are, what our financial obligations are and what our ethical obligations are. We are working through that. I want to make sure that we are making the right decision, Elicker said, referring to the Escape center. Bartlett said Friday evening that he was the subject of three investigations, one in October and another in December when Harp was still in office, and then in late January by the Elicker administration. He said he had not been able to speak until now, under part of an agreement he made with the last administration in order to continue being paid. I really feel this is a gross violation of my civil rights. It is triple jeopardy, Bartlett said. He said he was never interviewed by federal officials, nor does he know of anyone in the Harp administration who was interviewed regarding the subject of the subpoenas. I am not under investigation, as far as I know, Bartlett said. He said everything is based on rumors. Bartlett said the Harp administration, in a report in October, said they did not find evidence of anything criminal, nor any political corruption or giving jobs to friends. He said there were other items in the report, but did not elaborate. I didnt get any due process, he charged. He said Harp asked him to come back to work some two weeks after the Nov. 5 election, but soon that was reversed. Bartlett said in the third investigation, which was ordered by Elicker, the claim against him was over some kind of favoritism. Elicker said he had no comment on Bartletts statements. Bartlett said he asked mayoral Chief of Staff Sean Matteson for city documents that he said would tell his story and clear him of any allegations. He said what he got was a pro forma letter saying the office had received his Freedom of Information request, but he has yet to get the paperwork. Bartlett said he needed them to write a response to the charges that were addressed in the three investigations. He called the discussion around him a false narrative. Bartlett said he has a contract through 2022 and expected to have a negotiated settlement with the city. Instead, a termination letter was delivered to his house Thursday evening. Harp first removed Bartlett as her campaign chairman in early June in light of the subpoenas as she headed into a tough reelection campaign. Two weeks later, pressured by the Board of Alders and others, she put him on leave as the investigation continued. There has been no update on the status of that probe. Then-Corporation Counsel John Rose was sent a request for a large trove of documents attached to grants and the stalled teen center several weeks before the subpoenas became public. One specific item that federal investigators were interested in was the Byrne grant that was aimed at cutting violence in the Newhallville neighborhood. During his stint as the youth director, Bartlett put several of Harps programs in place, including YouthStat, that took teens at risk of entering the criminal justice system and provided alternatives for them. Another initiative was a vo-tech program that offered job training for youths not headed to college. Bartlett continued to remain her top political adviser throughout her six years in office and her campaign suffered last year after he was removed, when she faced Elicker, her strongest adversary. She lost badly to Elicker in the Democratic primary and later in the general election in November. The charges of alleged corruption in her administration was sounded throughout the campaign and contributed to her losing her run for a 4th term in office. A report undertaken by City Engineer Giovanni Zinn in 2017 said $300,000 had already been put into the center, which still needed more money, which prompted the alders to sequester funds earmarked for the center. It continued to be of no use to the city, as well as to the Bethel African American Episcopal Church that owned the former Community Outreach Center on Orchard Street where the center and a shelter for homeless youth was scheduled to go. The monthly payments to the church however, worked out in its contract with the city, as well as separate payments for a senior center, helped Bethel pay down a large portion of its mortgage on the Community Outreach Center. The plan was to renovate the 3,000-square-foot grand ballroom to be used for community events and after-school programs. A second 2,000-square-foot space would be a drop-in center where youths could come on a daily basis. The third component was a 15-bed homeless shelter for young people. The lease signed in October 2015, calls for a monthly rent of $4,000, which increased annually in three, five-year leases. At the end of the 15 years, the improved property reverts to use by the church. The separate payment for the senior center, which was in place before the proposed teen center was $47,352 a year. Bartlett said he has not had anything to do with the Escape youth center for three and a half years. Three months ago, Bartlett filed a complaint charging discrimination against him because he is a gay, black man. Among the issues Bartlett raised in his complaint to the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, filed Nov. 19, is that Elicker stated during his Democratic primary campaign against then-Mayor Toni Harp that she should fire Bartlett. Bartlett on Thursday evening said he has not had a chance until today to defend himself or the Harp administration and speak of my love for my job at the Youth Department. I know I served this community well. I served the Youth Department in ways that were transformative. I know I made a difference. Bartlett, in his CHRO complaint, also quoted former Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks as saying in a meeting, l grew up loved. I am not like Jason Bartlett, a biracial; adopted; gay male. Birks, whose contract was bought out by the Board of Education, also left Bartlett out of meetings related to the city schools, even though he was the citys liaison to the Board of Education, according to the complaint. Bartlett accused Martha Okafor, former administrator of community services and his supervisor, of giving him a poor evaluation and calling him unethical. He was then transferred to work for then-Chief Administrative Officer Michael Carter, but that did not work out. Later he reported directly to Harp, which Bartlett, in his complaint, said caused animosity in City Hall. While he was put on paid leave pending an investigation, Bartlett claimed in November that no investigation has been conducted and that he and his departments staff have suffered as the result of his absence. To date, I have not been presented with any investigative report, charges or other documents relative to my return to work, he says in his complaint. No other individuals working for the City of New Haven, have been faced with this indecisive, humiliating, and unjust lack of respect. This discriminatory hurtful treatment and gross violation of my civil rights has caused me extreme emotional distress. It has affected how I am viewed within the city, and it has given pause for others to speculate as to exactly what I have done to receive this type of treatment. Bartlett claims that in the months in which he has been in limbo from his job, he has suffered the real effects of segregation in all aspects of my work life and public life. I am demanding that I be immediately returned to work, and that the entire administration cease and desist in this racist, homophobic scenario where I am the ultimate scapegoat, Bartlett wrote. My civil rights have been continually violated, and I am looking for immediate reinstatement into my job. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 SIPHOFANENI The opening of RH Fashion has changed my life in a big way. This statement was made by Bonakele Shongwe when talking about the new textile firm, which opened its door in Siphofaneni about a month ago. Siphofaneni is a small town situated 40 kilometres south of Manzini city. Shongwe is one of many people who have been recently employed by RH Fashion. Before joining the new firm, Shongwe said she was unemployed after quitting her old job. I was working in Matsapha in the same textile industry. When I heard stories that a new firm would be established in my hometown, I decided to resign. I stayed at home for a few weeks before I went to look for employment. And fortunately I got the job, she said. The mother of two explained that she was now able to feed her family better. Elaborating, Shongwe said when she was working in Matsapha a huge portion of her salary went to rent. The rent was E650 plus E150 for water. I also had to purchase grocery for myself in Matsapha and for my family here (Siphofaneni). Now, Im using the E650 to top up on family groceries. The rest Im saving for my two children, she said with a smile. Adding, she said she now had more time to spend with her children and family. The 40-year-old Shongwe stressed that it was important to spend quality time with loved ones. Besides, she said she was now able to monitor her childrens schoolwork on a daily basis. Meanwhile, Sipho Gamedze described the establishment of RH Fashion as a Godsend. In substantiating his statement, Gamedze said he had been unemployed for almost two years. After completing high school, Gamedze said he scouted for employment in different industries. These included the public transport, security, retail and the textile industries. I worked in a grocery shop for a few months before quitting because the pay was not good. I was getting about E800 per month. I believe that was too little to feed eight people, he said. Gamedze mentioned that he had to take care of his elderly parents, siblings and child with the salary. After buying food and a few things for the family, Gamedze said he would have to approach a shylock for rent and transport. Come the following month, I had to settle the debt first before buying food for the family. After that I had to borrow again. I believe I was better without a job, he said. While at home, he stated that he would get piece jobs such as clearing yards, cutting fire-wood and also loading and off-loading river sand from trucks. When I heard that a new factory was coming to Siphofaneni, I said to myself I want to be part of the first batch to be employed. I believe that my life will change for the better, he said. Sharing the same sentiments with Shongwe, the 23-year-old Gamedze said with RH Fashion being in close proximity to his homestead, there would be no need to rent. New Delhi, Feb 22 : The Tihar Jail authorities have written to the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case regarding their final meeting with their families. This comes 10 days ahead of March 3 -- the date set for the execution of the four death row convicts in the 2012 gang rape and murder case. "Given in writing to the four accused about their final meeting with family. Informed Mukesh and Pawan that they have already availed the final meeting. Asked Akshay and Pawan to indicate their date of final meeting. Apart from this the regular meetings of twice a week is continuing for all of them," a senior jail official said. A Delhi court on February 17, ordered that the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case will be hanged "by the neck until they are dead" on March 3 at 6 a.m. after observing that deferring the execution any further would be sacrilegious to the victim's rights. "Article 21 merely guarantees an opportunity to the condemned convicts to exercise their legal rights. However, whether to utilise this opportunity is a matter of choice. The executions were deferred twice... deferring them any further would be sacrilegious to the rights of the victim for expeditious justice," the court observed. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana was hearing a petition seeking the issuance of a fresh date for the execution of the death warrants in the case. On January 31, a trial court had stayed "till further order" the execution of the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh, 32, Pawan Gupta, 25, Vinay Kumar Sharma, 26, and Akshay Kumar, 31. Of the four convicts, Pawan has not yet availed the remedy of either curative petition or mercy plea. ORLANDO, Fla. The state attorneys office wont file criminal charges after a Central Florida couple accused a tourist of pointing a gun at them in a road rage incident last year related to a dispute over a handicapped parking space at Disneys Animal Kingdom, newly released records showed. Ultimately, the state attorneys office decided last month not to pursue an aggravated assault with a firearm charge because it said the case could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The incident happened Feb. 10, 2019, when a Lake Mary couple in their early 60s waited for a car to back out so they could take the spot near the front of the theme park. Thats when a gray SUV appeared and almost crashed into their vehicle to steal the spot, they told authorities. The Lake Mary couple said the driver who is a 67-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina, pointed a gun at them. You can imagine, its just a little upsetting. A guy pulled a firearm, the Lake Mary man told the 911 dispatcher, according to the call released by the state attorneys office. At Disney. The North Carolina man, whom the Sentinel is not naming because he wasnt charged, denied he pointed a gun. His wife argued it was just a wallet in his hand. But with a search warrant, Orange County sheriffs office found a small black handgun held in a holster in the drivers SUV door, the state attorneys records showed. The law-enforcement officer said it may have been hard for the Lake Mary couple to see the gun from their position in their car, records said. The North Carolina husband and wife both had concealed weapon permits. Disney did not immediately respond to a question Friday whether the North Carolina man had been banned from Disney property since the parks dont allow weapons on the premises. Gabrielle Russon of the Orlando Sentinel wrote this story. 2020 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. So from the first day I got in this campaign, I said to anybody who runs for president, Lets do this without super PACs. Lets all agree. Before theyve gotten into it, before people have invested money in this, lets all just agree we will all say no super PACs, she said on CNN. Nobody took me up on it. . . . Not a single other candidate would agree with me. So I havent changed my position. Maltas Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has stated that cryptocurrency exchange Binance is not authorised to operate in Malta. According to an official statement, the MFSA said Binance was not subject to regulatory oversight. It stated: The Authority is however assessing if Binance has any activities in Malta which may not fall within the realm of regulatory oversight. Admission of virtual financial assets to trading and/or for offering virtual financial assets to the public in and from Malta requires an MFSA licence in terms of the Virtual Financial Assets Act (CAP 590) of 2018. A report from February 2019 claimed that Binance was strategically headquartered in Malta after being banned from operating in China. The move came after the Maltese government passed laws providing a regulatory framework for businesses operating within the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries. Three bills were established including rules for Initial Coin Offerings, exchange businesses and general protocols for businesses working within the industry. However, recent developments bring into question how far reaching the set of regulatory frameworks actually are. Binance denies being based in Malta Binance CEO Changpeng CZ Zhao snapped back at the MFSAs statement by claiming that Binance.com is not headquartered or operated in Malta. There is a mix of truth, FUD & misconception. https://t.co/9rMMAmc1G9 is not headquartered or operated in Malta. This is old news & has always been the case, hence there is quite a bit of FUD turning this into a breaking story. The communitys comments show that understanding. https://t.co/eXCq8rO1Ue CZ Binance (@cz_binance) February 21, 2020 He added: There are misconceptions some people have on how the world must work a certain way, you must have offices, HQ, etc. But there is a new world with blockchain now. Again, some of our community understands this, and some dont. Hence, lots of confusion. Story continues Binance has a number of regulated entities around the world, either operated by our partners or by Binance.com directly. We work closely with regulators and comply with the rules in the places where we operate. Binance.com has always operated in a decentralised manner as we reach out to our users across more than 180 nations worldwide. As well as pushing the envelope in experimenting how to become a true DAO (decentralised autonomous organisation). For more news, guides and cryptocurrency analysis, click here. The post Binance not authorised to operate in Malta appeared first on Coin Rivet. A careful reading of the news provides that Mike Bloomberg, who had two Russian grandfathers, is Putin's asset. Consider: Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia Is Meddling to Re-elect Trump - New York Times, February 20 2020 Rather than impersonating Americans as they did in 2016, Russian operatives are working to get Americans to repeat disinformation, the officials said. That strategy gets around social media companies rules that prohibit inauthentic speech. It is Bloomberg, working as a Russian operative, who pays the trolls that repeat disinformation. Twitter suspends 70 pro-Bloomberg 'spam' accounts - The Hill, February 21, 2020 The temporary employees recruited by Bloombergs camp are given the title deputy field organizer and make $2,500 a month to promote his White House bid among their followers. The employees can choose to use campaign-approved language in their posts. Twitter said the practice violated its Platform Manipulation and Spam Policy, which was established in 2019 to respond to Russias expansive troll network that was tapped in 2016 to meddle in the U.S. elections. And this: Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign - Washington Post, February 21 2020 In that closed hearing for the House Intelligence Committee, lawmakers were also told that Sanders had been informed about Russias interference. The prospect of two rival campaigns both receiving help from Moscow appears to reflect what intelligence officials have previously described as Russias broader interest in sowing division in the United States and uncertainty about the validity of American elections. Here are Bloomberg's behind the scene machinations which are sowing division and uncertainty about the validity of American elections. This is exactly what Russia wants. Bloomberg quietly plotting brokered convention strategy - Politico, February 20, 2020 Mike Bloomberg is privately lobbying Democratic Party officials and donors allied with his moderate opponents to flip their allegiance to him and block Bernie Sanders in the event of a brokered national convention. ... Its a presumptuous play for a candidate who hasnt yet won a delegate or even appeared on a ballot. And it could also bring havoc to the convention, raising the prospect of party insiders delivering the nomination to a billionaire over a progressive populist. Lock him up! ;-) (Natural News) The Post Millenial reported on a case of a female inmate suing the Logan Correctional Centre in Illinois after claiming that the prison tried to cover up a sexual assault that a transgender inmate committed against her. (Article by Jose Nino republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) The Public Broadcasting Service station WTTW covered the proceedings. The victim was referred to as Jane Doe and was the alleged victim of a sexual assault in June 2019. Doe asserted that a correctional officer coerced her into withdrawing her claim. She ended up being punished for filing a false report in violation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Does alleged assailant is named as Janiah Monroe, a biological male that identifies as a female. According to WTTW, Monroe and another transgender inmate recently filed lawsuits against the Illinois Department of Corrections, demanding to be transferred to female prisons. Monroe, who was previously known as Andre Patterson, received a 12-year prison sentence for the attempted murder of a government employee. He then received an additional 20 years for murdering a cellmate after being incarcerated. In her lawsuit, Jane Doe claims that Monroe began expressing an interest in her after the biological male was transferred to Logan Corrections Centre. On June 18th, 2019, Monroe raped Doe. The smaller female stated that she was easily overpowered. Doe claims senior correctional officer Todd Sexton interviewed her while in the prisons Health Unit. She sustains that Sexton did not believe she had been assaulted and put pressure on her to withdraw her claim. Sexton believed that they engaged in an act of consensual sex. Doe received punishment for committing the major infraction of filing a false rape report and was punished according to Prison Rape Elimination Act. Alan Mills, who is the head of the Uptown Peoples Law Center, the firm which sued the Illinois Department of Corrections while requesting a prison transfer for Monroe, believes Monroe may have been targeted due to transphobia. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com The frequency of flights from the Hindan airport here to the Hubli city of Karnataka has been increased from three to five days a week, an official said on Saturday. A meeting has been called with firms providing air service on March 5 with regard to initiating flights to Allahabad and Lucknow,District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey told PTI. Connectivity by road from various points of Ghaziabad to the terminal would be provided from the second week of March, he said. Besides, the BSNL has also been instructed to provide mobile network at the terminal so that employees and passengers do not face connectivity problems,Pandey said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A foreign rapist fighting to stay in Britain is facing new accusations that he carried out sex attacks on a teenage girl. Fabian Henry was ordered out of the country after serving a prison term for raping one teenager and abducting another. But earlier this month, just as he was about to be put on a flight back to his native Jamaica, lawyers challenged his deportation, meaning the 37-year-old remains in Britain and could soon be free. He is one of dozens of Jamaican criminals whose deportations were halted by the last-minute legal challenge. Fabian Henry (pictured) was ordered out of the country after serving a prison term for raping one teenager and abducting another. But earlier this month, just as he was about to be put on a flight back to his native Jamaica, lawyers challenged his deportation, meaning the 37-year-old remains in Britain and could soon be free But now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that police are investigating fresh allegations against Henry. A 25-year-old woman has given a statement to officers alleging that he repeatedly raped her when she was a teenager. Last night she warned that Henry remained a danger to young women, saying: 'He is sick what he did to me was totally humiliating. 'I was young and he forced himself on me over and over again. I just feel damaged now. I've felt suicidal and self-harmed since what he did to me. He deserves to be in jail. He's a threat to young women and I believe he would do it again.' Henry was described as 'devious and callous' by a judge at Bristol Crown Court in 2013 where he was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old as well as taking naked pictures of her and publishing them online. He was also convicted of abducting and sexually attacking a girl aged 15. After his release last year, Henry was ordered to be deported. But a legal challenge meant that he and dozens of other Jamaican offenders remain in the country. Henry is still being held at a detention centre as the wrangle continues. Now police are looking at the new claims. The 25-year-old woman has told Scotland Yard detectives that Henry allegedly groomed her as a 16-year-old, then repeatedly raped her over a period of months. The alleged victim, from North-West London, reported the rape accusation to police in December before Henry's deportation battle. And earlier this month, the woman gave a second statement. She told The Mail on Sunday she met Henry while she was still at school in 2011 and they began a relationship, but claimed he repeatedly forced her to have sex against her will. A 25-year-old woman has given a statement to officers alleging that he repeatedly raped her when she was a teenager. Last night she warned that Henry remained a danger to young women, saying: 'He is sick what he did to me was totally humiliating' She said: 'I met him when I was 16, and then I saw him a second time and he asked if I would be his woman. He would invite me to his house where he would have sex with me. I just felt pressured to do it. He forced himself on me. He didn't stop, even when I shouted at him to get off me. 'I felt intimidated and humiliated. He would always call my phone asking could I come and see him, could I call him. It was so demanding. He wouldn't leave me alone and was always demanding to know where I was and what I was doing.' The woman explained that she had not contacted police immediately after the alleged attacks because she felt scared. Earlier this month, judges ruled that dozens of 'serious criminals' could not be deported to Jamaica following last-minute legal challenges by Left-wing activists. Twenty-five of them were given a reprieve because of mobile-phone signal problems at the detention centres where they were being held. The Court of Appeal ruled that meant they did not have sufficient access to legal support. Scotland Yard said: 'Detectives from the sexual offences team at Wembley are investigating a non-recent allegation of rape.' Police on Saturday found a baby boy dead in a Charlotte cemetery after his mother was arrested on unrelated charges the night before. She had refused to tell police where her son was. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said they found 6-month-old Chi-Liam Cody Brown-Erickson dead in Sharon Memorial Park on Monroe Road in southeast Charlotte about 4 a.m. Matthews Police on Saturday reported that CMPD officers arrested the babys mother, 30-year-old Tamara Jernel Brown, just before 10 p.m. Friday in the Galleria Boulevard area, off Sardis Road North and Monroe Road. Brown was arrested on charges of common law robbery and assault on a government official. The baby was not with Brown at the time of her arrest. Earlier Friday night, Matthews Police issued a news release asking for help in finding the baby and his mother. At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Matthews police sent an Amber Alert for Chi-Liam, saying hed last been seen with his mother at their home in the 1800 block Gander Cove Lane in Matthews. Matthews Police on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, issued an emergency alert for a missing Charlotte area baby boy after his mom was arrested on robbery and assault charges. Police sent an Amber Alert at 8:30 a.m. for 6-month-old Chi-Liam Brown-Erickson. Check back for more on this developing story. Beth Smith was the logical choice to fill the major void left by Chris Clouets impending departure, according to Mayor Mark Lauretti. Lauretti was responding to critics that charge that Smiths demeanor and penchant for controversy make her a poor choice for the interim superintendents post. I believe she is up to the challenge, said Lauretti. When your boss ups and walks out midstream, there is a big void to fill. Beth understands the system. She has incredible experience, and she worked the toughest job in the system at Shelton High School. Smith, who has been the director of special education and pupil services, began her career as a special education teacher at Shelton High, ultimately becoming department head. After leaving the district, she returned as Shelton High School principal, where she served for 10 years before being placed on administrative leave last year after investigation into her handling of an alleged sexual assault at the school. After a police and internal investigation, she was cleared of charges that included interfering with police. Former Board of Education member David Gioiello said, given her history of actions, he was dismayed with the appointment. Over the time I was on the board, she took actions that forced the Board of Education to first support her and then when all the information was available override her decision, said Gioiello. The issue that occurred in March was just more of the same as she exceeded her authority. I support the four Democrats on the board that voted no. The mayor supports her so the Republicans on the BOE must do his bidding. Board of Education Chair Kathy Yolish said she was impressed with Smiths work at the high school. She did an outstanding job. Did she make some mistakes? Yes. Did we have our disagreements? Yes. But when you look at her overall experience and knowledge of the system, she has all the skills we need to help us through this time, said Yolish, who was still teaching in the Shelton schools when she first met Smith. Lauretti said Smith brought structure and discipline to Shelton High upon her arrival as principal, and that will generate resentment from people. No one knows better than I some of her miscues, but we have gotten past all that, said Lauretti, referring to the police investigation that engulfed Smith and the high school last year. That was a failure in leadership from her superiors. Social media exploded Thursday once word of Smiths promotion hit the city. Most writing on social media stated that the Board of Education made a poor decision. Shelton High senior and former Democratic Board of Aldermen candidate Matt McGee has started an online petition calling for the community to reject Smiths appointment. Board of Education member James Orazietti said the boards decision to oblige Clouets request to waive his 90-day contractual separation notification during budget season placed the board in a time-sensitive predicament. Smith has the state certification and the experience to serve as our interim superintendent, said Orazietti. Her expertise in special education, supervision, building operations as well as organizational and fiscal budget preparation will be invaluable during a very demanding transition. Orazietti said the Board of Education and administrators will work diligently with Dr. Smith to ensure our budget and her assignment go as smoothly as possible, hopefully without further disruptive distraction. I have total confidence Dr. Smith will excel in this assignment benefiting our student population. Mark Holden, board chair during Smiths time at Shelton High through last years investigation, said she is smart and has the necessary certifications for the post. READ MORE: Who is Beth Smith? Sheltons interim superintendent has controversial past Hopefully in this interim position, she'll be an effective and collaborative leader, said Holden. After the Board of Education decision Wednesday, Clouet said, I wish Dr. Smith and the board all the best. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Saturday asked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to contest direct elections to test the actual public support for the "Manuvadi" agenda of the Sangh. Addressing a meeting of Bhim Army workers at the Reshimbaug Ground here, located close to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) headquarters, Azad demanded ban on the Sangh to end "Manuvad". "I want to give a suggestion to the RSS chief...Take out the veil of lies and come to the field. It is democracy.. contest direct elections with your agenda, and people will tell you if 'Manusmriti' or Constitution will run the country," Azad said. He said the new-citizenship law (CAA), the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register (NPR) are the "agendas" of the RSS. In the Dalit narrative, "Manuvad" is based on "discriminatory" 'Manusmriti'--an ancient legal text of Hinduism. On Friday, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court allowed the Bhim Army to hold a meeting of its workers at Reshimbaug ground with certain conditions, after the local police denied the permission fearing law and order issue. Referring to the Nagpur Police's contention, Azad said two ideologies will always clash. "While we believe in Constitution, they believe in 'Manusmriti'. This country runs only on Constitution and not on any other ideology. This 'Manuvad' will end in the country only if a ban is imposed on the RSS," said Azad. Since the RSS runs the BJP, Prime Minister visits the Sangh chief with folded hands and briefs him, he said. "They talk about Constitution but pushthe Manusmriti agenda," he alleged. Azad also accused the RSS of trying to end reservation system through backdoor. "Our people are still to get any positions or posts (in government jobs)...One day, we will have our prime minister and governments in other states. We will give you reservation. We will give reservation to other sections of the society. We will become givers and not takers," Azad said. He dared the Sangh chief to hold a discussion on the reservation system. Azad also appealedto the Shiv Sena-headed Maharashtra government to not allow the NPR in the state "in the interest of the people". Azad alleged that governments are not allowing protests even for the right cause of people. "If we take to streets to protest we get punished. However, they do not know that those who are keen to save the nation are not afraid of any punishment, be it lathi, jail or court cases," he said. Azad is currently out on bail in the case of allegedly inciting people during an anti-CAA protest at Jama Masjid in New Delhi on December 20. "In future also if we don't get permission, we will knock the doors of court. We had asked for eight hours freedom (permission for the Bhim Army meeting on Saturday) and the respected court (the Bombay HC) allowed us three hours. We respect court, three hours are enough," he said referring to the HC's order on Friday. Azad said they have called for a Bharat Bandh on February 23 on the CAA-NRC-NPR issue. During his speech, he also referred to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's reported statements. "I will not give statements such as those given by UP CM Yogi Adityanath about bullets. He had said 'joh boli se nahi maanega woh goli se maanega'. Fire bullets at us," he said. "You shoot innocent people, but remember BJP, your government will change some day and when that happens, we will take revenge for every single atrocity. "You are indulged in crime. Constitution says everyone enjoys equal rights. As per Constitution, any crime, be it committed by a common man or a member of the executive or legislative, by a home minister, by a CM or even by a prime minister, it is punishable," he said. Azad further said that when the government of Bahujans (common people) comes to power, criminals will not be spared. "I promise this to my people. People are real owners (of democracy) who have taken to streets. We were talking about jobs, healthcare, corruption, education and security, but they made the entire nation stand on roads just like the noteban. "There only intention is to ban votes of those who are anti-BJP," Azad alleged, referring to protests in various parts of the country against the CAA-NRC-NPR regime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said on Friday he would not defect to the All Progressive Congress (APC), saying the party is not attractive. The ex-governor in a statement issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, told the APC to focus on its internal problems. Fayoses outburst was a reaction to a statement credited to the APC Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Ade Ajayi, that the former governor is not qualified to be a member of the party in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain had reportedly said at a forum in Ado Ekiti a fortnight ago that he would defect to the APC if the PDP chairmanship aspirant in the state loses his election. But Fayose insisted on Friday that he has no plan to dump the PDP whose performance while in power was better compared to the present APC administration. The statement read: The story of Fayoses threat to leave PDP for the APC is one of the lies from the APC factory of lies and it is even more childish that the party in Ekiti State went ahead to react to its own lies. What is there in the APC to attract someone like Fayose, who is known for his stand in support of the masses of Nigeria that are being made to suffer more hardship by the APC government? They can continue to hallucinate about everything Ayodele Fayose, while he continues with his task of rebuilding the PDP in Ekiti State with a view to returning to power in 2022. Niramai Health Analytix Tech-ing mammograms for early diagnosis Geetha Manjunath, founder, computer scientist with a PhD from IISc; spent 25 years leading research teams at Hewlett Packard and Xerox ; company operational from January 2017, incorporated in July 2016 Funds $7 million, in two rounds. Both VCs and angels Lead investor for seed round: Pi ventures Lead investor for Series A: Dream Incubator In the beginning Manjunaths cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she died in 2016. That was the moment I felt I should do something about this disease. The current mammogram tests do not work on younger women and I thought, how could we solve that issue? In the past, thermal imaging diagnosed breast cancer, as an adjunct modality, as these thermal images are very complex and error-prone when analysed visually. We decided to use this modality along with data science to develop a test that would be no touch, no radiation; and more reliable. How it is done In mid-2014, we started to work on this problem. Our solution works with thermal camera of multiple vendors. Currently we import it from Sweden and Korea Thermal imaging measures temperature distribution on the skin using an infra-red camera. Abnormal tissue activity can be detected as it gives out higher temperature than normal tissues. We measure around 4,00,000 temperature points on the chest. What we did was to combine data science with thermal imaging to create a test that detects breast abnormalities early and we call that Thermalytix for Thermal Data Analytics. We analysed this data using ML and computer vision techniques. Using historic information as training data we built the ML model. This training data included patients diagnosed with cancer (malignant); those with an abnormality, but not cancer (benign); and those normal. During training, the ground truth for our models came from standard tests - mammography or sono-mammography and then biopsy, which helped train our machine learning models accurately. In addition to thermal images, they also had to take into account various other patient features such as family cancer history, demographic info, patient complaints, and so on. We even hand-crafted special thermal abnormality features, that are patented now. There are 117 abnormal patterns and we made a probability model of these features so that for a new person it could predict the likelihood of malignancy Since AI is built on past data to predict the future, Manjunath had to tie up with hospitals to exclusively fine tune the models in a clinical setting, where the treatment itself is not based on the output of this machine. Niramai has 1.25 lakh thermal images in its data set. To market, to market... In 2018, trials showed promising results that Thermalytix - thermal imaging enhanced with AI worked better than a typical mammogram for younger women. Our diagnostic tool was a no contact. Non-invasive. Non radiation. Women simply had to sit in front of the machine and in 20 minutes you got to know whether you have a malignancy or not. In fact, our results so far show that the test is 20% more sensitive than a mammogram. A mammogram cannot test young women because their breasts are dense. Our imaging can. And because it does not use radiation, it can be repeated many times without any side effects. To patent, to patent... Like any innovation developed by a company Manjunath got patents in place. Doctors are generally reserved about new technologies. They dont want to take any risk with something new. We had to do a lot of evaluations for doctors. They would want us to show how it worked on a patient with say an abscess or at different stages of cancer, which we did, before they accepted it. RoI The return on investment (RoI) comes from hospitals and diagnostic centres. Today we have tested 27,000 women in multiple locations and have our tests available in 50 centres. Since the machine is portable it has been offered to rural areas - where a woman can get notified if she has a malignancy or an abnormality that needs her to go to a tertiary care centre. The focus now is to make our tests available to everyone. Because we use cloud computing, the test itself can be conducted by less skilled workers and reviewed and certified by experts remotely - that helps in scaling. It is affordable, quick, painless and radiation free. VeCrear Technologies Veena Samartha, 25 years technology experience In 2018, Veena Samartha and Ganesh KJ co-founded VeCrear Technologies with the aim to provide IoT solutions to four industry verticals consumer, telecom, automotive and manufacturing. Veena Samartha (HT PHOTO) Funding Self-investment of Rs 1 crore Key numbers Turnover of $1million 43 full-time employees In the beginning We had a company earlier where we worked on mobile solutions. We worked extensively with enterprises in the FMCG sector. Since we had the experience of software, hardware and wireless development, as sensor technology became more accessible, sharpening our focus onto internet of things (IoT) was the best way to utilise our strengths. There are many use cases and scenarios like location-based services, that help track and monitor mobile assets and personnel; provide various sensors, alerts and real-time preventive actions ensuring home safety; and automating business operations for consumer service providers. Our technology can help enterprises by providing customised solutions and real-time data analytics. How it works What we did initially was to get experts as consultants. With our experience and contacts in the industry we were able to tap such talented & experienced people. In cases where niche skills like hardware fabrication and manufacturing was required, we had tie-ups with companies that have relevant expertise. With technology experts and eco-system partners in place, VeCrear was ready to dive into the market. A case in point is a food chain that VeCrear serviced. We had suggested a human machine interface (HMI) with a connectivity module to the customer to interface the vending machine with a connected device. e built an initial HMI-based proposal for the customer, the customer was not happy with the overall solution cost. We thought why not use a tablet as the user interface? This required further tweaks to ensure charging and data transfer could happen through the same USB port with a tablet enclosed in a heat and moisture proof casing. This solution not only solved the original problem of monitoring, but also provided additional benefits of personalisation, ad streaming, supply and maintenance monitoring, by having a centralised cloud back-end. The tablet considerably reduced the interface cost. To market, to market Competing with large corporates who have money and talent at their disposal meant having a clear strategy. Large companies can easily move people from various departments and skill sets to work on a project. However, being small meant being nimble and quick. We could customise or modify the original offering much faster than the large companies. If a customer wanted a specific solution, we could bring it to life much faster and with higher efficacy. We work with our customers right from understanding their problem statement, designing and through development. Tech change, take change One can respond to the fast changing technologies only if you have good understanding of the depth and breadth of technology yourself. As a tech entrepreneur one should be able to look at the bigger picture and not just at the narrow view of the area in which you operate. Once you get that perspective it is possible to move at the speed of new tech. On the same lines, we are currently focusing to enhancing our IoT platform with AI/ML assets. Vietnams business community forecasts a more negative outlook for 2020 According to the study, the coronavirus has had a huge impact on the overall economic outlook of Vietnams consumers for 2020, dropping 54 index points. Business sentiment is slightly more upbeat with 55 per cent noting 2020 being worse than 2019, and 20 per cent seeing 2020 as better than 2019. From environmental pollution to the negative impact of the coronavirus on business and Vietnam/global economic slowdown the Vietnamese business community has shifted its concerns to business specifics, while consumers are totally engrossed by coronavirus infection and the global/Vietnam downturn. Biggest fear and reservations among Vietnam's businesses and consumers for 2020 According to the study, 84 per cent noted that their business was negatively impacted by the coronavirus. They also predicted a decline of 13.5 per cent in revenue in 2020. Overall, 2020 was already a year of caution, conservativism, and a decline in growth across multiple sectors, equalling reduced spending. The coronavirus outbreak has amplified these Year of the Rat conservative traits and will negatively impact Vietnam at least to the end of the first quarter and potentially the second quarter of 2020. Schools being suspended till the end of March will have a substantial impact on all Vietnamese consumers as they need to support nannies, babysitters, and spend more time around the home, reducing productivity and further denting their pockets, beyond the fears of infection. However, Vietnams economy is structurally sound, its government one of the strongest in Asia, and Vietnams hottest economic commodity, so though pain will be felt in the first few months of 2020, the country should rebound nicely, though not meet its GDP growth expectations. Hindu extremists attack 70 Christians traveling home from conference on praying for peace in India Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Hindu extremists brutally attacked a group of about 70 Christians, including children, as they traveled home from a national congress focused on praying for peace in India amid escalating persecution. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, three men on motorcycles attacked Christians traveling home from the Third National Congress of the Synod of Pentecostal Churches in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, on Feb 5. The men verbally threatened the passengers before smashing the windshields of the vehicles, causing injury to the driver and passengers, which included women, children and the elderly. Pastor Paul Raj, one of the passengers, immediately called the police, who arrived at the scene a short time later. A First Information Report, which is necessary to start an investigation, has been registered against the perpetrators and investigations have been initiated. Local sources report that the attack is believed to have been perpetrated by religious extremists who were aware of the national congress and planned the ambush on the Christians. CSWs Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas called the attack a worrying example of the religious intolerance and violence that is being allowed to fester and take root in the largest democracy in the world. Religious minorities in India should feel safe and free to practice and profess their religion or belief without any fear of reproach, and we call on the authorities to put an end to all forms of institutional propaganda that incite hate toward religious minorities, Thomas said. The police must follow up with a thorough investigation of this incident and not allow themselves to be influenced by hardline religious nationalists as they seek to hold those responsible to account. CSW notes that the National Congress of the Synod of Pentecostal Churches was attended by about 100,000 people. The event focused on calling on Christians to pray for peace in India at a time when Christians are experiencing a rising number of hate campaigns that involve church closures, prayer meeting disruptions, police complicity and targeted attacks with impunity by non-state actors. During the event, the leadership of the Synod called on the government of India to protect religious minorities in the country and to respect the fundamental freedoms of the Indian Constitution. Additionally, it urged the government to revoke the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and the National Register of Citizens which are criticized widely in India for their unconstitutional nature. India is ranked No. 10 on Open Doors USA's 2020 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was ranked No. 31 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. Amid escalating persecution, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America has written an open letter calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to raise the issue of violence against Christians in India when he meets with Modi next week. In the past, Trump has praised Modi, calling Indias PM one of Americas greatest, most devoted and most loyal friends. FIACONA's letter cites disconcerting tactics employed by Modis administration, including the marginalization of Christians and other religious minorities. Christians across India are already living in real fear, the letter stresses. Pastors, Social Workers, and ordinary Christians are arrested, tortured, or killed on false charges. Church properties are being burned or destroyed by members of Mr. Modis party. Mr. Modi is mostly silent when his followers go on a rampage interrupting Christian worship services, creating an environment of insecurity and fear. FIACONA said that in 2019, it logged 328 cases of violence against Christians in India, including 230 mob attacks and two murders. Often, many attacks go unreported due to fear of reprisal, the letter notes, as authorities are often under pressure from Modis government to ignore complaints from Christians. John Prabhudoss, FIACONA chairman, told The Christian Post the organization is concerned that the president's failure to address the issue could end up legitimizing the violence perpetrated by Modi's party against Christians. For a president who claims to be the champion of Christians both at home and abroad, he seems to be clueless about the violence against Christians in India, he said. Our evangelical leaders here in the U.S. who are affected by the Indian situation one way or the other (many of them have been either deported or refused visas to India) seem to be at a loss. They see Trump as the champion of their causes at home but unable to convince him about India. Prabhudoss said the president "does not seem to be well informed about the threat from radical political Hindu ideology." "Those who have his ears also seem to be ignorant about it. But those who understand it are afraid of telling him anything he may disagree with," he said. "So here we are. What will it take to tell the president that his public exaltation of a radical extremist Indian leader is hurting the lives of over 100 million Christians?" A plane carrying dozens of British citizens who were evacuated from the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan landed in the United Kingdom on Saturday. Footage showed a Vamos Air airliner touching ground at Boscombe Down's military airport in Wiltshire. The evacuees arrive in Britain after spending more than two weeks in quarantine onboard the cruise ship, which was docked in Yokohama. Upon arrival, the passengers were expected to be transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital where they will spend two weeks in quarantine. New research has revealed that the level of bullying in Ireland is above the EU average, as the Government today launches its 'Watch Your Space' anti-cyber-bullying campaign. A quarter of Irish nine- to 16-year-olds experienced some form of harassment, according to a new cyber-bullying report compiled by Dr Brian O'Neill and Thuy Dinh from EU Kids Online and DIT. Yet 68pc of parents were unaware their child had been bullied online. Simon Grehan, who organises Safer Internet Day, which is tomorrow, said the number of parents unaware their child had been subjected to some form of bullying online was higher than would be expected with "conventional bullying". Mr Grehan, project coordinator with Webwise, said more open communication was essential as many children do not admit they are being bullied because they are afraid it might escalate the problem or they might lose their phone or internet access. Insidious An EU-wide survey of 1,000 children and a parent of each in 25 countries found most young people around 71pc will turn to a friend or one of their parents. More than half of the children bullied online were very upset, and 44pc reported a lasting effect. Nearly a quarter of 15- to 16-year-olds also admitted bullying others. Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn will today launch 'Watch Your Space', which is the first step in the Government's new 500,000 action plan that will include an online video targeting cyber-bullying, a website www.watchyourspace.ie and events in schools. Mr Quinn said social media were fantastic tools that had "revolutionised" the process of teaching and learning, but they had an "insidious element" when used with the wrong intentions. He urged young people to show respect to others online. Gardai are also launching a new secondary schools programme which aims to change the attitude of bystanders and get them to intervene in online bullying. Several deaths of young people in recent months sparked an Irish Independent campaign to combat cyber-bullying. Donegal sisters Erin (13) and Shannon (15) Gallagher and Leitrim student Ciara Pugsley (15), pictured below, took their lives last year, amid a worrying level of deaths with links to cyber-bullying. The world's biggest social media site, Facebook, has already vowed to show "zero-tolerance" to anyone who posts abusive content. Epidemic Prof Mona O'Moore, of the Anti-Bullying Centre at Trinity College Dublin, said greater political pressure should be directed at social media providers to put in place easier access so abusive content can be removed. Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly plans to propose new measures at the European Parliament to tighten internet regulations and introduce stricter school intervention policies to tackle cyber-bullying. He said cyber-bullying has become an "epidemic problem", and awareness work was needed from "the classroom to the GAA pitch to the family home". SCHENECTADY More than four decades ago, Mary Haanen and Rich Templeton were teenagers and newly arrived at Union College. They met at the Rathskeller dining hall and the rest, as they say, is history. On Friday, the long-married couple returned to Union College for a remarkable announcement. In front of an audience of hundreds gathered in the Memorial Fieldhouse for a fundraising event, school President David Harris announced that Mary and Richard Templeton have committed to donating $51 million to the college. You read that right. $51 million. That's the biggest donation in Union's 225-year history. With the Templetons sitting onstage, the audience rose to applaud and celebrate the news. It's likely most in the crowd were unaware of the couple's story one that includes remarkable success and terrible tragedy. Richard Templeton, now 61, went to work at Texas Instruments after graduating from Union in 1980 with a degree in electrical engineering. In 2004, he became the company's CEO. Mary Templeton, who had grown up in Queensbury, went on to a career at General Electric after graduating that same year with a bachelor's degree in computer science. The couple, living Dallas, Texas, had three children, and their lives were better than they could have ever dreamed possible, Richard Templeton has said. But in 2013, while on a family beach vacation, Mary had waded out into the water when she was picked up by a massive wave and slammed into the ocean floor. She was instantly paralyzed. "When you realize you won't walk again, there's a lot of stuff to work through," Mary Templeton said in 2016, as she and Richard jointly gave the commencement speech at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. "Tough things, sad things, confusing things, even funny things." In a speech that CNN described as the "one graduation speech you should watch," Richard talked about the power of his wife's resilience. Mary, in turn, talked about her struggle and determination to overcome, small step by small step. "Small and steady steps can be quite big and spectacular," Mary said. "They move you to a bigger place." Eventually, she said, you have to get on with your life. You have to move forward and figure out what you're going to do next. "No one cares about that darn wave anyway," Mary told the SMU class. "What they care about -- and what I care about -- is what I do now and what I do next." Mary said her goal is to leave the people and places she touches better than how she found them words that speak directly to the donation announced Friday at Union College. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Much of the $51 million will lead to the creation of the Templeton Institute for Engineering and Computer Science. Some of the rest will be used to ensure that more women at Union study in either field. Mary and Rich Templeton are tremendous examples of what we want for all our students at Union College, Harris said. They learned to lead, with wisdom, empathy and courage, through a series of anticipated and unanticipated opportunities and challenges." The $51 million is believed to be the largest donation to a Capital Region school since Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy received a $360 million donation in 2001. That no-strings-attached gift was made by an anonymous donor and sparked a campus construction boom that included the landmark Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center. On Friday, after the applause died down, Richard and Mary Templeton addressed the crowd, but only briefly. "Union is obviously very special to us," Mary said from her wheelchair. "We're just pleased to be able to do our part," said Richard. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren has announced she will be in San Antonio with former Mayor Julian Castro on Thursday. It will be her first local event since launching her campaign. The senior senator from Massachusetts is hosting a town hall with Castro, himself a former presidential hopeful who endorsed Warren shortly after dropping out of the race in January. The town hall will be at 6:30 p.m. at Sunset Station in St. Paul Square, Warren campaign officials said. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Admission is first-come, first-served, and the campaign strongly encourages an RSVP. She also has been endorsed by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, and Friday, Judge Lina Hidalgo, the chief executive of Harris County announced her endorsement. Warren has more than 60 staffers and organizers in offices across Texas but chose San Antonio as her state headquarters. San Antonio is a city thats still beset by a lot of economic challenges, you have very deep-rooted poverty here, Congressman Castro said. Warren is somebody thats going to create opportunities for all Americans, including communities that have often been overlooked by politicians. According to Warrens campaign, City Council members Shirley Gonzalez, Manny Palaez and Robert Trevino also have endorsed her. After stagnating in recent polls, Warrens campaign said she had her best day of fundraising following her strong performance during Wednesdays presidential debate. Her campaign announced it will buy $200,000 in advertising starting Tuesday in San Antonio, Austin, Oklahoma City and Seattle to help get her message out. Her debate swings Wednesday at former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg over his stop-and-frisk policy in the Big Apple, which targeted minority communities, and the sexual harassment allegations against him were considered by many as Warren reasserting herself back into the race. I think everybody that watched her on that debate stage saw somebody whos smart, compassionate, knows the issues and can take on anything that comes her way, said Castro. Warren has Texas ties. She attended the University of Houston, where she got her bachelors degree in 1970 and taught law. She later taught at the University of Texas at Austins school of law, where she began making herself known as a scholar in consumer finances. Shes a champion for working families who has been holding billionaires accountable for years, and Trump is next, said former Housing Secretary Julian Castro in a statement. Im thrilled to welcome Elizabeth to San Antonio. Members of the AMU students' coordination committee has begun a three-day hunger strike, seeking action against police personnel for alleged brutality during an anti-CAA stir on the campus last December and withdrawal of cases against protesters. Announcing that their 10-week-long peaceful agitation has entered a new phase, twelve students started the 72-hour hunger strike on Friday night. The panel said if their demands were not met, a group of students would launch an indefinite hunger strike at the Bab-e-Syed gate of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). They have sent a notice of their proposed strike to the authorities concerned at the university as well as the district authorities. The panel also copies of their notice to the President, prime minister and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The spokesman of the committee, Faizul Hasan, told mediapersons that their main demand was that an FIR be registered against the members of the police force who "indulged in violence and vandalism" at the university on December 15. "We also want the withdrawal of all false cases against those students who were exercising their democratic right of peaceful protest and were being pressured by the authorities to end their agitation," he said. Hasan said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister held a very important constitutional post and if he had any concrete evidence to support his charge of unprovoked violence against the AMU students, he should place that before the the court, instead of vilifying the institution. "On our part, we are placing all the evidence before the court and will also do so if the government orders a judicial probe," he said. The students' coordination panel is also demanding the resignation of top university officials, including the vice-chancellor and the registrar, on the grounds of moral responsibility with regard to the December 15 incident. They demanded that the CCTV footage of all incidents pertaining to the "police brutalities" should be fully secured and protected. Meanwhile, at the Eidgah grounds in the old city, the woman protesters, who have been on an indefinite dharna against the Citizenship Amendment Act since the past three weeks, staged a stir at the Kotwali police station. They alleged that police prevented them from putting up a tent at the protest site on Thursday night during a hailstorm. Senior district officials rushed to the spot and pacified protesters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) But the president chose Maguire. And, like most of these good men and women, he came in with the intent to do his very best, to follow the rules, to follow the law and to follow what was morally right. Within a few weeks of taking the assignment, he found himself embroiled in the Ukraine whistleblower case. Joe told the White House that, if asked, he would testify, and he would tell the truth. He did. In short order, he earned the respect of the entire intelligence community. They knew a good man was at the helm. A man they could count on, a man who would back them, a man whose integrity was more important than his future employment. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Saturday that the war against terrorism will be consolidated to achieve enduring peace both in the country and in the region. General Bajwa's remarks came on the third anniversary of Operation Radd ul Fasaad (RuF - 'rejection of violence'), a counter-terrorism operation launched under his leadership in Pakistan. "Gains of two decades of war on terror shall be consolidated to achieve enduring peace and stability both for Pakistan and the region," Pakistan Army's spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar quoted Bajwa saying in a tweet. The Army spokesman said the operation RuF was launched to consolidate gains of all past operations and "indiscriminately eliminating residual and latent threat of terrorism, ensuring security of Pakistan's borders". "In this journey from terrorism to tourism, security forces and intelligence agencies backed by the entire nation, achieved unparalleled success at a monumental cost paid in men and material," he said. In February 2017, the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for several suicide attacks across Pakistan. With an increase of attacks across the country, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. During Operation RuF, the military carried out more than 49,000 intelligence based operations to foil terror attacks and prevent militant attacks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vatican says archives on the wartime pontificate of Pius XII will prove the Pope was committed to saving Jews during the Holocaust as it prepares to release the documents. The documents spanning the 1939 to 1958 pontificate would be open to researchers from March 2, Holy See officials say, amid accusations the wartime Pope turned a blind eye to those who were persecuted by Nazi Germany. Cardinal Jose Tolentino Calaca de Mendonca, the Vatican's chief librarian, told reporters: 'The church has no reason to fear history.' Pope Pius XII (pictured in 1945) was sometimes derided as 'Hitler's Pope'. The Vatican says Pius worked quietly to save Jews and thereby not worsen the situation for many others at risk, including Catholics in parts of Nazi-occupied Europe Bishop Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, told Vatican News he believes the documents will prove Pius XII's commitment to saving Jews during the Holocaust. 'I don't think you will find a smoking gun,' Father Norbert Hofmann, the top Vatican official in charge of religious relations with Jews, told Reuters in an interview in his office. Some Jews have long accused Pius, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, of doing little to help those facing persecution by Nazi Germany and failing to speak out forcefully against the Holocaust, in which around six million Jews were killed. The Vatican usually waits 70 years after the end of a pontificate to open archives but it has been under pressure to make the Pius XII documentation available sooner, while Holocaust survivors are still alive. Jews have for many years been seeking transparency from the Vatican on its actions during the Holocaust, and the order from Pope Francis to open the archives will allow historians and other scholars to peruse them for the next few years. It is understood all researchers, regardless of faith or nationality, will be able to request access to the files. According to Pagano, it has taken about 14 or 15 years to prepare the documents, which will be available in digitalised form. The Vatican has defended Pius, sometimes derided as 'Hitler's Pope' because of his reluctance to condemn Nazi war crimes, saying he used behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save lives. Artefacts from wartime archives on Pope Pius XII, who reigned from 1939-1958, are displayed at the Vatican ahead of the full opening of the secret archives to scholars on March 2 Artefacts from wartime archives on Pope Pius XII on display at the Vatican. Jews have for many years been seeking transparency from the Vatican on its actions during the Holocaust, and the order from Pope Francis to open the archives will allow historians and other scholars to peruse them for the next few years The Vatican says Pius worked quietly to save Jews and thereby not worsen the situation for many others at risk, including Catholics in parts of Nazi-occupied Europe. When Francis announced the opening of the archives last year, he said the Church was 'not afraid of history', a theme repeated on Thursday at a presentation for reporters by Vatican archivists. Bishop Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Vatican's Apostolic Archives, said documents from the World War Two period contain millions of pages divided into 121 sections divided by topics. The consulting area in the archives offices can accommodate 60 scholars at a time and all the space has been booked for the rest of the year, Pagano said. The scholars include some from the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. 'We will not pass judgement for now. We will leave that to scholars. The material is there. It is diversified,' Pagano said. 'We will leave each person to draw their own conclusions but we have no fear. The good (that Pius did) was so great that it will dwarf the few shadows,' he said. David Kertzer, a Brown University professor who has written several books about the papacy and the Jews, said scholars were indebted to the Vatican for making the archives available but one had to keep an open mind about what might be found in them. 'It's true that one should not be thinking in terms of 'scoops' and serious scholars need to have a larger picture in mind than looking at a single document,' said Kertzer, who will be one of the first scholars to view the archives. Pope Pius XII pictured in 1949 blessing faithful at the Vatican. The entire Vatican archives on the pontificate of Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) are to open on March 2, a decision which had been called for decades by Jewish historians and organisations 'But clearly there's nervousness in the Vatican and among proponents of Pius XII, and the push to make him a saint, about what might come out of these archives,' he told Reuters. 'Pius saw his job as protecting the institutional Church and everything else was secondary.' Pope Francis has said Pius' legacy has been treated with 'some prejudice and exaggeration'. Two weeks ago he recalled in a message to Rome officials that many convents and churches in the Italian capital hid Jews from the Nazis during the German occupation. 'Pius XII was a diplomat and he was a very shy character and a very, very cautious man,' Hofmann, who is German, said in the interview. 'And under the circumstances of the occupation it would have been difficult to shout out loudly.' Asked about the Church's position that Pius did what he could under the wartime circumstances, Pagano said: 'The new documents will further corroborate and reinforce this.' The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth movement of the Socialist Equality Party, is holding an emergency online meeting this Sunday, February 23, at 4pm Pacific Time to discuss an international socialist strategy for the UC strike. Visit https://iysse.com /UCstrike/ for further details. University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) graduate teaching assistants (TAs) continued their wildcat strike Friday, with solidarity actions spreading to nearly all of the nine other campuses in the UC system. Hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students marched throughout the state in opposition to threats by UC president and former Obama Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano to fire striking TAs if they did not return to work, and against the mobilization of police against students. Two hundred UCSC students have been withholding Fall 2019 final grades since December, calling for a substantial cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) of $1,412 per month to compensate for high rents and living expenses. Last week, the grading strike grew into a full-blown wildcat strike, in defiance of the no-strike clause in the contract negotiated by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union last year. Demonstrators raised similar demands as those raised by the UCSC TAs at their own campuses. Fridays demonstrations were dubbed the Doomsday Strike in reference to the 11:59 pm deadline set by Napolitano for UCSC TAs to submit Fall semester grades or be fired. At UCSC, nearly 1,000 students and faculty marched through the campus, chanting Students and workersone struggle, one fight! They blockaded the two main roadways into the school, effectively forcing the administration to cancel classes for the day. At UC San Diego, roughly 150 students marched to the campus chancellors office to denounce the threatened mass firings and to demand COLA measures system-wide. UCSD graduate students also pledged to withhold grades for the current quarter if UCSC students are fired. Students protested in similar numbers in Los Angeles, Riverside, Merced and Santa Barbara. Hundreds of students at UC Berkeley marched and occupied a student dining hall, where student workers continued to serve students without charge. Students protesting at UCLA Strike action by UC students has received widespread support by students and faculty nationwide, including from New York University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Chicago and elsewhere. A GoFundMe account created to pay for striking students lost wages and supplies has received upwards of $95,000 from over 1,200 donors as of this writing. The unfolding struggle is not only against the UC administration, but the Democratic Party and the United Auto Workers union, which is the bargaining agent for the graduate students at UCSC. Eighteen of the 26 members of the UC Board of Regents are hand-selected by the governor of California, Democrat Gavin Newsom, and seven are ex-officio members, comprised of the current governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the State Assembly, state superintendent of public instruction, the president and vice president of the Alumni Associations of UC, and the president of the University of California. Austerity has been the modus operandi of the Democratic Party, including in California. In the richest US state, home to over 150 billionaires and over 150,000 homeless, education funding has not returned to the levels that existed before the 2008 financial crash. The United Auto Workers, whose top leadership is embroiled in a massive bribery and corruption scandal in the auto industry, and other unions in the UC system have worked with the university administration to balkanize the student workforce, which is spread across at least 15 different unions. On top of this divide-and-conquer strategy, each union has negotiated away students basic right to strike. The fact that Napolitano is using the no-strike clause in the UAW contract as a cudgel against UCSC grad students demonstrates that the unions are not workers' organizations, but agents of management. To carry their struggle forward, graduate students should move now to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the UAW and in irreconcilable opposition to the Democrats and Republicans, to expand the strike across the UC system and make the broadest possible appeal to workers and youth across the country and internationally. Jeremy, an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, was on a committee of UC Berkeley graduate students that wrote a letter to the UC Berkeley administration denouncing the threats against UCSC students and demanding COLA implementation system-wide. Jeremy We are demanding no retaliation for the strike, to have COLA for everyone here," he said. "We want a meeting with the graduate dean and we want to make sure that all students are free from police intimidation. Their demands are COLA for all, everyone who is a worker, he said. We dont want to exclude anyone, and following the lead of Santa Cruz, at our meetings weve had staff and other local workers in the area attending. The UAW is in a position looking after their own interests. Theyve made it clear that they cannot legally support our strike. Were going to go our separate ways essentially. Alec, a graduate student at UC Los Angeles, said that the students ultimately need to confront the profit system, which is the root cause of low wages for student workers and high tuition. I disagree with the notion that living conditions are the individual responsibilities of the students themselves. Education has become increasingly corporatized. In fact, from what I know, corporatization has just exploded on campuses in recent years. So I dont think this is an issue that can be resolved at UCSC alone or UCLA alone. It's much bigger and systemic. Alec But there are still things we should look into on individual campuses. Many of us get these fees that we dont know what forprocessing fees, service fees. I just saw a bill for a semester fee. I have no idea what that is. I have no doubt theres a tremendous amount of waste and fraud that needs to be uncovered. Just look at the college admissions scandal. Thats probably just the tip of the iceberg. Theres no transparency. I worry that if concessions are made to the graduate students, that they would be made to pay for it elsewhere. Maybe they would raise tuition on undergraduates, or maybe campus housing costs would rise because graduate students got their COLA and can then afford it. I think youre right, the only way around this is to expand the struggle to other campuses and to other workers too. Alec offered a message of support to UCSC students. We want to say how thankful we are for them. They are fighting against a massive police force and they need all of our support. One thing they should know, that whatever some university official tells them that theyre neutral, theres no such thing as neutral. If theyre saying that, that can only mean theyre working against the students. An Allentown convenience store employee was shot by a robber Friday night, according to police. Authorities asked for help identifying two men captured by surveillance images. The crime occurred about 8:43 p.m. at JP Mart on 102 W. Tilghman St., investigators said in a news release Saturday. Police said two men had tried to rob the employee when one fired a handgun. The employee, whose name was not released, was expected to survive. Authorities asked that anyone with information call detectives at 610-437-7721. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The city of Jos was under siege again as civilians were shot at by a combined team of mobile police officers and joint military task force (Operation Safe Haven) early morning Saturday, in Naraguta Village, a suburb of the Plateau State capital. The shooting, which was gathered to be related to a land dispute, resulted in the death of an individual, Babangida Adam. The Police Public Relation Officer, Plateau State Command, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the incident, adding that the deputy commissioner of police and the Divisional Police Officer have, been there for long. Mr Ogaba, said, Actually, one person was confirmed killed. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred when a combined team of mobile police and joint military task force, Operation Safe Haven OPHS, led some youth on the, authority of the University of Jos, to demolish houses of the inhabitants of the village. A witness, Auwal Adam, told PREMIUM TIMES that, we were inside our houses in the morning when we heard that some youth assigned by the University of Jos, with the cover (of) Mopol and some soldiers have come and are destroying houses. We were standing with Babangida Saidu Adam, he was holding his small child and telling our youth to go back, then the police shot at him by the waist. He was rushed to Plateau Hospital, where he died, he said. Mr Adam, until his death, was survived by two wives and four children. The member representing the area in the states House of Assembly, Ibrahim Hassan, who was also at the scene said, the situation where security led some youth to destroy peoples properties, even when the matter is still in court, was unfortunate. He said, I was informed that the deceased was standing with one boy, and was suddenly shot (at) by the security, for no reason whatsoever. An elder brother to the deceased, Musa Jagab said, The deceased was shot by the combined security operatives around 10 a.m. when he was standing in front of his house holding his small child. My younger brothers rushed him to the Plateau Hospital, where I met them and (he) was confirmed dead. Look at his corpse, and even as at now, they are there, shooting and injuring our youth who did not carry arms. They are also burning and destroying our homes in a land matter that is before the court of law, he said. Efforts to reach the officials of the University of Jos were unsuccessful. Hong Kong: New fund to prevent job cuts The Anti-epidemic Fund aims to help employers maintain their businesses and avoid job cuts, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said today. Dr Law made the statement after attending a radio programme this morning. He said: "It is definitely the concern for the Government to protect the over three million employees here in Hong Kong." Dr Law explained that the fund will try to help employers maintain their businesses as far as possible. If they can maintain their businesses, then the employment can continue instead of closing down or firing their own staff. By the time when the epidemic is over, then these enterprises can bounce back very quickly, that is the basic idea. So we hope that we can help them. He added the Financial Secretary will also suggest measures to help the general population. This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. With a lawsuit filed in court and a for-lease sign out front, the Punjab Cultural Centre is having some difficulties, says the Winnipeg man whos been its champion since the idea was put forth in the late 1990s. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. With a lawsuit filed in court and a for-lease sign out front, the Punjab Cultural Centre is having "some difficulties," says the Winnipeg man whos been its champion since the idea was put forth in the late 1990s. "We are having some trouble," said Amarjeet Warraich, president of the Manitoba Sikh Cultural and Seniors Centre, the charity that got the $8.5-million structure built on King Edward Street in 2013, with government funding, donations and a mortgage. The domed centre has a banquet hall, restaurant, passport office, daycare and about 3,500 square feet its trying to lease so it can meet its financial obligations, he said. A statement of claim that seeks $184,178 was filed Feb. 11 in Court of Queens Bench by the construction company that built the centre. M Builds Limited Partnership (formerly Man-Shield) said it completed construction in 2013, and was still owed $184,178, which the Manitoba Sikh Cultural Centre and Seniors Centre and Punjab Foundation of Manitoba agreed to pay back in $25,000 monthly instalments. When that didnt happen, in late 2015, the company and the centre came up with a repayment schedule of $5,000 per month, and agreed to register a caveat against the title to the property, court documents say. The defendants continue to refuse to make payments on the amount owing, the plaintiffs claim states. Its seeking the amount owed, plus eight per cent interest and costs. No statement of defence has yet been filed. "It will be coming," said Warraich. "We will make some arrangements to make a payment with them." 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 centre is carrying a mortgage and relies on renting out space to business to cover their costs, he said. "Since the school left, weve had some difficulties to pay these people." The centre had been home to a school that taught the Manitoba curriculum, as well as the Punjabi language, Sikh religion and cultural classes. When the school outgrew the space, it moved into the former Chapman School in Charleswood. "The market is not great," Warraich said of finding a large-scale tenant. And times have changed. "In my time, when people came to Canada, the community was so close," said Warraich. "Theyd have huge weddings. Nowadays, a lot of the younger generation doesnt believe in that. Kids go to Mexico and get married." Still, the Winnipeg community is growing and requires an affordable banquet hall with parking for cultural events and festivals, Warraich said. "There is definitely a need." In 2016, 19,760 Manitobans said Punjabi was their mother tongue, according to Statistics Canada. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Flash The relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries will not be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak as the two sides have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in winning the battle against the deadly virus, Chinese ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun said Friday. Talking to reporters about the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease held Thursday in Laos' capital Vientiane Thursday, the ambassador said that the meeting has delivered a signal to the world that both China and ASEAN are joining hands to contain the disease, safeguard peoples' health of all countries and promote global and regional health resilience. ASEAN, which was founded in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Thursday's meeting was co-chaired by Chinese State Council and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin and attended by ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi. "The meeting fully demonstrates firm will and determination of solidarity and support between ASEAN and China in times of difficulty. China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation have withstood the test of time and become much stronger than ever before," Ambassador Deng said. Apart from having vowed to reduce the impact of the epidemic on socio-economic development of affected countries, Deng said all ministers have agreed to step up the regional cooperation against COVID-19 by sharing information and best practices in a timely manner, including exchanging available epidemiological information, technical guidelines and solutions for epidemic prevention and control, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance. "Yesterday, China-ASEAN clinical experts held a video conference and exchanged views on dealing with and managing the virus," said Deng. "All this gives new importance of cooperation on regional public health and prevention of disease," he added. New Delhi: The Tihar Jail authorities have written to all the four death row convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case in connection with their last meeting with their family members. The jail authorities stated that convicts Akshay and Vinay have been asked that when they would want to meet their kin. On the other hand, the authorities informed the other two death-row convicts Mukesh and Pawan that they have already met their families before February 1 death warrant. So far the letter has been written to the convicts only. In the meantime, the jail authorities also wrote to Uttar Pradesh Jail administration requesting to send the hangman two days before March 3, when the four convicts will be hanged. The official further shared, that Jail administration is monitoring Vinay more after he attempted to hurt himself by banging his head against a wall in his cell on February 16. Vinay`s behaviour has changed the most, the official added. On February 17, a Delhi court issued fresh death warrants for March 3, 2020 at 6:00 am against the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, observing that deferring the execution any further would be "sacrilegious" to the rights of the victim for expeditious justice. It had issued fresh warrants against death row convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay (26) and Akshay Kumar (31). This is the third time that death warrants have been issued against them. The court noted that death warrants were earlier issued on January 7 and the execution was later deferred twice, i.e., on January 17 and January 31. Nirbhaya's mother expressed the hope that the four convicts would finally be hanged on March 3. The first date of execution, January 22, was postponed to February 1 by a January 17 court order. Then the trial court, on January 31, stayed, "till further orders" the execution of the four convicts as they had not exhausted all their legal remedies. The court said "there cannot be any quarrel with the proposition that protection under Article 21 (no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law) of Constitution is available to the convicts till their last breath." Vinay's lawyer told the court that the convict was assaulted in jail and has head injuries, adding he was suffering from acute mental illness and hence the death sentence cannot be carried out. The court rejected the ground of "mental illness", saying that the issues was raised before the apex court and it rejected the plea on the basis of the report submitted by the doctors, who said the convict was "psychologically well adjusted" and the "general condition of the petitioner is stable". Mukesh told the court that he does not want to be represented by advocate Vrinda Grover, after which it appointed advocate Qazi to represent him. On February 13, the court had appointed Qazi to represent Pawan after being informed by Tihar jail authorities that the convict refused to choose a lawyer offered by Delhi Legal Services Authorities (DLSA). The court was hearing the applications by Nirbhaya's parents and the Delhi government, seeking fresh death warrants for the 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. 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. The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan should ideally belong to another universe because that is how different the tiny country is from the rest of the world. The only carbon negative country in the world celebrated the birthday of their king in a unique way. Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering had asked countrymen to adopt stray dogs and plant trees as a birthday gift to their King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who turned 40 on Friday. "Taking inspiration from His Majesty and re-dedicating to work towards His Majestys aspirations for the country, the Prime Minister announced several programs in the areas of economy, education, health and technology. The programs will be launched over the period of one year," the said in a social media post. Bhutanese journalist and mental health advocate Namgay Zam said on Twitter that, "....My fiance and I have adopted 3 strays already. :)" Our @PMBhutan has just asked every Bhutanese family to adopt a stray dog each as a gift for His Majesty on His Birthday today in order to deal with our stray dog population problem in a humane manner. And to plant a tree. My fiance and I have adopted 3 strays already. :) Namgay Zam (@namgayzam) February 21, 2020 This is not the first time Bhutan has shown the world how they as a nation care for the environment and creatures around them. In 2017, the country planted 108,000 trees across the Himalayan kingdom to welcome the birth of a son to King Khesar and Queen Pema. BCCL Recently, during the National Day celebrations on 17 December 2019, His Majesty announced that Queen Jetsun Pema was expecting their second child, due in the spring of 2020. Bhutan, which is also the 'world's happiest country' had last year taken another progressive step by repealing sections 213 and 214 of the penal code, to decriminalize homosexuality. Earlier this year the country put the environment first and decided to introduce a "sustainable development fee" for regional tourists following a spike in Indian visitors there. According to the legislation passed by Bhutan's lower house of parliament, a sustainable development fee of $ 16.85 (Rs 1,200) per day will be charged from regional tourists starting from July. BCCL This is in addition to the nearly $250 per day in high season, that tourists spent on meals, transport, and accommodation in Bhutan. This fee will be applicable for visitors from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, which makes up the majority of visitors to the country. In 2018, Bhutan received 200,000 visitors from countries in the region, up nearly 10 percent from 2017, sparking fears that it was becoming just another mass tourism destination. Bhutan is also the only country that puts happiness first and the environment is the central part of is the concept of gross domestic happiness. MRT file photo February 21, 2020 Midland ISD is considering transforming Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary into an in-district partner school. This move comes as part of the districts effort to comply with the requirements of HB 1842. In 2018, Houston Elementary transformed into Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary, with a focus on Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) strategies. While progress in campus culture is evident, the transformation has not yielded the academic turnaround desired, as demonstrated by scores on the state-mandated STAAR test and the districts more comprehensive School Performance Framework measurements. He bridles at any claim that his identification as a Jew should trump his other commitments, Kaufmann wrote. He is, he maintains, as much a Frenchman as a Jew and, above all else, a human. Indeed, at certain points in this book he seems to reject the very notion of identity itself as an illegitimate limitation of his liberty. A 12-member delegation accompanying US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to India will include US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, Secretary Wilbur Ross, of Commerce Department, Secretary Dan Brouillette, of the Energy Department, Mick Mulvaney, Assistant to the President and Acting Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff National Security Advisor Robert OBrien, the White House said Friday. Trumps daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are members of the delegation. While Ivanka is Assistant to the President and Advisor to the President, Kushner, is Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President. Other members include Stephen Miller, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Policy, Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Digital Strategy, Lindsay Reynolds, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Robert Blair, Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Telecommunication Policy and Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff and Stephanie Grisham, Assistant to US President and Press Secretary and Director of Communications for the President and First Lady. During the two-day visit beginning on February 24, Trump is expected to raise concerns over rising trade barriers and tariffs during his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit will focus on several key areas. First, well focus on building our economic and energy ties. Just to note that two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $142 billion in 2018, and theres certainly much more room to grow, particularly in energy, a senior US official said. India is the fifth-largest economy in the world, has huge energy needs. And the U.S. is ready to help India meet those needs. Indeed, in 2016, U.S. energy exports to India have grown 500 percent to nearly $7 billion. India stopped crude oil imports from Iran in May last year to comply with the US sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme. Iran used to supply 10 per cent of Indias oil needs. Boosting counter-terror cooperation, deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and augmenting defence are also high on the agenda in Trumps talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will focus on defense and security cooperation to both fight terrorism and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. wants an India that is strong, with a capable military that supports peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, the official said. Describing India as a pillar of Washingtons Indo-Pacific strategy, the official said, We continue to work together to promote this vision of a free and open international system based on market economics, good governance, freedom of the seas and skies, and respect for sovereignty. New Delhi [India], Feb 22 (ANI): Donald Trump's visit next week is the first ever stand-alone trip by a US president to India. When Air Force One touches down at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on 24th around noon, he will become the fourth US president to visit India in his first term and the first to visit Gujarat. America is already in an election mode with the Democratic Party conducting their debates before picking their contender who will take on Trump in November of this year, hence these 36 hours will be in as sharp a focus in the US as in India. Donald Trump also becomes the first American President to visit India with his wife and daughter and son-in-law in tow. Bill Clinton came with daughter not wife, Jackie Kennedy came minus husband, Hillary came minus husband but with daughter. Obama Eisenhower, Nixon, Carter and George W Bush came with wives and not children. Trump is not known not to be too fond of traveling abroad. His Asia visits are few and far between. Hence, this visit in an election year is significant. None of the children of former presidents were office-bearers in the American President's administration unlike the Trumps. DT's daughter Ivanka, a senior advisor to the President, is no stranger to India, having visited Hyderabad in 2017. Her husband Jared Kushner is advisor to the President and crucial to the President's decision-making process. That all four of them are coming to India is extremely significant because the visit will be high on showmanship and drama while not lacking in substance. Secretaries of Commerce, Energy departments as well as advisors and assistants on Policy, Digital Strategy, Security are also part of the delegation. Trump in his election year is keen to shore up as much goodwill as possible. He understands India well by now. The Howdy Modi event in Texas in 2019 must have gone a long way in clearing any doubts where Indian origin Americans and Indians in India stand on India-US relations. It was Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008 who said to George W Bush, "The people of India deeply love you." And this when 'W' was an object of ridicule in the rest of the world and Dr Singh is not known to be an effusive gentleman. But Dr Singh was right when he said "When history is written, I think it will be recorded that President George W Bush played a historic role in bringing our two democracies closer to each other." He was referring to the 123 nuclear deal, of course which ended India's nuclear isolation. The Presidential visits before Bush were not significant at all. Eisenhower and Carter was about elephant ride, sandalwood garlands, Clinton was with daughter and not wife at the Taj, Agra and a Holi dance, Carters' visit was a blip that was forgotten post-Pokhran, Nixon's one day visit was bleeped out after his nastiness on Bangladesh and Indira Gandhi. Obamas were the only ones who came twice in two terms, once during Dr Singh's tenure and once in Mr Modi's first term. It can safely be assumed that were Trump to win again, India will be high up on his agenda. He has a peculiar rapport with Modi. He jokes about him and mimics his English accent but seems to be quite taken in with the Indian Prime Minister. Trump doesn't have many friends among world leaders. That he thinks of Modi as one is interesting. Modi on his part is very demonstrative in his affection, hugging the American President whenever there was an opportunity, clutching his hand and walking the stadium at the Howdy Modi event was as much PDA as can possibly be termed acceptable between two heterosexual men. Trump will surely be suitably impressed by the millions who are expected to welcome him as soon as he lands in Ahmedabad, he will take all the proverbial pictures at Agra with his perfectly coiffured wife and the extremely photogenic daughter and son-in-law. The family pictures at the Taj will also be flashed back home in the US. The wholesome American family in an exotic location. His supporters are sure to flash these in comparison to potential Democratic Presidential nominee Pete Buttigieg whose gay bonafides are toast of the town in liberal media circles but is not supposedly ticking all the right boxes as he is not 'intersectional enough'. The media contingent traveling with the American President will looking beyond the drama and hype, they will look at tangibles even though expecting it from any administration in its last leg is quite unfair. But then who expects the media to play fair. Not in the US and not in India. India and the US are likely to finalize five pacts, including on trade facilitation, homeland security and intellectual property rights. $2.6 billion deal for 24 Seahawk helis for the Indian Navy is on the cards. The MOU on Homeland Security will have far-reaching impact on the security scenario in the subcontinent particularly in view of the peace agreement that is likely to be signed between the US and Taliban representatives that many in the US are hoping will pave the way for an end to the 18-year long war. The implications of the pact could result in increased Indian participation in global supply chain in security, transnational crime and terrorism. Final contouring is also taking place to a possible pact between Indian Oil and Exxon on LNG pipeline infrastructure. ExxonMobil has been planning to enhance its presence in India's gas market and signed a preliminary agreement with IOC in October last year. The US has always been keen to scale up its trade with India, similar to say the Japanese model but India has played a reluctant customer. Trump even calling India a "tariff king". However, he has also expressed grudging respect for Modi for pushing back a giant like the US if it is in his interest. Trump has tried to play down expectations back home saying it might happen but that could be later this year. Indian origin Americans are also pinning their hopes on this visit to go beyond hype and deliver on substance. Almost every US presidential candidate in the US today has Indian origin Americans in their strategy teams. There are influential Indian Americans in think-tanks, political interest groups, commentators on TV all keen to see the visit be a success and thereby give more muscle to the fastest growing racial group in the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We must take back control, not just from the EU, but from the judiciary, Suella Braverman, then a Tory backbencher, wrote last month. The political has been captured by the legal. Decisions of an executive, legislative and democratic nature have been assumed by our courts. Her ConservativeHome column was perfectly timed music to Boris Johnsons ears. It probably won her a surprise appointment as attorney general two weeks later. Braverman had another appealing quality for Johnson. She is a Brexiteer, a former chair of the European Research Group who was very briefly a Brexit minister before resigning (as Johnson had already done) over Theresa Mays deal. New coronavirus cases surged across the Middle East on Friday, after a rapid spread in Iran, where authorities say the death toll from the virus has hit four, prompting alarm and travel bans. Since December, the SARS-like virus has killed more than 2,200 people in China, the epidemic's epicentre. Elsewhere in the world, it has killed over a dozen people and spread across some 27 countries. In the Middle East, two elderly men in Iran were the first confirmed deaths from the virus, which has also spread to the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon. Iran's health ministry Friday reported two more deaths among 13 new diagnosed cases of the COVID-19 virus, doubling the total number of deaths in the Islamic republic and taking the total number of diagnosed infections there to 18. Hours later, Lebanon confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus, making it the latest country in the region to be hit by the epidemic. It was found in a 45-year-old Lebanese woman who had travelled from the holy city of Qom in Iran, Lebanon's health ministry said, adding that two other cases were being investigated. Israel on Friday also confirmed its first case in a citizen who flew home from Japan after being quarantined on a stricken cruise ship. Iraq and Kuwait, which share borders with Iran, were on high alert for a potential outbreak after banning travel to and from the Islamic republic although they have not confirmed any cases domestically. The outbreak in Iran has raised concerns, especially since many of the coronavirus cases involved residents of Qom, a popular destination for Kuwaiti and Iraqi Shiites. Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, a major figure in Iraqi politics, himself studies in an Islamic seminary in Qom. Iraq is a popular destination for millions of Iranian Shiite pilgrims, including religious scholars from Qom, who visit holy sites in the southern provinces of Najaf and Kerbala. Iran is also the second-largest exporter of goods to Iraq, sending products to the value of around nine billion dollars annually. On Friday, Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani urged authorities to be ready to stem any outbreak. "The scale of preparations should match that of the threat," he said in comments delivered by a representative. "We call on relevant authorities to be up to the level of responsibility". Iraq on Thursday clamped down on travel to and from Iran, as the health ministry announced that travellers from were barred from entering the country "until further notice". A senior official told AFP border crossings with Iran had been closed, with only returning Iraqis allowed to enter. But they would be examined and, if necessary, placed in quarantine for 14 days, the health ministry said. Iraqis are also not allowed to travel to Iran, the ministry said. The border closure followed a backlash against a Wednesday announcement of visa waivers for Iranians wishing to travel to Iraq. Iraqis took to social media using the hashtag "close the border" and officials called for a ban on the entry of goods and people. Kuwait Airways on Thursday announced it would suspend all flights to Iran, while ports in the Arab Gulf state would be also to passenger traffic. Kuwaitis were advised not to travel to Qom, and warned that anyone arriving from the city they would be quarantined. The UAE health ministry on Friday said a Filipino national and a Bangladeshi man were infected with the virus, bringing to 11 the number of cases in the country. Iraqi airports have been screening travellers for the virus and national carrier Iraqi Airways has suspended flights to Iran. "Detection equipment has been installed and no cases have been found" Jaafar al-Alaoui, communications officer at Najaf airport, told AFP. Iraqi passengers arriving from Iran on Friday wore medical masks and had there temperatures taken by airport authorities. In the southern province of Basra, local officials called for heightened health awareness in schools and recommended that washrooms be sanitised in educational facilities. Social media networks have become fertile ground for fears among citizens who say Iraq cannot accomodate a coronavirus outbreak. Hospitals are generally poorly equipped in terms of equipment and medicine, while some still require reconstruction and refurbishment. There are less than 10 doctors for every 10,000 people, the World Health Organization says. Iraqis are circulating prayers on social media networks, while videos circulating online show Iraqi and Iranian families lighting incense in their homes with the belief that it will prevent infection. Some said they were turning to herbalists for natural remedies, while others joked that alcohol consumption could combat the virus. By Trend Baku will host Fintech Summit 2020 exhibition (Thu, May 14 Fri, May 15) dedicated to financial technologies of Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA). The theme of the exhibition will be new trends in the banking and payment ecosystem, innovative solutions, financial technology and security. The event is held in partnership with VISA and supported by the ABA, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, as well as the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. Finance and Technology Summit has the purpose of being the platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in the field of new and upcoming trends in financial technologies, digitalization, payment ecosystems. Its a place for discussing opportunities provided by new financial and banking products, innovative payment solutions, digital currencies, possibilities of co-existence and co-operation of banks with fintech, and security issues arising with the onrush of such technologies. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A virtual community of bakers that has spread kindness to more than 650,000 Kiwis going through trauma or difficulty has been named 2020 Mitre 10 Community of the Year at the New Zealander of the Year Awards. Good Bitches Baking (GBB) is a community of over 2300 volunteers across New Zealand whose baking is distributed by a wide range of charities that GBB support, such as Womens Refuge, hospices, missions and shelters. Their purpose? To make Aotearoa the kindest place on earth. Nicole Murray from GBB said she was delighted to have the work of the charitys 2300 volunteers recognised, and hopes it inspires more Kiwis to spread kindness within their communities. For our recipients, its never about how flash the baking they receive is - its knowing that someone in their community was thinking about them and cared enough to try lift them up during a tough time. Our volunteers are baking every day of the week, for people they will likely never meet - but the impact of their work is profound. Creating those connections between strangers is powerful beyond measure. Its not only their name that captures attention. The impact that GBB has had was recognised in 2019 with founders Nicole and Marie receiving the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queens Birthday awards in 2019. Mitre 10 Chief Executive Chris Wilesmith says it is fantastic to support the award and the platform of recognition it gives to community groups. It is very special to be able to recognise and celebrate the work of these inspiring groups in our community. One thing Ive learnt over the years is that great teams with a shared purpose are incredibly powerful, and all of the finalists are testament to that! GBB and all of the finalists have fostered the collective efforts of many to create communities that are kinder and stronger, more caring and connected, and a place everyone can call home our native wildlife included, says Chris. The Mitre 10 Community of the Year Award recognises regional or national community groups and organisations for their contributions to the social, economic, cultural or environmental health of their community. Mitre 10 has sponsored the award since it was introduced in 2010. Other finalists for the Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Award were: Foster Hope Charitable Trust Zealandia (Karori Sanctuary Trust) Past winners include: Pillars, Canterbury Charitable Hospital Trust, Randwick Park, Community Fruit Harvest, the town of Paihia, Victim Support, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ, the town of Paeroa. Pune : , Feb 22 (IANS) Maharashtra's woman activist Trupti Desai, known for leading agitations at Shani Shingnapure, Haji Ali Dargah and Sabarimala Temple, has claimed death threats from supporters of a famed balladeer Nivrutti Deshmukh alias Indurikar Maharaj based in Ahmednagar, on Saturday. She has submitted a written complaint to the Pune Police and also to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seeking action in the matter and protection for self and family members. "Yesterday, I got a call from a person said to be a supporter of the balladeer, Somnath Maharaj Bhor who abused me in the foulest words, called me a bitch', an 'eunuch' and even threatened to 'chop me to pieces' if I dared to enter Akole town (in Ahmednagar)," Desai told IANS. While the police have not yet initiated any steps in the matter, the CM's Office replied today saying they would step in after enquiring into the matter, she said. When contacted, Somnath Maharaj Bhor countered that she (Desai) has threatened to come to Akole and "blacken Indurikar Maharaj's face" which will not be tolerated. "This is an insult to Indurikar Maharaj who is like our father figure, revered by the masses and an icon of Hindu religion. I admit I was carried away by emotions to speak such threatening language with her (Desai), but she must also not cross her limits," Bhor told IANS. To a specific question by IANS, Bhor apologetically said that although he had issued the threat to "chop off" Desai, "we are not the kind of people to actually carry it out. But we shall also not keep quiet". Desai added that for the past nearly two weeks, she has been targeted, brutally trolled and given death threats on social media with messages and videos by persons proclaiming to be supporters of Indurikar Maharaj, which must be thoroughly investigated. She contended that the popular folk balladeer travels around the state singing bhajans, kirtans and preaching to the people and in one of his recent programmes, he allegedly spread 'andha-shraddha' (superstitions) through his discourses among the masses. "He claimed that if men and women have physical relations on certain days of the month, they would beget a male child, on other days a female child and if the time was inauspicious, then the consequences would be the birth of a child with defects," Desai said referring to the huge controversy which created fresh political chasms in the state. After Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, Desai and other activists demanded stringent action against Indurikar Maharaj, he expressed "regrets" for his utterances. "That matter has already been resolved. Now, why does she (Desai) want to come and create more ruckus here? We will not remain mute spectators if she indulges in such stunts," Bhor warned. Desai said she raised her voice for the masses because the ruling parties Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress are not interested in taking any action in the matter while the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is openly supporting such persons who publicly portray women in such poor light. "My demand still stands: The government must book Indurikar Maharaj for his utterances spreading superstitions and others who are issuing death threats to me, failing which I shall launch an agitation," she declared. Her mother Cindy Crawford was one of the most famous supermodels of the nineties. But Kaia Gerber was giving Cindy a run for her money as she continued her reign on for Milan Fashion Week on Saturday, storming down Bottega Veneta's catwalk. The model, 18, nailed androgynous chic in a oversized black suit from the Italian brand's Autumn/Winter 2020 collection collection showcase. Model of the moment: Kaia Gerber was giving Cindy a run for her money as she continued her reign on for Milan Fashion Week on Saturday as she stormed down Bottega Veneta's catwalk Kaia layered the single breasted blazer atop of an oversized lime silk shirt, which had longs sleeves adorned with silver studs. The American beauty toted a matching woven handbag and strutted down the runway in patent black heels. Kaia's hair was styled in a sleek straight centre-parting and her make-up was pared back for the smart business look. She's got style: The model, 18, nailed androgynous chic in a oversized black suit from the Italian brand's Autumn/Winter 2020 collection collection showcase Fashion maven: Kaia layered the single breasted blazer atop of an oversized lime silk shirt, which had longs sleeves adorned with silver studs Strutting her stuff: The American beauty toted a matching woven handbag and strutted down the runway in patent black heels Collection: Lime was a predominant feature on the catwalk, with the designer also showcasing asymmetric dresses with fringing and red latex ensembles Lime was a predominant feature on the catwalk, with the designer also showcasing asymmetric dresses with fringing and red latex ensembles. During Milan Fashion Week, Kaia has walked for brands including Prada, Fendi, Moschino and Max Mara. Earlier on Friday she led the models at Tod's runway show. The model made a bold style statement in an oversized beige coat and bright red tights on the catwalk. She then joined the likes of Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Irina Shayk on the star-studded catwalk for Versace's Fall/Winter 2020 runway show. Before jetting to Italy, Kaia walked in numerous shows during both London and New York Fashion Weeks, earlier this month. The catwalk queen is the daughter of supermodel Cindy, 54, and male model turned businessman Rande Gerber, 57. Kaia made her runway debut in 2017 and has since become one of the world's most in-demand models. Celebrated writer-director-producer Bong Joon-ho has received a lot of attention for his Oscar-winning film, Parasite. And theres more where that came from, as the movie will soon be made into a miniseries. However, this isnt the first time one of his films has gotten this treatment. Parasite won Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards What Parasite pulled off this year is remarkable. After premiering in May 2019 in South Korea, and the U.S. and other countries in subsequent months, the film was one of the most-talked-about in the months leading up to the 2020 Academy Awards. But few could have predicted just how well it would do there. At the major award show, Parasite was up for six Oscars. It took home four of those. Not only that, but the categories in which is won are some of the biggest. They are Best International Feature Film, Best Director for Joon-ho, Best Original Screenplay for Joon-ho and Han Jin-won, and Best Picture. Before that, it was picked up for miniseries adaptation Even before it dominated at the Academy Awards, Joon-ho had more to talk about on the subject of Parasite. In Jan. 2020, it was reported that he was working with HBO and filmmaker Adam McKay (The Big Short) on a limited series of the same name. According to Joon-ho, Parasite the series is essentially an expanded film that can delve deeper into the stories of the original. He said that he had so many more ideas he wanted to explore in the movie, and this will allow him to do so. Bong Joon-ho made these other films Bong Joon-ho during the 92nd Oscars | Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images Though Parasite is the film that has made Joon-ho a household name, the filmmaker has been well-known to those in the industry for years now. He began writing in the 90s. He then made his way into directing in the early 00s with South Korean films such as Barking Dogs Never Bite. It was Joon-hos 2006 monster film The Host that brought him success in other markets after its premiere at Cannes Film Festival. He followed this up with Mother and his first English-language film, Snowpiercer. Then came 2017s Okja, which is on Netflix. What is Snowpiercer? Speaking with Tom Quinn of Neon (the production company that distributed the film in North America), the producer said, I always joked that [with] Snowpiercer, you already made your Marvel movie, right? Isnt that [Captain America: The] Winter Soldier part two? Snowpiercer was a 2013 action film Joon-ho wrote and directed. It stars Chris Evans as a working-class citizen aboard the titular train, which contains the only remaining humans after a new ice age wiped out the rest of civilization. The movie was critically acclaimed, despite some controversy involving a pre-ousted Harvey Weinstein. Snowpiercer also became a series Like Parasite before it, Snowpiercer was so widely praised that it received a spinoff series. Though its actually considered more a reboot. At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019, audiences got their first sneak peek at the show. Joon-ho is credited as an executive producer. Despite the excitement, there has been a lot of back and forth involved in this adaptation, which stars Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly. As of publication, Snowpiercer is set to premiere on TNT in the U.S. in May 2020, and on Netflix globally. A second season has already been filmed. Lets hope Parasite gets a quicker release. The biggest single change On October 1, 2007, the Christian Brothers undertook a major restructure. At the church level, the provinces of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea merged to form one overarching body: the Oceania Province. And at the same time, the Brothers entrusted their mission in education to a new entity, Edmund Rice Education Australia, named after the Irish Catholic missionary who founded the Congregation of the Christian Brothers in 1802. The shift was dubbed the biggest single change to take place in Australasia for the Christian Brothers and their Australian schools. Under the new structure, lay leaders would oversee all the schools owned by the religious order in a bid to professionalise its educational wing at a time of a large influx of government funding. In turn, the shift would free up the Brothers, both ageing and dwindling in number, to focus on their ministry work around the world. Today, EREA owns and manages 54 schools across every state and territory in Australia, enrolling almost 40,000 students. It generated a surplus of $247 million in 2017 and controls about $2 billion in land and property assets. Twenty-one of its schools are flexible learning centres schools designed to re-engage often at risk youth, through smaller class sizes and innovative curricula. The rest are traditional private schools, including Waverly College and Christian Brothers Lewisham in Sydney, St Kevins in Toorak and St James College in Brisbane. Loading Were all pretty passionate, Tinsey, a former director of schools for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, told The Sunday Age. We all believe in the mission and we just want to do the right thing. EREA is made up of a five-member council and seven-person board that, like Tinsey, have backgrounds in education. Its national headquarters is based in Melbourne, working out of an office on one of Richmond Hills most exclusive streets: The Vaucluse. But according to the group, EREA is a completely separate legal entity from the Christian Brothers and is not in any way owned or under the direction of the Christian Brothers. The organisation nonetheless remains the Christian Brothers in religious spirit and at its top, with the EREA council selected by the Congregation Leader of the Christian Brothers, who is headquartered in Rome. Recommendations for the positions are sent to Rome jointly by the EREA president, who is a Christian Brother, and the Province Leader of the Christian Brothers. The only role that the Congregation Leader of the Christian Brothers has is to approve recommendations from EREA for positions on the EREA council, a spokesman said. Dark legacy While the current foundations of EREA lie in fulfilling the educational philosophy of its namesake, theres no escaping the legacy of the Christian Brothers dark past. More than 1000 victims made a claim of child sexual abuse against various Christian Brothers between 1980 and 2015 the highest number of any Catholic diocese or religious order in the country, according to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Indeed, the brotherhood and its lay personnel accounted for 483 alleged perpetrators 20 per cent of all suspected offenders identified in the Catholic Church in Australia. Among them are imprisoned child abusers Edward Dowlan and Robert Best, as well as known offender Gerald Leo Fitzgerald, who died before he could ever be charged. All were from St Alipius in Ballarat the same school that harboured notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale, who remains in prison, and became one of the most shocking examples of the churchs crimes and cover-ups. The orders history of denials, obfuscations and inaction was extensively canvassed at the royal commission. Church insiders and survivor advocates say its no coincidence that theres no mention of the Christian Brothers in EREAs new name. But many remain unconvinced by the attempt to rebrand. They may be hiding behind a name change, but you cant change the spots on a leopard, says a survivor advocate. Asked if the EREA was established in an attempt to rebuild the Christian Brothers name, Tinsey replies: I dont think so. Members of the order were ageing, he said, and simply wanted to hand over control of their schools before it was too late. As for the financial links between the two groups, EREA spends about $1 million a year on training and formation services provided by the Christian Brothers, according to its financial records. Parents, in turn, donated more than $3.2 million through the EREA to the Christian Brothers Foundation for Overseas Aid in 2016 and 2017, which provides educational outreach in the developing world. The order of the Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers has been underwriting the sexual abuse compensations and lawsuit payouts made against the Christian Brothers in Australia, which totalled $213 million from 2013 to 2018. It is expected to spend at least another $134 million. Its viability under this kind of financial pressure remains an open question. A spokesman for the Oceania Province declined to answer questions about the source of the groups funding, other than to say: For more than three decades, the Christian Brothers have been meeting our obligations to those who have experienced abuse in any of our facilities and this work is continuing. Maybe so, but observers argue that last weeks events were a real-time lesson in how much work is still required to tackle institutional abuse. "This is not an issue that was just relevant 20 or 30 years ago it's certainly still an issue today, says Sheree Limbrick, the chief executive of Catholic Professional Standards Limited. The institutions may be different now, and the people who commit offences now are not necessarily priests and brothers. They can be lay professionals with tertiary education that we need to be aware of. Back at St Kevins, the dust is slowly starting to settle. Stephen Russell has been replaced as headmaster by John Crowley, a highly respected principal from St Patricks in Ballarat. An independent cultural review has been initiated to improve the way the college responds to abuse complaints in the future. And the young victim at the centre of the storm groomed by a predator; mistreated by his school has been vindicated, finally. A little-known style of pizza is gaining popularity in the US as people opt for a fluffier crust. Pinsa pizza is not a new type of pizza, but until now, it would have been difficult to find it in Americas pizza restaurants, where it was instead overlooked in favour of the more mainstream options like Chicago style or Neapolitan pizza. But, as with most food trends, you can expect to find pinsa pizza everywhere soon enough. What is pinsa and where did it come from? Pinsa pizza has been around since the ancient Roman times. The story that people spin about pinsa is that its the most ancient form of pizza from Rome, New York City pizza chef Lou Tomczak told The Independent. As for what makes it different from any regular pizza, Tomczak said the distinguishing factor is the blend of flours, which often contain soy or rice flour in addition to wheat. 10 best oven pizzas Show all 10 1 /10 10 best oven pizzas 10 best oven pizzas 646682.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646680.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646684.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646688.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646686.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646687.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646679.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646683.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646685.bin 10 best oven pizzas 646681.bin The ingredients make the dough lighter and fluffier than what you would normally expect from a pizza. Its also very hydrated dough, which means there is a lot of water in it, he added. The additional water content means the dough is not rolled or thrown in the air like a typical pizza, but pressed flat before cooking, according to People. Recommended Italian food is the most popular cuisine in the world As for what toppings youd expect to find on a pinsa, Tomczak told us: They are topped somewhat traditionally but more often very untraditionally. Its common practise to parbake the dough so its set, he said. Then its taken out of the oven and garnished with everything from tomato sauce to smoked salmon and baked a second time. The style also does well with or without cheese, which is useful for vegans. According to Tomczak, the end result is a pizza most closely related to the pizza alla pala you would find in Rome at bakeries like forno campo de fiori or forno roscioli. The dough gets very airy and very crunchy - so its kind of like biting through a cloud with the bottom crust of a well-baked New York slice, he explained. So its kind of a textural marvel. Why has pinsa become so popular? As most millennials will know, food trends come and go quite quickly, as weve seen happen with the likes of sushi bagels and matcha lattes. According to Tomczak, the spotlight is on pinsa because its a relatively new and different style of pizza, even if the technique has been around for hundreds of years. I personally think its a bit of a gimmick. But still tasty, he added. They have been storming the runways at Milan Fashion Week. And Bella Hadid was sure to set pulses racing as she stepped out with her sister Gigi in Milan for a casual stroll on Saturday. The supermodel, 23, showed off her toned abs in a white crop, that also showed off a hint of underboob as she headed out of her hotel with her sister, 24. Stunning beauties: Bella Hadid set pulses racing by showing off her toned abs in a white crop top as she joined chic sister Gigi at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday Bella complemented her ensemble by wearing a pair of red-and-white chequered trousers, while she kept off the winter chill with a brown longline coat. The beauty offset her colourful attire by stepping out in a pair of monochrome trailers, which she left untied during the walk. Her brunette locks were brushed into a sleek straight style, and she accessorised with a pair of cat-eye shades and large gold hoop earrings. Glamorous: Bella complemented her ensemble by wearing a pair of red-and-white chequered trousers, while she kept off the winter chill with a brown longline coat Smart: Gigi pulled her blonde locks back into a tight bun and wore a pair of large shades, while she highlighted her pretty features with a natural palette of make-up Gigi, meanwhile, opted for a more low-key ensemble as she put on an androgynous chic display in a brown co-ord suit and a white top. She pulled her blonde locks back into a tight bun and wore a pair of large shades, while she highlighted her pretty features with a natural palette of make-up. The beauty queen made sure to eat during her busy schedule, as she could be seen carrying a pot of ice cream during her walk. Stunning: Bella's brunette locks were brushed into a sleek straight style, and she accessorised with a pair of cat-eye shades and large gold hoop earrings Yum! The beauty queen made sure to eat during her busy schedule, as she could be seen carrying a pot of ice cream during her walk Their outing comes after Bella documented her flurry of catwalks on Thursday on Instagram. Her day started in the morning by hitting the runway for the Max Mara show that showcased it Fall/Winter 2020-2021 collection. There was also a number of interluding clips showing her getting fitted for various ensembles or taking a quick food break. From the Max Mara show, Hadid made her way to the Fendi show. Glamorous: Bella offset her colourful attire by stepping out in a pair of monochrome trailers, which she left untied during the walk Catwalk queen: Bella was later seen in the outfit heading out after walking in the Missoni show Cool: She donned a pair of thin black Matrix sunglasses The fashion flurry was capped off by strutting her stuff at Moschino Fall 2020 show. Bella shared the runway with a number of other in-demand models that included sister Gigi and Kaia Gerber. Earlier this month, Gigi spoke about her body image with Teen Vogue, saying: 'At the time I was still starting out in my career, I was coming out of high school, I still had my volleyball body. Gorgeous: Bella wore a natural palette of make-up to accentuate her pretty features Busy schedule: During Milan Fashion Week, Bella has shared the runway with a number of other in-demand models including her sister Gigi and Kaia Gerber Edgy: Bella toted a slouchy bag leather bag in her hand no doubt full of her essentials Wow: Bella flashed her toned midriff in the tiny crop top and checked trousers 'It was a body that I loved. I knew how hard I worked to have those muscles, to be curved in those places I kind of miss it now. At the time, people were hard on me and tried to say that I didnt have a runway body... 'There were still stylists or designers at that time who were putting me in their shows, but putting me something that really covered my body... 'For him to make me feel like he wanted me to shine in that way, it really meant a lot to me as a young model. And I know that he has done that for a lot of people.' Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Rainfall is scarce throughout New Mexico, which is hard on soil and crops. Farmers cant change the weather, but they can change how they manage soil to retain more water and grow flavorful, high-nutrient produce. If you want to conserve water, you need to look at your soil as a system, said Rudy Garcia, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service regional soil health specialist for the Four Corners states. Dark soil that is full of biology and nutrients is what we want, because that soil is always feeding itself. Garcias presentation was one of several soil health workshops at the New Mexico Department of Agricultures Organic Farming Conference in Albuquerque on Friday. Garcia, who grew up in a farming community southeast of Abiquiu, said changing the way you think about land management produces real results for New Mexico farmers. A vineyard near Lordsburg used soil health principles to plant cover crops and loosen soil without destructive tilling. The vineyards grapes have more flavor and last longer because they are now grown in soil with lots of nutrients and water, Garcia said. Rich soil soaks up water like a sponge and provides more water for crops during drought. We need diverse plants above the ground and a diverse ecosystem below, Garcia said. Soil health can be addressed at any scale of farming; it just requires some planning. The sustainable soil movement is gaining ground in New Mexico. Last year, the Legislature passed the Healthy Soils Act and gave the Agriculture Department $175,000 to award for soil improvement projects and $200,000 for education and soil testing. The grant money was in high demand, and the Legislature approved more program funding this year, to improve the health, yield and profitability of the soils of the state. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. A Friendswood man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for producing and possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick announced Friday. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. handed Malik Berlanga, 22, a sentence of 360 months Friday for producing child pornography, according to a news release from Patricks office. Berlanga also received 120 months for the possession conviction, which will run consecutively for a total 40-year-prison sentence. Berlanga will also be on supervised release for life following completion of that 480-month federal prison term. At the hearing, the court heard that Berlangas preferential age was between the ages of 5 and 10 and that he had a foot fetish. In one particular video, Berlanga is seen licking and sucking a minor females feet while she is asleep. At the hearing, the court described other pornographic videos in Berlangas possession involving children under the age of 5. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanks noted he had a duty to protect the public and anything less than the term imposed would not have done that. A cyber-tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the Berlangas identification. He had created videos of a minor female and stored them in his Dropbox account. Authorities found 14 child pornography videos in a folder entitled Personal CP that Berlanga produced. Law enforcement later conducted a search warrant at his residence, seizing several cellular phones and a laptop computer located in Berlangas bedroom. Forensic analysis of those items revealed more than 5000 images and 70 videos containing child pornography. Authorities also found several videos that Berlanga produced on these devices as well. The investigation revealed the victim to be a minor relative, approximately 7 to 8 years of age during the production of some of the videos and images. The investigation revealed some of the images were taken at a hotel in the Galleria area during the 2018 BBQ cook off the precursor to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation into Berlanga with the assistance of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which included detectives from police departments in Galveston, Pearland and Webster. Berlanga has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to federal prison facility that has not yet been determined. nick.powell@chron.com By The Associated Press Feb. 21, 2020 | 03:58 PM | FRANKFORT The measure won bipartisan support in the House and Senate. The measure is a follow-up to last year's sweeping school safety law, which did not specify whether school police officers needed to carry a weapon. The school safety efforts are in response to the 2018 shooting at Marshall County High School, where two 15-year-old students, Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, were killed. More than a dozen others were injured when another student opened fire. Gov. Andy Beshear has signed legislation to require that law enforcement officers carry weapons when assigned to provide security at schools. Advertisement By The Associated Press Feb. 22, 2020 | FRANKFORT By The Associated Press Feb. 22, 2020 | 09:17 AM | FRANKFORT The Kentucky House has passed a bill to revamp public assistance programs and tighten enforcement to prevent suspected fraud. The politically divisive proposal cleared the Republican-run House on a 58-32 vote Friday and now heads to the GOP-dominated Senate. The bill would establish an electronic card through which people would get their benefits, and would cancel assistance for people who repeatedly violate the rules. It would also create a new state insurance plan for low-income residents who don't qualify for Medicaid because they make too much money. This would hopefully resolve situations where people don't work more or get better jobs because they would lose Medicaid coverage. But Democratic lawmakers objected to portions they see as punitive against the poor, saying the low fraud rate doesn't justify the oversight expense. The bill's sponsors include the House's top two Republican leaders, Speaker David Osborne and Speaker Pro Tem David Meade. NCP leader from Gujarat Shankersinh Vaghela on Saturday questioned "uncertainty" surrounding US President Donald Trump's visit to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on February 24. He also accused the BJP governments at the Centre and Gujarat of "spinning a web of lies" over the upcoming "Namaste Trump" event, which is scheduled to be held at Motera stadium here. After participating in a joint roadshow from the Ahmedabad international airport on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump are expected to address "Namaste Trump" event at Motera stadium. "Why this uncertainty over whether Trump will visit Gandhi Ashram or not. Can't he digest the message of truth and no-violence by Mahatma Gandhi?" Vaghela asked. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday said Trump's visit to Sabarmati Ashram will be decided by the White House and that a "Swagat Samiti" has been set up to welcome the US president during his Ahmedabad visit. "Who really invited Trump when both Gujarat and Central governments say they have not invited him. No head of a state visits India only on the invitation of the citizens of the country. "Both the Central and state governments are running a campaign of lies. They do no have the courage to speak truth," Vaghela said after visiting Sabarmati Ashram on the occasion of the death anniversary of Mahatma's wife Kasturba Gandhi. He alleged that the "Namaste Trump" event is being organised to help Trump win the US Presidential elections later this year. "What is the need of the pomp and show when the Gujarat government is under a debt of Rs 2.5 lakh crore? The entire effort is to help Trump win American Presidential election, and accolades for himself (Prime Minister Narendra Modi). They have no right to waste our money for the event. They are spinning a web of lies to hide their own lies and over wastage of money. "The event was decided six months ago, but the committee was only formed two days ahead of his visit," Vaghela said referring to MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar's statement that Donald Trump Nagarik Abhivadan Samiti is the organiser of the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will no longer use the 'Sussex Royal' label when they begin their new life outside the royal inner circle in the spring, their spokeswoman said Friday. The couple will formally step down as senior royals from March 31, from when they will no longer carry out duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'SussexRoyal' in any territory post Spring 2020," said the spokeswoman. They will also not use the name for their new non-profit organisation, due to be announced in the coming months, she added. The couple currently use the name for their popular Instagram account and a website set up after their shock announcement. They also have made dozens of trademark applications for various products. They announced on Wednesday that their new life will begin on April 1, when they will give up their office at the Buckingham Palace -- the queen's London residence. Harry, the 35-year-old second son of the heir apparent Prince Charles, will remain sixth in line to the throne, with no change in the line of succession. The former army officer will also keep his military ranks of major, lieutenant commander and squadron leader in the army, navy and air force, the spokeswoman announced. He and Meghan, 38, will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They have been living in a luxury mansion on Canada's Pacific west coast with their baby son Archie since the New Year. Harry and Meghan first used the Sussex Royal name when they created their own household following a split from brother Prince William. She's the latest Instagram star to become a front row fixture, after her very own activewear brand made it's debut at New York Fashion Week last week. And now Tammy Hembrow has another fashion capital in her sights, as she jetted off to Milan on Friday, with $10,000 worth of designer luggage in tow. The mother-of-two shared a pre-flight selfie, wearing clothes from her latest Saski Collection as she waited to board her flight in an airport bathroom. Blue crush! Tammy Hembrow showed off her washboard abs in a crop top as she jetted to Milan Fashion Week on Friday... with $10,000 worth of designer luggage 'See you soon Milan,' Tammy captioned the Instagram post. In the snap, the busty blonde flaunted her washboard abs in baby blue track pants, a crop-top, and a matching sweatshirt draped over her shoulders all from her own Saski Collection. She completed her casual flying attire with a bevvy of eye catching accessories, including huge gold hoop earrings, and a diamond encrusted Chanel choker. Sparkle, sparkle! Tammy opted to amp up the glam with a bevvy of eye catching accessories for her 22-hour flight, including gold hoop earrings and a diamond embellished Chanel choker Tammy wore her peroxide blonde tresses up in two buns. She wore a face full of glamourous make-up, including fake lashes for her 22-hour journey. And Tammy made sure to let fans know she's an avid traveler, posing with her luxury collection of designer luggage. She towed a Louis Vuitton suitcase, which retails for a staggering $4500, and a Chanel duffle bag, priced at an eye-watering $5000. It's called fashion! Tammy's post had fans wondering why she was heading to Italy, before revealing she was going for Fashion Week Getting down to business: The Gold Coast native's latest move comes after her activewear brand, Saski Collection, was showcased on the runway at NYFW on Tuesday, February 11 Tammy's post had fans wondering why she'd be jetting of to the fashion capital, with one fan writing, 'What's in Milan?', to which Tammy replied: 'Fashion Week RN (sic)'. The Gold Coast native's latest move comes after her activewear brand, Saski Collection, was showcased on the runway at NYFW on Tuesday, February 11. She also celebrated as she appeared on a billboard in New York's Times Square, in an advertisement for Women's Best. Afghans woke up to a week-long partial truce Saturday after the Taliban, the US and local forces all agreed to a lull that could be a major turning point in the long conflict. If the so-called "reduction in violence" holds, it will be a major step towards withdrawing US troops after more than 18 years -- and launching Afghanistan into an uncertain future. "Afghans are tired of war," Bismillah Watandost, a senior member of the grassroots People's Peace Movement of Afghanistan, told AFP, calling on citizens to march and "demand an end to this tragic war". Many Afghans on Facebook were hopeful. "It's a golden opportunity for Afghanistan to bring peace," one, Abu Mahmood, wrote. Both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements on Friday saying they had agreed to sign an accord on February 29 in Doha, following the one-week partial truce. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the US-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," Pompeo said, adding that talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government would "start soon thereafter". Afghanistan's National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal and Taliban sources said a "reduction in violence" between US, Taliban and Afghan security forces had been agreed. The United States has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal in which it would pull out thousands of troops in return for Taliban security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. A reduction in violence would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which would see the Pentagon withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. "The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence," US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Twitter. "Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added. A partial truce could also give a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN said last year that more than 100,000 people have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan in the last decade. However details of what exactly such a truce will look like have remained scant. In southern Kandahar province, seen as the Taliban heartland, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down. However another Taliban commander there said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Worse still, they say warring parties could exploit a lull to reconfigure their forces and secure a battlefield advantage. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded jubilantly, with Taliban fighters and security forces hugging and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes around the country. Civilians also flocked to greet the insurgents as they entered urban areas that they usually visit only to attack, including the capital Kabul, for ice cream and more selfies. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Friday Afghan security forces would remain "on active defence status" during the week. In a statement, the Taliban said warring parties would "create a suitable security situation" ahead of a deal signing. The Taliban's political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, separately tweeted that the agreement would see "all" foreign forces leave Afghanistan. But for now at least, the United States wants to leave troops in Afghanistan on a counter-terrorism mission to fight jihadists such as the Islamic State group. - Stand down - Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusufzai said the move signalled a change in thinking for both the Taliban and the United States after years of fighting. "Both sides have shown their commitment to sign the peace deal, and it's a big development," he said. The United States and the Taliban have been tantalisingly close to a deal before, only to see President Donald Trump nix it at the eleventh hour in September. The attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications, including the fear that competing forces could exploit a lull to secure a battlefield advantage. Since the US-led invasion after the September 11, 2001 attacks, America has spent more than $1 trillion in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. A partial truce in Afghanistan could be a step towards the withdrawal of US troops, seen here at the site of a suicide bomb attack in 2015 US troop deployment and death toll in Afghanistan since 2001. Updated February 14, 2020. An Afghan soldier on a military exercise in Herat on December 29, 2019 US soldiers look out over hillsides during a visit of the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan in 2019 Patna, Feb 22 : Attacking the growing dynasticism in political parties, BJP President J.P. Nadda said here on Saturday that the BJP is the only outfit where the party is the family while for all others family is the party. After inaugurating 11 new state BJP offices in Bihar through video conferencing, Nadda asked party workers to ensure the return of the NDA to power in the next Assembly elections. He said all these new BJP offices are equipped with modern facilities. He said most of the political parties belong to 'families' who propagate dynastic politics, while the BJP is the only party which does not do this. Here the party is the family and not the other way around. Exhorting the party workers in Bihar to spread the message that the BJP is all for development, Nadda said, "BJP is unstoppable. May be for some time, some parties may gain prominence but it is the BJP's ideology which will emerge victorious ultimately." A large number of party workers gathered at the Patna airport to welcome Nadda who arrived in the state for the first time after becoming the party president. The spread of COVID-19 has caused business disruption in Vietnam since the first case was announced in late January. The hardest hit areas include tourism and associated services, cross-border trade, manufacturing and agribusiness, among other sectors. IFC is supporting Vietnamese businesses by increasing trade limits for four client commercial banks including An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABBank), Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank), Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) and Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPB). The increased total limit of US$ 294 million will enable these banks capacity to cover payment risks in granting trade financing to local companies, mostly small and medium enterprises, IFC said in its press release on February 21. VIB welcomes this timely and meaningful initiative to cope with possible liquidity constraints and de-risking trends during this challenging period, said VIBs Chief Executive Officer Han Ngoc Vu. IFCs guarantee will help local banks significantly extend trade finance to more importers and exporters, some of which are credit-constrained and rely on bank trade facilities to manage cash flows and purchase raw inputs. This initiative follows the State Bank of Vietnams call to financial institutions to support local businesses, which may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak particularly those in trade and supply chain linkages. Leveraging IFCs global experience in responding to several economic crises in the past, the decision to increase trade limits is an effort to ensure continued trade flows during this challenging phase. The expanded trade finance line will help mitigate trade finance risks, thus softening the impact of COVID-19 on the Vietnamese economy and the private sector, said Mehmet Mumcuoglu, IFC Financial Institutions Group Manager for East Asia and the Pacific. Following this initiative, IFC is also exploring other expanded interventions to extend its support to Vietnam to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and help the nation sustain robust economic growth, said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC Country Manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. By PTI NEW DELHI: Taking on the Congress over its scepticism about US President Donald Trump's visit to India, the BJP on Saturday said this trip will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the opposition party should take pride in the "nation's achievements". The BJP also said there are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and "think as one nation". This comes a day after the Congress said Trump's visit should not become an extension of the US presidential election campaign but yield concrete results for India. The visit should not be reduced to a photo opportunity or a PR exercise that would devalue the importance of Indo-US partnership, the Congress had said. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra asked the Congress why it was unhappy when the country's stature is being raised. "This is a meeting of the world's largest and oldest democracies and it should be celebrated," he said. ALSO READ: Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia not invited for Melania Trump's event in Delhi school "There are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and think as one nation," he said. Taking a dig at the Congress, Patra asked if 10 Janpath (residence of party president Sonia Gandhi) had allowed former prime minister Manmohan Singh to develop Prime Minister Narendra Modi-like rapport with international leaders. Trump's visit will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the Congress should "start taking pride in the nation's achievements", he added. Responding to the Congress' questions about what the country will gain from this visit, Patra said the latest defence equipment and the deals that the US was offering to India were never offered during the UPA regime. Underlining that Trump himself has said multiple times that India is a hard bargainer, the BJP spokesperson said the Congress should not be worried about India's interests. Patra said close cooperation with the White House has ensured that India remains at the front and centre of Trump's strategic blueprint. With PM Modi's hardwork, India's relations with other countries have further strengthened from Sochi to Mallapuram, he said. One of the death row convicts in Nirbhaya rape and murder case, Pawan Gupta, has refused to meet his new legal aid in Tihar Jail. Ravi Qazi was appointed counsel for Pawan last week after his erstwhile lawyer A.P. Singh recused himself from the case. Pawan has yet not availed the remedy of either curative or mercy petition. He, along with three others are scheduled to be hanged on March 3 at 6 a.m. Pawan's counsel told media persons that since he has not been able to establish contact with Pawan in the last few days, no legal remedy could be moved on his behalf. The case pertains to the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in the national capital in December 2012. HAMMOND A 100 mph pursuit ended with a fleeing vehicle crashing into a field and the driver continuing to lead chase on foot through Hammond, police said. At 9:19 p.m. Thursday an off-duty Lake County Sheriffs officer was driving in a fully marked squad car eastbound on Interstate 90 from the state line when a gray Dodge Durango with Illinois plates drove by at a high speed cutting across all lanes, cutting the officer off, a Lake County Sheriff's police report said. The vehicle then sped on the left shoulder to pass three cars, causing the officer to activate his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to pull over the Durango. The Durango refused to stop and led chase, allegedly going in excess of 100 mph. The Durango continued speeding and cutting across all lanes of traffic as the officer kept it in sight, police said. The Durango then made a sudden maneuver from the left shoulder to the far right to try exiting onto Calumet Avenue. However, the vehicle was going too fast and ended up speeding off the roadway and into a field. SRINAGAR: The number of listed terrorists active in Kashmir has come down to less than 250, while 25 terrorists were killed by security forces in nearly a dozen operations in the first two months of this year, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said here on Saturday. He also said there has been confirmation of only three militants infiltrating into the Valley through the International Border so far this year. "The number of listed militants has come down from what it was earlier. Around 240 to 250 listed terrorists are there in the Valley," the DGP told reporters at a press conference here. He said in the last two months, the number of reported and confirmed infiltrated terrorists is three. "One of them, a JeM operative, was killed in an operation in Tral recently, Singh added. He said nearly a dozen successful operations have taken place till now in 2020, which included 10 in the Kashmir Valley and two in the Jammu region. "Till now, 25 terrorists have been killed in these operations. Nine terrorist operatives have been arrested in the valley, while three or four in Jammu. More than 40 OGWs (overground workers) -- who were involved in promoting and supporting terror activities in some form or the other -- have been arrested," the DGP said. Referring to the misuse of social media through virtual private networks (VPNs), Singh said more cases had come to the fore and police was acting tough against them. "More cases of misuse of social media have come to the fore. Waseem Dar, a resident of Handwara, was arrested for posting some irresponsible content on (social) media with intent to instigate the public sentiment. We are taking notice of such incidents and action will be taken," he said. Asked about an SSP-rank officer receiving threats on social media, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, who flanked the DGP at the presser, said police will take action against the person. "The account name (from which threat was received) is Hafiz Suhail. We have verified and the user's real name is Suhail Wali, a resident of Dalipora Pulwama. We conducted a search at his house but his parents told us he is presently in Dubai. A case will be registered against him and we will take further action," the IGP said. To a question about the security arrangements for a proposed march here by Kashmiri Pandits, the DGP said, "First, there should be a permission by the civil administration and when that is there, we will take adequate precautions." Just over a year ago, the Securities and Exchange Commission had launched an investigation into Elon Musk after he tweeted that he planned to take Tesla private. He was facing criticism, and a defamation lawsuit, for calling a Thai-cave rescuer a "pedo guy" and "child rapist." And when Musk took a hit off a joint during an Internet broadcast, it triggered a safety review from NASA that was concerned the billionaire maverick was going off the rails. But now Musk is on a roll, literally dancing his way forward past a thicket of controversies. Tesla's stock price has quadrupled, and the company's market value now is greater than GM's and Ford's combined. A jury acquitted him in the defamation suit. And SpaceX is on the cusp of its first human spaceflight, having just completed what Musk called "a picture-perfect" test flight. President Donald Trump even compared him recently to Thomas Edison, calling him "one of our great geniuses." Most notable for some is that Musk, known for taking to Twitter to tout his successes and lash out at his critics, has demonstrated restraint. He hasn't tweeted any sensitive numbers about the publicly traded Tesla, and he kept silent after NASA pronounced the software in Boeing's Starliner capsule - SpaceX's competitor for sending people into space - so flawed that more than a million lines of code must be meticulously reviewed, a process that could take months. People who follow Musk closely say they've noticed the change. Rebukes by regulators and the serious responsibility of sending astronauts to space, now weeks away, have humbled him, they say. "Elon's not dealing like he's under the vice anymore, and he is acting more reasonable," said Gene Munster, managing partner of analyst firm Loup Ventures. That doesn't mean there aren't challenges ahead. Tesla is launching its new crossover SUV in the first quarter, and new vehicles in the past have become a production stumbling block. Tesla also revealed last week that it's again under investigation by the SEC. And though he may have been humbled, he remains refreshingly unfiltered. He recently danced on stage in China, performing what some dubbed a strip tease, shrugging his hoodie off and then throwing it. He told a recent SpaceX event on the rushed timeline to build a rocket he hopes will get to Mars: "My new thing is management by rhyming: If the schedule is long, it's wrong; it if it's tight, it's right." He also recently released a song that climbed the charts on Spotify after he tweeted to his 30 million followers a shot of himself jamming to the beat. The track's title also served a four-word manifesto: "Don't Doubt Ur Vibe." - - - Musk's relentless focus on Tesla, in particular, has begun to pay off. Musk's goal of injecting electric cars into the mainstream is becoming reality, and Wall Street has begun to accept that. The company's stock has long been besieged by short sellers, gambling that the company won't achieve its goals. But the short sellers are reeling, prompting headlines such as this recent one in the Wall Street Journal: "Detroit Falters as Tesla Excites." "There are still things they need to work through," said Munster. "It's still going to be bumpy. But as far as the core concept - 'Will Tesla make it or not make it?' - that question has now been decided. Tesla is going to be around for decades." Musk, who was bullied as a child in South Africa and made his way to North America as a teenager, has always had a combative streak that often pitted him against the establishment. He took on the credit card industry with PayPal, where he was CEO until he was ousted in 2000. He remained the company's largest shareholder, however, and pocketed $165 million when PayPal was acquired by EBay for $1.5 billion. He founded SpaceX in 2001 and disrupted the military-industrial complex that for years had held a strong hold over America's space industry. His investment in Tesla didn't come until 2004, when he was named the company's chairman of the board. He became CEO in 2008. Forbes estimates his net worth at more than $43 billion. The low point for Musk came during the summer of 2018. A slate of top executives had left Tesla, which had been struggling and laying off employees in droves. The company was having difficulty delivering on its rosy production promises, and Musk said on Twitter that the company had graduated from one nightmare to another - "from production hell to delivery logistics hell." He lamented to the New York Times that August in an interview that, "This past year has been the most difficult and painful year of my career. It was excruciating." The company was struggling to achieve its goal of delivering 5,000 Model 3 cars per week. Tesla never truly delivered on the core marketing component of the Model 3 - that it would be a $35,000 car, making it affordable to the masses. While a model costing that price was available briefly last year, it was pulled from Tesla's traditional online sales hub and moved to special order status. Musk had long been turning attention - some said too much attention - to the intricacies of the company's product lineup and assembly line. And he made decisions in haste, axing products on impulse without embarking on market research. "Get it off the website now," he said, after one executive presented what he saw as a compelling case. When the company failed to meet its output for Model X SUVs because the falcon-wing doors were so hard to fit, "Elon moved into the factory for two weeks," said a former Tesla executive who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal company matters. "He was sleeping in a sleeping bag - real time triaging cars at the end of the line trying to get to the root cause of what the issues were. It was wild." Musk also got hands-on when the company was facing a lag because of paint. "Elon wasn't satisfied," the former executive said, "and so he took over the paint shop. He ran the paint shop for two weeks." His agony was compounded by a self-inflicted wound - when he took to Twitter to announce that if Tesla's stock price reached $420, he would take the company private. "Funding secured," he wrote on Aug. 7, 2018, in a pronouncement that shocked investors and sparked an SEC investigation that resulted in a lawsuit accusing him of misleading investors and seeking to bar him from running any public company. Musk ended up settling soon afterward, paying a $20 million fine and agreeing to step down as Tesla's chairman for three years. Late in 2018, it was officials on the ninth floor of NASA headquarters who were fuming over his behavior. Musk had recently puffed a joint while appearing on the Joe Rogan show and took a sip of whiskey - not the sort of conduct NASA is used to seeing form the heads of one of their prime contractors. In this case, NASA was relying on Musk's SpaceX to build a spacecraft capable of flying its astronauts to the International Space Station. And NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, a teetotaling conservative Republican former congressman from Oklahoma, didn't appreciate the message it sent. He ordered a safety review of the company and publicly chastised Musk, saying that "culture and leadership start at the top. Anything that would result in some questioning the culture of safety, we need to fix immediately." SpaceX went to great lengths to show that it prioritizes safety over all else. And in March of last year, it successfully flew its Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station and back, a feat that seemed to erase any concerns from Bridenstine, who crowed after the 2:49 a.m. launch that SpaceX had helped put NASA on the "precipice of launching American astronauts in American rockets from America soil." Speaking at the pre-dawn press conference, Musk said he "was emotionally exhausted" and that the flight was "super stressful," and the culmination of "an incredible amount of hard work and sacrifice." The high didn't last long. A month later, that same spacecraft blew up during a test of its emergency abort system, sending an ominous cloud of orange smoke wafting into the Florida sky. - - - At Tesla, everything started to stabilize once Musk had a new team he could trust to deliver in 2019. Gone were the days when Musk moved into the manufacturing plant, overseeing mundane elements of production personally, such as the Model X production, the company's paint shop and later the Model 3's lagging due to overemphasis on automation. Finally, he began to delegate, more and more, becoming more comfortable after the revolving door of executives finally left him with a team he could trust, former officials and close observers said. The Model 3 line was ramping up and meeting delivery goals. Tesla opened a factory to produce cars in China. The stock started rising. And Musk did a dance - arms pumping, jacket tossed to the side - at an event in Shanghai celebrating the first car deliveries in China that went viral and symbolized [youtube.com] the sudden turn-around. Still, there are many perils ahead. Musk faces serious questions about core pieces of Tesla's business model that could send the company back to its near-constant volatility over the last few years, which saw the company's stock dip to a record low of $177 as recently as June. Even earlier this month, the stock rose nearly 14 percent to $887 before falling 17 percent the next day. It closed above $921 a share on Wednesday before following the market down on Friday. One of Musk's biggest tests will be the first deliveries of its new Model Y crossover. Tesla has faced questions about demand now that a $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicle purchases has expired. Musk acknowledged the challenges on a call with analysts last month, though it was not demand that concerned him. "We are worried about production, [making] sure we get that production ramp going and reach volume production as soon as possible," he said. It's also not out of the regulatory line of fire. Tesla revealed earlier this month that the SEC had subpoenaed the company seeking records concerning "certain financial data and contracts including Tesla's regular financing arrangements" in December, just as the agency closed the investigation into Musk's tweets. The company separately revealed that the Department of Justice was seeking documents on Musk's communications about taking the company private and Model 3 production. It also faces probes by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into safety regarding both its Autopilot assistant and alleged battery fires. And then there's the question of whether Musk can safely fly astronauts - a feat SpaceX hasn't yet tried. That test is likely to come this spring, when SpaceX is expected to fly two NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, to the International Space Station. In January, SpaceX nailed a test flight that showed off the capsule's emergency abort system, paving the way for the first flight with crews on board. Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut who worked at Space X for years and still serves as a consultant, said Musk and the people at SpaceX know "to never believe things are going to be as great as they are during the highs, and not as low during the lows." Still, he said, the abort-system test "was a huge morale boost" that fired up Musk and his whole team. It showed. Hours after the flight, Musk, who turns 49 in June, was loose and in a good mood, holding forth before a gaggle of reporters at the Kennedy Space Center. One of them urged him to show off his dance moves, as he had done in Shanghai when Tesla opened a factory there. But he demurred, saying maybe he would consider it once he had flown astronauts safely. "I'm not your dancing puppet!" he said, laughing. The city police have registered criminal offence against former Jet Airways director Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita for allegedly cheating a Mumbai-based travel company to the tune of Rs 46 crore. The MRA Marg police, following the orders of a metropolitan magistrate on Tuesday registered a complaint against Goyal and his wife under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint was made by Rajendran Neruparambil, chief finance officer of the Akbar Travels of India Private Limited which has its office in Crawford area of South Mumbai. Deputy commissioner of police (zone 1) Sangramsinh Nishandar confirmed the development to HT. As per the complaint, a copy of which has been reviewed by HT, the company had been doing business with Jet Airways since 1994. The complainant has said that the accused hid the financial crisis in their company and assured the travel agency that they would not suffer any loss. The travel agency sold Manchester-Mumbai flight tickets on cheaper rates, on the assurances of the accused. However, in January 2019, some Jet flights got cancelled, forcing the complainant to approach the accused. The complainant alleged that the accused continued to assure them about their financial health. This money, they claimed, would be siphoned off to India to pay back dues, the travel company said, adding that they incurred losses because of the assurances. A Mumbai police officer said that it was a business deal gone wrong. The accused company defaulted payment to the travel company which incurred losses. The administrations antipathy toward the so-called deep state is familiar and enduring. My guess is 1,690 of them voted for Hillary Clinton for president, and 1,600 of them came to work every single day trying to make sure the president failed, groused White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney last Wednesday about the 1,700 or so civil servants at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under his leadership. But these are the same professionals who are trying to make sure that our democracy continues to function, and in the case of the intelligence community, theyre the ones trying to deliver honest assessments of an enemy powers attempts to meddle with this nations right to self-determination whether by aiding Mr. Trump or by aiding Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, as U.S. officials have briefed the Vermont senator. The infamous Joker malware has found a way to bypass the security checks to be published in the official Play Store, new clicker was found by experts. The fight to the Joker malware (aka Bread) begun in September 2019 when security experts at Google removed from the official Play Store 24 apps because they were infected with a new spyware tracked as the Joker. The Joker malware is a malicious code camouflaged as a system app and allows attackers to perform a broad range of malicious operations, including disable the Google Play Protect service, install malicious apps, generate fake reviews, and show ads. The spyware is able to steal SMS messages, contact lists, and device information and to sign victims up for premium service subscriptions. In January, Google revealed it successfully removed more than 1,700 apps from the Play Store over the past three years that had been infected with the Joker malware. Most recent versions of the Joker malware were involved in toll fraud that consists of tricking victims into subscribing to or purchasing various types of content via their mobile phone bill. Unfortunately, the malware is under constant development, and new samples that have been found in the official Play Store were specifically designed to avoid Googles store checks. Experts from Check Point researchers have recently discovered a new clicker malware family, along with some fresh samples of the Joker spyware in Google Play. A clicker is used by crooks in ad fraud to mimic user clicks on advertisements. The new samples in the Play Store found by the experts are four that were downloaded over 130,000 times. The following tainted apps were camera , wallpaper, SMS, and photo editing software: com . app . reyflow . phote app com . race . mely . wpaper race com . landscape . camera . plus landscape camera plus com . vailsmsplus The authors of the Joker malware attempt to hide its functionality by modifying the used strings, the recently discovered samples utilized a simple XOR cipher with a static key. CheckPoint experts noticed that the malware does not target devices from the U.S. and Canada, to do this, it also implements a function that reads the operator information specifically to filter out these regions. While avoiding the US and Canada, this Joker campaign proves the quick turn-around of experienced malicious actors. Almost every week since its launch, Joker managed to get into the official store and get downloaded into users devices. reads the analysis published by CheckPoint . Once the malware has checked the region of the target device, it will contact the C2 server to load a configuration file containing a URL for another payload that is downloaded and executed. The subscription process is totally invisible to the user because the URLs for the premium services are opened in a hidden webview . With access to the notification listener, and the ability to send SMS, the payload listens for incoming SMS and extract the premium service confirmation code (2FA) and sends it to the Offer Page, to subscribe the user to that premium service. continues the report. But how does the malware subscribe the user to those services in the first place, you might ask. Inside the configuration received from the C&C server, a list of URLs to contact (Offer pages) is processed and opened in a hidden webview . Check Point researchers discovered a new clicker malware family, tracked as Haken, that was hidden in eight apps on the Play Store that collectively have more than 50,000 installations. The Haken clicker utilizes native code and injection to Facebook and AdMob libraries while communicating with a remote server to get the configuration. continues the analysis. The first entry point of the Haken clicker is the receiver called BaseReceiver . This receiver asks for permissions that the backdoored app (in this case, a compass application that actually provides a compass service) does not require to function, for instance , BOOT_COMPLETED which let the backdoored application to run code at device start-up. Usually, the tainted apps were asking for permissions that the legitimate app does not need. Haken leverages these permissions to load a native library ( kagu-lib ) and registering two workers and a timer. One worker communicates with the C&C server to download a new configuration and process it, while the other is triggered by the timer, checks for requirements and injects code into the Ad-related Activity classes of well-known Ad-SDKs like Googles AdMob and Facebook states Check Point. The report includes IoCs and the list of malicious apps, urging users to remove them from their devices. Check Point already reported to Google the 12 malicious apps it has spotted on the Play Store and the company immediately removed them. Pierluigi Paganini Australia is relaxing its travel ban from China by potentially allowing students in years 11 and 12 to enter, except those from Hubei province where the new coronavirus is believed to have originated. Health Minister Greg Hunt said that the COVID-19 disease has been contained in Australia and that the Australian Border Force will continue to provide case-by-case exemptions regarding the travel ban. In particular, that should include consideration of year 11 and 12 secondary school students from mainland China, excluding Hubei, Hunt told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday. The Australian government has yet to make a similar call for university students. Australia has since Feb. 1 barred entry to foreign citizens arriving directly from mainland China in efforts to stem the spread of the COVID-19 disease that emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province in early December 2019. Screening and quarantine measures apply to Australian citizens, residents, and their family members who have been in China. On Thursday, Australias travel ban was extended until at least Feb. 29, pending further changes to be decided by the countrys national security committee of cabinet. Chinese authorities locked down Wuhan on Jan. 23, but many experts said it was too late to stem the spread of the disease. Before then, 5 million residents had already left the city, serving as potential carriers of the virus to other cities and around the world. Since then, dozens of countries, including Australia, have enacted travel restrictions and measures to screen for the disease among those arriving from mainland China. Researchers are still unsure of the source of the virus, nor is there an immediate cure available. Click here to read The Epoch Times special coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Cathy He from The Epoch Times and The Australian Associated Press contributed to this report. It has been seven days since the people of Gorey and north Wexford woke up to a new reality of its two TDs losing their seats following General Election 2020. Both Michael D'Arcy of Fine Gael and Malcolm Byrne of Fianna Fail were knocked out during the final two counts. Johnny Mythen of Sinn Fein, Brendan Howlin of Labour, Independent Verona Murphy, James Browne of Fianna Fail and Paul Kehoe of Fine Gael took the five seats in the county. As we look ahead to the new Dail which is due to sit for the first time this week, there is still a sense of shock to be felt in Gorey town as its people adjust to the new reality. Before the election, Elaine Clarke and her campaign team for the creation of a third secondary school in the Gorey said that they would present a petition to the new Minister for Education when the Dail sat. Although the campaign continues to gain momentum, Elaine said it will be an uphill battle. 'We're very worried now with no TD. Although Enniscorthy have three TDs, the area has its own issues with regard to schools, so we're not going to be the priority. We have contacted the other sitting TDs previously and they never came to a meeting, but they were always contacted and would have known about it. 'We know that Malcolm and Michael will stay behind us and still help us fight, but we don't have the same push now'. Next for the campaign is to set up a website and newsletter to reach more people. 'We are aiming to have our petition ready for the end of March, but like everyone, we'll have to wait for the new government to present it,' she said. Another project of importance is the future of Gorey's Market House. Speaking to developer Harry Crosbie, a personal friend of Michael D'Arcy, who currently has a submission in to Wexford County Council with Gorey's Redmond Brothers for the development of a 1,500 seater mini arena around the ideal of 'Vicar Street South'. 'I'm very very sorry and distressed that Michael D'Arcy has lost his seat. He worked incredibly hard for the town and the loss is dreadful. 'We will continue working full steam ahead with the Market House plans, it is business as usual'. In last year's local elections following the new boundary settings, Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District enlarged to have ten council seats while Enniscorthy reduced from eight to six seats. As it stands now following the general election, Enniscorthy has three TDs while Gorey has lost its two sitting TDs. Chairperson of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Cllr Joe Sullivan said that Gorey will suffer not being represented at national level. 'The result of the election was a blow to the area, we need national representation no matter what the party colour and the fact we have no TD is detrimental. Gorey needs to have a voice at the top table, it's the most progressive area in the county and the fastest growing town so it's just highly unfortunate. 'The people of Gorey that voted for candidates in other parts of the county will have to look at themselves. When we talk about housing, health and transport, we may be left behind as this always happens when have a lack of representation, it shouldn't but it does have a knock on affect. 'From a Fianna Fail perspective, Malcolm Byrne has a big future in politics, under no circumstances should anyone write him off. He has the ability to carve out a place for himself. 'The Market House, the Waleran site, they are moving in the right direction but I would have huge concerns for the campaign for a third secondary school. We need someone to promote it, at Department level and it's going to be different. 'It's just not good for the area, and our local Council meetings will have a different complexion now,' he said. Fine Gael councillor and director of elections for Michael D'Arcy, Cllr Anthony Donohoe agreed that things will be different. 'I'm bitterly disappointed with the loss of the two TDs to the town, it's a booming town and in my opinion, although we have five county TDs, you need TDs from your area that are across the issues. 'We need a third secondary school, who is going to deliver that? As well as projects like the Waleran's site and the Market House. 'This is not from just a Fine Gael perspective, but Michael is married with two children, and he has given up a lot to stand up for north Wexford from a personal perspective. 'His staff locally as well will be losing their jobs, these are sacrifices. I don't think we could have done anything differently throughout the campaign, we had big canvass teams out but it's just the way the vote broke. 'You have to keep going and Gorey is going to keep going with the visionary that is Tom Enright and the ten local councillors. I'm concerned for Gorey but I believe in it, and I will do my best not to let it fall back, as will the other nine councillors. 'We had no TD from 2011 to 2016, but even when Michael went to the Seanad, he kept banging the drum for Gorey and I hope that he doesn't leave politics. 'All politics is local, and there are projects that wouldn't be there without the representation we had. The Tara Rocks community centre is a good example, someone like Verona Murphy in the south is not going to come up to Gorey to fill in an application form for a community group. We need people locally to bring the IDA and the Cairn group down to us'. From a tourism perspective, a spokesperson for Gorey Visitor's Centre described the loss for Gorey as huge. 'As the result unfolded on the second day of counting, we watched it like hawks waiting. We're obviously concerned for what's going to happen to this building. Prior to the election, we had spoken with Michael D'Arcy a couple of times about it. He was trying to source another premises while renovations would take place, so now we don't know what happens next, whether we'll have a place. 'Five years ago people didn't know we were here, we're known now and Malcolm was behind us as well during that process. We feel there's no one to pull up the reins, as Malcolm and Michael were always available for us when we needed them. The result was a bit of a shock and we still can't believe it. 'We're wondering where this leaves us, as we don't know who the voice is now for the tourist end of things. People were voting for change, but they voted for party as opposed to a person who would work for the town. 'In terms of our jobs, a lot of work has gone in here to keep this going. We always found Michael and Malcolm to be very approachable and helpful, there was follow up with them both and we were never disregarded. 'Last year during the National Enterprise Town awards, Malcolm was given a last minute phone call to bring the judges around and he made that time and sold our town very well. He didn't stumble, you'd know he was from here and he loves Gorey. He has a mind of knowledge about the town, the businesses, the people and that comes from experience. 'This is true for Michael too who has been supportive, and has always tried to reassure us. Really, although they were different parties both men were doing things for the good of the town, but now we don't have that'. CEO of Innovate and former president of Gorey Chamber of Commerce Jim Hughes said that he is not concerned for Gorey's future business development but that all businesspeople must pull together. 'Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft once famously said that "most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years" and it is for this reason I think we should look to the medium term. We have had periods without elected TDs before, it is not where we would have wished to be but it is where we find ourselves. 'The European Commission predicted last week that the Irish economy will grow by 3.6% this year and by 3.2% in 2021. In its interim outlook, the Commission also estimated that Ireland's real GDP will have grown by 5.7% in 2019, the fastest rate in the EU. This strong growth was driven by strong private consumption, exports and investment. While recent surveys show a marked rebound in consumer and business sentiment after the threat of a no-deal Brexit receded, which in turn supported a more optimistic outlook. The Irish economy is effectively operating at full capacity, North Wexford is obviously a subset so for the region to continue to go from strength to strength we need these economic figures to continue on an upward trajectory'. He said although Michael and Malcolm had been hard working and committed, that it now falls on businesspeople to continue to put their shoulders to the grindstone. 'Looking at Gorey as an enterprise and digital town, it will certainly have an negative impact but it's a tactical initiative within a wider area strategy which is driven by a lot of hard working people in the local authority and business community. The last time Gorey had no TD was certainly a difficult period but that was primary predicated on the state of the overall economy which really only started to turn positive towards the latter end of this period. 'To the newly elected TDs in terms of picking up the reins I would say measure twice, cut once'. One newly elected TD is poll topper Johnny Mythen of Sinn Fein, and local councillor Fionntan O'Suilleabhain said that he has every confidence in him to work for Gorey as a priority. 'Johnny Mythen is tying in closely with me to advance important local issues for Gorey district. These issues include the need for affordable housing, sporting and other facilities and a third second-level school on the Wexford County Council site at St. Waleran's. As I'm on the board of WWETB as well as those of Gorey Community School and Creagh College, I am acutely aware of the urgency of the school issue, so this will be a priority for both of us, and we intend to work with council officials, elected members and the four other TDs to help secure Departmental approval as soon as possible'. Cllr O'Suilleabhain confirmed that Johnny Mythen would set up a constituency office in Gorey. 'Mental health services for North Wexford is another priority. Johnny and I also want to work with all parties to advance the Market House project and we hope to meet with Wexford County Council's Chief Executive, Tom Enright, shortly to discuss all the above. 'Accustomed for many years to having a locally-based TD, it's natural for some local people to be concerned that we don't now have a TD who is geographically located in Gorey. However, to allay such fears, we can assure local people that this needn't be a problem, as Johnny knows that he was elected to represent all the people of Wexford, not just Enniscorthy. Gorey is a top priority. We also have ten county councillors representing Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District and we work closely together. People have demanded change so it is crucial that we respect that, and have Wexford TD's in Leinster House who will vote the right way on housing, health and other critically important issues. That happens to be the place where the big decisions that affect the lives of Gorey people are made. 'We would like to express our commiserations to both Malcolm and Michael who no doubt will continue to have a future in public life in some form or another. Despite whatever political differences we may have had, I always found Malcolm's dogged determination and never-give-up attitude over two decades to be highly admirable. As for Michael, we sat in the same desk from the first day in junior infants right up until the end of primary school. So I respect anyone who has the courage to put their name on a ballot paper, as politics can be a cruel business'. Birmingham police have arrested a suspect in an October homicide that authorities said was committed as retaliation. Ray Franklin, 40, of Birmingham, was arrested on a murder warrant in connection with the Oct. 17 death of 39-year-old Towan Lee, police said Friday. Lee, a Birmingham resident, was found lying unresponsive in the roadway of 93rd Street North and 7th Court North around 2:30 p.m. Oct. 17. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Evidence from the scene led police to reclassify the case as a homicide. Its unclear exactly when Franklin was arrested. Investigators uncovered information that Lee was killed in retaliation for a previous incident. During Franklins arrest, police found additional evidence to arrest him on three drug charges: unlawful possession of controlled substances, unlawful possession of marijuana and trafficking marijuana. Franklin is scheduled to be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail on $975,000 bond, police said. By Trend Azerbaijan, as an exporter of energy resources, has become an important player in ensuring Europes energy security, Azerbaijani MP Sona Aliyeva told Trend Feb. 21. The country plays a key role for Italy from this point of view as well, Aliyeva noted. The Azerbaijani MP added that Azerbaijani gas will be delivered to Italy via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Along with Azerbaijans great importance for Italy in this context, in particular, big investment companies of this country are showing increased interest in Azerbaijans economy, Aliyeva noted. A bilateral agreement on cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union has been developed, said the MP. In this regard, Azerbaijan has established relations and signed agreements with nine EU countries. The visit of the head of state as a whole will give a tangible impetus to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Europe. Aliyeva emphasized that Italy invariably supports Azerbaijans territorial integrity, adding that during the meeting of the presidents of both countries, the head of the Italian state expressed interest in the early settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means. It is extremely gratifying to hear such words from the head of state that is currently chairing OSCE, said the Azerbaijani MP. I hope that during its chairmanship in the organization, Italy will make every effort to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Undoubtedly, the documents on strategic partnership signed between Italy and Azerbaijan outlined future cooperation between the two countries, Aliyeva added. The presence of such a strategic partner as Italy in the very heart of Europe undoubtedly increases Azerbaijans influence in Western Europe. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz New Delhi: Talk is rife in the Congress that since circumstances or fate have not thrown up a new leader, the party has perforce to invite Rahul Gandhi back as president. In the light of such talk, it is significant that senior leader Salman Khurshid gave an interview to the news agency PTI on Saturday to say, effectively, that should happen. The interview may have been prompted by statements by a few leaders such as Shashi Tharoor and Sandeep Dikshit who have said it's time the leadership issue in the Congress was finally laid to rest. Yesterday, Tharoor went so far as to urge the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to hold leadership elections to "energise workers and inspire voters". Asked about Dikshit and Tharoor's statements, Khurshid hedged: "When we get to that point, we will cross the bridge." But the drift of what he said was that all sections of the party desired Rahul Gandhi's return, and so be it. Rahul Gandhi resigned as president of the Congress last year, after the party lost the May 2019 election to the BJP. The party returned itself to the temprary care of Sonia Gandhi and has not indicated if it will call an election, or any other exercise, to find a new leader. Asked whether Rahul Gandhi was still the best bet for the Congress, Khurshid conceded the point but behind a smokescreen of Congresspeak. "We have all said that. It is now written in stone, it is clear. But if we accept him as our leader, let us give him the choice of decision making and the timing of it. Why do we want to impose (our views) on him?" Asked whether there was a dominant view within the Congress that Gandhi must come back, he said there was. "But it was embarrassing to continue repeating it because if you do believe that he is a leader, you need to leave some decisions to him, not impose the timing. Let him take a decision," the former Union minister said. "He (Gandhi) said he is not going away and he has not gone away. He is still here. If he does not have a label because he does not want to use that label today. Let's respect him for it and we have done so," Khurshid said. The senior leader from UP insisted Gandhi remains the top leader in the Congress, nobody else is. The fact that parties opposing the Congress continue to attack him more than anyone else is proof of that. Asked if the Gandhi family remains the fulcrum of the Congress, he said that it is a fact that cannot be wished away. "Nobody says, and least of all the Gandhi family says, that democratic processes should not be allowed to evolve in the party. Democratic processes are evolving in the party. But the position they hold historically, is the position that is acknowledged and accepted by huge numbers of Congress workers, that is a fact you cannot shut your eyes to," he said. Asked about the dynasty factor that has been the main point of attack by the BJP, Khurshid said, "Tell me one party that does not have dynasties. I am not saying dynasties are good, but dynasties are a fact, not just in politics, but in the media, in police, in judiciary, in Bollywood, in administration, in universities You can't just single out one single area and say 'there should be no dynasties here'." From Ahmedabad, the delegation will travel to Agra before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia are unlikely to be present when US First Lady Melania Trump visits the Delhi government-run school in Nanakpura near Moti Bagh on February 25, according to sources. As per the original schedule, both Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia were to accompany Ms Trump during her visit to the school, people familiar with the matter said. Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia were also to brief the US First Lady about the happiness curriculum introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, sources said. When contacted, a US embassy spokesperson referred the query on the matter to the Delhi government. There was no immediate reaction from the Delhi government. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and a high-level delegation, will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a less than 36-hour-long trip to India. From Ahmedabad, the delegation will travel to Agra before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. Vasant Vihar councilor Manish Agrawal said that all departments including the sanitation department and horticulture department are engaged in beautifying the path through which the First Lady will visit the school. We have been beautifying the path through which Melania Trump will go to the school. All municipal departments are busy in the preparations, he said. AAP on Saturday allegedly said that both Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia, who were given briefs about the happiness curriculum, were scheduled to welcome Ms Trump at a South Delhi government school, but their names were dropped by the Central government. AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon tweeted about this issue and wrote: There is no match for the pettiness of Narendra Modi. You may not invite Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, but their work speaks for them. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra responded on this controversy and said: There shouldnt be low-level politics on some issues. India comes under disrepute if we start pulling each others legs. The Indian government doesnt influence the US, as to whom they invite or not. This weekend, millions of viewers will watch the Barobi family, who fled violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), move into their "forever" home and start a new life. Friends from their hometown in the U.S. state of Utah nominated the Barobis to appear on the American reality television show, HGTVs Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The show, hosted by UNHCR supporter Jesse Tyler Ferguson, remodels or builds homes for families who have survived devastating loss with grace and courage and are ready to thrive. It airs in the U.S. on 23 February at 9 p.m. New York time. The shows design team built a new, environmentally sound house from scratch for the Barobi family in less than one week. Hundreds of neighbours volunteered their DIY skills. The volunteers also were there to surprise the family when they saw their new place for the first time. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, sent volunteers to paint, dig holes and landscape the backyard. "Being a refugee is not by choice," Azida, the eldest sister in the family, told UNHCR. "A refugee is someone who needs freedom, someone who needs to be heard, someone who needs to be helped, someone who needs to be welcomed, someone who needs to feel loved." In 2011, violence erupted in the DRC after national elections, and their father told the Barobi family they must run. As the family fled, rebels captured them. Ashraf, then 13, watched the rebels kill his father, his mother and his youngest sister. Then he gathered his two young sisters, Azida (now 17) and Habiba (now 15), and kept running. "I was not expecting to be called a refugee," said Ashraf, now 20 and living in Ogden, Utah. "You are living a normal life, and the next day, you become a refugee." "Being a refugee is not by choice." The siblings made it to neighbouring Uganda and, with the help of a community leader, to the Kyaka II refugee camp. There, among thousands of refugees, they reunited with an aunt and a cousin who also had escaped the violence in the DRC. As a newly formed family unit, the Barobis lived together in the camp until 2014, when they learned they had been chosen to be resettled in America. They flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, and eventually settled in Ogden. That is where the Barobis story began again. Meet the Barobi family Ashraf, 20, was 13 when he watched rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo kill his parents. "Being a refugee just means that your life changed... Life hits you." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Azida, 17, wants to be a lawyer and describes herself as "someone who happens to be blessed in ways that are confusing. I'm just a normal girl who's here in America to get her dreams done." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Habiba, 15, plays on the school volleyball team. "It's important your community knows you're not different from any of them. You guys are just the same people. You do the same things." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Anifah ("Aunty), 33, cooks meals from the home they had to leave. Her nieces and daughter think she should sell African food because, "she is the best cook in the entire world." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Zulufa, 14, is in her first year of high school. She loves to read adventure novels and fan fiction. She wants to be a producer. "We all have different stories." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney What is a Refugee? Refugees are people who have been forced to flee their country to escape violence or persecution. There are more than 25 million refugees in the world. "A refugee is someone who needs to feel welcomed." The Barobi familys story does not represent reality for most refugees. Most refugees want to go home when it's safe. Until then, the majority try to rebuild their lives in a nearby country. Only a small percentage, less than one per cent, are resettled to a third country or even the country they fled if it has become safe again. Meet the community Aden Batar, of Catholic Community Services in Ogden, came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia. "This community helped me get a job, my kids an education. I have to give back." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Dave Hogan, president of Wadman Corp., wanted to help the Barobi family, to feel "the pure happiness of the people that they are, of what they've been through and what they will become." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Caren Werner is the film commissioner for Visit Ogden tourism bureau. "I realized this is a block away from my home. I will be one of the Barobi's neighbors. It's such an honor." UNHCR/Kathryn Mahoney Related links: Kirubhakar Purushothaman By Express News Service It is a cliche in Tamil cinema to start a film with a festival sequence but when director Priya Krishnaswamy does it in Baaram, it doesnt look very familiar. This could be because of the matter-of-fact treatment. There is a conspicuous absence of the celebratory tone that Tamil mainstream films tend to have in such instances. Here, the festival is chaotic just like it would be in real-life. That realism permeates the entire film, and is perhaps both the boon and bane of Baaram. The first few scenes seamlessly establish the predicament of the protagonist Karuppasamy (R Raju). He is desperate to buy a flute for his granddaughter but doesnt have enough money for it. Watch him fail at negotiating the price with the abusive seller it is profoundly sad. But he is no quitter. Later, he gets a loan of Rs 50 from his nephew Veera (Sugumar Shanmugam) with whom he has a special bond. When Veera asks him to quit his job as a watchman, he refuses it. He says, Naan vittil poochie illa. Minmini poochi. We gather that the old security guard is an independent man. But what happens when he turns invalid after a mishap and becomes a burden to his son and his family? Even as she sets up her protagonist, Priya wonderfully adds other characters and details into the mix: A long ongoing feud between Karuppasamys nephews and his son is told in passing, Karuppasamys sister Menmolis (Jayalakshmi) character traits are brilliantly brought out, and there is mention about the left-leaning political ideologies of the old man and Veera. All these happen smoothly rather than being fed to the audience, and thats why Baaram, despite its humble production design, surpasses mainstream Tamil cinema in terms of storytelling. Yet, there are moments where Priya takes an easy way out that feels contrived. A scene of a politician hindering the investigation of Karuppasamys murder stubs out. It looks forced. So too does the flashback portion, without which the film could have done just fine. But the bigger problem with Baaram is its changeover from being a family drama to a docudrama. As Veera goes about investigating not just about his uncles murder but the whole tradition of Thalaikoothal, Baaram, which could have been a moving personal tale, becomes an overarching documentary on the issue. The emotion we invested in Karuppasamy gets scattered. Maybe thats why when his picture occupies the entire screen, it doesnt create a lump in your throat as it is supposed to. What I found intriguing about the film is its title Baaram because the director deliberately stops herself from pronouncing whether the tradition of senicide is right or wrong. But the treatment makes her opposing stance quite clear. The painful depiction of the struggles of Karuppasamy and the monsterisation of his son Senthil (SuPa Muthukumar) say it all. Yet, the film comes across as just a documentation of events rather than a commentary on it. This could be because of the docudrama approach Priya takes towards the end of the film. Though there is anger in Veera to avenge the murder of his uncle, he acts it out patiently listening to the other side of the story. We learn, along with Veera, about the horrific ways the elderly are killed as a tradition and why everyone seems to be complicit in it. However, Baaram doesnt leave you devastated. It only tries to put a mirror in front of society demanding a self-assessment. Movie: Baaram Cast: R Raju, Sugumar Shanmugam, SuPa Muthukumar, Jayalakshmi Director: Priya Krishnaswamy Producer: Priya Krishnaswamy, Ardra Swaroop Rating: 3/5 God and country are the common threads for the three candidates running in the March 3 Republican primary for the U.S. House District 9 seat held since 2005 by Democrat Al Green. Johnny Mark Teague is a longtime Baptist pastor and former accountant for Shell; Jon Mark Menefee is a Marine veteran and business owner; and Julian A. Martinez is a Houston car dealer and service center owner who believes in stewarding the resources God has given him to further the greater good. Teague and Menefee are the only ones to report raising money in the race through the end of 2019. Menefee led the way with about $32,000 raised and about $2,000 on hand. Teague pulled in a little more than $29,000 and had $855 remaining. Green had more than $154,000. Both men hew closely to the Republican line on President Trump, immigration, guns, health care, abortion and energy and environmental issues. Menefee said he hopes to use his military background to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs, including protection for whistleblowers and streamlining the disability claims process. Teague points to his service as senior pastor of Houstons Church at the Cross, including working to help refugee families and to battle human trafficking and reduce crime in the neighborhoods around the church. As for trying to improve civil discourse and seek bipartisan solutions in Washington, Teague said he would lead by example to bring people together. Martinez did not fill out a Chronicle questionnaire and Teague was the only GOP candidate in the race to accept an invitation to meet with the Editorial Board to discuss the issues. We recommend Teague to Republican voters in the primary. Ajit Pai, chairman of the powerful Federal Communications Commission, and Kash Patel, a National Security Council official, are two Indian Americans travelling Monday with President Donald Trump to India. Pais parents are both doctors from Maharashtra and immigrated to the US in 1971; he was born in Kansas and went on to become a lawyer, via Harvard and University of Chicago. Pai joined the FCC, which is an independent body that regulates US communications laws and regulations, in 2012, as one of the bodys five commissioners. President Trump named him to head the body in 2017. He shot into headlines for his opposition to Net Neutrality, the concept that Internet Service Providers cannot discriminate between their network users. Kash Patel was born in New York to parents who came to the US from East Africa and Canada. They are originally from Gujarat. Patel has been in the news in recent months for his role in discrediting the Russia interference probe. He joined the National Security Councils directorate of international alliance and organization in 2018 and was also given charge of counter-terrorism. He started this week at the office of the Director of National Intelligence, brought over by the new acting DNI Richard Grenell. Patel had worked for the Republican leadership of the House Intelligence Committee earlier. Women's lifespans are growing more slowly than men's, a study found yesterday. Average life expectancy is still rising for both sexes, but the rate of increase is slowing across the western world particularly for women. The research suggests this could be down to more women working, feeling stressed and drinking or smoking. And men are now less likely to work in dangerous and polluted industries such as coal mining. Average life expectancy is still rising for both sexes, but the rate of increase is slowing across the western world particularly for women (Stock image) The spread of obesity and dementia are also thought to be factors. The research, published by the Longevity Science Panel, appears to debunk previous theories that public sector cuts brought in under David Cameron were to blame for the slowdown in life expectancy growth as the trend is also seen in countries with no austerity, such as Germany. Panel chairman Dame Karen Dunnell urged the Government to research the reasons behind the slowdown. The report was based on mortality records which stretched back to the 1960s. Figures show British men can expect to live to 79 and women to 82. Iran receives 4th consignment of coronavirus test kits IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Feb 21, IRNA -- Iranian Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education announced that with the efforts made by the representative of the World Health Organization in Iran Christoph Hamelmann the 4th shipment of coronavirus test kits have been delivered to Iran. During his trip to Dubai, Hamelmann received the consignment and delivered it to the Pasteur Institute of Iran. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "CDC has developed a new laboratory test kit for use in testing patient specimens for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19." "The test kit is called the 'Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)-PCR Diagnostic Panel'." The Chinese officials announced that the coronavirus epidemic has so far killed thousands of people in China. The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China has allocated 60 billion Yuan ($8.7b) for fighting coronavirus. The severity of illness and risk of mortality of coronavirus is less than SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) which is about three percent. Meanwhile, speaking to IRNA, Shahriar Governor Nouroallh Taheri said Iranian students who have returned from China to be safe from Coronavirus will be released from quarantine on Monday. In the meantime, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang appreciated the Iranian Ambassador to China Mohammad Keshavarzzadeh for his message of sympathy with the Chinese people. "Recently many foreign ambassadors and representatives to China said on social media platforms that they stand with China in this fight against the NCP (COVID-19)," he added. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying also praised Iran for sending medical face-masks. Hua Chunying referred to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's message that China has taken effective and firm actions to contain coronavirus as a sign of long-term and traditional friendship between the two countries. Four Iranians have so far been affected by coronavirus and four of them died. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Academic-turned-politician Krishna Bose died on Saturday due to age-related ailments, hospital sources said. She was 89. Bose, the former Trinamool Congress MP from the Jadavpur constituency, was unwell for quite some time, family sources said. She died at a hospital off EM Bypass at 10.20 am, they said. "She was suffering from age-related ailments. She suffered her second stroke a few days back and was admitted to the ICU," her son Sumantra Bose said. She was married to Sisir Kumar Bose, nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose. Born in 1930 to constitutional studies specialist Charu Chandra Chaudhuri, Bose taught at the City College in Kolkata for around 40 years. She was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996, then again in 1998 and also in 1999. Bose is survived by sons Sugata and Sumantra, and daughter Sharmila. Several Trinamool Congress leaders and state ministers are at the hospital. Bose's body will be taken to her Sarat Bose Road residence around 1 pm and then to the Netaji Bhavan, according to family sources. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting Netaji Bhavan. She will be cremated in the evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It has been said that the best way to predict the future is to invent it something which is now being done in Egypt Led by the US and Russia, the world has been searching for humanitys future. Efforts to explore outer space have been made since the 1960s when the first astronauts landed on the moon. There are now plans to send humans to Mars and explore other planets. Scientists have been exploring the central questions of the evolution of the universe, and it may be that some of their dreams at least are on their way to turning into reality. Modern science now deals with sub-atomic particles. Newspapers headlines give priority to news related to scientific discoveries and modern technology. But at the same time last-century notions like international legitimacy and the New World Order have become less common in the 21st century. Older ways of life are disappearing as globalisation imposes its laws worldwide. The term refers to processes of removing the barriers between countries, allowing the group of capitalist countries that already control much of the world economy to search for new resources and markets. Globalisation has turned the world into village without borders. The worlds population is becoming part of one world society. However, globalisation has many opponents who view it as depriving people of their national belonging. For them, globalisation violates deep-rooted traditions, customs and religious doctrines. It has become a way for the strong to control the weak, and smaller countries have not been able to escape its impacts. It has imposed itself through political influence, economic pressure and media penetration. Some have described globalisation as a new form of colonialism that in time will eradicate the worlds cultural diversity and local wealth. Globalised companies like the US food companies McDonalds and Coca-Cola have spread worldwide, investing in enormous projects in many countries. Globalisation could be a struggle of civilisations, with survival going to the strongest. Could such a struggle eventually move to other planets? During the period of European expansionism in the 16th and 17th centuries, a group of mainly English adventurers started the experiment that has now become the United States. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Europe, heading towards what they thought of as their new homeland. Their target was to usurp this land by force, regardless of the legitimate rights of its native inhabitants. They wanted to tame the land and those living upon it. In doing so, they took control of the richest continent in the world. Their descendants later returned to the old world of Europe and invested their wealth and imposed their influence. This is the American experiment in a nutshell, and this is the logic of American power. Egypt is related instead mostly to Asia and Africa because of its religion and language. There are strong ties linking Egypt to Africa, due to the role which the River Nile plays in bringing water from the south. But Egypt has its own priorities and successes, now seen in the new momentum and national renaissance covering all aspects of life. Egypt has the expertise, whether at home or among Egyptian expatriates abroad, to construct a country that will flourish in the present century. By 2030, Egypt will have completed its mega projects in the Suez Canal Zone and the New Administrative Capital. Projects to reclaim the desert using water from natural and artificial wells will have been finished. Tourism will have recovered. The US computer scientist Alan Kay once said that the easiest way to predict the future is to invent it yourself. And this is exactly what we are doing. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: President Donald Trump has directly weighed in on the White House review of a forthcoming book by his former national security adviser, telling his staff that he views John Bolton as a traitor, that everything he uttered to the departed aide about national security is classified and that he will seek to block the books publication, according to two people familiar with the conversations. The presidents private arguments stand in contrast to the point-by-point process used to classify and protect sensitive secrets and appears to differ from the White Houses public posture toward Mr Boltons much-anticipated memoir. The National Security Council warned Mr Bolton last month that his draft appears to contain significant amounts of classified information, some of it top secret, but pledged to help him revise the manuscript and move forward as expeditiously as possible. We will do our best to work with you to ensure your clients ability to tell his story in a manner that protects US national security, Ellen Knight, senior director of the councils records office, wrote in a 23 January letter to Boltons attorney. But the president has insisted to aides that Boltons account of his work in president Trumps White House, The Room Where It Happened, should not see the light of day before the November election, according to the two people familiar with the conversations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal White House deliberations. Mr Trump has told his lawyers that Mr Bolton should not be allowed to publish any of his interactions with Mr Trump about national security because they are privileged and classified, these people said. He has also repeatedly brought up the book with his team, asking whether Mr Bolton is going to be able to publish it, they said. 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 Trump told national television anchors on 4 February during an off-the-record lunch that material in the book was highly classified, according to notes from one participant in the luncheon. He then called him a traitor. Were going to try and block the publication of the book, Mr Trump said, according to the notes. After I leave office, he can do this. But not in the White House. I give the guy a break. I give him a job. And then he turns on me, Mr Trump added during the West Wing lunch. Hes just making things up. Recommended Trump rooting out disloyal officials after vowing impeachment revenge Mr Boltons book has promised to unveil key, first-person moments between Mr Bolton and Mr Trump that were at the heart of the presidents handling of Ukraine, a saga that led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives. In a recent appearance at Vanderbilt University, former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice attacked Mr Bolton for failing to testify in the impeachment hearings and said she couldnt imagine withholding critical information from the American people to preserve it for a book. Mr Bolton insisted his testimony would not have changed the Senates impeachment vote. As the Senate launched a trial in late January on the Houses charges that Mr Trump abused the power of his office and obstructed Congress, the New York Times reported it had learned a key detail alleged by Bolton in his manuscript: that Mr Trump told him he was conditioning the release of military aid to Ukraine on whether its government would help investigate former vice president Joe Biden and his son. Mr Trump responded to that story on Jan. 27 by tweeting that he NEVER told John Bolton that aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into the Bidens or Democrats. Democrats demanded that Mr Bolton be summoned to testify in the Senate trial, but Republicans rejected those calls. A person close to Mr Bolton said he has grown concerned in recent weeks that the White House has appeared to claim that broad categories of topics are classified, without clearly identifying or articulating the reasons for that level of protection. A separate person close to Mr Bolton said the team anticipates the possibility of a long legal battle over the issue. Mr Boltons lawyer, Charles Cooper, declined to comment Friday on the claim of classified material and the presidents pledge to block the books release. The NSCs pre publication review of Ambassador Boltons manuscript is proceeding, Mr Cooper said. Ambassador Bolton is continuing to pursue it in good faith. We have nothing to say beyond that. In many ways, Mr Bolton remains a captive of the White House review process. He has earned a reported seven-figure advance for his account from publisher Simon & Schuster, which has planned to release the book on March 17. But Mr Bolton would take a huge legal risk including the possibility of a criminal investigation if he published his manuscript without the National Security Councils final approval. Former US national security adviser John Bolton speaks during his lecture at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina (Jonathan Drake/Reuters) (Reuters) There is recent precedent to give Bolton and his lawyers reason to pause. A former Navy SEAL wrote a 2012 book about his role in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, triggering a Justice Department criminal investigation into allegations he published classified details of his work and training as a special operator. In a 2016 settlement, Matt Bissonnette, who wrote No Easy Day under the pen name Mark Owen, agreed to turn over to the government all the profits and future royalties stemming from his book which amounted to at least $6.6 million (5.1m) at the time. As part of the deal, Mr Bissonnette acknowledged he failed to get his manuscript properly cleared by the Pentagon. In exchange, the Justice Department agreed to dismiss any other claims and drop any plans to prosecute him for the release of classified information. Robert Luskin, the lawyer who represented Bissonnette after he came under investigation, said Mr Bolton can challenge the White House review but it is unclear how he might fare. The challenge for Bolton is that the president has pretty broad power to classify or declassify; but once the manuscript has actually been submitted for review, Bolton would have the right to challenge undue delay or purely capricious or vindictive exercises of the governments authority to review and require changes, Mr Luskin said. He could get judicial review, but the process would not be fast and the rules not especially clear. The Washington Post Another cargo plane of the US Air Force landed at the Ahmedabad international airport on Saturday ahead of the February 24 visit of US President Donald Trump to the city. The C-17 Globemaster cargo plane, fourth in the last few days, carried security equipment and a special vehicle that is likely to be part of Trump's convoy, sources said. The three cargo planes that had landed in recent days mainly carried various equipment for the US President's security during his maiden visit. Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad around noon on February 24 for a less that 36-hour visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including First Lady Melania Trump, the President's daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in- law Jared Kushner and a galaxy of top US officials. According to sources, the 'Marine One' helicopter of the US was part of the cargo which had landed a few days back. After landing of the first C17 Globemaster on the last Monday carrying various equipment and an SUV, two more such cargo planes had landed in the last few days, they said. One of the planes carried a giant SUV--White House Communications Agency (WHCA) Roadrunner--which could be part of Trump's cavalcade during his 22-km long roadshow on February 24. The WHCA Roadrunner, also known as the MC2V (mobile command and control vehicle), serves as the communications hub for the motorcade by encrypting duplex radio and streaming video, which in turn is beamed to a military satellite that sends the data back to the ground. The US president will attend "Namaste Trump" event along with Prime Minister Narnedra Modi at newly-constructed Motera Stadium, which has a seating capacity for 1.10 lakh people. More than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed as part of security arrangement for the programme and the road-show. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI RAMESWARAM: Rs 1.48 crore worth gold -- weighing three-and-a-half kilogram -- was seized from three Sri Lankan nationals on Sunday. They were found trespassing into Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by a patrol helicopter of the Indian Navy on Saturday. Four fishermen from Thangachimadam, who were reportedly to take delivery of the gold, have been detained for interrogation. According to sources, the helicopter from INS Parundu, during a surveillance sortie, spotted a fibre boat with three men aboard crossing the IMBL around 11 am on Saturday. Though the men tried to flee back to Sri Lanka, they were reportedly chased to the shores of Arichalmunai, where they were detained by the marine police later. The preliminary investigation identified the suspects as S Thomas Loius (31), A Suganth (26) and D Sahaya Vinistow (24) -- all from Talaimannar of Sri Lanka. The men, believed to be fishermen by trade, were also questioned by the Dhanushkodi police and the Q-branch police. The trio were supposed to hand the smuggled gold over to four fishermen from Thangachimadam, added sources. Based on their statements, the four fishermen -- Dhiyoni, Dhanushiyus, Lakshmanan and Sarveswaran -- were detained for questioning. The gold, in 35 bars, had been stashed inside the rear of the fibre boat. The officials had to break the boat open to recover the gold, which was handed over to customs officials in Rameswaram on Sunday. Brussels is in total disarray over next month's crunch trade talks with the UK because the EU is 'divided and distracted' by issues such as whether Britain should be forced to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, Government sources have said. As Boris Johnson's chief negotiator prepares to publish on Thursday the official Government demands for the talks, UK negotiators have been privately mocking the delays and confusion in the Brussels camp. David Frost will demand a Canada-style trade deal which allows the UK to diverge from Brussels' rules and refute the EU's insistence on retaining control over British tax rules and state subsidies. Brussels is in total disarray over next month's crunch trade talks with the UK because the EU is 'divided and distracted' by issues such as whether Britain should be forced to return the Elgin Marbles (pictured) to Greece, Government sources have said Brussels triggered a diplomatic row with London last week by threatening to demand the return of the Parthenon sculptures as part of a free trade deal something Downing Street says is 'just not happening'. EU countries are also embroiled in acrimonious negotiations over the 63 billion hole left in the EU's 2021-2027 budget by Britain's departure, with the remaining countries bickering over the sharp increases they are expected to contribute. The first round of negotiations between the EU and the UK is due to start on March 2, although the publication date for the EU's mandate has already slipped by a fortnight to Tuesday as they argue over which demands to make. A trade deal with the EU must be secured by the end of this year to avoid a No Deal Brexit. Washington is also planning to publish its demands for a free trade deal at the start of March. A source in Taskforce Europe, the UK's negotiating team, said that the UK mandate would be 'consistent in its ambition for a future relationship based on friendly co-operation between sovereign equals'. Mr Frost set out the UK's position in a lecture in Brussels last week published on these pages which the source said had 'calmed nerves' in the Government and helped to unite Ministers around the official negotiating position. Boris Johnson's chief negotiator David Frost (pictured) will demand a Canada-style trade deal which allows the UK to diverge from Brussels' rules and refute the EU's insistence on retaining control over British tax rules and state subsidies The source said: 'On the UK side, progress has been remarkably smooth, with a clear decision-making framework in place and a sense of unity among Ministers. 'By contrast, the EU seem divided, distracted by other issues like marbles, instead of the important decisions on what our trading relationship will actually look like. The new plan is for them to approve their mandate on February 25 but it's anyone's guess whether they will. 'Taskforce Europe has hit the ground running with over 40 dedicated officials the best and brightest in their fields from across Whitehall. This is in contrast to the process of agreeing the EU's mandate, which so far looks to be hamstrung by indecision and delay due to the competing interests of different member states. 'They have still not agreed a mandate, and now have to focus on agreeing their budget for the next seven years.' The row over the marbles, which are housed in the British Museum, blew up after a leaked draft of Brussels' mandate was revealed to include a stipulation that Britain should 'return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin'. But a Government spokesman said: 'The UK's position on the Parthenon sculptures remains unchanged. They are the legal responsibility of the British Museum. That is not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations.' In his lecture, Mr Frost told how he has started his diplomatic career in Brussels in 1993 as 'a typical pro-European' but 'that view did not long survive'. Downing Street source said: 'We left the EU on January 31 in line with the referendum result. We regain full independence for the people of the UK at the end of this year: the negotiation is about defining the terms on which we do that.' Most of us feel that our miseries began the moment we were born. There are a lot of memes on the internet predicting the general existential crisis most millennial have. Now, a baby was recently born with the why did you bring me into the world face. And it depicts what ALL OF US feel. Photo of a new born baby frowning at a doctor who tried to make her cry is going viral on the internet. Facebook/ Rodrigo Kunstmann Isabela Pereira de Jesus was born via Caesarean section the afternoon of February 13 at a hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Doctors encourage babies to cry after birth, to make sure that their lungs are working fine. But when the Isabela was encouraged to make a noise, the baby had no f*cks to give. Facebook/ Rodrigo Kunstmann Mom Daiane de Jesus Barbosa had hired local professional photographer Rodrigo Kunstmann to capture Isabela's birth, and he captured the exact moment the baby gave the annoyed expression. The photographer told Brazilian magazine Crescer that the obstetrician asked the baby to let out her first cry before she was set to cut off the umbilical cord. Facebook/ Rodrigo Kunstmann She opened her eyes wide, but did not cry. The doctor even had to say, 'cry, Isa!' She made that serious expression and only started crying after the umbilical cord was cut, Kunstmann reportedly said. Isabella became famous from her birth itself- thanks to the frown on her face. Irans currency rial continued to lose value against major currencies on Saturday, reaching as low as 154,000 to the U.S. dollar at one point. The main reason for rial's fall was the decision of an international financial watchdog to call on all countries for countermeasures against Iran for not ratifying legislation against money laundering and financing of terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) a Paris-based inter-governmental watchdog on Friday decided Iran had enough time since 2017 to accede to United Nations and other conventions and regulation for transparency and in its banking and financial systems. Just two months ago, the rial was trading at 130,000 and two years ago at 40,000 against the U.S. dollars. Washingtons sanctions weakened the currency and now FATFs decision pushed it down further. The chief of Irans Central Bank on Friday assured the public in a statement that FATFs decision will not impact the rial. Irans economy is in the grips of a deep recession, with internal political instability and lately an outbreak of coronavirus infections sapping the publics confidence. The price of gold also rose on Saturday in Iran and the representative of gold traders in Tehran blamed the FATF decision for both the currency decline and the rising price of the precious metal. China may not have access to U.S. chip technology, as the Trump administration is considering measures to take it away. Recently, China's Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd was under scrutiny and a row then followed. The Chinese company is dependent on American chip technology for its handsets, Reuters reported that U.S. government officials are in the process of making changes in the Foreign Product Rule. What it does is classify foreign products using U.S. technology under strict control. These alterations are under draft by the commerce department, stating that companies that make computer chips need a special license for utilizing American made equipment for making these chips for Huawei. In the eyes of U.S. administration, Huawei is not seen favorably. The Chinese tech firm has been blacklisted, a directive that prohibits American companies from inking an agreement with them. Included in the U.S. agenda is convincing allies to drop Huawei from selling 5G equipment, that they are bugged for spying purposes. But, the Chinese firm has denied anything about it. Next in the cross-hairs of the U.S. are the supply chains, that are not accessible yet. Changes to lessen access to U.S. chip technology are done to slow the pace of China's tech advancement. Although tighter and stringent measures to hinder access can disrupt the global semiconductor supply and backlash on U.S. firms. Also read: Coronavirus Continues to Scupper Businesses, China to Take Over HNA Group Sources reveal that the changes are under deliberation for weeks, but only proposed lately. Analyst Holger Mueller related to siliconANGLE, saying that the move to prevent access of Huawei to sensitive advanced equipment is a positive move. If the company is indeed guilty of the accusations, then it is justified. If there is actual proof of Huawei is guilty and factual, not just mere accusations but no objective proof is yet given. Mueller said it would be worse for Huawei and 3rd party U.S. suppliers who will grossly be affected by the move. Supply chains will be under stress from each end, that is Huawei and the 3rd party that will be separate. Huawei ban To recall, back in April 2018, the U.S. banned chip exports to the Chinese company ZTE, for their infringing of Iran sanctions. President Trump slapped a fine for the Chinese tech firm, so it can get its deliveries. Several months later, Huawei releases a handset with no U.S.-made components, even claiming better performance than Qualcomm with their Kirin chips. Added to the handset with zero U.S. parts is 5G base station that was shipped with no U.S.-made components as well. On May 2019, the U.S. Commerce department put Huawei on an 'entity list' that needed special permissions for U.S. sales. This caused a split from U.S. dependence and Taiwanese chip makers were taking orders that Huawei cannot produce, on its own and even getting Taiwanese chip engineers to make chip factories in Mainland China. With the U.S. limiting the access of Huawei to chip technology, there might be consequences of these restrictions. This may give a chance for China to be self-sufficient and breed competition to the U.S. as well, with American technology exports that will be a loss for U.S. companies. Related article: China to Grant Tariff Exemptions on US Goods, Amid Coronavirus Outbreak @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As a symbolic gesture to pay respect to United States President Donald Trump, Agra Mayor Naveen K Jain will welcome the guest by handing over a 'key of the city' which is made up of silver. "Whenever any foreign guest comes to visit Agra there is a tradition and old concept of handing over keys to them. While welcoming them at the airport, we hand over the keys of Agra to the guest. It means that they should open the door of Agra and enter in the city. The key is 600 gram in weight and it was made in Delhi and is of the shape of Taj Mahal," he said. Talking more about the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump, he further stated, "The entire administration of Agra is busy in preparations for welcoming US President Donald Trump and I think that he will definitely get unprecedented welcome. Thousands of people will welcome him with Indian and American flags in their hands." Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner along with the US delegation will visit Agra on February 24. Hrithik Roshan is one of the most handsome and desirable actors from Bollywood. And now, the Jodha Akbar actors sex symbol notability has got him featured in Netflixs documentary series Sex Explained. The American show is more of an informative series that discusses sexual health and fantasies. And in an episode called Attraction, Hrithiks being slotted with Chris Hemsworth and Jennifer Lopez. The Greek God physique is however not a Gods gift and is man-made, as Hrithik, who had a very bad body in the beginning and was told that he could never dance to become an actor, worked on it to reach where he is today, says a source. Incidentally, this is not the first time that Hrithik has been a muse to discuss sex. In comedian Sumukhi Sureshs manual for masturbation, the comedian uses Hrithik as a catalyst to induce carnal cravings. Yemeni forces hit Aramco oil facilities in western Saudi Arabia: Military spokesman Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 3:35 PM Yemeni armed forces have pounded facilities belonging to the state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco as well as strategic targets inside the kingdom's western province of Madinah, a high-ranking Yemeni military official says. The spokesman for Yemeni armed forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said in a press conference in the capital Sana'a that Yemeni missile operators together with air defense units launched an operation, dubbed 'The Third Balance of Deterrence Operation', on Friday and struck energy facilities in addition to sensitive sites in the Saudi port city of Yanbu, situated about 165 kilometers west of Medina. Saree further noted that Yemeni forces used a squadron of 12 Sammad-3 (Invincible-3) combat drones as well as a volley of winged and long-range ballistic missiles to strike the important targets. He went on to say that Yemeni armed forces reserve the right to respond to crimes being perpetrated by the Saudi-led military alliance against the Yemeni nation the last of which took place on February 15 when more than 30 civilians were killed and many more sustained injuries in airstrikes on Yemen's northern province of Jawf. Saree also highlighted that the Saudi regime will suffer more painful strikes if it continues its onslaught against Yemen. Back on September 18, 2019, the Yemeni spokesman lauded the highly disruptive drone attacks on Saudi Aramco petroleum and gas processing plants at Abqaiq and Khurais in Eastern Province as an outstanding example of the military prowess of Yemeni army troops and allied fighters from Popular Committees. "Our forces have reached a high level of efficiency and ability. They can manufacture various types of unmanned aerial vehicles in record time. The Second Deterrent Balance Operation, which targeted Saudi oil installations, is a perfect example of the capabilities of our forces in terms of planning and implementation," Saree said at the time. "We assure the world that the free and steadfast Yemeni nation will not hesitate to respond to the (Saudi-led) coalition of aggression, and will use its legitimate right to target all targets deep inside the countries involved." "The destruction of the targeted facilities is far greater than what has been announced. Americans sought to publish fabricated pictures of the operation aftermath as part of attempts to downplay it. The blaze lasted for several hours and authorities in the state of aggression (Saudi Arabia) could not contain it." Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing back to power the government of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and crushing the Ansarullah movement. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past nearly five years. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have purchased billions of dollars' worth of weapons from the United States, France and the United Kingdom in the war on Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has been widely criticized for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign. The alliance has carried out nearly 20,500 air raids in Yemen, according to data collected by the Yemen Data Project. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bakers of Paris, a wholesale bakery that has been supplying the Bay Area with fresh French bread and pastries for nearly 40 years, has announced that it is closing. Since opening in 1981, the company had storefronts across San Francisco in the Haight, Noe Valley and Parkside, but eventually pivoted to wholesale, currently supplying 330 clients, including the Marriott and Hilton hotels and SFO Airport, according to Eater. Owners Lionel Robbe-Jedeau and Gilles Wicker said in a letter to customers that the bakery's last day will be March 20, according to Hoodline, who broke the story. With their lease at 99 Park Lane in Brisbane (where they've been located since 1997) about to expire, their landlord has nearly doubled the rent to $650,000 which they simply can't afford. Amid the ongoing stir over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), United States President Donald Trump will discuss the issues concerning the same with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former's upcoming visit to India. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom, both, in his public remarks and certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue that's very important for this (Trump) administration. We have our shared commitment of upholding our universal values, the rule of law," said a senior official from Trump administration. READ | From Wall Painting To Capturing Dogs, India Revamps To Welcome Trump "We have great respect for Indian Democratic traditions and institutions and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions. We are concerned about the issues that you (the reporter) have raised," the official said in response to a query raised on whether the issue of CAA and NRC will be discussed. He added, "The President will talk about these issues, in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking at India to continue to uphold its democratic tradition." READ | Reception Committee Headed By Ahmedabad Mayor To Welcome Trump The ongoing CAA issue The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who have come to India before 31 December 2014. However, the nation witnessed unrest after the passage of the act with widespread protests. Some of the protests turned violent in prominent universities such as JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Aligarh Muslim University with incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism, damaging public property leading to harsh retaliation from police personnel. Besides the universities, the on-going protest of Shaheen Bagh has led to a blockade of the road connecting Delhi and Noida causing massive inconvenience to civilians and emergency services such as ambulances. The Supreme Court has sent interlocutors to facilitate the mediation and convince the protestors to move to a different designated site for protests rather than blocking roads and causing inconvenience to civilians. READ | Motera Stadium Gears Up To Host 'Namaste Trump'; Republic Gets Inside Access The US President's visit The US President is scheduled to arrive for a two-day visit on February 24 with a 12-member delegation and First Lady Melania Trump. There will be multiple meetings and delegation-level talks apart from the exchange of agreements. 'Make In India' announcement which has allegedly made the protectionism concern even greater for the US and the tariff raised in the Union Budget may also be discussed. READ | Here's A Breakdown Of Special Security Arrangements Made Ahead Of Trump's Ahmedabad Visit (with inputs from ANI) 22.02.2020 LISTEN It has been a while since I picked my pen. My silence was due to observing the status quo ante of my motherland, particularly, about the economy, leadership, corruption, and the political arena. I was optimistic that a change of government would drastically change the mediocrity way of governing Ghanaians. In fact, I am really disappointed things are rather wrecking to the murky bottom. After my yearly observations, I have decided to pick my pen again to join the congestion of opinions. What I want to discern unto the hearing of the youths this year are impressive. I keep seeking divine favor for all for survival and successful living. Everyone will bear with me that the rate at which the youths are dying is rampant compared to the aged ones. Have you asked yourself why the youths as Benjamin Disraeli said the trustees of posterity who are to give the burial to their parents have now upturn and parents are rather entombing their children? You may consider it as a natural phenomenon but remember, our environment has been polluted to the extent that all our foods are contaminated with chemicals so the youths are not healthier as compared to the aged. Anything related to our health facilities are scarce and congestion at the health sectors has become order of the day. It is not just devastating but really annihilating in this era. We all feel sad when a colleague youth called to the grave. It is an undeniable fact that death is something none of us can stop it when the time is due. However, the impecunious economic situation today adds catalyst to the short life span of many. It is sadden we claim to be a religious country but our attitudes are parallel to what religion is all about. I can unequivocally say, what the Bible and Quran condemn are what we usually do. Most actions and inactions exhibited by our leaders are self-explanatory that, they are not humble to be molded by the Creator. We lived in a world that has been morally and spiritually corrupted by politicians, artistes, most religious leaders and et al. Would you agree with me that we are living in an empire of false religions? The rates at which most religious leaders escalate their demonic moral acts vividly send signal to our hearing that we are living in an end time. Those living innocent lives are allegedly kidnapping by politicians for mischievous propaganda against their opponent. The pastors who claim God speaks through them also murder humans and part of the bodies are used for sacrifice. The citizenry are being immune by hardship economy prioritizing by the stewardship of selfish, greedy and sycophant leaders. Now the system has forced every youths who want to get government work to save his or her peanut National Service allowances or NABCO stipends for inducements in order to secure a job or to seek a greener pasture outside Ghana. Most managing directors do not append their signatures for recruiting staffs unless brown envelopes have been given out. These same leaders after extorting from the poor and the vulnerable, will mount political podiums campaigning with heavenly promises to be given the nod to serve whilst they themselves lack serving spirit. All that they know is to rob and frustrates the poor and the vulnerable. It is time we thought smarter than those they claim they are in to serve us. Let us change from our subjective way of thinking which has baptized our mental capricorn (perception) that always leads us to the doom. In fact, good mentors in our time today are scarce. Leaders who claim they have the nation at heart to help the vulnerable are rather wolves clothed by sheeps skin. After given them the power, we feel sorry afterwards for wasting time on them. Ghanaians have been enslaved with hardship economy for long. Less attention is given to health sectors, the economy, and other relevant social amenities. How our leaders can create, loot and share to enrich themselves are what they keep dreaming every day. The major aim of every one is to move from rag to riches. As we strive to get our daily needs, those who are to help us achieve our goals have change the success pattern and the passwords have been given to their families, friends, cronies-nepotism is at its peak. Few peoples are enjoying whilst the majorities are in abysmal situations. Corruption has taken over every institution in Africa and Ghana in particular, is more than sea sand. The hardship economy accompanied by government failure to pay all necessary allowances to lecturers has now demonize our educational institutions and certificates are now sold in the market. After gaining admission, all they need to do is to pay to induce the corrupt lecturers for marking schemes, examination papers and sometimes better grades to boost their GPAs. It is becoming norm for most physically attractive ladies to persuade lecturers with sex for grades when they see they are failing in their academics. As I keep on asking when shall when be when? Education that only gives the poorer ones a chance to mingle with the riches is now something of the past. The poor boy will strive to read and study to acquire the knowledge but after school the rich and connected ones will be employed while the knowledgeable poor boy becomes economically stagnant. This reminds me of a colloquial saying from a funny philosopher called EL LIZATO who said In Africa, connections and who you know are better than qualifications. Education as the key to success has changed for the poor. In Ghana, you can graduate and stay unemployed until you forget the course you studied. Everything has been politicized and monetized. Even the judiciary and the National Peace Council are not left out. Now justice is difficult to find. Many judges have lost their objective thinking minds and are now allowing politicians to use them as punishing sod all because of promotions puppets to the highest level. The Religious leaders and National Peace Council who are to be most concern about the peaceful atmosphere of Ghana now thinks politically. All that the government needs to do is to corrupt them with huge sum of money. Even violence orchestrated by current governing political party vigilante were praised by National Peace Council and the words from the peeved patriotic citizens were rather condemned. Pharisees to the professional level! After taking their baptisms from River Jordan, they are now baptizing again from political pools. Hamm! Soon the wheat will surely be separated from the chaffs when the time comes. It is a trite fact that the government is doing its best to recruit more workers into the government sectors. However, those recruitments are mostly backed by protocols from the ruling political party and those who have the sum to induce without passing through any competitive transparent tendering process. The objective and neutral ones are now in the lurch. I remember during the presidents inauguration speech on the 7 day of January, 2017, he promised he is going to rule without discrimination, affection or ill-will and urged all Ghanaians to be citizens not spectators. Now it will shock you that murdering has now become the dividend of being a citizen. It is really apparent. When one criticizes the straying movement of the government, the propagandists who are allergic to truth will be plotting murder against you, all because they see your actions as saboteur to their day-light-robbery enrichment. I am always surprise that Ghana, steering by a former human rights activist and a lawyer of good standing, yet everything is now against the tenet of the rule of law. There are higher tendencies of corruptions and favoritisms which are negating this current government which he scolded his predecessor of supervising corrupt officials when in opposition. As a colleague learner said, Ghana today, the impossibility at the past can and now be possible. Everything is totally capsized, advancing in mediocrity rather. In conclusion, Ghana does not belong to few people; neither Akyems nor Gonjas. Ghana belongs to everyone by birth or by nationality. We need a humble leader, a leader of peace with non-violent mindset; a leader who will not clear culpable corrupt officials where the prima facie have been established; a non-discriminatory leader and a leader who has the entire nation at heart; a government with equal access and equal opportunity; a government whom the peoples lives matter to them with equal centered mindset. Let us rescue the sinking boat (families and friends) and bring the equal opportunity agenda. I end my opinion in this quote The laws of nature are same in Dubai, China, Japan, the U.S and Ghana. If we think we can continue to elect leaders who are not knowledgeable and competent intellectually and achieve progress, we are deceiving ourselves. We must look at the root cause of our problems. We have a big problem with intellect. I urge all electorates to ponder upon this. THANK YOU. Long live the youths! Long live everyone! Long live mother Ghana! THE WRITER IS A STUDENT, YOUTH AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST @GOODNUFF APPIAH LARBI Climate change could spell the end of the human race as we know it, the biggest bank in the Western world has warned. In an apocalyptic report sent to clients, economists at JP Morgan Chase said failing to cut carbon emissions could lead to catastrophic events such as extreme weather, war, food and water shortages, and devastation of nature. The American bank said huge numbers of people may have to leave their countries because of rising sea levels or farmland left barren by sweltering heat. In a bleak conclusion, they said it was possible the future will not be too bad but that more likely, the situation will continue to deteriorate. They also said any delay in action increased the likelihood that the costs of dealing with climate change will go up It also issued a warning to say tens of trillions of dollars would be wiped off the global economys growth. The banks analysts said the impact of climate change is broad, affecting everything from health and political stress to biodiversity and species survival, and added: We cannot rule out catastrophic outcomes where human life as we know it is threatened. The warning contained in a research paper titled Risky business: The climate and the macroeconomy comes after green campaigners accused it of being one of the biggest contributors to climate change in the corporate world. JP Morgan provided more than 150billion to businesses linked to fossil fuels between 2016 and 2018, according to the Rainforest Action Network. They said a tax on CO2 emissions would be one of the most effective ways to encourage firms to move to using green energy. Holidaymakers are pictured above on a ski slope in the French Pyrenees which has recently had a lack of snow Climate activists have branded the banks 63-year-old chief, Jamie Dimon who has an estimated personal fortune of 1.3billion the worlds worst banker of climate change. Extinction Rebellion activists yesterday called on the bank to put its house in order and take action, claiming it was financially fuelling the climate and ecological crisis which is destroying lives. The group said: The report is candid, it exposes the risks facing our civilisations, including natural disasters and conflict, spelling out likely scenarios which create huge challenges for the survival of the human race. They added: This is not just the biggest economic problem humanity has ever faced, but the biggest moral one. It is not the incomes of our children and grandchildren we are talking about here but their lives. The report by JP Morgans analysts contains suggestions which are likely to leave some business leaders aghast. They said a tax on CO2 emissions would be one of the most effective ways to encourage firms to move to using green energy. However they admitted this would not happen any time soon because of concerns in developed countries about the impact it could have on jobs and economic growth, while developing nations fear improvements in living conditions would be hampered. The analysts noted Britains vow to cut its carbon emissions to zero by 2050, but said: It is not clear exactly how that will be achieved. JP Morgan provided more than 150billion to businesses linked to fossil fuels between 2016 and 2018, according to the Rainforest Action Network In a bleak conclusion, they said it was possible the future will not be too bad but that more likely, the situation will continue to deteriorate. No government seems willing to sacrifice the incomes of their current citizens either in favour of their children and grandchildren or in favour of citizens in other countries, they wrote. Climate change is a global problem which demands a global response. This is not really happening... That opens the earth to a greater likelihood of a catastrophic outcome. They also said any delay in action increased the likelihood that the costs of dealing with climate change will go up, and that changes in the climate will be irreversible. A spokesman for JP Morgan last night said its analysts expressed an independent view and their report did not represent the banks official position. She's been wowing both on and off the catwalk during Milan Fashion Week. But Stella Maxwell made her most showstopping appearance at the fashion event yet while walking the Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini show on Saturday. The model, 29, commanded attention with huge backcombed hair while sporting a dramatic black studded gown as she showcased the Fall/Winter collection. Flawless: Stella Maxwell made her most showstopping appearance at the fashion event yet while walking the Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini show on Saturday Stella smoldered as she strutted down the runway in the floor length black gown, which featured a sheer trim and collar and diamante studs throughout. Adding an edgy feel to her look, she rocked a pair of chunky black platform boots. While her features were enhanced with a sleek palette of make-up, it was her blonde tresses that drew the eye. Hair today: The model, 29, commanded attention with huge backcombed hair while sporting a dramatic black studded gown as she showcased the Fall/Winter collection Stella's locks were swept back in a dramatic style, with her frizzy main framing her head. The model made her Victoria's Secret debut in 2014 and became an angel the following year. During her career, she has also modelling for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, Tommy Hilfiger and Versace. In late November, Stella was granted a five-year restraining order against her stalker. Stunning: Stella smoldered as she strutted down the runway in the floor length black gown, which featured a sheer trim and collar and diamante studs throughout So chic: While her features were enhanced with a sleek palette of make-up, it was her blonde tresses that drew the eye Walk this way: Adding an edgy feel to her look, she rocked a pair of chunky black platform boots Stella was sent dozens of threatening messages by a man named Ruben Velazquez over Instagram, TMZ reported. The Belgium-born star said the messages included 'I'm thinking of burning your house', 'I will leave you in a wheelchair' and 'I'm going to be a serial killer'. One chilling message even included a picture apparently taken by Ruben just feet away from her front door, she claimed. He has been separately charged with criminal threats and harassment in a case that has yet to come to court. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 02:00:31|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CAIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met with Ethiopian prime minister's special envoy Hailemariam Desalegn here on Saturday, where they discussed the issue about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The ethiopian envoy reviewed the GERD issue in light of what has been agreed upon so far in the framework of the tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. For his part, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi stressed Egypt's commitment to working on the success of the tripartite talks sponsored by Washington, the statement added. Upstream Nile Basin country Ethiopia started building its grand hydropower dam in 2011 on the Blue Nile, while Egypt, a downstream country, is concerned that the dam might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of Nile water. Egypt's fellow downstream country Sudan eyes future benefits from the GERD construction despite Egyptian concerns. After years of fruitless ministerial talks between the three countries, fresh rounds of negotiations have been resumed in Washington under U.S. sponsorship and a final agreement is expected to be concluded in late February. "The agreement would open vast horizons for cooperation, coordination and joint development between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan and mark a new stage for the development of relations between them," Sisi was quoted as saying by the statement. Filling the reservoir, whose total capacity is 74 billion cubic meters, may take several years. The longer the better for Egypt to avoid the negative effects of water shortage, which is a main point of their talks. The Egyptian president emphasized that the anticipated agreement "would maintain balance of interests between all parties." The GERD is expected to produce over 6,000 megawatts of electricity and become Africa's largest hydropower dam upon completion. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly vowed not to harm Egypt's share of Nile water via the GERD. (FILES) This file photo taken June 20, 2019 in British Columbia, Canada shows anti-pipeline graffiti; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on indigenous groups to end a crippling rail blockage that targets a pipeline project there (AFP Photo/Jason Redmond) Montreal (AFP) - The Canadian government called Thursday for indigenous demonstrators to halt railroad blockades set up as part of a pipeline protest, as police withdrew from their traditional lands in a conciliatory gesture. For approximately two weeks, demonstrators across Canada, many of them from the country's indigenous groups, have protested in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en people in British Columbia, bringing passenger and freight traffic to a halt in eastern Canada. The Wet'suwet'en are upset over a proposed gas pipeline that would stretch across their territory and have made withdrawal of police from their land a prerequisite for any negotiation with the government. "We have said we believe the conditions for resolution of this have been met," Bill Blair, Canada's minister of public safety, said during an interview with broadcaster CBC. "We have said we believe it's time for those blockades to come down." He added that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's decision to withdraw from the Wet'suwet'en people's land "was made completely independent of and on their own based on their assessment of their legal responsibilities and the situation on the ground." "They believe this is the appropriate thing to do," he said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been pressured by his political opponents to lift the blockades, met Thursday afternoon with the leaders of Canada's provinces to discuss the crisis. He has called for a peaceful solution, particularly in light of previous conflicts between indigenous Canadian peoples and police, which have ended in bloodshed. A total of 647 trains have been cancelled due to the blockades which have affected more than 117,000 passengers, according to figures provided by Via Rail, Canada's public passenger rail service. Via rail was forced to temporarily lay off 1,000 employees due to the protests in the country's east. A similar measure was also taken by Canadian National Railway Co (CN), which has temporarily laid off 450 personnel. Hong Kong, Feb 22 : About 100 Hong Kong residents have fallen victim to mask scams orchestrated by a suspected organised gang on Facebook, according to an official who has received hundreds more complaints about similar incident amid the coronavirus outbreak. Scammers advertised boxes of 100 surgical masks for sale at up to HK$400 each ($51) on the social media platform but they did not deliver the products after receiving the payment, the South China Morning Post reported citing council member Ramon Yuen Hoi-man, from the Democratic Party, as saying on Friday. Yuen, who accompanied four victims reporting the deceptions at a police Station on Friday, said the victims had lost HK$60,000 ($7,700) in total. "The administrators of these Facebook pages selling face masks have similar practices when scamming consumers. I believe a group is behind them," he said. "Some of the pages left the same contact numbers and used the same wording in their posts. The scammers are very cunning because they change their logos and names to avoid being spotted." Yuen added that several pages appeared legitimate with thousands of "likes", while administrators kept up the facade by hiding or deleting negative comments. The coronavirus outbreak triggered a shortage of masks in Hong Kong earlier this month, with desperate residents queuing for hours and looking overseas for supplies, the South China Morning Post said in the report. Yuen further said that some victims complained about the Facebook pages, but there was no response from the social media giant. According to the South China Morning Post, Facebook had removed some accounts and pages relating to mask scams and it has been working with law enforcement agencies on investigations. A fire caused significant damage to a community centre in Firgrove, resulting in its closure, Toronto Community Housing says. No one was hurt during the fire on the night of Feb. 13, TCH spokesperson Bruce Malloch told the Star, but the building will be closed until further notice. He said TCH has been advised after fire investigations that the cause was accidental. It is too soon to comment on the extent of the damage and what our next steps will be, Malloch said. We will keep the community informed and communicate decisions once we are in a position to do so. The sudden closure of the Firgrove Learning and Innovation Community Centre, which Malloch called an anchor in the community, is the latest blow to the sprawling TCH community on Jane St., south of Finch Ave., as it faces continuing relocations and closures of units in disrepair. The non-profit centre, first opened in 2008, is a central meeting place and safe space in the community which ran after-school, summer camp, food bank and other popular programs and annual BBQs. It was home to a computer lab and was where the artwork of community members was proudly displayed. Barry Rieder, a longtime community minister, said the fire has devastated residents. Its just another kind of dagger and another hurdle that theyre going to end up dealing with, he said. It was the heart of the community, and, so with the uncertainty of whether or not it will be usable in the near future, is very damaging and frightening, as well as heartbreaking, for the community. In 2017, hundreds of tenants were relocated from Firgrove because a lack of repairs to their townhome units made them uninhabitable. The vacant properties have been causing continuing issues with safety and pests for remaining residents, a city hall committee heard recently. A second block of townhomes and their residents will also soon be displaced. At city hall, TCH and city staff have tabled a plan to revitalize the community, pitching to rebuild all of the existing subsidized housing units, as well as some 600 market rent or ownership units. That early draft plan promises replacement of existing community space. Council will be asked to endorse the development proposal in principle at a meeting Feb. 26. Malloch said TCH has made space temporarily for programs in its office space in the community. New community use space is under construction in the highrise tower at 5 Needle Firway and is expected to be completed by June. TCHC staff will be working closely with tenants and active community members to support them through this challenging time, he said. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up online as the community awaits news about the centres fate. Iran slams FATF's politically-motivated move to place Iran on terrorism financing blacklist Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 5:39 PM Iran says the move by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place the country on its blacklist was a politically-motivated decision, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic can never be labeled with money laundering and financing of terrorism. "Unfortunately, this is also part of the politicization of international mechanisms [carried out] by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Zionist regime (Israel). Given their influence on these mechanisms, they are trying to politicize them," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Friday. "Saudi Arabia, as the central bank of terrorism and the Zionist regime as a terrorist state, are providing terrorist groups and organizations around the world with the most support," he added. However, they blacklist Iran which has the highest level of cooperation and transparency in the field of combating money laundering and financing of terrorists, he added. Mousavi emphasized that Iran has been implementing all laws and regulations related to money laundering and financing of terrorism for more than two years, saying, "International mechanisms have advantages and disadvantages and placing Iran on FATF's blacklist came despite all efforts we have made inside the country and all regulations we have tried to observe." The Iranian spokesperson made the remarks in reaction to the global dirty money watchdog's move to place Iran on its blacklist after Tehran refused to fully adopt its provisions. "Given Iran's failure to enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, the FATF fully lifts the suspension of counter-measures and calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures," the group's 39 members said in a statement on Friday. FATF blacklisting of Iran will create no problems for foreign trade, exchange rate stability: CBI Meanwhile, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnasser Hemmati also said on Friday that the FATF's move against the Islamic Republic would fail to create any problem for the country's foreign trade or stability of exchange rate. "Performance of the Central Bank of Ian over the last year has assured people that such incidents will create no problem for Iran's foreign trade and stability of exchange rate," Hemmati said in an Instagram post. In cooperation with other economic sectors, the CBI would continue to carry out its mission "in order to meet the country's trade requirements with no stop," he added. He emphasized that the US and Israeli regime once again showed their animosity towards the Iranian nation within the framework of opposing all recommendations by the FATF's experts about "steps taken by Iran in the field of the fulfillment of its commitments vis-a-vis financing of terrorism and money laundering." The Iranian chief banker added that such a "politically-motivated and untechnical" attitude has been pursuing towards Iran through different ways over the past three years while all the FATF statements verified the Islamic Republic's major steps to fulfill its commitments. In October 2018, the purported global finance watchdog gave Iran four months "for the sixth and last time" to ratify bills relating to the campaign against money laundering and funding terrorism. Out of the four bills required by the FATF, Iran has already accepted two, but the other two bills have been stalled amid worries that they may expose the country to financial spying and new sanctions on Tehran. To address the issue, Iran has adopted a set of internal regulations to fight money laundering and funding terrorism. The government has been urging for the ratification of the remaining FATF bills, contending that without them, Iran may not be able to conduct financial transactions with its allies such as Russia and China. It has also warned Iran's currency might fall if the bills are not ratified. Iranian authorities have had their reservations about the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions, saying they could be misused by governments like the United States and others to pressure Iran politically. In October 2018, the Iranian Parliament passed a bill on combating the financing of terrorism as part of the country's implementation of international standards set by the FATF. The combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) bill, one of four put forward by the government to meet FATF demands, was passed by 143 votes to 120. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump administration officials on Friday acknowledged that US President Donald Trumps visit to India next week will not result in even a limited trade deal. Washington: Trump administration officials on Friday acknowledged that US President Donald Trumps visit to India next week will not result in even a limited trade deal, saying they still have major concerns over Indias trade barriers. Hopes that the worlds two largest democracies could negotiate a confidence-building deal in time for Trumps arrival Monday on a two-day visit have faded in recent days as differences over agriculture, medical devices, digital trade and proposed new tariffs fester, according to business groups. The US had concerns last year that led to the suspension of Indias tariff-free access for some 5.6 billion dollars in exports under the 1970s-era Generalized System of Preferences still remain, a senior Trump administration official told reporters on a conference call. We do want to make sure that we get this balance right. We want to address a lot of concerns and were not quite there yet, the official said, adding that Trump will likely discuss these concerns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trade talks will continue, but new Indian tariff proposals aimed at strengthening countrys Make in India domestic manufacturing push have made them more difficult, the official said. Apart from growing protectionism, the Trump visit comes against the backdrop of Indias multibillion-dollar purchase of a Russian missile shield system, which added friction to its ties with Washington. India in its 1 February budget proposal announced new import tariffs on medical devices, walnuts, toys, electronics and other products in a move aimed at reducing imports from China but affecting many US firms. The new tariffs surprised US negotiators, especially as they were working with Indian counterparts to reduce the impact of Indias price controls on US medical devices such as cardiac stents and knee implants. We will be discussing those concerns and what we see an increase in barriers, not a decrease. This will certainly come up among the leaders, the US official said. The official did not completely rule out any trade-related announcements during the trip, but said this was really wholly dependent on what the Indians are prepared to do. The US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who has been leading the trade discussions, will not be among the US delegation accompanying Trump, the official said. Earlier this month, Lighthizer cancelled a trip to India to work out a package, even as India made some new proposals to improve US dairy and poultry access. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is joining the trip, which will include announcements of commercial transactions in the energy and defence sectors, the officials said. The United States is Indias second-largest trade partner after China, and bilateral goods and services trade climbed to a record 142.6 billion dollars in 2018. The United States had a 23.2 billion dollars goods trade deficit in 2019 with India, its 9th largest trading partner in goods. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and four of his predecessors have weighed in behind Garda Commissioner Drew Harris after he said he believes the Provisional IRA's army council is still active and oversees Sinn Fein. Mr Harris said his view "does not differ" from the PSNI and MI5, which both believe the army council still exists. The Garda Commissioner's comment led to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar calling on Mary Lou McDonald to disband the army council and the Provisional IRA. Michael McDowell said it would raise the question of cabinet confidentiality if Sinn Fein entered government. Mr Flanagan said he "fully accepted" what Mr Harris said and "no effort" had been made by Sinn Fein to "disown or distance itself from the IRA". "We live in a sovereign state and it is inconceivable that any government minister would seek instruction from an unelected cabal in Belfast," he said. However, last night Ms McDonald distanced her party from the IRA. Expand Close Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan Photo: Arthur Carron Speaking at an event in Dundalk, she said: "The reality is that we now live in a peaceful dispensation, the war is over, the IRA has gone away and democracy is the order of the day and there's no dispute around that," she said. "I know Drew Harris has said he will work with any party with a democratic mandate and that's exactly as it should be." Read More Meanwhile, former justice minister Frances Fitzgerald said there are "ongoing questions" about who "actually makes decisions" in Sinn Fein. Her predecessor, Alan Shatter, said he "does not disagree" with the PSNI's view on the IRA. And former Fianna Fail justice minister Dermot Ahern said: "The situation as described by Commissioner Harris as being the position today, was the position in 2008 to 2011 as far as I was concerned, from all the advice that I got. "I can't comment on what the position is today other than I hear what Mr Harris is saying and I don't doubt him." Independent Senator Michael McDowell, who was justice minister from 2002 to 2007, said: "It's always been obvious, both when I was minister and since I was a minister, that the provisional movement is directed from the top by the people known as the army council. "The question of taking direction from outsiders or consulting with outsiders who are unelected and part of the army council structure of the IRA is wholly unacceptable." Speaking at a passing out ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore, Mr Harris said he agreed with a PSNI assessment that a scaled-down IRA military structure still exists and that it is involved in the running of Ms McDonald's party. The 2015 report by the PSNI and intelligence agency MI5, commissioned by the British government, found that the IRA still had a "Provisional army council" (PAC). It said that Provisional IRA members believe that the PAC "oversees both the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein with an overarching strategy. "We judge this strategy has a wholly political focus" and that the PAC and Provisional IRA were committed to the peace process, the report said. It also said that some Provisional IRA members were involved in the storage of remaining weaponry. Mr Harris's comment came after former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams wrote a lengthy defence of the unelected figures who are centrally involved in the running of Sinn Fein. In his online blog, Mr Adams said claims about "shadowy figures" running Sinn Fein "feeds into a context" in which senior party figures such as Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Kelly receive death threats. He also criticised RTE for questioning Sinn Fein TDs about unelected party members who he described as "decent, highly respected and hard-working republicans". "The Pat Kennys, Sean O'Rourkes and Miriam O'Callaghans interrogate Sinn Fein spokespersons ad nuseaum about these claims," he said. His comments came after it emerged Mr Adams had been appointed to the Sinn Fein government formation negotiating team. His appointment was not publicised but was revealed in a briefing note on the talks for Sinn Fein members. On Twitter, the Taoiseach said: "Why doesn't McDonald disband the army council and the PIRA or, if she cannot, repudiate them and sever all links and do so publicly and unequivocally?" The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a federal judges order Friday and agreed to provide mental health care to thousands of immigrant parents and children who were separated at the Mexican border by the administrations zero tolerance policy. U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt of Los Angeles issued the injunction in November requiring the government to promptly provide mental health screenings for the parents and their families, and treatment for those who needed it. He said there was evidence that the family separations caused severe mental trauma to parents and their children and that administration officials had been deliberately indifferent to the mental health risks of their policy. The Trump administration appealed to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, preventing Kronstadts injunction from taking immediate effect. But on Friday, when the Justice Departments first filing was due, department lawyers instead told the court, without elaboration, that the government had decided an appeal was no longer warranted. That means the government must start providing care immediately, said attorney Amy Lally of the Sidley Austin law firm, which represented the parents along with the nonprofit Public Counsel. The family-separation policy was intended to cause mental harm, intended to traumatize as a measure of deterrence to border-crossing, Lally said in an interview. The ruling covers families who were separated between July 2017 and July 2018 when the suit was filed. Based on government reports, Lally said, at least 3,500 parents will be eligible for care, and possibly many more. Mental health professionals who examine them will also decide whether their children need treatment, she said. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the zero tolerance policy in April 2018 and said it would be used to prosecute everyone who crossed the border without authorization. Under the policy, children were held in federal facilities while their parents were taken elsewhere a practice that, evidence later showed, had been in effect since July 2017. President Trump issued an executive order in June 2018 halting family separations. After a court order in another case, nearly all the children have been reunited with their parents. Regardless, said Ken Berrick, chief executive of the Seneca Family of Agencies, a treatment organization supporting the lawsuit, it will take years of intensive support and treatment to address the trauma caused by the separation. Justice Department lawyers also argued that there was no need for mental health care because any harm caused by separation had been cured when the families were reunited. But Kronstadt said there was evidence that reunification after separation is not alone a sufficient cure. He also rejected the Justice Departments claim that no further treatment was needed because initial screenings provided by the government after family reunification did not show serious harm. The plaintiffs offered evidence to the contrary, Kronstadt said. Lally said that the ruling applies to families who are in the United States, and that further proceedings will determine whether it also requires treatment for those who returned to other countries after being separated. She said she and her colleagues have been told that the Department of Health and Human Services was about to sign a contract with a reputable provider of mental health services. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Shortly after 3 a.m. on May 2, two men walked into a 7-Eleven along Tech Road in the Fairland area of the county. They wore black hoodies, black masks and black clothes, and jumped over the counter and forced two clerks to the ground. One of the men tried to spray paint over surveillance camera lenses, but didnt get one of them covered, according to Bagheri. SEOUL Schools were shuttered, churches told worshipers to stay away and some mass gatherings were banned as cases of a new virus swelled Friday and Saturday in South Korea, the newest front in a widening global outbreak. The country said two people have died and 346 have been infected with the virus, more than six times the number of cases it had three days earlier, as a crisis centered in China has begun strongly reverberating elsewhere. The multiplying caseload in South Korea showed the ease with which the illness can spread. Though initial infections were linked to China, new ones have not involved international travel. The World Health Organization warned that such clusters not directly linked to travel from China suggest that time may be running out to contain the outbreak. The window of opportunity is still there. But our window of opportunity is narrowing, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. We need to act quickly before it closes completely. Tedros singled out Irans discovery of 18 cases and four deaths in two days and that a traveler from Iran carried the virus to Lebanon, and another traveler from Iran to Canada. These dots are very concerning take them as dots or trends, he said. South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun started a government meeting on the health emergency by saying, We have entered an emergency phase. Our efforts until now had been focused on blocking the illness from entering the country, he said. But we will now shift the focus on preventing the illness from spreading further in local communities. Daegu, a southeastern city of 2.5 million that is the countrys fourth largest, emerged as the focus of government efforts to contain the disease known as COVID-19, and Chung promised support to ease a shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and equipment. Mayor Kwon Young-jin of Daegu has urged residents to stay inside, even wearing masks at home, to stem further infection. The first case in Daegu was reported on Tuesday. By Friday, the city and its surrounding areas had 152, including South Koreas first two fatalities. Nationwide, the numbers told of a ballooning problem. There were 20 new cases reported Wednesday, 53 on Thursday, 100 on Friday and 142 on Saturday. The government declared a special management zone around Daegu, which didnt restrict movement of residents or supersede local officials power but served as official recognition of the problem. Most of those cases have been linked to a single house of worship, a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where a woman in her 60s attended two services before testing positive for the virus. 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. About 1,000 others who attended services with the woman have been isolated in their homes for screening, and health authorities say theyre trying to monitor thousands of other church members. All 74 sites operated by the Shincheonji Church have been closed and worshipers have been told to instead watch services online for a sect whose leader claims to be an angel of Christ, but who is dismissed by many outsiders as a cult figure. Its teachings revolve largely around the Book of Revelation, a chapter of the New Testament known mostly for its apocalyptic foreshadowing. Usually bustling downtown streets of Daegu were nearly deserted Friday as people wearing face masks lined up at clinics seeking testing. Panic is taking hold, said Daegu resident Huh Mi-yeon. People are scared of any situation where they would run into another person. Hyung-Jin Kim and Matt Sedensky are Associated Press writers. Vinamilk products are seen at a factory in Binh Duong Province. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Vinamilk has signed a $20 million deal with a distributor in Dubai to supply dairy products from the second quarter of 2020. Vietnams biggest dairy company said in a statement that the deal with the distributor, whom it did not identify, was signed at the Gulfood Dubai 2020 trade exhibition this week. The Middle East currently accounts for 75 percent of Vinamilks exports. Its other major foreign markets are Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China. Vinamilk, one of the worlds 50 largest dairy producer, saw its export revenues rise 14.8 percent last year to VND5.17 trillion ($223 million). Healthcare facilities at the district level and higher levels are capable of treating patients infected with COVID-19. As of February 21st afternoon, 15 of the 16 patients with COVID-19 in Vietnam had been cured and discharged from hospital. The 15th case, a Vietnamese American, at Ho Chi Minh Citys Tropical Diseases Hospital repeatedly tested negative from February 12th 17th and was discharged on February 21st. A worker sprays disinfectant at a classroom of the Viet Duc High School in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district on February 2nd (Photo: VNA) Vietnam still has 28 suspected cases and nearly 5,650 people in close contact with those who may have the virus or those returning from epidemic areas. All of them are under quarantine. By February 21st noon, there are 76,727 confirmed cases in 29 countries and territories worldwide and the number of deaths reached 2,247. In China alone, 75,465 cases have been reported with 2,236 deaths. New cases may be appeared in the coming time, but with the rising temperature and effective treatment plans in place, Vietnam is capable of containing the outbreak and ensuring safety for economic and cultural events, said Tran Dac Phu, former director of the Health Ministrys Preventive Health Department. Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung noted the World Health Organisation (WHO), international organisations and diplomatic corps have recommended that in the current situation, Vietnam can soon think about reopening schools. Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said the ministry is considering to allow students to go back to school starting from March 2nd, given that longer shutdown would causing difficulties for teaching and learning in this 2019-2020 academic year. The ministry will accelerate communication campaigns to educate students on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, Do added. He moved on to say that the ministry will work with the Peoples Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on February 22nd to discuss Ho Chi Minh Citys proposal to extend school break until the end of March./. Rana Daggubati's upcoming trilingual film "Haathi Mere Sathi" will be his first major release since 2017's "Baahubali: The Conclusion", but the actor says the long gap between his films doesn't bother him. The 35-year-old actor said as an artiste his aim is to serve "unique" content to the audiences. "I'm not your popular culture hero to have releases in quick succession. I'm someone who likes to take up new subjects and it takes a lot of my time, Rana told PTI. "When we started 'Baahubali', we'd planned it as a two-three year project but it ended up taking 5 years of our time. But the experience taught me so much. Similarly, 'Haathi Mere Saathi' took about two years. I think it's quite becoming a norm with my films even though I don't wish," he added. Rana said if he believes in a story he doesn't mind investing time in the project. "I was never in an urgency of doing films. Whatever time I invest in a film, it has to be worth it when audiences watch it on screen. Unless I come with something really unique, people are not ready to accept my work. I've seen it with a small scale films like 'Ghazi Attack' and later with a mega budget project like 'Baahubali'." Directed by Prabhu Solomon, "Haathi Mere Saathi" is about "a man who fought for the jungle, the animals and against the society". It will release across the country in three languages -- Hindi, Tamil and Telugu -- on April 2. The actor said working on the film was both exhausting and exciting. "Working with real elephants may sound exciting on paper but it was extremely exhausting. Ten days into the shoot, I called SS Rajamouli sir and told him how challenging this project had already become. It was equally exciting because we were doing something different; we were telling the story of a much bigger issue." The film was shot in three languages consecutively, and Rana said the routine gave him a better understanding of his character. "When you're performing the same scene thrice, you get much deeper into the character. As I was doing my scenes in three languages, I was starting to understand my character better. It felt like I knew this guy (Rana's character) like the back of my head. It helped in enhancing my performance," he said. The actor added that the film taught him the importance of co-existence. "When we started this film, it was just another story we wanted to bring on screen. But what happened through the course of the shoot is that I realized the world is just not for us. "A decade ago, if poaching of tigers and elephants was a pressing issue, urbanisation has become a major threat to forests today," he said. "Haathi Mere Saath", which will release as "Kaadan" in Tamil and "Aranya" in Telugu, also features Pulkit Samrat, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Zoya Hussain. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pompeo: US prepares to sign troop withdrawal deal with Taliban on February 29 Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 3:28 PM The United States and the Afghan Taliban militant group have agreed to sign a peace deal at the end of February aimed at ending America's longest war. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements on Friday saying they had agreed to sign the deal on February 29 in the Qatari capital, Doha, following the one-week partial truce. Pompeo said that the deal will be finalized only if a week-long cessation of hostility holds in Afghanistan. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the US-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," Pompeo said, adding negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government would "start soon thereafter". Afghanistan's National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal and Taliban militants earlier said the "reduction in violence" between the United States, Taliban and Afghan security forces would start on February 22. The two sides have been in talks over the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees from the militant group. Washington's decision to exclude Kabul from the peace talks has also received a firestorm of rebukes from the Afghan government. In September, the US and the Taliban appeared close to signing a deal that would have seen Washington begin withdrawing thousands of troops in return for security guarantees and potentially end almost two decades of war in Afghanistan. It was also expected to pave the way towards direct talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul. The Taliban have been saying they do not recognize the Afghan government, which has so far been kept out of previous US-Taliban talks. Trump ended yearlong talks with the Taliban in September. The negotiations were aimed at ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan. The US president said at the time that the decision to end the talks was his response to a deadly bomb blast by the militants that killed 12 people in the Afghan capital of Kabul on September 5, including an American soldier. During a surprise visit to a US military base in Afghanistan last week, Trump said the Taliban "wants to make a deal." The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 and overthrew a Taliban regime in power at the time. But US forces have remained bogged down there through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now Donald Trump. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We know Tim Hortons has a brand problem. Tims leadership finally seems to agree. It said this week it is revamping its loyalty program, and returning its focus to coffee and doughnuts. The head of Restaurant Brands International, Jose Cil, said we have not performed to expectations and have not properly put the strength of the Tim Hortons brand to work. That brand is severely weakened, considering how loyalty to Timmies was perhaps once the closest thing to all-Canadian we had. In 2011 (the days of those classic tear-jerk Tims ads using heartwarming stories of real customers explaining how the coffee brought them closer to their loved ones, like this one), Tim Hortons had the highest ranked corporate reputation in Canada, in a survey by the Reputation Institute. In 2019, it didnt make the top 50 (in a survey with an admittedly different methodology, but from the same firm). Companies that Canadians traditionally love to hate did, though: banks, airlines, wireless companies. A 2016 Leger survey ranked the reputation of the brand at fourth among Canadians. The following year, it tanked to 50th. And yet That loyalty program Tims is revamping? There are already more than 7.5 million Canadians with a Tims Rewards card. And in an unscientific poll of our readers, only about a third of them dont think theyd sign up. RBI may have squandered a flawless brand with astonishing efficiency, but there is evidently still an enormous amount of value to be extracted and built on. If a glance at the comments on any Tim Hortons story we write is any indication, Canadians still care about Tims. They may even miss that all-Canadian feel enough to take another chance on a double double. This note was originally published on February 15 in the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. Sign up here. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 21, 2020 | 10:46 PM | GRAVES COUNTY Video of Boswell from a local bank: Warrants have been issued for the arrest of two people after separate investigations into fraud.Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden says both victims were elderly women who were visited at their homes in the northern part of the county by a man offering to sell and spread gravel. Once the gravel was delivered, the price was increased and the victims were intimidated into paying the higher amount.One woman was told to ride with a female accomplice to an ATM in McCracken County, where the victim withdrew money from her account. The other victim was told to write a check, but the next day, she discovered that several other checks were missing. One of the checks had reportedly been cashed with a forged signature at a bank in Paducah.Both victims were given fake names by the suspects, but were able to give descriptions of the suspects and their vehicles.The Sheriff's Department was able to obtain surveillance video of the male and female suspects (see below).Fingerprint evidence of the man led to him being identified as 30-year-old Noah Boswell, Jr. The female suspect has been identified as 36-year-old Carol D. Harrison. It's believed that they live in the Nashville or St. Louis areas.Boswell is white, 6'1" tall, weighs 200 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a white, one-ton flatbed truck with an out-of-state license plate. He is wanted on outstanding charges in both Indiana and Tennessee, and faces charges of theft by deception in Graves County. He also has felony forgery warrants pending in McCracken County.Harrison is white, 53" tall with long brown hair. She was last seen driving a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse with a Tennessee license plate. She is wanted on a warrant in Simpson County, Kentucky, and warrants have been issued for her arrest in Graves County for several counts of theft by deception. She may be facing other charges in McCracken County.Anyone who has been victimized by either of these suspects, or anyone who has information about them should contact the Graves County Sheriff's Department at 270-247-4501.Video of Harrison from an ATM: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 20:19:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Sand performer Hu Shui makes video of her sand painting themmed on the epidemic fight in China on Feb 13, 2020. (Provided by Hu Shui) A majority of Chinese canceled their travel plans and settled for a quiet extended Spring Festival holiday over concerns of being infected amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. For those like Xiao, staying at home is a rare opportunity to take a break and pick up new skills to enrich and amuse themselves. NANCHANG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Slicing a fish and boiling rice noodles, 38-year-old Xiao Yuan is cooking a special local dish in east China's Jiangxi Province. The dish, steamed fish with rice flour noodles, usually takes several hours to finish, and Xiao has plenty of time. Xiao, 38, is a video editor at a local TV station. Running on a tight schedule, she usually spends little time with her family. "This is a special period, and I had fun cooking for my family," she said. A majority of Chinese canceled their travel plans and settled for a quiet extended Spring Festival holiday over concerns of being infected amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. For those like Xiao, staying at home is a rare opportunity to take a break and pick up new skills to enrich and amuse themselves. Zhou Jiaxiang, in the city of Ganzhou, gave himself a haircut with newly-purchased hair clippers. "The barbershop is still closed, and I haven't had my hair cut for over a month. So I decided to do it by myself. My wife further perfected the hairstyle with her eyebrow trimmer and we took a photo as a special memory," said Zhou. Zhou Jiaxiang cuts his hair on Feb 13, 2020. (Photo provided by Zhou Jiaxiang) Data from Douguo, a cooking app, showed that its daily active users surged by 113.5 percent year-on-year during this year's Spring Festival holiday. And on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform, "home-made food contest" has been a hot topic and received over 1.25 billion views. Topics such as make-up and fitness skills have been viewed more than 260 million times. "One of my cooking videos shared on WeChat gained more than 100 likes," Xiao said. Hu Shui, a 33-year-old sand performer in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has taken advantage of the prolonged winter vacation to teach her daughter sand painting. Hu also makes videos of her sand paintings themed on the ongoing anti-epidemic fight. She begins with a hand-drawn manuscript on paper before practicing dozens of times on sand tables. After that, she will take two days to make a video. "My father is also a volunteer for epidemic prevention and works late into the night every day. There are tens of thousands of people on the frontline of the fight, and I want to tell homebodies through my videos that we're lucky and should be grateful," she said. "Finding a way to entertain ourselves is helpful to soothe anxiety and win the fight against the epidemic in a positive way," said Shu Man, a professor with the research institute of psychological education in East China Jiaotong University. "This is also a good chance for us to explore the rich heritage of Chinese culture." "Though we're not on the frontline, we should not slack off. Everyone doing their part is the greatest contribution we can make at this moment," said Hu. Greyhound Lines will no longer allow Border Patrol agents to conduct immigration checks on its buses without warrants, the company announced on Friday one week after a leaked government memo revealed that agents could not board buses without consent. The memo appeared to take Greyhound by surprise. For years, the company, the largest operator of intercity buses in America, had been allowing border agents to board its vehicles without warrants, citing a law that it said it didnt agree with. C.B.P. searches have negatively impacted both our customers and our operations, the company said in 2018, referring to Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency. Greyhound does not coordinate with C.B.P., nor do we support these actions. But in the leaked memo, which was first reported by The Associated Press, the Border Patrol chief confirmed that agents were prohibited from boarding buses and questioning passengers without warrants or the companys consent. Anti-Trump Fox News analyst Neil Cavuto, who often demonstrates the difference between being glib and being articulate, says he doesnt work for Donald Trump. Cavuto took umbrage at Trumps reaction to an A.B. Stoddard interview with Cavuto in which she falsely stated, in defending Michael Bloombergs Hindenburgesque Nevada debate performance, that Trump consistently lost his 2016 debates with cringewortthy and disastrous performances. None of what she said was accurate, Cavuto didnt call her on it, later agreeing with her, and when Trump called both on it during his Colorado rally, Cavuto got righteously indignant in a statement what could have been an MSNBC audition tape, about Trump stating the truth and showing us the man behind the Fox Business curtain: Fox Newss Neil Cavuto and a contributor to his show found themselves the subjects of a lengthy tirade by President Donald Trump at his rally in Colorado Thursday night. For roughly ten minutes, Trump went on about his performances in the 2016 debates, holding up papers with polls showing how well he did in the debates, and taking the occasional shot at Cavuto and the contributor, A.B. Stoddard of RealClearPolitics Earlier in the day while discussing Mike Bloombergs dreadful performance in the Democratic debate Wednesday night, Stoddard mentioned Trumps poor showings in the 2016 debates. I think that Donald Trump had disastrous debate performances, Stoddard said. Many answers were so cringeworthy you just couldnt even believe he was still standing on the stage, and hes president. A short time later, Trump posted a tweet calling Stoddard a Trump-hater, and claiming to have won every debate in 2016 from beginning to end. Cavuto earned his spot in Trumps diatribe by correcting the president at the end of his show. Just to point out, he did not, Cavuto said. When you look at polls that came out from Fox, NBC, CNN, Politico, YouGov and a host of others, the initial read was that he had failed to do well in those debates. He ultimately won, but he didnt poll well in those debates. Cringeworthy? Disastrous? These are words we expect to hear from Rachel Maddow. Pundits are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts, and they are certainly not the final arbiters of truth. When Cavuto agrees with Stoddard that Trump lost the 2016 debates, how does he determine that? The only way to determine that is at the polls the following November. He didnt poll well in those debates? He didnt poll well either in the Fox News election night polls that told us to expect a President Hillary Clinton. Debates are a means to an end, not an end to themselves. They give talking head pundits who think theyre smarter than us a reason to exist, allowing to bloviate and provide analysis that in the end is full of sound and fury and means nothing. How do you determine who won a debate? Voters at the polls make that determination. Trump was center stage at each debate for a reason. And what exactly do you get when you win one? A certificate of authenticity from Neil Cavuto and A.B. Stoddard? Trump never said that Cavuto or Fox New literally worked for him, Cavutos clever turn of phrase is the first of many inaccuracies in his response to Trump. The phrase works for me, Cavuto, means an action one agrees with, approves, or applauds. Trump clearly did not agree with Stoddards fictitious analysis or Cavutos letting it stand uncontested. Trump has watched, as have we all, as Fox News veered slowly to the left with is addition of the likes of Richard Fowler, Marie Jobs for ISIS Harf, and Jessica Tarlov, and certainly nothing says fair and balanced, a phrase Fox curiously dropped from its advertising, like former DNC Chair Donna Brazile. Trump watched as Judge Andrew Napolitano was paraded out repeatedly to agree with Rep. Adam Schiff that Trumps Ukraine call was an impeachable offense and that Trump was guilty of at least four separate articles that could be filed. Legal analyst and former U.S. Atty. Joe Digenova was effectively banished from Fox commentary for saying on Tucker Carlsons show that Napolitano was foolish. For some reason, Fox never paired Napolitano with analysts and legal scholars that disagreed with him such as Digenova, Fox analyst Gregg Jarrett, or Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, one of Trumps most eloquent impeachment defenders. Against this backdrop of bias Trump reacted to what the overrated Stoddard, who most recently found work at Real Clear Politics, said on Cavutos show: President Trump on Wednesday tweeted that Fox News has become too hospitable to Democrats and "isn't working for us anymore," arguing his supporters "have to start looking for a new News Outlet." Trump lashed out in a trio of tweets after a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) appeared on "America's Newsroom." The president cited her interview; the employment of former DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile; Juan Williams, who is also a columnist for The Hill; and anchor Shepard Smith to claim the network is biased against him. Trump blasted the network as "HOPELESS & CLUELESS" for hiring Brazile, Williams and Smith, each of whom have criticized the president at various times. "They should go all the way LEFT and I will still find a way to Win -- Thats what I do, Win. Too Bad!" Trump continued. "I dont want to Win for myself, I only want to Win for the people. The New @FoxNews is letting millions of GREAT people down! We have to start looking for a new News Outlet. Fox isnt working for us anymore!" Cavuto, et al, make the mistake, as most liberals do, of taking Trump literally, which suggests the slogan -- we distort, you decide. You do not literally work for Trump, but you dont work for the DNC either, so stop acting like it. When you and your guest say that Trump was a lousy debater who lost the 2016 debates, you assume facts not in evidence and the empirical evidence that as the debates wore on Trumps opponents got fewer and fewer as Trumps rally crowds got bigger and bigger. Disastrous and cringewoworthy debates indeed. One fondly remembers election night as Fox exit polls showed Hillary winning as the election map increasingly showed otherwise. Anchor Bret Baier kept pestering Bill Hemmer at the election map to find a way Hillary could still pull it out. An impatient Megyn Kelly had to go back to the decision desk to find out why a reluctant Fox wasnt calling Pennsylvania for Trump. There were long, stunned faces at Fox News as well as at MSNBC that night. Trump works for us deplorables, who can see America rising, even when the media doesnt always tell us it is. The talking heads are incessantly bothered that Trump talks over their heads to an America outside their coastal newsrooms and they cant understand that the voters who attend Trump rallies would crawl over broken glass to vote for the billionaire who talks like them and listens to them. The talking heads cant understand why, after they hype every false charge and accusation by the Deep State, we no longer listen to them. Who won the 2016 debates? The American people did when they put Donald J. Trump in the White House. Daniel John Sobieski is a former editorial writer for Investors Business Daily and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. US President Donald Trump is encouraging a cooling of tension between India and Pakistan, the White House said on Friday, pointing out that successful dialogue between the two nations would be possible if Pakistan cracks down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," a senior administration official said, when asked whether Trump would offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue again during his upcoming Indian visit. "We continue to believe a core foundation of any successful dialogue between the two (Indian and Pakistan) is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists on its territory. So we continue to look for that," the official said. "But I think the president will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control (LoC) and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region," said the official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. "You know, that we can end the military engagement. We will be continuing our diplomatic and economic engagement, which has been there over the last 19 years. But we certainly would look to India to support this peace process -- an important country in the region, important to the overall stability of the region. So I think if the issue comes up, that is what would be the request from the president," the official said. Justice Arun Mishra of the Supreme Court on Saturday said that India has become the 'most-friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of internationally acclaimed, visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi'. "India is a responsible and the most-friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of internationally acclaimed, visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said Justice Mishra, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the International Judicial Conference. The Supreme Court judge also said that India is committed to constitutional obligations and dedicated to a peaceful and secure world, free from terrorism. "Dignified human existence is our prime value. We thank the versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally, Narendra Modi for providing us inspiring thoughts, which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the Conference. We express our deep gratitude for inaugurating the Conference," he added. He termed the judiciary as "protector and guardian of the ground norms of respective countries" and said that common man's faith and trust in the institution needs to be preserved. "The judiciary is the protector and guardian of the ground norms of respective countries. Kingdoms are seen falling apart where the judiciary has failed to contribute to effective governance. Common man reposes faith and trust in the judiciary, which needs to be preserved," he said. Justice Mishra said to strengthen the judicial system is the call of the day as it is the backbone of democracy, whereas the legislature is the heart and the executive is the brain. "All these three organs have to work independently, but in tandem to make the democracy successful, to visualise and for effective implementation of constitutional aspirations and its values," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid global concerns over coronavirus, the full recovery of the first two patients who tested positive for the virus in Vietnam affirmed the professional competence of Vietnamese physicians and the Governments efforts to address the epidemic. I say thank you to Vietnamese doctors and medical workers, Li Ding, a 66-year-old Chinese national, said as he was discharged from Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City on February 12 after a 21-day treatment and quarantine. His son was discharged from the hospital on February 4 following 14 days of treatment at the hospital. I could not walk and felt exhausted on the day I was hospitalised. Now I feel very good," Li Ding said. "The heartfelt care and treatment of the Vietnamese medical staff during the last 21 days improved my health conditions day by day. It deeply touched me. I am so grateful to all of the medical officials for their dedication, he said as he hugged his wife. Li Ding, a 66-year-old Chinese national, says thank you to Vietnamese doctors and medical workers as he is discharged from Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City on February 12 after a 21-day treatment and quarantine. VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hang The recovery of Li Ding was seen as an amazing achievement because he was critically ill with high-risk factors, including his age as well as underlying health conditions. He had also had a surgical resection due to lung cancer, and suffered from diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, according to doctors. My father has various diseases which put him in a complicated situation. Luckily, we are in Vietnam and he had treatment in time. So he was able to recover, said Li Ding's son, Li Zichao. We are lucky that we were treated at Cho Ray Hospital. We're grateful for all the doctors and nurses who treated us during this time. They are very professional. They love their job. When we arrived at the hospital, we were quarantined immediately. Thank you, Vietnamese friends, he added. Silent sacrifice Giving up their plans for the holiday break with families during Tet (Lunar New Year festival), a total of 30 health officials at Cho Ray Hospitals Tropical Diseases Department rushed to the hospital after being notified of two suspected cases of COVID-19 from the emergency alert system for infectious diseases on January 22. They immediately isolated the suspected patients, conducted tests, and mapped out appropriate plans for quarantine and treatment. Doctors and nurses at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City wear protective suits as they treat a patient from China infected with COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital On January 30, the World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and on February 1, Vietnam announced that it was a public health emergency. Although medical officials at the department have had rich experiences to fight various epidemic outbreaks such as H1N1 swine flu, SARS, and MERS, the fight against the novel coronavirus was definitely the toughest and most challenging task, said Dr Le Quoc Hung, head of the hospitals Tropical Diseases Department, one of the doctors who treated the patients. As the virus spread rapidly and from human to human, and as there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for the disease, it, of course, worried medical officials, even experienced ones, Hung said. The frontline medical staff were not reluctant to work overtime during the Tet holiday and were ready to join the treatment course under any circumstance, despite great psychological pressure and a high risk of infection. Tran Thi Hai, a 40-year-old nurse who has two children, burst into tears when she discovered that both patients had recovered and had been discharged from the hospital. We have to come in contact with infected patients to give them food and drugs in time according to doctors prescriptions. At first, the virus, which has no specific treatment, worried us, but we overcame the psychological pressure and addressed the challenges to fulfill our duties as medical workers, nurse Hai said. "We have to wear protective equipment such as suits, surgical masks, goggles and disposable gloves, which make it hard to breathe and work comfortably. "The language barrier was also one of the challenges with the father who could not speak English, but we managed to understand each other by using body language and Google translation. I am so proud of the wonderful recovery of the older Chinese patient. The hospital staff were very happy about the fight against the coronavirus, Hai, who has worked at the hospital for 15 years, added. There were three teams of doctors and nurses taking shifts to offer treatment and take care of the patients round-the-clock every day. Dr Nguyen Ngoc Sang said the father at first refused to cooperate with the doctors and nurses when he was hospitalised as he thought he was not infected with the virus. As a foreigner was kept in the isolation area, the father was under stress. Doctors conducted psychological therapy and carefully explained to him about the disease so that he could trust the Vietnamese doctors, Dr Sang said. On-duty doctors and nurses were willing to forget about Tet celebrations and focused on the treatment of infected patients, he added. Government appraisal Leaders of Cho Ray Hospital receive a certificate of merit from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc commending the doctors and nurses for their timely emergency response and successful treatment of the first two patients infected with COVID-19 in Vietnam. Photo Quang Chau On January 29, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc commended the doctors and nurses at Cho Ray Hospital for their timely emergency response and successful treatment of the first two patients infected with COVID-19. Dr Nguyen Tri Thuc, director of the hospital, emphasised the importance of the cooperative spirit and responsiveness of medical workers in offering supportive care and treatment to infected patients. For severe cases like the father from China, medications and care were provided to support vital organ functions, Thuc said. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son praised the hospital for making joint efforts to respond in time to infections and prevent the virus from spreading to medical staff and the public. The successful treatment of the patient who was critically ill was a big achievement for the Vietnamese health sector in the fight against COVID-19, Son said. COVID-19 treatment in Viet Nam fact file Li Ding, a visitor from Chinas Wuhan City, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and his 28-year-old son Li Zichao, on January 22 were the first two patients confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 in Vietnam. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son (far right) presents bouquets to patients after their discharge from Cho Ray Hospital on February 12. VNS Photo Thu Hang On November 13 last year, Li Ding and his wife travelled to Hanoi from Wuhan. The couple and their son Li Zichao, who was working in Vietnam, flew to Nha Trang City on January 17 before travelling to Long An Province. On that day, Li Ding developed a fever, and four days later, his son did as well. On January 22, they visited Binh Chanh District Hospital in HCM City for treatment and were transferred to Cho Ray Hospital because their condition had worsened. They tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day. The wife, who was quarantined for 14 days, tested negative. Cho Ray Hospital is one of the premier hospitals in Vietnam under the Ministry of Health, and the largest health care facility in the south. Established in 1900, It was originally named Hopital Municipal de Cholon as one of the very first medical units France established in Vietnam. It took the name Cho Ray in 1957. The hospital offers medical check-ups and treatment for nearly 10,000 patients from 23 southern cities and provinces every day, many of whom are critically ill. Experienced medical professionals at the hospital perform high-quality health checkups and treatment, taking advantage of state-of-the-art medical equipment. The hospital has been a pioneer in fighting various epidemic outbreaks such as H1N1 swine flu, SARS and MERS. As of February 20, 15 out of 16 COVID-19 patients in Vietnam had been successfully treated, with the remaining patient expected to get the all-clear on February 21. VNS Thu Hang Medical staff: Fearless soldiers in fight against Covid-19 Directly contacting with nCoV patients, physicians and nurses at Emergency Department of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases are under pressure from not only the disease but also their surrounding people. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) All 49 Filipinos from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak, have been allowed to conclude quarantine in the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, on Saturday. Among them is a Filipina evacuee who gave birth to a "healthy and strong" baby boy at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, the Department of Health announced in a statement. The evacuees were all given certificates that they have completed the 14-day quarantine period. These documents also state that they "did not develop any signs and symptoms" of the coronavirus disease officially called COVID-19. "We are glad that all our repatriates from China are well and did not exhibit any signs of the COVID-19. Through everyones cooperation, we have ZERO infections and ZERO mortalities," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. The evacuees also received financial assistance from the government. Aside from the 30 overseas Filipinos who were repatriated from Wuhan, five members of the DOH medical team, five members of the Department of Foreign Affairs' response team, six airline crew members and three ground personnel were also quarantined since they were in contact with the evacuees. The government is also working on repatriating more than 400 Filipinos who were on board the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan. However, they will have to stay on the ship a bit longer. Repatriation has been delayed to early next week since half of the Filipinos have yet to be tested for the coronavirus. The 47 Filipinos who have contracted the virus will not be allowed to make this trip back to the Philippines. The new coronavirus has killed more than 2,360 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province December 2019. In the Philippines, three Chinese nationals have been infected with the virus one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country. A total of 495 patients have tested negative for the virus, while the government awaits 55 more lab results. A longtime Kessler Elementary School aide was suspended without pay for three days this month after twice grabbing a 7-year-old students arm in November even though the aide expressed remorse and explained she had just tried to control an unruly student whom she said had run amok. Special education paraeducator Jule Crowell used improper physical force on a student, according to a notice of discipline to Crowell from assistant superintendent Tony VanderMaas. VanderMaas also recognized that Crowell who has worked for the district for nearly three decades without a significant disciplinary incident showed remorse for her actions and a willingness to correct her behavior. Crowell served the suspension on Feb. 6, 7 and 10, according to the letter, which The Daily News obtained through the state Open Records Act. Longview PD completed a probable cause statement for third-degree assault based on the incident, but the prosecutors office ultimately declined to file charges, according to the letter. Numerous attempts to reach Crowell on Friday were unsuccessful. Reached by phone Friday, the boys mother, Johanna Pederson said she pulled her children out of the elementary school and has been homeschooling them since. Her child became afraid to return to school after the incident, she said. I trusted these people to protect my child ... instead they allowed him to be assaulted, Pederson said. It was their job to keep my child safe, and they are the ones who hurt them. While disciplinary action was deemed necessary, Longview School District spokesman Rick Parrish called Crowell an outstanding 30-year employee, with a strong record of helping and supporting kids in our district. Pederson called law enforcement on Nov. 25 when her child came home with bruises on his right forearm, according to VanderMaas letter. A Longview PD officer met with the parent and child that evening and saw bruising on the childs arm consistent with a grab from an adult-sized hand. Pederson called the school the next day to report the injury, and Crowell was placed on paid administrative leave. Crowell did not report either incident to the school or district prior to Pedersons complaint, according to the letter. VanderMaas ultimately determined Crowell grabbed the student on two separate occasions at recesses on Nov. 25. During the first recess, Crowell grabbed the student, who was trying to pull away, for about 45 seconds before letting go. She later said her use of force was due to the student throwing bark chips at her and other students. That claim was backed up by another paraeducator, according to the letter. During the second recess, Crowell grabbed the student (who was not yet lined up with classmates) by the arm and pulled him to her, according to video evidence mentioned in VanderMaas letter. The student broke free after about a minute. Crowell told Hudson in a meeting Nov. 26 that the student was not using playground equipment properly, that the student had run amok, and that other students had complained about the student using naughty language. She admitted to grabbing the student when it was time for students to line up at the end of recess. In a Dec. 3 written statement of that second recess, Crowell also said she had approached the student to talk about his behavior, which included hitting and language. The student tried to get away, so she put a hand on his arm to keep him from leaving the line. When the student said get your hands off me, Crowell did so, according to VanderMaas letter. Theres no evidence that showed her son throwing bark chips, cussing or fighting with other kids, Pederson said. Crowell said in a meeting with VanderMaas that she recognized that she looked like a bully on the video and was not proud of her behavior, according to VanderMaas letter. She acknowledged that physical force can only be used when people or school district property are in imminent danger, under school district policy. It cannot be used as a disciplinary or corrective measure. On Dec. 12, Crowell told an investigating Longview police officer that she was sorry and wished she had handled the situation differently. While she had no intention to harm the child, she acknowledged that she must have grabbed the student hard enough to cause bruising. VanderMaas briefly described the incidents in a notice sent to parents Nov. 26 and added that the safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority. Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 4 Sad 3 Angry 8 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. Does Queen Elizabeth think Prince Harry is coming back? The wounds are still fresh as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex only announced their departure from the royal family a few weeks ago. The palace statement made it clear that Her Majesty was just as blindsided as the rest of us. Yes, we all knew that Prince Harry had struggled with media attention and public scrutiny for decades. But this move seemed extreme, even for him. The royals have been busily hammering out details of the couples exit over the past couple of weeks and now Queen Elizabeth will be taking away one of Prince Harrys most treasured achievements his military honors. However, perceptive fans realize that the queen is leaving the door open for her grandsons eventual return. It sounds like she might even be expecting it. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry | Steve Parsons WPA Pool/Getty Images The royal family will reevaluate Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exit in one year The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arent the first family members to quit the royal life. But they are setting a surprising precedent with a clause built into their exit plan that allows for both sides to reexamine the relationship in one year and see if its still working out. With language like that, its clear that this is more of a trial separation than a permanent divorce. Theres a chance that this coming year will go horribly for Harry and Meghan and that theyll want to return to the working royal life. Especially in light of the latest thing Queen Elizabeth is taking from Prince Harry. Prince Harry wont be able to use his honorary military titles anymore Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Its true that Harry struggled with finding his footing in the royal family, especially as the spare heir who would likely never see the throne. The one thing he was always proud of, however, was his military service. But even though the Duke of Sussex spent years serving his country, now with his exit hell be forced to give up his honorary roles in the British army. And he wasnt happy about it. Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding, Prince Harry said in a speech. Unfortunately, that wasnt possible. There is one silver lining in all this, however. The door is open for Prince Harry to come back. No one will fill Prince Harrys previous roles Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth knew exactly what she was doing by refusing to let Prince Harry keep his most treasured titles in the royal family. Between that move and reportedly forcing Harry and Meghan to stop using the word royal as part of their branding, Her Majesty is showing the couple just how different life is without her support. But in a merciful move, the queen didnt immediately replace Prince Harry in those honorary roles and is instead planning to suspend new appointments for the next year in case Prince Harry chooses to come back. Harry will be forced to attend military events in civilian clothing, which one military official called very unfortunate. Will this change be enough to bring him back into the fold? The queen is hoping it is. Mumbai, Feb 22 : Renowned Ayurveda Master Pankaj Naram, who had provided relief to 9/11 victims and caretakers, besides treating the likes of St. Teresa and the Dalai Lama, passed away following heart failure, his family announced here on Saturday. Naram arrived here from Dubai on February 19 afternoon and suddenly collapsed while going through the check-out formalities at Mumbai Airport. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and all efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, his wife Smita and son Krushna -- both Ayurveda doctors -- said in an official statement released here today. The 65-year-old master's patients comprised a host of Indian and international celebrities like St. Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama. Naram was based in Malad, Mumbai where he was the Founder-Director of Ayushakti Ayurveda from 1987-2012. Simultaneously, he practiced and popularized the Indian traditional medicine among lakhs of patients around the world, notably, the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa and the Arab nations. Naram also lectured at prominent universities globally, hosted a series of Ayurvedic television shows in India and abroad, plus helped patients via social media like YouTube channels, etc, and penned several books on health and Ayurveda. Among the highlights was giving Ayurvedic treatment to hundreds of rescue workers and assistants who helped the victims and survivors of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Centre, New York. His family said that with the help of "certain traditional secret remedies" acquired from his spiritual gurus in the Himalayas, Naram was reputed to cure some of the worst diseases, or illnesses, both mental and physical. A prayer meeting will be held at the Dr. T. R. Naravane School, Kandivali west at 5 pm today to enable his admirers and patients pay their respects to Naram. A Chinese doctoral student pleaded guilty Friday to taking photographs of a U.S. Navy base in Key West the day after Christmas and now faces up to one year in prison for the misdemeanor crime. Lyuyou Liao, 27, appeared in U.S. District Court in Key West before Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow, two months after military police caught him using his cellphone to take photos after breaching the guarded property at the Navys Truman Annex downtown. Guilty, Liao said, through a Mandarin interpreter when asked to plead to one count of photographing or sketching defense installations in Key West. Prosecutors agreed to drop a misdemeanor charge of trespassing on military property and two additional counts of photographing defense installations in exchange for his guilty plea. Sentencing is set for May 11 before Chief Judge K. Michael Moore in Key West. A jury trial had been set for March 2. After the hearing, Liaos attorney, Daniel Rashbaum said he couldnt comment. The change of plea ran contrary to what Liao originally said when caught by military police on the restricted property, which he walked onto at 6:50 a.m. Dec. 26, 2019, by going around a perimeter fence and entering from some rocks along the seawater. Liao told police he walked onto the base to take photos of the sunrise. Chinese national arrested for taking photos at Naval Air Station in Key West Witnesses warned Liao he was trespassing as he used his cellphone camera to capture images of government buildings near sensitive military facilities, according to the federal criminal complaint. Liao agreed to waive his Miranda rights and told the agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in broken English that he was trying to take photographs of the sunrise, according to the complaint affidavit. But when Liao provided the pass code to his cellphone and allowed the agent to look at the images, the agent said he saw images of Truman Annex. Liao was working on his Ph.D. in St. Louis, Missouri, while on a full scholarship from the Chinese government, prosecutors said. Story continues Since the fall of 2018, four Chinese nationals have been arrested on charges of shooting pictures of military facilities in Key West, drawing the sharp interest of U.S. counterintelligence investigators who have been looking into suspected Beijing-led spying activities in South Florida, including visitors to President Donald Trumps private club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach. Amid rising spy concerns, 2 more Chinese students held after shooting photos at base Yuhao Wang and Jielun Zhang, both 24, are accused in a complaint of defying the guard at the gate at the entrance to Sigsbee Park Annex the morning of Jan. 4 so they could take illegal photos of sensitive military assets. Both were full-time students in masters degree programs at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They are in jail awaiting the resolution of their cases. A trial is set for March 2 before Moore in Key West. Sigsbee Park Annex is on an island linked to Key West proper by a single road. Sigsbee is one of seven Navy bases spread across Key West and the Lower Keys. In September of last year, Zhao Qianli, who said he was a music student from China, got caught by Key West police trespassing at Truman Annex by using the beach at Fort Zachary State Park as his entrance. Two months later, federal agents searched his digital camera and found images of the Navy base. The Joint Interagency Task Force South, which is responsible for security and military operations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean, is located at Truman Annex. Qianli pleaded guilty in February to one count of photographing defense installations and was sentenced to one year in prison by Moore. At the time of his arrest, Qianli said he was just a dishwasher from New Jersey. Lax security at Key West base boggles the mind, judge in case of Chinese intruders says Italy reported its first death from the new virus from China early Saturday and the number of people infected more than quadrupled due to a cluster of cases that prompted officials to order schools, restaurants and businesses to close. Codogno: Italy reported its first death from the new virus from China early Saturday and the number of people infected more than quadrupled due to a cluster of cases that prompted officials to order schools, restaurants and businesses to close. State-run RAI television reported a 78-year-old man, one of two people in the northern Veneto region to have been infected, died Friday. Italian news agencies ANSA and LaPresse also reported the death, citing the Veneto regional president, Luca Zaia. In Lombardy, at least 14 new cases were confirmed, representing the first infections in Italy acquired through secondary contagion and bringing the country's total to 19. The cluster was located in a handful of tiny towns southeast of Milan, said Lombardy regional health chief Giulio Gallera. This was foreseeable even if we hoped it wouldnt have happened, Gallera said. The first to fall ill was a 38-year-old Italian who met with someone who had returned from China on 21 January without presenting any symptoms of the new virus, health authorities said. That person was being kept in isolation and appears to present antibodies to the virus. The 38-year-old is now hospitalized in critical condition. His wife and a friend of his, who was a member of his running club, also tested positive for the virus. Three patients at the hospital in Codogno where he went with flu-like symptoms on 18 February also have infections, as do five nurses and doctors. In addition, another three elderly people, who frequented the same cafe as the runner's father, also tested positive Friday, Gallera said. Tests were underway, meanwhile, on the 38-year-old's doctor, who made a house call on him, as well as on 120 people he worked within the research and development branch of Unilever in Casalpusterlengo, Gallera said. Word of the contagion sparked fears throughout the region, particularly given the closure of the emergency room at the Codogno hospital. We are old and we are very concerned," said 76-year-old Codogno resident Carmelo Falcone. I live on my own. I really dont know what to do. Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Italy is now seeing the same sort of "cluster" of cases that Germany and France have seen. He signed an ordinance with Lombardy's regional president outlining measures to contain the cluster to the 10 towns so far affected: Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Maleo, Fombio, Bertonico, Castelgerundo, Terranova dei Passerini, Somaglia and San Fiorano. The towns, which have between 1,000-15,000 residents each, are located around 60 kilometres southeast of Milan, Lombardy's capital and Italy's business centre. The ordinance suspends public gatherings, commercial and business activity, sport, education, and other recreational activities throughout the region, Speranza, the health minister, said. He defended the precautionary measures Italy took previously, noting that Italy remains the lone European country to have barred flights to and from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. We had the highest measures in Europe," he said. The health ministry ordered anyone who came into direct contact with the victims to be quarantined for 14 days. And it recommended others in the region stay home. Italy's civil protection agency, meanwhile, was working to identify military buildings, hotels or other structures that could serve as isolation wards if necessary. "In other parts of the world, and also in China, it has been demonstrated that this system (of self-isolation) helps in a substantial way to block the spread, Lombardy regional president Attilio Fontana said. But we must not let ourselves be overcome by panic." The Codogno hospital closed its emergency room, and staff were seen wearing masks as movers brought in new beds and furniture as the quarantine got underway. Romes infectious disease hospital is currently caring for three other people who were infected weeks ago, including a Chinese couple from hard-hit Wuhan and an Italian who is now testing persistently negative for the virus after two weeks of anti-viral treatment. Despite the calls for safeguards, Italians were having a hard time finding protective face masks. A sampling of Milan pharmacies reported selling out weeks ago, as did a pharmacist in Codogno who said Italy had been sending masks to China for weeks. The first law of thermodynamics is that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred from one form to another. A contemporary exemplification of this is the behavior of French President Emmanuel Macron, the ambitious politician and former Rothschild junior partner seeking a key leadership role in international affairs as well as in French politics. Macron, with his imperious manner and emotional distance, is not easy to label, with attributes as a Jupiterian style of government as supreme authority, socialist, centrist liberal, left-wing liberal, libertarian, a figure who is both Caesar and the tribune of the plebs at the same time. His energy has been broadcast on numerous issues: NATO, European defense structure, the Nord Stream pipelines bringing Russian gas to Europe via the Baltic Sea, opposition to the admission of Albania and North Macedonia into the EU, pension reforms, disagreements with the UK over Brexit, preventing release of brown bears in the Pyrenees after the increase of bear attacks on French sheep, climate change, the Iran nuclear deal, criticism of the move of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, opposition to French colonization of Algeria, taxes, university reform, and above all political and economic change in France. Macron controversially warned that Europe is standing on the edge of a precipice. He argued that the U.S. shows signs of turning its back on Europe and NATO, which he considered brain dead, and there is no coordination of strategy between the U.S. and its NATO allies. Europe may lose control of its destiny and therefore must consider itself a geographical collective, not a junior partner of the U.S. and become autonomous in terms of military strategy and capability. Europe must also open its own strategic dialogue with Russia. The latest exercise of his energy is coping with the problem of the role of Islam and the six million Muslims in France and the increasing influence of Islamist extremists in areas of the country where the majority of the population is of North African origin. In a visit to the city of Mulhouse on February 18, 2020, Macron spoke of a number of related issues: combating foreign interference in how Islam is practiced in France, the problem when in the name of religion some people want to separate themselves from the Republic and therefore not respect its laws, and the danger of communitarianism, communities self-governing themselves within the state. The very place where he was speaking, Bourtzwiller, a district in Mulhouse, is one of 47 districts where traditional French values are being challenged. The problem is heightened by the fact that half of the mosques and Islamic centers in Mulhouse were funded, at a cost of $30 million, by Qatar. Yet he explains, the struggle against this development was not an attitude of being anti-Islam but was designed to aid integration of Muslims into French life and culture. Macron expressed concern about the extent of immigration and proposed limits on those admitted. About 114,000 sought asylum into France in 2018, but only 33,000 were approved in 2019. Macron launched into the central issues, what he calls Islamic separatism, and the degree of foreign influence over Muslims in France. He declared it unacceptable to disobey the laws of the French Republic on behalf of a religion or a foreign power. Though France must fight against discrimination, it must also fight against separatism. To this end, he imposed controls on foreign financing of mosques, and proposed ending the program created in 1977 by which nine countries could send imams to France to teach language and culture classes without supervision by France. Four countries, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Turkey, had been sending 300 imams every year to teach programs that reach 80,000 students a year. France, a secular republic, is struggling to relate its Muslim population, eight percent of the whole, the largest in a European country, to the historic principle of laicite. Popularly regarded as meaning separation of church and state, laicite discourages religious involvement in government affairs, and forbids government involvement in religious affairs, while allowing the right to free exercise of religion. Macron entered the debate over a specific issue that arose when a 16-year-old French girl, a self-declared lesbian named Mila, took part in a live broadcast in her Instagram account in which she responded to personal insults by a Muslim man who called her a dirty lesbian and other objectionable names. She then called Islam a religion of hate. As a result, she was verbally attacked and threatened, was unable to go to school, and was forced into hiding. The legal, as well as moral, question was whether she had provoked religious hatred by what some regarded as blasphemy or was entitled to free speech. The supporters of Mila adopted a hashtag, Je Suis Mila, reminiscent of the tag, Je Suis Charlie Hebdo. This was a reference to and reminder of the Charlie Hebdo magazine incident in January 2015 when two al-Qaeda terrorists attacked the offices of the magazine, killing 12 and injuring 11 others, and later killing a policewoman and several people in a kosher supermarket in Paris. The attack was the Islamic response to what the terrorists saw as public insults of their religion because the magazine had published twelve satirical cartoons of Prophet Mohamed. The gunmen shouted, We have avenged the Prophet. God is Great. The cartoons may have been offensive, but they were an illustration of free expression. Publication by Charlie Hebdo was later upheld as legal in French courts, yet the fundamental problem remained, as this comment of President Jacques Chirac illustrates: Anything that can hurt the convictions of someone else, in particular religious convictions, should be avoided. Freedom of expression should be excised in a spirit of responsibility. The utterance of Mila was similarly greeted with lack of unanimity on this key issue of the tension between free speech saw as hate speech. Macron, defending Mila, said that blasphemy is not a crime, French people have the right to blasphemy, to criticize, to caricature, religion. The Republican order is not a moral order. What is outlawed is to incite hatred and attack dignity. Other senior French politicians were uncomfortably obfuscated. Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet at first said that Mila was clearly infringing freedom of conscience, although death threats against her were unacceptable, but then, after criticism, retreated and said her statement was clumsy. Former socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal remarked, I refuse to hold up a disrespectful teenager as a paragon of the freedom of expression. At the heart of the issue of Mila are differences in both moral and legal judgements, on the rights and limits of free speech, even on religious issues and specifically on the nature of Islam and the practice of Muslims. In France, as in all democratic countries, individuals are free to express beliefs and thoughts openly, without censorship or government interference, but what if that speech expresses prejudice towards ethnic or religious groups and their sensibilities? Already in France, after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, limits on speech or behavior are imposed for reasons of security on those defending, threatening or supporting terrorist attacks. These meet with general approval, but the current debate on Mila shows that blasphemy or criticism of a particular religion are not universally approved. The problem of free speech is still unresolved. Only cynics will hold that somethings are better left unsaid. Better is alacrity of spirit to deal with the issue of religion. Photo credit: US State Department Hitting out at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday alleged the present regime's decision to take away the ownership rights of the land donated to the people Brahmin community exposes its anti-Brahmin DNA. "Khattar government's anti-Brahmin DNA has been exposed. Taking away the ownership rights from the Brahmin community of the land donated to them, the BJP government is exploiting them and also doing injustice. In 2010, the Congress government gave ownership rights to Dolidar and other Brahmin families as they used to do farming on those lands for ages," Surjewala told ANI here. Surjewala alleged that by this decision the incumbent government will make 50,000 Brahmin families deprived of land ownership in the state. "Now Khattar government has clearly said the land of Gram Panchayat, Nagar Palika or any other government agency will be taken back. 50,000 families will be deprived of the ownership rights of the land," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Customs officials at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here confiscated 5.049 kilograms of ephedrine worth Rs 5 crore on Friday, the second seizure of the banned substance in five days. Officials at the courier terminal of the Air Cargo Complex found the drug packed in polythene pouches and hidden between layers of cardboard wedding invitation cards. A Madurai-based exporter had booked the consignment to Australia. A press release from M J Chethan, Joint Commissioner, Customs, said that officials of the Central Intelligence Unit, Air Cargo Complex, scanned the package while verifying export consignments and found the concealment of some powder. A detailed examination revealed a large cache of drugs hidden between 43 wedding invitation cards in the package that also contained a few clothes. On suspicion that the powder was concealed between the two-sided and foldable cards, officials cut the cards open and found white, crystalline powder in 86 polythene pouches. A test of the substance revealed that it was ephedrine, a controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. On February 18, officials seized five kilograms of ephedrine worth Rs 5 crore in the international market. The drug was concealed in plastic bobbins. Officials are probing the exporters, the recipients and for how long they have been trading the drugs. Proudly wearing the jersey, Quaden Bayles led the NRL Indigenous All Stars onto the ground on Saturday night to deliver the match ball. Quaden Bayles, leads the Indigenous All Stars on to the field with captain Joel Thompson. Credit:AAP The crowd roared as Quaden led in the players ahead of their clash with the Maori All Stars at the Gold Coast. The nine-year-old boy walked hand-in-hand onto the pitch with captain Joel Thompson, before posing with players from both teams for photos and handing over the match ball to the referee. Stand-off: Belgiums Charles Michel is chairman of the EU summit. Photo: Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said EU budget plans risked making Ireland pay more and receive less from Brussels. Mr Varadkar joined EU colleagues early yesterday morning, after a long and fruitless day at Leinster House, for talks aimed at framing EU spending plans for the seven years from 2021 to 2027. But compromises could not be found between the big payers into Brussels' coffers and the developing states of the former Eastern Bloc, so the leaders' summit was cut short with a new meeting now likely next month. The new summit chairman, former Belgian prime minister Charles Michel, ended a second day of haggling over the EU's 1.1trn budget blueprint. The stand-off between big contributors, known as the "frugals", and big-spenders, known as the "cohesion group", could not be bridged. This tussle over EU funding is a Brussels ritual which happens every seven years. But this time it was intensified by the need to bridge a 12bn per year net gap left by the departure of the UK, and new spending demands for climate change, migration and defence co-operation, which will reduce farming, regional and social spending. Speaking during a break on day two of the EU summit in Brussels, Mr Varadkar said he had made Ireland's position clear during a meeting with Mr Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after 2am yesterday morning. "The proposal on the table is one we can't accept. Essentially it means Ireland will contribute much more to the EU budget but we'll actually receive less back in terms of payments to Irish farmers and also funds for regional development and social development," the caretaker Taoiseach told reporters during a break in discussions. Brussels officials signalled Ireland's big worry was the loss of 78m a year in farm funding. But they accepted that Ireland had also long ago made it clear it is prepared to pay in more than the net yearly contribution of approximately 200m. "We accept that as a country which has a growing economy and a country that has full employment that we will have to pay more into the European budget over the next seven years. "But what we can't accept is that we will pay more in but we would see very significant cuts to CAP and to cohesions funds," the Taoiseach added. Mr Varadkar told the 'Farming Independent' on Tuesday that Ireland wanted to keep farm spending at current levels. But under these proposals the Common Agriculture Policy would see a cut of up to 53bn over the coming seven years - with Ireland's estimated hit put at 78m a year. Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen struck a particularly downbeat note over the prospects of a budget compromise. Denmark is one of the self-styled "frugal" four nations - along with the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria - opposed to Mr Michel's proposals. They insist Mr Michel's 1.1trn budget plan is excessive and must be cut back. They are also calling for the EU budget process to be modernised. Leaders are at odds over how much to increase the long-term budget - called the multi-annual financial framework (MFF). They also disagree over how spending should be shifted between priorities, and how much each member should pay as a percentage of its gross domestic product (GDP). Against the "frugals" are France, which like Ireland wants farm payments protected, and more money for European defence projects. Cutbacks are also opposed by the so-called "friends of cohesion", a group of eastern and southern countries seeking to ring-fence their grant money. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte came to the summit armed with just a small apple and a biography of the Polish composer Frederic Chopin, to while away the hours while summit chairman Mr Michel did the rounds of the other government leaders trying to shift their entrenched demands. But Mr Michel failed in his efforts. RIYADH (Reuters) - France is ready to listen to the U.S. administration's proposal of offering U.S. companies a "safe harbour" from a new, international digital tax, its finance minister said on Saturday, while admitting that he still didn't know what that meant in practice. "I'm not in a position to tell you what it (a safe harbour) really means," Le Maire told journalists on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Saudi Arabia. "(But) it's fair and useful to give all the attention to this new proposal." (Reporting By Francesco Canepa) The Presentation Centre in Enniscorthy was packed to capacity recently for the world premiere of a short film titled 'Besties'. Shot entirely in Enniscorthy and with a locally-based cast the film was directed by filmmaker, Dick Donaghue and produced by Jer Ennis. The film's cast featured some well known names from the theatrical world in Enniscorthy including Jennafer Boyd, Karen Franklin and Fintan Kelly while the three characters around which the story was based were played by Maeve Ennis, Jennifer Kelly and Summer Venn-Keane. The film told the story of two friends who had a falling out over a misconception that one of them was caught shop lifting. Replicating the real life experiences of teenagers all over the world it showed how even small, erroneous assumptions can have major consequences. However, by the end all was well and the two friends sorted everything out. The premiere night also included screenings of two other short films - also shot locally: 'Dark Waters' and 'What Next Mother?' The later film, which was shot in Enniscorthy and Bunclody, was a very amusing tale of a grandmother who is in a care home but manages to 'break free' by taking her daughter's car and goes on a series of adventures to the amusement of her grand-daughter. 'Dark Waters', which was filmed in Bridgetown, focused attention on a person trying to come to terms with the loss of her partner as the first anniversary of his passing arrives. It starred Sharon Griffiths and David Parsons. The three films provided a broad depth of subject matter for the audience and all of them were extremely well received. An added bonus to the premiere night was that it was organised to raise money for Focus Ireland and that cheque will be presented in the coming weeks. Everyone involved with the night was delighted with the turnout and they thanked everyone who came out to support all three films and in doing so raise money for a very worthy cause. Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is coming to the UK on Friday to take part in a youth protest in Bristol. The 17-year-old Swede will be joining the Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate on College Green on 28 February. One of the organisers, Milly Sibson, also 17, from Bristol, told the Press Association news agency: We are all just so excited everyone is so excited about the thought of hearing her talk. I would love the chance to meet her because she is the founder of this movement and she is so important to it she is an idol even though she is younger than me. We really hope loads of people join us to welcome her to Bristol. Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures In the protest that started a movement, Greta skips school to sit outside of the Swedish parliament in Stockholm in order to raise awareness of climate change on 28 August 2018 Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta stages a protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 January Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the House of Commons in London on 23 April PA Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses to the occupation at Marble Arch in London on 21 April AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta meets the pope on a visit to Rome Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta speaks at the senate in Rome on 18 April Reuters Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses a debate of the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 April AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta receives the Special Climate Protection Award at the German Film and Television awards in Berlin on 30 March AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta attends a children's climate protest in Berlin on 29 March AFP/Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta addresses a children's climate protest on 1 March in Hamburg Getty Greta Thunberg inspires climate activists everywhere: In pictures Greta attends a meeting for the Civil Society For rEUnaissance at the EU Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 21 February AFP/Getty Milly said Greta had originally planned to visit London, but as the area planned for the protest in the capital was too small the organisers had recommended Bristol instead. The city was awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2015. Press Association The initial investor response to the Bader trial, though, has been muted, with Bayer shares sliding about $1 or 5% over the past week to close just above $21 on Friday in New York, and BASF slipping even less: about 50 cents or 3% to close at $16.90. For Bayer, that stability suggests the market doesnt see dicamba as a Roundup-caliber financial concern for now. This is not a glyphosate issue in scale, said the trading firm Liberum Capital, according to a Reuters report, but is another legal headache for investors to worry about in the near term. Surprised, but stuck Andrew Thostenson, a pesticide specialist for North Dakota State Universitys extension service, said he was stunned by the size of punitive damages awarded in the Bader trial, after keeping an eye on it from afar. He was particularly surprised to see the result come from an area like Southeast Missouri, where he felt average citizens generally would not be unsympathetic to agriculture companies and herbicide use. Its something that you might expect for sure if it was on the West Coast, Thostenson said. But it happened down in Cape Girardeau. I think that says something. Remember when KFC announced it was testing a Chicken & Donuts Sandwich in select cities? Well, call your doctor and slip on your stretchy pantsbecause the colonel is taking this wonderfully horrible idea nationwide. The limited-time offering is exactly what it sounds like: fried chicken sandwiched between two glazed doughnuts. "Chicken & Donuts is the newest fried chicken trend we're bringing to all of America," said Andrea Zahumensky, chief marketing officer, KFC U.S, in a press release. "But not just any donut would do. Only a donut that's glazed-to-order and served piping hot every single time can stand next to our hand-breaded fried chicken. It's a finger lickin' good dish filled with glaze and glory." Its not clear what glazed-to-order means, exactly, but were into it. Of course, KFC is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the national debut. The fast food chain is opening a pop-up shop in Los Angeles called The Colonels (Chicken &) Donuts Shop on February 22. The shop, which will open for one day only, will serve exclusively Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts. If you happen to be in L.A., you can RSVP right here (although walk-ups are welcome). The first 50 customers in line will get free KFC Extra Crispy chicken tenders and six doughnuts. For everyone else in the country, the sandwich will be available at KFC restaurants from February 24 until March 16. Get em while you can! A lot of people have argued why films like Gangs Of Wasseypur aren't sent for the Oscars. It's a cult unconventional yet relatable film that struck a chord with the audiences because of its sheer brilliant script and fabulous performances. From the cast, that turned several actors including Nawazuddin Siddiqui into overnight stars, to its script and music, the movie was an experiment so successful that until today it's getting its due recognition. Twitter Filmmaker Anurag Kashyaps cult film Gangs Of Wasseypur is the only Indian film that has made to the list of of the 100 best films of the decade by International Cinephile Society (ICS). Twitter The film that had a stellar cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqi, Richa Chadha, Huma Qureshi, Rajkummar Rao, Vineet Kumar, Piyush Mishra and Tigmanshu Dhulia, is on 58th position on the list. Twitter For the unversed, Gangs Of Wasseypur has received international recognition on various occasions. The Hollywood Reporter called the movie "an extraordinary ride through Bollywood's spectacular, over-the-top filmmaking" and even compared Kashyap to Quentin Tarantino. Twitter Furthermore, the movie was also the only Indian film to feature in the The Guardian list of 100 Best Films of the 21st century. Twitter Bong Joon Hos dark-comedy Parasite that won the four Oscar trophy this year including the best movie award has bagged 25th spot on the list. The movie has been winning accolades as well as applause from the audiences as well as critics. Wondering which movie has bagged the top spot? Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret has topped the list. Other movies that follow the list include The Tree Of Life, Holy Motors, A Separation, Carol, Laurence Anyways, Zama, Silence, Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno and Happy Hour. George Millers Mad Max: Fury Road has also made it to the list. HONG KONGAn alarming surge of new coronavirus cases outside China, with fears of a major outbreak in Iran, is threatening to transform the contagion into a global pandemic, as countries around the Middle East scrambled to close their borders and continents so far largely spared reported big upticks in the illness. In Iran, which had insisted as recently as Tuesday that it had no cases, the virus may have reached most major cities, including Tehran, and has killed at least four people, according to health officials. Already, cases of travellers from Iran testing positive for the virus have turned up in Canada and Lebanon. The number of cases also soared in South Korea, with the sudden spread tied to a secretive church where hundreds of congregants attended services with numerous people infected with the virus. The United States now has 34 cases, with more expected, and Italy experienced a spike from three cases to 17 and ordered mandatory quarantine measures. The cases that we see in the rest of the world, although the numbers are small, but not linked to Wuhan or China, its very worrisome, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said Friday at a news conference at the agencys headquarters in Geneva. These dots are actually very concerning. The disturbing reports out of Tehran suggested the virus was being transmitted far more widely there than officials had previously acknowledged. While the countrys health officials confirmed only 18 cases by Friday, the number of deaths indicates the total is likely to be far higher. Kuwaits civil aviation authority on Friday stopped all flights to and from Iran, which shares a long border with both Afghanistan and Iraq, where health officials have a limited capacity to stop the spread of the virus should it find its way to those countries. As concern grew that Iran was emerging as an important new vector of transmission, the country where the coronavirus originated was also responding to significant negative developments. Officials in China, already straining to deal with an outbreak that has infected more than 76,000 people and resulted in 2,300 deaths, announced a new front in its war on the virus Friday as officials reported clusters of infections in at least four prisons in three provinces. Read more about: Three school districts, around 450 students, one goal. On Thursday in Conroe, ExxonMobil hosted its Girls Engineering Festival to help encourage local middle school students to pursue careers in the field of STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The festival kicked off with a presentation from Laura Wegener, a sustainability advisor and engineer for ExxonMobil. She introduced the attendees from Spring, Conroe, and Magnolia school districts to the many different types of engineering. Want to make city transportation work smoother? Become a transportation engineer. Want to help build better buildings? Become an architectural engineer. The important thing, Wegener said, was that you be a problem solver. Engineers have heart, they have passion, Wegener said. I hope to see you in ten years changing the world. According to the Society of Women Engineers, only 13 percent of engineers in the workforce are women, and they earn 10 percent less than their male counterparts. In an effort to address the first statistic, ExxonMobil wants to encourage girls while theyre young. Research cited in an ExxonMobil press release from the National Society of Professional Engineers states that young women who choose engineering pathways are likely to start seeing themselves as engineers as early as middle school. The study from NSPE found that one of the things that brought in, or kept women in engineering was a sense of belonging. At Thursdays festival, it was hard not to feel like all the girls belonged as they learned and experimented together, sharing their engineering victories in the hands-on activities or seeing themselves reflected in the stories from the female engineer presenters. I came today because Ive always been really interested in engineering, said Sofia Valdes Villarrealbanales, an eighth grader at Knox Junior High in CISD. Im mostly interested in the environment and I was researching different job options and it seemed that engineering was the way to go. I think solving things is really fun, said Calli Marie Hill an eighth grader from Knox Junior High in CISD. I like to build things. This years festival included several hands-on workshops to give the girls a chance to put their problem solving skills to the test and get a feel for what engineering can accomplish. The marshmallow catapult activity challenged the girls to work together to make the most efficient machine possible with the limited materials they were given. To add some excitement, the activity became a competition, awarding points to each team based on where their marshmallow landed on a gridded floor mat. I would have loved to have something like this to really strengthen my knowledge, Wegener said about her experience as a middle school student interested in STEM. Im really glad that we have this now. jamie.swinnerton@chron.com (CNN) The intelligence community's top election security official in the US delivered a briefing to lawmakers last week warning them that the intelligence community believes Russia is already taking steps to interfere in the 2020 election with the goal of helping President Donald Trump win, three sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. Last week's briefing, led by election security official Shelby Pierson and first reported by The New York Times, addressed the overall picture of Russia's efforts, including hacking, weaponizing social media and attacks on election infrastructure, one of the sources said. The briefers said Russia does favor Trump, but that helping Trump wasn't the only thing they were trying to do as it was also designed to raise questions about the integrity of the elections process, the source added. Trump became irate in a meeting with outgoing acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire last week for allowing the information about Russia's meddling efforts to be included in the briefing, a White House official said. Russia's interference in the 2016 election -- which the US intelligence community believes was aimed at boosting Trump's candidacy and hurting his opponent, Hillary Clinton -- led to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. The prospect of interference in 2020 will further test US defenses against foreign meddling, which Trump has repeatedly downplayed as he has dismissed any suggestion that Kremlin influence played a role in his election. A national security official in the Trump administration told CNN that Pierson may have mischaracterized the intelligence that Russia has developed a preference for Trump. "A more reasonable interpretation of the intelligence is not that they have a preference, it's a step short of that. It's more that they understand the President is someone they can work with, he's a dealmaker. But not that they prefer him over (Bernie) Sanders or (Pete) Buttigieg or anyone else. So it may have been mischaracterized by Shelby," the official said. James Clapper, who served as director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room" Thursday evening that it is "quite predictable" Russia would again try to interfere in the election. "This is not a big surprise, but it illustrates the tremendous challenge that the intelligence community has where they're teeing up facts that our President doesn't want to hear, and with a result that the messenger got shot in the form of Joe Maguire being asked to leave," Clapper said. Briefing was factor in DNI change News of Pierson's classified briefing to lawmakers on Russia was not well received by either Trump or House Republicans who were present, sources tell CNN. When Trump learned of it, he seemed most frustrated that House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a Democrat who has been a prominent critic, was included in the briefing, according to a person familiar with the matter. Trump believed that Schiff in particular would use the information to try and undermine him over the coming months as he runs for reelection, the person said, and Trump blamed Maguire for the information getting to Schiff. Schiff, a California Democrat, tweeted Thursday night that if Trump is interfering with intelligence reports to Congress about threats of foreign interference, "he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling. Exactly as we warned he would do." The national security official, however, said Trump was upset that he heard about the intelligence conclusion from a member of Congress rather than from the intelligence community, describing Trump as "out of joint with Maguire on that process." A former senior intelligence official dismissed the notion that Pierson would have shown preferential treatment for Schiff and the Democrats in her briefing on election security, instead suggesting that Trump's response indicates that he and the intelligence community "are still unable to communicate on this topic." "What the (intelligence community) sees as reporting the truth -- simple statement of facts in evidence without judgment -- the President sees as undermining his legitimacy," the former official told CNN. On Wednesday, Trump announced he was naming Richard Grenell, a staunch loyalist and current US ambassador to Germany, as acting DNI despite him not having experience in intelligence. A source familiar with internal discussions said White House officials saw Grenell as a good stopgap solution for the acting DNI vacancy as time was running out on Maguire's time in the position and because of Trump's dissatisfaction with Maguire due to the intelligence briefing. Trump confirmed in a tweet Thursday night he plans to nominate a permanent DNI soon, and floated Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a top congressional ally, for the position when speaking to reporters on Air Force One. Grenell was already being considered for other White House positions when filling the DNI position became a pressing need, the source said. Thursday night, an intelligence official confirmed to CNN that the second-ranking official at DNI, Andrew Hallman, is also leaving his acting position. Joining DNI as a temporary senior adviser to Grenell is Kash Patel, a former acolyte of Rep. Devin Nunes of California, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, three sources told CNN. Patel was key in crafting the controversial Republican House Intelligence Committee memo that accused FBI and Justice Department officials of abusing their surveillance authority. Repeated dismissals of Russian threat Trump has repeatedly downplayed Russia's efforts to interfere in US elections and has dismissed findings by US intelligence agencies. Most notably, the President appeared to side with Russia's assurances rather than his intelligence community's assessment of Russian meddling in the 2016 election when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018. "I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today," Trump told reporters as he stood alongside the Russian leader. He later claimed to have misspoken. Since then, US intelligence officials have continued to consistently warn about Russia's ongoing efforts to interfere in American elections, noting threats to both the 2018 midterms and the 2020 presidential race. Last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Russia was continuing to "engage in malign foreign influence" online with the goal of sowing division and discord, "and to generate controversy, to generate distrust in our democratic institutions in our electoral process." At the time, Wray said he couldn't publicly answer a question about whether the Russians were aiming to help or hurt particular political campaigns. Pierson herself has been out in front on the issue of foreign interference in the 2020 election as top officials have sought to raise awareness about the nature of the threat that caught most of the American public off guard in 2016. "The Russians, for example, are already engaging in influence operations relative to candidates going into 2020. But we do not have evidence at this time that our adversaries are directly looking at interfering with vote counts or the vote tallies," she told NPR in an interview last month. On the day he was replaced, Maguire penned an op-ed along with other top election security officials, including Wray and Attorney General William Barr, issuing a similar warning about Russia and other foreign actors. "States have made significant progress since 2016, but as long as the threat remains, there is work to be done. We have yet to identify any activity designed to prevent voting or change votes. However, we remain watchful of any malicious activities from cybercriminals and from foreign actors like Russia, China and Iran," they wrote. This story has been updated with additional reporting, background information and reaction. This story was first published on CNN.com "Russia is looking to help Trump win in 2020, election security official told lawmakers" Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sri Wahyuni (The Jakarta Post) Sleman, Yogyakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 17:20 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20660412b 1 National Yogyakarta,flash-flood,scouts,river-incident,sleman,sembor-river,junior-high-schools,students Free Saturday was supposed to be a happy day for the family of Khoirunnisa Nurcahyani Sukmaningtyas, a seventh grader of Turi 1 junior high school, as they were to get together to celebrate the students birthday. Unfortunately, they had to gather instead at her funeral that day as she was one of victims of a flash flood on the Sempor River in Donokerto village in Sleman, Yogyakarta, that swept away a group of scouts from the junior high school who were trekking by the river on Friday. Rescuers had found and recovered eight bodies by Saturday noon, including Khoirunnisa, who was buried in Girikerto village in Sleman. Some mourners were unable to hold back their tears as Khoirunnisas grandfather, Sumarno, gave a speech during the funeral, criticizing the school for not taking safety into consideration before proceeding with the river trek with more than 200 students. For Turi 1 junior high school and other schools, please be more careful next time. Do mind the weather conditions so similar incidents will never happen again, Sumarno said during the funeral. Khoirunnisa was his granddaughter from his first son. He added that everyone, especially teachers, should use the accident as a lesson. I cannot imagine if the 250 students had all been lost, he said while holding back tears. Sumarno, the grandfather of Khoirunnisa Cahyani Sukmaningtyas, gives a speech during the funeral of his granddaughter in Girikerto village, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 22. Khoirunnisa was among the several students who died during a hike beside the Sempor River in Donokerto village on Feb. 21. (JP/Sri Wahyuni) As many as 257 seventh and eighth graders of Turi 1 junior high school took part in scout hike on the banks of the Sempor River on Friday. According to authorities, a sudden flood with torrential currents rose when the students were alongside the river, sweeping many of them away. Authorities reported that at least eight were killed and 23 others were injured. Search and rescue personnel were still looking for two missing students as of Saturday afternoon. Many criticized the school's decision to continue the hike despite the bad weather. Locals said drizzle had started at the time the scouts started their trek and they claimed they worried that it was already raining upstream and that would cause a flash flood. Read also: Death toll rises to eight after flash flood sweeps away scouts in Yogyakarta Fifty-two-year-old Hestiwartini, the mother of Yasinta Bunga Maharani, who was still missing as of Saturday noon, expressed a similar regret. She said her only daughter only learned about the planned river hike from a WhatsApp message she read before departing for school on Friday morning. I told her that day not to join the trek because of the weather. However, she said she was afraid of being scolded if she didnt join the activity, Hesti said. She was waiting for news regarding her daughters condition outside the schools headmasters office when The Jakarta Post talked to her. She could not help crying as she recounted that Yasinta returned home on Friday noon for lunch prior to departing for the outing. She actually didnt want to go, Hesti said, wiping her tears with her hands. Mulyadi, the father of eighth grader Latifah Zulfa, said the school should take responsibility for the accident. His daughter was among the students who were killed by the flash flood. It was reckless, he said. Tutik Nurdiana, Turi 1 principle, declined to comment on the matter: Someone else is already taking care of it, she said. (kuk) Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. We can see that Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF) does use debt in its business. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating? Why Does Debt Bring Risk? Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together. View our latest analysis for Associated British Foods How Much Debt Does Associated British Foods Carry? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Associated British Foods had debt of UK574.0m at the end of September 2019, a reduction from UK764.0m over a year. But it also has UK1.52b in cash to offset that, meaning it has UK950.0m net cash. LSE:ABF Historical Debt, February 22nd 2020 How Strong Is Associated British Foods's Balance Sheet? According to the last reported balance sheet, Associated British Foods had liabilities of UK3.07b due within 12 months, and liabilities of UK1.14b due beyond 12 months. Offsetting this, it had UK1.52b in cash and UK1.27b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by UK1.42b. Of course, Associated British Foods has a titanic market capitalization of UK20.8b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. However, we do think it is worth keeping an eye on its balance sheet strength, as it may change over time. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Associated British Foods also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely. Story continues Fortunately, Associated British Foods grew its EBIT by 3.0% in the last year, making that debt load look even more manageable. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Associated British Foods's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting. Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. While Associated British Foods has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. During the last three years, Associated British Foods produced sturdy free cash flow equating to 54% of its EBIT, about what we'd expect. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to. Summing up We could understand if investors are concerned about Associated British Foods's liabilities, but we can be reassured by the fact it has has net cash of UK950.0m. So we don't have any problem with Associated British Foods's use of debt. We'd be motivated to research the stock further if we found out that Associated British Foods insiders have bought shares recently. If you would too, then you're in luck, since today we're sharing our list of reported insider transactions for free. If, after all that, you're more interested in a fast growing company with a rock-solid balance sheet, then check out our list of net cash growth stocks without delay. 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 judge on Thursday sentenced a Houston woman to 50 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl and forcing her into prostitution over the 2018 Christmas holiday. Marilyn Joy Wilkes, 27, pleaded guilty last year to charges of sexual assault of a child under 17, human trafficking and compelling prostitution. Prosecutors accused her of a monthlong pimping operation where she raped the teen, forced her to solicit strangers for sex in southwest Houston and made her see buyers at their homes or in a motel room on F.M. 1960. When the girl refused to work, Wilkes would retaliate by punching her in the face, burning her with cigarettes and stomping on her head, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. The teen had a $600 per day quota, and after failing to meet that on one occasion, Wilkes broke the teen's finger and several ribs, prosecutors said. Wilkes used that money to pay for a motel, food, alcohol and drugs, charging documents show. The girl escaped in January 2019 when she asked a stranger -- who was allegedly a prospective sex buyer -- to use his phone to call her mother, police said. Her mother arrived at the man's Spring-area home to pick her up, and they sped off with Wilkes hot on their tail. The mother and daughter called the police, eventually meeting an officer in the parking lot of a Walmart. Authorities arrested Wilkes more than two months later, according to court records. Judge Nikita Harmon stacked two 25-year prison sentences for the prostitution and human trafficking charges. Wilkes was also sentenced to a maximum of 20 years for sexual assault, which will run concurrently with the other sentences. Only a true predator would force a minor to become a street walker, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a Friday news release. Someone who steals a childs youth by brutally coercing them to have sex with strangers for their own profit, like in this case, deserves to spend time in prison. Prosecutor Micala Clark argued the case, bringing forward the teen, her mother and a psychologist to testify. This was an example of the typical grooming that pimps use to victimize women, Clark said. This young woman suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia and nightmares at the hands of this predator. Defense attorney John Arthur Clark, Jr. declined to comment beyond saying, "it was a tough sentence." Today HomeStore, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Storytime, 11-11:30 a.m., Keene Memorial Library auditorium, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart-to-heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Conservation Nebraska public event, 2-4 p.m., Keene Memorial Library, Fremont. The free event will discuss water quality and regenerative agriculture. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. All Love Hip Hop Concert, 7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club, 649 N. Main St. All ages are welcome. Tickets are available at www.mrbombmusic.com/shows. Doors open at 7 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous Lie Is Dead Group, 8 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. SundayKnights of Columbus pancake breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon, Delaney Hall, St. Patricks Catholic Church, Fremont. Pancakes, sausage, ham, eggs, toast, coffee and orange juice will be served. The cost is $5.50 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity Group, 10:30 a.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. Redeemer Lutheran Church Men 92nd Annual Waffle Supper, 5-7 p.m., Hooper Auditorium. Waffles, sausage, creamed chicken, Jell-O, coffee and juice will be served. Your freewill donation will support youth scholarships and the Hooper Ball Field Project. In case of inclement weather, the waffle supper will be held March 1. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door. Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. MondayTOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 850 N. Broad St., Fremont. Weigh-ins begin at 8 a.m. Visitors (preteens, teens and adults male and female) are welcome. The first meeting is free. For more information, call Janet Bloemker at 402-721-8952. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. American Red Cross blood drive, 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Veterans Country Club, 1581 Yutan Road, Yutan. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Celebrate Recovery, 6:30 p.m., Fremont Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door. Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 13:42 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065fcac4 1 Art & Culture Rolex-Arts-Initiative,lin-manuel-miranda,Phyllida-Lloyd,rolex,luxury-brand Free Swiss watchmaker Rolex has unveiled the mentoring pairs for its international philanthropic program, Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative 2020-2021. The names were announced during the Rolex Arts Weekend from Feb. 8 to 9 at Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. For the latest edition, the philanthropic program highlights four disciplines, namely film, theater, visual arts and open category. Filmmaker Spike Lee, director Phyllida Lloyd, artist Carrie Mae Weems and Hamilton musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda have been named as the mentors. They are scheduled to spend two years with selected proteges to exchange ideas and knowledge. The proteges who will join the program are filmmaker Kyle Bell, who will work with Lee, director Whitney White will be paired with Lloyd and filmmaker-visual artist Camila Rodriguez Triana will team up with Weems. The young artist who will work with Miranda will be announced in early March. Read also: Rolex Arts Weekend to be held in February The four new mentors who join the initiatives community of creative greats have broken new ground in their respective fields, said Rebecca Irvin, program director of Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative, in an official statement. We look forward to the impact they will have on their proteges, as they pass on their devotion to their art in this cross-generational exchange. Established in 2002, Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative searches for talented young artists worldwide and pairs them with experts in different disciplines. The program has brought together a total of 54 mentors and young artists. For their 2018-2019 edition, the philanthropic program featured four different fields, which were music, architecture, dance and literature. Among the mentors who participated in the program were Indian composer Zakir Hussain and Canadian dancer Crystal Pite. (wir/wng) The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Wednesday, Feb. 19 11:54 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a missing 82-year-old man, who suffered from dementia and hearing loss. The man lives with his 75-year-old sister, who wasn't aware he was leaving the residence for a walk. The sister said her brother did a similar thing a few weeks ago and was found on M-20 after he had fallen and hurt his hand. The 82-year-old was located walking in the trailer park, and followed back to his residence unharmed but cold. The deputy was advised the family is in the process of having the 82-year-old admitted to an assisted living facility in Midland. 10:52 p.m. -- A 47-year-old man was arrested on a warrant out of Gladwin at a residence in Ingersoll Township. 8:27 p.m. -- A deputy responded to a Jerome Township residence for a report of a deceased 49-year-old man. A deputy conducted an investigation and no signs of foul play were observed. The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to be completed at a later date, because of the age of the deceased. 8:26 p.m. -- A deputy made contact with a 45-year-old Village of Sanford resident after her daughter's phone started receiving vulgar/obscene text messages from an unknown subject. The 45-year-old believed the messages were coming from a phone number associated with a friend of her daughter, though the friend was not the one sending the messages. The complainant was advised to contact the cell phone provider for further assistance. 8:17 p.m. -- A 36-year-old Edenville Township woman reported her 12-year-old son was sexually assaulted by a 34-year-old family friend from Lee Township. The assault occurred at the victim's residence in Edenville Township. 7:05 p.m. -- Deputies were sent to an Ingersoll Township residence for a report of a 27-year-old man who possibly overdosed on over-the-counter medication. EMS arrived on scene and the man was verbally aggressive and refusing treatment. Eventually the man calmed down and cooperated with EMS. The deputies were disregarded at the time. The man was transported to the ER for treatment, where he stated he accidentally took to much cough medication and was not trying to harm himself. 6:04 p.m. -- Deputies spoke with a 35-year-old Lee Township man in reference to a trailer being stolen from his yard. The man said the trailer was taken while he was on vacation. There are no known suspects. 5:19 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland ER for a 41-year-old Edenville Township woman who was bit by a dog. An isolation notice was issued to the woman for her dog. 4:57 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence in reference to a possible trespassing complaint. A 32-year-old man reported his neighbors, a 75-year-old man and 72-year-old woman, came onto his property even after being told not to. The 32-year-old requested the deputy contact the neighbors and issue them a trespassing warning. Both neighbors were advised to stay off the property and to no longer place letters in the 32-year-old's mailbox that aren't sent through the postal service. 4:12 p.m. -- Deputies made contact with a 49-year-old Lee Township woman who called to ask for assistance with a 6-year-old disorderly boy who was refusing to put on his seat belt. Deputies spoke with the boy, who agreed to wear his seat belt. 4:02 p.m. -- Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 1400 block of Crane Court. 1:46 p.m. -- A deputy responded to a car-deer crash in Larkin Township. 12:50 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 3800 block of Holland Drive. 12:04 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 7300 block of Eastman Avenue. 8:24 a.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash with a parked car in the 3600 block of South Saginaw Road. A man is fighting for his life and a woman is in hospital after a double stabbing in east London. Officers have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene just after 11pm on Friday on the Kingsmead Estate, Hackney. They found a woman, aged in her 30s, who had stab wounds to her back. She was rushed to hospital where she is in a non-life threatening condition. On Saturday morning a 25-year-old man self-presented at an east London hospital with multiple stab wounds to his chest. Police said he remains in a critical condition. Officers later arrested a 38-year-old man at an address in Dagenham. He was taken to an east London police station where he remains. A spokesman for the Met said: The suspect and victims are believed to be known to each other. Officers from Central East Command Unit investigate Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who is very popular in China, has expressed concern over the coronavirus outbreak in the country that has claimed over 2,300 lives. He has advised people to take precautions and follow the government's instructions in "this time of crisis". Khan, 54, has become a household name in China due to the huge popularity of his movies such as 3 Idiots and Dangal. The actor interacts with his Chinese fans through Weibo social media account which is akin to Twitter. "A very warm hello to all my friends in China. Since I read about the outbreak of coronavirus over there, I have been extremely concerned," he said in a video message with Chinese subtitles posted on his Weibo account on Friday. "I have been in touch with a few of my friends and I have been following this tragedy with a lot of pain in my heart. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost somebody close," he said. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus has gone up to 2,345 with 109 more deaths reported, while the confirmed cases have risen to 76,288, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. Among the new deaths, 106 were from the Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus, and one each from Hubei province, Shanghai and Xinjiang. "I know that these are very difficult times. I am sure the administration is doing all that they can to bring back things to control and back to normal and the best that we can do at this time is to take care, take precautions, and follow the instructions of the administration and help them to help us," Khan said. "I hope and pray that things get back to normal very soon in China. My thoughts and my prayers are with you in this time of crisis. Sending you all my love, take care, be safe, be healthy," he said. Follow @htshowbiz for more Amid the pomp and ceremony of an official visit next week, US President Donald Trump will take time to meet with Indian companies investing in manufacturing in the US, which will showcase Indias contribution to his grand plan of revitalising his countrys industrial base, a core of element in his election platform. The two-day itinerary for Trump, who has said the trip is going to be very exciting, includes a State Dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by the President Ramnath Kovind, a quick trip to the Taj Mahal and, of course, the mega event in Ahmedabad, according to a senior US administration official who briefed the media on Friday. The official said that after Trump arrives in Ahmedabad on Monday, he will speak at the Sardar Patel Stadium and after that, he and First Lady Melania Trump will go with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. They will then fly to New Delhi for an overnight stay and then begin a hectic day of programmes on Tuesday when ceremonial and formal events are lined up. Trump will have bilateral meetings with Modi, meet with Kovind and attend the State Dinner, which is usually held with a lot of ceremony. He is also scheduled to have a meet-and-greet with the staff of the US embassy. In between, he will participate in business events with Indian investors with a special focus on companies that are investing in manufacturing in the US, the official said. With the trade agreement between India and US held up amid Washingtons complaints about Modis Make in India,a the meeting will be an opportunity for India to show its contributions to reviving manufacturing in the US. Briefing reporters about the visit, a senior administration official had said, The Make in India push of the Indian government ... has made the protectionism concerns even more of a concern to us. The official said that while a trade agreement was not coming during the trip, it was likely that some memorandums of understanding or some other documents dealing with defence, energy and trade maybe signed, but did not have any details. More than 110,000 people are expected to participate in the Sardar Patel Stadium event and it will be one of the biggest crowds that Trump, who has a penchant for numbers and records, will address. Excited about the size of the crowds expected, he said earlier this month, When we have 50,000 people nowadays (in the US), fellas, Im not going to feel so good. He said that Modi told him that between the stadium and the airport well have about 7 million people. Iran threatens to destroy tomb of Esther and Mordechai Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is raising concerns over unconfirmed reports that authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran are threatening the destruction of the tomb of Esther and Mordechai in response to President Trumps Middle-East peace plan. The tomb is believed by some to be the resting place of the Old Testament queen Esther and her relative, Mordechai. Esther was the queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus. She is credited with helping save the Jewish people from being massacred. The tomb is a popular pilgrimage site for Jews and Christians in Iran. USCIRF is troubled by reported threats to the tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamedan, Iran, USCIRF stressed in a tweet. [USCIRF] emphasizes the Iranian government's responsibility to protect religious sites. The congressionally-mandated bipartisan and independent international religious freedom watchdog body was responding to a report from the Alliance for Rights of All Minorities in Iran. The organization posted on social media Sunday that the historic Jewish site is at risk of destruction. Iranian authorities are threatening to destroy the historic tomb of Ester and Mordechai in Hamedan and convert the site to a consular office for Palestine, the Facebook post claims. Ester and Mordechai were biblical Jewish heroes who saved their people from a massacre in a story known as #Purim. Their burial site has been a significant Jewish landmark for Jews and history buffs around the world. According to covering reports, members of Iranian #Basij [paramilitary] attempted to raid the historic site yesterday in an act of revenge against the Israelis Palestinian peace plan by President Trump, the post added. The United States-based nongovernmental organization watchdog group International Christian Concern reports that reports on Irans plans for the tomb are unconfirmed. But the NGO indicated that the alleged raid by Basij forces occurred last Saturday. The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the covering reports cited by the alliance. One initial report appears to have been published on Feb. 7 by Mohabat News, the Iranian Christian News Agency. The report cites a warning issued by the Council for Explaining Students' Mobilization of Hamadan Universities. Although reports are unconfirmed, it would not be the first time that the tomb of Esther and Mordechai has been threatened. As the Brooklyn-based Jewish Press reports, a group of Basij members from Abu Ali Sina University threatened to destroy the tomb in 2010 even though the tomb was labeled a national heritage site in 2008. Additionally, the Jewish Press notes that authorities in Iran downgraded the status of the tomb in 2011 and removed a sign indicating that it was a pilgrimage site. The threat of the tombs destruction highlights Irans Jewish history and community. But it also runs parallel to several challenges that Iranian Christians face, as many of their charges following arrest are phrased within a framework of terms that connect them to Zionism, ICC explained in a report. The tomb of Esther and Mordechai are important to both Jews and Christians. But for local Christians to speak about the tomb at such a sensitive point in time would put them at great risk for further persecution. Several sites sacred to Christians and Jews have been targeted over the years by radical Muslims. In 2014, the Islamic State destroyed the tomb of Jonah in Iraq. Iran ranks as the ninth-worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. In Iran, religious minorities are regularly arrested for worshiping in house churches and Muslim converts to Christianity are severely persecuted. In early February, two women born into Muslim families who later converted to Christ and led two house churches in Iran spoke at a religious freedom panel discussion in Washington, D.C., where they outlined the experiences they faced. Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh spent 259 days in Irans notorious Evin Prison. Even though they were sentenced to death, the two were released after much international pressure. We know first-hand how difficult it is for those who attend house churches because they risk their lives to attend house churches, Amirizadeh said. Any time if the government find out, they can raid the gathering, arrest people, torture them and confiscate their property. Dabrina Bet Tamraz, an Assyrian Christian whose father, brother and mother are imprisoned in Iran, also spoke at the event. Today, there is not a free church. There is no free evangelical church, nor free Pentecostal, she said. The only churches that are allowed to function are orthodox or Catholic churches with restrictions. They are not allowed to have books in Farsi. They are not even allowed to, nowadays, print books in our own language. Any Christian literature or Bible even in our own language is not permitted. They are not even allowed to speak to a Farsi person near the church. Alleging that Home Minister Amit Shah was working like the "hate minister" of the country, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat on Saturday said the BJP-led central government was "fulfilling its agenda of communal polarisation". Karat, addressing the inaugural session of the 22nd central conference of CPI(M)'s tribal wing, slammed Shah for his comments on the Shaheen Bagh protesters during campaigning for the Delhi assembly polls. "Home Minister Amit Shah...asked people to push the buttons in EVMs so hard that Shaheen Bagh gets electric current from it. I think this kind of comment is unfair. That is why I say Amit Shah is not the home minister, he is doing the work of hate minister," she said. Campaigning for a BJP candidate in January in Delhi, Shah had said, "When you press the button (of EVM) on February 8, do so with such anger that its current is felt at Shaheen Bagh." Karat said the central government with its "brute majority" in Parliament was "fulfilling the agenda of communally polarising people". "BJP thought they are at liberty to fulfil their agenda in the name of religion as they had sheer majority. But after 2019 Lok Sabha election, a new direction in was observed. People are now speaking against this government," she asserted. The senior CPI(M) leader alleged that cases of mob lynching, communal violence and an "environment of hatred" were results of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah's "hate politics". She also claimed that tribals in the northeast would be the worst hit by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "People of the northeastern region would not accept any citizenship on the basis of religion, because it is against the spirit of the Constitution," Karat said. "There is no work in the rural areas, farmers aren't getting proper wages, the BJP is looting money from poor people and rights of indigenous people are being persecuted every day," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal was famous for marijuana and other narcotics in the 1960s, when hippies made their way to the Himalayan nation. Shops and tea houses used to advertise and sell it legally. However, marijuana was outlawed in 1976. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday attacked the Narendra Modi-led government over the huge amount of money being spent on US President Donald Trump's visit to Gujarat's Ahmedabad. She questioned the role of a committee which is the organiser for Trump's event in Ahmedabad. BJP's Sambit Patra hit back by telling Congress not to do "petty politics". "Rs 100 crore is being spent on the visit of President Trump. But this money is being spent through a committee. The members of the committee do not know that they are its members. Does the country not have the right to know which ministry gave how much money to the committee? And what is the government hiding in the garb of the committee?" Priyanka tweeted attaching a news report. Priyanka, who is also in-charge of the eastern Uttar Pradeswh was referring to the "Trump Nagrik Abhinandan Samiti" which is managing the US President's visit to Gujarat's Ahmedabad. Reportedly, the 'Abhinandan Samiti' has spent over Rs 100 crore on the beautification of the city ahead of the US President's visit. On Friday, senior party leader Anand Sharma while addressing a press conference questioned who all were managing the proposed Ahmedabad visit of Trump, as the government said it was the "Trump Nagrik Abhinandan Samiti". "We have come to know that a quota has been fixed for schools, colleges and universities (to send students for Trump's welcome). School children will also be lined up. As many as 100 teachers have been summoned from each block. All the hoardings put up there are not by any committee. The Gujarat government has given all approvals; Motera Stadium has been hired, artistes from all over India are coming. It's not under the control of a committee. A special grant for the visit has been given to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. We don't mind, but the government should not lie (about the arrangements)," Sharma had said. A Kaduna State High Court has discharged and acquitted 91 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shiites. Justice Hajaratu Gwada acquitted the defendants of the charges filed against them by the Kaduna State Government on Friday. The IMN members were arrested during a confrontation with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna State in December 2015. They were arraigned on five counts of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, culpable homicide, disturbance of public peace and causing grievous hurt. During their trial, the defence counsel had filed a no-case submission before the court on the grounds that his clients were innocent. He also stressed that the state government had failed to prove its allegations against them beyond a reasonable doubt. Giving her judgement, Justice Gwada struck out all the charges filed against the IMN members and acquitted them. She held that the decision was as a result of the failure of the prosecution to prove the allegations levelled against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. But the state government has rejected the judgment. A statement by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Aisha Dikko, lamented that after calling 36 witnesses and tendering 106 exhibits, the prosecution is surprised that the court concluded that a legally admissible case had not been made. The state is dissatisfied with the ruling of the court which is, in our view, erroneous in law, perverse and cannot be supported, having regards to the evidence led before the court by the prosecution. As such, the state will be lodging an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna, as soon as the full text of the ruling of the high court and other records are compiled. The case in Charge Number KDH/KAD/40C/2016 began as a fallout of the events that began in Zaria from 12th December 2015, when members of a now proscribed group attempted to prevent the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff from passing through a public highway. After the clashes, 90 of those arrested at the scene were handed over to the police. At the conclusion of investigations, a five-count charge of Criminal Conspiracy, Culpable Homicide, Unlawful Assembly, Disturbance of Public Peace and Wrongful Restraint, under Sections 97, 221, 102, 106 and 256 of the Penal Code, was preferred against them. The matter was assigned to Hon. Justice H.T.D Gwadah of the Kaduna State High Court for trial. A total of 36 witnesses were called by the prosecuting counsel from the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Kaduna State. Witnesses included senior military officers who were with the Chief of Army Staff at the scene of the crime, senior police officers, a consultant pathologist, ballisticians and victims of the crime. In the same vein, 106 exhibits were tendered by the prosecution during the trial. At the close of the prosecution case, the defence team made a no case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not made out a case to warrant the accused persons to defend themselves. It is a matter of utmost surprise that in its ruling today, 21st February 2020, the court held that the evidence the prosecution led is not legally admissible and discharged the defendants. This is notwithstanding the fact that Senior Military Officers and Senior Police Officers testified, and that exhibits were tendered and legally admitted by the court. Obeisance to the rule of law compels us to challenge this conclusion at the Court of Appeal. Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of a Lawrence Department of Public Works employee who was fatally shot while conducting road repair work last month. Police have charged 20-year-old Ariel Toribio, of Lawrence, with the murder of 52-year-old Marcos Ruiz-Rodriguez, of Methuen, according to CBS Boston. The Essex District Attorneys office said previously officers were called to the area of Andover and Clifton streets around 2 p.m. on Jan. 15 for a report of gunshots. Police found a man at the scene who had been shot. The victim was taken to Lawrence General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque said investigators do not believe Ruiz-Rodriguez was the intended target of the shooting. Ruiz-Rodriguez was performing road repairs on Andover Street in Lawrence the afternoon he was shot. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ramadani Saputra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 06:55 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065e89e5 1 Sports water-polo,Indonesian-water-polo,Indonesian-water-polo-league Free After winning its first gold medal at the SEA Games in Manila last December against water polo giant Singapore, the Indonesian Aquatics Association (PRSI) is gearing up to organize its first league. The Indonesian mens water polo team surprised many, especially Indonesian fans, when it defeated and put an end to Singapores years of dominance in the sport. Singapore had secured 27 consecutive gold medals at the biennial event. The league is set to run at Gelora Bung Karnos aquatics stadium from March 3 until June. Nine aquatics clubs from the capital, including big clubs such as the Millennium Aquatics Swimming Club, owned by former national top swimmer Albert C. Sutanto, will participate in the league. The league will run 11 weeks with a grand final in early June. PRSIs development and achievement department head, Wisnu Wardhana, said the initiative to organize a water polo league was introduced two years ago. This will be beneficial for player regeneration. [Now] as a start, we ask the established clubs [in the capital] to assist in the development of water polo, especially in the youth category, Wisnu told a press conference on Tuesday. We need to maintain the momentum from the SEA Games, he added. PRSI hopes to establish a super league with teams from the regions. PRSIs deputy head, Harlin E. Rahardjo, said the initial plan was to form a national water polo league but gaining funding and sponsors proved to be a challenge. Despite the SEA Games gold, water polo is still struggling to gain popularity. Many swimming clubs do not have their own water polo team as their focus is still swimming. Water polo in Indonesia is contested in regional and national events such as the National Games (PON). The main challenge is sponsorships. Each regional team depends on government funding and the funding is limited. This wont sustain the league, said Harlin. Thats why we are involving clubs as they are the backbone of our development program, he said. Meanwhile, club owner Albert C. Sutanto acknowledged athletes enthusiasm, as seen from the list of participants registered to represent Millennium club in the upcoming league. Since SEA Games s victory, the popularity [of water polo] has grown. When the league was announced, there were only two athletes registered to take part in the competition but as of Tuesday the number has increased to 49, he said. The U-16 league consists of mixed teams of girls and boys. Matches will be contested every Tuesday. The competing clubs are Bina Taruna, Millennium Aquatic club, Pari Sakti, Tirta Kencana 78, Tirta Taruna, Kusuma Harapan, Kuda Laut, JAQ and Indonesia Star Aquatic (ISA) SPRAGUE RIVER, Ore. Deputies responded to the Klamath County town of Sprague River on Friday following reports of a "suspicious device" that was discovered by a worker, the Klamath County Sheriff's Office said. The device was discovered by someone from a propane company, who found it while going to fill a propane tank behind a local business. Deputies responded around 12:45 p.m. after the worker called it in. After arriving at the scene, Sheriff Chris Kaber said that he talked with the Oregon State Police Arson & Explosive Section in Central Point. With OSP's assistance, investigators decided that the device was a hoax. "The device in question was removed by deputies for further investigation and evaluation," the Sheriff's Office said. "Three neighboring buildings were evacuated temporarily as a precaution." Deputies were assisted at the scene by both OSP and Sprague River Fire. The Klamath County Sheriff's Office said that the incident is still under investigation. - Davis Glen will be laid to rest in a custom casket designed like a school bus - He proudly drove Grand Meadow students back and forth from school for 55 years without a single accident - As a homage to his dedication, the owner of the local Funeral Home donated the custom-made casket - The casket's design was Davis' idea which he came up with 20 years ago Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in A beloved Minnesota bus driver, Glen P. Davis, who died on Saturday, February 15, at the age of 88 had the perfect send-off. In a special tribute, Davis will be laid to rest in a custom casket designed like a school bus donated by Grand Meadow's Jim Hindt of Hindt Funeral Home. READ ALSO: 7 iconic NDC-NPP moments from SONA 2020 that show Ghana will always be peaceful In a special tribute, Davis will be laid to rest in a custom casket designed like a school bus donated by Grand Meadow's Jim Hindt of Hindt Funeral Home. Photo: CNN. Source: UGC Glennie, as he was popularly referred to by kids, proudly ferried Grand Meadow students back and forth from school for 55 years, from 1949 to 2005, without a single accident, CNN reported. As a homage to his dedication to getting kids safely to school and on time, the owner of the local Funeral Home donated a custom-made casket painted to look just like a school bus. The casket's design is said to have been Davi's idea, which he came up with it 20 years ago and pitched the idea to his friend, Hindt. READ ALSO: Woman rents friend's abandoned house for 20 years & saves all the money for her Glen had always joked with me about wanting to be buried in a casket that looked like a school bus, Hindt said. We just kind of put it together out of friendship for him. I was not sure whether Glen really wanted to use it,' he added. According to his wife, the idea first came to Davis during a conversation with one of his sons-in-law when he told Davis about a school bus casket he had seen in a design magazine. READ ALSO: Neymar's new girlfriend Natalia Barulich has everything most men want It never left his mind, said the son-in-law. The yellow coffin reads Grand Meadow Schools ISD #495 in big, bold, black letters on the side, just like his own school bus read. It was painted by one of Hindts family friends, the final touches put on by his creative niece. READ ALSO: Top Cameroonian goalie recognizes Ghanaian keeper at Nsawam; sends him gifts Davis was alive when the coffin was revealed to him six years ago and his daughter, Lisa Hodge, was there to witness the emotional unveiling. He was speechless. He was just overjoyed, and he could not believe somebody was actually able to do it for him," she said. READ ALSO: Kind woman helps man who has been homeless for 8 years Even after retiring from his bus-driving career in 2005, he continued being behind the wheel as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. He is survived by four children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. On the subject of buring the dead, YEN.com.gh recently reported that a large group of Ghanaians have been captured in a video on a loud and noisy funeral procession with drumming and dancing at an unidentified location abroad. YEN.com.gh sighted the video on Ghanacelebrities.com in which the entire street was covered by the crowd of Ghanaians on the procession. Though not explicitly stated, the deceased must have been a very popular individual in a Ghanaian community abroad, judging by the massive extent of the funeral celebration. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! "I don't believe there is a president in Ghana" - Frustrated taxi driver speaks | #Yencomgh Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh US President Donald Trump has attacked the sentence imposed on his confidant Roger Stone. Stone was given more than three years in prison for obstructing a congressional investigation in a case that has sparked fears about presidential interference in the justice system. Soon after Judge Amy Berman Jackson pronounced sentence, Mr Trump publicly decried the conviction as unfair and prominent Republican politicians were giving tacit support for a pardon. But Trump said he wasn't ready to act just yet. "I want the process to play out. I think that's the best thing to do because I would love to see Roger exonerated," he said. The case was marked by the Justice Department's extraordinary about-face on a sentencing recommendation and a very public dispute between Mr Trump and Attorney General William Barr, who said the president was undermining the department's historical independence and making "it impossible for me to do my job". The president responded by asserting he was the "chief law enforcement officer". Stone was convicted in November on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. He was the sixth Trump aide or adviser to be convicted on charges brought as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible Russian interference. Judge Jackson grilled federal prosecutor John Crabb on the department's decision to replace a tough sentencing recommendation for Stone with a more lenient one, which had prompted the original prosecution team to quit. Mr Trump had called the original recommendation of seven to nine years a "miscarriage of justice". The judge said the evidence clearly showed Mr Stone testified falsely to Congress and repeatedly pressured a potential witness to either back up his lie or refuse to testify. Near the end, her voice rose in anger as she said that Stone's entire defence strategy seemed to amount to "So What?" He did not testify and called no witnesses on his behalf. Five major Chinese media organizations have been classified by the United States as extensions of the Chinese government. US officials described the media companies as part of the Beijing government's growing propaganda. According to CNN, a Senior State Department official announced that five media outlets, Xinhua news, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily and People's Daily, will be designated as "foreign missions." This means that in accordance with the Foreign Missions Act, these Chinese outlets will need US government approval before they can lease or purchase any property. They will able required to submit a list of all their employees and register all their personnel to the State Department just like what foreign diplomatic missions do. The State Department officials stated that they informed the media outlets of these new rules during the announcement of the designation change. They also described the Chinese media as a tool of the Chinese government since Xi Jinping was sworn into office in 2013. According to The Guardian, a state official, who did not want to be named, told reporters that there is no dispute in saying that all the five media entities play a part in the Chinese party-state propaganda as news apparatus who take orders directly from the top. Furthermore, he said that whilst, it is known that the media outlets have been controlled by the state since the beginning, the control has just gotten stronger over time and it has become more aggressive. He also said that they are mindful that China would retaliate on the action but said that this will not affect the condition of Chinese journalists in the US and that they can still enjoy their journalistic freedom. This is despite the severe restrictions that western journalists suffer inside the People's Republic of China. Read also: Coronavirus Continues to Scupper Businesses, China to Take Over HNA Group Previously, the US justice system has also pushed Chinese media outlets to register as foreign agents under a separate regulation which required them to file detailed reports of their activities. Although some of the outlets have complied with the Foreign Agents registration act, there has been a complaint from lawmakers last month that Xinhua news questioned the government's enforcement powers and failed to follow through with the requirements. These implementations, however, did not go through without any criticism. The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed their unease over the foreign agent registration, and said that the US government should not be the judge whether media outlets are part of propaganda. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has increased the pressure on China in several areas. Aside from the media outlets, the Trump administration also raised tariffs in a trade war, and have openly criticized Beijing's incarceration of more than one million Uighur Muslims. In December 2017, the U.S. administration has issued a warning saying that rivals of the U.S. will continue to use propaganda to try to discredit democracy. Hence, this is their move to alleviate the alleged propaganda. Related article: China to Grant Tariff Exemptions on US Goods, Amid Coronavirus Outbreak @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Iran has officially the second largest number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll after China with four confirmed deaths. Earlier reports said two patients died in Qom on Thursday, but officials did not say where did the new two deaths occured. Meanwhile, Tehran has confirmed 13 more patients including 7 in Qom, 4 in Tehran and 2 in Rasht are positively diagnosed with Coronavirus, Kianush Jahanpur, head of public relations and information center of Iran's Ministry of Health said in a tweet Friday afternoon February 21. Most of the new cases include people living in Qom and those who have visited the religious city south of Tehran during the past week. Jahanpur had said earlier that 735 patients with symptoms similar to flu have been hospitalized in various cities. Individual social media users including Reza Younesi and Hossein Nouraninejad have written in detail about the death of their relatives in Qom where a holy shrine has thousands of visitors every day and officials have introduced initiatives to prevent the people from touching and kissing the walls and ornaments around the shrine. According to conspiracy theories fueled by Iranians' distrust of the Islamic government, the number of cases of death and infliction are far more than what has been announced and the government is playing down the reports about the epidemic as a Parliamentary election takes on Friday. Jahanpur tweeted later on Friday that the World Health Organization (WHO) sent a fourth shipment of Coronavirus diagnosis kits from Dubai to Tehran in the morning. Meanwhile, confirming the tweets posted by Jahanpur, the Health Ministry's media adviser Alireza Vahabzadeh said that so far four of the 18 confirmed Coronavirus patients have died. He added that two patients are being cared for at a hospital in Babaol in Mazandaran Province north of Tehran. Officials in Tehran, including Hamid Reza Goudarzi the deputy for security affairs at the governor-general's office have said that "there is no reason for concern about Coronavirus in Tehran." However, he said that an "emergency meeting" has been held in the capital on Friday about protecting citizens against disease. However, like Health Mkinistry Officials, Goudarzi called on Iranians not to pay attention to rumors. In another development, Deputy Health Minister Karim Hemmati said security officials are working hard to counter fake news about Coronavirius, including "fabricated" correspondences between the Health Minister and his deputies about the spread of the virus in Iran. In Dehloran in Ilam Province a few people have been reportedly arrested for spreading rumors about the virus, the media quoted the city's Prosecutor as saying. The Culture Ministry has issued a statement calling on the media not to publish "hypotheses and inaccurate reports" about the disease and avoid publishing comments by non-experts. In another development Mahan Airline, said to be partly owned by the Revolutionary Guard, which has been accused of spreading the virus by continuing its flights to and from China has announced that it flew to China at the government's order to carry humanitarian aid, adding that it suspended its passenger flights a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, there has been rising concern about the shortage of masks and hygienic gel at the pharmacies. However, officials say there is no shortage as 15 companies produce 1.5 million masks per day. Nevertheless, Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri has called on the companies to boost their production. In the meantime, there have been complaints about the rising price of masks. Mohammad Mosaed, a reporter in Tehran tweeted that he had to pay five times higher than usual for a mask at a Tehran pharmacy. The prosecutor of Fardis near Tehran confirmed on his Instagram page that some outlets offer hygienic gels and masks at several times their usual price, but law enforcement officers are trying to control the market. The air traffic controllers' union says that Australia's air traffic controllers are being placed in an "unsafe work environment" because of critical staffing shortages. The concern over staffing levels comes as overseas-based controllers tell of how they had job offers from Airservices Australia rescinded at the last minute in 2017 after the federal government removed air traffic controllers from the 457 temporary skilled migrant visa list. Airservices Australia's union says its staff are overworked. Credit:James Brickwood An October 2019 bulletin from Civil Air, the controller's union, reported "a number of locations around Australia are experiencing critical staffing levels". The bulletin said controllers were being called in on days off, not having annual leave approved and threatened with the cancellation of approved leave. The cumulative effect of these issues occurring over a sustained period of time with no end in sight creates an unsafe work environment, the bulletin warned. If you do perform operational duty and a serious incident occurs, you will be held to account with potential disciplinary, civil and criminal sanctions. 'It is only when people realise the utter obscenity of violence that violence will end. The only weapons that should ever be used in this community are words." Seamus Mallon. It was a community united in grief and sadness that gathered in Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove on Thursday morning to say farewell to Keane Mulready-Woods. The 17-year-old teenager died in tragic circumstances four weeks ago, and close family and friends listened as parish priest Fr Phil Gaffney spoke of a sense of relief that the waiting had come to an end. "Now the mourning can begin, and the burial take place, and proper respect be paid to his memory and prayers be offered for his eternal rest and happiness," he told the large congregation, which included his Mam and Dad, Elizabeth and Barry, his sister Courtney, his brothers Darren, Ryan and Jack, and his extended family. However, whilst acknowledging the great sympathy for Keane's parents and family for the crime committed against a brother and a son, and the great wrong that was done to them, he also recognised there has to be 'great anger and even sadness' at the 'arrogance of those who 'play God'. "They took upon themselves to be judge and jury, and executioner. What arrogance. What appalling wickedness and evil. God alone is the Lord of Life - from its beginning to its end." said Fr Phil. "No-one can, under any circumstances, claim for himself, the right to directly destroy another human being!" The youth of the young man being mourned was evident, not only in the age of those showing their grief at his loss, but also by the gifts which were placed on his coffin, which itself bore images of his beloved scrambler. A Gucci cap, his scrambler helmet and gloves, and an image of the teen adorned the white casket, with many young friends also bearing his photograph on their t-shirts. "To say that the death of Keane has shocked and appalled the town of Drogheda would be a total understatement," added Fr Phil. "This young man, at the time not 18 years of age, has been lost in the most gruesome way to his family. We know that Keane's tragic death has devastated you. We all want to reach out to you with love and reassurance. We all want to gather round you to uphold you. We want to mourn with you. We want to pray with you for Keane." He said the murder has brought about an unparalleled level of revulsion, not alone in Drogheda, but throughout our country and, indeed, far beyond. He added that Keane had his troubles, and 'was young and naive enough to fall in with the wrong people, not knowing or anticipating the dire consequences, and his wish was others would learn from what happened'. "I hope that his death will be a warning to other young teenagers who are been groomed by the ruthless criminals, that the promise of money and gifts will inevitably end in tragedy. Keane's association with them, sadly, led to the inhuman, unthinkable way in which his young life was to end," he said. "Please learn from his mistakes, getting involved with dangerous criminals, thinking some of them were his friends and yet they would sacrifice him in such a brutal manner. We ask God to forgive him for his faults and failings and to be merciful to him." A low-key garda presence outside the church was a reminder of the links being made between the horrific murder of Keane and an ongoing feud in the town, a fact Fr Phil also alluded to in his homily. "Drugs have become extremely easy for young people to obtain. It isn't just communities with deprived socio-economic backgrounds that are worse for illegal drug taking, it has become "socially acceptable" across the country among people from all backgrounds," said the priest. "These violent incidents need to be a wake-up call for all of us as a society to realise that actions have consequences. People who are taking drugs on a social basis have to realise that what they are doing is fuelling this situation of violence. The problem arises from the 'normalisation' of a drugs culture here in Ireland. Drug taking, "doing a line of coke", has become as normal as having a drink. We need a nationwide response from our Government." His last plea, before Keane was taken to his final resting place was 'In the name of God let it end now.' Hundreds of high school students were walking along a river when high waters pulled some of them in. At least eight students have been killed and two others are missing after a flash flood hit a high school group who were hiking along a river on Indonesias main island of Java, a rescue official has said. About 250 students were trekking on the banks of the Sembor River in Donokerto village in Sleman, Yogyakarta on Friday when high waters pulled some students in, drowning them. Rescue team personnel have found eight bodies and are still looking for two more that are still missing, said Yogyakarta Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head Lalu Wahyu Effendi on Saturday, as cited by the Jakarta Post. The group was not aware of the changing weather conditions upstream and developing thunderstorms, according to a National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson. Students were doing scout activities around the Sempor river, Agus Wibowo, spokesman for the BNPB, said in a statement on Friday. A local military chief told TVOne that most of the bodies were found a short distance down the Sembor River from the site of the flood. He said a downpour burst the rivers banks, causing the flood. He said 239 students were rescued, including 10 who were treated for injuries. Wibowo said it was not raining when the students came down to the river but as they walked around it huge waves came upstream. He added that joint forces comprising the police, search and rescue agency and military had been dispatched to assist in search and rescue. Rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near flood plains. Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Growing violence has contributed to a deteriorating security situation in central Mali, with impunity being one of the aggravating factors, an independent UN human rights expert warned on Friday Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha once again was spotted attending a wedding function in Lahore. He was invited by Pakistani businessman Mian Asad Ahsan. Earlier, a video of the legendary actor at the function along with Pakistani star Reema Khan went viral on social media. The News International reported citing a Pakistani website allpakdramapageofficial, which shared the clip on its Instagram page. "Legendary Bollywood actor and Politician Shatrughan sinha spotted at a wedding event in Lahore tonight Film star #ReemaKhan also there at the #bigfatwedding," read the caption. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka imposes weekend curfew to contain the surge in Covid-19 cases; details here Right-wing group activist announces Rs 10 lakh bounty to kill Amulya Leona for pro-Pak slogan India oi-PTI Bengaluru, Feb 22: An activist of the right-wing group Sri Ram Sena has announced a bounty of Rs 10 lakh for killing Amulya Leona who shouted pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA event here recently. In video footage, activist Sanjeev Maradi is heard asking the government not to release the woman or else he will kill her. "The state and the central government should not release her under any circumstances. If she is released, we will kill her in an encounter," he is heard saying at a protest rally organised by the outfit in Ballari against Leona on Saturday. "We, on behalf of Sri Ram Sena, will give a bounty of Rs 10 lakh to the person who kills her," he added. Ballari Superintendent of Police CK Baba said he has not seen the video or heard about any such "announcements". Woman detained in Bengaluru for holding 'Kashmir Mukti, Dalit Mukti..' placard "Let me go through it. I haven't seen what he has said. I will have a look," he added. At an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act event in the city on Thursday, Leona, who has been arrested on sedition charges and remanded to judicial custody, had raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogan thrice in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi who denounced her act. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 21:14 [IST] South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar was sworn-in as first vice president on Saturday, formally rejoining the government in the latest bid to bring peace to a nation ravaged by war. It is the third time that bitter foes Machar and President Salva Kiir will attempt to rule together and the pair have many differences yet to iron out as they form the unity government that is a cornerstone of a September 2018 peace deal. "For the people of South Sudan, I want to assure you that we will work together to end your suffering," Machar said after taking the oath. "By forming this government, it gives us hope that there is a new momentum to end the suffering of the people of South Sudan and a way to a sustainable peace." Machar embraced and shook hands with Kiir after being sworn in. The rebel leader returns as first vice president. Four other vice presidents from the government and other opposition groups who will also form part of a bloated government. The rivals started out as president and deputy at independence in 2011 but Kiir sacked Machar in 2013 and later accused him of attempting a coup against him, sparking a bloody war characterised by ethnic conflict. A 2015 peace deal brought Machar back as vice president and he returned to Juba amid heavy security. When that deal fell apart in July 2016, the capital was plunged into a brutal battle between rival armies and Machar was forced to flee on foot. The ensuing war drew in new parts of the country and other local grievances and disputes came to the fore. After six years of war some 380,000 died, four million fled their homes and more than half the population is facing severe hunger. The economy of the oil-rich nation is shattered, infrastructure barely non-existent, and millions of children are out of school. The September peace deal has lead to the longest period of relative calm since 2013 but fighting continues between government and holdout rebel groups in the Central Equatoria region. Bloody localised conflicts between communities in the absence of a functioning state have soared. 'Much more to work through' The formation of the unity government comes after almost 18 months of bickering as the warring parties moved at snail's pace to address crucial issues. It was postponed twice by failure to move forward on forming a unified army, carving out state borders and creating a protection force to assure Machar's security. Experts had warned against rushing into a new unity government before all the outstanding issues are resolved, saying it could lead to disaster once again. A last-minute deal on the number of states was achieved, although little progress has been made on the other issues. Kiir has said his forces would be in charge of Machar's protection as a special VIP protection force is still undergoing training. A compromise by Kiir to cut to 10 the number of states, which he increased unilaterally to 32 after independence, was seen as key in moving towards the creation of the unity government. However the opposition remains reticent about an additional three "administrative areas" pushed through by Kiir. "Kiir's compromise on the states issue paved the way for the two sides to finally move forward, even if the parties have much more to work through in the coming weeks, months, and years," Alan Boswell, a South Sudan expert with the International Crisis Group (ICG) told AFP. Both Kiir and Machar are former rebel leaders who rose to power during Sudan's 1983-2005 civil war between north and south -- a conflict in which the men also fought each other -- before South Sudan won freedom in 2011. United Nations experts say Kiir and Machar are both responsible for most of the violence committed during the war. The two leaders come from the south's two main ethnic groups -- Kiir from the Dinka people and Machar from the Nuer -- tribes that are themselves split into multiple and sometimes rival clans. Congratulations, 4socialmediamanagement.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: 4socialmediamanagement.com scored 100 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 30 Sep 2016, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 4socialmediamanagement.com is very popular in Facebook, Google Plus and Stumble Upon. It has 227 google+ shares. Furthermore its facebook page has 24033 likes. The total number of people who shared the 4socialmediamanagement homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the 4socialmediamanagement homepage on Twitter + the total number of 4socialmediamanagement followers (if 4socialmediamanagement has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the 4socialmediamanagement homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the 4socialmediamanagement homepage on StumbleUpon. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/MySocialMediaCo DESCRIPTION ACCOUNT CREATED ON LOCATION TWEETS FOLLOWERS LISTED Paul Medved, a self-described die-hard Bernie guy from Alameda, wrote last week to suggest our editorial board should stay neutral in the Democratic primary. In this age where money in politics is out of control and matters way too much, any media outlet that has to rely on advertising revenue for survival would do itself proud by recusing itself at a moment like this and encouraging its readers/viewers to decide for themselves. I suspect Medved is doubly dissatisfied this morning that we endorsed and it was not for his candidate. Yet his letter raised questions that I am often asked in election season: How and why do newspapers make these endorsements? And, more pointedly, should they continue the tradition of offering election recommendations? Those of us who work on the opinion pages approach this work with seriousness but also a sense of humility. After all, a succession of studies have shown that a newspaper endorsement has very little influence on an election outcome. A 2008 Pew Research Center study found that 69% of respondents said their local newspapers endorsement made no difference in how they voted; 61% said a governors endorsement had no effect on their vote. So to Medveds point: We dont need to encourage readers to decide for themselves. They do. Some newspapers have stopped making endorsements altogether, even major publications such as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. My counterpart in Milwaukee explained the 2012 decision by arguing that endorsements confuse our political news coverage with our editorial recommendations. ... This loss of credibility is a high price to pay to conjure a ghost of newspapering past. Its a legitimate concern, and one we must address by describing how the process works. First and most important, The Chronicle and other major American newspapers maintain a firewall between its news and opinion operations. The editors and reporters on the news side are committed to covering issues and campaigns without regard to our editorial positions. They do not participate in the deliberations. The rationale for endorsements goes to the heart of why we have editorials: the belief that a newspaper has an obligation, apart from its news coverage, to offer an informed judgment on issues of concern to its community. We present this on the editorial page 365 days a year, on matters from the Bay Area housing crisis and the threats to the the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to health care and climate change. In my view, it would make no sense to weigh in on those issues all year and then take a pass when it comes time to make an up-or-down decision on the ballot measures and candidates that affect those issues. Perhaps more important than the bottom line is the reasoning we offer behind a recommendation. Ballot measures can be complex or confusing, and the thick voter guides can be of little guidance. Our job is to sort through the thicket, interview the principals, and spell out to a conclusion that voters can accept or reject. Studies have shown that a newspapers influence, however modest, is inversely proportional to the profile of an election. The Democratic candidates for president have gone through nine debates so far and myriad town halls; voters have had plenty of data points to consider on each. Conversely, very few voters have had a chance to assess the judicial candidates on the ballot. San Francisco has three open seats up for grabs on March 3. Each of the six candidates has come in for 30-minute interviews and we have reviewed their backgrounds and answers to a political questionnaire and for each seat, have offered an opinion on which appeared to have the requisite experience and temperament to sit on the bench. The New York Times raised eyebrows last month when it endorsed two U.S. senators in the Democratic primary: Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar. The editorial acknowledged that for Democrats an essential debate is underway between two visions that may define the future of the party and perhaps the nation. To some of us, that might seem like a moment of reckoning that would cry out for an editorial opinion, a time to choose sides in a great debate. The Times took a pass. May the best woman win, its editorial concluded. The reality in America is the best candidate does not always win. Mr. Medved, Ill leave it to readers to decide when that last happened in a presidential election. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron Jitters in South Korea as Coronavirus Cases Double for 3 Straight Days By William Gallo February 21, 2020 South Korea's capital banned large protests and prohibited gatherings of a religious group that has been a hotbed for coronavirus infections, as the outbreak continued to spread across the country. One hundred people tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of South Korean infections to 204 as of late Friday, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though South Korean officials insist the outbreak is still "manageable," the number of virus cases here has now doubled for three consecutive days. Most of the new South Korean infections were linked to a fringe Christian group in Daegu, South Korea's fourth-largest city. The mayor of Daegu has warned residents to stay indoors. Many businesses have closed and schools have postponed classes. In Seoul, which also saw a surge of new infections, virtually all commuters on public buses and trains wore masks and exchanged nervous glances if someone sneezed or coughed. "It looks like a scene from a disaster movie," said Choi In-woo, a 20-year-old freshman university student in the Gwanghwamun neighborhood of the Jongno district, which reported the most new cases in the capital this week. "I'm really scared if it lasts longer," said Choi, whose university has canceled orientation for the spring semester. The highly contagious virus, which causes a pneumonialike respiratory illness known as COVID-19, has killed 2,200 people and infected more than 75,000 worldwide. Nearly all of the coronavirus cases have been in China, where the virus originated. But South Korea now has the third most cases globally. So far, only one South Korean has died. Preventative measures The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Friday it has banned gatherings of the religious group from where most of the new infections have emerged. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony was founded in 1984 by Lee Man-hee, who is revered by his followers as a messiah. Officials say a 61-year-old woman, who tested positive for the virus this week, had attended the group's worship services in Daegu. The Yonhap news agency reported that the virus may have spread more easily at the religious gatherings, since its adherents sit close together on the floor and often place their hands on one another. Seoul officials have also banned large urban rallies an extraordinary step given that protests are held virtually every weekend in the South Korean capital. A Seoul city official Friday defended the decision, saying it does not amount to a total ban on protests. "Freedom of assembly and demonstration is a special right guaranteed in the Constitution ... (but) recent rallies in Gwanghwamun show a high participation of the elderly," he said. "That's why this special ban is in place for the public health and citizens' safety." Global health officials have warned that the sick and elderly are most at risk. According to a report this week by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall coronavirus fatality rate is 2.3 percent. But that figure spiked to almost 15 percent in infections of people older than 80. Lee Juhyun contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi, Feb 22 : Despite heavy security arrangement for US President Donald Trump, the security agencies are worried about monkeys who create misery in Agra. To tackle it, the security agencies have deployed five langurs (long-tailed monkeys) on the route of Trump's convoy. The US President and his wife Melania Trump are scheduled to visit Taj Mahal on February 24. Heavy security arrangements have been made. According to sources, the internal security of Trump and his family is being handled by the American Secret Services, 10 companies of paramilitary forces, 10 companies of PAC and NSG commandos have been deployed for the external security. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have for the first time given mud-cap treatment to the graves of Emperor Shahjahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal. President Trump is intensifying his efforts to undermine the nations intelligence agencies. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump announced that he was replacing the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, with Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany. Mr. Maguire is a retired Navy admiral who previously served as the head of the National Counterterrorism Center. Mr. Trump tapped him to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence last August to replace the outgoing director, Dan Coats. Until recently, Mr. Maguire was thought to have a decent shot at becoming the permanent director of the office, overseeing the nations spy agencies. But that was before one of his aides gave a classified briefing on Feb. 13 to the House Intelligence Committee, in which she warned that Russia was attempting to meddle in the 2020 election with an eye toward aiding Mr. Trump as it had in 2016. Mr. Trump doesnt like to hear about election interference, much less about interference by Russia. He sees the entire topic as an effort to devalue his 2016 victory. Members of his administration, as well as congressional Republicans, know that this is a matter to be broached delicately, if at all. NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. announced the expansion of its award-winning infant and preschool collection, anchored by an exciting feature line of toys based on Nickelodeon's hit preschool series Blue's Clues & You! LeapFrog's innovative, educational toys encourage a child's natural curiosity and love of learning with curriculum-based content that makes learning exciting! The new products are on display at the 2020 North American International Toy Fair. "We're so excited to welcome Blue's Clues & You! to the LeapFrog family, so kids can continue learning with characters they love," said Andy Keimach, President, VTech Electronics North America, LeapFrog's parent company. "We're a perfect pair because we both help build preschoolers' confidence through interactive and fun learning games and challenges." A remake of the groundbreaking, curriculum-driven interactive series Blue's Clues, Blue's Clues & You! has a new generation of preschoolers searching for clues with beloved puppy Blue and new live-action host Josh (Josh Dela Cruz). LeapFrog is bringing Blue's Clues & You! to life with toys that enable kids to play along with the series by using their very own Blue's Clues & You! Really Smart Handy Dandy Notebook and Blue's Clues & You! Play & Learn Thinking Chair to help solve their own game of Blue's Clues. Children can also play with puppy pals Blue and Magenta with new learning watches and educational, interactive books. In addition to Blue's Clues & You!, LeapFrog is expanding its collection of infant and preschool toys with engaging new products that encourage important skills at an early age. With a unique, innovative talk-back feature that lets kids speak and hear responses, the Speak & Learn Puppy is an interactive friend that teaches ABCs, 123s, emotions and language development across three levels of play. A complement to the best-selling Learning Friends 100 Words Book, the 100 Animals Book is fully bilingual, introducing kids to 100 animals in both English and Spanish. Leaning into learning through pretend role-play, LeapFrog is introducing the Pick Up & Count Vacuum, that scoops up and recognizes included dust play pieces, the Purrfect Counting Purse, that encourages put and take play in an adorable fabric cat purse and the Yum-2-3 Toaster, which introduces colors, opposites, numbers and more through a cute, friendly toaster. The new products will be available at retailers nationwide later this year. Highlights include: Blue's Clues & You! Really Smart Handy Dandy Notebook: Let's use our Blue's Clues & You! Really Smart Handy Dandy Notebook to answer the phone, just like Josh in Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues & You! and learn with eleven app icons that introduce shapes, colors, counting, health and hygiene, weather and music. Talk on the phone with Blue and Josh, check email with Mailbox or dance along to playful songs and tunes inspired by the series. It's interactive learning fun with our favorite Blue's Clues & You! friends. Ages 2+ years. Blue's Clues & You! Play & Learn Thinking Chair: Take a seat in the Blue's Clues & You! Play & Learn Thinking Chair just like Josh and Blue in the Nickelodeon series Blue's Clues & You! Search for clues, then sit in the chair to hear fun phrases from the show and explore the Handy Dandy Notebook on the armchair to learn colors, shapes and numbers. Press the light-up buttons to listen to clues, music and sounds. Then, use logic and problem-solving to figure out Blue's Clues. For more pretend play fun, you can celebrate Mail Time by opening a letter with Mailbox. Ages 2+ years. Available exclusively at Walmart. Speak & Learn Puppy: Bailey, the plush Speak & Learn Puppy, comes to life with head movements, ear-flapping and real-time responses. As little ones learn to babble and talk, this progressive learning toy provides three learning levels to keep pace with their development. Four paw buttons and a light-up collar prompt Bailey to interact with your child across a range of content including animals, animal sounds, food and feelings. In Talk mode, Bailey has conversations with children and creates stories from their responses, depending on the learning level selected. Bailey repeats what your child says in a fun and interactive way in Babble mode. Start Learn mode by pushing the paw button to hear Bailey interact with children about letters and numbers. Ages 12+ months. 100 Animals Book: A perfect companion to the award-winning Learning Friends 100 Words Book, the 100 Animals Book takes learning further with interactive pages that feature animals from 12 categories. Kids have a natural curiosity about animals, and this book provides lots of opportunities for exploration with illustrations and photographs of one hundred fascinating animals. Three modes teach about animal names, animal sounds and fun facts. Switch to the bilingual setting to hear songs, animal names and fun facts in Spanish and English. Interesting facts about animals and their habitats along with early science awareness make this book a must-have addition to any little learner's library. Ages 18+ months. Pick Up & Count Vacuum: Count on picking up learning as you play with the Pick Up & Count Vacuum. Roll the pretend vacuum over the dust pieces, and the smart sensor recognizes the color of each piece and counts as they are picked up! With 10 unique dust pieces and three play modes, this toy teaches colors, numbers and counting from one to ten with six learning games and three playful songs. In Pretend mode, children can role-play clean-up time with a variable height vacuum that keeps the learning going as kids grow. Number mode teaches math concepts like counting and subtraction as little ones pick up dust pieces. Five light-up panels match the brightly colored dust pieces to reinforce color names and recognition in Color mode. As you push the vacuum to pick up dust pieces and win games, celebrate by watching the colorful lights and bouncing balls inside the spinning canister. All the dust pieces fit inside the attached bin for easy cleanup and storage. Ages 2+ years. Purrfect Counting Purse: Little ones will love the Purrfect Counting Purse and everything in it! This soft, multi-textured, fabric cat purse comes with loads of personality, accessories and learning content. An interactive tiara features five light-up jewels. Select Learn, Pretend or Music mode to add playful variety to your child's learning. Press the jewels from one to five to learn about numbers and counting, colors and shapes. Toddlers love to fill things up, unload and fill again, and this two-handled purse stands upright and wide open to make this easy. Fine-motor skills get a workout as little fingers pick up and place the five included accessories: blue rectangle pretend smartphone, green square ID tag with kid-safe mirror, orange triangle key set, red heart comb and purple non-removable circle coins in a coin purse. All accessories store inside the purse. Enjoy the take-along cat friend who loves to teach with humor. Ages 6+ months. Yum-2-3 Toaster: The Yum-2-3 Toaster is a friendly, play toaster with a sunny smile, a light-up mouth and toast that pops up with a bounce! As little ones pretend to make breakfast, they interact with the toaster to hear numbers, counting, colors and opposites. Place bread in the pretend toaster and turn the dial to explore counting and opposites. Nine pretend play pieces include two slices of bread, a jelly jar and lid, an egg and bacon, all served up on a plate with a fork and knife. The delightful pop-up action of the toaster engages children with music and learning content. Three food buttons teach colors, food names, recipes, numbers and counting, and play fun songs. Serve up breakfast with a side of learning! Ages 12+ months. For more information, please visit www.leapfrog.com. About LeapFrog LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in innovative learning toys for children that encourage a child's curiosity and love of learning throughout their early developmental journey. For more than 20 years, LeapFrog has helped children expand their knowledge and imagination through award-winning products that combine state-of-the-art educational expertise led by the LeapFrog Learning Team, innovative technology, and engaging play turning playtime into quality time that helps children leap ahead. LeapFrog's proprietary learning tablets and ground-breaking developmental games, learn to read and write systems, interactive learning toys and more are designed to create personalized experiences that encourage, excite and build confidence in children. LeapFrog is a subsidiary of VTech Holdings Limited, which is based in Hong Kong. LeapFrog was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionized technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Learn more at www.leapfrog.com. Media Contact: Lauren Fagan Coyne Public Relations 973-588-2000 [email protected] SOURCE LeapFrog Related Links http://www.leapfrog.com The 2010s were defined by tech-based startups, think Uber and Airbnb, that shook up major industries like transportation and hospitality. While their products were revolutionary, at the end of the day it was their cutting-edge branding that really took these businesses to the next level. As we enter 2020, its important to strive towards branding thats just as compelling and striking as the brands that dominated the last decade. Also, younger generations, like later millennials and Generation Zs, are gaining more buying power, so their tastes will determine the direction of branding trends. Here are four emerging trends that startups should keep track of when creating a noteworthy brand. Related: Branding Strategies That Create Customers Who Spend 300% More 1. Interactive experiences encourage audiences to engage with your content As traditional direct advertising continues to lose its luster with modern audiences, customers are seeking new, tech-based experiences. These technologies, like virtual and augmented reality, allow audiences to interact with their favorite brands in brand new ways. Brands that find ways to reinvent themselves in digital spaces are seen as forward-thinking and intriguing by millennials and Gen Zers. Content like BuzzFeeds interactive quizzes has taken over social media, allowing audiences to personalize themselves through the brands they interact with online. This past year, IKEA expanded upon the capabilities of its augmented reality app, allowing users to place multiple pieces of virtual IKEA furniture into their rooms, essentially trying before they buy. The ability for customers to easily visualize furniture in their own rooms helps them engage with IKEA on a more personal level, making their content and branding more accessible to consumers than ever before. By using immersive technologies like VR and AR, brands can position themselves as extensions of their consumers perceptions of the world. 2. Abstract visuals captivate audiences Trendy branding is less about the services brands offer and more about evoking strong emotions, core values, and lofty ideas. Modern brand imagery has reflected this shift by becoming more abstract and dreamier than ever before. By utilizing more daring, eclectic, and post-modern imagery, trendy startups promote the more ethereal aspects of their brand in a time when these intangibles are more important than ever. Skillshare, an online learning platform focused on the creative arts, has frequently used abstract imagery in its blog to promote its brand as a hub of outside-the-box creativity. The striking imagery showcases the creativity of Skillshares community, establishing its brand as a digital space in which forward-thinking imaginativeness is encouraged. 3. Animations cut through the static Modern audiences are also moving beyond static imagery, which is evident through the massive popularity of GIFs on social media. However, GIFs are used so frequently now that theyve become background noise, leaving their original purpose of getting the audience to slow down and engage with the content unfulfilled. To remedy this, successful brands have incorporated movement and animation into other aspects of their online presence in order to capture the attention of customers. By having charming animations littered throughout the UI of their digital space, brands can make interacting with them a more pleasant and uplifting experience for their customers. Related: Create Incredible Branding Initiatives Without Hiring Design Help Mailchimp is a digital marketing platform that uses quirky animations throughout its website to make its digital space inviting and non-intimidating. Rather than bombarding its users with statistics and figures, Mailchimps simple, dreamlike animations put customers at ease, encouraging them to check out the site and its features. 4. Eye-catching brand naming intrigues audiences For startups, incredible products or innovative new services arent enough to stand out. Your business must establish a brand thats compelling and electric, and the first step towards achieving this connection with audiences is through your brands name. A name can easily make or break your brand in the eyes of your audience, so deciding on a name that draws positive attention and sticks in your customers minds is essential to the branding process. As modern brands are changing to become more personal, jarring, and disruptive, brand names are following suit. As more and more domains and naming trademarks have been filed, emerging startups have doubled down on striking, out-of-the-box names. Many names, like Discord (a social platform designed for gaming) and Slack (an instant messaging service made for the workplace) are powerful and unconventional despite their simplicity. Others, like the mattress company Purple, use offbeat names in combination with humorous and peculiar branding to gain enormous amounts of attention in industries with traditionally boring branding. Some brands even go as far as to use ironic names (like Elon Musks The Boring Company), combining wordplay with a name that would have previously been seen as counterintuitive in order to stick out from the competition. If youre drafting a name thats considered unorthodox, make sure to do extensive audience testing to make sure your eccentric name is attracting customers instead of alienating them. Related: Why Personal Branding Is a Secret Weapon Audiences are seeking brands that align with their values The main commonality between these four branding trends is the idea that startup brands should no longer revolve around their products or services, but on the intangibles -- their mission statements, their personalities, and their entrepreneurial spirits. As social media dramatically lowers the communication gap between customers and brands, audiences are looking towards brands that are more personable and human. They view them almost as friends, and like with any other friend, they hope these brands have ideologies that align with their own. Startup brands wont make it far if their values or personalities fundamentally clash with those of millennial and Gen Z audiences. To avoid this, craft a brand that is socially conscious, effortlessly cool, and has a strong, unmistakable mission statement. Related: Here's How Creatives Can Build Their Brands Apple no quiere que la 'gente mala' use iPhones (al menos en el cine) "Don't Wait, Take The Plunge." Advice On Entering New Markets From HUXTON Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday appealed to the youths of the country to speak in their own language while communicating with friends and family and said a country's culture is safe only when its languages are safe. Shah also said India is only country in the world which is united by its culture. He said the country has many languages and dialects, 7-8 languages in just one state, around 150 dialects in the Northeast, and "these languages and dialects are the identity of our country". "Whenever you talk with your friends, family or parents, talk in your own language. Because it is very important to keep alive your own language," he said, addressing an event on "Nationalism In Times of Strife" at the Zee Aarth Festival here. The home minister said it is very necessary to save the languages because "if a language is saved, its music is saved and its history is saved". "If a language is saved, its culture is saved, its way of life is saved," he said. Shah said he met many foreigners during his long political career who had no knowledge what was their original language. "After 50 years we should not face a similar kind of situation," he said. The home minister said India is the only country in the world whose culture is intact even after thousands of years and it is everyone's responsibility to carry it forward. Shah said every country in the world is known by its boundary, geography and political system - be it Europe or America. "Their identity is their geography and political system. India is the world's only country which is not a geo-political country but a geo-cultural country. It is our culture which is binding all of us together," he said. The home minister said people of India never considered any one as outsider. "Despite so many attacks on our country and being enslaved for so long, we could save our identity and our culture," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh is all set for a gold rush of modern times after tonnes of gold reserves were found in Sonbhadra district of the state. The Uttar Pradesh government has confirmed that the gold mines were found in Son Pahadi in Mahuli and Hardi village in the tribal district of Sonbhadra. Read more Owaisi's Confidante Waris Pathan In Dock For '15 Crore Muslims Against 100 Crore Hindus' Remark The Karnataka Police has registered an FIR against AIMIM leader Waris Pathan for a comment made at an anti-CAA rally in Kalaburagi earlier this week. BCCL/ FILE The Kalaburagi police have booked Pathan under section 117, 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code. Read more Girl Refuses Bus Conductor's Proposal, He Pours Petrol And Sets Her Ablaze A bus conductor was arrested by police in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district on the charges of attempting to murder a 25 year-old married woman by dousing her body with petrol and setting her ablaze after she refused his proposal. The victim, mother of two girls, has been working in a private firm after completing her nursing degree at Valadur, police said. Read more Chinese Doctor Who Had Postponed Wedding To Take Care Of Coronavirus Patients Dies Of Infection In a tragic incident, a young Chinese doctor who had put duty before his personal life has died of the deadly Coronavirus infection. Peng Yinhua, a doctor of a Wuhan hospital had postponed his wedding to treat patients infected with the deadly coronavirus. Peng, a respiratory acute care medical professional, became infected while working to combat the novel coronavirus at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District of Wuhan. Read more AAP Cries Foul After Kejriwal, Sisodia Dropped From Melania Trump's Delhi School Visit The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is accusing the Modi government of playing politics after the names of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were reportedly dropped from the list of people who will be present when US First Lady Melania Trump visits a Delhi government-run school in the national capital on February 25. BCCL As per the original schedule, both Kejriwal and Sisodia were to accompany Melania Trump during her visit to the school. Kejriwal and Sisodia were also to brief the US First Lady about the "happiness curriculum" introduced by the AAP government. Read more The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival announced the winners of its competitions on Friday night in Missoula. Each year, the festival holds four competitions during its 10 days of programming, which included just under 149 movies. The competitions are juried by panels of professional filmmakers, programmers, festival representatives and educators. There are so many impressive works in competition this year and I do not envy the jurys difficult decisions, Big Sky Executive Director Rachel Gregg said in a news release. Across the board the films in competition are so strong and we look forward to seeing these films continue to reach wide audiences after their special recognition at Big Sky. Mini-Doc For films 15 minutes and under The jury: Suzan Beraza, Quinn Costello, Sohrab Mirab Winner: "A Bold Experiment," directed by Alexander Milan and Andrew Miller, 2020, U.S., 10 minutes, world premiere. Description: A Texas businessman sets out to build the world's first manmade bat cave, which eventually housed half a million bats. The jury said, "With an unexpected retelling of the classic man versus nature story, the winning film captures the premise of human folly and its impact on the natural world." Short competition For films between 15 and 40 minutes long The jury: Warren Etheridge, Sarah Lash, Jeff Sterrenberg Winner: "Collete," directed by Anthony Giacchino, U.S., 25 minutes, world premiere. Description: A former French Resistance member returns to German after more than 70 years to visit the concentration camp where the Nazis killed her brother. The jury praised how filmmaker Anthony Giacchino trails closely behind, always at just the right distance so a viewer is privy to the summoning of past pain while remaining respectful of the space needed by the subjects to cope with triggered trauma." Honorable mention: "Church and the Fourth Estate," directed by Brian Knappenberger, 2020, U.S., 39 min. Description: An investigative team uncovers files that reveal allegations of child abuse in Idahos Grand Teton Counsel of the Boy Scouts, leading to a public fight between the state's richest resident and journalists at a newspaper. The jury remarked that "a good story neednt be a happy one. And the abuses detailed in 'The Church and the Fourth Estate' are heartbreaking and yet empowering as we learn how personal integrity and professional ethics can triumph over systemic injustice." Big Sky Award Presented to one film that artistically honors the character, history, tradition and imagination of the American West. Jury: Clare Ann Harff, Justin Lubke and Kimberly Reed Winner: "Public Trust," directed by David Garrett Byars, 2020, 96 minutes, world premiere. Description: The film details the fight over efforts to privatize some of the 640 million acres of public lands in the United States, focusing on efforts of journalist Hal Herring and activists working to protect Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The jury said the film "deftly realizes a vast, complex story with cinematic vision, compelling characters and historical significance to explain the fight to protect what may be Americas greatest treasure: our public lands." Honorable mention: "Sisters Rising," directed by Willow O'Feral and Brad Heck, 2020, U.S., 59 minutes, world premiere. Description: The film introduces Native women fighting to store personal and tribal sovereignty in the face of ongoing sexual violence toward Indigenous women in the United States. The jury said it "shines an unflinching and ultimately uplifting light onto righting injustice on both an individual and systemic level." Feature competition For films more than 40 minutes long Jury: Anne Hubbell, Caroline Libresco, Travis Morss Winner: "I Am Not Alone," directed by Garin Hovannisian, 2019, 93 minutes, U.S. Description: A man walks across Armenia to inspire a "velvet revolution" and topple the government. The movie was selected "for its bold artfulness, exacting vision, and unparalleled access in creating a thrilling and intimate chronicle of non-violent revolution," according to the jury. Honorable mention No. 1: "Feels Good Man," directed by Arthur Jones, 2020, U.S., United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, Hong Kong, 93 minutes. Description: Chronicles how artist Matt Furie's cartoon character, Pepe the Frog, escaped his control to become a white nationalist icon. Jury statement: Selected for "its sobering, yet entertaining, forensic approach to explaining the establishment and co-option of Pepe the Frog from goofy cartoon to alt-right hate symbol and beyond." Honorable mention No. 2: "Sunless Shadows," directed by Mehrdad Oskouei, 2019, Iran, Norway, 74 minutes. Description: Filmmakers interview adolescent girls jailed in an Iranian juvenile detention center for murdering fathers, husbands or male family members. The jury selected the film for "exposing the desperation and resiliency of young Iranian women serving time at a juvenile detention center, and the unlikely opportunity that their incarceration allows them as they form tight friendships and are able to speak freely about their regrets and hopes." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 REYHANLI, TURKEYA slight man in a cotton jacket, carrying a knapsack, shivered in the cold, waiting for the Turkish border gate to Syria to open. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are trying to get out of Syria. Yahya Jamal, 21, was trying to get back in. His father had just died, he said. His family members had fled their home under bombardment and were sleeping under the trees. So even though he had smuggled himself into Turkey several months ago, he was going back to Syria to help them. There is nowhere to take them, he said, his face white with shock. It is impossible to find a safe place. Hidden behind the hills of the Turkish border crossing at Reyhanli, a humanitarian calamity is unfolding on the Syrian side. The Syrian government, backed by Russian forces, has accelerated its months-long offensive to seize control of Idlib, the last province held by the opposition. Facing heavy bombardment of towns and villages, about 900,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled their homes since December, joining the largest exodus of Syrias civil war since it began nine years ago. Most have headed north, toward the Turkish border, and are living out in the cold. The lucky ones are crammed into tent camps, others sleeping in the open on the surrounding hillsides and olive groves. At least 12 children have died of exposure. Turkey, already host to more than 3 million Syrian refugees, has closed its border since 2015 to prevent a further influx. That has left the displaced people of Idlib trapped between advancing Syrian and Russian troops and the Turkish border. Reyhanli, a small agricultural town surrounded by orchards and cotton fields, is the main border crossing to and from Idlib, although it is closed to general traffic. A concrete border wall snakes up the craggy hillside away from the customs gate, and flocks of sheep dot the hills. Over the weekend, half a dozen trucks loaded with donated clothes, blankets and food sent from all over Turkey were lined up in orderly fashion, waiting to enter Syria. A few Syrian pedestrians, mostly medical personnel and traders who have permission to cross the border, clustered at the gate to cross on foot. A jewelry trader, Muhammad, was travelling with his wife, Amina, to fetch their children from Syria and bring them back to Turkey. Some traders with business on both sides of the border are allowed to come and go. He described the mood across the border in one word: threat. The couple, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only their first names out of fear of being identified by the Syrian government. People are afraid, Muhammad said. The situation is very bad. People are living in the streets, under the trees. They are very cold. Public buildings and private houses are overflowing, and it is hard to find a tent or any kind of shelter, he said. There is no food and no work. You can see a lot of families sleeping on cardboard and blankets in the streets, he said. All the towns are like that. If the bombardment does not stop there will be a disaster. Everyone is coming toward the border. A medical doctor, who gave his name only as Dr. Muhammad, was registering his family at the border immigration post. He said he had evacuated his wife and four children from their village in Syria just as government forces approached. He was able to get them into Turkey while he was still working in a small field hospital in Syria. The hospital is treating up to 300 patients a day. We lacked most imported equipment, he said. Fuel oil is scarce or very poor quality. Prices are getting higher and higher. The road was clogged with refugees fleeing to the border, and the 20-mile journey took six hours. Its the most horrible scene, he said. Russian and Syrian forces, advancing rapidly from the south and east of Idlib, have reached the town of Al Atarib, barely 15 miles from the Turkish border. The attack seems to be a bid to cut supply lines from Turkey to areas held by the opposition forces or even an effort to encircle and besiege the city of Idlib, where some 700,000 people live, aid organizations said. The Turkish army has deployed hundreds of troops and armour in the north part of the province to protect the approaches to the Turkish border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has demanded that Syrian government troops withdraw to previously agreed positions by the end of February or be forced to do so by Turkish forces. But Syrians at the border displayed little confidence that the Turkish army would stop the Syrian advance. We wish the Europeans would strike the government, the trader, Muhammad, said. We wish America would come. But we do not expect them to. Bashar is killing us, he blurted out, referring to President Bashar Assad of Syria. Every day hundreds are dying, and now America needs to do something. Otursan Mustafa, 26, a mother of three, was reached by phone at Kafr Karmin, a Syrian village less than 4 miles from the front line at Al Atarib, where she is stranded along with two other women and 14 children. There is bombardment all the time, she said. If I stopped talking you would hear it. The women, two of them widows, had fled three times since the latest offensive began Dec. 18. First they fled their hometown, Maarat al Noaman, to the countryside, east of Idlib province. Then as the government began an advance from the east, they fled to Kafr Karmin. Now the fighting was again coming closer, and the rest of the villagers had fled, Mustafa said. The three women were living in a half-built house without doors, windows or electricity but were loath to leave because at least they had a roof over their heads. We have nowhere to go, Mustafa said. There are no tents and no space to put a tent because there are so many people. Her 3-month-old son was crying all night, she said. I am breastfeeding, but the doctor said I must give him more food; he needs more. With the village emptied, they were running out of food, she said. The Syrian advance from the east has been so swift that many families were stuck, said Fouad Sayed Issa, founder of Violet, a Syrian non-profit relief organization. Violet fields 1,000 volunteers who rent, beg or borrow trucks to evacuate families who are stuck without transportation or fuel in front-line areas. The scale of the movement of people is staggering, he said. The group rescued 17,000 people from the town of Ariha in one operation. A United Nations camp of 10,000 displaced people emptied almost overnight as government troops neared. Everyone is converging on the already established camps by the Turkish border. Its like the end of the world, he said. Thousands of people have massed at the camps, standing around, hoping for assistance. The biggest problem is shelter, Issa said. Even if you have money you will not find anything to rent or buy. Tents are full, and there are no more camps. He, like other Syrian aid workers, expressed frustration that the relief effort has fallen far behind the huge need and is mired in bureaucracy. The U.N. has 5,000 tents, but people need 60,000 tents, he said. As the Syrian shelling closes in, more people will flee, he predicted. No one will stay, he said. That left only one solution, he said for Turkey to open its border to the refugees. We are advocating they open the border, he said. Ankara has to decide. Read more about: Scott noted earlier Ilhan Omars bizarre response to the fact that a member of the Minneapolis Somali community who knows Omar well has confirmed that she married her brother for fraudulent purposes. First she falsely asserted that Somali Abdi Nur was paid to smear her. Next she asserted that the whole thing is a Zionist conspiracy. That reeks of desperation, obviously. I just want to add one more log to the fire. Omars source for her crazed tirade was a piece in something called Humans4HumanLife, which she tweeted. You really should read the whole Humans piece at the link. If you are looking for anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, youve come to the right place. Still, one funny thing about the Humans4HumanLife piece is that the author doesnt seem at all certain that the allegations against Omar are untrue: Undeniably, no one is immune to making mistakes, or even regrets. Her private life is no ones business. It is of no reflection on her sincerity, integrity nor her abilities. Its impossible for anyone on the public stage to achieve everyones expectations all the time. As a human being, its impossible to be everything to everyone every time. Some of us, though, do manage to avoid marrying our siblings for fraudulent purposes. Never having heard of Humans4HumansLife, I was curious about the organization. It is obscure, and, it turns out, deservedly so. The fact that Omar apparently reads its stuff is itself revealing. Humans Facebook page starts with the enemy collaboration post about the supposedly Jewish conspiracy to disclose the fact that Ilhan married her brother. But its next Facebook post celebrates Communism: I had never heard of Mr. Pansare, but he was an Indian communist. If you keep scrolling, you see the usual left-wing stuff: anti-Israel, anti-Brexit, anti-law enforcement. And, apparently, pro-ISIS: Relentlessly crucifiedthat refers to revocation of her British citizenshipsimply for joining ISIS. Simply! Ilhan Omar is an extremist. She thinks nothing, apparently, of citing openly Communist friends in support of her anti-Semitic fantasies. She hates the United States and Israel, but has no particular problem with Islamic terrorists who simply join ISIS. If a Republican Congressman linked to a white supremacist web site to defend himself against a well-supported allegation of corruptionsomething almost impossible to imagineevery news outlet in America would come crashing down on him, and he would be out of Congress within 24 hours. Ilhan Omar did something worse. She linked to and cited a Communist, openly anti-Semitic, and terrorist supporting web site to deflect well-founded (frankly, obviously true) allegations of multi-level corruption: marriage fraud, immigration fraud, tax fraud, among others. And yet the Democratic Party press has been, so far, silent. After the Punjab police chief, Dinkar Gupta stirred controversy during an interview with a media house by saying "the Sikhs who visit Pakistan can become terrorist", the Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Manjinder Singh Sirsa slammed him. He also criticised the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government in Punjab and insisted him to start a trial against the DGP. Sirsa also urged CM Singh to publicly state that no one could challenge the patriotism of a Sikh person. Manjinder Singh Sirsa slams Punjab DGP, CM Reacting to DGP Dinkar Guptas interview with a media house, Sirsa said, The statement given by the Punjab DGP is very offensive. I strongly condemn his statement. Congress has always had this kind of mindset. Captain Amarinder Singh is the Chief Minister and he is a Sikh himself. The people working for his government should not make such statements. Read: SAD MLA Manjinder Sirsa calls for UN action against Pak over forced religious conversion Sikhs are the most patriotic people. If a Hindu believer visits Mansarovar in China they dont become a terrorist and come. How can a Sikh believer visit Kartarpur and become a terrorist? Congress has always insulted Sikhs post-1980. Congress has tried to call Sikhs terrorists and they have offended the religion. I request and insist Captain Amarinder Singh start a trial against the DGP. He should also tell everyone that no one can challenge a Sikh persons patriotism, Sirsa added. Read: Manjinder Sirsa urges India to pressurise Pak to act over atrocities against minorities DGP Dinkar Guptas statement The Punjab police chief, Dinkar Gupta in an interview with a media house, questioned the intent of Pakistan to open the doors to the Indian Sikhs wishing to visit Kartarpur. He stated that visa-free entry for Sikh pilgrims was a huge security challenge from terrorisms point of view. Adding to this, he further said, Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back as trained terrorist actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED. Read: Manjinder Sirsa hits out at AAP as CBI nabs OSD to Sisodia; calls party 'gang of thieves' Read: Manjinder Sirsa slams Pakistan for its treatment of minorities, explains why CAA is needed Malaysia declares woman from ship docked in Cambodia virus free amid anger over Hun Sen decision to welcome passengers. Phnom Penh, Cambodia Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen is accustomed to scathing criticism from the international community for his human rights record. But last week, he was widely praised when he welcomed a cruise liner that had been stranded at sea for more than two weeks amid fears passengers on board may be carrying the deadly new coronavirus. The ship, with more than 2,000 people, had been turned away by at least three other countries after hundreds of infections were reported on another cruise liner docked in Japan. On February 14, Hun Sen travelled to the southwestern city of Sihanoukville to personally greet the MS Westerdams passengers. He presented them with flowers as they disembarked and even hugged some of them. At the time, there were no reported cases of the infection, known as COVID-19, on the ship. Hun Sens government went on to arrange tours for the disembarked passengers and floated the idea of hosting a party for them. Even though Cambodia was a poor country, it was ready to solve global problems and to get rid of fear and discrimination, he wrote on Facebook. The pro-government Phnom Penh Post newspaper praised the prime minister for his humanitarian act in an article titled: Hun Sen to the rescue, while Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), thanked Hun Sen for his welcome act of solidarity and called on the world to avoid stigma and fear. Donald Trump, president of the United States, also expressed gratitude for the Cambodian governments courtesy. The celebratory mood soured days later, however, when an 83-year-old passenger from the ship tested positive for the virus when she arrived in Malaysia. She was declared virus-free on Friday, nearly a week after she was admitted, but remains hospitalised because she continues to show symptoms, Malaysian authorities said. The initial positive test has prompted worries the virus could spread in Cambodia, which has recorded only one case so far, and sent health authorities scrambling to track down and test the rest of the ships passengers. But hundreds had left the country by then, triggering fears the virus could spread around the world. Already, the new virus, first detected in China in late December, has spread to some 28 countries, infecting more than 76,000 people and killing 2,200, the vast majority in China. But authorities in Cambodia are continuing to cast doubt on the positive test for the MS Westerdam passenger in Malaysia, especially after the woman was declared virus-free on Friday. There have been no further reported cases from the ship, they said. The irregularities in the results announced by Malaysian authorities have caused fear, confusion and discrimination among Westerdam passengers, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Friday. It has also affected the honour and dignity of humanity and the country, it added. Ly Sovann, spokeswoman for the ministry did not respond to Al Jazeeras calls for comment. The developments have prompted anger and confusion in Cambodia, with some accusing Hun Sen of endangering their health in order to improve his international image. Speaking via telephone, Morth Sopha in the western province of Koh Kong said Hun Sens apparent blase attitude was aimed at appealing to China, his closest ally. The prime minister gains nothing in domestic political benefits, as a lot of Cambodian people are not happy with his decision, but he just wants to show off to the world and expects international political benefits, she told Al Jazeera. Mao Chhorn, a Phnom Penh resident, agreed with Sophas assessment, and condemned Hun Sen for allowing the passengers to stay in Cambodia and tour the city. There is a big chance the virus can spread, said Chhorn. Meanwhile, Pich Vanna, from the northern Preah Vihear province, said the government was not taking the situation seriously, and called for more awareness and free health checkups. It seems they have something to hide, as we dont have much information about the coronavirus. The government claims there was only one case infected, but I have some doubts, he said. Mu Sochua, an opposition leader whose party has been banned in Cambodia, also criticised the government for allegedly ignoring the danger posed by the virus. We want the WHO to take Cambodia as a special case given the irresponsible behaviour of Hun Sen, she said, accusing the prime minister who won a widely criticised election in 2018 of using the crisis to portray himself as a hero. Hun Sen has repeatedly claimed that fear of COVID-19 was more dangerous than the virus itself. On Tuesday, he said he would have let the Westerdams passengers off the ship even if they had the infection. And at a news conference in late January, he threatened to expel journalists after they attended a news conference wearing facemasks and refused to evacuate 23 Cambodian students from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak. Separately, some experts criticised Hun Sens decision to welcome the passengers, saying the prime minister should not have taken such a risk given what they called the poor state of Cambodias medical infrastructure. Cambodias healthcare system has a poor reputation among the public, mostly due to a lack of government investment in the sector. A 2016 study found approximately a third of Cambodias 1.4 million outbound tourists were travelling to another country for medical service. The director of a Cambodian civil society group that offers healthcare services, said Cambodia has not handled [the coronavirus outbreak] well at all alleging screening measures at ports of entry were inadequate. The director, who asked to remain anonymous, said the governments decision to allow passengers to disembark was absolutely a sign it prioritised politics over health. Their commitment to keep good relations with China supersedes their desire to keep their people safe and healthy, she said. Lee Morgenbesser, an expert on authoritarian regimes and author of Behind the Facade, said Hun Sens lack of domestic accountability means his government privileges political point scoring over healthcare. Accusing Hun Sen of leveraging the coronavirus for propaganda purposes, he wrote: Crafting an effective response to the coronavirus is impossible in Cambodia, because political power is centralised, hierarchical and, most importantly, personalised. In the same way as China, public servants are hesitant to diagnose problems, communicate negative information and take rational action. TOURS, FranceWhen you are a dance teacher and you attend a performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts, what could you possibly think of this show? Wonderful! Because I have played at the Monte Carlo Opera, I can really measure the fantastic work of harmony, the gestures and you can feel the fantastic fusion of people who want to show something strong, Corinne Tixier expressed herself during the performance of Shen Yun, this Wednesday on Feb. 19, 2020, at the Palais des Congres de Tours, France. Corinne Tixier has indeed experienced all the power of the energy of this show but also the gentleness in persuading to show the reality of a lost paradise. What amazed me was the almost acrobatic work which is added in an extreme refinement of softness where there is absolutely no effort, she said. For the dancer, there was also a clear parallel between classical Chinese dance and martial arts. She spoke of energy punctuated by extremely precise, measured gestures, and with a concentration that also reminds me of the work in martial arts, therefore deeper in harmony than the worldwide classical dance technique of todays operas. Corinne Tixier, as an artist, also marveled at the way Shen Yun celebrates femininity, as it was lived in the ancient dynasties. I come out with respect for beauty and of women who are truly extraordinary, through their refinement. Moreover, for her, the ensemble was perfectly coherent and contributed to the harmonious and enchanting balance. I was really overwhelmed by everything I saw and heard, from the orchestra which was magnificent, to the choreography, to the costumes. Its the quintessence of the eternal China that stands out in this show. But beyond the beauty of Shen Yun, Tixier said she also really realized the importance of Shen Yuns message in our modern world, which is more and more disconnected from any spirituality. I think its vital, for todays world, to reconnect the human to the spiritual and to the only beauty of the world, that is the earth, the planet as it should be, virgin, natural, pure with man again divine. At the end of the performance, renewed hope invaded Tixier, who fully grasped the importance of the values with which she fervently wishes to reconnect more profoundly. Were recovering all the respect for humanity and energy too, Im coming out stronger to fight in this modern world and to recover real values, its going to help me recover these values, I think this is very very important. You bring so much, perhaps hope for mankind and the respect and beauty of humans on planet earth, she said. Philippe Cassius, her companion, added: I think shes said it all. Its true that through the show, its all the beauty of human beings in their most beautiful and noble aspects that they were able to express with joy, love, and talent. They are examples to be followed. With reporting by NTD Television. 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. Even as India has sought clearance of the third flight from New Delhi to Wuhan for evacuating its nationals, China has not yet granted clearance, and sources say that the delay looks deliberate. As per sources, India's request for the third flight was submitted on February 13, and the flight plan was submitted two days after on February 15. While the date of flight proposed originally was February 20, clearance has not been given. Sources also say that within the period of this, flights from Japan, Ukraine, and France, have taken off from Wuhan on February 16, 19 and 20 respectively. China reports major drop in new virus cases to 397 India's help to China Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently written to Chinese President Xi Jinping expressing solidarity with the government and people of China in fighting the epidemic outbreak. India had then also offered to provide assistance to China in the wake of the concerned situation. The government of India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of this commitment as a token of solidarity, particularly as this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China. These suppliers have been offered even as India, itself, faces tremendous shortages, ANI reported quoting sources. The items that are being supplied include gloves, surgical masks feeding and infusion pumps and defibrillators based on the requirements as indicated by Beijing. Indian crew members in Japan's quarantined cruise ship appeal to PM Modi for evacuation India evacuated 650 citizens Earlier this month, India had evacuated over 650 of its citizens from Wuhan in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft. Yet, an unknown number of Indians remain in the area and their number is being ascertained, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. While 406 of these are being looked after at the quarantine ITBP facility, rest are at an Army center at Manesar in Haryana. The Indian Embassy in Beijing estimates more than 50,000 Indian citizens to have been working in mainland China as of early 2019. Tedros: still a chance to contain coronavirus outbreak Coronavirus and its outbreak The outbreak of the deadly virus took place in China's Wuhan in January. While the Chinese doctor, reprimanded by police after warning colleagues about the disease, died after falling ill, countries have started evacuating their citizens from China and have been issuing travel advisory. The virus was officially named 'COVID-19' at a conference in Geneva held by the World Health Organisation, and was declared a 'global public health emergency'. India in February, evacuated 645 people from Hubei, the province worst-hit by the coronavirus. People were lodged at the quarantine facilities set up by the Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in and around Delhi, and the Union Health Ministry last week informed that they have been tested negative. India has also reported three confirmed cases from Kerala. While the worldwide death toll due to coronavirus is 2,362, there are currently 77,924 confirmed cases in 32 countries and territories. China anti-doping agency to resume testing halted by coronavirus (image from ANI) In 2009, when the VN Index soared from 324 points to the year's peak of 630 points, the richest stock billionaire had total assets worth over VND9 trillion. But now, one needs to have much more to be listed among the top billionaires. Dang Thanh Tam, president of Kinh Bac Urban Development JSC (KBC) and Doan Nguyen Duc, president of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group (HAG) were recognized as the richest persons in Vietnam 10 years ago. Tran Dinh Long, president of Hoa Phat Group 2009 was considered the golden days of KBC as the share price soared from VND24,000 per share to VND48,500. However, as a result of rapid expansion, the company faced difficulties and incurred a loss of VND430 billion in 2012. The bad business performance forced KBC prices down. In 2009, when the VN Index soared from 324 points to the year's peak of 630 points, the richest stock billionaire had total assets worth over VND9 trillion. But now, one needs to have much more to be listed among the top billionaires. KBC price hovers around VND14,950 per share. With 75 million KBC in hands, Tam now ranks 53rd on the list of top billionaires. As for Duc, his HAGL share price also soared by more than 100 percent in 2009, reaching VND39,000 per shares in that year. After a lot of ups and downs, HAG is now traded at VND4,110 per share and Duc is on the 51st position of the list. While the two businessmen faced difficulties in the last 10 years, Pham Nhat Vuong, president of Vingroup (VIC), jumped from the third position 10 years ago to the No 1 position now. In 2009, Vuong owned assets worth VND8.3 trillion. However, since the VIC price has been escalating steadily, traded at VND114.700 per share and Vingroup has become one of the enterprises with the highest capitalization value, Vuongs assets have soared to VND213 trillion. In 2009, Duc became the second richest billionaire with VND9 trillion. But in 2019, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, vice president and CEO of Vietjet Air (VJC) had VND30.9 trillion in the No 2 position. Though Tran Dinh Long, president of Hoa Phat Group, has seen his asset value increase by several times over the last 10 years, from VND2.6 trillion to VND16.8 trillion, he still stays at fourth on the list of top billionaires. The biggest change on the list was made by Nguyen Thi Kim Xuan, president of the Trade and Seafood JSC (ICF). In 2009, ICF share price soared from VND6,000 to VND21,000, putting Xuan among top five stock billionaires. However, Xuans company has been going downhill. It reported a loss of tens of billions of dong a year for 2016-2018. As ICF is traded at VND1,000 per share, Xuan has been weeded out of the list. Kim Chi Vietnam's richest billionaire reports huge profits More large corporations have released 2019 finance reports. The 2019 business season witnessed a boom of enterprises with the profit of over VND10 trillion. The first battery project in the State has been completed in North Kerry, in an indication of the region's growing importance to the renewables sector. Norwegian giant Statkraft completed the 11-MW battery compound in Kilathmoy last week, adjacent to its recently completed 30million, seven-turbine windfarm at Gortdromagouna and Tubbertureen - on the Kerry/Limerick border close to Moyvane. Statkraft hailed the completion of the battery project last week as a 'landmark day'. The company describes itself as Europe's largest producer of renewable energy. It is the first of its kind to have been built in the entire State, in an example of a relatively new technology in the Lithium ion BESS (Battery Electrical Storage Systems). The tech is set to drive the development of renewables much further than before, stabilising and transmitting power from the proliferating windfarms into the grid. News of the Statkraft development came less than a week after An Bord Pleanala granted permission, subject to conditions, for a 26-battery-unit project at Kilpadogue in Tarbert, meanwhile, of the same battery tech as in Kilathmoy. The BESS system sees 40-foot-long containers equipped with the lithium ion batteries. To date, nearly 200 individual units have been granted permission in the county - chiefly in north and east Kerry - with Statkraft the first to realise a plan. The turbines and batteries at their development are to become operational in the very near future. "This is a landmark day for the energy market in this country and represents a very exciting milestone for power storage here," Statkraft Ireland Managing Director Kevin O'Donovan said. Statkraft will now enter a contract with EirGrid to provide reserves to the national electricity grid 'in the event of a sudden drop-off in supply'. Mr O'Donovan described progress in the Irish renewables sector in the past two years as 'remarkable', with 30 per cent of the State's electricity now generated by renewables; and the grid operating with levels of renewable-generated power riding at 65 per cent at any given time. "Statkraft has the vision, ambition and wherewithal required to see Ireland become a serious player on the European stage," he said, adding Ireland has the capacity to become largely self-sufficient in energy. CHENNAI: The stamp duty rate imposed by the government for buying properties will be reduced after conducting consultations with all stakeholders including officials and the government, O. Panneerselvam, the Deputy Chief Minister, has said. The Deputy CM was inaugurating FAIRPRO 2020 organized by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (Credai) at Chennai Trade Centre at Nandabakkam here on Friday. ''Last time I met Credai officials, they took up with me the matter of reducing stamp duty for property deals. I had given them an assurance to cut the duty. I will take the matter seriously. The duty will be cut so that our government's goal of 'house for all' can be achieved. Apart from that a single window scheme will be also be introduced to ease out the anomalies relating to property deals. The government will provide all support for builders to improve their business. I hope this year's FAIRPRO will draw more business than last year,' said Mr Panneerselvam W.S Habeeb, president, Credai Chennai, presided over the function. Rajesh Lakhoni, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, D Karthikeyan, Member-Secretary, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and Chandra Sekhar Sakhamuri, Commissioner, Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) attended the event. According to the organisers, as many as 70 developers will take part in the three-day property expo displaying over 400 residential projects with prices that range from Rs 21 lakhs to Rs 11 crore and above. Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday has given a clean chit to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ravindra Nath Tripathi, his three sons and two nephews in a rape case. However, one nephew of the MLA -- Sandeep Tiwari -- has been arrested and further investigation has been initiated. The police claimed that the MLA, his three sons and two nephews are not involved in the case. Ram Badan Singh, Superintendent of Police, Bhadohi said,"Based on the complaint, we have recorded the statements of many people. In the investigation so far, no role of BJP MLA Ravindra Nath Tripathi, his nephews Sachin Tiwari, Chandrabhushan Tiwari and his sons Deepak Tiwari, Prakash Tiwari, and Nitesh Tiwari has been found in the case." "The MLA's nephew Sandeep Tiwari, who was accused of physically abusing the woman for many years, has been booked for rape," he added. However, the MLA's son Nitesh Tiwari has been booked on charges of verbally abusing the victim. Last week a woman had filed a complaint with the police that the MLA's nephew Sandeep Tiwari had established sexual relations with her on the pretext of marriage. Later, she levelled similar charges against the MLA and other male members from the family. Two days ago a case was registered against BJP MLA Ravindra Nath Tripathi, his nephews and others on charges of raping a woman. During the investigation, the police claimed to have found that the woman has made a wrong statement before them. The police also claimed that the victim is refusing to undergo medical tests. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fredericksburg City Council member Kerry Devine is running for reelection to her at-large seat. She has served on the council since 2004 and was on Fredericksburgs School Board from 1996 to 2004. Both of the councils at-large seats and the mayors post are on the ballot in the citys May 2 election. Devine is a founding member of the Friends of the Rappahannock, and helped spearhead passage of the conservation easement in 2006 that protected 4,200 acres of riverfront land along the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers and the citys water supply. A member of the Citys Clean and Green Commission, she was involved in the recent passage of the renewable energy resolution. Devines campaign announcement stated she is committed to ensuring that Fredericksburg is a state leader for environmental change, pointing to the downtown farmers market and Food Coop, growth in composting programs and the goal of powering municipal operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. Devine taught at WalkerGrant Middle for 11 years and currently teaches at Colonial Forge High in Stafford County. black hat hackers Paul Szoldra/Business Insider Phishing scams in which hackers pose as trusted figures to trick people into handing over passwords are getting increasingly sophisticated. Security experts describe an arms race between services that weed out scammers and attackers developing new tricks and workarounds. Phishing is on the rise, and costing over $57 million from more than 114,000 victims in the US last year, according to a recent FBI report. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Hackers don't break in, they log in. That mantra, often repeated by security experts, represents a rule of thumb: The vast majority of breaches are the result of stolen passwords, not high-tech hacking tools. These break-ins are on the rise. Phishing scams in which attackers pose as a trustworthy party to trick people into handing over personal details or account information were the most common type of internet crime last year, according to a recent FBI report. People lost more than $57.8 million in 2019 as the result of phishing, according to the report, with over 114,000 victims targeted in the US. And as phishing becomes more profitable, hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the methods they use to steal passwords, according to Tanmay Ganacharya, a principal director in Microsoft's Security Research team. "Most of the attackers have now moved to phishing because it's easy. If I can convince you to give me your credentials, it's done. There's nothing more that I need," Ganacharya told Business Insider. Ganacharya monitors phishing tactics in order to build machine-learning systems that root out scams for people using Microsoft services, including Windows, Outlook, and Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing service. Microsoft has led a crackdown on phishing scams that impersonate its products it seized a group of sites in July that targeted millions of people after pursuing a civil action against the scammers and getting permission from a judge to secretly seize their domains. Story continues Ganacharya spoke to Business Insider about the trends in phishing that his team has observed. Many of the tactics aren't new, but he said attackers are constantly finding new ways to work around defenses like Microsoft's threat protection. Here's what he described. Hackers will start by targeting low-level employees, then "moving laterally" to compromise executives' accounts. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) Associated Press Hackers will begin by sending low-level employees emails that look trustworthy, but might include links directing them to a scam website that asks them to input their username and password. Once they have access to that employee's account, they can use it to send trustworthy-seeming emails to others in the company. "You might get into a network through someone, like a sales associate. But then through that you can laterally move by sending phishing emails to, let's say, the admin of that candidate," Ganacharya said. "And then once you're able to compromise the admin, you can actually leverage that company's domain and send emails to the larger cargo." Similarly, scammers string together phishing attacks by compromising small, vulnerable businesses and leveraging their trust with larger business partners they work with. supply chain Justin Sullivan/Getty Images "Instead of the email coming from 'someone at gmail.com' or some random address, it actually comes from a business that they work with. In phishing it's all about gaining the trust of the email, the reader, so that they click on it. And if it is a credential thing that pops up, they just give their credentials," Ganacharya said. The old-school tactic of "typosquatting" is also seeing a resurgence among hackers, according to Ganacharya. Goggle.com, one of the longest-running typosquatting sites, aims to capture traffic from people who misspell the search giant's name. goggle.com "Typosquatting is big again," Ganacharya said. In this phishing scheme, also known as URL hijacking, attackers buy domains that are slight misspelling of popular websites, like goggle.com or yuube.com. The tactic was a mainstay of the early days of the internet, but has recently seen a resurgence. "Spear phishers" put extensive effort into targeting a specific person, often creating multiple misleading pages to trick them. phishing AP/Kantele Franko Hackers will sometimes create fake social media pages or personal blogs for the persona they're using to target someone, intentionally adding their targets' friends in an effort to seem more trustworthy. Fake credential pages are becoming more sophisticated. An example of a malicious phishing site designed to look like a Microsoft Outlook login screen. Trustwave Hackers will regularly make fake sites that mimic the login screens of trusted services, like email accounts. Ganacharya's team has built machine-learning systems that detect subtle differences in the appearances of the sites and flag them as fraudulent, but he said hackers are constantly building workarounds. "If the attacker created a similar looking page [to a legitimate login screen], but then they were not able to match a font here and there or something is moved by one pixel, the machine learning models can pick that up," Ganacharya said. A cottage industry of phishing-as-a-service is booming as scams become increasingly profitable. Google Jigsaw phishing quiz Google Sophisticated hackers are now willing to sell their services to specific organizations, individuals, or nation-state entities who want to steal information from someone. Some phishing-as-a-service providers offer networks of bots that proliferate fake websites, while others sell phishing toolkits to clients, according to Ganacharya. "If you have the funding, you can go buy a phish kit or sign up for phishing as a service and they will build everything for you, and you just have to hope your payoff comes out higher than what you were paying the phishing-as-a-service company," Ganacharya said. Read the original article on Business Insider Islamic terrorism spreading in majority-Christian Mozambique; 700 dead, 100,000 displaced Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Over 100,000 people have been displaced and at least 700 have died in the majority-Christian country of Mozambique since 2017, as the spread of radical Islamic extremism in Africa is starting to plague the continents southeast region. This month, the U.N.'s High Commission for Refugees said it is boosting its response in Mozambiques northeastern Cabo Delgado province, an oil-rich coastal region on the Indian Ocean. Although southeast Africa was once considered relatively peaceful compared to its counterparts in the north, theres concern that the region is becoming a foothold for militants that appear to be aligned with the Islamic State. The Institute for Security Studies, an Africa-based think tank, published a report last month stating that as many as 350 terror incidents have occurred in Mozambique since the local jihadi group Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jammah simultaneously attacked police and military bases in October 2017. However, the UNHCR warns that the most recent weeks have proved to be the most volatile period as attacks are now spreading across most of Cabo Delgados 16 districts. Cabo Delgado is one of the least developed regions in the country. According to UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic, hundreds of villages have been burned and abandoned because of the indiscriminate campaign of terror. Armed groups have been randomly targeting local villages and terrorizing the local population, Mahecic said at a press briefing earlier this month in Geneva, Switzerland. Those fleeing speak of killings, maiming, and torture, burnt homes, destroyed crops and shops. Mahecic explained that there have also been reports of beheadings, kidnappings, and disappearances of women and children. Mahecic said the attackers, at times, warn locals when and where they will attack, causing a mad rush of residents to flee those areas. As attacks are spreading southward across the province, the U.N. notes that many in the provincial capital of Pemba are starting to flee. Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa of the Diocese of Pemba told the Catholic Charity Aid to the Church in Need that one attack in the region targeted an agricultural teacher training school in Bilibiza with over 500 students. The school was burned down, then [the attackers] smashed up other shops and businesses nearby, the bishop said. It is a sad fact that the military and security forces are unable to contain these attacks without international support. If the government had done something to improve conditions, then perhaps this problem would have been resolved, but instead many people are dying. Lisboa warned that as villages are being vacated entirely, no one is left to plant crops. That means that there will be hunger, and we will have thousands of internally displaced people, he warned. According to ISS consultant Peter Fabricius, the insurgency morphed into a terror campaign directed mainly at unarmed civilians after it began with attacks on the military bases. Fabricius reported in January that the death toll when including security personal, insurgents and civilians stands at over 600 since 2017. However, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders told AFP that at least 700 have been killed. Fabricius stressed, however, that the government in Maputo continues to present these atrocities as mere criminality and that member states of the Southern African Development Community are going along with that complacent view. Additionally, internal sources told AFP that security forces in Mozambique are despondent and do not have the capacity to intercept the militants communications. AFP quoted sources as saying that security units opt not to respond to attacks on villages to avoid casualties in our ranks. No Mozambique insurgency has yet made it onto the agenda of SADCs Organ on Politics, Defence and Security which is mandated to address such regional threats, Fabricius stressed. This despite evidence of spillovers into neighboring Tanzania and links with other jihadists up the east coast. As the extremism spreads, Fabricius notes that a big problem is that little is known about the perpetrators because ASWJ has not publicly claimed any attacks. ASWJ is known locally as Al-Shabaab but is not believed to have any connection with the deadly Somalia-based terror group with the same name, according to AFP. While ASWJ has not taken public credit for the attacks, the Islamic State terror network has claimed the responsibility of over two dozen attacks, according to ISS. Last June, the Islamic State took credit for an attack on the Mozambique military by saying that the militants were soldiers of the caliphate. As reported by The Guardian at the time, the Islamic State claimed that Africa is a central component to its effort to create a global network of extremists. This raises questions about how IS and ASWJ are related, Fabricius writes. Is ASWJ the local affiliate of IS? Is IS simply claiming credit to boost its public stature, especially since the loss of face caused by the fall of its caliphate in Syria and Iraq? The UNHCR says it is expanding its presence in Mozambique in response to a request from the Mozambican government. Rooted in the soil of Cabo Delgado, conditions common to such insurgencies seem to have given it birth and continue to give it life, Fabricius wrote. These include grinding poverty and a sense of marginalization and inequality, both between the citizens of the province and the elite down south in Maputo and elsewhere in the country, and among certain ethnic groups and Muslim factions in Cabo Delgado. Militants throughout Africa have claimed ties to the Islamic State. Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali have also seen a rise in terror attacks. In Burkina Faso, over 600,000 have been displaced since an escalation of terror attacks began in 2016. In 2019 alone, displacement in Burkina Faso rose 1,200 percent, according to the U.N. GREATER LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) Women are making their mark in Greater Lafayette and YWCA is recognizing it. The organization is hosting its 47th annual Salute to Women ceremony in March. Julie Pope is one woman nominated this year, she lives a multi-faceted life in Greater Lafayette with a goal of helping as many people as possible. We can not leave this planet, I mean, what's the purpose of us living here if you don't leave something behind to help the next group, said Pope. Along with countless hours of volunteering in the community, Pope is the founder of Cover Lafayette, Dickens of a Christmas and Halloweentown. All events created to provide free resources and fun for families. Everybody needs help, I just kind of gravitate to where the issue is at the time, said Pope. Pope said her passion for people comes from a career working in the funeral business as an End of Life Counselor. She said when dealing with people who are dying, you learn how to live. You have a whole new appreciation for what happens before, during, and after and you understand what regret is more than anything, said Pope. That's what I really try to do is eliminate regret wherever I see it. Pope is also behind the national award-winning BONZ Barbecue Sauce. She uses it as a tool to teach people about the importance of using their time on earth wisely and she puts profits from her sales back into the free events she hosts for the community. It's just kind of a way to give back to Lafayette for buying it all year long, said Pope. It's just such a beautiful community I don't think people realize how fortunate we are to be in a place where so many people with like hearts want to help each other, said Pope. The YWCA will recognize the largest group of women at this year's Salute to Women ceremony. It'll be held on Tuesday, Mar. 3 at the Trails Banquet Facility in Lafayette. People wearing protective face masks on the MRT train in Singapore. (PHOTO: Maverick Asio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SINGAPORE The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (22 February) confirmed three new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Singapore, bringing the total to 89. Of the new cases, one is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God, and one was among the group of Singaporeans who were evacuated from Wuhan on 9 February. Separately, two more patients a six-month-old infant Singaporean along with his mother, a permanent resident who is an employee of the health products shop Yong Thai Hang have been discharged from the hospital. This brings the total of those who have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged to 49, more than half of the total confirmed cases. Case 87: Evacuated from Wuhan on 9 February Case 87 is a 32-year-old male Singapore citizen who was among the group of Singaporeans who were evacuated from Wuhan on 9 February. He was without symptoms when he boarded the flight and was put under quarantine upon landing in Singapore. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Friday afternoon. He is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). He is linked to the one-year-old baby patient, who has already been discharged. Case 88: Linked to Grace Assembly of God Case 88 is a 30-year-old female Singapore citizen who has no recent travel history to China. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to an earlier 28-year-old male patient who is an employee at Grace Assembly of God. She reported onset of symptoms on 16 February and had sought treatment at a general practitioner (GP) clinic on Monday. As she had been identified as a contact of the male patient, she was referred by MOH to NCID on Friday. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Friday afternoon. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Hougang Street 91. Case 89: permanent resident with no travel history to China Case 89 is a 41-year-old male Singapore permanent resident who has no recent travel history to China. Story continues He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Saturday morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. Contact tracing is underway to establish any links to previous cases. Once identified, MOH will closely monitor all close contacts. As a precautionary measure, they will be quarantined for 14 days from their last exposure to the patient. 5 in ICU; most remaining cases stable On Friday, the ministry said that most of the 40 remaining patients in the hospital are stable or improving. Five, including a 39-year-old Bangladeshi national, remain in critical condition in the intensive care unit. As of noon, the MOH has identified 2,734 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 1,101 are currently quarantined, and 1,633 have completed their quarantine. It also 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. COVID-19s 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 29 territories beyond mainland China. The WHO also said that cases being transmitted by people who have never travelled to China could be the "tip of the iceberg". By territory, Singapore has the fourth-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases after mainland China, South Korea, and Japan. The global tally includes cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored off Japan, which has 634 cases and two deaths so far. Five Singaporeans on board the ship have disembarked from the cruise ship. To date, the virus has left more than 2,300 people in China dead and sickened over 77,000 globally. Seventeen deaths from the outbreak have been reported outside mainland China. Seven territories Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, France, Italy, Iran and South Korea have deaths of patients infected with the virus. Japan also announced that two of its nationals died in the hospital after leaving the Diamond Princess for treatment. 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. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories COVID-19: $77m package for taxi, private-hire car drivers amid falling ridership COVID-19: Singapore confirms one new case, an SIT uni student; 10 discharged COVID-19: 5 Singaporeans on board Diamond Princess allowed to disembark The novel coronavirus outbreak has forced as much as 56 Japanese companies to disclose that they will downgrade earnings forecasts or expect a significant slow down of sales, according to credit research specialist Tokyo Shoko Research. The scale is only expected to get worse, as 186 companies who have not changed their forecasts for now are worried about future effects, according to research as of Friday. Some companies struggled to conduct auditing and postponed the announcement of earnings or business plans. Consumption was hit hard by a massive decrease of inbound tourists as China canceled group tours. "Bookings have started to decline at our hotels," said railway and retail conglomerate Keio Corp. The company downgraded the sales forecast for the current fiscal year by 4 billion yen, or $35 million. On top of foreign tourists, Japanese consumers also now travel less for business and leisure. Cosmetics maker Kao set its sales forecast as 1.51 trillion to 1.53 trillion yen, avoiding a specific figure for the first time. "There are many uncertain factors such as demand from inbound tourists," said its President and CEO Michitaka Sawada. Bathers relax at a bath operated by Japan's Gokurakuyu Holdings in Changchun, in northeastern China. The company has halted operations at all its facilities in China. Uncertainties also loom for companies who have operate consumer businesses in China. Japan's largest spa operator Gokurakuyu Holdings, which operates Japanese-style hot springs or onsen, halted operations for all of its facilities in China by Thursday. The company was expecting year-on-year increase of 6% in its sales for this fiscal year, but has scrapped the forecast without setting a new figure. Manufacturing companies are suffering from production delays in China. Sourcenext's production of its translation device Pocketalk has been crippled. The device accounts for half Sourcenext's revenue. The company had to downgrade its sales forecast. The virus has also affected companies' disclosed earnings and midterm management plans. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) San Francisco, United States Sat, February 22, 2020 17:06 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2066034e1 2 Science & Tech Shopify,Facebook,Libra,technology,e-commerce,united-states,cryptocurrency Free Online commerce platform Shopify on Friday said it has joined the nonprofit association behind Facebook's planned Libra cryptocurrency. Canada-based Shopify signed on as a member of the Libra Association after a string of companies dropped out in the face of criticism by regulators worried the borderless digital money is a threat to national sovereignty. "We spend a lot of our time thinking about how to make commerce better in parts of the world where money and banking could be far better," Shopify said in a blog post. "We're excited to be part of the Libra Association and look forward to how the project may improve commerce everywhere." Shopify planned to work with the association to build a payment network the makes money easier to access by businesses and consumers no matter their locations, according to the post. Libra, a high-profile project of social network giant Facebook, is tentatively scheduled to launch this year but has been battered by severe criticism from some of the world's most influential financial authorities. Libra is to be will be managed by a Geneva-based independent association linking several companies and non-profit groups. Read also: Facebook's Libra prospects dim, but cryptocurrencies roll on As a multinational commerce platform used by more than a million businesses in approximately 175 countries, Shopify "brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Libra project," said Libra head of communications Dante Disparte. "Shopify joins an active group of Libra Association members committed to achieving a safe, transparent, and consumer-friendly implementation of a global payment system that breaks down financial barriers for billions of people," Disparte added. Late last year, the online payment companies PayPal and Stripe, as well as Visa, Mastercard and others, withdrew from the project amid growing pressure from American and other regulators. Regulators have cited the potential for illicit uses of the currency and have underscored the tattered reputation of California-based Facebook in matters of privacy and data protection. Countries and central banks -- for now the only entities legally permitted to issue currency -- have also expressed concern about a blow to their sovereignty. Late last year, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire bluntly expressed his concerns, saying, "Libra is not welcome on European soil." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will soon transition to their new lives, closing their office at Buckingham Palace and continuing to live part-time in North America. But before they do, the duke and duchess have one final set of engagements in the U.K. slated for late February and early March. After this, they'll continue to support causes they're passionate about. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated the state's first Gandhi Peace Centre near the Khandagiri-Udaygiri caves here. The Gandhi Peace Centre, built on five-acre of land, is a digital interactive museum promoting the Gandhian values and principles among the people, particularly among youths. The centre, set up with the support of Aditya Birla Group, has six galleries, where memorabilia and articles used by the Father of the Nation have been put up for display. The centre will conduct a multimedia show on Gandhis ideology of truth, non-violence and policy of Jainism till March 15. This apart, a debate and 'bhajan' programme will also be organised. The state government had signed an MoU with the Aditya Birla Group in 2017 for operation and management of the interpretation centre at Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves and decided to rename it as Eternal Gandhi Peace Centre. The MoU is valid for 15 years. "The dedication of the Gandhi Peace Centre here today in the 150th years of Gandhijis birth anniversary assumes significance," Patnaik said, adding that the centre will provide an institutionalised platform to awaken consciousness about life and works of Gandhiji and educate people to realize the deeper significance of his ideals. "India achieved freedom in 1947. By this time, non- violence had become truly global, an identity of India-ness, and a more potent weapon than violence," Patnaik said. The Odisha chief minister reiterated his demand for incorporating non-violence in the Preamble of the Constitution in Gandhijis 150th birth anniversary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To the list of humans assaults on our marine environment from giant garbage islands to over-fishing, add one that you can't see: noise pollution. US scientists led by Anne Simonis at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Centrehave identified a "strong association" between strandings of rare whale species and the use of sonar in anti-submarine warfare exercises. A Blainsville's beaked whale, photographed in Guam, a US territory in Pacific. Credit:Adam U/NOAA The researchers focused on beaked whales, a relatively little studied group of cetaceans that emit signals to "echolocate" prey and to navigate in their dives into dark ocean depths as deep as almost 3 kilometres. Navies began introducing so-called mid-frequency active sonar from the early 1960s. Since then, researchers have recorded at least 12 mass stranding events involving two or more beaked whales that coincided with naval exercises, and 27 others near a naval base or ship, according to work published by The Royal Society. Indians, who are still on board a cruise ship moored off the Japanese coast, will be tested for the novel coronavirus infection along with others on the vessel by the Japanese authorities, the Indian embassy said on Saturday as all the healthy passengers deboarded after the quarantine period ended. The last batch of passengers showing no signs of the deadly disease deboarded the ship, Diamond Princess, on Friday after the end of the quarantine period. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that over 1,000 passengers and crew will remain on board the ship after Friday's disembarkations. A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people, on board the ship when it docked. "All Indian nationals, amongst others, onboard Diamond Princess will be tested for COVID-19 by Japanese authorities, after all passengers disembarked yesterday (Friday)," the embassy tweeted. "@IndianEmbTokyo sincerely hopes that none will show any sign of #COVID19, enabling further facilitation," it said. Till now, eight Indians have tested positive for the COVID-19 and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Japan. The condition of the infected Indians is improving, the embassy said. "No additional new cases in respect of Indian nationals testing positive for COVID-19 since yesterday (Friday) on board Diamond Princess," it tweeted. The ship docked at the Yokohama port, near Tokyo, on February 3 with 3,711 passengers and crew on board. It was quarantined after a passenger who disembarked last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the disease. Some of the passengers with no infection began leaving the ship on Wednesday after the end of a two-week quarantine period that failed to stop the spread of the virus among passengers and crew. The ship has the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases outside China. A total of 634 people tested positive for the disease. Two former passengers of the ship have also died. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus climbed to 2,345 with 109 more deaths reported, while the confirmed cases rose to 76,288, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. A team of WHO experts, which is currently in the country to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak, is expected to visit the worst-affected Wuhan city on Saturday. (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 Sat, February 22, 2020 09:23 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065ef0c6 1 National Diamond-Princess,yokohama,Japan,coronavirus,COVID-19,evacuation,outbreak,quarantine Free The government is set to put 74 Indonesian crew members from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan into a 28-day quarantine, with stricter screening measures in place, once they set foot in Indonesia, the Health Ministry has said. "We have set a policy for those returning from the cruise ship in Japan to be [quarantined] for two times the incubation period [of the coronavirus], or 28 days of observation," the ministry's disease control and prevention directorate general secretary, Achmad Yurianto, said on Friday. The decision was made after 634 of the 3,711 people onboard the British-American-owned Diamond Princess tested positive for the virus including four of the 78 Indonesian crew members making the vessel anchored in Yokohama the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the epicenter in China. Two elderly Japanese people aboard the ship who were infected died on Thursday, AFP reported. The quarantine period set by the government is longer than what was required for the 200 Indonesian nationals airlifted from Wuhan and cities in Hubei province in China the outbreak epicenter who returned home last week after a 14-day quarantine in Natuna, Riau Islands. Yurianto said there were fears those who had been given a clean bill of health and permitted to disembark from the cruise ship might be carrying the virus without showing any symptoms. Read also: Govt mulling evacuation of Indonesians from Diamond Princess: Muhadjir "Thus, once they return home, we will do a thorough examination. Not only a physical examination, but also tests for the virus," Yurianto said as quoted by kompas.com, "We will refer to them as PDPs [patient under observation] and do a total screening, which is important prior to putting them into quarantine." He said that during the quarantine, health authorities would put the PDPs into different clusters. For instance, those who had had contact with their infected colleagues or those who had been ill while aboard the ship, though not from coronavirus, would be kept separate from those who had not. An estimated 600 Diamond Princess passengers who tested negative for the virus have disembarked since the two-week quarantine period ended on Wednesday, the cruise ship operator said. The remaining hundreds of passengers and the 74 Indonesian crew members are still awaiting clearance to disembark, which is expected to be issued Saturday, Yurianto said. They may only return to their respective countries if they test negative, otherwise they will be admitted to hospitals in Japan. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Friday that the government had prepared several options to evacuate the 74 Indonesian crew members from the cruise ship, including to take them home on a ship or via plane. "We have also prepared the hospitals, but we have not made any decisions in relation to the location [for the quarantine]," he said, adding that Jakarta would soon make a decision on the evacuation plan. (hol) Weeks after ending his 12-day-long-marriage with actor Pamela Anderson, movie mogul Jon Peters is reportedly engaged to another woman. According to a report by Us Weekly, the famous producer is engaged to Julia Bernheim and the news was revealed by Peters himself at an event. According to Fox News, Bernheim is an actor, who is better known as Julia Faye West and has appeared in several television series and movies including 'Ballet of Blood' and 'Reality Queen!' According to another report by Page Six, the 74-year-old famed producer was dating West but broke all ties with her to marry Anderson a few weeks back. The engagement of the producer comes days after his ex-wife slammed him for claiming that he paid off her debt worth USD 2,00,000. Earlier this week, Peters denied making any such claims. Earlier in January, Anderson shocked her fans when the news broke that she has married Peters in a private wedding ceremony in Malibu on Monday, January 20. The short-lived marriage later came to a close after 12 days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Carnival is coming back to Kenner. And its bringing the bra with it. The Krewe of Isis will take to the streets of Kenner on Saturday night, returning the all-female krewe to the city after almost 40 years in Metairie. Isis' roughly 200 members will roll on 17 floats, each focusing on a different color for this year's theme, "Isis Shows Her True Colors." The procession will include about 20 bands, marching groups and other auxiliary units, becoming the first true Carnival parade in Kenner since the Krewe of Selene left after 1992. Isis members are ready for a good time, their captain, Sherell Gorman, told the Kenner City Council on Friday. The ladies are ready. Its going to be fabulous, she said. Isis, which was founded in the early 1970s and is Jefferson Parishs oldest parading krewe, originally rolled in Kenner. Krewe members will spotlight breast cancer awareness, and so their signature throw will be decorated bras, which also serve as a sly nod to Kenners colloquial nickname, "Kenner Brah." The parade will begin at Esplanade Mall and proceed on West Esplanade Avenue to Loyola Drive, where it will turn right. It then will turn right on Vintage Drive, left on Chateau Boulevard and right on Joe Yenni Boulevard before ending at the Pontchartrain Center. Gorman said the city has been a great host and folks along the proposed route have responded enthusiastically. "Overall," she said, "the biggest thing we're hearing is, 'Thank you for coming to Kenner. We can now have a Mardi Gras party.'" Isis made the decision to move to Kenner last year, as Jefferson Parish decided to focus its Carnival offerings on Family Gras weekend, which was last weekend. 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 krewe wanted to keep parading on the final weekend before Fat Tuesday and to keep its relationship with the Krewe of Carrollton, which provides Isis its floats after rolling the previous weekend in New Orleans. Gorman said Isis is thrilled with its new route. This is new, so its genuinely exciting, which is just what we need to take the krewe to the next level, she said. Im ecstatic, Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn said. The people of Kenner are getting a free party. He said the citys businesses are looking forward to an influx of visitors to what Zahn hopes will become a kind of old-style family Mardi Gras that you havent had since the '70s or '80s. Zahn said people should enjoy the parade, including its signature throw. I support breast cancer awareness, he laughed. Gorman said restaurants along the parade route have reported that people are making reservations for a night out because of the parade. Edward Rhinehart, who runs an art gallery in the Esplanade Mall, said he was also excited for the parade to return to Kenner. Im just curious to see what they bring, he said of Isis. Rhinehart said he would probably catch the parade from a friends house near the mall. Its an exciting thing and unique. The krewe will also throw ankhs, cups and other specialty items in keeping with its name's Egyptian origin. The parade will kick off a busy Carnival weekend in Kenner. In addition to the parade, the city will host the kings of Argus and Zulu, who will meet in an annual ceremony in Kenners Rivertown on Monday. By what standard does the geriatric anti-Trump boys' club of Brennan, Clapper, Comey, et al. have standing to say President Putin is favoring and aiding President Trump in the 2020 election? Sadly, perhaps too much geritol and vodka are being consumed in their clubhouse. What is equally tragic is that the New Your Times, aided and encouraged by its Democrat enablers, continues to peddle the BS twaddle "Russia Russia Russia" without a hint of intellectual rigor or shame. As usual, in just another day's work, President Trump nails them in a way all Americans can understand and accept: Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2020 Rather than continue to shadowbox against just another BS intel leak to the MSM's never-ending fake news creating "Hoax Number 7," simply look at the national security strategic actions of President Obama and President Trump to determine which commander-in-chief empowered the United States Navy to win a naval campaign against Putin's Russia. The proof of who was helping Russia's strategic goals (Obama) and who sent a Navy force "down to the sea in ships" to take on Russia (Trump) is all that is needed to kill "Hoax Number 7." When faced with a growing Russian threat, President Obama threw down his rifle and ran from the field (or ocean) of battle. President Obama's actions in taking office were dangerous and shortsighted. In 2011, then-commander-in-chief President Obama deactivated the United States Navy 2nd Fleet. The 2nd Fleet was an illustrious Navy fighting force that had a lot to do with putting the brakes on a potential WWIII Nuclear Armageddon between Russia (the Soviet Union) and the United States, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Obama simply told the 2nd Fleet to just go away, and poof! A great fighting fleet was no more: Specific fleet operations included establishing a quarantine in the Caribbean as ordered by then-President John F. Kennedy during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, rescuing Americans in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury in October 1983, and training and certifying half the U.S. Fleet for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 19901991. Now with elections having significant strategic consequences, thankfully, in May of 2018 commander-in-chief President Trump stood the 2nd Fleet back up. "With an eye on Russia, U.S. Navy re-establishing its Second Fleet" WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States Navy is re-establishing its Second Fleet, responsible for the northern Atlantic Ocean, nearly seven years after it was disbanded as the Pentagon puts countering Russia at the heart of its military strategy. The danger of the Russian Navy did not materialize overnight. Writing in the American Thinker in early 2019, I asked a simple question addressing a Russian Navy nightmare weapon coming at the United States from a Russian sub in the Atlantic: Is President Putin diabolically smart or simply a psychopath? Perhaps he is both, because by his direct action, the world is now a much more dangerous place as the former KGB officer creates a nuclear doomsday scenario backed by real Russian naval capabilities: Russia is said to have built a new 100-megaton underwater nuclear doomsday device, and it has threatened the US with it. The device goes beyond traditional ideas of nuclear war fighting and poses a direct threat to the future of humanity or life on Earth. Nobody has ever built a weapon like this before, because there's almost no military utility in so badly destroying the world. Today, right now, President Putin is not keeping the possible end-of-life nuclear-armed sub force secret. In fact, just the opposite: He is bragging about that capability and stating his intention to use it as needed. The good news for all is that President Trump empowered the U.S. fighting Navy to stand up a fleet to take Putin and his Russian sub threat head on. So much for the stupid, stupid blather that he is favoring Putin and Russia. Simply stated, Putin would be nuts with his current military doctrine and threats to consider favoring President Trump's re-election. Unlike today's Democrats and media reporters and editors, Vladimir Putin is not a stupid man. New Delhi, Feb 22 : Twitterati has been abuzz with aspiration of seeing India returning to its golden days of being "sone ki chidiyan" ever since an estimated 3,000 tonnes of gold reserves were found in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district. After the Department of Geology and Mining confirmed the news, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted: "India will now have the world's 2nd largest gold reserves. "The massive Gold discovery in Sonebhadra will further catalyze growth of this beautiful aspirational district, bring positive change in the lives of the people & usher an era of transformation." Netizens also reacted to gold discovery in UP's Sonbhadra district and wrote, "As we have just started the construction of Ram Mandir. Ram Lala has showered his blessings and given sufficient funds for the temple." Another wrote, "As stated by GSI Report, India will become the 2nd Largest country in Terms of gold Reserve. Proud Moment for us on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri." A post read, "Yogi strikes gold! Two goldmine found in #SonbhadraHills having 3,350 tonne gold ore in UP, 5 times India's reserves. Revenue from mining witnessed significant jump due to transparency & check in corruption under @myogiadityanath rule @myogioffice." A user remarked, "Our ancestors called the area #Sonbhadra & it was so correct... Geological survey finds 3500's tonnes gold #SonbhadraHills there (sic.)." The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is conducting survey in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra to look for uranium, just days after around 3,000 tonnes of gold reserves were found here, officials said on Saturday. The survey is being conducted in the Kudri hill region with the help of aeromagnetic system through helicopter. According to officials, the survey is also being done in the neighbouring states. Friday Round-up: New albums announced from FM (above), Novena and Robby Krieger (The Doors). Biff Byfords first solo album is in the shops. Plus John Prasec in Argentina and Jordan Reds excellent new single. BIFF BYFORD Biff Byfords new solo album, School Of Hard Knocks, is released today. It is a unique collection of songs which will please Saxon fans, but it also gives some insight into Biffs life and personality with the variety of styles on show in this album. This is accompanied by a new single and a video for the track Scarborough Fair. Biff told MetalTalk The new single Scarborough Fair is a Yorkshire Folk song about the town on the east coast of England. Apart from the song, Scarborough is also famous for its medieval market and takes its name from a Viking chief called Scar, I believe. We shot the video on a freezing early morning Enjoy! April UK tour dates: Friday 17th Gateshead Sage 2 Saturday 18th Birmingham Town Hall Monday 20th Glasgow St. Lukes Tuesday 21st Leeds City Varieties Wednesday 22nd Bath Komedia Friday 24th Liverpool Arts Club Saturday 25th Aberdare Coliseum Theatre Monday 27th Milton Keynes Stables Tuesday 28th London Islington Assembly Hall Wednesday 29th Brighton Old Market FM TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM SYNCHRONIZED IN APRIL. FM, who took a sabbatical sometime after their fourth album Dead Mans Shoes, have gone from strength to strength since their reunion in 2007. Their successes include headlining tours in the UK and overseas, special guest slots with the likes of Foreigner, Journey, Thin Lizzy, Heart, Saxon and Skid Row, festival appearances including Download, Planet Rockstock, Sweden Rock, Graspop, Steelhouse, Frontiers Rock Festival and Ramblin Man Fair, plus their first-ever live show in the USA at Melodic Rock Fest 5 in 2018. Their new album Synchronized is available from 10th April, but to whet the appetites the title track from the album has been released as a new single and you can see it here: NOVENA ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM ELEVENTH HOUR UK prog metal/rock act Novena have today released the song Sun Dance as a new single from their upcoming debut album Eleventh Hour. While discussing the video, the band told MetalTalk that it is .. the product of a close collaboration with The Cathy Waller Dance Company and filmmaker Neil Monaghan. It is a passionate, dynamic and intense piece of contemporary dance, at once romantic as it is violent, telling the story of two colossal forces intertwined in a battle of wills. The album is keenly awaited, as the release of their widely praised experimental EP Secondary Genesis (2016) certainly established them on the UK and international prog scenes. Novena have their album launch party at Londons Nambucca, 3rd April. JORDAN RED RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE BEAUTIFUL MONSTERS This week sees the release of Beautiful Monsters, the debut single from brand new British band Jordan Red. Featuring the incredible voice of New Device and Shot Through The Heart frontman Daniel Leigh, the song sounds like a fresh mix of Alter Bridge hooks combined with Bring Me The Horizons frantic energy. The song was produced by BMTH producer Romesh Dodangoda so its easy to see where that polished yet powerful sound comes from. A very refreshing new single from a band which clearly has big potential. JOHN PRASEC MASTER AND DEMONS TOUR UNDERWAY IN ARGENTINA John Prasec, a self made musician with no management, label or financial backing, has managed once again to travel to the other side of the globe to keep spreading his music and message. With the help of local bands this second tour of Argentina has been possible. This tour shows the true meaning of something very unusual, as in Argentina not so common for foreign bands to play in their underground metal scene. John Prasec will be touring alongside the band NOS (Nuestro Oculto Sentido) and other local bands varying from city to city, giving them the opportunity to showcase themselves in front of larger than usual crowds in great venues. We wish them the best of success. www.johnprasec.com https://soundcloud.com/johnprasec Remaing Dates 21/02 Floyd Bar Rosario (Santa Fe) 22/02 Casa Colombo Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires) 23/02 Wolf Bar & pool Banfield (Buenos Aires) ROBBY KRIEGER RELEASES FIRST NEW ALBUM FOR TEN YEARS. Legendary guitarist and songwriter of The Doors and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Robby Krieger will be release his first solo album in 10 years in April. The Doors werent just one of the most iconic bands of their generation, but one of the most influential bands in rock history and Robby Krieger was responsible for writing some of their biggest hits in Light My Fire, Love Me Two Times, Touch Me and Love Her Madly. The Ritual Begins At Sundown is out on 24th April. In the meantime, you can listen to the The Drift here: The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been unable to access 53.6 million in Bitcoin that was seized earlier this week as the suspected drug dealer lost the private keys. Coin Rivet reported on the case on Wednesday the largest seizure of assets in Ireland in more than 25 years. While it was initially being hailed as a success it is now being described as a nightmarish situation for Irish authorities, who fear that the Bitcoin fortune will be irretrievable. According to the Irish Times, Clifton Collins bought most of his Bitcoin in 2011 and 2012 using cash he made by growing cannabis, which the Irish High Court ruled as the proceeds of crimes. In early 2017 Collins had more than 6,000 Bitcoin in one account although he feared it was easy for hackers to eventually steal. This led him to dispersing his Bitcoin holdings across 12 new accounts before storing the private keys in hard-to-find places. He printed the private keys onto sheets of A4 paper before hiding them in an aluminium case containing his fishing rods. But when he was arrested for cannabis offences in 2017 his house was cleared by his landlord, with many of his items being taken to a waste disposal centre in Galway. Workers at the dump backed up Collins claims by stating that they remember seeing fishing equipment before confirming that it was probably sent to Germany or China to be incinerated. The alleged dealer had admitted to coming to terms with the losses, blaming his own stupidity. While the large haul of Bitcoin remains unrecoverable, police did manage to seize a smaller amount of Bitcoin that was accessible as well as 100,000 in cash. The total amount of accessible Bitcoin that has been seized is worth 1.5 million which still marks a significant haul for the Criminal Assets Bureau. The post Suspected drug dealer loses private keys to seized 53.6m Bitcoin appeared first on Coin Rivet. QUEENSBURY The Glens Falls man who fired a 12-gauge shotgun into a home last spring, almost hitting a man and killing a dog, was sentenced Friday to 15 years in state prison. Joshua P. Marco Marcantonio had no statement before acting Warren County Judge Kelly McKeighan imposed the maximum prison term for the top charge. McKeighan also directed that Marcantonio spend 5 years on parole after his release. The sentence was imposed after Marcantonio and the judge heard a poignant victims impact statement from the woman whose dog died from the shot that was fired. Marcantonio seemed unmoved, though as he sat back in his chair and seemed to smirk at times as she told how the death of the Dalmatian named Sir Edwin had devastated her. Jacquelyn Gilligan explained how the dog had helped her and her father through hard times, and how she was despondent after losing him. She recounted how she held him and watched as he died moments after being hit by Marcantonios shot, feeling helpless. This tragedy has broken a lot of people, she said. Marcantonio, 31, was convicted of eight charges after a trial last month for a May 9 attack at a home on Charlotte Street in Glens Falls. Charges included attempted burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon and animal cruelty. He was found to have fired through the door of a friends apartment after a drunken dispute. He testified that the man who was nearly hit with the shotgun blast, Shannon Gilligan, was the shooter, but the jury rejected that claim. Shannon Gilligan did not give a victims impact statement Friday. Warren County First Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin asked McKeighan to impose consecutive sentences, pointing out that Marcantonio was on probation for an assault conviction at the time, and was drinking in violation of probation. The gunshot he fired hit a couch where he knew Shannon Gilligan had been sitting moments earlier. Sir Edwin was on that couch instead. He could have killed someone that night, Burin said. Burin asked McKeighan to impose consecutive sentences for some of the charges, arguing they were separate acts. But McKeighan said he did not agree that the prison terms could legally be run consecutively. Marcantonios lawyer, Jeff Matte, said his client had problems after his fathers slow death from cancer years earlier. McKeighan, though, said Marcantonio had no credibility whatsoever as he changed his version of events a number of times throughout the prosecution. The judge pointed out that Marcantonio endangered many people with the gunplay. The part of this I have the most difficulty with is you knew this family. They invited you into their house, he said. Marcantonio turned down a plea deal offer before trial that would have netted him a 2-1/3- to 7-year prison sentence. The verdict will be appealed. Don Lehman covers police and court matters, Warren County government and the outdoors. He can be reached at 518-742-3224 or dlehman@poststar.com Love 10 Funny 14 Wow 6 Sad 6 Angry 9 Russia must begin to implement the Minsk agreements and stop its aggression against Ukraine, which has been lasting for more than five years. OSCE PA Vice-President Margareta Cederfelt said this at the 19th winter meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna on February 21, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Russian aggression against Ukraine has been lasting for five years, five long years. This issue is a constant subject of our discussion, the Swedish MP said at the beginning of her speech. She noted that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission constantly reports on ceasefire violations and restrictions on the Mission's freedom of movement. "All of these things and the previous violence are to some extent connected with Russia," Cederfelt said. The OSCE PA Vice-President noted that Russia is a huge country with great influence, but it also bears great responsibility. The time has come for Russia to begin to implement the Minsk agreements, which it signed five years ago and does not fulfill. And it is time for Russia to begin to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Cederfelt stressed. ish In a searing op-ed, the former head of US Special Operations Command, who supervised the 2011 Navy Seal raid in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden, has slammed Donald Trumps reckless attitude towards the intelligence community saying that Americans should be afraid of the presidents actions. Retired navy admiral William McRaven, writing in The Washington Post about the dismissal of director of national intelligence Joe Maguire, decries the fact that Mr Maguire was apparently ousted simply for doing his job the dissemination of intelligence to elected officials. He writes: As Americans, we should be frightened deeply afraid for the future of the nation. When good men and women cant speak the truth, when facts are inconvenient, when integrity and character no longer matter, when presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil. Admiral McRaven opens with the famous quote from Irish statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. He lists the good men and women that have come and gone in the Trump administration: Jim Mattis, John Kelly, HR McMaster, Sue Gordon, Dan Coats, and now Joe Maguire, and later mournfully says that in this administration, good men and women dont last long. Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, arrives for a briefing on Iran with members of the House of Representatives: Getty Mr Maguires extensive career, including 36 years as a Navy Seal, is described in detail by Admiral McRaven who paints a picture of a patriot and a man of integrity. When caught up in the Ukraine whistleblower case, Mr Maguire told the White House he would testify if asked and would tell the truth and he did, says Admiral McRaven. He earned the respect of the entire intelligence community. They knew a good man was at the helm. A man they could count on, a man who would back them, a man whose integrity was more important than his future employment. Former CIA director John Brennan has also sounded the alarm about the Trump administrations alleged interference in the operations of US national security. Mr Brennan referred to the dismissal of Mr Maguire as a virtual decapitation of the intelligence community. Story continues Mr Maguire has been replaced in an acting capacity by Trump loyalist and US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell a move widely criticised due to Mr Grenells complete lack of experience in the field of intelligence. The president has said that he will nominate a permanent appointee to the role of director of national intelligence. The New York Times reports that Mr Grenell has already installed his own leadership team. He has also requested the intelligence behind the classified briefing Mr Maguire gave to the House Intelligence Committee last week, in which he informed lawmakers that Russia is interfering in the 2020 presidential election in Mr Trumps favour. When news of the briefing reached Mr Trump, he was reportedly livid and complained that Democrats would use it against him. Mr Maguire was dismissed shortly afterwards. Read more Trump rejects intel warning on Russia meddling as disinformation Brennan sounds alarm at decapitation of the intelligence community Trump fires spy chief over claims Russia wants him re-elected Russia trying to get Trump re-elected, US spy chiefs reportedly say Trumps new intelligence chief likened to far-right colonial officer MANZINI The integrity of the Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of Matsapha Town Council has been put in the spotlight. The Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of Matsapha Town Council was appointed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane. In its findings, which were presented by the minister, it found that in the recruitment of the Corporate Services Manager (CSM), a post which is occupied by Princess Kholwaphi, council ended up usurping the powers of the consultant they hired to do the conscription. Again, the commission said it found that the eventual winner (Princess Kholwaphi) had a relationship with the former Chairman, Sandlane Zwane, who was part of the recruitment panel but he never declared his interest. Furthermore, the commission said it found fraudulent misrepresentation to council by the incumbent CSM on her academic qualifications. On that note, the commission recommended that the academic credentials of the incumbent CSM should be evaluated and that the matter should be referred to appropriate authorities, which were the police and Anti Corruption Commission (ACC). This recommendation followed the main one, which was that the minister should fire the councillors, based on their findings. Implementation Following the commissions report and the implementation matrix, which was carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the CSM took it upon herself to prove her case to the minister. This publication has it in authority that on February 14, 2020, the CSM wrote a letter to the minister and attached it to the Town Clerk of Matsapha Town Council, Lucky Sukati. In the letter which was titled; Commission of Inquiry Report of 2019, Matsapha Town Council, the CSM attached certified copies of both her Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Commerce. She said this was to prove that she was qualified for the job. I humbly request the minister to order cessation of the current disciplinary process that are a culmination of my systematic victimisation based on unfounded allegations, that I am not qualified for the CSM position at Matsapha Town Council, reads part of the letter. Meanwhile, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Lungelo Nkambule, asked this publication to send its questions via WhatsApp and they were sent at 12:47pm yesterday. However, when she was called later on the day, her mobile phone rang unanswered and she did not reply to WhatsApp messages which were sent to her at 3:59pm and 6:03pm yesterday. When this publication tried to verify the submission of the letter and certified copies of the princess academic certificates with the Town Clerk, Lucky Sukati, he asked not to comment on the matter. Verify On the other hand, this publication also gathered that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) Fraud Department has been roped in to verify the academic certificates. In fact, the princess also wrote a report of what transpired during the Commission of Inquiry to the police and asked the law enforcers to verify the certificates, which she attached to the letter. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the relevant department was working on the matter. On the same note, the princess said she was working on clearing her name. However, she asked not to comment further about the matter, pending the issuing of the report by the police, fraud department. The commission said established that according to the consultancy report, the princess filed an affidavit instead of an MBA certificate, which according to them suggested that she was unqualified for the position. However, other former councillors submitted that the affidavit which was brought by the princess suggested that she had an MBA certificate, but the challenge was that when it was issued, her name was wrongly spelt, thus it had to be taken back to be corrected. It is worth mentioning that after the Commission of Inquiry had issued its report, which had recommendations, the minister used it to fire the councillors and replaced them with an interim council. Caretaker Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has given the clearest signal yet that he is prepared to talk about coalition with Fianna Fail. Mr Varadkar again insisted it was the responsibility of Sinn Fein and leftist parties to form a coalition, insisting that they had the numbers for a Dail majority. However, speaking during a break from European Union budget talks in Brussels, he said he had spoken with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and they had agreed to talk again early next week. Mr Varadkar brushed aside questions about the office of Taoiseach being shared between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. He said that so far that idea had not even been discussed. "The situation is that the leader of Fianna Fail and I spoke by phone last night. We've agreed to meet early next week," Mr Varadkar said. Determined Expand Close Leo Varadkar with current Minister for Justice and former European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee in Brussels earlier this year / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar with current Minister for Justice and former European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee in Brussels earlier this year "At that meeting we'll discuss ways forward and I will then report to the Fine Gael parliamentary party, probably Wednesday or Thursday of next week, as to whether there is any basis for any further discussions." The acting Taoiseach said Fine Gael was still determined to go into opposition. "Those parties that are now in opposition should form a government," he said. "They have more than enough numbers to do so. We are willing to talk to other parties about participating in government if the opposition fail to put together a government. "But that's not something that we're planning to do or looking for. "It could only really happen on the basis that there is full respect for the fact that we did win 450,000 votes in this election - we have 35 seats. "We didn't win this election, but we have almost as many seats as Fianna Fail and not that many fewer than Sinn Fein. "I do not see any evidence yet that that is recognised by any other party." Mr Varadkar said he was in Brussels to defend Ireland's rural communities against farm fund and rural development grant cuts in a new EU budget regime being framed by the 27 member states for the years 2021-2027. Brussels diplomats suggested that a deal is unlikely and that talks will be adjourned later today until next month. While most people are aware that astrology is not science-based, it can be difficult to convince believers that a persons behaviour and luck isn't influenced by their star signs. However, even the star signs we assign to people may be inaccurate, as the Earths wobble means the dates of the zodiac arent what they used to be thousands of years ago. Zodiac signs were originally based on constellations of stars, with a persons behaviours and fate governed by the position of the sun at the time of their birth. But, as James Kaler, professor emeritus of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explained in an article for The Conversation, astrological signs no longer line up with the zodiac because of a wobble in the Earths rotational axis called precession. According to Kaler, precession causes the Earth to bulge slightly at the equator during its rotation. The gravity of the moon and sun then pull on the bulge, which causes Earth to wobble. Zodiac-themed fashion Show all 5 1 /5 Zodiac-themed fashion Zodiac-themed fashion Zodiac-themed fashion Cape, 6,980, Pucci, stylebop.com Zodiac-themed fashion Zodiac-themed fashion Sagittarius slippers, 495, charlotteolympia.com Zodiac-themed fashion Zodiac-themed fashion Cancer sticker, 45, Anya Hindmarch, selfridges.com Zodiac-themed fashion Zodiac-themed fashion Scorpio necklace, 35, tattydevine.com Zodiac-themed fashion Zodiac-themed fashion Aquarius necklace, 255, lauraleejewellery.com The wobble causes the Earths axis, which is the centre line around which it rotates, to swing in a slow circle over the course of 25,800 years, he wrote, adding that this movement alters the view of the zodiac from Earth, making the constellations appear to slide to the east, roughly a degree per human lifetime. As Kaler told the Wall Street Journal, while the precession sounds slow, it changes the polestar, the star directly above the North Pole that marks due north. Recommended Millennials are taking career advice from their star signs For astronomers, the change means using coordinates, updated every 50 years, to find something in the sky. But for astrologers, who still base Earthly matters on the suns first-reported passage through the constellations, the change has never been corrected - meaning the sun appears to pass through the constellations around one month later than what is recorded in horoscopes. About 2,000 years ago, the dates were correct, Kaler told the outlet. In another 24,000 years, they will be correct again. A woman strangled herself in a holding cell Thursday at the Kirby Police Department headquarters, police said. Amanda Lynn Watkins, 36, was found unresponsive at 11:20 a.m. when an officer was conducting a routine check, Kirby police said. The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office identified her Friday. Officers immediately began CPR until EMS arrived. She was pronounced dead at 11:53 a.m. at the Kirby facility, investigators said. The medical examiners office has yet to determine her cause and manner of death, but police said she died of self-inflicted strangulation. The departments internal affairs unit and the Texas Rangers are investigating her death. Police said Watkins was booked on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon-family violence. Chief Kevin Bois could not comment on the case, citing the Rangers investigation. He said people arrested are often placed in a holding cell while officers finish paperwork required before inmates are transported to the Bexar County Jail. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA SCOTTSBLUFF - Friends of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library will present They Built to Last the Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Western Nebraska at its annual meeting Saturday, Feb. 22. The presentation will be held at 2 p.m. at the library. Sandy Streys program will include a presentation with copies of old photographs intermixed with current photos of structures built by the CCC along with a history of camps in the Wyo-Braska area. She and her husband, Ken, traveled throughout the area visiting cemeteries, research rooms and museums to learn about the CCC. This event is part of the Friends annual meeting and will include a brief business meeting and a review of 2019 library activities from Library Director Erin Aschenbrenner. Prior to the meeting, Friends of the Library will unveil a memorial portrait of Shirley Flack recognizing her contributions to the library. The portrait will be hung on the fireplace room wall at 1:45 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A jealous ex-boyfriend who stabbed his ex-partner to death in front of her children in a cocaine and booze-fuelled rage has been jailed for life. Hafiz Sharifi, 29, knifed Suvekshya Burathoki, 32 known as Fatima in her home before wiping off her blood on his three-year-old daughter's coat. The mum-of-three, from Nepal, died from multiple stab wounds after the brutal and violent" attack on 8 October, 2019. Police raced to her house in Bartholomew Street, near Leicester city centre, at 8.30am but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Suvekshya Burathoki (Fatima) was murdered in front of her children (Picture: SWNS) A court heard Sharifi attacked Fatima after taking a cocktail of alcohol and cocaine the night before. After stabbing her to death in front of her children, he fled the scene on foot but was arrested two days later in Coventry. Sharifi admitted to police he had been drinking and also taken cocaine the night before he killed her. At the time of her death, friends said she had been looking after her two sons, aged nine and seven, and her three-year-old daughter. Sharifi, of no fixed address, admitted murder at Leicester Crown Court last month and was on Friday jailed for life to serve a minimum of 17 years. Read more: Jealous ex-boyfriend admits stabbing former partner to death in front of her children Hafiz Sharifi, 29, admitted killing Suvekshya Burathoki at her Leicester home (Picture: SWNS) Co-defendant Mukhdar Sharif, 30, of Coventry, was found guilty of assisting an offender and was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Sharif had harboured Sharifi at two different addresses in Coventry, while also giving him access to a different mobile phone. He also provided Sharifi with a jacket to replace a hoody he was previously wearing. Read more: Police driver who hit gran on mobility scooter while responding to 999 call wasn't to blame for her death Detective Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) major crime team, said: "This was a brutal, violent murder that left the residents of what is a tightly-knit street in shock. In a statement, Fatima's family said: "Today we still feel the pain of losing Fatima. Story continues "To us, she was Bunu. She was our daughter, our sister and the mother to our grandchildren, nephews and niece. The pain of losing her is one that will never go away. When we were first told she had been killed, we were left feeling numb. "We live thousands of miles away and didnt have a chance to say goodbye. Its something that will live with us forever. A dad killed his wife and two sons before shooting himself dead in a suspected murder-suicide. US border guard Ezequiel Almodovar, 39, was found dead at home on Thursday along with wife, Marielis Soto, 38, and two teen sons, Ezequiel, 16, and Gabriel, 12. Officers at the Orange County Seriffs Office were alerted after receiving a report that some of the family members had not been seen since last week. Sheriff John Mina said there is no threat to the community and no further suspects. Initial investigations found Almodovar posted a family photo on his social media on Tuesday, captioned that he was feeling thankful with his family at Disney Worlds Animal Kingdom resort. Neighbours said their family dog, a Shih Tzu named Fluffy, was found alive as the officers forced entry to the house, according to ABC-WFTV. Michelle McCracken, who lives nearby, told the news outlet: Absolute heartbreak because, you know, when you get to know your neigbours, you care about them. Like, we do care about them. Absolute shock because it literally would have been the last group of people around here on my mind that this would happen to. Almodovars former brother-in-law, Bruce Lewis, said his family had no signs that there were any problems going on in the family. Bruce revealed: Im just devastated about this. His sister is not holding up that well. Shes doing the best she can. My son is devastated. He also said Almodovar was not a violent man and was not into drugs. He didnt use substances, so I dont know what possessed him to be in a state of mind, he added. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was slammed by Anderson Cooper for calling himself a 'political prisoner' four days after President Donald Trump granted him clemency on his 14-year prison sentence. Blagojevich, who was sentenced to prison in 2011 for extortion, bribery and fraud, made the comment during a heated interview with Cooper on CNN. While debating the evidence used in the case against the former governor, Cooper pointed out that Blagojevich was 'portraying himself a victim of persecution by prosecutors'. The former politician then claimed that - despite his clemency - he is still being treated unjustly. But Cooper hit back, saying political prisoners do not get due process and that a jury willfully chose to convict him. During an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper (left), former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (right) said he was a 'political prisoner' following his time in prison Anderson Cooper is a legend. pic.twitter.com/4YYwmJVF2a Ian Sams (@IanSams) February 22, 2020 The Supreme Court also rejected two of his appeals. During Friday night's interview, Cooper continued to question Blagojevich's 'political prisoner' remark and noted that Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa who was jailed for fighting apartheid, was a more apt example. In response, Blagojevich said: 'If you were to ask Nelson Mandela whether he thought the process was fair back in the early '60s in South Africa, he would say what I'm saying today.' The two men also butted heads when Blagojevich said he wants to champion criminal justice system reform after spending eight years in prison. Cooper (left) called out Blagojevich (right) for blaming is conviction on a 'handful of corrupt prosecutors' who allegedly lied to the jury during his trial In response to Cooper calling his claims that he was purposefully derailed 'bull****', Blagojevich said: 'I lived it myself. It's not bull**** at all' He said: 'I've learned something in these eight years, and that is that we have a racist and corrupt criminal justice system in many areas. 'And this is why I hope one day maybe you'll join me in the fight to reform our criminal justice system." Cooper called Blagojevich 'sad', 'pathetic' and 'ironic' for praising criminal reform now instead of when he 'actually mattered.' 'There's a lot of people in Illinois who actually... spit up when you say that," he said. 'Because when you were actually in power, and when you were actually governor, you could have helped thousands of people with clemency cases [but] you blew it off.' Blagojevich went on to blame a 'handful of corrupt prosecutors' that were abusing their power for his lengthy prison sentence. He said: 'They're uncontrolled and they're the ones Chief Justice Breyer talked about when he said our country is in trouble. 'Because of these uncontrolled prosecutors who can do just about anything they want to do and are using their power to go after government officials for what are -- what he called routine practices, and that's what I went to prison for.' Blagojevich (pictured) was first arrested inside his home in 2008 over several accusations, including that he attempted to solicit Barack Obama's Senate seat after he won presidency The former Gov. of Illinois was found guilty on 17 out of 20 charges during a 2011 retrial following his 2008 arrest Blagojevich was sentenced to a 14-year federal prison sentence in Illinois in 2011 (pictured), but his sentence was commuted by President Trump in 2020 Blagojevich also claimed that his time behind bars was orchestrated by prosecutors who 'lied to the jury' about his legal actions. 'What Im saying is, I was thrown in prison and spent nearly eight years in prison for practicing politics -- for seeking campaign contributions without a quid pro quo,' he said. 'No express quid pro quo -- and I was given the same standards Senator Menendez was given. I could very well have been in the U.S. Senate instead of where I was.' Cooper then said Blagojevich's claims were not believable during his trial and they still don't hold up years later. 'You're the one who has actually been convicted of lying to the FBI, though, by that very same jury,' Cooper said. 'The very argument you are making right now...it was heard in the courtroom and no one bought it. Cooper finished the segment by declaring Blagojevich manufactured 'a whole new alternate universe of facts, and that may be big in politics today, but it's still, frankly, just bull****. We got to leave it there.' An upset Blagojevich hit back at Cooper saying: 'Well, no, it's not bull****. I lived it myself. It's not bull**** at all.' In 2008, Blagojevich was arrested inside his home by the FBI and taken before a federal magistrate on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and soliciting bribes while in office. He was also accused of attempting to profit from soliciting former President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat after he left for the White House in 2008. One month later, Blagojevich was impeached from office by the Illinois House with an astounding vote of 114 to one. The U.S. Senate would remove Blagojevich from his position just weeks later in a 59 to zero vote. He gave a mercy plea that he 'never, ever intended to violate the law' before senators. Blagojevich waves to friend and family when giving a press conference at his Chicago home after Trump commuted his sentence in February Since his release from federal prison, Blagojevich (left) has expressed gratitude to Trump (right) and said he is a 'Trumpcrat' Prosecutors would later add racketeering, fraud and extortion charges to Blagojevich's rap sheet. Throughout the ordeal, Blagojevich maintained his innocence and denied engaging in any wrongdoing. A deadlocked jury convicted Blagojevich of just one out of 24 charges and it was later called a mistrial. In 2011, a retrial would take place that would see Blagojevich convicted of 17 charges and a 14-year sentence in federal prison. 'I, frankly, am stunned,' Blagojevich said at the time, according to the Chicago Tribune. 'There's not much left to say other than we want to get home to our little girls and talk to them and explain things to them and try to sort things out.' The Supreme Court and an appeals court would not sway Blagojevich's sentencing and he served eight years. However, President Donald Trump agreed to commute his prison sentence in February 2020 and he was officially released on the 18th. 'What he did was I think something that deserves a great amount of appreciation on my part personally, and he has from me my deepest, most profound and everlasting gratitude,' Blagojevich said of Trump to reporters. 'I cant wait to get home. I miss my daughters. I miss my wife. I miss home.' Trump first mention the potential of commuting Blagojevich's prison sentence in 2018 and later double downed on the stance in August 2019. He said: 'Rod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has served 7 years.' 'Many people have asked that I study the possibility of commuting his sentence in that it was a very severe one. White House staff is continuing the review of this matter.' Trump later called Blagojevich's sentencing 'tremendously powerful, ridiculous sentence' and seemed to backup claims that the prosecution was unfair. '[The case] was a prosecution by the same people, Comey, Fitzpatrick, the same group,' he said. Trump's reference to former FBI director James Comey stems back to a tumultuous investigation into his possible connections with Russia during the 2016 election. The President repeatedly asserted that he was being unjustly targeted by members of the FBI and Democrats,. Trump addressed commuting the sentence by once again calling out Comey. 'Rod Blagojevich did not sell the Senate seat. He served 8 years in prison, with many remaining. He paid a big price. Another Comey and gang deal!' he said. Blagojevich has since dubbed himself a 'Trumpocrat' in recognition to Trump. Meth still a Missouri problem, but now it comes from Mexico ST. LOUIS - Missouri may have shed its unwanted image as the meth lab capital of the U.S., but the dangerous and addictive drug remains a major problem, a top Drug Enforcement Administration official said Friday. Update on a home grown drug problem that now is funded by the cartels and continues to plague both urban and rural parts of the state . . . Read more: It looked like the end of a 26-year run at the Braintree Barnes & Noble. But, thanks to a last-minute agreement on a new lease with property owner W.P. Carey, the store will stay at its 150 Granite Street location for at least another year, according to the Boston Globe. We got word today and we couldnt be more excited to be staying here in Braintree, Sherman Hart, the assistant store manager, told the Globe on Friday just as the store was about to close. The bookstore was set to close Saturday. The companys management had been gearing up to offer its employees jobs at other Barnes & Noble locations. The company cited a failure to come to a lease agreement with its landlord as the reason it was closing. The closest stores to the Braintree location are Hingham and Walpole. Grand National hero Davy Russell is on a roll again and heading for Rolestown. The Cork jockey will be at Kettle's on Wednesday February 26 for the annual charity Cheltenham Preview night in aid of Pieta House. Russell is bidding for three Grand Nationals in a row at Aintree later this year on Tiger Roll, but first he has the Gold Cup in his sights at Cheltenham. The three-time champion jockey will be joined by Racing UK pundit Gary O'Brien as well as trainer and RTE pundit Andy McNamara in all-star panel. The eleventh annual Cheltenham Preview night in aid of Pieta House will also feature Brian Flanagan of the Irish Daily Star and Rob Catterson and Gavin Lynch. 'Suicide has touched so many communities, it's great to support a cause like Pieta House,' said Russell. 'Hopefully we will have a laugh and give the punters a few winners too.' Over 40,000 has been raised for the suicide crisis centre Pieta House by the event over the years and all proceeds from the night will once again be going to the charity. Admission is just 10 and that includes a free 5 matched bet and a free pint for every punter on the night. Denis Kirwan from TV3 will be MC on the night and there is also a raffle on the night with the chance to win some top prizes Tickets are available from Kettle's Country House and a limited number will be available on the door on the night. All the people who came to Novi Sanzhary from China are healthy. Dmytro Koval, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Health, said this during a briefing in the Cabinet of Ministers. "The results of the morning medical examination are positive," he stated. The deputy minister also noted that on Saturday, the evacuees will also take a blood test. It is to be sent to a laboratory in Kiev. According to him, such an examination will be held once every three days. In addition, Koval said the evacuees were provided with food, so donations should not be left or coordinated through the Red Cross. As we reported before, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov announced that the well-known doctor Yevhen Komarovsky will come to reassure the indignant residents of Novi Sanzhary. In particular, Dr. Komarovsky hed a meeting with local residents, at which he explained the nature of the Chinese coronavirus. "Today, Dr. Komarovsky will be in this locality. He will have a meeting with the local population, where he, as an independent specialist, will explain to them what is happening with the coronavirus and many other things," - Danilov said. By Makini Brice WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States may give American farmers additional money until trade deals with China, Mexico, Canada and other countries fully go into effect, President Donald Trump said on Friday. 'If our formally targeted farmers need additional aid until such time as the trade deals with China, Mexico, Canada and others fully kick in, that aid will be provided by the federal government,' Trump wrote in a Twitter post entirely in capital letters By Makini Brice WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States may give American farmers additional money until trade deals with China, Mexico, Canada and other countries fully go into effect, President Donald Trump said on Friday. "If our formally targeted farmers need additional aid until such time as the trade deals with China, Mexico, Canada and others fully kick in, that aid will be provided by the federal government," Trump wrote in a Twitter post entirely in capital letters. It was not immediately clear how large the aid package would be or how long it would last. The Trump administration set aside a $16 billion aid package to farmers in 2019, and $12 billion a year earlier. In January, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said farmers should not expect another bailout package in 2020. Trump is seeking re-election in the Nov. 3 presidential election. Farmers form a key part of his electoral base, but they have been badly bruised by low commodity prices and Trump's tit-for-tat tariff dispute with China. Ted McKinney, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary, later said the department had not expected Trump's comment. The President's Tweet was a surprise to us," McKinney said at an event in Arlington, Virginia. "He will make that decision. And we will go with that decision. The White House and the U.S. Trade Representative's office all declined to comment. Last month, Trump signed a trade deal with Canada and Mexico into law, along with a separate Phase 1 accord with China that went into effect in mid-February. Canada has not yet ratified the deal and experts had been sceptical that China, which had pledged to increase its purchases of U.S. goods by $200 billion over two years, would be able to meet the goal even before a coronavirus outbreak hit the country's imports and exports. (Reporting by Makini Brice; Additional reporting by P.J. Huffstutter in Arlington, Virginia; Editing by Susan Heavey and Bernadette Baum) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use: AP Famously conservative Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, has deleted a section of its student honor code banning homosexual behavior on campus. While the change was done with little fanfare, it was met with celebration by LGBT students on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owned-campus. Talking to CNN, Franchesca Lopez, a student at BYU studying sociology, was cautiously optimistic about the development at the college. I feel free and cared for by the university for the first time in a long time, she said. I really hope they dont disappoint me again. It is confirmed. Gay dating is okay, kissing and hand holding from the mouth of an HCO counselor. Featuring my first gay kiss @Kate_Foster14 pic.twitter.com/OK9gBIQVLZ Franchesca (@fremlo_) February 19, 2020 The student honor code previously banned all forms of physical intimacy between members of the same sex. Though that section of the code has since been deleted, it is unclear whether the university will tolerate same-sex shows of affection on campus. The university issued a statement on Twitter noting that the principles of the Honor Code remain the same and that questions arising from the change will be handled on a case by case basis. The Honor Code Office will handle questions that arise on a case by case basis. For example, since dating means different things to different people, the Honor Code Office will work with students individually. BYU (@BYU) February 19, 2020 However, according to some students who spoke to The Salt Lake Tribune, the university has told them individually that displays of physical affection would be tolerated so long as the couples remain chaste, a rule that is still part of the student honor code. Story continues I am personally very excited, Mr Bowman said. While I still think there are serious problems with the office, I am very happy that they are taking steps towards equality. I am hopeful that this will lead to less homophobia on campus from students, professors, faculty, bishops, etc. The changes at BYU are reflective of broader changes in the Mormon Church. Last spring, the church updated its handbook, changing the way the church viewed homosexuality. In the past, the church viewed homosexual individuals as apostates. The new changes encourage Mormons to reach out with sensitivity, love and respect to persons who are attracted to others of the same sex. It goes on to call for all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, to strive for chastity. Prior to the change, more than 1,500 liberal and LGBT Mormons fled the church. Read more Mormon college graduate speech goes viral in coming out speech NJ Transit boss Kevin Corbett was on the hot seat Friday in front of a state legislative committee that was upset by an absence of top staff asked to testify and openly dissatisfied with some answers that led some senators to repeatedly urge him to be honest with them. Corbett, for his part, testified solo for close to three hours at the Statehouse in Trenton and announced new initiatives coming in the near future, including an NJ Transit fare card launching later this year and tap and go fare payment capability on buses by the end of 2021. The hearing was the fourth of its kind, so far, in which state legislators asked a myriad of probing questions of leaders of the embattled transit agency that has been chided for its cancellations and delays, mechanical failures of equipment, engineer shortages, and other issues. Led by a state Senate panel formed by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, the event started on a sour note with Sweeney expressing dissatisfaction that seven other NJ Transit officials called to testify were no-shows. Later, Sweeney said the committee will need to hold a fifth hearing, when the missing staffers will testify. Corbett promised they would appear. Im here because Im the CEO and solely responsible for the operation of NJ Transit, Corbett said. I felt I was capable of handling with all the work going (for staff) like the strategic plan and the budget. The panel originally called Corbett and Customer Advocate Stewart Mader to testify, along with NJ Transits chief financial officer, rail operations head, chief administrator, chief information officer and head of capital projects, and human resources director. Several times during the hearing, Sweeney and other senators told Corbett they felt he wasnt being honest in his answers. We dont have confidence that the information from you is true and authentic, state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said after questioning the cleanliness of buses and trains. Its hard not to end up in a semi-adversarial relationship, Weinberg said. If you want us to continue advocating for you, you have to stop spending money on PR. You should be spending money on cleaning buses and trains. Additional staff has been requested to fill bus and train cleaner positions, Corbett said. Pointed questions were asked by Weinberg about MWW, an influential East Rutherford public relations company that NJ Transit hired for $250,000 in Sept. 2018 and their role bringing people to testify at the first senate panel hearings in Hoboken Terminal on Nov. 13. MWWs contract expired in December and the company was brought in to help NJ Transit improve its communications, Corbett said. State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. probed Corbett about whether the agency will change work rules that allow engineers to take off on short notice. The agencys engineer shortage was exposed after it couldnt cover those who took a day off. When a engineer gives little noticeit has an effect on the entire system, Kean, R-Union, said. By the end of the year, NJ Transit will have 390 engineers on staff, 10 shy of the 400 that Corbett said is an optimal number to run the railroad. The rule Kean questioned will be the subject of contract negotiations that have started this year, Corbett said. Going forward well look at all the work rules to allow predictability so it doesnt impact riders, he said. There also was positive news from his testimony. NJ Transit will introduce its a 10-year strategic plan next month, and a five-year plan detailing capital purchases and projects will be announced in April, Corbett said. Mobile scanners that conductors can use to scan tickets and get real-time information about train delays and service issues to pass on to passengers will be rolled out on the Raritan Valley Line. And an NJ Transit contactless fare card will be introduced on buses in late 2020 and tap and go fare payment technology will be introduced on buses, Corbett said. He also apologized to passengers for the Feb. 3 meltdown when Amtrak overhead wire problems shut down one of two Hudson River tunnels, causing massive delays between Newark and New York. Clearly more needs to be done during disruptions. NJ Transit customers deserve to know what their options are, Corbett said. We can and will do better." Amtrak and NJ Transit officials are working together to review the lines of communication to make sure information can get to commuters on trains faster during disruptions, he said. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. 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. Speculation was mounting Saturday that Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane could step down earlier than expected after he failed to show up in court to face charges of murdering his estranged wife. The premier is accused of having acted in "common purpose" in the June 2017 killing of 58-year old Lipolelo Thabane, whom he was in the process of divorcing. Thabane, now 80, had been due in court on Friday for a preliminary appearance where he was expected to be formally charged. But he travelled instead to neighbouring South Africa for what his office said was "emergency" medical attention. Deputy Police Commissioner Paseka Mokete, said on Saturday that the authorities had decided to wait for Thabane's expected return on February 27 to resume his case after his lawyers said he had a sick note. "While we admit that is quite coincidental, we shall have our own means to ascertain this state of affairs," Mokete told AFP. He said no arrest warrant has been issued as yet and that "new arrangements" would be made for Thabane once he was "fit for an appearance". Thabane announced this week he would step down on July 31, bowing to pressure from members of his All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, who accused him of hampering investigations into the killing. But party officials said he could leave office even earlier. "If all arrangements are in place before July he is ready to go, even tomorrow," ABC secretary-general Lebohang Hlaele told AFP, adding that parliament would be meeting next week to work on the "finishing touches". "Anything is possible now as he might just wake up the next morning to announce his departure," said Hlaele, who is also the prime minister's son-in-law. No-confidence vote The main opposition party filed a motion of no confidence in the prime minister and his administration on Friday. If Thabane loses the motion, he could either step down or advise Lesotho's king to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. The country's last three elections took place after a sitting prime minister lost a vote of no confidence. Lipolelo Thabane's murder sent shock waves through Lesotho -- a tiny landlocked nation of 2.2 million with a history of political turmoil. She was gunned down outside her home in Maseru just two days before her husband took office. The accusations against the prime minister came after communications records from the scene of the murder included Thabane's mobile phone number. His current wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, whom he married two months after Lipolelo's death, is considered a co-conspirator and has already been charged with murder. Thabane is no stranger to political unrest. He suffered a failed coup attempt two years after he was first named prime minister in 2012, and fled to South Africa. After two years in exile, he returned to Lesotho in 2017 and won snap elections. In his inaugural speech, Thabane described his wife's murder as a "senseless killing". He and Maesaiah -- who at the time had the status of a "customary wife" -- both attended Lipolelo's funeral. Hlaele said Thabane had the "right to stand before courts". "I dont believe that he would kill anyone," Hlaele told AFP. "But that's not for me to say." Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 18:36:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The locust outbreak plaguing East Africa calls for a concerted international response as the most dreaded insects devour millions of hectares of vegetation in their cross-border migration, exacerbating the already fragile food security situation in the region. A girl shows the desert locusts in Kitui County, Kenya, Feb. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) by Xinhua writers Bai Lin, Bedah Mengo NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The locust outbreak plaguing East Africa calls for a concerted international response as the most dreaded insects devour millions of hectares of vegetation in their cross-border migration, exacerbating the already fragile food security situation in the region. The desert locust, which can travel 150 km in a single day, is deemed the most devastating of locusts. A small swarm covering one square km can eat the same amount of food as 35,000 people in a day, said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "The situation remains extremely alarming in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where widespread desert locust infestations and a new generation of breeding threaten food security and livelihoods in the region," it noted Tuesday. The locusts most recently invaded South Sudan from Uganda, and the South Sudan government is seeking funds worth 20 million U.S. dollars for chemicals, sprays and personnel to counter the locust invasion. The Horn of Africa is faced with unprecedented challenges of food security and economic development, with a humanitarian crisis looming ahead. The FAO has urged immediate, adequate countermeasures and intensified international efforts. A swarm of desert locusts invade parts of Mwingi Town in Kitui County, Kenya, Feb. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) EAT AWAY HOPE The locust outbreak is the worst in 70 years in Kenya, and the worst in 25 years in Somalia and Ethiopia, where the insects bred before spreading to Kenya and other countries. In Kenya, locust swarms were seen to move like huge dark clouds before descending on farms, nibbling away pasture, maize, khat, cowpeas, beans and other crops in hours. Areas like Mandera and Isiolo in the north, and Tharaka Nithi in central Kenya, were attacked again after aerial chemical pesticides spraying. Although the government has sprayed pesticide and other chemicals on a wide range of areas in order to curb the locust outbreak, at least 18 of Kenya's 47 counties were affected. Kello Harsama, the administrative secretary heading the State Department for Crop Development under Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture, said the government will work with the FAO to train 600 chemical spraying personnel. "Aerial spraying of the pesticide in the last two months is yet to achieve desired results, thus we need to devise innovative strategies like the use of the trainees, farmers and extension workers to conduct ground spraying starting with northern counties of Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana and Wajir," he said. "My crops had done well following the heavy rains and I was looking forward to a bumper harvest but then the locusts came and ate away my hope," Beatrice Ngari, a farmer in Embu, central Kenya, told Xinhua. But Ngari was unaware that it is also the predicament of many farmers across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. The rains between October and January served to provide a favorable environment for locusts to breed and thrive, including properly moist soils for them to lay eggs in millions before migration and the consequent lush vegetation to eat, according to the FAO. Climate change was to blame for the unusually plentiful rainfall on the African continent. Keith Cressman, the FAO's senior locust forecasting officer, further identified the recent cyclones as another factor behind the locust crisis, saying the past 10 years saw increased frequency of cyclones in the Indian Ocean. A swarm of desert locusts invade parts of Mwingi Town in Kitui County, Kenya, Feb. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) AGGRAVATING FOOD INSECURITY FAO officials said the locust outbreak has worsened the food insecurity in Africa, citing some 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa suffering from hunger and malnutrition, and over 20 million having already been in food crisis in Horn of Africa countries. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said the current situation "is really, really challenging." "There are currently over 30 million people in the affected countries, who are severely food insecure now. Ten million of those people are in the places affected by the locusts. Unless we get a grip of this in the next two or three or four weeks, we would have a serious problem," he stressed. To avoid a famine, University of Nairobi professor Evaristus Irandu said the government may have to use the scarce foreign currency to import food products, adding that poverty will increase in the country. "All our investment is going down the drain. The sorghum and millet crops were about to mature and we would have harvested next month," said Nathan Njiru, a farmer in Tharaka Nithi, whose livelihood largely depends on selling sorghum to Nairobi's beer brewers. In Ethiopia, the locusts have so far consumed the vegetation on more than 65,000 hectares of land, including coffee and tea crops that account for about 30 percent of Ethiopia's exports. A Moody's Investors Service report issued in early February showed that agriculture contributes about one-third of the gross domestic product in East Africa and more than 65 percent of jobs in all regional countries except for Kenya. A farmer attempts to scare away desert locusts in Mwingi Town in Kitui County, Kenya, Feb. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION URGED The desert locust swarms have travelled from Africa to Asia. India is suffering the worst hit in 60 years. "Today locust swarms are as big as major cities and it's getting worse by the day," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, urging the international community to take immediate counteractions. Sacko Josefa, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, said earlier this month that the 55-member pan-African bloc is working directly with the FAO to make sure that there is no spread to other countries. Antonio Querido, UN FAO representative in Uganda, said international organizations are providing technical support and mobilizing resources for Uganda as it strives to fight the locusts. In order to get more international help, Somalia on Feb. 2 declared the locust infestation a national emergency. Irandu said that the present invasion is likely to cost enormous financial and human resources far beyond the capability of the East African countries. Hence there is a need for a concerted effort by regional and other international organizations to offer money, expertise and equipment such as planes. Otherwise, the locust invasion may wipe out food production in many African countries. The FAO recently launched a 76 million U.S. dollars appeal to control the locusts' spread. Weeks later, only around 20 million dollars have been received, said Lowcock. Irandu suggested that intensified international efforts should be made to coordinate aerial sprays, share scientific knowledge on breeding and migratory habits of locusts, and raise funds from partners. In the long run, experts have called for the investment in research to contain the impacts of climate change, including the locusts invasion. "People must be sensitized adequately on their roles in adaptation and mitigation programs to ensure uniformity in progress," said Edward Mungai, chief executive officer of Kenya Climate Innovation Center. A swarm of desert locusts invade parts of Mwingi Town in Kitui County, Kenya, Feb. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) (Xinhua reporters Cao Kai and Wang Xiaopeng in Nairobi also contribute to the story.) (Viedo editor: Liu Yuting) (Video reporters: Liu Ruijuan, Feng Yiwei, Wang Shoubao, Ruth Baru, Eric Nzioka, Zacharia) There is a sinister trend by populist elements in India and globally to mount campaigns against the judiciary to try and influence court verdicts and the same should be reined in to ensure independence of judges is not affected and the rule of law is maintained, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Saturday. Prasad who was speaking at the international judicial conference organized by the Supreme Court of India said such populist elements seek accountability from courts on how cases should be decided and unleash all forces of criticism if judgments do not go according to their expectations. Such populism, he said, violates well-settled constitutional principles. This sinister trend developing globally and also in our country is that some people start campaigning as to what kind of judgments they expect and if the judgment is not in accordance with that, then unleash all the forces of criticism. I appreciate criticism of the judgments of the court. But some kind of norm has to be maintained if our rule of law has to acquire continued resonance, Prasad said. Also Watch | Terrorists & corrupts have no right to privacy: Union Minister RS Prasad He hinted at the criticism and scrutiny of the judiciary on social media while underscoring the need to ensure complete independence of judges for verdicts to be in accordance with the rule of law. What is challenging is now populism is seeking to have greater accountability as to what kind of judgments there should be. I am a great supporter of social media, of freedom, it is empowering. But this is a dangerous trend. Judges must be left completely independent to give judgments as to what they think is correct in accordance with rule of law. Prasad said that while he welcomed dissent and populism, a problem arises when the biggest flag-bearers of populism are those who have been rejected by the people in elections. In a democracy we welcome dissent and we welcome populism too. But we have a problem when populism impinges upon well-settled Constitutional principles. Populism also becomes a problem when those who have been rejected in the popular mandate become the biggest flag-bearers of populism, he said. Prasad emphasized that as per the constitutional scheme, governance must be left to those elected by the people of India to govern. They have to be accountable but only to the Parliament, judicial decisions and also to the people after elections, Prasad said. Besides, the law minister also broached the subject of privacy in the digital era. He said that though the right to privacy has been declared a fundamental right by the landmark 2017 Supreme Court verdict (Justice KS Puttaswamy v. Union of India), the court itself has said that the right is not available to terrorists and the corrupt. Privacy has been held to be a fundamental right and we appreciate that. The Supreme Court judgment has become a beacon globally. It is a wonderful judgment (which) says that privacy flows from article 21 the right to life. But our courts have also stated that terrorists and corrupt have no right to privacy, Prasad said. Prasad underscored that while dissent and criticism are welcome, it should not affect the identity of India. Speak your mind, be critical, ask questions, but it all should work in a manner that the identity of India as a country continues to remain strong, he said. SC judge Justice Arun Mishra heaps praise on PM Modi Supreme Court judge Arun Mishra, who delivered the vote of thanks at the inaugural ceremony of the international judicial conference, heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of the internationally acclaimed visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he said. Justice Mishra said the Prime Minister was a versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally and added that his speech will set the agenda for the conference. We thank the versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally, Shri Narendra Modi for his inspiring speech which will act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference. A survivor of a deadly crash on River Road in Shelton earlier this month has a long road to recovery ahead of her, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover the cost of her medical bills. Late at night on Feb. 9, two vehicles collided on River Road and caused a closure to a section of the roadway for about eight hours. Lily Pirulli, 20, of Monroe, and Adrian Miles, 31, of Ansonia, were killed in the crash. Thousands of dollars were raised for Pirullis family via GoFundMe. She was the daughter of a Bridgeport police officer. The two other occupants of the same vehicle Pirulli and Miles were in 26-year-old Meghan Nealy and 30-year-old Rakiem Reid were injured. Nealy was initially in critical condition, while Reid was treated and released. The driver of the other vehicle was treated by medics at the scene. A GoFundMe campaign was set up for Nealys medical bills on Feb. 12, just days after the major crash. The creators of the fundraiser were Sharon Rhoton and Amanda Nealy. According to the page, the father of Nealys daughter was killed in the Shelton crash that left Nealy with injuries that she will have to deal with the rest of her life. At the time the fundraiser was created, Nealy was in the intensive care unit at the hospital. Her family was told she would remain in the ICU for at least a month, the fundraiser said, with extensive rehab to follow. The future is uncertain at this time, but there has been mention of paralysis from Meghans team of doctors, the GoFundMe said. We will know more when she is able to wake up. The GoFundMe, the creators wrote, is intended to provide support for Nealy. Meghan has a long road of recovery, the creators said. As of Friday night around 8:30 p.m., 215 donors have raised $15,450 through the GoFundMe for Nealy. In an update on Feb. 15, Rhoton said Nealy was all settled at a hospital in Hartford, where she remained on ECMO a system that provides prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to someone whose heart and lungs are unable to provide enough on their own. They say she is tolerating it well and heave started to wean her oxygen down, Rhoton said in the update. They are unsure how long she will have to remain on it, but they are trying to let her lungs heal. Rhoton said the doctors indicated Nealy will have to stay on the ventilator after, then doctors will wean her off of that as well. A wound to her leg from the crash was handled by the trauma team at the hospital, Rhoton said, adding that it might require a graft in the future. In another update on Feb. 18, Rhoton said Nealy remained on the ventilator and said it was unclear how long she would be on it due to the damage to her lungs. Rhoton said there has been no movement in Nealys legs and minimal movement in her arms. She will wake up and look at us, responds to our questions and is showing emotion, Rhoton said. But she remains critically stable. She has a lot of internal healing to go. The coronavirus travel ban for senior high school students from China has been lifted as thousands of pupils return to class. There are 400 Year 12 students and 360 Year 11 students enrolled in Australian schools who are trapped in China due to travel restrictions. Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that some of the 760 students would be allowed to return to school in Australia on a 'case-by-case basis' on Saturday. 'In particular, that should include consideration of year 11 and 12 secondary school students from mainland China, excluding Hubei,' Mr Hunt told reporters in Melbourne. 'Coronavirus has been contained in Australia with no new cases in the general population in the last week.' Hubei province has been excluded as it is where the outbreak city of Wuhan is located, meaning there is a higher risk of coronavirus. Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that some of the 760 students trapped in China would be allowed to return to school in Australia on a 'case-by-case basis' on Saturday The trapped students have already missed three weeks of school as the the first school term of the year began in late January and early February across the country. Once in Australia, they will have to follow 'the same strict isolation conditions that apply to Australian citizens and permanent residents who return from China'. This means that they will have to spend another two weeks at home in isolation at home, further delaying their return to school. In total, some students could miss five or six weeks of school - half of the first term. All states and territories have strict school attendance requirements, which mean students may not be able to complete their secondary qualifications if they miss too many days of education. In a statement, the Australian government stated it recognises 'the importance of the final two years of school', which is why the ban was lifted on senior students. 'All Australian governments understand the importance of education and we are all working to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on students,' the statement read. A family wearing face masks to protect themselves from coronavirus arrive in Brisbane Airport. There are 400 Year 12 students and 360 Year 11 students enrolled in Australian schools who are trapped in China due to travel restrictions While students have been granted an exception, the Australian government has also extended its ban on foreign travellers from China for another week on Saturday. The ban is due to end on February 29 but is under ongoing consideration from the national security committee of cabinet. Two universities are offering cash incentives to Chinese students to encourage them to keep up their studies despite not being allowed into Australia. The University of Adelaide is offering a care package worth about $5,000 to about 3,000 Chinese students. The package includes a 20 per cent discount on semester one tuition fees and up to $2,000 towards airfares which they can access only once the travel ban is lifted. It also offered online study help including videos of lectures, peer networking support and library resources so Chinese students who cannot be on campus by the March 26 start date, so can keep up with their courses remotely. The trapped students have already missed three weeks of school as the the first school term of the year began in late January and early February across the country By contrast, Western Sydney University encouraged its students to dodge the travel ban by paying Chinese students up to $1500 to subside the cost of airfares and accommodation to reach Australia 'through a third country'. About 100,000 Chinese students are enrolled in Australia's universities providing a large source of profits each year for the $36 billion education-selling industry. On Saturday, two more Australians were diagnosed with the coronavirus after being evacuated to Darwin from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. There have been 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia. Internationally, there have been 75,751 coronavirus cases and 2,121 deaths. TOURS, FranceWednesday evening, Jean-Christophe Pittet, director of a dermocosmetology consulting company, attended the third performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Palais des Congres in Tours. Engineering consulting is sometimes a balancing act, requiring not only a high mastery of the technology studied but also many human qualities, since the support provided to the clients must be both realistic and therefore authentic while remaining benevolent. It is thus with this very special understanding that Pittet discovered the world-renowned phenomenon of Shen Yun. A great lover of Asia, in the broadest sense, Pittet said he had absolutely no regret for having accompanied his wife to the performance on Feb. 19, 2020. I find there is a message about ancestral Chinese culture which is perhaps not what we have nowadays, but which was a precious asset, and is disappearing today, its a pity. Its a shame. I think its rather good to bring it forth because we have a vision of todays China that is not quite like the original China! On the Shen Yun website, one can learn that In 2006, a group of leading classical Chinese artists came together in New York with one wish: to revive the true, divinely inspired culture of China and share it with the world. Pittet approves of this mission: Its a good approach, a nice approach that we need today, but not only for China. So, I am quite pleased to delve into a distant past, but one that is still relevant today. Well, one that also foreshadows current events! I find it rather pleasant, relaxing, it brings us somewhere new, and since I really like everything Asian, especially China, but old China, not necessarily todays China. Indeed, this culture of 5,000 years of history has almost disappeared since the Chinese communist regime came to power in 1949. The atheist regime could not accept the traditional Chinese values based on harmony between heaven and earth, values that accompanied every Chinese throughout their life. The Chinese Communist Party then launched several brainwashing campaigns during the Cultural Revolution in order to force the Chinese people to shed their ancestral values. The universal values that Shen Yun brings forth are the foundation unto which its choreography is built: courage, honesty, loyalty, benevolence, filial pietywhich did not leave Pittet indifferent. We have other cultures that share some of these values, and we find this kindness towards others, this altruism, almost universally. I am pleased to say that even though we may be from very different ancestral cultures, we share common values, which are very clearly simply human values. Its nice to be able to say that there was another vision in the past and that this vision is still quite universal! May it come back to the forefront here and there, here too we need serenity, we miss it sometimes, he said. 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. Brought to you by Honda of Staten Island At the recent standing-room-only Anti-Hunger Task Force Legislative Breakfast at Wagner College, Borough President James Oddo joined several speakers to highlight the need to improve networks that provide healthy food to people in need. Oddo highlighted his support of cardiac rehabilitation units at Richmond University Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital. Among the services provided at the centers are screenings for food insecurity and other factors that can affect cardiac health. FUNDS FOR DIABETES Among the health issues, Oddo has targeted is diabetes. Its hard to hear ... but we need to hear it. But by 2020, with diabetes, one in three will have it. Its called the mother of all diseases. Oddo said. In 1960 less than one percent of Americans had diabetes. Right now we have 30 million people, 70 to 80 percent pre-diabetic. Seventy percent of all hospital visits are predicated to diabetes. Part of his plan is redirecting funds to open a new health and wellness diabetes center located at Seaview. I had to do something, Oddo said. I hope you see that I made the difficult decision to put money for a pool that the de Blasio administration was never going to build, and I went to the mayor and said theres a higher purpose for this money, including building a diabetes center. We are moving forward with that on the grounds of Seaview Hospital. The center, he said, would not only treat people with diabetes, but will also work towards preventing the disease. MAKING SENSE OF THE CENSUS Julie Menin, director of the CENSUS NYC addressed the breakfast as well. In 2010, only 64 percent of Staten Islanders self-responded to the census - 64 percent! And so Staten Island literally missed out on hundreds of millions of dollars for so many vital projects, she said. Staten Islands self-reporting rate was a bit higher than New York Citys rate of 61.9 percent. But that is still lower than the national average rate: 76 percent. She asked everyone who is a member of an organization or religious group, when the census kicks off on March 12, please have your organization make an announcement. Has everyone filled the census out? If not, go to 2020Census.' Menin also wanted to make clear that the Are you a United States citizen? question has not been added to the census. She said, In a city of 3.2 million immigrants, many were frightened to fill the form out. AN APP FOR THAT Sadia Choudhury, director of Ambulatory Care for Staten Island Performing Provider System, discussed her agencys effort to improve the health delivery system on Staten Island and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. Her organization is using Health Leads, a new digital application to help connect individuals to services. Susan Fowler, digital projects manager for City Harvest, said of Choudhurys work, Her group is going to emergency rooms and finding out why they are coming to the E.R. It turns out its not just because theyre sick, but because theyre hungry; theyre homeless; theyre suffering from domestic violence. There are a number of issues. Theyre stressed, and thats why they get sick. A man who identified himself as a veteran reminded that hunger is an issue for those that served in the military. I hope one day they treat veterans as well as they treat convicts, he said. - Written collaboratively by Salvatore DiBenedetto, Nichole Lemily, Steven Filoramo, Anthony DiFato with Edward Gregory Learn more about the Advance/SILive.coms partnership with Lifestyles for the Disabled, sponsored by Honda of Staten Island. Seamless coordination ensured that there are just 38 local terrorists active in Kashmir Category B, Category C terrorists of Lashkar gunned down in the Valley India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 22: In a major success for the forces, two terrorists have been killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter took place at the Gund Baba Khalil, Sangam at Anantnag. Both the slain terrorists belonged to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. They have been identified as Naved Bhat alias Furqan and Aaqib Yasser Bhat. Bhat had classified as a Category B terrorist, while Yaseen was a Category B terrorist. Both have been active in the Valley since July 2018, sources tell OneIndia. J&K: Three terrorist killed as encounter underway at Nagrota toll plaza Following the encounter the forces recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, one pistol, magazines and several rounds of ammunition. The source said that these terrorists were planning on striking in the Valley. They were highly trained and their deaths come as a major relief for the security forces in the Valley. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 9:22 [IST] 22.02.2020 LISTEN Dear Sir, I bring you unadulterated greetings from my village. I thank God we are all fine, Alhamdulillah. I hope you know why I have addressed this letter to you? Yes, it is relative to your warped and illogical averment that the good people of the Zongos in Ghana owe massive votes to the incompetent, corrupt and nepotistic NPP as a political entity due to what you think same has done in the Zongo communities, and that if they don't vote for the NPP, then God will punish them. What an impudence! Sir, you would recall that in 2018 I responded to a similar circuitous insult and revealed the illogical impression you sought to create about the Zongos in Ghana. Here again, I have elected to respond to your recent pronouncement, that if the Zongos in Ghana don't vote for the NPP, then God will punish them. My objective is to deflate and punch holes through your useless and invective pronouncement. The coefficients of your pronouncement are three; 1. That, the NPP has a Zongo Ministry 2. That, the NPP has set aside Zongo Development Fund 3. That, 40 percent of nurses' allowance recipients are from the Zongos. On the issue of the so called Zongo Ministry, we are not oblivious of the fact that it was created as a facade just to hoodwink unsuspecting Zongo people into believing that the NPP has the Zongos at heart. Tell us the giant and significant strides that this moribund ministry has done to have elicited such unwanted pronouncement from you. Do you think Zongo is only in Madina, Nima, Asawase? As the Assembly Member of Begoro Zongo electoral area, I have been impressing upon the District Assembly to put up a small cubicle-like toilet facility for the Islamic KG school (the only KG school in the electoral area) in the Zongo community. The DCE told me plainly that, that project would be funded by the Zongo Development Fund. He said this about two years ago, yet nothing to show for the said essential facility. If the Zongo Ministry and the Zongo Development Fund cannot put up a small toilet facility for the Begoro Zongo Islamic KG school, then what the hell are you talking about? Yet, a whole President is claiming credit in putting up toilet facilities in the country on a national platform. Come to Fanteakwa North and count the number of toilet facilities a DCE (Hon. Abass Fuseini) under the NDC administration has put up. On the issue of 40 percent of nurses' allowance recipients being Zongo people, I am very sad for you. So, you hold your office directly as a result of what you profess and you think that those 40 percent nurses (from Zongo) who are enjoying the allowance are doing so because it is a privilege? And because of that they owe the NPP government votes?. You think a Zongo nurse enjoying allowance is a privilege? Are they not Ghanaian citizens? What about the 60 percent? So the 60 percent are more Ghanaian and deserve to enjoy allowance, but the 40 percent are enjoying the allowance as a privilege? No wonder Ursula Owusu said they have taken their country. Please cut the joke and tell us you are engaged in this charade because of the Hajj Pilgrims you supported. What will that add to the betterment of the community as a whole. Even if we want to do that debate, which political party brought that idea? NDC under Rawlings took people to Mecca, it was no news, NDC under Mills-Mahama took people to Mecca, it was no news, NDC under Mahama-Amissah Arthur took people to Mecca, it was no news. We didn't parade the supported Pilgrims in public for the media spectacle. You copy from us and it should be a news? You have no idea what governance is about. As we speak, the 7 innocent Zongo boys who were killed by heart have not got any justice and you are not interested in that? Innocent Muslim ladies are being chased out of work places because of Hijab and you are not showing any interest in that? Innocent students are being persecuted in schools because of Hijab and you are silent? For your reminder, John Mahama was not and still not a Muslim, but he ordered that no Muslim lady in Hijab should be asked to remove them. He ordered that no Muslim student should be forced to attend Church. Under the NDC administration, Hajj became very attractive without previous precedence. Under the NDC, we had Arabic teachers being paid salary. We had Arabic education streamlined for better. After all these, you think you have the testicular fortitude to engage in such hanky-panky, jiggery-pokery, subterfuge and chicanery to hoodwink the good people of the Zongos in this country? Make no mistake, the people are wiser than you think and have the acumen of discernment. Thank you. @ Osumanu Abubakar @ Zongo Caucus Coordinator (Fanteakwa North Constituency) EDMONTONArno Pronk bends slightly and prods the mound of rough, milky-looking ice with one finger, then nods approvingly. The tall Dutch professor and a team of Alberta engineering students have been working outside since before dawn; mixing a slurry of water and paper together, pouring the resulting concoction into a wooden frame and smoothing it as it freezes. Pronk is teaching the University of Alberta students to build ice beams, but the late February weather is moody. Its just past noon and temperatures are threatening to rise above zero. The scientist behind the latest pass at a kind of ice-based construction that dates back to a wild chapter in Canadas wartime history sees great potential for reinforced ice known as pykrete as a tool for construction in climates ranging from the Arctic to Mars. Credit: Jake Kondor/University of Alberta Pronk, an assistant professor at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, estimates that his reinforced ice can be as much as three times stronger than regular frozen water. He says materials themselves are cheap and its good for the environment clean-up mostly involves letting it melt. It reinforces the ice, so it makes it three times stronger. Usually ice is very brittle, so itll break into pieces, he explains, but adding fibre like paper or wood pulp makes it stronger and more pliable. The fibre also acts as an insulator, and ensures the ice doesnt melt as fast. The fibre used to create these ice beams is toilet paper, and bits of the cardboard roll are visible. It is, as one University of Alberta engineering student jokes, a slightly redneck way of building. Its very much like mixing concrete, except we dont have a guideline, laughs Jake Kondor. So we kind of, you know, throw some paper here and throw some water here and lets hope for the best. The next day, the team was again up early to remove the ice beams from their frames though not totally frozen, both V-shaped beams were a little over six centimetres thick. The sun was just visible over the horizon as they propped up each beam with pieces of wood placed under the ends. Students took turns adding concrete blocks on top creating a point load, to use the technical term to determine how much weight each beam could hold. The skinnier beam takes 600 pounds before it crumbles, while the larger one takes 780 pounds before succumbing to the bricks. Not bad for ice if you ask me, Kondor said. While this is the first time some of these students have heard about fortified ice, Pronk isnt the first to bring it to Canada. In fact, one of the first major attempts to fortify ice happened about 400 kilometres southwest of Edmonton almost 80 years ago in a top-secret project during the Second World War. It was 1942, and the war was still anyones game, when an eccentric scientist named Geoffrey Pyke hatched a plan to strike back at German U-boats. The mad, wild scheme, which was signed off on by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill himself, involved an Alberta mountain lake and ice. A lot of ice. During the war, the middle of the Atlantic could not be reached by planes on either side, and it became a fertile hunting ground for deadly U-boat submarines. Pyke, described by one academic as an eccentric British genius, knew how difficult icebergs could be to destroy international ice patrols had done their best to blow many to smithereens after one infamously sank the Titanic. He became fixated on the idea of towing an iceberg into the war zone so planes could land on it a kind of frozen aircraft carrier. According to a research paper published by Susan B.M. Langley in a scientific journal in 1986, even Churchill got on board, going so far as to dictate a most secret memo with his thoughts on how an ice airfield should be built. The Canadian government was tasked with building a model dubbed Project Habbakuk to test the theory. Eventually Jaspers Patricia Lake was chosen as the testing site. It was more private and had a convenient source of labour, in the form of a conscientious objectors camp made up of Mennonites and Doukhobors. But the shortcomings of regular ice quickly became apparent, Langley writes. Most of the weight of icebergs is below the surface, for example, so any hunk of ice used for an airfield would also have a tremendous amount of mass below the surface, making it almost impossible to move around. Although lake ice was used for the test model, it was decided that reinforced ice would be better for the eventual vessel, because it was strong, buoyant and could be hammered and sawed, but since it required more work than regular ice, it would increase costs. A man by the name of Dr. Herman Mark of Brooklyn had been experimenting with reinforcing ice, and decided that between four and 10 per cent of wood pulp in ice worked best. He named the resulting creation after Pyke hence, Pykrete. The eventual test vessel was a mass of ice with a wooden frame and a peaked roof. It featured an elaborate cooling system for the ice. A full-sized vessel was estimated to cost half of a conventional aircraft carrier. But while they were building, better long-range aircraft and radar were invented, and officials decided a flotilla of ice vessels would be impractical, according to Langley. By the summer of 1943, the project was dead. As someone who has built a career out of Pykrete, Pronk commends Pyke for persuading the likes of Churchill to let him test the concept, but calls the idea of an Arctic ship built from Pykrete quite strange. He points out that, aside from the melting issues, youd only be able to use a ship like Habbakuk in very cold waters, where navigating around actual icebergs would be a very real problem. Pronk, who describes his job as something between an architect and a structural engineer, has spent much of his working life pushing the limits on what can be built with fibre-reinforced ice. Considering Pronk grew up in the Netherlands with aggressively placid weather, its notable that he has devoted his life to ice and sub-zero temperatures and building structures that test the extremes. But then, he says, laughing, hes always been a romantic. I thought ice is nice, it has a feeling of Christmas, he says simply. It appealed to me. In 2014, he set the world record for the largest ice dome in Finland, with a geodesic design spanning 30 metres. It was built with the help of 50 volunteers from the Netherlands. The next year, he built a scaled and simplified version of Barcelonas Sagrada Familia, also in Finland. In recent years, Plonk says, hes worked more in China. He sees the future of building with ice in projects that need to be strong but can be hard to clean up, such as temporary foundations for drilling rigs. He also says it might have future applications, such as research on Mars, where the environment is very cold. Pronk said he hoped his project with Canadian engineering students introduces them to new possibilities in cold climates. Read more about: Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn described the spend as an 'absolute disgrace'. Photo: Gerry Mooney Nineteen hotels in Dublin each received payments in excess of 1m last year to provide emergency accommodation for the homeless. One hotel received payments between 4m and 5m, according to new figures provided by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) which confirmed spending on providing temporary and emergency accommodation for the homeless soared by 19pc to 170m in 2019. In the four years since 2016, hoteliers have received cumulative payments totalling 203.5m as the number of homeless requiring emergency accommodation soared. Last year, hotels received payments from the DRHE totalling 56.6m to provide emergency accommodation. This represented an increase of 10.7pc on the 51.1m paid out in 2018. A breakdown of the 170m spend on providing emergency accommodation for the homeless shows that 80.16m was paid to hotels and B&Bs. The 19 hotels to receive in excess of 1m last year compared with 15 hotels receiving payments above this amount in 2018. In response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the DRHE confirmed that one other hotel operator last year received payments between 3m and 4m to accommodate the homeless. A further four hotels received payments between 2m and 3m with an additional 13 hotels receiving payments between 1m and 2m. Another 21 hotels received payments between 500,000 and 1m. In total, 70 hotels provided emergency accommodation for the homeless last year. The sharp increase in payments to emergency accommodation providers came against the background of further increases in the numbers of homeless in Dublin in 2019. The numbers of homeless accommodated in hotels and B&Bs increased from 2,422, made up of 1,488 children and 934 adults, in January 2019 to 2,638 at the end of December, made up of 1,633 children and 1,005 adults. Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn described the spend as an "absolute disgrace". He said the business of accommodating the homeless is a "big cash cow" for the hotels concerned. Mr Flynn said the homeless being accommodated have had their status reduced to 'non-citizens' and 'ghost people'. The DRHE declined to name the hotels and B&Bs which have received payment. The FoI unit said: "I am satisfied that the financial and commercial interest of the emergency accommodation providers would be negatively impacted by the released of this information." It said it was satisfied the release of this information would have a significant adverse impact on the management of the DRHE. It also said that the release of such records would breach the confidentiality of providers. Russia and Nato on Friday hailed an agreement between the United States and the Taliban in Afghanistan that could lead to the end of America's longest war. The announcement of a deal came hours after the Afghan government said a week-long partial truce would start across the country on Saturday. "It will be an important event for the peace process in Afghanistan, Moscow's Afghanistan envoy, Zamir Kabulov, told state news agency RIA Novosti. He said he would take part in the signing ceremony on 29 February in Doha, if invited. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the deal, saying it had opened a possible route to sustainable peace in Afghanistan. "This is a critical test of the Taliban's willingness and ability to reduce violence and contribute to peace in good faith," he added Guarantees The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements on Friday saying they had agreed to sign the accord on 29 February in Doha, following the one-week partial truce. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the US-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," Pompeo said. He added that negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government would start soon afterwards The agreement will mark a significant turning point in the conflict by setting the conditions for arrangements that could lead to the withdrawal of US troops after more than 18 years. Chance The US and the Taliban were on the brink of a deal before in September but amid continued insurgent violence, President Donald Trump pulled back at the eleventh hour. Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001, the US has spent 1 trillion euros in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. Social Motion Skills is looking to create a new first step for young adults with autism looking for their own career and passion, backed with individualized data and simulated work environments. The Transition to Employability Center, located at 10694 Haddington Drive, Ste. G, in northwest Houston, is a new center for transition young adults with autism to have their skill set assessed and improved. The intention is for students to carry the skills over into a work environment using the Practical Assessment and Exploration System. The nonprofit Social Motion Skills was founded in 2010 by Wendy Dawson after she could not find a program with a focus in social skills for autistic children for her stepson Cameron. The group offers social skill building programs and courses for younger and older people with autism. Dawson said the Transition to Employability Center is meant to guide autistic individuals toward career paths that fit their talents. Students will clock in for three hour sessions either in the afternoon or the evening, completing either a seven-week assessment course where they work through individual tasks daily to gain a full picture of their working strengths and weaknesses. Following the assessment, the caregiver or parent of the student can use the results for further education, such as inclusion in their individualized education program at their school. As the mother of a son with autism, Dawson said this level of preparedness was not previously available in the Houston area. If we do the assessment, we get the parents the results and they can go back to the (individualized education program) or to the transition counselors at the school, Dawson said. If we can help them find direction then their resources are much better applied. Parents get comfort because they know this is truly what they're good at. The kid is happy because it is what they're interested in. The assessment students work through are based in the business and marketing, computer technology, construction and industrial and processing and production. The Transition to Employability Center includes work stations for each section, including a sewing machine, various tools, computers, a kitchen and multiple desks. Students are left to complete their work individually to accurately gauge their abilities. They have to basically clock in, they get their assignment, they're supposed to finish the assignment and then the supervisor may put down on their little timesheet that they have completed that assignment and the supervisor, Dawson said. We need to really understand what is the 360 picture. Can you comprehend this? and if you don't like a job, you don't think you like a job, where's your reaction to that? More Information The first class for the Transition to Employability Center begins on March 1. For more information on applying, tuition and more visit socialmotionskills.org . See More Collapse Brandi Timmons, behavioral specialist for Social Motion Skills, said the system has worked for her students in the past, providing data that objectively presents skill sets for students. Timmons has 15 years of experience with behavior analytics. It's not just an opinion of, This is what I like, this is what I don't like, this is what I think they want to do. she said. They can walk into an IEP meeting and say this is real data and this is how we need to plan the next four years to get my child ready for what they want to do. It's great for the 18 plus (age range) that have no idea what they want to do because they get to explore. If a student is having difficulty with a section of their learning, their schedule can be adjusted and modified, Dawson said. Students can also enroll in an 18-week learning course as well, where they would work on improving specific skills. Dawson said the Transition to Employability Center is searching for sponsors to provide grants or funds to have their business attached to particular categories of learning. Emily Smart, director of development for Social Motion Skills, said sponsors would aid Social Motion Skills in providing cheaper tuition. All of our tuition at Social Motion is offered on a sliding scale and in order to do that we're fundraising and finding corporate sponsors, she said. This was actually generously underwritten, seed capital-wise, by the MD Anderson foundation. Dawson said she looks forward to partnering with local private schools, public school transition programs and homeschool programs to help their students transition into the workforce easier for parents and their children alike. In the future, Dawson said she hopes to have the 18-week program lead into students starting further education with trade schools or local community colleges. Now we have a path instead of just throwing a dart in the dark, Dawson said. chevall.pryce@chron.com A CANCER patient was forced to endure over 30 hours on a trolley at University Hospital Limerick, just days after he was given a terminal diagnosis. And in a separate case, an 86-year-old pensioner was left on a trolley for a total of 152 hours more than six days with an injured hip. In an interview with the Leader this week, close family members of the 73-year-old cancer patient from Limerick said that he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the first week of February. The pensioner also has tumours in his femur, the source said, adding that palliative care is the only option. The man had been receiving great care at Ennis Hospital until he was transferred to a radiologist at University Hospital Limerick on February 14, last Friday. However, within an hour, he was contacted by doctors in Ennis and was urged to attend the emergency department at UHL for a surgery. The patient then spent 31 hours on a trolley before he got a bed, the family source said. He was on a trolley from 4.30pm until 11am or 12 noon the following day. He was on a trolley and all during the night, I stayed with him myself. Id say around 4.30am, we were transferred up to a ward but he was still in the trolley. At the time of the interview, the patient was still in UHL, waiting for a scan. Speaking about his emotional state, the family member said: He is always so positive and is more worried about us, and the inconvenience of us going in and out of the hospital. But he is in a lot of pain now. He is in excrutiating pain. The source said that he has been feeling hopeless and everyone in the family is stressed out. He is distressed. He just wants to go home, and we just want be home with him. In the case of the 86-year-old pensioner, she presented to the emergency department last Tuesday at 2pm, and was on a trolley until this Monday at 10.30pm, which is almost a full week. Close family members said that she was referred to the emergency department by a GP due to ongoing issues with her hip and was suffering with constipation. They told the Leader this week that she was waiting for an isolation room. They have hit out at the lack of resourcing in UHL, and that the pensioner was in major discomfort while on a trolley for six days. She is very frustrated, the family member said. If we had any sense, wed probably be better off going to Belfast or over to the UK to try and get treated quicker. He added: We all know that it is bad. The healthcare profession knows that its bad. Politicians know that it is bad. But it has become acceptable. Both families wished to remain anonymous in the media about their loved ones care. A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that it regrets that any patient, particularly elderly, faces a long wait for a bed. He said that they are unable to discuss specific details due to ethical obligations and legal requirements under GDPR. He said that over the past week, UHL has experienced high levels of ED presentations and are implementing escalation measures for patients. Demand for isolation facilities presents an additional challenge for UHL, as the hospital has only a limited numbers of single rooms. When demand for these isolation facilities is high, as it was last week, patients requiring isolation will often spend a period of their hospital stay in an isolation room within ED. The 19.5m 60-bed modular block is due for completion by the end of 2020. The spokesperson said that a planning application for the 25m 96-bed block is due to be submitted later this year. None of the above minimises our regret that any patient, especially the frail and elderly, has to wait on a trolley for admission. In a statement this Wednesday, the UL Hospitals spokesperson said that prolonged waits in the emergency department, such as the two cases, do not reflect the level of care we wish to provide, and we sincerely apologise to them and their loved ones. US President will raise the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister during his visit to India next week, the White House said on Friday, noting that the US has great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom both in his public remarks and then certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is extremely important to this administration," a senior official told reporters in a conference call. The official was responding to a question on whether the president was planning to speak to Modi on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or the National Register of Citizens. "We do have this shared commitment to upholding our universal values, the rule of law. We have great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions, and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions," the official said, requesting anonymity. "And we are concerned with some of the issues that you have raised," the senior administration official said, in response to the question on CAA and NRC. "I think the President will talk about these issues in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious minorities," the official said. "Of course, it's in the Indian constitution -- religious freedom, respect for religious minorities, and equal treatment of all religions. So this is something that is important to the president and I'm sure it will come up," said the official. Pointing out that India has a strong democratic foundation, the official said India is a country rich in religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity. "In fact, it's the birthplace of four major world religions," the official noted. "Prime Minister Modi, in his first speech after winning the election last year, talked about how he would prioritise being inclusive of India's religious minorities. And, certainly, the world looks to India to maintain religious liberty and equal treatment for all under the rule of law," said the senior administration official. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With 80% of the countrys prom and wedding dresses manufactured in China, the Coronavirus epidemic may cause a shortage and delayed delivery of these gowns, according to the American Bridal and Prom Industry Association. According to CNN, many factories in China have remained closed this year while the country deals with the coronavirus epidemic. This will likely impact the amount of gowns being made and delivered to the U.S. during the upcoming prom and wedding season. While CNN reports that Chinas vast manufacturing engine is slowly coming back on line, the recent shutdown has resulted in a production delays. We have spent a lot of time monitoring the situation in China and I believe a lot of disruption is going to happen, said James Marcum, CEO of Davids Bridal to CNN. Its not only with bridal gowns but theres the bridesmaid side of things, too. The dress shortage is also affecting costumes made in China for competitive dancers and cheer teams. Students at Staten Island dance schools said they have been told some of their dance costumes may not arrive in time for competition season. In the U.S., 15 cases have been confirmed since the first, when a Washington state man was diagnosed with it upon his return Jan. 15 from the region around Wuhan, China. Cases have also been reported in California, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois and Massachusetts. No cases have been confirmed in New York metropolitan area, though a handful of people have been tested when they presented with suspicious symptoms. Questions about prevention will be addressed during a public lecture and question-and-answer session about COVID-19 to be hosted by Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) on Monday in its Sipp Auditorium, West Brighton. U.S. officials have announced that they will deny entry to foreign nationals who have recently traveled in China, and some airlines have announced that they will cancel flights to China. Nonetheless, to avoid potential infection, the CDC stresses these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of all respiratory diseases. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER Information has come to light demonstrating that the chief magistrate overseeing the extradition proceedings against Julian Assange received financial benefits from organizations with close ties to the UK Foreign Office prior to her appointment. According to a report on Friday in the South African-based Daily Maverick, Lady Emma Arbuthnot attended, along with her husband Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom, all-expenses-paid secretive gatherings of the organizations Tertulias and Tatlidil in 2014 that included numerous UK foreign policy officials. Lady Arbuthnot was appointed chief magistrate in Westminster in October 2016. Lady Emma and Lord James Arbuthnot of Edrom at Buckingham Palace in May 2017 [Source: Instagram] Although as of November 2019 Arbuthnot is no longer formally presiding over the Assange extradition proceedings, she has refused to recuse herself and remains in a supervisory role overseeing the trial with her subordinate District Judge Vanessa Baraitser on the bench. According to the UK court rules, the chief magistrate is responsible for supporting and guiding district judge colleagues. The Daily Maverick report states: Tertulias, an annual forum held for political and corporate leaders in the UK and Spain, is regarded by the UK Foreign Office as one of its partnerships. In attendance at the Tertulias conference in Bilbao, Spain in October 2014 was Conservative Party member Liz Truss, who is now UK Trade Secretary. The report says, Liz Truss, then Justice Secretary, advised the Queen to appoint Lady Arbuthnot in October 2016. The expenses of Lady Arbuthnot at the Bilbao conference were covered by the Tertulias organization, since her husband, a former Conservative defense minister with extensive links to the British military and intelligence community exposed by WikiLeaks, was the chairman of the organization. Lady Arbuthnot was also present with her husband at the British-Turkish Tatlidil Forum in Istanbul in November 2014. Daily Maverick describes Tatlidil (Turkish for sweet talk) as a forum established by the UK and Turkish governments for high level individuals involved in politics and business. Those present included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The report states that the UK delegation to the Tatlidil forum in Istanbul, was led by Prince Andrew, who also hosted the Tatlidil in Edinburgh the previous year. Then foreign minister Tobias Ellwood spoke at the forum while former foreign secretary Jack Straw, who is a co-chair of Tatlidil, presided over one of the discussions. Erdogan spoke at the meeting and reportedly called for the removal of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The report also states that it is possible that Lady Arbuthnot may not have attended the discussions since there was a separate spouses/partners programme involving local visits. James and Emma Arbuthnots expenses of 2,426 for the trip were paid for by the organization. Daily Maverick goes on to explain that the business offices of these two organizations, despite no obvious connection between them other than their connection to the UK Foreign Office, are located at the same address. The report says that both Tertulias and Tatlidil had been managed by the same person living at the addresses given by parliamentarians. She told Declassified that Tertulias is independent but works closely with the Foreign Office. When asked about the organisations funders or any personnel involved, including its current parliamentary chair, information was refused. These revelations provide further evidence that the long series of legal attacks on Julian Assange leading up to the present effort to extradite him to the US have been part of a coordinated international campaign by the UK and US military-intelligence establishment against the WikiLeaks founder and journalist in violation of his basic democratic rights. The very same people from the UK Foreign Office with whom Chief Magistrate Arbuthnot had been hobnobbing before her appointment have made the most vociferous denunciations of Assange, calling him a miserable little worm. They refused to recognize his right to asylum in Ecuador, leaving him trapped inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years before British police dragged him out and arrested him last April. Arbuthnot repeatedly expressed animosity toward the WikiLeaks journalist in court and twisted the law to justify his continued persecution. This began with her first ruling in February 2018 against a motion by Assanges defense team that his British arrest warrant be lifted on the grounds that the concocted Swedish allegations against him, on which the warrant was based, had been dropped. Arbuthnot also defied the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions determination that Assanges forced stay inside the Ecuadorian embassy was arbitrary detention. She ruled: I give little weight to the views of the Working Group. I do not find that Mr. Assanges stay in the Embassy is inappropriate, unjust, unpredictable, unreasonable, unnecessary or disproportionate. Last year, when the fact that her husband was a leading figure of British foreign policy was originally brought to light as a violation of the Guide to Judicial Conduct in England and Wales, Arbuthnot ignored calls for her recusal. Yet the activities of Lord Arbuthnot and his associates at the defense contractor Thales and British intelligence were the subject of thousands of WikiLeaks exposures, making the conflict of interest that much more obvious. The role of the Arbuthnots in the persecution and imprisonment of Assange, and his extradition trial that is set to begin on Monday, is a critical indicator of the high-level conspiracy by powerful individuals in the British government, in cooperation with Washington DC, to punish and destroy the WikiLeaks founder. The exposures published by WikiLeaks have dealt a devastating blow to the capitalist ruling elite by bringing the truth about imperialist and corporate crimes to the people of the world. The fight for the freedom of Julian Assange, who is guilty of nothing other than being a courageous journalist, must be taken up in every workplace, neighborhood and school. The author also recommends: Judge Emma Arbuthnot refuses to recuse herself in show trial of Julian Assange [11 July 2019] Assange judge blocks extradition to Azerbaijan of McMafia wife [ 2 October 2019 ] Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered in Baghdad on Saturday to demand an end to corruption, unemployment and poor public services in Iraq. At least two protesters were injured in confrontations with riot police near Khilani Square, and helped into tents for medical assistance. One of the protesters, who did not share his name, told the Associated Press that police used slingshots and hunting rifles toward the demonstrators. Footage showed tear gas being fired toward the protesters. Mass protests erupted in various locations in Iraq last year and contributed to the resignation of former prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who in February was replaced by Mohammed Tawfik Allawi. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Korea has doubled in one day, with the majority linked to the worshipper of a mysterious cult church known as Patient 31. Despite Daegu, the countrys fourth largest city, being placed on lockdown and its 2.5 million residents told to stay indoors as heavily-clad workers disinfect the streets the number of known patients leapt to 433 after 239 new cases were discovered on Saturday. Officials warned the tally would likely continue to rise significantly, with more than 1,000 people who attended religious services at a Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus reporting symptoms. Koreas Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has designated Daegu and Cheongdo county where more than 100 cases have been confirmed at a hospitals psychiatric ward as special care zones, sending military medical staff, other health workers and extra resources. More than half of the countrys cases are linked to a 61-year-old woman known as Patient 31, who before her diagnosis attended at least four services at the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, a Daegu church whose leader claims to be the returned Jesus Christ. 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu The near-deserted streets of Daegu's Dongseongro shopping district AFP via Getty Images 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu People line up to buy foods and supplies at a supermarket in Daegu AP 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu A beggar wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus is pictured on Dongseongro shopping street REUTERS 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu Shopkeepers on Dongseongro shopping street in central Daegu REUTERS 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu Women wearing masks in Daegu's Dongseongro shopping district REUTERS 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu Medical workers wearing protective gear transfer a suspected coronavirus patient (C) to hospital YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu South Korean health officials spray disinfectant in front of the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus AFP via Getty Images 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu South Korean health officials spray disinfectant AFP via Getty Images 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu A South Korean man wears a protection mask while walking in central Daegu EPA 'A zombie apocalypse': Daegu on lockdown - in pictures Coronavirus outbreak in Daegu A South Korean health official sprays disinfectant front of a hospital YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images She had no recent record of overseas travel, authorities said, and local media reported that after developing a fever on 10 Feburary she twice refused to be tested for the coronavirus due to having not recently travelled abroad. KCDC said on Saturday it had obtained a list of 9,300 people who had attended church services, around 1,200 of whom had complained of flu-like symptoms. We are conducting investigation based on the database ... we have obtained, KCDC director Jeong Eun-kyeong said, while Daegus mayor added all believers of the church would be tested and have been asked to self-isolate at home, away from their families. South Korean president Moon Jae-in has also ordered an investigation into whether the outbreaks at the church and hospital home to more than 114 cases, the vast majority in its psychiatric unit are linked. We think the patients had repeated exposure given the isolated facility of the psychiatric wards, where many patients share the same room, the KCDCs Mr Jeong told reporters. Earlier this month, several of the churchs followers visited the hospital to attend a funeral for the brother of the churchs founder Lee Man-hee. Mr Lee claims to be the second coming of Christ and promises to take 144,000 people with him to heaven on Judgement Day. Shincheonji followers reportedly believe Mr Lee is immortal, and according to the churchs teachings only he can interpret and understand the bibles true meaning. The Shincheonji church said it has closed all of its 74 sanctuaries in South Korea and told followers to instead watch its services on YouTube. We are deeply sorry that because of one of our members, who thought of her condition as a cold because she had not travelled abroad, led to many in our church being infected and thereby caused concern to the local community, the church said in a statement. Two Covid-19 patients have now died in South Korea, both at the Cheongdo hospital. One was a woman in her fifties who was transferred from the countrys second largest city, Busan, for treatment, and a 63-year-old man. In the capital of Seoul, thousands took to the streets on Saturday for regular weekend political rallies, despite the citys mayor saying the gatherings would be banned as part of containment measures. Seoul police told Reuters they were aware of the ban but that it would be an abuse of power for them to intervene. Workers wearing protective gears spray disinfectant on Daegu's deserted streets (Kim Jun-beom/Yonhap via AP) The country is now home to the largest outbreak outside of China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where more than 600 passengers became infected as it was quarantined off the shore of Japan. A repatriation flight carrying Britons and Europeans who had been held aboard the cruise ship landed in the UK on Saturday, where they will face a two-week quarantine in the Wirrals Arrowe Park Hospital. Several UK nationals infected with the virus remain hospitalised in Japan. The death toll from the outbreak in mainland China rose to 2,345 as of Friday with more than 76,000 people infected. Recommended Plane carrying Britons from quarantined coronavirus cruise ship lands Meanwhile, new clusters of infection in South Korea, Singapore and Iran led some experts to suggest the virus may be nearing the level of a pandemic. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded Chinas containment efforts as buying time for the rest of the world to prepare. But the emergence of hot spots around the globe and trouble finding the the first patients who have sparked each new cluster might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-true public health steps to stamp it out. A number of spot fires, occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic, said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at Australias University of Queensland. The WHO defines a global pandemic as a disease spreading on two continents, though some public health experts would call an outbreak a pandemic if the spread is over a wide area or across many international borders. Additional reporting by agencies Former Greenwich Police Officer Joseph Ryan is accused of providing guns to a convicted felon while he was an officer on the force, according to a statement from federal authorities. The 56-year-old Trumbull resident was taken into custody Friday on a federal criminal complaint, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. That complaint charged him with knowingly providing firearms to a convicted felon, the statement said. The investigation revealed that Ryan transferred firearms to an individual who he knew was a convicted felon, and who helped facilitate heroin transactions between Ryan and Ryans heroin supplier, the statement said. As alleged in the complaint, Ansonia police served a state search warrant at a city address on April 27, 2018, to find and seize 12 guns registered to a pistol permit holder at the home. Investigators found only five guns during the search. Those five guns were seized and taken to Ansonia police headquarters. On April 3, 2019, Ryan who was employed as an officer with the Greenwich Police Department at the time went to Ansonia police headquarters and took custody of the five guns seized nearly a year prior, the complaint alleges. In August and September 2019, members of the New Haven Police Department and ATF agents made controlled purchases of four guns from Malique Martin. Three of the four guns, the complaint alleges, were among the five guns Ryan took into his custody from Ansonia police earlier that year. Its unclear when Ryan stopped working as a Greenwich police officer. Greenwich police officials did not immediately respond to request for comment Friday night. Ryan faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison if convicted of the federal charge of knowingly providing firearms to a convicted felon. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on Friday and was released on a $100,000 bond. Martin, 24, of Ansonia, was arrested on Oct. 2, 2019. On Jan. 16, Martin pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He awaits sentencing. Finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 nations weighed the potential impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the world economy as they met in Riyadh Saturday for a two-day gathering. At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, financial leaders from the world's top 20 economies are also seeking consensus on ways to achieve a global taxation system for the digital era. The gathering comes amid growing alarm over the new coronavirus as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent the spread of the disease, with major knock-on effects for the global economy. The virus has now claimed 2,345 lives in China, cutting off transportation and forcing businesses to close their doors. The impact of the epidemic could see a "V-shaped" trajectory, with a sharp decline in China's GDP followed by a sharp recovery, but the situation could have more dire consequences for other countries as the impacts spill over, said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. At the core of discussions at the gathering is an action plan to shield the world economy -- already facing a slowdown -- from the impact of the outbreak, said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. "The question remains open: whether it will be a V-shape with a quick recovery of the world economy or whether it would lead to a L-shape with a persistent slowdown in world growth," Le Maire told reporters. "This is the key question." China has said it will not be sending any leaders from Beijing for the Riyadh gathering, chaired by the the kingdom's finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan and central bank governor Ahmed al-Kholifey. But it said the Chinese ambassador in the kingdom will instead lead a small delegation. "We have been closely watching the developments of the virus and assessing its potential effects on economic growth," a senior US Treasury official told reporters. "We expect ministers and governors will discuss the global economic outlook, particularly as it relates to the coronavirus outbreak." - 'One solution' - The G20 organisers also hosted a ministerial-level symposium on international taxation on Saturday, focused on the challenges arising from the digitalisation of the global economy. "There is a consensus among the G20 members on the necessity of getting this new international taxation system for the sake of fairness and efficiency," said Le Maire. He added there was also consensus on a global framework for an international system while urging the gathered leaders to reach a compromise solution by the end of the year. Last month, Britain said its planned digital tax on hugely profitable technology giants will proceed from April despite US threats of retaliatory tariffs. "You cannot have in a global economy different national tax systems that conflict with each other," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Riyadh gathering. Other European nations like Italy and Austria have already introduced their own digital levy, but France has put its plans on hold. Presidents Emmanuel Macron and US Donald Trump have agreed to extend negotiations on the proposed French tax on digital giants to the end of the year, postponing Washington's threat of sanctions against Paris, according to a French diplomatic source. France has said it would drop its tax if an international agreement is reached under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Saudi presidency will see it host world leaders for a summit in Riyadh from November 21 to 22. It will hold more than 100 events and conferences in the run-up to the summit, including ministerial meetings, organisers say. Human rights groups have urged G20 member states to exert pressure on the kingdom over its intensifying crackdown on dissent, which has seen women activists, journalists and political dissidents jailed. The coronavirus outbreak has hit travel and trade not only in China where it first emerged but as far away as the Middle East and Europe French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told his G20 counterparts the key question was whether the world economy would bounce back from the disruption caused by the coronavirus or slide into a protracted slowdown Vietnams domestic pork supplies could fall by 20 to 35 percent this year as a consequence of African swine fever, according to the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD). A pork stall at a market in northern Bac Ninh province Researchers from IPSARD on February 19 presented two scenarios at a conference in Hanoi to assess the impacts of the fever on domestic pork supplies and discuss solutions to ensure sustainable breeding. Nguyen Viet Hung, a representative of the research team, pointed out one scenario in which 10 percent (about 580,000) of female pigs in a herd were infected, and another scenario in which 20 percent were infected. The domestic pork supply was predicted to decrease from 3.9 million tonnes per year to 3.15 million tonnes in the first scenario and 2.55 million tonnes in the second scenario. According to Hung, insufficient pork supplies would lead to a surge in prices. The normal costs of live pigs without African swine fever stands at 46,000 VND (2 USD) per kilogramme. The epidemic could raise that by 22 percent (to more than 56,000 VND per kilogramme) in the first scenario and by 45.5 percent (to more than 66,000 VND) in the second scenario. Vietnam would have to import 7,100 tonnes of pork in the first scenario and 8,900 tonnes in the second scenario to compensate for the domestic shortage, said Hung. The researchers also predicted that domestic pork consumption would decrease by 14.6 percent in the first scenario and 25 percent in the second scenario. Tran Cong Thang, head of IPSARD, said global integration had put pressure on pork producers and the retail market. Pork farms were suffering the biggest losses because their profits largely depend on breeding. Despite these challenges, an open domestic market and trade agreements such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) had provided opportunities to restructure the domestic agricultural sector, Thang said. State policies should give priority to assisting localities and enterprises in building disease-free chains and zones; supporting small-scale animal husbandry households to switch their agricultural production to other industries; and developing safe and hygienic poultry and cattle breeding to ensure domestic meat supply, he said. Businesses also needed to improve their competitiveness, develop a clear strategy for the domestic market and study markets in countries that are members of the EVFTA and CPTPP. Meanwhile, farmers need to join cooperatives and update market information to seek new chances, he said. According to IPSARDs report, Vietnam was one of the biggest pork producers and consumption markets in the world. Pig breeding was a source of income for more than 3.4 million households. African swine fever appeared in Vietnam last February and spread to all 63 provinces and cities. Since then, farmers nationwide have been forced to cull more than 5.9 million pigs (accounting for about 9 percent of the country's total herds)./.VNS Pork supply expected to recover from this month: MARD The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said that the domestic pork supply is forecast to increase from February. Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed to drop the use of the word royal from their future branding as a financially independent couple. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in talks with the Buckingham Palace team handling their transition away from frontline royal duties, with some complications around the use of Sussex Royal as the phrase to be associated with their charitable work and other causes going forward. While the Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word royal', it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation, a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement, issued to address the ongoing media speculation over the issue. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal' in any territory post spring 2020. Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Kate Middleton), have been removed, the spokesperson said. The spring 2020 deadline refers to March 31, unveiled earlier this week as the formal date from when the couple will cease to formally represent Queen Elizabeth II and make their move to Canada, where they are expected to be based and travel to the UK regularly. Harry, 35, and Markle, 38, are currently living in a mansion on Vancouver Island in Canada with their nine-month-old son Archie. Harry remains sixth in line to British throne and will retain his military ranks of Major, Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Leader but will not use his honorary military positions or perform any official duties associated with these roles. The positions will remain unfilled during an agreed 12-month trial period for the transition, leaving an option open for him to resume those roles. Similarly, the couple will retain their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles but have agreed not to use them in their new independent roles. The couple had registered the website sussexroyal.com in March last year, where they laid out details of their future plans ahead of formal discussions with the 93-year-old monarch, Harry's grandmother. A detailed statement on the website notes that Harry and his former American actress wife will refresh their digital channels for the next exciting phase in their lives. While there is not any jurisdiction by the Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word Royal' overseas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use Sussex Royal' or any iteration of the word Royal' in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020, a further detailed statement on their website notes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will become privately funded members of The Royal Family with permission to earn their own income and the ability to pursue their own private charitable interests, the statement adds. The statement notes that the couple are not planning a new foundation but a non-profit entity to develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by excellent foundations globally. Meanwhile, they are set to return to the UK over the coming weeks to complete a series of formal engagements as royals before they step back from representing the Queen at the end of March. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lesotho premier Thomas Thabane failed Friday to show up in court where he was due to be charged with murdering his estranged wife, prompting police to warn they could issue an arrest warrant. His aide said he had gone to South Africa for medical checks. The 80-year-old prime minister is accused of having acted "in common purpose" in the June 2017 killing of Lilopelo Thabane, 58, with whom he was embroiled in a bitter divorce. She was gunned down just two days before Thabane took his oath of office. His current wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, whom he married two months after Lipolelo's death, is considered a co-conspirator and has already been charged with murder. "The PM has still not shown up," Deputy Police Commissioner Palesa Mokete told a news conference after the premier failed to appear in a Maseru court. "We have since been informed that he has gone for a routine check up," he added. "If we are to ascertain that he is actually trying to avoid being charged we will issue a warrant of arrest for defeating the ends of justice." Thabane's personal secretary Thabo Thakalekoala told AFP that the prime minister had gone to neighbouring South Africa for a "routine" medical exam. "He is not attending court, he has gone for a medical checkup in South Africa," Thakalekoala said by phone. Thabane left on Thursday, he said. He gave no further details and said Thabane's return depended on medical advice. Police said Thabane's daytime guards at State House told them that when they reported for duty on Friday "he was nowhere to be found and... that he had left with his night guards". 'Strong case' The accusations against the prime minister came after communications records from the scene of the murder included Thabane's mobile phone number. "We have a very strong case against the PM and his phone is not the only evidence that we have," Mokete told reporters. "There is a whole lot of other evidence," he said, without elaborating. The death shook Lesotho, a landlocked mountainous nation of 2.2 million people that has a long history of political turmoil. In his inaugural speech, Thabane described his wife's murder as a "senseless killing." He and Maesaiah -- who at the time had the status of a "customary wife" -- attended Lipolelo's funeral. On Thursday, Thabane had announced that he would quit office by July 31 because of his age, ahead of the end of his elected term in 2022. It has been more than a decade since a prime minister served out a full five-year term in Lesotho. Thabane fled the country once before, when his first coalition government was marred by political bickering, which culminated in an army-led coup in August 2014. 'Like a crime novel' The prime minister sought exile in South Africa after soldiers attacked police posts and surrounded his official residence. He returned home in 2017 and successfully ran for re-election. Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his wife Maesaiah Thabane both attended his inauguration in 2017. By SAMSON MOTIKOE (AFP/File) Analysts said Thabane was not technically a fugitive from justice and may be playing for time. "The prime minister for now, cannot be accused of having evaded justice because there is no warrant of arrest, there were no summons served on him, it was just politically expected that he would appear in court," said Hoolo Nyane, a constitutional law professor at South Africa's University of Limpopo. Regional powerhouse South Africa, which completely surrounds the picturesque kingdom, has been conspicuously silent over the events in Lesotho. President Cyril Ramaphosa currently chairs the African Union and has for years been the regional SADC bloc's Lesotho mediator. "This has been an ongoing drama, almost like a crime novel," said Liesl Louw-Vaudran, senior researcher with the Pretoria-based Institute of Security Studies. "Now there is definitely a need for some external intervention. "It's very messy, it's very chaotic, it's certainly unprecedented," she said. Srinagar, Feb 22 : A terrorist affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, who was active in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla and Sopore areas, has been arrested, police said on Saturday. Acting on credible inputs, the police and security forces put up a check-point near Tapper Pattan and intercepted Junaid Farooq Pandit, a resident of Hamray Pattan. "Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from him. The police will probe his complicity in other terror crimes," police said. According to the police records, he is an active terrorist affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen. "A case under relevant sections of law has been registered at Pattan police station. (Natural News) As the coronavirus outbreak explodes across Asia, spreading to the Middle East and Europe, a rash of new infections in Italy has caused the Italian government to order 50,000 people into lockdown status while closing schools, bars and public spaces across 10 towns. Five doctors and 10 other people tested positive for the virus in Lombardy, after apparently frequenting the same bar and group of friends, with two other cases in Veneto, authorities said at a press conference, reports the IB Times. [A]ll public activities such as carnival celebrations, church masses and sporting events have been banned for up to a week. In addition, IB Times reports that 250 additional people have been placed in quarantine after having close contact with those who already tested positive. The local railway is now skipping three stations, underscoring how quickly this pandemic can collapse local infrastructure. Italian officials are now attempting to create a sanitary ring around the village of Vo Euganeo, much in the same way China tried to lock down Wuhan (but ultimately failed). We wonder, will Italy weld shut the steel doors of entire apartment complexes like China did? Or will we see a less draconian approach in Europe? Either way, it doesnt seem to matter. The virus escaped the strict quarantine measures in China, killing so many people there that the Chinese government had to bring in 40 mobile incineration ovens just to deal with all the corpses. The number of coronavirus infections outside China has doubled in less than a week, now exceeding 1,150 people (and growing exponentially). Meanwhile, coronavirus infections have exploded in South Korea, literally doubling overnight as a super spreader was believed to have infected hundreds of other attendees at her local church. The CDC is now warning U.S. hospitals to prepare for a surge in coronavirus patients in the United States. Read more coronavirus pandemic news at our new site Pandemic.news. ERLC says scrutiny by SBC Executive Committee is 'disrespectful,' sows division Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention has set in motion to study its policy arm, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, a move the ERLC says creates division and is disrespectful. Some within the nation's largest Protestant denomination have "ongoing concerns" that the ERLC is "not adequately fulfilling its Convention-approved ministry assignments," Baptist Press reported Tuesday. "We are looking for the facts," said SBC Executive Committee Chairman Mike Stone, who is chairing the study. "We are hearing from state leadership and other pastors across the country. We are making a statement about effectiveness." But such action is outside of the purview of the denomination's Executive Committee and it solely belongs to the ERLC Trustees, the ERLC Executive Committee said in a Thursday letter in response to the SBC Executive Committee's announcement. The President of the ERLC is Russell Moore, who has been in office since 2013. "[T]his task force seizes the work and responsibility of the trustees of the ERLC. Evaluating the effectiveness of Dr. Moore and the ERLC team is uniquely the work of the trustees of the ERLC. The appointment of this task force can be taken in no other sense than a vote of no confidence in the ERLC Board of Trustees, which is both insulting and, in our view, inappropriate and out of step with Southern Baptist cooperation," the ERLC Executive Committee said. The ERLC Executive Committee also stressed that the SBC Executive Committee did not handle established communication procedures properly, failing to consult the ERLC's trustees, which is forbidden by the organization's bylaws. Additionally, the ERLC Executive Committee's letter argued that the task force was formed during a session that was not public and that it overruled the expressed wishes of the messengers of the SBC during the Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, in 2018, where a motion to defund the ERLC was nearly unanimously rejected. "All told, we find the action of the Executive Committee in appointing this ERLC study task force disappointing, unnecessary, and harmful to our cooperative work in the SBC. The Executive Committee, of course, has a financial stewardship, particularly in terms of allocating the resources of the Cooperative Program," the letter continued. "But that should not result in a disregard of the clearly-expressed will of the denomination it purports to serve. It should not include a disregard of the very bylaws the Executive Committee is claiming as justification for its action. It should not include a culture of secrecy leading to a committee that unmistakably creates suspicion regarding one of our own entities. It should not include ignoring the directive to 'maintain open channels and instead create hostile channels with what should clearly be first a matter for the ERLC Board of Trustees to consider." In 2017, the ERLC was scrutinized by the Executive Committee following a tumultuous 2016 political season and as some Southern Baptists expressed displeasure related to Moore's pointed criticisms of then-candidate Donald Trump in the lead-up to the presidential election, arguing that his statements were not broadly representative of the SBC's views as it pertains to cultural engagement and politics. A number of influential churches at the time put contributions in an escrow account, withholding them from the denomination's Cooperative Program, in order to steer resources away from the ERLC. Yet Stone maintains this new task force is not an attempt to oust Moore, and neither was the 2017 review. "The ERLC is governed by their board of trustees," Stone said. "This is not a governance issue. This is a budget issue related to their fulfillment of their mission and ministry assignment. We continue to hear reports that are largely anecdotal but increasing in number where churches are either decreasing or withholding Cooperative Program funds related to concerns with the ERLC. We have a responsibility that we are granted under the bylaws of the SBC to look at this." In a statement to Baptist Press, Elizabeth Bristow, press secretary for the ERLC, said the agency "could not do what it does without the sacrificial giving of churches. We hear from our churches every single day with questions about some of the most complicated issues imaginable. In every case, we work to serve our churches with gospel-focused answers." "Occasionally, we receive questions from Southern Baptists about the work we do. Thankfully those questions are easier to answer. That's because, every day the men and women serving at the ERLC stand for the unborn, advocate for religious liberty, work to address the crisis of sexual abuse, and labor to equip men and women to answer ever-changing questions in light of the everlasting promises of our Lord. Writing in SBC Voices Thursday, Mercer University professor Susan Codone called the SBC Executive Committee's move "abhorrent" and noted the antics of other Southern Baptists on social media as she dared to speak out about sexual abuse and other topics. "I hope this new taskforce studying the ERLC asks for my opinion. I will tell them that Dr. Moore brought a wandering, deeply hurt Christian back to God and empowered me to serve Him publicly. I will tell them that the ERLC is imperative to the Southern Baptist Convention. I will tell them that the staff of the ERLC showed me how to be Christlike in the midst of hate and attacks," she said. The SBC Executive Committee's study comes on the heels of the launch of the Conservative Baptist Network, a new grassroots effort comprised of Southern Baptists who are concerned about certain theological trends within the SBC and desire to reinvigorate the denomination's historic emphasis on evangelism and the sufficiency of Scripture. The Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will occur in Orlando, Florida, in June. Victims of recent attacks by an armed group in the eastern DRC have told Al Jazeera the assailants wore military uniforms and killed indiscriminately. Victims of recent attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group in the Democratic Republic of the Congos eastern Beni region have told Al Jazeera that their assailants were often dressed in Congolese military fatigue and killed indiscriminately. Nearly one thousand people have been killed since October. The ADF was formed in western Uganda in the 1990s, but after being defeated by the Ugandan government, the group crossed the border into the DRC where they have remained for nearly 20 years. Al Jazeeras Catherine Soi reports from Beni. Regarding Curb carbon emissions (Letters, Feb. 21) and Ask for climate action (Letters, Feb. 21): The authors are quite mistaken in believing HR763 will solve the problem of carbon emissions. This bill puts a tax on carbon of 2.5 cents/pound, which raises the price of gasoline 14 cents/gallon, which will do nothing to lower gasoline usage, which is the single largest emitter by far of new carbon dioxide. Instead, if we want to stop global warming, we need to ban the sale of any new light-duty vehicle in California that burns gasoline as the primary fuel but dont specify what takes its place. That decision can be made by the car companies and consumers, not the California Air Resources Board. Leave existing vehicles alone to live out their natural lives on gasoline. Ban only new vehicles that burn gasoline (or diesel). This is what we did with DDT, freon-11, leaded gasoline and cars without air bags. We didnt increase taxes on those things. We just ended up banning them. Since we buy 17 million light-duty vehicles a year, in 15 years we will have replaced 255 million gasoline-burning vehicles (practically the entire fleet) and global warming will be a thing of the past. Don Siefkes, San Leandro Bloomberg should quit Michael Bloombergs performance in the recent Democratic debate was so disastrous that his chances of winning the nomination are virtually lost. I believe he could establish himself as a great patriot (with many benefits flowing to him afterwards) by dropping out of the race now and committing the remainder of the $2 billion to the Democratic cause. Mark Levine, El Cerrito Irrational firing Regarding Oaklands police chief fired (Page 1, Feb. 21): Those of us who live in Oakland and are concerned about crime have no reason to celebrate the firing of our police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick. For too long, Oakland city officials have exhibited an anti-cop bias, a bias that also is reflected, sadly, in much of the population at large. I sometimes wonder why anyone would want to be a cop in Oakland, given the negative attitude toward men and women in uniform from the mayor and City Council on down to the Oakland Police Commission. The morale of our brave cops is constantly being undermined by actions such as the irrational, without-cause firing of Chief Kirkpatrick. Steve Heimoff, Oakland End of democracy Righteous sentence for Stone (Editorial, Feb. 21) accurately pointed out the courage of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in imposing a 40-month sentence on President Trump adviser Roger Stone despite interference from the president and the attorney general. But now the president has attacked the biased jury foreperson in the case and suggested hell pardon Stone if a new trial isnt granted. So weve reached the point in America where the president controls the Justice Department, has his own flunky as attorney general, attacks judges, attacks the FBI, fires career servants for telling the truth, pardons crooked cronies, and demands investigations of opponents or even private citizens who disagree with him. Meanwhile, the Republicans in Congress who have enabled Trump say nothing or offer hypocritical and ludicrous defenses of him. As a result, the president now is not only above the law, but systematically dismantling the rule of law in our country. Wake up, people. America is fast becoming a banana republic. Four more years of this insanity will mean the end of democracy as we know it. Gary Cavalli, Danville Salute the memorial As a gay man who grew up during the 1980s AIDS crisis, Im pleased to read S.F. to host huge display of AIDS quilt (Datebook, Feb. 21). Thank you to Cleve Jones for pioneering this memorial project, which honors many of the people whose lives were cruelly cut short by the AIDS epidemic. And even though medical advances have helped HIV-positive people live longer lives, there is still no cure for this illness that claims thousands of lives in the U.S. (and elsewhere) every year. Everyone who wants to understand the historical magnitude of this health crisis should make a trip to see parts of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on display in Golden Gate Park beginning on April 3. Its a fine way to remember some wonderful people and to celebrate the parks 150th anniversary. Terrence Williams, Berkeley Prompt-arrival fees Any regular air traveler should not be surprised to read U.S. flight delays got worse in 2019 (Business, Feb. 21): Between the extra time that planes are on airport runways before taking off and after landing, its become increasingly difficult for passengers to make connecting flights or get to work-related activities with certainty. But since airlines have been charging fees for baggage check-in, seats with extra leg room, as well as for on-board meals, maybe their next revenue-enhancing innovation will be adding on-time destination fees to ticket prices if a plane arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled landing time. Jean Louis Cook, San Francisco Low expectations Ive lost faith in the U.S. Senate. We have three senators in the race for the Democratic nomination each claiming they can work across the aisle to get their agenda done. How did that work out for each of them to get Merrick Garlands nomination to the floor? Or put a stop to Brett Kavanaughs appointment? And, most important how did they, all three, do with working across the aisle to solicit support from Republicans to help impeach President Trump? What Im thinking is the U.S. Senate is no longer the place to look for a good, strong candidate that can get things done once in the White House. Ill vote for any of them against Trump in the general election but my expectations will be low for their time in office. Jim Bradley, San Francisco Focus on addiction Any solution to Californias homelessness problem focused on providing livable dwellings for the thousands of people living on streets is bound to fail. A policy that says, in effect, being homeless qualifies a person for a home will only cause more desperate people to flock to any state or municipality that implements it. Remedying this crisis requires eliminating the primary forces fueling the problem: mental illness and drug addiction. Unless someone is capable of acting in their own best interests, propping them up will fail. This state and the entire nation need to find ways to help mentally unstable individuals achieve self-sufficiency and to wean the millions of citizens addicted to opioids, heroin and other legitimately addictive substances off these destabilizing chemicals. By Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday demanded aboriginal groups lift damaging rail blockades but the protesters at the heart of the standoff remained defiant, saying their conditions had not yet been met. 'The situation as it currently stands is unacceptable and untenable.. By Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday demanded aboriginal groups lift damaging rail blockades but the protesters at the heart of the standoff remained defiant, saying their conditions had not yet been met. "The situation as it currently stands is unacceptable and untenable... the barricades need to come down now," Trudeau told reporters after some two weeks of stoppages that have triggered railroad layoffs and shortages of goods like propane. "The injunctions must be obeyed and the barriers must come down," he said, adding later "the onus" for a negotiated outcome was on the indigenous leadership. Given the history of violent clashes between police and indigenous peoples, Trudeau had been insisting on a peaceful, negotiated solution. But his remarks on Friday were a notable hardening in tone, signalling that police could soon clear the tracks. Protesters have blocked lines in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta in solidarity with a British Columbia aboriginal band seeking to stop the construction of a gas pipeline over its land. The hereditary chiefs of that band, the Wet'suwet'en, spoke alongside Tyendinaga Mohawk protesters who have been blocking a Canadian National Railway Co line in eastern Canada near Belleville, Ontario. "We heard Prime Minister Trudeau just a little while ago talking about the inconvenience Canada has suffered. However, there is a difference between inconvenience and injustice," said Wet'suwet'en Nation Hereditary Chief Woos. Woos said the primary condition needed to pave the way for talks, which is that federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police leave their lands, had not been met. Another demand was that construction of the pipeline be stopped. "If they show respect, definitely we'll start talking," Woos added. CN Rail obtained a court injunction against the protesters on Feb. 7 but the Ontario Provincial Police so far has declined to act, citing the complexity of the situation. The federal government cannot give orders to police forces, and Trudeau ruled out sending in the military. "The intervention in the case of the (Belleville) blockade is the responsibility of the Ontario Provincial Police," Trudeau said. Although Trudeau's message that time was running out seemed clear, the official opposition Conservative party criticized him for being too cautious. "Justin Trudeau has already taken force off the table... now he is relying on the goodwill of the protesters to take down the barricades," Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said. "This is nothing more than phoney resolve." (Reporting by Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren, additional reporting by Kelsey Johnson and Moira Warburton in Toronto; Editing by Dan Grebler and Marguerita Choy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi on Saturday said that the convicts in her daughter's gang-rape and murder case are misleading the courts and using tactics to delay their execution. She expressed confidence that the convicts will be hanged on March 3. "It was a tactic to delay the execution. The convicts are misleading the courts. They have exhausted almost all legal remedies and I believe that they will be hanged on March 3," Asha Devi told the reporters here after a Delhi court dismissed the petition of convict Vinay Sharma seeking high-level medical treatment for his claimed insanity. On the other hand, advocate AP Singh, representing the convict, claimed miscarriage of justice. "I sought to call for the videography of the convict in the prison. I witnessed it myself. If there is no plaster on the hand of Vinay, if there is no injury on his head and people are not visibly holding him down in the video, I will quit practicing law," Singh said. A Delhi court today dismissed the application seeking medical treatment for claimed insanity observing that general anxiety and depression are obvious for those on death row, adding that adequate medical treatment and psychological help are evidently being provided to the condemned convict. "I have also seen the CD provided by the Jail Authorities wherein the convict is seen conversing with his counsel and family members. The apparent tone and tenor of the convict is not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour, rather it convincingly corroborates the opinion of the medical experts," Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana said in the order. Earlier today, the court had reserved its order in the matter after hearing arguments from both sides. Vinay, through his lawyer, had filed an application which sought high-level medical treatment after he allegedly sustained a "grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm, insanity, mental illness, and schizophrenia". A fresh death warrant has been issued for the four death row convicts -- Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh -- in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case for their hanging at 6 am on March 3. This is the third time that the court has issued death warrants against the four convicts in the last two months. The case pertains to the brutal gang-rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google Streetview EDWARDSVILLE The owners of the BP gas station and convenience store at 301 S. Buchanan St., Edwardsville, have filed suit against the local liquor commission, the Illinois Liquor Commission and Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton over a revoked liquor license. Edwardsville Petroleum LLC, represented by Charles J. Baricevic of Belleville, claims it was denied a right to an attorney and there was not sufficient evidence to revoke its license. Patton was named in his role as liquor commissioner. The Illinois Liquor Commission was named as the issuer of the license. Hong Kong: 3rd chartered flight arranged Secretary for Security John Lee today announced the third chartered flight will bring back Hong Kong residents from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, who are not close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Speaking to reporters in the afternoon, Mr Lee said the government-arranged flight will depart Japan at 1.45am on February 23. He said: Our intention is to take back any Hong Kong people who are allowed to leave the ship and also leave Japan if they are not close contacts so that they can all be taken back to Hong Kong. The information so far indicates that there will likely be around 100 people still in Japan. Onboard the ship there are 32 close contacts, and there are several tens of people who are not close contacts and will be allowed to disembark the ship. We are appealing to all Hong Kong residents who are still in Japan to take our chartered flight. Mr Lee added that he does not expect this chartered flight to take back as many people as the first and second flights. Despite the possibility of this third chartered flight not taking back a large number of people, we will not give up any chance to take back the Hong Kong people who are not close contacts and who can leave Japan. This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Xiao Yao doesn't know when or where he caught the new coronavirus. He suspects it happened on his train journey home to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Jingzhou city, in central China's Hubei province. The 27-year-old, who works in the southwest city of Chengdu, only realised something was amiss as the clock ticked midnight into the year of the rat on January 25. "I suddenly began to feel that my body was very warm, and I began to panic," he told AFP. Xiao, who was at a friend's house in Jingzhou at the time, wasn't sure what to do. He had heard horror stories about the virus spreading through the country from friends at the epicentre of the outbreak in nearby Wuhan. "The feeling I got was that you shouldn't go to the hospital -- you will fall ill if you aren't already ill," he said. But he knew he had to get away from his friend's young child and elderly parents, to protect them. By then, Wuhan and other parts of Hubei had been placed under a quarantine that blocked millions of people from travelling. Unable to return to his parents' home in a different township, Xiao checked into a nearby hotel, where his long ordeal began. - Makeshift hospital - Xiao spent nearly a week alone at the hotel with only instant noodles to eat because nearby stores were all closed. He took fever medication and consulted an online doctor, who said he could have an upper respiratory tract infection. "I was so flustered. I thought about whether to call the police for help from the government," Xiao said, but decided against it as he wasn't sure if he had the COVID-19 illness. At night, he began to believe he was hallucinating a flying object in his room. One morning, he realised a bat had entered the room -- the animal scientists believe was probably the source of the virus that has now killed more than 2,200 people and infected 75,000 across China. The government eventually shut down the hotel and Xiao had to return to his friend's house. By then, he had developed a serious cough. His friend was also running a temperature, so they decided to head to a makeshift hospital converted from a factory. There he was treated with an assortment of intravenous drips, antiviral drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. On February 4, Xiao finally received confirmation of what he had long feared -- he was infected with the coronavirus. Conditions at the makeshift hospital were basic. Xiao initially had his own room, but got a "roommate" as the hospital became more crowded. "I didn't bathe for more than 20 days," he said. "I didn't even have towels." "There was a smell of disinfectant on the food that made me nauseous," he said. "But then I think about my friends in Wuhan, all of them struggling to get a hospital bed, and I can't complain any more," Xiao said. - 'Mutant' - Xiao became the subject of vicious rumours in his friend's township. "That I had mutated, that I had already been cremated, that my friend had invited me deliberately to infect their town, or that my parents worked at the Huanan seafood market -- many different versions," Xiao said, referring to the Wuhan market where the virus is believed to have originated. "I was under the greatest psychological pressure when I was diagnosed... I felt sorry for my friend." Xiao was finally discharged on Wednesday, and transferred to a quarantine location provided by the government. He plans to donate blood plasma for an experimental treatment using cells from coronavirus survivors. He also wants to quit his job at a media company in Chengdu and settle down in his home province once the outbreak ends, to be closer to family. "I no longer want to keep drifting out there," he said. Xiao Yao suspects he caught the new coronavirus on his train journey home to celebrate the Lunar New Year Xiao Yao was taken to hospital by ambulance and helped by medical staff Nguyen Quoc Binh returned to Vietnam from Canada, accepted an invitation to help HCM Citys leaders lay a foundation for the biotechnology sector. The turning point which changed the life of BInh and his family occurred in 2004. A former colleague of his asked him to guide PhD students to prepare dissertations in biotechnology. Binh then visited the HCM City Science and Technology to register scientific research projects and he was told to contact the citys Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Nguyen Phuoc Thao, who was then director of the agriculture department, was happy when meeting Binh. The department was assigned to develop a biotechnology center and Thao still did not know where to start. After 15 years of development, the biotechnology center has been growing rapidly with five functions - research, trial production, product commercialization, training, and international cooperation. Binh met Nguyen Thien Nhan, who was then vice mayor of HCM City, and now is HCM City Municipal Party Committee Secretary. I set three conditions. First, the city needs to offer me atleast subsistence wages. Second, the project must be big enough. Third, local departments and branches have to consider the building of the center as their responsibility. Nhan agreed on my requirements, Binh recalled. HCM City paid Binh VND10 million a month, which was three times higher than the pay to a Vietnamese worker with PhD, but just equal to 20 percent of the wage he received in Canada. Nhan agreed to allocate the budget of $100 million to run the project as Binh requested. Binh spent one month to return to Canada to resign from his post at the university and sell all his assets before returning to Vietnam. In the first phase of operation, his center carried out training, scientific research, and produced vaccines, test kits and biopharmaceuticals. Binh kept an eye to all works, from plants to medicine and aquatic products and step by step assigned the works to his co-workers. The center has trained and produced nearly 100 masters and PhDs, while Binh guided 30 PhD students. However, Binh said that Vietnam still doesnt have reasonable policies to retain talents. The researchers with masters degree at the center are paid VND3.7 million a month. If they work for private enterprises, they can receive $1,300-$2,000. Many research works carried out by the center have high economic value, such as the creation of orchid varieties, Ngoc Linh Ginseng hairy roots with gene technology, and the creation of a next-generation vaccine for catfish. After 15 years of development, the biotechnology center has been growing rapidly with five functions - research, trial production, product commercialization, training, and international cooperation. Thanh Lich Vietnamese scientist uses food fibers to prevent bowel cancer At the age of 30, Dr Tran Van Hung turned down a job opportunity in Japan and returned to Vietnam to work. He is the author of 16 SCI/SCIE articles published in Ranking Q1 international journals. Fast bowler Ishant Sharma claimed three wickets but New Zealand still held the upperhand, reaching 166 for 3 after tea after bundling India out for a paltry 165 on the second day of the first Test here on Saturday. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson comfortably reached 74 off 132 balls with milestone man Ross Taylor (44 bating off 71 balls) departing just after tea. Ishant (3/23 in 12.3 overs) was the best Indian bowler on view. He was lucky to get Tom Latham (11) immediately after lunch as the left-handed opener gloved one down on the leg-side after being cramped. Williamson along with the stodgy Tom Blundell (30, 80 balls) added 47 runs before the lanky speedster, playing his 97th Test, bowled one on length, which breached the opener's defence. New Zealand went into the final session with only 50 runs required to surpass India's modest first innings total. Williamson looked good as he hit some delightful strokes square off the wicket. The square drive on the rise off Jasprit Bumrah (0/37 in 11 overs) followed by a cover drive showed his class. Bumrah, in particular, was punished by Williamson, who also back-cut him for a boundary and Taylor then punished another half volley through the covers. There were quite a few loose deliveries on offer from the Indian pacers and in between a few did beat the bat. With the 'Basin' baked in sunshine, batting became lot more easier and the Black Caps seized the initiative. Shami (0/34 in 9 overs) and Bumrah didn't exactly look menacing during that second session, while Ravichandran Ashwin (0/26 in 9 overs), despite being hit for a six, showed a big heart in bowling attacking lines as he got the deliveries to drift. Earlier, New Zealand's debutant Kyle Jamieson and veteran Tim Southee took four wickets apiece as Indian innings folded in 68.1 overs. Jamieson (4/49 in 16 overs) and Southee (4/49 in 20.1 overs) took four of the five wickets that fell on the second morning with India adding only 43 runs to their overnight score of 122 for 5. Rishabh Pant (19) started with a six but then a horrible mix-up with senior partner Ajinkya Rahane (46) resulted in a run-out and the little chance of recovery was gone for good. Ravichandran Ashwin got a beauty from Southee, pretty similar to what Prithvi Shaw got, while Rahane inside edged one while trying to leave it alone. With India reduced to 132 for 7, Rahane knew that time was running out as he played a square drive off Trent Boult to get a boundary. Southee got rid of Rahane soon when he tried to shoulder arm a delivery that made a late inward movement. Mohammed Shami's entertaining 21 then enabled the visitors to cross the 150-run mark. Half of 3,979 is 1,989.5. Democratic National Committee officials say that on the first ballot, a candidate must win one delegate more than that, or 1,990.5, which is rounded up to reach the magic number: 1,991. (If a candidate won 1,990 pledged delegates on the first ballot, D.N.C. officials say, that would not be sufficient.) So, in summary, the quickest and least complicated way to win the nomination is for a candidate to secure 1,991 pledged delegates on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention in July. (We are keeping track of how many delegates each candidate has.) But as Mr. Todd noted at the debate, there is a chance no candidate will end up with 1,991 pledged delegates before the convention. What happens if no one gets a majority? If no one gets 1,991 votes on the first ballot, then things could get more complicated. This is the scenario people refer to when they use the phrase contested convention or brokered convention. In this situation, there would be a second ballot. And on the second ballot, there are votes from two sets of delegates: Votes from the 3,979 pledged delegates, who are allowed to support a different candidate on the second ballot if they so choose An additional 771 votes from automatic delegates, commonly known as superdelegates To win the nomination, a candidate still must earn a majority of the votes on a given ballot. In this case, that means she or he must amass more than 2,375 pledged and automatic delegates. (In the second and subsequent rounds, a few automatic delegates get only half votes; the D.N.C. says the magic number is 2,375.5, which this time is not rounded up.) It is theoretically possible that the nomination process would extend through multiple ballots until one candidate hits the magic number (2,375.5) and prevails. One thing to keep in mind is that delegates do not need to stay with the candidate to whom they were originally allocated and can move around. KATHLEEN Mulcaire, the proprietor of Kathleens, Bank Place, Rathkeale was fined 300 when she was convicted at Newcastle West court of permitting people to be on her licensed premises outside of hours last March 17. Inspector Andrew Lacey said that at 11am on that date, gardai observed a man drinking a pint outside the bar and inspected the premises. There were six or seven people inside and opening time on St Patricks Day was 12.30pm. The owner was there with two members of staff, he said adding that the premises were cleared. Read also: Love hurts for Limerick man after woman he fell for brought trouble to his door It is not a case of after-hours, said solicitor Bernard Cunnane. It is a case of before hours. Unfortunately there were some customers who couldnt wait for the proper opening time. She felt compelled to open the bar. His client, he added, had health issues and is considering retiring. She has the pub up for sale, Mr Cunnane said. Ms Mulcaire had 16 previous convictions on her licence, the court was told. It is ridiculous, Judge Mary Larkin said, imposing the fine. Either run the bar properly or do something else. Speakers at the seminar discuss the application of a digital platform economy to enhance competitiveness in Vietnam. - Photo courtesy of VEPR These comments were heard at a seminar on the application of a digital platform economy in Ha Noi on Thursday. The seminar was co-organised by the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) and UPGen Vietnam. Vietnam had been adapting to the development of the global economy as well as science and technology in recent years, but the country was still facing issues such as laws, cyber security and privacy, as well as a shortage of expert IT staff. Vietnamese management agencies remained confused about new transport models such as Grab and Be, the seminar heard. Tran Thanh Hai, former CEO of Be Group, said the market was very competitive and the key issues why Be was struggling to compete with Grab were policies and capital. Our country's technology start-up environment was facing many shortcomings, from the legal framework to service sectors, because technology always developed faster than the legal framework, Hai said. Vietnam had many policies to promote digital platforms to support businesses, however, these policies had handed the advantage to foreign businesses, creating unfair competition, he noted. Agreeing with Hai, Do Hoai Nam, UPGen chairman, said the most difficult for Vietnamese tech enterprises was the ability to compete in terms of capital. Domestic enterprises had to look at other factors, from creativity to technology, based on the local market. To do that, the State played a very important role in creating a fair playing field through legal mechanisms and frameworks, Nam noted. Database important resource The most important asset in the field of technology was a user database, Hai said. Users were employing foreign services every day and they were exploiting rather than investing in the Vietnamese market, he said. Therefore, domestic enterprises need their own data because this was a national resource, he emphasised. Protecting user databases also protects national sovereignty in cyberspace, said Hai. He said the State needed a mechanism to control data resources, while domestic enterprises must focus on investing in technology and avoid dependence on services supplied by foreign tech corporations. Nguyen Duc Thanh, VEPR director, emphasised that firstly, domestic digital platforms must become more competitive. This is also the strategy many countries are using to create a digital platform ecosystem, where co-operation and co-creation are connected, said Thanh. The digital platform economy has already happened, it cannot be changed. Whether we like it or not, we all participate on different platforms, said Nam. Obviously, if we do not participate in this game, we will not have any role in our own economy in the future, Nam said. Hai also supported Vietnamese platforms. If we don't stop acting as an employee for foreign firms and don't start being more creative ourselves, Vietnam will be in the same position in 15-20 years time. As an example of online advertising, he estimated that Vietnamese platforms only accounted for less than 20 per cent of advertising revenue in Vietnam. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 15:26:32|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnaser Hemmati said that a decision by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to blacklist the Islamic Republic will not affect the country's foreign trade, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday. Hemmati said that the FATF decision has been made under the United States and Israel pressure. He called the measure a "political and non-technical behavior." "The performance of the CBI over the past year has given confidence to the Iranians that such incidents will not create a problem for Iran's foreign trade and the stability of the (foreign) exchange rate," Hemmati was quoted as saying. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Friday that the new move by the FATF to keep Iran on its blacklist was a politically-motivated decision. On Friday, the FATF said Iran would stay on its blacklist, and called on member states to sanction the country. The Paris-based monitoring group had given Iran a February deadline to approve antiterrorism legislation or remain on the blacklist. Islamabad, Feb 22 : Pakistan on Saturday appointed Khalid Jawed Khan as the country's new Attorney General, replacing Anwar Mansoor Khan, who had tendered his resignation from the post earlier this week, according to a government notification. As per the notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, President Arif Alvi appointed Khalid Jawed Khan as Attorney General for Pakistan "with the rank and status of federal minister with immediate effect", Dawn news reported Anwar Mansoor Khan had resigned on Thursday for levelling allegations against some members of the Supreme Court bench hearing petitions challenging the filing of presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa. While he claimed that he had decided to quit on his own in compliance with the demand of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the Ministry said he was asked to do so. On Friday, the former Attorney General submitted a written apology to the apex court. Khalid Jawed Khan also previously served as the Attorney General during the interim government prior to July 2018 general elections. 219 Shares Share I recently started watching the HBO series Chernobyl, chronicling the events surrounding the 1986 disaster. For anyone who hasnt seen it yetId highly recommend this excellent production (Its already deservedly won multiple awards). The great thing about TV like this, which documents real-life events (and Id put another HBO series John Adams in the same category), is that they can really bring complex consequential events to the mass audience, in a visually stimulating and educational way. The nuclear reactor explosion that occurred at the Chernobyl plant, near the city of Pripyat in what is now Ukraine, occurred on 26 April 1986. A series of mishaps unfolded leading to the devastating explosion, releasing a plume of deadly radioactive debris into the air. I wont ruin the show for you by going into events in more detail, but suffice to say that a number of errors and design flaws led to the 1:23 a.m. explosion. The fallout from this occurrence was tragic, and the subject of the TV series. Nevertheless, what happened at Chernobyl could actually have been a lot worse, potentially affecting millions across Western Europe. While very few environments could possibly get as dangerous as a nuclear reactor, health care certainly is an area which is also fraught with inherent risks, and the medical community has made tremendous progress over the last 20 years in making things a lot safer. Here are three things the events at Chernobyl can teach physicians about avoiding medical errors: 1. Following protocol. On the night of the accident, the system engineers deviated from standard protocol when performing a test on the reactor (never mind the fact that the test should have been done during the day, and not at night). It goes without saying that the first way for a professional to avoid calamitous accidents, is to remember their formal education and do what they were basically trained to do. Theres a reason why we have educational institutions and have gone through an evolution in scientific understanding. We are not cowboys when it comes to implementing evidence-based protocols. 2. Culture of fear. The best systems are the ones that exhibit full transparency and allow people to learn from their mistakes. Back in the 1980s, the Soviet Union was only just coming out of Stalin-era brutality. The engineers were clearly living in a fearful environment (in fact, many were later sentenced to time in labor camps). Theres also a scene where one of the chief scientists was threatened with being shot by a bureaucrat. 3. Ego. This is probably the number one factor that causes major errors, and is directly linked to the first point above. As the nuclear reactor went into meltdown, one of the main bosses was portrayed not wanting to acknowledge what was going wrong, and insisting that the nuclear core couldnt have exploded. After the incident, the regime didnt want to admit what had happened, especially to foreign powers like the USAseeing it as a national embarrassment and source of shame. This delay undoubtedly had lethal consequences. One of the biggest signs of true strength is to hold up your hands, quickly accept a mistake, pick yourself up, and work hard to rectify things. Much has been written in recent years about the safety comparison between health care and aviation. On many levels, this sounds very goodbut in othersits like comparing apples with oranges. An airplane is engineered to be in the best possible shape before it flies, whereas a patient enters the doors of a hospital in the worst possible shape. The two industries are vastly different, as is a nuclear reactor. But when you hear about mistakes happening that lead to catastrophe, there are often recurrent themes, no matter the arena. The above are three of the biggest, especially for health care professionals. Suneel Dhand is an internal medicine physician, author, and co-founder, DocsDox. He can be reached at his self-titled site, Suneel Dhand, and on YouTube. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Edward Enninful was given the ultimate surprise for his 48th birthday on Friday as some of fashion's biggest stars came together for a wild party in Milan. The British Vogue Editor-In-Chief celebrated the occasion with models including Irina Shayk, Bella Hadid and Cara Delevingne, who didn't hold back as they danced the night away. The party was documented through a slew of social media snaps as Hollywood superstar Orlando Bloom also joined in the festivities. Scroll down for video Fun: Edward Enninful was given the ultimate surprise for his 48th birthday on Friday as Irina Shayk brought together some of fashion's biggest stars for a wild party in Milan Cara was keen to flash the cash as she posed with a handful of dollar bills in one of the posts with her fellow models. It seemed to be a night for the stars to flaunt their wealth, as the room was strewn with dollar notes and Louboutin heels. Kendall Jenner also shared a sweet embrace with Edward during their wild evening, clearly ready to mark his birthday in lavish fashion. Money money money! Cara was keen to flash the cash as she posed with a handful of dollar bills in one of the posts with (L-R) Adut Akech, Joan Smalls, Edward and Kendall Jenner Cinderella moment: It seemed to be a night for the stars to flaunt their wealth, as the room was strewn with dollar notes and Louboutin heels Pals: Kendall Jenner also shared a sweet embrace with Edward during their wild evening, clearly ready to mark his birthday in lavish fashion After organising Edwards' birthday bash, Irina threw herself into the festivities as she playfully grinded against her pals in one hilarious post. The fashion star brought together plenty of her fellow models for the lavish party, including Cara Delevingne who threw some fun shapes on the dance floor. As Edward was surprised by his pals with the party, he struggled to hide his shock as he briefly backed out the room, before sharing an embrace with Orlando. Fun: Cara Delevingne displayed some her best dance moves as she joined a slew of stunning models to mark Edward's birthday Shocked: Edward struggled to hide his surprise as he was greeted by plenty of his model pals for the birthday celebration Star-studded: Also among the guests in attendance was Hollywood superstar Orlando Bloom, who rushed to embrace the British Vogue Editor Touching: The acclaimed actor joined a slew of stars who came together to mark Edward's birthday in style Cheeky: Cara got extremely cosy with one of her male pals as they danced the night away together During the party Edward even got behind the DJ decks to have a go at offering his own music for the occasion, and was then given a huge cake covered in sparklers in his honour. Bella and her sister Gigi also enjoyed a cuddle with Orlando's adorable pet pooch Mighty, as they joined fellow fashion superstar Kendall Jenner for the occasion. Irina publicly split from with ex-boyfriend Bradley Cooper last June, with the pair sharing a daughter Lea, who turns three next month. Surprise Birthday: Gigi (left) shared a snap from the party with the caption: 'Edward Enninful (pictured left), I am so lucky to have you in my life Cheeky: Cara also danced up a storm with Vogue boss Edward, as the models all came together to mark the celebration Wild: At one point Edward got behind the DJ decks as he danced the night away with Bella Hadid and Irina Lavish: Edward was also gifted with a lavish cake emblazoned with his face and covered in sparklers Racy: Irina looked sensational in a scantily-clad ensemble as she grinded up against her one of her pals in a raucous display Fun: It was a break from her busy schedule having been a fixture on the runway through the recent Fashion Weeks Grand: Edward was later gifted with a grand cake covered in enormous sparklers, as his celebrity pals marked his 48th birthday In an interview with British Vogue, the mother-of-one said there have been some tough times as a single mother since she and the actor separated some eight months ago. She said: 'It's hard to find a balance between being a single mom and being a working woman and provider.' 'Trust me, there are days I wake up and I'm like, 'Oh my god, I don't know what to do, I'm falling apart.' ' Snap snap: As the stars documented their fun evening on social media, Orlando ensured she got a video of Bella Hadid cuddling his pet pooch Adorable: Bella beamed with delighted as he held Orlando's dog Mighty, who accompanied him to the party Funky: She and Cara (right) larked about with some of the hilarious Instagram filters as they partied the night away in the Italian city Say cheese! Bella and Cara posed for some fun selfies with Kendall Jenner after storming the runway during the Versace show Got the money: Cara larked about with a dollar bill in one hilarious post (left), while Bella also had a fun-filled evening Here he is! One of the selfies was hilarious photobombed by Orlando, as the models posed for a slew of selfies Edward was appointed as Editor-In-Chief of British Vogue in 2017, following Alexandra Shulman's announcement that she would be stepping down from the role. He'd previously worked as fashion director for i-D magazine for more than, after first landing the job at the age of 18. While he is certainly known for his friendships with some of fashion's biggest stars, he has reportedly fallen out with model legend Naomi Campbell, with who he's been friends for more than 30 years. A source told The Mail on Sunday that the problems began in December when Naomi complained that Edward failed to thank her as effusively as she would have wanted, after she accepted the Fashion Icon prize at the British Fashion Awards. Dazzling: Edward proudly celebrated his birthday with some of his fashion friends as he was greeted with a large cake in his honour Pout it out: Bella, Cara, Kendall have been fixtures on the runway in recent weeks as they appeared in numerous Fashion Week shows Legendary: Edward was appointed as Editor-In-Chief of British Vogue in 2017, following Alexandra Shulman's announcement that she would be stepping down from the role Pretty: Kendall (left) and Bella were certainly keen to document the birthday bash on social media as they featured in a slew of fun videos The model is also said to have been 'irked' he has become close friends with her ex-boyfriend, former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 26. One source claimed last month: 'Edward has the patience of a saint. As a former fashion stylist, he has worked with high-maintenance models for a very long time. 'He has also been very tolerant of Naomi but recently he has been telling people this is it. It seems he has had it with her and he hasn't exactly been making a secret about it.' A spokesman for British Vogue denied there was any fallout and said Naomi will appear in the March issue, which was published days later. A representative for Naomi also declined to comment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Sat, February 22, 2020 12:36 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065f91f5 2 World Ryanair,budget-airlines,Racism,airport-security,terrorists,Islamophobia Free Muslim men should be profiled at airports as terrorists will "generally be of a Muslim persuasion", Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said in an interview published Saturday, sparking accusations of racism. "Who are the bombers?" the budget airline's controversial chief executive said while discussing airport security in the interview with the Times newspaper. "They are going to be single males travelling on their own... If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero." "You can't say stuff, because it's racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish." A spokesman from the Muslim council of Britain accused O'Leary of "Islamophobia". O'Leary was "encouraging racism", Labor MP Khalid Mahmood told the newspaper. "In Germany this week a white person killed eight people. Should we profile white people to see if they're being fascists?" The Ryanair CEO is known for his controversial views and has floated proposals to charge fliers to use the toilet during Ryanair flights and a "fat tax" on obese passengers. A business income tax will be added to a tax on high-income earners as the funding sources for a potential May ballot measure to provide services for people experiencing or on the verge of homelessness in the Portland metro area, authorities announced Friday. The Metro Council is scheduled to vote 2 p.m. Tuesday on the proposal, which is expected to raise $250 million a year to pay for housing rental assistance, health care, addiction treatment and other services, according to the Portland Business Alliance. Metro officials have described the potential ballot measure as the single largest investment in the state regarding reducing homelessness that our region has ever seen. Details of the business income tax were not immediately available Friday. The business alliance said small businesses would be exempt from the tax. As of Thursday, Metro was considering only a 1% tax on the incomes of individuals earning at least $125,000 a year and couples who earn more than $250,000 a year in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties that was expected to generate about $135 million a year. The councils vote to put that proposal before voters on the May 19 primary ballot was delayed after it was determined that the expected revenue was $40 million less than a prior estimate of $175 million. The revised ballot measure proposal has the support of the Metro Council, the chairs of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, the Portland Business Alliance, Portland Mayors Office and homeless advocacy coalition HereTogether, according to the business alliance. HereTogether has been one of the main proponents of the proposal and initially said $250 million to $300 million a year would be needed to adequately aid people experiencing chronic homelessness in the region. The business alliance said if the proposal is approved in May, the tax would require voter approval to continue after 10 years. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. In January, Trump set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi's strategic establishment when he said he was negotiating borders, and a future course of action on Kashmir, with Pakistan's prime minister, Imran Khan. In his first presidential visit to India, Donald Trump is scheduled to land in Gujarat's capital Ahmedabad on Monday and the Indian government is leaving no stone unturned in preparing the prime minister's home state to host the head of state of one of the world's most powerful nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised the US president an epic spectacle of seven million people participating in the nearly 22-kilometer roadshow from Ahmedabad airport to the newly built Motera Stadium in the city. On Thursday, Trump upped the count from seven to 10 million lining the roads to greet him. The preparations not just include the city being scrubbed clean by government staff, fielding tens of thousands of police officers for security, but also packing the streets with Modi loyalists who will enthusiastically cheer for his guest. Trade negotiators, defence experts, diplomats, politicians and intelligence officials also have the gargantuan job to ensure the meeting between two of the world's most powerful leaders has a smooth sailing. Let's a look at some of the preparations for Modi-Trump meet in Ahmedabad: 1. Backstage: The Nuts and Bolts of a perfect summit meeting Long before President Trump lands in Ahmedabad on Monday, hundreds of Secret Service Agents began working with India's Intelligence Bureau and the Special Protection Group to make sure both he and Prime Minister Modi will be secure through the course of their two-day summitno small challenge when they'll be appearing before almost-impossible-to-police crowds of hundreds of thousands. In addition to the specially-modified Boeing 747 Trump will be flying on, he'll be bringing with him a car capable to withstanding explosive blastsand top-secret communications equipment that can even let him unleash America's nuclear arsenal remotely. Through Monday and Tuesday, we'll be casting light on the backroom boys who've put together the perfect summita cast of characters including spies and hospitality workers, hospitality workers and diplomats, who've worked to make this summit work. 2. The economy: Expect negotiations to begin on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement The bedrock of the India-United States relationship, ever since it began to flower in the late-1980s, has been the economy but, in recent years, protectionism in the United States and the slowdown in India have raised questions on its future. The bad news is that India and the US won't be signing the limited Free Trade Agreement many had hoped for. They've chosen, instead, to work on something far bigger: a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, that will encompass not just duty-free trade of merchandise, but also free movement of professionals and easier investment norms. The deal will take time of hammer out, because of its enormous complexity, but when it's done, it should be a game-changer. 3. Defence: 8-10 big deals likely to firm up, helping to grow India-US partnership From the early 2000s, the United States has emerged as India's second-largest defence supplier. This visit will see the firming up of 8-10 major acquisition decisions, worth around $10 billionamong them, the $2.6bn. acquisition of 24 MH60 helicopters for the navy, and 6 AH64E Apache attack helicopters valued at $795 million. There will also be negotiations on the acquisition of the NASAMS air-defence system, part of a three-tier ring to guard our cities, and the P8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft. The United States will also push for India to purchase its F21 combat jets. There are tensions in the relationship: the US hasn't been as willing to part with technology for India's indigenous defence industry as New Delhi hopes, while Washington is irked by New Delhi's purchase of the S-400 air-defence system from Russia. But the two sides have shown the ability to overcome differences in the pastlaying the foundations for a defence relationship critical to shaping Asia's future security. 4. Elephant in the room: Will Modi and Trump find a middle ground on Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan? In January, Trump set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi's strategic establishment when he said he was negotiating borders, and a future course of action on Kashmir, with Pakistan's prime minister, Imran Khan. He's irked New Delhi in the past by offering to mediate on Kashmiran absolute no-no for India, which insists the conflict is a bilateral matter to be resolved with Pakistan. That isn't all: Trump's peace deal with the Taliban holds out the prospect that the jihadist organisation, closely-linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, could soon wield significant power in Afghanistan. For New Delhi, all this raises the nightmare prospect of a Pakistan Army more assertive in using its jihadist proxies against India. Behind closed doors, the two leaders will be discussing this complex geo-political jigsaw puzzle, trying to find middle-ground. 5. Enduring gains: The ordinary Indians who've powered the India-US relationship, and why they need this summit Late in the nineteenth century, when the first Indian immigrants arrived in the United States as agricultural workers hoping for better lives, they could never have imagined where the community stands today. Indians are now the second-largest foreign-born ethnic group in the United States, after Mexicansand solidly represented at the top of its structure of power, including the economy, government, academia and politics. Even though United States-born and Indian-born Americans together make up just 1 percent of the country's population, too small a community to be of direct electoral significance, their influence gives them almost unrivalled heft and influence. Irrespective of the many crisis India and the United States have encountered over the decades, the community has ensured the relationship has grown. Now, though, the community faces new challenges, ranging from visas to rising nationalismand is hoping the goodwill from the summit will help resolve these problems. In their quest to find a challenger to oppose President Donald Trump, Democrats are on a perilous course. Less than a month into the primary-caucus calendar, they risk an acrimonious split in their ranks and the threat of a contested national convention that together could sink their hopes of winning in November. There seems no easy path forward. That the Democratic nomination campaign has come to this was never in anybody's calculus, certainly not as the party made the turn from its success in retaking the House during the 2018 midterms and looked ahead to 2020. A confluence of factors brought the party to this point, among them the record-large field of candidates, the underperformance of former vice president Joe Biden, the post-heart attack revival of Bernie Sanders and an electorate united in trying to defeat Trump but fractured over who can do that and the hangover from impeachment. A year ago, the size of the Democratic field was being celebrated as a sign of the party's vibrancy, energy and diversity. The field included more women than ever and more candidates of color in the competition. There were governors, senators, House members, mayors and business people. There were big names and no-names. Ultimately there were too many of them for most voters. More choices don't always mean better or easier choices. Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, who generally got the first look at the field, turned out in big numbers to see the candidates. Even the most diligent found the selection process overwhelming. Voters uniformly said they were prepared to vote for almost anyone who became the nominee but struggled to decide who that should be. They liked a lot of the candidates but didn't truly love any. As large as the field was, Biden's entry kept out some politicians who were considered attractive and fresh. Populist Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said his decision not to run wasn't influenced by Biden's decision to run, but the incentive for him to get into the race would have been greater without the footprint of a former vice president in the path ahead. Some people were urging Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans, to run in 2020. He declined, seeing Biden as the party's best hope. Biden was never the perfect candidate. Democrats who knew and respected him also worried about whether he was up to the task of winning the nomination and defeating Trump. But he had the experience of decades to claim he could settle the country and do the job. For most of 2019, the polls were his friend. Then the voters in Iowa and New Hampshire blew them up. Biden's collapse changed the course of the campaign. What might have been at this point a two-person race between Biden and Sanders is now a free-for-all but with Sanders at the head of the pack. Had Biden done what he needed and hoped to do, there would have been less attention given to Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, and the unprecedented spending of his campaign. There would have been less attention to the ups and downs of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., or to whether Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., could really go the distance. There would have been some attention to former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg because he alone was performing far above expectations, but not as much. Had Biden struck early, others might have melted away. Now all are in, tenuously perhaps, but in. Biden could be revived by Nevada and South Carolina or his hopes further dashed. Klobuchar and Buttigieg will face serious questions about their candidacies if they stumble badly in the near term. Warren has yet to translate energy and organization into votes. Her debate takedown of Bloomberg gives her one more opportunity. The path Sanders has followed was both prescribed and unexpected. His campaign long ago plotted a strategy for winning, which included victories in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, survival in South Carolina and a big strike on Super Tuesday. He is on track, and by the day after Super Tuesday he is expected to hold a lead in pledged delegates. The question is how big that lead will be. That he has stayed on this path came only after wholly unexpected turns. His grass-roots cash machine never deserted him, but still he appeared to be in political trouble through the late summer and early fall, regarded by his critics as a bit of a relic from 2016 as attention turned elsewhere. Then came his heart attack in October. At that time, the odds of him having to quit the race seemed higher than the odds of him being where he is today. He is giving the party establishment shivers, and officials are beginning to worry about managing a national convention in Milwaukee that could go beyond the first ballot for the first time since 1952. The Democrats' angst comes at a time when the president, in the aftermath of impeachment, is emboldened. He is moving to purge enemies, meddle in the affairs of justice and tighten his grip broadly on the government. His western swing, as The Washington Post's Ashley Parker reported, was the embodiment of a president unleashed and unabashed. His approval rating in the latest Post-ABC News poll stood at 43% with 53% disapproving. But in Gallup's tracking, as of the beginning of last week, his ratings stood at 49% positive, 48% negative - the first time in his presidency that he was net positive. Three events before Super Tuesday will shape some of what happens to the Democrats that day: the results from Nevada, Tuesday's debate in Charleston, South Carolina, and next Saturday's South Carolina primary. Iowa and New Hampshire have produced surprises, and these events also could do that, including a possible Biden revival or one of the others in pursuit of Sanders showing unexpected strength in a diverse electorate. Bloomberg, who isn't on the Nevada or South Carolina ballots, saw his stock take a beating at last week's Las Vegas debate. He will try to bounce back at Tuesday's debate in Charleston. On Friday, he reversed course on one issue that hung him up in Nevada, announcing he was releasing three women from nondisclosure agreements. He probably hasn't heard the last of that issue or others that put him on the defensive in Las Vegas. On Super Tuesday, candidates will compete for 1,357 delegates, 34% of all the pledged delegates that will be allocated during the primaries and caucuses. California alone will award 415, with an additional 223 in Texas and 110 in North Carolina. Two big unknowns are how many candidates will win more than a handful of delegates that day and whether the results push some candidates out of the race. Then the overriding question will be whether any candidate can get to 1,991 pledged delegates before Milwaukee. Terry McAuliffe, the former governor of Virginia and past chair of the Democratic National Committee, posed the question of the hour the other day: "Who can get 50 [percent] plus one?" he asked. "Nobody has shown they can go beyond their base. No one's shown they can bring all the elements of the party together." Absent that, Democrats will remain divided and speeding toward a damaging collision. (Newser) Peek outside Buckingham Palace, and you'll see a yellow school buswith an ad on the side that's hard to ignore, the Guardian reports. "If you see this man please ask him to call the FBI to answer their questions," reads the ad along with two photos of Prince Andrew. Gloria Allred, who represents five Jeffrey Epstein accusers, was apparently behind the stunt: "My clients deserve the truth," she told reporters Friday outside the New York supreme court. "They have been denied justice so many times over so many years, and there will be no justice without the truth. And there will be no truth unless Prince Andrew stops hiding from the FBI and from the public. This is unacceptable." story continues below "I implore you, Prince Andrew," she went on. "You must do the right thing and stop shaming your familythe Queen, your children. If you have done nothing wrong then just talk to the FBI." To recap, Prince Andrew pulled away from royal duties last year after discussing his friendship with Epstein in a disastrous BBC interview. He denied even meeting Virginia Roberts Guiffre, who claims Epstein made her sleep with the prince when she was only 17. US Attorney Geoffrey Berman upped the ante last month by saying Andrew had given "zero cooperation" with the FBI, while the Telegraph quoted a source saying "the duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI" but hasn't been asked. No word yet on whether any royals are riding the yellow school bus. (Read more Prince Andrew stories.) A week-long, partial truce came into effect across Afghanistan on Saturday, with jubilant civilians celebrating in the streets to mark a potentially historic turning point in the war, even as isolated attacks threatened to undermine the process. The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called "reduction in violence" which, if it holds, will be only the second lull in fighting since 2001. "It is the first morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber. I hope it continues forever," Kabul taxi driver Habib Ullah said, while in other parts of the country people danced in the streets. However in Balkh province in the north, Taliban fighters attacked a district headquarters near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing two Afghan soldiers, a local official told AFP. The attack came after midnight, when the partial truce had already kicked in. There were also reports of a separate incident in central Uruzgan province. General Scott Miller, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, stressed that Western forces would continually monitor the "reduction in violence". "The objective here is that we reduce violence for Afghanistan and that it doesn't spike," Miller told reporters, adding that he was confident of the Taliban's overall commitment to the process. The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal that could, ultimately, pull US troops out after more than 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future. A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which both the US and the insurgents have said could be done on February 29 in Doha. It also gives a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody war. The UN's Afghanistan mission said Saturday that more than 10,000 people had been killed or wounded in the war in 2019 alone. In Kandahar in the south, considered the Taliban heartland, and the eastern province of Jalalabad, dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight. Jalalabad residents also celebrated by holding an impromptu bicycle race around the city. In Kabul, which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians, those who spoke to AFP were more wary. "A temporary break in war is good but we want a permanent ceasefire," said government worker Fazul Rahman, adding he also wants peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul to begin "as soon as possible". Shopkeeper Emamuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, said Afghans want peace "whatever it takes". "A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye," he said. "They should find a long-lasting solution for this country's problem." Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant. The US has said there is an "understanding" for a "significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan", while Afghan security forces will remain "on active defence status" during the week. "The Taliban must demonstrate their commitment to a meaningful reduction in violence," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Twitter. "Should the Taliban reject the path of peace, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Afghan partners," he added. In Kandahar, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down -- but another said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded joyfully, with Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians hugging, sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes. Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. On Thursday the group's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, penned an extraordinary op-ed in the New York Times in which he stated the insurgents were "fully committed" to standing by the agreement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kochi, Feb 22 : Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash here on Saturday asked the spice farmers to double their output and urged exporters to increase trade with other countries to help India reach the $5 trillion economy goal and become a global powerhouse by 2024-25. Parkash said this while addressing a function. He also presented Spices Board trophies and awards for sustainable development of the spices sector. "We are in discussion with all stakeholders to achieve the $5 trillion goal. The Centre will extend all help to farmers and exporters. We will have to work hard to make the dream come true," he said. He stressed formation of farmers' clusters for all crops and spoke about a new agriculture export policy for integrating farmers and farm products with the global value chains. It would help in achieving the set goal for agriculture exports, he added. "India is one of the largest producers, exporters and consumers of spices. Every state is producing spices and its value-added products come to around 900,000 tonnes a year," he said. India produces around 180 spice products that are exported to 160 countries. The event also played a curtain raiser for the 14th edition of World Spice Congress, to be held in Navi Mumbai in November with the partnership of Spices Board, spice exporters' associations and other members of spice fraternity. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said that the NDA was all set to garner more than 200 seats, out of the 243 assembly segments; in the upcoming 2020 Assembly polls as Bihar voters were wise enough to distinguish between reality and misinformation peddled by the Opposition in the state. The JD(U) national president, who was addressing a meeting of district and block presidents at his official residence said, There is no need to worry for votes. The Opposition does not have any programme or issue. People have an innate capacity to discern right from wrong. Apparently, the chief minister based his confidence on development initiatives and programmes for social change. Workers are our identity. If the reach of organisational structure at 72,000 booths is deployed to apprise the people of the work done by the government, there is nothing left to worry about, he said. The pep talk to colleagues came, after the JD(U) president patiently heard block level presidents for more than three-hours. Dont pay heed to what Opposition leaders are saying as some of them are only interested in creating confusion, Kumar said, while underlining that the party would not compromise on its principles and there was no question of discrimination based on caste, creed, community or gender. In view of the recent electoral reverses suffered by the BJP, the importance of JD(U) as an important ally in the state has only become pronounced with Union home minister Amit Shahs statement that the NDA will be contesting the 2020 Bihar assembly elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. The message was again reiterated today by incumbent BJP president J P Nadda, who was on a visit to the state. The JD(U) president also asked district and block presidents to hoist party flags at their homes, which, he maintained, would sent out a positive signal among workers and common people alike. State party chief Bashistha Narain Singh urged party workers to spread developmental milestones and silent social revolutions for womens empowerment, prohibition, anti-dowry and Jal Jeevan Hariyali among the people. The rest will fall in place, he said. Party national general secretary RCP Singh said that all workers are armed with the necessary tools to deal with half truths spread by the Opposition and the party will be organizing a three-day special orientation programme shortly, while assuring JD (U) president that more than two lakh party workers would be present at the March 1 rally. Kumars confidante and minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said, We feel proud when Bihars initiatives are adopted by the Centre and other states. Senior minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav exhorted that workers should have commitment and discipline and work for increasing the margin of victory in every assembly segment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 11:11:11|Editor: zyl Video Player Close JAKARTA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a flash flood in Indonesia's Yogyakarta province has increased to seven with 23 others injured, a disaster agency official said on Saturday. The victims were swept away by the flood as 249 students of the SMP Negeri I Turi secondary school were exploring the Sembor River in Sleman district as a boy scouting activity, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency Agus Wibowo said. The spokesman said that three other students remained missing. The accident occurred when volume of water from the upstream was suddenly rising with a strong current, sweeping away the students who were on the side of the river, Wibowo told Xinhua. The search and rescue operation involved military personnel, policemen, rescuers from the search and rescue office, and personnel of the disaster agency as well as volunteers, according to the spokesman. Swarovski, a leading producer of precision-cut crystals for fashion and jewelry, has expanded its luxury fashion operations and craftsmanship to Nigeria. Located at the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, the Swarovski store is the first in Nigeria. Swarovskis Regional Manager, Africa, John Burns, told PREMIUM TIMES that the Ikeja store is an addition to approximately 4,000 Swarovski stores in over 100 countries. The new store will create an employment avenue for Nigerians to join the 29,000 global workforce of the Swarovski Crystal Business, he said. Mr Burns also added that the new store is the perfect destination to shop for exquisite affordable luxury pieces for the neck, fingers, wrists and more. He was speaking at a press parley announcing the store opening. Mr Burns noted that the new store is aimed at offering discerning customers in Nigeria a delightful experience as obtains in its other stores across the world. It also marks our foray into the Nigerian economy, which we recognise has tremendous growth potential. It is, therefore, a perfect avenue for us to share our commitment to excellence, a sense of creativity, surprise and delight. In addition, Jennifer Obayuwana, Executive Director of Polo Limited, the official retail partner for Swarovski in Nigeria stated that the same assurance of quality that Polo has been known for since inception has been brought to bear in our partnership with Swarovski. Therefore, jewellery lovers have a guarantee of authenticity and excellence. She said Mr Burns presence is a seal of originality that Swarovski Nigeria is a part of the global Swarovski family. Swarovski Nigeria is a mono-brand store managed by POLO Limited; the premier luxury retailer in Nigeria. The Polo Limited is the official retailers of premium luxury brands like Rolex, Chopard, Longines, Bovet, Mont Blanc to mention just a few. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 01:44:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RIYADH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's economy is expected to grow, backed by its non-oil revenues, governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority said on Saturday. Ahmed al-Kholifey was speaking at the first meeting of the finance ministers and governors of the central banks of the Group of Twenty (G20) in Riyadh. It was too early to see the full picture of the economic damage caused by the COVID-19, the governor was quoted as saying by Al Arabiya TV. "We have a positive view on the Saudi economy. The forecasts are positive, and growth is expected to be higher than last year, especially from the private sector," Kholifey said on the sidelines of the meeting. During the meeting, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva talked about COVID-19 outbreak in China. "The Chinese authorities are working to mitigate the negative impact on the economy, with crisis measures, liquidity provision, fiscal measures, and financial support," she said. "Global cooperation is essential to the containment of the COVID-19 and its economic impact, particularly if the outbreak turns out to be more persistent and widespread," Georgieva noted. The G20 International Taxation Priorities Symposium was also held in Riyadh on Saturday on the sidelines of the meeting of finance ministers and governors of the central banks of the G20. Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan said in a speech during the symposium that the kingdom is proud to host the G20 summit and looks forward to working with the G20 partners to find solutions for upcoming challenges. Suspected German gunmans hate list included Bangladesh A man suspected of shooting dead nine people across two shisha bars in a German town on Thursday had posted a manifesto online including conspiracy theories and deeply racist views that envisioned complete extermination of people from a number of countriesincluding Bangladesh. The manifesto envisioned first a "rough cleaning" and then a "fine cleaning" that could halve the world's population, prosecutors said on Thursday, reports Time. Prosecutor General Peter Frank identified the gunman only as Tobias R. (43)in line with German privacy lawsand confirmed he had posted extremist videos and a manifesto with "confused ideas and far-fetched conspiracy theories" on his website. "On the suspected perpetrator's home page, he had put up video messages and a kind of manifesto that, in addition to obscure thoughts and absurd conspiracy theories, pointed to deeply racist views," Frank said. The man identified himself as Tobias Rathjen on the website, which has since been taken down but had a mailing address matching that of the home where the bodies of the killer and his mother were found. In the manifesto, Rathjen claimed to have approached police several times with conspiracy theories. Among the documents posted to the website was a 24-page, rambling manifesto in German detailing, among other things, fears that he has been under government surveillance for years. He blamed the surveillance for his inability to have a relationship with a woman. "We now have ethnic groups, races or cultures in our midst that are destructive in every respect," he wrote. "The following people must be completely exterminated: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, the complete Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Usbekistan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines," he also wrote, according to the Time report. German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the "poison" of racism. Her deputy, Olaf Scholz, took to Twitter to say: "Politically, nobody can deny that 75 years after Nazi dictatorship, there is real terror again." On Thursday, the gunman burst into a bar in downtown Hanau and opened fire on the patrons, then drove to a second bar where he continued the attack, police and witnesses said. Officers chased a car leaving the scene of the second and final attack to another address, where they found the bodies of the suspect and his 72-year-old mother, both with gunshot wounds, police said. Frank told reporters the nine people shot dead had immigrant backgrounds. His office later said they included German citizens and foreigners aged between 21 and 44. Six more people were injured in the attack. At least five of the victims were Turkish nationals, Ankara's ambassador to Berlin told state broadcaster TRT Haber, as his government demanded robust action, Reuters reported. The Confederation of the Communities of Kurdistan in Germany said several victims were Kurdish and accused Germany's political leaders of "not resolutely opposing right-wing networks and right-wing terrorism". Germany is home to three million people of Turkish origin, including one million ethnic Kurds. Bulgarian public broadcaster BNT said a 32-year-old Bulgarian man was among the victims. Investigators said it appeared the gunman acted alone, but Frank said authorities are trying to find out whether there were others who knew of or supported the attack. He added that his office is looking into any contacts the killer may have had inside Germany and abroad. Following the shooting incident, Germany faced calls to toughen gun ownership laws and step up efforts to track far-right sympathisers. The suspect belonged to a gun club, raising questions as to how a man with such ideological convictions managed to gain membership and obtain the weapons he used, Reuters reported. Federal Prosecutor General Peter Frank said on Friday that the suspect had a licence for two weapons, and it remained unclear whether he had contacts with other far-right sympathisers at home or abroad. Frank added that the gunman had sent a letter to prosecutors in November complaining about an unknown intelligence agency with powers to control people's thoughts and actions. "The letter did not include his racist calls for the extermination of certain peoples," Frank told a news conference. "We did not launch an investigation based on the letter, which later appeared in the gunman's racist manifesto." In October last year, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government outlawed the sale of guns to members of extremist groups monitored by security agencies and obliged online platforms to inform police about hate speech. Those measures followed the killing of a pro-immigration German politician in June and an attack on a synagogue and a kebab shop four months later in Halle by an anti-Semitic gunman who livestreamed his actions. On a foggy February evening, Leia Olinde and her husband were out for a late-night stroll on Galveston's seawall when she spotted something unusual in the waves. "The best way I can describe it is like neon blue lighting inside the waves when they break," Olinde told Chron.com. "It's breathtakingly beautiful." Olinde said they were on the seawall directly in front of Gaidos, and had to go pretty far out on the jetty to get a better look through the fog. Though still in the distance, she was able to capture some spectacular images. DON'T TOUCH IT!: 'Creepy' sea creature known for painful sting spotted in Port Isabel "It's hands down one of my favorite natural phenomenon to see and so hard to catch," said Olinde. Dr. Antoinetta Quigg agrees. The professor of marine biology at Texas A&M Galveston says she has tried numerous time to photograph the phenomenon, but with no success. "It's hard to get a good photo," said Quigg. "We see it every single year," said Quigg. " They usually come in the same time every year." Quigg said the light show is caused by Noctiluca scintillans, bioluminescent microbes that are found free floating in Galveston Bay during winter and spring. Noctiluca are a good form of algae, and the light is produced when they are agitated by the waves. "It's the same thing that goes on in fireflies." Bioluminescent microbes are very visible in other parts of the world, like off the shores of Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Vietnam and the Maldives. In those pareas where their display is more visible, Noctiluca is commonly called "Sea Sparkle", "Sea Ghost", or "Fire of the Sea." Quigg said we don't notice them as much in Galveston Bay because the waters may be too calm to spark their show. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Mardi Gras Galveston starts this weekend. Here's your ultimate guide! Olinde may be one of the lucky few to see the local light show on multiple occasions. "Last time we saw it in person was on Bolivar Peninsula almost exactly 5 years ago but my phone at the time wouldn't pick it up very well," she said. And while her photos and video may be a bit fuzzy, to her they are masterpieces. "I was so excited because it's my absolute favorite natural phenomenon to watch and I thought I'd never see it again in person since the last time," Olinde said. "The pictures really don't even do it justice compared to seeing it in person." 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 Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed a petition filed by the Chief Minister of Puducherry, which sought to declare as illegal and ultra vires, the action of the Administrator of Puducherry in differing with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and referring the same to the Union government and the consequential decision of the Union government to continue with DBT (Cash) scheme in lieu of distribution of free rice under the Puducherry Free Rice Scheme. Dismissing the petition filed by V.Narayanasamy, Chief Minister of Puducherry, Justice C.V. Karthikeyan said under the provisions of the Union Territory Act, the decision of the President is binding on the Administrator and Ministers. Under the law governing UT, the decision on behalf of the President will be taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs and such decision is for DBT and binding on the Administrator as well as Ministers, the judge added. In his petition, Narayanasamy also sought a direction for continuation of the policy of the government of puducherry as per the Puducherry Free Supply of Rice, Edible Oil and other essential food grains every month to all ration card holders in kind. Govt steps up virus testing THAILAND: The Ministry of Public Health has tightened screening criteria for people in eight provinces popular with Chinese tourists after the number of COVID-19 cases in Thailand changed little over the past week. healthChineseSafetytourismCoronavirusCOVID-19 By Bangkok Post Saturday 22 February 2020, 11:15AM Staff at Wat Pho disinfect bags used by visitors to carry shoes in the Reclining Buddha Hall, part of measures to fight COVID-19. Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool Right now, we have reached a point where we are not certain if there are any new patients with COVID-19 or if we are simply unable to find them, Department of Disease Control deputy director-general Dr Thanarak Plipat told media yesterday (Feb 21). So we have to work in a more aggressive way to identify possible infections as soon as possible, he added. The new screening measures have been in place for a week. Under them, patients with pneumonia where the cause has not been verified will be automatically referred to Patients under Investigation (PUI) - the group which tests for COVID-19 - if they live in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Bangkok, Samut Prakan or Chon Buri. After the new screening was introduced, PUI cases jumped from 957 to 1,151 as of yesterday - an increase of 194. On Thursday (Feb 21) alone, 99 cases were added to the PUI list. Most of the new cases were found in these eight provinces. Dr Thanarak told media the new screening method was introduced after the ministry became concerned about the effectiveness of previous screening. He added the rise in PUI was the result of extending the screening to passengers from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, instead of only China. The number of COVID-19 cases in Thailand has remained unchanged at 35 for the last four days, indicating the contagion rate may have stalled in Thailand. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday asked the public not to panic over news that the ministry was classifying COVID-19 as a dangerous communicable disease, saying that the policy was made to strengthen measures to tackle the outbreak. On his Facebook page, Mr Anutin said that the new classification would allow health officials to use the law to control transmission instead of relying on screening and quarantines. Regarding Thais caught up in Japans COVID-19 outbreak, foreign ministry spokesperson Cherdkiat Atthakor said another Thai crew member of the Diamond Princess tested positive for the virus, bringing the number of Thai cases on the cruise ship to four. He said the patient has been sent to hospital and all four Thai patients are under close care of Thai officials in Japan. Two Thai passengers and 23 Thai crew members were registered aboard the cruise ship, which has been docked in Yokohama under quarantine. The Thai embassy in Tokyo said the remaining Thai crew will be allowed to leave the vessel and return to Thailand if their second test comes back negative. The Diamond Princesss operator will cover travel expenses. Also yesterday, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai oversaw the presentation of commemorative pins to 14 people who took part in the evacuation by air of 138 Thais from Wuhan in China, where the virus outbreak was first detected. Meanwhile, Dr Pramote Sathienrat, deputy chief of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative medicine, said his department has been working with its partners to test the effectiveness of the herbal remedy Kariyat, known in Thai as Fa Talai Jone, against COVID-19. The medical trial will be carried out on 10 healthy patients and the results are expected in one month. Fa Talai Jone became well-known after being used to treat infections during the Sars outbreak. Meanwhile, the Internal Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce has banned the unauthorised export of face masks. The move is to ensure the availability of face masks, said Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the department. He added that outbound travellers will only be allowed to take a limited number of face masks with them. Earlier, the department had required exporters to seek permission for the export of 500 masks or more. Some parties responded by maintaining their export volume but simply shipping fewer than 500 masks in each delivery. The first batch of the Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft artillery weapon system was delivered to Serbia, the head of the country's Ministry of Defense, Alexander Vulin said. According to him, the systems have already been delivered to the military airfield in Batainitsa. The head of the Serbian defense department stressed that the Pantsir missile system is the only such defense system in the region and it will improve the country's security, RIA Novosti reports. DANBURY A citizen of Mexico was sentenced in federal court Friday to serve 22 months in prison for illegally re-entering the United States for a second time, authorities said. Andres Jacome Rodriguez, 42, with a last known address in Danbury, was sentenced Friday to serve those 22 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to a news release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. Jacome Rodriguez was accused of illegally re-entering the U.S. after he was deported, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. Court documents indicated that Jacome Rodriguez used multiple names, dates of birth and two false Social Security numbers while living in the U.S. over the last 20 or so years. During those roughly two decades, officials said, he faced multiple convictions in four separate states. On Oct. 3, 2017, Jacome Rodriguez was deported to Mexico after a larceny conviction in state Superior Court in Danbury. Six days later, he was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He was prosecuted and convicted in Texas for unlawful presence of a removed alien and was sentenced to serve 163 days in prison time served and three years of supervised release. He was again deported to Mexico on March 21, 2018. On Jan. 29, 2019, Jacome Rodriguez was arrested by Danbury police and charged with third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, risk of injury to a child, cruelty to animals and possession of a controlled substance. He has been detained since his arrest. The state charges are still pending. On July 16, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment that charged Jacome Rodriguez with illegal re-entry by a removed alien. He pleaded guilty to the offense Nov. 8, 2019. The violation of supervised release offense was transferred from Texas to Connecticut for further prosecution, officials said, adding that Jacome Rodriguez admitted to the violation during todays court proceeding. He was sentenced to serve 18 months of imprisonment for illegally re-entering the U.S., and a consecutive four months for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Market Overview The global electric vehicle range extender market is expected to register a CAGR of 7. 63%, during the forecast period, 2019-2024. - With growing government support towards promotion of electric vehicles and increasing demand for long range driving capability of electric vehicles are few factors that have been driving the EV range extender market growth. New York, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Electric Vehicle Range Extender Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865849/?utm_source=GNW - Additionally, automotive industry players have been collaborating in the areas of battery development or other aspects of EV manufacturing, to meet the growing emission standards and demand for extended range EV models during the forecast period. - Asia-Pacific is expected to capture a major share of more than 30% in the global market, followed by Europe and North America. As majority of automotive industry players companies in the Asia-Pacific, especially in China, India and Japan have been expanding their production capacities to capture the growing the demand in the region during the forecast period. Scope of the Report EV range extender is an auxiliary power source unit equipped in EVs, to improve the vehicles range during exhaustion of battery capacity after covering certain distance. EV range extenders have been classified into thermodynamics or electrochemical sources. Electric generator is a thermodynamic source of energy that has an engine as a prime mover. While fuel cells are electrochemical sources of energy that have been used as range extenders in EVs. The aforementioned EV range extenders have been considered in the scope of the market. Key Market Trends Fuel Cell Range Extender to Witness Faster Growth Rate Fuel cell range extenders are expected to capture a significant share in the market during the forecast period, owing to the several on-going developments towards fuel cell range extender market. For instances: - In Europe, country like Germany, where H2 MOBILITY Deutschland Group members had showcased hydrogen-powered e-mobility plans at Hannover Messe 2019. e.GO REX GmbH, one of the group members, is advancing the development of a scalable fuel-cell range extender for electric vehicles. - In February 2019, PowerCell Sweden AB had received an order for two MS-30 fuel cell systems from a global automotive tier 1 supplier for delivery Q1/Q2 2019. The system built around PowerCells fuel cell stack S2 and with an effect of 30 kW. These systems will be installed as range extenders, REX, in the vehicles for tests in China. - In September 2019, Blue World Technologies announced that it has started construction of its worlds largest methanol fuel cell factory at the Port of Aalborg, Denmark. The methanol fuel cell acts a range extender delivering long range, fast refueling with a liquid fuel as well as addressing environmental pollution. The factory anticipates its annual production capacity of 750 kW, which is equivalent to 50,000 fuel cell units. Asia-Pacific Expected to Capture a Major Market Share Asia-Pacific is expected to see faster growth in the market studied, owing to the trends like increasing number of OEMs, majorly in China and Japan, offering EVs with range extenders as well as growing collaborations of the industry players in EV range extender business. For instances, In September 2019, AIWAYS Automobile Co., Ltd. (AIWAYS) had started preorders for its intelligent pure-electric SUV U5 models during the Chengdu Motor Show 2019.These models is equipped with AIWAYs patented range extender battery pack B. In December 2018, Ceres Power and Weichai Power announced their long-term strategic collaboration. A new joint development agreement (JDA) worth GBP 9 million announced to Ceres for the continued development of a first range extender product for electric buses in China. Ceres and Weichai will invest in a major new fuel cell manufacturing facility in Shandong, China, following successful trials. Competitive Landscape Some of the major players, like Mahle International GmbH, Rheinmetall Automotive, FEV Europe GmbH, etc., have captured significant shares in the market. Reasons to Purchase this report: - The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format - Report customization as per the clients requirements - 3 months of analyst support Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865849/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Dublin, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "International Beauty Innovation Summit 20" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In the era in which consumers can buy anything online, the customer experience becomes more and more important to build an emotional connection and drive sales. Product presentation, for instance, can go a long way to stimulate purchase behaviour. Successful beauty brands and retailers differentiate themselves through signature moments that are directly aligned to their brand. This experience should be consistent and seamless across all relevant platforms and often budding emphasis on experience provides a distinct advantage to smaller, more agile brands and retailers. Join us at the INNOCOS summit to prepare for these industry-wide shifts. We invite most innovative brands and retailers to share real-life case studies and learnings on the results of greater personalization, loyalty, seamless journey on and offline, mobile commerce. INNOCOS summit is all about human connections and an impact we have on individual members, it's about helping each other succeed, meeting the right people. Agenda 9:00 - OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR 9:10 - THE NEXT FRONTIER OF OMNICHANNEL IN THE WORLD OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE It is no secret that the digital marketing world has been changing with the use of Artificial Intelligence, IoT, AR, and other experiences; digital transformation is no longer a question. It is now about reinventing business models, centered on data-driven customer experience. Confirmed: Jennifer Tidy, SVP Partnerships, Modiface 9:30 - MODERN RETAIL Why do classical DTC brands go into retail brick and mortar - and at what stage of brand's development should you do it? Is it for experiential things only or the store will be a source of additional revenue? Dollar Shave Club, Amazon, Glossier, Violet Grey 9:50 - REINVENTING BEAUTY SERVICES THROUGH EXPERIENCES & ENGAGEMENT Brands and retailers are rethinking the beauty wellness experience through innovations in beauty services and product offerings Story continues Subscription services crafting salon-like experiences Brands and beautician clinics are engaging customers to deliver next-gen beauty and personal care services. Invite: Re: store (San Francisco), & Other Stories, Material Kitchen, Dirty Lemon, Lisa Says Gah, Happimess, Fedoma. 10:10 - BEST RETAIL EXPERIENCES THAT KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK Invite: Birchbox, Sephora, Boots, STORY, Harrods, Skin inc, Foreo OR LUSH ON ITS JOURNEY TO PROVIDE THE ULTIMATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE' The beauty retailer is launching its own till system that it hopes will make the shopping experience more personalized, convenient and simple, as well as boost sales. Invite: Lush 10:30 - NETWORKING BREAK 11:00 - CREATING A BREAKTHROUGH DIGITAL CONTENT EXPERIENCE In a digital and content-driven economy, you need to create leading-edge customer engagement. Content is the backbone of a connected marketing world. Sylvia Xie, Director, Global Digital, Analytics and Insights, Benefit Cosmetics, USA 11:20 - CREATING A BREAKTHROUGH DIGITAL CONTENT EXPERIENCE In a digital and content-driven economy, you need to create leading-edge customer engagement. Content is the backbone of a connected marketing world. 11:50 - SCALING PERSONALIZATION WITH DATA-DRIVEN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT How our ML model finds unmet needs in our customer data using a data-driven rather than marketing-driven approach to product formulation continuous iterating and tweaking existing product formulation based on data scaling manufacturing for a customized product offering Meghan Maupin, CEO, Atolla 12:10 - CONSUMER FOCUSED MASS BRANDS Experiential retailing using native consumer digital technology Trading attention for a higher profit margin Developing strategies for direct to customer relationships in a mass environment Bianca Heiszwolf, Business Leader Beauty, Philips 12:30 - NETWORKING LUNCH 13:45 - BRAINSTORMING SESSION 15:00 - NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK 15:30 - MANAGING CREATIVE DISRUPTION THROUGH COLLABORATIONS 15:50 - AFTER SALE & LOYALTY - BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS Building a community around your brand Strategies to influence discussions around your brand How to improve retention with personalization & digital experiences Invite: Lancme (replenishment email campaigns), Birchbox 16:10 - BE PREPARE TO MANAGE ANY ECONOMICAL, POLITICAL OR VIRUS CRISIS Learning how consumers change their behavior in time of crisis. Managing economic crisis like Saars, now Coronavirus, or political, like recent conflict of South Korea and Japan, or else, how to recognize the first signs, how to act quickly and effectively. Inventory management. Recovering from product recalls and reputation challenges. Creating new partnerships. 16:30 - BUILDING BRAND REPUTATION AND TRUST WITH CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE How to manage consumer terrorism - when consumers pick on companies for cultural appropriation, wasteful packaging, bad naming, etc. How to react fast and in an appropriate way. Cultural appropriation- borrowing from different cultures procedures is quintessential for beauty but how do you do it so as not to enrage the people? Sustainability marketing claims Experience running a wellness brand, including building trust with customers, recovering from product recalls and reputation challenges. MARKETING AND E-COMMERCE 9:00 - OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR 9:10 - EXPERIENCE MORE Experience More is defined as prioritizing experiences over things, where consumers engage directly with a product/service, and in return, they receive an enhanced and unique interaction with the brand. Consumers are seeking out authentic, personalized experiences to suit their individual tastes, preferences, and lifestyles. Appealing to the senses and using technology as an enabler, brands strive to provide a value-added experience. Irina Barbalova, Global Lead, Health and Beauty, Euromonitor 9:50 - FRESHLY PRESSED JUICES TO REINVENT COSMETICS Laurence Caisey, Founder, Freedge Beauty 9:50 - BEYOND THE DNA CONCEPT Your DNA & skin health The rise of DNA testing Personalization to the max Confirmed: Barbara Geusens, Founder and CEO, Nomige 10:30 - NETWORKING BREAK 11:50 - BUILDING DISTRIBUTION THROUGH INFLUENCER POWERED SOCIAL COMMERCE AND MARKETPLACES Building a brand on the back of strategic technology partnerships Leveraging peer-to-peer referral tracking and settlement to create a massive incentive reseller network Reducing marketing and customer acquisition costs with content creation and delivery tools that reduce dependence on traditional Social Commerce platforms Laura McCann, CEO and Founder ADORAtherapy 12:10 - THE FUTURE OF BEAUTY IS ABOUT GIVING BACK Align yourself with the right cause and drive social change Explore how to find a cause which couples well with your brand mission, from selection through delivery. Ensure your campaign resonates with your audience and delivers real change. Leverage partnerships for the greater good 12:30 - NETWORKING LUNCH RETAIL Panel Discussion For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bcrzxm 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 Washington DC : United States President Donald Trump will discuss the issues concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to India, a senior US Administration official said on Friday Speaking to reporters here, the official said that the US has great respect for Indian Democratic traditions and institutions and "will continue to encourage India to uphold" them. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom, both, in his public remarks and certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue that's very important for this (Trump) administration. We have our shared commitment of upholding our universal values, the rule of law," the senior official told the reporters here. "We have great respect for Indian Democratic traditions and institutions and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions. We are concerned about the issues that you (the reporter) have raised," the official said, referring to the reporter's questions on whether the CAA and NRC issues would be raised. "The president will talk about these issues, in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking at India to continue to uphold its democratic tradition," the official added. CAA, which promises citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, is facing stiff opposition across the country with some states including Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Punjab refusing to implement it. ANI A visit by the United States President, months before the American elections, can be many things a farewell trip, collecting paybacks for past favours or simply a low-risk, synchronised feel good ride amidst millions of adoring Indians reliving thereby the past grandeur of America as a global beacon for developing world fantasies of equity, justice and morality. The one thing it cannot be is an occasion for the signing of a trade deal of any significance. Why would the host country bother to negotiate one especially if it involves, as it does today, extending favours to the US by either buying military equipment; opening up domestic markets to US exports on a preferential basis; going slow on imposing a quasi minimum alternative tax on the turnover in India of US tech giants which book no profits but record explosive growth using an endless inflow of equity support or indeed deprive domestic tech giants of the opportunity to store and massage data just as US tech giants do in their own home jurisdictions. Giving into each of these concessions means angering domestic interest groups who will remember the pain imposed in the next election. In comparison, the glow of an IOU from POTUS could turn to dust, come November this year, should Bernie Sanders or Michael Bloomberg be the new President. India has never been an aggressive internationalist we remain what Mahatma Gandhi wanted us to be in the 1930s a largely self-sufficient village, which minimises global trade links. Ironically, even America, once the great liberaliser, is listening to the Mahatma today and shutting down its borders via high tariffs and stricter immigration rules. It is deliciously ironical that our citizens behave differently and look endlessly for opportunities abroad to escape low wages and bad public services at home. It is no wonder then that that our wish list for external achievements remains firmly bounded by the middle-class dream of more H-1B visas and a permanent seat at the UN Security Council where grandstanding is the order of the day never mind that we simultaneously openly discredit the salience and effectiveness of the United Nations system itself. Look no further than enjoying at Ahmedabad a grander version of the Narendra Modi-Donald Trump event in Houston last year in September. Sadly, President Trump is an uninspiring speaker. Hopefully, the cultural events would be grander and better than the lackluster stuff Desi Americans put together. Mr Modi revels in the warmth of millions of Gujaratis and can be relied upon to dominate the event with his practised rhetoric. Cutting to the chase, the POTUS visit underlines our growing influence in America a country that had not so long-ago barred Narendra Modi from visiting it. His becoming Prime Minister in 2014 changed all that as it necessarily must. To his credit, Mr Modi has leveraged his energy to blitzkrieg the whos who of international politics with an outreach strategy unparalleled for Indian PMs. Friends in high places are useful diplomatic assets. One of the purposes of determinedly cozying up to the US is to put China on notice that our influence extends way beyond our economic reach something China yearns for despite a treasury bulging with yuan and US dollars. Indian warships now patrol the Indo-Pacific high seas alongside those of the US, Japan and Australia a quad determined to keep the seas open meaning, free of permanent Chinese encroachments. Multi-sector collaboration between government departments of the US and India should be pursued to build closer professional relationships which are the core of sustained, effective collaboration. To this end we should see more, not less, of the US executive branch in India. For the US, if it pulls out from Afghanistan, India presents an alternative channel to influence domestic affairs in Afghanistan. We have a good relationship with Iran to the West and a long history of engagement with Afghanistan. All this will need deep restructuring of Indias diplomatic priorities and working structures. The only worry in reworking our relationship with the US in this manner is the hostility and suspicion it would arouse in China. The more powerful China becomes, the more skittish it gets about retaining face internationally. Coupled with their deepening economic woes and the more recent pandemic assault, President Xi is likely to be even more eager to be seen to remain the big man of China. An India preening around in borrowed boots from the last departing GI in Kabul is unlikely to be palatable to him, not to say of the bile it would evoke in Pakistan. This is the real task before Prime Minister Modi. Can he find a path to President Xis heart like he has found to President Trumps? Ahmedabad (2014) and Mahabalipuram (2019) were tentative steps which should be deepened. Some concessions can help, particularly if made in the context of joint cross-border infrastructure projects. Rolling back the recently increased copycat import tariffs is desirable. Global value chains do not function well in an environment of regulatory constraints. Nor are we good at picking and choosing winners, East Asian style. Far better to adopt generalised tax regimes which push value addition and exports via competitiveness. These shall create a new set of domestic winners and losers. But so long as the aggregate balance of payments impact is positive, we can work out domestic arrangements to soothe the pain of the losers. The 2019-20 Economic Survey has done yeoman service by explicitly establishing that India has not lost out from the 14 free trade agreements it has signed since 1997. Our exports of manufactured goods increased by 13.4 per cent versus an increase of 12.7 per cent in imports. Similarly, merchandise exports increased by 10.9 per cent versus an increase of 8.6 per cent in imports. In both cases, a net gain in exports. We need an impossible mix of deeper commercial and trade relationships with China and a comprehensive strategic understanding of affinity with the US. Navigating this path will require us to abjure copying President Trumps strategy of always winning at negotiations. Some deals are best lost. Opening our domestic market can provide China the growth boost it desperately needs to retain its domestic feel-good quotient. The US and the other RCEP countries would also benefit. The tiger economies of Southeast Asia grew during the three decades from 1960 to 1997 by following Japan in a flying geese model of growth with the lead economy periodically vacating a growth sector for the ones following. China can be our lead goose. It has five times the economic heft of India. It can generate the trade volumes needed to fulfill our $1 trillion export ambition. India cannot realistically hope to outgrow either China or the United States before 2040, at the very earliest. Why let blind ambition or prejudice stop us in the meantime from getting a piece of the cake being carved up between the two global giants? With the return home of Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor and self-described political prisoner," comes the reprise of Second Citys Rod Blagojevich Superstar. And just as Blagojevich had his sentence commuted by President Donald J. Trump, so Rod Blagojevich Superstar will be back for one night only, an April 2 performance at Second Citys e.t.c. stage benefiting Second Citys alumnae fund and the cancer charity known as Gildas Club. The illustrious Chicago comedy theater at 1613 N. Wells St. first staged Ed Furman and T.J. Shanoffs satirical spoof of all things Blagojevich in 2009 in its e.t.c space, drawing inspiration from Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell and similar rock operas from the 1970s. The show later moved to Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. At the time, the show was dubbed the passion of the Rod. My party, my party, why have you forsaken me, sang the title character in the opening number. Machine, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Characters in the piece included such real-life political figures as former U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, former alderman Dick Mell, former Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan and, lest we forget, the former U.S. Senator Roland Burris, a Blagojevich appointee. As reported at the time, other highlights in the piece included a rhyme for Judy Baar Topinka (a great thinka), a Pythonesque explanation of the full Blagojevich moniker Milorad (Serbian, for one who is named Steve), and appearances by both a hairbrush and a wig. To make the show yet more surreal, Madigan could be seen on opening night, doubled up with the laughter, even though the piece suggested she was having an amorous relationship with Fitzgerald. And, stranger yet, Blagojevich himself went to the show on June 13, 2009 at Second Citys invitation (and maybe with some financial inducement). He got an enthusiastic ovation. Where were you when I was impeached? he asked the audience. Blagojevich was played by the actor Joey Bland. Second City has not yet announced casting for the benefit, but it is expected many of the actors will return. Tickets are not yet on sale. PHOTOS: Former Gov. Blagojevich comes home after early prison release Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 About 800 Zimbabweans are among the 60 million people that are living in Hubei province the epicentre of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak but all of them are currently safe from the respiratory disease, the Zimbabwe Embassy in China has confirmed. Chinese authorities put the expansive province, which has nearly three-quarters of the 75 000-plus confirmed cases, under total lockdown on January 23 to slow down the spread of the disease. Responding to e-mailed questions from The Sunday Mail, Zimbabwes chief envoy to China, Ambassador Martin Chedondo, said the embassy is continuously providing information to Zimbabweans in China on how best to avoid infection. The embassy is not aware of any Zimbabwean citizen that has been infected, said Ambassador Chedondo. The approximate number of Zimbabweans in Hubei province is between 600 and 800. The embassy is also providing updated information as and when we get it from the relevant authorities; assisting in relaying extension of visa requests from our nationals to the Foreign Affairs Offices of the province, as well as providing general advice and answering any other queries. The province, Ambassador Chedondo said, was under complete lockdown which makes entry and exit not only impossible but also discouraged by the authorities. China has gradually ramped up sweeping quarantine measures in the province, whose capital city Wuhan was most affected by the disease. supplies. Under the ongoing interventions, apartment compounds only allow people to go in and out through one gate, while each household could only send one person out once every three days to purchase groceries and othersupplies. Last week, the Hubei government ordered community officials to enforce strict, around-the-clock closed management of all residential complexes. It also banned the private use of cars and forbade residents from leaving their apartments without permission. As of Friday, 2 236 deaths had been recorded in China, while 1 109 new cases of the disease were confirmed. Mainland China recorded 118 more deaths on Friday alone, but cases of new infections are declining. In a statement last week, Ambassador Chedondo said: We are particularly aware of the anxieties of the Zimbabwean community in China and those at home, hence we continue to urge all not to panic, as well as encourage them to follow all the measures put in place by the Chinese government to ensure their health and safety. We wish to point out that currently no Zimbabwean has been reported to have been infected by the virus; hence our insistence for our nationals to keep on following the measures put in place. Universities in China are also under lockdown, where students in campuses are encouraged to stay indoors as a preventative measure for their health safety. Students that have travelled to their countries for the winter break are presently being advised to stay put. The Zimbabwe Embassy is also encouraging students who are in the country to be in constant contact with their respective universities, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Harare to get accurate information on the situation. Universities in China have begun online lessons so that students can raduate on time. Last week, a Zimbabwean woman returning from Wuhan was placed under quarantine for tests for coronavirus at Wilkins Hospital in Harare. She was later released after testing negative to the virus. Sunday Mail Boeing 737 Max REUTERS/Jason Redmond The Department of Justice is investigating whether Boeing knowingly lied to Federal Aviation Administration officials while working to get approval for the 737 Max, according to The New York Times. Over the past several months, The Times reported, prosecutors have questioned several Boeing employees in front of a grand jury. The prosecutors specifically focused on whether Boeing's former chief pilot on the 737 Max project, Mark Forkner, had intentionally lied about a new flight-control system on the plane called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). MCAS was designed to make the 737 Max handle essentially identically to the previous version of the plane the 737 New Generation despite the Max planes having larger engines. Under certain conditions in which those larger engines could cause the plane's nose to drift upward potentially causing the plane to stall the MCAS software would activate and automatically adjust the airplane's trim, pointing the nose slightly down. Design flaws in the MCAS software have been involved in two fatal 737 Max crashes that killed a combined 346 people. Federal prosecutors issued a subpoena to Forkner last year for documents related to the plane's development, and Forkner invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to The Seattle Times. Story continues Forkner described "egregious" problems with MCAS in 2016 messages to another Boeing employee, Patrik Gustavsson, saying the software was "running rampant in the sim," in reference to flight-simulator tests. In another message, he suggested that he had unintentionally misled the FAA about the issue. "I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)," he said. Earlier in 2016, Forkner asked the FAA for permission to remove mentions of the MCAS from the pilot manual for the 737 Max, saying it would activate only in rare cases and was designed to run in the background. The FAA approved the request. "We are cooperating with the Justice Department's investigation," a Boeing spokesperson told The New York Times. According to The Times, Forkner's lawyers have strongly denied that their client had misled regulators. "Mark didn't lie to anyone," they said, according to The Times. "He did his job honestly, and his communications to the FAA were honest. As a pilot and Air Force vet, he would never jeopardize the safety of other pilots or their passengers. That is what any fair investigation would find." The 737 Max has been grounded globally since the second crash, which occurred in March, as it works to complete and gain approval on a fix. The grounding has led to a crisis at Boeing, which suffered its worst financial year in decades and saw CEO Dennis Muilenburg ousted over his handling of the situation. Read the original article on Business Insider Georgia marks two years since the tragic death of Archil Tatunashvili - GeorgianJournal Donald Trump Nagrik Abhinandan Samiti, the organiser of the 'Namaste Trump' event, held a meeting in Ahmedabad on Saturday. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit from February 24-25. What was discussed in the meeting is yet to disclosed by the officials. Final preparations are being done in Ahmedabad and Agra on February 22. Beautification has been done in areas where Trump is expected to visit. Security has been beefed up around areas to maintain law and order situation. Hoardings, paintings are placed at every corner to welcome US President Trump. Trump along with his family is scheduled to visit India from 24 to 25 February. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Oregon Health & Science University laboratory broke animal health-and-safety law when five prairie voles died because researchers failed to give them water, a federal inspector found recently. In another violation, a person probing a ferrets brain with an electrode risked contaminating surgical tools, the inspector said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cited OHSU for two violations of the Animal Welfare Act after a routine inspection of the universitys animal research facilities in Portland. Both the ferret and the prairie vole labs have faced scrutiny in the past. The university shut down the ferret labs research for a month last year after the USDA identified three violations, including failure to tell university veterinarians about an infection where a ferrets skull was attached to a post. A researcher had attached the ferret to prevent it from moving during research on how ferrets hear. The vole lab, meanwhile, sparked animal welfare advocates ire in 2017 for the research itself how alcohol affects prairie vole couples. OHSUs top veterinarian for research animals, Kim Saunders, said the federal findings in January dont indicate a pattern of animal mistreatment. We really do take our responsibility to care for our animals very seriously, Saunders said this week. But two prominent anti-animal research groups disagreed and have, again, urged the federal government to halt the universitys work. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a blistering statement, calling for the government to pull the plug on grant money awarded to the university. How hard is it to remember to put water bottles in animals cages? Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president for PETA, said in a statement. Apparently, thats too challenging for some employees at Oregon Health & Science Universitys (OHSU) laboratories, and now, animals are dead. Stop Animal Exploitation Now said in a statement that violations were so extreme that the research animals should be confiscated. The same organization labeled OHSUs primate lab the worst in the country in March 2019 because of multiple violations found by federal inspectors. During a Jan. 21 inspection, a federal inspector watched a man probing a ferrets brain with an electrode as part of research into how the animals hear. The instruments and supplies he used to make a hole in the ferrets skull were right behind him. The surgical room was so small that the mans lab coat touched those tools, according to the federal report, violating the requirement that researchers maintain a sterile environment. Saunders said she disagreed with the inspectors finding of a violation because the man was done with the surgical tools in that procedure. Those tools werent going to be used on the ferret again, she said. The animal itself was never put in any compromised position, Saunders said. The case involved the same lab that OHSU shut down for a month in 2019 as a consequence of violations that included poor sterile technique. Saunders said the new findings dont indicate systemic problems at the laboratory or at the university as a whole. But in a complaint to USDA officials dated Feb. 18, Stop Animal Exploitation Nows director, Michael Budkie, urged the agency to suspend all of the universitys ferret research and confiscate the animals. Otherwise, the next time that your inspector returns, there will most certainly be fewer living ferrets at OHSU, Budkie wrote. And if more ferrets die due to OHSU negligence, their blood will be on your hands. The USDA also cited the university in the deaths of five prairie voles used in alcohol and relationship research. A worker doing her daily rounds taking care of prairie voles had to leave because of a medical emergency, Saunders said, and another person took over. That second employee missed five prairie vole cages and so did not replace their water bottles. The next day, four voles were dead, and a fifth was so close to death that it was euthanized, according to the USDA report. The government said in its report that the university fixed the problem before the inspection by revising the workday staff change process. Now, if staff must leave before theyre done doing daily checks of animals Saunders said that the person who takes over must start from the beginning. But Budkies complaint to the USDA, which addressed both the ferret and the vole violations, was unsparing in its criticism. OHSU staff are so utterly inept that they cannot ascertain whether or not animals have adequate access to water, Budkie wrote. This is unconscionable. Saunders said the deaths prompted OHSU to issue new directives to all animal research labs on the Marquam Hill and South Waterfront campuses, which she said have about 500,000 animals, not counting zebrafish. The USDAs findings bring the number of serious violations at OHSUs animal labs to nine, according to federal records dating back to 2014. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin -- Kale Williams kwilliams@oregonian.com 503-294-4048 @sfkale Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. SHANGHAI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nighttime activities and cultural tours boomed in China in 2019 and drove the development of China's culture and travel consumption, according to a series of reports released Thursday. China Tourism Academy (CTA) under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism estimated that Chinese people have made over 6 billion domestic trips in 2019, contributing 5.73 trillion yuan (816 million U.S. dollars) to the tourism revenue, up 8.4 percent and 11.7 percent compared with the previous year respectively. He Qiongfeng, an expert with the CTA, said that the satisfaction index for tourism among Chinese travelers gained 3.04 percent year-on-year to 80.28 in 2019, hitting a 10-year high. Another research held by CTA and China UnionPay Merchant Services Co., Ltd. (China UMS) showed that Chinese have spent 18.8 percent of their expenditures on traveling, indicating that travel has become an inseparable part of people's lives. Though first and second-tier cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Nanjing and Shenzhen still witnessed the most active travelers in 2019, the spending gap between eastern and western cities was narrowed, with more people from third- and fourth-tier cities traveling last year, according to Wang Tianqing with China UMS. According to CTA, over 80 percent of travelers have attended cultural activities and visited museums in the past year. Data from China UMS also showed that the number of consumers to cultural venues such as museums and historic scenic spots in 2019 increased by more than 30 percent year on year, and their total consumption was up over 25 percent. Red tourism attractions, such as sites with revolutionary history, welcomed 31.1 percent more visitors in 2019 than the previous year and the consumption volume increased 25.6 percent, according to China UMS. Cultural and tourism consumption at night witnessed strong growth in 2019, too. According to China UMS, the total amount of tourism spending at night accounted for 28.6 percent of the total tourist spending. Zhang Jiayi, an expert with CTA said that more cultural venues and tourist attractions extended opening hours and engaged in more nighttime activities in 2019 to cater to people's needs. For 2020, Chinese travelers and businesses have expressed confidence in the development of the country's tourism industry, although it is experiencing a hard time as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Another recent survey by CTA showed 71.5 percent of the respondents would travel after the outbreak ends or wait a bit until the situation stabilizes, while 20.7 percent would go traveling as soon as possible after the epidemic. "China's tourism economy will show strong resilience against the epidemic," said Dai Bin, president of CTA. Despite heavy security arrangement for US President Donald Trump, the security agencies are worried about monkeys who create misery in Agra. To tackle it, the security agencies have deployed five langurs (long-tailed monkeys) on the route of Trump's convoy. The US President and his wife Melania Trump are scheduled to visit Taj Mahal on February 24. Heavy security arrangements have been made. According to sources, the internal security of Trump and his family is being handled by the American Secret Services, 10 companies of paramilitary forces, 10 companies of PAC and NSG commandos have been deployed for the external security. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have for the first time given mud-cap treatment to the graves of Emperor Shahjahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal. RTHK: South Korean coronavirus cases leap to 433 South Korea on Saturday reported an eight-fold jump in viral infections in four days to 433, most of them linked to a church and a hospital in and around the country's fourth-largest city, where health workers scrambled to screen more than 9,000 worshippers. Theres concern that the death toll, currently at two, could grow. Virus patients with signs of pneumonia or other serious conditions at the Cheongdo hospital were transferred to other facilities, 17 of them in critical condition, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip told reporters. He said that the outbreak had entered a serious new phase, but still expressed cautious optimism that it can be contained to the region surrounding Daegu, where the first case was reported on Tuesday. Of the 229 new cases in South Korea, 200 are from Daegu and nearby regions, which have emerged as the latest front in the widening global fight against the virus. By Saturday morning, the city of 2.5 million and nearby areas counted 352 cases, including the two fatalities in the Cheongdo hospital. The central government has declared the area as a special management zone and is channelling support to ease a shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and equipment. Although we are beginning to see some more cases nationwide, infections are still sporadic outside of the special management zone of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, Kim said during a briefing. He called for maintaining strong border controls to prevent infections from China and elsewhere from entering South Korea. Nationwide, the numbers told of a ballooning problem. There were 20 new cases reported on Wednesday, 53 on Thursday and 100 on Friday. Around 230 of those have been directly linked to a single house of worship, a Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where a woman in her 60s attended two services before testing positive for the virus. Officials are also investigating a possible link between churchgoers and the spike in infections at the Cheongdo hospital, where more than 110 people have been infected so far, mostly patients at a mental illness ward. Health officials were screening some 9,300 church followers, and said that 1,261 of them have exhibited cough and other symptoms. Among them, four had travelled abroad in recent months including one to China, although that trip came in early January and was away from Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak. All 74 sites operated by the Shincheonji Church have been closed and worshippers have been told to instead watch services online for a sect whose leader claims to be an angel of Christ, but who is dismissed by many outsiders as a cult leader. Its teachings revolve largely around the Book of Revelation, a chapter of the New Testament known mostly for its apocalyptic foreshadowing. Health and city officials say the woman who first tested positive had contact with some 1,160 people, both at the church, a restaurant and a hospital where she was treated for injuries from a car accident. But officials say its unlikely that the woman set off the chain of infections, and that she was probably just the first person to be detected in an area where the virus was circulating in the population. (AP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Bengaluru: Investigators looking up Amulya Leonas antecedents before she raised Pakistan Zindabad allegedly seditiousslogans at a protest rally two days ago have unearthed an interview she gave to a YouTube channel last month in which she says she is the front for a team of advisors behind her. "I am the face of the team. The team works behind me, they advise me on content and on what to speak about in my speeches every day. I get advice from seniors and my parents also guide me. There is a huge student group Bangalore Student Alliance' who are working really hard and they are the real heroes," Amulya says in the interview with YouTube channel Aap Ki Awaaz, which was posted on January 21. Amulya Leona, 19, came to national attention when she suddenly raised Pakistan Zindabad slogans at a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on February 20. She was rushed away from the stage by organisers of the event and policemen, who slapped sedition charges against her. A judge remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days. She flashed a V signal as she was hustled away by the police. Watch: Amulya Leona flashes V signal as she is led away by #Bangalore police. https://t.co/xXfxhvVEJK pic.twitter.com/OjMsn9oado Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) February 22, 2020 Police have set up a special team to look into the case of Amulya Leona. They have been tasked to conduct a deep probe into her antecedents. It will be headed by Upparpet ACP Mahanta Reddy assisted by inspectors Suresh and Kumara Swamy. Meanwhile, Amulya Leona is likely to be lodged along with Arudra, another young woman who is facing sedition charges for displaying a placard demanding liberation for Kashmir on February 21. Fearing an attack by fellow inmates on the two student activists, they have posted two women constables at their cell. Senior police officers are expected to meet Amulya in the prison for the inquiry. Of interest to them is her interview in which she spoke of what she called advisory committees. Fenty chose Michelle A. Rhee, the founder of a New York-based teacher training organization who proceeded to fire principals, close schools and clash with the teachers union and get her picture on the cover of Time magazine, posed with a broom in the classroom. But like her predecessors, her tenure was short. After three tumultuous years, the chancellor was gone. This Easter is billed to be one of the most memorable seasons for Ghanaians in the UK as the Pan African Art Society in the UK hosts the greatest Choir events with the Mankesim All Angels Anglican Church choir led by the anointed Professor Kofi Abraham. The event is slated for 10th April 2020 and 12th April 2020. There will also be a powerful Angelic choir show at the PROPHETIC RESURRECTION MINISTRIES INTL located on 96 WINDMILL ROAD. CROYDON CR0 2XP They will also be hosted in the DESTINY APOSTOLIC CHURCH INTL. 333 ROMFORD ROAD, FOREST GATE. LONDON. E7 8AA between the date as scheduled below 10th April 2020 19th April 2020 1st May 2020) Also Not forgetting the LIVING VINE MINISTRIES at the 136 STREATHAM HIGH ROAD. CAPOEIRA CENTRE. SW16 1BW. WOODBOURNE AVENUE12th April and 24th April 2020 The tour will be climaxed at the CALVARY CHARISMATIC CHURCH 119 EAST INDIA DOCK ROAD, POPLAR, LONDON. E14 6DE on 13th April 2020,17th April 2020 and the 3rd May 2020 The event is officially accompanied by these top Ghanaian blogging and event publicist and coverage companies Sleeky Promotions and Zionfelix for exclusive coverage of this one of a kind event. The Opposition SAD and AAP on Saturday condemned Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta's purported statement on the Kartarpur corridor and sought clarification from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh within 24 hours. The Shiromani Akali Dal said if the clarification was not issued, the party will stall proceedings of the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha on February 24. The Aam Aadmi Party too lashed out at the DGP, terming the statement condemnable and seeking the removal of the top cop. SAD senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that DGP Gupta told a national daily that "Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back as trained terrorist actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you can be taught to make an IED". The DGP also reportedly said some elements based in the neighbouring country were "trying to woo the pilgrims and making overtures to them". "I condemn the statement in the strongest possible words. I do not think it is the statement given by the Punjab DGP, I see this coming from the Congress headquarters because this DGP was handpicked by overlooking several senior officers," alleged Majithia. Majithia also dubbed the statement a "deep rooted conspiracy" of the Congress to paint every Sikh pilgrim a "terrorist". "As many as 52,098 pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the Kartarpur gurdwara. Please check us and see which one of them became terrorist," asked Majithia, alleging that they (Congress) were trying trying to get the corridor shut. "If the clarification is not given by Amarinder Singh within 24 hours, we will not allow the Punjab Vidhan Sabha run on February 24," warned Majithia. AAP MLA and the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema, sought the DGP's removal. "The statement poses a threat to the country's unity and integrity. The CM should lodge an FIR against him (DGP), put him behind bars and remove him from his post," said Cheema. Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Gobind Singh Longowal also condemned the DGP's statement and said the corridor gave a message of peace. "With the DGP's statement, sentiments of Sikhs have been hurt. So far, 50,000 devotees have offered prayers at the Kartarpur gurdwara and no such instance like what the DGP has said has come to the fore yet," said Longowal in a statement. Earlier, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too had repeatedly warned that Pakistan had "nefarious designs" behind the opening of the Kartarpur corridor and had also maintained that while he was extremely happy as a Sikh at its opening, "the threat it posed to India could not be ignored". The Kartarpur corridor, which was opened on November 9 last year, links the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan--the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev--with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur of Indian Punjab. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Judges block on Mississippis heartbeat abortion ban Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A three-judge panel has unanimously upheld a block on a Mississippi law that would ban most abortions once a baby's heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. In a per curiam decision released Thursday, the panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction against the state law. The panel opinion referenced an earlier legal decision against a different Mississippi law that banned most abortions performed after 15 weeks gestation. In 2018, Mississippi enacted a law prohibiting abortions, with limited exceptions, after 15 weeks gestational age. A district court enjoined the law, and we recently upheld that injunction, explained the opinion. If a ban on abortion after 15 weeks is unconstitutional, then it follows that a ban on abortion at an earlier stage of pregnancy is also unconstitutional. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a pro-abortion group that brought the lawsuit against the state, celebrated the panel's decision. This is now the second time in two months the Fifth Circuit has told Mississippi that it cannot ban abortion, said Hillary Schneller, senior staff attorney at CRR, on Thursday. Despite the relentless attempts of Mississippi and other states, the right to legal abortion remains the law of the land. Pro-life groups, including LifeNews.com, denounced the panel's opinion. Unborn babies have a right to life and shouldn't be killed in abortions, Life News tweeted Thursday evening. Last March, then Gov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2116 into law. The measure bans most abortions once a baby's heartbeat can first be detected. The state law included an exemption for abortions when a mother is facing a life threatening medical emergency in which the baby cannot be saved. Ive often said I want Mississippi to be the safest place for an unborn child in America, Bryant said on Twitter the month before he signed SB 2116. He added, I appreciate the leadership of the MS House and Senate, along with members of the legislature, for passing the fetal heartbeat bills today. I look forward to signing this act upon passage. In response, CRR filed suit against the law, expanding upon earlier litigation aimed at the 2018 state law banning most abortions after 15 weeks. Many women dont even know theyre pregnant at six weeks, and this law would force them to carry their pregnancies to term, stated CRR President Nancy Northup last year. Just four months ago, a federal judge told Mississippi they cannot ban abortion after 15 weeks, and now theyve banned it even earlier. We will keep taking them to court until they get the message. Two more people in the UAE have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, taking the total number of such cases to 11, health authorities said on Saturday. The two male patients include a 34-year-old from Philippines and a 39-year-old from Bangladesh, who got infected as they were in direct contact with the Chinese patients recently diagnosed with coronavirus, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said in a statement. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus climbed to 2,345 with 109 more deaths reported, while the confirmed cases rose to 76,288. A team of WHO experts, currently in China to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak, is expected to visit the worst-affected Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak. UAE's health ministry said that all people in direct contact with the coronavirus patients are being checked to ensure the safety of the community, Gulf reported. "The ministry emphasised that it is taking all necessary and precautionary measures, including investigating, examining and following up on those who were in contact with the patients, in cooperation with health authorities in the country," it said. The ministry has urged the public to follow the preventive procedures and to read the virus-awareness instructions, available on its website and the official websites of health authorities in the UAE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who is very popular in China, has expressed concern over the coronavirus outbreak in the country that has claimed over 2,300 lives and advised people to take precautions and follow government's instructions in "this time of crisis". Khan, 54, has become a household name in China due to the huge popularity of his movies such as "3 Idiots" and "Dangal". The actor interacts with his Chinese fans through Weibo social media account which is akin to Twitter. "A very warm hello to all my friends in China. Since I read about the outbreak of coronavirus over there, I have been extremely concerned," he said in a video message with Chinese subtitles posted on his Weibo account on Friday. "I have been in touch with a few of my friends and I have been following this tragedy with a lot of pain in my heart. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost somebody close," he said. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus has gone up to to 2,345 with 109 more deaths reported, while the confirmed cases have risen to 76,288, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. Among the new deaths, 106 were from the Hubei Province, the epicentre of the virus, and one each from Hebei province, Shanghai and Xinjiang. "I know that these are very difficult times. I am sure the administration is doing all that they can to bring back things to control and back to normal and the best that we can do at this time is to take care, take precautions, and follow the instructions of the administration and help them to help us," Khan said. "I hope and pray that things get back to normal very soon in China. My thoughts and my prayers are with you in this time of crisis. Sending you all my love, take care, be safe, be healthy," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MUMBAI: Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, in his tell-all book "Let Me Say It Now," has written about his experience while probing crucial cases. He also broke his silence on several controversies that were part of his police career, in his book, which was released on February 17. Here is an excerpt from this book where he talks about his unceremonial transfer from Mumbai after reports of a brawl in an eatery in Bandra. The incident happened just after the Assembly elections of 1999 in which the Congress-NCP alliance came to power. The Maharashtra Assembly elections were held in September 1999 and the Congress-NCP alliance came to power and I was thrown out. Why? Because one day an acquaintance phoned me and asked, 'Have you heard of what happened in Bandra last night?' No, I hadn't. I had not heard that some men had wined and dined in a restaurant in Bandra and when handed their bill, they had felt insulted and offended that they should be asked to pay. They had an altercation with the staff who had insisted on payment. The men had paid and left, only to return with some more of their colleagues. Then they had smashed the glass on the counter. They had pushed, slapped and abused the staff. The management had attempted to lodge a complaint at the police station, but the officer had dilly-dallied and finally asked them to come the next day. I immediately made enquiries with the police station and was told that nobody had come to lodge such a complaint. I told them that the complainant would be coming to the police station and they must lodge the FIR, investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book. Within half an hour, I received a call from the office of the Deputy Chief Minister, saying that a false complaint was being lodged and the police should not entertain it. I was firm and said that the police would follow the due process, conduct a fair and impartial investigation and take the offence to its logical conclusion. Knowing that I was closely monitoring the case, the investigation was impartially conducted and the accused were arrested sometime in November. With the arrests, the bells tolled for me. There was a murmur that the arrested accused had good connections with the office of the Home Minister and that I would be transferred. The nature of our work dictates that holidays are always uncertain and frequent leave just not possible. Yet I had made a rule for myself that every year I would try to take a few days off in December, to coincide with the school holidays. That year too I had put up my leave application in September itself and it was duly sanctioned. When the news of my impending transfer began doing the rounds, the CP Ronnie Mendonca said to me, 'Rakesh, please don't go on leave now, when they want to transfer you. Go later.' It was during his tenure that I had come in and it was during his tenure that I would be out. He was clearly not happy with it. I said Sir, whether I go on leave or not, they will definitely transfer me. So let me go. My wife and children are looking forward to the vacation. I have given my word to my family. Let me keep it.' Kunal was twelve and excited about the holidays. Krish was only four and I wanted some quality time with him. As expected, my transfer order arrived when I was on leave. As per norms and practices, I was to be in the Northwest Region for at least two years and I had completed only thirteen months! Maria was a former Indian Police Officer he last served as the Director-General of Home Guards and before that he served as the Police Commissioner of Mumbai. Maria has been credited to have cracked the Bombay serial blasts case in 1993, the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case in 2003. It was Rakesh Maria who had been given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He retired on January 31 2017, after 36 years of service. Roxy Jacenko is known for her flamboyance and on Saturday she upped it a fair few notches. The PR queen introduced her drag persona, Coco Cain, as she attended a Sweaty Betty boat party ahead of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The 39-year-old shared a number of Instagram photos and videos showing her at the vibrant shindig. Scroll down for video Party: PR queen Roxy Jacenko (left) introduced her drag persona, Coco Cain, as she attended a Sweaty Betty boat party on Saturday, ahead of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras She captioned the series of posts: 'Eight days till #mardigras2020... I'll answer to Coco Cain only'. Roxy wore a one-shoulder, sequined dress that clung to her slender form and featured lots of sparkle. It was emblazoned with the Australian and Aboriginal flags across the middle, intricately woven from the colourful sequins. The skin-tight frock fishtailed down into a fluffy tulle section that gave the dress a mermaid style silhouette. She captioned the series of Instagram posts: 'Eight days till #mardigras2020... I'll answer to Coco Cain only' Wow! Roxy wore a one-shoulder, sequined dress that clung to her slender form and featured lots of sparkle.It was emblazoned with the Australian and Aboriginal flags and a tulle fishtail Higher the hair! The businesswoman wore a blonde wig piled high into a massive beehive with thick extensions in waves and wore very dramatic makeup, as well as huge false lashes The businesswoman wore a blonde wig piled high into a massive beehive with thick extensions in waves cascading down her shoulders. For accessories, she opted for massive hoop earrings and a fluffy hair embellishment in a bright red colour. Her makeup featured severe blush and highlighter, painted-on eyebrows, bright red lipstick and massive eyelashes making for a fabulously dramatic look. Arrival! She also shared video in which she arrived at the event by speedboat, making a suitably dramatic entrance Loving it! Roxy appeared to be having a delightful time at the party, posing beside a number of hunky guests Friends in high places: The party guests included her friend Mason Brown (right) Roxy appeared to be having a delightful time at the party, posing beside a number of hunky guests including her friend Mason Brown. She also shared video in which she arrived at the event by speedboat, making a suitably dramatic entrance. It's not the first time the entrepreneur has dressed in drag - she also wore a Ru Paul costume to cheer up her son Hunter while he was in hospital last year. US, Taliban Set to Sign Deal By Ayesha Tanzeem February 21, 2020 In simultaneously issued statements, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and the Taliban announced Friday that a deal between the U.S. and the Taliban will be signed February 29, paving the way toward ending the longest American war in history. The deal calls for a phased withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan in return for guarantees from the Taliban it will not allow Afghan soil to be used for terrorism, and it will participate in a reconciliation process with other Afghans. "Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire and the future political road map for Afghanistan," Pompeo's statement said. A signing ceremony is to be preceded by a seven-day reduction in violence period starting at midnight Saturday (Feb. 22) that will be observed by all parties to the conflict, the U.S. forces, Taliban, and the Afghan security forces. All sides have clarified they reserve the right to respond to an attack. Reduction-in-Violence Deal Begins in Afghanistan The period is supposed to act as a confidence-building measure, as well as a gauge as to whether the Taliban have full control over their fighting forces. "Both parties will now create a suitable security situation in advance of agreement signing date, extend invitations to senior representatives of numerous countries and organizations to participate in the signing ceremony," a Taliban statement said. The ceremony will be held in Qatar's capital, Doha, where the Taliban have maintained an unofficial political office for years, and where the two sides have engaged in grueling negotiations for almost 18 months. Phase 1 In the first phase, the U.S. is expected to reduce its forces from the current 13,000 to around 8,600. Barnett Rubin, a leading expert on Afghanistan who has advised the U.S. government on policy in the country, says a complete U.S. withdrawal will be linked to developments on the ground. "The agreement overcomes mistrust by sequencing the components and stating that all are interdependent. As each measure is implemented, the parties will monitor compliance before taking the next step," he wrote in his opinion piece in The Washington Post newspaper this week. The Taliban also mentions making "arrangements for the release of prisoners," a detail missing in the U.S. statement. The deal is a culmination of years of efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. Earlier efforts failed because the U.S. wanted the Afghan government to be part of direct talks with the Taliban while the insurgent group refused to sit with what it claimed was a "puppet" regime without legitimacy. Breakthrough moment A breakthrough occurred in the summer of 2018 when high-level U.S. officials began meeting directly with the Taliban in Qatar, including U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells. In September 2018, Zalmay Khalilzad was appointed as the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, and in October of that year he held his first official round of negotiation with the Taliban in Doha. "When our representatives started negotiating with the United States in 2018, our confidence that the talks would yield results was close to zero," Sirajuddin Haqqani, the deputy leader of the Taliban and the head of the deadly Haqqani network wrote in an opinion piece in The New York Times Thursday. In September 2019, the two sides seemed ready to sign a deal. Severe criticism in the U.S. and Afghanistan generated by a perception the U.S. was cutting and running without guarantees of reduction in violence or human rights protection from the Taliban, coupled with bloody attacks by the Taliban that claimed an American life, led to U.S. President Donald Trump canceling it at the last minute. While the deal signals the end of one phase of this conflict, many Afghanistan experts say the real work of ending the conflict, which would require all Afghan factions to come to an understanding on the future framework of their country, is just beginning. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," Pompeo said in his statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Talks between the United States and the Taliban in Doha continue over the specifics of a reduction in violence, a State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday, hours after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani he had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In a post on Twitter, Ghani said Pompeo had informed him in the telephone call that the Taliban had made a proposal "with regards to bringing a significant and enduring reduction in violence." (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk Editing by Leslie Adler) Lilia Garcia-Brower spent the past two decades fighting to make sure janitors got paid fairly. As executive director of Los Angeles Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, a statewide watchdog, she oversaw probes into unfair and illegal practices in the cleaning industry. Now as California labor commissioner, she is taking that same mission to the entire state, enforcing labor laws to ensure just pay and fair treatment for workers. Her staff of 700 investigates and adjudicates workplace violations ranging from unpaid wages to retaliation. Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed her in July; she replaced Julie Su, who is now secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: What are your biggest priorities in your new job? A: I spent 20 years defending janitors and working with responsible employers in the janitorial industry. My biggest partner was the labor commissioners office, and that partnership (was key to) the (Los Angeles Maintenance Cooperation Trust Funds) success. I bring that experience and a broad lens of understanding that we need a comprehensive picture of the workplace and industries that includes all stakeholders, workers, employers and industry leaders. (We will) continue to strengthen our strategic enforcement and look at building relationships with employers. We have a statutory obligation to represent and defend employers right to a fair market. Q: How does enforcement work? A: A worker, a third party or an employer can file a report of labor law violation online through our website or in any local district office. Our office processes 30,000 claims in 18 offices throughout the state. We present an important vehicle for workers to defend their rights. In my experience as an advocate, the labor commissioners process was much more conducive to the reality of working peoples lives, particularly the working poors lives. It has more flexibility than the civil process to evaluate disputes and resolve complaints. If theyre not resolved, we go forward to a hearing. Q: AB5, Californias new gig-work law, took effect Jan. 1, drawing new boundaries about when workers are employees rather than independent contractors. Besides janitorial, what industries are most affected? A: Misclassification is not new. I see it predominantly in service industries, often with immigrant workforces. Were talking about industries like construction, nail salons, auto repair, barbery, cosmetology. With misclassification comes a whole slew of possible violations: wage theft, tax fraud, workers comp. Our public system is already overburdened, so when you have a workplace accident with workers not covered by workers comp, they tend to go to a free clinic/county hospital and further overburden the public. The impact of misclassification is very large and problematic and affects all stakeholders in California. Q: What about new gig-economy marketplaces like Uber, Lyft, Postmates that use an app to connect people with on-demand work. Are they misclassifying workers? A: My charge is to enforce the laws. The Legislature has identified a new approach to eliminating misclassification by codifying the ABC test. (That test says workers are employees unless (A) they work free from a companys control, (B) do work outside the companys core business, and (C) have independent enterprises doing that work.) I take that responsibility very seriously. We look to enforce it appropriately and consistently to (address) all those harms caused by misclassification. Q: How will you enforce AB5 and other labor laws? A: Im interested in strengthening the information that we get. Not only responding to claims coming in, but looking at how we identify cases we otherwise would not listen to. Workers can provide confidential complaints to the Bureau of Field Enforcement. Every enforcement agency understands the value in having that security for informants to speak in a safe environment, providing details for us to understand how the law is being violated without having to compromise their immediate livelihood. Q: I recently wrote about Uber and Lyft drivers who are collaborating to file wage claims with your office on the premise that they are misclassified as independent contractors. How do you react when you have a group of claims against the same company? A: Secretary Su established protocols for the wage claims adjudication unit to make referrals to the Bureau of Field Enforcement (which) will evaluate entire operations. Its a smart use of resources that when you have a group of claims that are consistent allegations and you have one defendant, that you assign that to one deputy labor commissioner. Q: AB5 has spawned a lot of controversy and pushback from freelancers in all kinds of occupations, some highly specialized transcribers and translators, musicians, even balloon artists and horse trainers. They say they are well-paid, not exploited and do not want to be employees. They fear AB5 will kill their businesses as clients are now afraid to hire them. How do you thread the needle on responding to those concerns? Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes A: Were not in a position to evaluate legislative reform. Our job is to enforce the law. Its important to hear those frustrations so we can refer people back to information we have available, (such as) the AB5 portal. We want to make sure that all people inquiring as to the application of that law get one consistent response, and understand whatever flexibility is provided within the law. If they want to retain their independent contractor status, there is direction provided there. Q: Are you referring to the business-to-business exemption? If someone operates as a sole proprietorship, LLC or corporation, can they contract with clients without needing to have an employer/employee relationship? A: Its complicated and they should receive legal guidance. Because the law is clear. The ABC test streamlines the criteria. Q: Your previous organization was funded by unionized janitorial companies. Tell me about your relationship with organized labor. A: Unions are extremely important partners; they are a strategy for upward mobility for so many families. I was a direct beneficiary as my father was a union member in a furniture manufacturing plant, thats how he was able to provide health insurance for us, a struggling family. I very much respect and see that unions are critical for lifting so many people, so many families out of poverty. They level the playing field in that they build good relationships with employers who are not just trying to comply with minimal standards but who are interested in paying living wages, health care, job security, seniority protections. Q: What else would you like to say? A: Im encouraged by the communitys interest in exercising their rights. Im looking to build those relationships and clear pathways of communication with employers. I want workers to continue to feel encouraged to come forward. The labor commissioners office should be a household name in every working familys home. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Soy sauce is not just one thing, it has its own world, says Katsuya Fukushima, chef and co-owner of the Daikaya restaurant group in Washington D.C. Broadly speaking, traditionally-made soy sauce is a fermented product made with soybeans and sometimes (but not always) wheat. Its a fundamental source of both salinity and umami in cooking across many cuisines, but there are countless variations in production process and flavor, and many cooks reach for different bottles depending on the dish theyre cooking. I spoke with seven different chefs and cookbook authors to glean some insight into how they use soy sauce, and what brands they most often reach for when cooking at their restaurants and at home. Sohui Kim, Chef and Owner of Insa in Brooklyn, NY Chef Sohui Kim (and every other chef I spoke with) emphasizes that you should always look at the ingredient list before buying any soy sauce: I grew up eating a lot of Korean food, so I grew up with the real stuff, but if something is made with a commercially produced, non-brewed soy sauce, you can tell the difference. Soy sauces that arent brewed or naturally fermented often contain added sweeteners, artificial colors, and flavors as well as preservatives to keep them shelf stable. The resulting product tastes quite different from the real thing; Kim describes these as having an aftertaste that is bitter and not very smooth, or is sometimes too sweet. At her Brooklyn restaurant, Insa, Kim uses Korean soy sauce, or ganjang, which she calls a foundational sort of mother sauce in Korean cooking. Its used both as a seasoning during cooking and as a tableside dipping sauce for dumplings and scallion pancakes. Traditional ganjang is a byproduct from producing doenjang, a fermented soy paste, meaning that its brewed differently than koji-inoculated soy sauces of Japan. Sohui uses the Sempio brand, which she describes as having a deep soy flavor that tastes clean and not-messed-with. There are several varieties of Sempio soy sauce, many of which can be found in Korean grocery stores like H-Mart; the one Kim uses is the bottle bearing the naturally brewed label, which you can find here. Story continues Beyond Sempio, Kim is also a fan of the ganjang made by a small-time artisan operation called Rhei-Maid, based outside of Boston. Its very strong and has that intense soy umami; it tastes like my grandmothers soy sauce, she says. I was born to a family and a culture where we made all the stuff at home, so if you really wanted great ganjang you just made your own, and [Rhei-Maid] is doing it. Rhei-Maid is still a small operation, and as of now their ganjang is only available for wholesale purchase. Niki Nakayama, Chef at n/naka in Los Angeles, CA Because Japanese food celebrates simplicity, it almost feels as if any ingredient can simply be paired with soy sauce and it would be enough, says Niki Nakayama, whose Michelin-starred restaurant n/naka is celebrated for its take on kaiseki, a traditional Japanese multi-course meal that emphasizes seasonal and local ingredients. Nakayama believes that the natural umami in soy sauce helps any ingredient become more flavorful. She notes that the type of soy sauce she uses depends on the dish, but in general, at n/naka, they reach for Yamasa for our regular soy sauce and seasoning when we cook things, and Higashimarus Usukuchi soy sauce for light colored soy for soups. Hsiao-Ching Chou, Author of Chinese Soul Food When teaching people about soy sauce, Hsiao-Ching Chou will have her students taste up to a dozen soy sauces to understand variations in flavor and salinity. For Chinese cooking, she notes, soy sauce is a key ingredient for the flavor, not just for the saltiness but also for all the funky flavors that come with the different aging and fermenting methods. Her go-to all-purpose soy sauce is made by Kimlan. She describes it as neutral in terms of flavor balance and appreciates that it doesnt have a sweetness that might throw off a stir fry. But thats just her personal preference, she says: If you ask any Chinese person [for their soy sauce recommendations] theyll give you a brand of soy sauce that they like and likely something they grew up with. Chou emphasizes the importance of using Chinese brands of soy sauce for high-heat Chinese cooking methods, warning that for each Asian cuisine that uses soy sauce, the sauces tend to have a different flavor profile. Katsuya Fukushima, Chef and Partner of Daikaya Restaurant Group in Washington D.C. In Japanese cooking, soy sauce is pretty ubiquitous, Katsuya says, It can be used as a main taste character; or as a faint backgroundalmost unnoticeablesetting the tone for a dish; or as a binder between main characters in a dish. Katuya says you can find Yamashin, Nakaroku, Yamasa, Higashimaru, Shoda, and Sekigahara brands in his kitchen, and sometimes more, and that he often combines multiple brands in a single preparation: One dish, he says, can have three different soy sauce combinations added at a different time in the cooking process to achieve a desirable outcome. He notes that he tends to use tamari as a finishing sauce to complement darker colored sashimi like tuna or salmon. For delicate simmered vegetables, he says, hes more likely to use usukuchi, or light soy sauce. Sam Mason, co-owner of OddFellows Ice Cream Co. in Brooklyn, NY During his time at WD-50 and now, at OddFellows, Sam Mason has often used soy sauce as a nuanced way to add saltiness to a dessert: At WD-50 we had these slowly cooked kumquats, served with really thin pumpernickel toast, sesame ice cream, and this really awesome soy sauce caramel, he recalls. The challenge, he says, is trying to make soy sauce the starring flavor, rather than a third person in the cast complementing other elements. I always approach it kind of like how you would approach a malt syrup," he says, noting that he'd sometimes pair it with vanilla: "something to kind of highlight it that it can play well with. The hardest part about making a soy sauce ice cream is that you have to use such a high-end soy sauce, because you want to get away from the saltiness, and more into the mild funkiness, he says. Those earthier flavors tend to come with the more expensive, higher-end soy sauces, he notes, recommending Kishibori shoyu, a longtime favorite of ours. Shota Nakajima, Chef and Owner of Adana in Seattle Before opening his own restaurant, Shota Nakajima cut his teeth working at various Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan, and he picked up a lot of his soy sauce intel there. I've tried making soy sauce; I've tried making miso. It's pretty good, but I can't make it as well as the people who have been making it for thousands of years, he says. Like many of the chefs he studied under, Nakajima uses soy sauces produced by Kikkoman. He recommends seeking out soy sauce thats packaged in a squeeze bottle, which helps to protect the contents from oxidation. Many people dont realize how quickly soy sauce can oxidize, he says: You cant let soy sauce hit the air. If you go to the store and get two bottles of soy sauce, and open one and close it, and leave them in the fridge for like a week, the color and flavor will be different if you taste them side by side, he says. Its still usable, but the flavor changes very quickly. Some chefs he trained with would only serve soy sauce within the first few days that it was open; anything older was jettisoned into pickling liquid. Raquel Pelzel, Author of Umami Bomb You might remember Raquel Pelzels chocolate cake recipe, frosted with a soy sauce-seasoned chocolate buttercream. When soy sauce meets chocolate, Pelzel says, it gives a dulce de leche-like, salty-sweet flavor to the frosting. In her book Umami Bomb, Pelzel adds a couple glugs to her marinara sauce, and sees it as a great way to add a deeper, rounder taste to anything in need of salt. She recommends seeking out higher-end and specialty varieties of soy sauce: There are a lot of craft soy sauces out there that have so much to offer, and that can really elevate your cooking, she says. Its the equivalent of using a nice finishing olive oil. For day-to-day use, Pelzel buys San J Shoyu, which she likes for its clean and rich flavor. On the high-end, small-batch side, Pelzel likes to stay adventurous. I recently bought this 16 dollar Korean soy sauce made by JookJangYeon. It has a softer flavor that is almost rooty and earthy, she says. I also think smoked soy sauce is amazing and that people should try and seek it out and buy it. Its just really tasty. Originally Appeared on Epicurious Stephen Heyman at 3:AM Magazine: When you read an interview with William T. Vollmann you never quite know which William T. Vollmann you are going to get. Wild Bill Vollmannthe reckless journalist reporting on humanitys crooked timber from the latest geopolitical hotspot? Billy the Kidgrinning nerd in flak jacket welcoming you into his creepy den of iniquities? William the Blundererconcerned citizen quixotically laboring to save the world one lost soul at a time? Or maybe youll simply hang out with William Tell and shoot some guns of an afternoon, like French writer David Boratav did in 2004. None of these caricatures really do Vollmann justice, but if they help raise his profile and sell his books theyre doing their job. When in a 2010 interview with Carson Chan and Matthew Evans, Vollmann discusses the founding mythology of American Ovidianismthe ideal that you can change who you areyou understand that his commitment to transformation is not simply aesthetic, but ethical. His writing argues that each of us has the right to be who we are, and who we want to be. more here. DECATUR Law enforcement agencies have been hit with a surprise drop in state funding for officer training. Legislation in Springfield may help back-fill the loss. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board has about $5 million less because of a change in a state law about how money is allocated. The board is funded by traffic fines. The result is that agencies arent getting reimbursed for the training. Jim Kaitschuk, executive director for the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, said the board used to pay for academy tuition and departments would cover salaries and equipment. "As of the first of the year, that has changed, and the municipalities have to pay for everything, but also their training, with the hope that they would receive some reimbursement at a later date, assuming there is enough money to go around," Kaitschuk said. Kaitschuk said that since 2012, municipalities were reimbursed for 50% of the costs of police recruit training. But as of Jan. 1, it is unclear whether they would receive any reimbursement at all. Decatur City Manager Scot Wrighton in a City Council memo wrote: "In the past, the cost of police officer training was paid directly by the State of Illinois. Without warning, the state discontinued funding, so staff was not able to anticipate this added cost in the FY 2020 budget." The city recently hired nine new police officers who have to go through the training academy, said Chief Jim Getz. The City Council on Monday will consider a resolution to cover $56,736 for that. The cost for tuition, including room, board and training, for each new police officer is $6,274. The cost of electives for new officers is $30. Academy uniforms cost $2,727. "We are asking our officers to do more and more every year," Getz said. "There are training mandates for officers required by the state, so we need these funds." Macon County Sheriff Tony Brown said not having enough funds for the training directly impacts the community. "Part of the training involves cultural diversity education, which is especially important for officers who did not grow up in the area they serve," Brown said. "That training makes a huge difference when it comes to law enforcement relationships with communities." The Sheriffs' Association and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police have requested the General Assembly provide additional funding to offset the loss. They point to a decrease in traffic citations because of a law last year that lets judges waive traffic fines in court. State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, introduced a bill that would help gain $5 million for police training. "Less money is going into the fund that the training board draws its operations out of, so this is a revenue problem," Manar said. "The governor is proposing the same thing." Getz said an appropriation hearing is to be held Wednesday to discuss Manar's bill. Kaitschuk said he hopes there will be change, because he knows some departments have had to cancel training classes due to the shortfall. "Police officers are now up against a wall when it comes to training," he said. "This needs to be fixed." FROM THE ARCHIVES: A look back at Decatur police through the years Contact Analisa Trofimuk at (217) 421-7985. Follow her on Twitter: @AnalisaTro Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sister Agnes was born in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, in 1924. She trained as a nurse and worked in England and the USA before joining MMM in Boston, MA, in 1950. She was the first MMM postulant in the USA and went to Ireland for her novitiate. She worked in the hospital in Drogheda for a year after profession. In 1954 she was assigned to Angola, where she was to serve for over 30 years. She was present there through the 27-year civil war. She was home Sister for a short time in the nurses' residence in Drogheda. Sister Agnes returned to Ireland in 1989 and worked in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (then the IMTH) as a volunteer and receptionist for the next 24 years. Based in the Motherhouse she then helped in Aras Mhuire for a few years. She moved to Aras Mhuire for care in July 2019. She died there peacefully on 11 February 2020, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Realme had scheduled an MWC event on February 24 in Barcelona, Spain where it was going to unveil the X50 Pro 5G flagship smartphone and its first smart TV. But with MWC canceled, the company will unveil the X50 Pro 5G on the same date through an online event in Madrid, Spain and an actual simultaneous event in New Delhi, India. Realme has revealed quite a lot of features of the X50 Pro 5G already but has largely kept mum about its smart TV. It was teased by the company's Indian branch recently, and in an interview on YouTube, Realme's Indian CEO Madhav Sheth revealed the smart TVs will arrive in India in Q2 2020. We're soon coming out with something that signifies Real Sound, Real Design & Real Clarity. Why the Choice of India? Because you have helped us create it! Know more at the launch of #realmeX50Pro at 2:30 PM, 24th Feb. Stay tuned to our official channels.https://t.co/xQsEu3XJS3 pic.twitter.com/E7TXGaAM9M realme (@realmemobiles) February 22, 2020 Additionally, Sheth revealed Realme's first fitness band, which will likely go official on February 24, will come with a heart rate monitor, OLED screen and built-in USB connector. It will be available in three colors, including Yellow and Black. Aside from that, the Indian CEO gave us a glimpse of the recently announced Realme Link app and confirmed that Buds Air Neo TWS earphones are in the works. Moreover, Sheth said that we'll hear more about the Realme 6 "very soon" and that the U Series may make a comeback in a new avatar. You can watch the entire interview below for more details. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. Bruce Samazan was once featured on posters in many a teenage girl's bedroom thanks to his role as young policeman Max Simmons on E Street. But the former actor, who also appeared on Neighbours and Home and Away, vanished from the spotlight after being a soapie stalwart in the 1990s. Speaking to this week's Stellar magazine, the former actor, now 49, has revealed why he stepped away from the spotlight. Heartthrob: Speaking to this week's Stellar, E Street star Bruce Samazan (pictured) reveals why he stepped away from acting Bruce tells the publication: 'I got to a point where I was touching 30. I'd met my wife and we were talking about kids and buying things'. The roles were no longer come thick and fast, and former brickie Bruce decided to shoot for stability. 'I had to make a big decision and that was, "As much as I love it, is acting going to provide that for me? For us?" Beloved! Bruce was a heartthrob in the 1990s thanks to his role as young policeman Max Simmons on E Street. Pictured with E Street co-star Toni Pearen Bruce tells the publication: 'I got to a point where I was touching 30. I'd met my wife and we were talking about kids and buying things'. Pictured with E Street co-stars Toni Pearen and Malcolm Kennard 'It was what I wanted to do, but I had to be realistic. I decided to search around for a normal job and became a real estate agent,' he said. Bruce is now settled in Noosa, Queensland with his wife Nanette and daughters Leala, 13, and Zoe, 10. The Silver Logie winner says while his daughters are interested in music and acting, they don't realise they have a famous father. He said of acting: 'It was what I wanted to do, but I had to [be] realistic. I decided to search around for a normal job and became a real estate agent'. Pictured recently Happy family: Bruce is now settled in Noosa, Queensland with his wife Nanette and daughters Leala, 13, and Zoe, 10. Pictured in 2019 'They don't understand exactly how popular Dad was,' Bruce tells Stellar. 'For them it's like, "Dad's been on TV... once or twice".' E Street was the first major role for the Madagascar-born actor and launched him into an absolute 1990s poster boy. Bruce's starring role on the show, in which he played a hapless policeman, also lead to a short rap career. Hey dad! The Silver Logie winner says while his daughters don't realise they have a famous father. 'They don't understand exactly how popular Dad was,' he says. Pictured recently Bruce hasn't ruled out more acting work, telling Stellar: 'I've gotten a little older, a little greyer and a little rounder, but potentially that could lead to new roles. Who knows?' Pictured with former E Street and Neighbours co-star Melissa Bell in 2019 In mid-1993, he released a single titled One of a Kind under the name B-Man Samazan however it flopped, coming in at No. 80 on the ARIA charts. Bruce now works with a Sunshine State real estate company which deals primarily with retirement villages and resorts. However, he hasn't ruled out more acting work, telling Stellar: 'I've gotten a little older, a little greyer and a little rounder, but potentially that could lead to new roles. Who knows?' Yahoo Canada Style If you're anything like me, staying warm and comfortable is top of mind when it comes to getting dressed during the winter months. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits members of medical teams from Henan, Guangxi and Gansu in a hotel in the Hankou District of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, Feb. 21, 2020. The central government team leading by Sun Chunlan, has studied the rotation of medical workers, strengthened guidance on hospital infection protection and improved psychological counseling in the COVID-19 epicenter to better care for frontline medical workers. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A central government team has studied the rotation of medical workers, strengthened guidance on hospital infection protection and improved psychological counseling in the COVID-19 epicenter to better care for frontline medical workers. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who leads the team, on Friday visited members of medical teams from Henan, Guangxi and Gansu in a hotel in the Hankou District of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. "The vast number of medical workers are the most admirable people," Sun said. The guiding team expressed respect and gratitude to medical workers on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Sun also called for better protecting and caring for policemen, sanitation workers, community workers and volunteers, who also contribute to the normal operation of the temporary hospitals. Currently, over 40,000 medical personnel, including military medics, have been sent to Wuhan from across the country. The team has prepared daily necessities for each of them. Visiting a temporary hospital converted from a gymnasium in Wuhan, Sun inspected the testing work of the mobile P3 laboratories and patient treatment of the hospital, and talked to medical workers from Jiangsu and Guizhou via video links, who are currently working in the temporary hospital. The guiding team also visited the headquarters of Wuhan Union Hospital, where 516 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized. Visiting maternity wards and other wards, Sun stressed the need to make overall arrangements for the treatment of other patients during the fight against the novel coronavirus, to meet people's daily medical needs. The Red Cross is assisting a family of five after their home was damaged by fire late Friday afternoon. It happened at 5:09 p.m. in the 4000 block of Renezet Drive, not far off of Highway 58. When firefighters arrived on scene, they saw heavy smoke and fire. Flames were coming from a bedroom and spread into the attic space. A quick and aggressive interior attack was performed with the fire being extinguished within 20 minutes. Battalion 2, Battalion 3, Quint 6, Quint 7, Squad 7, Quint 8, Engine 15, and Squad 19 were on the scene. Two adults and three children were displaced and the American Red Cross was brought in for assistance. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No one was injured. Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has completed more than 84,000 km of cabling lines to boost the national power grid since its inception in 2012. The grid runs some 434 terawatt-hours through 1,124 high-voltage transformers and 3,559 medium-voltage transformers to 9.8 customers in over 13,000 cities, towns, villages and communities of Saudi Arabia, stated the National Grid, the SEC's transmission subsidiary. SEC has made great strides in finance, technology and human resources, thus taking its asset value to SR147 billion ($39 billion). The companys high-tech communications network, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, uses the latest digital mobile radio technology and a 76,000-km fiber optics network. Because it considers quality as paramount, the company has dedicated 58 quality control teams around its facilities, staffed with proficient experts whose mission is to assure the quality of the services it offers,. said the statement from SEC. To bolster the human element, NGSA steadily replaced foreign staff with talented, qualified and well-trained Saudi nationals, to the point where 88 per cent of its 5,143-strong workforce is now made up of Saudis. SEC has built a solid network of strategic partnerships, including 16 partnerships with global manufacturers, to gain and develop its expertise and knowhow, it added. Recently, the Saudi company had signed two contracts with Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) for providing consultancy services. The signing was done during the visit by a delegation from EETC to a number of Saudi utility's dynamic compensating stations in Jeddah and Madinah.-TradeArabia News Service ANN ARBOR, MI -- All are welcome to attend the Women Building Connections networking and panel discussion, which will focus on local entrepreneurship, planning and business economics. This years theme is Each for Equal, looking at how equity plays into business. The event, which begins at 1:30 p.m. March 8, is at ZingTrain, 3728 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Registration is available on Eventbrite for $25. Space is limited. The organizers are all Ann Arbor entrepreneurs who want to bring the community together. The host of the event, Build Institute, provides an entrepreneurship resource hub by training and creating business plans with a focus on women and people of color. Co-sponsors include Pearl Planning, Zingermans Bakehouse, ZingTrain and Engage. So far, three pop-up shop owners who are Build Institute graduates will have vendor tables for attendees to visit with the option of bringing donations of full-size toiletries for The Womens Center of Southeast Michigan. Women Building Connections will start with a networking session led by Brooke Boyle, Engage founder/CEO. She will have small, timed and engaged sessions and wants introverts to know that this activity is made for them. My goal is to get people who are different from each other and have never met each other into deeper, meaningful conversations as quickly as possible, Boyle said. Four panelists will discuss their entrepreneurship journeys and state of economics. They are April Jones-Boyle, Build Institute founder and executive director; April Anderson, Good Cakes and Bakes co-owner and pastry chef; Whitley Granberry, staff attorney of economic equity practice at the Detroit Justice Center and Gabriela Santiago-Romero, We the People Michigan policy and research director. Were all about supporting women, Jones-Boyle, said. Well be discussing some of the barriers in entrepreneurship, equitable funding opportunities and pulling in the next generation of entrepreneurs. Also, how can we use our dollars to invest in local businesses and support women-owned businesses by being customers. The event i being hosted on International Womens Day because many Build Institute graduates are women. Scott Stewart, Build Institute development director, said 70 percent of those women are people of color and 65 percent are of low and moderate income. Stewart said theyre often left behind in entrepreneurship. The opportunity to collaborate and do something for a cause felt like the celebration would stay and we would be able to magnify the impact and purpose of International Womens Day, said Melissa Joy, founder of Pearl Planning. Organizers hope the event will inspire people to initiate their creations of major businesses to side hustles. Build Institute plans to expand to other cities in efforts to provide resources all over. Big business gets developed, which is good and important, but the ground layer of business doesnt get developed, said Amy Emberling, Zingermans Bakehouse managing partner. Build helps people who are living in those communities, find ways to open up businesses that can support their families and gives a richness to the community. Margaret Atwood meets Philippa Gregory in this chilling historical fiction novel about religious and female persecution. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Margaret Atwood meets Philippa Gregory in this chilling historical fiction novel about religious and female persecution. British author Kiran Millwood Hargrave debuted in 2014 as a young adult novelist with The Girl of Ink and Stars, a story drawn from the cultural folklore of the Canary Islands. In turn, her first adult novel, The Mercies, draws inspiration from actual events in 17th-century Norway, and vividly conjures the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere of her setting. The novel opens in 1627 in the remote village of Vard, Norway, a chilly spot located north of the Arctic Circle. On a winter afternoon shortly before Christmas, 20-year-old Maren Magnusdatter waves to her brother, father and fiance as they leave with the other men of the village to fish on the ocean. Moments later, a storm arrives "like a finger snap," killing all 40 fishermen of the tiny village and leaving behind only women, children and elders. Supplied photo The struggle between white settlers and an Indigneous population in author Kiran Millwood Hargraves well-paced new novel is one that will resonate with Canadian readers. Tensions grow between the "kirke-women" who follow only the Christian church and stick to traditional female roles, and those women who incorporate Indigenous Sami beliefs into their faith and take over traditional mens work. Desperate to survive and grieving for their loses, Maren observes that "the women of Vard are slipping back into the old ways, grasping for anything solid." Meanwhile, forces are at work beyond their community. Three years after the storm, the Lensmann, or lord, of the region installs as commissioner the sinister Absalom Cornet, who rose to prominence by burning witches at the stake. Absalom sees the self-sufficient women and Sami influences as evil. But his young Norwegian wife, Ursula, is intrigued by the community, especially Maren. As Maren and Ursulas friendship grows, so does Absaloms obsession with pursuing so-called witches. The women must decide whether to be true to themselves or bow under to Absaloms rule for protection. The novel is narrated in the third person, alternating between Maren and Ursulas points of view. Both women are likable and interesting. Ursula starts off as a meek city girl accustomed to obeying orders but becomes willing to adapt to hard work and stand up to a harsh husband. Similarly, Maren has always followed the traditions of her community but is willing to stand up for those who are persecuted and take on roles not normally meant for women. And with this, Hargrave subtly yet brilliantly demonstrates the powerful mens true fears in Vard independent women, interracial marriage and non-Christian religions. As the Lensmann writes to Absalom when offering him the job of commissioner: "Since the storm of 1617 womenfolk have been left to themselves. The barbarian Lapp population mixes freely with the whites. Their magicks are no small part of what we must move against." Canadian readers will draw parallels between Norways persecution of the Indigenous Sami and Canadas persecution of our Indigenous nations. The white settlers push the Sami off their traditional lands, call them by the derogatory term "Lapps" and fear that the Sami will curse them. Yet many of those same people also seek out the Sami for good luck charms, help with their homesteads and protection when at sea. Hargraves paces her story well and unfolds the plot perfectly, keeping the action moving. She writes in readable, beautiful prose with striking metaphors: "The nights are no longer winter dark and in the gloom the graves appear to her like a pod of whales on the horizon, humpbacked and menacing," narrates Maren at one point. Despite the chilly setting, readers will warm to this remarkable story. Winnipeg writer Kathryne Cardwell works at The Winnipeg Foundation. A man has been charged after he allegedly stabbed a 70-year-old Muslim prayer leader at one of Britain's biggest mosques. Daniel Horton, 29, of no fixed abode, was charged with Section 18 GBH and possession of a bladed article on Friday. He is due to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday. On Thursday afternoon police were called to The London Central mosque near Regent's Park and found that worshippers had pinned the suspect to the ground. Daniel Horton, 29, was charged with GBH and possession of a bladed article on Friday after he allegedly stabbed Raafat Maglad, 70, at London Central Mosque Raafat Maglad, 70, was taken to hospital for treatment to stab injuries and he was discharged following treatment. On Friday the Muslim leader returned to the mosque with his arm in a sling less than 24 hours after being stabbed - and said he has forgiven his attacker. Mr Maglad, 70, collapsed when he was allegedly stabbed in the neck or shoulder by a 29-year-old man who was said to be behind him with a five-inch kitchen knife. Amid the mayhem, 20, worshippers pinned the knifeman to the ground, while others administered first aid to Mr Maglad at the London Central Mosque. The Metropolitan Police arrived minutes later to the mosque shortly after 3pm, and arrested the attacker on suspicion of attempted murder. Today, Mr Maglad, who leads the call to prayer five times a day, returned to the mosque after being released this morning from a hospital's major trauma unit. Mr Maglad, 70, (pictured) returned to the mosque on Friday for prayers with his arm in a sling, less than 24 hours after the incident Mr Maqlad was flanked by security at the mosque today, saying: 'I forgive him. I feel no hatred for him, he's a human being and what happened to me is my fate. 'However the law must be implemented. All I can remember is someone approaching me from behind and then feeling great pain in my neck. 'He did not say anything to me. It was a really deep cut. I rushed myself out of the room and someone rushed me to hospital. 'I'm still in pain but I wanted to come here today and pray. I felt it was important to do that but now I'm returning to hospital. I don't know the man. I have seen him in the mosque before but I don't know much about him.' Doctors told Mr Maglad he could not move his right arm and gave him six stiches in his neck. He asked them to discharge him early because he wanted to be at home. Mosque advisor Asayaz Ahmad said their morning prayer was meant to be dedicated to being good to your parents, but following the attack it changed to a focus on living in a secure society and looking out for one another. He said: 'There was blood everywhere, it was all over his (Mr Maglad's) neck. They had to keep pressure on it. He discharged himself from hospital, I think he went home. 'He is doing well, he is with his brother. We will have some 1,000 people come here in the next hour. Then there will be samosas and hot drinks and Raafat might be here. 'There are five prayers in the day. He has been coming here to give every prayer for the last 25 to 30 years. Mr Maglad, 70, smiled as he was treated in hospital following the mosque attack on Thursday 'Today's prayer was about being good to your parents but we changed it to be about living in a secure society and environment and looking out for everyone. The Imam asked the prayer to talk about it today.' Worshippers said the suspect had attended prayers at the mosque sporadically for the past six months. Mr Maglad has been the mosque's muazzin the person who leads and recites the call to prayer for almost 30 years and was about to retire. He is a senior elder at the mosque and oversaw the funeral of Dodi Fayed in 1997 following his death in a car crash in Paris with Princess Diana. Regular prayer goers at the mosque said the knifeman was a 'friend of the mosque' who would pray there regularly. A woman visiting the mosque this morning said: 'I was here yesterday, but I was outside. I did not see the man, but I saw the people flee.' A man points to a knife on the floor following the incident at the Regent's Park Mosque Mr Maglad was back at the Mosque, less than 24 hours after he was stabbed in the neck with a five-inch kitchen knife to worship, on Friday Mayor of London Sadiq Khan went to the mosque today to join worshippers for Friday prayers. He was greeted with a hug by director general Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan. Speaking after the 'Jummah' prayer, the second of the Friday worship, the Mayor addressed hundreds of men, women and children leaving the mosque. He said: 'I am here as your Mayor to reassure you after the awful incident we saw yesterday that our places of worship - whether they are mosques, synagogues or churches - are temples and should be sanctuaries and safe havens, safe from the fear of attack.' He added: 'The good news is that Abu Azim, our brother who was injured yesterday, is with us today for Jummah prayers. Unfortunately there are some people who will attack people at their most vulnerable, which is then they are worshipping.' A dramatic video was published on social media last night showing the handcuffed suspect, who was wearing a red hoodie and had bare feet, being held down by officers before being led away. The mosque has 24-hour security but it does not have airport-style metal detectors. As the Trump administration squares off with Chinas Huawei over who will dominate the worlds next generation of wireless networks, another battle is emerging closer to home. And in this one, the force causing the most concern isnt a shadowy Chinese firm, or even a company at all. Its the Pentagon. The fast new consumer and business network known as 5G, already being touted in Super Bowl ads, will require large new swaths of the airwaves. And for the companies building it out, the most coveted piece of that invisible real estate is the mid-band, a set of frequencies that can carry far more data than current cellphone signals. Since the 1960s, rights over much of the mid-band have been claimed by government agencies, most notably the U.S. Department of Defense, which says it needs to use mid-band waves for research and military communications. Critics say the military is barely using those airwaves, and by squatting on the rights it is blocking American firms from developing better 5G networks. Now, as 5G moves quickly from a sales pitch to a business reality, a significant battle is erupting between wireless carriers, which want the government to free up the Pentagons share of the mid-band airwaves for commercial use, and Pentagon generals, who warn of national-security risks if they lose control. As they bicker, Chinese companies arent waiting: Huawei and others are moving quickly to build and sell equipment that exploits exactly those frequencies. As other nations stock up on infrastructure built by Huawei and other Chinese firms, gear from China is becoming the standard in much of the world and U.S. producers fear that theyre being shut out of a quickly developing new technology by their own government. The Pentagon, too, is likely to face security concerns in its overseas operations as its mid-band channels get crowded by Chinese-built devices. Though it hasnt cracked the front pages yet, the battle over the mid-band airwaves has created strange political dynamics of its own, with big telecom companies trying to budge the Pentagon without triggering an open lobbying war, and Newt Gingrich and Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale joining the battle on behalf of yet another would-be player in the industry. In the process, its focusing attention on a big mystery: What is the Pentagon even doing with its valuable slice of the wireless spectrum? Story continues And, with China racing to exploit its lead, the lack of mid-band open to American companies is raising a bigger worry for U.S. competitiveness: Even if the Pentagon finds a way to free up some of the territory, Chinas growing head start may mean its already too late. The airwaves are one of the least understood resources in America invisible and all around us, they power everything from military radar to home Wi-Fi to old-fashioned AM radio. Theyre also a top-level tug-of-war in Washington. Theoretically owned by the public, theyre regulated by two separate agencies, neither answerable to the other. Nearly a century ago, when the invention of radio made it clear that that the airwaves technically, the electromagnetic spectrum would be as useful to commerce as to science, Congress created the Federal Communications Commission. The new independent agency would grant licenses to commercial entities like radio operators, TV broadcasters and telecommunications companies. But separately, it also granted the Commerce Department authority to reserve and manage some of the spectrum for government purposes. Today, the FCC auctions parts of the spectrum to private companies, but has no authority over the sizable chunks that Commerce has allocated to agencies such as the Department of Defense. When the system was set up, that wasnt a big deal; the airwaves were big enough for everyone. But as radio and TV have been joined by cell carriers and other uses, the commercial airwaves have become more crowded and more valuable, with companies bidding for long-term leases to use certain frequencies. The prices have become dizzying: A 2015 auction of several slices of federally controlled airwaves raised nearly $45 billion. Not all spectrum is equally useful. At the low-frequency end, signals can travel great distances and penetrate objects, but carry very little information. At the high end, so-called millimeter-wave bands can carry huge quantities of data, but dont travel far and can be blocked by leaves or even thin walls. For the emerging 5G network, the mid-band occupies a sweet spot between data and distance. Mid-band signals can carry much more data than current cellphone networks without requiring overly dense networks of relay antennas. Mid-band signals look highly desirable to firms trying to connect everything from self-driving cars and surveillance cameras to drones making pinpoint deliveries and even doctors performing remote surgery. Theyre also desirable to the military. The Department of Defense has long laid claim to large pieces of the electromagnetic spectrum for the ever-growing role of electronics in military operations, and by the late 1960s it was clear that the Pentagon wanted, and would hold onto, much of the mid-band. Battle of the mid-bands Telecom companies want the FCC to allocate more mid-band communications spectrum for their nascent 5G networks. But theyre trying to move into some crowded real estate, with an alphabet soup of government agencies claiming oversight or rights to the desirable frequencies between 2.5 GHz and 6 GHz. While the private sector has long sought more access to government airwaves, the accelerating push to develop 5G technology has concentrated attention specifically on the Pentagons mid-band holdings. For more than a decade, wireless industry lobbyists and policymakers have plotted about how to identify the governments airwaves that arent being put to full use and find ways to auction or share them. The Pentagon, meanwhile, has played a large role in shooting down some of these ideas, such as a bipartisan push on Capitol Hill in recent years to persuade government agencies to give up spectrum in exchange for a cut of the auction revenue. The questions run deeper than how to get the Pentagon to let go. In fact, its not even clear what the military is using its chunks of the spectrum for. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), a former wireless executive whos now the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, a decade ago tried, and failed, to force the Pentagon and other government agencies just to quantify how much of the spectrum theyre actually using. Thats a hard nut to crack, Warner said in a recent interview. The Pentagon maintains that its spectrum holdings support a host of sensitive operations, including issuing orders to nuclear bombers and submarines. But in the absence of legislation like Warners, visibility into the government holdings remains a mystery to many on the outside. Charles Clancy, a specialist in wireless communications who previously worked at the secretive National Security Agency, said in an interview that the mid-band spectrum enables a wide mix of warfighting and intelligence functions, including radars needed by airborne command and control planes. Although the Pentagon has spelled out some details of its use, aspects remain classified and theres no hard mandate it disclose much publicly. Current and former military leaders also point out that in a world of constantly evolving technology, its not always possible to predict which wavelengths the military will end up needing. Ash Carter, a defense secretary in the Obama administration, said in an interview that the Pentagon may be able to transition to more efficient uses of its holdings over time, but also needs to keep an eye on the future. The Pentagon needs to defend vigorously the parts of the spectrum that it really needs, he said. Because once you give them away, he said, youll never get them back. The mid-band debate heated up last year when some surprising new players came onto the scene: Trumps 2020 reelection campaign manager Brad Parscale and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Both were part of a vocal campaign in favor of a controversial plan to force the Pentagon to share some of its spectrum by assigning a wholesale provider that would offer them to wireless carriers like AT&T on a rolling basis, allowing carriers to use the resource without any dedicated ownership, and subject to the Pentagon and the wholesalers control. The plan was hyped as a way to cut wireless bills for rural America, with a more efficient system for doling out valuable 5G-friendly airwaves. But critics noted it seemed to have one big beneficiary: politically connected telecom firm Rivada Networks, which touted technology for becoming that wholesaler. The global company, whose U.S. offices are near Washington, claims GOP operative Karl Rove as a registered lobbyist and is backed by tech investor Peter Thiel, a prominent supporter of Trump. Gingrich says he has no financial stake in Rivada or other 5G ventures; last year, Parscale also denied having any personal interest.. Although the wireless lobby loves the idea of getting access to military-controlled spectrum, the carriers fought this wholesale plan, saying it put too much control into government hands. The entire FCC united against the prospect, as did prominent lawmakers. Trump shot down the proposal last spring, announcing he preferred to let the free market dictate 5G rollout, siding with his economic adviser Larry Kudlow and FCC chief Ajit Pai. Gingrich says he most recently spoke to Trump about the issue late last year and came away disappointed in the administration. Of all of the places Ive been involved with this president, this is the one in which the Trump model which is to break through the regulations, move to the lowest cost, fastest implementation system has been the most effectively resisted by the deep state, Gringrich said in an interview. The Pentagon hasnt budged on giving up its mid-band wavelengths for good, but it has a counteroffer: What if everyone shared? In that case, carriers and equipment makers would use new technologies to borrow military wavelengths, using them in defined areas without any dedicated rights to exclusive use. In September, the Pentagons Frederick Moorefield said DOD wants to expand on an initial effort to share airwaves belonging to the U.S. Navy on an unlicensed basis with users that register to do so, an arrangement years in the making and just now coming to fruition. In a hotel near the FCCs Washington headquarters, the Navy, FCC, Commerce Department and industry officials gathered to celebrate the initial commercial launch of service in the band. Dont let this be the last hurrah, Moorefield, the acting deputy chief information officer, told the large crowd over breakfast. Whether we like it or not, more spectrum-sharing is the new normal. The FCC, meanwhile, in late June will auction some priority licenses to access these mid-band airwaves held by the Navy after years of tough negotiation involving the Pentagon and other commercial and government players. But so far, the military has not given up much in the way of underlying spectrum holdings. Even with the sharing plan, defenders of the Pentagon say the military needs to be parsimonious. The Navy figured out ways to manage that sharing, said Clancy, who is now vice president for intelligence programs at the MITRE Corporation, a government-funded think tank. If it keeps expanding, however, You are squishing them into tighter and tighter spaces and constraining their ability to do training missions. That sense of a squeeze has contributed to distrust between the commercial sector and the government. It was on display during 2019s defense bill negotiations, when several lawmakers and wireless industry lobbyists beat back a Pentagon attempt to secure a provision ordering the Defense Department to create a program focused on the sharing of 5G airwaves. Commerce Committee lawmakers in both chambers cried foul at what they saw as an attempt to grab control from civilian overseers at the Commerce Department and the FCC. Some have another concern about the sharing idea: The Pentagon has tested so-called bidirectional sharing of the spectrum, effectively a trade of shared access to some military airwaves for pieces of the spectrum held by commercial wireless providers now. Some fear the Pentagons goal, as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) alleged during a December hearing, is to force commercial entities to share their privately licensed spectrum with DOD as part of these arrangements. Sen. Ted Cruz Congress has been sending mixed messages: While it has so far protected civilian control of the spectrum, it also is funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into the Pentagons 5G ambitions. Last year, lawmakers gave a new appropriation of $436 million to the Pentagon, which told Congress to expect the funding request to recur in years ahead. The department started issuing requests for proposals late in 2019 aimed at experimenting on wireless spectrum-sharing technology on several U.S. military bases, expected to proceed through 2020. To critics, this looks like busywork meant to justify the Pentagons squatting on valuable airwaves. The bureaucrats inside the Pentagon dont want to give up anything, Gingrich said. So theyre playing rope-a-dope with very small projects that are totally irrelevant but make it look like theyre doing something. With overseas threats from Huawei looming large in the news, there are signs that the Pentagon and its private-sector spectrum rivals are trying to make nice. Pentagon officials have met with wireless carriers, investors and equipment makers like Nokia and Ericsson, with an eye toward developing a broader strategy aimed at global 5G dominance. Defense Secretary Mark Esper convened a 5G-focused dinner with top telecommunications executives on Nov. 25. Undersecretary Ellen Lord said during one event last year that the Pentagon plans almost a national industrial policy for 5G. Defense Secretary Mark Esper (left) and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley (right) Its not clear the wireless lobby would ever support a Pentagon-run industrial policy. But there are also rumblings of change coming from the military itself. The Defense Innovation Board, a Pentagon advisory group made up of leading tech entrepreneurs and academics, issued a report last year that essentially concluded economic and security value of 5G outweighs the risks for the military in parting with at least some of its prime spectrum, and that it could find alternative ways to support those operations. The status quo of spectrum allocation is unsustainable, the authors wrote. Congressional appropriators used this report to partly justify granting the Pentagon hundreds of millions for its latest spectrum projects. The wireless industry is increasingly impatient. Other countries have gotten ahead of us on mid-band, one telecom executive told POLITICO, requesting anonymity to speak frankly. Were kind of pulling teeth trying to get access to it. One thing that may ultimately force the Pentagons hand is the growing realization that the military needs a secure 5G wireless network, too and if overseas companies end up crowding all those mid-band frequencies it wants to use, its options in the field will be very limited. Giving up, or at least sharing, some of its spectrum holdings with American companies may be the only way it can avoid having to rely on a Chinese-run network for some of its global operations. Steve Kwast, one of the U.S. Air Forces leading technologists, who retired late last year as a three-star general, said the military is particularly rattled that it may be forced to use mid-band airwaves for 5G on a Chinese network. So here comes 5G, where the Chinese look at the spectrum as the sweet spot of all these attributes that people want and their ability to communicate, and they say screw you man, we werent around when you wrote these rules, Kwast said in an interview. We are going to use that part of the spectrum. Kwast cites a real-world example of this challenge. If we are operating in the South China Sea, China is already riddled in that component of the electromagnetic spectrum that we have as our sanctuary, and it is going to do everything the military complains about it, he said. It is going to affect our ability to command and control because they are already there. The military is going crazy saying, Wait a minute you cant do that, thats our sanctuary, Kwast added. The argument that Kwast and others are making is that as much as possible those networks need to be American and that means sharing the mid-band spectrum with the telecom industry so it can build out such a commercial network. But to do so will likely take high-level leadership from a White House that appears to be, at best, divided on the best way to proceed. Were not talking about a technology challenge. We are talking about a political problem, Robert Spalding, a retired Air Force brigadier general who recently served on the National Security Council, where he worked on technology policy, said in an interview. Spalding, who authored a high-profile NSC proposal leaked in early 2018 that contemplated nationalizing 5G, said he left the White House in part because he doesnt think it is prepared to make the necessary decisions. I dont think its going to go well, he said in an interview. You know, thats why, thats why I left government. Im focused on private sector solutions that kind of try to disrupt because otherwise were headed into a place where we just give up the lead in science and technology. Trump Cleaning House, Teasing New Leadership for Top Intel Agency By Jeff Seldin February 21, 2020 The White House will start with a clean slate as it works to reshape the leadership of the United States intelligence community, pushing the country's acting No. 2 official out just days after firing his boss. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence late Friday announcing the departure of its second-in-command, Andrew Hallman. Hallman, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. intelligence community, had been serving in an acting capacity as the principal deputy director since last September. His departure follows that of former acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, who was cast aside by U.S. President Donald Trump after one his top aides gave lawmakers a classified briefing last week about Russian attempts to meddle in the U.S. presidential elections in November. According to media reports, the aide told lawmakers Russia is seeking to boost the president's reelection chances, angering Trump, who feared the information could be used against him. On Wednesday, the president announced he was replacing Maguire with U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, a well-known Trump loyalist. But there are indications Trump is not satisfied. The president Friday took to social media to accuse Democrats of trying to weaponize the information, slamming the report as a hoax. "Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa," he tweeted Friday. Trump also said he is getting closer to naming a new, permanent top intelligence official, announcing he has narrowed the list of possible candidates to a handful of finalists. "Four great candidates are under consideration at DNI," Trump tweeted Friday. "Decision within next few weeks!" The United States has been without a permanent director of national intelligence since mid-August 2019, when former Director Dan Coats stepped down following a series of public clashes with Trump over intelligence assessments. In a statement Friday, Hallman said he was "humbled to work alongside Joe Maguire," calling the former acting DNI "a lifelong patriot and public servant." "As I prepare to depart, I have complete confidence in the IC [intelligence community] workforce and the enduring qualities of the community stability, integrity, and relentless dedication to serving the nation," Hallman added. "These qualities will guide the IC through this next chapter and the uncertainties that come with change." Reaction from Democratic lawmakers to the president's decision to remove his top intelligence officials was swift. "I am gravely concerned," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson said in a statement late Thursday. "By firing Acting DNI Maguire because his staff provided the candid conclusions of the Intelligence Community to Congress regarding Russian meddling in the 2020 presidential election, the president is not only refusing to defend against foreign interference, he's inviting it," Thompson added. House Intelligence Committee chairman, Democrat Adam Schiff, who was allegedly at the classified briefing, also expressed concern. "We count on the intelligence community to inform Congress of any threat of foreign interference in our elections," Schiff tweeted. "If reports are true and the president is interfering with that, he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling. Exactly as we warned he would do." Former intelligence officials have also voiced concern. "The over-arching message is the president simply doesn't care, and simply wants a hood-ornament loyalist sitting in the chair," former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told VOA. The rocky relationship between Trump and U.S. intelligence agencies dates back to the 2016 presidential election, when the intelligence community concluded, "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin and the Russian government aspired to help President-elect Trump's election chances when possible," the leading U.S. intelligence agencies wrote in an unclassified report released in 2017. Those conclusions were backed up by a report in April 2019 by special counsel Robert Mueller, which found, "the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome." But Trump has consistently denied any Russian interference, repeatedly deferring to Putin's denials. "He said he didn't meddle," Trump told reporters following a conversation with Putin in Vietnam. "He said he didn't meddle. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times." Still, U.S. intelligence officials have said, repeatedly, that not only did Russia meddle in 2016, but that it did so again in 2018 and that it would meddle in the 2020 presidential elections, as well. "It wasn't a single attempt. They're doing it as we sit here," Mueller told lawmakers last July. "And they expect to do it during the next campaign." The White House is facing a March 11 deadline to nominate a new, permanent director of national intelligence or risk having the position go vacant. Under U.S. law, the president must at least nominate someone to a position requiring Senate confirmation within 210 days of the position being vacated, meaning the acting director, whether it was Maguire or Grenell, would have to step down. "The clock doesn't restart each time the president names someone else [as acting director]," Steve Vladek, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told VOA. "If no nominee is submitted in time, Grenell ceases to be the acting DNI, and no one can replace him," he added. "Someone still has to 'exercise the functions' of the acting DNI, but that would fall to whoever the senior person at ODNI currently is." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Archie Gamboa has given police regional directors one week ultimatum to curb illegal gambling in their areas or else they will be relieved. To the concerned regional directors of the Philippine National Police, I have forwarded to you list of operators in your different regions, Im giving you a week, if you do not stop then I will relieve you, Gamboa said in a press conference at the Baguio City Police Office. He maintained that he does not receive a single centavo from illegal gambling including the illegal numbers game also known as jueteng. Gamboa made the statement amid reports that the PNP is losing its focus on stopping jueteng amid its intensified campaign on illegal gambling. The one-strike policy will be enforced to all police unit commanders who will fail to halt illegal activities such as gambling, he added. He said he eyes to strengthen the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and the Internal Affairs Service to catch cops protecting gambling lords. Gamboa added that eradicating illegal gambling is part of the internal cleansing under his helm. We have to convince the people that we are serious on everything, that the PNP does not protect any illegal activities that other citizens do, he added. (SunStar Philippines) Open source To date, more than 25 people have been identified among those who took part in protests in the village of Novi Sanzhary and did not allow Ukrainians evacuated from China to the local medical center. Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ivan Varchenko said so at a briefing. [article_attached posi tion="1"] He also noted that today in Poltava, one of the detainees will appear before the court today in Poltava. In addition, law enforcement agencies verify that people from other cities and regions could have participated in the clashes. "One of the detainees is charged under Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (threat or violence against a law enforcement officer). Today, a preventive measure will be chosen for him by the court. We demand that this measure be detention," Varchenko said. As we reported before, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov announced that the well-known doctor Yevgen Komarovsky will come to give a lecture for the residents of Novi Sanzhary. In particular, Dr. Komarovsky will hold a meeting with local residents, at which he will explain information about the Chinese coronavirus. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has sparked controversy by suggesting Muslim men should face extra searches at airports. (Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images) Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has been condemned for encouraging racism after suggesting that Muslim men should face more searches at airports because they are more likely to be terrorists. OLearys comments to The Times, in which he said terrorists will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion, have also been branded abhorrent and racist and discriminatory. In the wide-ranging interview, the 58-year-old Ryanair chief executive suggested that families with young children should be subject to lesser checks because there was virtually zero chance of them being bombers. He said: Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males travelling on their own. If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero. He added: You cant say stuff, because its racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish. If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat. Michael O'Leary has been condemned for "encouraging racism" by his comments. (Picture: Getty) The comments have sparked a backlash, with Labour MP Khalid Mahmood accusing Mr OLeary of encouraging racism. He told The Times: If he can tell me what colour Muslims are then Id be very happy to learn from him you cant judge a book by its cover. He added: In Germany this week a white person killed eight people. Should we profile white people to see if theyre being fascists? Hes being very blinkered and is actually encouraging racism. Read more: Damilola Taylor's killer is back behind bars after driving a car at a police officer Read more: Kickboxer jailed for 28 years after stabbing pub landlord to death over ban A spokeswoman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: Michael OLeary should be under no illusion: his comments are racist and discriminatory. He openly advocates discrimination against males of a Muslim persuasion, which presumably is not based on specific intelligence but solely whether someone looks or acts like a Muslim. Story continues This is the very definition of Islamophobia. READ: Our comments on the @Ryanair boss, Michael O'Leary, who has called for profiling against Muslim men at airports. Here is the @thetimes article on his troubling comments: https://t.co/b17KOKG02r See attached #TellMAMA pic.twitter.com/SdCKZJhGMi TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) February 22, 2020 Tell MAMA UK, which monitors anti-Muslim activity, shared a statement from director Iman Atta OBE which said: Besides being discriminatory and basing judgements on the looks of people, which is abhorrent, OLeary clearly does not know about the history of terrorism, where people have used others to bypass this blunt & divisive technique. This could be a Gerald Ratner moment for OLeary, where his flippant statements come back to seriously affect his business. The comment refers to jewellery firm boss Gerald Ratner was axed after calling one of his own products total crap in 1991, causing profits to tumble. Its not the first time OLeary has made comments that have sparked a backlash. He once said: The best thing you can do with environmentalists is shoot them. On another occasion he directed his ire at travel agents, saying: Screw the travel agents. Take the f***ers out and shoot them. What have they done for passengers over the years? MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A women's event in Mexico planned for next month, fuelled by growing disgust with a spate of high-profile femicides, gained ground on Friday as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said public servants could participate. During his regular morning news conference, Lopez Obrador said government workers could join the event but suggested some activists were simply seeking to use the protest to undermine his government. The strike is scheduled for March 9. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A women's event in Mexico planned for next month, fuelled by growing disgust with a spate of high-profile femicides, gained ground on Friday as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said public servants could participate. During his regular morning news conference, Lopez Obrador said government workers could join the event but suggested some activists were simply seeking to use the protest to undermine his government. The strike is scheduled for March 9. Promotions began circulating this week on social networks under the slogan "A Day Without Women." It comes amid public outrage sparked by the murder of a seven-year-old girl and a woman skinned by her partner. Lopez Obrador said he will respect the strike and there will be no punishment for civil servants who join. But he did not openly support the event and asked women to take care "not to be manipulated." "(We must) be careful because conservatism, the right, is very hypocritical," he said. "They promote these movements against progressive governments." If the event takes place, it would be the first national strike featuring only women in the history of Mexico. "Not a woman in the streets, at work, in schools, in universities or shopping," reads the call to strike being distributed on social media. Interior Minister Olga Sanchez declared her support. "Solidarity as a woman, and in my personal capacity, I join the #NationalStrike on March 9," she wrote in a post on Twitter. Opposing political parties have voiced their support for the strike. (Reporting by Raul Cortes Fernandez; Writing by Julia Love and David Alire Garcia; Editing by David Gregorio) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Nguyen Van Long, 35, is held at a police station in Ha Tinh Province, central Vietnam, February 21, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Han. A man was arrested in the north central Ha Tinh Province Friday for stealing 15 dogs in one night. Nguyen Van Long, 35, and his unnamed younger brother rode on a motorbike with ropes, bags and tasers from the northern Quang Ninh Province to Ha Tinh on February 13, said Ha Tinh police. They then stole 15 dogs from multiple families along the 1A National Highway and sold them to Le Quang Phung in Ha Tinh, police said. From a tip-off, the police managed to track down the two brothers about a week later. Longs younger brother however has died before the arrest. The cause of death has not been revealed. Long is now being investigated for theft, while Phung is being investigated for buying properties obtained by crime. Vietnam consumes an estimated five million dogs a year, second only to China's 20 million. Many dogs cooked at restaurants are stolen pets sold to small, unregulated abattoirs. Dog theft is treated as a crime only when the number of dogs stolen is valued at more than VND2 million ($86). Vietnam has no law against trading in and consuming dog meat. Photo: (Photo : pexels) As seen on social media, French parenting is labeled as better than American parenting. Memes about French mothers and how they can set their child straight is all over the internet. If you have traveled enough, you will also notice just how well-behaved French children are compared to American children. So what is their secret? And what is the difference between French parenting and American parenting? The French parenting guide Unlike American parents, French parents do not make their children their first priority. They do not drop everything that they've built as a professional, as a woman and as a wife after having a child. They also do not believe in helicopter parenting, which is what most American parents are guilty of doing. As soon as their child is born, they set limits on how much they can take care of their child because they know that their own well-being will reflect on their child's well-being. For example, if they breastfeed their child and they suffer a swollen or cracked nipple, they move on to feeding their child using a bottle. Once their child is two or three months old, they are left to sleep in the dark throughout the night so that parents can get proper rest. If they cry in the middle of the night, they are usually left to comfort themselves because they believe it can teach the child independence. French children do not usually eat snacks in between meals, which is why when it is time for them to eat with the family, they do not protest or throw a fit because they are used to having a schedule and they are taught about delayed gratification. Unlike American parents, French parents do not back down when their children starts talking back to them. Although they do not punish their child, what they do is to educate them in a loving manner and make them understand that no means no. French parents also make time for each other at night, which is why they let their children sleep as early as 7pm and they let them know that the evenings are for the adults and children can preoccupy themselves in their room. According to Pamela Druckerman, an American author of the book French Children Don't Throw Food, her French friend taught her that being a good parent does not mean that you should be in the constant service of your children and abandon everything in your personal life. What can we learn from French parents? American parents are scared to leave their child on their own, but in reality it can be a good thing. A child's happiness, success and self-esteem does not come from you hovering around them all the time. The best way for a child to learn, develop and mature is by committing mistakes and failures. It is best to let children know that the fate of their lives is in their own hands, and they are the ones who will shape their future. Let your child be independent, but still be there for guidance, reassurance and comfort. ALSO READ: 5 Steps to Responsible and Effective Parenting Scotland Yard detectives still investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have questioned a British expat about her German ex-boyfriend. Carol Hickman, 59, was stunned when police entered her bar in Praia da Luz, Portugal, where the three-year-old vanished on holiday in 2007. She claims to have been pressed for details about her 'friendly hippy' former partner Michael Jehle, 51, including his phone number. The employee of Kelly's Bar - 450 metres from the resort where the McCann's had been staying - told the Sunday Mirror two plain clothed officers collared her two weeks ago. The 2007 disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann (pictured) continues to be investigated by British police Carol Hickman, 59, was stunned when police entered Kelly's bar where she works in Praia da Luz, Portugal, where the three-year-old vanished on holiday in 2007 Ms Hickman said: 'They came into the bar and said "You can thank Her Majesty for this visit". 'That's when I knew they were from Scotland Yard. They asked if I could remember May 3, 2007.' This initial conversation at the bar was followed by a further interview at her home. The expat uprooted to the Algarve in 1997 and had an 18-month relationship with Mr Jehle, who was himself baffled as to why police would be interested in him. The decorator, who now lives in Bensafrim, 20 miles from Praia da Luz, said: 'I don't know anything about Maddie McCann.' Ms Hickman said she split from Mr Jehle years prior to the harrowing night in 2007, but has no reason to believe he is implicated in the case. The Sunday Mirror also reported that another one of his ex-girlfriends was also quizzed at the time, and had her freezer searched. The tragic and mysterious disappearance of Madeleine (pictured) tugged on the heartstrings of people the world over Gerry and Kate McCann, from Leicestershire, have raised thousands of pounds to pour into their own private investigation into their missing daughter The unnamed woman recalled: 'Six police, some British, entered my apartment. They told my boyfriend not to move while they looked under the bed.' Yet there is no reason to believe Mr Jehle is a suspect in the case. Ms Hickman said she joined the search party for Madeleine after her parents Gerry and Kate raised the alarm. They had been dining at a nearby tapas restaurant, and had left Madeleine and their two toddler twins asleep in the hotel. But when Kate went to check on the children, she discovered her eldest child had vanished. The tragic and mysterious case tugged on the heartstrings of people the world over. Gerry and Kate, from Leicestershire, have raised thousands of pounds to pour into their own private investigation into their missing daughter. And the Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange continues to pursue lines of inquiry into the disappearance. A Scotland Yard spokesperson tonight said: 'The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains ongoing. We are not providing a running commentary.' Iraq reports first infection in coronavirus outbreak A student recently returning from Iran tested positive for the virus. Iraq on Saturday reported its first coronavirus case in the southern Dhi Qar province, according to a local medical source. The source said an Iraqi student tested positive for the virus after returning from the Iranian city of Qom. IRAQ HAD RECENTLY CLOSED BORDERS WITH IRAN He said the student has been quarantined for further tests. On Saturday, the Iraqi authorities called on its nationals not to travel to neighboring Iran, where five coronavirus deaths were reported. The move came after Iraq banned Iranian citizens from entering the country through border terminals for three days. The media firm operated by one of Ireland's best known broadcasters, Joe Duffy, saw its accumulated profits top 485,000 last year. New accounts filed by the 'Liveline' presenter's Claddaghgreen Ltd show that accumulated profits at the company decreased to 486,911 from 505,971 in the 12 months to the end of April last. Last year, the cash pile at Claddaghgreen decreased by 61,962 to 567,447. Mr Duffy remains one of RTE's best-paid presenters. The most recent figures released by RTE show that Mr Duffy remained the third highest-paid presenter at RTE - taking home 389,988 in 2016. The most recent JNLR figures show that after 'Morning Ireland', 'Liveline' is the most popular radio show in the country with a listenership of 363,000 last year. Mr Duffy is not a paid RTE employee but is instead employed as a contractor. Tiny Lesotho's political problems are again threatening to overflow into neighboring South Africa, with Lesotho's outgoing prime minister crossing the border instead of appearing in a Maseru court Friday to be charged with the murder of his estranged wife, Lipolelo. Tom Thabane was scheduled to be in court Friday to face the charges in the 2017 death of Lipolelo Thabane, his first wife; however, his representatives say the 80-year-old leader went to South Africa for medical treatment. The prime minister announced Thursday that he would step down by July 31. Tom Thabane's current wife, Maesaiah, is already charged with the murder and is free on bail despite the fact that she previously fled to South Africa to avoid prosecution. She was arrested shortly upon her return to Lesotho. The couple have denied any involvement in the shooting death of Lipolelo Thabane, just days before Tom Thabane's election to his second term as prime minister. He previously served as prime minister from 2012 to 2014, but fled to South Africa, claiming that the military was trying to overthrow and kill him. Fako Moshoeshoe, the chairman of the parliamentary caucus for the ruling All Basotho Convention, told VOA's Peter Clottey that Thabane's party is expediting plans to come up with a replacement. "We have to call the caucus as soon as possible, as soon as Monday, so that we can sit down and come up with one name definitely, and then the national executive of the ABC will have to respond immediately to those issues and then come to the caucus and just let us know who they think will be the right candidate to become the prime minister," he said. "And then we will take it from there." He declined to say who might be Thabane's successor. Thabane's tenure has been marred with drama, including a number of killings of high-ranking officials in recent years. Critics say this is an inevitable consequence of Thabane's failure to keep the nation's security forces out of politics. Uncertainty For now, the tiny mountain kingdom, which is led by a constitutional monarch, appears calm; however, economist Emmanuel Letete says the political drama has taken its toll. "It has created some bit of uncertainty to the investors that they are no longer sure what is going to happen to the government or not," he told VOA. "You see, they hear news about the prime minister, about the prime minister retiring, about the prime minister involved, probably, or suspected to have been involved, in the murder of his wife. But then all this creates a very dark cloud over the economy in terms of foreign investors because they cannot make their own decisions whether to come or not." Moshoeshoe appealed to leaders in the enclave nation, which is surrounded on all sides by South Africa, to keep calm and carry on. "We appeal to each and every one in our country, most especially political leaders, to make sure that we keep the peace and prosperity of the country, for the sake of the country," he said. BAY CITY, MI A Gladwin County man is facing a federal felony after allegedly threatening to hunt down and bleed out an attorney who represented the whistleblower that sparked impeachment proceedings against President Donald J. Trump. The Feb. 12 indictment against Brittan J. Atkinson, 52, states that on Nov. 7, he sent a threatening email to an attorney known to the grand jury and who represents a whistleblower. The indictment doesnt give the attorneys name, but, attorney Mark S. Zaid confirmed to Politico that he was the one who received it. The Washington Post and The New York Times also confirmed Zaid as the target. The email came a day after Trump held a campaign rally in Monroe, Louisiana, during which he held up Zaids photo and read some of his tweets that were critical of the president. Zaid represented the intelligence official who blew the whistle on Trumps involvement in pressuring Ukraine to investigate former vice president and current rival Joe Biden. Atkinsons indictment provides excerpts of what he allegedly wrote in his email to Zaid. All traitors must die miserable deaths, the email stated, according to the indictment. Those that represent traitors shall meet the same fate[.] We will hunt you down and bleed you out like the pigs you are. We have nothing but time, and you are running out of it. Keep looking over your shoulder[.] We know who you are , where you live, and who you associate with[.] We are all strangers in a crowd to you [.] Court documents do not state how investigators linked Atkinson to the email. Atkinson on Thursday, Feb. 20, appeared in the federal courthouse in downtown Bay City for arraignment. U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris informed him he had had been indicted on one count of making interstate communications threats. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Atkinson said he understood the charge. His attorney, Stevens J. Jacobs, said his client was standing mute for purposes of entering a plea, prompting Morris to enter a not-guilty plea on Atkinsons behalf. Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet L. Parker asked Atkinson be held in custody pending his trial, saying the prosecution believes he is a threat. Jacobs opposed this. Morris scheduled a detention hearing for 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24. She ordered Atkinson be held until that hearing. Related: All traitors must die: Feds charge man for threatening whistleblower attorney We will hunt you down: Man threatened attorney of Trump whistleblower, prosecutors say SATURDAY 2/22 >> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York. MONDAY 2/24 >> Alcoholics Anonymous - Fresh Start Group meets Monday at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church located at 414 Delaware Ave. in York. >> OB Enrollment is Monday, Feb. 24 at 4:15 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Medical Office Building. Please attend class as soon as possible after your positive pregnancy test. For more information or to enroll in the online Childbirth Preparation class, contact OB Director Nancy Hengelfelt, RNC, at 402.362.04573. >> A Red Cross blood drive will be at the American Legion in Exeter on Monday, Feb. 24, from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Call Barb Jansen at 402-266-5571 or on the 24th call 402-266-1219. Call ahead for appointment times or go to redcrossblood.org. to schedule a time. TUESDAY 2/25 Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.21 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: The elections will mark another honorable date in the history of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Iran's President Hasan Rouhani said in an issued statement, Trend reports referring to the information portal of the Iranian Presidential Administration. According to Rouhani, there were major differences between the parliaments in the country prior to the Islamic Revolution. "But after the revolution there was no such separation. This reflects democracy," said Rouhani's statement. The president said that the 11th parliament will be elected by the people and will be organized on the basis of the voice of its people. According to the Iranian president, 98 percent of polling stations in Iran are connected to each other online. Iran holds the 11th parliamentary elections and the 5th regular elections of the Expert Council on Feb. 21. Some 16,033 people got registered as candidates for the parliamentary elections in Iran. Later some 30 percent of the candidates got disqualified by Iran's Guardian Council. More than 7,100 candidates are running for 290 seats in the Iranian parliamentary elections. There are 57,918,000 eligible voters in the ongoing parliamentary elections. The elections are held in 208 constituencies and 54,000 polling stations, where the passports are being stamped. Parliamentary candidates in Iran are usually aligned with reformists or conservatives, also referred to as "principlists". These are the two main political currents. The conservatives are traditionally seen as supportive of greater state intervention, socially and economically, and most of them did not support the nuclear deal and negotiations with the US. On the other hand, reformists pushed for the nuclear deal and are seen to be supportive of a more open-market economy. The country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani have called for a high voter turnout, and asked the public to come together. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Director Chris Henchy said he wanted to give the fans of "Impractical Jokers what theyve come to expect -- the guys in their playful but competitive truTV state -- while attracting a wider audience that may not be familiar with the show. Impractical Jokers: The Movie did just that. The film is billed as a half-scripted, half-improv comedy following the Impractical Jokers crew (Staten Island buddies Joe Gatto, James Murr Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn and Sal Vulcano) on their trek to a Paula Abdul concert. When they are given three passes to see her perform in Miami, the four Jokers must battle it out in hidden camera challenges to determine who will go -- and who will be left out. -Paula Abdul attends the premiere of "Impractical Jokers: The Movie" at the AMC Lincoln Square theater in Manhattan on Feb. 18, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri) - Alexandra SalmieriAlexandra Salmieri Abdul isnt the only celebrity who made a cameo in this film. Jaden Smith and Joey Fatone also joined the project. Pro-tip: Keep your eyes peeled for Will Ferrell in the restaurant scenes. You can catch a glimpse of him in the background. The hidden camera challenges in Impractical Jokers: The Movie maintained a level of embarrassment that keeps fans cringing -- in a good way -- without abusing the idea. Unlike the show, each Joker experienced a self-inflicted punishment throughout the film. The punishments played on character traits fans are used to, like Sals fear of cats and Joes ability to cause a scene at any given time. The scenes in between the challenges are used to fill storyline gaps during the road trip to Miami. The bits kept with the Jokers voice throughout, but viewers can clearly tell what is scripted and what is authentic. Brian "Q" Quinn walks the red carpet at the AMC Lincoln Square theater in Manhattan for the "Impractical Jokers: The Movie" premiere on Feb. 18, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri) - - Alexandra SalmieriAlexandra Salmieri ------------- To see the Impractical Jokers on Tour visit: Ticketmaster, StubHub and SeatGeek ------------- STATEN ISLAND REFERENCES As if their accents werent enough, the Jokers film sprinkled Staten Island references throughout its 93-minute runtime. While a majority of the film was not shot on Staten Island, it did include footage of the Bayonne Bridge and Ladder Co. 86/Engine Co. 166 in Graniteville, where Quinn worked as a firefighter. In multiple scenes, Vulcano rocked a Wu-Tang Clan T-shirt. The movie starts in 1994 when the Jokers were classmates at Monsignor Farrell High School. Early in the film, the Jokers takeover a Paula Abdul concert and the audience throw Staten Island trash -- their words, not ours -- at the guys to get them off the stage. The borough isnt brought up again until the end of the movie. One of the final lines -- Its time to go back to Staten Island -- got some cheers from the audience at the films premiere Tuesday night in Manhattan. The ending of Impractical Jokers: The Movie doesnt leave much room for a second round; this is one of those dont ruin a good film with a forced sequel situations. However, the film captured the authentic friendship the Jokers share and how the guys have become wildly successful. Bottom line: If you love the show, youll love Impractical Jokers: The Movie. If you have no idea who these guys are, grab a seat and enjoy the ride. Beating Republican President Donald Trump in the 2020 election was the top priority expressed by several people Friday at an event put on by the Democratic presidential campaign of Mike Bloomberg. The rally, which was attended by about a dozen area residents and various Bloomberg staff members, was held at the candidates Beaumont headquarters on Calder Avenue. The office is one of Bloombergs 120 across the nation in 40 states with 2,100 staff members, according to former Philadelphia Mayor and Bloomberg National Political Co-Chair Michael Nutter. There is no campaign that has built out the infrastructure that we have across the United States, he told the group. Some event attendees worried it might not be enough. Mary Bond noted how well the event was organized, with multiple sign and support button options for attendees to take home and friendly staff members. But she wants to see the campaign do a better job of hiring community members. She said those are the residents who know the county well and what precincts typically turn out to vote. Local people are going to be the meat and potatoes, so to speak, of the Bloomberg campaign in Southeast Texas, she said. Community advocate John Beard said hed like to see a greater presence in Port Arthur, as its long been the bluest part of Jefferson County, but voters need to see the Bloomberg campaign out and about to be convinced to vote for him. During Fridays event, Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie expressed similar opinions, saying Port Arthur has several open spaces if the Bloomberg campaign wants to open offices there as well. He said seeing campaign members in the community would go a long way to enticing residents in the southern part of the county to make Bloomberg their choice in the crowded field of Democratic primary candidates. Bartie said he thinks Bloomberg is the best choice because hes the candidate who can beat Trump. He believes Bloomberg would streamline the process for obtaining disaster recovery dollars and bring stability to infrastructure investment. Bartie previously had supported former Vice President Joe Biden but said his opinion has shifted as the campaign has continued. Im looking at whats happening with Joe nationally, he said. I see the Democratic Party doing to Joe Biden what the Republican Party did to Jeb Bush. I saw that happen and I can see it happening now on the other side. To increase the local presence, Regional Organizing Directory Tiffany Young said the campaign plans to hire local staff to make sure the ground game is on point. She reiterated that Bloomberg is the only candidate to have a campaign office in Beaumont, which speaks to his awareness of the importance of having a presence in Texas and, more specifically, Southeast Texas. Mike is committed to remaining in these states even if hes not the nominee, Young said. The event centered on comments from Nutter, who stressed Bloombergs experience in the public and private sector and ability to take on tough issues including climate change and gun violence. Nutter said Bloomberg is a candidate who believes in evidence and science and wants to take on the U.S.s challenges a clear contrast to Donald Trump. He also acknowledged Bloombergs tough night on Wednesdays debate stage, but said people come after candidates who are rising in the polls. Donald Trump is worried about Mike Bloomberg, Nutter said. Mike Bloomberg has been living rent-free in Donald Trumps head for about a month. Its literally driving him crazy. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain 21.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has known for a month that Russia was trying to help his presidential campaign, but didnt speak out until it went public. The Washington Post reported: U.S. officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign as part of an effort to interfere with the Democratic contest, according to people familiar with the matter. This is not in the same universe as Trump openly conspiring with and covering for Russian election interference, but Sen. Sanders could have mitigated a lot of damage that he may suffer if he would have sounded the alarm as soon as he was briefed on this threat. Not saying anything lends the appearance that Sen. Sanders was going to keep his mouth shut and accept the Russian interference if it got him the nomination. It might not be a fair or accurate impression, but it is impression that will be created in some primary voters minds. Sanders told reporters that he was briefed about a month ago on this, and responded when asked what he was going to do about it, We have it was not clear what role they will play. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries involved this campaign. Look. Heres the message. To Russia, stay out of American elections. And what they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing, and I have seen some of their, you know, their tweets and stuff, is they try to divide us up. Thats what they did in 2016. That is the ugliest thing theyre doing is trying to cause chaos, trying to cause hatred in America. It is an ugly business and all of us have got to say, sorry, you are not going to do this in this election. As President Of The United States, Mr. Putin, you will not interfere in our elections. Video: Bernie Sanders, who has known for a month that Russians were trying to interfere to help his campaign, blames rival Democrats for the leading the news on Nevada caucus eve. pic.twitter.com/fJvItg006s Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 21, 2020 The Russians are trying to pick the Democratic nominee to give Trump the easiest path possible to reelection. Sen. Sanders may not want Russias help, but he didnt speak up and denounce it after he found out about it. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Pakistan's security forces have foiled a terrorism bid and gunned down five terrorists, including a suicide bomber, in a shootout in the country's restive northwest region, officials said. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Friday said that a security operation was conducted at the Shagai area in the Peshawar district after information was received about the presence of terrorists in a compound close to the district. The CTD foiled the terrorism bid and gunned down five terrorists present in the Shagai area in the jurisdiction of the Marthra police station Peshawar district, Senior Superintendent of Police Operation Peshawar Zahoor Babar Afridi said. The terrorists entered Peshawar from nearby Zagai mountain range for carrying out subversive activity, Afridi said. Explosive material and weapons were recovered from the militants. Three suicide vests, two pistols, two hand grenades and three submachine guns were recovered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Roughly half of Gen Z Republicans say they think the government should be doing more to solve problems, compared with 38 percent of millennial Republicans and 29 percent of Gen Xers. ( Pew Research Center January 17, 2019) She finally got access to some mainstream classes when she went to high school, though not full time. The first year, three of my classes were not integrated, she said. I took math and foreign language in the regular classroom and the other (classes) in special education, but it was the same curriculum. She might not have been able to keep up in high school without her parents. When I went to high school it was a rude awakening, particularly when I was in regular classes, Heumann said. She had been accustomed to much smaller special education classes and never took regular exams until high school. However, she found a way to learn and to thrive, graduated from Long Island University and earned her masters degree at University of California, Berkeley. She has become one of the worlds foremost advocates for the rights of people with disabilities. Her book, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Advocate, written with Kristen Joiner, tells of her lifetime of activism. Heumann will take part in two events at the Tucson Festival of Books. Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday slammed Congress saying that the party "looted the country" when it was in power and are now showing "concern" for the taxpayers. His comments came following the Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's statement that "100 crores have been spent on President Trump's visit through a committee". "People who made Herald their private property are questioning the government today. The Congress party which looted the nation when in power, did not remember taxpayers then and today they are concerned about the citizens," Giriraj told reporters here. "UPA ruled for 10 years, with 'Mouni Baba' Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. Today every country in the world wants to join hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is India's reputation," he added. Earlier today, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the Central Government over US President Donald Trump's visit to India and asked which ministry is spending Rs 100 crores for conducting the event. She also questioned the role of a commission that has been acting as the main organizer for Trump's mega-event 'Namaste Trump' at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. "100 crores have been spent on President Trump's visit. But this money is being spent through a committee. The members of the Committee do not know that they are its members. Does the country not have the right to know which ministry has given money to the Committee? What the government is hiding under the guise of the Committee?" she tweeted. (roughly translated from her tweet in Hindi). The Congress leader also uploaded a clipping of a Hindi news daily regarding the issue. Donald Trump Nagrik Abhinandan Samiti is the organizer of the 'Namaste Trump' event. The US President along with his family is scheduled to visit India from 24 to 25 February. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Not as colorful as Costa Rica lots of green In addition to weather, monkeys and danger lurking in the water, several other impressions stood out. First, the Amazon rain forest is mostly green and very dense. There are not the brightly colored flowers as there are in Costa Rica, Iaccarino said. And once inside, the plants blot out the sun. Second, it's scarcely ever really quiet. Iaccarino activates the video on his laptop and there's a constant stream of chitters and chatters. Finally, perhaps more than any other place Iaccarino has visited, he found the people to be literally part of their surroundings. "It astounded me," he said. "The people are really connected to nature and that makes them different. In cities, it's us and nature. (In the Amazon), everything is tied together. "Their shopping is the nature around them," he said. That is, they have such "an incredible botanical knowledge" that they can find in the forest around them plants to treat headaches, to make the roofs and walls of their homes and to eat. The fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak will likely lower China's economic growth this year to 5.6%, down 0.4 percentage points from its January outlook, and shave 0.1 percentage points from global growth, the IMF said on Saturday. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva presented the outlook to central bankers and finance ministers from the world's 20 largest economies gathered in Riyadh where the outbreak was a major topic of discussion, but said the IMF continued to look at more dire scenarios. China, which did not send senior officials to the ... Men of the Nigerian Army and members of Boko Haram engaged in a fierce gun battle on Friday evening at Garkida, a town in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. An indigene, Mr Joshua Malgwi, who confirmed the report on Friday evening, said many people are feared killed by the invaders who announced their entry into the town by shooting indiscriminately. Andrawus Tarfa, a native of the town, said there is serious tension in the town which he said was covered with tick black smoke. Boko Haram terrorists have invaded our town, all we hear is rattling gunfire, just as thick bellowing smoke has covered the sky, Tarfa said. Garkida Town is a town in Gombi Local Government of Adamawa State. It is located on the Gombi-Biu Damaturu Federal Road, which shares proximity with Southern Borno and Sambisa Forest. This is coming barely 48 hours after Boko Haram insurgents burned down many houses in Korongilum, a community in Chibok local government area of Borno state, as residents run for their lives. Newcomer Ananya Panday has made quite the splash in Bollywood, and her father Chunkey Panday could not be prouder. She was an enthusiastic child from the beginning. She also did skits and plays with her friends from the industry, Chunkey laughs, adding that she is a self-trained actress. Consciously or unconsciously, she has been grooming herself from very early on; she is a born actor. The start she got, with Karan Johar, was a great chance indeed, he says about Ananya, who made her debut with Dharma Productions Student Of The Year 2 and even bagged the Filmfare Award for Best Debut (Female). The Jawaani Jaaneman actor says he was worried about whether his daughter would be a welcome addition to the film industry. I was only fearful whether she will be accepted by the audiences. But getting a great debut from Dharma Productions, she couldnt have asked for more. I am happy that she has been liked not only by the industry wallahs but her fans and audiences as well. I too liked her aura, especially in Pati Patni Aur Woh, the 57-year-old smiles. Other than her acting, Ananya is known for her So Positive social media campaign, which works to reduce cyber-bullying. Chunkey reveals that this initiative is very driven by who she is as a person. Ananya is a person who will never like to run down anyone, she is very positive in her thought process. She believes in hard work and does not care about being trolled Speaking about the qualities that he has passed onto her, the Housefull actor avers, She laughs at herself, which is a great quality taken from me. She has also taken the quality of patience and the great endurance: She will never showcase her pain at all, he says before signing off. Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has described the walk out by minority members of Parliament as uncalled for and should not be repeated. According to him, members of the minority in parliament should address to the appropriate quarters whatever problem they have because not all government institutions are under the Presidents command. Speaking on UTVs Adekye Nsroma political discussion programme, the MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency in the Eastern Region argued that members of the minority should stop the moving of goalposts in explaining their actions, because the reasons given at the press conference do not justify it in anyway. . . The Minority have throughout the week been fighting for the release of the Common Fund of which authorities in charge are working on . . . therefore, why the many reasons to justify their walk out when they know the right answer, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said. Watch his submission in the video below 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 French President Emmanuel Macron has opened the 57th edition of the International Salon de l'Agriculture amidst environmental controversies and a failure to reach a European Union deal that would benefit French farmers. The salon runs from 22 February through 1 March. Upon arrival early Saturday at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in the south of Paris, Macron was questioned by farmers and other demonstrators about the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the issue of pesticides, trade agreements and the government's proposals for the reform of the pension system. Some 50 activists of Non-Violent-Action COP21, Attac, the Confederation Paysanne, Friends of the Earth and Extinction Rebellion also protested against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) between the EU and Canada. Macron had just returned from Brussels, where farmers from across Europe had gathered to rally against proposed cuts to the CAP. Macron was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume. He visited the stand of the champion Charolais bulls, a company running slaughterhouses, cereal producers and wine growers, who are currently suffering from US customs sanctions and trying to get a 300 million euro compensation from the French government to cover their losses. He also met fishermen who risk losing business as a result of problems over fishing rights in British territorial waters after Brexit. Contests The salon is France's biggest showcase of its agricultural produce. For a large part it consists of competitions, including contests for animals, for products and wines, and for young professionals. The French love, and have always loved, their agriculture, says Jean-Luc Poulain, president of the National Centre of Exhibitions and Contests (Ceneca), which organises the yearly salon. Despite difficulties and misunderstandings that may be generated by certain sensitive debates, they have never lost sight of the essential: it is the farmers who, every day, fill their plates and feed them. During the nine days of the salon, hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to roam among the 959 stands showing over 500 different products. And there's something for everyone: children can see a range of different animals, grown-ups can have a taste of local wines and professionals can compare the quality of produce on offer. On Sunday 23 February, the Charolais bulls will be paraded in front of the public in a contest that will be followed by dozens of others. The first general agricultural competition ever held in France took place in 1870. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday said that he will not attend the banquet hosted by Rashtrapati Bhavan in honour of US President Donald Trump as party chief Sonia Gandhi has not been invited for the event. "Trump is coming here. India will host a grand dinner for him but the Opposition is not invited. Why Sonia Gandhi ji is not invited for dinner with Trump. In Howdy Modi event, both Republican and democrats shared the stage but here only Modi will be with Trump. What kind of democracy is this?" said Chowdhury while speaking to ANI. "Trump is coming to India and it is a very big thing. The US is a powerful nation and we welcome their President in our country. The country which he represents is considered as the oldest democracy and India as the biggest democracy. Democracy has some features which everyone should respect," he said. He also questioned the government over the need of "spending crores of rupees for welcoming US President". "What is the need to spend crore of rupees from the government's treasury. People living in slums are being forced to hide or shift in order to make Trump happy. Is this the right behaviour?. Gujarat was developed by Modi as a model for others but poor are being exploited there. We will protest against Modi governmnet," he said. President Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting India on February 24 and 25.The Presidential banquet is scheduled to take place on February 25, the final day of Trump's maiden trip to India. On his first day, he will visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat and take part in a roadshow with Prime Minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a recent afternoon, more than a dozen California lawmakers gathered to discuss thorny issues impacting a state that is the cradle of technological innovation but also suffering from wildfires, aging infrastructure and vast economic inequality. On the agenda: how to maintain wireless phone service during emergencies; how to protect Internet connection during power outages; and how work is being changed by artificial intelligence and the gig economy.The discussion wasnt taking place in the state Capitol, where the public can participate in open hearings. Instead, this meeting was behind closed doors inside a Silicon Valley hotel.There, elected officials heard from an exclusive crowd: tech lobbyists and executives whose companies had paid for them to attend via thousands of dollars in donations to a nonprofit created by the Legislatures Technology Caucus . For $50,000, contributors could moderate and pick a panel topic, according to an invitation to the event, billed as a Technology Policy Summit. A $25,000 donation allowed them to place someone on a panel. And $10,000, the invitation says, would buy attendance at the two-day event, including dinner with lawmakers at a steakhouse where the regular menu features $115 filet mignon.Who paid for this access to the elected officials whose agenda this year will likely include regulating massive power shutoffs and changes to a controversial labor law impacting the gig economy?The public doesnt get to know.Federal law does not require charities to disclose the identities of donors, even if, like the Tech Caucuss foundation, they are closely tied to elected officials. California law, however, does require elected officials to disclose payments made at their request to nonprofits and other organizations.As the number of nonprofits run by lawmakers or staff has grown in the last decade, most have publicly reported donors to the states political ethics commission. But the Foundation for Californias Technology and Innovation Economy formed in 2017 and overseen by three board members with close ties to the leader of the Tech Caucus, Democratic Assemblyman Evan Low of Campbell last year stopped disclosing where its money comes from.The choice highlights the potential for secrecy in the growing niche of nonprofits run by government officials.Legally theyre not required to give a lot of detail, which is one reason these groups can be so opaque and remain in the shadows, said Anna Massoglia , a researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics , a Washington D.C.-based group that tracks money in politics. It just depends on what a group chooses to disclose. Click here to read the rest of the story as it appears onCalMattersCalMattersSacramento Bee "A game changer" expected to boost the region's business community for generations will be celebrated Monday by leaders from across the state during a dedication ceremony for Saginaw Valley State University's soon-to-open $25.4 million business school expansion. The ceremony will be hosted at 1 p.m. in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts, which adjoins the 38,500-square-foot addition that will house the Scott L. Carmona College of Business. A public open house inside the building addition will follow the event. Deborah Huntley, SVSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, called the building addition "a physical manifestation of our purpose and our vision to be renowned for innovative teaching, experiential learning and state-of-the art facilities." The new space includes data analytics labs and Bloomberg Trading terminals, which track stock data in real time. Upgrades include cutting-edge equipment used by Fortune 500 companies, providing students with hands-on experience utilizing resources adapted to match global business trends. Access to tools and tech fine-tuned for the next generation strengthen an academic college already honored with an AACSB-International accreditation, a gold standard distinction earned by fewer than 5% of the world's business colleges. "We believe that, in this facility, prospective students, prospective faculty and business leaders will recognize our commitment to innovation and excellence, and make SVSU the region's premier business school," Huntley said. The expansion will allow SVSU to grow its strong relationship with a regional business community already utilizing campus resources as well as the university's determined and talented pool of business students, she said. "This building -- with its spectacular meeting spaces and collaborative learning spaces -- can and will foster these collaborations, and position us well for additional partnerships," Huntley said. Anthony Bowrin, SVSU's dean of the Carmona College of Business, called the expansion "a game changer" for the university and surrounding region. "Our faculty and staff now have the resources to leverage our updated curriculum and innovative teaching approaches to enhance the preparation of our students," he said. "This facility will better position students to realize their professional and personal goals while enhancing the pool of talent, insights, and ideas available to business and other organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region." The Feb. 24 ceremony will feature presentations from legislators, business leaders and campus officials. Student musicians with SVSU's Cardinal Brass Quintet band will perform Monday as well. The ceremony represents the first of two events scheduled next week aimed at introducing the public to the business college upgrade. A Thursday event will allow the public to tour the new facility and attend SVSU faculty-led presentations on business-related subjects from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. A keynote presentation by Nicholas Anderson, editor of Wired magazine, is scheduled at 7 p.m. that same day in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. SVSU Foundation earlier this week announced the completion of a $15.6 million fundraising campaign for the expansion. The building addition also was supported by $9.8 million in funding from the State of Michigan. For more information about SVSU's Carmona College of Business, visit www.svsu.edu/scottlcarmonacollegeofbusin The Diocese of Grand Island has announced that Jordan Engle, in addition to his duties as principal at Grand Island Central Catholic Schools, will become diocesan superintendent of schools on July 1. Engle is in his second year as principal at Grand Island Central Catholic and is nearing the completion of his doctorate in education. The superintendents position is part-time. Jordan understands education from the inside out, Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt said. His vision and energy, supported by a steadfast commitment to his Catholic faith, is the kind of leadership that will further develop the mission of Catholic schools in our diocese. He is an excellent leader. Engle is a graduate of Elgin Pope John XXIII Catholic High School. He received his masters in education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Its truly a privilege for me and my family to have the opportunity to serve the Diocese of Grand Island in this capacity, Engle said. I wholeheartedly believe in Catholic education, and I look forward to a future of providing quality Catholic education to youth throughout the diocese. Dozens of British citizens who spent more than a fortnight quarantined on a virus-stricken cruise liner in Japan are on their way back to the UK. They flew out of Tokyo on Saturday morning local time after being stranded on the ship - the Diamond Princess - since 5 February. Everyone on the flight tested negative for the virus. Four Britons who tested positive will remain in Japan for medical treatment.The vessel was carrying more than 3,700 people when it docked in Yokohama.634 people on board have tested positive for the virus, the largest cluster of confirmed cases outside China. (Image Credit: AP) Queensland police have charged a man with murder after a 49-year-old woman was found dead at a Townsville home. Officers were called to a Granville Street address in Pimlico about 1am on Saturday after reports a woman had been stabbed. A 40-year-old man will face Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday. AAP Ukrainian Soldier Killed as Fighting Erupts in Eastern Ukraine; Several Wounded Kyiv, Russian-backed separatists blame each other One Ukrainian soldier was killed and four others were injured on Feb. 18 when heavy fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine, the countrys military said, as it and Russian-backed separatists blamed each other for the flare-up. The separatist armed groups opened fire on the positions of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades, according to Ruslan Khomchak, chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The enemy also used 152 mm artillery systems, prohibited by the Minsk agreements, he said in a briefing on Feb. 18. Khomchak said that separatist armed forces attempted to attack the observation posts at the positions of both Ukrainian brigades, but the Ukrainian troops warded off the attack. The fight continued until the separatists requested a ceasefire later the same day, the shooting stopped, and the situation became stable, Khomchak said. A serviceman at a position on the front line near the village of Zolote in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk on Feb. 14, 2020. (Oleksandr Klymenko/Reuters) However, a representative of the separatists, Yakov Osadchy, accused Ukrainian soldiers of provoking the fight, saying they entered the territory controlled by the separatist forces but encountered a minefield, according to Radio Free Europe (RFE). Osadchy also said that four separatist fighters were killed and four were wounded by the Ukrainian military in the clashes, reported RFE. The violence was some of the worst since a Paris summit in December tried to narrow positions between Kyiv and the separatists on implementing a peace deal, and it comes ahead of a possible second summit on the same issue in Berlin. The fighting erupted the day after the fifth anniversary of the U.N. Security Councils endorsement of the 2015 Minsk agreements aimed to bring peace to the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are controlled by pro-Russian separatists, and commonly known as Donbas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would convene a national security council meeting to discuss the latest flare-up in the Donbas region. This is not just a cynical provocation it is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in Donbas, which had begun to move through small but continuous steps, Zelensky said in a statement. Our course toward the end of the war and our commitment to international agreements remain unchangedas does our determination to repel any manifestation of armed aggression against Ukraine, Zelensky said in a statement. An armored personnel carrier of Ukrainian armed forces fires a weapon from its position on the front line near the village of Krymske in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, Ukraine, on Jan. 30, 2020. (Oleksandr Klymenko/Reuters) The secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said at a briefing that armed provocation on the collision line in Donbas was carried out by forces not interested in the continuation of the peace process in Normandy format. Zelensky and Russias President Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation on Feb. 14 on implementation of the agreements reached during the Normandy summit in on Dec. 9, 2019, in Paris, as well as the preparations for the next meeting of the Normandy four leadership, according to a statement on the Ukrainian presidents website. The Normandy group consists of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France, which convened to end the war in the Donbas region. The leaders have affirmed their commitment to the full implementation of both Minsk agreements signed in 2014 and 2015. The Minsk agreements are two ceasefire accords. The first one, negotiated in 2014 between Ukraine and Russia and the two separatist regions, failed shortly after its implementation. The Normandy group reached a second ceasefire agreement in 2015. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin had seen reports of the clash, reported Russian news agency TASS. We do not have details of this clash, we do not know what provoked this clash, Peskov said, according to TASS. Peskov also denied any claims that Russia could have been involved in the incident, according to TASS. The United States condemned the aggression. The United States stands with its partners and allies in condemning Russias latest aggression against Ukraine. We support President Zelenskys commitment to peace and call on Russia to immediately implement the ceasefire it signed on to in the Minsk agreements, wrote State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus on Twitter. The United States stands with its partners and allies in condemning Russias latest aggression against Ukraine. We support President @ZelenskyyUAs commitment to peace and call on Russia to immediately implement the ceasefire it signed on to in the Minsk agreements. https://t.co/HpT3RzqpE4 Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) February 19, 2020 Ukraine, Western countries, and NATO accuse Russia of sending troops and heavy weapons to prop up separatist fighters in Donbas, a charge that Moscow has denied. Zelensky came to power last year promising to end the conflict. Since then, Ukraine and Russia have implemented some confidence-building measures, including prisoner swaps and phased troop withdrawals in designated areas. The conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed forces has already seen more than 13,000 people killed since 2014. Putin on Feb. 18 dismissed Vladislav Surkov, a senior adviser and former deputy prime minister, who until recently managed Moscows relations with Ukraine. The decree was issued a week after the Kremlin said a senior Ukrainian-born Russian official, Dmitry Kozak, was now in charge of managing Moscows relations with Ukraine. Reuters contributed to this report. As of February 21, 76,825 cases of coronavirus, or Covid-19, have been diagnosed. This week Chinese health officials reported they would revert to confirming cases of Covid-19 using test kits, further adding to the confusion on the actual trends in the epidemic being reported in mainland China. The true infection rate will probably not be known for some time until positive serological tests can be performed on the population. Some epidemiologists have compared the 2019-nCoV epidemic to a very severe flu season, indicating that we may be facing coronavirus seasons like the flu in years to come. There is great urgency to develop a vaccine or antiviral therapy. There have also been 2,250 deaths attributed to the 2019-nCoV, with 18,903 people who have recovered from their infection. The bulk of these fatalities have occurred in Hubei province, the epicenter of the epidemic. Data for 19,047 closed cases indicated that 16,917 (89 percent) recovered and were discharged, while 2,130 (11 percent) succumbed to Covid-19. Health officials have warned that recovered patients who have undergone nucleic testing of nasal swabs are demonstrating that they continue to harbor the coronavirus. They have speculated that these patients may still be capable of infecting others. According to Worldmeter, there are presently 55,905 active cases, down from a peak of 58,622 on February 18. Of these cases, 79 percent are considered mild, presenting with flu-like symptoms. The rest of the cases numbering 12,064 patients (21 percent) are in serious condition and require hospitalization and a higher level of care, which can include supplemental oxygen and possibly intensive care with ventilator support. Overall, about five percent were in critical condition, of which a little more than two percent have died. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) recently published its data on 44,000 cases of Covid-19. The death rate reported in Hubei province stands at 2.9 percent, while in the rest of the country it remains much lower, with 0.4 percent dying from complications related to the infection. Elderly with medical conditions are at a significant risk of dying from acquiring the infection. The absolute case fatality rate for those over 80 years of age approached 15 percent. Admittedly, the Chinese medical staff is at the highest risk of becoming infected due to their close contact with the afflicted and also because of frequent lack of adequate protective supplies. The recent report of the demise of Dr. Lie Zhiming, the 51-year-old neurosurgeon and director of the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, has again provoked outrage and frustration. Over 1,700 Chinese health care workers have been infected. The trend in the total number of cases in China has continued to plateau with reports of daily confirmed cases declining now for more than a week, although confirmation of recent Covid-19 cases in prison populations caused a spike in new cases yesterday. Also, the trend in the number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 has appeared to have reached its inflection point. However, cases outside of mainland China have been steadily climbing, standing presently at 1,361. World Health Organization health officials sentiments remain mixed. While there are assurances that the epidemic is being contained on mainland China now with the lowest reported daily case counts, there are also troubling signs that the epidemic may be advancing in other countries. Though Japan has the highest count in the other countries category, the majority of these have been attributed to the growing cluster of cases on the Diamond Princess luxury cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, now standing at 634 out of 742 total cases in the country. Two infected Japanese passengers, who were recently evacuated to local hospitals, have died. Both were in their 80s and suffered from chronic medical ailments. Travel advisories to Japan have now been issued, while the government has begun suspending major public events. As of Friday morning, Japanese officials have called the two-week quarantine on the luxury cruise liner over, and those who were testing negative, approximately 500 individuals, have disembarked. Virologists are studying the catastrophe on board to attempt to understand why the virus was so contagious. They speculate that a super spreader phenomenon was at play or that the virus can survive on multiple surfaces. They will also study the infectivity of the contagion and its distribution of severity to compare with those being reported in Hubei province. The fallout from the returning 14 infected Americans from Japan has garnered attention in major news outlets. The Washington Post reported that Trump administration health officials were in a fierce debate with the CDC who disagreed with the State Department, contending that those individuals posed a considerable risk for infecting those who remained disease-free. According to the Post, Efforts to prevent the new pathogen from spreading have revealed the limits of the worlds readiness for an unprecedented public health emergency. At certain times of social crisis, the mainstream media can express the simple truth but is unable to offer a suitable antidote. In a show of international disunity, another luxury liner, the MS Westerdam, which had left port from Hong Kong to Japan on February 1 for a 14-day excursion, found itself left a castaway in open waters as four countries refused it harbor over concerns of Covid-19, though all passengers were reportedly well. Finally, after two weeks at sea, Cambodia offered a berth at the port of Sihanoukville. The ship was carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members. In a precarious maneuver, Cambodian President Hun Sen allowed passengers to disembark with little else than having their temperatures taken to prove they were not ill. He greeted them as they set foot on the ground for a photo opportunity prohibiting any face masks or wearing protective gear. Though Cambodia is a strong ally of China, with their economies closely linked, analysts speculated that this stunt was an attempt by the Cambodian president to ingratiate himself with the US. Approximately 650 of those who had been on board were Americans. One of those passengers, an 83-year-old female, who flew to Malaysia along with 144 others, developed a high fever upon landing in Kuala Lumpur. She was tested, and it was confirmed she had Covid-19. Cambodia then proceeded to quarantine the remaining passengers, but by then, however, hundreds had already left the country. Though the number of cases in Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan has stabilized, South Korea recently noted a rapid escalation of cases over three days, tripling the previous number of cases. Presently there are 204 documented cases of Covid-19. With the sudden spike in cases, South Korean Prime Minister Sye-Kyun declared the Covid-19 epidemic an emergency. The cities of Daegu and Cheongdo have been declared special care zones. The military bases are also on lockdown as three soldiers were found infected. The 2.5 million population of Daegu has been told to stay home, initiating an essential lockdown. Iran has also now confirmed a total of 13 new cases, bringing their total to 18, with two additional deaths. Lebanon and Israel have confirmed their first cases, indicating that Covid-19 may be getting a foothold in the Middle East. Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that on Thursday, clashes occurred between residents resisting efforts by the government to quarantine 45 Ukrainians and 27 foreign citizens at a facility at Poltava region. Meanwhile, Chinese officials are reeling from a cluster of Covid-19 cases taking place in cramped prisons across three provinces, affecting more than 500 prisoners. Beijing has sent in a team of law enforcement personnel to begin investigating the fiasco that has caught the news media by storm. He Ping, head of the ministrys Bureau of Prison Administration, said, With a heavy heart and sense of responsibility, I am reporting to you that as of February 20, five prisons in Hubei, Shandong and Zhejiang have reported infections among their populations. Beside several guards becoming infected, authorities suspect that the infection has spread to a juvenile detention center in Zhejiang province. South China Morning Post reported that Xie Wijun, Communist Party secretary of the provinces Department of Justice, and seven prison officials were summarily relieved of their posts for mismanagement. These are a series of political fallouts that continue as China and the world are thrown into a social turmoil. Speaking on behalf of the financial oligarchs of the world, President Xi Jinping at a meeting of the Communist Party Politburo said, Priority should be given to ensure leading companies that are important in the global supply chain restore production and supply, maintaining the stability of the supply chains. It is necessary to help key export enterprises resume work and production as soon as possible. According to Oxford Economics Global Economic Model forecast, the rapid spread of the coronavirus infection will weaken Chinas GDP growth sharply in the short term, having a ripple effect on the rest of the globe. The global growth rate for quarter 1 of 2020 is expected to slow to just 1.9 percent and for the year down from 2.5 percent to 2.3 percent. GDP in 2019 stood at 2.6 percent. In practical terms, this amounts to $1.1 trillion in lost income. KIGALI Rwanda officials in charge of technical and vocational education have said that the country has run out resources to fund the construction of at least one Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) facility in each of the 416 sectors in the country to pave way for the creation of 1.5 million jobs by 2024. The Rwandas New Times quoting Dr Valentine Uwamariya, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Training, Institutional Development and Research at Rwanda Polytechnic (RP) reported that the current percentage of TVET absorption by ordinary level graduates is still low, at 33.1 per cent (with 60 per cent as the target by 2024), there is an urgent need to establish more TVET training facilities across the country. To address the financial resources gaps, a new TVET funding model is being developed, she said. The main aim of enrolling more youth into TVET programmes is to have enough skilled workforce in the labour market. Uwamariya was quoted in the media said that, without adequate infrastructure and appropriate training equipment, the target of having more youth in TVET, improved quality and access would be infeasible. If we have target to have 60 per cent of ordinary level graduates joining TVETs and that we are at 33.1 per cent, we need extra-ordinary measures to fix the gap of 26.9 per cent remaining in the next four years which requires more resources, she is quoted by The New Times. Rwandas five-year TVET schools expansion plan, every sector requires at least one TVET training facility but they have run out money. Only 58.1 per cent of TVET schools meet quality standards according to a recent audit by Workforce Development Authority. Rwandas TVET schools have no accommodation facilities for students and, therefore, dont attract many students from different corners in need of TVET. At least 60 per cent of TVET schools are owned by private players who do not always invest in equipment needed to train students, with most not meeting minimum standards. We need to construct and equip new TVET schools within the next 5 years. To build a TVET school is very costly in terms of equipment, and consumables used for training students, she said. Related This week on The Bold Type it was all about weddings. Jane started to write an article and interviewed Jacqueline but accidentally recorded a phone conversation between Jacqueline and her husband about their marriage problems which made her scrap her story. Jacqueline was not happy about this and eventually convinced Jane to do her article after all. Sutton got to be in the spotlight and model wedding dresses which made her a little uncomfortable, which lead to some issues at Carlys school regarding her uniform. But she smoothed everything over with Oliver. Kat got back into the dating world but purposely chose someone she had nothing in common with to avoid a serious relationship. But despite that, things still got a bit too serious for Kat. She eventually landed in bed with the male bartender. Favorite relationship: Im so glad we finally got an episode that put more of a focus on the relationship between Sutton and Oliver. Its always been a bit in the background but not this week. It showed that their relationship is more than just employer/employee. Just look at how excited Oliver was to dress Sutton for the photoshoot. I highly doubt he feels that way about all of his assistants. Sutton managed to worm her way into his heart, which seems so easy for her. Shes very likable which is why its surprising that her influencer plan wasnt working out that well at first. But I guess when you lose the spontaneity, its not the same. Though a tag from work can do wonders, it seems. I liked the issues that she raised about the wedding planning, she shouldve used that for her page. Not every girl gets super excited about weddings, especially these days with so many children with divorced parents. But honestly, the wedding is not the most important part, its what comes after that counts. Personally, Im not a huge fan of weddings. Its just so expensive. I feel like that money would be better spent on the future. Self-sabotage: Im glad Kat is getting back out there in the dating pool but it kind of felt like she was cheating this week. Not cheating on someone, but cheating herself. She only went for someone she knew shed never seriously date, purposely ignoring people she has more in common with. I get that she wants something carefree but Im pretty sure there are apps with people who just want a hookup. If you both agree in advance that it doesnt go beyond one night, I think you can avoid ending up at someones birthday party. But I think she secretly wants a relationship again. And thats why she let herself get carried away temporarily. Its weird, because Kat used to only have non-serious relationships when she was still dating guys and I think that might be why she went back to a guy for a hookup. All of her serious relationships have been with women so a guy might seem safer. Anyway, it didnt surprise me. Once I saw which actor was behind the bar, I knew hed do more than pour drinks. With some actors, you just know theyre there for more than just a guest spot. No such thing as perfect: I think Jane has grown a lot in the past four seasons, especially where relationships are concerned. Jane may once have had fantasies about perfect marriages but I think those days are long past and not just because of Jacquelines problems. I think her relationship with Ryan is probably one of her most serious relationships and while she really loves him, their relationship clearly isnt perfect. So I think she has let go of that fantasy. Side note, this was the first time we saw Janes dad, right? I know well be seeing her brother soon as well. Im glad were getting to know more of Janes family. In a mood: This week was probably the darkest mood weve seen from Jacqueline so far and it startled me a bit. Shes usually so supportive but this week, it was like she just couldnt bring herself to do it. Like she didnt have the energy. And I get it, everybody has their breaking point. They say you cant let your home life affect your work, but thats not always possible. Especially when your work is the reason your home life is wrecked. When Jane told her what shed overheard, I thought she was going to snap. It was really smart of her to walk away before she said something she regretted. To give herself time to let it all sink in first. Not enough people do that. I was happy to see her finally open up to some people and to see her get her groove back at the end of the episode. Best quotes: Kat: What does a lesbian bring to a second date? Jane: Oh, a moving van. Kat: Right. See, its a lame stereotype, but, unfortunately, I think it might be kind of true. And I am DTF, not DTN. Jane: What is DTN? Kat: Down To Nest. I just made it up. Jane: Cute. Kat: Thank You. Jane: I could see it catching on. Sutton: Do you really believe in school uniforms? Oliver: I do. I know it may seem strange since, you know, I adore clothing, but school uniforms encourage kids to focus on their classes and not each other. For 12-year-old girls, fashion can easily turn into a weapon. With school uniforms, there are no labels, so theres less bullying, less worrying about what to wear to impress friends. Sutton: I never thought of it that way. Oliver: I know it might seem anti-intuitive, but having to wear a uniform actually encourages kids to become free, independent thinkers. And if youre still not convinced, you should know that Coco Chanel wore a school uniform. Sutton: No. Oliver: Yes. Jane: So you just ran out? Like, no goodbye, nothing? Kat: I panicked. Sutton: Thats a savage ghost. Thats it for this week. Check in again next week for an all-new review and let me know in the comments what you thought of this weeks episode. Please be respectful in the comments, any unnecessary rudeness isn't welcome. A shake-up Centrelink is set to affect thousands of Australians. As the organisation focuses on their online presence, it has been revealed that a number of offices around the country will be shutting up shop. Branches at Newcastle and Newport in New South Wales, and Mornington in Victoria, will close their doors. The office at Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales is also being closed. 'We have a responsibility to the taxpayer. Leasing offices is expensive,' Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen told 9News. A shake-up of government services provider Centrelink is set to affect thousands of Australians Some offices will be replaced with a so-called 'agency' or kiosk that will be staffed by one person. Each day more than 66,000 people walk into Centrelink offices around the country. This is being dwarfed by the amount of people who access government services online, with half a million people logging into the MyGov website each day. Former opposition leader Bill Shorten has claimed the closing of some Centrelink locations is a move by the government to cover costs in other areas at the expense of citizens. 'This government's more interested in band aiding a dodgy budget surplus and it's going to do it by shafting everyday Centrelink users,' Mr Shorten said. Services Australia, which oversees Centrelink, said in its annual report that it is trying to 'maximise the benefits of digital capabilities while reducing the costs of administering payments'. 'This is not about reducing our services overall. This is about consolidating into more appropriate locations,' Mr Jongen said. He claims foot traffic through Centrelink's doors has reduced by 46 per cent in the past five years. It is not known if any further Centrelink locations are scheduled to close when their leases come up for renewal. Do you feel yourself dreading the stress of the next workday before the current one is even over? A 2017 survey by the American Psychological Association showing that 61% of respondents chose work as their top source of anxiety and more and more of us are becoming more anxious about, and less fulfilled by, our working week. But don't worry, as nine tips from a brand new book by former tech executive Bruce Daisley Eat Sleep Work Repeat detailed in a post by the Wall Street Journal and supported by experts, is on the market to help you alleviate the stresses of work. Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Show all 5 1 /5 Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Behavioural expert William Higham unveils a life-sized model named 'Emma', which has been created by office equipment supplier Fellowes to illustrate how office workers may look in 20 years' time if changes are not made to their working environments. A report, titled The Work Colleague of the Future, claims future office workers could suffer from a permanently bent back, varicose veins, a rotund stomach, and dry, red eyes from long hours staring at a computer screen. Matt Alexander/PA Wire Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Matt Alexander/PA Wire Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Matt Alexander/PA Wire Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Matt Alexander/PA Wire Life-sized doll shows future office workers with permanent hunchback Matt Alexander/PA Wire Engage your Monk Mode Ever sit down at your desk ready to crack on with work only to be interrupted by an email, pop up or colleague that distracts you from the task at hand? If this is the case implementing a new deep work regimen could be the answer. Writer Cal Newport calls this mental flow Deep Work, and says he is seeing more entrepreneursespecially CEOs of small start-upsuse an hour or two at the start of the day for depth work. To make the most of the beginning of your day, turn off alerts until mid-morning or set an automatic response to say you wont be reachable until a certain time so that you can really focus on your work and get a head start on the morning. Plug yourself in The headphones in the office debate has often been a marmite-like divider between different generations, with older bosses quick to blame younger workers for the normalisation of headphones in working hours. Critics view them as a distraction from tasks and a barrier to workplace communication. However, Daisley writes that in reality, offices that allow headphones can be considerably more productiveand workers feel happier when theyre able to tune out and get work done. So if you find yourself having trouble concentrating at work, its a perfect excuse to buy those air pods youve been eyeing up for the last few months in the name of workplace productivity. Walk and Talk Sitting behind desks or in meetings for hours is a proven cause of workplace stagnation. Strategies to get workers on their feet and avoid prolonged sitting have become the norm in recent years, with standing-meetings and desks becoming a regular feature of hip offices. Eat Sleep Work Repeat advises scrapping the office environment altogether in favor of a walking meeting outside to re-energize your body and get creative synapses pinging. He cites research from Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz from Stanford University, who studied the effect of walking on creativity, and found that 81% of participants saw their scores for giving creative suggestions go up when they were walking rather than sitting. Schedule Meeting Free Days Research by Alex Sandy Pentland, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, revealed actions in offices genuinely lead to breakthroughs in creativityand even lead to increases in output. One of Pentlands discoveries exposes that while meetings contributed about 2% of what got done at work, face-to-face conversation contributed almost 20 times as much. Pointless meetings can sap energy and destroy productivity, so why not try blocking out a day of your calendar or even a more widespread meeting-free day of the week in your office to minimise time-wasting and maximise creativity. Ditch PowerPoints By now were all aware of how little your colleagues will read anything you put in front of them if its made in one of Microsoft Offices boring PowerPoint templates, with some having branded it the worst business tool ever created. The research puts forward the idea of throwing PowerPoints out the window altogether and replacing them with physical resources. At Amazon, meetings start in silence as each attendee reads a document prepared for subsequent discussion. We dont do PowerPointpresentations at Amazon, Jeff Bezos proclaimed in a letter to shareholders. Instead we write narratively structured six-page memos. Hit Do Not Disturb on Weekends We are more connected to the world of work than ever at any given moment thanks to a forever-updating range of modern technology and it can be more than tempting to sign in on the go at weekends to make sure everythings running ship-shape. But, the evidence for benefits of being constantly connected isnt good: Half of all workers who check their email outside work hours show signs of being highly stressed. Setting strict boundaries with your email in your downtime could be the key to shifting some of your work anxiety. Stanford Professor John Pencavel found that workers produced more in a 48-hour week than they did in a 56-hour week. By taking more breaks, workers were more productive. So ditching your email for the weekend could actually be better for your output in the long run. Implement No-phone Zones While we feel that smartphones allow us to be better connected at all times, if youre finding yourself distracted at work, the small screen sitting on your desk could be the route of the problem. One experiment referenced involved getting respondents about to do a test to either place their phones face down in front of them, keep it in their bag, or leave it in a different room. Those who left their devices in another room performed substantially better on the test. According to the book, having your phone ever-present can cause "brain drain", using up your cognitive function even when youre trying to convince yourself to ignore that its there. Zipping your phone in a bag or a drawer till lunch can help workers overcome the constant mental burden of personal devices. Grab Coffees with Colleagues Making connections with colleagues can not only make your workday pass faster but can cause you to feel more fulfilled and happy to be in the office. There has been a greater focus in modern workplaces based on the idea that socialising boosts productivity with a renewed focus on hot-desking and employee satisfaction. Workplace analytics firm Humanyze found that when colleagues took 15-minute coffee breaks together, team cohesion went up by 18% and the collective productivity of the team rose by almost a quarter. So why not try getting the kettle on and offering your colleagues a brew: at the end of the day you could learn they are feeling exactly the same about the stresses of work. Make Light of your Plight The Wall Street Journal points out Daisley's research on Mark de Rond, an ethnographer who spent six weeks embedded in a field hospital in Afghanistan, saying that despite an onslaught of casualties, there was a morbid humour to the surgery-team dynamic. Through research, they detail how laughter is a quintessential human signal, and that we can all benefit from trying to make light of our bleak situations in the workplace. By trying to build humorous relationships with colleagues, employees can find themselves feeling more positive and a little less alone. The Berejiklian government has lifted a ban on irrigators harvesting water from floodplains and pumping from parts of the Murray Darling River system, a controversial move opposed by farmers in the state's south, after substantial recent rainfall swelled parched waterways. The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said the decision to lift restrictions on irrigators in the state's north - made on Friday afternoon - followed analysis showed water would flow the full length of the Barwon-Darling River and into Lake Wetherell near Menindee. The Brewarrina weir on the Barwon river overflowed for the first time in years this week. Credit:Getty Images An embargo on floodplain harvesting, which occurs when the river breaks its banks and is captured by dams and flood walls built by irrigators, only began on February 5. Its lifting was opposed by some farming groups because of fears northern irrigators would take the water and leave little by the time it reached the Lower Darling. The Sun-Herald can reveal the ban was lifted after National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson intervened directly, lobbying at least two Berejiklian government ministers to break the embargo. SAN FRANCISCO Google reached an agreement with a group of state attorneys general on Thursday over how officials will handle information it provides during their antitrust investigation into the company. Settling an early dispute in the case, the agreement requires the states to protect confidential information provided by Google and governs how it can be shared, according to a copy reviewed by The New York Times. As part of their inquiry, the states, led by Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, asked Google for information related to its digital ads business. In October, Google asked a court to issue a protective order over information furnished to Mr. Paxton. Google also asked for certain restrictions on advisers to the states who work for its competitors, including the media giant News Corp and the Russian search engine Yandex. Specifically, Google said there should be a cooling off period to keep them from working with its competitors. [February 21, 2020] INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (JELD) Investors Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. ("Jeld-Wen" or the "Company") (NYSE: JELD) securities between January 26, 2017 and October 15, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Jeld-Wen investors have until April 20, 2020 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors suffering losses on their Jeld-Wen investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to [email protected]com. On October 15, 2018, after the market closed, Jeld-Wen reported a $76.5 million charge for third quarter 2018 relted to ongoing litigation concerning Jeld-Wen's anticompetitive behavior. The Company also announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer, Brooks Mallard. On this news, the Company's stock price fell $4.03, or 19%, to close at $17.28 per share on October 16, 2018, thereby injuring investors. The complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) that Jeld-Wen was engaged in anticompetitive conduct through a price-fixing conspiracy with another door manufacturer to artificially increase or maintain prices of interior molded doors; and (2) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. If you purchased Jeld-Wen securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200221005499/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Bernie Sanders has vowed to transform America on the eve a vote in Nevada he hopes will help propel him into the White House. With polls showing the Vermont senator with a clear lead both nationally and in the state, he urged supporters to turn out in record numbers. We have to have a government that will work for all of us, he said on Friday evening at the Spring Reserve ampitheatre in the west of Las Vegas. As you may have noticed lately, the establishments getting a little bit nervous. But when we stand up together they are not going to stop us. After coming joint first in Iowa and securing a narrow victory in New Hampshire, the 78-year-old has emerged as the Democratic Partys frontrunner. 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 Yet, he has not been able to claim the nomination is his yet, and with the late arrival into the race of Michael Bloomberg, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money, it still remains unclear who will emerge as the winner. On 3 March, Super Tuesday, more than a dozen states hold their primaries, including those in which Mr Bloomberg, also aged 78, is competing. With the campaigns of Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar all facing major challenges, many observers believe the Democratic race could now become a showdown between the two men. There is certainly no love lost between the two septuagenarians. Earlier this week at the Democrats ninth debate, Mr Bloomberg made his debut and was immediately attacked by his rivals. But the former New York mayor also landed some punches of his own, and claimed if Mr Sanders were the partys nominee the country would likely see another four years of Donald Trump. Mr Sanders hit back on Friday night, much to the delight of his supporters. I believe Bloomberg has every right to run for the presidency, he said. But he has no right to buy the presidency. Sanders press secretary slams medical records requests as smear campaign To some of Mr Sanders supporters, Mr Bloomberg appears to occupy the same represent the same sort of ideological compromise Hillary Clinton did in 2016. When Mr Sanders failed to secure the nomination, thousands of his supporters voted for Mr Trump, rather than the former secretary of state. On Friday, most people said they would vote for any Democrat in order to try and defeat Mr Trump, but Deborah Cole, 67, an energetic and vocal supporter of the senator, said she would not vote for Mr Bloomberg. If the Democratic establishment wont let us have our candidate, Id rather vote Green, she said. They think were stupid. Too many people have been brainwashed. Jamie Belkadi, 36, a nurse, said she had seen too many people unable to pay for health care, and meet their mortgage payments. Or else they are diabetic and they cant get their insulin because its four days from pay day, she said, saying Mr Sanders signature policy of universal healthcare would help everybody. Mr Sanders get out the vote rally came after he earlier warned Russia to stay out of 2020 White House elections after US officials had told him Moscow was trying to aid his campaign. The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr. Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections, Mr Sanders told reporters in Bakersfield, California. The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, said US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort and had also informed Mr Trump and US politicians. It was not clear what form the Russian assistance took, the paper said. Mr Sanders said he was briefed about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified. We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign, Mr Sanders said. Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections. He ended his rally by telling supporters: Let us go forward. Lets defeat Trump. Lets transform this country. Additional reporting by Reuters Storyful An affable deer created somewhat of a buzz in a neighborhood near Salt Lake City, Utah, he regularly visited over the holiday period.The deer, nicknamed Cooper by local residents, has been playing with children in the neighborhood of Herriman and was even spotted posing for photos, reports said.Herriman resident Angelica Lujan recorded footage of the tame deer interacting with her children outside of her home on South Rowell Drive.Speaking to KSTU, a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources representative said despite the deers friendly attitude, the best thing for the animal is for people to leave him alone.People dont realize these beautiful, cute deer can be aggressive as they get older. Weve had times in the past where these friendly deer, they do get aggressive, said Scott Root, Conservation Outreach Manager, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.Weve had kids hurt at bus stops. Bad things happen when we feed deer in a residential area, Root added. Credit: Angelica Lujan via Storyful Ephraim Hardcastle yesterday suggested the political commentator Dan Hodges admitted making up a story on Twitter about Michael Bloomberg. In fact, when Dan Hodges tweeted he had invented the story, this was a sarcastic remark. We are happy to make clear his original account was factual. To report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@dailymail.co.uk. To make a formal complaint go to www.dailymail.co.uk/readerseditor. You can also write to Readers Editor, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or contact IPSO directly at ipso.co.uk Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 19:59:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- As tensions escalate between Turkey and Syria over the rebel-held province of Idlib, Ankara is trying to reach a compromise with Russia, the main supporter of Damascus, in order to diffuse the crisis, experts said. NATO member Turkey has sent thousands of reinforcements in the northwestern Syrian province to bolster its 12 observations posts as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of an imminent military operation to halt the Russian-led Syrian offensive which has killed 15 Turkish soldiers since the start of February. Analysts warned of a risk of clashes between Turkish forces and Russians, which back different sides in the region amid mounting tensions between the two countries who, in the past, had still managed to cooperate in Syria despite their differences. Since the start of the crisis, Turkish and Russian delegations had inconclusive talks in Ankara and Moscow, however, efforts are still underway to reach some form of an agreement that would diffuse tensions, Turkish sources said. "We believe that we have not yet achieved the results that we are expecting, but this is an ongoing process," a diplomatic source told Xinhua on the condition of anonymity, implying that a new round of talks may take place. On Friday, Turkish and Russian leaders, Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, held a critical phone conversation. According to a statement released by the Turkish presidency, Erdogan urged his counterpart to stop Syria's offensive in Idlib amid fears of a humanitarian crisis. The two leaders also reiterated their commitments to existing agreements in Syria, a wording that suggests a de-escalation, at least for now, of the crisis between the two countries, Turkish media reported. Nevertheless, analysts believed that the Idlib crisis has dealt a blow to the Turkish-Russian partnership in Syria. "The time of truth is around the corner," independent political analyst Tulin Daloglu told Xinhua, arguing that "what Idlib boils down to in the end is a hardcore power game, and will eventually break the tie between Putin and Erdogan." 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. Turkey is adamant to see this agreement enforced and has otherwise threatened of military action. Although the Russian-Turkish talks on Idlib have failed, there is still a window of opportunity to reach a compromise, according to statements from officials of both countries. Joint Russian-Turkish patrols resumed on Monday in northeastern Syria where Turkey launched a cross-border operation against a Kurdish faction last year. But it is not clear if Ankara will give up on its demands for Syrian forces to withdraw from the de-escalation zone and Moscow, in turn, is unlikely to agree to grant, albeit unofficially, the status of "Turkish security zone" to Idlib territories not yet captured by Assad, said Russian analyst Kirill Semenow in an article for Al-Monitor. Oytun Orhan, senior analyst at the Ankara based Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) argued that Ankara is not ready to lose face by withdrawing soldiers from its observation posts, most of which are currently under siege by Syrian forces. "Turkey doesn't want to lose its gains on the field in Syria and aims to keep its troops in Idlib at any cost," explained Orhan. According to military observers, over 9,000 troops have already been sent into Syria in the last two weeks, however, Turkey doesn't have air control in Idlib where only Russian and Syrian forces have that supremacy, making things very difficult for Turkish ground forces. To reduce risks, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar confirmed on Thursday press reports that his country had asked the United States to deploy Patriot missiles along Turkey's southern border. "There could be Patriot support ...there is the threat of airstrikes, missiles against our country," he told CNN Turk broadcaster, while Erdogan is domestically criticized for purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems that Ankara is seemingly reticent to use in the Syrian theater. Akar also said that Turkish and Russian forces are discussing various de-escalation options, including joint patrols in Idlib, adding that Turkey has no intention to be at odds with Russia. Erdogan has set a deadline until the end of February for a return to a stability in Idlib while Ankara is also testing the grounds for a possible new summit between Russia, Iran and Turkey to speed up the political process before Assad's forces reach Idlib's center. The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) has appealed to the Centre and the Assam government to release NDFB(R) chief Ranjan Daimary, who was one of the signatories to the Bodo Peace Accord. Daimary is serving life sentence for his involvement in the 2008 serial blasts in Assam in which 88 people were killed. The militant leader, who was released on bail two days ahead of the signing of the Accord on January 27, was sent back to jail on February 20. ABSU president Dipen Boro, in a press note issued here on Saturday, urged the central and the state governments to release Daimary "in the interests of implementing the Accord and for lasting peace" in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam. "ABSU appeals... for the greater interest of the implementation of the Accord and peacebuilding process and giving the mark of respectable opportunity for the leadership of NDFB to join the mainstream through the Accord after they have shunned the path of armed struggle," the release said. The Accord was signed between the Centre, the Assam government, all the four factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), the ABSU and civil society group United Bodo People's Organisation. Other NDFB factions have also sought the immediate release of Daimary and warned of protests if the demand was not met. The ABSU, in the release, also condemned the recent killing of a person in Udalguri district, that falls under BTR. The students' body demanded stern action against those responsible for the incident. It said that the killing was attempted at destabilising the atmosphere in BTR and also appealed to all the communities to maintain peace in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) False alarms cost more than $100 million last year because 97 per cent of calls made to firefighters by NSW automatic alarm systems are mistakes triggered by non-emergencies such as burnt toast and steam. The time wasted for people evacuated from buildings during last year's 46,232 false alarms is not included in the estimated $107 million cost, which is based on firefighters' time and resources used per call. The fines for property owners with buildings that spark the call-outs have more than doubled since 2013 to $1600. But that doesn't cover the full cost of an emergency call, estimated to be about $3083 for each false alarm. Fire Brigade employees union state secretary Leighton Drury said some of the biggest jobs they've had came from automatic fire alarms, such as the Quakers Hill nursing home blaze that killed 14 elderly residents in 2011. A new route through the town of Drogheda is part of the revamped St Patrick's Day parade. Details of the event will be released at a launch in the Westcourt Hotel on Thursday. It has also been revealed that long time parade servant, Isabel Sanroma, will be the Grand Marshal. The Coca-Cola Perpetual Trophy, awarded annually to the Winners of the Best Entry into the St. Patrick's Day Parade was returned by Patrica McGown, proprietor of Scholars and last years winner, to this year's Grand Marshal, Isabel, last week. Julie Plunkett from Coca-Cola who have sponsored Drogheda's St Patrick's Day Parade since 1986 explained the trophy was designed specifically by the chief's at Coca-Cola HQ, Atlanta, Georgia for the Drogheda Parade. This was to celebrate the company's appreciation of how a town like Drogheda became a significant player in it's world wide market and a major part of their European brand. Julie was also able to pledge the company's continued support for the annual event. She thanked the outgoing Committee for all their hard work and dedication for the last 33 years and said how she was looking forward to working with the new Committee. Isabel, Parade Director for the last 33 years, had only a few weeks previously announced that this years parade was cancelled in midst of rising insurance costs and a difficulty in finding additional funding. Once the this devasting news got out into the local community it did not take long for the civic pride and true spirit of Drogheda to rise to the occasion. This spirit that not so long ago brought us Fleadh Ceoil Na hEireann, made it easy for the Wogan Family of Wogan's HomeBuild Depot and whose generous, last minute contribution gave the parade a life line. Their support has ensured a new committee, under the umbrella of Drogheda Festivals, have been able to come together as a cross section community group who have been working tirelessly over these last few weeks to ensure the parade went ahead. The theme of this years Parade is 'The (true)spirit of Drogheda.' This gives huge scope for any potential entry to reflect on Drogheda's rich cultural and historical past while also including many of its more famous sons and daughters. Patricia Mc Gowen from Scholar's said that they were hoping to hold onto the Trophy but are expecting some even stiffer competition from the other entrants this year. 'We are so happy that the Parade is going ahead and hope that everyone comes out and supports this Drogheda Institution on our National Holiday.' Sarah Taafe, Chairperson of Drogheda Festivals, spoke how the new Committee have been beavering away behind the scenes, linking up with the previous committee and facing many challenges that are now happily resolved and finally we are able to announce that a new route has been given the green light by Louth County Council . The cooperation and support of Sergeant Donal McGivern and the local Gardai was essential in making this happen. This new Route will officially unveiled at a public launch of the festival next Thursday the 20th of February in The Westcourt Hotel at 4:45PM. "We hope that as many groups and businesses from Drogheda and surrounding areas will participate in this year's Parade and if you can't take part, why not volunteer and be part of the start of all things new and Drogheda Festivals.' She was also delighted to announce on the night that application forms are now available from Festival Secretary Sandra Gough via email: sandra.gough@hotmail.com . A woman who was dubbed 'Barbie' when she joined the US Marine Corp has proved her naysayers wrong after graduating at the top of her class and being deployed to more than 100 countries. Brie Burgett, a 28-year-old combat engineer office from Lancaster, Ohio, graduated from college with a double honors degree in political science and international relations at just 19 years old, but she struggled to find a suitable job because of her young age. Soon after, she met with several branches of the military and decided to join the Marine Corps in 2011 making her the youngest woman to be commissioned into the branch at the time. Look at her now: Brie Burgett, a 28-year-old combat engineer office from Lancaster, Ohio, was dubbed 'Barbie' when she joined the US Marine Corps in 2011 Impressive: Brie graduated from college with a double honors degree in political science and international relations at just 19 years old Finding herself: Bri struggled to find a job after graduation because of her young age, and after meeting with several branches of the military, she decided to join the Marine Corps 'People are typically surprised to learn about my job because I do not look like what most people picture as a Marine,' Brie said. 'I knew [joining the Marines] would be really challenging physically and mentally as well as an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and gain valuable experiences. 'There are so many extremely driven individuals. Getting to work with these types of people every day is a constant reminder and incentive to keep working hard,' she added. 'The opportunities to learn and grow as a leader in a military career is unparalleled. It is hard to imagine a job that could have done that more than the military.' Many of her peers gave the young blonde a hard time for being a 'Barbie,' but Brie set out to prove them wrong. Breaking boundaries: Brie was the youngest woman to be commissioned into the branch at the time Goal: Many of her peers gave the young blonde a hard time for being a 'Barbie,' but Brie set out to prove them wrong Proving them wrong: Brie graduated top of her combat engineering class and obtained the highest female physical fitness test levels in her unit Hitting back: She also earned her black belt in hand to hand combat during training 'When I first joined the Marine Corps, I was really uncertain as to how women were received into the "gun club" as well as perceived in military leadership positions,' she said. 'Many times, I was told that I was the first female officer [my colleagues] had worked with, which made it much more important to work hard and set expectations high. 'When I walked into a Marine Corps' recruiting office, they scoffed at a "Barbie" wanting to join and doubted I would meet the physical scores required.' Brie studied and trained non-stop and the hard work paid off. Brie graduated top of her combat engineering class, obtained the highest female physical fitness test levels in her unit, and earned her black belt in hand to hand combat. 'I became one of the youngest women to ever commission in the US Marine Corps. By the time I made it to the fleet I had both the highest PFT and CFT (physical fitness tests) females from across the Unit,' she said. Needing representation: Brie said that many times her male colleagues told her she was the first female office they had worked with Hard to handle: Brie said one of the biggest issues she has seen in male-dominated workplaces is that women often 'divide themselves and don't support each other' Close as can be: Despite the competition, she said several of her female friends from the initial Marine Corps training have become some of her closest pals Looking to the future: Brie said it's 'incredible to see how far things have come' in the Marine Corps since she joined Travels: Brie has undertaken several deployments and traveled to an impressive 108 different countries Experience: Brianna has worked with governments and militaries all over the world. 'One of the biggest issues I have seen in male-dominated workplaces is that too often, women divide themselves and don't support each other. 'Despite competing with peers throughout training, several of my female friends from the initial Marine Corps training have become some of my closest friends. Years later after several deployments we have been there to encourage each other. It is always better to be on the same team. 'As women in the US military have only just begun to be integrated into all combat arms, the progress has been deliberate and feels slow at times. 'It is incredible to see how far things have come. It's quite exciting to be a part of this round of generational change.' Brie has undertaken several deployments and traveled to an impressive 108 different countries including Japan, Germany, and Thailand. Through her varied work, Brianna has worked with governments and militaries all over the world. What a view: Japan, Germany, and Thailand are among the far-off locations she's visited Worthy venture: Brie has helped construct schools in the Philippines as part of a humanitarian civic assistance project Adventure: Brie believes her work is both challenging and engaging Good point: The officer noted that 'everyone has something to teach you if you are willing to take the time to recognize it' Advice: 'Never wait until you feel ready to pursue a goal,' Brie said From constructing schools in the Philippines as part of a humanitarian civic assistance project to helping partner nations in Africa reach mutually beneficial military engagements, Brie's work is both challenging and engaging. 'Going the extra mile to learn your field well, really helps you earn respect and build self-confidence,' she said. 'Everyone has something to teach you if you are willing to take the time to recognize it. Sometimes, it is learning a new technique or skill that a subordinate is an expert on and sometimes, it is the senior person in the office that has years of experience,' she continued. 'Being humble enough to admit that you still have plenty to learn as you progress up the ladder of leadership in the organization not only makes you more approachable but also creates an environment that encourages innovation. 'Never wait until you feel ready to pursue a goal. There will always be plenty of reasons why it is not the right time. So even if you do not feel ready, take that first step today.' ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asked the French and German leaders to provide "concrete" support in ending a humanitarian crisis in northwest Syria's Idlib region, the Turkish presidency said on Friday, amid escalating tensions in the region. In a phone call, Erdogan said that attacks in Idlib, where a Russian-led Syrian government offensive has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and brought Ankara, Moscow and Damascus to the brink of confrontation, must be stopped. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Russian President Vladimir Putin to express their concern about the humanitarian situation in Idlib, urging an end to the conflict there, a German spokesman said. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Alison Williams) Thousands gathered at Queens Park Saturday in solidarity with Wetsuweten leaders with a simple message for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Its not over. On Friday Trudeau called for an end to the rail blockades across the country brought on by nationwide demonstrations in support of Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline that would cross their traditional territory in northern British Columbia. The chiefs have rejected that plea, continuing to demand the removal of an RCMP office and an end to patrols on their territory, as well as ceasing the construction of the pipeline during talks. We are once again in a fight for our lives, said Eve Saint, daughter of a Wetsuweten hereditary chief, who was arrested by RCMP earlier this month after she and three others refused to leave a camp on Wetsuweten territory. We have to fight with everything we have to make change. We will not go silently. We will not lay down and dig our own graves and move out of the way. We are not going anywhere, she told the crowd to cheers. Justin Trudeau, we are not going anywhere ... Racist Canada we are not going anywhere. RCMP we are not going anywhere. After Saints speech the protesters marched down University Avenue from Queens Park to City Hall, singing and drumming. In Nathan Phillips Square, they joined hands in a round dance of five concentric circles. Audrey Huntley, an activist and paralegal with Aboriginal Legal Services, said there would have been even more people at the rally if there werent protests also happening in Niagara Falls at the Ontario Progressive Conservative Convention. But, she said, she was heartened by the turnout, especially from non-Indigenous allies. It took a long time to get to this place, she said. Reconciliation on the official level has never been a real thing, in my view ... but I do believe there are good people who are out here today who do want reconciliation and are willing to make those sacrifices that may inconvenience them a little bit. The president of the American Indian Movement, Ginew Kwe, Golden Eagle Woman, also known as Suzanne Smoke, said the blockades would stop once the RCMP leaves Wetsuweten territory. Trudeau needs to understand he is dealing with a nation, she said. This is our territory and we are going to protect it with everything we have, she said. I kind of laugh that in 12 days all these Canadians are crying about what they dont have, Smoke said. We have suffered for 500 years. She condemned those who have made statements that could incite violence against the blockades. We are not the savages here. We are here in peace and prayer, she said. We are doing everything we can to get the government to hear us, to get Canadians to hear us. With files from Tonda MacCharles, Alex Ballingall and Raneem Alozzi Read more about: One of the most expensive bottles of Irish whiskey ever produced is coming to Belfast. The 35,000 (29,000) Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter One was released last week, with buyers snapping up the mere 48 bottles instantly. One of the lucky new owners is Willie Jack, owner of the famous Duke of York and Harp Bar in the city's Cathedral Quarter. "I have whiskeys on display which are marked 'Never for sale', but this will be a case of 'Don't even ask'," he told Sunday Life. "We are not speculators trying to rip people off, we just want to show everyone the great Irish whiskey tradition." The bottles are the first in a series of six annual releases in the run up to the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Midleton Distillery in 1825. The peated single malt with a strength of 51.2% was produced in 1974 in the Old Midleton Distillery before it closed its doors in 1975 after 150 years of continuous production. According to Midleton owners, Irish Distillers, it was "part of a series of innovative trials never to be released or repeated". It was the brainchild of then master distiller Max Crockett and is "one of the world's rarest whiskeys by its very nature". Barry Crockett, son of Max and his successor as master distiller, said of it: "It is the ultimate heirloom and memento of the dedication to precise malt preparation, brewing and distillation skills of generations of distillers at Midleton." Tradition Willie is just one of two people in Northern Ireland to get his hands on a bottle with the identity of the other not yet known. The release was only offered for sale in the UK, Ireland, France and the US with two also available in a private online auction. "We are hoping to open a museum of Belfast to show the great whiskey tradition of Ireland but it will be on display behind bullet-proof glass," he said. "This is for people who love whiskey but I don't want to put an artificial price on it, it's not about money." The Duke of York has long been known for its huge range of Irish whiskeys, including many other rare Midletons. Mr Jack also has a whiskey shop nearby, The Friend At Hand, which offers over 600 different types of Irish whiskey for sale. But the Chapter One is on another level, coming in a handblown and etched Waterford crystal decanter, encased in boxes made with wood up to 200 years old from reclaimed whiskey vats. Two persons have been arrested for allegedly trying to bring liquor bottles into Gujarat in an outside broadcasting (OB) van, from Daman, police said on Saturday. The driver of the van, Vinayak Goriwale, and its cleaner, Jagdish Rathod, were arrested on Friday near Vapi, they said. Nine bottles of whiskey and beer, collectively worth Rs 3,900, have been seized from them, an official of Vapi town police station said. Manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol is banned in Gujarat. "Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted the OB van at Dabhel police check post when it was on its way from Daman to the bordering town of Vapi in Gujarat. The duo was arrested and booked under various sections of the Prohibition Act," the official said. The OB van, which bears the registration number of Uttar Pradesh, was also seized, he added. The driver is a resident of Mumbai, while the cleaner hails from Kota in Rajasthan, police said, adding that further investigation into the case is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been criticised by royal commentators over their 'spiteful' and 'completely unnecessary' statement after the Queen forced them to drop the Sussex Royal brand name. One commentator even blasted their words as showing Meghan's 'true colours' and said that he feared things 'will only get worse'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they would drop the word royal last night before adding that the Queen does not have international jurisdiction over its use. The Queen, 93, has left the door open for her grandson. She promised to keep his former military positions vacant and said she would review the palace's agreement with the couple in a year. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured on February 25 last year) said in a statement they will stop using the phrase Sussex Royal, even though the palace lacks international jurisdiction Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, left, said their statement was 'completely unnecessary' while Prince Charles' biographer Tom Bower, right, branded it 'spiteful' Royal commentator and former Editor of International Who's Who, Richard Fitzwilliams, told MailOnline that the statement was 'completely unnecessary' as it 'underlines their differences with the palace in a way that is avoidable'. 'The idea of putting out a statement which agrees that they can't use the word royal but contradicts the idea the monarchy can stop them using it,' he said, 'they're basically saying the royals can't stop them using it, but they won't be using it'. 'It has been especially unnecessary to underline it in this way, especially as the agreement will be reviewed after a year. 'It simply empathises the division that we know that's there. The tone they've taken is that they are unhappy, they've made it clear every step of the way.' Mr Fitzwilliams headed up the prestigious publication from 1975 to 2001 and arranged to meet many of its entrants. Harry and Meghan (pictured meeting youngsters at the Commonwealth games in London in July 2018) also said that they will need security for themselves and their son Prince Charles' biographer Tom Bower told MailOnline that the public is 'finally seeing Meghan's true nature and motives'. 'Her comments about the Queen's decision smacks of spiteful fury,' he said. 'I fear it will get worse.' Mr Bower detailed Prince Charle's scandal-ridden attempts to rehabilitate himself in his bestselling biography published two years ago. Piers Morgan has also weighed into the royal debate, accusing Harry and Meghan of showing 'staggering disrespect' to Harry's 93-year-old grandmother. 'The staggering disrespect these two keep showing to the Queen is outrageous,' he said on Twitter. 'Who the hell do they think they are?' The Daily Mail's Saturday Diary Editor, Richard Eden, said that the royal family's decision to strip Harry and Meghan of the brand 'Sussex Royal' would have come as a 'huge blow' to the pair as it was 'central to their future plans'. 'And it's embarrassing for them, as the plans they originally outlined are so different from what they have been forced to accept,' he said. 'However, Harry doesn't need to use the word "royal" as everyone knows he is the brother of our future king. 'He and Meghan will want to keep relations with the rest of the Royal Family as friendly as possible, so will comply with Buckingham Palace's demands.' In their sour statement released yesterday and published to Instagram the Duke and Duchess said: 'While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word 'Royal' overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' or any iteration of the word 'Royal' in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020.' In terse words the couple also outlined how they 'will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son'. 'The preference of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex was to continue to represent and support Her Majesty The Queen albeit in a more limited capacity, while not drawing on the sovereign grant,' they said. The Daily Mail's Saturday Diary Editor Richard Eden said the royal family's decision to strip Harry and Meghan of the brand 'Sussex Royal' would have come as a huge blow for the pair The Duke and Duchess quit the royal family this year to start a new life together in Canada with their son Archie. They have since made an estimated 750,000 for speaking at an event for bank JP Morgan, and have also faced criticism for allegedly sending their security guards to fetch ethical meals for them. The sixth-in-line to the throne and his wife are expected to rake in millions as they launch their life outside the royal family on March 31. They have been working on a mental health series with Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV, and are said to be considering a venture with Goldman Sachs. Kolkata, Feb 22 : Three-time Lok Sabha member and noted educationist Krishna Bose, widow of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose' nephew Sisir Bose, died at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest on Saturday, family and hsoptial sources said. Bose, 89, left behind two sons and her only daughter. On February 16, Bose was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat problem, and hospitalised, but her condition worsened and she had a cerebral attack. She breathed her last at 10-22 a.m. on Saturday, the hospital said. Born in Dacca (now capital of Bangladesh) on December 26, 1930, Bose became a Lok Sabha member in 1996 after she won from Jadavpur on a Congress ticket. Later, she was elected from the same constituency in 1998 and 1999 as a Trinamool Congress candidate. Erudite and articulate, Bose made a mark in parliament through her informative and insightful speeches and served between 1999 and 2004 as chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs which oversees the conduct of India's foreign policy. One of her sons and Harvard University professor of history Sugata Bose was also an MP from 2014 to 2019. A noted educationist, Bose taught English for 40 years at Sivanath Shastri College where she was also principal for eight years. She authored a number of books in English and Bengali including the much-acclaimed 'An Outsider in Politics', and regularly contributed articles to leading newspapers and periodicals. Itihaser Sandhane, Charanarekha Taba, Prasanga Subhaschandra, Smriti-Bismriti, Netaji: A Biography for the Young, are among her notable publications. In 1955, Bose was married to Sisir, who played an important role in Netaji's Great Escape from India in 1941. She was associated with the Research Bureau since its formation, and was its chairperson at the time of her death. she was also an accomplished classical musician. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday raised questions over the funding of the committee formed to oversee various programmes during US President Donald Trump's Ahmedabad visit on February 24. Tagging a media report on Twitter, she wondered what the government is "hiding under the guise" of the committee. "Rs 100 crore is being spent on the visit of President Trump. But this money is being spent through a committee. The members of the committee do not know that they are its members. Does the country not have the right to know which ministry gave how much money to the committee? What is the government hiding under the guise of the committee?" the Congress general secretary tweeted. The Congress also took a swipe at the 'Donald Trump Nagrik Abhinandan Samiti' with a parody advertisement on its official Twitter handle. The poster read 'hiring now' for job of "waving at US President Donald Trump". It also said that the vacancies were 69 lakh and remuneration would be "achche din". "69 lakh vacancies of the 2 crore promised by Modi ji have been announced. Apply now. Hurry!" the party said in a tweet. Meanwhile, the committee headed by Ahmedabad mayor Bijal Patel held its first meeting at the Circuit House in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The formation of the committee, first announced as Donald Trump Nagarik Abhivadan Samiti by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, had drawn flak from the Congress. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain who all are in this Samiti. "Dear P.M, Intriguing from @MEAIndia ! Pl state- 1. Who is the President of Donald Trump Abhinandan Samiti? 2. When was the invitation extended to U.S President & accepted? 3. Why is President Trump then saying you have promised him a grand event with 7 million people?" Surjewala had tweeted. "Why is Gujarat Govt then spending 120 Crore for a 3 hour event organized by an unknown Pvt entity? India values its visiting dignitaries but pl note- Diplomacy is serious govt business & not a series of photo-ops & event management tactics," he added. The Congress had said the Trump visit should not become an extension of the US presidential election campaign but yield concrete results for India. Hitting back, the BJP said on Saturday that Trump's visit will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the Congress should "start taking pride in the nation's achievements" Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra asked the Congress why it was unhappy when the country's stature is being raised. "This is a meeting of the world's largest and oldest democracies and it should be celebrated," he said. "There are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and think as one nation," he said. Queried on the Congress' objection to the committee, chairperson Bijal Patel said, "Such allegations are baseless. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Czar of haute couture has spoken. And he has clearly stirred up a hornets nest. Eighty-five year old Giorgio Armani has strongly accused fashion designers of rape for forcing women to wear provocative clothing on the ramp. Armani, who is known for his classy and conservative designs is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying, Its time for me to say what I think before asserting that you can rape a woman in many ways throwing [a woman] in the basement and suggesting she dresses in a certain way were both forms of sexual assault. If a lady walks on the street and sees an ad with a woman with her boobs and a*** in plain sight and she wants to be like that too, thats a way of raping her, he said. His comments that were made at the Emporio Armani show which was part of the Milan Fashion Week has got designers the world over enraged. Fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla, while disagreeing with Armani offers his insights. I do not agree with Mr Armani, most women dress in a way of exposing themselves these days, it's because that's what makes them feel good. Nobody is subjecting them to look like that; any woman dressed for a party anywhere in the world is exposing herself. The same is the case with celebrities, for instance Priyanka Chopra wore a deep plunging neck dress for the Grammys this year and no one forced her to do so, as she chose to wear it. You can't say that by dressing that way someone is raping her, she dressed that way because thats what makes her feel sexy. So if we make dresses which expose the breasts, then it's upto the person who is buying the dress, if she is comfortable in wearing the dress or not. You can't blame designers for creating dresses like this as it always is a personal choice. As long as you are not forcing someone to wear a provocative dress it is completely fine to choose the way you want to look. Armani is also notorious for having made similar mischievous remarks in the past, where he once claimed that while he dresses ladies, Versace dresses whores. Armani despite his rather puritanical approach to fashion is also guilty of having dressed his female models in sheer clothes. So what exactly is the fuss all about? Style guru Prasad Bidapa does not mince his words when he says, A woman chooses what she wishes to wear and it is nobody's business but her own. You can't blame designers as a woman is free to choose and no woman is going to make herself look bad. You can blame celebrity stylists for giving their star clients bad looks to wear. Rape has everything to do with a Rapists convoluted viewpoint. He rapes babies, elderly women, burqa-clad women or a scantily clad woman with equal impunity. That perverted mindset has to be sensitised to treating all women with respect. Armanis comment was referring to the commodification of women by designers forcing them to buy clothes they dont need. An allegory, nothing more. Fashion designer Raj Shroff sums it up best by asserting that that clothing is a form of expression and therefore a personal choice. I don't think anyone has the right to comment on somebody's style or pass judgment over an outfit worn by an individual. I don't think that we should co-relate a form of dressing to something as strong and distasteful as rape. As a designer, I may have a sensibility or I may want to dress another individual in a certain manner but that is has nothing to do with allowing someone to interpret that expression to harm people. With inputs from Sitara Naidu and Ruth Prarthana Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 14:48:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HAVANA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz and visiting Commander-in-Chief of Russian Navy Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov on Friday lauded bilateral relations between their countries, including military-technical ties. A government statement cited by Cuba's National Television News said that "during the cordial meeting, Castro and Yevmenov also addressed the prospects for bilateral collaboration, as well as issues on the international agenda." According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Yevmenov started his six-day working visit to Cuba from Feb. 16. His agenda on the island includes meeting Cuban defence officials and touring facilities and units of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. (CNN) Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will not be using the word "Royal" for their new venture, the couple announced on Friday. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said that given the specific UK government rules surrounding the use of the word "Royal," the couple agreed that their new non-profit organization will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' in any territory post spring 2020," the spokesperson said. Harry and Meghan surprised the world last month when they announced plans to step back from their duties in the British royal family and "transition into a new working model." At the same time, it emerged that couple had applied for a UK trademark for the term "Sussex Royal," covering hundreds of items under the categories of printed matter, clothing, campaigning, charitable fundraising, education and social care services. However, earlier this week, a royal source told CNN that the use of the word "Royal" was being reviewed. On Friday, the couple's spokesperson said the trademark applications have been removed. The trademark applications were "filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation," according to the spokesperson. Prince Harry and Meghan already agreed to stop using the titles His and Her Royal Highness, eschew some state funding and return the Sovereign Grant funds they spent to renovate their official residence. Harry and Meghan left for Canada with their son Archie after the royal exit announcement. The couple will return to the UK later this month to carry out their final official engagements before they step down as senior members of the royal family. On Wednesday, it was announced that Harry and Meghan's office at Buckingham Palace would officially close and the couple would begin a 12-month transition period from March 31. This story was first published on CNN.com "Harry and Meghan are dropping the word 'Royal' from their brand" The snow flakes were falling on Dawson Street as we ventured indoors at The Ivy only to discover that their basement had been transformed into 'Lavenderland'. It was undoubtedly the most fragrant breakfast I've ever attended. The Jo Malone London team of Bianca Iaciofano and Emily Baker hosted a breakfast with tables decorated like lavender fields to introduce their three new colognes. English, rather than French, lavender has been mixed with botanical cousins like coriander, silver birch and wisteria. The new scents go on sale next Monday and there's a pillow mist for people like me who have trouble sleeping - so if you get an email from me in the middle of the night, don't be surprised. From breakfast to dinner, and a wine-tasting one, too! There's nothing I like more than a wine-tasting dinner to push me out of my usual safe choices of rose, rose, rose. William Tindal was the guiding hand for a memorable dinner at Lough Eske Castle where the cheffing siblings of head chef Richard McKee, and his brother, Andrew, who is the head pastry chef, did a wonderful job wowing us using local produce. Expand Close Lisa Marshall and Donal Cox of Lough Eske Castle. Photo: Gabrielle McMcnagal / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lisa Marshall and Donal Cox of Lough Eske Castle. Photo: Gabrielle McMcnagal The 17th-century castle is a picture-perfect setting and later I met Lisa Marshall, director of sales and marketing, and Donal Cox, the hotel's general manager, in their Father Browne Bar which opened last autumn. Often known as "Father Browne of the Titanic", it was his obedience to his Provincial's order to "get off that ship" that prevented keen photographer Fr Browne from travelling on the final part of the voyage - and possibly saved him from a watery grave. A selection of 200 of his captivating photos decorate the walls. History and great dining in one night, I was smitten. Expand Close Emma South. Photo: Anthony Woods / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emma South. Photo: Anthony Woods Emma South pictured at the Jo Malone 'Lavenderland' fragrance launch at a breakfast in the Ivy, Dawson Street, Dublin. Grapevine Expand Close Sinead Moriarty and Claudia Carroll at the Gaiety theatre. Photo: Mark Stedman / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinead Moriarty and Claudia Carroll at the Gaiety theatre. Photo: Mark Stedman I met authors Sinead Moriarty and Claudia Carroll at the Gaiety theatre where the stage production of Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends opens on April 6. Claudia's book, The Women of Primrose Square, launches on Paddy's Day and she is currently editing her 17th novel with the catchy title of The Mistress Catcher! In a major blow to Pakistan, the country will remain on the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) till June 2020 as it failed to comply with the 27-point action plan to control funding to terrorist groups. The international terror financing watchdog has warned Pakistan of stern action for its failure in combating money laundering and terror financing. The decision was taken after the conclusion of the February 16-21 group meetings and the plenary session of the FATF on Friday where another deadline of four months has been given to Pakistan to act against organisations involved in terror financing. The FATF noted that Pakistan addressed only 14 of 27 action items given to it for controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, responsible for series of attacks in India. "The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by June 2020. Otherwise, should significant and sustainable progress especially in prosecuting and penalising TF (Terror Financing) not be made by the next Plenary, the FATF will take action, which could include the FATF calling on its members and urging all jurisdiction to advise their FIs (Financial Institutions) to give special attention to business relations and transactions with Pakistan," according to a press statement issued after the plenary meeting. "Pakistan will continue in the grey list and all its propaganda and false claims, as in the past, to mislead its public and world at large about exiting the FATF grey list in February 2020 has been decisively proved false," diplomatic sources told India Today. The FATF outcome concluded that all "deadlines" had "expired" and while there was some forward movement, Pakistan still needed to do a lot more. "All deadlines in the action plan have expired. While noting recent and notable improvements, the FATF again expresses concerns given Pakistan's failure to complete its action plan in line with the agreed timelines and in light of the TF risks emanating from the jurisdiction." In the last meeting in October 2019, the Paris-based watchdog had decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list for failure to curb funding to terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed and others. Pakistan was placed on the grey list by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a 27-point action plan to complete it. The FATF continuing Pakistan in the 'Gray' list means its downgrading by IMF, World Bank, ADB, EU and also a reduction in risk rating by Moody's, S&P and Fitch. This will add to the financial problems of Pakistan, which is seeking aid from all possible international avenues. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Why milk prices are fluctuating in India Also Read: Social media sites forced to share data on 500 million users with govt Local Enterprise Week Louth is now just 2 weeks away. Designed to meet the needs of local people, these educational and networking events will help business owners to start, plan, and grow their enterprise. Hosted by Louth County Council's Local Enterprise Office (LEO), these free events will take place in venues up and down the county from 2-6th March. The highlight of the week is always the National Enterprise Awards lunch, which takes place on Friday 6th March. Louth's Head of Enterprise, Thomas McEvoy, this week extended an invitation to business owners to join him and the Local Enterprise Office team at this celebratory lunch. The event is free of charge and takes place at the Monasterboice Inn, just outside Drogheda. He explains, "We round off our busy week with our Enterprise Awards lunch on Friday. Hosted by LMFM's Gerry Kelly, this event will feature a keynote address by Sonia Deasy of Pestle and Mortar. Overall winner of the National Enterprise Awards 2019, Sonia has an incredible business story to tell and great insights to share." Thomas continues, "The event truly is a showcase for enterprise in Louth. As part of the ceremony, we will announce the 3 Louth category winners of the National Enterprise Awards. These companies are emerging businesses that have already demonstrated excellence or have a concept that is destined for greatness. We will also reveal which company will represent Louth in the National Enterprise Awards Finals in The Mansion House, Dublin next May." Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr. Liam Reilly continues, "Enterprise is the backbone of County Louth. We see it everywhere, from big industries to artisan producers and all the SMEs in between. Louth County Council are committed to supporting enterprise in Louth through the services that we provide and the work of our Local Enterprise Office team. I and the other elected members and officials from Louth County Council are proud to be part of this celebration of entrepreneurship in Louth." Thomas concluded, "Attendance at this event is free of charge, but places are strictly limited. Don't miss out! Visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Louth today to book your place. It really is a great opportunity for business owners to take time out, to network, to learn from others and to grow. We invite all business owners to come and join us for this celebration of enterprise." This awards event is part of Local Enterprise Week Louth hosted by the Local Enterprise Office and Louth County Council. Taking place from 2-6th March across the county, Local Enterprise Week offers 10 free education and networking events for business of all types. Visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Louth for the full line-up and to book tickets. [ Spoiler (click to open) ] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ln-xlLzDK8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htjdYmIntqI Plays clip. Speech Katie Hill gave on her last day in Congress. Joy covers her career and background, and the reason behind decision to step down. Photos were taken without her knowledge or consent, then released again without consent. Talks about how she felt when all this happened. She started hearing rumblings, was naive to think a publication would publish them, and she didnt think her ex-husband would do that to her. Shed been with ex-husband since she was 16 and he was 20. He did this out of revenge. She left just before the election, which was how important it was for her to get out. He had a meltdown, told her and others, that if she left then he would ruin her. She went back to him (because reasons of typical victims). Then when she left again, he made good on his promise. KH says her relationship was wrong, the menage a trois. Sunny reads legal note, re/abuse or wrongdoing. He filed for petition, so she hasnt filed anything due to Calif. being a no-fault state. As for amicable, shes tried since day 1, without crazy attorney fees, but its been impossible and not at all amicable. Meghan thinks revenge p0rn should be illegal. But calls her out for sleeping with her staff member. KH says she was in the middle of a tumultuous relationship, and a new relationship formed that shouldnt have. KH says she doesnt regret stepping down because she knew what she did was wrong. Ana wonders why KH stepped down and was there an ethics investigation. KH says its very slow and very invasive. When you leave it stops. Its not why she resigned, but it took the pressure off her staff because she resigned, due to the investigation ending. It was creating a domino effect for her colleagues that KH didnt want to happen. Pelosi advised her not to step down. Usually when something like that happens, you ride it out and let the voters decide. KH had wondered if it wouldve blown up as much if she werent bi-sexual. Explains more about having to discuss her sexual identity even with people in the LGBT community. Next chapter, her experience shouldnt deter other young women from running. Started PAC called Her Time with $1M. typically those who wouldnt be the most common candidates. Its this type of systemic change that help us progress in a way that we should. Plays clip. Speech Katie Hill gave on her last day in Congress. Joy covers her career and background, and the reason behind decision to step down. Photos were taken without her knowledge or consent, then released again without consent. Talks about how she felt when all this happened. She started hearing rumblings, was naive to think a publication would publish them, and she didnt think her ex-husband would do that to her. Shed been with ex-husband since she was 16 and he was 20. He did this out of revenge. She left just before the election, which was how important it was for her to get out. He had a meltdown, told her and others, that if she left then he would ruin her. She went back to him (because reasons of typical victims). Then when she left again, he made good on his promise. KH says her relationship was wrong, the menage a trois. Sunny reads legal note, re/abuse or wrongdoing. He filed for petition, so she hasnt filed anything due to Calif. being a no-fault state. As for amicable, shes tried since day 1, without crazy attorney fees, but its been impossible and not at all amicable.Meghan thinks revenge p0rn should be illegal. But calls her out for sleeping with her staff member. KH says she was in the middle of a tumultuous relationship, and a new relationship formed that shouldnt have. KH says she doesnt regret stepping down because she knew what she did was wrong. Ana wonders why KH stepped down and was there an ethics investigation. KH says its very slow and very invasive. When you leave it stops. Its not why she resigned, but it took the pressure off her staff because she resigned, due to the investigation ending. It was creating a domino effect for her colleagues that KH didnt want to happen. Pelosi advised her not to step down. Usually when something like that happens, you ride it out and let the voters decide.KH had wondered if it wouldve blown up as much if she werent bi-sexual. Explains more about having to discuss her sexual identity even with people in the LGBT community. Next chapter, her experience shouldnt deter other young women from running. Started PAC called Her Time with $1M. typically those who wouldnt be the most common candidates. Its this type of systemic change that help us progress in a way that we should. Katie Hill talks about resigning from Congress after her photos were leakedMore clips and summary of conversationAnyhoo...12 Years a Slave, a Wrinkle in Time, When They See Us, Euphoria, The Invisible Man big career so far, knew she wanted to be an actress from age 3. Her mom sacrificed a lot for her. She met Beyonce, tells story. Talks about Euphoria and why it resonates with young people. Talks about The Invisible Man, having to be physical and fight the unimaginable. Themes of dv, gaslighting, toxic masculinity.Shes delightful.US intelligence warned again that Russia is meddling in 2020 election and that they want TRE45ON in office. Double Duh. So T45 is mad because the Democrats were told, and he fired his intelligence person for alerting Congress. All intelligence agencies have been sounding the alarms since 2016, and now T45 putting his unqualified crony in place. The GOP are complicit because the Senate vetoed three different election security bills that passed the House. MED reminds the GOP painted with a red brush everything pro-Russian, but now theyre all in. Sunny also reminds that everyone questions the legitimacy of T45 election, given HRC got 3M more votes [and is one of the 9 reasons outlined in her post-election book]. Rather than do something about the intelligence, he fired the person who sounded the alarm. Sanders was claiming it was Russian bots being mean online, but Twitter said Nope those are real Bernie Bros being bad online. Ana says its a combination of both, and that Sanders needs to take responsibility for what his supporters are doing. MED says T45 + Sanders = two old white men who are largely insensitive to racial paranoia and racial tensions.See related post here byThat fcker cant read. Wouldnt have watched a film with subtitles. At his latest Klan rally, mad thatwon Best Picture [he also called Brad Pitt a wiseguy but they skipped that]. Namechecksand. MED said he meant. T45 has never watched GWTW which is 4 hours, and how old does he think his voters are? And obviously hes never seen Sunset Boulevard, given its actual theme, plus it never won BP. The panel mocks him relentlessly, defends Parasite. Stephen Miller came up with those Klan rally dog whistles. The conversation meanders to Civil War. MED says stop giving participation trophies to the losers. Its not like the loser of the Super Bowl has an anniversary every year for their loss.See related post here byShes youngish, what does she want from him anyway. Panel discusses May-December romances. MED makes a joke about her name. Sunny doesnt like cheap men, tells story about her first date with her husband. Thinks she is a gold digger. She knew how old he was when she met him. Then, when she didnt get money, she bounced. Joy knows Pacino, spent time with him, hes charming and brilliant, and interesting to be with. Hes 79 yrs old his career is kicking in again, came from modest background, why would women expect money to date someone. Sunny still thinks shes a golddigger. Meghan says shed go out with him and she doesnt need his money. Everyone on the panel is team Pacino.Click to read more about Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. He moved to New York City as a young man, where he made his career. One of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "the negro was in vogue", which was later paraphrased as "when Harlem was in vogue."Growing up in a series of Midwestern towns, Hughes became a prolific writer at an early age. He graduated from high school in Cleveland, Ohio and soon began studies at Columbia University in New York City. Although he dropped out, he gained notice from New York publishers, first in The Crisis magazine, and then from book publishers and became known in the creative community in Harlem. He eventually graduated from Lincoln University. In addition to poetry, Hughes wrote plays, and short stories. He also published several non-fiction works. From 1942 to 1962, as the civil rights movement was gaining traction, he wrote an in-depth weekly column in a leading black newspaper, The Chicago Defender.If you took a drink every time she talked over someone or interrupted them, wed be drunk every morning before noon.Source links are below each video or section Some of Latin America's leading venture capital investors are now backing hotel chains. In fact, Ayenda, the largest hotel chain in Colombia, has raised $8.7 million in a new round of funding, according to the company. Led by Kaszek Ventures, the round will support the continued expansion of Ayenda's chain of hotels in Colombia and beyond. The hotel operator already has 150 hotels operating under its flag in Colombia and has recently expanded to Peru, according to a statement. Financing came from Kaszek Ventures and strategic investors like Irelandia Aviation, Kairos, Altabix and BWG Ventures. The company, which was founded in 2018, now has more than 4,500 rooms under its brand in Colombia and has become the biggest hotel chain in the country. Investments in brick and mortar chains by venture firms are far more common in emerging markets than they are in North America. The investment in Ayenda mirrors big bets that SoftBank Group has made in the Indian hotel chain Oyo and an investment made by Tencent, Sequoia China, Baidu Capital and Goldman Sachs, in LvYue Group late last year, amounting to "several hundred million dollars", according to a company statement. We're seeking to invest in companies that are redefining the big industries and we found Ayenda, a team that is changing the hotel's industry in an unprecedented way for the region", said Nicolas Berman, Kaszek Ventures partner. Ayenda works with independent hotels through a franchise system to help them increase their occupancy and services. The hotels have to apply to be part of the chain and go through an up to 30-day inspection process before they're approved to open for business. "With a broad supply of hotels with the best cost-benefit relationship, guests can travel more frequently, accelerating the economy," says Declan Ryan, managing partner at Irelandia Aviation. The company hopes to have more than 1 million guests in 2020 in their hotels. Rooms list at $20 per-night, including amenities and an around the clock customer support team. Oyo's story may be a cautionary tale for companies looking at expanding via venture investment for hotel chains. The once high-flying company has been the subject of some scathing criticism. As we wrote: Bellagio hotel workers hold Bernie placards before casting their votes during the Nevada caucuses to nominate a Democratic presidential candidate at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada February 22, 2020. The minority-focused, youth vote strategy has been public for months, even years. But a day before regular voting begins, the impression from the ground is that it's working, possibly even better than expected -- as long as the young voters make it to the polls. Winning Nevada, particularly if he does it with the bulk of the Latino vote, could propel the campaign forward as it seeks to consolidate support in the delegate-rich March states. Some of the most important of those states, like Texas and California, also have large Latino populations. More than half of early voters, like Barajas Vasquez, were caucusing for the first time. No results will be released until at least Saturday, but Sanders organizers are bullish about the high-enthusiasm for early voting. Sanders has long said that his success will rise or fall with turnout. "At first I was looking at Warren, but I guess I just vibed with Sanders more," Barajas Vasquez said. "He seems to be very outspoken, which is a thing I am very big about. I don't think that we should stay silent when it comes to, like he says, political revolutions. I think the stances that he takes most directly affect me." Barajas Vasquez, whose birthday was this month, is also one of the young Hispanic voters whom Sanders has for months been counting on to deliver him the edge he needs to beat his rivals decisively in the first Democratic nominating contest to take place in a state with a substantial minority population. Barajas Vasquez was one of the estimated 75,000 voters who cast a ballot in Nevada during the state Democratic party's first-ever experiment with early voting, which was conducted over four days ending Tuesday. "That's why we went early voting and volunteering on Tuesday," Barajas Vasquez said Friday during an interview in her government classroom at Del Sol, a public high school in Clark County. LAS VEGAS Elizabeth Barajas Vasquez, an 18-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter, has been having some trouble convincing her classmates to vote in the Democratic caucuses here on Saturday. So, she said, she's started offering to buy them some food if they go. "I hope you all see the play now," Nina Turner, the campaign's national co-chair, said during a get-out-the-vote event Friday at the campaign's field office in East Las Vegas, a Latino-dominated area. "Because the senator is kicking butt." Sanders dominates in national polling of those under 45-years-old and leads the race among Hispanic voters. In Nevada, where one in five Democratic voters in 2016 were Hispanic, the group skews young and has been growing, giving him an extra boost. In another demonstration of support, Sanders also snagged more campaign cash from Latino contributors last year than any other candidate, at $8.3 million, according to an analysis of disclosure data conducted by the technology firm Plus Three. Experts and activists have provided a variety of reasons for Sanders's success with Latino voters, generally attributing it to a combination of strategy and message. "In Nevada, he worked very closely with local community organizations, hired people from the neighborhoods where there was high Latino density, to make sure the campaign had the feeling, the cultural relevancy, the language, the connection with people that would invite folks who have never really seen themselves reflected in politics," said Ana Maria Archila, a progressive activist and the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, in an interview. Even some critics acknowledge that it's working. "I have not seen any of the other campaigns even remotely doing as well as Bernie Sanders with Latinos," said Moe Vela, a Democratic strategist and former advisor to Joe Biden. "That said, it breaks my heart as a Latino who has fought for our community nationally in my two White House tenures," said Vela, a former advisor on Hispanic issues to then-Vice President Al Gore. Vela said he has not committed yet to any candidate this cycle, but criticized what he called the "Sanders gimmick" of offering free public services. Vela cautioned against reading too much into what a victory among Latinos in Nevada could mean for Sanders's chances in Texas and California, Latino-rich states that together account for more than a quarter of the delegates needed to win the nomination. "Clearly, as people will see on Saturday, they will see it has been effective in Nevada," Vela said. "Will it be as effective with Latinos in California and Texas? Honestly, you have a much more multi-generational electorate in those states." But Clarissa Martinez, the deputy vice president of policy and advocacy at the national Latino advocacy group UnidosUS, said in a phone interview from Texas that there are "two ways to look at this." "The Latino community is a very diverse community, indeed it is not a monolith," Martinez said. "But we also know from our experience as a 50-year-old Latino organization, and having a network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the country, that there is a great deal of affinity among Latinos on a series of issues." Martinez noted, by way of an example, that Latino voters in Nevada, Florida and Texas consistently identified the same top three priorities, jobs and the economy, health care and immigration. Sanders is forecast to win the most delegates in California and Texas, according to an analysis from the data website FiveThirtyEight. The website predicts that former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg will take the most votes in Florida, with Sanders in second place. Organizers are quick to say that the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day. And, for success there, one final hurdle for Sanders in Nevada will be making sure that enough young Latino voters turn out to vote. "What we know about caucuses is that the people who show up are unencumbered," said Rebecca Gill, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. "They might not have kids -- they certainly do not have young kids. They tend to be older, they tend to be white, and they tend to be wealthier." Barajas Vasquez, the high schooler, noted that many of her friends are also intimidated by the complicated-seeming caucuses process itself. "It's funny when you're super involved with something and then you go out and you speak to your friends about it and they are not as involved as you are," she said. "It's so weird because something like that can take such a big impact on your life, and then to see somebody else not being as involved with it, it's weird." Many people believe that social media affects the amount of learning time and has led to a significant diversion of students' attention from their studies. Many parents are worried that the rise of social media is distracting children from their studies. However, according to new European research, using social media sites such as Snapchat, Facebook, or Instagram has a minimal effect on academic performance. Researchers from the University of Bamberg, Germany sought out to clarify whether social media does have a negative impact on school grades. They looked at 59 studies that included more than 30,000 young people worldwide. Some of the 59 studies report that social media can have a negative impact on school performance, others show a positive influence, while some have failed to find any relationship at all. Connections to friends and other people proved to bring a positive effect on students' academic achievements. To add to that, students can connect with various educational groups related to their eld of study on social media. They can easily access important and authentic information shared by others. They are also conscious of its positive as well as a negative influence on interpersonal relations. Also Read: Social Media's Negative Effect on Academic Performance The usage of social media is useful as an outlet of higher educational institutions. Group discussions can be arranged with the experts and an appointment can be fixed with other subject experts using social media. Social media has the potential to affect the grades, social-skills, and time-management skills of college students, but it could be a positive or negative effect. "I am just always interested in what everyone else is doing. It does negatively affect me because I could be spending my time doing other things to improve my life and academics, but I choose not to," said Caylan Harrison, a sophomore student at William Peace University. Too much exposure to social media can lead to an addiction that fosters bad habits. Chatting with friends for hours leads to a waste of time that could have been used for studying, playing or learning new skills. One sign that highlight the fact you are spending too much time online is when checking your social media accounts is the first thing you do when you wake up and last thing you do before you go to sleep. Another sign is when you are taking breaks too often to check Facebook or other platforms, thus making the task longer and more difficult to process. Forming groups on social media enable professors to connect with the students to share crucial instructions and vital study material for the class online. Students have the freedom to air their viewpoints, innovative ideas or even doubts related to studies with their classmates and professors on these groups. Related Article: Teens Increasingly Sleep Deprived: Are Social Media And Stressful College Applications The Culprits? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed to drop the use of the word 'royal' from their future branding as a financially independent couple. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in talks with the Buckingham Palace team handling their transition away from frontline royal duties, with some complications around the use of Sussex Royal as the phrase to be associated with their charitable work and other causes going forward. "While the Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation," a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement, issued to address the ongoing media speculation over the issue. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' in any territory post spring 2020. Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Kate Middleton), have been removed," the spokesperson said. The spring 2020 deadline refers to March 31, unveiled earlier this week as the formal date from when the couple will cease to formally represent Queen Elizabeth II and make their move to Canada, where they are expected to be based and travel to the UK 'regularly'. Harry, 35, and Markle, 38, are currently living in a mansion on Vancouver Island in Canada with their nine-month-old son Archie. Harry remains sixth in line to British throne and will retain his military ranks of Major, Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Leader but will not use his honorary military positions or perform any official duties associated with these roles. The positions will remain unfilled during an agreed 12-month trial period for the transition, leaving an option open for him to resume those roles. Similarly, the couple will retain their His and Her Royal Highness titles but have agreed not to use them in their new independent roles. The couple had registered the website sussexroyal.com in March last year, where they laid out details of their future plans ahead of formal discussions with the 93-year-old monarch, Harry's grandmother. A detailed statement on the website notes that Harry and his former American actress wife will refresh their digital channels for the 'next exciting phase' in their lives. "While there is not any jurisdiction by the Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word 'Royal' overseas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' or any iteration of the word 'Royal' in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020," a further detailed statement on their website notes. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will become privately funded members of The Royal Family with permission to earn their own income and the ability to pursue their own private charitable interests," the statement adds. The statement notes that the couple are not planning a new foundation but a non-profit entity to develop a new way to effect change and complement the efforts made by excellent foundations globally. Meanwhile, they are set to return to the UK over the coming weeks to complete a series of formal engagements as royals before they step back from representing the Queen at the end of March. Doris Rink believes she is part of living history and wants to put a price on it -- $1.75 million, to be exact. Shell also throw in historical artifacts found in and around the log cabin she has lived in for the last 47 years in the Gibbstown section of Greenwich, built in 1638 and listed in the state and national historic registry, for an extra $1.2 million. It is for sale, as it has been for the past three years. The 1,800 square-foot dwelling includes an upstairs addition from the 1700s and some modern amenities, such as central air conditioning, even in the 382-year-old log cabin. It sits on 1.3 acres near a creek, just off of busy Swedesboro Road in Gloucester County, 49 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Rink, 76, wants to live here for the remainder of her life. Her hope is that an investor or an institution will see the value she and her husband, who died last year, had seen in the structure, which historians regard as one of the oldest dwellings in its original locations in North America. My selling point is I hope they will fall in love with this place as much as I have, Rink said this week. You really feel like youre really a living part of history living in this property. I reflect on what life was like back in the 17th century. Rink and her husband Harry, who was 89 when he died, had poured their own money and know-how into maintaining the historic property. Doris said they would also occasionally get historic preservation grants for major repairs like a roof. They willingly gave free tours of the 16-by-22 foot cabin, including once at 2:30 a.m. to a busload of tourists from New Hampshire. The bus driver was once a neighbor and Doris said though she was sound asleep when the bus pulled up, she and Harry proudly showed off the cabin and its artifacts including some 17th Century ironwork. But not everyone sees the inherent value in what is known as the Nothnagle Log Cabin. The assessed property value where it is located in Greenwich is $156,400. Obviously the owner has a longtime connection to that property and feels its worth a little bit more than what the market does, Gloucester County Tax Assessor Craig Black said Friday. What were evaluating is market value. Were not going to assess a historic value to that property. You couldnt do that for tax purposes. But Margaret Westfield, a historical architect, has evaluated Nothnagle Cabin and sees its value. Within the context of South Jersey it is one of the most, if not the most important structure still standing, Westfield said. It is one of a kind and built so early and it is still intact. It is irreplaceable. You cant understand it from a picture. You have to stand in it and understand people lived in this space. Westfield said she thinks the property should be acquired and preserved by local, county and state officials. The Rinks were asking for $2.9 million in 2017 when the cabin went on the market. Doris said she agreed to reduce the price to $1.75 million without the artifacts but would include them for an additional $1.2 million. She also said her willingness to not live out here days here also factored into the price. But she reasons whoever buys it may want her to stick around as a tour guide and onsite historian. Rink said they had a few inquiries into the property when it was originally listed but hopes the reduced price will stir interest again. I want everything in place when I die so it will last a long time, Harry told the New York Times in 2000. I like to have the school kids here and I show them how people lived and what they grew in the area. The cabins original logs are practically all intact, constructed in what is called a full dovetail meaning the corners are carved at an angle and are bonded together without nails. The foundation bricks are believed to have been ballast for ships carrying the Swedish/Finnish settlers who built the cabin. When Harry was young, he helped his aunt and uncle, the previous owners, maintain the cabin including making mortar out of clay and mud to patch space between the logs. He eventually bought it from them in 1968 and Doris moved in six years later and has lived there since. Its one of a kind, listing agent Christina Huang said. No one knows more about the cabin than they do. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Walmart-owned Flipkart has joined Amazon in challenging an antitrust probe ordered against it over allegations of predatory pricing and preferred treatment to certain sellers. Both the companies made each other respondents in their respective petition filed in the Karnataka High Court against the investigation ordered by Competition Commission of India (CCI). In January, the antitrust regulator ordered a probe into the practices of the two e-commerce giants, stating that discounting practices, exclusive tie-ups, private labels are anti-competitive. The probe was ordered after a Delhi-based trader group complained that the online retailers were promoting select sellers, hurting business for other smaller players. In its writ petition, Flipkart Internet Pvt Ltd termed the CCIs actions as an open-ended fishing expedition and a misuse of its powers. Refuting allegations, it further said that the probe order of CCI deserves to be set aside as the impugned order makes it evident that the CCI has proceeded on the basis of mere speculation and has failed to appreciate that such an order exposes Flipkart to the rigours of an intrusive investigation affecting not only its credibility and reputation but also its commercial prospects.Meanwhile, the high court has issued an interim stay of the CCI probe. We are a party to the CCI order and a respondent in Amazons writ against the order. Given the court stay, as a procedural matter, we have filed a writ, a Flipkart spokesperson said. Flipkarts filing comes just days ahead of US President Donald Trumps visit to India and amid concerns about the country is tightening foreign investment rules for the sector. Flipkarts petition reflects that these firms are scared of probe giving rise to the belief that their model is suffering from anti-policy, anti-law activities, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general, CAIT. Advertisement A surge in untraceable clusters of new coronavirus patients around the globe has caused experts to warn that 'containment methods are not going to work'. In South Korea, Singapore and Iran, clusters of infections are leading to a jump in cases of the new viral illness outside China. World Health Organization officials said China's crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. But as hot spots emerge around the globe, trouble finding each source - the first patient who sparks every new cluster - might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-tested steps to stamp it out. 'A number of spot fires, occurring around the world is a sign that things are ticking along, and what we are going to have here is probably a pandemic,' said Ian Mackay, who studies viruses at Australia's University of Queensland. Viruses vary in how they infect. The new coronavirus - unlike its cousins SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, and MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome - spreads as easily as a common cold. And it's almost certainly being spread by people who show such mild symptoms that no one can tell, said Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Dr Adalja said: 'If that's the case, all of these containment methods are not going to work. It's likely mixed in the cold and flu season all over the place, in multiple countries' and gone unnoticed until someone gets severely ill.' A surge in untraceable clusters of new coronavirus patients around the globe has caused experts to warn that 'containment methods are not going to work' (pictured are known cases as of Saturday) Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said: 'It's likely [coronavirus] is mixed in the cold and flu season all over the place, in multiple countries' and gone unnoticed until someone gets severely ill' (pictured are medical workers wearing protective gear carrying an infected patient at a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea, on Saturday) These milder symptoms are good news 'in terms of not as many people dying,' said Mackay, of Australia. 'But it's really bad news if you are trying to stop a pandemic,' he added. However that worst-case isn't here yet, the WHO insists. It isn't convinced that countries outside China need more draconian measures, but it pointed to spikes in cases in Iran and South Korea to warn time may be running out to contain the virus. It comes as Italy confirmed a 78-year-old man and an unidentified woman had died, sparking a lockdown of twelve towns in the north eastern region of Lombardy. While 32 British and European passengers who were on the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess cruise ship landed back in Britain on Saturday, after leaving Japan late on Friday, ahead of a quarantine period in the Wirral. The virus has so far infected more than 77,000 people across the world, with more than 2,250 killed by it. WHO's Dr. Sylvie Briand said: 'What we see is a very different phase of this outbreak depending where you look. We see different patterns of transmission in different places.' Two coronavirus patients in Italy have today died from the Covid-19 disease that has now killed 2,253 people and infected more than 77,268 globally. Pictured ambulances and health workers outside the hospital in Padua The World Health Organization defines a 'global pandemic' as a disease spreading on two continents, though some public health experts would call an outbreak a pandemic if the spread is over a wide area or across many international borders. The newest red flag is that Iran has reported 28 cases, including seven deaths, in just days. The cluster began in the city of Qom, a popular religious destination, but it's not clear how. While on Saturday authorities in Iran reported a sixth death from the virus, with the governor of Markazi province telling the official IRNA news agency that tests of a patient who recently died in the central city of Arak was positive for the strain of coronavirus known as Covid-19. Iran reported a seventh death due to the virus this morning. The individual had travelled from the capital, Tehran, to Tonekabon. Ali Aghazadeh said the person who died was suffering from a heart problem, too. Earlier on Saturday, Iranian authorities reported a fifth death from the new virus and said the fatality was among 10 new confirmed cases of the virus in Iran. It was not immediately clear whether the sixth fatality was among those 10. So far, 28 cases have been confirmed in Iran, including at least five of the six who died. Worse, infected travelers from Iran already have been discovered in Lebanon and Canada. While in South Korea, most of the hundreds of new cases detected since Wednesday are linked to a church in the city of Daegu and a nearby hospital. But health authorities have not yet found the 'index case,' the person among the church's 9,000 followers who set off the chain of infections. There also have been several cases in the capital, Seoul, where the infection routes have not yet been traced. As hot spots emerge around the globe, trouble finding each source - the first patient who sparks every new cluster - might signal the disease has begun spreading too widely for tried-and-tested public health steps to stamp it out. Pictured: An elderly man is taken to hospital in Italy by emergency service workers wearing masks World Health Organization officials said China's crackdown on parts of the country bought time for the rest of the world to prepare for the new virus. Pictured: Barriers block the entrance to a residential compound in Wuhan, where the outbreak started In South Korea, Singapore and Iran, clusters of infections are leading to a jump in cases of the new viral illness outside China. Pictured: A South Korean woman wears a mask as she travels on public transport In Europe, Italy saw cases of the new virus more than quadruple in a day as it grapples with infections in a northern region that apparently have spread through a hospital and a cafe. Two coronavirus patients died on Saturday from the Covid-19 disease that has now killed 2,253 people and infected more than 77,268 across the world. The two deaths triggered a lockdown of twelve towns in the north eastern region of Lombardy and 50,000 people have been asked to stay indoors. A 78-year-old father-of-three, passed away in a hospital in Padua on Friday evening. Adriano Trevisan, a retired bricklayer, had been admitted to the hospital for another health issue ten days ago said local authorities. The second patient to die was an elderly woman whose death has triggered the closing down of shops, offices and community centres in Casalpusterlengo, according to Italian news agency Ansa. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte expressed his sympathies for the two deaths and said he had called an emergency meeting, as more than 50,000 people from about a dozen towns in two northern regions were asked to stay at home by the local authorities. A cluster of cases isn't inherently worrying - in fact, it's expected as an infection that's easy to spread is carried around the world by travelers. The first line of defense is to isolate the sick to treat them and prevent further spread, and quarantine people who came in contact with them until the incubation period is over. The second patient to die was an elderly woman whose death has triggered the closing down of shops, offices and community centres in Casalpusterlengo, according to Italian news agency Ansa. Pictured are medical workers outside a hospital in Padua But as the virus becomes more widespread, trying to trace every contact would be futile, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged earlier this month. 'If we still hospitalize and isolate every suspect case, our hospitals will be overwhelmed,' he said. So far, the city-state has identified five clusters of transmission, including two churches. But there remain eight locally transmitted cases with no links to earlier cases, or to China. When Hong Kong reported its first death from the virus earlier this month, it also confirmed three locally transmitted cases with no known link to any previous cases or any travel history to China. Health workers and a patient are seen outside a hospital in Padua as ten towns in the region of Lombardy are under lockdown Residents of the northern towns of Codogno and Castiglione d'Adda are being urged to stay at home as medical tests continue Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection warned then that 'there could be invisible chains of infection happening within communities.' Officials in both South Korea and Japan have signaled in the past week that the spread is entering a new phase in their countries. On Friday, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said the government would have to shift its focus from quarantine and border control to slowing the spread of the virus. Schools and churches were closed and some mass gatherings banned. Takaji Wakita, head of Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, earlier urged people to work at home or in shifts to avoid being in a crowd, and refrain from holding non-essential and non-urgent meetings. Italian tourists from the cruise ship Diamond Princess arrive at Cecchignola Military headquarters after landing, in Rome But Adalja cautioned that far-reaching measures like China instituted in the outbreak's epicenter of Wuhan - where citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes for weeks - can backfire. While it remains to be seen if the new virus is waning, that kind of lockdown makes it hard for people to get other critically important care, like fast treatment for a heart attack. There's no way to predict if the recent clusters will burn out or trigger widespread transmission. For now, health officials should try and contain the infection for as long as possible while preparing for a change in strategy by preparing hospitals, readying protective equipment and bolstering laboratory capacity, said Gagandeep Kang, a microbiologist who leads India's Translational Health Science and Technology Institute. 'Although the window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak, we still have a chance to contain it,' said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 'But while doing that, we have to prepare at the same time for any eventualities, because this outbreak could go any direction - it could even be messy.' Home at last... but straight to quarantine: Buses carrying 32 British and European tourists arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital as their two-week containment ordeal begins after 20-day hell on Diamond Princess plague ship Passengers who were on the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess cruise ship and flew back to the UK on an evacuation flight on Friday night have arrived at Arrowe Park Hospital. The 32 British and European people will now start their two-week containment ordeal, after signing a document confirming they would spend 14 days in quarantine in Merseyside. The amount of people who flew back to Britain is less than half of the 78 UK nationals who were trapped on the doomed vessel as officials admitted some refused to get on the plane. Pictures showed the group pulling up just before 6pm on Saturday while wearing masks. They were split between three coaches along with medical professionals wearing white hazmat suits. Two police cars, two ambulances, several police motorbikes and a fourth coach with no passengers were also in the convoy. An accommodation block, separate to the main hospital building, will be home to the evacuees while they have health checks in quarantine. The 32 British and European passengers who were on the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess have arrived at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside (pictured is a woman doing a love heart shape with her hands and a man making an ok symbol) The group were split between three coaches along with medical professionals wearing white hazmat suits as they arrived Two police cars, two ambulances, several police motorbikes and a fourth coach with no passengers were also in the convoy One passenger was pictured making a heart sign with her hands while another gave an OK signal through the coach windows as they arrived at the hospital. The plane yesterday took off from Japan with the passengers, British government workers and medical staff on board and landed in Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, this morning. The passengers had in-flight entertainment, two hot meals, a blanket and a pillow, during their journey back to the UK, Sky News reports. Arrowe Park Hospital has been used before to quarantine British nationals, with its chief executive saying this gave a 'blueprint' to handle Saturday's new arrivals. The hospital on the Wirral was previously used to host 83 British nationals for a 14-day quarantine period earlier in February after they were flown out of Wuhan, which has been at the centre of the outbreak. Wirral Teaching Hospital NHS Trust chief executive Janelle Holmes said: 'There was a lot of preparation that went in for our Wuhan guests who successfully left and had been really appreciative of the support and help that we provided. That has given us a blueprint for building on that for the new arrival of guests. 'I was pleased for the staff and our partners who had spent such a lot of time making sure their stay was as comfortable as possible and clearly I think because we did such a good job we were asked to support this group of travellers that are coming back from a cruise in Japan.' The passengers left Japan on Friday night and landed back in the UK on Saturday morning. They arrived in the Wirral just before 6pm (pictured is a coach arriving at Arrowe Park Hospital) An evacuation flight carrying 32 British and European passengers who were on the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess landed in Britain on Saturday morning A fleet of coaches was seen poised and ready to transport the passengers to their two-week quarantine stint in the Wirral She said the quarantined group will be 'safe, well-managed and comfortable' during their fortnight stay at an on-site accommodation block - while the staff previously living there remain in nearby hotels. Mrs Holmes also praised the support of the local community - including donations from schools and scout groups - for evacuees based at Arrowe Park. She added: 'We are following all the new local and regional guidance on managing this group of residents for the period that they are with us and we have got a significant number of health professionals working alongside us both outside and inside the building. 'I just wanted to say too that for all the local residents and patients that use our services that the hospital is still open. 'We want to encourage people to come and make sure they don't miss their appointments and that they feel safe to come on site. It's a separate building from the rest of the hospital and is completely self-contained.' The passengers, who all tested negative to having Covid-19 before they flew, were brought back to the UK on a repatriation flight on Saturday. Bus drivers and medical officers were pictured not wearing protective face masks as they drove evacuees from coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess to quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral The plane, carrying 32 British and European evacuees from the vessel, touched down at Ministry of Defence base Boscombe Down in Wiltshire shortly after 11.30am. As with the previous coachloads brought to Arrowe Park, the bus drivers were not wearing any protective clothing but Public Health England said seating arrangements ensured they were never in close contact with passengers and therefore not at risk. Yesterday, officials in hazmat suits and face masks waited at the port to meet the Brits as they left the ship, two hours later than originally planned, and got on buses to take them to Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Of those who did not return on the flight tonight, four infected Brits are in hospital, while a handful of family members are thought to have refused the evacuation to be with their loved ones. Many have already been airlifted to other countries where they live after becoming fed up of waiting on the UK Government to rescue them. It is also thought that British members of the Diamond Princess crew have remained on the ship instead of flying back to the UK, reports The Daily Telegraph. The amount of people flying back to Britain is less than half of the 78 UK nationals who were trapped on the doomed vessel as officials admitted some refused to get on the plane British couple David and Sally Abel, who have been sharing updates of their time on the cruise online and been confirmed as having coronavirus, are also not on the flight. Mr Abel shared a Facebook post on Thursday saying he was 'thinking of all the Brits flying home' from his hospital bed. Ministers have been repeatedly blasted for its dire handling of the planned evacuation, with eight countries having already managed an airlift including the US who flew home 300 residents on February 16 and 17. Brits trapped on the cruise which has been docked off the coast of Yokohama since February 3 accused Number of 10 of abandoning them, saying their treatment had been 'pretty bad' and the repatriation effort 'slow'. One honeymooner who caught SARS-CoV-2 58-year-old Alan Steele from Wolverhampton has since shifted the virus and been reunited with his wife Wendy. He joked on Facebook: 'Butlins the Wirral here we come for 14 days.' More than 76,000 cases of the killer coronavirus have been recorded worldwide, including at least 630 on the Diamond Princess. Almost 2,250 patients have died, two of whom were elderly Japanese passengers on the ship. The plane yesterday took off from Japan with the passengers, British government workers and medical staff on board and landed in Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, this morning Dozens of Britons who were trapped onboard the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess cruise boarded a flight to the UK The group of Brits being flown back to the UK will have spend at least a month in isolation by the time they finish quarantine in the Wirral and are allowed to return to their homes, after almost 21 days stranded on the ship. Their rescue was plagued by a series of delays which meant their buses were pushed back by six hours after officials announced this morning it was logistically 'complicated'. Earlier in the week, leading scientists warned the cruise was an ideal breeding ground for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while experts described the ship's quarantine as a 'major failure'. More than 2,000 people had left ship by Friday morning including more than 1,000 who have been allowed to disembark and go back to their normal lives. Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, yesterday blasted the Foreign Office for abandoning Britons on the virus-ridden ship after half a dozen countries rescued their citizens before the UK. In a scathing attack on the UK Government, Mr Steele accused ministers of 'treating us badly' and added: '74 Brits, what the hell do they matter?' Many Brits already made their own way to other countries and territories on separate rescue planes earlier in the week because they were fed up waiting on the a UK airlift (the bus carrying the remaining Brits leaves for the airport) British passengers wave from the window of the bus while wearing face masks after they left the cruise ship off Japan Mr Steele, 58, who was on his honeymoon on the cruise, was forced to leave his new wife Wendy behind on the vessel when he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on February 7 and was whisked into isolation in a Japanese hospital. He said Wendy was 'struggling' on her own on the Diamond Princess and likened his experience in a foreign infectious diseases ward to 'solitary confinement in prison'. The lorry driver revealed today his wife tested negative and joked that they'd be going to 'Butlins, the Wirral' for 14 days - a reference to being quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside. WHICH COUNTRIES WERE QUICKER THAN THE UK TO EVACUATE CITIZENS STUCK ON THE CRUISE? UK: The UK government is in the process of planning an evacuation flight for around 70 citizens on board. The flight is expected to take off tomorrow (February 22) from Tokyo after being delayed by a day. US: Flew back 340 of its citizens split between two flights on February 16 and 17. South Korea: Sent one of its president's jets to Tokyo on Tuesday, February 18, to evacuate five citizens. Australia: Evacuated 180 residents and six New Zealanders from the cruise ship on February 20. Hong Kong: Chartered a plane to retrieve 106 citizens on board the Diamond Princess on February 20. Israel: Commissioned a 14-seat private plane to take 12 Israelis home on February 20 Canada: Around 130 Canadians were flown to an army base in Ontario on February 21 Taiwan: 19 Taiwanese board a plane chartered by the Government on February 12 Other countries which announced plans before the UK include Italy. The Philippines and Indonesia have all since announced plans to evacuate their residents. Advertisement The Diamond Princess has been moored in Yokohama since February 3, and more than 630 passengers on the gigantic vessel have caught the coronavirus. The Diamond Princess was carrying more than 3,700 people in early February when 10 passengers were diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Since being quarantined in the port of Yokohama, a total of 634 passengers and crew have been infected the equivalent of one in six onboard being struck down. It means the ship has recorded almost half of all the confirmed coronavirus cases outside of China where 98 per cent of infections have been recorded. Passengers who have tested negative for the coronavirus began disembarking from the Diamond Princess ship on Wednesday when the official quarantine ended. Once passengers have left the ship, they will be permitted to travel freely, health officials have said. The average incubation period for coronavirus is a fortnight - so anyone who does not show symptoms in that time is unlikely to have it. It came despite mounting evidence from infectious disease experts they could unknowingly be carrying the virus back into their communities. Meanwhile David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, have been documenting their time on the quarantined ship on Facebook. The couple are now being treated in a Japanese hospital after days shut in their cabin following their diagnosis. He described collapsing at a Japanese hospital and being put in a wheelchair after he became one of 634 people to catch coronavirus on the vessel. In a Facebook post documenting his ordeal with coronavirus, Mr Abel said: 'We arrived in lovely hospital a couple of hours ago. 'Taken by ambulance blues and twos the entire journey. Outside the hospital I came over a bit weird and nearly passed out. 'Every pore on my body opened and I was wheelchaired to our room. Full health inspection and now we know what's going on.' Mr Abel revealed both he and his wife have also caught a cold and would have chest X-rays and urine tests. But he added: 'We are both in the best place! They do know what they are doing and our two nurses are gorgeous. Sally likes the Dr too.' Emergency services await the arrival of the British Diamond Princess evacuees at Boscombe Down airfield on a repatriation flight from Tokyo A group of just 35 people will get on the British-organised airlift tonight and sources say a 'handful' of them are EU citizens The couple, who were sharing a room in hospital yesterday, will need to test negative three times before they are released. Mr Abel added: 'Wi-Fi will not work for me, so this will be the final communication for some time. See you all before you know it.' In further posts, he revealed the couple were 'thinking of all the Brits flying to UK tomorrow'. Mr and Mrs Abel's son today told MailOnline he couldn't get hold of his parents after they were taken to a different hospital overnight. Mrs Abel called Stephen in distress at 1am to say the couple were moved to a unit 'more suitable' to their needs. Elsewhere, Britons in Cambodia who left another cruise ship, the Westerdam, and who have been cleared for travel are being assisted by the Foreign Office to make their way home. The group are receiving health advice and being helped with commercial flight bookings. All have tested negative after one case was diagnosed on board. The number of Britons in the group has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether some have already come back to the UK. Public Health England (PHE) said airport health teams would meet the flights and speak to Westerdam passengers about any symptoms. Statement by Dr. Moira Gilchrist BSc (Hons) Pharmacy, PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vice President Strategic & Scientific Communication, Philip Morris International: You should develop a safer product. For decades, that is what governments and the public health community have told the tobacco industry. PMI has invested billions of dollars in science and technology to achieve that precise objective. A campaign coordinated by American special interest groups, all of whom are seemingly funded by the same sourceBloomberg Philanthropiesare dedicated to just one mission. Under the guise of promoting public health, they are working to rob adults who smoke of their right to choose scientifically substantiated better alternatives to continued smoking. We have a question for them: Why are they using an elaborate network of organizations to deceive adults who smoke, elected officials, and the public health community? We can only conclude that they are pursuing a disastrous prohibition-only crusade. We urge these groups to: STOP ignoring the rights of hundreds of millions of adults who smoke and who deserve better alternatives; STOP ignoring science and evidence that doesnt fit with their dogma; and START having a real conversation. This dangerous and misguided campaign has provided grants to media for journalism that many people believe is independent. Ultimately, this undermines the goal of harm reduction and confuses adults who smoke about better choices. And ironically, the campaign attacks the only company that has publicly committed to eliminate cigarettes. If people who smoke are denied accurate informationor worse yet, are deceivedabout less harmful alternatives, the vast majority will simply continue to smoke cigarettes. To set the record straight we have addressed all of the allegations made against us by this global campaign on our website: PMI.com. We invite everyone to learn the facts, study our science and arrive at their own conclusions. We have nothing to hide. Background We are moving as fast as we can, but more importantly adults who smoke are voting with their feet and switching as fast as they can. We have been clear about our objective to end cigarette sales. This is the future of our company; for PMI there is no turning back. We have the determination to make it work. The proof is in the numbers: Smoke-free products are now almost a fifth of our businessup from zero five years ago Since 2008, we have invested $7.2 billion to develop and scientifically substantiate smoke-free alternatives Nearly 10 million adults have completely stopped smoking cigarettes and switched to our electrically heated tobacco system, which is now available in 52 markets Whilst cessation is clearly the best option, our market research across many countries indicates that 80% of adults who smoke want better alternatives In 2019, 71 percent of our commercial spend was dedicated to smoke-free products These facts are the real story. The question for our critics is this: do they want to make our transformation away from cigarettes slower or faster? Do they want it to make it more difficult for adults who would otherwise continue smoking to choose better products, or less difficult? 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/20200221005254/en/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 21 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkeys exports of chemical products to Iran dropped by 28.61 percent in January 2020, compared to 2019, and amounted to over $40.3 million, Trend reports referring to Turkey's Ministry of Trade on Feb. 19. Turkeys export of chemical products to Iran increased by 13.37 percent in 2019, compared to December 2018, and exceeded $532.1 million. Export of chemical products from Turkey to world market increased by 10.6 percent in January 2019 compared to the same month of 2018, amounting to $1.7 billion or to 11.5 percent of the countrys total exports. Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to $20.7 billion from January 2019 through January 2020, which is 11.4 percent of countrys total export. Turkeys foreign trade turnover in 2019 exceeded $374.2 billion. In December 2019, export from Turkey increased by 6.4 percent compared to December 2018, exceeding $14.6 billion. In this month, Turkey's import increased by 14.9 percent compared and reached $19 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The Iranian side is ready for talks with the EU on regional security, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, confirming his intention to maintain a nuclear deal. "We are fully prepared to discuss regional security issues with Europe," Rouhani said, noting that Iran is guided by the principle of the regional security provided by the countries of the region itself. "The presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf under the auspices of the coalition is not considered useful for the regional security," he stressed. Investors in Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II AB (publ) (STO:ENG) had a good week, as its shares rose 3.9% to close at kr74.20 following the release of its quarterly results. It was a pretty mixed result, with revenues beating expectations to hit kr814m. Statutory earnings fell 2.0% short of analyst forecasts, reaching kr3.85 per share. Following the result, analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. We thought readers would find it interesting to see analysts' latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year. Check out our latest analysis for Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II OM:ENG Past and Future Earnings, February 22nd 2020 Following the latest results, Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II's lone analyst are now forecasting revenues of kr3.11b in 2020. This would be a credible 7.5% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to accumulate 7.4% to kr4.37. Before this earnings report, analysts had been forecasting revenues of kr2.96b and earnings per share (EPS) of kr3.85 in 2020. So it seems there's been a definite increase in optimism about Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II's future following the latest results, with a nice increase in the earnings per share forecasts in particular. Despite these upgrades, analysts have not made any major changes to their price target of kr82.00, suggesting that the higher estimates are not likely to have a long term impact on what the stock is worth. It can be useful to take a broader overview by seeing how analyst forecasts compare, both to the Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II's past performance and to peers in the same market. It's pretty clear that analysts expect Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 7.5%, compared to a historical growth rate of 14% over the past three years. By way of comparison, other companies in this market with analyst coverage, are forecast to grow their revenue at 9.3% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that analysts still expect Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II to grow slower than the wider market. Story continues The Bottom Line The biggest takeaway for us from these new estimates is that the consensus upgraded its earnings per share estimates, showing a clear improvement in sentiment around Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II's earnings potential next year. They also upgraded their revenue estimates for next year, even though sales are expected to grow slower than the wider market. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates. With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have analyst estimates for Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II going out as far as 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here. Another thing to consider is whether management and directors have been buying or selling stock recently. We provide an overview of all open market stock trades for the last twelve months on our platform, here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky created an interim working group on healthcare system reform and approved its composition. The corresponding decree No. 55/2020 was signed by the head of state on February 21, the press service of the president reports. "The working group should analyze the progress of reforming the healthcare system of Ukraine until March 1, 2020. In particular, on the implementation of state guarantees of medical care for the population under the program of medical guarantees for primary care and the readiness of healthcare institutions to implement the same guarantees for other types of medical care," - the statement says. It is noted that according to the results of this analysis, the working group should make proposals for further reforming of domestic medicine: for financing, improving the training system and continuing professional development of doctors, other medical workers, raising their salaries, and scientific support for the healthcare system. The working group was led by the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance Myhailo Radutsky. It also included such experienced doctors as Ilya Emets, Boris Todurov, Andriy Beznosenko, Oleksandr Usenko, representatives of various medical institutions and specialized universities. The decree comes into force from the day of its publication. As we reported before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the panic among people in connection with the evacuation of Ukrainians from Wuhan was sown deliberately and incited people to savagery STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police and EMTs rushed to the scene of a man who was slashed in the face in Manhattan on Thursday morning, according to a Daily News report. The victim, who is 26-years-old, was recording the surrounding neighborhood at 33rd Street and Park Avenue when a man walked up to him and accused him of recording him, the News reported. The two argued for a short period and then walked away from each other. The victim proceeded to walk to the 33rd Street/Park Avenue South subway station to wait for the Bronx-bound No. 6 train. As the victim was waiting the man walked up to him and started arguing with him again. The man took out a razor and quickly slashed the victim who was left with a large laceration on the right side of his face, the NYPD told the News. The NYPD is still investigating the matter. 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. STOCKHOLM, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Sweden's Autoliv, the world's biggest maker of airbags and seatbelts, on Friday affirmed its full-year growth and margin forecasts in spite of the coronavirus outbreak in China, which has caused major disruptions to businesses across the country. Chief Executive Mikael Bratt told Reuters that the forecast so far remained intact in spite of the situation in China, where industries have been forced into widespread shutdowns, but are now gradually resuming production. "It is only a few weeks that this has impacted so far, so what happens ahead will determine the full-year picture," Bratt said, adding there was currently no reason to change the 2020 guidance. "It was one week of additional closure for us, and one week is not impossible to catch up, and since then we have restarted production, albeit at a lower capacity utilisation, but things are moving in the right direction." Autoliv has 15 plants in China and more than 8,000 staff. The group is currently forecasting organic sales growth of 3-4% in 2020, with an adjusted operating margin of at least 9.5% (Reporting by Johannes Hellstrom; Editing by Simon Johnson) Theres so much love at this meeting of people who have had to reconcile their homosexuality with their religious faith. You can almost touch the support lent to every speaker, from the eloquent panel, representing the Hindu, Jewish, Pentecostal, Catholic and Samoan Christian faiths, to the audience members with moving stories to tell. In another setting, there would be tearful applause and reflections by the mediator. Jenny Brockie keeps the discussion moving, ensuring the important issue is front and centre. This completely absurd yet sneakily addictive melodrama has returned for a fifth season, and fans will not be disappointed. Last weeks opening episode featured all the schmalz you could handle, lashings of sex (but no actual lashings, as yet) and a magnificent set piece where Jamie recreated a fiefdom in the New World. This week, among other things, he sets off to do his English masters bidding or at least convincingly pretend to do so. And yes, hes back in his kilt! MH WATERLOO After killing his girlfriend and her cousin in their West Second Street home Monday, Matthew Dee Buford III gathered up the two children in the home and took them for a ride, according to police. During the trip around town as the bodies of Tamica Allison, 42, and Andrea Anderson, 41, remained undiscovered Burford dropped off the two and then visited family members, saying goodbye and telling them he would be dead after the day. As he dropped off one child a 13-year-old he told her he loved her but that she wouldnt love him anymore after the day, court records state. Authorities said Buford, who had been described as suicidal, did survive the end of the day. After being on the run for two days, he turned himself into authorities Feb. 12 in Peoria, Ill., where he has relatives. On Saturday, he was back in Waterloo at the Black Hawk County Jail courtroom for an initial court appearance. Buford, 36, stood quietly and confirmed his address and phone number for Magistrate Rick Lubben, who left the cash-only bond set for $1 million $500,000 for each of the two counts of first-degree murder Buford is facing. Authorities said Buford shot the two women in the head sometime Feb. 10 at 1112 W. Second St. One of the children in the house told police of hearing Burford and Allison arguing and hearing Allison at one point saying she didnt care and to shoot her in the face, records state. The child heard gunshots and crept downstairs. They saw the two women on the floor and Buford sitting and holding a gun, records state. He then summoned the children, told them he loved them and took them for a ride. First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction under Iowa law. Photos from the murder scene Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 4 Sad 28 Angry 6 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. Over 1,000 miles from where caucusgoers delivered his second consecutive early state victory, according to a projection by ABC News, Sen. Bernie Sanders celebrated with a rambunctious crowd in a San Antonio dance hall, showcasing his presidential campaign's broader ambitions as he detailed his progressive agenda for a much larger audience watching across the country. Bernie Sanders' lead in county convention delegates over Joe Biden has grown, with 50% of precincts reporting. Sanders still has 47% of county convention delegates, but Biden has dropped 4 percentage points to 19%. Pete Buttigieg currently sits in third with 15% and Elizabeth Warren is fourth with 10% of the vote. Sanders took only a brief moment to bask in his Nevada caucuses win -- and chose to do so after first predicting he'd finish on top in the Texas primary in 10 days. The move wasn't simply a nod to the local crowd, but a continuation of his efforts the past eight days, during which he traveled between four Super Tuesday states -- plus Washington, which votes a week later -- around his Nevada schedule, knowing that his front-runner campaign can potentially build an insurmountable delegate lead should it continue its success that night. MORE: Sanders takes control of Democratic race with resounding Nevada win: ANALYSIS "You know, based on what I have seen today in Texas, we were in El Paso. We're here now. Don't tell anybody -- dont tell anybody, I don't want to get them nervous -- we're going to win the Democratic primary in Texas," he said. "The president gets very, very upset easily, so don't tell him that we're going to beat him here in Texas. And now I'm delighted to bring you some pretty good news." "I think all of you know we won the popular vote in Iowa. We won the New Hampshire primary. And according to three networks and the AP, we have now won the Nevada caucus," he added. "In Nevada we have just put together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition which is going to not only win in Nevada, it's going to sweep this country." Story continues PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, with his wife Jane, raises his hand as he speaks during a campaign event in San Antonio, Feb. 22, 2020. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) Registered Democratic voters in Nevada poured into various sites on Saturday amid the "first in the West" caucuses -- the first diverse electorate to weigh in on the 2020 presidential race. MORE: With help from Latino voters, Bernie Sanders hits the Nevada jackpot After a fiery Las Vegas debate last week, during which candidates' attacks on each other made clear a splintering Democratic field, the results could maintain momentum for Sanders, the campaign's front-runner, while also providing a boost for Joe Biden after emerging from Iowa and New Hampshire with lackluster results. Among the four early states, South Carolina is the only one left between the campaigns and Super Tuesday, and momentum out of Nevada could reignite a campaign or cement a candidate's standing outside of the top tier. Democratic Caucus voters hold up their Presidential Preference Cards to indicate who they are voting for at start of the first alignment with particular presidential candidates inside the caucus at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, Feb. 22, 2020. (Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters) Here's how the day unfolded. All times are eastern. 11:01 p.m. Sanders still in the lead We now have 23% of precincts reporting for county convention delegates, and Bernie Sanders is holding his lead, with 46%. Joe Biden is still currently in second, with 24% of county convention delegates, and Pete Buttigieg is behind Biden, with 14%. For the first and final alignments, slightly more of the vote is in, with 30% of precincts reporting. But Sanders is still leading with 33% in the first alignment -- the so-called "popular vote" -- and 40% in the final alignment. 9:49 p.m. Sanders leads with 44% of county convention delegates, Biden second with 25% With 11% of precincts now reporting, Sanders leads the Democratic field, with 44% of county convention delegates. Biden is currently in second, with 25% of county convention delegates. Buttigieg follows Biden, with 15%. More of the vote has come in from Clark County in this latest batch, and more from rural portions of the state, like Humboldt County, which covers a portion of northwest Nevada, and Churchill County, which sits on the western half of the state east of Reno. In Humboldt County, Sanders leads with 71% and Biden is in second place with 27%. In Churchill County, Sanders has 46%, and Buttigieg, Warren and Steyer are tied for second place, each with 12.5%. ABC News' Kendall Karson reported. 8:39 p.m. Buttigieg congratulates, criticizes Sanders Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg congratulated Sen. Bernie Sanders for a "strong showing" in the Nevada caucuses, but also immediately began to warn supporters about the risk of making him the Democratic nominee. "I congratulate Sen. Sanders on a strong showing today, knowing that we celebrate many of the same ideals," Buttigieg said. "But before we rush to nominate Sen. Sanders, you know, a one shot to take on this president. Let us take a sober look at what is at stake for our party for our values." Buttigieg focused nearly the entirety of his remarks on his opposition to nominating Sanders to the ticket and said his campaign is "moving on from the battle born state with a battle on our hands." "Sen. Sanders believes in an inflexible ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans," he said. "I believe we can defeat Trump and deliver for the American people by empowering the American people, to make their own health care choices with Medicare for all who want it. Sen. Sanders believes in taking away that choice, removing people from having the option of a private plan and replacing it with a public plan whether you want it or not." ABC News' Justin Gomez reported. PHOTO: U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks to supporters at his party after the Nevada Caucus in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. February 22, 2020. (Eric Thayer/Reuters) 8:08 p.m. Sanders' lead strong over Biden With 4% of precincts reporting, the Vermont senator -- projected as the winner by ABC News -- currently has 45% of county conventions delegates. At this point, Joe Biden is in a distant second with 19% of county convention delegates. Elizabeth Warren has now slipped to fourth at 12% from the last update, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg sits in between the former vice president and the Massachusetts senator with 16%. County convention delegates with 4% of precincts reporting: Sanders 45% Biden 19% Buttigieg 16% Warren 12% Klobuchar 4% Steyer 4% 8:05 p.m. Biden celebrates 2nd-place standing Former Vice President Joe Biden clearly felt confident in his showing in the Nevada caucuses Saturday afternoon, saying he believes the contest marked a "fundamental change" in the 2020 race. "Y'all did it for me! Now we're going on to South Carolina and win and then we're going to take this back!" Biden exclaimed as he took the stage in Las Vegas, with one audience member shouting, "The comeback kid!" PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a Nevada caucus day event at IBEW Local 357 on February 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Biden, accompanied on stage by his wife, Jill, and granddaughter, Finnegan, told the crowd that while the press is ready to "declare people dead," his campaign is "alive" and "coming back." "Well, look, you know, I know we don't know the final results yet, but I feel really good. You put me in a position. You know, the press is ready to declare people dead quickly, but we're alive and we're coming back and we're going to win," Biden said Biden, who bet big on diverse voting states to help turn around his lagging campaign after disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, told the crowd he hoped the strong finish here would continue in the upcoming contests -- and put him on a path to the White House. "I want to get right to the point here," Biden said. "I think we're in a position now to move on in a way that we haven't been until this moment. ... Were gonna win in South Carolina, and then Super Tuesday, and we are on our way." ABC News' Molly Nagle reported. 7:38 p.m. ABC News projects Sen. Bernie Sanders as the winner Based on our analysis of the vote in the Silver State so far, ABC News projects that Sanders will win the Nevada caucuses. Following projections, Sanders' campaign manager Faiz Shakir tweeted "we won again! 3 for 3." "And our vote margin continues to grow, while we expand our diverse coalition. Awesome job by our Nevada team," he wrote. "Now let's go win South Carolina!" 7:05 p.m. President Donald Trump congratulates Sanders early as Nevada Dems wait for results President Donald Trump sent his congratulations to Sanders on Saturday evening, though final results have not come in and ABC News has yet to project a winner. "Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada," Trump tweeted, talking down the other candidates and adding "Congratulations Bernie, & dont let them take it away from you!" He also tore down former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg -- who is not on the Nevada ballot -- for his first debate performance. Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates. Congratulations Bernie, & dont let them take it away from you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2020 ABC News estimates Trump will receive all 25 pledged GOP delegates from the state -- as the Republican party canceled its Nevada caucus, voting to bind their delegates to the president. ABC News' Quinn Scanlan reported. 6:50 p.m. Nevada Democratic Party starting to report results With 1% of precincts reporting and based on results from the Nevada Democratic Party, Sen. Bernie Sanders is still leading among county convention delegates with 29%. His closest competitor is Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 19%. This data is from the state party, and only represents a fraction of the total vote Edison has reported to ABC News for the first and final alignments. County convention delegates with 1% of precincts reporting: Sanders 29% Warren 19% Biden 17% Buttigieg 17% Klobuchar 9% Steyer 7% County convention delegates are what ABC News will use to project a winner. PHOTO: Senator Elizabeth Warren listens to Senator Bernie Sanders during the ninth Democratic 2020 U.S. Presidential candidates debate at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., February 19, 2020. (Mike Blake/Reuters) ABC News' Kendall Karson reported. 6:35 p.m. Some Nevada precinct chairs report long hold times, busy signals Ruben Murillo, a three-time precinct chair leading a caucus in Henderson, wrapped up his caucus and told ABC News that it "went much better than expected." "Yay, we're not Iowa," he added. Murillo attributed the success of his caucus to early voting, which reduced the crowd size at his precinct. He also said the caucus calculator "really worked well" and was "self-explanatory" and in confirming results. PHOTO: People wait to cast their votes during the Nevada caucuses to nominate a Democratic presidential candidate at the polling station inside the Coronado High School in Las Vegas on Feb. 22, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) Among the three caucuses he's overseen, this was the "most smooth," he said. But while he only had to wait 15 minutes to report his results through the secure hotline, a few other precinct chairs at his site said they waited at least 30 minutes. Another a precinct chair in East Las Vegas, Jeff Culler, told ABC News he got a busy signal when he tried to call in his results. "They opened a second line, but it was still 20 minutes on hold," he said, before adding that he had no other issues in reporting. The party is "already processing caucus results and we've provided expanded capacity for the hotline to accommodate the influx of calls from precinct chairs," Molly Forgey, communications director for the Nevada Democratic Party, told ABC News in response to the precinct chairs' complaints. ABC News' Kendall Karson and Meg Cunningham reported. 6:10 p.m. With 10% of precincts reporting, Sanders maintains lead in Nevada caucuses With 10% of precincts reporting, Bernie Sanders is leading the rest of the Democratic field, and picking up more voters during realignment, showing his strength as both Nevadans' first initial preference, and as a candidate who can win over voters who may not have backed him during the first round. The results via Edison, which collects data for many news organizations, are now at 7% of precincts reporting for only the first alignment and the final alignment. All three sets of results, including the county convention delegates, which is what ABC News will use to project a winner, are expected to be released by the party at the same time from each precinct. NEW: With 10% of precincts reporting, Bernie Sanders is still leading in Nevada's first and final alignments, @rickklein reports. "We know that the state party is sitting on a whole lot of data. They have not, though, released any of it as of now." https://t.co/LBQhlc7tGE pic.twitter.com/W6IGbEg5xF ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 22, 2020 Among the key counties where most of the vote is coming in, Clark and Washoe counties, Sanders is dominating. In one of the more rural counties, Douglas, the current leader is Buttigieg. Douglas was one of few western counties where Sanders lost to Clinton in 2016, and this cycle Sanders is currently standing in second to the former mayor. ABC News' Nicole Gallagher, Quinn Scanlan and Kendall Karson reported. PHOTO: A volunteer counts votes during the Nevada caucuses to nominate a Democratic presidential candidate at the caucus polling station inside the Coronado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 22, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) 6 p.m. Reporting confusion continues to delay results Edison, a company that helps collect data for ABC News and other networks, reported confusion is delaying some results from being reported. We have received at least 6 anecdotal reports from our people at caucus sites that there are precincts where confusion about the counting rules and/or incorporating the early vote, is delaying the reporting of results at these precinct caucuses," Edison representatives said. ABC News @maryaliceparks has the latest on the Nevada Democratic primary: Some of those precincts that are trying to crunch numbers with a lot of early data seem to be having a little bit of trouble doing that. https://t.co/zKqqMHS36d pic.twitter.com/zpOrlLLbtj ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 22, 2020 ABC News Rick Klein reported. 5:15 p.m. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar left Nevada to cast early vote in home state According to a campaign spokesperson, Sen. Amy Klobuchar left Las Vegas shortly after speaking to staff and volunteers at a get out the caucus kickoff event this morning. She flew home to Minneapolis to cast her vote early, the spokesperson told ABC News. Minnesota is a Super Tuesday state. ABC News' Lissette Rodriguez reported. 4:50 p.m. Still no votes in from Nevada precincts While caucuses began about an hour and 45 minutes ago, no votes have come in yet out of Nevada, ABC News Political Director Rick Klein reported. Though Sanders' supporters have dominated the room in several caucus sites where ABC News was present, he noted. In one site, Sanders was the only viable candidate. Half of all precincts in Nevada were reporting by this time in 2016. This time is obviously different. https://t.co/0ITK271ntH FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) February 22, 2020 Reminder: Candidates need to get at least 15% in an individual caucus to walk away with anything, and at least 15% statewide or in a congressional district to get delegates out of the Nevada caucuses. ABC News' Rick Klein and Alex Stone reported. PHOTO: Bellagio hotel workers hold Bernie placards before caucusing at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Feb. 22, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) 4:15 p.m. Entrance polls show less participation from racial and ethnic minorities Based on ABC analysis of preliminary entrance polls, there has been a decline in the participation of racial and ethnic minorities. Nonwhites accounted for 35% of caucusgoers, compared with 41% in 2016. Hispanic caucusgoers joined young and very liberal Nevadans in backing Bernie Sanders in the states Democratic caucuses, and he won broad support among those focused on two of his signature issues: health care and income inequality. Sanders 28% support from blacks improved on his 22% versus Clinton in 2016. Blacks, by contrast, were Joe Bidens single best group in Nevada. Yet Biden fell back among other voters. Bernie Sanders 28 percent support from blacks in Nevada improved on his 22 percent vs. Clinton in 2016, per preliminary entrance poll results. Blacks, by contrast, were Joe Bidens single best group in Nevada, but Biden fell back among other voters. https://t.co/devd2822c1 pic.twitter.com/crURzjtu1p ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 22, 2020 As in the two previous states, caucusgoers far and away cited health care as their top issue -- 43% placed it first among four issues tested -- and Sanders won 39% support in this group. He won an even larger share, 51%, among the majority who said they support a government-run, single-payer health system. Another issue was less successful for Sanders: His support lagged among the majority of caucusgoers (64%) who said they care more about defeating Donald Trump than supporting the candidate who agrees with them on major issues. ABC News' polling director Gary Langer contributed. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg greets Nevada voters at the Sierra Vista High School caucus site on Feb. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images) 3:27 p.m. Buttigieg says to supporters in Las Vegas: "We think we're gonna have a great day here." Former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg stopped in at a Las Vegas caucus site this afternoon, remaining optimistic about a strong finish in Nevada. "Our goal is a strong finish and a lot of people supporting us," he said. "I think the percentage that we need to hit is the kind of thing that the pundits will work out. And our focus is making sure we have a very strong support." He focused his attacks on Sen. Bernie Sanders and the potential that he will break away with a large delegate lead. You know, this is critical. I mean, we could wake up in 10 days with Senator Sanders with a prohibitive lead, or we could wake up on the road to a unified party, and obviously, thats our focus," he said. ABC News' Justin Gomez contributed. PHOTO: Campaign volunteers stand outside the Nevada Caucus site at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, U.S. February 22, 2020. REUTERS/Patrick Fallon (Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters) 3:20 p.m. Lack of volunteers could present problems The caucuses might only be just getting underway, but a lack of volunteers at various caucus sites, according to a Democratic presidential campaign in Nevada, could potentially muddle the party's efforts to run a smooth process. One observer at a Las Vegas area site believes that the site only has enough volunteers because early voting helped alleviate some of the turnout on caucus day. "I am at a site that houses multiple precincts and lines are mostly short due to early voting. Lots of candidates and campaign volunteers. Only enough NV Dems because of small turnout," said Seth Morrison, a former site lead who is only observing a caucus in Las Vegas today after quitting his role over the state party's nondisclosure agreements. MORE: Nevada's new early voting rule gives shift workers opportunity to participate CBS News first reported that the campaigns were informed by party leaders about a "deficit of volunteers." Prior to caucus day, the Nevada Democratic Party touted that they "have over 3,000 volunteers, including over 300 site leads who are actively receiving robust training for early vote and Caucus Day." The state party today continues to assure that they have "thousands of volunteers," before adding that it is "common" for campaign volunteers to help run precincts. "We have been recruiting and training volunteers all the way through this morning to ensure we have the capacity we need and we are confident in having the necessary volunteer numbers to cover caucus sites today. We have thousands of volunteers working hard across the state today and this is not occurring at the vast majority of sites and precincts," said Molly Forgey, communications director for the Nevada Democratic Party. "It's common and not unusual for campaign volunteers to help with running precincts on Caucus Day -- this happened in 2016 and in 2008." MORE: Bloomberg, Sanders pile-ons reveal Democrats' angst as race narrows: ANALYSIS One Nevada Democratic Party official also told ABC News that the party has "the coverage that we planned for." According to the party, there is an average of eight volunteers per caucus site so roughly more than 2,000 volunteers across the state." "As of half an hour ago, more than 1,000 volunteers had already logged in to use the caucus calculator," the official added. In the days leading up to caucus day, some of the precinct chairs ABC News spoke with said that beyond the angst over the technology, a shortage of trained volunteers was a top concern. ABC News' John Verhovek, Kendall Karson and Meg Cunningham reported. PHOTO:Nevada voters line up to participate in the caucus at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas, Feb. 22, 2020. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) 2:45 p.m. A more diverse electorate turns out Based on ABC News analysis of preliminary results from the Nevada Democratic caucus entrance polls, a more diverse and more liberal electorate than in Iowa or New Hampshire is participating in the Nevada Democratic caucuses, albeit with a shared priority -- defeating President Donald Trump in November. Whites account for 65% of caucus-goers in preliminary ABC News entrance poll results, compared with about 90% in Iowa and New Hampshire. Hispanics make up 18% of Nevada participants; blacks, 10%. It can matter in vote preferences: Bernie Sanders won 53% of Hispanics and 49% of whites in a two-way contest with Hillary Clinton in Nevada in 2016, but just 22% of blacks, a core Democratic group in which he consistently fell short that year. Even if Nevada is more diverse than the earlier states, todays preliminary results mark a decline in the participation of racial and ethnic minorities in these caucuses -- nonwhites total 35% of caucusgoers, compared with 41% in 2016. That may change as additional results come in. TODAY | Nevada Democrats, seeking to overcome the turmoil that plagued the Iowa caucuses, hold the highly-anticipated second caucuses of the campaign season. Watch at 3 p.m. ET on @ABCNewsLive Streaming EVERYWHERE, right to you! https://t.co/x2dx5UIIeI pic.twitter.com/jG0YU7ApSO ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 22, 2020 Among other groups, independents account for 19% of caucus-goers in these early results. They were a key group for Sanders in 2016, when he won 71% of Nevada independents, compared with 40% of Democrats -- another pattern than persisted in subsequent primaries that year. Age and ideological groups also may be key. Sanders won a thumping 82% of caucus-goers under age 30 in 2016, and 62% of those 30-44, while his support from seniors plummeted to 24%. He was especially strong with young voters in Iowa and New Hampshire this year, as well. Sanders also owes his Iowa and New Hampshire results this month disproportionately to voters who identified themselves as very liberal. They accounted for a quarter of the electorate in Iowa, a fifth in New Hampshire -- and they make up 30% of Nevada caucus-goers in these preliminary entrance poll results. That compares with 33% in Nevada in 2016. PHOTO: Poll workers check voters in during early voting in the Nevada Caucus at Chinatown Plaza Mall, Feb. 15, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Labor may be another group to watch; 24% of caucus-goers are from union households, compared with 16% of New Hampshire primary voters on Feb. 11. Union households accounted for 28% of Nevada caucus-goers in 2016. Whatever the differences with the previous states, theres alignment on goals and issues. Sixty-four percent in preliminary Nevada entrance poll results say they care more about supporting the candidate who can defeat Trump than one who agrees with them on major issues. Thats similar to the results in Iowa and New Hampshire. Also, 62% in Nevada support a government-run, single-payer health care system, again similar to Iowa and New Hampshire results, with a majority for one of Bernie Sanders signature issues (along with Elizabeth Warren). And, also like the previous contests, 43% call health care the top issue in their vote, out of four that were tested. 43% of Nevada caucus-goers call health care the top issue in their vote, out of four issues testedwith climate change coming in as the second most pressing issue for voters at 26%, per preliminary entrance poll results. https://t.co/SWCV5kMhan pic.twitter.com/pTNrqeuIBd ABC News (@ABC) February 22, 2020 Nevada caucusgoers made up their minds comparatively early; just 15% say they finally chose their candidate today or in the last few days, compared with 36 percent in Iowa and 51 percent in New Hampshire. The Nevada entrance poll measure caucus-goers initial preferences; final results can differ, since those whose candidate falls short of 15% get a second choice. The entrance poll includes a sample of early-caucus participants. MORE: Sanders and Bloomberg rise, Biden falls, with sharp shifts in views of electability ABC News considers preliminary exit poll results on the proportion of early participants to be unreliable; that estimate awaits additional data. The botched vote count in the Iowa Democratic caucuses seems not to have fazed most Nevada caucus-goers: Eighty-two percent say they expect the votes to be counted correctly. ABC News' pollster Gary Langer contributed PHOTO: A voter casts a ballot on the final day of early voting for the upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus, Feb. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 2:17 p.m. DNC chair confident in Nevada precinct captains In a quick gaggle at the Bellagio Hotel caucus site in Las Vegas , Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez told reporters that precinct chairs have received adequate training that continued as late as Friday. Perez downplayed how approximately 1,000 voter preference cards cast during the early-voting stage this week were nullified because they lacked a signature. He also said he thought the voters had been reminded that "no election is perfect." He said the party needed to have a real conversation about caucuses after the debacle in Iowa but that the party, from his perspective, can't just mandate they go away. ABC News Deputy Political Director MaryAlice Parks reports 2 p.m. Nevada caucus by-the-numbers Amid the second caucuses of the primary season, and the first nominating contest in the west, eight Democratic contenders are vying for 36 delegates. The candidates on the ballot are former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, businessman Tom Steyer and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Only Democratic caucuses are held today, after the Nevada GOP voted last year to forgo a 2020 presidential caucus as part of a broad effort by the Republican National Committee to give "undivided support" to the president. Caucusgoers will head to their designated precincts to declare their pick for president beginning at noon. To keep up with the results, read more here. PHOTO: Voters line up outside the Culinary Workers Union Hall Local 226 on the first day of early voting for the upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus, Feb. 15, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Early voter turnout shattered expectations Unlike Iowa, Nevada, for the first time, offered three days of early voting -- Feb. 15-18 -- in an effort to make the caucuses more accessible. More than half of those early voters were first-time caucus-goers, the party said, a testament to the increased enthusiasm in the third official contest of the primary season. About 75,000 Democrats participated in early voting, the party said. MORE: Several 2020 Democrats face major cash crunch ahead of competitive primaries By the close of the early voting period, 2020's turnout in the Silver State had already reached nearly 90% of 2016's total caucus turnout of roughly 84,000. On top of that, those votes already had been cast by the time the candidates took the debate stage in Las Vegas last Wednesday. PHOTO:Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden arrives at the Columbia Urban League annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Keeping The Legacy Alive breakfast in West Columbia, S.C., Jan. 20, 2020. (Randall Hill/Reuters) Diverse voters will finally weigh in Nevada is the first diverse state to weigh in on choosing a nominee. Sanders has enjoyed fairly strong support from communities of color, although former Vice President Joe Biden is typically seen as the front-runner when it comes to such support across the nation. A January Washington Post-Ipsos poll, showed that although Biden leads his rivals by more than 2 to 1 overall among black Americans, he trails Sen. Bernie Sanders 42% to 30% among black Democrats ages 18 to 34. Biden's support among black voters has also declined, dropping from 51% last month to 32% now, according to the ABC News-Washington Post poll released on Feb. 19. A poll released this week by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal shows Biden and Sanders with roughly equal support among African American voters. (MORE: Biden banking on diverse voters in Nevada) According to U.S. Census data, 29% of Nevada's population is Hispanic or Latino, and 10% is black or African American. In addition to those diverse voters, 14% of the state's workforce is unionized, teeing up what could be an interesting showdown among those who've been courting the union vote. That faction of the party has come into question in recent weeks as Sanders has undergone a rocky back-and-forth with the powerful Las Vegas-area Culinary Workers Union, which distributed fliers to its members criticizing Medicare for All, after they spent years picketing for the private insurance that protects the union's 60,000 members. A more diverse and more liberal electorate than in Iowa or New Hampshire is participating in the Nevada Democratic caucuses, albeit with a shared priority defeating Donald Trump in November, per preliminary entrance poll results. @rickklein reports: https://t.co/76ek5o2Otd pic.twitter.com/xMLOXpWqfA ABC News (@ABC) February 22, 2020 Biden got a boost on Thursday, netting an endorsement from Latino Victory Fund, his first from a national Latino organization. He's spent his time on the trail touting his diverse support and arguing that without that backing, it would be impossible to beat Trump. "I've been saying from the beginning, I think the most critical thing that has to happen is we have to elect someone in fact who can run in the purple states, win Pennsylvania, win in Florida, in places we haven't won before," Biden said Monday. PHOTO: Senator Elizabeth Warren is interviewed by MSNBC's Chris Matthews in the spin room after the NBC News Democratic Debate in Las Vegas, Feb. 19, 2020. (Brian Cahn/ZUMA Wire via Newscom) Electability remains the focus of the Democratic field, despite Sanders' front-runner status Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has two more delegates than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, but Sanders is considered the front-runner after a strong showing in Iowa and New Hampshire, and polls that put him safely ahead of Democratic rivals. Wednesday night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas was the last chance for the candidates to try and draw on the differences among the field. Buttigieg took the stage on the offense, going after Sanders for "polarizing" the country. "We have a responsibility to energize and unify," Buttigieg said in Las Vegas after the debate. "For Sen. Sanders to say it's not enough unless you go further -- if you're not for that revolution, you must be for the status quo -- that's a picture most Americans don't see where we fit." (MORE: Nevada caucuses offer first diverse test of the 2020 primary: Here's how they work) Within the feud of moderates versus progressives, the candidates have honed their pitches on who can beat President Donald Trump in November. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren took a veiled dig at Sanders during the debate, arguing that voters are worried about gambling on a revolution. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidates participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate, Feb. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. (John Locher/AP) "Democrats want to beat Donald Trump. But they are worried. They are worried about gambling on a narrow vision that doesn't address the fears of millions of Americans across this country who see real problems and want real change. They are worried about gambling on a revolution that won't bring along a majority of this country," Warren said. She went after her other competitors, as well, attempting to prove to voters that she could take on Trump on the debate stage. "Amy, I looked online at your plan, its two paragraphs. Families are suffering. And they need a plan," Warren said, criticizing Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's health care plan. Her campaign touted her post-performance fundraising numbers, saying she'd raised $5 million in less than 24 hours after the debate. She has continued to play the long game on the trail after lackluster performances in Iowa and New Hampshire, calling on the fact that 98% of the delegates needed to nab the nomination this summer have yet to be allocated. Despite that, she'll need a strong showing in Nevada to prove that her campaign belongs in the top tier. Sen. Bernie Sanders projected to win Nevada caucuses originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Business Roundup The Irrawaddy Business Roundup --- YANGONMyanmars economy has been hurt badly, especially in the trade, tourism and textile sectors, since mid-January due to the outbreak of coronavirus, which has spread across China from its epicenter in the city of Wuhan and claimed more than 2,000 lives so far. This week, Myanmar postponed a gem emporium due to the outbreak and garment factories are at risk of shutting down due to a lack of imported raw materials from China. Foreign investment, however, has continued to grow. The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) announced it has received over US$2.5 billion during the first five months of the fiscal year. South Korean conglomerate Posco International also said it has found a new offshore gas field in the Shwe natural gas project off the coast of western Rakhine, and two bus companies from Myanmar and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cross-border bus service with hopes of increasing tourism and business relations. Myanmar postpones gem emporium Myanmar decided to postpone the 57th jade and gems emporium due to be held in Naypyitaw in March as the majority of buyers coming from mainland China and Hong Kong are unable to travel amid the coronavirus outbreak. The secretary of the central committee for organizing the emporium, U Min Thu, told The Irrawaddy that the Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association talked with its Chinese counterparts, government officials and business owners and decided to postpone the event because of travel difficulties. China has imposed travel restrictions on its citizens aimed at curbing the rapid spread of coronavirus. The death toll from the coronavirus in China reached 2,118 on Thursday. Across the country, there were about 74,570 confirmed infections. The virus has spread across China and to at least 20 other countries. At the gem emporium held from Jan. 2-7 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar fetched over 59 billion kyats (US$40.1 million) from jade and gem lots. Myanmars garment factories face closure Myanmars garment factories are facing possible shutdowns over a lack of imported raw material from China due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA). Myanmars garment industry, which largely uses a cut-make-package (CMP) model, imports up to 90 percent of its raw materials from China and the rest from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea. According to the MGMA, the majority of clothing factories have stopped running overtime due to dwindling stocks. The Chinese governments travel bans have blocked logistics channels to and from China. Trade of Myanmars main exports to Chinarice, sugar, corn, melons, shrimp, sea crab and eelhas virtually ground to a halt since mid-January at the major border checkpoints in Shan States Muse and Chinshwehaw and Kachin States Kanpiketi. More than 500,000 people work in the garment sector in Yangon Region, according to the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM), with nearly 300,000 employed in 500 to 600 garment factories in Hlaing Tharyar Township alone. Myanmar received over US$2.5 billion in FDI The MIC said Wednesday that Myanmar has received over $2.5 billion in foreign direct investments during the first five months of the current fiscal year, from Oct. 1 to Feb. 13. U Thant Zin Lwin, director general of the Directorate of Investments and Company Administration (DICA), said the country has received $500 million per month since the start of the fiscal year. In a meeting on Feb. 13, the MIC gave the green light for 12 new foreign-backed enterprises worth more than $500 million. The MIC has forecasted that Myanmar will receive $5.8 billion in the current fiscal year. According to DICA, FDI in the 2018-2019 fiscal year increased to $4.2 billion, up from $3.3 billion in the previous year. As of December, Singapore is the countrys largest foreign investor, contributing nearly 27 percent of Myanmars total FDI. Singapore is followed by China, Thailand and Hong Kong. South Korean conglomerate discovers new gas field in Rakhine South Korean conglomerate Posco International announced on Monday that the company has found a new offshore gas field in the Shwe natural gas project off the coast of western Myanmars Rakhine State. Posco said in a statement that a test drill in the Shwe Block A-3 found a gas reserve capable of producing 38 million cubic feet (1.08 million cubic meters) per day. According to the company, extraction of the new offshore gas is expected to begin in 2021. Posco International is currently producing and selling gas extracted from Myanmars Shwe and Mya offshore gas fields. The company signed an agreement covering Block A-1, off the coast of Rakhine, in 2000. The company later discovered additional gas at Shwe in 2004, at Shwe Phyu in 2005 and at Mya in 2006. It took 13 years to develop the first project and Poscos first gas production began in 2013. Posco said that its gas projects in Myanmar constitute the largest overseas resource development project ever undertaken by a private South Korean company. Myanmar-India cross-border bus service to begin Myanmar bus company Shwe Mandalar Express Co. Ltd and Indias Seven Sisters Holidays Co. Ltd signed an MOU in Mandalay last Friday to operate cross-border bus service. The 579-km journey between Mandalay and Imphal, the capital of Indias Manipur State, will be the first bus link between the countries, following 17 years of planning and government talks as part of Indias Look East policy. The bus is expected to run once per week with 27-seater buses and tickets costing around $40. At the Moreh border checkpoint, passengers will need to change to a Seven Sisters bus for the 140-km journey to Imphal. Passengers will need to apply for a visa from the Indian Embassy in Yangon or the Indian Consulate in Mandalay. You may also like these stories: The Irrawaddy Business Roundup Vietnam Eases Border Trade Restrictions With China to Help Virus-Hit Businesses India-Myanmar Cross-Border Bus Service to Operate Soon Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Barbara Jayne Orser (The Jakarta Post) - Sat, February 22, 2020 10:45 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065f33cc 3 Opinion Women,Women-Empowerment-and-Child-Protection Free An increase in the number of women-focused capital funds promises to help address gender gaps in the provision of financial capital. Capital funding is the money that lenders and equity holders provide to a business. A recent study I conducted with Susan Coleman of the University of Hartford in the United States and doctoral candidate Yanhong Li of the University of Ottawa looked at how women entrepreneurs are described within women-focused capital funds. We examined 27 women-focused capital funds in North America. International studies show that borrower discouragement and informal rejections from potential investors dissuade many women from seeking loans when they start up businesses. Historically, equity investors have primarily been high-net-worth men. And so a preference to invest in business owners who look and think just like me reinforces gender stereotypes. As birds of a feather flock together, women and their businesses can be viewed as too feminine, and therefore less attractive investments. Feminine innovations that benefit women and girls can also be viewed as less attractive. Our study asked if women-focused capital funds are aimed at truly enhancing gender equity or simply at creating wealth for investors. We were surprised to learn that few funds challenge the institutional constraints that hold back women entrepreneurs. Some actually reinforce gender stereotypes due to how they regard womens supposed entrepreneurial deficiencies. Pinkwashing For our purposes, we defined pinkwashing as capital funds targeted at women solely for marketing purposes. Pinkwashing is most likely the result of creating women-focused funds as an add-on to mainstream finance services, rather than as a central element of the organizations mission to support women. Several more of our findings should be interesting to would-be investors. Few funds have third-party audits. Online disclosures of fund performance are generally absent. It is often difficult to discern governance and ownership structures of the funds. Lack of reporting standards may reflect the infancy of this capital market. Stereotypical challenges faced by women also tend to be amplified to legitimize funds, such as the inability to access financial capital and their need for emotional and social support. Women are described as risk-averse, less successful and lacking professional contacts and role models. (Shutterstock) In contrast, some funds focus on community building, investment knowledge and circumventing gender biases, offering a positive perspective versus a need to fix women. Paradoxically, our studys findings provide both optimism and skepticism about the extent to which equality is at the heart of these funds. We conclude that only a minority of funds seek to counter structural barriers associated with womens access to capital, such as a preference to invest in male-dominated firms and sectors. Most funds are positioned to facilitate individual wealth creation. And few funds prioritize racialized Indigenous people and other underrepresented women versus privileged white women. Silver lining At the same time, women-focused capital funds are creating new spaces that enable women investors and small business owners to make choices based on their values, financial knowledge and investment capabilities. International Womens Day will soon be upon us, and hundreds of investors and women-identified small business owners will gather in Toronto on March 9 for the SheEO Global Summit. Founder Vicki Saunders has a goal to mobilize the capital, the buying power and the networks of a million volunteers to fund 10,000 women-led ventures. In the United States, Alicia Robb, founding CEO of Next Wave Impact, is working to reduce the gender imbalance in angel investing and educate women investors. Founding CEO Kathryn Finney of Digitalundivided focuses exclusively on advancing financial capital to Latin-American and Black founders in the U.S. The Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund advances funds for Indigenous businesses in Canada. Some funds, such as Next Wave Impact, are disrupting the status quo of institutional investment by constructing grassroots engagement, and networks of gender-focused investors and women entrepreneurs. These change-makers are exemplars of entrepreneurial feminism in the growing market of women-focused capital funds. The investments target women-identified, women-owned and women-led enterprises, and femme and non-binary entrepreneurs. Ask who benefits? Investors should keep this in mind before assuming that all women-focused capital funds serve an inclusive economic agenda. While pinkwashing may be acceptable to some, more transparency is needed to make informed investment decisions. To identify pinkwashing, investors and entrepreneurs are encouraged to examine the governance structure of the funds and ask: Who appears to benefit from the fund and how? Another suggestion is to determine if the fund helps expand the entrepreneurial ecosystem in ways that are likely to benefit women and non-binary femme entrepreneurs, or if the fund serves to perpetuate stereotypes and constraints implicit in the existing ecosystems. Our study suggests that an increasing number of investment funds described as women-focused fall short of this standard in practice. In light of these findings, due diligence on the part of both investors and entrepreneurs is essential. --- Barbara Jayne Orser, Full Professor, Deloitte Professor in the Management of Growth Enterprises, LUniversite dOttawa/University of Ottawa This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary has been accused of encouraging racism after he said Muslim men should be subjected to profiling in airports because they were a threat. Mr OLeary added that checks on families with young children should be dropped as there was virtually no chance of them being terrorists. He told The Times: Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males travelling on their own. If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero. You cant say stuff, because its racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish. If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat. The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement: These comments are openly racist. He openly advocates against males of a Muslim persuasion, which presumably is not based on specific intelligence but solely whether someone looks or acts like a Muslim. Ryanair unveils its latest plan to save money: remove toilets from the plane Show all 1 1 /1 Ryanair unveils its latest plan to save money: remove toilets from the plane Ryanair unveils its latest plan to save money: remove toilets from the plane 656524.bin REX FEATURES This is the very definition of Islamophobia. Institutional discrimination against Muslims is well-established; whether it is the ability to get a job, buy a flat or even getting car insuarance. The challenges of flying whilst Muslim are well-documented across the globe. It is a shame that such racism is being expressed so openly and that the CEO of a large airline would want to discriminate against his customers so brazenly. Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, who is Muslim, said Mr OLearys remarks meant anyone who looked Muslim was game. He said: Hes effectively saying everyone is game if they look like a Muslim then they must be a terrorist. It doesnt improve community relations; it gives succour to people of a fascist mindset. In Germany this week a white person killed eight people. Should we profile white people to see if theyre fascists? Hes being very blinkered and is actually encouraging racism. Passenger profiling is commonplace in airports all over the world, including Britain, and relies on airport staff who are specially trained to recognise specific behaviours that can help identify travellers with illegal, criminal or terrorist intents. But the practice has often resulted in the stereotyping and targeting of specific ethnic or religious groups, and racial profiling. Dr Waqas Tufail, a senior lecturer in criminology at Leeds Beckett University, told The Independent: I think the comments are outrageous and will encourage more racism towards Muslims. Many studies have highlighted that Muslims in the UK, US and elsewhere already experience discriminatory treatment from airport security and police, and sometimes from fellow passengers. We know from research that Muslims are often racially profiled at airports but it is the brazen nature of the comments by Michael OLeary that are really disturbing. The comments are also really irresponsible when we consider that Muslims already suffer the majority of faith-based hate crime. These comments will only help to encourage Islamophobia, and will do nothing at all to prevent terrorism, he added. Mr OLeary is no stranger to controversy, having previously said shoot them in reference to environmentalists and travel agents, and called obese people monsters. He also stirred anger nationwide after suggesting passengers should pay to use toilets on flights and even pushed proposals to remove two of the three lavatories on each plane so they could be replaced with seats. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN -- A retired priest once accused of embezzlement is now under investigation for sexual abuse from the late 1970s and early 1980s, leaders with the Diocese of Kalamazoo say. A statement from the Diocese issued Friday, Feb. 21 named Father Richard Fritz and said allegations made against him have been deemed credible. A Diocesan review board, consisting of experts in sexual abuse as well as clergy, made the finding about the credibility. Fritz also came under scrutiny in 2017 when he was accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from the church. The embezzlement investigation focused on his activities at St. Marys Assumption church in Bronson and St. Barbara church in Colon. The charges ultimately were dismissed, according to a report from the The Daily Reporter in Coldwater. In the Diocese statement issued Friday, church officials say they are not aware of any additional complaints of sexual abuse against Fritz. Fritz was ordained on May 23, 1975, in Lakeport and incardinated to the Diocese of Kalamazoo on November 24, 1981. He retired in October 2016 amid the embezzlement investigation. With full awareness of the Michigan Attorney Generals Office, the Diocese continues to move forward its ecclesiastical procedures as is our standard procedure in these cases, according to the statement. Until this process is concluded, Father Fritz is not permitted to engage in public ministry (e.g. celebrate Mass or the Sacraments, or present himself as a priest in public). The state Attorney Generals office is in the midst of ongoing investigations of several priests for possible sex abuse. More from MLive Boyfriend pleads guilty to aiding murderer after fatal fire 3M, Wolverine settle pollution lawsuit with Michigan family Major changes in the weather are coming this weekend to some Western freight markets that have had a break from big snowfalls since early this month. The last major snowfall in Salt Lake City was a daily record 8.6 inches on Feb. 3. The old record was 7 inches in 1936. Denver's last major snowfall was 5 inches on Feb. 12, and Grand Junction has reported only about half an inch for the month so far. These cities themselves probably won't get much snowfall this weekend, but keep in mind that their respective namesake freight markets also contain the high elevations surrounding the cities. It's these areas that will be directly impacted by the storm, with possible trickle down effects for the markets. A low pressure system in the Pacific will begin creeping into the Southwestern U.S. late Friday night, gathering moisture and energy through the weekend. The storm will produce heavy valley rain and mountain snow in portions of Southern California, southern Nevada and the Four Corners states has posted winter weather alerts. SONAR Critical Events: Friday, Feb. 21, 2020; weekend winter weather advisory in Mountain Prairie freight markets As of Friday morning, it looks like the highest snowfall totals possibly 12 inches or more will hit the highest elevations of southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, south of Interstate 70. This includes the La Sal and Abajo mountains, the Grand and Battlement mesas, and the San Juan Mountains. Light to moderate snowfall could slow down drivers a bit on portions of Interstates 15, 70 and 80 that are in the path of the storm. The positive take away the snowfall will be spread over a 36- to 48-hour time period instead of coming in one quick punch. The Denver, Grand Junction and Salt Lake City markets are still rather volatile. One indication of this is the amount of outbound freight being turned down by carriers, known as the outbound tender rejection index (OTRI) in FreightWaves SONAR. This is the percentage of offered loads by shippers that carriers are rejecting for any number of reasons. Story continues SONAR Tickers: OTRI.DEN, OTRI.JGT, OTRI.SLC Even though the level of rejections has been slowly falling in the Salt Lake City market (green line in the chart directly above), it still remains high at 11.4%. The rejection levels in the Denver and Grand Junction markets have been steadily rising in recent days, now at 14.67% to nearly 16.93%, respectively. When rejection rates are above 10%, this means usually carriers have more options for choosing loads. So then they can go to the spot market and charge rates that are much higher than contract rates. Other Areas Of Weekend Snowfall The mountains of San Bernardino County, California, as well as the Sheep Range and Spring Mountains in southern Nevada, could see several inches of snowfall this weekend. This should have little to no impact on interstate travel, but secondary roads could become quite slick. Also, heavy snowfall will come back to the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, especially on Sunday, in addition to the Rockies of northern Idaho and western Montana. Totals of more than 12 inches are possible on the tallest peaks. Lookout, Snoqualmie and Stevens passes could become trouble spots. Additional Notes Temperatures are well below freezing Friday morning in parts of the Southeast hit by rain and snow on Thursday into early Friday morning. Any residual moisture/snow on roads may have turned to ice, so drivers will need to be super careful. SONAR Critical Events: Friday, Feb. 21, 2020; freeze warning in Georgia and Florida Unusually cold weather for late February will seep into the Deep South, from southeastern Georgia to Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 degrees are possible later Friday night and early Saturday, and the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a freeze warning for these areas. Drivers hauling temperature-sensitive loads who have to park in these areas overnight will need to find a way to keep their freight from becoming damaged. Image by Pexels from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Armenia is closely monitoring the outbreaks and prevalence of the new type of Coronavirus worldwide, Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In order to comprehensively assess the situation in our region, we closely cooperate with the Iranian and Georgian partners to exchange information, as well as to take necessary steps and consider possible scenarios. Information on further steps will be provided additionally. We urge the citizens of Armenia to refrain from visiting Iran without urgent need, and call on our citizens who are currently in Iran to contact the Embassy of Armenia to Iran, the message reads. Contact information is below: Phone - +98(21) 66704833 // +98(21) 66760509, Phone - +989121051639 E-mail - [email protected] A Maoist, carrying a reward of more than Rs 10 lakh on his head, has been arrested by the Special Task Force of Bihar police from adjoining Jharkhand, a senior officer said here on Saturday. Siddhu Koda, a zonal commander of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), was arrested from a railway station in Dumka, about 100 km from here, by an STF team that had gone there upon receiving a tip-off, Jamui Superintendent of Police (SP) Inamul Haq Mengnu said. He said Koda, who was a resident of Chakai block in the district, was involved in several high-profile Maoist attacks and carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh in Bihar and Rs 10 lakh in Jharkhand. Two automatic rifles -- an AK 47 and an INSAS -- have been seized from the possession of Koda who has been brought here and sent to jail after being produced before a court, the SP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We have an opportunity to save the lives of Idaho children and help countless others deal more effectively with modern day mental, emotional and social pressures. Governor Littles K-12 task force included in its short list of core recommendations providing additional training and resources for Idaho educators to help better support the rapidly increasing number of students who are struggling with a myriad of mental health concerns. It was deeply disturbing to see the initial reaction from some members of the House Education Committee when Superintendent Ybarra presented the task force recommendations to the committee. Let me address a few of their comments individually. Rep. Tony Wisniewski suggested that we go back a generation or two and seemed to encourage taking kids behind the woodshed, presumably referring to whippings or beatings. Advocating for child abuse is a callous and inhumane solution for the problem of disruptive behaviors. In many cases, the disruptive behaviors are the result of trauma, and inflicting more trauma and unnecessary punishment that takes us back to an authoritarian bygone era would only make matters worse. Rep. Dorothy Moon commented that the state has already invested in counselors and suicide prevention programs. The student to counselor ratio recommended by the National School Counselors Association is 250:1. Idahos estimated student to counselor ratio is 542:1, with nine districts having ratios of more than 1,000:1 and 37 districts not employing a certified counselor at all. While we have terrific counselors, many of them are not able to focus on helping students with mental health issues because they are pulled in to work as playground monitors, crossing guards, college and career counselors, and testing supervisors. When properly trained, our classroom teachers can provide valuable assistance to our overburdened counselors. Rep. Barbara Ehardt questioned what types of disruptive behaviors are included and suggested that it should be parents, rather than school personnel who are dealing with them. When it comes to the well-being of our students, we should all be working together. Without question, we need parents to take an active role in their childrens health, both physical and psychological. However, we also need to muster every available resource in our schools and in our communities. The safety and welfare of Idahos children deserves an all-hands-on-deck approach. To answer her question about disruptive behaviors, we are not talking about throwing spitballs or dipping pigtails in ink wells. Rather, we are talking about violent, dangerous behaviors that can put the safety of students and educators at risk and can disrupt teaching and learning for an entire class. As professional educators, my colleagues and I from around the state see all too frequently the heartbreak and devastating consequences of trauma and emotional distress. Here are a few staggering statistics relating to suicide. Idaho ranks fifth highest in the nation in suicide, with a rate of 22.9 suicides per 100,000 residents. That figure is 58 percent higher than the national average. Between 2013-2017, 110 Idaho students between the ages of 10-18 committed suicide. The latest risk behavior study shows that 23 percent of Idaho students have expressed suicidal thoughts in the last year. Each of those heart-wrenching data points translates to family, friends, and loved ones who have had their lives torn apart forever. Tragic as it is, suicide is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the mental health of Idaho students. Professional educators have also seen a dramatic and troubling increase in other harmful behaviors, such as: Depression Anxiety Cutting and other self-harm Drug and alcohol abuse Bullying Cyberbullying Disruptive behaviors The task force heard from virtually every constituency about the dire situation in our schools relating to mental and emotional health and the need for additional training and resources. That message has been received loud and clear and the task force recommendation is supported by every education stakeholder groupteachers, administrators, school boards, the State Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and others. Lets hope the House Education Committee belatedly recognizes the seriousness of this issue. Rather than being mystifyingly contrarian, they should be jumping at an opportunity to safeguard students throughout Idaho. Layne McInelly President, Idaho Education Association Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Police have sanitised and conducted security checks of all places and routes which US President Donald Trump will visit and cross in his upcoming visit to Agra, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Babloo Kumar on Saturday. "More than 300 policemen in civil clothes, along with 200 constables will be working as watchers on every spot where performances by artists and crowd will be present during the programmes scheduled for February 24," Singh said at a press conference here. "We will ensure that the entire route stays free from the time of the landing of the aircraft carrying the President till the end of his visit," he added. Along the entire route, NSG Commandos and sniper teams, along with ATS teams for counter-attack have also been deployed, according to the Agra SSP. An outer diversion route has also been planned for vehicles which have to pass Agra to cross over to other cities. This will decrease the burden on traffic in the city. "We have divided the city into two parts as per the route. We have decided the hospitals where patients can be taken in case of any emergency. Eight ambulances also will be in standby at different locations for dealing with any such cases," Singh said upon being contacted for the measures taken up for emergency services. The planning for the routes and timing has been discussed in detail with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the American Embassy and other US agencies, according to the police official. He also said that keeping in mind the examination season, schools have been asked to take up some measures to avoid inconvenience to students. Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner along with the US delegation will visit Agra on February 24. The Taj city has been spruced up ahead of Trump's visit. Walls on the route from Kheria airport to the Taj Mahal are painted with images of the US flag and the US President with 'Namaste Trump" written below it. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Taj Mahal will remain closed for the general public from 12 noon on February 24 during the US President's visit. Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A retired British sea captain faces fresh probes over the escape of a key suspect in the murders of three teenage Spanish girls. A judge in the town of Alzira, near Valencia, has asked the UK authorities to question Kenneth Farquharson Stevens in a bid to understand why Antonio Angles disappeared. In November 1992, Antonia Gamez, 15; Miriam Garcia, 14; and Desire Hernandez, 14, were kidnapped, raped, tortured and subsequently murdered. Retired British sea captain Kenneth Stevens (pictured) faces fresh probes over the escape of a key suspect in the murders of three teenage Spanish girls The three teenagers had gone missing while hitch-hiking on the way to a club. They were dropped off at a petrol station by a couple before being picked up by another car. Beekeepers found their bodies 75 days after they vanished from their home village of Alcasser. Miguel Ricart told the police he, Angles and an unidentified third man had kidnapped the girls and tortured them over a two-day period. Ricart served 21 years in jail for the hideous crimes but was released in 2013 His alleged accomplice Angles was last seen on container ship City of Plymouth - captained by Mr Stevens - in March 1993 after stowing away on board before it left Lisbon for Dublin. In November 1992, Desire Hernandez, 14; Miriam Garcia, 14; and Antonia Gamez, 15, were kidnapped, raped, tortured and subsequently murdered Angles was last seen on container ship City of Plymouth (pictured) - captained by Mr Stevens - in March 1993 after stowing away on board before it left Lisbon for Dublin Today it emerged a judge in Alzira has asked Britain for help in taking a statement from the ship's then-captain Mr Stevens. He is understood to have been interviewed by the Gardai in 1993 about Angles' escape but the Spanish judge in charge of the case at the time did not request for any more questions to be asked. Mr Stevens told a Spanish TV crew two years ago Angles must have had help to escape. He insisted Spain's most wanted man - also one of Interpol's most wanted - had been locked in a secure cabin after being discovered on board. He made a failed escape bid before police boarded the ship in Dublin and found it empty. He told the two investigative journalists who interviewed him for a Spanish television programme: 'It was impossible for him to open the door from inside.' Police in the UK later told Mr Stevens they believed one of his crew had helped Angles escape. Pictured: Suspect Antonio Angles on an Interior Ministry wanted poster showing how he looked in the summer of 1992 (left) and in late January 1993 (right) When he was shown a list of the crew members and quizzed on who he suspected, he said: 'I can't say which crew member police had their suspicions about. I cannot accuse anyone without proof.' Investigators have not ruled out the possibility Angles drowned after escaping the ship, although his body has never been found. Over the years there have been reports of unconfirmed sightings of him in countries as far afield as Brazil and Uruguay. The fugitive is accused of triple murder and rape, as well as kidnap and possession of firearms. Earlier this week it emerged four bones found last year by a pair of hikers near the spot where the girls' bodies were discovered are human and could belong to one or two of the murder victims. The murders of the teenagers were revisited last year in Netflix documentary The Alcasser Murders. The programme was the first original Netflix documentary in Spanish. The five-part series, released last year, included new interviews and analysis about the horrifying case. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 12:51:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAO PAULO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian and Chinese scientists are collaborating closely on a variety of projects -- from the rice fields in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state to satelites monitoring the Amazon rainforest -- which shows that the two countries have embarked on a new phase of deeper cooperation, said experts. Since 2003, the Rice Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (IRGA), Brazil's leading rice-producing state, has been working with experts from Hunan Rice Research Institute. The aim is to develop a kind of hybrid rice variety Chinese consumers use for cooking, which can be "a great business" for the future, said Ivo Mello, an IRGA researcher. "Our type of rice is different from what the Chinese consumer prefers ... That is why we want to develop hybrid rice in Brazil, so that we can supply this grain to China," he explained. "The business of the future is really in China," Mello said. In December 2019, the jointly-developed China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite-4A (CBERS-4A) was sent into orbit from a base in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, advancing aerospace cooperation between the two countries. CBERS-4A, the sixth satellite of a joint cooperation program, is designed to improve the Brazilian government's ability to monitor the Amazon rainforest and environmental change. Since 1982, when Brazil and China signed an agreement for scientific and technological cooperation, the two countries have inked scores of bilateral accords, particularly in the areas of science, technology and innovation, said Luis Paulino, a professor of Sao Paulo State University's Faculty of Philosophy and Sciences. After nearly four decades of cooperation in science and technology, China's ties with Brazil and the rest of Latin America have reached "a new phase of deep integration," based on direct foreign investment, and scientific and technological cooperation, said Paulino. Paulino also commended the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which is aimed at infrastructure development and acceleration of economic integration of countries along and beyond the routes of the historic Silk Road. "This new model of cooperation is interesting for both sides," said Paulino, as it offers regional countries such as Brazil access to superior technologies and techniques "to boost local production and job creation, and demand for local inputs," he said. "Chinese investments, especially in the areas of infrastructure and logistics, are fundamental to improving the competitiveness of local companies and the productivity of the economy," Paulino added. Noting that both Brazil and China are developing countries with common interests and aspirations, as well as complementarity, the scholar said all countries in the region, regardless of their political and ideological orientation, have shown great interest in strengthening their ties of cooperation with China." Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra To Present Three Decades of Youngs Music Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Smithsonians National Museum of American History will accept a donation of four iconic artifacts related to the life and legacy of jazz legend Lester Willis Young (Aug. 27, 1909March 15, 1959) during a concert by the museums big band orchestra-in-residence, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) Feb. 22. Lester Young Jr. will present the museum with his fathers three surviving instruments: a Conn-manufactured saxophone, a tenor saxophone made by Dolnet and a clarinet by H. Bettoney, as well as a signature porkpie hat that defined Youngs style and swagger. He was the template for popular cultural jazz aesthetics and helped set the standard for what was viewed as hip and cool. Young is part of the top tier of the 20th centurys most respected saxophonists along with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Stan Getz. His musicianship set the standard for modern jazz and his recording legacy continues to inspire generations of saxophonists influenced by his playing style. He recorded often with Billie Holiday and she nicknamed him Prez after President Franklin Roosevelt, whom she considered to be the greatest man around. In many jazz circles he is recognized as the President of the Tenor Saxophone. Young, a tenor saxophonist, fashioned a voice in jazz all his own, with his gentler style standing in contrast to the more aggressive format of his era, said curator Theodore S. Gonzalves. A touchstone figure in jazz history, these artifacts will provide us with new opportunities to engage our visitors in multiple stories about Youngs career, personal life and cultural impact. Charlie Young (no relation), SJMO artistic director, conductor and Howard University professor, will guide the ensemble through Youngs vast recorded history from his early days with the Count Basie Orchestra to his 1957 performance with Holiday on CBS The Sound of Jazz television broadcast. Among the repertoire will be Oh Lady Be Good from 1939 for the Basie Orchestra, Lester Leaps In from his own composition in 1939 and Fine and Mellow from 1957 with Holiday. The concert is sold out. Story continues The SJMO was founded in 1990 with an appropriation from the U.S. Congress in recognition of the importance of jazz in American culture and its status as a national treasure. A cornerstone of the Smithsonians commitment to jazz, the SJMO has performed for audiences at its museum home in Washington., across the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Its concerts, by the full orchestra and smaller groups, include transcribed works, as well as new arrangements, commissioned works and programs that illuminate the contributions of small ensembles and jazz masters who contributed to the development of American jazz and defined the musics character. More information about the SJMO is available at Smithsonianjazz.org. Youngs instruments complement the museums extensive collection of 20th-century jazz artifacts associated with African American musicians in particular. Conn is one of the oldest instrument manufacturers in the U.S. and first manufactured saxophones in 1888 in Elkhart, Indiana. Dolnet is a small French company that produced a limited number of clarinets and saxophones between 1880 and 1945. The Bettoney metal clarinet was manufactured in Boston. Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history. The museum is home to the largest museum collection of jazz historyartifacts from Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente and many other creative giants. The museum established Jazz Appreciation Month in 2001, which is now celebrated every April throughout the United States and in more than 30 countries. The museum is located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For more information, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000. On social media, the museum can be found at @americanhistory, and on Twitter and Instagram at @amhistorymuseum. # # # Melinda Machado Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (202) 633-3129 machadom@si.edu Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht announced the verdict in the double murder trial of Jeremy Christian at the Multnomah County Courthouse in Portland, Oregon. Christian is charged with the first-degree murders of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53, and the first-degree attempted murder of Micah Fletcher, then 21. The attack happened on May 26, 2017. Christian stabbed all three men about 4:30 p.m. on a Green Line train that had traveled from Portland State University and was heading to Clackamas Town Center. The bloodshed began as the crowded train pulled into the Hollywood Transit Center in Northeast Portland. Christian also is charged with the hate crime of second-degree intimidation for allegedly targeting two teenage girls -- one African American and the other from Somalia who was wearing a hijab. According to witnesses as well as video, Christian spoke of beheadings and yelled (Expletive) Saudi Arabia! and Go home, we need American here! His 6-minute diatribe included called for Muslims, Christians and Jews to die. Christian also is charged with intimidating an African American woman the previous night. That woman, Demetria Hester, testified that Christian shouted racist words and said he was going to kill her while she rode a Yellow Line train on May 25, 2017. Hester said she maced him in the face and he threw a half-full drink container at her face. The charges against Christian: COUNT 1 -- First-degree murder of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, a passenger stabbed on the MAX train on May 26, 2017. COUNT 2 -- First-degree murder of Ricky Best, a passenger stabbed on the MAX train on May 26, 2017. COUNT 3 -- Attempted first-degree murder of Micah Fletcher, a passenger stabbed on the MAX train on May 26, 2017. COUNT 4 -- First-degree assault of Micah Fletcher, a passenger seriously injured on the MAX train on May 26, 2017. COUNT 5 -- Second-degree intimidation of Walia Mohamed, a passenger threatened with serious physical injury on the MAX train on May 26, 2017, based on her race, religion or national origin. COUNT 6 -- Second-degree intimidation of Destinee Mangum, a passenger threatened with serious physical injury on the MAX train on May 26, 2017, based on her race, religion or national origin. COUNT 7 -- Unlawful use of a weapon against Shawn Forde, a passenger threatened with a knife on the MAX platform on May 26, 2017. COUNT 8 -- Menacing against Shawn Forde, a passenger threatened with serious physical injury on the MAX platform on May 26, 2017. COUNT 9 -- Second-degree intimidation against Demetria Hester, a passenger on a different train threatened with serious physical injury on May 25, 2017, based on her race or national origin. COUNT 10 -- Second-degree assault against Demetria Hester, a passenger on a different train injured after being hit with a Gatorade bottle on May 25, 2017. COUNT 11 -- Unlawful use of a weapon against Demetria Hester, a passenger on a different train hit with a Gatorade bottle, a deadly and dangerous weapon," on May 25, 2017. COUNT 12 -- Menacing against Demetria Hester, a passenger on a different train threatened with serious physical injury on May 25, 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not visit Agra with US President Donald Trump, sources said Saturday. We have seen media reports regarding PMs presence in Agra in connection with the visit of President Trump. The visit to Taj Mahal in Agra by the US President and the First Lady will afford them the opportunity to view the historical monument suitably. Therefore, no official engagements or presence of senior dignitaries from the Indian side is envisaged there, sources said. PM Modi will be with President Trump in Ahmedabad, where a public reception will be accorded to the American leader and the First Lady on February 24. Later in the day, Trump is scheduled to fly to Agra. In the Delhi leg of the visit, official engagements are scheduled for February 25. A 12-member delegation will accompany Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to India. The President is scheduled to land in Ahmeadabad where he will take part in a road show with Prime Minister Modi before addressing a gathering at the Motera stadium During the two-day visit beginning on February 24, Trump is expected to raise concerns over rising trade barriers and tariffs during his talks with Modi. A senior White House official said the US will focus on building economic and energy ties, boosting counter-terror cooperation and deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. Up to 15 tenants renting a Dublin house at the centre of a dispute between a vulture fund and the owners have been given a month to move out. The property is in an affluent part of south Dublin where family homes regularly sell for more than 1m. The tenants, from Brazil, have been renting the four- bedroom house in Avoca Park, Blackrock, for 350 a month plus bills. Tenants had been paying rent to a mystery middleman who texted them this week to say they had to move out by March 15. One renter, Diego, had only been living there for a week when he was told he would have to vacate. "I am moving out next week as I have found somewhere else to stay," he said. "We were told we have to get out." With each tenant paying 350, the house would have been generating more than 5,000 each month in rent. The property is currently the subject of a dispute between a financial fund and the owners, Paul White and Jane Gleeson of Roney Beach, Gorey, Co Wexford. On Thursday the High Court granted an injunction to Everyday Finance DAC for possession of the property pending the full hearing of the action. Everyday Finance claims the property is the subject of a mortgage executed in consideration of loans advanced by AIB. It is claimed 3m is due and owing under those loans. The plaintiffs claimed approximately 15 people are living there and the owners had not co-operated with the receivers. In reply, Mr White told the court the premises had been let since 2002, with the knowledge of AIB, to a single tenant. Mr White said he was unaware there were 15 people living there and said he did not know how the property came to be occupied by anyone else. Independent.ie spoke to tenants in the house, who are now stressing about having to find somewhere else to live in the middle of a housing crisis. They said three communal rooms in the house were converted into bedrooms and they came across an advert for the property on Facebook. Tenants Renato and Nathan, who are originally from Brazil, said they had been paying rent to a middleman, who appears to be subletting a number of other properties in the capital. In a text to tenants, the mystery man wrote: "We have decided that it is best not to renew the contract with the owners. So we will be refunding everyone's deposit on the 15th of March. "We don't want to be involved with the conflict between the owners and the banks and we don't want our tenants to have to deal with that. "For these reasons we need to give everyone 28 days to find other accommodation. All our other properties have no issues with the banks. So we can show you other properties we have if you would like to stay with us or if you want to find other accommodation that is no problem. "We can provide you with very good landlord reference letters as well for anyone who wants to find their own accommodation." The house was advertised for rent in 2016 for 3,900 a month and described as a "lovely double-fronted modern detached home tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac." It is understood the couple had been living in the house for a number of years before letting it out in 2002. One of the female tenants in the house said she came across an advert for it in a Facebook group used to find accommodation in Ireland. "We were told we will get our deposits back," she said. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the HSE had inspected the property but were not taking any enforcement action, it was noted in court on Thursday. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey said none of the parties seems to be aware of the situation regarding rent, although it had been claimed the defendants "continue to derive a substantial income" from the premises. The defending couple are arguing that the receivers were not validly appointed in 2017. It was also claimed there was no debt due and owing by Ms Gleeson and she was entitled to the benefit of rent or any other form of payment in respect of her interest in the property. In his judgment, the judge said he was satisfied the plaintiffs had shown a strong case likely to succeed at the full trial of the action. Taking all the circumstances into account, he said it was appropriate to make orders enabling the fund and receivers to take possession of the property. The judge noted the couple do not reside at the property and it was not disputed that Mr White is in substantial arrears. The current situation, with an estimated 15 people living at the property, was "completely unsatisfactory", he said. Paul White was contacted for comment. I have a confession to make: I have had several cats declawed in my life. Of all the things I have done, this is something I am most regretful for. Why? Because, as Molly Tamulevich, the state director for the Michigan branch of the Humane Society of the United States, told me, Declawing a cat is much more than a manicure; it involves amputating the end of each toe, which can cause pain, infection, and behavior problems. But declawing cats was a way of life in my family. And no vet I ever talked to ever told me the reality of what it involves. Beyond the cruelty involved and despite the pushback from people who claim not declawing cats will lead to more cats filling animal shelters & rescues, declawing cats can actually increase the number of cats in these shelters and rescues due to the health and behavioral problems that develop because of the procedure. This past week, Democratic Representative Nate Shannon introduced House Bill 5508 that would make Michigan the second state to ban this cruel and unnecessary practice. I wanted to write about this because there is so much misunderstanding and misinformation about cat declawing. The natural person to turn to was someone who is the most passionate advocate for animals both pets and wild animals that I know: Tanya Hilgendorf, the President and CEO of the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV). Along with Humane Society of the United States Michigan branch, HSHV has been a strong advocate for Rep. Shannons legislation. I asked Tanya for her perspective on this legislation and what people need to know about cat declawing. Oddly, although it has 20 cosponsors in addition to Rep. Shannon, only one of them is a Republican. This perplexes me because there is nothing partisan about animal protection. If your state legislator is NOT a cosponsor of this bill, and that includes all but one of the members of the Republican House caucus, please consider asking them in joining Republican Rep. Tommy Brann in becoming one. As Molly told me, Michiganders, famously compassionate and actively engaged in the welfare of Michigans animals, have clearly expressed that they support banning declawing in our state. Hopefully Representative Shannons bill swiftly pass into law so that Michigan can become the second state in the country to prohibit this cruel procedure. One more thing before we get to Tanyas essay: You may have noticed that I have put quotation marks around declawing. Thats because I have come to realize that this isnt removing a cats claws. Its amputating the tips of all 20 of their toes down to the first knuckle. Whats amazing to me is that more cats dont exhibit serious health and behavioral problems from having had this done to them. It only goes to show how tough our little house panthers actually are, no matter how cute and cuddly they may be. A big thanks to Tanya Hilgendorf for her potent message about this legislation. Enjoy. All photos by Anne C. Savage, courtesy of the Humane Society of Huron Valley The term declaw is very misleading a white-washing, so to speak. It makes people think an animal doctor is somehow, perhaps by magic, making a cats nails disappear, leaving all furniture worries behind. But there is no way to remove a cats claws without doing real harm and risking lifelong problems. This elective surgery is actually an amputation of the last bone in each toe, similar to removing the tip of your finger up to the knuckle. Sounds painful, no? But toe amputation is not only a painful surgery to recover from, it can cause life-long pain and puts cats at risk for intractable behavioral problems. Here at the Humane Society of Huron Valley, we have literally thousands of homeless cats coming through our door each year. And because we are an organization working hard to save them all, currently with a 96% save rate, we put a lot of medical and behavioral care into our cats. As such, weve developed a protocol for assessment and treatment of incoming declawed cats because how often weve seen the negative effects. We see cats with chronic pain. Botched surgeries, bone fragments left behind, and arthritis are commonly seen on x-rays. We see cats who are inclined to bite and those that dont want to use the litterbox. Weve had to do reparative surgeries and some cats have to be on lifelong pain medication. Sadly, many declawed cats are euthanized in shelters because they are deemed aggressive or because of intractable litter box problems. But these behaviors are often secondary responses to pain and stress of not being able to express natural behaviors. I recently heard a Michigan shelter director complain about the ban. He said hes never seen any problems with it. But his shelter kills half the cats they take in and there are no experts assessing root causes of behavior problems. Cats in these types of shelters are usually just after-thoughts, lucky to get out alive. How would he even know? Some have claimed that this ban will cause an increase in cat homelessness because of owners and prospective owners who wont tolerate scratching. But we know that hasnt been the case in areas where declawing is already banned. In fact, I think the exact opposite is true. The behavior problems that result are often why cats get turned into shelters. And, believe me, its a lot easier to adopt out a healthy, happy cat with her toes intact than to figure out how to re-home a cat who bites or wont use the litter box. Ive also heard folks say, I declawed my cat and he was perfectly happy. Perhaps, after kitty healed, that is true. But that doesnt negate the risk. Not everyone who smokes cigarettes dies of lung cancer at 52, but the increased risk is proven. Cats are quite stoic about pain and obviously they cant tell you with words how they are feeling. For cats, scratching is a natural, instinctive and important behavior. They arent just scratching; theyre scent marking, stretching, flexing, and expressing emotion. Cats scratch to relieve stress and to express happiness and excitement. They also use claws to protect themselves and escape wild predators, dogs, and even humans who may do them harm. Keeping cats indoors wont solve that, as many indoor-only cats find a way outside at one point or another. But you dont have to take my word for it. We have science to back it up. Studies now show not just short term pain and risk of infection, but a higher risk of chronic pain and behavioral problems such as biting and litter box problems. Thats a big part of why this elective surgery is also opposed by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, discouraged by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and outlawed in so many countries, several cities, and now the State of New York. One study showed that cats who have been declawed were: Three times more likely to be aggressive Four times more likely to bite Seven times more likely to pee in inappropriate places Three times more likely to have chronic pain There are plenty of ways to prevent kitty from scratching the furniture. We need to offer them alternatives, not to attempt to stop the behavior altogether. But, as most cat and dog lovers know, if a pristine home is your top priority, a stuffed animal is probably your best bet. We talk to a lot of potential adopters who dont know the truth about this procedure. Once they do they almost always change their minds. They dont want to create pain and stress for their furry family member. Cats are now the most popularly owned pets in the United States and if the internet has done one thing it has helped spread love and appreciation for our feline friends. How can we love cats so much but still allow this painful procedure that stunts an important part of who they are? Our goal isnt to make people feel guilty because they had their cats declawed. We all make mistakes and we are all learning. I know so many people who were offered the procedure and simply had no idea what it entailed. Like so many things, there was a time when we didnt know better. But now we do. Its time to change. The current co-sponsors of H.B. 5508 are Sarah Anthony, Robert Wittenberg, Vanessa Guerra, Frank Liberati, Kevin Coleman, Alex Garza, Julie Brixie, Jim Ellison, Mari Manoogian, Kyra Harris Bolden, Kevin Hertel, William Sowerby, Jim Haadsma, Angela Witwer, Tyrone Carter, Tommy Brann, Ronnie Peterson, Brian Elder, Kara Hope, and Yousef Rabhi. If your legislator is not on that list, please contact them today and ask them to support this important legislation. You can get tips for contacting them and a tool for finding who they are HERE. Will you please help? American shoplifter charged for stealing B43k of luxury wallets PHUKET: A 21-year-old American tourist has been charged with theft after he stole luxury brand name wallets valued at more than B43,040 from a store at Central Floresta shopping mall, Wichit Police have reported. crime By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 22 February 2020, 04:34PM The American tourist charged with theft, Christopher Braman, points out the three Gucci wallets that had been hidden in his wardrobe. Photo: Wichit Police Station Chief Col Sujin Ninbordee of Wichit Police confirmed yesterday (Feb 21) that Mr Christopher Allen Braman, from Oklahoma, had visited the Gucci store at Central Floresta mall around 8pm on Wednesday (Feb 19) evening and indicated to the store manager, Ms Kantima Niyakit, he was interested in buying some goods. He then proceeded to steal a brown wallet valued at B15,500, a tiger print wallet valued at B13,440 and a black bee print wallet valued at B14,100 before leaving the store. Ms Kantima reported the theft on Thursday (Feb 20) and police studied CCTV footage to identify the man. Braman was apprehended by police around 3:07pm on Thursday (Feb 20) at the walkway area of Central Festival mall that connects to Floresta. He was then instructed by police to produce the stolen goods, which had been stashed at his rental house, located at 21/57, Soi Chaofa 9 (Soi San Chao Kuan U) in Chalong subdistrict. In addition to the theft charge, police also confirmed Braman was charged with over-staying his visa. Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Friday said that a large number of terrorists and terror outfits have been eliminated from the state. Singh remark comes after a terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith of the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested earlier in the day. "The current situation is relatively much better as compared to previous years. A number of successful operations have been carried out and many terrorists have come down. Leaders of various outfits have been eliminated and some of them are almost decimated," said DGP. Dilbag Singh said all security-related precautions are being taken ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit. Meanwhile, last night two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists named Naveed Ahmed Bhat alias Furkan and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat were killed in an operation. Earlier in the day, sharing details, DGP Dilbag Singh had told media here, "Security forces killed two LeT terrorists named Naveed Ahmed Bhat alias Furkan and Aaqib Yaseen Bhat in an operation last night. They were involved in many terrorist activities. Baramulla Police have also arrested one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Junaid Farooq Pandith." "In 2020 so far, there have been 12 successful operations, in which 25 terrorists have been killed, 9 terrorist operatives in Kashmir and 3-4 terrorist operatives arrested in the Jammu area. More than 40 over-ground-workers have also been arrested," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said he wanted to change the stereotypical image of Uttar Pradesh as a backward state when he assumed office after a landslide win in 2017 and listed efforts made in the direction of modernising the states infrastructure and upliftment of its residents through government schemes. He was in communication with the chief editor of Hindi daily Hindustan, Shashi Shekhar Singh, at the livehindustan.com event, Hindustan Shikhar Samagam, at Lucknow on Saturday. The chief minister said the first year of his government was dedicated to solving the issues of three crore farmers of the state and the second year was dedicated to creating the infrastructure needed to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2022. We have to make Uttar Pradesh a trillion-dollar economy for India to achieve $5 trillion economy goal, Yogi Adityanath said. Also Watch | Impossible for them, possible for us: Yogi Adityanath mocks Akhilesh Yadav He hit out at the previous SP government headed by Akhilesh Yadav over the issue of Poorvanchal Expressway. He said the previous government had not acquired the land for the project and was falsely accusing the BJP of appropriating credit for it. Akhilesh had raised the issue earlier in the day during the event. Adityanath said it was his government that acquired 96 per cent land for the project following which the prime minister laid the foundation stone for the Expressway. I will dedicate Poorvanchal Expressway to the residents of UP before Dipawali this year, he declared, and said, people of the state could take note of his promise. I wanted to break Uttar Pradeshs image, the moment one saw bad roads, they would say they have entered Uttar Pradesh, Seven airports are functional in Uttar Pradesh now, compared to the two that were in operation when we came to power, he said. We have even set GDP targets for every district of the state, One District, One Product is part of that effort he said. These efforts have led to a 28% increaes in exports from Uttar Pradesh and the MSME sector has played a big part in it, Yogi said, explaining the steps taken to unlock the economic potential of the state. He said his government had created 50 lakh with job and self- employment opportunities till now and will create another 50 lakh jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the state. He said the third year of his government was dedicated to the women and daughters of the state and enlisted government programmes geared towards them. The fourth-year, he said was dedicated to the youth of the state. Central minister Smriti Irani, Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh, RJD leader Manoj Jha, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Bollywood personality Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ayushman Khurana and activist Swara Bhaskar are some other prominent names that spoke at the event earlier in the day. Containing the virus would be easier if people who are contagious were obviously so, as was the case with severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which started an outbreak that burned itself out in 2003. But the new virus appears to spread among people who are not always noticeably sick. In fact, most cases of covid-19 have been mild. Taxi drivers and people at business meetings have spread the virus, and among the more than 600 passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who have tested positive for it, about half had no obvious symptoms. Bolivian presidential candidate Luis Fernando Camacho on Tuesday called on his rivals to form a single bloc to defeat former president Evo Morales's socialist party in the May election. Right-winger Camacho is one of seven presidential candidates but was running fourth in the latest opinion polls conducted by Ciesmori, with just 9.4 percent. The leader was Luis Arce, the candidate for Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS), with 31.6 percent. The other six candidates are all either centrists, right-wingers or conservatives. Centrist former president Carlos Mesa was second in the polls with 17.1 percent, ahead of incumbent interim President Jeanine Anez with 16.5 percent. But Arce -- who's candidacy has yet to be accepted by the electoral tribunal -- is inching closer to a share that could see him win outright in the May 3 election. A candidate needs either an absolute majority or at least 40 percent and a 10-point lead over the nearest challenger. Camacho said he would be prepared to step aside as long as others did the same, "so we can all get behind one single candidate." The candidates met on February 1 in a bid to find unity and get behind just one person, but their attempt failed. The electoral tribunal is due to rule on Arce's candidacy at the end of the week. On February 10, the deadline for candidates to register, the tribunal said that Arce's presidential bid was lacking documents. The tribunal is also due to rule on Morales's bid to stand for a Senate seat. After almost 14 years as president, Morales resigned in November following three weeks of social unrest following his controversial election victory that would have given him an unconstitutional fourth term in office. He fled abroad before accepting asylum in Argentina, but an arrest warrant has been issued against him in his absence. The interim government accuses him of sedition and terrorism for allegedly urging his supporters to lay siege to major cities such as La Paz. He has also been barred from standing for the presidency, which is why he has targeted the Senate. Ahead of the electoral tribunal's decision, MAS complained of a "political attempt... to eliminate our candidates by petty and anti-democratic interests." Bolivian politician Luis Fernando Camacho (pictured December 2019) said he would be prepared to drop out of the presidential race as long as others did the same, "so we can all get behind one single candidate" It had not been too long when students from various tertiary institutions who are beneficiaries of the student loan scheme protested for the delay in the disbursement of funds and for the early release of funds for the last academic semester and the subsequent semesters respectively. Beneficiaries thought that the rightful channel to get their grievances laid before the student loan trust fund and to get their funds released to them is to draw the attention of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) being the students governing body. Undoubtedly, the attention-seeking write-ups and some actions got the attention of the students leadership. The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), upon hearing the challenges being faced by the students decided to hold a press conference to address this crucible ordeal. In the press conference, the leadership of NUGS expressed on behalf of beneficiaries the dissatisfaction and the enormous challenges faced by beneficiaries of the student loan scheme which is negatively affecting students academic life. An ultimatum of two (2) weeks was given to the student loan trust fund to ensure the release of funds to beneficiaries to get them back to their schools to continue their studies. Students were encouraged to be placid and to desist from actions that could cause an uproar. With this, students had the hope that NUGS will fight our fight for us. All hope is not yet lost. We cant express disappointment now, for the fight for the release of funds has not yet been successful. We cant say NUGS as students governing body has failed the fight against the disbursement of funds. All we seek now is for NUGS to know that the delay in disbursement has caused students a great challenge in academic life. Over the past few years, the delay in payment is negatively affecting the academic lives of many students which is unbearable. We are therefore appealing to the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) again to probe into the cause of this plague of delay in disbursement and to ensure payment as soon as possible. An ultimatum of one (1) week is given for actions to be taken, else students will have alternate ways to get funds released. NUGS must speak for us. Student Loan scheme must hear us. Thank you. Enning Richnard Aboagye Signed Student Loan Beneficiary University of Education, Winneba Kumasi Bsc. Accounting Education 400 According to Italian media reports, one of the first people to come down with the virus was a 38-year-old whod had dinner with somebody who had just come back from China. But some three weeks passed between that dinner and the time the man came down with a fever. In between, he ran a half-marathon, played soccer and traveled to several towns, according to La Repubblica, a major Italian daily. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal An Albuquerque mother is in jail after police say she abused her baby late last year, resulting in a brain bleed that left the 3-month-old girl blind. Chastity Carson, 34, was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Thursday night on a charge of child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. Carson told police the baby fell and hit her head, but a doctor said the injuries were more consistent with shaken baby syndrome. Michael Patrick, a spokesman for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office, said the office received a petition from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department to pursue charges against the mother. The court document says that after state social workers initiated a safety plan, Carson violated it by requesting to be alone with the baby. A CYFD spokesman declined to comment on the case or give any details. Patrick said prosecutors will file a motion to detain Carson until trial. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court: Officers were called to University of New Mexico Hospital around 4:30 a.m. Dec. 16 for a baby who was seizing and unresponsive. Carson told a detective she accidentally knocked the baby off a couch and onto a wooden floor on Dec. 11. Carson said the baby acted normal at first but her condition worsened over the following days, starting with nonstop crying and progressing to her leg twitching and a high fever. Doctors found abusive head trauma such as that caused by violent shaking with or without head impact and said the injuries were not consistent with a short fall as described. A doctor told police the baby wouldve been vomiting and lethargic within minutes of the injury and that she is neurologically devastated. She will not lead a normal life, and she is blind. She eventually will need a feeding tube, the complaint says. The baby was readmitted to the hospital on Feb. 3, again for a brain bleed and had to undergo surgery to relieve the pressure. Doctors told police the bleed was a result of the initial injury compounded with a medication the baby was given. David Navarro, Carsons boyfriend and the babys father, said it has been a living nightmare. Ive been with her for eight years; we have been waiting for this baby. We had three miscarriages (the baby) changed our lives. Theres no way Chastity would do this kind of thing, Navarro told the Journal on Friday. The baby fell; this was an accident. Navarro said CYFD took the baby away in January and placed her in his sisters custody. He said he and Carson have been allowed supervised one-hour visits, four times a week. Navarro said the family is trying to get a second doctors opinion because they believe the injuries were the result of a short fall. Navarro said the baby is no longer in the hospital. He said the couple have been taking parenting classes, going to therapy and doing anything and everything we can to get our baby back. Its horrible. I just cant believe its gone to where its going right now. Its just not right, he said. CYFD it supposed to help families and reunite. Theyre just tearing us apart on the word of one doctor. (Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world threatened by trade wars. Sign up here. European finance chiefs arrived at a meeting of their global peers in Riyadh demanding the urgent creation of a new global tax system for the 21st century that would capture the profits of tech multinationals. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin responded: its not that simple. New rules for taxing companies like Alphabet Inc.s Google and Facebook Inc. have stirred intense debate at this weekends Group of 20 meeting of finance chiefs. Finding a solution this year is key to maintaining a tariff truce the U.S. and Europe struck after France agreed to delay the collection of a national levy. While finance ministers from France and Germany were among those expressing confidence on Saturday that a compromise could be found in time, Mnuchin warned that he is somewhat hamstrung. Let me emphasize: in the U.S., depending upon what the solutions are, these may require congressional approval, he said during a discussion, sitting alongside Frances Bruno Le Maire. The pair have held tense discussions since France introduced a 3% levy last year on the digital revenue of companies that make their sales primarily online. The move was supposed to give impetus to international talks to redefine tax rules, and the government has pledged to abolish its national tax if there is agreement on such rules. The U.S. has argued the French measure discriminates against American companies, and threatened tariffs as high as 100% on $2.4 billion of French goods. Donald Trumps government agreed to hold fire on import duties and France pushed back collecting the digital tax until the end of 2020. One of the things were balancing is sticking with the fundamental issue of taxing based upon where companies are -- the more we change that to broaden this, the more we run into other issues, Mnuchin said. He indicated Congress as a hurdle before any major changes on taxes can be agreed upon, but added theres a tremendous desire to get this done. Story continues Spain, Italy and Austria also want to impose a digital service tax. Turkey, a G-20 member, introduced a 7.5% levy in December, targeting companies from Google and Facebook to Netflix Inc. It is our collective responsibility to reach a global agreement on this issue by the end of this year, the finance ministers of the euro areas four largest economy said in an editorial published in European newspapers. We now have a unique opportunity to recast the global tax system to make it fairer and more effective. Sticking Point The key sticking point is a U.S. proposal to make the new digital tax rules a safe-harbor regime. Doing that, the U.S. has said, would address concerns of taxpayers about mandatory departure from longstanding rules. France and others have contested that could render the rules effectively optional, which would make agreement impossible. In Riyadh, Mnuchin countered this interpretation. What a safe harbor is -- and theres lots of safe harbors that exist -- you pay the safe harbor as opposed to paying something else, and you get tax certainty, he said. People may pay a little bit more in a safe harbor knowing they have tax certainty. Le Maire said he welcomed Mnuchins clarification. We are in the process of technically assessing what it really means and what might be the consequences of such a solution, he said. It is fair and useful to give all the attention to this U.S. proposal. To get agreement, Le Maire also said France would be open to a phased or step-by-step approach. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said theres more than a 50% chance that a deal is struck before the end of the year. Everyone has understood that it would be bad to push the debate into the next year or the year after that, he told reporters. We need something that helps protect us against the race to the bottom on taxes. The framework -- developed under the leadership of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development -- will also include a deal on a global minimum tax, which the group is close to agreeing on, according to Mnuchin. Most countries want any OECD deal to be accepted as a package: the digital service tax along with a global minimum tax. The OECD has said both reforms together could boost government tax revenues by around $100 billion. To contact the reporters on this story: Saleha Mohsin in Washington at smohsin2@bloomberg.net;William Horobin in Paris at whorobin@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Jana Randow, Paul Abelsky For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Carly Findlay has made a card she intends to give to people when needed. It says on it, For you its the first time youve seen someone like me, she says. But, for me, its not the first time Ive encountered this reaction from my appearance. Findlay, a writer and speaker, is an appearance and disability activist who was born with the rare genetic skin disorder ichthyosis form erythroderma. A lifelong condition, it leaves her skin dry and red. Disability advocate Carly Findlay is taking part in the panel Rethinking Beauty at the All About Women festival. Credit:JAMES ROWE Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for "service to people with a disability, and known for her honest and outspoken 2018 memoir, Say Hello, Findlay faces daily scrutiny and judgment about her appearance. Its really tiring, she says. I feel like people are very inquisitive and they dont think that being inquisitive is intrusive. They dont realise that, while Im the first person theyve asked why I look like I do, this isnt the first question Ive received that day. Samsung is the largest South Korean investor in Vietnam During February 18-20, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh held a working session with representatives of South Korea to uncover difficulties and issue four main directions to reach the trade target. Accordingly, the two parties will double down on investment promotion activities to lure in more investment capital from South Korea and support South Korean enterprises in Vietnam to increase their export turnover toward their homeland. In addition, the two parties will support local firms to increase exports of garment and textile, wood, and processed food, among others to South Korea. Enterprises will push to transfer technology to help boost local businesses' competitive capacity, especially in the automotive industry, textile and garment, as well as chemcials and components, and then promote these partners' export turnover to South Korea and other countries. Vietnam is an important partner of South Korea, with expectations that it would become a key link in the supply chains of South Korean enterprises, especially in the automotive industry, electronics, as well as leather and footwear. Deputy Minister Khanh expressed his wish that the partner would increase the imports of fresh fruit from Vietnam, including red dragon fruit and pomelo. Bilateral export-import turnover has seen consecutive increases after the Korea-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement came into effect in late 2015. In 2018, South Korea was Vietnams largest trade partner, with the total bilateral trade turnover of $65.8 billion, $18.24 of which was export turnover. In 2019, Vietnam's export turnover to South Korea was $19.75 billion, up 8.3 per cent on-year, while the import valuation stood at $47.29 billion. There are about 170,000 Korean people living and working in Vietnam, while the number of Vietnamese in the Republic of Korea is 200,000, including 65,000 Vietnamese-Korean families. The head of the Ukkrainian state urged not to stigmatize residents of certain regions President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the coronavirus story is an exam for our society. Zelensky said this in a video message, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel. There are times in the history of every nation when it has to pass a difficult exam and answer vital questions: do we exist or not? Are we a just crowd or united people? Are we a herd or a nation? Are we residents or citizens? We repeatedly passed this exam successfully. The story of the coronavirus and the return of our citizens is another exam for our society," Zelensky said. At the same time, he urged not to stigmatize residents of certain regions of Ukraine. According to the president, indifference has no geographical sign and most people in the Lviv and Ternopil regions were ready to help and host evacuated Ukrainians. "The behavior of individual doctors and residents cannot become an occasion to blame the whole region and divide Ukraine, as our enemies would like it," Zelensky said. We recall, on February 20, a plane with Ukrainians, evacuated from Wuhan, returned to Ukraine. It was noted that healthy people were on board, they did not have symptoms of coronavirus disease. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that Ukrainians would be placed in the medical facility of the National Guard in the Poltava region. In this regard, protests against the placement of Ukrainians from Wuhan there began there. First, the evacuees arrived at the airport in Kharkiv, from where they were taken by bus to the Poltava region. In the evening, buses with evacuated Ukrainians, accompanied by police, arrived in the village of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region. Buses were stoned by the locals. They also made a fire and tried to block the road to the sanatorium. The trial of the suspects in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing over Donbas in the summer of 2014 will begin on March 9, 2020. Dutch Chief Prosecutor and Chairman of the Joint Investigation Team probing the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Russia-occupied Donbas in July 2014 Fred Westerbeke says that despite all the evidence pointing to the Russian military, Russia has not been helpful and has never admitted fault in the disaster. "[Russia] has not been helpful at all. Because what they should have done, is give us all the information and all the proof we needed in this difficult investigation they should have told us that the second day after it happened," he tells Scott Pelley, an American journalist and an anchor for CBS News. "They should have told us, 'We made a mistake.'" Pelley's report on the incident will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, February 23 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The Dutch prosecutor investigating why a passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 has brought murder indictments against three Russians and one citizen of Ukraine, but Russia won't turn them over. Read alsoMH17 suspect Tsemakh reportedly killed in Moscow late in Jan Russian media "Russia won't turn over the defendants and 60 Minutes found one of them living openly in Moscow, under Russian government protection, denying any role in the shootdown," CBS News reported. According to CBS News, two weeks from now, in a Dutch courtroom, four men will go on trial for 298 counts of murder. Dutch prosecutors will present a case saying that MH17 was brought down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile fired by a Russian crew. As UNIAN reported, Westerbeke said on June 19 that the trial of the suspects in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing over Donbas in the summer of 2014 would begin on March 9, 2020. The first four suspects in the MH17 tragedy are Russian terrorist Igor Girkin (AKA "Strelkov"), who in the summer of 2014 was the so-called "Minister of Defense of the Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR"); Russian General Sergei Dubinsky (nom de guerre "Khmuryi"), who led the "DPR intelligence;" Oleg Pulatov (nom de guerre "Gyurza"), who in 2014 headed of "the 2nd division of the GRU of the DPR;" as well as Leonid Kharchenko (nom de guerre "Krot"), who was the leader of the "reconnaissance battalion" of Russia-led forces. On July 17, 2014, as many as 298 people died when their aircraft was shot out of the sky over eastern Ukraine; 193 of those on board were Dutch, many of them headed for vacation on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The White House plans to hold a conference with Huawei Technologies Co. rivals to try to accelerate development of affordable competing 5G wireless technology, President Donald Trumps top economic adviser said Friday. Were working carefully, closely with Nokia and Ericsson, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow told reporters. Were going to be holding some kind of a conference in about a month. Im sure the president would join us in part, that would include Samsung, that will include all of our guys. He later told Fox Business that the meeting might take place in early April, and that companies including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. would be represented. The U.S. has engaged in a campaign to persuade other countries not to use Huawei equipment in emerging 5G networks, but the effort has faltered due to a lack of competing technology. Attorney General William Barr suggested recently the U.S. government or American companies should consider investing in Huawei competitors Nokia Oyj of Finland and Ericsson AB of Sweden to try to prevent the Chinese companys technology from being widely adopted. Kudlow called the U.K. governments attitude toward Huawei in particular sub-optimal. Trump has spoken repeatedly this month with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, berating him in at least one phone call for refusing to ban Huawei gear. They have made some concessions about putting the lid on Huawei, but Im an optimist, I believe we can work through it, they are our great allies, Kudlow said. The U.S. alleges that the Chinese government will use equipment from the Shenzhen-based company to spy on nations that install it in their networks. Huawei has denied that the Chinese government controls the company or has access to its products. Now read: New Showmax special offers for South Africa A rcheologists have uncovered a suspected long-lost shrine to Romes founding father and first king which dates back 2,600 years. The new find was unearthed within the ruins of Italys iconic Roman Forum and consists of a stone coffin along with a cylinder-shaped stone block, which may have served as an altar. Both are made of tuff a type of rock formed of volcanic ash carved from the Capitoline Hill that overlooks the Forum, and which is home to the modern-day City Hall. Archaeologist Patrizia Fortini said the recently excavated area represents a place, which in history and in the Roman imagination, speaks about the cult of Romulus. The ancient sarcophagus believed to be dedicated to Romulus was found in the Roman Forum / REUTERS However, she also clarified that the sarcophagus would not have contained the bones of Romulus who, with his twin Remus, established the city near the Tiber River in around 753 BC and founded the kingdom of Rome. It is likely to date to the 6th century BC, some 200 years after Romuluss time. Also, Ms Fortini added: We dont know whether Romulus physically existed, the way he was described in legends. Legend holds that Romulus and Remus were nurtured by a she-wolf as babies / Getty Images/iStockphoto But some ancient sources claimed that Romulus was buried in the area of the find, and the sarcophagus could have served as a memorial. Alfonsina Russo, the archaeologist in charge of the site, noted that according to some ancient traditions, Romulus was killed and chopped to pieces, or ascended into heaven. Therefore this cannot be his tomb, but it is very likely, we believe, that this is a memorial site, a cenotaph, Ms Russo added. While excavations continue, authorities hope the public will be able to stroll underground to view the find in about two years. MISSISSIPPI RIVER Plenty of snow. Moist soil. Full rivers. It's the perfect storm for 2020 flooding. "We're in the 99 percentile for soil moisture across the state," said Craig Schmidt, a service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities. "It's the wettest year statewide. It's been the wettest in Wisconsin. All the Midwest states were either the wettest or second wettest on record." Words like "unprecedented" and "99th percentile" are being used a lot by the people who watch the conditions that can lead to flooding as the spring melt approaches next month. Patrick Moes, a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, said the flow rate along the Upper Mississippi River has been unprecedentedly wet this winter. In early February, he said, the flow rate on the river was measured at about 40,000 cubic feet of water per second. That's nearly three times the average for that time of year, 15,000 cubic feet per second. In fact, the flow rate on the river was more in line with what the Corps normally measures for May or even June. All this didn't happen overnight, Schmidt said. ADVERTISEMENT "This has been almost unprecedented for how wet we've been for the last couple of falls," he said. But that wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the wettest year on record in 2019. Like Rochester, which set records for snowfall and overall precipitation, most of the state saw record or near-record precipitation in 2019. However, matters were made worse with a wet fall and water saturating the soil right before the freeze, Schmidt said. Because the soil is saturated, the water, whether it melts from the snow or falls from the sky, has nowhere to go but right into the creeks, streams, rivers and lakes of Minnesota. All Along The Waterfront For folks living along the Upper Mississippi River, keeping an eye on the river in the spring is a normal activity. And for some, they'll believe the doom and gloom prognostications when they see them. At Reads Landing Brewing Co. just past the south end of Lake Pepin, longtime resident and employee Laura Lemieux said businesses long the river in Reads Landing used to fear flooding more than they do today. But when the railroad tracks were built between the town and the river, things changed. "The railroad tracks form a levy," Lemieux said. "If the water ever gets over that, Wabasha will be in deep doo-doo." That doesn't mean this year won't be bad if things don't go right. Moes said the Corps will soon add another piece of data to the mix that will help predict where 2020's floods will rank. Starting next week, the Corps' survey teams will start its annual measurement of the snowpack in the watersheds for the St. Croix, Minnesota and other rivers that feed into the Mississippi River. ADVERTISEMENT "They start near the Twin Cities and go counter-clockwise across Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota," Moes said. The team will measure the depth of the snow across the region and the water equivalency the amount of water within that snow. "That information is shared with the National Weather Service and (U.S. Geological Survey) to better forecast potential spring flooding." Right now, the early estimates show the snow being slightly above normal, Schmidt said. That wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the soil. That has the NWS's long range flooding outlook predicting several spots along the Upper Mississippi River will have a better than 50 percent chance of experiencing major flooding this spring. Spots along the river with the worst outlook include Prairie Island, Red Wing (77 percent chance), Wabasha, Winona and La Crescent. The Finances Of Flooding The solution for this spring, Schmidt said, is the same solution that saved towns along the Mississippi River in 2019, melting snow during the day followed by freezing overnight temperatures that let out just a little bit of water each day. That, and keeping the rain and snowfall to a minimum through the end of May. "Once we start the melt season, we're starting from a higher base level," Schmidt said. "You have less room to fill than you would normally." That has some county and state officials worried. In Wabasha County, the county's emergency management department Tweeted Wednesday, "It is very likely that Wabasha County could see flooding this spring. It would be wise to purchase flood insurance. Remember there is a 30-day waiting period, so do it now before it's too late." Tuesday in St. Paul, Gov. Tim Walz requested $30 million be added to the state disaster relief fund for 2020 in anticipation of spring flooding across the state, according to a Forum News Service story. That fund was ravaged by 2019 flooding and is running dry heading into 2020. ADVERTISEMENT Looking forward, Schmidt said he's hoping for that perfect spring no rain March through May, and a slow melt then a summer that isn't looking to set any rainfall records. "Something in terms of a normal precipitation year would be wonderful," he said. "We need time for the water to just settle out a little bit. " The court also ruled to arrest Levin to ensure his actual transfer to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. The court of the city of Burgas (Bulgaria) has ruled to extradite one of the suspects in a deadly attack on Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk, Oleksiy Moskalenko (aka Levin), who was previously put on the wanted list in Ukraine. "There is no reason or evidence that would confirm that this person in Ukraine will be subjected to violence, torture or cruel, inhuman treatment or his rights related to criminal prosecution in accordance with the requirements of international law are not guaranteed," the court's decision says, as reported by hromadske with reference to the Bulgarian media. Read alsoHandziuk murder: Raids underway in Kherson region in deadly acid attack probe The court also ruled to arrest Levin to ensure his actual transfer to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. Ukrainian Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Trepak has confirmed the information, but emphasized this is only the first instance: the detainee has the right to appeal the decision, the appeal will be considered within seven days from the date of its submission. UNIAN memo. Kherson activist, advisor to the Mayor of Kherson and acting manager of affairs at Kherson City Council's executive committee Kateryna Handziuk, 33, on July 31, 2018, survived an act of acid throwing. She suffered burns to more than 35% of her body and underwent 11 operations in Kyiv. Handziuk died on November 4, 2018. The immediate cause of her death was a severed blood clot resulting from the acid attack. Police originally qualified the attack as an attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty, then its status was changed to completed murder. Six suspects were detained, one of whom, Mykola Novikov, was later released from custody as charges against him had been dropped. On May 7, 2019, the Prosecutor General's Office sent an indictment against five defendants in the case of the murder: Mykyta Hrabchuk, Volodymyr Vasyanovych, Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, Serhiy Torbin, and Viktor Horbunov. On June 6, the court announced their sentences. Torbin, the organizer of the murder, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Hrabchuk, the actual perpetrator of the crime, was sentenced to six years in prison. Accused of aiding, Vasyanovych and Horbunov were sentenced to four and three years in prison, respectively; accomplice Vishnevsky's sentence is four years' imprisonment. Oleksiy Levin, who has a criminal record, as well as Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger and Ihor Pavlovsky, who was an assistant to MP from the Petro Poroshenko's Bloc Mykola Palamarchuk, are also figures in the Handziuk murder case. Moreover, public activists believe that former Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Andriy Gordeev and former Deputy Chairman of Kherson Regional State Administration Yevhen Ryshchuk were involved in the crime. On January 27, Levin was taken into custody in Bulgaria's Burgas for a 40-day term after being detained on January 24. Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Thyagaraju Adinarayan (thyagaraju.adinarayan@tr.com), Joice Alves (joice.alves@tr.com), Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@tr.com) in London and Danilo Masoni (danilo.masoni@tr.com) in Milan. OPENING SNAPSHOT: RENAULT, BURBERRY AND SOPRA STERIA (0840 GMT) European stocks opened in negative territory as coronavirus cases rise and investors try to reduce exposure to perceived risk companies. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.5% and is set to lose slightly for the week hit by a number of weak earnings, especially in the insurance and bank sectors. In terms of single stocks, car maker Renault was down 3.5% after Nissan said it plans to delay restart of operations at some China plants beyond February 24 due to coronavirus impact. Burberry Group was the main faller of Britain's index after Jefferies cut its price target saying the luxury company is one of the most exposed brands to the coronavirus outbreak. On a more positive note, Sopra Steria is topping the STOXX index after it said it is planning to buy Sodifrance. Here is your snapshot of European bourses around 8.30 GMT. (Joice Alves) ***** EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN LOWER(0720 GMT) European bourses are seeing opening lower this morning as fears over the coronavirus, after China reported an uptick in new cases, are keeping investors concerned. Investors will also pay attention to new PMI figures due to be released today. "In the UK, investors will monitor through PMI data how much of the post-election optimism has stayed with the ongoing Brexit shenanigans amid a difficult start to bilateral trade negotiations," writes Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. Stoxx futures are down 0.7%, FTSE 100 futures are down 0.5% and Germany's Dax futures are 0.7% lower. (Joice Alves) ***** (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan) A Brazilian model who vanished from her Los Angeles home last month is presumed dead after California investigators found a video believed to be of her bloodied body. Authorities said that a car registered in her name was found abandoned 1,000 miles away in Oklahoma. A 2015 white Honda Accord registered to Ana Braga was recovered by authorities on February 12 after it stood vacant and abandoned for weeks in the parking lot of Remington Park casino and racetrack in Oklahoma City. Braga was last heard from on January 29, when she spoke by telephone with her mother, Delma Felix, in Brazil, according to KTLA-TV. Police in California say they have surveillance footage showing the bloody body of a woman lying face down with a belt and electric cord wrapped around her neck. The woman's body has yet to be recovered. Ana Braga, 24, a native of Brazil who moved to Los Angeles a year ago to pursue a modeling career, has been missing since January 29 A white Honda Accord (like the one seen in the above stock image) registered to Braga was found abandoned in a parking lot in Oklahoma City The car was left abandoned for weeks near the Remington Park casino and raceway in Oklahoma City Investigators, however, have yet to recover the womans body, though the victim filmed in the surveillance video is feared to be Braga. Detectives in California used GPS technology to trace Bragas car to Oklahoma City. A search warrant revealed that investigators went inside the vehicle and found an ID belonging to a woman named Ana, according to KFOR-TV. Oklahoma City detectives said that the white sedan was found locked in the south lot before it was impounded and taken into an evidence chamber inside a climate-controlled storage facility. California investigators say they have surveillance footage showing the body of a woman with her face down and an electric cord wrapped around her neck. They believe it is Braga, but the body has not been recovered Friends and relatives are fearing the worst as Braga has been missing for weeks Authorities in Oklahoma say that surveillance footage from February 1 shows two individuals ditching the car inside the parking lot before getting into a green minivan. Braga moved to Los Angeles from her native Brazil a year ago to pursue a career in modeling. I want them to find her body and I want them to bring her body back to Brazil, Felix told KTLA-TV. Felix said that she would speak with her daughter every day. Suddenly, after their January 29 conversation, she stopped calling. I want to find my daughter because I want to do her funeral and Im not in the condition to do all that. The mother said: I feel like trash, I feel like Im nobody. She was the only one who helped me with everything. Timothy OBrien, a friend of Braga, told KTLA-TV: I just try to go back and kinda think who could have done this. Braga worked part-time as an Uber driver. She also earned money by working for a food delivery service, according to friends. Before moving to Orange County and Los Angeles, Braga lived near Boston. A University of Cambridge don has apologised to a black student who was grabbed by a porter as he tried to enter a college for a meeting with a professor. Collin Edouard, a masters student at the university, was left shocked after an employee prevented him walking into St Catharines College this week. He said he informed the porter he was a student and gave the professors name and room number, but was only allowed to continue after a white friend vouched for him. Mr Edouard told The Independent the experience showed the implicit bias faced by black students at Cambridge. He said: My experience being grabbed by an employee was traumatising. I felt shocked and I still feel uncomfortable going through porters lodges. There is a reason the man felt entitled to grab me as I entered the building. I find it challenging to find another reason other than implicit bias. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS 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 Professor Sir Mark Welland, master of St Catharines College, apologised to Mr Edouard for the unacceptable treatment he suffered. But Mr Edouard, who is studying music at Wolfson College, does not want the apology to be seen as a stopping point and hopes there will be conversations about the larger issue. Speaking to The Independent, the 32-year-old said: This is only the beginning of a movement that will hopefully minimise implicit or explicit biases. I encourage people of colour at this institution to speak out regarding any form of injustice. In a statement published on the colleges website, Sir Mark said he wished to make a sincere and public apology to Mr Edouard. He said: While we were taking reasonable measures to secure the premises during a protest nearby, Mr Edouard was initially physically prevented from accessing the college by an employee. This was entirely unacceptable in the context of a student attending a supervision. Recommended Oxford Union head resigns after blind student dragged out of debate Sir Mark added: Our processes did not ensure that Mr Edouard was treated with the highest level of respect and courtesy that we aspire to. We are aware that, despite our best intentions, he felt singled out based on race and we are truly sorry for the distress this has caused him. The college is now investigating the incident and said it would share any learnings with the rest of the university. It comes after other black students experiences have been in the spotlight with racist chants in student halls and a banana thrown at a black graduate hitting the headlines. In November last year, the president of one of the most prestigious debating societies in the UK resigned after a blind black Oxford student was reportedly dragged by his ankles out of a debate event. Ebenezer Azamati, a PhD student from Ghana, was removed from the Oxford Union event by a security guard when he tried to return to a seat before the debate began. An investigation by The Independent revealed the number of racist incidents in universities across the UK surged by more than 60 per cent between 2015 and 2017. 'Washington is well aware that the Haqqani group was responsible for terrorist attacks on the Indian diplomatic establishments in Afghanistan.' 'But today US self-interest dictates that Sirajuddin Haqqani's mainstreaming in Afghan political life and a potential elevation eventually to a leadership role at the national level is useful and necessary, since he can deliver peace,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar. The manner in which the Trump administration is ramming down the Afghan throat a peace settlement is disconcerting. Delhi's silence is more so. One shudders to think that comprador elements in the Indian establishment could be silently collaborating with the US project, in the shadow of the upcoming 'Namaste, Trump' event. Neither the Indian political leadership nor the 'Deep State' seems to grasp that the geopolitics of the South Asian region is transforming with far-reaching consequences. Events are moving in a torrential flow, navigated by the US-Pakistani compass. With Pakistani help, the Trump administration has secured a near-optimal deal with the Taliban. The deal calls for negotiations between Afghans to start next month, an eventual country-wide cease-fire and a commitment from the Taliban not to harbour terrorist groups, while setting a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops. A senior US official claimed that the agreement for a seven-day 'reduction in violence' is 'very specific' and covers Afghan government forces, and, importantly, the Taliban has committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. The 'reduction in violence' will commence today, February 22, but earlier on Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo disclosed that the pact will be inked on February 29, which suggests Washington's growing trust in the Taliban. Pompeo's announcement comes immediately after a stunning op-ed by the deputy head of the Taliban (dreaded leader of the Haqqani network), Sirajuddin Haqqani in The New York Times, the flag carrier of the Washington establishment, vowing that his fighters are 'fully committed' to the 'reduction in violence' deal. The Haqqani network takes the cue from Islamabad and Sirajuddin's opinion piece (which was highlighted by the Voice of America later) signals that Islamabad wants the 'reduction in violence' pact to be displayed on the ground. Indeed, Sirajuddin's piece also signifies his metamorphosis from a branded terrorist to a political figure, which is how most insurgencies end. Washington is well aware that the Haqqani group was responsible for terrorist attacks on the Indian diplomatic establishments in Afghanistan. But today US self-interest dictates that Sirajuddin's mainstreaming in Afghan political life and a potential elevation eventually to a leadership role at the national level is useful and necessary, since he can deliver peace. As for Pakistan, it can rest assured that a regime in Kabul with Sirajuddin in a commanding role will be amenable and never play footsie with Indians. Ironically, on a parallel track, Washington also finessed the rejectionist stance of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at a joint meeting on February 15 with Pompeo, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper and the chief negotiator with the Taliban Zalmay Khalilzad on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. What offer the Americans made to Ghani which he couldn't refuse we do not know yet, but he has overnight turned into a believer and enthusiastic supporter of the 'reduction in violence' pact between the Trump administration and Taliban. It is entirely conceivable that Ghani's next move after the Munich appeasement on return to Kabul -- announcement of the results of last year's presidential election -- would have tacit US approval. Unsurprisingly, the Afghan Opposition has roundly condemned Ghani's move. Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah is threatening to form a parallel government. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai also lashed out at the so-called international community for prompting Ghani to rig the election result. In a statement on February 19, Karzai said, 'The process that was imposed on our people under the name of 'elections' was not a national process and was in contrast to the values of democracy.' He rejected the election results and stated that the election process fundamentally serves foreign agendas, which aim at weakening Afghanistan's national sovereignty and creating division among the people so that 'foreigners can implement their plans.' Nonetheless, interestingly, the UN and the European Union lost no time to congratulate Ghani on his election victory. This would suggest, again, Washington's confidence that the anti-Ghani Opposition leaders -- some of whom are on the CIA payroll, in fact -- will ultimately accept the fait accompli. But Karzai further responded with a tweet: 'As was feared, unfortunately, the wrong decision to hold elections and misconduct in the process caused divisions threatening further instability. Now it is upon us, the Afghan people, to protect our homeland from the negative consequences, steadfastly work for peace and foil foreign designs against our unity, integrity and sovereignty.' Later, when Khalilzad, who is camping in Kabul, called on Karzai on a mission to pacify him, the latter tweeted: 'Former President Hamid Karzai met Mr Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan's Reconciliation, & Amb. Ross Wilson on Wednesday. The former President emphasised the following: Contradictory remarks by the international institutions involved in the elections are a clear sign of external efforts to divide the Afghan people and weaken the country. b) Strong US-Afghan relations are possible only when the US proves its good intentions through active support for a peaceful, united and sovereign Afghanistan.' Evidently, feelings are running high. But Pompeo's announcement on Friday setting the date for the signing of the 'reduction in violence' pact underscores that Washington is confident of steamrolling the anti-Ghani political forces drawn from the non-Pashtun ethnic communities. In essence, the US is playing the 'Pashtun card' -- opting for the restoration of Pashtun dominance to stabilise Afghanistan, which has, of course, been a historical reality. But there is a significant section of enlightened Pashtuns and the Tajik, Hazara and Uzbek nationalities who feel marginalised and let down. They had expectations for a future for their country as a modern, moderate, plural and truly independent State. They would be apprehensive that the US-sponsored settlement would put Pakistan in the driving seat in Kabul eventually. They would have no reservations about integrating the Taliban as such but through a transparent process of inter-Afghan dialogue. An interim government would have met the purpose ideally. Quite obviously, the recent four-day visit by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to Pakistan took place against the above backdrop where Washington is grooming the UN to navigate Afghanistan's transition. Washington encourages Guterres to prioritise Pakistan's goodwill and cooperation for the sake of the success of the fateful UN mission in Afghanistan. His highly controversial remarks on Kashmir and the Modi government's anti-Muslim policies (while on a visit to Pakistan last week) fall into perspective. He didn't speak flippantly. His chastising remarks were intended to put Delhi on the defensive. Guterres hinted probably that India cannot afford to be a 'spoiler' in Afghanistan. You don't throw stones from glass houses, after all. Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar served the Indian Foreign Service for more than 29 years. He has served as India's ambassador to Turkey and Uzbekistan and has been a contributor to Rediff.com for well over a decade. Workers in protective gear spray an antiseptic solution in a Seoul train station on Friday to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images With coronavirus cases soaring, the government in South Korea said on Friday that it had failed to keep the virus out of the country and must now focus on containment. South Korea is now the country with the most coronavirus infections outside China, with a total of 433 confirmed cases. The government has urged the 2.5 million people in Daegu to stay in their homes and has banned some public gatherings. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. South Korea on Friday accepted that its efforts to stop the deadly coronavirus from taking hold in the country had failed and said it would switch its strategy to containment. The nation's prime minister, Chung Sye-kyun, told attendees of a high-level meeting on the virus that "the government has so far focused on curbing infections coming from outside the country," according to the Yonhap news agency. "From now on, the government will further prioritize preventing the virus from spreading locally," he said. Chung said the priority is now "to find people who have contacted infected people and cure patients." An exhibition center turned hospital in Wuhan, China. STR/AFP/Getty Images By Saturday, Friday, South Korea had reported 443 cases. That's compared to 156 early on Friday, which had been almost three times Wednesday's figure. Moon Jae-in, South Korea's president, said in a Tuesday statement about the economic impact of the virus that "the current situation is more serious than we think." Like many of the countries near China, South Korea had concentrated on stopping the virus from entering the country. The virus first infected people in the city of Wuhan, China, and has spread to at least 29 other countries. The vast majority of cases are in mainland China, which has reported more than 77,000 cases and 2,300 deaths. The new cases in South Korea make it the country with the most infections after China, though there are more than 600 cases on a cruise ship docked in Japan. Story continues People wearing masks in Seoul. Jong-Hyun Kim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Most of South Korea's cases are in two clusters: in Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city, and in nearby Cheongdo County. The two areas have been declared "special care zones," where authorities are preparing health workers and medical equipment, Yonhap reported. Daegu's 2.5 million residents have been asked to stay at home, preschools have been closed, and the military has stopped drafting people from the city. People wearing face masks visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on February 10. Getty South Korea's first death from the virus was recorded in a hospital in Cheongdo County on Wednesday. Most of the people infected in South Korea appear to have been part of a religious group, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, a branch of the controversial Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The country's capital, Seoul, has banned demonstrations at three of its main squares, Yonhap said. Seoul has so far recorded seven coronavirus cases. Read the original article on Business Insider By Express News Service BENGALURU: Several pro-Hindu organisations including the Sri Ram Sene, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and others held protests against Amulya Leona in and around Bengaluru on Friday, following the pro-Pakistan slogans she raised during an event at Freedom Park on Thursday. Members of Hindu Janajagrithi Samithi and Sri Ram Sene protested in front of Town Hall, demanding stringent action against the 19-year-old student. Praveen Shetty from KRV demanded that she not be allowed to live in the country. Congress party (district unit) workers gathered at Maurya Circle and demanded that Amulya be banished from the country, urging the court not to grant her bail. Sculpture by the Sea is likely to stay in Sydneys eastern suburbs for at least the next five years despite organisers threatening to move the event amid claims the construction of a concrete path would "rip the guts out" of the popular art exhibition. Waverley Council voted last week to finalise negotiations on an agreement to stage the outdoor sculpture show along the coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach and Marks Park. David Cerny's Pinktank Wrecked was one of the artworks shown at last year's Sculpture by the Sea. Credit:Janie Barrett Waverleys Labor mayor Paula Masselos said council officers had been working with the events organisers on minor amendments to the existing agreement to run the event. Negotiations are progressing well with changes close to being finalised, she said. The first Aboriginal woman to manage a cattle property in Australia wants to amend Australia's constitution and create a rehabilitation facility for Queenslands low-risk Indigenous criminal offenders. Keelen Mailman was recently awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. Keelen Marie Mailman, who has been the station manager at Mount Tabor Cattle Station in central Queensland since 1998, is no ordinary woman. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) last month for her service to the Indigenous community of Queensland and was a finalist for Queensland Australian of the Year in 2007. Ms Mailman grew up in Mount Tabor but moved back to Augathella, near Charleville, at the end of 1997. KENT A local plumbing contractor was found dead Thursday, one day before he was due in court on a charge of sexual assault of a minor, according to published reports. Eric Fenyes, 46, was found dead in his Mountain Road home in Kent after fire units and medics responded to the house around 4:15 p.m. Thursday. State police told The Republican-American of Waterbury that a gun was used in Fenyes death and foul play was not suspected. One month after Wuhan sealed off its borders. The citys millions of residents have been ordered to stay indoors. It has been nearly four weeks since Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, sealed its borders. Stricter measures have now been imposed by the Chinese government, which is determined to control the crisis that has brought the country to a standstill. Millions have been forbidden to leave their homes a food and supply pick-up has become many residents only outing for the day. Al Jazeeras Katrina Yu spoke to residents living in Wuhan. Courtesy Image/Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack's Office / Courtesy Image/Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack's Office Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack says the feral hog trapping program he green-lighted in January has had what he describes as great success with a total of 27 feral hogs captured by trappers. From what we have observed and from feedback from precinct residents, there has been no new private property damage inflicted by the hogs in the targeted areas since the three-month program began, Noack stated in a press release. Our office is aware that trapping has provided poor results for the long-term reduction of hog populations but in the short-term we will continue to try and provide our residents with immediate relief. We will continue to work to control the feral hog population by working with both local and state authorities for a more long-term solution. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) India plans to build a stronger bilateral partnership with Kenya through the promotion of trade and investment in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and the agri-processing industry India wants to operate a special flight to carry relief supplies there and bring more Indians back In this handout photo provided by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Indian nationals who were airlifted from coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan play indoor games at a quarantine facility at Chhawla area in New Delhi on February 15, 2020. (PTI) New Delhi: India and China seemed to be locked in a dispute over clearance for an Indian flight that will evacuate Indians quarantined in the coronavirus-stricken city of Wuhan in Hubei province. An Indian official said China was deliberately delaying the clearance. The IAF flight is expected to carry relief supplies to Indian in Wuhan and bring back more Indians from that city. China maintained there is no delay. Police have arrested a male on suspicion of assault and criminal damage following an incident in which a female secretary in her 70s was left badly shaken Police have arrested a male on suspicion of assault and criminal damage following an incident in which a female secretary in her 70s was left badly shaken. The woman was allegedly confronted at the parochial house at All Saints Church in Ballymena on Thursday afternoon. Police said yesterday: "We would like to thank the members of the public for their timely information and assistance in relation to this matter". On Thursday night, a priest had told of his shock at the "very distressing" incident in which a secretary was assaulted at a parochial house by a man demanding money. Fr Paddy Delargy, the parish priest of the Kirkinriola Parish in Ballymena, said the man also broke a table and flung flower pots beside All Saints Church on the town's Broughshane Road around 4pm on Thursday. He said the secretary had been in the job for a long time and was "very, very professional and very competent and someone who could be deeply disturbed by this". Haiti - Crisis : France's intervention at the UN Security Council dedicated to Haiti Thursday, February 20, in her intervention at the session of the UN Security Council devoted to Haiti, Anne Gueguen, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations declared : Extracts from France's intervention in Haiti : "[...] Mr. President, The current crisis in Haiti is above all a political one and France welcomes the efforts made by the Special Representative to contribute to its resolution. We regret that, despite the involvement of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), the 'political conference for a way out of the crisis', which was held from January 29 to 31, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29925-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-political-conference-for-a-way-out-of-the-crisis.html with the participation of the country's political forces, the private sector and civil society, no could have led to an agreement allowing the return to a normal constitutional and democratic framework. It should indeed be recalled that the legislative elections which were scheduled for 2019 could not be held and that Haiti is today devoid of any parliamentary representation, which, in the light of Haitian political history, cannot last. France once again appeals to President Jovenel Moise but also to all the political forces in the country, in particular the opposition, as well as to civil society and the private sector, so that they commit themselves with determination to a real national dialogue, a dialogue that places the interest of Haiti above political interests, and allows the holding of free and democratic legislative elections. [...] The current blockage in Haiti is also due to root causes that must be faced. I will mention three. The first is corruption. For many months, Haitian civil society has been demanding transparency faced the corruption that destroys citizens' confidence in their institutions. The fight against corruption and impunity must be given top priority by Haitian politicians in order to restore the bond of trust with the population. The second structural difficulty is economic insecurity. The deadlock in the fall of 2019 came to weigh even more on the country's economic and social situation, which was already very fragile. The growing precariousness of millions of Haitians complicates the ability of different social forces to provide a solution to the political crisis. Haiti's international partners must continue to mobilize to provide humanitarian aid to meet the most urgent needs. Finally, the third root cause of the blockage is insecurity. Haitian society is living in a state of insecurity which is today extremely serious, in particular due to the activity of gangs, as Mrs. Gilles has just explained to us in a very striking way. The security requirement goes hand in hand with the fight against impunity. I am thinking in particular of the massacres at La Saline and Bel Air, which gave rise to overwhelming reports from the United Nations. Those responsible for them must be sought, prosecuted and punished in the context of legal proceedings which comply with international human rights standards. All human rights abuses observed during the autumn protests must also be investigated, whoever the perpetrators are. The same goes for the sexual violence mentioned by Gilles. [...] We are all aware that the multidimensional nature of the crisis in Haiti makes its resolution particularly complex [...] Our Council must therefore continue to maintain all its vigilance and take the appropriate measures, in particular if the situation in Haiti should continue to deteriorate. [...]" See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29925-haiti-flash-failure-of-the-political-conference-for-a-way-out-of-the-crisis.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29905-haiti-politic-2nd-day-at-the-nunciature-still-very-far-from-a-political-agreement.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29551-haiti-flash-crisis-failure-of-the-mediation-to-the-apostolic-nunciature.html HL/ HaitiLibre File image No one needs to fear about the CAA as it is not meant for throwing anyone out of the country, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said here on Friday, after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Shiv Sena chief said an atmosphere is being created in the country that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is "dangerous" for Muslims, but added that the exercise will not be carried out in Maharashtra. Talking to reporters after his meeting with Modi that lasted nearly an hour, Thackeray said he had a discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR) and the NRC. "I have made my stand clear on all these issues. No one has to fear about CAA. I had said CAA is not a legislation to throw anyone out of the country," the Shiv Sena chief told reporters. His son Aaditya Thackeray, also a minister in his cabinet, accompanied him during the meeting. This was Uddhav Thackeray's first visit to the national capital after taking over as the chief minister of Maharashtra. He later met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, veteran BJP leader L K Advani and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Thackeray's Shiv Sena was earlier a part of the BJP-led NDA, but formed the "Maha Vikas Aghadi" government in Maharashtra with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after parting ways with the saffron party. The Congress and the NCP, along with some other opposition parties, have been critical of the CAA-NPR-NRC, and the matter has created discord among the Maharashtra alliance partners. Thackeray said the Centre has already made its stand clear in Parliament that NRC will not be implemented across the country. Sources said the leaders discussed the functioning of the state government. "Talking about NPR and Census...the census happens every 10 years and it is important that it takes place. I have assured all the citizens of my state that no one's right will be taken away. "An atmosphere is being created about NRC that it is going to be dangerous for Muslims," he said. Thackeray said the NPR is also not to drive anybody out of the country. "Chief minister Thackeray has his own view over the issue. We have voted against CAA. We have a coalition government in Maharashtra and we will have a discussion on it soon," NCP leader Sharad Pawar had said earlier this week, giving an indication of differences over the issue. Thackeray, however, ruled out any discord. "There is no friction among the allies. We are going to run the government for five years," he said. Elaborating on his meeting with Modi, Thackeray said he had good discussions with the prime minister on the issues concerning the state. "I (Thackeray) told him that whatever political developments that have taken place, Maharashtra should get cooperation from the Centre. He has promised me...Centre's cooperation," he said. "The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Uddhav Thackeray as well as Minister in the Maharashtra Government, Shri @AUThackeray called on PM @narendramodi. @OfficeofUT," the PMO tweeted. The chief minister also discussed issues pertaining to the payment of Maharashtra's share in the GST collections and non-availability of crop insurance companies under a government scheme in 10 districts of the state. Help India! By T I Inamdar, TwoCircles.net The 390th birth anniversary of the most loved Maratha leader Shivaji, Shiv Jayanti was celebrated on February 19 across educational institutions and social organizations of Maharashtra. Support TwoCircles The occasion was celebrated independently in cities of Bhiwandi, Jalgao, Osmanabad, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ausa, Ratnagiri and more. Notably, Muslims registered huge participation in the state wide birth anniversary celebration of the revered Maratha ruler. Massive rallies, slogan chanting and blood donation camps were organized to honour the secularism and humanity of the late ruler whose numerous humanitarian qualities have been now chronicled into books. Active Participation of Muslim brothers and sisters in Shiv Jayanti is a slap on the faces of those people who divide us for their political gains, said Shyam Kadam, President of Sambhaji Brigade, Solapur city unit. He added that the enthusiastic participation of Muslims in Shiv Jayanti in the state is not new, this has been happening for the last few years now and surprisingly, the figure of participation is rapidly increasing every year. He also suggested that since last few years there has been a praiseworthy change in the Marathi social scenario where communal clashes have remarkably gone down and people have started to know each other better by coming together. Kadam extended the credit of this growing positive social change to Govind Pansare, author of the Marathi book Shivaji Kon Hota. The book is a historical account highlighting that there were almost no communal clashes during Shivajis reign and that Muslims lived in harmony with the Hindus within his state. The book discusses how Shivaji never defamed Islam nor treated Muslims as others, but honoured them as per their efficiency, outlining that at a time they were so trustworthy that Shivajis personal 11 guards were Muslims. Kadam praised the efforts of Sayed Shah Gaziuddin who translated this literature into Urdu, which significantly encouraged the social changes being witnessed at community levels in Maharashtra now, Kadam opined. Qamrunnisa, a voluntary blood donor from Solapur speaking with Twocircles.net said, I feel that it is a responsibility of us to give respect to this great soul by participating in the events. We can spread brotherhood by following his teachings. She discussed how Shivaji is an inspiration for each and every Maharashtrian as he never discriminated between any community; in fact always respected all religions and their scriptures. She felt happy to add that the involvement of Muslim women was very active in blood donation camps and sloganeering to celebrate the glory of the Maratha warrior. In Osmanabad, local Muslim youths also arranged blood donation camps near Khwaja Shamshuddin Dargah to mark the 390th birth anniversary. More than 100 people attended the donation drive. Both the communities are victims of misconceptions about each other, if we want to know each other about religions then we have to come under one umbrella to celebrate such occasions, said Shaikh Baba Faizuddin, a voluntary blood donor in the Osmanabad camp. He stated that maintaining communal harmony is important and everyone is much keen to maintain peace in their respective cities. In Jalgao, Shaheed Abdul Hameed Foundation had also organized a blood donation drive in Israr Nagar Chuna colony area wherein 61 Muslims came ahead to register their presence by remembering Shivajis legacy of excellent secularism. Cross can stay at Florida public park, circuit court panel rules Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A 34-foot tall cross can remain at a public park in Florida, according to a ruling from a three-judge panel that reversed an earlier decision from the same appeals court. The panel with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled Wednesday that the cross at Bayview Park in Pensacola could remain. Circuit Judge Kevin Newsom, author of the panel opinion, noted that they reversed an earlier ruling against the cross because of a remand from the U.S. Supreme Court. In September 2018 we affirmed a district courts decision ordering the removal of a 34-foot Latin cross from the city of Pensacolas Bayview Park on the ground that the citys maintenance of the cross violated the First Amendments Establishment Clause, wrote Newsom. The judge noted that the city appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and after the highest court in the nation concluded that a cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, could remain on public land, they vacated our earlier decision, and remanded for further consideration. First, plaintiffs have provided no evidence of the sort of discriminatory intent that would warrant invalidating a presumptively constitutional monument, continued Newsom. Second, plaintiffs offer no evidence of deliberate disrespect in the monuments design. There is nothing unique let alone uniquely disrespectful about the Bayview Park cross. Becket, a religious liberty law firm that represented Bayview in the litigation, celebrated the new opinion, giving credit to the Supreme Court for their Bladensburg ruling. The Supreme Court has now made clear that religious symbols are an important part of our nations history and culture, said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, in a statement released Wednesday. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which along with the American Humanist Association brought the lawsuit on behalf of a few residents, denounced the decision. It is not hostile to religion to uphold government neutrality over religion. Bayview Park is not a Christian park, Pensacola is not a Christian city and the United States is not a Christian nation, stated FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. Tax-exempt church property abounds where this cross belongs. Its presence in a city park sends a message that Christian citizens are insiders, and the rest of us are outsiders and thats an alarming message. Known as Kondrat'yev, et al v. City of Pensacola, the case regarded a large cross that has stood at Bayview Park since 1969, replacing an older wooden cross put up in 1941. In May 2016, Amanda Kondrat'yev, Andreiy Kondrat'yev, David Suhor, and Andre Ryland filed a lawsuit against the cross, arguing that it did not belong in the park. In June 2017, U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled against the cross, concluding that it failed the Lemon Test, which says state-supported religious entities must have a secular purpose. Despite the favorable ruling for the plaintiffs, Vinson also wrote that he believed the founders of the U.S. "would have most likely found this lawsuit absurd." "And if I were deciding this case on a blank slate, I would agree and grant the plaintiffs no relief. But, alas, that is not what we have here," he concluded. "I am aware that there is a lot of support in Pensacola to keep the cross as is, and I understand and respect that point of view. But the law is the law." In September 2018, a three judge panel of the Eleventh Circuit unanimously ruled against the cross, with the panel stating that they were constrained by legal precedent. The Supreme Court remand that vacated the September 2018 ruling stemmed from the case American Legion v. American Humanist Association. In the case, the high court ruled 7-2 that a large cross honoring World War I veterans could remain at a public memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland. Justice Samuel Alito, who authored most of the multi-part majority opinion, stated that there is no evidence of discriminatory intent in the selection of the design of the memorial or the decision of a Maryland commission to maintain it. The Religion Clauses of the Constitution aim to foster a society in which people of all beliefs can live together harmoniously, and the presence of the Bladensburg Cross on the land where it has stood for so many years is fully consistent with that aim, he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to help a young woman who refused to board an evacuation flight out of virus-hit China without her small dog. Anastasiya Zinchenko, a 22-year-old model, was due to fly out Thursday with a group of 72 Ukrainians and other nationals from the city of Wuhan, the centre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. But she decided to stay when the Chinese authorities said she could not take her Pomeranian dog Michelle on board because she lacked the necessary papers. "We won't leave you there. I wanted to phone you personally, because for me this is very important," Zelensky said in a phone call to Zinchenko, a recording of which she posted on Instagram. "We will certainly find ways and means. We will find a way to get you back." No cases of coronavirus in Ukraine Ukraine so far has no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 2,000 people and infected over 74,000, mostly in China. A group of 45 Ukrainians and 27 citizens of other countries on Thursday arrived in Ukraine on a special flight from Wuhan. As rumours and panic spread, locals blocked roads and threw stones at buses as evacuees were taken to a medical facility in the central Poltava region. Zelensky's spokeswoman confirmed the president had called Zinchenko "to calm her down." Authorities "are working" on finding ways to evacuate the woman and her dog, spokeswoman Yuliya Mendel told the French news agency AFP. If you are fond of exotic cuisine, rich culture, turbulent history and some outstanding natural beauty, then Poland is your best bet. Poland, is probably the only place in Europe where the horrors of the Second World War juxtapose itself with high street fashion and modern glass facade. If you are fond of unique cuisine, rich culture, history and some outstanding natural beauty, then Poland is truly the place to be. It was viewed as the gateway to Eastern Europe for the longest time, but today more and more tourists are flocking to this European gem. It inexpensive and relatively a less commercial tourist hotspot compared to Western Europe. Not many know that Poland's capital, Warsaw has earned the title of the most destroyed city on the planet nearly 90 per cent of Warsaw was bombed and destroyed during the Second World War. But with sheer hard work and determination, the Poles rebuild the city brick-by-brick. In fact, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews takes one back in time. The reconstructed Old Town, which is on the UNESCO list, is always buzzing with street musicians, cafes and backpackers. But despite its mass appeal, Poland remains relatively crowd-free and inexpensive even in summer unlike the rest of Europe. The vintage tramps with their bells and whistles are chug straight from some bedtime stories. Marvellous Market Square When I landed in Krakow, I was most impressed with its magnificent architecture and beautiful churches. You will find buildings with Classical, Baroque and even Gothic style architecture. Krakow is no doubt Poland's cultural jewel. The medieval Old Town, with its cobbled streets, horse carriages and cute cafes still remains firmly intact to its original charm. The Stary Rynek (Old Market Square) is probably the best place to sit and do some people-watching. Not to forget, the bugle calls from the uneven towers of St Mary's Basilica that cut through the cool wind every hour. The setting is perfect to soak oneself in the afternoon sun and try some Polish vodkas (Zubrowka, Belvedere, Chopin to name a few) and gorge some Pierogi (Polish dumplings), chicken soup, cabbage roll, or breaded pork cutlet. You should also explore the Wawel Castle and stroll along the Kazimierz. Wherever you look in Poland, it's hard to escape the country's pristine beauty and turbulent history. Many a bloody battles were raged on its soil. Salted Splendours The Wieliczka Salt Mine that date back to the 13th century is located 15-km from Krakow. It is probably the only place in the world that has sculptures, statues, walls, floor tiles and even chandeliers that are intricately carved out of salt. Legend has it that the salt mine was founded because of Hungarian Princess Kinga. She dropped her ring on the ground and the locals dug a deep hole to find it, but instead found salt deposits. The miners with their bare hands dug up all the shafts and beautiful chambers. However, during World War II, the Nazi Germans used the salt chambers to stock their supplies. Wartime history For history aficionados, Poland is a treasure trove of mystery, betrayals, and the ultimate limits of human minds - both for destruction as well as the fight for survival. Even today, Jews from across the world come and pay tribute to Oskar Schindler at his Enamel Factory in Krakow. Schindler, a wealthy German businessman had saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews. The famous movie, Schindler's List (1993) was shot here. The concentration camp of Auschwitz and Birkenau is probably one of the saddest places to visit in Poland. Millions of Jews were killed in these camps. I was in two minds whether to visit them. You have hundreds of museums in the world, but there is only one Auschwitz, said my host, who had lost some of here relatives in the holocaust. I mustered the courage and visited both the Jewish extermination camps, only to come back and think about the horrors committed by the Nazis. I nursed myself to a stiff drink that night and slipped in bed, only to wake up the next day to the brighter side of Poland. It is this aspect of fascinating history, delicious food, great booze, medieval charm, friendly people and raw beauty that makes Poland a truly untapped European gem! Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22 2020 The illegal clinic, in which more than 900 pregnancies were terminated since 2018, that was uncovered by the Jakarta Police recently, shows the persistent demand for abortion in Jakarta, with experts calling for the government to provide better facilities for safe procedures. Investigations are still ongoing into the clinic located on Jl. Paseban Raya in Senen district in Central Jakarta. Police arrested three suspects on Feb. 11 for allegedly facilitating illegal abortions. The suspects are a gynecologist identified only as MM aka A, RM a midwife and S a clinic staff member. Furthermore, Jakarta Police are also on the hunt for others alleged to be involved in the case, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus 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 A man is facing nearly 250 years in prison for the repeated rape of a female relative that took place over four years. A state District Court jury found Gabriel Merendon, 42, guilty on Friday of 14 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13, according to the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office. His sentencing is set for May 11. The rapes occurred over the course of four years from 2013 to 2017 in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, said Michael Patrick, a District Attorneys Office spokesman. New Mexico State Police began investigating the case in 2018 after a teenage relative accused Merendon of sexually assaulting her since she was 8-years-old. At the time, the girl told police she decided to come forward after Merendon messaged a teenage relative, and she didnt want anyone else to fall victim to him. According to court records, in 1998 Merendon was charged with criminal sexual penetration, kidnapping and five counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. The trial ended in an acquittal. Two deaths from the new coronavirus sparked fears throughout northern Italy on Saturday, as about 50,000 people were poised for a weeks-long lockdown imposed by authorities trying to halt a further increase in infections. Italy on Friday became the first country in Europe to report the death of one of its own nationals from the virus, triggering travel restrictions on about a dozen towns where the number of people contaminated has continued to rise. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that people living inside the affected areas in the northern regions would be restricted to those areas, while schools and businesses closed, as part of measures designed to stem new infections. "In zones considered hotspots, neither entry or exit will be authorised without special permission," Conte said during a press conference. A 77-year-old woman died on Saturday near the small town of Codogno in Lombardy in the north, a day after a 78-year-old retired bricklayer succumbed to the virus in the neighbouring region of Veneto. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus rose to 79 by late Saturday, including the two deceased, said the head of Italy's civil protection department, Angelo Borelli. Most are in the region of Lombardy, but three other regions in Italy's north have confirmed cases, as well as the central region of Lazio, which includes the capital, Rome. Newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that the virus had also been identified in Milan, Lombardy's largest city and the financial centre of Italy. "The contagiousness of this virus is very strong and pretty virulent," Lombardy's health chief Giulio Gallera told a press conference earlier on Saturday. But he cautioned: "Today it's not a pandemic." Conte warned that the restrictive measures would last for a couple of weeks, corresponding to the length of time the virus incubates. Some 50,000 people, who had already been asked to stay at home by local authorities, will be affected, he said. Italian authorities have also ordered the postponement of three Serie A football matches on Sunday. He urged people not to "give in to feelings of panic." - 'Patient number one' - In Lombardy, health authorities had identified "patient number one", a 38-year-old man from the small town of Codogno southeast of Milan who has been in a serious condition in intensive care. All cases in the region are connected to him, Gallera said, whether medical workers, relatives or friends. Italian media had reported that the man dined in January with a friend recently returned from China, yet who has tested negative for the virus. But Italy's deputy minister of health, Pierpaolo Sileri, said that since the man had not subsequently developed antibodies, he was not the source of the contamination. In Codogno, streets were mostly deserted and few shops open a day after the mayor put the town of 15,000 people on temporary lockdown. As night fell it resembled a ghost town. One man, who gave his name as Alberto, described a "muffled silence" in town. "I don't have a mask because they ran out in the pharmacy, but I'm taking precautions," said the 68-year-old. "When I meet someone, I talk to them keeping my distance, or I take the long way around to get home so I don't run into anyone." - 'No panic' - Italy's health minister said the man who died on Friday, Adriano Trevisan, had been admitted to hospital 10 days earlier for an unrelated health issue. The president of Veneto, Luca Zaia, told RaiNews 24 early Saturday that none of those infected with the virus in the region had been in contact with anyone who had recently arrived from China. In Rome, two Chinese tourists who were Italy's first confirmed cases remain in isolation. A third man who was also quarantined has recovered and been released from the same hospital, the Spallanzani Institute in Rome, said Borrelli of the civil protection department. Since December, COVID-19 has killed more than 2,200 people in China, the epicentre of the virus. Elsewhere in the world, it has killed more than a dozen people and spread across some 27 countries and territories. Last Sunday, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the new coronavirus in France. In the areas now under lockdown in northern Italy, public activities such as carnival celebrations, church masses and sporting events had been banned for up to a week, while bars, restaurants, schools and libraries had shut their doors. In Lombardy, health officials confirmed 39 cases of the virus, with another 12 in Veneto Streets were largely deserted in the small Italian town of Codogno Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have agreed to entrust the US and World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of the Ethiopian dam, to be signed by the end of February Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed commitment to the success of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under Washingtons sponsorship, a statement by the presidency read on Saturday. Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said El-Sisi received Hailemariam Desalegn, special envoy to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and former prime minister in Cairo. El-Sisi said that a near agreement between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the filling and operation of GERD would secure a balance between all involved parties. He added that the agreement would open new aspects for cooperation, coordination and development between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. Such a step would mark a new stage towards developing joint relations between the three countries and a positive and developmental yields on the Nile Basin area, the statement quoted El-Sisi as saying. El-Sisi affirmed Egypts fundamental policy on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in domestic affairs. Desalegn delivered a message from Ethiopian PM Ahmed, where he expressed his interest in boosting bilateral relations and friendship with Egypt. Ahmed also praised Egypts chairmanship of the African Union in 2019, according to the statement, which also reported that Desalegn presented updates on GERD in light of talks between the three countries. The visit by the Ethiopian official to Cairo comes a few days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to Addis Ababa that it could take "months" to resolve the dispute between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the dam. Earlier this month, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan agreed to entrust the US and the World Bank with the preparation of the final agreement on the filling and operation of the Ethiopian dam. The agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the month, according to a statement by the three countries, the US and WB earlier this month. Tensions have been building between Egypt and Ethiopia in recent months after talks on the technical details governing the operation of the dam had failed to make progress. Ethiopia hopes that the massive $4.8 billion project on the Blue Nile, which has been under construction since 2011, will allow it to become Africas largest power exporter. Search Keywords: Short link: The escalation of violence in Syria's Idlib province could lead to a new migrant influx in Europe that would bear resemblance to the crisis of 2015, Kerem Kinik, Sputnik reported citing the president of the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and vice president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The long-running conflict in Syria was one of the main reasons for the surge in migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe five years ago. A total of 860,000 refugees fled Syria in 2015 alone, while 5.6 million Syrian citizens have become displaced since hostilities commenced in 2011, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In Greece, the first landing spot in the EU for most Syrian refugees, the UNHCR estimates that arrival numbers have risen from 36,310 in 2017 to 74,613 this past year, with many fearing that this figure could rise again in 2020. A total of 3.6 million displaced Syrian citizens remain in Turkey, on the EU's border. On December 1, Syrian government forces launched an offensive in Idlib province to recapture pockets of the region controlled by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist organization (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia). International organizations have condemned the violence in Idlib, and have called for an immediate ceasefire. On Monday, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock claimed that approximately 900,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in northwest Syria since the offensive began, and Kinik stated that a significant number would be looking to move to Europe. "Yes, for those [Syrian refugees] in Idlib, there is nowhere else to go. While this is a contextual fact, we also observe a strong desire, among displaced, a preference to stay in their own country," the TRC president said. Russian authorities have refuted Lowcock's claim of a wave of refugees fleeing the region. On Friday, head of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation Rear Adm. Oleg Zhuravlev said that reports of hundreds of thousands of civilians heading for Syria's border with Turkey was not true and that there had been no verifiable photos or video recordings. Despite the competing claims surrounding the number of people who have become displaced by the escalation in violence, Kinik called for humanitarian groups to be given full access to the region in order to help protect civilian lives. "We should enable unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Idlib and focus on how we should protect civilians from being targeted by parties to the armed conflict," the TRC president remarked. He added that improving the humanitarian situation in the country was vital, especially as schools, homes, market places and hospitals have been targeted. MANILA, Philippines - The words of a centuries-old prayer rose in the balmy air and echoed over the graves, hypnotic in the rhythms of ancient Aramaic but no less weighty in translation: Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world. The kaddish, the Jewish prayer of mourning, had rarely if ever been spoken at this vast American military cemetery in southern Manila, the final resting place of 17,058 U.S. soldiers from the Second World War. Atop a quiet plateau, the names of young service members who lost their lives in the Philippines and South Pacific, oft-forgotten battlefields of the deadliest conflict in history, are etched on row upon row of identical white marble gravestones - nearly all in the shape of the Latin cross, the symbol of Christianity. But not all the Americans laid to rest here are Christians. ADVERTISEMENT At least five Jewish soldiers were buried under a cross when they were entitled to a Star of David on their gravestones. Many of their relatives, living halfway around the world, had no idea. The U.S. military blames clerical errors, miscommunication with families or incorrect information in the records of the soldiers, some of whom may have concealed their faith. The mistakes stood for decades - until a group of Jewish scholars and researchers launched a project to correct the record at U.S. military cemeteries around the world. In solemn ceremonies Wednesday, five crosses in Manila were lifted from the emerald lawns and replaced with Jewish stars. On them were inscribed the names of 1st Lt. Robert S. Fink of New York; Pvt. Allan C. Franken of Hartford, Conn.; Sgt. Jack Gilbert of New York; Pvt. Arthur Waldman of Detroit and Pvt. Louis Wolf of Philadelphia. "Anyone visiting these cemeteries should recognize that Jews have been part and parcel of America, have been committed to America, have loved America, have volunteered to fight for America - and have made the ultimate sacrifice for America," said Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, a historian at Yeshiva University in New York and co-founder of the project, Operation Benjamin. Vicki Katz, a lawyer from Torrance, Calif., stood under a broad tree beside the grave of Pvt. Waldman, her great-uncle. Her mother and grandmother had barely spoken of him over the years. Katz eventually learned he'd been captured by Japanese forces and survived the Bataan Death March across the Philippines, only to starve to death at a Tokyo prison camp in 1944. But no one in the family had seen where he was buried until now. "My entire family is grateful to Operation Benjamin for giving us the opportunity to get to know Arthur," Katz told the gathering, "and to honor his service by correctly marking his grave." Hands clasped over a blue patterned dress, Katz and her husband, Rich, watched as Philippine cemetery workers hauled away the old gravestone and planted the new one in its concrete saddle, drawing a string atop the star to place it in line with the neighboring crosses. ADVERTISEMENT An Air Force chaplain led the mourners in reciting the kaddish: Blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world. "Amen," they responded. For soldiers buried in a distant land who never received a memorial service - certainly never a Jewish one - the ceremony restored a connection to their faith that had been lost to history. The star is the physical affirmation, the kaddish the spiritual one. "Arthur, on behalf of the Jewish people," Schacter said when the prayer ended, "we are honored to welcome you home." --- Through meticulous genealogical research, Schacter and his colleagues have succeeded in changing the grave markers of 11 Jewish soldiers buried under crosses, and believe there are hundreds more. The project originated in June 2014, around the 70th anniversary of the D-day landing, when Schacter stood in the heavy stillness of the American cemetery at Normandy, France. ADVERTISEMENT The site held personal significance: His father, Rabbi Herschel Schacter, had served in the war as a chaplain alongside the Army soldiers who liberated Buchenwald, then spent several months tending to survivors of the Nazi concentration camp. The symmetry of Normandy is designed to overwhelm: more than 9,380 white grave markers stretching in every direction on a bluff above Omaha Beach. Staring down one row, Schacter saw the sharp right angles of the Latin crosses interrupted, here and there, by a smattering of Stars of David. "It slowly dawned on me that there should be more Jewish stars than there were," Schacter said. "I just had this kind of a feeling." Back in New York, he shared this observation with Shalom Lamm, an entrepreneur and military historian. The official database of Normandy burials didn't list soldiers' faiths, so Lamm - a self-described obsessive on such matters - started combing through online photographs of the cemetery. About 550,000 Jewish Americans fought in World War II, making up 3.4% of the 16 million Americans who served - roughly equal to the Jewish share of the U.S. population at the time. That meant there should have been about 330 Jewish grave markers at Normandy. Lamm counted only 149. And he found many seemingly Jewish names carved onto crosses. "I was consumed by a sadness," Lamm recalled. "I said, 'Wow, is that a mistake?' And I wondered how such a mistake could happen." --- The short answer, it turned out, was that gravestone errors were common. Middle initials, spellings, even dates of death were sometimes recorded incorrectly by military personnel tasked with gathering the bodies of more than 400,000 dead Americans. "Clerical errors always happen," said Rob Dalessandro, deputy secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission, the federal agency that oversees the 56 U.S. military cemeteries and memorials abroad. Even today, the agency receives about two dozen requests for changes to gravestones every year. There were added complications for Jewish burials. Some Jews who fought in Europe discarded the dog tags that included their religious affiliation - or scratched out the "H," code for Hebrew - in case they were captured by Nazis. When a Jewish soldier perished, the Army's efforts to communicate with relatives, many of them recent immigrants, were sometimes stymied by language barriers. If religion couldn't be determined, the military "would sort of default to a Latin cross" for burial, Dalessandro said. Lamm and Schacter knew none of this when they began investigating their first Normandy burial: Benjamin B. Garadetsky, an Army private from the Bronx who was laid to rest under a cross, but whose name suggested he was Jewish. They found him listed in the records of the National Jewish Welfare Board, a wartime assistance organization. That led to his parents' grave sites, at a Jewish cemetery on Long Island. Still, to change a gravestone, the monuments commission requires a request from a living relative. Garadetsky was unmarried and had no children. His sister had changed her name at marriage and was untraceable. Like looking for a ghost, Lamm thought. It wasn't until they took out an ad in a Jewish newspaper that they tracked down a nephew in St. Louis. Backed by Lamm and Schacter's research, the family filed a request with the commission, which acknowledged the error and, in 2018 replaced the cross with a star. Operation Benjamin, named for Garadetsky, has succeeded in every marker change it has asked for. Last year, the group helped change the gravestones of two brothers from Los Angeles, 1st Lt. Frank B. Solomon and Sgt. Charles L. Solomon, airmen and Purple Heart recipients who were shot down over Germany and France two months apart. The commission, for its part, has shown no interest in defending burial decisions made 70 years ago. "The quality of their research is so good, I just really admire them," Dalessandro said. "Our sacred duty is to curate the resting places of our fallen overseas ... and any time we can correct an error like this, it really means something to us." --- Operation Benjamin remains nonprofit and volunteer-driven, the only paid staff member a professional genealogist. The group decides which burials to investigate, conducts research independently and takes no money from soldiers' relatives - who are usually surprised to be contacted. "It was completely unexpected and it was also such a great gift," said Rabbi John Franken of Baltimore, who came to see his uncle Allan Franken's Jewish marker installed - the first time anyone from the family had visited the grave. The son of a German Jewish immigrant, Pvt. Franken volunteered for the infantry and was sent to the Pacific, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur's forces were fighting to dislodge Japanese troops. On the Philippine island of Mindanao, Franken's 24th Infantry Division battled in thickets of hemp trees so dense that, according to one account, "a strong man must fight with the whole weight of his body for each foot of progress." Army scouts could barely see through the vegetation and sometimes didn't know they had located a Japanese soldier until they came under machine-gun fire. It was there that the 20-year-old Franken was shot in the face. He died at a field hospital May 24, 1945 - less than three months before Japan surrendered. His brother eventually learned he was buried under a cross. But as the decades passed, that knowledge slipped deeper into the family's consciousness like so much else about the war - a discordant note in a distant, fading tune. "It was an honest error, but it feels good to finally be rectifying it," said Rabbi Franken, 52. "There is an idea in Judaism that there is no greater kindness than that of the living to the dead. That feels like what we are doing for these men. It's the eulogy they never received." At day's end, there would be 171 Jewish headstones among the 17,058 at Manila, home to the largest number of American World War II dead outside the U.S. When it came time for him to address the gathering at his uncle's grave, Franken's voice quavered as he took in, for the first time, the cross that was about to be removed. "I think I've put off coming here because seeing this would not have brought me comfort," he said. "It would have brought me pain." The star was hammered into place, and the chaplain began the prayer again. Franken closed his eyes, reciting it from memory. He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel. And let us say, Amen. Franken kissed a stone and placed it atop the grave, a Jewish custom of remembrance. Later, he would reflect on the significance of the kaddish at a cemetery of war: It is a prayer of mourning but contains no reference to death, not even a word. It is a paean to God, to the value of life and to the Jewish people. It is, above all, a prayer for peace. --- (c)2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 2 days. If you purchase the stock on or after the 25th of February, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 9th of March. Hyatt Hotels's next dividend payment will be US$0.20 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$0.80 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Hyatt Hotels stock has a trailing yield of around 0.9% on the current share price of $91.76. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing. See our latest analysis for Hyatt Hotels Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Hyatt Hotels paid out just 10% of its profit last year, which we think is conservatively low and leaves plenty of margin for unexpected circumstances. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NYSE:H Historical Dividend Yield, February 22nd 2020 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. That's why it's comforting to see Hyatt Hotels's earnings have been skyrocketing, up 27% per annum for the past five years. Hyatt Hotels earnings per share have been sprinting ahead like the Road Runner at a track and field day; scarcely stopping even for a cheeky "beep-beep". We also like that it is reinvesting most of its profits in its business.' Story continues The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Since the start of our data, two years ago, Hyatt Hotels has lifted its dividend by approximately 15% a year on average. It's great to see earnings per share growing rapidly over several years, and dividends per share growing right along with it. The Bottom Line From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Hyatt Hotels? Typically, companies that are growing rapidly and paying out a low fraction of earnings are keeping the profits for reinvestment in the business. Perhaps even more importantly - this can sometimes signal management is focused on the long term future of the business. In summary, Hyatt Hotels appears to have some promise as a dividend stock, and we'd suggest taking a closer look at it. Ever wonder what the future holds for Hyatt Hotels? See what the 13 analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. 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. Media, Whatsapp University, and Social Media has already jumped the gun with their jubilation. The number they quote makes UP's latest haul bigger than the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India (618 tonnes as on Aug'19), temples such as Tirupati Balaji (~ 9300 kilos) in Andhra Pradesh and Sree Padmanabhswamy Temple (~900 kilos) in Kerala. The state of Uttar Pradesh and the government driven by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath could soon be thanking their stars if Gold is indeed struck at a 108 hectare wide area at the Naxal affected district of Sonbhadra. The number being floated around is 3,000 - 3,500 tonnes of Gold. The news of the latest discovery in Uttar Pradesh has caught fire with Twitter thanking Gods and online news-media using debatable permutations and combinations. Obviously, no one wants to be left out in the Gold-party at India's largest state. It all started with Indian geologists claiming on Friday that Gold mines were discovered in Uttar Pradesh. Also reported were mines rich in iron ore, Platinum, Uranium, phosphates and other precious metals. The assessment was conducted jointly by UP's Department of Geology & Mining and the Geographical Survey of India. News agency ANI quoted KK Rai, District Mining Officer as identifying the sites as Sonpahadi and Hardi in Uttar Pradesh. "The government is thinking of putting these deposits on lease for mining, for which [a] survey is being done. Gold deposits are found at two places Sonpahadi and Hardi field. GSI estimated gold deposits of 2700 million tonnes in Sonpahadi while 650 million tonnes in Hardi filed." On Saturday, another news agency, IANS, confirmed the development in a story. S Rajalingam, Sonbhadra district magistrate confirmed that a survey team found gold in two hills and that another assessment for finding Uranium was underway. "Tonnes of uranium is expected to be found in the Kudri hill region. The GSI team has dug the hill at three locations for uranium samples," an official involved in the survey was quoted as saying. Sonpahadi and Hardi are located within Sonbhadra district which has its headquarters at Robertsganj. Besides Sonbhadra, Gold reserves have also been reportedly found in Berwar area of Lalitpur although the exact reserve size is yet to be announced. An HT story reported a team of geologists discovering a diamond reserve in a recent exploration in Banda district of Bundelkhand region. This is closer to Panna and Satna in Madhya Pradesh which has had a history of mining diamonds. The total reserves of Gold-ore in the latest discovery were estimated at 3,350 million tonnes, higher than the Kolar Gold reserves in Karnataka which were shut down over environmental concerns in 2001. An unverified estimate pegs production of Gold in Kolar mines between 1880-1980 at approximately 900-1000 tonnes. The excitement or Gold-rush certainly is high. So high that a leading business news-website claimed UP's new mine having discovered 3,000 tonnes of Gold reserves worth Rs 12 lakh crores. Unfortunately, neither the Chief Minister nor officials involved in the assessment have done any talking on the Gold grade. For those keen on numbers, the likelihood of 24 Karat Gold discovered at UP would mean - Rs 12,52,200 crores [calculated for 3,000 tonnes at Friday's IBJA market price for 24K Gold, 1 Tonne = 1000 Kilograms]. For reference, the amount above is 2.44 times bigger than UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's latest state budget of Rs 5,12,860.72 crores. The new blessing from the top floor - the gold mine in the remotest probability of housing 24 Karat Gold biscuits would augur good for only two years and a few months and not an entire lifetime as Twitter experts and Whatsapp University believe. How much Gold can be found? So far, neither the GSI nor the state geology department has confirmed how much Gold could be mined from the ore even as over-enthusiastic media reports imply that 100% Gold is recoverable from the mine. Grade quality of an ore suggests how much Gold could be mined. This is usually denoted in grams per ton (g/t). An undated document of an assessment conducted at Gulaldih (currently in Jharkhand) in 1996-200 by the GSI estimates Gold yield at 3.87 g/t. Gulaldih is a nearly 12 hour drive from Robertsganj. The amount of Gold that could be mined from the latest discovery of reserves depends upon several factors - complex mining operations and technical processes. A higher gold-grade in ore results into better yield. For instance, the Fire Creek mine in Nevada, United States, has a grade of 44.1 g/t. At one time, India's Kolar Gold mines boasted of such higher grades. According to this research report, KGM (Kolar Gold Mines) initially yielded 47 grams from each ton of ore processed between 1881-1890 but by 1990s the yield deteriorated to just 3 grams per ton due to depletion of grade reserves. The report estimates total production at KGM at 800 tonnes of Gold from a total of 51 million tonnes of rock (ore). Computing how much of Gold can be mined from the recent discovery in Uttar Pradesh is an intricate and complex procedure left best to the analysis of expert geologists and mining companies. Gold Mine found: Good or Bad? Discovering a gold mine in itself is an arduous process. Mining it, however, comes with its own set of pros and cons. On one hand, there is plenty of Gold, a precious metal India outrageously loves. India is the world's second largest buyer of Gold after China and latest data says that we imported nearly 800 tonnes of the Yellow Metal between 2018-19. A gold mine also results in potential jobs and economic advantage to locals. UP is home to 20 crore people of whom at least 9.95 percent are unemployed. On the other hand, the immediate concern is Sonbhadra losing its status - 'Switzerland of India', given the rampant pollution and environmental degradation associated with a mining project. India's first Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru struck by the scenic beauty of Sonbhadra called it as the 'Switzerland of India'. The district is also referred as the Energy Capital of India thanks to availability of several power plants such as the NTPC's Singrauli Super Thermal Power Station (Singrauli is also a district). Sonbhadra is also a naxal affected region and was ranked 250th most backward district in a 2006 government report. Also, several cases in recent times have explained the perils of a gold-mine. In 2012, villagers in a Romanian town called Rosia Montana made of 16 villages protested over a Canadian Gold miner's plans of a large open gold mine on a scenic setting of centuries old Churches, cemeteries, and nature. The impact of closure of South Africa's mine called Durban Deep, also nicknamed as the 'Grand Old Lady' has been well documented in this Washington Post story. Back in India, the closure of Kolar Mines, was accompanied by cases of environmental degradation. Complainants pointed out to hills of cyanide, chemicals and residue. They also complained of an entire city reeking of a foul chemical stench. Also Read: A Protest in Tuticorin that lead to 12 deaths and a billionaire CEO taking a step back Meanwhile the Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Geology and mining says that a 7 member team for "auctioning" the new blocks has been constituted and a report will be out soon. Here are some tweets: Gold deposits found in Sonbhadra district by Geological Survey of India and Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Geology & Mining. K K Rai, District Mining Officer says, "Government is thinking of putting these deposits on lease for mining, for which survey is being done". (20.02.20) pic.twitter.com/mgC7QW4Ufo ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 21, 2020 After gold mine in Sonbhadra's earth, platinum reserves were found in the hills of Lalitpur Look at the blessings of Lord Rama, the worshiper of Hindus, the state that Akhilesh-Maya had made a pauper is becoming rich today. https://t.co/KH0S83aGet (@avinash_giriujj) February 22, 2020 People going nuts over a gold mine! Remember the hogwash of KG - basin gas reserves in Gujarat , that claimed to have made India energy independent by the then CM "Narendra Modi "#GoldMines #Sonbhadra https://t.co/zBDKvHhr2t Virendra Rawat (@virendr_here) February 22, 2020 The district where the gold mine has been found is called 'Sonbhadra' and the exact place/hill where the gold mine is found is called 'Sonpahadi'. Interestingly, The gold biscuits from the gold will be called 'Sonpapdi'. Vikas (@v13000) February 22, 2020 Disclaimer: Image is only for representational purposes. Update: The Georgaphical Survey of India announced a press release claiming that the news of Gold mine may have been fabricated and twisted out of proportion. GSI explained on Saturday that the estimated reserve was only 160 kilos and not 3,000 or 3350 or 3500 tonnes. Here's a story on how the information may have spread. Irish broadcaster Eoghan McDermott has revealed that he has been spat on in the street and didn't leave his house for months following abuse. The RTE presenter opened up about his struggles in the public eye following the death of his friend, Love Island host Caroline Flack last week. Flack died by suicide last Saturday and her tragic death has prompted McDermott and others to urge people to be kinder to each other. McDermott spoke candidly on The Late Late Show last night about how he developed social anxiety in the wake of his controversial call for Fairytale of New York to be censored in 2018. On his 2FM slot McDermott tweeted about two gay colleagues, one of whom was in favour of censoring the word f****t from the festive song, while the other wanted it to not be played at all. The TV and radio presenter, who has described himself as marmite in the past, said that he didn't leave home for months after his sentiment on The Pogues' song was misconstrued prompting outrage international controversy. "It wasn't like anyone wanted to argue they just wanted to go, 'you're this, you're that', this guy spat at me on Harcourt Street," he recalled. "It went beyond the phone and into the real world. "I didn't leave the house for three months. I got social anxiety." McDermott said that people shouldn't be subjected to abuse just because they are in the public eye. He said that before her death, his friend Flack, with whom he "stayed in touch and saw each other a few times a year", knew she had a strong support system around her but was "pummelled" with abuse. "I was shocked, I am shocked," he said. "She knew she was loved and had a really strong gang of people looking out for her right up until she died. It wasn't that she didn't feel she had a network she could plug into it was just that she was pummelled and pummelled and pummelled and ridiculed too hard until it became too much. She had people to lean on and it wasn't enough. "Caroline would regularly be in tears because she had this gig, the biggest show in the UK, she was the face of it and she'd sit and just cry because people would call her fat and (say) 'you suck at your job and you're no good. Expand Close Tragic: Caroline Flack / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tragic: Caroline Flack Read More "It was absolutely relentless and I was very aware of that for her, being quite polarising," he continued. "Of course she saw that stuff. Maybe there's this misconception that as your profile rises your ability to insulate yourself from that kind of nastiness rises. "She was just a girl with a flat in London who did telly." Mr McDermott urged people to imagine their loved ones in the shoes of someone they are about to bully and to "be a little kinder". "If you wouldn't like it said to your brother or your sister or someone you would put yourself on the line for, maybe just try take a step backwards and be a little kinder." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article please contact Samaritans on freephone 116 123, text 087 260 9090 (standard rates apply) or email jo@samaritans.ie or contact Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48 or Pieta House on 1800 247 247. She's been storming the runaway for Milan Fashion Week. And Kaia Gerber was taking inspiration from the 1970s with stylish denim co-ords as she stepped out in the Italian city on Saturday. The model, 18, ensured that she was caught up on her recent press clippings as she carried a magazine which boasted one of her recent shoots on the cover. Chic: Kaia Gerber, 18, took inspiration from the 1970s with stylish denim co-ords as she stepped out in Milan on Saturday Kaia cut a stylish figure as she stepped out in a matching denim cropped jacket and flared jeans, both from Reformation. The fashion favourite accessorised the look with a fitted white top, along with a chunky black belt and matching boots. Shielding her eyes Kaia opted for heavy dark sunglasses as she headed out for the day armed with a collection of glossy magazines. Sensational: The model appeared to be catching up on her press clippings as she carried a magazine covered with one of her recent shoots Off-duty: Kaia displayed her funky sense of style with a stylish denim jacket and matching flared trousers, both from Reformation Out and about: She teamed the casual look with a fitted white top and a thick black belt as she headed out armed with a selection of glossies The star seemed to have an interest in looking back at her previous works, as one publication featured her glamorous face from a recent photo shoot. During Milan Fashion Week, Kaia has walked for brands including Prada, Fendi, Moschino and Max Mara. Earlier on Friday she led the models at Tod's runway show. The model made a bold style statement in an oversized beige coat and bright red tights on the catwalk. She then joined the likes of Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Irina Shayk on the star-studded catwalk for Versace's Fall/Winter 2020 runway show. Model: Kaia added to her relaxed look with black leather block heeled boots as she took a break from her runway duties Casual: Kaia shielded her eyes from the sun with oversized glasses as she headed out ahead of her latest runway appearance Before jetting to Italy, Kaia walked in numerous shows during both London and New York Fashion Weeks, earlier this month. The catwalk queen is the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford, 54, and male model turned businessman Rande Gerber, 57. Kaia made her runway debut in 2017 and has since become one of the world's most in-demand models. Caucus is being billed as the first in a state more accurately reflective of the ethnic makeup of the country. The muddled race to secure the Democratic nomination for US president enters a new phase this weekend as voters in the western state of Nevada gather to show their preference for one of the seven candidates still in the race. With two contests behind them, the candidates fanned out across the state ahead of the vote in an effort to convince caucus-goers that they were best suited to take on President Donald Trump in the November general election. Speaking at a rally Friday, the races current frontrunner, Bernie Sanders, focused on encouraging voters to participate in the caucuses. You know, if you cannot win an election based on your ideas and your ability to convince people to vote for you, you should not run for office, Sanders said. But many cowards out there who cant win an election on their ideas are trying to suppress the vote all over this country. High-stakes contest The contest in Nevada is being billed as the first one in a state that more accurately reflects the ethnic makeup of the US as a whole. Unlike Iowa and New Hampshire, where more than 90 percent of voters are white, Nevada counts a sizable contingent of minorities, with 30 percent of the population describing themselves as Latino and 10 percent African American. 200222064932963 The stakes could not be any higher for the remaining Democratic candidates. Polls released in the final days leading up to the vote showed Sanders firmly out in front of his more moderate challengers, with the support of 30 percent of voters compared to about 15 percent for Joe Biden, his closest competitor. Sanderss lead among Latino voters was even higher, standing at 33 percent in one poll conducted by the Spanish-language Univision television network. Poor performances in the first two states by Biden, the former front runner, sent his national poll numbers plummeting and spooked the big donors who had been backing him. His campaign manager, Greg Schultz, told reporters on a conference call that Biden is banking on at least a second-place finish in Nevada. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg are seeking to capitalise on the momentum from strong showings in New Hampshire. Klobuchar finished third in New Hampshire and Buttigieg finished second, just over one percentage point behind Sanders. Nevada will be the first test, however, of whether the two can broaden their base of support and appeal to voters of colour. Elizabeth Warrens campaign got a boost from Wednesday nights debate, which set a television ratings record, where she went on the offensive and attacked the newcomer on stage, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, for trying to buy the nomination. Her performance prompted an outpouring of financial support -$5m in the 24 hours after the debate and breathed new life into a campaign that had been flagging since disappointing results in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Unusually, Bloomberg is not even on the ballot in Nevada. The former New York City mayor has opted to sit out the first four contests and concentrate his efforts on delegate-rich Super Tuesday. His campaign spent some $7m a day during January; $464m in total since he launched his effort in December. The other billionaire in the race, Tom Steyer, is polling in fifth place in Nevada, while Hawaiis Tulsi Gabbard, is polling below two percent. Potential delay After the disastrous caucuses in Iowa, during which results were delayed for days by software snafus, Democratic leaders have been keen to make it clear that they learned their lesson. Nevada officials scrapped plans to use the same software used in Iowa, flooded the state with staffers to help out, and set up a 200-person call centre to intake results. Even then, officials warned, the outcome could be delayed. Were going to do our best to release results as soon as possible, but our North Star, again, is accuracy, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez told reporters earlier in the week. This year, for the first time, party officials opened up the otherwise restrictive caucus process and allowed early voting to boost turnout and interest. The change had its intended effect. Officials said around 75,000 people turned out to vote during a four-day window early in the week, some of them waiting more than three hours to do so, which is just shy of the 84,000 people who turned out to vote during the 2016 process. Nevada has a total of 48 delegates up for grabs, 36 of which will be doled out based on the results of Saturdays vote. Heading into the competition, Buttigieg was ahead in the race for delegates, with 23, compared to Sanders 21. I Am Not Okay With This is your next binge-worthy young adult drama. At just 7 half hour episodes youll want to plough through this tale which fuses coming-of-age with supernatural -should we expect anything less of the producers of The End of the F***ing World & Stranger Things? Sophia Lillis (It, Gretel & Hansel, Sharp Objects) exquisitely portrays Sydney, a boring 17yo white girl, who is fairly angry with her bland Pittsburgh life of high school & family. Sydney lives with her mom Maggie (Kathleen Rose Perkins) and younger brother Liam (Aidan Wojtak-Hissong), all of whom are 12 months on from the death of their father / husband. School is especially dullsville, aside from her best friend Dina (Sofia Bryant) whose time is compromised when she starts dating school jock Brad (Richard Ellis). So introspective is Sydney that a teacher encourages her to pen her thoughts in a diary -which serves as the series narration. But shes not even enthused about that directive either. Dear Diary go f*** yourself, she begins. Yes there are deep-seated self-esteem problems going on here, all part of puberty, budding sexuality, and especially family life. Im not special and Im ok with with that, Sydney explains. People I love dont love me back. But there is also her distinctive friendship with the very odd Stanley (Wyatt Oleff), a classmate who has a fondness for the 80s and living by his own quirky rulebook. Sydney and Stanley forge a relationship that blossoms out of their alone-ness and will be tested in unexpected ways. Without getting into spoiler territory, Sydney will come to discover she has special powers that are uncontrollable a secret she struggles to comprehend. Navigating her teen years is complex enough without this kind of burden. Sophia Lillis is pitch perfect as the plaintive, anarchic Sydney, delivering a beautifully underplayed performance. Wyatt Oleff brings spontaneity and spark to the piece while Kathleen Rose Perkins from Episodes & Youre The Worst is especially versatile as her harried single mother. Supernatural elements are not often found alongside such naturalism but thats what makes this all the more interesting. And as Sydney tries to comprehend what it all means, viewers will be similarly intrigued by it all. There are also occasional nods to retro and pop culture, including The Breakfast Club and Carrie, but it isnt as overt as in Stranger Things. Co-Creator, Director / Executive Producer Jonathan Entwistle delivers a smart and engaging tale for Young Adults (and even a few not-so-young). Cant wait to see where this goes I Am Not Okay With This premieres Wednesday February 26th on Netflix. Israel Health Ministry on Friday reported the first case of the novel coronavirus, involving a woman who returned to the country a day before from cruise ship Diamond Princess quarantined off the coast of Japan. "The passenger contracted the virus while in Japan, and only after returning to Israel was found to have the virus, yet is not currently exhibiting any symptoms of the disease," said Gili Regev Yochai, Director of the Infection Prevention Unit in the Health Ministry, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The newly-infected passenger is the girlfriend of one of the infected passengers currently undergoing quarantine in Japan. A total of 11 people had returned to Israel from Diamond Princess -- a luxury ship quarantined off the coast of Japan on February 5 after it emerged that a former passenger had tested positive for the virus. Coronavirus first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since then killed more than 2200 people in that country alone, while cases have been reported in several countries across the world, including India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A small stretch of the road closed for over two months in Shaheen Bagh due to an anti-citizenship law protest was "opened" by a group of demonstrators on Saturday, though police barricades continued on one side. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) R P Meena said, "Road number 9 in Shaheen Bagh was reopened by a group of protesters, but later it was closed by another group." However, locals later said the road was again reopened by protesters in the evening. Protesters claimed that they "opened" the stretch, which would allow passage between Noida and south Delhi, at around 5 pm near the protest site, but the Delhi Police and the Noida police were continuing the barricade from one side restricting access to commuters. The Delhi Police had maintained that it has barricaded adjacent roads due to security reasons. The development came after three days of talks between the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors -- senior advocates Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran -- and the protesters over the issue of difficulty to commuters due to blocking of roads. Ramachandran reached the protest site on Saturday around 10 am and spoke to the protesters. The road, which connects Noida to southeast Delhi and further to Faridabad in Haryana, was closed for traffic in the wake of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protest at Shaheen Bagh since December 15. Only emergency vehicles like ambulances and school buses are being allowed to pass through the stretch, the police said. Taseer Ahmed, one of the protesters, said that the road, known as Thokar number 9, was already open partially. "The barricades were placed on this stretch, but two-wheelers were already passing through the road. Thokar number 9 passes through Abul Fazal Enclave, Okhla and Jamia Millia Islamia. One side of the varsity has already been closed and the traffic is moving on single side and it is not possible for heavy vehicles, even for four-wheelers, to pass through that varsity road," Ahmed said. According to the police, the protesters briefly opened a small portion of a road leading to Kalindi Kunj so that locals can pass through it with their two wheelers. The Noida Traffic Police, however, also continued the restrictions on the Uttar Pradesh side of the road, an official told PTI. "When the protesters were asked by the interlocutor to open the one side of the road where the protest is going on, they gave their demands, including safety and security of the protesters, notices should be removed from the protesters and the protest site must be covered with aluminium sheet, to them," Ahmed added. After the talks on Friday, Hegde had said the protesters, in principle, were not fundamentally against opening of the non-protest side of the road if their security could be guaranteed in writing by the Delhi Police under suitable orders of the apex court. "It was being alleged repeatedly that the protestors have blocked the Kalindi Kunj road, which leads to Noida Sector 37. So, today it was decided that this allegation has to be done away with and the route was opened," Sonu Warsi, a protestor, said. "The decision was also taken to give a gift to the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors, whose interaction and mediation has helped reopen the case. We have opened the road and it is now up to the Delhi Police and UP police to decide which vehicles they will allow," he added. "We have no idea how the Thokar number 9 will help the commuters when the barricades already present on other side. For ambulances, school buses and other emergency vehicles, the passage was already opened," Naushad Ahmed, another protester said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tackling the troll army Some dos and donts for brands Nasty, argumentative, highly opinionated, affinity to mouthing profanities the troll army in the digital space is a growing and intimidating menace, especially for those at the receiving end of their digital lashings. For brands, trolls are akin to cyber bullies, who target them for anything. #WomenDisruptors: Lessons in juggling time Todays organisations are increasingly taking into cognizance the importance of providing an enabling work culture for their women work force. And all this begins with bringing in a successful work-life balance. Adgully spoke to a cross-section of women industry experts to know how they bring in that elusive balance and successfully break barriers at work. #WomenDisruptors: A clarion call for Indian corporates on work-life balance Tracking ones time and setting up boundaries are two important key players in efficient management of work life. Gone are those days when leaving the office meant leaving work behind. Adgully spoke to a cross-section of women leaders on the crucial role that organisations can play in helping their women work force achieve a successful work-life balance and attaining their full potential in their careers as well as personal life. Reliance consolidates media & distribution business into Network18 Reliance Industries has announced a consolidation of its media and distribution businesses spread across multiple entities into Network18. Under the Scheme of Arrangement, TV18 Broadcast, Hathway Cable & Datacom and Den Networks will merge into Network18 Media & Investments. The appointed date for the merger shall be February 1, 2020. #TwitterChat: Managing career breaks & returning to work after a hiatus Over the last several weeks, Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the Women Disruptors in the M&E industry, Under the umbrella and vision of Women Disruptors, Adgully has started conducting a series of Twitter Chats, which will bring to the fore challenging issues pertaining to Women Leaders and the formidable women workforce on various interesting topics. #WomenDisruptors: Comfort is your enemy. Seek discomfort Kavita Koserwal Kavita Koserwal, Director & CEO, Orcomm Advertising, began her early career in journalism with leading Hindi news channel AajTak. After dabbling in journalism, she decided to be an entrepreneur and co-founded Orcomm Advertising along with her husband in the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, Indore. Hailing from a business family, the spirit of standing on her own and turning up as a true entrepreneur was in her DNA. KKK 9 was the biggest impact non-fiction reality show of 2019: Nina Elavia Jaipuria With the latest season of Bigg Boss all wrapped up, Colors is all set to premiere its popular stunt-based reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi. Season 10 of the show will go on air from February 22, 2020. Maruti Suzuki comes onboard as the presenting sponsor, Mountain Dew as the Risktakers partner, while Balaji Wafers is the Snack Partner. Trending Now: Brand building will be more pronounced Manoj Malkani Manoj Malkani, Executive Director, Concept Communication, sees further surge in content consumption across platforms in the year ahead. According to Malkani, there has been a huge increment in the regional space, which will keep growing in 2020. Trending Now: Existing privacy laws in India cant cope with scale of data creation Susan Josi, Managing Partner, Havas Life Sorento, is optimistic about the scope of digital health in India, even as she sees encouraging growth in digitally influenced retail spending in the year ahead. Trending Now: Digital transformation increasing ambit of communications Atul Sharma, Managing Director India, RuderFinn Asia, writes about the key changes that took place in the communications business last year, as well as how digital transformation is changing the way the Public Relations industry operates. Times Network elevates Navika Kumar as Group Editor - Politics Times Network has announced the elevation of Navika Kumar as Group Editor Politics, Times Network. In her new role, Kumar will have additional charge of driving Political Reporting strategy for the Networks news brands ET Now, Mirror Now, and Timesnownews.com, while continuing to play a pivotal role in the management of Times Now. OTT players to invest Rs 2.5 bn in content creation & distribution: MMA-GroupM Indias Internet user base is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent from 2019 to 2023. As of Q1 2019, India has an active user base of 451 million, while the Internet penetration hovers over 36 per cent. This was revealed in the third edition of Mobile Marketing Ecosystem Report 2020, launched by The Mobile Marketing Association India (MMA India), in collaboration with GroupM. 44% of Indian telecom users spend more when bundling OTT media services Among Indian respondents, the research found that carrier-bundled OTT media services make users spend more on their mobile and home broadband bills. They are also among the most likely to remain loyal to a carrier if provided with the right media offer. The survey also revealed that Indians are the most likely in the region to subscribe to multiple paid OTT video streaming services. Online video audience in India to reach 500 mn in 2020: Deloitte Online video audience in India is expected to reach 500 million in 2020, reveals Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions 2020 released by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India. The report further states that digital advertising in India predicted to grow at 30 per cent YoY. The Moldy Whopper Beauty in disgust or some smart ambush move? Think food ads and one can visualise drool-inducing images of freshly made, piping hot delicious dishes. But Burger King has decided to go the counter-intuitive way in their latest global campaign, unappetisingly titled The Moldy Whopper. And it is being called one of the smartest campaigns of the year. How millennials are tapping Online Gaming to earn extra cash Google-KPMG reports forecast of there being more than 678 million gamers in the country and the industry growing at 20 per cent to reach $1 billion by 2021, from the current $360 million, is a testament to the increasing engagement by aficionados across age brackets. Hershey India awards creative mandate to Lowe Lintas Hershey India, a part of The Hershey Company, has awarded its creative duties to Lowe Lintas. The decision is an outcome of a multi-agency pitch involving some of the leading agencies of India. The scope primarily includes a large scale multimedia campaign launching Hersheys Kisses in India. India chooses Sidharth Shukla as the winner of Bigg Boss season 13 For 140 days, the country obsessed over each one of these contestants, millions tuned in every single day to follow their journey, social media was flooded with conversations and junta showered them with massive support. This and much more, made this season of Bigg Boss historical. By Trend The successful visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy laid the foundation for a new stage in bilateral relations between the two states, Azerbaijani MP Bakhtiyar Aliyev told Trend. Aliyev noted that during his state visit to Italy, President Ilham Aliyev held productive meetings with President of Italy Sergio Matarella, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giuseppe Conte, President of the Italian Senate Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, President of Italian Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico. "President Ilham Aliyev also had a working dinner with the leaders of the largest financial and banking structure in Italy, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA, and more than 10 world-famous largest industrial and financial groups in Italy. During the meeting, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti President Giovanni Gorno Tempini said that Italian companies show great interest in Azerbaijan. Tempini told President Ilham Aliyev about the initiatives put forward by the leaders of some of the leading industrial companies in Italy to contribute to strengthening bilateral economic ties," Bakhtiyar Aliyev said. The Azerbaijani MP stressed that currently, Italy is a major trade partner of Azerbaijan, and the volume of Azerbaijani exports to Italy amounted to 28.7 percent of Azerbaijan's total exports in 2019. "Azerbaijan also cooperates with Italy in the framework of large-scale international projects. The European part of the Southern Gas Corridor is TAP. This pipeline with a length of 878 kilometers in Europe passes through the territories of Greece, Albania, then goes along the bottom of the Adriatic Sea and ends in southern Italy. At the same time, numerous Italian companies operate in Azerbaijan," Bakhtiyar Aliyev said. The Azerbaijani MP said that the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Multidimensional Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy is very important. According to the MP, along with the fact that the declaration is an important political document that defines close cooperation between the two countries over the upcoming years, it also determines the future directions of strategic partnership, as an indicator that bilateral relations have reached a new level. "It is also important that in the document Azerbaijan and Italy expressed mutual respect and support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of each others state borders. The declaration shows support for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act, resolutions of the UN and OSCE," Bakhtiyar Aliyev added. "Italy supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, a fair settlement of the conflict within the the principles and norms of international law. This document can be considered as the next international victory of Azerbaijan. The state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy is a continuation of the successful foreign policy of the Azerbaijani state, both in terms of political and economic, as well as strategic cooperation," said the MP. Taking credit for the imminent peace deal between the US and Afghan Taliban, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that his country has fulfilled all its promises made to America by playing its role in the successful negotiations. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said that an agreement between the US and the Taliban could come as soon as February 29 in Afghanistan. According to Pompeo, the US "reached an understanding with the Taliban" on a reduction of violence that could lead to the signing of the US-Taliban agreement next week. The historic agreement would pave the way for ending America's longest war. Qureshi termed the imminent deal as a historic breakthrough for which Pakistan played the role of a facilitator. Qureshi said Pakistan was closely involved in the entire process. "The deal will be signed in the presence of Pakistan because it was impossible for the deal to come through without our efforts," the Foreign Office quoted Qureshi as saying. "Pakistan has played its role in the peace process with wholeheartedness and honesty and it is now incumbent upon the Afghan government to do the same," he said. Qureshi that when Pompeo came to Pakistan for his maiden visit last year, relations between the two countries were at its lowest ebb. "Pompeo told me that the pathway to fixing relations between Pakistan and the US came through Kabul. Now I would like to remind him that we have fulfilled all our promises. Not only did we build a peace team but we also played our role in ensuring that the negotiations were successful," said Qureshi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mumbai airport on Saturday said it has started screening passengers arriving from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal for coronavirus in compliance with the central government's directives. The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which is the joint venture company managing and operating the city airport, said it is already screening passengers from China, Honk Kong, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea. Abiding by the recent directive issued by the central government, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has started screening passengers flying from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal to Mumbai as well for the coronavirus infection, the airport said in a statement. The Ministry of Health has tightened screenings and has issued an advisory requiring all passengers arriving from these countries to undergo screening for the infection, it said. Health counters have been set up and thermal scanners installed at the pre-immigration area for the arriving passengers by the Airport Health Organisation, the MIAL said in the statement. Besides, the airport has ensured that alert messages are placed strategically across the terminal and that airlines have been sensitised and informed to follow the instructions of the government, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When told the details of Ealom's unauthorised journey from Manus to Canada, Paul Power, chief executive of the Refugee Council of Australia, says: "Nothing like this has ever come to light before. It's extraordinary." Negative without assessment Ealom fled Myanmar in mid-2013, a time of heightened violence between the country's Buddhist majority and the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority whose members are denied citizenship rights. "I saw everything you can see in a conflict zone," he says. "My cousins were grabbed and sent to jail with no trial. They were shooting people in the back trying to cross the river. I decided to get out while I could." He made his way to a refugee camp in Jakarta, but quickly realised that he was likely to languish there for years. So he paid to board a boat of asylum seekers bound for Australia. His timing was terrible. While on the voyage, then-prime minister Kevin Rudd announced that no asylum seeker who arrived by boat without a visa would ever be resettled in Australia. After six months on Christmas Island, Ealom was sent to the Manus Regional Processing Centre, which he calls a prison. He describes his experience in detention as "systematically designed torture". Ealom was only 21 when he arrived in Manus, and had braces on his teeth that went unadjusted for years. "I was never given a chance to see a dentist," he says. "My mouth was bleeding constantly." He was beaten up during riots that broke out between Papua New Guinean locals and the detained asylum seekers. He was also held in solitary confinement for weeks after being caught with a mobile phone and SIM card. Ealom pictured during his time as a prisoner on Manus Island. "It felt like psychological warfare," he says. "The guards knew your name but they would call you by your number. We were treated like animals." Ealom was one of an estimated 60 asylum seekers who did not participate in the initial refugee assessment process. At the time, the Australian government's official stance was that all refugees would be resettled in PNG, a prospect many asylum seekers considered unsafe and undesirable. Because of his status - known as "negative without assessment" - Ealom had no hope of being accepted into the US under the Australia-US resettlement deal. "I realised I had to take things into my own hands and do something," he says. "I was stateless, I didn't have any documentation. I could see things were just going to get worse." Prison break Ealom says his escape in May 2017 was the culmination of a year's worth of planning and preparation. Ealom scraped together enough money for a plane ticket by exchanging rationed cigarettes for local currency. He also carefully studied the movements of staff members flying in and out of the island, using these patterns to help determine the safest time to attempt to leave. Stephen Watt, a refugee advocate in Toronto who has become friends with Ealom, says he has specific personality traits that allowed him to get off the island. "Jaivet is very good at figuring out how systems work and finding where the cracks are," Watt says. "He can see opportunities that other people can't." Ealom says he was inspired by the hit show, Prison Break, which he had watched as a teenager in Myanmar. It tells the story of prisoners on death row in Illinois who use an underground tunnel to escape jail. "I was a big fan of that show, it taught me a lot" he says. A photo Ealom took inside the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre. He also learnt from the experience of Loghman Sawari, an asylum seeker who used fake documents to travel from Papua New Guinea to Fiji in February 2017. He claimed asylum there but was sent back to PNG and charged with passport forgery, which carried a jail term of up to six months and hefty fine. (The charges were eventually dropped.) Ealom says that three people helped him escape, two workers at the detention centre and an Australian asylum seeker advocate. One of the detention centre workers secretly transported him to the Manus airport in his car. "There were people who were against the system, who were against what was going on," he says. "A lot of people took big risks for me." He has asked for them not to be identified to protect them from any reprisals. Iranian refugee Loghman Sawari, pictured in 2017, was arrested and sent back to PNG before charges against him were withdrawn. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Other than his three allies, he kept everyone in the dark - including his fellow detainees on Manus. Ealom chose to board a flight to Port Moresby that was commonly used by interpreters from different ethnic backgrounds. This allowed him to blend in with the other passengers - as did his new clothes and sunglasses. "I put my earphones, with no sound playing, in so no one-would talk to me," he recalls. "My heart was beating so fast." To his relief, he made it to Port Moresby without being detected. Ealom's friends say he is good at examining systems and identifying weaknesses. He has had plenty of experience with that. Credit:Cole Burston Ealom's friend, Amir Sahragard, an Iranian asylum seeker who was also detained on Manus Island, noticed that he had gone missing at this time. But he didn't think much of it at first. "I thought he must have gone into town, that he might come back soon," he says. But as time passed, he became increasingly worried. "Jaivet disappeared, he deactivated his Facebook and Instagram," Sahragard says. "I thought something bad might have happened to him." Blending in After a couple of months in Port Moresby, Ealom moved on to the Solomon Islands where he believed he would be safer. He lived in Honiara for several months at the home of a non-profit worker who allowed him to stay rent-free. As part of a strategy to obtain citizenhip, Ealom learnt to speak the local Pijin language and took up chewing betel nuts, a popular local practice that stains your teeth red. This helped him fool the authorities into thinking he was a local and to hand him a Solomon passport. "I worked out that the Solomon Islands was a Commonwealth country and you can get in other Commonwealth countries without a visa," he says. "I did some digging and discovered you can fly to Canada with an Electronic Travel Authorisation." Loading He had never considered going to Canada, and didn't know anybody there. But he booked a flight to Toronto. To get there, he had to fly first through Fiji, where immigration authorities suspected him of travelling illegally. He was detained there for two days, but he eventually managed to talk his way onto a flight to Hong Kong. At Hong Kong airport, he again came under suspicion. "The airline staff were not convinced. They wanted to know why I was flying so far without any luggage. They wanted to know how much money I had." The airline staff eventually allowed him onto the plane, but he had no idea what would await him in Toronto. "I was worried they would put me straight on a plane and I'd never see the other side of the airport." In Canada, he tried a different tactic. He told the immigration official his story and confessed to travelling on a fake passport. "He had every right to detain me but he didn't," Ealom says of the officer. "He was so shocked by my story and how far I had come. He went out and bought me Subway with his own money. It was completely the opposite experience I'd had with Australia. Finally, I saw light at the end of the tunnel." Broke and below freezing Ealom arrived in Toronto in December, when it can be as cold as minus 30 degrees. He had no winter clothes and only about $50 to his name. He took a bus to an overcrowded homeless shelter, where he slept on the floor. Ealom arrived in Toronto during a bitterly cold winter with $50 to his name and no support network. Credit:Cole Burston He says he received an expedited hearing from the Canadian Refugee Board, which granted him refugee status after a 40-minute interview. When Ealom told Amir Sahragard that he was living in Canada, his friend thought he was joking. "It's unbelievable," he says. "He was the only one who ever escaped from there and made it out." The friends were reunited in November when Sahragard was resettled in Toronto under Canada's unique private refugee sponsorship program. Ealom, who studied industrial chemistry in Myanmar, had originally been drawn to the hard sciences. But his experience in immigration detention sparked an interest in social justice. In 2018, he enrolled to study political science and economics at the University of Toronto and will complete his degree this year. He has become a prominent spokesman for the Rohingya community in Canada and works at a company that provides software to non-profit organisations. Ealom has generally avoided talking about his experiences on Manus to Canadians, who usually have little knowledge of Australia's offshore detention policies. "Nobody outside of Manus will ever be able to grasp the depth of it so I find it better not to tell," he says. Ealom still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in immigration detention. The sound of sirens or an unexpected knock of the door - reminders of his life on Manus - make him panic. But feels safe in Toronto, and has hope for the future. "In Manus, I thought there was nothing good in the world," he says. "When I arrived in Canada, I felt human again." Friend Stephen Watt says he is astounded at Ealom's successful integration into Canadian life and how he has thrived in his work and his study. A crackdown on dog-friendly pubs across Sydney has prompted a new push to change the law to allow dogs inside pubs. Jamie Parker, the Greens member for Balmain, said his proposed law would remove the blanket ban on dogs in pubs and allow councils to decide if dogs should be permitted in specific venues: "If councils adopt this change, individual pub owners still have the freedom to decide if they will allow dogs inside their venue." Dog owner Caroline Alcorso said there were occasions when she wanted to visit a pub with her Dalmatians. Credit:Wolter Peeters A petition on Mr Parker's website to allow dogs inside pubs has attracted more than 1200 signatures, but his proposed bill has also met opposition from people concerned about food safety and hygiene. But Mr Parker said: "Being able to have a drink with your dog is a key ingredient of the charm and atmosphere of many of our pubs here in the inner west." New figures contained in a report released by the Department of Agriculture have revealed that North Cork had the highest number of recorded 'reactors' for bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) of any region in the country during 2019. Reactors are animals identified as being positive through a combination of skin testing and gamma interferon testing (GIF) that are then removed from a farm and slaughtered. The figures showed that of the 17,058 reactors identified during the course of 2019, 1,993 were in the North Cork region. The figures also showed the region had the second highest herd incidence during 2019 at 6.12%, (behind Monaghan at 7.02%), a figure that was "significantly higher" than the national herd incidence of 3.72%. "These (figures) are particularly relevant as they have higher cattle densities than other counties and this therefore indicates greater amounts of bTB," read the report. While the national figure for reactors identified by skin and blood tests was down by 2.48% (or 433 animals) when compared to 2018, there was a worrying increase in the overall incidents of bTB, which had risen for the third year in succession. The figures put the national herd incidence at 3.72% (compared to 3.51% in 2018 and 3.47% in 2017), with the figure for 2019 at its highest recorded level since 2013. "This means that since the beginning of 2019 3.72% (4,060 herds) of all herds tested for bTB have experienced a new breakdown, ie., they have had at least one animal that tested for bTB," said the report. However, when viewed over the past decade the figures for last year were more encouraging, showing an overall decline in herd incidences from just under 5.09% in 2009, with reactor numbers falling from 23,805 to 17,508 over the same period of time. "The level of progress would not be possible without the excellent cooperation between farmers, private veterinary practitioners and Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine officials," read the report. "However, continuing efforts are now needed from all stakeholders to reverse the national bTB incidence over the past three years and to reduce levels in 2020." The report said that while Ireland has experienced far lower levels of bTB than in previous decades, the reasons behind the rise over the past three years were "multi-factorial and often related to local factors". "It is likely that the expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 (following the abolition of milk quotas) has played a role in this, since dairy herds, larger herds and herds which introduce more cattle are all at risk of bTB breakdowns," read the report. It pointed out the 52% of all bTB breakdowns during 2019 were in dairy herds, while there were approximately 2.8 million farm-to-farm cattle movements. "We know the risks for many years of scientific research. Risks must be addressed by national policy changes and by actions at farm level," read the report. "As we enter into the decade towards 2020 this is a pivotal year for Ireland's bTB eradication programme and it is critical that all stakeholders take the necessary actions to reduce disease transmission, protects herds from new infections and clear bTB from restricted herds." 2019 figures for Cork North area Number of Herds in County - 5,702. Number of Herds Tested - 5,588. Herds Restricted in 2019 - 273. Herd Incidence - 4.55%. Herds Restricted at end 2019 - 208. Number of Animals area - 523,265. Number of Tests on Animals - 798,849. Number of Reactors - 1,993. Reactor per 1000 Tests A.P.T. - 1.92. Spike in Iran Coronavirus Cases Raises Alarm: WHO 02/22/20 By Lisa Schlein, VOA GENEVA - The head of the World Health Organization says he fears the increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in Iran could be a signal of worse things to come. Iran has reported 18 cases, including at least five deaths in the past two days. The number of cases and deaths reported in Iran still pales in comparison to that recorded in China. "Coronavirus around Mazandaran (province)" Reads headline of Iranian daily Karaneh Sohomal But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the number of cases in countries outside of China that have no clear epidemiological link, such as travel to China. "There is a case which is linked to Iran now in Lebanon. This is a 45-year old woman. And, those [cases] are actually very concerning. Take them as trends. So, what I believe is the window of opportunity [for containment] is still there. But ... our window of opportunity is narrowing." Tedros urged countries to act now to contain the coronavirus, before the window of opportunity closes. Currently, some 30 countries report cases of the virus, and at least 18 people outside China have died. South Korea has the largest cluster of confirmed cases outside China. Tedros said this is no time for pessimism, but for action. He said the WHO is coordinating a global response that can defeat this disease. "The measures China and other countries have taken have given us a fighting chance of containing the spread of the virus... We must not look back and regret that we failed to take advantage of the window of opportunity that we have now," Tedros said. The WHO chief spoke in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, attending an emergency meeting on COVID-19. It is organized by the African Union and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The WHO is working to try to prevent COVID-19 from gaining a foothold in the developing world. It is focusing efforts on strengthening fragile health systems on the African continent and other vulnerable regions. Egypt is the only African country with a confirmed case of coronavirus. The WHO reports suspected cases of COVID-19 in several other African countries have been tested and proved to be negative. Codefresh Demos CI/CD Platform with New Live Debugger Feature at the Software Architecture Conference Codefresh Chief Technology Evangelist Dan Garfield will demo Codefresh's CI/CD platform with the world's first live CI/CD debugging tool to make DevOps easier at the Software Architecture Conference in Booth #603. The Codefresh pipeline debugger allows users to add breakpoints and work interactively with the pipeline, similar to an integrated development environment (IDE) debugger. Since the debugger launched in November 2019, DevOps engineers have noted how it is revolutionizing the way pipeline changes are tested. "Now I can easily test my pipeline changes without commenting out the other steps or manually cancelling the build process in Codefresh or even pushing new changes every few minutes to test and debug the architecture on Codefresh," said a Codefresh customer. "Kudos to the Codefresh team for making this!" WHERE: Software Architecture Conference, New York Hilton Midtown 1335 6th Avenue, New York, NY, February 23 - 26 WHO: Codefresh, the first and only continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD) platform designed for Kubernetes, will be at Booth #603 WHAT: Garfield will be available to discuss and demo the live CI/CD Debugger with Breakpoints, a world first, as well as its Hybrid CI/CD across clouds and infrastructures, a new method for delivering software with on-prem and on cloud components for a secure hybrid infrastructure that meets the needs of on-prem without the management overhead. Codefresh's CI/CD platform provides automation for building, testing and deploying modern applications using Kubernetes, serverless and more. Development teams often see 24x faster engineering cycles when using Codefresh. The company recently announced 340% YoY growth Resources About Codefresh, Inc. Founded in 2014, Codefresh is the first Kubernetes-native CI/CD. After launch in 2017, Codefresh has gained tens of thousands of users. Unlike legacy solutions, Codefresh pipelines are uniquely designed for cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes and Helm. Codefresh is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and backed by world-class investors: M12, Microsoft's venture fund, Viola Ventures, Vertex (News - Alert) Ventures, Hillsven, CEIIF, UpWest Labs and Streamlined Ventures. Learn more about Codefresh at https://codefresh.io/. Follow on LinkedIn (News - Alert) and Twitter at @codefresh. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200222005002/en/ PORTLAND, Ore. The man accused of stabbing three people on a Portland train in 2017 has been found guilty on all counts by a jury on Friday. 37-year-old Jeremy Christian was accused of murdering two men and trying to kill a third when they stepped in to defend several women from Christian's racial and religious invective on the MAX light rail in May of 2017. Taliesin Namkai-Meche originally from Ashland and Ricky Best died from the knife wounds they sustained in the attack. Micah Fletcher narrowly survived. On Friday, a Multnomah County judge read out the jury's verdict in the case. Christian was convicted on all 12 counts, and the jury foreman confirmed that the decisions were unanimous on each. Christian was charged with two counts of Murder in the First Degree, one count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, and a number of counts for assault, intimidation, menacing, and unlawful use of a weapon. Lawyers for Christian had argued that he acted in self-defense, and has cognitive impairments that made him react violently when the train passengers confronted him. We welcome the verdict in this case and hope that it leads to a new path for Oregon one in which we all see the importance of standing up to and defeating hate," said a statement from the Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "The memories of Ricky Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meches lives should remind us of the courage that we all must use to develop a new culture here in Oregon. That culture should be one in which we accept, love and believe in each other. The judge did not deliver Christian's sentence on Friday, it will come at a later date. This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge. Image Credit... Patricia Wall/The New York Times Ms. Gunst, who has written more than a dozen cookbooks, said in an interview, I was aware of the hashtag rage baking. I was aware of the hashtag rage baker, feminist baker there are quite a few women on social media who are bakers and activists. I was absolutely aware of her. So why was Ms. Jones excluded? Ms. Gunst and Ms. Alford, who is a former executive at the Food Network, said they reached out to prominent personalities such as Betty Fussell, Vallery Lomas, Carla Hall and Julia Turshen. In part because Ms. Jones wasnt well known in the food-media realm, she was not approached. I dont see how theyre breaking barriers and uplifting womens voices, Ms. Jones said on Friday. If theyre celebrating this larger cultural movement, why not celebrate the people who are doing the work? Why is it all people who have platforms, and who are established, and not a mix? Rebecca Traister, a journalist who contributed an excerpt from her book Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Womens Anger, said she found Ms. Joness case persuasive. That the authors were aware of her work but did not acknowledge it, or seek to work with her, obviously made me angry, said Ms. Traister, who has asked the authors to remove her essay from future editions of the book. Preeti Mistry, a chef who contributed a recipe to the book, said the issue is not whether or not Ms. Jones invented the term. (Ms. Jones is the first to note that it was used by bakers before her.) The tiny Coronavirus has shaken several strong countries all over the world. For beyond the virus-related deaths, the shutdown of cities and industries in China is causing panic for another reason, especially in India: our drug-manufacturing companies are heavily dependent on China for raw material supplies. With China having shut down its manufacturing units in Wuhan and several other cities, supplies arent coming, which is already leading to price rise and could in a matter of weeks lead to crippling supply shortages, making essential medicines unavailable in the market. In simple terms, this is the problem: There are basically two types of medicine manufacturing companies. One is the bulk drug or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturer (the API is the active ingredient of the medicine that helps treat/cure the disease); the other is the formulation manufacturer, who procures the API from the bulk drug manufacturer and, using these active ingredients, makes the medicine in various forms like tablets, syrups or injections. Most companies specialize as either bulk drug makers or formulation makers. Obviously, all the latter depend on the former for active ingredients. In fact, the bulk drug makers are the lifeline of the formulation makers, which is what most Indian drug manufacturers are. For many years now, India, the US and several other countries have become dependent on China for APIs. Nearly 70% of Indias pharmaceutical industry depends on China for APIs. Indian API imports from China annually are worth about $4.5 billion. This dependence on China has been much debated, but Indian drug makers have finally opted for this easy way of business. It is precisely this attitude that has come back to haunt India: if the Coronavirus-related shutdown continues for more than a couple of weeks, then India will start to face a shortage of life-saving medicines, mostly antibiotics, hormone injections, blood pressure medicines, and the like. The city of Wuhan in Chinas Hubei province is the epicentre of the Coronavirus epidemic and has been completely shut down for that reason. Wuhan, unfortunately, is also the centre of bulk drug manufacturing in China some 30% of the countrys bulk drug manufacturers are located in this city. This terrible coincidence has brought home to the world the perils of being so dependent for essential medicines on manufacturing units in a single city. According to an article in the London-based Financial Times, US President Donald Trumps advisers are now thinking of ways to create an American pharmaceutical supply chain for bulk drugs. The European Union is discussing the issue as well and are leaning towards building their own production capabilities (which means the EU will have to overcome its own tough environmental regulations and thus face an increase in drug prices). Bulk drug manufacturing causes heavy environmental pollution. It is for this reason that the advanced countries conveniently pushed all bulk drug production to China and other developing countries, while their pharma companies kept for themselves the lucrative part of patented medicines. This has come back to bite them. India, too, urgently needs to examine its policies and to alter them to encourage API manufacture in the country. What needs to be done The government has set up a panel under the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to handle a crisis if one arises. The Indian embassy in China has said, however, that several drug manufacturers in that country may resume operations soon. Though that may bring some relief, it is estimated that some 57 essential medicines may still end up in short supply if the shut down in China lasts even another week. The major concern is that we could be faced with shortages of life-saving antibiotics like amoxicillin, azithromycin, gentamicin and metronidazole, which are all supplied from industries located in and near Wuhan. Regardless of what happens in the next few weeks, the government will have to think long term and ensure that India is able to make APIs on scale. But this will mean some introspection and tough decisions. We need to revisit policies that were somewhere along the line dismissed as outdated and given up. For instance, the way forward seems to be to strengthen public sector drug manufacturers. When the Indian drug industry was in its infancy in the 1960s and 70s, it was the public sector that helped the Indian generic industry to grow to become the pharmacy of the developing world. At the turn of the century, when Africa was faced with a huge public health crisis due to HIV/AIDS, it was the Indian generic industry that showed the way. But that success was built on the back of support from the public sector drug-makers. Yet, today, among the five PSU drug-makers, three have been reporting losses since 2013-14 and are sick, the fourth is in incipient sick stage. Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL) remains the only profit-making Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in this field. There is an urgent need to revive the sick PSUs and make them hubs of bulk drug manufacturing. The PSUs are the fastest and surest way to bring up API manufacturing. We must appreciate that the private sector will not be ready or able to take the risks and costs of manufacturing bulk drugs due to environmental pollution concerns and norms. Only the public sector can do so. (The writer is President, Drug Action Forum Karnataka) Is Huaxi Holdings Company Limited (HKG:1689) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Yet sometimes, investors buy a popular dividend stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations. With a 2.9% yield and a six-year payment history, investors probably think Huaxi Holdings looks like a reliable dividend stock. A 2.9% yield is not inspiring, but the longer payment history has some appeal. Before you buy any stock for its dividend however, you should always remember Warren Buffett's two rules: 1) Don't lose money, and 2) Remember rule #1. We'll run through some checks below to help with this. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Huaxi Holdings! SEHK:1689 Historical Dividend Yield, February 21st 2020 Payout ratios Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Huaxi Holdings paid out 48% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. A medium payout ratio strikes a good balance between paying dividends, and keeping enough back to invest in the business. One of the risks is that management reinvests the retained capital poorly instead of paying a higher dividend. Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. Of the free cash flow it generated last year, Huaxi Holdings paid out 50% as dividends, suggesting the dividend is affordable. It's positive to see that Huaxi Holdings's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Story continues With a strong net cash balance, Huaxi Holdings investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Huaxi Holdings's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health. Dividend Volatility Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. Huaxi Holdings has been paying a dividend for the past six years. It's good to see that Huaxi Holdings has been paying a dividend for a number of years. However, the dividend has been cut at least once in the past, and we're concerned that what has been cut once, could be cut again. During the past six-year period, the first annual payment was HK$0.035 in 2014, compared to HK$0.06 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.4% a year over that time. Huaxi Holdings's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 9.4% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth. A reasonable rate of dividend growth is good to see, but we're wary that the dividend history is not as solid as we'd like, having been cut at least once. Dividend Growth Potential With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. Earnings have grown at around 2.8% a year for the past five years, which is better than seeing them shrink! A payout ratio below 50% leaves ample room to reinvest in the business, and provides finanical flexibility. However, earnings per share are unfortunately not growing much. Might this suggest that the company should pay a higher dividend instead? Conclusion When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. First, we like that the company's dividend payments appear well covered, although the retained capital also needs to be effectively reinvested. Unfortunately, earnings growth has also been mediocre, and the company has cut its dividend at least once in the past. Huaxi Holdings has a number of positive attributes, but it falls slightly short of our (admittedly high) standards. Were there evidence of a strong moat or an attractive valuation, it could still be well worth a look. You can also discover whether shareholders are aligned with insider interests by checking our visualisation of insider shareholdings and trades in Huaxi Holdings stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of dividend stocks with a yield above 3%. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to welcomes United States President Donald Trump in Agra on February 24, government sources said on Saturday. According to officials, Chief Minister Adityanath will remain in Agra during Trump's visit here, where he is scheduled to visit the famous Taj Mahal. Agra Mayor Naveen K Jain will also welcome the State Guest by handing over a 'key of the city' which is made up of silver as a symbolic gesture to pay respect to President Trump. Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner along with the US delegation will visit Agra on February 24. Agra has been spruced up ahead of Trump's visit. Walls on the route from Kheria airport to the Taj Mahal are painted with images of the US flag and the US President with 'Namaste Trump" written below it. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Taj Mahal will remain closed for the general public from 12 noon on February 24 during the US President's visit. Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 04:52:39|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin (L) speaks during a seminar on "The prospects for Tunisian-Chinese post-epidemic economic complementarity" in Tunis, Tunisia, on Feb. 22, 2020. In a conference held in Tunis on Saturday, Tunisian politicians and businessmen expressed their confidence in China's fight against COVID-19. (Photo by Adele Ezzine/Xinhua) TUNIS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- In a conference held in Tunis on Saturday, Tunisian politicians and businessmen expressed their confidence in China's fight against COVID-19. The conference was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin, Tunisian parliament's deputies, businessmen and economic experts. President of the Association Namaa Touness (Development of Tunisia) Omar Belkhiria said, given that China is the second largest economy and among the fastest-growing economies in the world, "any crisis affecting China will directly harm the entire global economy." "For this reason, we will have to unite to support this country and help it in its fight against the novel coronavirus and eradicate it as soon as possible," Belkhiria added. "We are very confident in the ability of the Chinese government to overcome this epidemic crisis," he said Tunisians are ready to get involved in the fight against the coronavirus by strengthening bilateral cooperation through the exploration of new common markets in the Arab zone, Africa and Europe, he added. Said Moez Belhaj Rhouma, chairman of Tunisia's Parliamentary Committee on Agri-Food Security, Trade, Tourism, Transport and Handicrafts, also showed support to China. "At this critical period that China is going through, Tunisia has tried to show its support, first, to the Chinese people but above all, its visionary approach to a prosperous and better developed future in the short, medium and long term with China," Rhouma said. For his part, Wang Wenbin stressed that COVID-19 will not curb China's long-term economic and social development. Wang said on Feb. 19, for the first time, the number of new cases confirmed in a single day across China decreased to less than 1,000. "There is a drop in the number of the newly infected cases and a rapid increase in the number of patients cured," he said. The positive results can be explained by "the speediness and effectiveness of the decisions taken by the Chinese government to put in place the most serious and decisive prevention measures to fight the epidemic," Wang said. "It is true that the epidemic situation affected macroeconomic functioning and that certain service industries were strongly impacted during the Spring Festival," said Wang adding that it may continue to affect some industrial enterprises. However, these effects "are only temporary and will not change the fundamental trend of the Chinese economy, which remains promising and stable in the long run," he said. Newsfrom Japan Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Justice Ministry has drafted a bill to raise the retirement age of public prosecutors, excluding the prosecutor-general, who is the chief of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, to 65 from 63 at present. The bill to amend the law on prosecutors offices, presented to a joint meeting of the justice and other divisions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday, calls for raising the prosecutor retirement age to 64 in fiscal 2022 and to 65 in fiscal 2024. The retirement age of the prosecutor-general, which already stands at 65, will not be changed. The ministry also submitted a bill to raise the retirement age of national civil servants to 65 from 60 in stages. But the LDP side withheld its approval as some participants at the meeting strongly called for accelerating the reform of the civil service system, such as thoroughly implementing a performance-based promotion and salary system. In a recent development that stirred controversy, the tenure of Hiromu Kurokawa, chief prosecutor at the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, who reached the retirement age on Feb. 7 under the prosecutors offices law, was extended until Aug. 7 using a provision on the extension of the retirement age under the national civil service law. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] More protests in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs sprung up on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pivoted to take a sterner tone with Indigenous leaders he blames for halting train service across much of Canada. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Blocked train tracks can be seen during dawn in Tyendinaga, near Belleville, Ontario, on Saturday Feb.22, 2020. The blockade is in support of a WetOsuwetOen blockade of a natural gas pipeline in northern BC. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg More protests in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs sprung up on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pivoted to take a sterner tone with Indigenous leaders he blames for halting train service across much of Canada. Crowds of protesters rallied at the Ontario legislature in Toronto, carrying signs that called for RCMP to leave Wet'suwet'en land and for the federal government to respect Indigenous sovereignty. Another rail-line protest sprung up in Saskatoon. Local police said they were monitoring the protest along the railway tracks, and a statement from the office of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said a train was allowed to pass through the protest area as scheduled. Moe's office said the protest must remain lawful and that transport routes cannot be disrupted by illegal blockades. Trudeau said Friday the blockades must come down and said injunctions to clear the rail lines must be enforced. He pointed the finger at Indigenous leadership, who he said have not been receptive to his government's attempts at negotiation. The barricades, including one on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in eastern Ontario, are in response to a move by the RCMP to clear protesters who had been blocking access to a pipeline worksite on Wet'suwet'en territory in northern British Columbia. Supporters who gathered near the Ontario blockade said they were disheartened by Trudeau's strong words against the protests with one saying it was Trudeau's shift in tone that drove her to make the 40-kilometre trek to the rail line. "I've been meaning to come, but with what he said yesterday, I just said, OK I'm going," said Sarah Dear, who brought small gifts from Mexico she said were symbolic for Indigenous communities there. "I voted for Trudeau back in 2015 because he promised meaningful reconciliation, and as far as I'm concerned he's broken that promise," she said. Cory Chalk, who lives on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory but isn't Indigenous, said he, too, felt Trudeau was striking the wrong tone and making the wrong moves. "He's not talking to the right people still trying to lay down the hammer is not going to work," he said. "This is a whole generation standing up against a lot of things that have been done wrong." He said if police tried to dismantle the blockade with force, he thinks they would be met with force back. Increased attention is on Canadian police forces now that Trudeau has ordered the enforcement of anti-blockade injunctions. A Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief said protesters won't tear down the barricades themselves unless, and until, the Mounties get off their traditional territory and Coastal GasLink halts construction on the natural-gas pipeline that crosses their land. Chief Woos of the Grizzly House said Indigenous leadership will only begin negotiating with the Canadian government under those same conditions. But Trudeau said injunctions ordering the rail lines be cleared must be obeyed and the law must be enforced. On Thursday, the RCMP in B.C. sent a letter to the traditional leaders of the Wet'suwet'en Nation, telling them the force intends to move its officers off the access road and station them instead in the nearby town of Houston, but Woos said a letter isn't good enough. Protesters who'd been blockading a CN Rail line in St-Lambert, Que., south of Montreal since Wednesday cleared out Friday night shortly after riot police arrived on scene ready to enforce an injunction to clear the tracks. But the blockade of a critical east-west rail line on Tyendinaga territory remains in place and more protests are planned for March 20 along the borders of Manitoba. Ontario Provincial Police have said they don't intend to break up the Tyendinaga protest in the immediate future. But Trudeau said the inconvenience to Canadians has gone on long enough, given that the blockades have halted rail lines for weeks. "Let us be clear: all Canadians are paying the price. Some people can't get to work, others have lost their jobs," he told a news conference Friday. "Essential goods cannot get where they need to go." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2020. Stemscopesapp.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 16 Jul 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the stemscopesapp homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the stemscopesapp homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if stemscopesapp has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the stemscopesapp homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the stemscopesapp homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the stemscopesapp homepage on Twitter + the total number of stemscopesapp followers (if stemscopesapp has a Twitter account). Basic Information PAGE TITLE Sign in | STEMscopes DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS rice university, stemscopes, university, sign in, sample, password, The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER nginx/1.4.1 OPERATIVE SYSTEM Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of stemscopesapp.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for stemscopesapp.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. 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 URL of the found Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The back-and-forth between Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and the Harrisburg attorney retained to represent two men claiming Fetterman violated their First Amendment rights when he blocked them on Twitter has continued offline. Jason Lindemuth, of Harrisburg, and Sean Guay, of Hummelstown, were unblocked one day before a deadline attorney Marc Scaringi gave Fetterman. If Fetterman had not unblocked the men, Scaringi said he and his clients would be prepared to move forward with a lawsuit. Even though he unblocked them, Scaringi accused Fetterman of using media to disparage his clients character. He noted a PennLive article, which Fetterman was quoted as saying he thought the men were trying to shame his wife Gisele. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman sparked a debate over female body shaming when he tweeted this photo of wife Gisele Fetterman in a Carnival costume. Mrs. Fetterman is Brazilian; Carnival is a huge celebration in Brazil. Fetterman accused Guay of engaging in "Islamophobic dog whistling in an interview with Pittsburgh Action News 4, Scaringi said. "The Lt. Governor should know that Mr. Guay is not racist or Islamophic, Scaringi said. "He does not fear or hate Muslims; he married one. Mr. Guays wife, Yesmin Farzana, immigrated to the U.S. from Bangledesh, a Muslim majority country. Mrs. Guay is a proud Muslim-American of the Islamic faith. Like the Lt. Governor is proud of his wifes culture and heritage, Mr. Guay is proud of his wifes culture and heritage. Perhaps the Lt. Governor would like to meet her someday. She could teach the Lt. Governor much about the Muslim culture and the Islamic faith. A defamation suit is not off the table, Scaringi said in his statement. He said his clients werent out to shame the First Lady. Additionally, Scaringi said it was telling that Fetterman said he thought a lawsuit against him was "squandering taxpayers dollars. "If the Lt Governor is concerned about the use of taxpayer resources by the judicial branch in adjudicating this dispute, that concern could have been, and apparently has been, easily avoided by the Lt. Governor simply unblocking the two men, Scaringi said. "It was the Lt. Governor, and not the Scaringi Law clients, who risked using taxpayer resources, to resolve this easily resolvable issue. The issue began when Fetterman tweeted a picture of his wife wearing a Brazilian carnival costume. Both men said they thought the lieutenant governor could find a better use of his time. In exchanges between Fetterman and Scaringi, Fetterman said he vows to protect his family from any online bullying. Scaringi responded in a similar tone about his clients. "The Lt. Governors un-sued status will be revisited again if he blocks my clients from his de facto government Twitter account, Scaringi said. The law is clear, and now thanks to Lt. Governor Fettermans statement conduct, the facts are even clearer, that @JohnFetterman is a de facto government Twitter account and as such any action by the Lt. Governor to block Mr. Lindemuth, Mr. Guay or any other person who wishes to communicate on his Twitter would violate the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 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. Parliament This Week in Parliament Military appointed lawmakers arrive at the Lower House of Parliament. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy As the Union Parliament discussed findings from the Joint Public Accounts Committee on the report by the Union Auditor-Generals Office for the period from April to September 2018, military lawmakers urged the government to improve its accountability and not to waste public funds. Colonel Naing Oo objected to National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker U Hla Hsans claim that the ministers for defense, home affairs and border affairs which are controlled by Myanmars military worked with minimum effort just to maintain their positions. The NLDs U Than Soe said state-run enterprises, that used around 20 percent of the Union budget, were making losses while 21 businesses that operate in partnership with ministries were not making a profit at all. Tuesday (Feb. 18) The Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee submitted a bill to amend the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens, suggesting bail be granted for offenses under the law. Committee chairman U Tin Htwe said amendments were necessary because the law, which is intended to protect citizens, was being increasingly abused to target individuals. Athan, an advocacy group for freedom of expression, said more than 100 individuals had been prosecuted under the law since March 2017. Wednesday (Feb. 19) The Union Parliament approved President U Win Myints proposal to obtain US$113 million (164 billion kyats) from South Korea to enable the Ministry of Electricity and Energy to replace the Magwe-Shwedaung gas pipeline. Thursday (Feb. 20) The Lower House voted to approve an amendment to electoral law to require military personnel and their relatives to vote outside military barracks. The voting was 257 in favor and 125 against with three abstentions. Friday (Feb. 21) The Union Parliament announced that the debate on amendment bills to the 2008 Constitution would begin on Feb. 25. A total of 149 lawmakers 50 each from the military and the NLD, and 49 from ethnic parties are allowed to take part in the debate with each lawmaker given eight minutes to present their argument. You may also like these stories: This Week in Parliament Yangon Timeout Myanmars President Calls for Military Not to Meddle in Politics Ahead of US President Donald Trump's much-anticipated visit to India, a senior US administration official said on Friday that the country will encourage India and Pakistan to engage in bilateral dialogue to resolve their differences. The official's statement was in response to a reporter's question on whether the US President will repeat his offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," the official had said. "President will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the line of control and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region," the official added. The official said that the United States believes that the core foundation of any successful dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists within its territory. READ | 'Make In India, A Concern For US-India Trade': Senior US Official Ahead Of Trump's Visit READ | Trump's 12-member Delegation During India Visit Includes Robert O'Brien And Wilbur Ross Trump's offer to help resolve the Kashmir issue Last month, during his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump had repeated his offer to "help" resolve the Kashmir issue between the two countries. However, India has maintained that there is no scope for third-party mediation. Recalling US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement that the country has reached an understanding with the Taliban to reduce violence in Afghanistan, the official said that Washington looks forward to India's support for the Afghan peace process. "We would just encourage India, as we are all regional countries, to do whatever they can to support this peace process so that it can be successful and we can potentially end 19 years of military, diplomatic, economic engagement," the official said. "You know, that we can end the military engagement. We will be continuing our diplomatic and economic engagement, which has been there over the last 19 years," the official added. Accompanied by a 12-member delegation, the US President will arrive for his visit to India on February 24. READ | Trump To Discuss CAA, NRC Issues With PM Modi During India Visit, Says Senior US Official READ | From Wall Painting To Capturing Dogs, India Revamps To Welcome Trump (With inputs from ANI) South Korea reported 142 more coronavirus cases Saturday, the sharpest spike in infections yet, with many new cases involving patients being treated in hospital for mental health issues. The national toll of 346 is now the second-highest outside of China, with the jump in cases at the hospital in the southern city of Cheongdo following a similar spike among members of a religious sect in the nearby city of Daegu. Among the new cases, 92 were "related" to patients or staff at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. "Most of the hospital's patients who have been diagnosed are those who had been staying as inpatients for mental illnesses," Seoul's vice health minister Kim Gang-lip told reporters. Some cases show "no confirmed epidemiological connections", meaning they are not sure where or how they contracted the virus, he added. Authorities reported another death on Saturday, taking the toll to two. Both victims had been inpatients at the hospital. Almost 170 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus have now been infected, starting with a 61-year-old woman who attended at least four services at the church's Daegu branch before being diagnosed. "Those who are related to Shincheonji's Daegu branch account for 48 percent of all confirmed cases," KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong told reporters. KCDC said some 9,300 Shincheonji members in Daegu have either been quarantined at facilities or have been asked to stay at home. Among them, 1,261 said they had symptoms, health officials added. The mayor of Daegu -- South Korea's fourth-biggest city, with a population of over 2.5 million -- has advised locals to stay indoors, while access to a major US military base in the area has been restricted. - Church 'deeply sorry' - One of the Shincheonji members in Daegu visited China -- where the deadly virus was first detected -- in January, while some three others are believed to have travelled to other countries, KCDC director Jung said. Cheongdo, some 27 kilometres south of Daegu, is the birthplace of Shincheonji's founder Lee Man-hee. County officials said on Friday that a three-day funeral was held for one of the church members three weeks ago at a hall owned by the Cheongdo hospital. Shincheonji is often accused of being a cult and claims its founder Lee has donned the mantle of Jesus Christ and will take 144,000 people with him to heaven on the day of judgement. But with more church members than available places in heaven, they are said to have to compete for slots and pursue converts persistently and secretively. President Moon Jae-in on Friday called for a "thorough investigation" of everyone who attended the funeral and Shincheonji services. The central government on Friday had declared Daegu and Cheongdo "special management zones", with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun saying the region would be supported with medical personnel, beds and equipment. Authorities in Seoul banned public rallies at three main locations on health and safety grounds. The US army garrison in Daegu -- where around 10,000 soldiers, civilians and family members live or work -- has restricted access and instructed any American troops who recently attended Shincheonji services to self-quarantine. Shincheonji offered an apology, suspending its worship services and gatherings nationwide. "We are deeply sorry that because of one of our members, who thought of her condition as a cold because she had not travelled abroad, led to many in our church being infected and thereby caused concern to the local community," it said in a statement. But its leader Lee told his followers the outbreak had been "caused by the Devil" and compared it to the biblical testing of Job, Yonhap news agency reported. A friend planning a move from Manhattan to San Francisco recently visited to begin a housing search, and I took him to the Noe Valley farmers' market for a taste of California life in winter. Surrounded by gorgeous produce piled up at market stalls, we sat under the February sun eating street tacos while listening to an aging hippie strum his guitar. "This is nice ... you call this neighborhood Know Valley?" he said. "It's 'Know-ee' Valley," I corrected him, quickly realizing he needed a lesson in how to pronounce common locations. "It's Goff Sreet not Go Street," I told him. "And when you take the train to the East Bay, you say 'I'm taking BART, not 'the BART.'" And most importantly, I hammered in, "You never refer to the city as 'Frisco' or 'San Fran.' It's 'San Francisco' or 'The City.'" ALSO: Fascinating stories behind San Francisco neighborhood names Here in the the Bay Area we have our own way of doing things and saying things. Many local proper nouns, including Gough Street, Arguello and San Rafael, have certain pronunciations that Bay Area newbies commonly stumble over. Others, such as Guerneville, have unique ways longtime natives say them just for fun. And then there are the ones like "Junipero Serra" or "Valencia" that are hotly debated among locals. For my friend and other new Bay Area residents, we have a list of the most commonly mispronounced words and offer a guide in the "correct" way to say them. To finalize pronunciations, we surveyed Bay Area natives, including colleagues and SFGATE readers. It wasn't easy. Some words have an oh-so-very San Francisco way that often defy the rules of any language (and sometimes logic, in our humble opinion). What should we add to our list? Let us know in the comments. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. Jessica Mullins contributed to this story. One hundred and ten years ago, Anita Lett founded the Irish Countrywoman's Association (ICA) in Bree with the lofty ambition to 'improve the standard of life in rural Ireland through Education and Co-operative effort'. Over a century later and the fruits of that initial effort are still being felt in the Model County as Wexford is home to the second largest federation in Ireland, behind only Dublin, putting paid to the popular belief that the 'country' in countrywomen means rural Ireland rather than the whole nation. The organisation is the largest women's association in the country with almost 10,000 members and over 500 guilds. Guild members from right across Wexford gathered at Clayton Whites Hotel to mark the milestone 110 years with a special ICA lunch. ICA Regional President Margot Hennessy was delighted to attend and Federation President Mary D'Arcy was delighted to be joined by past presidents Babs Crean, Barbara Tector, Dee Devereux, Breda Banville and Deirdre Connery, while Sadie Murphy and Gertie Rath were sadly unable to attend. Deputy Mayor of Wexford Maura Bell spoke in glowing terms about the wonderful work undertaken by the ICA in Wexford, while the Regional President congratulated everyone in the Wexford federation and how it was the embodiment of the motto 'fun and friendship', offering an outlet to young women, new mothers, women who may be new to an area or those who are recently retired. There were apologies from the National President of the ICA Josephine Hillary, who unfortunately couldn't make it on the day, but passed on her best wishes to everyone in Wexford. Not put off by the storm blowing up outside, some 240 ladies arrived for the event at Clayton Whites Hotel and enjoyed every minute of the historic occasion. 'It was a great day,' said PRO Breda Banville. 'While the wind was blowing outside, the women were rocking inside and we had music from Tony Jeffers and dancing. We also had a huge raffle with over 25 prizes up for grabs donated by the members. We also had a two night stay in Clayton Whites Hotel with dinner, which was great and we were really well looked after by all the staff there.' Breda also wished to thank all the members that donated prizes and helped in any way. The father of a 23-year-old student who was found dead in Georgia told police that the girl's ex-boyfriend had managed to track her whereabouts using her phone location. Christopher Gunn had called police the day before Anitra Gunn went missing on February 15, asking police to perform a wellness check on the Fort Valley State student. He told them that DeMarcus Little, the woman's ex-boyfriend, had been tracking her phone's location but explained that he was not sure how, WMAZ reports. Christopher Gunn had called police the day before Anitra Gunn went missing on February 15, asking police to perform a wellness check on the Fort Valley State student He told them that DeMarcus Little, the woman's ex-boyfriend, had been tracking her phone's location but explained that he was not sure how. Little has been charged with malice murder in Anitra's death Christopher Gunn also shared the last text messages he had exchanged with his daughter, with Anitra telling her father that she was going out of town with a new man she had met. She later told her father that she had changed her mind and was instead, focusing on herself. Little has since been charged with malice murder in connection to the woman's death after it was ruled a homicide. Anitra's body was discovered by police near the border of Crawford County and Peach County on Tuesday, Special Agent JT Ricketson confirmed, according to WMAZ. Little was initially arrested on Tuesday for an attack on her apartment, WMAZ said. He was accused of smashing the window's at Gunn's home and slashing the tires on her car on February 5 - nine days before she disappeared, Fort Valley police said. Gunn's body was found in Crawford County, Georgia, on Tuesday Gunn's body was found partially covered near Greer Road 'as if someone tried to hide it' - as well as a piece of a car - on Tuesday afternoon County Sheriff Terry Deese said in a press conference on Tuesday night that Little had been interviewed three times by police. His car was also said to have been towed before his arrest. Deese said he would not release more information about the boyfriend's interviews. Anitra's body was found partially covered near Greer Road 'as if someone tried to hide it' - as well as a piece of a car - on Tuesday afternoon, Deese said. She was reportedly last seen on the morning of February 14 on Chestnut Hill Road in Fort Valley at her boyfriends aunts home. The student's concerned family contacted police the following day and her Chevy Cruze car was found with the bumper missing in the city limits of Fort Valley. The body was found near a front bumper, which deputies believe belongs to Anitra's car. Gunn's Chevy Cruze was found with the bumper missing in the city limits of Fort Valley A desperate search was launched for missing Gunn after she vanished four days ago. Her dad said it was unusual for her to not be in contact Her dad said that he called her on the morning of February 14 and wished her a happy Valentines Day. Friends and family who called her later said that she didnt answer. A desperate search was launched and her father Christopher Gunn had voiced fears over her fate when he told WGXA that his daughter's lack of contact was unusual.He said the family was 'always talking with her, always checking on her'. 'My mind just racing 100 miles an hour. As a father, it hurts there's not a lot I can do,' he said. The body will be sent to the GBI Crime Lab to be positively identified. Drones had been scouring the area using drones Jaleel King, of Philadelphia, speaks in front of city council members during a special committee on gun violence in City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. King is accompanied by Jalil Frazier, left, and Victoria Wylie, Facilitator for a support group for paralyzed gunshot survivors, right, to bring awareness of the issues they face. Read more Last month, I declared 2020 the Year of the Gunshot Victim, motivated in part by trying to get a survivor compensated after his victims assistance check was stolen. The agencies charged to help him just shrugged. Hes still waiting. But unexpected optimism alert this past week turned out to be a pretty good start in getting the city to talk less about helping victims and do more to actually help them. And trust me when I tell you that I had zero expectation of feeling this way when I begrudgingly planned to attend a(nother) City Hall hearing about gun violence on Thursday. It started a few hours before the hearing while talking with Raynard Washington, the chief epidemiologist for Philadelphias health department. Washington is an author of a first-of-its-kind report about paralyzed gunshot victims in Philly. Its grim: Nearly one in seven city shooting victims ends up paralyzed in some way. As the department continues to collect and analyze data beyond its initial 2016-17 sample, Washington said, that number will likely increase. Dying from gun violence is only one outcome, Washington said. "The others are often much more detrimental and much costlier and more impactful. No one knows that more than the survivors Ive spent years writing about. There is a lot left to dig into, including how to fast-track the long-term care they need. But considering how little information was available when my colleague David Gambacorta and I wrote about some of these survivors last year, this is a fingers crossed hopeful development. Especially since data or the lack of such information drive so many decisions by those who hold the purse strings. Well, now there are some cold, hard numbers. And theyre bad. We need to help the people behind them. Which brings me to the hearing, convened by Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson. Well-intentioned as it was, it started off much like the thousands of meetings about gun violence before it: each person trying to out-sincere the last one. So solemn. So dedicated. So utterly hollow to many of the very people they claim theyve always been helping. Because guess what that claim was news to a lot of the people in the room desperate for help. And yet, heres why I remain optimistic: They werent having it. Not the young people crushed by violence. Not the family members drowning in trauma. Not the woman who eventually stormed out, disgusted with having to wait to speak until the experts had their say. And not the paralyzed gunshot survivors who have mostly been left out of the citys conversations about gun violence. Ive shared a lot of their stories in this space, but it was incredible to witness survivors tell their own stories. When I first came home, I was told I was going to get a ramp and all this stuff. I came home and I didnt get anything, Jalil Frazier told councilmembers. I was calling my brother to come help me get out of the house. I had a friend carry me. I was sleeping in the living room because I couldnt get upstairs. Frazier, who eventually moved his family into a more wheelchair-accessible house in New Jersey, was shot and paralyzed in Philadelphia in 2018 after he protected three children during a robbery at a barbershop. How long are we supposed wait? he said. Jaleel King also testified. King was 8 when he was shot in 1984 by a South Philadelphia neighbor who was angry that kids were setting off fireworks and tried to quiet them with a sawed-off shotgun. When asked if there were available services for survivors like him, Kings answer was unequivocal: No. Theres never been help, and if there is help, you have to jump through so many hoops that you get exhausted and give up. So, the answer is no. Victoria Wylie is the facilitator for a support group for paralyzed gunshot victims. She said the amount of effort it takes to get basic services for survivors is ridiculous. Even if there are programs, she said, they are inaccessible to those who need them most. Outside the room, Wylie and the guys said they were glad to be able to share their struggles publicly. But theyd wait to see what comes of their pleas for help before they celebrate. I hope they heard that they need help with housing, with jobs, with just trying to reclaim their lives, Wylie said. I hope they heard that they didnt die, theyre alive, and they want to live. Museum commemorating 21 Coptic martyrs beheaded by ISIS opens in Egypt Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Coptic martyrs museum has opened in Egypt to commemorate the 21 Christians beheaded by the Islamic State on a Libyan beach in 2015 because they refused to renounce their faith in Christ. The world was shocked after the Islamic State released an execution video on Feb. 15, 2015, showing the decapitation of nearly two dozen migrant workers, 20 of whom were Christians from Egypt and one who was a Christian from Ghana. The video was titled: "A Message Signed With Blood to the Nation of the Cross. On the fifth anniversary of that horror, Coptic Bishop Bevnotious of Samalout inaugurated a new museum that honors those killed. According to the online magazine Cairo Scene, the new museum is housed in the Church of the Martyrs of Faith and Homeland. The church, built in the poor village of Al-Aour in the Minya governate, opened in February 2018 on the third anniversary of the execution videos release. The churchs construction was funded by the Egyptian government, which is led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Al-Aour is the village where 13 of the workers killed in the video were from. The church has become a pilgrimage site for many Christians since it is the final resting place for the 21 martyrs. The museum will include a documentary panorama that will teach viewers about how the 21 men were kidnapped and executed. The museum also features a shrine with the remains of the martyrs and the coffins that transported them from Libya to Egypt. A Catholic press agency reports that the museum features exhibits on the victims' lives. In addition to the museum, a memorial honoring the martyrs was also inaugurated. The memorial features a 13-foot tall statue of Jesus Christ with His arms outstretched, open to the statues of the 21 victims kneeling before Him, seen here. In the widely shared execution video from 2015, the victims were shown kneeling in a line before their captors right before they were beheaded. Their bodies were then thrown into a mass grave. Their bodies were later discovered by Libyas interior ministry in 2017. As Egypt ranks as the 16th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List, Coptic Christians have on many occasions faced discrimination and persecution in the Muslim-majority country. Several attacks against Coptic Christians over the years have gained international headlines. In May 2017, 29 Copts were killed while traveling to a desert monastery in Minya when their bus was attacked by Islamic radicals. A similar bus attack occurred near the same monastery in November 2018 in which seven were killed and at least 20 were injured. In recent years, Copts have also been the target of deadly church bombings as well as a string of killings believed to be carried out by militants aligned with the Islamic State in Sinai. In Al-Aour, the deaths of the martyrs have only strengthened residents faith. Author Martin Mosebach wrote about his visit to Al-Aour in his recent book The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs. Mosebach heard stories from family members about how the martyrs are being credited with modern-day miracles. These communities and congregations are very educated and know the faith, Mosebach told The Christian Post last February. In the spirituality of the Copts, miracles are a very important thing. Mosebach explained that some of the miracle stories include the martyrs being credited with saving children who fall out of windows, curing sick people and even healing a woman of infertility. Miracles didnt save the [21] from decapitation but did prove that their sacrifices had made them Christlike and therefore accepted as such, Mosebach wrote. Throughout his presidency beginning in 2014, Sisi has made attempts to promote religious freedom, legalize churches and denounce radical extremism. However, some Christians still face punishment for their advocacy for human rights and religious freedom. Last November, Coptic activist Rami Kamil was arrested on accusations of terror activity. Advocates said Kamils arrest appears to be an effort to punish him for his work as a human rights defender. In the face of huge economic, political, social and security challenges, the government of President el-Sisi seems to spare little regard for basic human rights and democratic pluralism, a fact sheet from Open Doors USA reads. Thus, religious freedom for Christians is not fully guaranteed. Egyptian Christians are often victims of social exclusion and face constant discrimination in areas such as justice, education and basic social services. In rural areas, Christian women have been targeted for abduction and forced marriage. The Future Forward Party (FFP) is dissolved because it accepted illegal funding from its founder and leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Main party leaders have also been banned from political life for ten years. In parliament, opposition forces have been weakened. Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) Thailands Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the dissolution of the country's third-largest political party, over an illegal campaign loan of 191.3 million baht (US million) from its founder and leader, magnate Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (pictured). The Future Forward Party (Phak Anakhot Mai, FFP) was founded only 16 months ago. For many analysts its progressive platform made it one of the most interesting experiments in Thai politics of recent years. In the election of 24 March 2019, which marked the countrys return to democracy after almost five years of military rule, the FFP won more than 6.2 million votes. After the post vote uncertainty, the party joined an alliance of seven pro-democracy parties. However, the latter failed to prevent military strongman General Prayut Chan-o-cha from returning to power at the helm of a civilian government. The court ruled that the money party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit lent the party was other benefits under Section 66 of the Political Parties Act, which limits donations to 10 million baht (US0,000) The money in excess of 10 million baht, or 181.3 million baht, will be seized and put in the Political Party Development fund. The court also barred FFP leaders from politics for 10 years. Thanathorn and his colleagues thus cannot join a party or create a new one until 2030. Without the right to vote, they are automatically excluded from running for seat since it is prerequisite for being elected. Following the ruling, the Election Commission (EC) can take legal action against Thanathorn and 15 party leaders, including secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and spokesperson Pannika Wanich. If convicted, Mr Thanathorn could be jailed for up to five years and the other officials for up to three years. Last night the now former FFP leader said that his party will be reborn as a movement and pledged to continue promoting a programme of reform outside parliament. The remaining 65 FFP MPs must now find a political party within 60 days. Ten list seats held by the now-banned party will also have to be reallocated. It is unclear whether the EC will allow party members to replace them. If not, the opposition will be weakened ahead of next week's no-confidence debate. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the city of Turkmenabat, which is the administrative center of Lebap province, where he participated in the opening of the regions main mosque. The mosques foundation stone was laid in June 2015 with participation of the head of state. It has now become a decoration of the city architecture. The new complex of buildings occupies an area of 5 hectares. They were erected using modern construction and finishing materials. The architectural complex also includes four minarets trimmed with original elements of decor. There is a prayer hall for 3 thousand people in the two-story mosque. It has also been fitted with a special structure for holding Sadaka (sacrificial meal), a hotel for pilgrims, a parking lot and other facilities. At the opening ceremony, the Mufti of Turkmenistan recited a prayer for the welfare of the country, unity and solidarity of the people. Following the prayer, the Turkmen leader presented the new mosque with an Islamic relic - a canvas with the Kaaba inscription that was sent to him from Mecca. Sacred Teperrik - a blessing gift given to the head of state during his pilgrimage to the Muslim shrines of Saudi Arabia - was also exhibited in the mosque. From now on, the main regional mosque will provide the faithful of Lebap province with an opportunity to worship the Islamic relics. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) is confident in what it says is above-average pay it offers its drivers and takes issue with a decision Thursday by a federal appeals court denying the company's bid for a rehearing on a class-action lawsuit over back wages. "We continue to believe that our truck drivers are paid in compliance with California law and often in excess of what California law requires," the company said in a statement to FreightWaves. "We are proud that our drivers are among the best paid in the industry, earning, on average, between $80,000 to over $100,000 per year. We disagree with the decision." Walmart in January petitioned the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to reconsider an appellate panel ruling that the company had to abide by a lower-court decision in which the jury awarded $54.6 million to a group of California-based drivers compensating them for 10-hour end-of-shift layovers, sleeper-berth rest breaks, and inspections. The three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit found that the drivers were entitled to compensation under California law because Walmart had exercised control over their schedules during mandated layovers and other breaks. State law requires that employees be paid a minimum wage covering the entire time they are under an employer's control. Cases such as these hinge on the magnitude of an employer's control rather than whether an employee is required to work. But the drivers argued that they should be paid the additional wages, which would be equal to the difference between Walmart's "layover fee" and the minimum wage they would be entitled to under state law. The ruling covers employees who drove for Walmart from 2004 to 2015 and is the latest action in a case that stretches back over a decade. The panel dismissed Walmart's claims that its already well-paid drivers should have the disputed wages effectively rolled into their salaries. Walmart told FreightWaves that "it is early since we just received the ruling and no decisions have been made as to next steps."The American Trucking Associations, which along with the California Trucking Association, CRST Expedited Inc. and U.S. Xpress Inc. (NYSE: USX) filed a petition in support of Walmart, was not immediately available to comment. Story continues Image by leestilltaolcom from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Bhadohi: The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday (February 22, 2020) gave a clean chit to Bhadohi BJP MLA Ravindra Nath Tripathi who was accused in gang-rape case as there was "no evidence" found against him. Meanwhile, the police arrested his nephew Sandeep Tripathi who was also accused in the gang-rape case. One of the MLA sons, Nitesh, was charged under section 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. On February 20, an FIR was lodged against BJP MLA, his five sons Sachin, Chandrabhushan, Deepak, Prakash and Nitesh and nephew for allegedly raping a 35-year-old woman. The FIR was registered under sections 376 D, 313, 504, 506 of the IPC at Bhadohi Kotwali. The victim from Varanasi had earlier met the Superintendent of Police and accused the leader of raping her in a hotel in Bhadohi. As per her complaint, the incident happened during the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. In her complaint, the woman stated that she had met the MLA's nephew Sandeep Tripathi in 2014 on a train while travelling to Mumbai. They became good friends and exchanged numbers. She further accused Sandeep of sexually exploiting her after promising marriage. In 2017, Sandeep asked her to come to Bhadohi where he kept her in a hotel. There Ravindra Nath Tripathi raped her, the MLA's nephews and sons also raped her on different days. After the complaint against the leaders was registered, Superintendent of Police Ram Badan Singh had said that the matter is under the investigation and further action will be taken after a thorough probe in the matter. Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial face in the Bihar assembly polls to be held later this year, said Manoj Jha, spokesperson for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), at the Hindustan Shikhar Samagam held here on Saturday. If you ask me about the CM face, it is Tejashwi, said Jha in response to a query. He was speaking at a session with Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh. As for the Congress CM candidate, Gourav Vallabh said, A decision will be taken by the Congress working committee. Asked about political strategist Prashant Kishores role in the Bihar election, the RJD spokesperson said, In 2015 if Nitish and Laluji had not come together, victory would not have been that big. Prashant is a face in studios in New Delhi these days. Both of them criticised the Centre for comparing India with Pakistan. I feel ashamed when someone compares my country with another which stands nowhere. Has any minister compared India with China for employment or any other indicator? I am troubled. Give youth jobs. Why just speak on Pakistan. I have better religious knowledge than 99.9% BJP people who talk about it but if you ask about unemployment, they blame cab services, said Vallabh. In a half an hour debate, they mention the name of Nehru 10 times and that of Indira Gandhi 20 times. Instead, they should speak on the gross domestic product, he said. Opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Jha said, Amending the Constitution is one thing and disregarding it another. Maharashtra has opposed the CAA. The issue today is why employment is at its lowest in the past 45 years. I am an opponent not enemy of the government but would ask why violence took place only in UP despite protests across the country, Jha said. There is a picture of Gandhiji in my house. I see him 10 times a day. How can I see that picture when the union minister is welcoming those who have been beaten up? How will I see that picture when Nathuram Godse is called a patriot? People were asking the caste of Bajrang Bali and if I kept quiet, how could I do Ramchandra Aarti, Vallabh said while explaining the reason for joining politics. However, both remained critical of US President Donald Trumps upcoming visit to India. He is the most inconsistent American President I have ever seen, Jha said. Expressing his surprise at the issues likely to be discussed during Trumps visit, the Congress spokesperson said, Instead of the nuclear deal and H1-B visa, discussion on cleaning the Yamuna is due to take place. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia will not be present during US First Lady Melania Trumps visit to a government school on Tuesday morning, senior functionaries of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) familiar with the matter said on Saturday. The US first lady and president Donald Trump will be on a two-day visit to India starting from Monday (February 24). On Tuesday, the First Lady is scheduled to visit a Delhi government school in the morning for her Be Best initiative. For her school visit, Kejriwal and Sisodia, who is also the citys education minister, were to welcome Melania Trump at the school and brief her about the Happiness Curriculum being imparted to the students. However, officials in the Delhi government said that the CMs office was informed on Saturday morning that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia were dropped from the list attendees in the school event. It is bizarre that not even the citys education minister could make it to the guest list, even as the entire school event will be focussed on the Happiness Curriculum launched by Delhi government in its schools in 2018. We are yet to be told who will explain the nuances of the course to the First Lady. We have learnt that the names of the CM and deputy CM were dropped on the Central governments pressure, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. Earlier in the day, Sisodia informed the media that preparations are underway in some school of the national Capital for the visit of Melania Trump to attend a happiness class. All preparations are taking place according to the MEA and the Central Government. Yes, in some schools, some preparations are underway for Melania Trumps visit but I cannot tell you more about that due to security issues, Sisodia said while speaking to media in New Delhi. The Happiness class was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children. The BJP Saturday said there should not petty politics after reports surfaced that the names of Kejriwal and Sisodia were dropped from the school event. Petty politics should not be played on important occasions. The government of India represents all Indians and political affiliations should not count on such an occasion. There should not be petty politics over that, BJP spokesperson Sambrit Patra said at a media briefing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When WeWork collapsed last October, it was seen as the first loud pop of a bubble about to burst. Of IPO valuations run amok. Of the reckless character of venture capitalism. Coupled with the IPO woes of companies like Uber and Peloton and layoffs from mattress startup Casper to fellow Softback-banked budget hotelier Oyo, WeWork was painted as the harbinger of doom especially for employees, who were laid off by the thousands. I beg to differ. As founder and CEO of a company that helps people to find new jobs, and one thats working with many of those ex-WeWorkers, I've helped venture-backed companies swiftly hire to scale for the past decade. I've seen these cycles time and again, and what laid-off employees need isnt a shoulder to cry on, but a few short, helpful tips. Layoffs are embedded in the very nature of the tech ecosystem, where the rush to market calls for an equal rush of hyper-growth. It often works, which is why venture firms poured a record $136 billion in U.S. companies last year. But occasionally, that growth oversteps reality. WeWork laid off nearly 20 percent of its 12,500 employees, with thousands more outsourced or shed from subsidiaries. Such implosions make for compelling headlines, e.g. a giant venture fund betting boldly and badly. A self-dealing CEO who bailed with a $1.7 billion parachute, while workers received a mere four-month severance. Yet WeWork was more anomaly than standard-bearer, and certainly nothing new. These blowouts, through malfeasance or basic market attrition, have been happening for decades. Three years ago, I had a front-row seat to a similar implosion at HR-software maker Zenefits, which at one point was valued at $4.5 billion. As its prospects soared, my company was brought in to help with the hiring of over 100 people. Then it fell short of sales goals and got caught cheating. Its employee ranks in San Francisco and Tempe, Arizona, went down from 1,600 to 500. My company then returned to the scene to help many of those who were laid off. Still, the market keeps chugging along, for America suffers no shortage of invention or entrepreneurial spirit. What we've learned from this incident and others is that being laid off en masse is not the scarlet letter most assume. Here are three tips to surviving the storm. Related: How Laid-Off Corporate Workers Are Becoming Free-Thinking Entrepreneurs 1. Move quickly There was a day when those fired in volume were often rehired in volume, as other companies plucked entire teams from the rosters of the dying. But this also meant importing cultures that may or may not have been the best fit. Today, companies aren't simply looking for ethnic or gender diversity. They're also after distinction in work and personal experience. So while it was once considered an in if a company had already hired six of your colleagues, that's no longer the case. Now it may well mean that the company has hit its quota of hires with your work experience. But if you're not the first in the door, or a new job doesn't come about quickly.... 2. Don't fret When a flood of similarly skilled people hit the market, there's a natural absorption rate that can only move so fast, but a lack of immediate success only presents you with a unique window. Use your severance to travel, have fun, catch up on those doctor and dental appointments you've been putting off and, most important, recharge. Polish your skills, attend that seminar or class you never had time to take, and network, network, network. Because within months.... 3. The market will open again Employers are smart. They realize the fault behind downed companies usually resides well above most employees's pay grades or were the result of market forces unforeseen. They also understand that a flood of skilled workers suddenly entering the market is a bonanza, not an encounter with the scarlet-lettered. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. What we've found in cases like Zenefits and others is that there's a three-to-six month latency period after the initial round of hires. That's when conditions change, employers reexamine their needs and new rounds are about to commence. If you have a strong history of performance, there's little need to worry. For every headline-grabbing case like WeWork, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other companies on the prowl for new hires just as there were following downsizing at Tesla two years ago or Etsy the year before that, or after any number of layoffs at companies that today are stronger and hiring once again. Yes, the immediate future may be rocky as investors demand swifter routes to profitability and, ultimately, an exit. But this is also a good thing. Wise executives will read the tales of Uber and WeWork as cautionary, forcing them to take a smarter approach to the gallop to market. Related: The 7 Worst Mistakes Companies Make When Laying Off Employees America has a two-century track record of ingenuity. That's not about to be sidetracked by a few unicorns failing to live up to high expectations. While there will always be unfortunate crashes, there will also always be a need for good people to help bring America's inventiveness to market. Related: The Top Apps for Businesses in 2020 E-commerce Entrepreneur Tyler Donahue Shares the Uncomfortable Experience That Taught Him How to Handle Life's Curveballs Do You Need a Virtual Assistant? This Service May the Solution You're Looking For Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved KYODO NEWS - Feb 23, 2020 - 00:30 | All, Japan Emperor Naruhito, on the occasion of his 60th birthday on Sunday, thanked the people for supporting him since he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne last year and reiterated his determination to fulfill his symbolic role, while expressing sympathy for those affected by the outbreak of the new coronavirus. He became emperor on May 1, a day after his father, former Emperor Akihito, stepped down as the first Japanese monarch to do so in about 200 years. With the historic transition, Feb. 23 was designated a national holiday in place of the Dec. 23 birthday of the former emperor. (Emperor Naruhito speaks at a press conference at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 21, 2020, ahead of his 60th birthday on Feb. 23.)[Pool] "One of the most memorable moments in the last 10 months was being given heartfelt congratulations by many people," he said in thanking them at a press conference held in Tokyo on Friday ahead of his birthday. "My path as the symbol of the state and the unity of its people has just begun," he said, adding, "I want to work harder toward fulfilling my responsibility as the symbol by training, always thinking about the people and standing by them." He also said he keeps in mind the path his parents have walked. The emperor was initially scheduled to greet the public at the Imperial Palace to celebrate the occasion, but the Imperial Household Agency canceled the event amid concerns over the coronavirus spreading in Japan. "I hope the spread of the infection will come to an end as early as possible," he said, while offering sympathy to those who were infected and their families, and people who are working to contain it. The cancelation was the first since 1996 when a Japanese Embassy hostage crisis occurred in Peru, in which hundreds of high-level diplomats and officials were taken hostage by a Peruvian revolutionary group. As of Saturday, three people have died in Japan and more than 700 people found to be infected with the pneumonia-causing virus originating in Wuhan, central China, mostly those who were aboard a cruise ship docked at Yokohama, near Tokyo, although the number of those with no clear links to overseas has been on the rise. Regarding his family, the emperor said both he and Empress Masako, 56, were happy she was able to complete all the ceremonies and rituals accompanying his enthronement last year. But he also said he hopes the empress, who is still recovering from a stress-induced illness, will not overwork herself, saying, "She tends to remain tired for a while after a large ceremony or successive duties." He also talked about his daughter Princess Aiko graduating from Gakushuin Girls' Senior High School this spring to proceed to study at the Department of Japanese Language and Literature of Gakushuin University's Faculty of Letters. "I hope she will find what she wants to do and find a balance between (her goals) and duties as an adult member of the imperial household," he said. (Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako)[Courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency] Princess Aiko, the only child of the imperial couple, is not an heir to the throne as the 1947 Imperial House Law states that only males in the paternal line can ascend the throne. With the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching, the emperor said he wishes they will serve as an occasion for "young people to deepen their understanding of people around the world and feel the preciousness of peace" and for people overseas to learn about Japan. Prior to the emperor's birthday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement sending warm wishes to the emperor. "The President and I were honored to visit Japan in 2019 and are grateful for the warm welcome by both the Emperor and the Japanese people," Pompeo said in the statement dated Friday. He noted U.S. President Donald Trump was the first head of state to meet with the emperor after his accession to the throne. The decision on who will become the next Mayor of Cork County will be finalised next Monday - with Charleville-based Fianna Fail councillor Ian Doyle hotly tipped to take over the chain of office. The position has become available after the current incumbent, Clonakilty's Cllr Christopher O'Sullivan, secured a Dail seat for Fianna Fail in the Cork South West constituency in the recent general election. Under legislation enacted back in 2004 he is unable to hold a dual mandate and will have to relinquish his seat on the local authority and with it the title of County Mayor. Cllr O'Sullivan narrowly beat off the challenge of Cllr Doyle when the party voted on their nominee to contest the mayoral election last June. He was subsequently elected to the office after a pact between Fianna Fail, Independent and Labour councillors saw him beat off the challenge of Fermoy's Noel McCarthy (FG) by 27 to 21 votes, with seven councillors abstaining. Under the pact the chain of office will alternate between Fianna Fail and the Independents for the five-year team of the council, with Youghal's Mary Linehan Foley in line to take over a County Mayor in June. It is expected that the chain of office would travel back to West Cork for the following two years, with Bandon's Gillian Coughlan (FF) and Bantry's Danny Collins (Ind) taking over the reins. The chain of office will then head north, with veteran Fianna Fail councillor Frank O'Flynn set to wear it for the final year of the current council term. Following the election of Cllr O'Sullivan to the Dail his mayoral duties have been undertaken by the deputy mayor, Macroom-based Independent Cllr Martin Coughlan. However, it is understood this was only meant to be a temporary arrangement. Instead, it is anticipated that a Fianna Fail councillor will be appointed to the role at next Monday's full meeting of Cork County Council in County Hall, with Cllr Doyle understood to be the favourite for the position. First elected to Cork County Council in 2014 in the Fermoy Municipal District, Cllr Doyle was re-elected in last year in the Kanturk area following the redrawing of the local authority district boundaries. Speaking to The Corkman Cllr Doyle confirmed he is the Fianna Fail nominee to take over as County Mayor and has the backing of his party's leader on the authority, Cllr Seamus McGrath, who had previously said he expected the terms of the mayoral pact to be honoured. Unless another party candidate puts their name forward for the role it is anticipated that Cllr Doyle will take over as County Mayor unopposed "I am hopeful that my nomination will be ratified by my council colleagues on Monday and that I will take over as County Mayor until the AGM in June," he said. "While nothing has yet been finalised I would say that I would love the opportunity to take over the role until June and it would be a huge honour and privilege to wear the chain of office," he added. Hundreds of Julian Assange supporters have protested in London against his potential extradition to the United States. Assange, 48, is wanted in the US on 18 charges over the publication of US cables a decade ago and if found guilty could face a 175-year prison sentence. He is being held in Belmarsh Prison in south-east London as he awaits the start of next weeks full extradition hearing. His supporters marched through London on Saturday, beginning at Australia House in Holborn and ending at a rally in Parliament Square. Many carried banners and placards with messages including Dont extradite Assange and Journalism is not a crime. Opening the speeches in Parliament Square, Assanges father John Shipton said: I look over the crowd and see many familiar faces supporting Julian and I thank you. He described the imprisonment of his son as arbitrary detention and urged those at the rally to fight to free Julian from the Niagara of malice that emanates from the Crown Prosecution Service. Kristinn Hrafnsonn, editor in chief of Wikileaks, also took the stage and told the crowds of people Assange was facing a dark force. Wikileaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson speaks to crowds gathered in Parliament Square (Isabel Infantes/PA) He added: We must stop it. We must stop this force, this is not about left or right in politics, we can unite on this. It is a dark force against us who want justice, transparency and truth. Musician Roger Waters, economist Yanis Varoufakis and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood also gave speeches in support of the investigative journalist. Westwood walked out on stage wearing a paper halo with Assange written on it, before saying she was the angel of democracy. Speaking to the PA news agency, Joseph Farrell, ambassador and board member of the Centre for Investigative Journalism, said everyone at the march believed the case was outrageous. He said: It will result in a lack of press freedom around the world it will endanger, and it has already endangered, every journalist anywhere in the world. Story continues Supporters of Julian Assange, including Yanis Varoufakis (second left), Vivienne Westwood (centre), Assanges father John Shipton (second right) and Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters (right), begin a march from Australia House to Parliament Square (Isabel Infantes/PA) Supporter Sinthia Surace, 22, whose family were victims of the Sri Lanka civil war, said: It took a lot of brave people to expose all the crimes impacting my community directly. Thats why I care about voices like Julians. I dont believe we should be punishing him for the wrongdoings of the US government. He always says privacy for the citizen but transparency for the government, especially when it comes to human lives. More than 40 international legal experts have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding the rule of law be upheld before Assanges hearing on February 24, claiming he has not had proper access to his legal team. The letter was handed in to 10 Downing Street on Saturday and also urged the British legal community to act urgently to secure Assanges release. Neon, the US distributor of South Korean film Parasite, has responded after Donald Trump mocked the Best Picture winner at a recent rally. While complaining about the Academy Awards on Thursday 20 February, Trump asked the crowd, And the winner is a movie from South Korea. What the hell was that all about? We got enough problems with South Korea with trade, Trump added before admitting he has never seen the film. On top of it, they give them the best movie of the year. Was it good? I don't know. "Can we get, like, Gone With the Wind back, please? he continued. Sunset Boulevard. So many great movies. The 27 worst film sequels of all time Show all 27 1 /27 The 27 worst film sequels of all time The 27 worst film sequels of all time Zoolander 2 Like a reliable friend or a movie franchise worth millions of dollars Zoolander returned for another film. In place of a funny script and a decipherable plot, the sequel shoves in endless celebrity cameos. Skrillex, Susan Boyle and Justin Bieber are one of the 39 celebrities that appear in the film, but the force of star power fails to make Zoolander 2 enjoyable. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time I Still Know What You Did Last Summer An island getaway becomes the setting of predictable kills and lazy thrills in this sub-par slasher. Jennifer Love Hewitt, haunted by the events of the first film, leads a cast running for their lives. The implausibly gullible teen characters still scream, the red herrings are still obvious, and we still know how its all going to end. Columbia Pictures The 27 worst film sequels of all time Jaws 2 Jaws 2 sees the great white original reduced to a lukewarm b-movie filled with bad special effects and clumsy editing. The only positive thing about Jaws 2 is that all the characters are so annoying that its actually pretty satisfying watching them get eaten alive. See also Jaws 3, 4 and 5. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time American Psycho 2 He might have been a crazed narcissist, but Patrick Bateman deserved better than this sequel. Thankfully, no one actually remembers that American Psycho 2 exists, or that Mila Kunis is the lead, which is good because it ruins the ambiguous ending of the original film. No amount of peppermint sheet masks could ever clean this mess of a movie up. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Deciding to leave Baby in the corner, Havana Nights shares little with the original Dirty Dancing. Patrick Swayzes simmering dance instructor becomes a charisma deprived pool boy. Our heroine has been replaced by an uptight WASP and worst of all theres no overhead lift. Your eyes will be left hungry for more. Lionsgate The 27 worst film sequels of all time Titanic II Even if you dont like James Camerons 1997 Oscar-winning behemoth, its hard to forget the iconic image of a ship and its passengers meeting their watery doom. The digital effects of Titanic II, however, look like a childs version of the originals visuals. The plot about a boat literally named Titanic II that takes its maiden voyage 100 years after the first is equally creaky. The Asylum The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Sting II Ten years after the original film, Mac Davis and Jackie Gleason fill in for Paul Newman and Robert Redford in this heist remake. Considering the movies clumsy mobster dialogue and slow-moving plot, the audience in 1983 might have felt like they were the ones who had really been hoodwinked. Universal The 27 worst film sequels of all time Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 The original Blair Witch changed the face of horror forever, inspiring hysteria with its cheap but innovative found-footage hook. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 has better production values, but manages to be far less clever. A group of students visiting the first films location find themselves in danger, and the plot unravels from there. Haxan Films The 27 worst film sequels of all time Rambo First Blood: Part 2 John Rambo is stripped of any the nuance he had in the first film, becoming an all-American macho cliche and increasing his body count through cartoonish violence. The ex-soldier tears through Vietnam to rescue American prisoners of war as a one man army, seemingly impervious to bullets or logic. If the absurd plot doesnt jar for you, the politics probably will. The 27 worst film sequels of all time Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Given the global recession that hung over this follow-up to the original 1987 Wall Street, director Oliver Stone could have made a far more interesting and timely film. A cast including Michael Sheen and Shia LaBeouf provide diminishing returns in a tale of greed that ultimately pulls its punches. Fox The 27 worst film sequels of all time Weekend at Bernie's 2 You may ask yourself how its possible to make a sequel to a film based on two friends pretending a corpse is still alive in order to party. The makers of Weekend at Bernies 2 were probably asking themselves the same thing in 1993. This tired comedy never crosses over from stupid into funny, despite many of the cast returning to try and recapture the dubious magic. Entertainment Film Distributors The 27 worst film sequels of all time S. Darko The sequel to Donnie Darko toys with the concept of time, by wasting yours. The dialogue is awful, the acting wooden, and you dont even get to see an angsty black haired Jake Gyllenhaal in all his blue-eyed glory. Director of the original, Richard Kelly, was so offended by S. Darko he described the experience of watching it as horribly violating. Fox The 27 worst film sequels of all time Little Fockers Robert De Niros reputation continued to devalue with the third installment of the Meet The Parents series. The title indicates how much effort was put into this family comedy, which relies on under-the-belt hits to wring any laughs out of its audience. The 27 worst film sequels of all time Now You See Me 2 This follow-up to the flashy 2013 film squanders the only reason it would have a sequel, and somehow is not named Now You See Me Now. The sleight-of-hand magic here is all style and no substance, and the endless overcomplicated reveals of characters tricking each other become very irritating. Rex The 27 worst film sequels of all time Mulan II Mulan is a gender-bending, brave heroine who refuses to conform to society's expectations of her. That is, until she reappears in the Disney sequel as a devoted wife who is more than willing to comply with her husbands demands. Now even her pet dragon Mushu doesnt like her. Sky The 27 worst film sequels of all time Son of the Mask Jim Carrey is replaced by Alan Cumming in this low-budget comedy sequel, which manages to be both frantic and boring at once. Director Lawrence Guterman tries to make up for the lack of Carreys signature comedic vim by adding a baby and a dog, but their antics cant distract from the ugly production design. Sky The 27 worst film sequels of all time Grease 2 Danny and Sandy flying off into the sunset should have been the end of Grease. But money-hungry film execs brought us back to Rydell High for sequel fans were hopelessly undevoted to. "I hated that film with a vengeance and could not believe how bad it was," said Sandy stand-in Michelle Pfieffer years later. "At the time I was young and didn't know any better." Paramount The 27 worst film sequels of all time Dumb and Dumber To Stupider even than its title, the Farrelly brothers sequel puts its stars (Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels) through an overlong retread of past material. The broad humour feels decades out of date, and the energy that propelled the original through its juvenile jokes is gone. Its hard to imagine who was the target audience for these gross-out sight gags. Hopper Stone, SMPSP The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Birds II: Lands End Hitchcocks 1963 film The Birds was a masterclass in suspense. The birds that menace Tippi Hedron and the other inhabitants of Bodega Bay become genuinely disturbing through a slow, atmospheric build of tension. This made-for-TV sequel has the same avian threat, and some of the same cast, but none of the classic thrills. MCA Home Video The 27 worst film sequels of all time Basic Instinct 2 Sharon Stone had bad instincts when she agreed to this film. Even a new take on her iconic leg-crossing interrogation scene couldnt save this sequel from one of the worst rotten tomato ratings on record. It managed to make less than $6m Stateside on a $70m budget. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time Cruel Intentions 2 Amy Adams tries her best to tear into her role as a sadistic, sex-obsessed bully but the script for Cruel Intentions 2 strictly speaking, a prequel, but sssh is so bad that even she failed to save it. When her stepbrother Sebastian moves into her Mums Manhattan mansion, she barges into his shower and warns him, "no one is going to threaten my cushy life". What teenager would ever say "cushy life"? Columbia The 27 worst film sequels of all time Mean Girls 2 Did a Mean Girls sequel happen if Tina Fey wasnt around to write it? No, no it did not. A Plastics vs nerds turf war in the pits of the high school jungle just doesnt work without Feys tight one-liners. In Mean Girls 2 we hear none of the on Wednesdays we wear pink that's why her hair is so big. It's full of secrets you cant sit with us zingers that made the original film so magical. Paramount The 27 worst film sequels of all time Blues Brothers 2000 Although the soundtrack had its fans, this film is essentially a remake of the 1980 original without one half of the titular Blues Brothers (John Belushi died in 1982). Bafflingly, he is replaced by a 10-year old child in sunglasses. Its half as funny and nowhere near as infectiously fun, but if you only care about the music, that might not matter. Sky The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Godfather Part III Infamous for ruining what would have been, in many critics eyes, a perfect trio of movies, The Godfather Part III delivers a slow anti-climax. The film has its defenders, but given the calibre of the first two Godfathers, this last instalment is the black sheep of the family. Paramount The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Next Karate Kid A young Hilary Swank stars in the fourth Karate Kid film, a precursor to the modern trend of rebooting ailing franchises with a female lead. Pat Morita as Mr Miyagi is charming as always, but the script is mostly recycled. There are a couple of interesting differences: Swank has a pet hawk, Buddhist monks dance to the Cranberries, and theres almost no fighting. But whats a Karate Kid sequel without the Kid or the karate? Columbia Pictures The 27 worst film sequels of all time Staying Alive It might be called Staying Alive, but you wont want to after watching this sequel. Six years after our hero Tony Manero made white polyester bell bottoms popular, we check back in on him as he auditions for a new Broadway musical called Satans Alley. There are far too many romantic subplots, oiled up chests and loincloths to make this film okay. Paramount Pictures The 27 worst film sequels of all time Speed 2 Keanu Reeves wisely didnt pick up the phone for this Razzie-winning action thriller. The speeding bus rigged by a bomber in the 1994 film is bizarrely replaced by a cruise ship here, making the action a lot slower and more boring. Poor Sandra Bullock is given nothing interesting to do, and surely must have been tempted to look for a lifeboat. Sky Trump then asked why Bong's film won when there is an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film which Parasite also won at this year's ceremony before asking if there was a precedent. The president also laid into Hollywood star Brad Pitt (a little wise guy), teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Fox News. Independent distributor Neon responded by suggesting that Trumps comments stemmed from his inability to read the subtitles of the film, which is on the verge of making more than $200m (154m) worldwide. Understandable, he cant read, Neon tweeted, sharing a clip of Trumps rant. Throughout this years award season, director Bong Joon-Ho urged Americans to be more open to watching foreign films. In January, after winning a Golden Globe, he said that Americans would be introduced to so many more amazing films once they overcame the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles. I think we use only one language: the cinema, he added. The Kaduna State Police Command says it has arrested three notorious kidnappers and rescued a victim in the state. The Command Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna. The statement said the command on February 19, received information through the DPO, Kasuwar Magani, on alleged kidnap of one Hadiza Gambo, 22 years old, of Bungel Ladugga village in Kajuru Local Government Area. She was kidnapped by some suspected armed bandits to unknown destination. The Command promptly mobilised a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer who swung into action and arrested one Gambo Abubakar, 57 years old, who was interrogated on the alleged crime, it said. According to the statement, the suspect confessed to have masterminded many kidnap incidents including two recent kidnappings at Idon Gida in which ransom of N1.7 million was collected. It said investigation further led to the arrest of two other accomplices; namely Kamal Babawuro and Yahaya Gaiya, and the eventual rescue of the kidnapped victim unhurt who had since been re-united with her family. The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation at the Commands Criminal Investigation Department and will be prosecuted on completion of investigation accordingly, the statement said. (NAN) She's part of one of the biggest television phenomenons of all time, and she turns 24 this Friday. Birthday girl Sophie Turner, of Game Of Thrones fame, was the object of some serious affection from her husband of almost one year Joe Jonas on her big day, when he uploaded a stunning image of his bride to his Instagram. 'Happy Birthday to the love of my life. Life is better with you. [heart emoji] ' Jonas, 30, sweetly captioned the snap, which showed the X-Men actress looking sultry and beautiful in a white and green plaid dress shirt, open at the chest and tied at the waist. Birthday girl: Sophie Turner was the object of some serious affection from her husband Joe Jonas on her birthday on Friday, when he uploaded a stunning image of her Sophie peers at the camera with heavy eyeliner and luscious pink lips, wearing gold hoops in her ears. She also dons green pants that match her shirt. The photo looks to be a travel shot, surely taken during the couple's whirlwind trip through Europe as Joe completes his Happiness Begins world tour with his brothers Nick and Kevin, who make up the bestselling act the Jonas Brothers. After whizzing though Italy, Spain and the Netherlands with a stop in the South of France this week, the brothers are set to conclude the tour on Saturday at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France. Crooner: The photo of Sophie looks to be a travel shot, surely taken during the couple's whirlwind trip through Europe as Joe completes his Happiness Begins tour with his brothers Joe's birthday wishes to his wife comes amid continued speculation that the pair are expecting their first child, after multiple sources reported the news last week. While outlets said the pregnancy is 'confirmed,' neither spouse has directly corroborated the information. Joe and Sophie got married in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony in May of last year, and had a second ceremony a month later in France. Happiness continues: After whizzing though Italy, Spain and the Netherlands with a stop in the South of France this week, the brothers are set to conclude their tour on Saturday in Paris Smiling couple: Joe's birthday wishes to his wife comes amid continued speculation that the pair are expecting their first child; seen here in Amsterdam this week on Joe's Instagram Earlier this week, the loving couple were in Amsterdam, Holland for Joe's concert there, where he documented a very festive moment in which he and Sophie joined in spirited song at a local pub. Continuing his trans-European pub crawl in his new post for Cup Of Joe, the middle Mr. Jonas and his 'favorite person' soaked up the local drinking culture while everyone in the establishment sang a traditional song together. Though most of the revelers in the background were holding pints, neither Joe nor Sophie appeared to be drinkingfurther fueling fans' baby rumors. A 37-year-old woman in California believed vaping would help her get healthier because it would make it easier for her to quit smoking. She kept it up for more than five years - and then she collapsed, on Christmas Day. Julia Itzen was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, and would remain there for two weeks, struggling to take a full breath or get through a sentence without stopping to rest. Her doctors told Julia she had what they referred to 'vape lung,' their term for shallow breath an lung inflammation in chronic e-cigarette users, NBC4 reported. Now she's warning not just teenagers, but adults like herself, that even if you only vape nicotine, you could wind up with permanent lung damage. Julia Itzen had to spend two weeks in the hospital for 'vape lung' and kept a video diary of her painful recovery (left). At just 37, Julia thought she was getting healthier by vaping instead of smoking (right) Julia is out of the hospital now, but will be using steroids to combat her lung inflammation for some time At first, vaping helping Julia get everything she hoped to from not smoking. 'My sense of smell came back like, scar - like a bloodhound,' Julia told NBC4. 'My sense of taste came back. She used e-cigarettes just the way their makers claim their meant to be used: to help adults over 21 to ditch cigarettes to reduce their risks of lung cancer and disease, emphysema and heart problems, as well as regaining some of those more mundane faculties that had been dulled for Julia. But even after she stopped buying cigarettes, Julia kept vaping, for five-and-a-half years. Like about eight percent of American adults, e-cigarettes became part of her regular week, and she felt confident that was okay. Although they'd certainly gained unprecedented popularity in more recent years, e-cigarettes had been around for more than a decade, and Julia felt she was in good company as a vaper. 'It wasn't just punk kids [doing it],' she said. 'It was doctors and stockbrokers. It was adults trying to quit cigarettes.' She says she never used THC or bootleg vapes, especially not after story after story emerged of Americans - otherwise young, healthy ones - landing in comas or even dying - from using these types of devices. And then she found herself lying in a hospital bed, oxygen tubes running to either nostril, doctors and nurses checking her vitals. Her Christmas Day collapse led to a diagnosis with 'vape lung.' It wan't technically the same illness that has taken the lives of at least 64 Americans, but vaping was the only explanation for Julia's tight-chested wheezing and battered lungs. Looking back at videos of herself in the hospital, Julia said: 'I look dead. I'm gone' Now Julia is warning that e-cigarettes are not worth the damage she's done to her body and the long recovery ahead of her. Pictured: with her partner, Andrew 'I'm 37-years-old and I want my mom,' she gasped in a tearful video shot from her hospital bed. She was lucky never to have to be in intensive care, but even after two weeks in the hospital, Julia is not fully recovered. Several times a day, she has to do breathing treatments with steroids to combat inflammation to her lungs. Over time, her body may heal some of the damage vaping did to Julia's lungs, but they may just as well be forever impaired. Looking back at one of the videos she took of herself during those two weeks in the hospital, Julia said: 'I look dead. I'm gone.' 'If you want to be like this, keep vaping.' Or at least she very nearly was. Julia still breaks into a tight hacking cough periodically. 'I am so lucky to be alive, that it was caught,' she says. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 19, 2020 | 12:20 PM | PADUCAH Tickets are $18 each, and doors of the Julian Carroll Convention Center open at 11 am. About 1,500 bowls have been made by local people since September, and they will be filled by 21 area restaurants on Saturday, from 11:30 am until 2 pm. Those who buy tickets get to choose one of the bowls, then make up to ten visits to booths to get food. Afterwards, participants get to keep the bowl as a souvenir, knowing that they will have helped fill bowls for hungry and vulnerable folks in the community. Organizer Michael Terra said, "You will have had an incredibly generous lunch, a bowl that you get to keep, take home and use, and you also will have contributed to an effort that takes care of our most fragile and needful members of our community." So far, the events have raised around $200,000 for Community Ministries. "But, you know, it's just a drop in the bucket, because the Community Kitchen, last year alone, served over 70,000 hot meals to people in need in Paducah without any charge." Events like the one in Paducah take place in about 400 communities around the world, and Terra said it's a grass-roots effort, where people help others in their own city. Terra said "throwing" a bowl takes anywhere from 15-20 minutes to maybe an hour, depending on the experience of the person who is doing it. After the clay bowl dries for about a week, it is fired in a kiln once, slowly reaching the right temperature over about 14 hours, then cooling just as slowly. The bowl is washed, then glazed and fired again. Terra said the entire process to make a bowl takes around three weeks. Anyone with questions about the event can call 270-908-0090. The Empty Bowls Project is celebrating ten years for the event in Paducah. Hearst Connecticut Media file photo GREENWICH A Milford police detective is facing a criminal charge after he was arrested in an incident at a Greenwich hotel restaurant. Brien McMahon Jr., 43, is due in Superior Court Feb. 27 to answer a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct that arose from his alleged behavior at The Delamar on Greenwich Harbor shortly before 11 p.m. last Saturday. He is a longtime officer in Milford who has advanced to the rank of detective. The highly ranked U.S. university has years of experience with online education in business, nursing and other fields. Duke also has posted dozens of classes on the Web platform Coursera in subjects including dog psychology and machine learning. The proliferation of online courses in recent years has spurred teaching innovations throughout higher education. It is common for lectures to be posted and searchable online, for digital discussion groups to be woven into face-to-face classes and for students to take a mix of courses online and in person. A jailed drug dealer with 52m worth of bitcoin that gardai cannot access because he says he has lost the pin codes gave the impression of living a simple life. Clifton Collins (49), originally from Slane Road, Crumlin, made huge profits from his involvement in the cryptocurrency. However, any hope of getting at the millions tied up in his bitcoin wallets seemingly rests on the location of a missing fishing rod case. Collins said he wrote the codes to access the vast fortune on a piece of paper that was hidden in the case. He believes that when he was jailed for drugs offences, his belongings were removed from his rented home and may have ended up in a skip. Collins was regularly spotted selling jars of his honey at street markets in Co Galway. He moved west after renting a property at Farnaught, outside Corr na Mona, a village in a Gaeltacht area on the northern side of Lough Corrib. He registered a company, called Lough Island and set up his front business of bee-keeping. At the same time, he established a cannabis growhouse on the property, producing a yield of around four kilos of cannabis herb every 16 weeks and selling the crop to drug dealers for 25,000 to 30,000. His activities remained unnoticed until the early hours of February 8, 2017 when his erratic driving caught the attention of gardai in the Sally Gap in the Wicklow mountains. The officers stopped his Lexus 4x4 and questioned Collins on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink. Bizarre A search of the vehicle uncovered a quantity of cannabis herb. Collins was arrested and charged with a number of offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Bray District Court. In the meantime, gardai alerted their colleagues in Clifden, and when they searched the property at Corr na Mona they discovered the growhouse and found around 500 cannabis plants. Follow-up inquiries established that Collins had also set up several growhouses properties he had rented in Kells, Co Meath, and Drumlish, Co Longford, over the previous decade. After harvesting his crops, Collins vacuum-packed the cannabis and sold it to dealers in Dublin. Collins is currently in prison. He was sentenced to five years, with one year suspended, for his involvement in drugs. Gardai passed a file on the case to the Criminal Assets Bureau, whose inquiries uncovered another bizarre side to Collins' life. CAB officers found that from 2011, he had begun to invest his cannabis profits in bitcoin, a cryptocurrency becoming popular with investors, including those who were anxious to lodge their money outside the mainstream financial institutions. He set about mining bitcoin in the virtual world. The term "mining" is used because searching for bitcoin is similar to looking for gold, in that it exists but has not yet been found. There is a finite amount of bitcoin - it is estimated that 21 million of them will exist at some stage - and the miners have to find them and establish an access code to invest. In trading yesterday, one bitcoin was worth 8,951. 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 Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Beloved actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke is 94 years old, and in his new endorsement spot for 78-year-old Bernie Sanders, hed like to point out that being older than Gods beautiful green Earth does not disqualify a person from becoming an excellent presidential candidate. Besides, hes got Bernie beat by a country mile in the age department. Im Dick Van Dyke and Im a very enthusiastic supporter of Bernie Sanders, he says in the ad, released Friday. The age question keeps coming up. I know that Im 20 years older than Bernie. I have all my marbles! I could run for office if I wanted to. So I dont think age it really doesnt matter, except for his experience and the years hes put in. Of course, the Mary Poppins star isnt here to just remind you that age aint nothing but a number (over the age of 35). No, Van Dyke says, he is here to rally an important segment of the populous that doesnt yet seem stricken with Bernie fever. I cant understand why, according to the polls, hes having problems with older citizens, like me, the actor explains. Why wouldnt an older citizen vote for somebody with that kind of a record, and that kind of experience and honesty? It just doesnt make sense to me that hes not getting my generation. And I want to urge my generation to get out and vote for him, please. Joked Van Dyke, I think somebody younger like Bernie, is just a perfect candidate. Yeah, I think hell be around a long time. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 00:25:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak, inspects a medical supplies company in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) More efforts should be made to support epidemic prevention and control, and to ensure the orderly resumption of work and production, said Li. BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for multiple measures to increase the production and supply of medical and epidemic-control materials. Li made the remarks while inspecting the production of medical supplies in Haidian District in Beijing. More efforts should be made to support epidemic prevention and control, and to ensure the orderly resumption of work and production, said Li. Li was briefed on the country's production and supply of key medical materials, including protective suits and masks. The daily production capacity of masks nationwide may exceed 100 million as additional production lines will become operational in the near future. The premier urged related departments to offer coordinated services to encourage further expansion of production capacity and secure the supply of key epidemic-control materials. While visiting a biotech firm, Li said masks are now not only "weapons" for medical workers and "shields" for the public, but also a guarantee for the orderly resumption of work and production. Enterprises producing masks should race against time and work hard to expand production capacity while ensuring the quality of their products, he said. BRANDON The Brandon city manager who has been on paid leave since October as the RCMP reviews a suspected overdose death at his home has opted to retire. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BRANDON The Brandon city manager who has been on paid leave since October as the RCMP reviews a suspected overdose death at his home has opted to retire. "Brandon city council wishes to advise that the City of Brandon and city manager Mr. Rod Sage have mutually agreed to separate. Mr. Sage has elected to retire from the City of Brandon having been employed by the city since 1987 in various capacities," reads a statement from the city released Friday. The move was "mutually agreed to be in the best interest of all parties." Dean Hammond, treasurer and acting city manager since mid-October, will continue in the job until a new manager is hired. In Fridays statement, Mayor Rick Chrest said the hiring process will start in a timely manner. "Council will continue to ensure our operations are handled in a seamless manner and that services our residents rely on are delivered on a responsive, effective basis," he said. Media inquires to Chrest directly were not returned. The city said no further comment will be provided, after both parties engaged in legal advice. Several councillors also declined to comment when reached Friday. Sage was placed on paid administrative leave in mid-October, during an investigation into the death of Christine Robin Mitchell, who was living in Sages home when she died in July 2019 of a suspected overdose. 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 Sun tried calling the phone number listed publicly for Sages house, but a recorded message said it is no longer in service. Inquires at his home address also went unanswered Friday afternoon. No lights were on in the house and the curtains were drawn. Calls to Sages cellphone were also not returned. A spokesperson for the City of Brandon said only the mayor and members of council are able to comment on the situation. A followup email said the city was unable to provide any additional information Friday. Police became aware of Mitchells death July 11, 2019, from a member of the public, and opened an investigation, Brandon Police Service Sgt. Kirby Sararas said at the time. On Oct. 4, the Manitoba attorney general requested the RCMP review the circumstances of Mitchells death, as well as the Brandon Police Service investigation. That review is still ongoing, a spokesperson with the RCMP said Friday. Brandon Sun Bethenny Frankel insists she didn't leave the Real Housewives Of New York because of money. In fact, the reality star says the 'astronomical' amount she was paid was the only reason she remained on the show. 'Everyone thinks I left because of money. I wasn't leaving because of money, I was staying because of money,' the businesswoman, 49, told Variety. Only a paycheck: Bethenny Frankel revealed the only reason she remained on RHONY was because of the 'astronomical' paycheck 'It no longer became this platform to promote my business, because I had done that, and there was more promoting sort of new and questionable businesses than the legitimate ones at this point, if that makes any sense,' she continued. Bethenny ended up deciding to do what was best for her. 'So it wasn't the platform anymore. It was really the paycheck, which was, you know, astronomical at that point. And so I was staying because of money. And I just thought to myself, a bartender, a high-class prostitute who's making a lot of money, you gotta sometimes make a move, and just say, "Let me just do what feels right to me."' Finally, the reality star officially threw in the towel. Money, money, money: The reality star says the 'astronomical' amount she was paid was the only reason she remained on the show 'And it just was like a sort of just a moment where I said, "You know what? Im out! I just was out. And I remember Jill [Fritzo, Frankel's publicist], who's on this phone call was like, "Wait, what are you saying? Are you sure?" I had to deal with this, because they were starting to film, and I thought to myself, "I'm out. I'm just out." And Jill's like, "Wait, what do you mean? Once you're out, you're out." I said, "I know. I'm out."' Even though she had been on the series since 2008, the decision came rather easily to Bethenny. 'It's taken me longer to order a pasta dish than just to decide this. I just was looking for a reason. And I just was ready to do it. I didnt want to be there anymore. I didnt want to be there anymore. I mean, honestly I just didn't.' 'It's taken me longer to order a pasta dish than just to decide this': Even though she had been on the series since it's inception in 2008, the decision came rather easily to Bethenny Filming the highly dramatic show took a toll on Bethenny emotionally. 'Well, it's exhausting and emotional. People across the franchise will tell you they develop anxiety, and it's very stressful. And that's not how I am in the relationships that Ive cultivated over the years. My ex Dennis used to say, "If someone said what that person said to you, I would never speak to them again as long as I live." Youre in a show environment, and its taxing. But sometimes what's happening emotionally on the screen is also a result of exhaustion.' 'It becomes really exhausting and taxing, and you get mired in caring about things and people that you just normally wouldnt care about. There's a level of gossip, and a level of gotcha oh, you did that and you cheated and you're really broke, and you did this. I just was ready. I just felt like I have to kind of really spend my time focusing on business, my daughter, philanthropy. She's back! Bethenny announced she would be leaving the hit Bravo series last year, but now will be back on TV screens with her own competition show, The Big Shot With Bethenny 'You want to just feel good about what you did. Theres no price on sanity, and your mental health and your emotional health. And you cant pay me enough to just have a hysterical meltdown crying right now. Theres no amount of money that could make me want to sit somewhere and cry over something I wouldnt normally care about.' Bethenny announced she would be leaving the hit Bravo series last year, but now will be back on TV screens with her own competition show, The Big Shot With Bethenny. The HBO Max series will compete for a 'second-in-command' role on Bethenny's executive team, according to People. 'Did you miss me? I'm BACK in my new show,' she tweeted on Wednesday afternoon. 'It's personal. It's business and EVERYTHING is my business.' Manama The Supreme Council for Education and Training (SCET) has set up a committee to study the situation of 77 degrees whose holders had graduated from unaccredited Chinese universities. Deputy Prime Minister and SCET President His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa said that the graduates would sit for a unified exam to assess the level of their degrees and determine the requirements for accrediting their academic qualifications. The Deputy Premier said that the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) would set a placement test as well as a programme to ensure the graduates would complete the requirements from their original degrees to be accredited. The move is based on the recommendations of the Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to find solutions for students who have received un-attested degrees from various un-approved universities. The Cabinet decided to accredit 10 medical degrees issued from Chinese universities which were approved before 2015, stressing the need for clinical training for the students in question to complete their internship requirements and sit their licensure exams. The Ministry of Education has been tasked to communicate with medical students enrolled at unaccredited Chinese university and urged them to enrol at other accredited academic institutions. The Foreign Ministry has also been instructed to coordinate with relevant authorities within China to ensure a visa mechanism is put in place to issue study visas for Bahraini students who wish to continue their studies in China with recommended and approved universities only. The Deputy Premier said that Minister of Finance and National Economy to co-ordinate with the National Committee for the Evaluation of Academic Qualifications in updating the list of recommended degrees from various universities in China, and approved a recommendation submitted by the Council of Representatives in this regard. He pointed out that the Cabinet had directed the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and National Economy to provide the necessary budget needed to complete the requirements to attest medical degrees from universities in China. The council has provided a thorough study to address the situation of Bahraini students in Chinese universities, and determine their causes, as the total number of students currently studying in Chinese universities is at least 153 students, which requires finding urgent solutions for them to ensure the accreditation of their qualifications after graduation. If a film has a 2 on the end of it, chances are its two times as bad. Films like The Godfather, Part II are the exceptions, not the rule. Sequels are too often the product of money-grabbing film execs, less concerned about making a good movie than trading off the success of the original. Maybe wed all be better off if studios focussed on making something new rather than trying to insert life back into whats gone before. Let the detective stay dead. Leave the couple at the wedding altar. Let that airborne virus remain in remittance. Ignore the investors whispering in your ear: the monstrously big shark does not need to bite more tourists legs off. From Jaws to Titanic, many of cinemas greatest works have been followed with unceremoniously bad follow-ups. Sometimes, these misguided sequels are tarred with widespread infamy think of the reception the third Godfather received. Other times, they simply fly under the radar of public consciousness entirely how many people could even tell you they made a follow-up to Donnie Darko? Heres a list of 27 of the all-time worst film sequels, as chosen by The Independent. Click through the gallery below to see the list. The 27 worst film sequels of all time Show all 27 1 /27 The 27 worst film sequels of all time The 27 worst film sequels of all time Zoolander 2 Like a reliable friend or a movie franchise worth millions of dollars Zoolander returned for another film. In place of a funny script and a decipherable plot, the sequel shoves in endless celebrity cameos. Skrillex, Susan Boyle and Justin Bieber are one of the 39 celebrities that appear in the film, but the force of star power fails to make Zoolander 2 enjoyable. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time I Still Know What You Did Last Summer An island getaway becomes the setting of predictable kills and lazy thrills in this sub-par slasher. Jennifer Love Hewitt, haunted by the events of the first film, leads a cast running for their lives. The implausibly gullible teen characters still scream, the red herrings are still obvious, and we still know how its all going to end. Columbia Pictures The 27 worst film sequels of all time Jaws 2 Jaws 2 sees the great white original reduced to a lukewarm b-movie filled with bad special effects and clumsy editing. The only positive thing about Jaws 2 is that all the characters are so annoying that its actually pretty satisfying watching them get eaten alive. See also Jaws 3, 4 and 5. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time American Psycho 2 He might have been a crazed narcissist, but Patrick Bateman deserved better than this sequel. Thankfully, no one actually remembers that American Psycho 2 exists, or that Mila Kunis is the lead, which is good because it ruins the ambiguous ending of the original film. No amount of peppermint sheet masks could ever clean this mess of a movie up. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Deciding to leave Baby in the corner, Havana Nights shares little with the original Dirty Dancing. Patrick Swayzes simmering dance instructor becomes a charisma deprived pool boy. Our heroine has been replaced by an uptight WASP and worst of all theres no overhead lift. Your eyes will be left hungry for more. Lionsgate The 27 worst film sequels of all time Titanic II Even if you dont like James Camerons 1997 Oscar-winning behemoth, its hard to forget the iconic image of a ship and its passengers meeting their watery doom. The digital effects of Titanic II, however, look like a childs version of the originals visuals. The plot about a boat literally named Titanic II that takes its maiden voyage 100 years after the first is equally creaky. The Asylum The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Sting II Ten years after the original film, Mac Davis and Jackie Gleason fill in for Paul Newman and Robert Redford in this heist remake. Considering the movies clumsy mobster dialogue and slow-moving plot, the audience in 1983 might have felt like they were the ones who had really been hoodwinked. Universal The 27 worst film sequels of all time Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 The original Blair Witch changed the face of horror forever, inspiring hysteria with its cheap but innovative found-footage hook. Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 has better production values, but manages to be far less clever. A group of students visiting the first films location find themselves in danger, and the plot unravels from there. Haxan Films The 27 worst film sequels of all time Rambo First Blood: Part 2 John Rambo is stripped of any the nuance he had in the first film, becoming an all-American macho cliche and increasing his body count through cartoonish violence. The ex-soldier tears through Vietnam to rescue American prisoners of war as a one man army, seemingly impervious to bullets or logic. If the absurd plot doesnt jar for you, the politics probably will. The 27 worst film sequels of all time Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Given the global recession that hung over this follow-up to the original 1987 Wall Street, director Oliver Stone could have made a far more interesting and timely film. A cast including Michael Sheen and Shia LaBeouf provide diminishing returns in a tale of greed that ultimately pulls its punches. Fox The 27 worst film sequels of all time Weekend at Bernie's 2 You may ask yourself how its possible to make a sequel to a film based on two friends pretending a corpse is still alive in order to party. The makers of Weekend at Bernies 2 were probably asking themselves the same thing in 1993. This tired comedy never crosses over from stupid into funny, despite many of the cast returning to try and recapture the dubious magic. Entertainment Film Distributors The 27 worst film sequels of all time S. Darko The sequel to Donnie Darko toys with the concept of time, by wasting yours. The dialogue is awful, the acting wooden, and you dont even get to see an angsty black haired Jake Gyllenhaal in all his blue-eyed glory. Director of the original, Richard Kelly, was so offended by S. Darko he described the experience of watching it as horribly violating. Fox The 27 worst film sequels of all time Little Fockers Robert De Niros reputation continued to devalue with the third installment of the Meet The Parents series. The title indicates how much effort was put into this family comedy, which relies on under-the-belt hits to wring any laughs out of its audience. The 27 worst film sequels of all time Now You See Me 2 This follow-up to the flashy 2013 film squanders the only reason it would have a sequel, and somehow is not named Now You See Me Now. The sleight-of-hand magic here is all style and no substance, and the endless overcomplicated reveals of characters tricking each other become very irritating. Rex The 27 worst film sequels of all time Mulan II Mulan is a gender-bending, brave heroine who refuses to conform to society's expectations of her. That is, until she reappears in the Disney sequel as a devoted wife who is more than willing to comply with her husbands demands. Now even her pet dragon Mushu doesnt like her. Sky The 27 worst film sequels of all time Son of the Mask Jim Carrey is replaced by Alan Cumming in this low-budget comedy sequel, which manages to be both frantic and boring at once. Director Lawrence Guterman tries to make up for the lack of Carreys signature comedic vim by adding a baby and a dog, but their antics cant distract from the ugly production design. Sky The 27 worst film sequels of all time Grease 2 Danny and Sandy flying off into the sunset should have been the end of Grease. But money-hungry film execs brought us back to Rydell High for sequel fans were hopelessly undevoted to. "I hated that film with a vengeance and could not believe how bad it was," said Sandy stand-in Michelle Pfieffer years later. "At the time I was young and didn't know any better." Paramount The 27 worst film sequels of all time Dumb and Dumber To Stupider even than its title, the Farrelly brothers sequel puts its stars (Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels) through an overlong retread of past material. The broad humour feels decades out of date, and the energy that propelled the original through its juvenile jokes is gone. Its hard to imagine who was the target audience for these gross-out sight gags. Hopper Stone, SMPSP The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Birds II: Lands End Hitchcocks 1963 film The Birds was a masterclass in suspense. The birds that menace Tippi Hedron and the other inhabitants of Bodega Bay become genuinely disturbing through a slow, atmospheric build of tension. This made-for-TV sequel has the same avian threat, and some of the same cast, but none of the classic thrills. MCA Home Video The 27 worst film sequels of all time Basic Instinct 2 Sharon Stone had bad instincts when she agreed to this film. Even a new take on her iconic leg-crossing interrogation scene couldnt save this sequel from one of the worst rotten tomato ratings on record. It managed to make less than $6m Stateside on a $70m budget. Rex Features The 27 worst film sequels of all time Cruel Intentions 2 Amy Adams tries her best to tear into her role as a sadistic, sex-obsessed bully but the script for Cruel Intentions 2 strictly speaking, a prequel, but sssh is so bad that even she failed to save it. When her stepbrother Sebastian moves into her Mums Manhattan mansion, she barges into his shower and warns him, "no one is going to threaten my cushy life". What teenager would ever say "cushy life"? Columbia The 27 worst film sequels of all time Mean Girls 2 Did a Mean Girls sequel happen if Tina Fey wasnt around to write it? No, no it did not. A Plastics vs nerds turf war in the pits of the high school jungle just doesnt work without Feys tight one-liners. In Mean Girls 2 we hear none of the on Wednesdays we wear pink that's why her hair is so big. It's full of secrets you cant sit with us zingers that made the original film so magical. Paramount The 27 worst film sequels of all time Blues Brothers 2000 Although the soundtrack had its fans, this film is essentially a remake of the 1980 original without one half of the titular Blues Brothers (John Belushi died in 1982). Bafflingly, he is replaced by a 10-year old child in sunglasses. Its half as funny and nowhere near as infectiously fun, but if you only care about the music, that might not matter. Sky The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Godfather Part III Infamous for ruining what would have been, in many critics eyes, a perfect trio of movies, The Godfather Part III delivers a slow anti-climax. The film has its defenders, but given the calibre of the first two Godfathers, this last instalment is the black sheep of the family. Paramount The 27 worst film sequels of all time The Next Karate Kid A young Hilary Swank stars in the fourth Karate Kid film, a precursor to the modern trend of rebooting ailing franchises with a female lead. Pat Morita as Mr Miyagi is charming as always, but the script is mostly recycled. There are a couple of interesting differences: Swank has a pet hawk, Buddhist monks dance to the Cranberries, and theres almost no fighting. But whats a Karate Kid sequel without the Kid or the karate? Columbia Pictures The 27 worst film sequels of all time Staying Alive It might be called Staying Alive, but you wont want to after watching this sequel. Six years after our hero Tony Manero made white polyester bell bottoms popular, we check back in on him as he auditions for a new Broadway musical called Satans Alley. There are far too many romantic subplots, oiled up chests and loincloths to make this film okay. Paramount Pictures The 27 worst film sequels of all time Speed 2 Keanu Reeves wisely didnt pick up the phone for this Razzie-winning action thriller. The speeding bus rigged by a bomber in the 1994 film is bizarrely replaced by a cruise ship here, making the action a lot slower and more boring. Poor Sandra Bullock is given nothing interesting to do, and surely must have been tempted to look for a lifeboat. Sky To read our gallery of books that should never have been adapted into films click here. [February 21, 2020] JELD-WEN 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 JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. - JELD Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until April 20, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (NYSE: JELD), if they purchased the Company's shares between January 26, 2017 and October 15, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. What You May Do If you purchased shares of JELD-WEN 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-jeld/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by April 20, 2020. About the Lawsuit JELD-WEN and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On October 15, 2018, the Company disclosed that it would be taking a $76.5 million charge related to ongoing antitrust litigation, and the judgment expected to be rendered against the Company therein, brought by independent manufacturers alleging its involvement in a price-fixing conspiracy with another manufacturer, and further announced the sudden resignation of its Chief Financial Officer. On this news, the price of JELD-WEN's shares plummeted 19%, on high trading volume. The case is Cambridge Retirement System v. JELD-WEN Holding, Inc., 20-cv-112. 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/20200221005497/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Trend An appeal in connection with the 83rd Agjabadi-Fuzuli constituency was considered at the meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) following the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan on February 9, Trend reports. In accordance with the appeal, the offenses were committed in some polling stations during the voting. CEC Secretary Ilham Mammadov said that violations were revealed only in the 9th polling station of the 83rd Agjabadi-Fuzuli constituency. The legal grounds have arisen for canceling the voting results in that polling station. Mammadov proposed to declare the election results of the abovementioned polling station invalid. The proposal was accepted by a majority of votes. Grund residents affected by a fire on Friday morning found they were also the victims of a burglary. The fire, which occurred on rue Laurent Menager around 9.00 am on Friday, was distinguished with no issues and leaving no one injured. However, in the afternoon, the affected residents realised they were also victims of a burglary after noticing their flat had been searched and jewellery was missing. Potential witnesses are urged to contact the Luxembourg City police on 244 40 4100. The police report further burglaries, notably on Rue Maria Teresa in Heisdorf, on Rue Beau Site in Fentange, on Rue du Kiem in Strassen, as well as on Boulevard Dr. Ernest Feltgen and Rue des Sept Arpents in Luxembourg City. The Canadian government plans to invest C$15 million in rail-related improvements in Alberta to reduce bottlenecks on the western Canadian rail network, Transport Canada announced Monday. The funding will go toward the construction of a 1,930-car rail storage yard in Sturgeon County, northeast of Edmonton. The project will also include a large loop track, 32 parallel storage tracks to store railcars and assemble trains, and a connection to Canadian National's (NYSE: CNI) Rock Yard's rail siding. Transport Canada said the project will lower costs and increase the volume of products available for export from the Alberta Industrial Heartland, a region that is home to dozens of companies in the chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas, and fertilizer industries. The region has a land-use initiative supported by local municipalities. According to the initiative's website, future development in the region will include increasing the region's bitumen-upgrading capacity, pipeline network and petrochemical-processing capabilities. "Transportation and distribution of goods are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies. This investment in the Alberta Industrial Heartland will increase access to transportation, help businesses get more products to market, and support quality and well-paying middle-class jobs," said Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs. Canada's investment in Alberta is part of the government's wider efforts to bolster trade-oriented infrastructure. Those efforts include the Investing in Canada plan, a program that has invested more than C$180 billion over 12 years to support infrastructure projects and transportation and trade routes. The government is also seeking to facilitate the flow of goods to international markets through its National Trade Corridors Fund. Image Sourced from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighteen chambers of commerce and leading business organizations countywide have endorsed Yes on B the Better Choice Measure for its impact on the San Diego region's housing crisis and for providing affordably-priced homes attainable for the San Diego region's workforce. The list of endorsements from Chambers and leading business organizations include: San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce East County Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce National City Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Escondido Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Vista Chamber of Commerce Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Oceanside Chamber of Commerce San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Lakeside Chamber of Commerce San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce San Diego Hispanic Chamber of E-commerce Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce Asian Business Association North San Diego Business Chamber San Diego North Economic Development Council The privately-owned property that is the subject of Measure B is currently designated for the development of two million square feet of office and commercial space in addition to 99 luxury estates according to the San Diego County General Plan. Instead, Yes on B will be a sustainable solution to the housing crisis because it creates a carbon-neutral community which includes a variety of home types for different income levels. If approved by voters in the March election, Yes on B will provide 2,135 homes, over 60 percent of which are affordably-priced for working families. "San Diego County's supply of affordably-priced homes cannot keep up with the County's rapid job growth," said Bret Schanzenbach, President & CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. "That is why we urge a Yes vote on the Better Choice Measure for the numerous ways it supports local jobs in communities across the county, from North County to South Bay." Chambers and business organizations across the County have applauded Yes on B because it will bring a tremendous economic impact to the region, totaling an annual economic impact of more than $203 million. In addition, Yes on B is expected to generate 1,446 permanent jobs and 628 construction jobs, with total annual labor income reaching $34.8 million during the period of construction. Yes on B has also been endorsed by a number of other organizations including some of San Diego's best-known nonprofit organizations such as Casa Familiar, the Chicano Federation, LISC San Diego and MAAC, among others. Ad paid for by Yes on B for a Better Choice: A coalition of first responders, fire safety experts, housing advocates, elected officials, business leaders and taxpayers. Committee major funding from Newland Sierra, LLC SOURCE Yes on B She thought it was an opportunity for a relaxing Caribbean vacation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. She thought it was an opportunity for a relaxing Caribbean vacation. Instead, for a few weeks in the late 2000s, she said she found herself squarely in a den of iniquity, captained by its hedonistic owner Winnipeg fashion mogul Peter Nygard at his compound in the Bahamas. "I wasn't a part of the sexual lifestyle and I never witnessed any sex or sodomy but everybody went around topless," a former Winnipeg woman, who asked her name not be published, said Friday. The woman said she was visiting the Nygard Cay compound as the guest of an employee. "(Nygard) would have 'pamper parties' he had a (stripper's) pole on his plane... There was a lot of parties... I took one girl to a dentist once, and I saw a dental assistant and I said, 'I didn't recognize you with your clothes on.' I'd seen her at the pamper parties bouncing around, but now she looked totally professional." Another time, at the dock as Nygard's yacht came in, the woman said she saw the multi-millionaire on the deck, with a woman performing a sex act on him. SUPPLIED PHOTO Nygard at his home in the Bahamas. "He just stood up, zipped up his pants and that was it," she said. "I heard people asked for the morning-after pill I didn't even know what that was at the time." Nygard, 78, is currently facing claims in a class-action civil lawsuit that he lured women some under the age of 18 to his Bahamian estate, where he drugged, assaulted, raped and sodomized them. The allegations of 10 women are listed in the 99-page lawsuit, filed in New York City. Since news of the lawsuit went public more than a week ago, lawyers heading the court action say dozens of other possible victims have come forward, as well as numerous alleged witnesses. No statement of defence has been filed, and the allegations haven't been proven in court. Nygard through his lawyer has denied all of the allegations. Meanwhile, the former Winnipeg woman said Friday she never saw any acts at Nygard Cay that weren't consensual. She said she didn't take in the nightlife there on a regular basis, and only ventured once into the compound's disco. "No one ever came down asking for assistance," she said. "I didn't hear anybody being raped. If I had, I would have tried to help them. SUPPLIED PHOTO Nygard claims to have hosted many star-studded events at the residence. "You have to remember: it was invite-only; no one snuck in there. The gates... have to be opened by security," she said. "People were there and (Nygard) knew they were there. They would take a photo of everyone going in and they would keep it. "It wasn't just women anyone who went in had their photo taken." 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 woman said she wasn't just bothered by the hedonism she witnessed, but also the shoddy treatment of employees at the compound. "There would be workers standing on two-by-fours on top of rocks washing the windows and there were a lot of windows there," she said. "But, if they were to complain, there were 20 people in line to take their jobs. "It didn't matter which way you looked, there were always people trying to do what they could to survive... I was glad to leave." More than a decade later, the woman said just hearing the Nygard name or seeing clothes from his fashion lines takes her back to those few weeks. "I still wear his clothing, I like the quality of some of his clothes," she said. "But it's not somewhere I want to go back and visit." kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-21 21:28:46|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Indonesian Search and Rescue staff use flashlight during an operation at night searching for missing people in Sleman district of Yogyakarta province, Indonesia, Feb. 21, 2020. Four students of a secondary school were killed and at least 10 others went missing after being swept away by a strong current of a river in Indonesia's Yogyakarta province on Friday, an official of a search and rescue office said. The victims were parts of 257 students of a state secondary school named SMP Negeri I Turi, who were exploring the side of Sembor River in Sleman district, as parts of boy scouting activities, Head of the Communication for Media of the National Search and Rescue Office Yusuf Latief said. (Photo by Supriyanto/Xinhua) JAKARTA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Four students of a secondary school were killed and at least 10 others went missing after being swept away by a strong current of a river in Indonesia's Yogyakarta province on Friday, an official of a search and rescue office said. The victims were parts of 257 students of a state secondary school named SMP Negeri I Turi, who were exploring the side of Sembor River in Sleman district, as parts of boy scouting activities, Head of the Communication for Media of the National Search and Rescue Office Yusuf Latief said. "Suddenly the water surface of the river was rising and the current became stronger, sweeping away the students," he told Xinhua via phone. As a search and rescue activity was going on, four of the students were retrieved dead, the official said. Latief pointed out that that 10 to 16 other students remained missing. The search was transiently halted as the night fell, and would resume on Saturday morning, he added. By purchasing Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master (M-346) planes from Italy, Azerbaijan will be able to train fifth-generation fighter pilots, military expert Shair Ramaldanov told Trend. Ramaldanov said that these type of aircraft are ideal for modern training. President Ilham Aliyev, at his last meetings, said that the Azerbaijani army will continue to be provided with the latest weapons and equipment. This is what we're witnessing. During a visit to Belarus, President Ilham Aliyev signed a memorandum in connection with air defense systems. Another such document was signed during a state visit to Italy regarding the M-346 aircraft, the military expert added. The M-346 has been in operation since 2012 - 2013. This type of aircraft was purchased for training the pilots, and is equipped with modern technology that meets international standards. Pilots trained with these planes will be able to fly jets up to the fifth generation. Training of Azerbaijani pilots on M-346s is extremely important, Ramaldanov said. The M-346 is used by the air forces of Italy, Israel, Singapore, and Poland as a combat training aircraft. Within the framework of the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy, a declaration on an agreement between Azerbaijans Ministry of Defense and Leonardo S.p.A aerospace company was signed in connection with the acquisition of an integration system for M-346 aircraft. The document was signed by Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and CEO of Italian Leonardo S.p.A company Alessandro Profumo. Myanmar Army Says it Will Try Soldiers Over Killings of Rohingya Civilians 2020-02-21 -- The Myanmar military announced Friday that it would investigate and open court-martial proceedings against soldiers accused of killing Rohingya Muslim civilians during a violent army-led crackdown in the country's Rakhine state in 2017, the third such case in a country facing international criticism for failing to hold troops accountable for widespread atrocities. In a move experts said would be unlikely to meet Myanmar's U.N.-mandated obligations toward the Rohingya, the armed forces said it would probe a government-appointed commission's findings on killings in Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages, where about 300 civilians are believed to have died at the hands of government soldiers during "clearance operations." The military and the ruling civilian-led National League for Democracy (NLD) government said that the new investigation is not related to international pressure on Myanmar to bring to justice soldiers that ordered and participated in the rampage of random killings, torture, mass rape, and village burnings during the crackdown. "We have already reviewed the Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages cases," said Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun. "We will work on these cases by forming a court of inquiry, and then we will refer the cases to the court-martial and decide them according to military law." "We are working on these cases not because of international pressure, but because of our responsibility and accountability," he said. The military did not say when the trial for soldiers who allegedly killed Rohingya residents of Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages would begin. The military also said it was reviewing other incidents mentioned in the report, including alleged deadly attacks on a group of Hindus by Rohingya militants. The new court-martial comes about a month after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the U.N.'s top court ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya Muslims from further harm and genocidal acts and refrain from destroying evidence of alleged crimes that could be used in later hearings. The provisional measures order is part of a larger lawsuit filed by Muslim-majority Gambia accusing Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention during the alleged expulsion of more than 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh amid the crackdown. Crimes at the very top Laura Haigh, the Myanmar researcher for London-based Amnesty International, told RFA on Friday that the announcement about the latest court-martial points to an admission of crimes well documented by human rights groups and by a U.N. fact-finding mission that found the country had acted with "genocidal intent" against the Rohingya. "In terms of the ICJ's order, what the government and the military are doing will not be enough to stave off what are very, very serious allegations of international crimes, genocide among them," she said. Haigh also said military courts are not the answer to holding soldiers who may have committed atrocities against the Rohingya to account, because they are not independent or under civilian oversight. Military courts are unlikely to mete out justice for high-ranking officers who ordered the violence, including the mass rape of Rohingya women and girls, she added. "It's difficult to see how the military can be trusted to bring itself to justice, especially when those most accountable of the crimes actually sit at the very top of the military system," she said. "We're talking about senior generals; we're talking about the commander-in-chief." "It's also clear that the military justice system is not going to address issues like the widespread rape of Rohingya women that we know was a very deliberate, very calculated tactic of the Myanmar military," Haigh said. She also noted that ICOE's final report claimed not to have been able to find credible evidence of rape and sexual violence, despite widely documented reports by rights groups and the U.N. fact-finding mission. Acknowledging the cases Both the government and the armed forces have largely denied that soldiers were responsible for human rights abuses and atrocities against the Rohingya. NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told RFA that the government had previously denied reports of atrocities because it lacked information. "We didn't admit to these cases earlier because they were still under investigation," he said. "When the ICOE mentioned them, the military accepted its recommendation and tried to investigate them." "The government denied them earlier because it didn't have informationbut when the government got the information, it acknowledged them and said it would admit to these cases based on human rights, the rule of law, and justice," he added. Myanmar's armed forces have conducted only two other courts-martial of officers and soldiers accused of committing grave rights abuses during the campaign of violence. In March 2018, four officers and three soldiers were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing a group of Rohingya in Maungdaw township's Inn Din village, but they were later pardoned and freed by Myanmar's military commander-in-chief. In the other proceedings that began in late November 2019, soldiers stand accused of killing hundreds of Rohingya civilians, dumping their bodies in mass graves, and burning the corpses with acid near Buthidaung township's Gu Dar Pyin village. The military has disputed the number killed, giving a much lower figure and saying that the villagers died during fighting between government forces and members of a Rohingya militant group. Myanmar government and military leaders also face legal action on genocide-related charges at the International Criminal Court and in an Argentine court. Information block A government-ordered internet service suspension in northern Rakhine state, where Myanmar forces are fighting the rebel Arakan Army (AA), is preventing information about any current rights violations by soldiers against ethnic Rakhine or Rohingya living there from getting out. "It's very difficult to get information about ongoing abuses by the military," Amnesty's Haigh said. The government reimposed the internet shutdown in five Rakhine townships and in Paletwa township in neighboring Chin states on Feb. 3 amid ongoing armed conflict, after partially lifting the block five months ago. President's Office spokesman Zaw Htay told a news conference on Friday that the government has imposed internet shutdowns in Rakhine for the sake of national security and that other countries are doing the same if they deem it necessary. He said the government would consider lifting the ban the future based on the status of the armed conflict and regional security. The estimated 600,000 Rohingya still living in Rakhine state meanwhile continue to face systematic discrimination in the form of denials of citizenship, freedom of movement, and access to jobs, education, and services. Tens of thousands have fled the conflict-ridden region in recent years, many of whom pay human traffickers to transport them to Muslim-friendly countries in Southeast Asia. Myanmar authorities on Wednesday arrested around 50 Rohingya in Yangon region as they attempted to leave the country for Malaysia, with police searching for others who may have been in the group but fled. They appeared in court on Friday. Police on Friday said they arrested 14 others in Hlegu township, two of whom have been charged with trafficking. They join scores of others apprehended in recent months in different regions of Myanmar who face charges for illegal travel and face jail terms if found guilty of violating immigration laws. Reported by Nay Myo Htun, Thiha Tun, and Nayrein Kyaw for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish father mourns the death of his son 5 people with Turkish roots killed in Wednesday's racist terrorist attack in Germany. Gokhan Gultekin, 37, was among the four victims with Turkish roots who were killed in a mass shooting in Hanau, Germany. His father, Behcet Gultekin said he was shot dead two minutes after he met him. GERMANY HAS WITNESSED GROWING RACISM The father, who is suffering from cancer, has been living in Germany for 52 years. "I go to the Frankfurt University clinic twice a week for chemotherapy. He used to take me and served as an interpreter for me [...] He was very helpful and very religious," Behcet Gultekin said. At least nine people were killed on Wednesday when a far-right extremist opened fire at two shisha bars in Hanau, a city located 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Frankfurt. Germany has witnessed growing racism and Islamophobia in recent years, fueled by the propaganda of neo-Nazi groups and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Among the countrys nearly 4.7 million Muslims, 3 million are of Turkish origin. Shanghai is cooperating with the other three provincial-level regions of the Yangtze River Delta to guarantee the full-speed resumption of the production of epidemic prevention and control supplies. The Yangtze River Delta, a prosperous region of commerce and manufacturing industries in China, includes Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui in this calculation. So far, Shanghai has coordinated the work resumption of 98 local enterprises that support the manufacturers of anti-epidemic materials in the region, Zhang Jianming, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, said at a press conference Friday. "A total of 200 supporting enterprises of 38 relevant Shanghai companies in the other three provinces in the region have resumed their operations," Zhang said. To maintain the overall stability of the industrial chain, authorities of the Yangtze River Delta have cooperated closely to ensure the return of employees and smooth transportation of materials. Shanghai has given the green light for freight vehicles to transport freely in the Yangtze River Delta since Feb. 17, to facilitate factories resuming operation and people returning to work amid the epidemic. The Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission announced that it had issued a special certificate for freight vehicles to travel trans-provincially within the Yangtze River Delta. For those with financial constraints due to the epidemic outbreak, governments across the region have also introduced fiscal subsidies and emergency short-term loans to the manufacturers of epidemic prevention materials. Amid the epidemic, many enterprises in Shanghai have switched to producing materials such as masks and protective clothing to bridge supply gaps, according to Peng Wenhao, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation. According to Peng, the administration has adopted a fast approval system for the convenience of these companies. "The companies can submit applications online and staff of the local market regulation bureau will guide them through production processes," Peng said. Four companies in Jinshan District, one of Shanghai's major industrial bases, began producing epidemic prevention materials within 24 hours of receiving approval. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 09:39:02|Editor: zyl Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and six others injured after a van collided with a tractor-trailer Friday in the northern Mexican state of Durango, local authorities have said. According to preliminary reports, at around 7:15 local time (1315 GMT), a van crashed into a parked tractor-trailer near kilometer 5 of the highway connecting the villages of San Miguel de Cruces and Coyotes, part of the municipality of Pueblo Nuevo. Six men and two women died at the scene, and rescue workers brought the six injured to hospitals in El Salto city and the state capital city of Durango, according to authorities. Pueblo Nuevo city mayor Adrian Chaparro said on his Facebook account that those involved in the crash were employed at a factory located in El Salto, southwestern Durango. BAGHDAD After Iranian health officials confirmed Feb. 19 that two elderly people had tested positive for coronavirus posthumously, Iraqis, wary of an outbreak, demanded that their leaders close the border with Iran. According to recent laboratory reports, 13 people, including seven in Qom, four in Tehran and two in Gilan are confirmed infected, Iran Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur tweeted Feb. 21. He stated that the outbreak originated in Qom and that two more people had died from the disease. Irans state-run news agency IRNA announced that Qom had closed schools and universities to prevent the spread of the virus. Yet Iranian authorities have not implemented sufficient measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. Parliamentary elections were held Feb. 21, and the Iranian government did not want to affect voter participation. As the situation in Iran worsens, Iraqis are demanding that stronger action be taken to halt the spread of the virus. The Iraqi Interior Ministry suspended issuing visas to Iranians as a precautionary measure Feb. 19, according to a ministry document, and starting Feb. 20, the border with Iran will be closed for three days. The Iraqi Ministry of Health urged authorities to close all border crossings with Iran until further notice. The Iraqi civil aviation authority also stopped all incoming Iranian flights. However, Iraqi activists and protesters are not satisfied with these measures. They demand a complete and long-term break with Iran, as they are worried that a coronavirus outbreak would tax Iraq's health care system, which already suffers under sanctions in the time of Saddam and is unprepared to counter an epidemic. On Feb. 11, Iraq banned entry of all foreigners who had been in mainland China in the past 14 days. Top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani called upon the Iraqi government Feb. 21 to be up to the level of responsibility," adding that "the scale of preparations should match that of the threat." The outbreak has fueled anti-Iranian sentiments. Many activists and bloggers spread the hashtag #___, which translates to "Shut the borders with Iran." Some expressed a desire to build a wall between Iraq and Iran. Others asked Muqtada al-Sadr, who withdrew his support for the protests, to stay in Qom and not return. Sadr has been in Iran during much of the Iraqi protests, due to security concerns. His "Blue Hats" supporters attacked protesters in an attempt to stop the demonstrations on behalf of Iran, leaving him with a public image as a traitor and provoking resentment among Iraqis. After the Iranian ambassador denied that Iraq had closed its border with Iran, protesters grew angrier and accused the Iraqi government of dishonesty and being under Iran's influence. A group of protesters in Basra burned tires along the border with Iran Feb. 21 in an attempt to close the border. In response to pressure from protesters, Basra Gov. Asaad al-Eidani announced on Facebook that the border with Iran was closed, and that Iraqis are allowed to enter only after a medical exam. Najaf Gov. Luay al-Yassiry asked the Iraqi government Feb. 20 to ban incoming flights from Qom. Protesters threatened to go to the airport and close it down if all Iranians are not banned from entering Iraq. The Maysan governorate, which shares a border with Iran, announced that the Shayib border crossing was closed. Protesters in Wasit province's Kut gathered at the border with the Iranian city of Mehran to prevent Iranians from entering Iraq. On the other side, pro-Iranian bloggers in Iraq accused the protesters of being biased against Iran, as coronavirus had also been detected in Saudi Arabia, but with no mention from protesters. It is worth mentioning that, compared with Iran, few people from Saudi Arabia travel to Iraq. Monica S. Harris, an associate in the Chicago office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, has been named a Top 40 Under 40 attorney in Illinois by The National Black Lawyers (NBL). The honor recognizes 40 African American attorneys from each state who are under the age of 40 and have an outstanding reputation among peers, the judiciary, and the public. According to NBL, the Top 40 Under 40 honorees are selected after a rigorous nomination and vetting process. Honorees must be nominated by current members of the NBL and are evaluated on criteria including notable achievements, settlements, and verdicts as a lawyer; leadership and membership in other national and state specialty lawyer organizations; and rankings and ratings by leading national evaluation organizations. Harris is a member of the firms Litigation Practice and focuses on representing financial institutions, corporations, investment managers, and shareholders in complex commercial, securities, and class action litigation matters. She also has experience defending clients in investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations. NBL is a professional honorary organization, membership for which is by invitation only and extended exclusively to attorneys who excel in their profession and promote diversity. NBL is one of the preeminent organizations in the United States established to promote the nations top African American attorneys and is focused on enhancing the professional development of its members. About Greenberg Traurigs Chicago Office: Greenberg Traurig's Chicago office strives to be as dynamic and diverse as the city it calls home. Since its inception in 1999, it has grown from three attorneys to more than 160 today. Lawyers in Greenberg Traurigs Chicago office represent a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to innovative start-ups, and practice in nearly every major practice area and industry. Offering local knowledge and broad experience, Greenberg Traurigs Chicago lawyers work with their colleagues in Greenberg Traurigs other offices in the United States and abroad to help clients achieve their objectives locally, nationally, and globally. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law Laytown/Bettystown: contact me. Ring Iris on 0864033557 or email irismaryg@gmail.com with items of interest in the area. Pancake Morning East Meath Hospice Association annual Pancake morning takes place in the City North Hotel on Tuesday February 25th 10 am to12.30 pm. We look forward to seeing old friends and new on the day for Pancakes and Chat. All the usual stalls, nearly new designer clothes and accessories, always a good chance to get a bargain, plants and flowers, home baking, Bric-a-Brac and great raffle prizes This is our main fundraiser and all money raised will be spent locally to provide services for people who have a diagnosis of Cancer. We have a team of Volunteers who provide door to door transport to and from hospital appointments in Dublin and Drogheda free of charge. This service is totally confidential Last year 393 trips were completed to 14 different hospitals Driving service can be contacted on 0872100036.If you would like to know more about the service; we will be happy to answer any questions on the day. Shoe Box Appeal Carmel Armstrong the Team Hope co-ordinator would like to say a big thanks all who supported the Team Hope Shoe Box Appeal. The Drogheda and East Meath areas collected and sent 3009 Shoe Boxes, out of a total of 270,482 sent from Ireland. (A list can be found here: https://www.teamhope.ie/where-they-went/ Further details can be found on the Team Hope Facebook page.) Carmel Armstrong Team Hope Co-ordinator. Scoil Oilibheir Naofa If you have a child who will be 4 years old before 31st March and would like to enrol them for September 2020, please contact the school as soon as possible on 041-9887431 or office@bettystownschool.ie. East Meath Meals on Wheels Hot Meals can be delivered to your home between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week; excluding bank holidays in the areas of Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney and Colpe. The charge is 4 per person per meal; to avail of this service or know of anyone who might benefit from this service, please contact us on 085-7570810. Community Grant Scheme The Community Grant Scheme and the Community Amenity Project Scheme for 2020 are now open for applications. Further details and the application form can be obtained from the website: https://www.meath.ie/council/council-services/community/community-grants-and-initiatives The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5.00pm Friday, 6th March, 2020 Friends of Drogheda Hospice Homecare We are desperately seeking new drivers to increase the pool of people we can call on for help. This will reduce their workload. If you are recently retired or have a few hours to spare for community work, a full, clean licence, a clean roadworthy vehicle and are open to being Garda Vetted we would love to hear from you. There are no minimum hours required and we only expect you to volunteer the time that suits you. If you are interested in discussing a driving role please contact Ann at 0863264825 or if you or somebody you know is in need of our services please contact our Driver Co-ordinators at 0862225423 Mornington The Late Joe Maguire RIP Sincere condolences to the Maguire family of Coneyhall Mornington on the passing of Joe Maguire who died recently. Joe was predeceased by his wife Breda who passed away a little over a year ago. Joe is survived by his sons David, Brian and Andrew, daughter Susan and grandchildren and many friends. May Joe rest in peace. Community Grant Scheme The Community Grant Scheme and the Community Amenity Project Scheme for 2020 are now open for applications. Further details and the application form can be obtained from the website: https://www.meath.ie/council/council-services/community/community-grants-and-initiatives The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5.00pm Friday, 6th March, 2020. Pancake Morning East Meath Hospice Association annual Pancake morning takes place in the City North Hotel on Tuesday February 25th 10 am to12.30 pm. We look forward to seeing old friends and new on the day for Pancakes and Chat. All the usual stalls, nearly new designer clothes and accessories, always a good chance to get a bargain, plants and flowers, home baking, Bric-a-Brac and great raffle prizes This is our main fundraiser and all money raised will be spent locally to provide services for people who have a diagnosis of Cancer. We have a team of Volunteers who provide door to door transport to and from hospital appointments in Dublin and Drogheda free of charge. This service is totally confidential Last year 393 trips were completed to 14 different hospitals. Driving service can be contacted on 0872100036.If you would like to know more about the service; we will be happy to answer any questions on the day. Heart Foundation Thanks The Irish Heart Foundation wish to Thank all who supported their recent Church Gate Collection. A Total of 912.00 was raised in the Laytown/Mornington Parish. Enrolment Donacarney Schools Enrolment 2020 to Donacarney Schools Junior Infants New Admissions Evening: Parents/Guardians (adults only) are invited to a meeting in relation to Junior Infants starting school in September 2020. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 26th February - Girls School at 7.00pm. Enquiries about all enrolments for the 2020-2021 school year, please contact: Bunscoil Buachailli Realt na Mara at 041 9827045 Realt na Mara Caillini at 041 9887684 Your Parish Needs You Parish Volunteers: Would you consider helping in our parish as a volunteer. At present we are looking for additional parishioners for: Parish Pastoral Council, Liturgy Group, Music Ministry, Baptismal Team, Children's Liturgy Group, Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist, Altar Servers, Grandparents Association, Church Cleaning and Church Grounds Maintenance. If you can help or require further information please contact the Parish Office on Mon/Wed/Fri 9.30am - 1pm Tel: 041-9827384. East Meath Meals on Wheels Hot Meals are delivered to your home between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week throughout the year, excluding bank holidays in the areas of Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney and Colpe. The charge is 4 per person per meal. If you would like to avail of this service or know of anyone who might benefit from this service, please contact us on 085-7570810. Julianstown Pancake Morning East Meath Hospice Association annual Pancake morning takes place in the City North Hotel on Tuesday February 25th 10 am to12.30 pm. We look forward to seeing old friends and new on the day for Pancakes and Chat. All the usual stalls, nearly new designer clothes and accessories, always a good chance to get a bargain, plants and flowers, home baking, Bric-a-Brac and great raffle prizes This is our main fundraiser and all money raised will be spent locally to provide services for people who have a diagnosis of Cancer. We have a team of Volunteers who provide door to door transport to and from hospital appointments in Dublin and Drogheda free of charge. This service is totally confidential Last year 393 trips were completed to ,14 different hospitals. The driving service can be contacted on 0872100036. If you would like to know more about the service; we will be happy to answer any questions on the day. Meals on Wheels If anyone wishes to make enquiries or seek information on this service, please contact us on 085-7222068. Julianstown Bowls Club Julianstown Bowls Club is looking for new members. Why not go along any Monday or Thursday from 8 to 10 pm to Julianstown Community Centre and see if bowls is for you? For more information contact Sean on 086-8438803 or Marie on 086-1525413. Community Grant Scheme The Community Grant Scheme and the Community Amenity Project Scheme for 2020 are now open for applications. Further details and the application form can be obtained from the website: https://www.meath.ie/council/council-services/community/community-grants-and-initiatives The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5.00pm Friday, 6th March, 2020 Meath Development Plan The Draft Meath County Development Plan 2020-2026 is now on public display at Duleek Library and Council Offices. It will remain on display until 4pm on Friday March 6th 2020. The new plan will cover the period from 2020 to 2026 and it will shape how our county, towns and villages develop during that time both economically and residentially. It's really important we have our say in our future so make a submission - visit https://consult.meath.ie//meath-draft-county-development-p The Golden Girls The Golden Girls meet in the Parish Centre, Stamullen. New members always welcome, so why not come along and join us any Monday from 11am to 1pm for tea/coffee and good company. All very welcome. Dunleer contact me If you have any personal or community notices big or small please send in editable text format to maryroserafferty@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is close of business Thursdays. Cancer Support Coffee Morning A coffee mornjng is being held in the Market House Dunleer March 3rd from 10am to 1pm in aid of Ardee and District Cancer Support. Slimming World Dunleer Slimming World is in the Market House, Main St. Dunleer. Wednesdays 6pm and Thursday's in the morning at 9.30am. Dunleer's representative is Pauline and you can contact her on 0876186371. New York Times Co. is leaning toward naming Meredith Kopit Levien as its next chief executive officer, tapping an internal candidate to succeed Mark Thompson after an eight-year stint, according to people familiar with the matter. Levien, currently chief operating officer, is the front-runner to get the top job, with the move potentially coming as soon as April, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the decision isnt yet final. Thompson, 62, was named Times CEO in 2012 after serving as director general of the British Broadcasting Corp. The Times declined to comment. Thompson would be handing over the reins after turning the Times into a bigger force online. The companys digital subscribers have surged in recent years, letting it hire more journalists and offset the decline of advertising revenue. Shares of the Times have climbed fourfold under his watch, far outpacing the S&P 500. Levien, whos in her late 40s, joined the Times in 2013 as head of advertising after serving as chief revenue officer at Forbes Media. She was named operating chief in 2017, overseeing teams that are responsible for consumer revenue, advertising, digital products, live events and other things. Levien wouldnt be the first female CEO at the Times. Janet Robinson held the job for seven years before she was pushed out in 2011 after a period when the company struggled financially and its stock price plummeted. Levien has steered the Times toward more non-traditional advertising deals, as much of the online ad market is dominated by Google and Facebook. She helped build the Times in-house custom ad agency, T-Brand Studio, and got the publisher to focus on deeper ad partnerships with big companies like Verizon Communications Inc., as opposed to traditional display ads. The less-predictable timing of such deals has made ad revenue more volatile from quarter to quarter. In 2019, the paper added more than 1 million new digital-only subscriptions and the growth helped propel the companys stock to its highest in 15 years. The subscriber increase has been partly driven by Donald Trumps ability to create a never-ending news cycle that attracts more readers to the Times. But the Times has also become more sophisticated at acquiring and retaining subscribers by using tactics like $1-a-week promotions and requiring readers to register and log in to read more articles. The Times has also invested heavily in marketing, such as a recent The Truth Is Hard campaign highlighting the work of its journalists. And the company has launched podcasts and added more subscribers to its non-news offerings, such as its Crosswords and Cooking apps. Early last year, the paper set a goal of 10 million total subscribers by 2025, and its more than halfway there, tallying 5.3 million paying customers for its print and digital products. The Cabinet of Ministers launched a campaign to remove the labor market from the "shadow" and distributed UAH 4 billion in support of farmers, while Minister of Energy and Environment Oleksiy Orzhel announced a record reduction in gas tariffs these are the key economic developments of the outgoing week. This week will be remembered in Ukraine and, possibly, beyond for an epic manifestation of human ignorance in the case of the evacuation of 45 Ukrainians and 27 foreigners from the Chinese Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak. Amid manipulation and disinformation in social networks and certain media protests sparked in a small town in central Ukraine against the bringing of evacuees to a local medical center, further radicalized by a group of individuals who turned out to be residents of other regions. At the same time, the unusually warm mid-February brought a number of major economic news which were no less important. On Friday, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk reported to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on his Cabinet's performance over the past five months. Responding to criticism on the part of MPs over the decline in industrial output, budget deficit, and hryvnia revaluation, the prime minister assured that the Government had a clear plan and strategy for what needed to be done. "Both the government and the president's team are very well aware of what needs to be done. The allegations that supposedly nothing's been done over the five months, are absolutely groundless," said Honcharuk. However, he did not rule out that the government needed to better communicate its agenda to the public. "Now we're preparing and event, coming in a few weeks, which will be called the 'Development Strategy', in order to elaborate on how we will address in blocks complex challenges we're facing," the PM said. Early this week, Honcharuk via his Telegram channel reported that the Government had launched a campaign to remove the labor market from the "shadow" in order to provide Ukrainians with civilized employment conditions and at the same time boost tax revenues to local and state budgets. At present, Honcharuk says, almost every fifth Ukrainian is employed unofficially. "Most of them [are employed this way] in agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, construction, transport and courier services. These employees are not protected. The government launched a campaign to withdraw labor market from the shadow. After all, this is not only about taxes and budget revenues. This is, first and foremost, about creating civilized working conditions, ensuring that the employees' rights and social guarantees are respected," the prime minister said. He emphasized that most often entrepreneurs fail to register their economic activity, hire people without formalizing labor relations, concealing part of their working time and wages, disguising labor relations as fictitious self-employment. Pursuant to the prime minister's order, the State Labor Service has already taken the first stage of measures, which was to launch a promotion campaign, which led to the fact that in just two weeks of January, the agency received more than 100,000 reports about the conclusion of labor contracts with 200,000 employees. In general, the employment rate in the areas where the campaign was carried out increased by almost 26% against January 2019. In 2020, information and inspection campaigns will be conducted in agriculture, construction, as well as transport and courier services. "We respect businesses, and no one will interfere with their work with numerous inspections. But employees must be protected. Therefore, work will be carried out, mostly explanatory one, on the benefits of formalizing [labor relations]. A hotline will also be set up, where those employed illegally will be able to complain," Honcharuk emphasized. According to the prime minister, for 2020, the government sets the goal of creating 200,000 new legitimate jobs and reducing average job search terms from 3.6 to 2 months, and over the next five years, the goal is one million new jobs. Record decline in gas prices Last week, Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksiy Orzhel said that in February the price of natural gas for the households will be further reduced, which was made possible thanks to the signing of an agreement on gas transportation between Ukraine and Russia, as well as stabilization of the Ukrainian and European markets. Moreover, the minister expects a record drop in gas prices this summer to $80 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the average price of imported gas in January 2020 amounted to $175.3. By the way, Prime Minister Honcharuk said that the gas price for Ukrainian consumers could have been three to four times higher than the current one had the transit deal not been signed. "We had our previous contract with the Russians expiring on January 1 and there was a serious risk that we would lose transit, which would be a serious blow to the economy and a serious hike in the cost of energy resources for both enterprises and households," the prime minister said. However, while today gas prices are falling on world markets, in a few years they could rebound significantly. Ukraine, on the other hand, imports about a third of gas consumed, which means that it depends heavily on international price fluctuations. It is possible to soften the price blow to the population if Ukraine drastically boosts own production. However, due to the lasting lack of investment in this corruption-ridden industry, the government failed to fulfill its strategy of increasing gas extraction by 2020. Naftogaz changing strategy This week National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine introduced its new gas extraction strategy called Tryzub [Trident], which is based on three main directions, rather than the number of wells drilled. The first area is gas production from deep deposits at the Shebelynske field in Kharkiv region. The second is shale gas. The state-owned company plans to drill three wells in the Sviatohorsk field in Kharkiv region. Thirdly, it's the development of a part of the Black Sea shelf within the large Delfin [Dolphin] oil and gas sector located off Odesa region's coast. Competition for the development of this site is soon to be announced. According to the chief of Naftogaz's integrated gas business, Andriy Favorov, the change in approach to gas production in Ukraine is due the fact that the annual natural decline in the developed fields stands at about 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas. Moreover, the company's largest fields were discovered in 1950-1970 and are already practically depleted, so the country needs new growth points, which is what the new strategy offers. Naftogaz also plans to continue developing traditional fields and intensifying production at existing wells provided that it is economically feasible. Favorov stopped short of naming specific target figures for the increase in gas extraction, noting that in the second half of the year forecasts would be more accurate. Support for farmers and positional fight for land market Last week, the government allocated UAH 4 billion to support farmers in 2020. The funds will be used to reduce the cost of loans and to compensate for the cost of buying domestic agricultural equipment. In addition, the money will go to the development of farms, livestock, and agricultural processing, horticulture, viticulture, and hop-growing. Thus, the Cabinet of Ministers is trying to encourage farmers to engage more in the processing of agricultural products, instead of traditionally exporting raw materials with low added value. The Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade, and Agriculture said that the next state support program for farmers would be designed for three years (2021-2023), and its plan would be released in July. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament keeps reviewing the amendments to the land market bill. By the end of the outgoing week, the Verkhovna Rada considered them more than a quarter of 4,000 amendments and, as of February 20, only one was passed. Mono-majority's calls to the opposition to recall most of their edits, which only drag out time, haven't seen success so far. At the current pace, the final vote on the bill can be expected no earlier than April. The next week promises to be no less saturated with economic news. We should expect statements following the Kyiv visit by experts of Ukraine's key creditor, the International Monetary Fund, while the State Statistics Service will publish data on industrial output for January 2020. Ihor Orel South Korea's number of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus more than doubled Saturday to a total of 433 -- an eightfold jump in just four days. PHOTO: This picture taken on February 19, 2020 shows South Korean health officials spray disinfectant near Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Daegu on Feb. 19, 2020, after a number of churchgoers were identified as having COVID-19. (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images) "The situation is entering a new phase," Vice Health and Welfare Minister Kim Kang-lip told reporters. But the high number of confirmed cases is also because the countrys medical industry has high diagnostic capability, according to experts. MORE: New cases of coronavirus double in 24 hours in South Korea The current period is still "early stage" and the government is cautiously confident that the spread of the novel coronavirus could be contained surrounding the Daegu area, Kim added. PHOTO: A man wearing a mask rides his motorbike past a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (not pictured) in Daegu, South Korea on Feb. 21, 2020. (Kim Hong-ji/Reuters) Daegu, South Koreas fourth-largest city, has been designated a "special management zone" along with Daenam Hospital in nearby Cheongdo County where two deaths have been reported. The central government is channeling medical support to the zone with more staff, hospital beds and equipment. PHOTO:A patient suspected of carrying the new coronavirus, COVID-19, arrives at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, South Korea, Feb. 19, 2020. (Yonhap/EPA via Shutterstock ) Eighty percent of the confirmed have been linked to Daenam Hospital and to a religious sect in the Daegu area. Health authorities are scrambling to test 9,300 members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus who have reportedly spent time in close contact with each other during services and gatherings in the past two weeks. Over 1,200 of them self-reported suspicious symptoms. MORE: One man's account of what it's like to have novel coronavirus All medical staff and patients at Daenam Hospital are also undergoing tests. Of particular concern is the hospital's psychiatric ward, which operates as an enclosed facility. Almost all of the confirmed coronavirus cases were among patients in the psychiatric ward. PHOTO: People suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus wait to be tested at a medical center in Daegu, South Korea, Feb. 20, 2020. (Lee Moo-ryul/AP) Authorities reported 111 total confirmed -- 102 patients and 9 medical staff. The rapid pace of infection is presumably because of frequent contact in a small space, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jung Eun-kyeong explained at a press briefing. Coronavirus cases in South Korea up to 433 overnight originally appeared on abcnews.go.com * Utilities gain over 20% since EU unveiled green deal * ESG investing, low bond yields also boost sector * Funds overweight utilities climb to 5-year high - Barclays By Danilo Masoni and Thyagaraju Adinarayan MILAN/LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Who said utilities shares were dull? In the past year European power company stocks have triggered a buying frenzy more akin to headline-grabbing U.S. tech giants following the continent's "green deal". An EU target to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and expectations of an associated spending boom have fired up shares in electricity firms, providing by far the biggest boost to stock market gains in Europe this year. The pan-European utilities index has gained over 20%since the European Union launched its ambitious green deal in December, dwarfing the 6% rise in the broader equity benchmark . And the sector that is often dismissed as boring because of its predictable revenues and tight regulation, is set for its best 10-week run ever, with returns on many of its components outdoing the likes of Facebook, Amazon and Google. The zero carbon plan could unleash 7 trillion euros ($7.6 trillion) of cumulative investments, Goldman Sachs estimates, with utilities accounting for nearly half of that. Goldman anticipates an era of "unprecedented" growth and regulatory stability for utilities and sees a sustained re-rating for firms it has dubbed as "Climate Champions" - Orsted, RWE, EDP Enel, EDPR, and Iberdrola. The growing influence of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) on portfolio decisions is also helping. Barclays data late last month showed that 31% of global funds are overweight on European utilities, the highest level in five years. "ESG is intensifying the pace at which active and passive funds move into 'winner' sectors, including utilities," said Antonio Amendola, fund manager at AcomeA in Milan. AcomeA's funds have exposure to utility stocks, although it has not disclosed which ones. Some of the sugar rush is also down to investors' search for safe-haven equity assets at a time when the coronavirus outbreak threatens to inflict significant damage on the global economy. These businesses which are less tied to the economic cycle tend to benefit too from the continued drop in borrowing costs. Story continues Power stocks may lack the glamour of the FAANG quintet - Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google-owner Alphabet - but look back over a one-year period and this group of "boring" electricity generators has easily outperformed their tech counterparts. ($1 = 0.9245 euros) (Reporting by Danilo Masoni in Milan, writing and graphics by Thyagaraju Adinarayan in London; editing by Susan Fenton) Winter will return to Michigan by mid-week next week. The catalyst for the winter weather will be two storms merging together just east of Michigan. Heres a forecast animation showing how the second storm pulls the first storm back toward the Great Lakes region. Forecast from Monday evening, February 24, 2020 to Friday, February 28, 2020 Much of the modeling shows the two areas of weather merging over Michigan Wednesday and producing an accumulating snow. Behind the snow-maker could be cold winds and some drifting Thursday. The U.S. model shows almost the same weather scenario as the European Model. The blue and red lines on the animation are pressure lines. The tightly packed pressure lines signify a windy situation once the two storms merge and move east of Michigan. Since the storms have been so consistent in the past two months, we can look at possible snowfall already. Youll see that both the U.S. model and the European model have similar areas for the heaviest snow, and similar amounts. Total snowfall forecast next Tuesday to Thursday from the European Model. Dont look at the exact amounts, but get out of this that a solid snow is possible across much of the Lower Peninsula next week. And the U.S. model agrees, with maybe somewhat lighter amounts but the same placement. U.S. model called the GFS showing total snowfall forecast for Tuesday to Thursday next week. What I hope you get out of this is its probably easily a three to six inch snow if the two storms come together as modeled. This is a more dynamic situation compared to just one storm moving across the country. So lets give it until Sunday morning before we really believe whats going to happen. But Id plan on most of next week being on the slick and snowy side. 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 NRC, religious freedom likely to be discussed by Trump, Modi India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 22: US President Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India next week, the White House said , noting that the US had great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions. "President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and religious freedom both in his public remarks and then certainly in private. He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is extremely important to this administration," a senior official told reporters in a conference call. The official was responding to a question on whether the President was planning to speak to Modi on the citizenship law or the National Register of Citizens. Here is why an opposition delegation will not meet with US President Donald Trump Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. "We do have this shared commitment to upholding our universal values, the rule of law. We have great respect for India's democratic traditions and institutions, and we will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions," the official said, requesting anonymity. "And we are concerned with some of the issues that you have raised," the senior administration official said, in response to the question on NRC. "I think the President will talk about these issues in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious minorities," the official said. "Of course, it's in the Indian Constitution -- religious freedom, respect for religious minorities, and equal treatment of all religions. So this is something that is important to the President and I'm sure it will come up," said the official. Donald Trump India visit: Trade deal unlikely, says White House Pointing out that India had a strong democratic foundation, the official said India is a country rich in religious, linguistic and cultural diversity. "In fact, it's the birthplace of four major world religions," the official noted. "Prime Minister Modi, in his first speech after winning the election last year, talked about how he would prioritise being inclusive of India's religious minorities. And, certainly, the world looks to India to maintain religious liberty and equal treatment for all under the rule of law," said the senior administration official. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 10:10 [IST] Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - The Burundi authorities have increased the producer price cherry coffee during the 2020-2021 season by 10%, as government fully takes over of the sector, the ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock said on Saturday PKK suspects arrested in southern Turkey Police records say that suspects were members of opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Turkish police arrested on Saturday six PKK/KCK suspects for their links to the terrorist group, security sources said. HDP SUSPECTED OF HAVING LINKS TO PKK TERROR ORGANIZATION The arrests came after prosecutors in the southern port city of Mersin issued warrants for the suspects, said the sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. Those arrested include members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) such as Akdeniz district chair Feyza Kaya and Toroslar district chair Cabbar Karabeg, among others. Ankara has long accused the HDP of having links to the terrorist YPG/PKK. Academic-turned-politician Krishna Bose died on Saturday due to age-related ailments. She was 89. Bose, the former Trinamool Congress MP from the Jadavpur constituency, was unwell for quite some time, family sources said. She died at a private hospital off EM Bypass at 10.22 am, they said. Bose was admitted to the hospital with irregular heart beat on February 16 and suffered a cerebral infarct on February 17 and remained in critical condition, a senior doctor said. "She was suffering from age-related ailments for quite some time. She suffered her second stroke a few days ago and was admitted to the ICU," her son Sumantra Bose said. She was married to Sisir Kumar Bose, nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose. Born on December 26, 1930, to constitutional expert Charu Chandra Chaudhuri in Dhaka, Bose taught at the City College in Kolkata for around 40 years. She headed the English department for several years and later also became the principal of the college. Though Bose started in active politics as a member of the Congress, she was close to Mamata Banerjee and switched sides when the Trinamool Congress was formed. "I lost someone respected, loved & admired by me. Saddened & shocked to hear about the demise of Krishna Basu, ex-TMC MP & wife of freedom fighter Dr Sisir Bose. Being a part of Netaji's family, she was a revered social reformer, renowned poet & a courageous educationalist," Banerjee said in a tweet. "Krishna di was a mother to her son's Sumantra & Sugata, daughter Sarmila as well as the whole Trinamool family. Her immense contribution to Indian society & Bengali culture will be revered for times to come," she added. Bose was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996 on a Congress ticket, then in 1998 and 1999 as a Trinamool Congress candidate. She is survived by sons Sugata and Sumantra, and daughter Sharmila. Sugata, the Gardiner Professor of History at Harvard University, had won from the Jadavpur constituency on a Trinamool Congress ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Bose was Chair of the Council of the Netaji Research Bureau and also headed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs during her third stint as the MP. Bose has written several books, including 'Netaji: A Biography for the Young', 'Ek Nambar Bari' and 'An Outsider in Politics'. Her body was taken to her Sarat Bose Road residence in south Kolkata around 1 pm and then it will be brought to the Netaji Bhavan on Elgin Road, according to family sources. The chief minister will be visiting Netaji Bhavan where hundreds of the former lawmaker's followers are also expected. She will be cremated in the evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indians, who are still on board a cruise ship moored off the Japanese coast, will be tested for the novel coronavirus infection along with others on the vessel by the Japanese authorities, the Indian embassy said on Saturday as all the healthy passengers deboarded after the quarantine period ended. The last batch of passengers showing no signs of the deadly disease deboarded the ship, Diamond Princess, on Friday after the end of the quarantine period. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that over 1,000 passengers and crew will remain on board the ship after Friday's disembarkations. A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people, on board the ship when it docked. "All Indian nationals, amongst others, onboard Diamond Princess will be tested for COVID-19 by Japanese authorities, after all passengers disembarked yesterday (Friday)," the embassy tweeted. "@IndianEmbTokyo sincerely hopes that none will show any sign of #COVID19, enabling further facilitation," it said. The condition of the infected Indians is improving, the embassy said. "No additional new cases in respect of Indian nationals testing positive for COVID-19 since yesterday (Friday) on board Diamond Princess," it tweeted. The ship docked at the Yokohama port, near Tokyo, on February 3 with 3,711 passengers and crew on board. It was quarantined after a passenger who disembarked last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the disease. Some of the passengers with no infection began leaving the ship on Wednesday after the end of a two-week quarantine period that failed to stop the spread of the virus among passengers and crew. The ship has the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases outside China. A total of 634 people tested positive for the disease. Two former passengers of the ship have also died. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 05:12:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Representatives of Palestinian academics sign a cooperation agreement on teaching Chinese language at Al-Quds University in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Feb. 22, 2020. Various Palestinian universities on Saturday signed a cooperation agreement on Chinese language teaching. Under the agreement, Al-Quds University, which hosts the only Confucius Institute in Palestine, will overlook the implementation of the agreement in terms of providing educational programs and language teachers appointed by the Chinese government for this mission. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Various Palestinian universities on Saturday signed a cooperation agreement on Chinese language teaching. Under the agreement, Al-Quds University, which hosts the only Confucius Institute in Palestine, will overlook the implementation of the agreement in terms of providing educational programs and language teachers appointed by the Chinese government for this mission. Al-Quds University is a Palestinian university with a main campus in East Jerusalem's Abu Dis suburb. "Today, we are very happy to see that teaching Chinese language and introducing Chinese culture are going to expand from the prestigious Al-Quds University to other universities in Palestine," said Guo Wei, director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine. "I hope that the parameters of teaching Chinese language would be expanded from East Jerusalem to West Bank and Gaza Strip," he said at the signing ceremony. Shadi Abuzarqa, head of the Confucius Institute at Al-Quds University, said that there are currently five Chinese language teachers that will be teaching in different universities, adding that the teachers are selected by the Chinese government and dispatched to Palestine to teach Chinese as a foreign language. "The Confucius Institute is certified and mandated with building relations with all Palestinian universities to allow the opportunity of teaching Chinese language to Palestinian students, and introduce the culture of our friendly Chinese nation," said Abuzarqa. Al-Quds University started offering courses in Chinese language in 2015. A year later, Confucius Institute headquarters in China began sending teachers to the university. Confucius Institute in Palestine offers Chinese language teaching, provides teaching resources, and holds the HSK examination (Chinese Proficiency Test) and tests for the certification of the Chinese language teachers, as well as other language and cultural exchange activities. Rep. Doug McLeod (pictured) of Mississippi was arrested in May 2019 for a misdemeanor domestic violence Newly released bodycam footage shows the wife of Mississippi Rep. Doug McLeod walking out of their home with a bloody face after he punched her while intoxicated, authorities said. They say the violent outburst between McLeod, 59, and Michele McLeod, 59, began because she did not undress quickly enough for sex. Footage obtained by the Sun Herald show a distraught Michele standing with a deputy and explaining that 'anything can trigger' McLeod if he's intoxicated. She initially told authorities that McLeod 'just snapped' and that a friend called 911 after the scary ordeal began. A deputy said Michele had blood on both her face and her hands. Locale police officers first responded to the home after Michele's friend, Magen Merrill, called 911 around 8.51pm on May 18, 2019, from the couple's upstairs bedroom in Lucedale. Merrill said: 'My friend just got punched in the nose by her husband and her nose is bleeding.' 'Like, hes drunk right now and we need someone now because hes got guns in here, too, so please hurry.' Merrill would later testify that Michele had raced into the upstairs bedroom while covering her bloody face with her hands. She said Michele claimed that McLeod had been drinking wine for hours and became physically violent because she was not prepared for sex quick enough. The women then locked the bedroom door and called 911. 'Hes freaking drunk. He just come running in. Please hurry,' Merrill said, and is heard telling dispatchers to 'please hurry' five times. She called dispatchers a second time to confirm that they are on their way because she's afraid they could be shot with a firearm. Authorities arrived to the Mississippi home of Michele McLeod (left) and Doug McLeod (right) after a family friend called about a domestic violence situation in May Merrill told authorities that the couple did possess an undisclosed amount of firearms inside the home and was concerned what McLeod would do in his state. 'Hes downstairs banging around, and I dont want to get shot through the door,' she said. When deputies arrived to the scene, they encountered a drunk McLeod at the Bexely Road residence's front door with a glass of wine. Deputy Robert Karg confronts McLeod about the 911 call, to which the lawmaker replies 'what are you talking about?' and 'are you kidding me?' Deputies say they first encountered an intoxicated McLeod (pictured) outside the couple's home carrying a wine glass (bottom right) and slurring his speech Pictured: Doug McLeod outside meeting deputies outside his home in May 2019 before authorities noticed he had trouble maintaining balance When McLeod re-enters his home, Karg tells dispatcher that the man is a 'pretty severe 31', police code for intoxicated, and can hear him yelling at someone inside the home. Karg said: 'Hes in there hollerin at somebody but I cant see him...I can hear him beatin on a door or a window or something.' At the time, deputies said McLeod was so drunk that his speech was slurred and he had trouble balancing. Merrill (left) and Michele (right) eventually agree to come downstairs after deputies restrain McLeod from interacting with the pair A dispatcher then calls Merrill to tell her that deputies are outside the residence and the pair are free to come downstairs. But the woman says McLeod is outside the bedroom door. 'We cant hes at the door,' Merrill said, sounding frightened. Michele eventually agrees to come downstairs and out of the house to meet deputies 'as long as they have [McLeod].' 'Hold him, handcuff him so we can go downstairs,' Merrill said. A judge found McLeod (pictured) not guilty of domestic violence after Michele testified in her husbands defense Once Michele exited the home, bodycam footage captures her hysterical crying and the evident fear in her voice. She would later testify that she was also upset because she's a private person and had to exit her home wearing her pajamas. The Sun Herald reports that blood was visible around Michele's nose, mouth and was on her hands. At that time, the bleeding from her nose had stopped. 'She took a pretty hard hit to the nose. I dont believe anything is broken, but I want to get her checked out anyway,' Karg tells a dispatcher. Michele tells authorities that McLeod was drunk and that he becomes angry when he's had too much alcohol. She said: 'Anything can trigger him to get like that. He lost it. He gets like that when he drinks too much.' One of the things she mentions is that McLeod believes she spends too much time working. After deputies escort the women back inside the home, they discover blood stains in the upstairs bedroom where the incident is said to have occurred. Spots were found on the master bed and the floor. They also saw a wine bottle on the counter in a separate room. Deputies said they found blood inside the McLeod's bedroom floor and on the couple's bed A wine bottle sitting on the McLeod's counter can be seen on police bodycam footage captured from that night McLeod was soon arrested and transported to a local jail. Michele refused to be taken to a medical center in an ambulance and told authorities her daughter would transport her. Karg warns his colleagues that McLeod is on his way 'in case yall need to make different arrangements for him cell-wise.' Following the violent incident, Judge Bullock found McLeod not guilty of domestic violence after Michele testified in her husband's defense. Michele said that her husband was in a 'state of delirium' because he mixed wine with Ibuprofen. She testified that she was changing into yoga pants when her husband called her name, prompting her to lose her balance and her face accidentally hitting one of McLeod's limbs. Michele (left) and Merrill (right) re-entering the home after deputies inspected their injuries in the residence's yard 'I was never assaulted. My husband has not hit anyone in the 40 years that I have known him,' she said in court. Although Bullock admitted that an instance like that could occur, evidence and 911 calls from that night point towards Michele being in afraid. 'Mrs. McLeod was in fear of Mr. McLeod. She was in fear of him,' Bullock said. Several lawmakers pushed for McLeod to resign from his leadership position over George and Stone counties - a position he'd held since 2012. However, McLeod proceeded to compete in the local election in August 2019 and won, allowing him to maintain his position. Magen Merrill (pictured), a friend of Michele, was inside the home at the time of the incident and called 911 twice House Speaker Philip Gunn, who urged McLeod to step down, has limited his power by only appointing him one of 33 sears in the House Ways and Means Committee. Gunn did not appoint him to any other committee or delegate him to a leadership role. 'As you know, I have called on him more than once to resign,' Gunn told Sun Herald. 'When this happened, I notified him then that this all was out and you need to consider resigning. You need to go deal with your family.' Even now, Gunn said that McLeod's actions cast a bad reflection on Mississippi's government operations. The married lawmaker has three kids and runs a car tire company in Lucedale, Mississippi, has represented George and Stone counties since 2012 and is running unopposed for re-election this year 'This whole episode was a bad reflection on him, his family and on his capacity as a legislator, and that reflects upon the entire state of Mississippi,' he said. 'Thats why we take it seriously.' Because of the outcome of the criminal case, there's nothing Gunn can do about expelling McLeod from participating in local politics. Gunn said: 'Well, he didnt violate the House rules. There is nothing in the constitution he violated, so that only leaves the third option which is a violation of a statute, which is what he was accused of. 'The legal staff has pointed out to me the rules as they currently exist just do not provide an avenue upon which to act. 'I dont know if its ever been contemplated that a situation like this would happen.' McLeod is currently married with three children and at one time owned McLeod Tire Company. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court recently sentenced the former director of Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), Amar Krishna Ghosh, to three years of imprisonment for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. According to the case investigated by CBI, Ghosh and his family were in possession of disproportionate assets worth 2.4 crore. However, after considering the material and evidence placed on record, special judge Vivek Kathare held that Ghosh was in possession of disproportionate assets worth more than 9 lakh, for which the accused could not offer any satisfactory explanation. The prosecution claimed that Ghosh held properties in his name as well as in the name of his wife Neelima, daughter Aparajita and son Apoorva. Special public prosecutor Ashok Bagoria had submitted before the court that the witnesses examined by them showed that Ghosh, his wife and children were found in possession of disproportionate assets and that Ghosh had failed to give a plausible explanation for the possession of the assets. Ghosh, in his defence, claimed that the investigating officer had wrongly calculated the assets, expenditure and the income of his family members. The court held that the total income of the accused is more than 43.68 lakh, while the income of Ghoshs wife and children is more than 13.69 lakh. Therefore, their consolidated income is around 57 lakh, the court said. After deducting the expenditure, the disproportionate assets were valued at more than 9 lakh. Ghosh was granted bail after the court suspended his sentence for him to approach the Bombay high court. The big picture: A study to be published soon by Brown University has found that Twitter bots have had a "substantial impact" in amplifying the messages of climate denialists. The researchers found about 25% of all tweets regarding the climate crisis came from bots with a large margin expressing an skeptical view as to its legitimacy. The study undertaken by a team led by PhD candidate Thomas Marlow examined about 6.5 million tweets from the time frame surrounding President Trump's decision to exit the Paris Climate Accord. These tweets were categorized and then passed through a tool called "Botometer" to estimate whether they were produced by a human or a bot. Marlow told The Guardian that he originally had the idea for the study after wondering "why theres persistent levels of denial about something that the science is more or less settled on." Everyone knows Twitter has a bot problem, but the prevalence as shown in this study is what had the authors worried. Bots were responsible for 38% of all tweets mentioning "fake science" and 28% of tweets about Exxon. When looking at tweets in support of science and climate activism, the authors found that just 5% of them were from bots. Auto-generated content by itself isn't necessarily bad unless it reaches and influences many people. Although the authors couldn't definitively identify who was behind the bot accounts or how much influence they had, they did discover that many had tens of thousands of followers. Accounts like these tend to follow each other and circulate false information in echo chambers. Regardless of topic, researchers have shown that people keep believing and spreading this misinformation due to their perception that there is a valid alternative opinion. Stephan Lewandowsky, a co-author from the University of Bristol, adds that "the more denialist trolls are out there, the more likely people will think that there is a diversity of opinion and hence will weaken their support for climate science." It's unclear whether these bots have affected politicians into enacting or repealing any policies, but there is a growing concern that they are beginning to influence government officials. (Newser) Rod Blagojevich, whose 14-year prison sentence was cut short after eight years by President Trump this week, says he's "profoundly grateful" to Trump for doing so. One person who doesn't seem to share that sentiment: CNN's Anderson Cooper, who took the 63-year-old former Illinois governor to task on his show Friday night. Per the Hill, Blagojevich unleashed a litany of complaints during their chat, including that "corrupt prosecutors" helped put him away for corruption and attempted extortion, and that he'd been a "political prisoner." "If you were to ask Nelson Mandela whether he thought the process was fair back in the early '60s in South Africa, he would say what I'm saying today," Blagojevich said. He added that his time behind bars had given him plenty of time to reflect on how badly criminal justice reform was needed. Cooper's eyebrows raised at that. story continues below "It's a little ironic and frankly a little sad and pathetic and hypocritical you talking about you [getting] a commutation of a sentence ... but you ignored a whole hell of a lot of other people who were hoping you might give them clemency when you actually mattered," Cooper told Blagojevich, who conceded he wished he'd "done more." The fireworks continued until the end of the interview, when Cooper wished Blagojevich the best, and Blagojevich balked: "I don't know about that, the way you're asking me questions." Cooper shot back, "Look, I have no problem with you getting out. The president can commute whoever he wants. ... [But] you do have an obligation to at least admit what you did wrong and you refuse to do that. [You're] creating a whole new alternate universe of facts and that may be big in politics today, but it's still frankly just bulls---." Watch their heated exchange here. (Read more Anderson Cooper stories.) AN ELEVEN year old boy is in serious condition after a collision with a van in Co Donegal. He was walking down Slavery Road, Tullyarvan Co Donegal, near Buncrana, at around 5.30pm yesterday evening when the accident occurred. He was treated at the scene by emergency services personnel and removed by ambulance to Altnagelvin Hospital in Co Derry. His condition is understood to be serious. The driver of the van (a man aged in his 50s) was uninjured. Rena Donaghey, a Donegal County Councillor from Buncrana said that the community are ready to rally around the boy's family and offer support needed. "He's a seriously ill wee boy unfortunately," she said. "His mother is widely known locally, and I know the cousins very well, his mammy and daddy are originally from Dublin, they're absolutely worried about him. "Buncrana is no stranger to tragedy but this is yet another horrific accident and the wee boy is only 11." "It was an isolated incident on that particular road but driving conditions were absolutely horrific," she contyinued. "It was dark from 4.30pm - it was just an awful evening weather-wise. "I want to offer my whole-hearted support and I know that the community will rally around, whatever we can do, will absolutely be done. "Buncrana is a great community and this is a time when the family need as much support as possible and that will be there for them but it is just so sad." Gardai in Buncrana are appealing for witnesses and the scene is preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions remain in place. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have information regarding the collision, particularly any road users with camera footage who were travelling on the Slavery Road between 5.15pm and 5.45pm yesterday, to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 932 0540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. Two people arrested in Wilkes County Friday for possession of a stolen car are wanted for questioning by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for their purported connection to a missing toddler in that state. Deputies with the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office arrested on Friday William McCloud and Angela Boswell, both of Sullivan County, Tennessee, in the Shepherds Crossroads Community of Wilkes County for possession of a stolen vehicle out of Tennessee. McCloud and Boswell are wanted for questioning by the TBI for their alleged connection to the disappearance of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. Angela Boswell, 42, is Evelyns grandmother. In a series of tweets, the TBI says someone reported Evelyn Boswell missing on Feb. 18, and that the child hadnt been seen since Dec. 26 of 2019. Its not clear why there was such a delay in Evelyns last known whereabouts and her being reported missing. Its also not clear why authorities are looking for Angela Boswell or McCloud. Evelyn Boswells mother, Maggie, told WCYB-TV that she knows who took her daughter, but didnt elaborate further. On Twitter @LeeOSanderlin lsanderlin@wsjournal.com 336-727-7339 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. He also has to forfeit 25 properties in Oregon and California and more than $16 million in Tesla stock. Here's how much time he'll serve. Nature can be ruthless and unforgiving when it has to be. A 50-year-old photographer, Jens Cullman, from Germany, captured some distressing images of a baby elephant being eaten alive by hyenas. The baby was eaten by a pack of savage hyenas in front of its helpless mother. Both were stuck in a mud pit on the plains of Zimbabwe. Jens Cullman The hungry pack of hyenas tore off the baby elephant's leg as during the attack. The mother threw mud over her head in a desperate attempt to scare off the predators, according to Daily Mail report. She then died during a rescue attempt as she lay trapped in the mud with her baby's rotting corpse in Mana Pools National Park. Jens Cullman The photographer returned at least twice to picture the plight of the helpless mother and baby. The images show the distressed mother and the baby desperately raising their trunks after being stuck in the mud as the pack of hyenas patrol nearby. Jens Cullman The next morning the photographer found that the baby was dead while the mother was barely hanging on. He kept returning to the site to photograph the last days of the mother as she slowly succumbed to dehydration, state reports. He thought it best to not interfere with nature, it is after all the survival of the fittest. Jens Cullman It is sad that the baby died a painful death, but that is the life of the wild. Guwahati, Feb 22 : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with his entire cabinet, would on Tuesday receive the final report of the high-level panel formed to review and suggest measures for the implementation of Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord, a senior minister said on Saturday. Disclosing this, state Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the matter was discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who stated that the report would be reviewed by the Centre and the 14-member committee will be called if need be. "On February 25, Sarbananda Sonowal, with his entire cabinet, will receive the report," he said. The committee completed its report on February 10 and then intimated the Union Home Ministry. Panel member and All Assam Students Union General Secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi had earlier said that the committed had handed over its report in a sealed cover to state Chief Secretary Sanjay Krishna through the Assam Accord Implementation Department. Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord pledges to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. The committee has proposed 1951 as the cut-off year for implementing Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. The ILP, a mechanism to control the entry of outsiders into the state, has been implemented in the states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. It was also introduced in Manipur in the wake of protests over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. The Union Home Ministry set up the panel to examine the effectiveness of actions taken since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, and suggest measures. (TNS) A group seeking to change Ohios legislative term limits law has filed paperwork with the state, the first step in a process that eventually would require approval from state voters.Under a proposed state constitutional amendment filed on Wednesday with the state attorney generals office, state lawmakers would have a lifetime limit of 16 years they could serve in either the House or Senate.This would change current law, approved by state voters in 1992 as a constitutional amendment, under which there is no lifetime cap. Rather, current term limits bar lawmakers from serving more than eight consecutive years in either chamber, but allow them to switch back and forth between the House and Senate.Under the new proposal, the clock on term limits would begin ticking on Jan. 1, 2021, apparently wiping out any previous accumulated time. For example, it appears this would allow House Speaker Larry Householder, who otherwise would have to leave the House at the end of 2024, to stay through 2036. However, it would be too late for currently term-limited lawmakers, like Senate President Larry Obhof, to stick around, since it only applies to those eligible to run for election or re-election this November.Don McTigue, a prominent elections-law attorney in Columbus who filed Ohioans for Legislative Term Limits paperwork, didnt immediately return a message seeking comment.But he told theon Wednesday the initiative would "close the current loophole that allows legislators to shuffle back and forth between the House and Senate indefinitely.A campaign structure is being organized now, he told The Blade. You will be hearing more from the campaign as things develop in the weeks and months ahead.If the groups language is approved by Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Ballot Board, Ohioans for Legislative Term Limits then would have until July 1 to collect roughly 443,000 valid voter signatures from 44 of Ohios 88 counties to make the November ballot.Two other proposed constitutional amendments also are possible for the November election. One, backed by organized-labor groups, seeks to hike the states minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2025. A second, backed by the Ohio ACLU, seeks to expand Ohios ballot-access laws. On December 2nd, 2015, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik opened fire on the city of San Bernardino, California, leaving 14 people, and the two shooters, dead. During the investigation the FBI obtained Farook's iPhone, but could not access it through the passcode. They went Apple to unlock it, and Apple couldn't help. The iPhone's encryption methods were so secure, according to Apple, that Apple itself couldn't access the data on the phone. As a result, the U.S. government wanted Apple to purposefully weaken the encryption of its iPhones, putting a "backdoor" in the iOS framework that would allow the FBI to access the contents of iPhones everywhere. But this would also leave the operating system much more vulnerable to hackers and other governments. The battle over online privacy has been waging on since the popularization of the internet itself. These discussions with Apple in particular have brought privacy activists and law enforcement head to head, fighting over who can utilize the privacy provided by encryption and what they can use that encryption for. Messaging apps like Signal, WhatsApp and iMessage are encrypted. That means the messages are kept private from everyone except the intended recipient. And while these platforms are far from perfect Jeff Bezos' phone was recently accessed through a malicious video message via WhatsApp many people rely on the privacy encryption provides daily. Esra'a Al Shafei, for example, built a social platform called Ahwaa where individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ can virtually meet and talk with each other in Middle Eastern and North African countries such as Egypt, where homosexuality is not expressly illegal, but where the government has used laws against what they call debauchery, among others, to criminalize LGBTQ+ individuals. Three girl students died and two sustained injuries after a fire broke out in an unregistered paying guest facility in Sector 32D, Chandigarh, on Saturday. At least a dozen other girls besides the caretaker and her sister managed to escape unhurt. The fire broke out on the first floor around 3.30pm. The cause is suspected to be a laptop battery or charger explosion, though police are awaiting the fire departments report before confirming anything. The deceased have been identified as Muskan Mehta, Riya and Pakshi Grover, all aged between 19 and 21 years. Muskan, 21, was from Hisar, Haryana, and was a first-year MCom student at Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma (GGDSD) College, Sector 32, Chandigarh. Pakshi, 19, was a BA-1 student in the same college and belonged to Kotkapura in Faridkot, Punjab. Riya, 20, belonged to Kapurthala, Punjab, and was attending French classes at Alliance Francaise in Sector 36. Pakshi and Riya died due to suffocation, though they also suffered burns, while Muskan succumbed to 70% burn injuries. They were declared dead at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. The two injured students have been identified as Femina, 23, from Fatehabad, Haryana, and Jasmine, 19, from Moga, Punjab. They jumped from the balcony to escape the blaze. Admitted in GMCH, their condition is stated to be stable. The house is owned by Gaurav Aneja, who runs a confectionary shop in the same sector. However, he had sublet the house to Nitish Bansal and Nitish Popli, who were running the PG facility. The three have been booked under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life of others), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, said superintendent of police (SP, city) Vineet Kumar. Bansal has been arrested. How it unfolded According to police, there were 34 girls staying in the facility, which was unregistered and lacked safety measures. At the time of the incident, only 17 were present, as most had gone home due to the long weekend. The floor in which fire was reported was divided with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wall partitions with three rooms having a common entry from an alley. A PCR vehicle on patrolling duty made a call to the police control room around 3:50pm, informing that a fire had broken out on the first floor of the three-storeyed Sector-32 residential building. Fire fighters, police and ambulance were rushed to the spot. Meanwhile, caretaker Babbu and her sister Manpreet raised the alarm, and at least 12 girls, who were sleeping inside, ran out of the house. The fire had consumed almost whole building when fire tenders reached there, said a fire official, requesting anonymity. The building didnt have proper ventilation or fire-safety measures to help the girls trapped inside. Five fire tenders took half an hour to douse the flames. The three girls were unconscious when they were rescued. Muskan has suffered burn injuries, said the official. What caused fire According to police and fire officials, the fire was caused due to an explosion in the laptop charging adaptor that was kept on a bed. The girls stated that either the laptop battery or the charger caught fire, which then spread further due to the flammable PVC panels, bedsheets and other linen. According to yet another theory shared by an official, there was a power cut in Sector 32, and when the supply resumed, there was a spark in the charging panel due to the voltage surge, leading to the fire. UT adviser Manoj Kumar Parida has sought a detailed inquiry report about the incident from the deputy commissioner. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, he said, adding that an audit of all PG facilities in the city will be conducted. Two jumped from balcony to survive Femina, 23, was on the top floor of the three-storeyed house and getting ready to go to market when she heard screams coming from the first floor around 3:30pm. I heard screams that fire has broken out on the first floor. I went down but then rushed back upstairs to pick up my mobile phone. Soon, there was smoke everywhere and I got stuck, said Femina, who belongs to Fatehabad in Haryana and is preparing for UGC National Eligibility Test at a coaching institute in Sector 15. She then went to the balcony and shouted for help. Someone from a neighbouring house came to his terrace and tried to pull her up. However, she slipped, landed on the tin roof of a small room built on the ground floor and fell unconscious. Meanwhile, Jasmine, 19, was sleeping in her room on the first floor, when Pakshi came to wake her up. I suddenly got up and heard that the laptop charger had exploded and the PVC panel in the room has caught fire, said Jasmine, who belongs to Moga, Punjab, and studies in GGDSD College. Pakshi and I tried to escape through the stairs, but there was smoke everywhere and fire had escalated. The two then ran towards the balcony. While I jumped down, Pakshi said she was going to pull out Riya, who was in the washroom on the first floor, she said. Both Pakshi and Riya died of suffocation. Muskan Mehta, 21, who succumbed to 70% burn injuries, earlier made a frantic call to her father to inform him that fire had engulfed her room and there was no way out. After this, the phone got disconnected. Muskans father, Rajeev Mehta, who is an advocate in Hisar, quickly called his brother Dinesh, who resides in Sector 20. I rushed to the spot and helped the fire officials locate my niece, but we had lost her, said Dinesh. Firefighters claimed that Muskan tried to hide herself under the bed, but it proved futile. Dr Harish Dasari, chairperson of emergency services at GMCH said Riya, Muskan and Pakshi were brought dead to the hospital. Muskan died due to 70% burn injuries, while the other two died of smoke inhalation and had also received a substantial amount of burn injuries, he said. On the two girls who had jumped from the balcony, he said: They have not received any critical injury. All emergency medical tests have been conducted and they are fine. They will be discharged soon. Britain's UN ambassador Karen Pierce has accused Russia of a "lack of humanity" in Syria, as the UN revealed that more than half of the nearly million people displaced in Idlib province by the escalating conflict are children. She told Sky News the UN had been given "a very sobering and frightening humanitarian briefing" on the current civilian crisis in the nine-year civil war. It says 900,000 people are in "grave danger" in Syria's Idlib province , as freezing conditions add to the war-torn population's woes. Around 60% of those who have fled the region since 1 December are children. Her comments came days after Sky News gained rare access to northwest Syria, where special correspondent Alex Crawford found indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, thousands of displaced people fleeing violence and what she described as "obvious war crimes". Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russia's Vladimir Putin to "restrain" the Syrian government, in a phone call between the two leaders on Friday. He also called for a ceasefire between Turkish and Russian military forces in Idlib. Ms Pierce, who has been critical of Russia's conduct in the conflict, accused Moscow of abusing the UN's veto system to "protect" Syrian leader Bashar al Assad, who she said was "attacking his own people". She has called on Moscow and Damascus to end "indiscriminate and inhumane attacks" in northwest Syria that are killing and injuring innocent civilians. The British diplomat said the UN was "very ready to do what we can to back a UN-led ceasefire" - "but Russia needs to agree" and to "persuade the Russians to let-up on the bombardment of Idlib". "The UN wants to act. And 13 members of the Security Council want to act. But we are stopped from acting because of Russia, supported by China," she said. "That's the main thing - to get the Russians to restrain the Syrians and stop aiding them in the bombings that they are doing, including the bombing of hospitals which is against the Geneva Convention." Story continues She said the "absolute priority is a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible". "Russia and the Syria regime don't really care what price has to be paid by civilians," she said, accusing Assad of holding up medical supplies in order to regain control of rebel-strongholds across the country. "If Assad can't put right the problems that led to the crisis in 2011-2012 then Syria will never be stable, and the government of Syria will never be able to govern the whole of Syria. :: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker "So there are some very pressing, long-term questions to sort out as well as these immediate short-term needs," added Ms Pierce, who is soon to take up her new role as the UK's ambassador to the United States. On Friday, Russia floated the possibility of a summit on Syria with France, Germany and Turkey , while Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asked the French and German leaders to provide "concrete" support in helping to bring to an end the escalating crisis. He said Turkey would not be withdrawing its forces from Idlib, but was continuing to work on a 30-35km (18-22 miles) "safe zone" for migrants along its border with Syria. Moscow and Ankara's response followed calls from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Bosky Khanna By Express News Service BENGALURU: It is not just events in China which are getting cancelled and affected due to the novel coronavirus, but even those to be held in India. The 36th International Geological Congress which was scheduled to be held from March 2 to 8, 2020, in Noida has been indefinitely postponed. The event, to be organised by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, was to see over 6,000 participants from across the globe. In a statement, the Ministry said: After the outbreak of Covid-19 a sizeable number of international delegates (about one- fifth) have opted out of the Congress. The Ministry has not put out another date for the conference. The ministry also said that the situation of the emerging of the spread of Covid-19 had been reviewed by the government and for the health and safety of the guests, participants and persons and so the conference has been postponed. The conference was being held to share knowledge and take decisions on mining, ground water scenario, rising ocean levels, environmental geology and forensic geology, research on missing aircraft such as the recent AN32 in Arunachal Pradesh and more. The Congress is held annually in different parts of the world and it was the first time it was being held in India. Delegates from countries such as USA, UK, Russia, Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka were to be participating. Organisers had rejected the participation of delegates from China due to the coronavirus outbreak there. In the presence of a host of Korean culture fans in Egypt, pianist Lee Soojung and flutist Kwon Yewon from Korea performed a collection of classical pieces at the Cairo Opera House Small Hall, on 17 February. The Korean artists played works by Schubert, Verdi, Gabriel Furie and Benjamin Goddard, as well as the thrilling traditional Korean music "Arirang," which received a big round of applause. Speaking to the audience, Korean Ambassador Yoon Yeocheol said the concert offered a different aspect of Korean culture; the classical Western music which became most popular among Korean youth. Korean musicians have achieved great ingenuity in playing this kind of music, Yoon said. Lee is a professor of piano at the School of Music, Soongsil University. She won the first prize at the KBS (Korea Broadcasting System) Music Competition in 1977. Kwon graduated from Ewha Woman's University and she is a professor of flute at Gyeonggi Arts High school. The Korean ambassador noted that Egypt and Korea each have their own traditional music, yet classical Western music remains one of the key ingredients of world music, which is considered the common language among music lovers around the world. South Korea is home to a number of distinguished musicians in classical music who have won many awards at international festivals and competitions, he added. Ambassador Yoon confirmed that the Korean Embassy and the Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) in Egypt will continue to organise many cultural events to introduce various aspects of the Korean arts such as music, traditional dance, Korean pop music, drama and Korean cinema, which earned global fame after the four Oscars Parasite claimed. Search Keywords: Short link: A UVF social media troll account has made veiled threats against six witnesses in the Ian Ogle murder case. Cops have confirmed they are investigating the content of a sinister post and have contacted Facebook to have it removed. Multiple witnesses to the brutal Ogle killing are named and verbally abused including the slain loyalist's campaigning daughter Toni Johnston. She reported the account to police at Strandtown in east Belfast on Tuesday, later telling Sunday Life that this is the latest act of intimidation the family has been forced to endure. "It's non-stop," said Toni, who last month organised a successful community meeting at which calls were made for an end to gangsterism and drug dealing in east Belfast. "It's bad enough that my daddy was murdered, now a bunch of bullies are trying to frighten witnesses to the killing into not giving evidence. This is just the latest in a long line of acts of intimidation that we have had to suffer. Luckily my family is strong and we have huge support from within the community, so we will be going nowhere." Loyalist sources told Sunday Life that the sinister social media account is being run, in part, by one of the five-man UVF gang who butchered Ian Ogle to death outside his Cluan Place home. Although questioned about the killing he has not been charged. Believed to be helping him is a disgraced ex-soldier who is suspected of assisting with the clean-up operation. A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police have received a report of comments made on a social media platform. Inquiries are ongoing." Last month, ahead of the first anniversary of her dad's murder, Toni and her family were targeted in a graffiti campaign with menacing and untrue slogans about them written on walls around east Belfast. Detectives suspect the same sick individuals are behind the latest sinister social media account spewing lies about her and witnesses to the killing. The dad-of-two was stabbed to death by a drunken and drugged-up gang following an 18-month intimidation campaign by the East Belfast UVF. Prominent loyalists Jonny Brown (33), Glenn Rainey (33), and Mark Sewell (40) are charged with his murder - a claim they strongly deny. The East Belfast UVF has admitted its members were involved, but insisted the killing was not sanctioned at a leadership level. Ian was praying with local pastor Kevin Sambrook when he was mercilessly attacked. The 45-year-old was beaten with bats and stabbed 11 times in his back. Watch: Girls trip and fall during massive Congress sponsored marathon in UP BJP needs to change its mindset about women': Congress Cong accuses BJP of using Tek Fog app to propagate agenda on SM, seeks intervention by SC We are hiring! Congress posts hilarious post that brings 'acche din' to unemployed people India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Feb 22: The Indian National Congress pn Saturday posted a tweet using US President Donald Trump's lofty expectations for his Monday welcome party to lock horns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the Congress is seen accusing PM Modi and BJP of failing to generate jobs in the country, the Congress' social media team came up with a hilarious post that could gather jobs as well as people to welcome Donald Trump. 69 lakh vacancies of the 2 cr promised by Modiji have been announced. Apply now. Hurry! #Jumla7MillionKa pic.twitter.com/4jA27gQL16 Congress (@INCIndia) February 22, 2020 In case if you're left confused, the 69 lakh figure is associated with Donald Trump's prediction of 7 million (70 lakh), reducing the number of actual people who are expected to attend the event. Why is Congress unhappy when country's stature is being raised globally: BJP However, in the recent reports, the President has now revised his expectations from 7 million to 10 million. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 14:47 [IST] Two police constables were on Saturday arrested with 870 gm of heroin worth around Rs 50 lakh, in Bihar's Katihar district, police said. Interrogation of the police constables led to the arrest of another person, a senior officer said. Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided Manihari railway station and arrested constables Dharmendra Kumar and Gopal Mahto and seized the contraband from their possession, Additional Superintendent of Police Hari Mohan Shukla said. Kumar, a resident of Patna, is posted with Katihar railway police station while Mahto, a resident of Katihar, is posted with Kishanganj railway police station, he said. Based on their interrogation, another person, Rajesh Paswan, was later arrested from Katihar town. Later, five kg ganja was seized from Mahto's room in Kishanganj police barracks, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GARDAI are investigating after a bonfire was lit in a blessed well in Kilmallock, an act which has shown complete disrespect for the people of the town. It occurred in the Peoples Park which Cllr PJ Carey said in recent times is covered in horse s**t as animals are being illegally grazed there. The well has literally run dry since tyres were set ablaze in it. The well is close to many peoples hearts in the town as they remember going there with their parents and grandparents to fill up drums of water. Max Hennessy, Kilmallock CE Scheme supervisor, described it as vandalism of the highest order. It is complete disrespect shown for the people of the town and the history of the park. For years and years the elderly people in the town went there for their water. There used be queues of people. I used to go down with my grandfather and wait for the drum of water to be filled. They said it was the best water in the town, better than what was coming out of the taps at the time, said Mr Hennessy. The perpetrators set tyres on fire, then threw electric cables on top to burn the plastic coating off for the copper inside. There wasnt much domestic rubbish burnt but there was a childs stroller and scooter. The heat was so intense it is after drying it out. The stone was destroyed, has to be taken out and redone. It actually burnt the slab of stone, it shattered it, said Mr Hennessy. It is fierce annoying. It belongs to the town. We are trying our best in the CE Scheme. Our main goal is to have nice amenities for the people in the town and every time we try and do something decent someone comes on and wrecks it. It is only a small minority that are doing it but they are wrecking it for everyone, he continued. It is known locally as the blessed well. It goes back to the early 1900s when there was OSullivans and then Murphys Brewery in Kilmallock. A pipe was put in as a run off from a deep limestone well that was there. The water runs down the pipe into a stone basin then filters into the river, said Mr Hennessy. Now there isnt a drop. We have to completely take it out, find the pipe, reinstate that, redo the stone inside in it, put a new lintel over the top of it and put up a plaque. It is going to cost around 1,500 just to get it right. We have got great support from Brendan Kidney (senior executive engineer) in the council. We are going to improve the blessed well, said Mr Hennessy. As chairman of the Kilmallock Tourism Development, Cllr Mike Donegan said its very disappointing to see this vandalism and destruction of our community property. Max and the CE scheme do excellent work maintaining the parks and estates in our town and for this type of vandalism to occur is an insult to the scheme participants, Kilmallock Tidy Towns and the community, said Cllr Donegan. In 2019, the 25-strong Kilmallock CE Scheme painted all the approach signs to the town to improve visibility and safety signs, erected the fantastic Christmas lights, set up a Christmas tree in the church and crib and lots more. In the height of the cutting season, they mow 40 acres a week, including playing pitches, housing estates and graveyards. I have been working with the Deebert residents, the council and the gardai on a number of concerns raised by the residents, including upgrading of the public lights, new CCTV installed and discussions on suggestions for closing off access from the estate to the park. I have also organised a meeting with the superintendent in Bruff and the council on the ongoing issues, said Cllr Donegan. The cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district concluded: Yes, the council are doing something about it and the gardai are doing something about it. The bonfire took place in the early hours of Monday, February 3 with reports saying it was started around midnight on the Sunday night. Anybody who may have seen suspicious behaviour in or around the Peoples Park is asked to contact Bruff gardai on 061 382940. HONG KONG, Feb 22 (Reuters) - A second plane with 82 Hong Kong residents who were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise in Japan for more than two weeks landed early on Saturday in the Asian financial hub, where they will face a further 14 days of quarantine. The first batch of 106 passengers arrived in the Chinese territory on Thursday. The British-flagged Diamond Princess, operated by Carnival Corp, arrived in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Feb 3. with about 3,700 people onboard after the virus was diagnosed in a man who disembarked last month in Hong Kong. Japan reported the deaths of two elderly passengers on Thursday, the first fatalities from aboard the ship where more than 630 cases account for the biggest cluster of infection outside China. Authorities said 66 of the 364 Hong Kong residents on the ship were infected with the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. They will remain in Japan along with other citizens who were in close contact with them. Hong Kong immigration authorities are in Japan and are arranging further flights, government officials said. Government-funded broadcaster RTHK reported delays and confusion over the latest flight, with Hong Kong officials saying Japanese authorities eventually barred some 17 people at the boarding gate, saying they had been in close contact with confirmed cases. Those passengers were later cleared and returned to Hong Kong on later flights. They will also placed under quarantine in Hong Kong, the broadcaster reported. Two Macau residents also returned on the flight, and were taken back to the city by road on arrival in Hong Kong. Aside for the passengers, Hong Kong has confirmed 68 cases and two deaths from the disease and dozens of police officers were quarantined after an officer tested positive on Tuesday following a banquet. (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom; Editing by Greg Torode and Daniel Wallis) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: The U.S. Embassy officials in Tashkent delivered 600 sets of personal protective equipment to the Republican Center for the Prevention of Plague, Quarantine and Highly Dangerous Infections under the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, Trend reports with reference to the US Embassy in Tashkent. They were handed over "to support Uzbekistan's efforts to prepare for an outbreak of coronavirus". Back in January, the Health Ministry appealed to all international donors for supplies of personal protective equipment and test kits to diagnose coronavirus. In response to this request, the US Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) provided funding for 600 personal protective equipment kits, including face masks, plastic masks, respirators and gloves. The personal protective equipment will be kept as part of the national reserve and will also be used if coronavirus is detected in the country. 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 2,300 people have died and over 77,000 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 author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Ryanair CEO calls Muslim men 'terrorists' Boss of one of the famous budget airlines in Europe, Michael O'Leary said that checks on families should be less stringent while Muslim men flying alone should be targeted by airport security. Budget airline Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said he supports the profiling of "single Muslim males" at airports, because "that is where the threat is coming from." He said he believes terrorists are "generally Muslims." "BOMBERS ARE MOSTLY MUSLIMS" O'Leary called for the profiling of "males of a Muslim persuasion" at airports to prevent terrorism, in an interview on Saturday with British newspaper The Times. "That is where the threat is coming from," he said. "Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males traveling on their own," the Irishman said in Saturday's interview. "If you are traveling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero," he added. "You can't say stuff, because it's racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish," O'Leary said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 14:26:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Raul Menchaca HAVANA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese cuisine, traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts have all found a new home in Cuba, and for the past fortnight, the Mandarin language has come into the life of students in the University of Havana. Both the University's Faculties of Foreign Languages and Tourism began to offer year-and-a-half programs on Mandarin study starting Feb. 4. Every Tuesday and Thursday, 16 young Cubans gather in a classroom to learn standard Mandarin for three hours. "Cuban students are very excited about learning," said Xu Yi, a graduate of Beijing Language and Culture University who taught the class and has lived in Cuba for the last three years. The 16 students enrolled for the Chinese language program are lucky since there were many more applicants for the program, according to Xu. "From a linguistic point of view, Mandarin has a more basic structure, which eases its learning," a student named Chabelys Lora said, adding that she and her classmates found Mandarin's tones quite difficult. "Language is a bridge, because when a person begins to learn a foreign language, the person falls in love with that country, its culture, and its people," she said, expressing the belief that Chinese learners will become goodwill ambassadors between the two peoples. Last November, Cuban Education Minister Ena Elsa Velazquez and Chinese Vice Education Minister Zheng Fuzhi signed a Framework Exchange Agreement for joint work in the field. The two-year agreement includes Mandarin teaching in some Cuban schools, scholarships for Cuban students, and exchange of information between institutions. Apart from Cuban universities, the Confucius Institute of Havana has also been making the Chinese language and culture more popular. Founded in 2009, the Confucius institute began its academic activities in January 2010, following the cooperation between China's Confucius Institute Headquarters and the University of Havana. The institute has seen an explosion of enrollment these years, for both adults and children. Many Cubans learning Chinese are looking forward to communicating with the Chinese people, and hope to use their language proficiency in work. Some students in the Mandarin class of the University of Havana are interested in becoming interpreters, said Lora. "Cuba has signed many agreements with China, therefore as translators and interpreters, we will have much more work in Mandarin than what we might have in other languages," she said. The Turkish, Russian, German and French leaders will meet on March 5 to try to find a solution to the crisis in the city of Idlib as Turkey and Russian-backed Syrian forces risk confrontation in the region. Following phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he will meet them all on March 5. As Turkey slides toward war, Ankara has appealed to the U.S. and its European allies for support in a conflict that risks undermining the friendly ties hes built with Moscow. Turkey wants an end to intensifying attacks by Russian-backed Syrian forces in the countrys last rebel stronghold of Idlib, where one-time al-Qaida militants as well as Turkey-backed rebels are holed up. Russia has in turn accused Turkey of failing to abide by agreements to ease hostilities, warning that the flow of Turkish troops was aggravating the situation. Erdogan has threatened to use force before the end of February if Syrian fighters dont pull back from areas surrounding Turkish military outposts in Idlib. While Turkey insists it will avoid any confrontation with Russian forces, the pressure on Erdogan to respond is rising as the toll of Turkish casualties mounts. Another Turkish soldier was killed on Saturday on the way to hospital after being wounded by Syrian tank fire in Idlib, taking the total toll of Turkish casualties to 17 in February alone. Read more about: Washington DC [USA], Feb 22 (ANI): US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner will be part of a 12-level delegation accompanying the US President during his maiden visit to India from February 24, a senior US Administration official said on Friday. The other eight members of the delegation are: US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller, White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino, First Lady Melania Trump's chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds, White House advisor Robert Blair, and White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, the official said. The participants at the bilateral meetings will be: Adam S Boehler, the chief executive of the US International Development Finance Corporation, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, Lisa Curtis, the senior director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council, and Kash Patel, a former top National Security Council official. Accompanied by the delegation, President Trump will arrive in India on a two-day visit on February 24. The visiting dignitary is also expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, named 'Namaste Trump,' on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Modi in Houston in September last year. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will have an extensive schedule for February 25 when they arrive in the national capital of India. According to sources, there will be multiple meetings and delegation-level talks apart from the exchange of agreements. Trump will also visit the US Embassy in New Delhi. After meeting, S Jaishankar and Vice President of India, Trump will move to the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the lavish dinner hosted by President of India Ram Nath Kovind. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will accompany FLOTUS and POTUS to the Taj Mahal in Agra.According to his tentative itinerary, Trump will leave for the United States by his special flight around 10 pm on February 25. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Democratic presidential frontrunner Bernie Sanders had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin as reports of Kremlin meddling in the 2020 US Presidential race emerged. In his message, the socialist warned Moscow to step away from the US electoral system, after he was told by the intelligence community of the Russian collusion. "The intelligence community is telling us they are interfering in this campaign, right now, in 2020. And what I say to Mr. Putin, if elected president, trust me you are not going to be interfering in American elections," Sanders told US media on Friday. "We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign. Look, here is the message to Russia- stay out of American elections. That is what they did in 2016 and that is the ugliest thing they are doing, is they are trying to cause chaos, they are trying to cause hatred in America." he added. READ| Bernie Sanders calls Saudi Royals 'murderous thugs', opines on Iran & Palestine-Israel The 78-year-old frontrunner, who was speculated to win the Nevada caucuses, took a dig at billionaire Jeff Bezos owned Washington Post over the timing of the news report. "I'll let you guess about one day before the Nevada Caucasus, why do you think it came out? It was the Washington Post? Good friends." On Friday, the Washington Post citing the concerned people reported that Bernie Sanders was told by US officials about the Russian meddling a month ago. They further reported that even US President Donald Trump and other US lawmakers were informed. Sanders drew flak from the critics on social media for not mentioning the possible Moscow meddling in the US 2020 Presidential election for a month. Russia denies meddling Kremlin on Friday rebuffed the claims of interference in the US Presidential campaign, with the motive to re-elect Donald Trump. "These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the (US) election. They have nothing to do with the truth," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. The US intelligence community said that the Putin administration was using cyberattacks to support Trump's re-election. Meanwhile, Facebook has remained silent over the supposed Russian meddling. In 2016, Robert Mueller's report, the probe headed by the Special Counsel found no Russian interference in Trump's campaign, which was often disdained as a mere "witch hunt" by the US President. In 2017, the US intel agencies had said that Putin himself ordered the campaign to influence the 2016 US Presidential elections and had a "clear preference for President-elect Trump," the assessment was often argued by Republicans. READ| Hillary Clinton claims "nobody likes" Bernie Sanders; alleges 'sexism' in his campaign WATCH: US President Donald Trump, with a smile, asks Vladimir Putin to not 'meddle' in the 2020 US Presidential elections. Voices like these from Chinese citizens are very rare. People who are willing to speak out about the governments attempts to control news about the deadly coronavirus. They asked to remain anonymous, because what theyre doing could put them and their families at great risk. But these people are part of a new wave of Chinese citizens, fighting to get the message out in a country that aggressively censors information. Accounts or messages like these calling for free speech are quickly scrubbed from the internet. Or videos like this, showing people frustrated about life under lockdown. [clanging] Posted online one day, but gone the next. But the crisis over the coronavirus is changing the landscape, for now at least. Everyday citizens are preserving and reposting information the government doesnt want out there. Experts say this kind of digital resistance is happening at a scale theyve never seen before. Social media networks like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are blocked in China. But internet savvy people use techniques that allow them to repost censored content to these platforms, while staying under the radar of authorities. Theyre creating a visual archive by preserving videos like this one, showing overwhelmed hospitals. [screaming] And theyre reposting peoples personal stories. Some are also turning to less obvious platforms, including GitHub, which is a site mostly used by coders. Another taboo Chinese citizens are pushing back on? Theyre making open and widespread calls for freedom of speech. These were triggered by the death of Dr. Li Wenliang. He was an early whistleblower who warned about the virus, and was punished by officials for speaking out. He died in early February from the coronavirus. Right after his death, the hashtag I want freedom of speech started to trend on Weibo, a Chinese social media site. Then, it was quickly censored by the government. Dr. Lis become an icon in the online fight for freedom of speech between censors and citizens. So, whos winning? For now, citizens are staying a step ahead of the authorities. But a renewed government crackdown could test the strength of this digital resistance. The first black student in Auburn University history will finally receive his long-awaited masters degree from the school in May. On Jan. 4, 1964, Harold Franklin walked onto the Auburn University campus as the first black student in school history, pursuing a masters degree that he never received after his thesis was repeatedly rejected, as late as 1969. On Sunday afternoon, May 3, at Auburns spring commencement for the College for Liberal Arts, Franklin, now 87, will finally receive the masters degree he earned. Im honored, Franklin said in an interview Saturday. Im happy they finally decided after all these years. Ill be there at graduation and get that degree. Franklin defended his masters thesis successfully on Wednesday, Feb. 19, said Keith Hebert, associate professor of history at Auburn, the chair of the thesis committee. Hebert said the current administration at the university learned about Franklins rejected masters thesis after AL.com did an interview with Franklin on Aug. 30 regarding Gov. Kay Iveys blackface incident. Ivey and Franklin were students at Auburn at the same time. Harold Alonza Franklin Sr. arrived as a graduate student at Auburn in 1964 after suing the university. Federal Judge Frank Johnson ruled in 1963 that Auburn had to allow him to enroll. Franklin had graduated from Alabama State College in 1962 and wanted to get a masters degree in history from Auburn University. He worked selling insurance while he waited on the judges ruling in his lawsuit. I won two cases against them, Franklin said. I was a 31-year-old married agitator. George Wallace was governor. I dont have to tell you what he was like. Wallace sent state troopers to impede Franklins enrollment, but he was escorted onto campus by an FBI agent. Franklin was assigned to a dormitory wing all to himself. Franklin said he spent 12 months at Auburn working on a masters degree in history and clashed with his professors over the topic of his thesis. I wanted to write on the civil rights struggle, Franklin said. One of the professors told me it was too controversial. He instead wrote a thesis about Alabama State College, the historically black institution that he had graduated from. I thought I did a good job on the thesis, Franklin said by phone on Saturday. One professor told me mine had to be perfect. I came back and made the adjustments they suggested. Still, he couldnt get his thesis approved. They still complained about this or that, Franklin said. I had been to the thesis room and read the white kids thesis. I couldnt understand why mine wasnt acceptable and the others were. It became clear by 1969 that Auburn would not approve his thesis. Finally I said, Hell, what youre telling me is I wont get a degree from Auburn, Franklin recalled. In 2001, Auburn awarded Franklin an honorary doctor of arts degree. It was a really nice gesture, Hebert said. For Harold, the honorary degree was nice. He displays it. Its on the wall. Hes Dr. Harold Franklin. But there was an incompleteness. He had earned all the credits, he did all the courses, he had written the thesis. Hebert said that after he read the story about Franklins reflections on Ivey, in which he described Auburns treatment of him at the time, he took several faculty to visit Franklin at his home in Sylacauga. We reached out to Harold and went to visit him in early November, Hebert said. We wanted to hear his story. Then Hebert asked if Franklin still had his thesis. He pulled it right out, Hebert said. He held onto it. It still means something to him. Franklin said he always had it handy. I keep a copy here, Franklin said. I keep it right here on the sofa next to me. Hebert scanned the thesis and distributed copies to faculty. We tried to evaluate it from the era it was written, which was 1969, to read what was approved that year, Hebert said. He had written a well-research masters thesis. He had, more than 50 years earlier, fulfilled all requirements. We organized a defense. Its shameful that it had to take this long. Auburn located his student records, which wasnt easy, Hebert said. A formal apology for the delay in awarding the degree was attached to the approval of the thesis. Its not his first earned masters degree. After leaving Auburn, Franklin went on to earn a masters degree in international studies at the University of Denver. Born on Nov. 2, 1932, Franklin grew up in Talladega and now lives in Sylacauga, after retiring from his career as a history teacher. He taught at Tuskegee University from 1965-68, and later Talladega College, where he was an assistant professor of history from 1968 until his retirement in 1992. These days, he works part-time at Terrys Metropolitan Mortuary in Talladega. Franklin said hes grateful that his work has finally been recognized, despite the delay. Im not angry about it, Franklin said. Ive never felt angry about it. Life goes on. Nothings perfect in this world. Ravi Zacharias recovering 'well' after undergoing emergency spinal surgery Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias is recovering well after undergoing emergency spinal repair surgery on Thursday, his wife has revealed. On behalf of Ravi and our family and team, we are truly overwhelmed and deeply grateful for your outpouring of concern, encouragement, and especially your prayers for Ravis spinal surgery today, Margie Zacharias wrote on Twitter Thursday evening. Ravi is well and he is resting, she continued. The doctor anticipates his pain now will be from the surgery itself, and we are praying for relief and comfort as Ravi begins the recovery process. Thank you again for your love and your prayers. It all means so much. I know the Lord has been present in the OR today, and I pray that He will give Ravi the ability to handle what is ahead for the next several weeks. On Wednesday, the 73-year-old head of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries revealed on his website that he has a history of serious back issues and to date has had two surgeries, the first of which resulted in 18 good years in which he said the Lord brought him comfort and strength. But over the last year, I have battled several flare-ups, and after my last trip to the Philippines and Sri Lanka, its a miracle I got home on my own two feet, Zacharias wrote, adding that a recent CAT scan and MRI showed no option but to go into a surgery immediately. Its time for a serious repair job that will take me off the road for close to eight weeks, he shared. The surgeon has said he will have to remove two of the screws that are loose and anchor my fractured sacrum in two places to the pelvis. Thats in lay language, but I have the best of doctors and surgeons who have loved this ministry and want to see me positioned for the distance. The doctor has described it as an emergency, but he is equally confident of success, he added. The speaker and author said he will be recovering until the beginning of April and anticipates some days of pain and struggle. Ezekiel asks the question, Can these dead bones live? The answer is a resounding Yes as God breathes new life into them, he concluded. The Lord has never forsaken me and He is by my side. I am a blessed man. As I recover, I will pray, read, and write. On social media, a number of ministry leaders offered prayers and well-wishes for Zacharias, including Louie Giglio and Franklin Graham. "Would you join me in prayer for our friend @RaviZacharias as he undergoes emergency spinal repair surgery tomorrow? I know he & his family would appreciate it," Graham tweeted. Would you join me in prayer for our friend @RaviZacharias as he undergoes emergency spinal repair surgery tomorrow? I know he & his family would appreciate it. https://t.co/btFCNvIq6n Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) February 19, 2020 Zacharias was scheduled to speak on Feb. 25 at the NRB 2020 Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Taking his place that evening will be Abdu Murray, senior vice president of RZIM and host of the RZIM podcast The Defense Rests, and Jonathan Evans, managing director at The Urban Alternative and son of Dr. Tony Evans and the late Dr. Lois Evans. We will be in prayer for Ravi before, during, and after the surgery and we encourage others to do the same, said Troy Miller, interim CEO of NRB. Iconic actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke has endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for the 2020 presidential election, urging older citizens to support his candidacy. 'I can't wait to see Bernie debate Mr Trump,' the 94-year-old said in a Friday endorsement video. Van Dyke, who endorsed Sanders in 2016, said he was not concerned about the 78-year-old's possible performance as president. 'The age question keeps coming up,' he stated. 'I know that I'm 20 years older than Bernie. I have all my marbles. I could run for office if I wanted to. 'I can't wait to see Bernie debate Mr Trump,' the 94-year-old said in a Friday endorsement video for Bernie Sanders Van Dyke, who endorsed Sanders in 2016, asserted that he was not concerned about the 78-year-old's possible performance as president 'So I don't think age - it really doesn't matter, except for his experience and the years he's put in.' Van Dyke struggled understanding why Sanders had difficulty appealing to those from the older generations. 'Why wouldn't an older citizen vote for somebody with that kind of a record and with that kind of experience and honesty and trust?' Van Dyke said. 'It just doesn't make sense to me that he's not getting my generation. And I want to urge my generation to get out and vote for him, please.' The 'Mary Poppins' star declared that the November election would be the most important one held since the end of World War II. While not mentioning Trump by name, Van Dyke did suggest that democracy was doomed if his administration had 'another four years.' 'So I don't think age - it really doesn't matter, except for his experience and the years he's put in,' the comedian said Van Dyke struggled understanding why Sanders had difficulty appealing to those from the older generations Van Dyke continued with his criticism of Trump, stating: 'Four more years of no concern about the climate. We must get him out of there. Democratic principles are flying out the window. He has assumed authority beyond what the president is allowed and he's going to get worse.' The comedian said that it was shameful that the United States was one of the only countries that did not have universal healthcare. 'Bernie has been consistent with his policies ever since I first met him when he was in the Senate. He never has changed his attack because of pressure from the outside or when he felt the wind was blowing another way,' Van Dyke concluded. 'He stuck to who he is and what he believes in. So I think somebody younger, like Bernie, is just a perfect candidate. Yeah, he'll be around a long time.' Bernie has dominated national polls but struggled with older voters, relying heavily on his young base. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 15:48:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WUHAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At a meeting room-turned memorial hall at a Wuhan hospital, doctors and nurses wrote down their memories of Peng Yinhua on three notebooks before rushing back to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus. Peng, a 29-year-old doctor at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District, was the latest medical worker, and among the youngest, who died from the virus on Thursday night, leaving behind his pregnant wife and a wedding yet to be held. The respiratory doctor became infected while working to combat the novel coronavirus at the hospital. He was hospitalized on Jan. 25 and died at Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital despite all-out efforts to save his life. His colleagues remembered him as an honest, optimistic and hard-working young lad. "I still remember the day when you were transferred to Jinyintan (Hospital), you still looked bright," read one comment on the notebook. "He is diligent and motivated at work, fulfilling his job faithfully and never complaining about difficulties. He is very popular among us," said Chen Hao, ward director of the respiratory and critical care department where Peng had been working. Chen said Peng tied the knot in November 2017 but the wedding was postponed to Feb. 1 this year as he was then attending a training course. The hospital had allowed him a holiday for the wedding but Peng offered to delay the big day to stand with other colleagues amid the raging epidemic. "Patients swarmed in after our department was designated as an isolation ward. We treated 130 patients in one day, and all doctors ate and slept in the hospital," Chen said. Peng developed symptoms including loss of appetite and low fever on Jan. 24, the eve of the Chinese New Year. The next day, his CT results showed evidence of infection. "Even after being transferred to Jinyintan, Peng still expressed wishes that he could recover soon and return to the anti-virus front line," said Hu Fen, Party chief of the physician and pediatrician department at the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District. The local health bureau of the Jiangxia District has mourned the death of Peng and expressed condolences for his family. The hospital where he worked hailed him as a "heroic medic whose spirit will encourage others to carry on the fight." "We told ourselves to hang on so that the day will come when together we will see the dawn of victory," reads one comment on the notebook. Chinese health authorities have required local health agencies to promptly apply for the honor of martyr for deceased medical staff to the veteran's affairs authorities, comfort the families of the deceased and help solve their difficulties, as well as publicize stories of those who sacrificed their lives during the epidemic. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 00:09:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Syrian military personnel are seen in the town of Tal Toukan, the countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria on Feb. 5, 2020. (Str/Xinhua) The two ministers discussed the issues of stabilization of the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, the Russian Defense Ministry said. MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in the Syrian city of Idlib with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar during a phone conversation, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday. "During the phone conversation, the two sides discussed the issues of stabilization of the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone," the statement made available to Xinhua reads. The ministers exchanged opinions on the situation in Syria, it added. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed during a phone conversation the recent escalation of tensions in Idlib and confirmed that intense military contacts would continue amid the Idlib escalation. On Thursday, Syrian government troops backed up by Russian warplanes repelled several massive attacks by militants supported by Turkish artillery fire in Idlib. Russia's Su-24 attack aircraft struck the militants, while the Russian military urged Turkey to stop supporting the militants and halt supplying weapons to them in order to avoid future incidents. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has assured that due process will be followed for the people in his agency who were involved in the so-called "pastillas" bribery scheme. Morente said the employees involved in the scheme, wherein Chinese nationals supposedly paid Bureau of Immigration personnel to avoid background checks upon arriving in the country, will be brought to court. "We shall observe due process as we bring the accused to the court of justice,"said Morente in a statement on Saturday. He added that he was "very disappointed" with the reported irregularities. Morente said he has placed the accused in the administrative holding office and cancelled their privileges. The bureau also strengthened efforts to expose unethical practices in the agency, Morente said, and will participate in investigations and lifestyle checks by authorities. "[We] have included new protocols in the conduct of secondary inspections in open areas to improve transparency and installation of additional CCTV cameras in all areas of the primary inspectors," Morente assured. President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday still vouched for the Immigration chief despite the scandal. Shortly before, Duterte ordered to relieve all immigration personnel linked to the alleged bribery. The BI sacked 18 employees to comply with the directive. However, another employee and the whistleblower in the scandal, claimed that around 90 percent of the bureau's personnel participated in the scheme. He also named several division heads who allegedly distributed the grease money. Morente earlier attended the Senate hearing on the pastillas scandal and admitted he had limited authority over the appointment of high-ranking officials. He also urged to amend the Philippine Immigration Law of 1940 to allow him disciplinary powers. Senator Risa Hontiveros, who led the upper chamber's hearing on the issue, maintained there is not enough evidence to tie Morente to the scheme. With the increasing allegations over Russia's interference in the United States elections in 2020 after similar reports surfaced back in the 2016 elections, US President Donald Trump has dismissed them yet again. On February 20, reports suggested that intelligence officials cautioned the lawmakers over Kremlin's meddling in the US polls to support Trump, however, on February 21, POTUS called it another misinformation campaign. Trump further placed the blame the reports on Do Nothing Democrats while accusing them of organising Hoax number 7. Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2020 Read - Russia Denies Allegations Of Meddling In US Elections In 2020 According to an international news agency, three intelligence officials who are familiar with the closed-door briefing have cautioned the lawmakers. This comes as Senate acquitted Trump of all articles of impeachment on charges; 'obstruction to Congress' and 'abuse of power'. Moreover, the recent revelation further raises questions on the integrity of presidential campaign for Trump and whether the officials are taking essential steps to combat the kind of Russian interference it was seen in the US elections of 2016. The officials had asked for anonymity as it was the matter of sensitive intelligence. The officials said on February 20 that the briefing among them last week focussed mainly on Russia's efforts to influence the 2020 US elections and sow discord in the country's electorate. This warning by officials which was first reported by the New York Times and The Washington Post has been denied by Moscow. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the reports of Kremlin's meddling in US elections as paranoid announcements on February 21. He further added that unfortunately there will be more and more such reports as it gets closer to elections. However, according to Peskov, they have nothing to do with the truth. Read - Trump 'offered Pardon' To Assange If He Denied Russia Leak, Court Hears News angered Trump A senior administration official told an international news agency that the news about intelligence officials warning lawmakers over Russia's influence has angered Trump. The US President who stepping-up his reelection campaign has also complained that the Democrats would use the information against him. Over the course of the leadership in the White House, Trump has time and again refused the assessment by the intelligence community of Russia's interference in 2016. However, reportedly, this official also talked on the condition of anonymity about the private meeting. Meanwhile House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi tweeted that, American voters should decide American elections not Vladimir Putin. All Members of Congress should condemn the Presidents reported efforts to dismiss threats to the integrity of our democracy & to politicize our intel community. Read - Coronavirus Outbreak: Russia Names Exceptions From The Entry Ban For Chinese' Read - Russia Bans Chinese Citizens Over Virus Concerns: Agencies (With AP inputs) One of the amendments bans conditional release for prisoners convicted of organising illegal gatherings, drug trafficking and money laundering Egypt's House of Representatives will convene on Sunday to discuss a new batch of government-drafted amendments. The House's schedule of debate shows that laws aimed at regulating the release of prisoners convicted for organising illegal public gatherings, terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering will be discussed this week, mostly on Sunday and Monday. A seven-page report prepared by the House's Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee and Human Rights Committee indicates that the laws on prisons (396/1956), drug trafficking (182/1960), terrorism (94/2015), and money laundering (94/2002) will be amended to impose a ban on the "conditional release" of defendants serving prison sentences in crimes related to organising illegal public gatherings, carrying out terrorist acts, trafficking drugs and laundering money. "The current law on regulating prisons bans defendants convicted of drug trafficking crimes only from being released," stated the report. "As stated by the law regulating prisons, the term 'conditional release' means that those who are serving freedom-restricting sentences can be released on three conditions: they must have served more than half their sentence; exhibit good behaviour and manners; make sure they will not pose a threat to public security once released," said the report. "An article 52 will be added to the prison regulation law (396/1956) to state that defendants serving sentences in crimes related to organising illegal public gathering, trafficking drugs, laundering money and carrying out terrorist crimes can't enjoy any form of conditional release." The report indicated that MPs from the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Human Rights Committee approved the new amendment, agreeing that it aims to cover a legislative loophole which allowed some criminals to win judicial rulings to be conditionally released. "The new amendment is in line with international conventions on human rights and helps protect society from serious crimes such as drug trafficking and organising illegal gatherings," said the report. Parliament will also discuss a legislative amendment proposed by MP Osama El-Abd, head of the Religious Affairs and Endowment Committee, to the law regulating the performance of the Egyptian Dar El-Iftaa (the Egyptian House of Fatwas). A parliamentary report said the amendment states that the grand mufti of Egypt will be appointed by the president from among three religious scholars to be nominated by the Council of Grand Clerics, and that this should happen within two months ahead of the end of the present mufti's term in office. The appointed mufti will retain his post until the retirement age and could be reappointed, suggests the amendment. Parliament will also discuss government-drafted amendments to the construction law (119/2008), which aim to regulate public construction projects and set up a higher council for planning and urban development to be officially entrusted with granting construction licences in line with environmental, social and economic criteria. Parliament is also slated to resume discussing amendments to the new personal data protection law. The law was approved in principle on 3 November 2019, but a final vote was postponed until the Ministry of Telecommunications and the Central Bank of Egypt reach an agreement on Article 3 which excludes certain personal data from being governed by the law. MPs are expected to take a final vote on amendments to four laws which were approved in principle two weeks ago. These include the anti-terrorism law, the terrorist entities law, the consumer finance law, and the tax dispute law. Search Keywords: Short link: Iran has reportedly started counting votes in its parliamentary election Saturday, as the hardliner allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis Revolutionary Guards look to gain a sizeable majority. According to reports, an official from the ministry confirmed that the conservatives affiliated with Guards secured 83 out of 290 seats across 31 province following Fridays parliamentary elections. The substantial victory of the hardliners indicates the collapse of the pragmatist political entities as loyalists to Khamenei proved to be the front runners. Iranian officials have yet to announce the total turnout, they, however, revealed the names of the leading candidates in Tehrans 30 parliamentary seats, confirmed reports. The results have corroborated the widening influence of the Guards across the country amid mounting pressures from the west over Nuclear deal and trade embargo from the US. Read Washington Senate Approves Data Privacy Rules Read Global Watchdog FATF Blacklists Iran For 'terrorism Financing' The Trump administrations withdrawal from the 2018 nuclear programme, imposition of fresh sanctions, and continued corruption and mismanagement within Iran wrought severe economic crisis on the Islamic Republic, impacting ordinary Iranians, said reports. The popularity of the hardliners associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, depicts the optimistic response from the citizens as per analysts. Disqualification of over 7,000 potential candidates The voting saw disqualification of more than 7,000 potential candidates, most of them reformists and moderates, that raised the possibility of lower-than-usual turnout. Among those disqualified were 90 sitting members of parliament who had wanted to run for re-election, suggest reports. Reports reveal that the Irans ministry had urged the citizens for a high turnout to boost their legitimacy that was slandered during the widespread protests in November. The citizens carried out the demonstration in a violent crackdown that soared resentment among the people of Iran and the ministry. Abbasali Kadkhodai, the spokesman for the watchdog Guardian Council, told the media that the expected turnout could be about 50 percent. He further added that the Iranian nation had disappointed its enemies by voting in large numbers for the Guards. Read Iranian State TV Reports District Mayor Infected With Coronavirus, Official Denies Read Iran Now Says 5 Dead Out Of 28 Infected With New Coronavirus 21.02.2020 LISTEN The Member of Parliament for Akatsi South Constituency, Mr. Bernard Ahiafor has accused President Akufo-Addos fight against illegal mining as a scam. Mr. Ahiafor bemoaned that, the national campaign against galamsey was operationally to enrich members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), families and the cronies of President Akufo-Addo. The recent galamsey scandal is the result of a grand scheme setup by President Akufo-Addo himself to enrich NPP officials to finance the New Patriotic Party in the coming 2020 Election as the video that went viral has indicated," he stated. Speaking SONA walkout yesterday on Kaleawo FM 107.3 in the Akatsi South Constituency, Mr. Ahiafor indicated that president Akufo-Addo so-called fight against galamsey is ruse calculated to expropriate the illicit galamsey trade for NPP government officials. "It is quite clear that there was no fight, it was a sham, it was all a ploy to enrich themselves and we have detected that the president is not ready to listen to the sense Minority caucus has been bringing on the table of men and this has pushed us to walk out of the parliament in a way of protesting against the government of the day as they did to former President John Mahama in 2013," he intimated. Speaking on the closure of some radio stations and torture of journalists in the country, Mr. Ahiafor blames President Akufo-Addo and his government for such dictatorial and authoritarian rule. He Ghanaians to simply kick out the dictatorship government of Akufo-Addo and bring back Mahama in the upcoming 2020 general elections. The Murphy family from Cahersiveen are the richest Kerry family according to the Sunday Independent's Rich List. John Murphy, who is the founder of North London-based construction company J Murphy and Sons, is number 29 on the Irish Rich List. The company, which began clearing-out blitz sites after the War, is now involved in building tunnels, railways, bridges, pipelines, and water projects across the UK and in Ireland. John Snr, who was from Loughmark near Cahersiveen, died in 2009 at the age of 95, and the company is now run by his grandson, John Paul. Their wealth is estimated at 550m according to the Sunday Independent Rich List, published last weekend. Also with Kerry connections on the Rich List and at number 43 on the list is Brian McCarthy and family, who built Fexco. Their wealth is estimated at 452m. Fexco employs 2,500 people in 29 countries. Its headquarters are in Killorglin, and in recent weeks the company expanded the business with the opening of a new R&D hub just outside Killorglin. Brian's son, Denis and John, now own a shareholding in the company, and the sale of Goodbody Stockbrokers in January last year netted the McCarthys an estimated 54m. In another link with Fexco, former senior executive at the company, Frank Murphy, is also on the Rich List. He founded Monex, which is based in Killarney and which boasts clients such as Ryanair, Hertz, and Bank of China. In 2018, the company reported revenues of 113.4m. Mr Murphy's wealth is said to be 123m. Another Kerry man on the list is Colm O'Shea. He is the founding partner of fund manager Comac Capital, based in London's exclusive Mayfair. In 2010, Forbes Magazine ranked O'Shea's fund the 21st largest fund in the world. His wealth is estimated at 106m. Number 199 on the Rich List is Kerry man Maurice Regan, whose father, also Maurice, hailed from Listowel. Maurice is the founder of JT Magen, a major construction company in the US, and is a major sponsor of Kerry GAA including the Dr Crokes club in Killarney. His fortune is said to be 86m. Jerry Kennelly, who lives in Caragh Lake and is part of the Kennelly family in Tralee, is number 235 on the Rich List. The entrepreneur sold his photo archive company Stockbyte for 110m. Martin Naughton, owner of Glen Dimplex is estimated to be worth $1.75bn and stands at number 14 on the Rich List. He has invested some of his funds in Kerry with a share in the Park Hotel in Kenmare with John and Francis Brennan. President Donald Trump rallied supporters in the battleground state of Nevada on the eve of the state's caucuses, looking to exploit Democratic divisions as he focuses on his reelection fight. Speaking to thousands of fans Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Trump also rejected a fresh intelligence community assessment that Russia was seeking to interfere in the 2020 race just as it did in 2016 on Trump's behalf. "Here we go again," Trump said, as the crowd booed. "Aren't people bored?" The president speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would prefer Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as president. "Wouldn't he rather have say, Bernie, who honeymooned in Moscow?" Trump said. Ahead of the Nevada voting, Trump taunted the Democrats, taking specific aim at his newest opponent, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. "We got a new one, Mini Mike. How did he do in the debate the other night?" Trump asked a cheering crowd. "He couldn't breathe. What happened? Mike would like to know." The president also took on Elizabeth Warren, repeatedly calling her "Pocahontas," and using his latest nickname for Pete Buttigieg, "Alfred E. Newman," a character from Mad Magazine. Trump was closing out a four-day, four-state political tour through the West that saw him hold three campaign rallies, a pair of high-dollar fundraisers and promote policies that benefited many of his supporters. The embattled Kean University Police Department director who is facing lawsuits from campus officers resigned from his position earlier this month for medical reasons, a university spokeswoman said Thursday. Mark Farsis departure ended his two-year tenure as the campus police director. Kean University spokeswoman Margaret McCorry said Andrew Brannen, vice president for administration and finance, is now serving as acting campus safety director. Two campus police officers within the last seven months sued the university, Farsi, Associate Police Director Manuel Alfonso and a disciplinary hearing officer in Superior Court of Union County after they said they were wrongfully suspended. The officers, Alex Perez and Keith Graham, said they blocked both Farsi and Alfonso from accessing police records because the two leaders are civilians and not sworn officers. The suits claim their actions were protected by state attorney general guidelines that prohibit people without proper training from accessing investigative reports. The New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association in July called for Farsis ouster after five campus officers, including Perez and Graham, were suspended. Perez previously told NJ Advance Media that he was suspended after he was separated from his gun when he accidentally became locked in a university gym. Grahams suit claims that he was suspended two days after he helped Perez get out of the gym. Graham had also been flagged for other infractions. Farsi previously worked as deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections. He began his career as a correctional officer in New York City and was once a warden in Sussex County. As of Saturday afternoon, Farsi was still listed as the campuss police director on the universitys website. It was not immediately clear what day he stepped down. Farsi made an annual salary of $132,000, pension records show. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico. Police in Derry have thanked a member of the public who helped them during an arrest in the city yesterday. Around 4.30pm two PSNI officers were attempting to arrest a man at Strand Road. According to a police spokeperson, the man became aggressive and the officers' handcuffs were 'sent flying'. The male member of the public retrieved the handcuffs and gave them back to the police officers and they were able to arrest the man for a number of offences. The PSNI spokesperson praised the person for helping them. "I'm appealing directly to that male. Contact 101 quoting CC941 and make yourself known to us. My colleague would like to thank you himself," the spokesperson. "If anyone who witnessed this could do likewise it would be appreciated." A federal judge has granted a request to block temporarily the transfer of several dozen people who probably are infected with the new coronavirus from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, where they have been under quarantine, to a closed facility in Orange County. The judge agreed Friday with the city of Costa Mesa, which sought to stop about 50 people recently evacuated passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan from moving to the former Fairview Developmental Center. In its request to the court, the city said it was never notified of the 11th-hour plan ... to introduce people with a deadly and highly communicable disease to Fairview. The city described the facility as a dilapidated complex surrounded by residential neighborhoods ... with no security measures to keep quarantined individuals from the residents of Costa Mesa. The transfer plan, the city argued, would wreak havoc on the local economy, endangering local businesses and starving local governments of tax revenue. The temporary order will remain in place until Monday, when another hearing is scheduled. Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley said in a statement that her top priority is the safety and security of this community. The city, Foley said, was not part of the process that led to Fairviews consideration for this use and has not been thoroughly advised. Nearly 78,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus, and more than 2,300 have died, the vast majority in China. But the United States has seen only isolated cases, all of them linked directly to China. Last month, an Orange County resident was reported as the first case of coronavirus in California. The person was treated at a hospital and has been released. Public health officials say the risk of infection to the general public remains low. There have been 35 cases of COVID-19 the illness caused by the virus reported in the U.S., including 18 confirmed cases among the evacuated cruise ship passengers. Five of those 18 people are being treated in isolation at Northern California hospitals. Many other former cruise passengers tested positive for the virus while in Japan, but are being retested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The transfer of quarantined people from Travis to Costa Mesa was to have begun this weekend. About 300 passengers from the cruise ship, which had been held at a dock outside Yokohama, were evacuated to Travis and another military base in Texas last Sunday. They are expected to remain under quarantine for 14 days. After Costa Mesa sought the injunction, state health officials said the Fairview Developmental Center was one of the possible locations for isolating people testing positive for COVID-19. Anyone testing positive must be transferred from Travis, the California Health and Human Services Agency said Saturday. Many are not sick enough to need hospital care but must still must be isolated, the agency said. The state said federal authorities, who are in charge of the quarantine program, would provide robust security to ensure the safety and health of the surrounding community in Costa Mesa. The Orange County Health Care Agency, the countys public health department, said it supports the temporary halt. 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. As the local health department, it is our hope that we can engage in a more thoughtful and robust collaboration with our colleagues at the state and federal level to ensure the health and safety of Orange County residents is protected and next steps are clearly communicated to the public, Dr. Nichole Quick, county health officer, said in a statement. At a press conference Saturday, Michelle Steel, chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, vowed to block the transfer. We dont need any more people, she said, referring to the previous patient treated in the county. Our public health safety is the most important part. ...Were going to work together and were going to stop this. Foley, the Costa Mesa mayor, said at the press conference that the city is exploring all legal options, but the federal government could potentially override state and local government authority. In its request to the court, Costa Mesa called itself a dense commercial and cultural center (with) one of the worlds highest-grossing shopping centers, South Coast Plaza ... a tourist destination for international high-end shoppers. Chronicle staff writer Roland Li contributed to this report. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF The Northern Development Forum has organized a one-day regional stakeholder consultation meeting in Wa to engage political parties, amongst others in a citizen-led process of influencing national priorities on the development of Northern Ghana. The meeting which was held in Wa brought together representatives of various political parties, faith-based organizations, Traditional rulers, Disability groups, Civil Society Organizations, and the Media to discuss and produce a document that would highlight the critical developmental needs of the people of Northern Ghana which would be shared with political parties so that, any political party that wins power would prioritise and work on the issues captured in the document. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chairman of the forum, Major Albert Dong-Chebe (Rtd) said it is critical to engage stakeholders on the development of the north in an election year such as this year. He said the meeting would help to "produce a workable document which would capture the true reflection of the critical issues affecting the northern part of Ghana" for governments to work with it. Major Dong-Chebe (Rtd) lamented over the difficulty in getting a political party in government to tackle critical necessities in the north since parties who win power priotise their manifesto promises over any proposal or policy not captured in their manifesto. He therefore saw the need for northerners to prepare a well thought out developmental priorities and push for it to captured in political party manifestos. "From our own experiences in the past political parties have shown much commitment to their manifestoes, there is the need to ensure issues about development in Northern Ghana are captured in the manifestos of political parties before elections so that when a party wins power, our issues are already reflected in the manifesto, so that we have the guarantee that these issues would be implemented," he said. Feruzah Wuniche Salisu, a technical support staff with Star Ghana Foundation who made a statement on behalf of the Executive Director of the Foundation, said the meeting was very important as it helps to take forward key recommendations that are crucial for the development of Northern Ghana. "To find expression in government plans and policies, it is necessary to seek to influence political parties manifestos for the development of Northern Ghana using the summit recommendations as an entry point". Miss Feruzah emphasised the foundation's "commitment to work to promote active citizen, accountable and responsive governance and inclusive development. For his part, Prof. David Millar, Member of the Steering Committee of the Northern Development Forum and president of the Millar Open University urged the media to focus their discussions on the four thematic areas captured in the policy proposals to political parties and also engage politicians on the concerns raised at the forum so as to ensure insightful and thought-provoking deliberations in the media landscape. The stakeholder engagement was held under the theme," Keeping the Northern Ghana transformation agenda in the manifestos of the political parties for the 2020 elections in Ghana". The deliberations of the meeting were held under four thematic areas namely: Agriculture and climate change, Peace and Security, Infrastructure and Private sector development and Health and Education. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 22 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs state visit to Italy is of great importance from the point of view of strengthening and developing cooperation between the two countries, Azerbaijani political analyst Arzu Naghiyev told Trend on Feb. 22. One of the most important components of the presidents visit was the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Multidimensional Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Italian Republic, the analyst added. The signing of the document by President Aliyev and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte increases its political and economic significance, Naghiyev added. The document includes very important issues. Firstly, the Joint Declaration envisages bringing of the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy to a qualitatively new level, the analyst said. The signing of such an important document by Azerbaijan with G7 member - Italy is extremely important. Another important point included in the document is that the parties express support for independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty within the internationally recognized state borders of both countries, Naghiyev said. Of course, the main feature of this point is related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the analyst said. In accordance with the document, the unequivocal support for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict upon the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Final Act, in particular on the basis of the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of international borders, as indicated in the UN and OSCE relevant documents and resolutions, as well as within the negotiation process, which is carried out under the OSCE auspices, is extremely important, the analyst said. The full support for Azerbaijans fair position has been indicated in the document," Naghiyev added. The analyst added that Italys current support for Azerbaijan as its strategic partner is an extremely important factor. "I would even say that Italy ranks first among the European countries supporting Azerbaijan, Naghiyev said. The Joint Declaration includes such spheres as politics, defense, security, trade, energy, investment, transport and other issues. In accordance with the document, Italy perceives Azerbaijan as a strategic partner. As is known, before this visit, the Azerbaijani president delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the analyst said. The fact that one of the most important EU countries - Italy supported President Aliyevs words after the president once again brought to the attention of a wide audience that Armenia is an aggressor while Azerbaijan is a country subjected to aggression is of great importance." The analyst stressed that the Joint Declaration paid special attention to the economic issues. "Today Azerbaijan is one of the most important countries in the context of ensuring the energy security of Europe, in which Italy is a part, Naghiyev said. From this point of view, one can mention TAP pipeline. This 878 kilometer-pipeline, which is the European part of the Southern Gas Corridor, passes through Greece and Albania, via the bottom of the Adriatic Sea and ends in southern Italy, the analyst said. From this point of view, the Joint Declaration is a document that will create conditions for the operation of the Southern Gas Corridor at full capacity, transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe." The analyst added that another important issue indicated in the Joint Declaration is the issue of security. "As is known, Italy is a NATO member and is building its armed forces in accordance with the NATO standards, the analyst said. In turn, Azerbaijan is a permanent participant in NATO peacekeeping operations. At the same time, the country takes an active part in the anti-terrorist operations. I think that after the signing of the Joint Declaration, Italy will play an important role in providing the Azerbaijani army with the modern weapons and equipment, the analyst said. As a result, relevant documents are expected to be signed in this sphere." China: A 20-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, traveled 400 miles(675 km) north to Anyang where she infected five relatives, without ever showing signs of infection, Chinese scientists reported on Friday, offering new evidence that the virus can be spread asymptomatically. The case study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, offered clues about how the coronavirus is spreading, and suggested why it may be difficult to stop. "Scientists have been asking if you can have this infection and not be ill? The answer is apparently, yes," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. China has reported a total of 75,567 cases of the virus known as COVID-19 to the World Health Organization (WHO) including 2,239 deaths, and the virus has already spread to 26 countries and territories outside of mainland China. Researchers have reported sporadic accounts of individuals without any symptoms spreading the virus. What's different in this study is that it offers a natural lab experiment of sorts, Schaffner said. "You had this patient from Wuhan where the virus is, traveling to where the virus wasn't. She remained asymptomatic and infected a bunch of family members and you had a group of physicians who immediately seized on the moment and tested everyone." According to the report by Dr. Meiyun Wang of the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and colleagues, the woman traveled from Wuhan to Anyang on January 10 and visited several relatives. When they started getting sick, doctors isolated the woman and tested her for coronavirus. Initially, the young woman tested negative for the virus, but a follow-up test was positive. All five of her relatives developed COVID-19 pneumonia, but as of February 11, the young woman still had not developed any symptoms, her chest CT remained normal and she had no fever, stomach or respiratory symptoms, such as cough or sore throat. Scientists in the study said if the findings are replicated, "the prevention of COVID-19 infection could prove challenging." Key questions now, Schaffner said, are how often does this kind of transmission occur and when during the asymptomatic period does a person test positive for the virus. Michael Boston (pictured) is accused of threatening his neighbors with a AR-15 rifle because he thought they drove over his lawn A Florida man threatened his neighbors with an AR-15 rifle and aggressively banged on their front door after he thought they drove on his lawn, authorities say. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says Michael Boston, 66, became enraged after he believed his neighbors drove across his lawn near Mill Creek Road in Bradenton. Although Boston did not personally know his neighbors and did not see the alleged incident, he presumed they were the cause of the ruts in his yard. Boston approached the victims' home and began banging on their door. This sparked a verbal argument between a victim and Boston, WWSB reports. In response, Boston began walking back to his home and saying he was going to 'shoot that motherf*****' while pointing at the victim. A second person in the house called 911 and while on the phone with authorities, they looked out the window and saw Boston coming towards the home with an AR-15. The two neighbors hid in the back of the home while waiting for deputies and Boston began banging the front door with the AR-15 in hand. Since the victims could hear Boston striking the front door, they realized he had bypassed their screened-in front porch to access the area. Pictured: Michael Boston's home in Bradenton, Florida, where he alleges neighbors drove over his lawn with their vehicle The dangerous ordeal took place between Boston's home (bottom) and the victims' home across the street (top) on Thursday When deputies arrived, Boston had retreated back to his residence across the street and the victims were still within their home. Boston was arrested behind his home and was taken into custody with no further incidents. He has been charged with two felony counts of using a deadly weapon without intent to kill and is being held without bail in a local jail. It does not appear that anyone sustained injuries during the incident and no one was transported to a medical center. Boston is expected to attend court on March 13. Police in Kazakhstan detained up to 100 activists Saturday after two opposition groups called for anti-government protests in the oil-rich Central Asian country. An AFP correspondent saw police detain around 30 activists from the unregistered Democratic Party who were attempting to hold a protest in the largest city Almaty. Police surrounded the protesters gathered on a city square while municipal officials used megaphones to demand the protesters vacate the area. The protesters shouted "Freedom to Mamay!" in reference to a prominent Democratic Party activist and filmmaker Zhanbolat Mamay who was arrested on Friday and sentenced to three days' detention for calling for the unsanctioned rally. Mamay's pregnant wife, journalist Inga Imanbay, was among the activists detained near the square on Saturday. She was later released. Eyewitnesses said police had detained up to 70 people en route to the square where the opposition group had called for the protest to be held. Authoritarian Kazakhstan has long faced criticism from local and international rights groups for its restrictive laws regulating demonstrations. Mamay told AFP by telephone Friday that "at least 10" members of his group had received sentences of up to five days in detention earlier this week -- a measure he said was intended to prevent the Democratic Party holding a conference. He was detained hours later. Another group, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK), had also announced plans to hold a rally on Saturday. - Banned - A Kazakh court banned the group as extremist in 2018 and the country's state prosecutor on Friday warned people not to participate in the group's protest. DCK's France-based leader, Mukhtar Ablyazov, thanked the state prosecutor for giving the group "an advertisement" ahead of the demonstration. Ablyazov -- a former energy minister, banker and long-time opponent of Kazakhstan's regime who fled the country in 2009 -- has said the extremism ban is simply a pretext to crack down on the group. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pledged to reform laws governing freedom of assembly shortly after succeeding long-ruling Nursultan Nazarbayev as president last year. But civil society groups in the Central Asian state have expressed dissatisfaction with a new draft law, which they argue would introduce additional restrictions. Currently, activists risk arrest if they hold demonstrations without permission from the authorities, which is almost never given for political demonstrations. Nazarbayev, 79, who became Kazakhstan's president the year before its formal independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, is still widely viewed as dominating policymaking in the vast republic of 18 million people. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pledged to reform laws governing freedom of assembly shortly after succeeding long-ruling Nursultan Nazarbayev as president last year (Reuters) - The Philippine unit of Honda Motor Co Ltd <7267.T> said on Saturday its production facility will shut down next month, as the Japanese automaker struggles to shore up global automobile operations. Japan's third-largest automaker has seen its profitability decline by more than half in the past two years, led by a series of quality-related issues. In a statement, Honda Cars Philippines Inc said its production plant south of the capital Manila will cease operations next month. But automobile sales and after-sales services will continue through Honda's regional network. (https://bit.ly/2T60kyH) "To meet Honda's customer needs in the Philippines for reasonably priced and good quality products, Honda considered efficient allocation and distribution of resources," the company said. Production will focus on other hubs in Asia and Oceania, it added. Honda Philippines' manufacturing plant, which has 650 employees and associates, started operations in 1992. It makes BR-V and City passenger cars catering to local demand. Honda Philippines counts Rizal Commercial Banking Corp and a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp as its local partners. The Philippines' automotive output is a minnow compared with its Southeast Asian peers, notably Thailand. A government tax incentive program launched in 2015 has failed to significantly raise the country's local auto production. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Ros Russell) Anyone interested in Audioboom Group plc (LON:BOOM) should probably be aware that a company insider, Rodger Sargent, recently divested UK130k worth of shares in the company, at an average price of UK2.70 each. The eyebrow raising move amounted to a reduction of 16% in their holding. Check out our latest analysis for Audioboom Group The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Audioboom Group In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when insider David Evans bought UK130k worth of shares at a price of UK2.70 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being UK2.48). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid UK272k for 119.93k shares. But insiders sold 48000 shares worth UK130k. In total, Audioboom Group insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. The average buy price was around UK2.26. It's great to see insiders putting their own cash into the company's stock, albeit at below the recent share price. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! AIM:BOOM Recent Insider Trading, February 22nd 2020 Audioboom Group 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 Audioboom Group For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Our data indicates that Audioboom Group insiders own about UK4.5m worth of shares (which is 13% of the company). Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing! Story continues So What Do The Audioboom Group Insider Transactions Indicate? We can't make any useful conclusions about recent trading, since insider buying and selling has been balanced. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Audioboom Group insiders bought more shares in the company. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow for free. 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. A 'Trump platter', comprising signature dishes from ITC Maurya's restaurant Bukhara with a little customisation, is likely to be laid out for United States President Donald Trump during his maiden visit to India, sources said. The Bukhara restaurant, which has hosted several heads of states, including former US presidents, and has not altered its menu for the last 41 years. Like his predecessors, Trump is likely to dine at the iconic restaurant where a 'Trump platter' is likely to be laid out for him. It will be customised according to his taste, the sources said. The hotel, however, has not revealed anything about the arrangements made for Trump, including the food. Barack Obama had visited India twice in 2010 and 2015 as the president and he was served the 'Obama platter'. Since then, the dish has become a part of the menu and is also very popular among the guests. The Obama platter consists of tandoori jhinga, machhli tikka, murg boti Bukhara and kebabs. When Bill Clinton had visited Bukhara as the president, the hotel had introduced "Clinton platter" and "Chelsea platter". Bukhara's dishes are mainly tandoor based and has an assortment of kebabs, the signature 'Dal Bukhara' and breads like 'Khasta Roti', 'Bharwan Kulcha'. Trump is also likely to be gifted an apron with a painting of M F Husain. Legend has it that Husain was so impressed with Bukhara that he painted his trademark horse on his canvas while having food at the restaurant. This trademark horse has been replicated on the aprons that are given as mementos to the guests. These aprons will also be presented to the Trumps, the sources said. When Obama had stayed at the ITC Maurya in 2015, he was served food from the hotel's roof top European restaurant WestView where he dined with top CEOs from India and US on January 26. The dinner was hosted at the Grand Presidential Floor. US First Lady Michelle Obama chose to experience the famed Bukhara cuisine and had a private dinner with select members. When Daniel Kehlmann read the news that former Nissan executive Carlos Ghosn, facing financial misconduct charges in Japan, fled the country in a box, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration. It was the kind of caper that he might have written into one of his novels, where escape artists, pranksters or con men often outwit their adversaries, for example, Tyll, his latest book. It has sold nearly 600,000 copies in Germany since it was published there in 2017, and is being adapted by Netflix as a television series. Daniel Kehlmann credits his Austrian upbringing for his comic sensibility. Credit:Beowulf Sheehan Tyll transmits the 14th-century tale of jester Tyll Ulenspiegel about 300 years into the future, plopping him into the Thirty Years' War. Tyll travels through a Europe devastated by conflict, encountering fraudsters, soldiers and royalty, including Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, whose love of Shakespeare chimes with Tyll's own sense of theatrical spectacle. Kehlmann's eighth novel and the sixth to come out in English, Tyll is also his second book of historical fiction, following his 2005 bestseller, Measuring the World. But for a long time it was a novel that Kehlmann was reluctant to write. The internet and social media have democratised journalism and revitalised democracy, said President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday, while noting that it also led to many anxieties in the present context. Addressing the fourth edition of 'The Huddle' - an annual thought conclave of The Hindu here - the President said that only the traditional media has over the years developed skills to authenticate a news report and it will have to introspect on its role in the society and find ways to earn reader's full trust again. The President said that debate and discussion were internalised in India's social psyche to arrive at truth since time immemorial. He said information technology was playing the biggest role in shaping the world and had impacted journalism in all its aspects. "It is so rapidly evolving that what was outright unimaginable only a few years ago has not only become a reality but has even lost its novelty! These trends have impacted journalism in all its aspects, from newsgathering to delivering news to readers and finally making money to sustain the activity," he said. "The internet and social media have democratised journalism and revitalised democracy. This process is ongoing, but in its current stage, it has also led to many anxieties. The new media is fast and popular and people can choose what they want to watch, hear or read," he said. "But only the traditional media has, over years, developed skills to authenticate a news report, and that is a costly operation. I hope that we will arrive at the ideal trade-off soon. The traditional media will have to introspect on its role in society and find ways to earn the reader's full trust again," he added. The President said that the project of democracy is incomplete without informed citizens, which means without unbiased journalism. Referring to the 'The Huddle', the title of the event, he said that long before the West discovered the benefits of democratic decision-making, Sant Basaveshwara, a 12th-century philosopher endowed with extraordinary wisdom, had promoted a culture of collective discussion which was called 'Anubhav Mantapa'. "This is remembered as one of the world's first parliaments where people were encouraged to speak their mind irrespective of their social status. This was also a unique experiment of gender equality as women were also encouraged to take part in discussions and express their views," he said. The President said India is blessed to have sages like Basaveshwara. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of the AMU students' coordination committee has begun a three-day hunger strike, seeking action against police personnel for alleged brutality during an anti-CAA stir on the campus last December and withdrawal of cases against protesters Aligarh: Members of the AMU students' coordination committee has begun a three-day hunger strike, seeking action against police personnel for alleged brutality during an anti-CAA stir on the campus last December and withdrawal of cases against protesters. Announcing that their 10-week-long peaceful agitation has entered a new phase, twelve students started the 72-hour hunger strike on Friday night. The panel said if their demands were not met, a group of students would launch an indefinite hunger strike at the Bab-e-Syed gate of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). They have sent a notice of their proposed strike to the authorities concerned at the university as well as the district authorities. The panel also copies of their notice to the President, prime minister and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The spokesman of the committee, Faizul Hasan, told media persons that their main demand was that an FIR be registered against the members of the police force who "indulged in violence and vandalism" at the university on 15 December. "We also want the withdrawal of all false cases against those students who were exercising their democratic right of peaceful protest and were being pressured by the authorities to end their agitation," he said. Hasan said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister held a very important constitutional post and if he had any concrete evidence to support his charge of unprovoked violence against the AMU students, he should place that before the court, instead of vilifying the institution. "On our part, we are placing all the evidence before the court and will also do so if the government orders a judicial probe," he said. The students' coordination panel is also demanding the resignation of top university officials, including the vice-chancellor and the registrar, on the grounds of moral responsibility with regard to the December 15 incident. They demanded that the CCTV footage of all incidents pertaining to the "police brutalities" should be fully secured and protected. Meanwhile, at the Eidgah grounds in the old city, the woman protesters, who have been on an indefinite dharna against the Citizenship Amendment Act since the past three weeks, staged a stir at the Kotwali police station. They alleged that police prevented them from putting up a tent at the protest site on Thursday night during a hailstorm. Senior district officials rushed to the spot and pacified protesters. ANN ARBOR, MI - The findings of an investigation involving Police Chief Michael Cox remain under wraps after City Council spent 90 minutes in closed session Friday discussing the matter. City Attorney Stephen Postema now has a week to draft a memo on steps for council to take going forward. That includes what information gets released to the public. Council entered a closed session a little after 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 after receiving a confidential report on the investigation Thursday afternoon. A work session is scheduled for 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 to review the memo. Read More: Results of Ann Arbor police chief investigation to be discussed Friday I cant tell you what the result of that meeting will be, Mayor Christopher Taylor said on whether the public will be informed Monday night. I do not know. I wont characterize what were going to be discussing with the exception of personnel matters and memo. Council Member Jane Lumm, I-2nd Ward, said Cox, who has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 8, will be able to review the findings with his lawyers. She said the meeting will be a personnel evaluation into Cox. Read More: Ann Arbor police chief placed on administrative leave Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward, said the council now knows the charges against Cox and that members wanted to give him an opportunity to defend himself. (Cox) should be able to see the report, Lumm said with Eaton nodding next to her. Thats fair. I dont think it would be fair otherwise for us to take next steps without him seeing it. Lumm, a liaison to the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, said at a Tuesday commission meeting that she wanted the council to see the report so she and her peers can tell constituents that they are confident the process is being handled fairly. I have made a request of the city attorney to prepare a resolution (for council approval) to release as much of the report as is feasible, Lumm said Thursday in an email to MLive/The Ann Arbor News. Council members entered closed session in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act to review privileged information with attorneys. Miller Canfield, the law firm that conducted the outside investigation, attended the closed session. City Council must vote unanimously on a resolution to release details of the meeting to the public. Lisa Jackson, chair of the police oversight commission, which was established last year, and vice chair Frances Todoro said they have not been told of the investigations findings. Jackson said during Tuesdays police oversight commission meeting that the lack of clarification on the allegations against Cox has led to speculation into his character that can be weaponized. More: Police oversight commission laments weaponized speculation over Ann Arbor police chiefs leave We understand the confidentiality of investigations and that is appropriate, Jackson said. The secrecy surrounding Chief Coxs leave reflects badly on the city. More: City Council, oversight commission in the dark on Ann Arbor police chiefs leave A brief public commentary preceded the closed session. Zachary Storey, a street musician better known as Ann Arbors Violin Monster, asked for more transparency Friday. I feel I cant have an opinion yet on the police chief, because the public has been given no information yet, Storey said. The public needs to hear at least some answers. Jakarta: On Friday, February 21, 2020, the international body that keeps an eye on financial issues has put Myanmar on the money laundering watch list (gray list). Where the institute has asked Myanmar to clamp down on drug production and crime. The FATF put Myanmar's money laundering watch list on the gray list: while the FATF has put Myanmar on the gray list, it has said to stop the money laundering issues. No representative of the Myanmar government was available on Friday to react to the matter, but its representative KW Thein, who had come to attend the FATF meeting this week, said on Wednesday that his country was capable of clamping down on money laundering. Myanmar has unsuccessfully tried to curb money laundering cases: FATF is headquartered in Paris and is an intergovernmental agency, according to information received. Where he said in his statement that Myanmar has tried its best to stop the cases of money laundering, but its efforts in major areas still remain lacking. FATF retains Pakistan in gray list: It is being said that a big decision regarding Pakistan was given in the FATF plenary session meeting in Paris. Pakistan remained on the main agenda throughout this session. FATF has retained Pakistan in the gray list. During this time, Pakistan was asked to be kept on the FATF watch list for terrorist funding. Significantly, to stop the flow of black money, including terrorist funding, the FATF, a body formed to enact a uniform rule law, is going on in Paris since last Sunday and its decision has come out on Friday. Also Read: Ireland PM resigns from his post after his defeat FATF blacklisted Iran, says 'To improve the situation ...' Corona continues wreaking havoc, 2,236 people killed so far Two civilians found in this area of Italy infected with Corona Virus We enjoy telling the story of Jesse Owens defeating Adolf Hitler. The tale brightens our American spirit, encourages our sense of greatness. We ignore the story of Owens and his return to the United States. After winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens was snubbed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who declined to send a congratulatory telegram or invite the worlds greatest athlete to the White House. In Germany, Owens sprinted his way to destruction of white superiority, but this sprint did nothing to alter the reality of America in 1936. The night he was honored at a dinner in New Yorks glittering Waldorf-Astoria, he arrived via service elevator. African-Americans were prohibited from riding alongside whites on standard elevators. Ryan Hagood, a civil rights lawyer, is a graduate of Denver Manual High School and Colorado College. He works as director and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. You cant make this stuff up, Hagood says. The service elevator? The saga of Owens and triumph in Berlin followed by humiliating return to the United States delivers the troubling truths of an Old Testament tale. Owens saw himself as far more than the worlds fastest human. I'd spent my whole life watching my father and mother and older brothers and sisters trying to escape their own kind of Hitler, first in Alabama and then in Cleveland, and all I wanted now was my chance to run as fast and jump as far as I could so I'd never have to look back, he said. If I could just win those gold medals, I said to myself, the Hitlers of the world would have no more meaning for me. For anyone, maybe. Hitler was aghast Americans would lower themselves to allow African-Americans to compete in the Olympics. Remember, were talking of historys most vicious and clueless racist. Hitler and his flunkies designed the Berlin Games to showcase Nazi ideology, which glorified the lie of white supremacy. Owens raced to victory in the 100- and 200-meter sprints and the 400-meter relay and soared to victory in the long jump. Hitler, no surprise, refused to shake his hand. But Hitler didnt want to shake any winners hand if that hand didnt belong to a German. Roosevelt ranked, in many ways, as a progressive, but invited only white medal winners to The White House. Its agonizing to say, but in this ugly moment from 1936 FDR performed a superb imitation of Hitler. A month after returning to America triumphant, Owens spoke to a crowd of 1,000 African-Americans in Kansas City, Mo. Hitler didnt snub me, Owens said. It was (Roosevelt) who snubbed me. The president didnt even send me a telegram. Hagood is haunted by the Owens story. When Owens returned to America, he worked as a playground janitor and, on the side, a carnival-like act, racing against dogs, horses, motorcycles and cars. His own president ignored him, and he became a sideshow. This is a situation where it was literally Jesse Owens vs. the world. Hes running essentially against Hitler, and hes seeking to destroy the Aryan myth and hes representing America. He destroys this awful man and this white superiority myth, and hes coming from a country where segregation is the rule, Hagood says. He performed on the highest and the biggest stage in the highest way. He was the greatest ambassador for America in a generation. He carried the country on his back. And he gets no acknowledgement from the president of his country. On Aug. 22, 1951, Owens returned to Berlin. Hitler was dead, his wicked Nazi regime in literal ruins. Owens stood in the same stadium where he had roared to his medals as a crowd of 75,000 roared. Walter Schreiber, the mayor of West Berlin, introduced Owens. Hitler would not shake your hand, Schreiber said. I give you both hands. Owens spoke next. West Germany, split in half from East Germany and plagued with economic chaos, still teetered. Stand fast with us in the fight for freedom and democracy under the protection of Almighty God, Owens said. And then Owens returned to a segregated nation where he was required to ride in the back of the bus in his native Alabama. He gets more respect from the country he defeated in the Olympic Games and whose philosophy he defeated than he did from his own country, Hagood says. Theres nothing more he could have done, and yet doing all he could, he still couldnt get love from the place he was from. He essentially does the impossible, but he cant do the other impossible thing of not being a black man from Alabama. The saga of Jesse Owens does not end sadly. In the 1950s, Owens began touring the country delivering inspirational speeches. He earned good money. He was finally seen fully for what he was: An American folk hero. He settled in Phoenix, where most mornings he walked two miles to the downtown YMCA for swimming and weightlifting. He, alas, failed to conquer his pack-a-day cigarette habit and died, only 66, of lung cancer in 1980. He laughed at the way Hitler treated him. It was all right, he said. All I know is, Im here and Hitler isnt. He never made jokes about FDR, the president who forsook him. US President Donald Trump will encourage India and Pakistan to hold bilateral dialogue, but for that Islamabad will have to crackdown on terrorism, according to a senior administration official. "I think what you'll hear from the President is very much encouraging a reduction in tensions between India and Pakistan, encouraging the two countries to engage in bilateral dialogue with each other to resolve their differences," the official said on Friday during a briefing to a a question on whether Trump will again offer to mediate on Kashmir. The official specifically mentioning "bilateral dialogue" holds significance in the context of Trump's previous attempts to embed himself in the Kashmir dispute, which have roiled India. The official added a note of caution, saying: "A core foundation of any successful dialogue between the two is based on continued momentum in Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terrorists and extremists on its territory." Trump, who will be making a two-day trip to India on February 24, will be skipping Pakistan during the South Asia journey. The official said: "The President will urge both countries to seek to maintain peace and stability along the line of control and refrain from actions or statements that could increase tensions in the region." Trump has a record of bungling the Kashmir and India-Pakistan issues. Last July, he made the outlandish claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to be a "mediator or arbitrator" when they had met the previous month in Osaka during the G-20 summit. A shocked New Delhi denied that such a request was made given that India's position is that under the Simla Agreement of 1971 between the two neighbours Kashmir and other disputes have to be resolved bilaterally without third-party involvement. In September 2019, Trump offered to mediate between the two countries and reiterated it last month in Davos, despite India rejecting his attempts to get involved. It is to be seen if during his India visit he will stick to the script as he did during the "Howdy Modi!" event in Houston last September or go into an off-the-cuff mode and create an embarrassment for his hosts. The visit will take place days after the US has announced an agreement with the Taliban to reduce violence in Afghanistan that will pave the way for Washington to start to bring its troops back from there, winding down the 19-year war. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has wielded influence during the negotiations with the Taliban because Islamabad has sheltered and aided them. The official said: "We certainly would look to India to support this peace process -- an important country in the region, important to the overall stability of the region. So I think if the issue comes up, that is what would be the request from the President." Hong Kong: CS hands out masks to residents Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung today handed out surgical masks to singleton seniors and other residents at Healthy Village in North Point. Mr Cheung also distributed anti-epidemic goods and spoke with residents to understand the impact of the epidemic on their daily lives. Owing to the virus, the global supply of surgical masks remains tight and members of the public have had difficulty in sourcing them, he noted. The Chief Secretary stressed that the Government would continue to increase the overall supply of surgical masks in Hong Kong through a multi-pronged approach. Its $30 billion Anti-epidemic Fund will also enhance overall capability in combatting the disease and provide assistance to affected enterprises and members of the public, he added. Mr Cheung pointed out the Steering Committee on the Anti-epidemic Fund established under his chairmanship would oversee the operation and use of the fund. He called on all quarters of society to act in concert, put aside differences and win the fight against the disease. This story has been published on: 2020-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (Natural News) In a country founded on the principle that everyone has a voice and that speech isnt something that can or should be regulated, the First Amendment is increasingly coming under attack by activist judges who shun the law of the land in deference to the law of political correctness. As reported by The New American, a judge in Ohio has ruled that a Christian professor can be fired by his employer, Shawnee State University, over his failure to use trans pronouns, as per the schools nondiscrimination policy. Once again, in other words, the Fourteenth Amendment is being utilized to override the First Amendments protection of speech and religious freedom. Prof. Nicholas Meriwether filed suit against SSU after college administrators sided with a student who got hostile with the prof after he refused to refer to the student by his preferred pronouns. According to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represents Meriwether and filed the suit on his behalf, the student Alena Bruening, referred to only as Doe, became belligerent, circling around him, getting in his face in a threatening fashion, while telling him, Then I guess this means I can call you a c**t. School administration would later side with the student after he filed a formal complaint over the incident in which he actually accused Meriwether of creating a hostile environment, in violation of school policy. The complaint led SSU officials to issue the professor a warning in June 2018. ADF stated in the lawsuit that the schools actions violated their clients First Amendment rights, but that charge was dismissed by the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio. According to the suit, Meriwethers primary complaint is that by forcing him to refer to a students self-identified gender, that would require him to violate his conscience and sincerely held religious beliefs principles that no longer matter to an increasing number of federal judges. (Related: The radical Left is so insane that even BOY GEORGE has had enough of the stupid pronouns.) Not hurting someones feelings now more important than First Amendment The New American noted further: He charged that his rights were violated because he was threatened and punished for refusing to communicate a University-mandated ideological message regarding gender identity both in and out of the classroom and that he was compelled to communicate in regard to gender identity in a way that conflicts with his religious beliefs. However, U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott, a Clinton appointee, disagreed. Plaintiffs refusal to address a student in class in accordance with the students gender identity does not implicate broader societal concerns and the free speech clause of the First Amendment under the circumstances of this case, she ruled. The court further claimed that all Meriwether had to do was to simply remove any and all references to pronouns in his classroom, and that doing so would not have been an infringement on his speech rights. Meriwether, in court documents, explained that his practice is to refer to students using proper etiquette prefixes Mr. and Ms. followed by their surnames and that in order to accommodate the student, he offered to refer to him just using his last name. But that wasnt good enough; Dlott said that still amounted to discrimination because Meriwether didnt then call all students simply by their last names. Yes, its come to this: Left-wing activist judges picking gnat droppings out of salt in order to justify their attacks on Christianity and traditional American culture. She further ruled, by the way, that though the universitys nondiscrimination policy is over broad its in SSUs best interest to use it that way to create an educational and working environment for students and employees that is without unlawful or prohibited discrimination and harassment. Unless, of course, students and school administrators are discriminating against a Christian professor because of his beliefs. Then, its okay. Sources include: TheNewAmerican.com NewsTarget.com Swedens central bank will soon trial a blockchain-based digital currency but its still in its very early stages, at best. Announced Thursday, Sveriges Riksbanks e-krona pilot is the latest attempt at a central bank digital currency (CBDC) from an institution that for years fretted over basing any such project on distributed ledger technology (DLT). For now at least, the e-krona pilot is set to move forward on a limited basis. Built by Accenture and based on R3 Corda, Riksbanks digital currency trials will run as a simulation through February 2021, at which point Riksbank could extend the project for another six years. Related: China Has Many Strategic Reasons to Invest in Blockchain The pilot will not involve any banks or end-users; everything will be simulated within the central banks closed network. Accenture is still preparing the final system for testing, according to Riksbanks press office. This high-profile investigation of digital government money will increase [Riksbanks] knowledge of CBDCs, the bank said in a report. But it will also better Riksbanks understanding of DLT and blockchain technology, two nearly synonymous tech solutions (in the banks stated view) that it spent nearly three years arguing was too immature to use for the e-krona pilot. Forced into action by its citizens deep aversion to cash, Riksbank has been talking about developing a possible e-krona since at least November 2016. But it was never clear about what technology could power a Swedish digital currency. DLT has been an option since the project formally began in September 2017. But it was hardly the obvious choice for a bank that saw the existing tried-and-tested centralized technologies as perhaps more compelling. Related: Central Bankers From Canada, Netherlands, Ukraine Call Blockchain Unnecessary for Digital Fiat From a purely technical point of view, we can see nothing at this point in time that would prevent an e-krona solution built around a central register, Riksbank wrote in that first e-krona project report. RIX, the Riksbanks system for the transfer of funds in accounts, is, for example, built around a central register. An e-krona could in principle be constructed in a similar way. Story continues Riksbank was not willing to take a leap on the still-developing tech back in 2017. It described DLT as weak, troublesome and untried in the report this is partly due to the technology being so new a still-uncharted solution to digital-currency-minded central bankers around the world. Riksbank appears to have concluded that Corda addresses its previous DLT concerns, the Feb. 20 report shows. Using bitcoin (BTC) as a DLT foil, Riksbank argues Corda consumes less energy and is more scalable while still preventing users from committing double-spending. The new system In the simulated system, the Riksbanks node will issue e-krona to participant nodes, banks. The banks will then distribute digital cash to end-users: consumers and merchants. Users will then hold the e-krona in digital wallets on smartphones, wearable tech, cards that make peer-to-peer payments as easily as sending a text, according to the most recent report. The system will also carry some of the permissioned features anathema to decentralization maximalists but integral to organized governance and central banks: Riksbank alone will have control over its private network and hold the sole power to add new participant nodes to that system. Centralize it too far, and the exercise of creating [a CBDC] becomes rather pointless, said Don Guo, CEO of brokerage tech provider Broctagon Fintech Group. The founding principal of crypto was decentralization, so banks need to be careful that they dont lose sight of the advantages that decentralization can provide, otherwise there will be no real benefit of using the new currencies over fiat. The bank will not commit to launching an e-krona in any form just yet. Thats ultimately a political decision, Riksbank said in the report. But the yearlong pilot will illustrate how DLT e-krona technical solution might work in the country that long said it couldnt. The pilot will also help Riksbank determine if, how, when and in what form it might issue digital money to the people of Sweden. More broadly, a focus on centralized thinking continues to circulate in the central banker community. For technical and philosophical reasons regarding governance and control, bankers hesitate to embrace DLT for CBDC, according to speakers at Fridays Conference on Central Bank Digital Currencies in Ukraine. That comes as banks actively test DLT across other aspects of their financial infrastructure. Even in October 2018, when Riksbank was issuing its second report on the e-krona, bankers in Canada, Singapore, Japan and the Eurozone were all looking into DLT for large interbank payments. Riksbank is more interested in developing a retail payments solution for Sweden; it wants a digital krona that consumers, not bankers, can use on the go. And though it spent years considering DLT as one solution among many, Riksbanks reports always left the door ajar. Technological development continues apace, the 2018 report said. The Project cannot therefore rule out a DLT solution becoming relevant in the longer term. Paddy Baker and Anna Baydakova contributed reporting. Related Stories Welcome the season German-style with the rich, malty brewgoat-themed festival optional As a kid I collected beer cans, something that seems so very Wisconsin, in a time when old-school regional breweriesand the giant conglomerates methodically buying up their brandsproduced American pilsners or similar pale lagers, with few exceptions. You didnt see a lot of seasonal beers back in that day, but I do remember the cans with the goats on them. Bock beer! It came out around March, and even Pabst and Budweiser produced some. My college friend Paul Beck would wax nostalgic about Point Bock (they shared initials), with a head so thick you could stand a pencil up in it. A bit heavier and darker, malty and only lightly hopped, bocks were brewed for an early spring release. But why the goat? Bock means goat in German, but that doesnt get us anywhere. The beer originated in Germany, but its creators didnt call it bockbier. Not at first, anyway. Collectible bock cans. (Courtesy of Joe Older) Origins The style first emerged in the 1300s in the German city of Einbeck, where over 700 citizens had permission to brew beer. This created an excess, which the City Council pulled together and sold. The oldest sales invoice is dated April 28, 1378. Today, Einbecker Brewery is one of the oldest continually operating breweries in the world. Their dark beer, brewed a bit stronger to travel better, was called Ainpockisch Bier, beer from Einbeck. Martin Luther became the first celebrity endorsement, calling it the best drink one can know in 1521. Einbecker Ur-Bock. (Courtesy of Einbecker Brewery) Bavarians loved it, and with their accent put a turn on the name: Oanpock, which eventually gave way to bock bier, creating that pun with the word for goat. Regardless of the name variation, everyone knew where their beer was coming from; the cost of consumption was growing dear (you know, imports). In 1589, Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria commissioned the construction of the Hofbrauhaus Brewery in Munich to satisfy demand. Still, the beer wasnt quite right, and so in 1614, the brewery hired Elias Pilcher, an Einbeck brewer, to make it so. Bocks, Bocks, and More Bocks Modern bocks are still malty, lightly hopped brews with alcohol in the 67.5 percent range, but they can vary in color from light copper to dark brown. And since those early days, various sub-styles have evolved; many are bottom-fermented lagers like the original, but some, such as the wheat versions, have top-fermenting ale yeasts. Maibock or Helles Bock calls for a lighter malt and a bit more hops. Another Einbecker creation, it arrived in May as drinkers transitioned from dark winter beers to lighter summer brews. Doppelbock or double bock is a stronger version of bock beer, checking in at around 8 percent ABV. Its maltier with a touch of hop bitterness to keep it from being too sweet. Some brews add the word dunkel, meaning dark. A fantastic pour is Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel, a rich copper-toned beer I had the good fortune of finding on draft at The Malt House in Madison, Wisconsin. Another good example is Korbinian, a doppelbock from Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world. Ayinger Celebrator also shouldnt be missed, and comes with a little plastic goat. Weizenbocks are a bit like doppelbock meets wheat beer. Theyre rich and malty, with the esters of the ale yeasthints of banana for most of us. Weihenstephan, the oldest still-operating brewery in the world, brews Vitus, an award-winning weizenbock. Bavarian-based G. Schneider & Sohn BrewerySchneider Weisseis known for its wheat beers. In 1907, Mathilde Schneidercovertly running the family brewery, something uncommon for women of the daycame up with Aventinus, the original wheat doppelbock and one marvelous beer. Ninety-five years later, her great-grandson Georg VI and brewmaster Hans-Peter Drexler created Aventinus Eisbock, some even more heavenly sipping. Eisbocks are made by freezing out some of the water content to intensify flavors and increase alcohol strength to double-digit percentages. These German beers are generally available throughout the United States. Celebrating Bock in the USA While not as common as IPAs or stouts, bocks do get some love from craft brewers. Aventinus made me a brewer, said Rob LoBreglio, brewmaster and co-founder of The Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company in Wisconsin, which hosts an annual Bockfest to raise money for charity. The focus on bock beer is a nod to where we came from as brewers, LoBreglio said. The new styles get their fair share of attention, but one of the most time-honored, traditional styles [is] not even really fully understood by the public. The event brings together 18 Wisconsin brewers to serve more than 30 bocks, plus a special tapping of the outstanding German doppelbock Weltenburger Kloster Asam-Bock. The Great Dane itself taps as many as 13 of their own bocks, including John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidts Doppel Dunkel Hefeweizen. An even bigger Bockfest is celebrated in another community with strong German heritage: Cincinnati. Much beer was made and consumed here, especially in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, so named years ago by the German immigrants crossing the canal on their way home. Hudepohl Brewing Company was founded in Cincinnati in 1885 by the son of a German immigrant. The Christian Moerlein Brewing Company had already been making beer 32 years before that. But when Prohibition came around, the latterone of the largest breweries in the nation at that pointclosed its doors. Hudepohl acquired the Christian Moerlein brand and in 1981 released a bock beer under the Moerlein name. In 1992, in honor of that German tradition, Bockfest was first celebrated. Scenes from Cincinnatis annual Bockfest. (Courtesy of Bockfest Cincinnati) The event has grown over the years, becoming a multi-day festival with a parade that features a live goat pulling a ceremonially blessed keg of bock beer, a Sausage Queen with a platter of her wares, and a giant wooden Trojan goat. Its basically our Cincinnati version of Mardi Gras, said Steven Hampton, executive director of the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation. We have krewes of sorts, people who come out every year, and there are elaborate themes. They build massive floats, or some just walk with a bannerits whatever you want it to be. Christian Moerlein Brewing Company sets up a Bockfest hall serving more than 20 local bock beers, including the host brewerys Emancipator Doppelbock. A couple dozen neighborhood bars and restaurants also participate. Saturday sees a 5K race, while Continental Sunday brings authentic German music, dancing, history tours and discussions, and a 0.5K. Says Hampton, If you can make it 164 feet, you get your medal, your t-shirt, and a beer. Cincinnatis 28th Annual Bockfest runs Feb. 28March 1, 2020. Bockfest.com The 7th Annual Great Dane Bockfest in Madison, Wisconsin is March 7, 2020. GreatDanePub.com/our-story/bockfest-2020 Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler and the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and several outdoor and brewery guidebooks. He is based in Madison, Wis., and his website is TheMadTraveler.com German foot-wear brand walks out of China, to set up operations in Agra Agra Mayor to welcome Donald Trump by handing over a 'silver key': Here's why India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 22: In a symbolic gesture, Mayor Naveen Jain will welcome US President Donald Trump by handing over a 'key of the city' which is made of silver. The specially designed silver key, will be of 12 inches and 600 grams in weight with a picture of Taj Mahal and 'Welcome to Agra' and 'Agra Municipal Corporation' carved on both sides. "Whenever any foreign guest comes to visit Agra there is a tradition and old concept of handing over keys to them. While welcoming them at airport, we hand over the keys of Agra to the guest," said Agra Mayor. It means that they should open the door of Agra and enter in the city. "The entire administration of Agra is busy in preparations for welcoming US President Donald Trump and I think that he will definitely get unprecedented welcome. Thousands of people will welcome him with Indian and American flags in their hands," he added. Donald Trump may land in Jaipur if Delhi weather is poor Meanwhile, a Jaipur-based company has been tasked with creating exclusive tableware and cutlery for personal use of the visiting US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump and other family members to India. The 'Trump Collection', gold and silver plated tableware specially designed for personal use of US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump during their Delhi visit. Manufacturer Arun Pabuwal says,"Its a special design.We served ex-President Barack Obama also during his two visits in 2010 and 2015. Speaking to IANS, he said, "A family set has been designed for the US president, his wife, and his daughter-in-law. The breakfast table has been made complete with cookies stand, fruit tray, refreshment and other accessories with silver finish. We have been getting acknowledgements earlier too from different dignitaries for our exclusive collection," he added. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. It seems a necessary step for West Virginia legislators to intervene regarding the Hilltop House Hotel in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. While theyre at it, perhaps the state could do something about the excessive billboards littering the Eastern Panhandle. I live in Kearneysville, W.Va. not far from Harpers Ferry and frequently shop in Martinsburg, W.Va. Whenever I head into town, Im assaulted by two massive billboards advertising strip clubs. I cant imagine how parents respond when they are driving by these billboards and their children ask, What is lust? Union minister Smriti Irani Saturday dismissed Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadras frequent forays into Uttar Pradesh as something she needed to do to make her space in the party. Priyanka is only active in her own party, Congress, because she is working to make space for herself in her own party, she said at the Hindustan Samagam event in Lucknow. Priyanka who was officially inducted into the Congress in January last year and put in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, had extensively canvassed in the general elections but could not prevent a severe drubbing for the party. The loss included that of her brother and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi who lost to Irani at Amethi. Earlier this month, her campaign in the Delhi assembly elections also failed to change the Congress fortune where it drew a blank for the second successive time and saw its vote share plunge. Following the hammering at the Delhi elections, Priyanka acknowledged that it is a time of struggle for the Congress. In recent times, Priyanka has visited Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency Varanasi and Azamgarh. Both visits were aimed at meeting activists held during protests against the amended Citizenship Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). She has also been the Congress leading voice against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and has regularly taken on chief minister Yogi Adityanath over a range of issues. Over the past week, three Congress-ruled states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - have offered to send her to the Rajya Sabha. Priyanka herself has not commented on the overtures of the Congress state governments. A Google Cloud manager who was arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife while they were on vacation in Hawaii has been released from custody while police continue to investigate her death. Harvard-educated Sonam Saxena, 43, reported his wife Smriti missing on Tuesday evening, and was arrested the next day. The couple were enjoying a vacation in Hawaii along with their children when her body was found on a beach. Harvard-educated Sonam Saxena, 43, right, reported his wife Smriti, left, missing on Tuesday claiming the 41-year-old mother-of-two had vanished during a late night stroll on a secluded beach south of Anaehoomalu Bay, in South Kohala. Saxena was released on Friday Saxena had claimed the 41-year-old mother-of-two had vanished during a late night stroll on a secluded beach south of Anaehoomalu Bay, in South Kohala. Saxena was released on Friday without charges, pending further investigation. The family, from Bellevue, Washington, were travelling with their two daughters aged 13 and eight to celebrate their eldest child's birthday - a trip they take every year. Saxena claimed Smriti, a business program manager for Microsoft, suffered an asthma attack and disappeared while he went to get her inhaler from their room at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort. Lava Lava Beach Club in Waikoloa near where her husband said she went missing during a late night stroll on Tuesday Harvard-educated Sonam Saxena, 43, reported his wife Smriti missing on Tuesday claiming the 41-year-old mother-of-two had vanished during a late night stroll on a secluded beach south of Anaehoomalu Bay, in South Kohala Sonam Saxena, 43, was arrested after a body was found near Anaehoomalu Bay, in South Kohala (pictured) the morning after he had reported her missing Police found a body on Wednesday morning near where she was last seen and arrested Saxena a few hours later on suspicion of second degree murder. An autopsy was conducted, but more testing is needed to determine her exact cause of death. It's not clear what the initial results of the autopsy revealed. Before his arrest, Saxena - a product manager at Google Cloud in Seattle - posted an appeal for information on the Linkedin network. He wrote: 'My wife Smriti Saxena is missing. Can you please promote this tweet so that I can tell my daughters where their Mom is #help.' Saxena also gave an interview with West Hawaii Today and described how his wife went missing after they had been drinking at the Lava Lava Beach Club and decided to go for a stroll on the beach. The couple, who have been married for 17 years, were on vacation with their two children aged 13 and eight to celebrate their eldest child's birthday Harvard-educated Sonam Saxena, 43, reported his wife Smriti missing on Tuesday claiming the 41-year-old mother-of-two had vanished during a late night stroll on a secluded beach south of Anaehoomalu Bay, in South Kohala He said: 'She got an asthma attack right there on the beach and she was feeling weak and she didn't want to walk all the way back because it's almost a 20-minute walk back from that beach to our room. 'So, I said, 'hey, you know what? You stay here, you have your phone with you and I'll just go to the room grab your inhaler and pump and come back.' When he returned '40 to 50 minutes' later he found her purse, phone, credit card and driver's license were all there but she had gone. He said: 'I was disturbed because why would she leave her purse and her phone on the beach and head back to the room. The pair, married for 17 years with two children, ages 13 and 8, would come to Hawaii every year to celebrate their eldest child's birthday 'It just seemed really odd,' he said. 'So I rushed back to the room. I checked the room and I saw that she wasn't in the room. So I went down stairs and that's when I dialed 911.' Saxena said he helped police and security officers scour the area. 'We called out for her but there was nothing,' he said. 'No response.' Police released an appeal to find Smriti saying she had last been seen around 10:30pm wearing a black dress with a multicolored floral design and a black jacket. The pair, married for 17 years with two children, ages 13 and 8, would come to Hawaii every year to celebrate their eldest child's birthday. Prior to graduating from Harvard Business School in General Management, Saxena earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nautical Science from Mumbai University Toyota logo is seen in Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> said on Friday it planned for all four of its vehicle assembly plants in China to be in operation from next week after weeks of stoppages due to the coronavirus outbreak, although output at some plants would be limited. The Japanese auto maker said in a statement that production at its vehicle assembly plant in Chengdu, Sichuan province would resume from Monday. Toyota began partial production at plants in Tianjin Province and other regions this week. (Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Edmund Blair) Gardai investigating violence against Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) have uncovered a network of front companies and bank accounts used to launder monies paid to senior criminal Cyril McGuinness. Millions of euro were funnelled through the bank accounts of up to five bogus companies, it has been learned. They were registered in the Republic and ostensibly set up to buy and sell plant machinery. Security sources revealed that the money trail may finally uncover evidence of direct links between McGuinness - dubbed 'Dublin Jimmy' - and the paymaster suspected of bankrolling the vendetta against the companies formerly owned by Sean Quinn. A campaign of violence and intimidation against QIH executives culminated in the abduction and torture of Kevin Lunney last September. The chief operations officer for QIH was beaten and tortured in a horse box. He was left severely injured and traumatised before being dumped on a remote roadside in Co Cavan. The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, CAB and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation are involved in a complex investigation to trace McGuinness's wealth and the monies he was paid for carrying out the attacks. The enquiry has been focusing on a series of companies which were set up to launder the proceeds of crime by an accountant operating from Co Galway. At least one of the companies is registered in Co Sligo in the name of a man who suffers from alcohol-related problems and, it is understood, was unaware he was the registered owner of the company. It is understood that 970,000 was washed through the company's bank accounts. Gardai have established that McGuinness withdrew over 500,000 in cash through ATM machines in counties along the Border two years ago. Detectives are now trying to establish proof that the accounts were used by a relative of the paymaster to funnel cash to McGuinness. This would have been done as payment for arson attacks and other acts of violence, which included the abduction and torture of Mr Lunney. Gardai have received intelligence reports that associates of McGuinness bought farms as part of the money laundering operation. A London-based construction company and a large UK property portfolio, which is owned by one of his closest associates from Co Cavan, is also being investigated. 'Dublin Jimmy' died from heart failure last November when police raided his safe house in Derbyshire. At the time, UK police seized phones and computers which, it was hoped, would uncover evidence of the criminal's business arrangements with the paymaster. However, sources have revealed gardai have only been given access to a limited portion of the material recovered from McGuinness's devices. It sparked speculation in some quarters that efforts are being made to cover up the fact McGuinness was working as an agent for some UK security services. Security sources have confirmed that McGuinness worked with the IRA for several years and was particularly close to IRA godfather Thomas 'Slab' Murphy. The 'work' involved providing transport for bombs and smuggling operations, according to one former senior Special Branch source. Meanwhile, it emerged this week that gardai have officially informed the directors of QIH that the threat level against each of them is as "high as it has ever been". The revelation followed an apparent resumption of violence against QIH when an attempted arson attack took place at the home of a relative of one of the directors last weekend. The incident occurred in the early hours of last Saturday morning near Derrylin, when two men tried to set fire to a truck and another vehicle which were parked near the relative's home. However, it is understood that the would-be arsonists were disturbed and sped off before any damage was done and the incident was captured on CCTV. [February 21, 2020] GREEN DOT INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Green Dot Corporation - GDOT Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT). On May 8, 2019, the Company disclosed an "erosion in the number of legacy product line, non-direct deposit active accounts," that its strategy "to attract high-value long-term customers" at the expense of low value customers had negatively affected performance, and a $60 million investment "for the purpose of aggressively marketing our new products." On August 8, 2019 the Company disappointed investors when it disclosed its 2Q2019 results including cuts to earnings guidance due to "an acceleration in declining unit sales in our legacy prepaid card product line combined with a later than expected launch of our new and limited product." Then, on November 7, 2019, the Company announced its 3Q2019 results including a continuing decline in its active consumer business of approximately 620,000 accounts. Finally, on December 18, 2019, the Company disclosed the departure of both its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were suedin a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Green Dot's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Green Dot's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Green Dot shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-gdot/ to learn more. 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/20200221005498/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Yes, the charismatic villain of Wild, Wild Country, Ma Anand Sheela, is getting the Hollywood treatment, courtesy of Amazon and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Before Cheer and Don't F**k With Cats, one of Netflixs first successful, widely binged docuseries was Wild, Wild Country, which told the unbelievable story of the Rajneeshpuram ashram in Wasco County, Oregon in the 1980s. When the worlds most controversial guru builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, a massive conflict with local ranchers ensues; producing the first bioterror attack in US history, the largest case of illegal wiretapping ever recorded, and the worlds biggest collection of Rolls-Royce automobiles, the Netflix description reads. However, it was the controversial gurus secretarySheelathat had the greatest impact on viewers when the series launched in 2018. It was Sheela who organized the largest bioterror attack in U.S. history by infecting the salad bars at 10 local restaurants with salmonella, poisoning 751 individuals. Now shes getting her own biopic. Heres everything we know about the Amazon film Sheela so far. 1 Netflix Chopra Jonas will take on the role of Sheela as well as act as a producer on the film. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news on February 19, revealing that Chopra Jonas will be starring as the terrorist behind the 1984 Rajneeshee attack in Oregon. Rain Mans Barry Levinson is set to direct Nick Yarboroughs script. Sheela probably wont watch it. In an interview with The Guardian, Sheela (who is still alive, BTW) revealed that she never watched the entire Netflix series that she took part in. As of 2018, she goes by Sheela Birnstiel and runs a nursing home in Switzerland. Oh, and according to the interview, she apparently feels no remorse at all for the events in Oregon. Remorse for what? she asks. Having a good life? Story continues Thats all we know for now. Make sure to check back here for updates on casting news, trailers, and more. You can watch Wild, Wild Country on Netflix, here. Originally Appeared on Glamour The "Assault" ban obsession is no answer By George Devinny. February 21, 2020 It would seem that the current selection of Democratic presidential candidates all share a profound obsession with 'gun control', and in particular the desire to ban anything they can remotely classify as an "assault weapon". This is a much over used and inaccurate definition that gets unjustifiably applied to almost any rifle that is an auto-loader, commonly often including the cosmetic features of the dreaded 'black rifle' with attributes such as a pistol grip and adjustable or folding stock. Of course these candidates are not alone with their obsession, as many states seek the same goal - such as the recent ban attempts in Virginia have demonstrated. It has to be wondered where is the logic as to why a majority of gun owners should be penalized for the sins of the very few, other than simply achieving the means to effect a wide spread disarmament policy. If as is estimated some 45 million gun owners possess so called "assault" rifles, and applying a 'guestimated' evil-use figure of one in every 1,000,000 owners (0.000001%) we might have, say, a hypothetical figure of as many as 45 potential mass murderers - an unlikely high number. Result - many millions of legitimate owner's rights would be infringed upon - and yet, the potential availability of such firearms thoughout the criminal underworld would remain unchanged. Being facetious, consider this - if a popular make of SUV for example was used to maliciously drive into a crowd resulting in multiple deaths and injuries - would that be reason enough to ban said make of vehicle? Of course not but the principle would seem little different from that proposed for "assault" weapon bans - penalize the overwhelming majority of good people's rights. From Washington Times: One of the avenues the candidates are all pursuing is to ban certain types of gun, which they have labelled as 'Assault' Weapons. This despite the fact that the federal 'Assault' Weapons ban of 1994-2004 showed no benefits and, on a thorough examination of the data, may even have increased the criminal use of such weapons. Any such policies would not affect automatic weapons, which are very tightly controlled at federal level. Instead they seem to be centered on AR-15 style rifles, despite the fact that rifles tend to be used in less than 5 percent of all criminal shootings, and would do nothing to limit criminal access to the handguns which feature in over 95 percent of shootings. And a ban, which would affect around 1,000,000 Virginians and over 45,000,000 Americans by requiring surrender, confiscation and/or registration, is not limited to AR-15 style weapons (and one must wonder if they choose the features of such weapons because they incorrectly believe that AR stands for either Assault Rifle or perhaps Army Rifle instead of the Armalite Rifle company who originally designed it specifically for hunting) but any rifle with any single one of a number of similar features. Such a ban would therefore affect vastly more than just AR-15 style rifles. In the wake of horrifying mass shootings such as the Virginia Beach and Virginia Tech shootings such a ban might seem reasonable to many, but in addition to the points made above, it would also fail to address additional substantial legal problems. For example the Supreme Court has ruled on more than one occasion that Second Amendment protections extend to weapons "in common use for lawful purposes." With the sheer quantity of AR-15 style firearms involved, this most popular of rifle styles can certainly be considered to be "in common use for lawful purposes." So what is the point in proposing policies which may be neither constitutionally permissible nor enforceable? If major outright bans of "assault" weapons are successful, what might be the consequences? Firstly, we would see widespread criminalization of majority legitimate gun owners and secondly, the very strong possibility of multiple incarcerations and even potential deaths from 'no-knock' warrents being implemented. It is not the object that needs attention, rather it is the evil people who should be identified (with due process), along with major reduction of the prolific numbers of gun-free-zones. Back to Top Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya on March 7, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut announced on Saturday. In a tweet, Raut informed that Thackeray with scores of Shiv Sainiks will visit Ram Lalla in the afternoon. The Maharashtra Chief Minister will also offer prayers on Sarayu riverbanks the same day, informed Raut on the micro-blogging site. This will be Thackeray's first visit to Ayodhya after becoming the Chief Minister. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in November last year. He has also invited everyone to be a part of this historic journey, which will include senior Shiv Sena ministers, the Thackeray family and senior leaders like Raut himself. Shiv Sena, a former ally of Bharatiya Janata Party, is a strong supporter of the construction of a Ram Temple at the Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High 34F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is facing scrutiny over a dubious tale from the campaign trail, claiming that he was arrested in South Africa while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in prison. Biden, 77, first told the story at a campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina on February 11, as he tried to shake off defeat in New Hampshire, and has repeated it twice more during outreach to black voters. 'This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid,' Biden said in Columbia of the former South African president, who was imprisoned for 27 years by the apartheid government. 'I had the great honor of meeting him. I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robben Island,' Biden went on. No contemporaneous or other supporting evidence has emerged to support Biden's extraordinary claim, leading some to compare it to the so-called 'Mandela Effect', a phenomenon in which a person's vivid memory of a historical event or cultural touchstone turns out to be false. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (left) claims that he was arrested in South Africa while trying to visit Nelson Mandela (right) in prison Joe Biden claimed he was arrested in Soweto, a township in Johannesburg, which is nearly 870 miles away from Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela was jailed A prison cell is seen on Robben Island, one of the places were Mandela spent 27 behind bars. Some falsely remember that he died in prison, the so-called 'Mandela Effect' The Mandela Effect is named for a common false memory that people report, saying they recall Mandela dying in prison in the 1990s. In fact he was freed and went on to become president of South Africa. He died in 2013. In two retellings of his tale over the past week while campaigning in Nevada, Biden's story changed slightly, dating the purported arrest to before he became engaged in 1977. On Sunday at a black history awards brunch in Las Vegas, Biden described the happy ending to his story. 'After he got free and became president, he came to Washington and came to my office,' Biden said of Mandela. 'He threw his arms around me and said, 'I want to say thank you.' I said, 'What are you thanking me for, Mr. President?' He said, 'You tried to see me. You got arrested trying to see me.' Soweto, where Biden says he was arrested, is 900 miles away from Robben Island. A historically and predominately black suburb of Johannesburg, Soweto is famed for the 1976 uprising there in protest of apartheid policy. Soweto, where Biden says he was arrested, is 900 miles away from Robben Island On Sunday at a black history awards brunch (above) in Las Vegas, Biden repeated the tale Biden did repeatedly visit South Africa while he was a U.S. Senator, but no news reports or contemporary accounts have been found mentioning an arrest. Biden did not mention such an arrest in his 400-page memoir in 2007. Andrew Young was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1977 to 1979, and told the New York Times that he had accompanied Biden on several trips to South Africa during that time. But Young was skeptical that it would even be possible for a sitting member of Congress to be arrested in South Africa back then. 'No, I was never arrested and I don't think he was, either,' said Young, now 87. 'I would not forget going to jail, but I know I did not ever go to jail in South Africa.' Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com on Saturday requesting any evidence supporting Biden's claim about the arrest. In the run-up to the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, that states Culinary Workers Union has come out strongly against Bernie Sanders while formally maintaining the position that it supports no particular candidate. Democratic strategists consider the Nevada caucuses and South Carolina primaries important because the winners of those contests would have momentum going into Super Tuesday primaries in 14 states. According to several recent polls, Sanders currently has a double-digit lead in Nevada. After first putting its weight behind Biden and coming just short of endorsing him, the CWU stepped back after his debacle in Iowa and New Hampshire. Its campaign against Sanders, however, continues in full force. The unions criticisms of Sanders share many of the elements of the Democratic Partys right-wing smears. Secretary Treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline claimed that Sanders supporters viciously attacked the Culinary Union and working families in Nevada simply because our union has provided facts on what certain healthcare proposals might do to take away the system of care we have built over 8 decades. In fact, the CWU executives faced backlash on social media. They received messages accusing them of being corrupt, incompetent and of operating in bad faith, after they began a campaign against Sanders call for Medicare for All. The CWU operates the Culinary Health Fund, which provides healthcare to over 130,000 Nevadans, the CWUs members, and their dependents, and is one of the states largest healthcare providers. While nominally non-profit, such funds have served as vehicles for the enrichment of a thin layer of union bureaucrats. The Culinary Health Funds board of trustees includes Arguello-Kline as well as Donald "D" Taylor, the national president of the CWUs parent union UNITE HERE. It is jointly administered by and receives funding from a number of Las Vegas casinos. While the union touts the fund as one of the biggest benefits of being in the union, there have been a number of complaints from workers with existing conditions about the limitations of the funds coverage. Marcie Wells, a waitress with the CWU, told Democracy Now! that there are moments when Im not able to get into the specialist I need to see in a timely manner, so I end up missing a lot of work, not qualifying for the insurance and sort of not even having the resources from work to pay for that insurance, referencing work requirements needed to be eligible for the coverage. She continued: Well, if youre going to the Culinary Health Center, there are not copays. But at the same time, there arent any specialists there. So, a person like me would still have to go outside of that location. Its $15 for a regular doctor visit, $20 to $30 per specialist visit. If I need an MRI, which I do frequently, its $125 each time. An endoscopy is $150. This context explains the reaction of the union to even modest proposals like Sanders healthcare reforms. The CWU, seeing the threat to their incomes and their privileges, has issued flyers denouncing Medicare for All as a plan that would end Culinary Healthcare. It is not that the CWU fears that Sanders proposal would reduce its members access to healthcare. Rather, the CWU fears that such plans would undercut their own operations. For his part, Sanders has responded the attacks against him with characteristic obsequiousness. He said in the debates Thursday night, in response to allegations of online attacks from his supporters, And if there are a few people who make ugly remarks, who attack trade union leaders, I disown these people. They are not part of our movement. He went so far as to denounce those supporters who were critical of the unions as Russian bots. All of us remember 2016, and what we remember is efforts by Russians and others to try to interfere in our election and divide us up. Im not saying thats happening, but it would not shock me. Sanders Medicare proposal, far from being socialist, has more the features of a lukewarm liberalism. He does not propose to expropriate the multibillion-dollar healthcare industry and place it under workers control. Rather, he proposes higher taxes on the wealthy, leaving the source of their vast wealth untouched and allowing control over healthcare to remain in their hands. Sanders entirely accepts the frameworks of the attacks against him and rejects all questions about the role of the trade unions. Sanders role in the elections is to bolster the Democratic Party, and he is also seeking to maintain the credibility and organizational stranglehold of the pro-capitalist and anti-working class trade unions. The latest iteration of the Honda Civic Type R will soon hit United States before the end of first quarter this year, but not without nifty features to go with it. To note, previous generations magnanimous performance capabilities turned heads when it arrived is understatement, and since then, they have been welcoming every version of Hondas highest performance car every time they roll in stateside. hondanews.com It looks like there will be more of that happening when the 2020 Honda Civic Type R drops in North America at the end of the month. For 2020, notable upgrades have been done to ride and handling, braking performance and engine cooling. And Hondas first-ever performance datalogging app, available exclusively for use with Civic Type R, will be available to owners between March and May this year. According to Honda, updates to the undercarriage include an Adaptive Damper System that can now assess road conditions 10 times faster than before. Theres also an improved radiator core that delivers enhanced cooling, a key necessity in high speed performance driving. In front, updated compliance bushings (10 percent stiffer longitudinally) and new lower-friction ball joints result in sharper steering feel for better control. The lower B-arm rear bushings have also been stiffened for better toe-in characteristics when cornering. hondanews.com Braking performance is enhanced by the Type Rs new two-piece rotors gripped by brake pads with a new more fade-resistant pad material. This replaces the single-piece front brake rotors of the outgoing model, which supposedly helps in improving brake performance with better fade resistance as well as reduced unsprung weight, resulting in 17 percent less play before the brakes do their thing. hondanews.com Inside, the 2020 Civic Type R gets a new Alcantara-upholstered steering wheel and sueded shift boot, with a matching new shift lever with a restyled titanium knob reminiscent of previous Type R models, including the original 1997 Civic Type R. Inside the knob lies a 90g counterweight to help improve shift feel and accuracy. Story continues hondanews.com Also new for the 2020 model year is the addition of Active Sound Control (ASC). Honda describes the ASC as tuned to enhance engine sound in a natural way, during aggressive driving in all driving modes. Power is supplied by a race-bred 2.0-liter direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC valvetrain that puts out 306 hp and 400 Nm, with power to the front wheels delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. The upgraded 2020 Type R also boasts freshened exterior and interior styling, standard Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology, and a stunning new Boost Blue exterior color. All of these nifty new additions add up to a starting price of USD 36,995 (approx. PHP 1.87 million). The good news is that the 2019 Honda Civic Type R we have locally has most of these features present, and you can buy one at your local Honda dealer for PHP 3,180,000. Further, CARMUDI PHILIPPINES received a word that this latest Type R package will have to take a while before it reaches the marketshould the regional counterpart of Honda Cars Philippines decides to bring it to the local market. Guess we all just have to wait and see. With reports from Ruben Manahan IV Also Read: The post 2020 Tech-Heavy Honda Civic Type R to Arrive in US February 28 appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious freedom in India during his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, a senior administration official said, a sensitive subject for the Indian government. Modi's government has faced large scale-protests at home and criticism abroad for enacting a citizenship law that is seen as discriminating against Muslims and has deepened concerns his administration in undermining India's secular traditions. That measure came months after the Indian government withdrew the special autonomy given to the Muslim-majority territory of Kashmir, tightening its hold. It also jailed dozens of political opponents and separatists and imposed a communications blackout. Trump, who is due in India on Monday, will talk about the two countries' shared traditions of democracy and religious freedom, the senior administration official said in a conference call on Friday ahead of the two-trip. "He will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is extremely important to this administration," the official said. Terrorists and corrupt people have "no right to privacy" and these people should not be allowed to abuse the internet, Union Law Minister said on Saturday. Speaking at the inauguration of the International Judicial Conference 2020 - 'Judiciary and the Changing World', Prasad said it needs to be acknowledged that people who abuse the finest creations of humankind, one of which is the internet, pose the biggest threats. He said the has been held to be a fundamental right and the government appreciates that but "terrorists and the corrupt have no because has acquired critical proportion in the wake of digital landscape expanding globally". "This is the age of information and information is power. This is the age of communication and communication is power," he explained. The minister said the right to privacy verdict of the Supreme Court has become a beacon globally as it held that the right to privacy flows from Article 21 right to life and right to live with dignity. Prasad also warned about the "sinister trend" of some people "unleashing all forces of criticism" if courts do not deliver judgments in line with their expectations. "In a democracy, we welcome dissent, we welcome populism. But we have a problem when populism impinges upon the well-settled constitutional principles. And populism also becomes the problem when those rejected in the popular mandate becomes the biggest flag-bearers of populism," he said. According to the Constitution, Prasad said, it is clear that governance must be left to those elected to govern and they need to be accountable to Parliament, in many ways to judicial decisions, and to people in elections. "But what is challenging is that populism is seeking to have a greater accountability as to what kind of judgments there should be. I am a great supporter of social media freedom. I know it is empowering but this (populism) is a dangerous trend. Judges must be left completely independent to give judgments...in accordance with the rule of law," he said. Prasad said the "sinister trend (of populism) is developing globally" and also in India, where people have started campaigning for the kind of judgment they expect. "If a judgment is not in accordance with them, they unleash all forces of criticism," he said, adding that the criticism of a judgment can be acceptable but criticising the judiciary is not appropriate. Talking about gender justice, he said India is "very proud" that the Indian women are doing so well. "You can see so many women judges sitting here of high courts and the Supreme Court, including chief justices. Our prime minister has taken a lead in empowering women in India by 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. Educate the girl child, develop the girl child," he said. Prasad, who also holds the portfolio of the Information and Technology Ministry, said half of the four million people working in the sector are women. "Our prime minister was bold enough to permit that women Indian Air Force pilot will also fly fighter planes and this was complimented by the recent judgment of the Supreme Court where Indian women Army officials were given the right to command. I think these are great initiatives of gender empowerment," he said. The Union minister, however, accepted that there exists the challenges of victimisation of women and young girls but said the government has responded to address the issue by making rape laws tougher and establishing more than 1,000 fast-track courts. "Surely this is a work in progress. We have to ensure that while we celebrate Indian women scientists joining the space programme for Mars, they should also get justice," he said. He also talked about the money saved due to Aadhaar, opening of bank accounts and the use of technology by the government. "Obviously, it has given rise to a lot of data and data is important. We need to keep a right balance and the balance is that we accord constitutional sanction to privacy but at the same time, we should not kill innovation. We should not kill application of new technology. Our courts have recognised that exception. India today has become the third biggest start-up ecosystem in the world," he said. The minister said there should be a balance between rights and duties and everyone should work in a manner that the identity of India continues to remain strong and resilient. New Delhi, Feb 22 : Rishi Sunak, Britain's newly appointed Finance Minister took to Twitter to post a photograph of himself making tea for his team during his tea break and immediately got trolled. Sunak tweeted a photograph of himself holding a kettle, along with a cup and a colossal bag of Yorkshire Tea. In the caption, he wrote that he was brewing tea for his team amid Budget preparations. He also said that Yorkshire tea was beyond all comparisons. As the post went viral, several Twitter users responded and flooded the social media with their reactions. A user wrote, "If the ratio of cups to volume of that teapot is a sign of your maths ability, then this budget is going to be interesting." How much are @YorkshireTea sponsoring you by? 100k? You're a millionaire, you don't need the money. I can't believe that they are using you to endorse their products. I'm never going to buy Yorkshire Tea again. Companies should not show political bias. Back to PG Tips & Tetleys. Citizen Jones (@JonesCitizen) February 21, 2020 Another wrote, "How much are @YorkshireTea sponsoring you by? A100k? You're a millionaire, you don't need the money. I can't believe that they are using you to endorse their products. I'm never going to buy Yorkshire Tea again. Companies should not show political bias. Back to PG Tips & Tetleys." "Nice try but who actually made the staff the tea when the camera had finished (sic.)?" asked one user. A user remarked, "Use full fat milk and don't forget the cardamoms." Indian-origin Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak was appointed UK's new Chancellor of the Exchequer as incumbent Sajid Javid quit over differences with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a cabinet reshuffle on following Brexit. Sunak, 39, is married to Akshata, the daughter of Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy. He was Chief Secretary to the Treasury since July 2019. -- Syndicated from IANS Modern Living with kathy ireland with IDIQ Modern Living with kathy ireland is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with IDIQ CEO Scott Hermann to discuss the companys flagship IdentityIQ brand that offers industry-leading credit monitoring and identity theft protection. Modern Living with kathy ireland is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with IDIQ CEO Scott Hermann to discuss the companys flagship IdentityIQ brand that offers industry-leading credit monitoring and identity theft protection. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Temecula, California, IDIQ is a company that helps protect people's identities. With the companys IdentityIQ services, credit reports and credit monitoring are just the beginning. IdentityIQ services remove the uncertainty and give the advantage of being able to act quickly if something suspicious is happening with a customers identity. The company actively monitors identity with enhanced protection. IdentityIQ delivers credit reports and score delivery, enhanced credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, identity protection, application monitoring, identity theft insurance underwritten by AIG, identity restoration and family protection in select plans. IdentityIQ plans allow customers to choose the best option for their needs and budget. IdentityIQ services also can help reduce the stress if a person's identity is stolen with restoration assistance. We do a full case assessment, Hermann said. We have a dedicated case manager who handles it. It's a full interview. We discover what happened in this particular case. Sometimes it's a lost wallet or sometimes it's a new account that's been opened." For more information about IdentityIQ services and how it protects against identity theft, visit IdentityIQ.com/kathyireland and tune in to WE tv as sponsored content on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at 7:30 a.m. EST and internationally on Bloomberg Television on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. GMT and Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. D.F. and 3 p.m. HKT. About Modern Living with kathy ireland Modern Living with kathy ireland is an independently produced television series airing domestically on WE tv as sponsored content and on Bloomberg Internationally. Hosted by lifestyle influencer and business mogul Kathy Ireland, the series features the latest in lifestyle and B2C trends, breakthroughs, and solutions, while highlighting companies from around the globe in a unique and credible format. For more about Modern Living with kathy ireland, visit modernlivingtv.com and check out the series on social media! THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AGENCIES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE/ FRANKFURT:1A9) (Asante or the "Company") announces that the Company will be hosting a webinar on Thursday February 27th at 11:00 AM EST (GMT -5) to discuss why the Game is now On with gold firmly in a bull market and breaking out above US$1600; Asantes plans for the immediate future including potential funding/joint venture options to fund the development of our Kubi Gold project; new developments re potential large bore direct exploitation of the Kubi Main Zone* gold mineralization by drilling; and an update on the current field work. If you are interested to join this webinar, please stay tuned for a further announcement with an option to register and ask questions in advance. A power point presentation will be available a few days before the Webinar at: http://www.asantegold.com/investors/presentations PDAC 2020 The Company will be at PDAC 2020 in Toronto please visit us at booth 2418A, Sunday and Monday March 1-2, 2020. We will also have top gold price forecasters from Murenbeeld & Co. presenting their latest gold research. Please check out our booth display and our current Corporate Presentation at the above noted link. Look forward to seeing you there! On behalf of the Board, "Douglas R. MacQuarrie" President and CEO *Kubi Main Zone gold deposit has a current NI 43-101 resource estimate, completed by SEMS Exploration Services Ltd. of Accra, Ghana: Measured Resources 0.66 million tonnes @ 5.30g/t for 112,000 ounces; Indicated Resources 0.66 million tonnes @ 5.65g/t for 121,000 ounces; and Inferred Resources 0.67 million tonnes @ 5.31g/t for 115,000 ounces, which is filed on SEDAR. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. About Asante Gold Corporation Asante is continuing to source funding to expand and develop its Kubi Gold project to production, and is exploring the Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase concessions/options for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghanas Golden Triangle. Story continues For further information please contact: Douglas MacQuarrie, President and CEO, tel: +1 604-558-1134, E-mail: douglas@asantegold.com Valentina Gvozdeva, Business Development, E-mail: valentina@asantegold.com Florian Riedl-Riedenstein, Director, European Investor Relations, E-mail: frram@aon.net Doreen Kent, Shareholder Communications, tel: +1 604-948-9450, E-mail: d.kent@eastlink.ca Additional information is available on our web site at: www.asantegold.com LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SHARES ISSUED: 64,055,757 HURON COUNTY Michael Lupinski is a world-renowned speech-language pathologist, with an office located in Bad Axe. Lupsinski has spoken at universities and seminars across the country. His practice is the Huron Speech and Sensory Clinic, located inside the Active Physical Therapy building. There are five SPLs assisting Lupinski in providing therapies, along with one occupational therapist. Not all their work occurs inside the physical office, which tends to function as more of a control center. SLPs work in schools, hospitals, residential centers, and even in homes. Numerous hours are put in each day to make the business successful. At the end of the day, the Lupinski and his staff feel its all worth it. I enjoy seeing the results of therapy and helping families communicate, Lupinski said. "It could be in either adults or children with neurological disorders, mental health concerns, or overcoming past trauma. Sometimes its stuttering, addiction, swallowing, voice cognition or language. According Lupinski, SLPs work to prevent, diagnose, assess and treat such disorders in their patients. Speech problems exist when a person experiences difficulties producing sounds or demonstrates problems in voice resonance. Language disorders are present when a person has trouble understanding others or sharing thoughts. Language disorders manifest in either spoken or written language. Lupinski didnt know he wanted to be an SLP in the beginning. It wasnt until a friend introduced him to the field, while working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Allen Park. (My friend) told me about a field observer opportunity, Lupinski said. I observed a speech language pathologist who was working with stroke patients. She showed me some techniques. The opportunity piqued Lupinskis interest in the subject. The longtime music lover also possessed great interest in medical studies and working with the public, so it already made sense. He started looking into speech therapy as a future career goal. I saw it as an opportunity to help people, Lupinski said. I already had the interest and skillset. It turned out to be quite the educational endeavor for Lupinski, one he was willing to pursue. Lupinski obtained a master's degree from a regionally accredited university, before entering the Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology Degree program through Nova Southeastern University. As for the SLPs working under Lupinski, they each have earned an accredited master's degree in speech language pathology. They have completed 1,260 hours of a supervised postgraduate clinical experience and passed exams approved by the Board of Speech-Language Pathology. Some of them actually completed their clinical experiences in Lupinskis office. The ability to help students accomplish their goals of providing speech therapy is important to Lupinski and something that he has looked forward to. He remembered practicing under an SLP as a student himself. I completed my internship at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Northern Michigan, Lupinski said. "It is located in an environmentally deprived area. It gave me the spark. He said Bay Cliff is a year-round therapy center for children and adults with physical disabilities. Programs occur for seven weeks and include a summer therapy camp to service clients with orthopedic, speech, hearing, and vision disabilities. Lupinski graduated with his doctorate and, in 1978, opened a private practice in Bad Axe. He also worked with Huron ISD for approximately 30 years, before deciding to expand his practice. Lupinski changed the business name to Huron Speech and Sensory Clinic in 2005. He then began recruiting young speech pathologists with genuine interests and skillsets. The demands of acting as a manager, ensuing reports get completed, providing assessments, and conducting therapies have been great, he said. It is about balancing family life with the professional side of my life, Lupinski said. Lupinski was referring to his wife of 39 years, four children and two grandchildren. First and foremost, Lupinski recognizes the importance of family and being a part of milestones. Ive always made it a point to block out time for important events, he said. Nonetheless, the dedicated doctor would like everyone to know it has all been worth it. It is a worthwhile position, Lupinski said. I see family members of a child or adult I worked with in the past and they tell me that Ive changed their lives. They tell me how theyve been helped. His advice to those starting out as new SLPs or studying to become one is simple. You just need to enjoy people, Lupinski said. If thinking about the profession, get involved. I worked in a community center, psychiatric hospital and as a summer camp counselor. The Huron Speech and Sensory Clinic is accepting new patients and is located at 128 West Huron Ave., Bad Axe. Bloomberg was back at the financial terminal business that bears his name, having completed three terms as mayor of New York. Bowser recalled talking to him in the bullpen the collection of cubicles where he works alongside employees on the top floor of his tower. They found common ground on support for the education reform movement, she said. Bloomberg advised her to assemble a team of smart people who would be honest with her and challenge the status quo. In other ways, though, it is a crawling step forward and doesnt drastically change the situation in the country, he added. South Sudan isnt going to emerge from being a failed state overnight. It will take the work of generations to put its shattered pieces back together even to get it back to where it was at independence. Jordan Banjo, 27, has been taking time with his young family while recovering from knee surgery yet appears to be ready for action once more. And The Greatest Dancer presenter, who is newly-engaged, spoke exclusively to MailOnline about his plans to dance his way back from the injury 'set-back' this year while also revealing plans to tie the knot with fiancee Naomi Courts in Christmas or Spring. The Diversity star appeared to be on great form as he made an energetic return to present the second series of the show with co-host Alesha Dixon last month. Happy family: Jordan Banjo, 27, reveals his hopes to tie the knot with fiance Naomi Courts (left) in a Christmas or Spring ceremony. Pictured with daughter Mayowa Angel, seven months, and 21-month-old son Cassius (in December) Performing with Diversity along with the show's dance captains the dancer kicked off the first live episode of The Greatest Dancer, but said his knee is 'not yet one hundred per cent'. Speaking to the MailOnline after rehearsals on Friday, Jordan candidly said: 'The first week of the live shows me, the dance captains and the rest of Diversity performed together which was wicked. 'It's been nearly 11 years since we won [Britain's Got Talent] and I was really nervous and excited so it was a bit of a launch pad really... 'This year it's a big aim for me to crash out as much dancing as possible and really get back to what I was before I had the operation. It has been a setback, I'd been lying if I said it hadn't been. My knee's still not 100%. Return to the dance floor: Jordan Banjo, 27, has spoken out over his plans to dance his way back from the injury 'setback' this year - he is currently presenting The Greatest Dancer Presenters: Jordan and Alesha Dixon present the first live show for The Greatest Dancer 'And relatively in the grand scheme of things I'm a young boy, but in terms of a dancing career - I've been dancing since I was about 5 or 6 and now I'm 27, you are bound to pick up injuries along the way and I've got my fair share of those.' The dancer recently announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Naomi Courts after he popped the question on a romantic trip to the Maldives. In a romantic beach side proposal Jordan had the words Will U Marry Me lit up in flames on a wooden structure in the ocean as the pair had dinner in the middle of a glowing heart in the sand. Romantic: Jordan Banjo, 27, announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Naomi Courts in January after he popped the question on a romantic trip to the Maldives Lovely: The Diversity star set up the dinner for two on the beach where they dined on a table set in the middle of a glowing heart in the sand Dramatic: The beach-side proposal that show the words 'Will U Marry Me' lit up in flames on a wooden structure in the ocean The couple, who have two children, Mayowa Angel (Mimi) who is seven months and Cassius who is one year old, plan to get their children involved in their wedding ceremony. Jordan said: 'If I could get my little boy and girl dancing by time we get married that would be a fun surprise - Mimi is only seven months but Cassius has started dancing already. 'He's got this new thing where he will scream "flip" and then just jump - when he comes to rehearsal and he's on the crash mats, so it's all good, but he doesn't quite understand the difference between the crash mat and the tiled floor of the kitchen... 'So he will just scream flip and I have to catch him. But if he falls and hurts himself it's not him getting in trouble it's me.' Sweet: The Diversity star revealed he popped the question to the mother-of-two in the Maldives However the dancer has no plans to choreograph a routine for his wedding day: 'Outside of routines with Diversity I'm a proper Dad dancer, doing the two step. I'm not throwing down any major heat on the floor, wish I was.' Jordan said they had yet to start planning the wedding as he wants to be sure they can fix down a date where he would be free from touring with Diversity and able to focus on the special day. The dancer said: 'I love the idea of a Christmas wedding or a Spring wedding but knowing our luck if I say right let's do it next year in Spring I'm pretty sure we will announce a tour. The Greatest Dancer judges (left to right): Oti Mabuse, Matthew Morrison, Cheryl, Todrick Hall, with presenters Jordan Banjo and Alesha Dixon (top right) The Greatest Dancer judges and presenters: Curtis Pritchard, Oti Mabuse, Matthew Morrison, Cheryl, Toderick Hall, Alesha Dixon, Jordan Banjo 'I don't want to be rushing around and trying to fit things in I want to be be able to dedicate a day or a dedicated amount of time and really take our time and plan it. 'I want it to be the best day for Nat. The plan is only to get married once.. fingers crossed, so you want it to be the best it can be. 'We are just picking out venues and I reckon in the next month we will start looking at venues and fixing down dates.' Explaining what's to come in Saturday's episode of The Greatest Dancer Jordan said: 'Saturday is dance fusion so every act has to master a new style of dance, which I think has got to be the hardest challenges that any dancer can face. Loved-up: The smitten couple have been holidayed at the four-star SAii Lagoon resort (pictured in January) 'Me for example, I do hip-hop I do street dance with the boys and if someone said to me right that's it next week you're competing and you've got to do Latin or Ballroom, the public are going to vote for you and you've got to perform on a professional level... well i'd have a meltdown.' 'Knowing the dance captains they have, how sick they are and how good they are at working with them, it's going to be a great show and i'm really excited for it. 'Technically it will be the most challenging week so far.' Strength to strength: Jordan and Naomi met at famous nightclub Sugar Hut in 2013, but embarked on a relationship two years later (pictured in September 2017) Growing family: Eight months after welcoming Cass, the pair announced they were pregnant with their second baby (pictured in January 2019) Happy days: Before Naomi (pictured in July) fell pregnant, the presenter said he was ready to get hitched Although he has remained impartial the presenter said that he does have a few favourites he will be looking out for on Saturday's show. Jordan said: 'This week i'm really looking forward to Dancepoint, they will be good. I also like Brother's of Dance, they're doing the commercial challenge. Explaining what sets The Greatest Dancer apart from other dancing shows the pro said: 'This show is unique from the get go because it is really the only show that gives a platform to dancers to really make something of their careers in a different way. And i'm so proud to be a part of it - it's just a real feel good show.' Jammu and Kashmir will be the first in the country to develop medicines from the cannabis plant, said Union minister Jitendra Singh described its a "historic" achievement. The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, signed a major agreement on cannabis research with IndusScan, a Canadian company, here on Saturday in the presence of the Union minister and R R Bhatnagar, adviser to Lt Governor G C Murmu. "This is the first-of-its-kind project in India and a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir. Till now, we only have the misuse and abuse of this ancient plant having lot of medicinal values and with the signing of this agreement, we are reintroducing this ancient product with all good properties," Singh said addressing the gathering after the signing of the agreement. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office shared the efforts made by the IIIM Director Ram Vishwakarma over the past two years to get a nod from the government for the project. He said when a patent developed from this, it would be a major source of revenue for the UT and India as a whole. "Incidentally, it is happening at a time when the UT government is trying hard to attract investors from outside," he said. "Other investors are yet to come but one of the first major foreign investment is happening in Jammu and Kashmir," Singh said. He said the IIIM had remained under-utilised. "I am sure today, it will mark the beginning of a new journey when it will get the deserved recognition and glory. The new dawn is unfolding for Jammu and Kashmir," the minister said referring to scrapping of J-K's special status. He also referred to the upcoming bio-technology park in Kathua, saying it will be completed in the next six months. Vishwakarma said the cannabis had been associated with the Indian culture and medicine since centuries but due to its misuse as psycho-active substance, it was banned worldwide in 1980s onwards and put under narcotic list. "The current scientific collaboration between the CSIR-IIIM and IndusScan on cannabis research will totally transform the uses and application of cannabis," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 00:13:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 27, 2020 shows the wreckage of the crashed plane in Deh Yak district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban claimed Monday that its fighters shot down a U.S. forces' aircraft in eastern Ghazni province. The U.S. military said on Monday that it is monitoring the situation following reports of a U.S. aircraft crash in Afghanistan. (Photo by Saifullah/Xinhua) "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States and the Afghan Taliban said on Friday that they are set to sign an agreement on Feb. 29 after the implementation of a week-long violence reduction in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that on the condition of a successful implementation of the reduction in violence across Afghanistan, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign an agreement on Feb. 29, but he did not announce the location of the signing. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, wrote on Twitter that following lengthy negotiations, "both parties agreed to sign the finalized accord in the presence of international observers." "Both parties will now create a suitable security situation in advance of agreement signing date ... make arrangements for the release of prisoners, structure a path for intra-Afghan negotiations with various political parties of the country and finally lay the groundwork for peace across the country with the withdrawal of all foreign forces and not allowing the land of Afghanistan to be used against security of others ...," Mujahid added. The agreement between the United States and the Taliban is also expected to include a timeline for the reduction and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops, assurances by the Taliban that they will prevent terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan, and a permanent ceasefire. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," Pompeo said. According to the U.S. statement, intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon after the signing of the agreement. Jawid Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council, told local media that the seven-day reduction of violence across the country started at 12:00 a.m. local time (0730 GMT) on Feb. 29, adding that "the government promises to abide by all the rules of the seven-day violence reduction term to bring peace and stability to the country." A senior U.S. official told media last week at Munich that the reduction of violence would cover the entire country, including Afghan government forces, and the Taliban had committed to a halt in roadside and suicide bombings as well as rocket attacks. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a tweet on Friday that the reduction of violence across Afghanistan could pave the way for sustainable peace and prevent the country from a safe-haven for terrorists. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah described the deal as a necessary stepping stone toward intra-Afghan negotiations, a permanent ceasefire and a durable settlement acceptable to Afghan citizens. "As a responsible side, we will do our utmost to facilitate, cooperate and justly resolve all outstanding issues to build consensus that engages Afghans in peace making," he tweeted. Some U.S. experts, however, are skeptical that any real peace deal will ensue. "The Afghan government and the Taliban haven't even proven they can talk to each other and much less find a meaningful power-sharing compromise," Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua. The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in U.S. history. The death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. U.S. President Donald Trump has long grumbled about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan that started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous." Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban began in 2018 but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on U.S. military personnel in September and December last year. The United States maintains roughly 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which mostly provide training missions to local Afghan forces while conducting counterterrorism operations. In New York City, a man assaults a woman wearing a face mask, calling her a "diseased b****." On a Los Angeles subway, a man proclaims Chinese people are filthy and says "every disease has ever came from China." Rampant ignorance and misinformation about the novel coronavirus, experts say, has led to racist and xenophobic attacks against fellow Americans or anyone in the US who looks East Asian. "With news of the coronavirus, we've seen an uptick in fear of people who look like this," said Rosalind Chou, a sociology professor at Georgia State University. "Real people are affected." And the pain ranges from physical to verbal to financial. "We, the Asian community, are under attack," said Tanny Jiraprapasuke, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. Here's what's happening across the country, the facts about coronavirus, and what people can do if they witness attacks. A tirade on an LA subway goes viral Jiraprapasuke isn't even Chinese. But that didn't stop an irate passenger on the Los Angeles subway from singling her out and claiming Chinese people are putrid and responsible for all diseases. Jiraprapasuke, who is Thai American, said the man ranted for about 10 minutes and was specifically looking and gesturing at her. She started recording the tirade as the man lectured another passenger. "Every disease has ever came from China, homie. Everything comes from China because they're f****** disgusting," the man said. "They can be so smart and be like, 'Oh yeah, I developed this, I developed that.' But like yeah, you can't even wipe your a**." Jiraprapasuke went online and discovered many other people of Asian descent have been harassed or attacked because of misguided coronavirus fears. Many are using the global hashtag #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus -- French for "I am not a virus." "It made me realize how big this is, and that what happened to me definitely is not unique," Jiraprapasuke said. "What happened to me is not the worst that it can be." A woman gets attacked out of the blue On the other side of the country, a woman at a New York subway station was assaulted by a stranger February 2. The woman was wearing a face mask -- something many East Asians have done long before the coronavirus outbreak, including for protection from pollution. One witness said she heard a man call the woman, who appeared Asian, a "diseased b****." "To which she responded, 'Yeah, yeah, OK go away,'" the witness wrote in a statement to CNN. "I started getting my phone out after I saw this interaction, but in the process, the man hit the woman on the head." The witness, who did not want to be identified to protect her privacy, said she started filming shortly after the man hit the woman on the head. The video then shows the woman chasing after the man, who turned around and attacked her. The New York Police Department is asking "the victim to report this incident to the police for a full investigation." The witness said although the attack was a "terrifying" situation, "I believe that this incident has immense potential in opening up the discussion of Asian American-directed racial tension that has been caused by the" novel coronavirus. "The sad trend that I've observed about racially directed hate is that almost all of (it) stems from fearful ignorance," she wrote. "Racial tensions are indeed escalating, and we now have significant reason to take agency in acting." 2 Indiana hotels harass Hmong guests Kao Lor and his uncle Lee Lor were traveling through Indiana when they tried to get a room at a Super 8 Motel in the city of Plymouth. It didn't work. The two relatives, who are of Hmong descent, quickly faced extra scrutiny. Kao Lor said an employee asked whether he was Chinese. Lor began recording the encounter. "If you're from China, I need to know," the employee said. "Because why?" Lor asked. "Because of the coronavirus going around," he replied. "And anyone from China, I am told, has to be picked up and quarantined for two weeks." That's not accurate. It's US citizens who have recently returned from China's Hubei province who must be quarantined for up to two weeks upon their return to the United States. When CNN asked the motel for comment, an employee provided a statement. "The views and what the employee said is not the view and policy of Super 8 by Wyndham Plymouth," the statement said. "Management is handling the employee involved. We are deeply saddened and embarrassed by the action of our employee." Super 8 wasn't the only hotel that harassed the Lors. Kao Lor went to a nearby Days Inn and asked an employee on video if Asians are not allowed. The employee appears to say no, Asians aren't allowed. Wyndham Hotels, which franchises both the Days Inn and Super 8 brands, sent a statement to CNN. "We're deeply troubled by these incidents as they're not reflective of our values or our expectations of franchisees," the statement read. "While these locations are individually owned and operated, it's important to note that the 'corporate policy' referenced in the video does not exist." Chinese restaurants are hurting tremendously Sometimes the most devastating hits are financial. At many Chinese restaurants, income has been decimated. "On a normal day, we'd have around 100 tables a day," said David Zheng, an employee at New Shanghai Deluxe restaurant in New York's Chinatown. But now, "for a full day of business, we'd get only 20 to 30 tables." Owner Rose Wu says New Shanghai Deluxe has served the city for 19 years. Now it's suffering from a 70% to 80% loss of business. "We had table reservations from customers a couple months in advance," but many have canceled, she said. "A customer called and said, 'Mainland China has this disease. We are not going to come out anymore,'" Wu said. "No one in my restaurant has this disease. No one in Chinatown has this disease." Indeed, no one in the entire state of New York has been diagnosed with novel coronavirus. Why are some fears misguided? While the novel coronavirus has infected more than 75,000 people and killed over 2,100 worldwide, it's caused far fewer deaths than the flu. Globally, an estimated 290,000 to 650,000 people die from the flu each year, the World Health Organization says. In the United States alone, an estimated 12,000 people have died from the illness so far this flu season, which started September 29, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. By contrast, since the novel coronavirus was first detected in the United States in January, 15 people have been diagnosed with the illness as of Wednesday. None of them has died. Each of those 15 cases involved someone who has recently returned from Wuhan, China, or the spouse of someone who has recently returned from Wuhan. The US CDC notes that "at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States." "It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads," the US CDC said. So what can people do if they see a racist tirade or attack? Deciding whether to act is a deeply personal choice. "I'm not going to tell anyone it's not risky ... but I don't think staying silent is going to make anything better," said Lucy Duncan, who conducts training on bystander intervention for American Friends Service Committee. If you do act, experts offer tips on how to stay safe and what not to do. First, bystanders can assess the risk by seeing how many people are nearby. It's good to make eye contact with others and gauge whether you'd have allies if intervening, Duncan said. Other tips include: -- Keeping a safe distance between yourself and the instigator -- Filming the event if it's OK with the victim -- Following up with the victim after the situation is over to see whether he or she needs anything else Of course, there are also risks to intervening. So it's important to consider your surroundings and how dangerous the instigator might be, said Andrew J. Scott, a retired police chief and president of AJS Consulting. For example: -- Is the perpetrator much larger than you are? -- If things get ugly, is there an easy escape route? Or are you stuck in a confined area? If you're too nervous to intervene, the American Friends Service Committee suggests moving closer to the person being harassed so you can communicate your support. Duncan said it's best to let perpetrators know that harassment and attacks won't be tolerated. "The danger is if we don't speak up for each other, the number of people being targeted is going to be expanding." she said. "If they don't intervene, that kind of violence or that kind of incident becomes normalized." Soap awards tend to be handed out to those who have featured in headline-grabbing stories: rape, murder, cancer if you are a victim or perpetrator, your chances of winning increase enormously. But there are many actors who are the glue that holds the fabric together; those doing the less exciting stuff on a weekly basis and who sometimes have to wait years for a really juicy storyline to come their way, despite being at the forefront of much of the drama. Take Adam Woodyatt, whos played Ian in EastEnders since the first episode in 1985. He shows immense skill in the role, and whether the scene is one of tragedy or comedy (the comic timing of his delivery makes it laugh-aloud funny), hes one of the most versatile actors of the genre. Likewise, Helen Worth, whos portrayed Gail in Corrie since 1974. Shes another actor with sublime comic timing who can also deliver the full gamut of emotions. Then theres Emmerdales Chris Chittell, in the role of Eric since 1986 (by the way, you can also catch him as a teenager in the 1967 film To Sir, With Love) Lets hear it for the long-standing stalwarts! CORONATION STREET: ANOTHER FOWL NIGHT With Sarah about to add another notch to the marital bedpost, theres another hen party to enjoy at the Rovers.Inevitably, it turns into a less-than-happy occasion when Beth storms in and accuses Bethany of planning to run off to London with Daniel and Bertie How many marriages have the Platt family clocked up? Theres one for your pub quiz. I started to count but ran out of fingers. With Sarah about to add another notch to the marital bedpost, theres another hen party to enjoy at the Rovers. Inevitably, it turns into a less-than-happy occasion when Beth storms in and accuses Bethany of planning to run off to London with Daniel and Bertie. Bethany, you see, fails to get onto the writing course (yer dont say), but the admissions officer phones to offer her an internship on a magazine instead. Seriously? Does anyone in TV drama actually do any research into how journalism works these days? Heres a suggestion for anyone wishing to break into journalism: ask Bethany for the name of that admissions officer, because on this achievement, he/she is clearly second-in-command to God. There are some really horrid men in Weatherfield at the moment. Ray tries to blackmail Abi, Geoff turns up the heat on Yasmeen, and Danny dumps James. At least Kevins batting for the good guys. Chance to fine tune Abis engine, methinks, Kev. EASTENDERS: THE EYES HAVE IT Whitney (pictured) claims she acted in self-defence, as she sit in prison relying on Gary to help EastEnders goes through more make-up remover pads in a day than Joaquin Phoenix did during the entire shoot of Joker. You could make a duvet out of the number Linda and Whitney have used in recent weeks, and you cant help wondering why they even bother to put on make-up when they cry half of it off and use pads to remove the rest. There must be an algorithm to determine how many hours a day they could save by just not bothering with either activity. Even in a prison cell, Whitney appears to have gained access to mascara and eyeliner. Shes also wearing a top that is not unlike the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class sleep suit, which would certainly be an improvement on her usual garb. How optimistic can we be that Gray will be able to help her out of this mess? Hes certainly feeling the pressure, and when Whitney claims she acted in self-defence, his suspicions are raised. When Whitney compounds the situation by lying, will Gray be smart enough to uncover the truth and, if so, will he come up with a plan? Not if previous Walford solicitors are anything to go by. And whos going to pay for all this? Gray probably charges a grand an hour thats just over 478 packs of Simple eye make-up remover pads at Boots current prices (2.09, plus Advantage points, of course); shell never be able to afford both. Seriously, she needs to address these matters. EMMERDALE: LIP SYNC REHAB Laurel makes Jais (pictured) day as she moves in for a kiss, in this week's Emmerdale As the show delivers yet another kidnapping (is there anyone left who hasnt been involved in one?), we must be grateful for some happy news when Laurel makes Jais day by moving in for a kiss. At least if these two stick together, they keep the rest of the villagers away from their many problems. Was Jai wise to leave rehab early or, with Arthur still playing up, will he turn to drugs again, realising he is not Laurels priority? Just speculation, you understand, but these people have form, and its never long before a seemingly innocent kiss turns into a poison chalice. Bunging back robber Cecil Stevens, 56, is back behind bars after trying to rob the same bank for a third time. (Picture: SWNS) A bungling bank robber is back behind bars after he tried to raid the same branch three times. Cecil Stevens, 56, had already served a prison sentence for bank robbery when he targeting a Natwest branch in Birmingham city time after being released. He managed to escape with cash on October 11 before returning to rob the same place 24 hours later. That time he grabbed a red dye pack along with cash and was caught on CCTV with the dye leaking from his trouser pockets. He abandoned the cash and dye pack in a nearby bin before trying his luck at a neaby Nationwide branch, where he threatened a cashier and grabbed notes from an auto teller machine with a towel wrapped around his head before fleeing the scene when a security device was activated. Stevens targeted the same branch of Natwest three times in total and had also previously served time for bank robberies. (Stock picture: Getty) Stevens, of Digbeth, Birmingham, then returned to the same Natwest on November 7 where security staff immediately recognised him from the previous robberies and he was arrested. The 56-year-old, who had already served two prison sentences for robbing a building society in Walsall, West Midlands, at gunpoint in 1998 and a post office robbery in East Yorkshire in 2008, was jailed for 11 years at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to one robbery, two thefts and one attempted theft. Read more: David Dimbleby brands Boris Johnson a 'liar' Read more: Damilola Taylor's killer is back behind bars Detective Constable Nick Betts, of West Midlands Police, said: I have to praise the actions of the bank manager and security team in the city centre. They reacted immediately and were instrumental in putting a prolific offender behind bars for a very long time." A spokesperson for Colmore BID (Business Improvement District) said: Keeping local businesses safe is a key part of the work that we do. "Were really proud of the partnership we have with West Midlands Police that helps us to do this, and we are pleased to have been involved in helping to bring this offender to justice." -An insider's guide to Halifax- BY MAY 2021, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can already expect a hospital especially dedicated to them to be operational. This is according to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) after the groundbreaking of the two-hectare lot located at the PEO Compound in Barangay Sindalan, San Fernando City in Pampanga, where the OFW Hospital is set to rise. We expect completion in May 2021, said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III in a statement. To recall, the lot was donated in 2019 by the provincial government of Pampanga. Under the agreement, Solaires corporate social responsibility arm, Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, will shoulder the cost of construction amounting to P400 million. On the other hand, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) is set to donate P200 million for the acquisition and installation of equipment and facilities for the hospital. Upon completion, the OFW Hospital shall render free services when OFWs are securing medical certificates covering laboratory exams and other requirements for their overseas deployment. Bello said first and only hospital in the Philippines that will provide free medical services to OFWs is in recognition of their contribution to the Philippine economy. This hospital is going to be built to recognize the heroism of our OFWs, who continue to power economic growth in the country, he said. Its a fitting tribute to Filipino workers who, through their valuable remittances, have kept the economy afloat during many challenging times, Bello added. (HDT/SunStar Philippines) Editors Note: This is another in a series of profiles on the Republican candidates for Congress by Matt Stringer of the Texas Scorecard. The Reporter-Telegram is running the profiles with permission. If the campaign trail has shown anything about the character of West Texas congressional candidate Robert Tucker, it has proven he has a selfless nature and a genuine concern for the future of our nation and the preservation of our Constitution. The 51-year-old resident of Comanche is a native to the 11th Congressional District. He and his wife, Shana, have four children and one grandchild. Tuckers educational and professional background almost requires an indexed binder just to get a sense of his extensive resume. His past experience includes graduating from the Texas Police Academy and being a hazmat-trained firefighter, paramedic, U.S. Air Force veteran and insurance agent, as well as an insurance SEC variables trader. Tucker is also certified in almost every area of commercial and military aircraft repair. After his two years in the Air Force, Tucker worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense and was injured in Iraq when enemy terrorist combatants fired mortars at his base while he was working on a helicopter. Afterward, he returned to the states and became the pastor of a cowboy church in Comanche for three years. Last summer, he decided to seek to serve his nation once again. I believe our country is at such a precipice of losing our freedoms, facing the dangers of socialism, Tucker said. We need someone with enough moxie to stand up for our rights and defend our freedoms. Not only that, our representative needs to diligently work to hold others to line of conservatism and not retreat to the aggressive, radical left. A constitutional scholar and proponent of originalism, Tucker also discussed his extensive research into the history of the Constitution and Founding Fathers. CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE HERE: http://bit.ly/2HJEaNt Drivers were shocked when they saw this truck with a huge Nazi swastika painted on the back. The outrageously offensive 18-wheel lorry used for carrying construction materials was travelling on a highway in Bangkok, central Thailand, last Thursday (Feb 13). Motorist Chamorn Chingduang was returning home when he noticed the symbol, used by the National Socialist German Workers Party, or Nazi Party, in Germany from 1933 to 1945. Chamorn said: "I'm so confused about how can a truck have a giant Nazi symbol painted on its container. ''The owner of the vehicle needs to learn about the history of the world before putting that on the back.'' The Southeast Asian country is notorious for its use of Nazi imagery. In September 2018, a Thai love motel sparked outrage with a bizarre Nazi-themed room decorated with murals of Adolf Hitler and swastikas while playing adult movies. In January 2019, a member of Thailands most popular all-girl band, BNK48, wore a shirt portraying Nazi Germanys state flag with a swastika emblazoned across it during a televised rehearsal, drawing shock and dismay from the Israeli embassy. While in December last year, Mastercard was forced to slam two men who posed in front of its Christmas display in Bangkok wearing Nazi military uniforms. Rabbi Abraham Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in California said: ''Sadly, these instances show that the country has a long way to go before it understands the full scale of the atrocities committed by the Nazis. ''One thought for all Thai people to reflect on is that the Nazi racist ideology detested all people of color as do todays Nazis.'' Iran Reports Fifth Death From Coronavirus, Ten New Cases 02/22/20 Souce: RFE/RL Iranian health officials have confirmed the fifth death from the coronavirus in the country, saying the fatality was from among 10 new confirmed cases of the virus. "Coronavirus took victims in Iran too" Reads headline of Iranian daily Jomhour Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour made the announcement on state TV on February 22, but did not specify when the death occurred. The new cases bring the total number in the country to 28, with instances reported in at least five of the country's 31 provinces. Two people had died earlier on February 21 from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Authorities reported two deaths previously this week. Jahanpour said that, of the 10 newly detected cases, two were in the capital, Tehran, and eight were in the holy city of Qom, located some 120 kilometers south of the capital. Two elderly patients died from the virus in Qom on February 19. Jahanpour said the two patients in the capital had visited Qom or had links with the city. Health officials said all religious gatherings in Qom had been suspended. Minoo Mohraz, an Iranian Health Ministry official, had said on February 21 that the virus "possibly came from Chinese workers who work in Qom and traveled to China." She did not elaborate. A Chinese company has been building a solar power plant in Qom. Cases have been reported in the provinces of Tehran, Gilan, Markazi, Qom, and Hamadan. Ali Atta, a spokesman for the Tehran City Council, said authorities were distributing free masks at bus and metro stations. A poster on Coronavirus symptoms and health precautions Source: Islamic Republic News Agency Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia announced that citizens and residents of the kingdom are not permitted to travel to Iran following the spread of the virus there. Anyone previously in Iran will only be permitted entry to the country after the 14-day incubation period of the virus has passed. In China, where the virus emerged, more than 2,300 people have died of the illness. Another large cluster has been detected in South Korea, which reported 142 additional confirmed cases for February 21, bringing the nation's total to 346. In Italy, a 78-year-old man died of the coronavirus, becoming the first European fatality for the disease. Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters - Ghana's central bank has introduced a platform that helps with real-time forex trading among commercial banks - The bank has indicated that the platform would go a long way to stabilize the cedi against major trading currencies - According to the governor of the Bank of Ghana, the platform joins a series of safety measures being rolled out Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The Bank of Ghana has introduced a platform with which commercial banks can trade in real-time. The decision, according to the Central Bank, is in line with measures to help stabilize the cedi against its major trading currencies. Referred to as the Refinitiv Matching Platform, it forms part of the Bank of Ghanas plan to provide a transparent trading system. READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo names a number of car manufacturers who will soon start operating in Ghana This, per a report by Business Insider, would create a stable pricing strategy for the local currency. According to the governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, the platform is the latest addition to the number measures the bank is employing to stabilize the cedi. The adoption of this platform is key to deepening the local FX market, and we, therefore, expect full adoption from every bank. I expect this platform to play an effective role in further transforming the interbank market into a deeper, liquid and more efficient one which would, in turn, support the central banks mandate of price and financial stability, Dr Addison noted. YEN.com.gh understands that other major stakeholders such as the Bulk Oil Distribution Companies and mining firms would soon be rolled unto the platform. This would help them see in real-time the trading position of the cedi against the other currencies. In other news, a taxi driver has argued that Ghana has no president at the moment, given the state of the country. In an interview with YEN.com.gh, the driver, whose identity is yet to be established, stated that it is wrong to say there is a president given the suffering Ghanaians are enduring. His comment came on the heels of a question about how he would rate the current Akufo-Addo-led government. The man went on to say that he is a Ghanaian as he was born in this country, but he is doubtful there is a leader. He then wondered how excavators can go missing as if they are needles if there was indeed someone in charge. If the taxi business was good, he noted, most of his colleagues would not have lined up their vehicles as they have done. READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo advises minority in Parliament to desist from ill-judged pronouncements Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana My VGMA ban a positive thing, I wish it was extended Stonebwoy | #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: YEN.com.gh The situation economically has become intense in the occupied Palestinian Territories. This week, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed a list of 112 companies that are involved in building settlements in the occupied West Bank. Some 94 of them are based in Israel and 18 others are foreign entities, including American, British, French, Dutch, Luxembourgian and Thai companies. I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious, said Michelle Bachelet, the UN rights commissioner. 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, and that it responds appropriately to the Human Rights Councils request contained in Resolution 31/36. Companies such as Airbnb, Motorola, Expedia and Booking.com are included in the list. Pro-Palestinian rights groups, including the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, celebrated this development in the wake of the Trump administrations announced Deal of the Century, while Israel described it as unimportant. Trumps plan, which the Palestinians have already rejected, involves recognising Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital and no promises for dividing the West Bank for the purpose of achieving the two-state solution. The UN list came in light of the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) policy of gradual economic disengagement from Israel, Abdel-Mahdi Metawei, a Palestinian political analyst who is close to the PA, told Al-Ahram Weekly. Metawei explained that the UN rights body has had the report ready for more than a year and a half, but Israeli and American pressures postponed its release. He added that, in addition to a political nature, Israeli settlements have an economic one as they represent a source of income for Israel. Part of fighting the construction of settlements is turning them into a burden and boycotting them until the situation reaches a stage in which the Israeli citizens question the benefit of spending too much to build and protect them, he argued. Metawei added that, through this list, the international community is showing dissatisfaction towards the US peace plan that it developed in cooperation with Israel to kill the two-state solution and allow the latter to annex the West Bank. The economic war between the PA and Israel started in July 2019. The PA then announced that it would take measures as part of a national strategy to disengage from Israel. The PA, for instance, said it was working on signing agreements with Jordan and Iraq on energy and fuel. Such Palestinian economic escalation against Israel came amid Israels decision to deduct the allowance paid to families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs from tax and tariff revenues that are collected and transferred to the PA. At this stage, the PA officially said that its government employees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will get only 60 per cent of their salaries, and called on Palestinian universities to make a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees. It also paid NIS 110 million to Palestinian families, allocating NIS 90 million to Gazans. The PA also stopped its agreements with Israel. For instance, the PA decided last September to halt the import of Israeli calves a $290-million business. In October, it denied a report by Israels Channel 11 that an official Palestinian-Israeli agreement was reached to end this crisis, describing the decision as irreversible. The issue of the calves is a strategic decision, PA Spokesperson Ibrahim Melhem said, adding that at its meeting yesterday, the [PA] government affirmed its determination to keep the ban. We will continue this policy of gradual disengagement [from Israel] in several areas such as the economy and industry. Israel, in response, stopped receiving agricultural imports from the PA earlier this month. Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said on Twitter that the Palestinian boycott of Israels calves severely harmed hundreds of Israeli farmers. If the boycott stops, we will start receiving imports again. Metawei believes that the PAs disengagement policy aims to negatively affect Israeli businessmen, of which many are affiliated to extreme right-wing parties that back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and to persuade Israeli society that it is responsible for the ongoing economic deterioration. PA pressures have apparently started to pay off. In January, Israels state-owned Electric Corp (IEC) Company ended power cuts to the occupied West Bank after the Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) paid 740 million shekels ($214.21 million), a part of debt accumulated by the PA since 2016. Some 95 per cent of the power supplies that go to the Palestinians in the West Bank comes from the IEC. The cuts affected roughly 130,000 Palestinians in Ramallah and Bethlehem, according to JDECO figures. But little to be expected out of these efforts, said Daniel Serwer, a Middle East Institute (MEI) scholar. Trump is committed to the settlements and doesnt care about human rights except in countries who are adversaries, like Iran and China, asserted the former US State Department official. Serwer argued that the Palestinian push for statehood has lost a lot of international support, especially amid Arab preoccupation with other ongoing conflicts in the Arab world. Israel has befriended a number of Arab governments by providing security assistance and technology, and some of those countries no longer express much concern about the Palestinians. Id call that a transactional deal, not normalisation. In any event, Arabs have a lot of other concerns these days: Syria, Yemen and Libya are all torn by civil war; Iraq and Lebanon are having internal difficulties; and Iran is projecting power via proxies as far as the Mediterranean, he noted. Some of the international companies named seem to be marginally affected by the UN list. Airbnb continues to rent rooms and vacation houses in Israels settlements for those not of Palestinian origin. Amazon also offers free shipping to Israeli settlements. Palestinians are not included in this offer. Customers who chose the Palestinian Territories as their address have to pay fees that start at $24. Many human rights organisations criticised the policy of the US e-commerce company. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Yaounde, Cameroon (PANA) - Four senior UN officials issued a joint statement on Friday deploring the continued human rights abuses committed against civilians, including women and children, in the South-west and North-west regions of Cameroon Had Biden done what he needed and hoped to do, less attention would have been given to Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, and the unprecedented spending of his campaign. There would have been less attention to the ups and downs of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), or to whether Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) could really go the distance. There would have been some attention to former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg because he alone was performing far above expectations, but not as much. Feb 22, 2020 KRR Actor Indrajit Sukumaran has finished his portions for director Jeethu Josephs upcoming movie Ram, which has Mohanlal in the lead. The actor has posted a photograph of himself on social media, taken while shooting at Dhanushkodi. The film is touted to be an investigative action-thriller. The team is expected to start its Delhi schedule soon, before they head to the UK by April. Click the Movie button below for more info: Ram Indrajith Sukumaran Pictures A simple act of kindness that launched Gods Garage in Conroe has attracted national attention. The nonprofit, faith-based organization that offers free repairs and refurbished cars to single mothers, widows and wives of the deployed will be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday. Watch parties are being planned at Gods Garage in Conroe and Gallery Furniture, where Gods Garage will be giving away vehicles to two unsuspecting women at both locations. EMOTIONAL MOMENT: Gods Garage gives grieving woman a car at new Conroe location Gods Garage President Harvey Yaw, Client Ministry Director Corinna Meadors and Head Mechanic James Minteer flew to Los Angeles in late January to be interviewed by Clarkson. One of the things I found out about Kelly Clarkson was that she was raised by a single mom, Yaw said. She had a personal attachment I believe to what is happening to single moms and the difficulties they have of raising the children. I really think that is why she reached out and this story about Gods Garage touched her so much, is because she actually experienced that in her life. New keys Watch parties When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, show starts at 3 p.m. Where: New God's Garage location at 2106 E. Davis in Conroe Gallery Furniture at 6006 Interstate 45 N. God's Garage will be giving away vehicles to two unsuspecting women at both locations. For more information, search for God's Garage on Facebook or visit godsgarage.org. See More Collapse One single mother of four, Olinda Cardenas of the Houston area, joined Gods Garage for the show. ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Generosity in the drivers seat at Gods Garage in Conroe Cardenas was described by Meadors as remaining strong and upbeat even through the loss of her home, first by an apartment fire and then to Hurricane Harvey. Today, she is going to school full time while pursuing a Bachelors degree in marketing and ultimately law school. She shared one of her children also has Autism and becomes overstimulated in crowds. During the show, Clarkson surprised Cardenas with a set of car keys while a Houston film crew from Gods Garage in Conroe video-streamed the gift reveal to the TV studio in L.A. Cardenas later described the excitement of meeting Clarkson, along with Modern Family cast members and multiple people from Texas involved with the show and others in Hollywood. TOP HITS: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox She gave Clarkson, who she described as having a good heart and spirit, pictures and a thank you card. Cardenas received from Clarksons show, fuel and car seats. The car came directly from Gods Garage, which she said will make her life easier and open doors. Having a car and not having to ride in Metro can protect my kids, Cardenas said. Safety, time management, scheduling, better jobs I dont have to work somewhere to get by, I can work somewhere more beneficial to my degree. I have options there. Thats what it does for me. It makes my dreams come true because in Texas you need transportation. Simple act of kindness Gods Garage has soared from donating at least 18 cars with a waiting list of 100 women and a team of 20 volunteers in 2017. Thats when the founder and childrens pastor, Chris Williams III, opened on a 5-acre property on FM 2854 in Conroe. About seven years ago, Williams built a shop at his house after assisting with simple repairs. The following year he saw a woman and a student from his church walking on the side of the road due to car trouble, which inspired him and his team to launch the effort. It started with a simple act of kindness, Yaw said. In 2019, Gods Garage reported this week that it gifted 133 cars and repaired 105 with a team of more than 120 volunteers. A new Gods Garage location has also opened in Ogden, Utah. There is an interest in expanding to more locations. But Yaw and Minteer said the growing garage actually gave away 150 cars, and repaired just as many, with 404 cars donated in 2018. They believe they could have achieved as much in 2019 if they had not been in the process of moving. Since January the garage has already picked up 80 cars. If projections last through the whole year, both believe the number could reach as many as 900 cars. The garage is just on fire right now through the Good Lord, Minteer said. The need for this new shop is just tremendous. Minteer thinks the new garage could give another 400 cars in the next two years, if donations come through. As the mission gains more exposure, Yaw and Minteer said they continue seeing more women needing transportation. The crew expects a flood of applications as they previously experienced. The numbers are not going down, Yaw said. Growing list Gods Garage recently moved to a new 13-acre location in Conroe where it is kicking off a Build the 12-Bay capital campaign. Gods Garage is seeking partners and volunteers to help with day-to-day operations, such as automotive repairs, fundraising support, car pick-up, and helping with life skills courses. Board Chairman of Gods Garage Ted Wyrick stated in the press release that this is a half million-dollar fundraising project. Donors can sponsor the new buidling or a single bay and operational equipment. The campaign will help pay for a project that includes the construction of a new 12-bay garage, office space, infrastructure and equipment to meet the demand of a growing waiting list. Some women wait more than a year. And the list keeps growing. Yaw believes Clarksons compassion in helping these women with their transportation needs elevates Gods Garage in its ability to receive help. Yaw said Gods Garage had over 2,500 women on its waiting list for a car or repair. An estimated 2,000 children have been impacted by the mission. Olinda Cardenas had been on the waiting list since 2017 until Kelly Clarkson handed her new keys. Its my dream to have these women have no more than a six-month wait, Meadors said. mellsworth@hcnonline.com Ian Murray speaks at a Labour deputy leadership hustings in Islington last week (Hollie Adams/Getty Images) Labour deputy leadership candidate Ian Murray has said the party needs to stop thinking Conservative voters are all b*****ds if it wants to regain power. In an interview with Yahoo News UK, Murray said the whole point of winning elections is converting Tory voters, and that Jeremy Corbyns allies are still failing to grasp this after Labours worst election defeat since 1935. Murray, who is now Labours only MP in Scotland, launched a broadside at Corbyn, saying Im not even sure he wanted to be prime minister and that he doesnt understand the aspiration of working class voters. The Edinburgh South MP is presenting himself as the change candidate in the deputy leadership election, compared to Corbyn frontbench allies Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Angela Rayner and to a lesser extent Rosena Allin-Khan. Deputy leadership candidates Richard Burgon, Angela Rayner, Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler and Ian Murray (Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images) Murray claimed a close Corbyn associate, who he didnt want to name, derided his 11,095 majority in Decembers general election despite being the only Labour candidate to hold their seat in Scotland. He said: I was accused by someone in the Labour leadership of only winning my seat because I got Tories, Liberals and Nationals to vote for me. He said it in a rather accusatory fashion. I thought that was the whole point! The Labour Party cant continue with this if you vote Tory, youre all b*****ds. Its people that vote Tory that we need to vote Labour. Ian Murray at the Edinburgh South count on election night (Ken Jack/Getty Images) The scale of that challenge is huge. We need to win a 10% or 11% swing and thats unprecedented in British political history. Unless theres even an acknowledgement of the scale of the challenge, Im not sure how we can sort it. Murray has unashamedly welcomed Tony Blairs backing of his candidacy, and is the only contender in either leadership contest to praise his governments record. On Thursday, a YouGov survey demonstrated just how toxic Blair the only Labour leader to win an election since 1974 remains among the electorate, with only 22% of Brits thinking he was good for the party. Story continues Murray said: It will be 31 years in 124 years [that Labour has been in power during its existence] by the time the next election comes around. Given the relatively small amount of time it has been in power, when it is in power it can transform the country. It creates the NHS, it creates the welfare state, it creates devolution, it creates the Open University, it creates a much more transformative society. We should champion that and Im the only deputy leadership candidate that hasnt trashed the record of the previous Labour government. How can we possibly expect the public to trust us again if we cant point to the fact we did good things in the past? Murray has said one of his priorities as deputy leader is to visit every constituency Labour has lost, gained and never win in order to find out what we need to do to fix it. He visited Scunthorpe last week, one of many traditional Labour seats lost to the Tories in the election as Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority. People were telling us: All we want from the Labour Party is a greater shake of the stick. We dont want to be told how to run our lives, we want to have hope and aspiration, we want to have policies that talk about our future. We want a decent job, the ability to have a decent house and decent things for our kids and grandkids. We want to get on in life. The Labour Party used to represent that working class aspiration, but they didnt feel as if it did and that sums up the current position of the party. Jeremy Corbyn (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) As scathing as he is of Jeremy Corbyns leadership (He was all about trying to win the Labour Party rather than win the country), Murray said he is even more worried about the two most powerful men in government: Boris Johnson and his senior adviser, Dominic Cummings. He said of the PM: Hes used the term tank top bum boys, hes used the term letterboxes [to describe Muslim women wearing burkas]. Hes very much a Trump character. He says these things to be deliberately controversial but I also think he believes some of them. That is not where we need to be. We need role models at the top of our politics, whatever party. Ian Murray (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images) Hes certainly a misogynist, hes undoubtedly a liar. Is he a racist? People can make their own mind up with the stuff he says. Of Cummings, who Murray has never met and only seen skulking in the shadows in Westminster, he said: Hes de facto PM and I really worry about the democratic process. Hes ruthless in Downing Street and none of it is about the country, its about the party and winning. He disagrees with judges and tries to shut the judges down. He disagrees with the civil service and tries to change it. He disagrees with hard-working members of staff with cabinet members so he sacks them. He bans the press from lobby briefings at Downing Street because he doesnt want to be held to account. All of thats incredibly dangerous. The ballots for Labours leadership and deputy leadership elections open on Monday. Ian Murray: Quick-fire questions Sum up the Corbyn leadership in one word. Eighty. What was your last conversation with Corbyn? It was in 2017, the first day back at Parliament when he congratulated me on being re-elected. Ive not spoken to him since. Who is your favourite Labour leader of your lifetime? John Smith. What was your first thought when you saw the exit poll on election night? I knew this was coming. This is even worse than I thought. Would you like Corbyn to be in the shadow cabinet? Er, no. If you dont become deputy leader, which of the other four candidates would you like to win? Any of the other continuity candidates as Im the only one offering change. How many Tory MPs are you friendly with? Between a dozen and 20. Out of all the Tory MPs, who do you respect the most? Tom Tugendhat. Blair says all Labour leadership contenders significant improvement on Corbyn Avaya Brings Google Cloud AI-Powered Avaya IX Contact Center to Australia While we may think of artificial intelligence (AI) in customer support as robots relaying information over the phone to frustrated customers, the truth is that AI is being used in far more subtle ways in the call center today. Avayas partnership with Google (News - Alert) Cloud Contact Center AI was forged to allow customers to blend automated and assisted experiences into customers journeys. Its a way, according to the companies to add technical genius but keep the human touch. Essentially, AI can help customer experiences at the backend in a way thats invisible to customers but improves the quality of the interaction, such as identifying the best resources for the human agent or moving the workflow along in a logical and timely way. Now, Avaya (News - Alert) is bringing its partnered solution Down Under. Avaya recently announced that has launched its Google Cloud AI-powered contact center capabilities in Australia and New Zealand, allowing customers in those countries to deliver automated and assisted customer experiences using real time intelligence uncovered by the AI. Avaya IX Contact Center is an AI-enhanced, omnichannel solution including voice, email, chat and mobile communications to enhance customer engagement by optimizing the agent experience, which also optimizes the customer experience. Avaya IX Contact Center powered by Google Cloud AI also provides users with virtual agents, agent assist capabilities and conversational topic modeling. The goal is to provide consistent and intelligent experiences across all channels. Despite the appetite for advanced technologies, 59 percent of Australian enterprises feel their organization wants to adopt more AI but doesnt know to do it, while 52 percent believe their organization cant effectively use AI in any part of their business, said Avaya International AI solutions lead Joshua Dooney. By building Googles AI engine into our core contact center platform, Australian organizations can modernize their internal processes and benefit from automation and analytics throughout every customer interaction, according to the company. Google Cloud technology partner lead A/NZ Tim Dawson said the partnership will provide contact centers with the tools they need to deliver better customer experiences. By infusing the contact center with AI and ML-driven capabilities, we can help identify and address customers needs more quickly and more accurately, ultimately delivering a stronger, more customer-focused contact center experience, he said. Edited by Maurice Nagle On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, forcing the world to go to war for a second time. The massive and lengthy war resulted in an estimated 75 million people deaths before it was called to an end on Sept. 2, 1945, with the surrender of the Japanese. In the years since, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of books written and movies made about World War II. These projects cover the war from every anglethat of Allied and Axis soldiers, civilians, resistance fighters, prisoners of war, Jewish people and other persecuted peoples; the list could go on. With the limited amount of free time most of us have today, it would be impossible to read all of these books or watch all of these movies. So Stacker has made it a little easier for you by rounding up the 50 best WWII movies of all time. Vikings may be on a break until the second half of season 6 premieres, but that hasnt stopped fans from wondering whats next for their favorite characters. An interview from ET Canada is making the rounds on Reddit and has fans talking about how some of the main cast would want their characters to die. How would the cast of Vikings want their characters to really die? ET Canada spoke with some of the cast of Vikings and they revealed how theyd like to see their characters bite the dust. Obviously its gotta be the very last scene of the very last episode, Alex Hgh Andersen, who plays Ivar the Boneless said. He wants it to be the last thing fans see. I want it to be like surprising, I dont want it to be like this massive buildup, people are going to expect it to happen. I kind of just want to fool people. Georgia Hirst wants Torvi to be eaten by her children Georgia Hirst | Presley Ann/Getty Images Georgia Hirst, who plays Torvi, has actually already pondered the thought before. Well Ive already thought of this. Suggested it to my dad, not sure if hes 100% on board. I sort of had a vision that I would be eaten by my children, Hirst revealed. It might have been Alexander Ludwig that told me this, I dont know, but I think theres a story in history of someone, them and their children were starving and they said, Im gonna kill myself and then I want you to eat me. And their children survived. So I thought, maybe my children could eat me for survival. I want it to just be like a humble ending, Hirst explained. Jordan Patrick Smith doesnt want Ubbe to die like Aethelwulf did Jordan Patrick Smith, who plays Ubbe, explained how he wouldnt want to die. This is where the ego kicks in. The ultimate Viking death. Anything but what Moe had, Smith revealed. Hes referring to the death of Aethelwulf, played by Moe Dunford. He is stung by a bee and dies from it. Getting stung by a bee was pretty rough. He pulled that off so, he did an amazing job stung by a bee. If it was me, Id have to get blades of glory in there, in the battlefield, Smith says about what he wants for his characters death. Peter Franzen wants King Harald Finehair to go into battle Peter Franzen, who plays King Harald Finehair also weighed in on his characters death. The real Harald died of old age, he laughed. Of course I would like for him to pick up his sword and put on his armor and go into battle blazing, Franzen said. Getting hacked to pieces. The ultimate karma for Ivar the Boneless Alex Hgh Andersen | Phillip Massey/Getty Images Because of what happened with history is that Norse mythology eventually got kind of killed, and Christianity took over, Andersen revealed. We could finish with something like that. Ivar was very religious, realizes thats kind of not the way. And that could be an interesting thing. And maybe just one of his brothers should kill him, I mean that would be karma with a capital K and I like that. Well have to wait and see what happens to our favorite Vikings characters in the final half of season 6. PATNA: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under the leadership of Nitish Kumar will definitely win the Bihar polls, Bharatiya Janata Party president Jagat Prakash Nadda said on Saturday (February 22, 2020). Nadda said this during his meeting with the party workers in Patna. "The NDA government has changed the face of Bihar in the past 5 years and the election to be held in November will also be fought under Nitish Kumar`s leadership," Nadda said in his speech to motivate the party workers for the Bihar elections that are scheduled be held later this year. He also said that in order to make the NDA-win possible "the party workers need to give their 100 per cent dedication during the election campaign." The comments of the BJP chief assume significance as Bihar`s 243-member Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go for polls later this year. "One should remember that it is a privilege to work for a party which works on ideology and we will definitely win this election," the BJP chief added. Earlier today, the BJP president in a public gathering had said "Jawaharlal Nehru and Mrs (Indira) Gandhi each got the majority twice in the Centre. Rajeev Gandhi came to power with a majority once but they could not abrogate Article 370. "He said that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government that came to power with 303 MPs in May and abrogated Article 370 in August. JP Nadda also later meet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his day-long of the state. Two Toronto-area residents are among thousands left scrambling as concern over the coronavirus has prompted at least two cruise lines to cancel trips to all destinations in Southeast Asia. Anita and Bob Tiessen booked a cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong more than a year ago. No one could have predicted then that a fast-moving virus would infect some 75,465 people in China and lead to over 1,000 cases elsewhere globally, leaving more than 2,000 dead. "We booked our cruise 17 months in advance. That gave us 17 months to do the planning. Now this gives us three days to the replacement," Bob said. The Mississauga couple say they were told two weeks ago that that their Oceania cruise would be rerouted due to the outbreak. But two days ago, they say, it was cancelled altogether. "What was more shocking to me than our cruise being cancelled is that they told us they're cancelling all cruises in Asia until the end of June and, of course, the financial impact to the cruise line," Anita said. "It just tells me this is a huge deal for them and I guess they don't want to be the company that's in the news for having a ship stranded and all these people stuck on board." In a statement to CBC News, Oceania said, "Out of an abundance of caution and as a result of the uncertainty surrounding port entry and berthing availability in various destinations in Asia, Oceania Cruises has made the prudent decision to cancel all voyages in Asia through June 2020." On Thursday, Norwegian Cruise Line also announced it cancelled all trips to Asia until the third quarter of 2020. The move is "unheard of," said Robert Townshend, president of Total Advantage Travel. "Nothing like this has happened before where they've cancelled that many cruises all right to the summer," he said. Townshend says he has been getting plenty of calls from worried clients about cruise trips that aren't going anywhere near Asia. Story continues The couple says they have been compensated for almost all of their expenses, and have managed to book another trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. But there's still quite a bit of planning to do. "We're leaving in two days," Anita said. Subscribe: iTunes | Google Play Music | How to Listen Supreme Inequality, the new book by Adam Cohen, argues that over the past 50 years, the United States Supreme Court has exacerbated economic inequality through aggressive jurisprudence. Its not just an arbitrary half century, Cohen says on this weeks podcast. Something very specific happened 50 years ago. Nixon was elected in 1968, and he had a vision, which was to end the liberal Warren court and replace it with a conservative court. Its amazing how quickly he was able to do that. Nixon completely shifted the court, Cohen says, and its a shift that we live with today. Image Madeline Levine visits the podcast this week to talk about her new book, Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World, about the epidemic of anxiety among contemporary parents and its effects on children. Every time we accommodate to a normal developmental challenge, Levine says, we rip away the possibility that that kid can master it on their own. (@FahadShabbir) A Russian national who has been wanted for participating in the armed conflict in Syria on the side of Islamists has been extradited from Albania and put in pre-trial detention in Russia, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd February, 2020) A Russian national who has been wanted for participating in the armed conflict in Syria on the side of Islamists has been extradited from Albania and put in pre-trial detention in Russia, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday. "The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, together with the Russian Prosecutor General Office, Interpol's National Central Bureau of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, has organized an extradition of internationally wanted Russian citizen Mislaev Rasul Visanievich from Albania," the FSB said. Radical Islamist Mislaev went to Syria in 2013, where he fought on the side of the Islamic State terrorist organization (banned in Russia) against the Syrian government forces. In 2019, he was arrested in Albania and put in pre-extradition detention there. One person was arrested on Friday in connection with the killing of an engineering student in the posh Gomti Nagar locality of the Uttar Pradesh capital, police said on Friday. Lucknow: One person was arrested on Friday in connection with the killing of an engineering student in the posh Gomti Nagar locality of the Uttar Pradesh capital, police said on Friday. The arrested man, Aman Bahadur, is the son of a former BSP MLA, they said, adding Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Pandey has constituted a team to crack the case and nab the other accused. Prashant Singh (23), an undergraduate engineering student of a local college, who hailed from Varanasi, was allegedly stabbed in the chest on Thursday by five to six people at Alaknanda apartment gate in Gomti Nagar area where he had gone reportedly to meet an acquaintance. CCTV footage from the area showed a group of men stopping a car and attacking two men who are sitting in the front. A few seconds later, Singh, who was stabbed several times, was seen rushing out of the car and entering a building with his hand on the chest. PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. An 80-year-old man who spent nearly 60 years in prison after being convicted of killing one of three suburban Chicago women whose brutalized bodies were found in a state park walked out of prison Friday. Chester Weger emerged from Pinckneyville Correctional Center much older than when he was sent to prison in 1961, but he was the same in one respect maintaining that he was innocent and had been framed by detectives and prosecutors. They ruined my life," Weger said outside the prison gates, the Chicago Tribune reported. They locked me up for 60 years for something I've never done. Weger was convicted in the 1960 slayings of 50-year-old Lillian Oetting, 47-year-old Frances Murphy and 50-year-old Mildred Lindquist. The women were hiking together in Starved Rock State Park in northern Illinois when they were attacked. Their remains were found in the park's popular St. Louis Canyon, which is framed by a scenic waterfall and a 100-foot wall. Each of them had been bludgeoned more than 100 times. South Western Railway's (SWR) Hubli division police personnel wearing cameras on uniform for providing enhanced security to passengers and property. Image Source: IANS News South Western Railway's (SWR) Hubli division police personnel wearing cameras on uniform for providing enhanced security to passengers and property. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, Feb 22 : South Western Railway's (SWR) Hubli division police personnel will wear cameras on uniform for providing enhanced security to passengers and property, railways said on Saturday. "Hubli division of SWR has started this initiative by procuring 30 Body Worn Camera System (BWCS) devices comprising a camera, rechargeable battery and recording unit each costing Rs.7,200," said SWR in a statement. Hubli is 415 km northwest of Bengaluru. Equipped by a 10 megapixel lens, the surveillance equipment enables a railway policeman to shoot video, record audio and capture photographs from his perspective. The cameras are also powered with nigh vision recording. "This is an additional tool in the hands of railway police to fight against crimes like chain snatching, eveteasing and other crimes on trains and at railway premises which are not covered by CCTVs and video surveillance system," railways said. The continuous vigil by the railway police will keep any eye on crime and record incidents for further analysis later to identify any missed suspicious movements or persons. According to the railways, the cameras will prevent crime from occurring in the first place while the footage can be used as a source of evidence in investigations. Not only fighting crime, railways will also start monitoring the work of its own police force. Following Hubbali, railway police in Bengaluru and Mysuru are also expected to wear cameras for surveillance soon. SWR was created by combining the reorganized Hubli division from South Central Railway (SCR) with Bengaluru and Mysuru divisions of Southern Railway. In operation since April 1, 2003, SWR is headquartered in Hubli. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text U.S. casino operator MGM Resorts International (MGM.N) has been sued over a data breach last year, which the company confirmed earlier this week and which reportedly involved details of over 10.6 million hotel guests. The lawsuit was filed by law firm Morgan & Morgan, whose lawyer John Yanchunis has also represented some Yahoo users in a breach of 3 billion accounts between 2013 and 2016. MGM Resorts said on Thursday that last summer it discovered unauthorized access to a cloud server that contained a limited amount of information for certain previous guests. The majority of information exposed related to the names of guests and their phone numbers, a company spokesman had said, without confirming the exact number of guests affected. Technology website ZDNet reported that the personal details of more than 10.6 million guests who stayed at MGM Resorts hotels were published on a hacking forum this week. The details in the leaked files reportedly included information on celebrities, chief executives of technology companies, reporters and government officials. Morgan & Morgan filed its lawsuit on Friday as a complaint for damages and injunctive relief, according to the filing at the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Yanchunis has previously been associated with several other data breach lawsuits, including against credit reporting agency Equifax (EFX.N) over its 2017 breach of nearly 150 million Americans and against Facebook Inc (FB.O) and political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica for obtaining information belonging to millions of Facebook users without permission. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Hey, remember the gold standard of reenactment docudramas, Rescue 911, from the 90s? The one hosted by William Shatner? Okay, now imagine a show thats kind of like that, but mixed with Drunk History, and no one ends up with a fence picket through their neck. Based on the Australian show True Story With Hamish & Andy, NBCs new hybrid series True Story will feature hosts Ed Helms and Randall Park sitting down with everyday Americans as they recount a most extraordinary and unbelievably true story. As their real-life tale unfolds, a star-studded cast of comedians and actors portray their story in heightened, dramatized re-enactments of cinematic proportions. Each hour-long episode will contain two episodes, and the network has yet to set a premiere date for its six-episode order. While NBC didnt offer any teasers as to the content of the shows first season, Hamish Blake, and Andy Lees Down Under version has featured, among other tales, an accidental food poisoning, a snake attack and, of course, a genital-related, dog-induced disaster. His selfless actions resonate as the nation's population ages and the youth-centered culture comes to terms with its own mortality. More importantly, this story contradicts the cultural war climate of the 2020 election season that's plagued by an intensely divisive political conversation which seemingly hopes to convince voters that their fellow Americans are, in fact, nothing more than bitter enemies to be condemned, conquered and ultimately silenced. Portrait Of A Hero 'The Hero in the Crosswalk:' Artist known for portraits of valor creates one in honor of KCK crossing guard An artist known for portraits of fallen first-responders and other heroes painted one in honor of Kansas City, Kansas, crossing guard Bob Nill, who died Tuesday morning after saving two boys before he was hit by a car.Jonny Castro, a forensic artist for the Philadelphia Police Department, posted the portrait called, "The Hero in the Crosswalk," Wednesday night on Facebook. Father Knows Best Son of KCK crossing guard: Dad always said, 'Do the right thing' KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The family of Bob Nill, the crossing guard killed in a crash in Kansas City, Kansas, Tuesday morning, said he "cared an awful lot for the community." Nill died following a crash in a crosswalk on Leavenworth Road near 54th Street, next to Christ the King Elementary School. Word Of Caution After crossing guard death, principal asks drivers to 'pay attention' On Wednesday, the pastor from the Christ the King Parish and a teacher stood at the crosswalk on Leavenworth Road and North 54th Street to serve as familiar faces for students and staff mourning the passing of Bob Nill, the crossing guard. Sunday Honors Visitation, funeral service for 88-year-old KCK crossing guard held Sunday, Monday KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) - The 88-year-old crossing guard that was killed saving children Tuesday, February 18, will be recognized on Sunday and Monday. Bob Nill was struck by a vehicle while pushing two little boys, ages 11 and seven, out of the way of an approaching vehicle. This is a space that we typically dedicate to local political power players and denizens of the discourse who engage in some sort of bold rhetorical maneuver that creates a ripple in our small pond of Kansas City voters.However, tonight we want to share a glimpse at the big picture and dedicate this post to a man who ended his life with an action so heroic that his story has sparked interest around the nation and the world . . .Bob Nill was 88-year-old and the last thing he ever did on planet Earth was to save the lives of two youngsters by shoving them out of the way of an oncoming car.If political pundits from "many sides" are to be believed, we're all supposed to be on different teams offering no consideration, kindness or mercy for those who don't share our worldview, demographic background or values. Thing of it is, Mr. Nill had very little in common with those youngsters he saved.The lesson here might be that talk is overrated and a simple shove in the right direction not only saved lives but inspired the entire metropolitan area by way of truly, brave, simple and selfless act.And so we share news and testimony regarding a man who did something more important than win a game or score a political victory. The hero crossing guard threw himself into certain doom so that others could live and, maybe, demonstrated for us all that love by way of deed over word demonstrates the only real hope for the future.Rest In Peace. The Hachette Book Groups acquisition earlier this month of 1,100 titles published by Disney Book Group will bring changes to both companies approaches to the childrens book market. For Disney, the deal will allow it to focus on books and authors who can benefit from taking advantage of the media giants many platforms. The addition of the Disney titles will nearly double Little, Brown Books for Young Readers backlist and give it the opportunity to grow in new areas and to seek out more ways to extend the publishing program beyond books. Disney Publishing Worldwide executives made it clear that the long acquisition spree by parent company Walt Disney Company was a major force behind the deal. Weve had a really transformative year at Disney. We took a closer look at how we approach content and acquisitions differently, said Tonya Agurto, senior v-p at Disney Publishing Worldwide, a publisher with access to new IP from 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox), National Geographic, and other Disney acquisitions. We decided to focus on acquiring and developing global content that could be leveraged across multiple platforms and media, she said. The publisher now concentrates on finding the right format for the right region. For instance, audiobooks and interactive audio storytelling for smart speakers like Google Assistant and Alexa are important format trends in the U.S. market for Disney. At the same time, the multinational publisher puts more resources into multimedia storytelling and web-fiction formats for Asian markets. While were going to expand content-wise, I dont anticipate that there will be any changes, Agurto said when asked about potential staffing adjustments with the new strategy. Even though 1,100 titles have left Disneys stable, the publisher is retaining such imprints as Disney Hyperion, Disney Press, Disney Editions, Marvel Press, and Lucasfilm Press. We have a robust portfolio moving forward, she said when asked about the general size of the publishers new list. The publisher will continue to collaborate with a large number of writers, including (but not limited to) Rick Riordan, Eoin Colfer, Mo Willems, Ryan Higgins, Dhonielle Clayton, Alexandra Bracken, and Gretchen McNeil. We gave a lot of thought to our entire portfolio, Agurto said, adding that the company is looking for books and authors with global appeal. The new strategy focuses on stories and authors who align with four key content pillars. First, the company aims to retell stories from its rich history. National Geographic and 20th Century Studios expand the stories we are able to retell, Agurto said. Many of the films from 20th Century Studios come from the vault. National Geographic brings us a whole way to start talking about nonfiction storytelling and broadens our audience base. So well see more nonfiction. Next, the company aims to extend stories beyond the original formats. When people have a true affinity for a character, they dont want to stop with the story they saw in the film, they want to know more. We like to extend those stories, and extensions are a big part of our strategy around the world, Agurto said. Disney will soon launch Project Luminous, the working title for a Star Wars expansion that involves multiple publishers and authors. The publisher will also reimagine stories from the companys different IPs. We take the tales that you know and turn them upside down. Think about what-if tales that are told in a fresh, contemporary way, Agurto said. Its meant to bring in new audiences and also re-engage fans in ways that they havent been engaged in a while. We are working with a lot of the authors on our Hyperion list to continue to rethink our classic tales. Finally, Disney will build with the so-called create content pillar. Thats where we are working with our authors on creating fabulous new stories that have worldbuilding potential, Agurto said. We want to tell great stories no matter what the form, Agurto concluded. So it could be an audiobook, it could be an app, or it can be a straightforward jacketed, hardcover book, which we will always love. HBGs Disney purchase is the latest in a string of deals the company has made in the last seven years: 1,000 adult titles acquired from Hyperion (2013); plus the purchases of Black Dog & Leventhal (2015), the Perseus Books Group (2016), and Worthy Publishing (2018). The Disney acquisition brings LBYRs backlist to about 2,400 titles. Even as LBYR works to integrate the Disney titles, HBG CEO Michael Pietsch said the publisher will continue to look for additional acquisitions for the division. Though the Disney purchase gives the childrens group a larger percentage of HBGs sales, Pietsch said he would like LBYRs share of HBGs revenue to be larger still. Megan Tingley, executive v-p and publisher of LBYR, said the initial phase of integrating the list has gone smoothly. Since Disney and LBYR publish in many of the same areas and formats, the acquisition has led to a few authors reuniting with editors they have worked with in the past, while other editors are getting to work on books they lost to Disney, Tingley said. For some other authors, their Disney backlist will be joining their LBYR backlist. Another factor that is making the transition easier is that since HBG has been Disneys distributor for years, Tingley said, our indie, special-market, and international sales teams have been selling these authors and titles already, so they will hit the ground running. In a tangible early example of the benefits of the acquisition, Tingley noted that the first business day after the deal was closed, the former Disney title Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (2012) was HBGs #1 bestselling book at Barnes & Noble, and it has been in the top 10 every day since. LBYR has assigned editors to all the books and already identified some initial opportunities for potential repackages and repromotions for fall 2020 and 2021. Tingley has already made her first new hire: a senior editor who will manage many of the upcoming new titles as well as some backlist. Tingley said that when she first joined LBYR, the company had just acquired the childrens list from Atlantic Monthly Press, and one of her first jobs was to help out with the acquisition. While upgrades in technology have changed the integration process, one thing remains the same: Its all about caring for the authors and nurturing the wonderful books they have brought us, Tingley said. Bernie Sanders on Friday warned Russia not to meddle in the Democratic presidential race, as Donald Trump angrily dismissed assertions that Moscow was again seeking to boost his election chances. Trump has come under fresh fire for removing US intelligence chief Joseph Maguire, replacing him with a loyal partisan with no direct experience in the field, days after Maguire's staff told lawmakers that Russia was again interfering in a US election to support Trump. Sanders, a self-described socialist who is leading the race for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in November, told reporters that US officials briefed him "about a month ago" of efforts to interfere in the 2020 race. "Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider (Russian President) Vladimir Putin a good friend. He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia," Sanders said in a statement. "I don't care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president," he added. "My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do." His comments came moments after The Washington Post reported that US intelligence told Sanders that Russia was seeking to help his campaign. The form of assistance was unclear but Sanders has suggested that Russia could be behind belligerent online remarks by his professed supporters that have drawn condemnation from other candidates. "They're trying to cause chaos, they're trying to cause hatred in America," Sanders told reporters in California. An exhaustive report by former FBI chief Robert Mueller found that Russia backed Trump's 2016 campaign, including by manipulating social media, but did not find that the campaign colluded with Moscow. Trump has showed irritation at any suggestions he won because of Russia. Speaking at a rally in Las Vegas, Trump said he had heard a "rumor" that "Putin wants to make sure I get elected." "Wouldn't he rather have, let's say, Bernie?" he said. He earlier tweeted that accounts of Russian support were a "hoax" and "misinformation campaign" by Democrats "who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa," which held the first contest among candidates. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the allegations were "like the usual paranoid announcements, which unfortunately will multiply as we get closer to the election." "Of course, they have nothing to do with the truth," he said. - 'National security crisis' - President Vladimir Putin, however, acknowledged when he met Trump in July 2018 that he supported the populist billionaire's campaign, seeing him as friendlier to Moscow than rival Hillary Clinton. Trump was later impeached in a separate scandal over holding back military aid to Ukraine, which is fighting Russian-backed separatists, to pressure the Kiev government to dig up dirt on a Democratic candidate. Former CIA director John Brennan, who served under presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, said the United States had entered "a full-blown national security crisis." "By trying to prevent the flow of intelligence to Congress, Trump is abetting a Russian covert operation to keep him in office for Moscow's interests, not America's," he wrote on Twitter. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren said the 2020 election revelations showed the "enormous" challenge. "It should worry all of us that we now live in an America where one political party seems to think that foreign interference helps them in an election," she said at a CNN forum with voters in Nevada. Senator Chris Van Hollen denounced both Trump's appointment of a "novice" new intelligence chief and the Senate's blocking of election reform bills backed by Democrats. "Our intel agencies say Putin is interfering in our election to help Trump," he wrote on Twitter. "What's the definition of treason?" Representative Eric Swalwell, who serves on the House intelligence committee, tweeted simply: "Agent for Russia." - Trump ally installed as director - Few Republican lawmakers immediately spoke out, although Trump's allies in the past have questioned why Russia would favor him. While Trump has spoken with admiration about Putin, his administration has provided military aid to Ukraine and pushed through sanctions that hit Moscow. The New York Times, quoting anonymous sources, reported that Trump lashed out not at the purported Russian interference but at Maguire for allowing his staff to brief lawmakers -- particularly Adam Schiff, the House intelligence chief who also led the impeachment drive. While Maguire would have been obliged to leave next month as he was serving in acting capacity, Trump on Wednesday replaced him with Richard Grenell, the outspoken US ambassador to Germany who has played down Russian interference in 2016. Grenell was an unusual choice for the largely behind-the-scenes job as he has no direct intelligence experience and has made waves by irritating German leaders with his prolific online commentary. KATUNA President Yoweri Museveni has on Friday, February 21, sought to explain the cause of the Uganda-Rwanda border closure controversy, denying any wrongdoing on part of Uganda. The Ugandan President, who met and held talks with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame aimed at restoring good relations between the two countries explained to Ugandan locals for the first time, revealing bad blood between Kagame and his former RPF members led to the closure of the Rwanda- Uganda border at Katuna point. He said that the closure emanated from the internal conflicts in Rwanda especially within the RPF ranks when some members of RPF disagreed with the Rwanda government and majority took refugee in South Africa. Mr. Museveni is quoted by his press secretary Lindah Nabusayi, as he addressed residents along the Ugandan border line on his way from the talks as saying: He [Museveni] said that the closure emanated from the internal conflicts in Rwanda especially within the RPF ranks when some members of RPF disagreed with the Rwanda government and majority took refuge in South Africa. He, however, said that the Rwanda government says that some of them reside in Uganda, an allegation he said that was not true. Some of Rwandans in South African include Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa. Relations between the two countries soured with Rwanda accusing Uganda of helping Kayumba Nyamwasa of rebel recruiting forces from East and Central region to wreck havoc on Kagame administration. The accusations were extended to South Africa whose centre of the dirty diplomatic tussle are several issues: South Africa giving refuge to Kayumba Nyamwasa and other dissidents; the 2013 murder of former intelligence boss Colonel Patrick Karegeya in Sandton; the expulsion of diplomats from both countries in a tit-for-tat standoff; and a South African judiciary inquest into the murder of Karegeya. South Africa openly rebuked Rwanda and expelled three Rwandan diplomats. Rwanda retaliated by sending home six South African diplomats. Kagame blames Uganda and South Africa for the instability in East Africa, where rebel activities are linked to his political foes exiled in Pretoria, who were believed to come to the Great Lakes region via Uganda to recruits rebels, allegedly with the support of President Musevenis government. Museveni has blatantly rejected this as malicious. President Kagame claims that he repeatedly raised the matter with Uganda until he felt that Kampala had not shown a keen interest in patching things up, hence choosing to close the border. The border closure has led to tense relations between the two East African neighbours to the extent that there was even talk of war. Museveni after the Quadripartite summit held at the border has rejected President Kagame accusations and said Uganda has never given support to any dissents to destabilize Rwanda. He also denied arresting Rwandans saying that those his government arrested were handed to Kagame administration and Uganda leadership was not aware of the presence of such people on Ugandan territory. He added that for the case of Rwandan citizens that were arrested in Uganda for cases such as espionage and kidnap of people on the Ugandan soil, he has instructed for their pardon and immediate release. However, he said those arrested for crimes such as murder and rape will have to face trial in accordance with the Ugandan laws. Museveni expressed sympathy to the citizens of Uganda and Rwanda that have been affected by the after effects closure of the Katuna border and called for patience, saying a lasting solution is being sought to solve the problem. Related BS6 Hyundai i20 Petrol is priced from Rs.6.5 lakhs to Rs.8.32 lakhs. No diesel BS6 i20 is on offer. Prices are ex-sh. With new and stringent BS6 emission norms to come into effect from 1st April 2020, automakers are racing towards the deadline. Hyundai has launched a few cars with the upgraded engine and is in the process of completing its lineup to comply with the new norms well ahead of the deadline. The new BS6 Hyundai i20 has now been launched. It gets some changes in its variant list as well. The base Era variant and the petrol CVT Sportz+ along with the Asta (O) CVT variants have been dropped from the lineup. The Hyundai i20 Magna, which was priced at Rs.6.35 lakhs in its BS4 format is now priced at Rs.6.5 lakhs following the upgrade to BS6 norms. Likewise, the Sportz+ trim is priced higher by Rs.15k at Rs.7.37 lakhs as against an earlier price of Rs.7.22 lakhs while the Sportz+ Dual Tone has seen a price hike from Rs.7.52 lakhs to Rs.7.67 lakhs along with the Asta (O) is now priced at Rs.8.31 lakhs up from an earlier pricing of Rs.8.16 lakhs. Below is the updated BS6 vs BS4 price list of new Hyundai i20. Petrol BS6 Prices BS4 Prices Diff Hyundai i20 Era Discontinued Rs 5.6 lakhs Na Hyundai i20 Magna Plus Rs 6.5 lakhs Rs 6.35 lakhs Rs 15k Hyundai i20 Sportz Plus Rs 7.37 lakhs Rs 7.22 lakhs Rs 15k Hyundai i20 Sportz Plus DT Rs 7.67 lakhs Rs 7.52 lakhs Rs 15k Hyundai i20 Asta Option Rs 8.31 lakhs Rs 8.16 lakhs Rs 15k Hyundai i20 Sportz Plus CVT Discontinued Rs 8.32 lakhs NA Hyundai i20 Asta Optoin CVT Discontinued Rs 9.21 lakhs NA The equipment level will also be enhanced as the BS6 complaint Hyundai i20 would be better equipped as compared to the BS4 models. From the now new base Magna trim, the features will include a 2 DIN audio system, all LED interior lighting and electrically adjustable wing mirrors. It will also include remote locking and rear AC vents. The top of the line variants could gets a 7 touchscreen infotainment system and climate controls along with safety equipment such as side and curtain airbags and reverse camera. The BS6 compliant engine will include a 1.2 liter petrol engine which also powers the Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS, Aura and the Venue. This engine is capable of 83 PS peak power and 114 Nm torque on the NIOS and could offer the same power and torque figures on the i20, though officially this has not yet been revealed. The BS6 complaint Hyundai i20 will continue to face up to competition from the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza, Honda Jazz and Tata Altroz, all of which are either already upgraded to BS6 format or in the process of being upgraded. There is also a new gen 2020 Hyundai i20 currently undergoing test in India ahead of its launch by June 2020. With the new gen i20 so close to launch, Hyundai is not adding diesel BS6 engine to the current i20, and has thus only offered it with BS6 petrol. The new gen i20 will come with petrol as well as diesel BS6 engine options, when launched in June 2020. As was reported earlier, the upcoming i20 will see added features and increased dimensions as compared to its current counterpart. It will get the same engine options as seen on the Venue BS6 2 petrol (1.2 liter and 1.0 liter turbo) and 1 diesel (1.5 liter from Seltos, but detuned). Now, Hyundai is getting ready to launch new-gen Creta in India. Bookings have already opened unofficially. MSC Splendida, a Panama-flagged luxurious cruise liner, docked at Thi Vai General Port in Phu My township, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, on February 22 morning. MSC Splendida, a Panama-flagged luxurious cruise liner The ship carries 1,400 passengers, mostly from Europe and America, and 1,200 crew members who had their body temperatures screened before they were allowed off the ship. Later the same day, MSC Splendida left Ba Ria-Vung Tau for Thailand to continue its voyage. Tran Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said in the face of the spread of COVID-19, her department has taken measures to ensure safety for visitors./. Coronavirus: Quang Ninh rebuked for rejecting Italian cruise ship Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam has rebuked the Quang Ninh government for turning away an Italian cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 tourists because of fears of the coronavirus and told the local authorities to draw lessons from the experience. A group of state lawmakers, regulators and consumer advocates hope the insurance industry can encourage homeowners and communities to harden their homes and neighborhoods against wildfires. Thats the intent behind a newly introduced bill that would set statewide standards for fire-hardened homes and communities. It would then require state-licensed insurance companies to offer and renew policies for homeowners who have met the standards, as long as they live in a community that has also met them. It also would let the state insurance commissioner require insurers to offer incentives such as discounts for homeowners who have taken these steps. AB2367, dubbed the Renew California bill, is a response to data showing that insurance is getting harder to find and keep in wildfire-prone areas. Between 2017 and 2018, there was a 3% increase in nonrenewals statewide. While the nonrenewal rate actually declined in about half of the states counties, in seven counties it was in the teens and it reached 38% in Nevada County, according to the insurance department. Some nonrenewed customers were able to find insurance with other state-regulated companies, carriers that are not state-licensed (like Lloyds of London) or the Fair Plan, the states insurer of last resort. We are trying to make sure homeowners who have done nothing wrong and in fact did everything right (in terms of home hardening) can still insure their house, said the bills co-author, Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego. The bill is also backed by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, consumer group United Policyholders and co-author Monique Limon, D-Santa Barbara. The plan faces a number of obstacles. One would be getting five agencies to agree on statewide standards. They would be developed by the insurance commissioner, the Office of Emergency Services and the State Fire Marshal, with input from Cal Fire and the Office of Planning and Research. Another difficulty would be getting communities to adopt the standards. Close to 300 neighborhoods in California have taken fire-prevention efforts that let them be designated as Firewise communities by the National Fire Protection Association. More than a dozen of them are in Mill Valley. But when the Mill Valley City Council tried last year to require homeowners in high-hazard areas to create a 3-foot noncombustible zone around their structures, resistance from a vocal group of homeowners was so intense, it retreated. The bill must first overcome opposition from the insurance industry. After paying out $26 billion in claims for the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, many large insurance companies began cutting back their exposure to high-risk areas, especially where they felt they had too many policies. One problem the industry has with the bill is that the science around wildfire mitigation is very new, said Mark Sektnan, a vice president of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. We do not have a good understanding of what types of mitigation standards work on an individual parcel level, and more importantly on a community level, he said. The industry understands hurricane mitigation, because there have been so many big ones to study, and even earthquake mitigation. Insurers are quick to point out that most of Santa Rosas Fountaingrove neighborhood was a Firewise community, before it was nearly destroyed in the 2017 Tubbs Fire. Any bill based on some unproven mitigation efforts that would lead to an involuntary, indefinite contract, without any consideration of whether the price (allowed) is appropriate, thats not a complete solution, said Rex Frazier, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California. Today, the insurance department does not require the companies it licenses to sell policies in any particular area, although it does approve rates and regulates other parts of their business. In the past, when states tried to force companies to sell insurance, it ended badly. In the wake of record hurricane losses in 2004-05, insurers in Florida attempted to raise rates, but the state largely prohibited them from doing so, said Robert Hartwig, director for the Center for Risk and Uncertainty Management at the University of South Carolina. When insurers threatened to leave, the state threatened to prohibit them from selling auto insurance. Cooler heads prevailed after they realized they already had a homeowners crisis and were at risk of having an auto crisis as well, said Hartwig. Something similar happened after the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California. Since the 1980s, California has required insurance companies selling homeowner policies to also offer earthquake insurance. After Northridge, insurers feared they wouldnt have enough money to pay claims if another quake that big hit, and started withdrawing from the market en masse. By January of 1995, companies representing 93 percent of the California homeowners insurance market had either restricted or stopped writing homeowners policies altogether, sending the California housing market into a tailspin, according to the California Earthquake Authority. The state created the authority as a not-for-profit, publicly managed, privately funded entity to sell earthquake insurance. Companies selling homeowners insurance can offer a CEA policy or their own but they dont take on the risk of the CEA policy. Companies that sell homeowners insurance also must offer fire insurance, directly or through the Fair Plan, an association backed by licensed carriers based on their market shares. It must offer a basic fire policy to people who cant get one from a licensed carrier. The Fair Plans basic policy covers fire and some smoke damage but excludes other coverages found in a standard homeowners policy such as liability, theft, water damage and additional living expenses. It also limits coverage to $1.5 million per policy. Fair Plan customers typically buy a supplemental or wraparound policy from another company for those missing pieces. In November, Lara ordered the Fair Plan to double its coverage limit to $3 million by April 1, allow monthly and credit card payments, and begin offering a comprehensive homeowners policy, known as an HO-3, alongside its existing policy by June 1. The Fair Plan filed a suit in December seeking to block the order. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Superior Court issued a preliminary injunction preventing the department from forcing the Fair Plan to issue an HO-3 policy. Fair Plan President Anneliese Jivan said the injunction does not delay the parts of Laras order it was already working to implement, including increasing the coverage limit. If the new legislation passes as is, I think companies will have a very hard decision about do they want to stay in the market where they have no control over their price but also no control over the risk they face, Frazier said. Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, called the bill a starting point for negotiations that will go on in the Legislature. We have to incentivize people and engage people in making their homes less likely to burn. Insurers are already charging more where they perceive the risk to be higher. What we need is a mandate for them to go both ways. If this is a mitigated home, they have to consider that. Now they dont have to, Bach said. Except for USAA, which offers homeowners in California a discount if they live in a Firewise community, insurers are not offering incentives for fire prevention efforts. Frazier says some discounts are already baked into premiums. If your home was constructed under 2008 building codes you pay a lot less. What companies struggle with is, will a $100 discount get someone to pay $1,500 to put a roof on. Proponents of the bill say that without a guarantee of even keeping insurance, homeowners might not be willing to pay anything for risk reduction. The only way to stabilize and reduce risk is to promote mitigation in a systematic way, said Michael Peterson, a deputy insurance commissioner. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender The Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday felicitated three Padma awardees from Telangana--badminton player PV Sindhu, innovative farmer Chintala Venkat Reddy and well known Sanskrit and Telugu poet Vijayasarathi Sribhashyam--at a function here. Sindhu is a recipient of Padma Bhushan the other two were awarded Padma Shri by the government recently. Speaking on the event organised by Swarna Bharat Trust, Naidu lauded their achievements in their respective fields. "The felicitation was meant to give inspiration to others. It is the recognition of their merit," he said. "Recognizing and respecting the talent is part of Indian culture," he added. Naidu, who also inaugurated a medical camp expressed his concerns over the rising incidences of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country and urged the doctors and the media to create awareness among the people, particularly the youngsters on the need of taking preventive measures. He pointed out that a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits were mainly responsible for NCDs and urged the youth to shun eating junk food and take up physical activity on a daily basis to remain fit. Naidu said, "Programmes like Fit India, Yoga, and Swachh Bharat Mission were meant to ensure good health and hygiene for all," he said. He called upon the youth to adopt these programmes and turn them into people's movements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MUNICH (Reuters) - The United States is looking to develop a partnership with the telecoms industry to provide alternatives to China's Huawei Technologies, a senior White House official said on Friday. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Robert Blair, White House special representative for international telecommunications policy, said a partnership was "very different from buying shares with taxpayers' money." U.S. Attorney General William Barr has previously proposed that the United States consider taking control of two major foreign rivals of Huawei, although the White House later dismissed the suggestion. Blair also said Britain needed to take a "hard look" at its decision to use equipment made by Huawei, which officials in Washington say is a security risk, charges the company denies. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Jack Stubbs, editing by Paul Carrel) In the space of a couple of months, Ive had two back-to-back chest infections, both serious enough to warrant the full panoply of antibiotics, steroids and inhaler. Its hardly surprising, given that I live in the heart of the city, where a cloud of air pollutants follow me to work each day. The hideous chesty cough, wheezing and shortness of breath are finally on their way out, but the illness has taken a toll and Im physically drained and feeling joyless. Three hours drive from Athens is The Euphoria Retreat, below, tucked away in the hills of Mystras, in Greeces Peloponnese peninsula Wheres the solution? Three hours drive from Athens is The Euphoria Retreat, below, tucked away in the hills of Mystras, in Greeces Peloponnese peninsula. Drawing on the wellness rituals of the Byzantine era, with a sprinkle of ancient Chinese medicine, the picturesque retreat transports guests back to a simpler time, free from modern stresses. Everything about the property, including the 45 luxurious rooms, is based on the Five Elements theory, which underpins both Chinese and ancient Greek health philosophy. The elements wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are believed to be the universes fundamental components and their interactions affect our health. Whats the treatment? I opted for the five-night rest and de-stress programme, a chance to fully reset the mind and body, expelling toxins. First up is a Byzantine Hammam Ritual, which involves lying on a plinth in a steamy marble room. The steam is said to be beneficial for bunged-up sinuses exactly what I need. It is pure bliss and leaves me feeling lighter than I have in months. Next is a reflexology session designed to quiet busy minds. It is so relaxing, I enter a different world. Then its on to a one-to-one yoga session which restores confidence and inspires me to take up the practice again four years after a bout of sciatica. After this I dip into the spherical pool, where I float amid piped dolphin sounds. A week later, my lungs are clear, Im rising early and feeling more positive and energised than I have in years. Given half the chance, Id be back in a flash. Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Marseille final after cruising to a dominant 7-5, 6-3 win over Alexander Bublik on Saturday. The Greek star will play Auger-Aliassime on Sunday after the Canadian teenager edged out Gilles Simon 7-5, 7-6 (7/2). Second seed Tsitsipas only suffered one blip in an otherwise routine win, when the 55th-ranked Kazakh broke back in the ninth game of the first set. Tsitsipas dropped only one point on serve as he raced through the second set after gaining the break he needed in the fourth game. "It keeps getting better and better," Tsitsipas, who has never successfully defended an ATP title, told atptour.com. "I really appreciate all the love that I receive here and tomorrow is an exciting day. I need to prepare, be ready for it and I can't wait to show an even better Stefanos tomorrow." The 21-year-old is attempting to become the first player to defend the Marseille title since Swede Thomas Enqvist in 1998. Tsitsipas has returned to form this week, having arrived in France after suffering his fourth defeat from seven matches in 2020 against Aljaz Bedene in Rotterdam. Auger-Aliassime is still waiting for his maiden ATP title, having lost his fourth straight final last weekend to Gael Monfils in the Netherlands. The world number 18 has never even won a set in his four finals, with his loss to Monfils following defeats in 2019 by Laslo Djere at the Rio Open, Benoit Paire in Lyon and Matteo Berrettini in Stuttgart. "I have a different opponent from last week in Rotterdam," said Auger-Aliassime, who holds a 2-1 winning record over Tsitsipas. "With Stefanos, we have a lot of history. We know each other well, but I am going to take it like any other tennis match and tomorrow I will try to do everything to win the title." The 19-year-old fought back from 5-2 down to take the opening set against Simon, before easing through a second-set tie-break. World number six Tsitsipas is bidding for his fifth ATP title Two teenage twin brothers were allegedly driven off the road and assaulted by an adolescent couple who were not happy with the boys support for President Trump. The 14-year-old twins from Hobart, Indiana, were riding their bikes embellished with Trump 2020 campaign flags on July 22 last year when they were followed by a young Indiana couple in a blue Chevrolet Malibu, according to court records. The charges could only be filed recently because the police had to wait for months to obtain clearance of the video footage from Snapchat, the Northwest-Indiana reported. According to an affidavit filed by Hobart Police and based on two Snapchat videos of the event, the Chevy was operated by 23-year old Kyren Gregory Perry-Jonesnext to him, his 18-year-old girlfriend Cailyn Marie Smith. The videos were apparently shot by the perpetrators themselves in order to immortalize the event by uploading footage of it to Snapchat. Perry-Jones asked them whether they were Trump supporters. The lads contended they were. The video then shows how Perry-Jones forced the boys off the road with an abrupt lurch. HOBART, Ind. Police say a northwestern Indiana couple allegedly drove two teenage boys off a roadway they were riding along with flags supporting President Donald Trump attached to their bicycles. https://t.co/rBugppNJOb Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 22, 2020 Yall better get home, Perry-Jones can allegedly be heard yelling while following the boys through a couple of yards. He then tells Smith, to pull that flag down, upon Smith replies with, Get closer. Yall scared, just like your president, Smith can be heard yelling. America is not great, she added, followed by an expletive, according to the affidavit. When the boys came to a standstill, Perry-Jones tears one of the boys flags down. He can furthermore be heard threatening the youths by saying they should not show up downtown, otherwise, he might beat them up. Only after one of the boys threatens to call the police does the couple take off, but not before running over the seized flag with their car. Perry-Jones and Smith were charged with two felony counts of intimidation and criminal recklessness and one count each of theft and criminal mischief, both of which are misdemeanors. The incident caused quite a stir on social media. Conservative journalist Andy Ngo also shared his comment on Twitter. Indiana: Kyren Gregory Perry-Jones & Cailyn Marie Smith have been arrested & charged for allegedly forcing two teens riding bicycles adorned with Trump flags off the road. Police say they swerved at the boys & then got out to tear off one of the flags. https://t.co/AMESSxkKpI pic.twitter.com/Nqbvn1bDc9 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 21, 2020 This is an unfortunate event that involved two brothers expressing their support for President Trump, Hobart Police Capt. James Gonzales said, the Northwest-Indiana reported. Our residents in Hobart should be able to express their support for any political affiliation without fear of any adverse recourse. The Hobart Police Department will continue to serve the Hobart residents to ensure they are free to express their support for whomever they choose and we will tirelessly work to preserve their 1st Amendment Rights under the United States Constitution. Charles Hobson, an Emmy Award-winning producer who helped shatter racial stereotypes by delivering a black perspective that had been missing from early television programming, died on Feb. 13 in the Bronx. He was 83. His daughter Hallie Spencer Hobson confirmed his death, from heart failure, in a hospital. Mr. Hobson, who lived in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, was instrumental in the success of the groundbreaking series Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant and Like It Is, which introduced white audiences to everyday life in black communities. Those places had been largely invisible, or defined by negative images, during the first decades of TVs evolution. His programs not only provided a singular perspective on contemporary issues; they also gave an unfiltered voice to people who had been neglected when television was struggling through its adolescence. Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant, which ran from 1968 until 1970 on WNEW-TV in New York, has been called the citys first regular program written, produced and presented by black people. 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. FRANKENMUTH, MI Zehnders of Frankenmuth is being recognized as one of six recipients of the 2020 James Beard Foundation Americas Classics Award. The restaurant, located in Michigans Little Bavaria at 730 S. Main St., is known for its family-style fried chicken meals. Officials with the James Beard Foundation announced the winners on Thursday, Feb. 20. Its really humbling and a verification of the hard work and recognition of our staff, said Al Zehnder, chairman and CEO of Zehnders of Frankenmuth. Zehnders employs nearly 950 part time and full time employees. The Americas Classics Awards are given to locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for quality food that reflects the character of its community, according to a press release from the James Beard Foundation. The restaurant, run by third and fourth generation family members, started when William Zehnder, Sr. and his wife Emilie bought a former hotel in 1928. The basic elements of the meal have remained largely unchanged, Al Zehnder said. Susan Zehnder and Martha Zehnder-Shelton are also owners of the business. The foundation describes the restaurant as a chicken-dinner behemoth. Zehnders can accommodate 1,500 guests and brings in close to 1 million people each year. Zehnders joins the list of more than 100 restaurants that have received the award since 1998. Dearborns Al Ameer was the first Michigan restaurant to win the award in 2016. The 2020 James Beard Awards will mark the 30th anniversary of the honors for chefs, restaurants, journalists, authors, and other leaders in the food and beverage industry. Kerry poll-topper Michael Healy-Rae has questioned how the former Rose of Tralee and now Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh could have voted against a gas project promising hundreds of jobs for the county. Deputy Healy-Rae told The Kerryman Maria Walsh should have had the best interests of the people of the county which crowned her the 2014 Rose of Tralee at heart. MEP Walsh defied her own FG party colleagues at the Parliament in Brussels last week in being their only member to back a motion calling on the EU to no longer lend its support to fossil-fuel projects on a list of Projects of Common Interest. The motion was defeated by a majority of MEPs in the end, however. The PCI list represents a vital potential source of funding for projects that are on it - which includes the long-embattled Ballylongford Landbank plan, first announced by potential Taoiseach Micheal Martin back in 2006 when he was Minister for Enterprise. While there's still no ground broken 14 years on, it is still very much a live project. Furthermore, it is expected that Shannon LNG is to submit a fresh planning application shortly - for an albeit pared-down version of the original plan that would see a large liquid natural gas tanker permanently moored to a jetty at the site. It's on the PCI list as it represents security of gas supply for the State amid other considerations. But environmentalists set their sights on the Kerry plan in no uncertain way last year as a phalanx of movie stars, pop stars, film directors, environmentalists and even medical groups called on the State to drop its continued support for the LNG's presence on the PCI list. They argued the LNG plant would use gas obtained in the US through fracking, a method that is hugely controversial over serious health fears. It was for this reason Walsh moved against her colleagues on the PCI vote. She supported a motion tabled by 100 MEPs to veto the list because it contains 55 fossil fuel projects. "I am opposed to fracking and like many other people was pleased when the process was outlawed by the Fine Gael Government in 2017," Walsh stated this week. "As yet, the long term consequences of fracking are unknown but most likely it is significantly damaging to our planet and to people's health. There are many reasons why fracking is bad for the environment and public health, ranging from the contamination of drinking water to the use of highly toxic and carcinogenic products in the process," she said. But newly crowned poll topper Michael Healy-Rae isn't having any of it. "To say I was disappointed by it [Walsh's stance] is an understatement to say the least," Michael Healy-Rae told The Kerryman. "I believe it is nothing less than a kick in the teeth to the people of Kerry for any representative of theirs not to be supportive of the LNG because it is nothing less than a lifeline, and for the entire region in fact," the Kilgarvan deputy said. "When you are desperately crying out for jobs and employment in a county like ours, we need projects like this. It's up to every politician to make up their own minds of course." He claimed to have secured support for LNG in the last programme for Government and said he would fight to 'keep it to the forefront of the political agenda'. "I would consider it an awful thing to think that a person elected to represent the best interests of the people could turn around and vote that way," he added. TORONTO - A Canadian who recently arrived in Canada after being aboard a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan has tested negative for the illness while under quarantine in Cornwall, Ont. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (689 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A bus carrying the passengers from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship leaves a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo on February 19, 2020. A Canadian who recently arrived in Canada after being aboard a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan has tested negative for the illness while under quarantine in Cornwall, Ontario. (Eugene Hoshiko / Canadian Press) TORONTO - A Canadian who recently arrived in Canada after being aboard a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan has tested negative for the illness while under quarantine in Cornwall, Ont. The Public Health Agency of Canada says the person is part of a group of 129 Canadians and their families who landed on Canadian soil Friday morning after spending weeks confined to cabins aboard the Diamond Princess ship. The group is expected to undergo another two weeks of isolation at the Nav Centre in Cornwall, Ont., where they will be monitored for potential signs of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. The agency says one person reported feeling unwell after arriving in Canada and was tested for the virus but the results came back negative. No other details were provided. All of the passengers were tested for the virus by Japanese officials before they left the ship, which has been docked in Yokohama, Japan, since early February. Health officials say Canada chose to re-quarantine the passengers after they'd already gone through two weeks of isolation aboard the Diamond Princess because new cases were still cropping up on the ship at the end of the incubation period. The ship was the site of the largest outbreak of COVID-19 outside of China, where the virus originated. The Diamond Princess had more than half of the confirmed cases outside that country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2020. Imagine a pristine T&T where there are no more homeless people or animals. One where hunger has been eliminated as the relic of a bygone era. A world where pipe-borne water is delivered to every home every day, not wasted in an archaic system where significant leaks are either ignored or washed out to sea. SPRING ARBOR, MI - A Jackson woman was killed in a two-car crash on M-60 in Spring Arbor on Friday, police said. Deputies responded to the crash at 3:15 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Spring Arbor and South Dearing roads, said Undersheriff Chris Kuhl of the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. Janette Boggard, an 81-year-old woman from Jackson, was driving eastbound on M-60 when an 86-year-old woman traveling westbound turned into Boggards path, Kuhl said. The 86-year-old woman was attempting to turn into a parking lot, he said. Both drivers were transported to Henry Ford Allegiance Health, Kuhl said. Boggard died at the hospital, while the other woman remained in serious but not life-threatening condition, he said. Spring Arbors police and fire departments assisted at the scene. The crash remained under investigation by the sheriffs office. M-60 was closed in both directions at Dearing Road about 3:50 p.m., according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The roadway reopened about 5:45 p.m. READ MORE JACKSON NEWS: Woman killed in fiery Blackman Twp. crash identified by police Fiery crash kills 1, county becomes gun sanctuary: Top Jackson headlines post Feb. 16-21 MDOT installing plywood deck in case more concrete falls from U.S. 127 bridge We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A fund set up by the Morrison government that will pour almost $1 billion into transport projects in Victoria in seats held by the Liberal Party has been referred to the federal Auditor-General. The federal opposition says the spending looms as a fresh sports rorts scandal. Labor's cities and urban infrastructure spokesman Andrew Giles has asked the Auditor-General to investigate the government's Urban Congestion Fund, saying it is a "massive pork-barrelling" exercise that must be investigated. Scott Morrison (centre) with Alan Tudge (left) and Jason Wood (right) at an infrastructure announcement ahead of last year's federal election. Credit:AAP The federal government's cities and urban infrastructure minister, Alan Tudge, has defended the spending, saying the fund would ensure vital road projects got built. His spokesman pointed out that Labor made promises for dozens of projects in seats it held, or had hoped to win at last year's federal election. Rumors have floated for long that Apple is working on a premium pair of over-ear headphones. Now, Target inventory systems have started showing a new Apple AirPods (X Generation) listing, with a price of $399 which could point to the impending launch of the rumored over-ear headphones. As per YouTuber Jon Prosser, this could very well be Apples premium over-ear headphones that will complement its existing AirPods lineup. Apple could integrate all the features of its AirPods and AirPods Pro into its over-ear headphones and deliver even superior sound quality and noise cancellation with it due to the additional space that over-ear headphones offer. Multiple Target employees have started reaching out to me about this Showing up in their systems and on UPC scanners is this mysterious Apple AirPods (X Generation) listing, priced at $399. Potentially Apples over-ear StudioPods headphones. Launch soon (March)? pic.twitter.com/NVcqH8As47 Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) February 22, 2020 A $399 price tag makes sense for premium over-ear headphones and offerings from Bose and Sony carry a similar price tag as well. What remains unclear for now is whether Apple will launch these premium over-ear headphones under its AirPods or Beats branding. Apart from AirPods (X Generation), Target also has listings for Apple TV Gen X, Apple Watch Series X bands and iPod Touch X Generation. Apple tends to release new Apple Watch bands in Q1/spring every year. The companys streaming box is also due for an upgrade since it was last refreshed in 2017. The company was rumored to refresh the Apple TV in September last year with an A12 chip but that did not happen. With Apple expected to hold a March media event for the iPhone 9, it is possible that the company will also launch these products alongside it. At the moment, it is best not to read too much into the new listings in Targets inventory system. Retailers dont tend to get information about upcoming products so ahead of time. After all, this could just be Target making some changes to how it handles its inventory naming scheme. We Want to Hear From You Are you looking forward to a premium pair of over-ear headphones from Apple with even superior sound quality and active noise cancelation than the AirPods Pro? Drop a comment and let us know! [Via 9to5Mac New Delhi, Feb 22 : The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has decided to organise a country-wide hunger strike on February 24 for early implementation of the cabinet decisions on the Bharat Sanchar Nigam's revival. The strike is also aimed at putting pressure for the expeditious settlement of employees' grievances, according to an AUAB statement here on Saturday. Last year the cabinet approved a Rs 69,000 crore revival package for both BSNL and MTNL. The salient features of the package included allotment of 4G spectrum, issuing sovereign guarantee for raising Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 8,500 for BSNL and Rs 6,500 for MTNL) funds via long-term bonds, monetisation of assets and implementation of voluntary retirement scheme. Of these, only the VRS has been implemented and 78,569 BSNL employees have been sent home. The BSNL has not been allotted 4G spectrum. Similarly, the sovereign guarantee is awaited. The process of monetisation of BSNL's assets is also moving slowly, according to the statement. The Supreme Court's recent judgement on the AGR calculation had created uncertainties in the telecom sector, due to which banks were unwilling to extend loans to BSNL, the AUAB said. Due to the delay in the 4G spectrum allotment and non-availability of funds, BSNL was unlikely to launch 4G services by the end of 2020, it said and added it was quite grim situation for employees. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 23:30:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in the Syrian city of Idlib with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar during a phone conversation, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday. "During the phone conversation, the two sides discussed the issues of stabilization of the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone," the statement made available to Xinhua reads. The ministers exchanged opinions on the situation in Syria, it added. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed during a phone conversation the recent escalation of tensions in Idlib and confirmed that intense military contacts would continue amid the Idlib escalation. On Thursday, Syrian government troops backed up by Russian warplanes repelled several massive attacks by militants supported by Turkish artillery fire in Idlib. Russia's Su-24 attack aircraft struck the militants, while the Russian military urged Turkey to stop supporting the militants and halt supplying weapons to them in order to avoid future incidents. On the eve of Saturdays Nevada Democratic caucuses, with polls predicting a major win for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the Washington Post reported Friday afternoon that US officials have told Sanders that the Russian government is working to aid his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. According to the Post, President Trump and members of Congress have also been informed of the alleged Russian assistance to Sanders. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, speaks at a campaign event in Tacoma, Washington, February 17, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren] Asked by reporters, "if you held the briefing a month ago, how do you think it came out now?", Sanders replied, "I'll let you guess about one day before the Nevada caucus, why do you think it came out?" "It was the Washington Post? Good friends," Sanders said crypically. The Post, owned by billionaire oligarch Jeff Bezos, the world's richest man, has consistently opposed efforts to expose and combat social inequality. Its editorial board has pilloried proposals by Sanders and rival Elizabeth Warren to tax the richest Americans, and has condemned research by inequality investigators Gabriel Zucman and Emmanuel Saez. The release of the report just one day beofre the Nevada caucuses, seen as a pivotal point in Sanders' cementing of his lead as the Democratic frontrunner, is a classic disinformation operation by the intelligence agencies, to which the Washington Post is politically allied. Its release was aimed at threatening and intimidating voters who would otherwise support Sanders. The one report, without any detail, substantiation or proof, instantly became the lead story on Friday night and Saturday morning, as voters went to the polls on Saturday. The Post report names no sources, does not identify the nature of the government officials who briefed Sanders, and provides no information about the content of the alleged support by Moscow for Sanders. No facts are presented to substantiate the vague claim of Russian government backing for the Sanders campaign. In keeping with the standard practice of the so-called mainstream media, the Post uncritically presents this latest claim by US intelligence of Russian meddling in American politics as indisputable fact. The Post story follows the front-page report by the New York Times on Friday that intelligence officials last week briefed the House Intelligence Committee on what they claimed to be ongoing Russian interference in the 2020 elections aimed at securing the reelection of President Donald Trump. That briefing reportedly so incensed Trump, who saw it as buttressing the campaign of the Democrats to brand him a stooge of Putin, that he sacked his acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, and named the US ambassador to Germany and Trump loyalist Richard Grenell to replace him. These developments highlight the massive role that the unelected agencies of US subversion and provocation abroad play in US elections. Even if the claims of Russian intervention in US elections were trueand no evidence has ever been produced to substantiate themsuch operations would pale in comparison to the role of the FBI, the CIA, the Pentagon and other agencies in manipulating elections and seeking covertly to affect their outcomes. This is on top of the role of corporate donations and campaign bribes by billionaire oligarchs in installing their preferred candidates in power. Sanders has fully backed the years-long campaign by the Democratic Party to whip up anti-Russia hysteria and oppose Trump for being insufficiently aggressive against Moscow. He immediately lent credibility to the latest anti-Russian salvo. The Post quoted him as telling it in a statement: I dont care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president. My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do. He continued: In 2016, Russia used internet propaganda to sow division in our country, and my understanding is that they are doing it again in 2020. Some of the ugly stuff on the internet attributed to our campaign may well not be coming from real supporters. The latter statement reiterates Sanders suggestion at Wednesdays Democratic debate in Las Vegas that social media posts critical of leaders of the Nevada Culinary Workers Union leadership, which denounced Sanders plan for government-run health insurance, came not from his supporters, as claimed by his Democratic rivals and the corporate media, but rather from Russian trolls. All of us remember 2016, and what we remember is efforts by Russians and others to try to interfere in our elections and divide us up, Sanders said. Im not saying thats happening, but it would not shock me. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sanders called Putin a thug and an autocrat. The stepping up of the anti-Russia campaign and the attempt to turn it against Sanders coincides with a coordinated drive by the Democratic Party establishment and the corporate media to undermine the senators rise in the polls and prevent him from securing the Democratic presidential nomination at the partys national convention in July. This ruling class opposition to Sanders is not so much about Sanders himselfa longtime ally of the Democratic Party and loyal defender of American imperialismas about concerns over the growth of anti-capitalist and pro-socialist sentiment and the upsurge in the class struggle of which Sanders is the initial beneficiary. The financial oligarchy is incensed and frightened by Sanders calls for modest increases in its taxes, his talk of ending private health insurance and reining in the profits of the pharmaceutical giants, and his appeals to popular anger over the staggering levels of social inequality. On Friday, the Financial Times published an interview with the recently retired CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, in which the billionaire life-long Democrat denounced Sanders, praised his billionaire rival Michael Bloomberg, and said that if Sanders got the Democratic nomination he would likely vote for Trump. In the interview, he praised the latters corporate tax cuts and lifting of regulations on business. Jim Cramer, the host of CNBCs Mad Money program, summed up the outlook of the financial oligarchy when he said that Wednesdays Democratic candidates debate was painful because your wealth was really under fire. He joined Bloomberg in branding Sanders a communist, saying, Is he really a socialist? Or is he a communist? What is socialist about what he wants? Isnt he more of a communist? With the virtual collapse of the campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden and Bloombergs poor performance at Wednesdays debate, media pundits and Democratic officials are concluding that Sanders will come to the July party convention with a large lead in committed delegates, but will be short of the 1,991 needed to gain a majority and secure the nomination on the first ballot. Backroom moves are being stepped up to channel delegates and donors currently backing so-called moderates such as Biden, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg behind Bloomberg or the progressive Elizabeth Warren in order to block Sanders at the convention. The idea is to mobilize the nearly 800 elected officials, Democratic National Committee members and other party officials who constitute the superdelegates, who cannot vote on the first ballot, to vote on the second to install the commonly agreed upon alternative to Sanders. This was prefigured at Wednesdays debate when all of the candidates, with the exception of Sanders, said the candidate who gets the most votes in the primary contests should not necessarily be declared the party nominee at the convention. This anti-democratic position is being lauded in the media as the defense of established rules and procedures. The day after Wednesdays debate, Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader and longtime senator from Nevada, openly called for a brokered convention to deny Sanders the nomination. He said, And you have most of the people who are not Bernie Sanders, are people who are moderates, and maybe theyll work something out to get together and try to find that one person who can come up with the number of delegates. Maybe thats one way to do it. Reid also praised Warren, who during the debate joined in the socialist-bashing of Sanders, declaring once again her support for capitalism and adding, They [Democratic voters] are worried about gambling on a revolution that wont bring along a majority of this country. Politico reported that Bloomberg is privately lobbying party officials and donors allied with his moderate rivals to shift their allegiance to him and block Sanders at the convention. No doubt Bloomberg is using his unlimited cash hoardhis Federal Election Commission report filed this week said he has spent $464 million of his own money in the three months since he announced his bid for the White Houseto induce party officials to come over to his side. Sanders response has been two-faced. While stepping up his rhetorical attacks on inequality and the billionaire class, in Wednesdays debate he disavowed any supporters who dared to criticize the trade union bureaucracy. He said, And if there are a few people who make ugly remarks, who attack trade union leaders, I disown those people. They are not part of our movement. In a preview of an interview to be aired this Sunday on CBS 60 Minutes program, Sanders in one breath denounces Bloomberg as a billionaire oligarch who is trying to buy the election, and in the next declares, No matter who wins the nomination, we are going to come together to defeat the most dangerous president in US history. Everyone on that platform [including Bloomberg] understands that." The Swedish Malaise Trap Project (SMTP) was launched in 2003 with the aim of making a complete list of the insect diversity of Sweden. Over the past fifteen years, an estimated total of 20 million insects, collected during the project, have been processed for scientific study. Recently, the team behind this effort published the resulting inventory in the open-access journal Biodiversity Data Journal. In their paper, they also document the project all the way from its inception to its current status by reporting on its background, organisation, methodology and logistics. The SMTP deployed a total of 73 Malaise traps -- a Swedish invention designed to capture flying insects -- and placed them across the country, where they remained from 2003 to 2006. Subsequently, the samples were sorted by a dedicated team of staff, students and volunteers into over 300 groups of insects ready for further study by expert entomologists. At the present time, this material can be considered as a unique timestamp of the Swedish insect fauna and an invaluable source of baseline data, which is especially relevant as reports of terrifying insect declines keep on making the headlines across the world. The first author and Project Manager of the SMTP, Dave Karlsson started his academic paper on the project's results years ago by compiling various tips, tricks, lessons and stories that he had accumulated over his years as SMTP's Project Manager. Some fun examples include the time when one of the Malaise traps was destroyed by a moose bull rubbing his antlers against it, or when another trap was attacked and eaten by a group of 20 reindeer. The project even had a trap taken out by Sweden's military! Karlsson's intention was that, by sharing the details of the project, he would inspire and encourage similar efforts around the globe. Karlsson has worked with and trained dozens of workers in the SMTP lab over the past decade and a half. Some were paid staff, some were enthusiastic volunteers and a good number were researchers and students using SMTP material for projects and theses. Thus, he witnessed first-hand how much excitement and enthusiasm the work on insect samples under a microscope can generate, even in those who had been hesitant about "bugs" at first. Stressing the benefits of traditional morphological approaches to inventory work, he says: "Appreciation for nature is something you miss when you go 'hi-tech' with inventory work. We have created a unique resource for specialists in our sorted material while fostering a passion for natural history." Sorted SMTP material is now available to specialists. Hundreds of thousands of specimens have already been handed over to experts, resulting in over 1,300 species newly added to the Swedish fauna. A total of 87 species have been recognised as new to science from the project thus far, while hundreds more await description. The SMTP is part of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative, from where it also receives its funding. In its turn, the latter is a project by the Swedish Species Information Center, a ground-breaking initiative funded by the Swedish Parliament since 2002 with the aim of documenting all multicellular life in Sweden. The SMTP is based at Station Linne, a field station named after the famous Swedish naturalist and father of taxonomy, Carl Linneaus. Situated on the Baltic island of Oland, the station is managed by Dave Karlsson. Co-authors Emily Hartop and Mathias Jaschhof are also based at the station, while Mattias Forshage and Fredrik Ronquist (SMTP Project Co-Founder) are based at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. CARBONDALE Jennifer DeHaemers, Southern Illinois University Carbondale's associate provost for enrollment management, will be leaving her post to become Central Michigan University's first vice president of student recruitment and retention, according to a news release from CMU. "In more than two decades meeting the challenges of university admissions and enrollment, Jennifer DeHaemers has proven herself a collaborative leader with vision, skill and a track record of accomplishment," Bob Davies, Central Michigan University president, said in the release. "I look forward to working with her to lead our university in attracting students and ensuring their success." The release says DeHaemers, while at SIU Carbondale, increased freshman-to-sophomore retention and increased undergraduate applications and admissions for freshman and transfer students for fall 2020 the university's first such increase in many years. DeHaemers said the new position is a promotion and offers a broader set of responsibilities, similar to those she had at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she worked from 1997 to 2017. SIU is a terrific university and Im not leaving for any other reason other than the fact that this position at Central Michigan really provides me the next step in my career ladder, DeHaemers said. I really feel like the work Ive done and the work other people have done is really turning the university around. DeHaemers said her points of largest impact in her time at SIU Carbondale include hiring John Frost as the director of undergraduate admissions, implementing SLATE, a cloud-based enrollment management system and implementing an online application for admission. (Frost) has done a really good job of building a team in the admissions office and they have set some really impressive goals, DeHaemers said. They're a large part of why our applications in admissions are up as much as they are this year. Using SLATE has been a game-changer for her team at SIU, DeHaemers said. It's so intuitive and we are able to really communicate well with students, '' she said. I think that's a big part of our success this year, as well. The SIU Board of Trustees voted to freeze student tuition and fees for the 2020 school year at SIU Carbondale and SIU Edwardsville during its December meeting. SIU Carbondale freshman applications were up about 27% from that time the previous year, and the number of admitted students was up 21%. SIU will launch a national search for DeHaemers replacement immediately, according to Rae Goldsmith, university spokeswoman, but a timeline has not been set on the search and no decision has been made on interim leadership for the provost for enrollment management position. DeHaemers was the first full-time hire in the position at SIU since 2011. Prior to her stint at Southern, she spent six years as associate vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management at UMKC. She is set to start at Central Michigan on June 1 and will be paid $220,000, according to the CMU release. DeHaemers said her contract at SIU ends in May and she wasnt sure if a contract extension would be given when she started the search process at Central Michigan, but has been in contact with Meera Kommaraju, SIU provost, during the process. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The gunfight took place in the Gund Baba Khalil region in the Sangam town of the Anantnag district, at the end of which the two LeT terrorists were successfully gunned down. Srinagar: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday. The encounter took place on Friday evening in the Sangam area of Bijbehara in south Kashmir, a police official said. "Cordon and search operation was launched in Gundbaba Sangam on Friday evening on specific input about presence of militants in area during which two militants of LeT were killed," Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Vijay Kumar said. The official said that the slain ultras were being identified. "Weapons were recovered from the site of the encounter," he added. This is a developing story, more details awaited. The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the number of coronavirus cases with no clear epidemiological link, although the total number of cases outside China remains relatively small, its director general said on Saturday. Cases with no clear link include those with no travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing. China has reported 75,569 cases to the WHO, including 2,239 deaths, he said. According to available data, the disease remains mild in 80% of coronavirus patients, and is severe or critical in 20% of patients, he said. The virus has been fatal in 2% of reported cases. The risk of death increases for older patients, Tedros said, adding there were relatively few cases among children. Outside China, there have been 1,200 cases in 26 countries, with eight deaths, Tedros said. That includes one confirmed case on the African continent, in Egypt, he said. He called the reported decline in new cases in China welcome news but said it had to be interpreted very cautiously, adding, "It is far too early to make predictions about this outbreak". A WHO-led international team of experts, which has been on the ground in China for the past week, will travel to Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, on Saturday. "Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems," Tedros said. The WHO is calling for $675 million to support countries, especially those which are most vulnerable, he said, adding it has identified 13 countries in Africa that are seen as a priority because of their links to China. It has shipped more than 30,000 sets of personal protective equipment to several African countries, and is ready to ship almost 60,000 more sets to 19 countries in coming weeks, Tedros said. The WHO has also appointed two specialists as special envoys to help African countries prepare for the potential arrival of the virus: the director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, and the director general of the Center for Vaccine Development in Mali, Samba Sow. Search Keywords: Short link: A pit bull puppy has been left outside a Mexican rescue shelter along with a heartbreaking letter penned by the animal's 12-year-old owner. The canine was dropped off at Refugio Xollin in the state of Michoacan on February 13, with the young owner's note explaining in Spanish why the canine could no longer be kept in their care. 'My name is Andres and I am 12 years old,' the letter reads in English. 'My mom and I decided to leave my dog in your hands, hiding it from my dad because he is thinking about selling him. But he mistreats and kicks him. The letter continued: 'One day he kicked him so hard that he hurt his tail. I hope you can help and take care of him. I left him a stuffed animal so he won't forget me.' The shelter shared the sad note to Facebook, along with adorable photos of the pit bull pup, which quickly went viral. An adorable pit bull was left outside a Mexican rescue shelter on February 13, alongside a letter penned in Spanish by its young owner, who explained why the pup had to be given away More than 300 people requested to adopt the adorable animal - who has been named Rene More than 300 people requested to adopt the adorable animal - who has been named Rene - in the days after the post was put up. The requests have come from all over the country, according to CNN. It appears the shelter has not yet decided on an owner for Rene, who is still in their care. The pup has been dewormed and seen by a vet, and is ready for adoption. But while only one lucky family will get to welcome Rene into their home, the shelter is reminding people they 120 other pups who need to be adopted out. 'If everyone opened their heart and their home like this little dog, they would have adopted all our dogs from the shelter,' the shelter posted on Facebook. LAS VEGAS (AP) - As the Democratic presidential primary advances toward Super Tuesday, Joe Biden wants voters to choose a loyal Democrat. Preferably him, of course, but mostly just not Bernie Sanders or Mike Bloomberg. "They're not bad folks. Theyre just not Democrats," the former vice president said at a rally Friday night on the eve of Nevada's caucuses. Biden, needing a boost after disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, has turned a sharper focus on his primary rivals this week, culminating Friday in repeated barbs of Sanders and Bloomberg. Earlier in the day, in an interview with the Associated Press, Biden noted that Sanders, who claims the label of "democratic socialist," once toyed with running in a primary against then-President Barack Obama in 2012, Bloomberg is the mega-billionaire and former New York mayor who was a Republican and then independent before finally declaring himself a Democrat. Both men, Biden told The Associated Press, misrepresent their relationships with Obama, the nations first black president who tapped Biden, then a Delaware senator, to be his running mate in 2008. "You can spend a billion dollars, and I guess he spent but what $400 million so far, whatever it is," Biden said of Bloombergs eye-popping personal investment in his White House bid. "But you can't hide your record," Biden continued, pointing specifically to Bloombergs "stop-and-frisk" policy that, when he was mayor, effectively allowed New York police to detain disproportionate numbers of non-white residents, mostly young men, without probable cause. Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden arrives to speak to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Matt York) On Sanders, Biden cited a recent Atlantic magazine article that cast Sanders consideration of a primary campaign against Obama as serious enough that Harry Reid, the powerful Nevada Democrat who was then Senate Democratic leader, stepped in personally to shut Sanders down. "I knew he talked about someone should primary Barack for a second term, like he thought Barack wasnt, I guess, socialist enough or whatever," Biden said, adding that he didnt previously know about Reids apparent move to step in. "The paint is being peeled back here a little bit," Biden said. "And I think they're entitled to those opinions. I don't mean theyre bad because of that. But the idea that ... `We really loved Barack, man. He did a great job, is simply not turning out to be the case." Sanders has led all candidates in the first two nominating contests and appears to have strong support in Nevada. Bloomberg isnt competing in any February contests, instead directing his unprecedented personal spending in the 14 states that vote on March 3. His "Super Tuesday" strategy hinges on Biden, once the national front-runner, slipping out of contention. That makes Nevada critical for Biden after he finished fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire. "I think well do well" in Nevada, Biden said Friday, forgoing a detailed assessment of where he must finish. Though Bloomberg is not on Saturday's ballots, Biden relished that his fellow candidate had a rough experience in his first debate this week in Las Vegas. Biden said the debate exposed the irony of the "stop-and-frisk" policy alongside Bloomberg's ubiquitous ads depicting the former mayor alongside Obama. The former president, still wildly popular among Democratic voters, hasn't endorsed any candidate, including Biden. Obama has been mentioned prominently in several candidates ads and arguments, though no one has matched the breadth of Bloombergs recent Obama ads. Bloomberg did not support Obamas election in 2008; he wrote a relatively tepid endorsement late in the 2012 campaign, and former Obama aides have noted that Bloomberg often criticized Obama, including his 2010 health insurance overhaul. "Isnt it amazing we found out how everybody is Baracks best friend now?" Biden said sarcastically at his Friday night rally. "You look at that ad, you think, God, Barack must have endorsed him man, this must be all good." The former presidents aides say he's talked to any of the candidates who've sought his counsel and plans to support the eventual nominee enthusiastically. Biden has said he speaks regularly to Obama, but he declined Friday to say whether he asked the former president to publicly clarify that he has not endorsed Bloomberg. Nevada and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 have always been key to Bidens path to the nomination. Iowa and New Hampshire are both overwhelmingly white and not heavily unionized. Bidens base within the Democratic coalition is union members, older African Americans and older Latinos. Nevadas caucus electorate could still be majority white, but narrowly so, and its heavily unionized, especially in the casino and tourism industry. South Carolinas electorate, meanwhile, could be as much as two-thirds African American. Biden's connection to Obama, in turn, is part of his pitch to African Americans, especially. "What happens in Nevada will determine what ultimately happens in South Carolina, and so forth through Super Tuesday," said Amanda Loveday, a prominent South Carolina Democrat who helps run a super PAC supporting Biden. "I mean, he's said it: He has to get first or second in Nevada to be seen as viable coming into South Carolina. And I think he will." Those dynamics have made Biden simultaneously more aggressive and more comfortable over the last week of campaigning in Nevada, aggressive out of necessity, more at ease with clearly friendly audiences. His schedule is peppered with "back of the house tours" where he meets with casino workers along Las Vegas Strip. He's punched at Sanders for backing a 2005 law that granted civil immunity to gun manufacturers, a notable provision to Nevadans who recall the worst mass shooting in modern American history, which occurred in Las Vegas in 2017. He's regularly hammered Sanders' "Medicare for All" single-payer health insurance plan as a threat to the insurance plans the powerful Culinary Union secured via collective bargaining. Speaking to Latino campaign volunteers, Biden noted that "99% of Latinos" havent voted yet. At an African Methodist Episcopal church in North Las Vegas earlier this week, Biden recalled his mother once chiding him for wavering when Obama offered him a spot on the ticket in 2008. "I have a very persuasive mother," he said. Later, at a Black History Month festival, he promised an emcee a role in inaugural festivities if he wins. And then, at a legislative Black Caucus gala, he grew serious. "Look me over, folks," he said. "Gimme a shot. Im with you. I love you." ___ Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard contributed from Columbia, South Carolina. Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Matt York) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during an interview at the Park MGM, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Matt York) It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference By Yilei Sun and Shivani Singh BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported a sharp fall in new deaths and cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, but world health officials warned it was too early to make predictions about the outbreak as new infections continued to rise in other countries. Chinese authorities said the mainland had 397 new confirmed cases on Friday, down from 889 a day earlier. The numbers surged elsewhere, though, with outbreaks worsening in South Korea, Iran, Italy and Lebanon. In South Korea, authorities said on Saturday the number of new infections had doubled to 433, and suggested the tally could rise significantly as more than 1,000 people who attended a church at the center of the outbreak reported flu-like symptoms. The World Health Organization welcomed the reported decline in new Chinese cases, but said it was concerned about the number of new infections elsewhere with no clear link to China such as travel history or contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, as the disease caused by the virus is known. "Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The U.N. agency is calling for $675 million to support most vulnerable countries, he said, adding 13 countries in Africa are seen as a priority because of their links to China. In total, China has reported 75,569 cases to the WHO, and 2,239 deaths, Tedros said. According to available data, the disease remains mild in 80% of patients, and severe or critical in 20%. The virus has been fatal in 2% of reported cases. The disease has spread to some 26 countries and territories outside mainland China, killing more than a dozen people, according to a Reuters tally. 'BLUE WHALE' ARRIVES The latest Chinese figures showed only 31 of the new cases on Friday were outside of the virus epicenter of Hubei province, the lowest number since the National Health Commission started compiling nationwide data a month ago. Story continues But new, albeit isolated findings about the coronavirus could complicate efforts to thwart it, including the Hubei government's announcement on Saturday that an elderly man took 27 days to show symptoms after infection, almost twice the presumed 14-day incubation period. That follows Chinese scientists reporting that a woman from Wuhan had traveled 400 miles (675 km) and infected five relatives without showing signs of infection. State television showed the arrival in Wuhan of the "blue whale" on Saturday, the first of seven river cruise ships it is bringing in to house medical workers, tens of thousands of which have been sent to Hubei to contain the virus. In Italy, the worst-affected country in Europe, the virus has killed two people - a man and a woman in their 70s - and infected another 51 mostly in the north. Some 50,000 residents in Codogno, southwest of Milan, and nearby towns have been advised to remain indoors. Public gatherings including Sunday masses and football matches have been suspended, and schools and shops have been closed down. Iran, which had no reported cases earlier this week, on Saturday announced the detection of 10 new cases of coronavirus and two more deaths, appearing to bring the number of infections to 29 and the number of deaths to six. Japan, which confirmed 14 new cases on Saturday, faces growing questions about whether it is doing enough to contain its outbreak and whether the virus could disrupt this year's Tokyo Olympics. Organizers postponed the start of training for volunteers as a precaution. FINANCIAL FEARS The potential economic impact of the outbreak, which has caused massive disruption to businesses in China, overshadowed a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Saudi Arabia. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, presenting the fund's outlook to central bankers and finance ministers in Riyadh, said the virus would likely lower China's economic growth this year to 5.6%, down 0.4 percentage points from its January outlook, and shave 0.1 percentage points from global growth. Asian policymakers sought to soothe investors' fears over the outbreak, which has roiled global markets, with equities sliding on Friday. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the yen's recent declines were largely driven by a strong dollar, shrugging off some market views that the virus epidemic is triggering an outflow of funds from Asia. Senior Chinese central bank officials, meanwhile, played down worries about the potential damage to the world's second-largest economy, saying the country's financial system and currency were resilient. Chen Yulu, a deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, said policymakers had plenty of tools to support the economy, and were confident of winning the war against the epidemic. "We believe that after this epidemic is over, pent-up demand for consumption and investment will be fully released, and China's economy will rebound swiftly," Chen told state TV. (Reporting by Yilei Sun, Shivani Singh, Cheng Leng and Kevin Yao in Beijing; Samuel Shen, Se Young Lee and Yiming Shen in Shanghai; Additional reporting by Sangmi Cha in Seoul, Kirsti Knolle in Vienna, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Elisa Anzolin in Milan, Angelo Amante in Rome, Lidia Kelly in Melborne, Stephen Kalin, Andrea Shalal and Leika Kihara in Riyadh, Stanley White in Tokyo, Dan Burns in New York, Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Writing by Martin Petty, Pravin Char and Alex Richardson; Editing by Kim Coghill, Frances Kerry, Ros Russell) According to sources, there are nearly 20 tigers in the latter and around 48 in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. UTNOOR: It seems like the presence of tigers in forests may help contain smuggling of wood and also protect forests in old Adilabad district where wood smuggling is rampant despite the numerous efforts put in by forest officials. It is believed that migration of tigers into the district from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and Tippeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is like a double-edge sword-it can propel tiger conservation and also control wood smuggling. The experiences of Tadoba Andhari and Tippeshwar Tiger Reserves are cases in point. According to sources, there are nearly 20 tigers in the latter and around 48 in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The involvement of forest staff and the nexus between wood smugglers and local political leaders have exposed on umpteen occasions. Three Manc-herial forest staff were recently suspended for their tacit support to teak wood smugglers in Jannram area. Some political leaders, who have since become MLAs, MPs and ministers, were involved in smuggling of wood and had amassed a fortune from the clandestine operations. Adilabad One-Town police arrested Deputy Forest Range Officer Mr Praveen Mahajan for his involvement in smuggling of teak logs worth `30 lakh in Adilabad town in July, 2018. Subsequently, police arrested wood smuggler Ganganna and S.K Mohisin, brother of TRS town president Sajidoddin. Adilabad police raided the secluded area near the now defunct Cement Corporation of India (CCI) branch and seized leak logs loaded in 16 vehicles that were heading for Maharashtra. It seems that forest department is pinning hopes on the presence of tigers putting fear on smugglers and poachers. S. Venugopal, Forest Range officer, Pench-ikalpet said that he favoured co-existence of humans and animals, unlike many modern conservationists. He observed that finally, it is the locals, who conserve and protect forests, animals and birds with perseverance. Venugopal said The tigers will protect the forests if people protect them. It is a fact that tigers are migrating to Kagaznagar forest division located on the state borders due to the high density in Thadoba Tigers Reserve. It is ditto with long-billed vultures from Kamalapur bordering Maharashtra. The question doing the rounds is how Telangana can secure both tigers and the rare long-billed vultures and what measures are needed to achieve it. Hope in the air There is a distinct possibility that Kagaznagar forest division will become a permanent habitat for tigers in the not too distant future. The forest department is utilising the services of the once-active but presently reformed poachers. Hiring them on a contract basis is yielding positive results in that poaching activity has been dramatically reduced. Poachers have become animal trackers and watchers. There is a shortage of prey-base in Penchikalpet and because of which the migrated tigers are going back to their original habitat in the state of Maharashtra. Trump Taps Floridas Chief Resilience Officer as Homeland Security Adviser President Donald Trump has hired Floridas Chief Resilience Officer Julia Nesheiwat as his new homeland security adviser, National Security Adviser Robert OBrien confirmed on Saturday. Pleased to welcome Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, who will serve as Deputy Assistant to the President working on Homeland Security and Resilience, OBrien said in a statement. She comes with extensive national security experience, which will be invaluable for this important role. Pleased to welcome Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, who will serve as Deputy Assistant to the President working on Homeland Security and Resilience. She comes with extensive national security experience, which will be invaluable for this important role. NSA OBrien NSC (@WHNSC) February 22, 2020 Nesheiwats resume (pdf) shows she got her Ph.D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2014. The title of her dissertation was Post-Disaster Reconstruction in Energy Technology & Resiliency. She was appointed as Floridas first chief resilience officer by Governor Ron DeSantis last year to coordinate a statewide response to prepare for the environmental, physical, and economic challenges in Florida. Before joining DeSantiss administration, she worked in the State Department and has extensive experience in national security. Nesheiwat was a former U.S. Army military intelligence officer and acted as military liaison officer to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait between 2001 and 2003. She served as Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs before she left the State Department on Aug. 5, 2019. A lengthy internal investigation by L'Arche reveals sexual abuse of several women by the founder. These are the reactions of L'Arche and the French Bishops' Conference. In a letter sent on 22 February to the L'Arche Federation, the leaders of the movement made public the conclusions of the investigation which they had entrusted to an external and independent body. The investigation included testimonies implicating its founder, Jean Vanier, and his links to Fr Thomas Philippe, a Dominican priest, whom he considered to be his spiritual father. Since 2014, several testimonies by women who had been sexually abused by Thomas Philippe had been received by L'Arche officials, which prompted this investigation. This long-term probe also uncovered acts of abuse committed by Jean Vanier. "In the course of this investigation, sincere and consistent testimonies spanning from 1970-2005 were received from six adult women without disabilities indicating that Jean Vanier initiated sexual relations with them, generally as part of spiritual accompaniment. Some of these women have suffered deep wounds," reads the press release published by L'Arche. "Overwhelmed by these discoveries" "These actions indicate the psychological and spiritual hold that Jean Vanier had over these women and show his adoption of some of Father Thomas Philippe's deviant theories and practices," reads the statement from the movement. The shock wave among the leaders of L'Arche is immense. In a letter to the members of L'Arche, the current leaders, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney write: "We are deeply shocked by these discoveries and we unreservedly condemn these actions which are in total contradiction with the values that Jean Vanier stood for." "We are conscious of the turmoil and pain that this information will cause for many of us, both inside and outside L'Arche... he inspired and comforted many people around the world," they write. "While the considerable good he did throughout his life is not in question, we will have to mourn a certain vision we may have had of him and of our origins," recalling that L'Arche is determined that its 154 communities around the world be places of security and growth for all its members, with or without disabilities. Reaction of French bishops In a statement released Saturday, the Permanent Council of the French Bishops' Conference (CEF) said it learned "with shock and sorrow" what the investigation conducted by L'Arche revealed about its founder. "The bishops who are members of the Permanent Council thank the women victims of Jean Vanier who had the courage to speak out about what they suffered." The bishops of France nonetheless reiterate "their confidence in the communities of L'Arche where disabled people and their caregivers live in authentic relationships of mutual respect and service". The Bishops' Conference also pointed out that at the end of the Investigation, "there is no indication that disabled people have been victims of inappropriate acts by Jean Vanier. The CEF will join forces with CORREF, (the Conference of Religious of France), the French Province of the Dominican Order and the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint John "to continue the necessary work of clarifying the situation of Father Thomas Philippe, a Dominican who died in 1993 and who had been severely condemned by Rome in 1956, a condemnation whose terms have been gradually forgotten or neglected." Founded in 1964, l'Arche is today present in 38 countries on five continents. It represents 153 communities Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at University of Nevada February 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alex Wong | Getty Images LAS VEGAS -- The third nominating contest of the Democratic presidential primary kicks off on Saturday with the Nevada caucuses. Already, about 75,000 votes have been cast, according to state party officials. But no results have been released, and observers are following the first-in-the-West caucus closely to gauge which candidates are likely to have a path to the nomination ahead of Super Tuesday in early March. The caucus comes just days after the Democratic debate here, where former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg came under fire from his rivals, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Bloomberg, who's skipping the first four states, will not be on the ballot. Ahead of caucus day, Sen. Bernie Sanders led in state polls of Nevada, followed by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden, who are neck-and-neck, and then Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and the former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer. The caucus will begin at noon local time, or 3 p.m. ET. Here are five things to watch as voting gets underway. Nevada Democrats under scrutiny after Iowa debacle The Nevada Democratic Party is doing everything it can to avoid the stunning tech failure that doomed the Iowa caucuses earlier this month and marred the results of the first nominating contest. The party scrapped plans to use an app from the same vendor that the Iowa Democrats used. Instead, it has rolled out a "calculator tool" that officials say is easy to use. The party has also boosted training and contracted with a professional call center to handle results as they roll in. Even with those added precautions, the party's foray into early voting and predictions of high turnout could complicate tabulations. The national party chairman, Tom Perez, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that it's not certain that Nevada will release its results on Saturday, though Democrats will aim to get results as as quickly as possible. State party officials have said that they intend to release results Saturday. Read more: Nevada Democrats are trying to avoid repeating the Iowa caucus debacle here's how Minority voters will finally have a say in the nomination The first two states to have a say in the Democratic nomination were Iowa and New Hampshire -- two states that are overwhelmingly non-Hispanic white. Not so in Nevada, where Latino and black voters both form substantial portions of the electorate. Last cycle, Latino voters accounted for nearly one in five Democratic voters. Early voting this year is expected to boost turnout among minority populations, too, particularly among those who work in the states's hotel and casino industry and other sectors where making it out to a traditional caucus can be difficult. The state will test candidates like Buttigieg and Klobuchar, who, to date, have struggled to win over voters of color. And it could provide a boon to Sanders, who has counted on young Latino voters to give him an edge in the race. Read more: Bernie Sanders looks to young Latinos for edge in Nevada caucuses Biden aims for comeback with second place finish The former vice president appeared to be coasting to the nomination until this month, when he plunged in the polls following disappointing showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden's campaign has said it is aiming for a second place finish in order to get back on track. "First would be wonderful, but us getting a second place I think does the work that we need to do to win South Carolina," campaign manager Greg Schultz said on Feb. 14, according to The New York Times. Other candidates are also hoping that a surprising finish in Nevada could bolster their bids. Perhaps more than the others, Warren is aiming to revitalize her campaign after Sanders's ascendance threatened to lock her out of the party's progressive base. "All I can say is we are just getting started," Warren said at a raucous campaign event in Las Vegas on Thursday. Read more: Several Joe Biden fundraisers jump ship from his struggling campaign to back Mike Bloomberg Early voting points to exceptionally high turnout One big uncertainty looms ahead of caucusing: What will be the impact of the state's four days of early voting? Already, it appears that it is likely to boost turnout. The state party has said that about 75,000 individuals have already cast their ballots in Nevada, before regular voting has even begun. In comparison, about 84,000 Democrats caucused in 2016. Generally speaking, the complicated nature of the caucus process skews the electorate toward older, whiter voters. Early voting is expected to make the electorate more reflective of the diversity of the state. Until results come in, though, no one really knows, because Nevada has not done this before. Union voters could be key Ayushmann Khurrana starrer comedy-drama 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' has received a good response on its opening day and minted Rs 9.55 crores. Film critic and movie trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the figures on Twitter and said that the movie fared very well, adding that the film's collection fared better on Maha Shivratri. The film critic also compared the first-day collection of Ayushmann Khurrana's movies from 2017. The 2019 hit flick 'Bala' topped the chart with a collection of Rs 10.15 crores, followed by 'Dream Girl' that minted Rs 10.05 crores in the same year. The 35-year-old actor's 2017 release 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' got the lowest first-day collection of Rs 2.42 crores. 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' is a light-hearted comedy that can be seen as a progressive attempt towards the acceptance of same-sex couples, an issue that continues to remain a taboo in India even after a year of its decriminalisation by the Supreme Court. Helmed by Hitesh Kewalya and produced by Bhushan Kumar, the film is the second installment of the much-acclaimed 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' film, which was released in 2017. It also features Neena Gupta, Garjraj Rao and Maanvi Gagroo in pivotal roles. The romantic comedy flick hit the theatres on February 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN refugee agency says rise in number of frequency of attacks has displaced more than 700,000 people in a year. More than 4,000 people are being forced to flee their homes daily in Burkina Faso as attacks on civilians by armed groups increase in number and frequency, the United Nations has warned. In a statement on Friday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said more than 700,000 people were displaced in the past 12 months, with an estimated 150,000 of them being uprooted in the last three weeks alone. People fleeing the violence report attacks on their villages by militant groups, killing, raping, pillaging. Terrified of these attacks, residents have left everything behind to find safety, the agency said. Most of the displaced people were now living in host communities, but the UNHCR was finding it difficult to assist them because access was problematic in some regions due to the insecure situation, spokesman Andrej Mahecic told a news briefing. Mahecic stressed that the situation in the Sahel region needs more attention, describing it as a crisis that is poorly known and poorly understood. Rise in violence Burkina Faso borders Mali to the northwest and Niger to the east, with all three Sahelian countries hit by a swiftly deteriorating security situation. Last month, the UN envoy for West Africa told the Security Council that attacks have increased fivefold in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger since 2016, with more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2019. Many parts of the Sahel that have seen the most fighting are severely underdeveloped. The multiple armed groups operating in the region, a semi-arid swathe of land beneath the Sahara, have exploited poverty as well as religious and ethnic divisions for recruitment. Meanwhile, the military campaigns by the ill-equipped national armies have also been marred by human rights abuses, which analysts say have pushed some civilians into the arms of fighters. The rise in violence in the Sahel has fed a feeling of increased insecurity among locals. The UNHCR said more than 4,400 refugees from Niger had arrived in Mali, fleeing a string of attacks in the Tillaberi and Tahoua regions, including an attack in early January. The refugees had found safety in the Malian towns of Anderamboukane and Menaka, where they joined another 7,700 displaced Malians in the same area. More people continue to cross the border between Niger and Mali, the agency said. Alarmed by the dramatic rise of forced displacement in the Sahel, UNHCR reiterates its call for the protection of civilian populations and those fleeing violence, the statement said, adding that humanitarians need safe access to deliver assistance. Civil society groups have opposed India's decision to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US on intellectual property rights (IPR). The groups want the contents of the MoU to be made public before its finalisation to ensure that India resists US demands to influence the implementation of India's IP legislations. The response comes in the backdrop of the reported decision of the Union Cabinet to approve the signing of the MoU ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit next week. In a letter to the stakeholder ministries and departments, the groups called for the rejection of any demand to provide 'TRIPS-plus' protection (IP rights in excess to what is required under the WTO laws) on patent rights through changes in IP administrative processes. It also asked for a halt on the unilateral move of the DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) to review India's IP legislations and make changes to tilt the balance towards rights of IP holders. Also read: President Trump to raise issue of religious freedom with PM Modi: White House "The proposed US-India Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Intellectual Property Rights (IP) for the exchange of knowledge and training of officials working in offices undertaking IP management in India is a matter of serious concern because the United States has been pressing India to make changes in its IP legislations, rules and procedures through the annual United States Trade Representative (USTR) Special 301 reports and is also interested in getting Indian IP management officials to opt for a stronger IP regime", the letter said. Also read: Westinghouse set to ink pact with Nuclear Power Corp of India for nuclear reactors during Trump visit The groups stated that India has been the target of USTR since the country chose to make use of all the flexibilities available in the TRIPS Agreement in its implementing legislations. "India's IP laws especially the Patents Act, Copyrights Act and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act contain robust public interest safeguards against the abuse of IP monopolies. The provisions in the Patents Act are considered as model law for other countries because these provisions curb the patenting of known molecules and provide effective remedies to prevent abuse of a patent monopoly through compulsory licensing. These public health provisions in the Patents Act are crucial for ensuring affordable generic medicines for the people", it pointed out. The groups termed the MoU as an attempt by the United States to use indirect methods such as training Indian patent examiners to dissuade them from implementing the public health safeguards in Indian patent law. "Any accommodation of a demand from the US to directly change laws or indirectly impact the implementation of the public interest provisions should be rejected outright", they said. They added that a strong IP regime favouring the patent holder will create changes in the form of extending the term of protection between patent and drug registration procedures and expand the scope of protectable subject matter through the IP officials implementing a liberal interpretation and granting approval for broader IP protection. The groups suspect that the bilateral arrangement, will allow the United States to get Indian IP management organizations strengthen its enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for combating IPR infringements through the introduction of specialized commercial courts to achieve a higher level of monopoly for US multinationals operating in the Indian market, for medicines, seeds, electronic designs and products of new and emerging technologies involving biotech, new materials and software. Also read: Not 'trade deal' but 'trade package' on the cards during Trump's India visit The signatories of the letter represents organisations like All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), National Working Group on Patent Laws and WTO, Campaign for Access to Medicines and Devices-India, Third World Network (India) and Drug Action Forum, Karnataka (DAF-K). The letter has been addressed to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, with copies to the ministers of health, chemicals and fertilizers and external affairs. Multiple conflicting judgments have only deepened the confusion rather than solving it. Citizenship conundrum has become a leitmotif of sorts in the country's news cycle as protests, political bickering and Twitter wars over the troika of Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register, consume reams of paper and hours on prime time broadcast. While this maintains the buzz on the citizenship debate, it has also deprived the controversy of its most needed ingredient: clarity. War of documents Talk about documents and anyone in India can bury you with loads of them starting from the humble birth certificate. For instance, when an individual seeks to open a new bank account, apart from the initial amount he or she intends to deposit, the individual will need a set of documents which will be regarded as "acceptable documents as proof of identity and proof of address" anywhere in the country (except in Jammu and Kashmir, North East and Assam Service Areas.) While documents like passport, arms licence, Aadhaar among others serve as both proof of identity and address simultaneously, documents like credit card statement (not older than last three months), water bill (not older than last three months), electricity bill (not older than last three months) etc. serve only as proof of address. Similarly, documents like a pensioner card having a photo, freedom fighter card having photo, Kissan passbook having photo etc. serve only as identity proof. Furnishing these documents may allow an individual to have a bank account open thereby fulfilling the Know Your Customer requirements but that does not necessarily and conclusively prove that the account holder is an Indian citizen. What happens when a foreigner wishes to open a bank account in India? He or she will have to furnish copies of the following documents to open the bank account: Valid foreign passport Valid Indian visa ( it should be a long term visa: valid for more than 182 days) Copy of Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) permit Overseas address proof Indian address proof Passport-size photograph Copy of PAN card or Form 60 They also need a letter from the employer or letter of the contract. For business visits, RBI approval may be needed. Although "valid foreign passport" tops the list to determine the country of origin or the citizenship of the applicant, it is ironic an Indian passport holder may be considered an Indian citizen abroad but may not be considered the same by dint of his or her passport within the country. While speaking to The New Indian Express, unnamed top government officials in a reported story said that "Aadhaar, voter ID card and passport are not citizenship documents". This came a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs in a tweet from its official handle on 20 December 2019 made it clear that "#Citizenship of India may be proved by giving any document relating to date of birth or place of birth or both." #Citizenship of India may be proved by giving any document relating to date of birth or place of birth or both. Such a list is likely to include a lot of common documents to ensure that no Indian citizen is unduly harassed or put to inconvenience.#CAA2019 10/n Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) December 20, 2019 An individual who got an Indian passport will definitely have the "date of birth or place of birth or both" on it which technically should prove the citizenship status unless the passport was obtained by fraudulent means. This itself is worrisome because either the application for a fresh passport or to renew an existing one invariably entails a police verification. When the NRC exercise was conducted in Assam, the first requirement was the collection of any one of the following documents issued before midnight of 24 March, 1971 where the name of self or ancestor appears (to prove residence in Assam up to midnight of 24th March, 1971). (1) 1951 NRC OR (2) Electoral Roll(s) up to 24th March 1971 (midnight) OR (3) Land & Tenancy Records OR (4) Citizenship Certificate OR (5) Permanent Residential Certificate OR (6) Refugee Registration Certificate OR (7) Passport OR (8) LIC OR (9) Any Govt. issued License/Certificate OR (10) Govt. Service/ Employment Certificate OR (11) Bank/Post Office Accounts OR (12) Birth Certificate OR (13) Board/University Educational Certificate OR (14) Court Records/Processes. In case, none of the above documents was of the applicant himself/herself but that of an ancestor like father or mother or grandfather or grandmother or great grandfather or great grandmother (and so on) of the applicant, the applicant was asked to submit the following documents to establish relationship with such ancestor, i.e., father or mother or grandfather or grandmother or great grandfather or great grandmother etc. whose name appears in the list above: (1) Birth Certificate OR (2) Land document OR (3) Board/University Certificate OR (4) Bank/LIC/Post Office records OR (5) Circle Officer/GP Secretary Certificate in case of married women OR (6) Electoral Roll OR (7) Ration Card OR (8) Any other legally acceptable document Courts adding to the confusion The courts have proved to be of little help when it comes to the question of determining citizenship. Multiple conflicting judgments have only deepened the confusion rather than solving it. According to LiveLaw, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Esplanade Court, AH Kashikar acquitted Abbas Shaikh and his wife Rabiya Khatoon Shaikh who were arrested by the Mumbai Police on suspicion of being 'Bangladeshi infiltrators'. The court held that an election card or voter ID card is sufficient proof of Indian citizenship as the person concerned got the EPIC number by filling up the Form 6 of Representation of the People Act by declaring himself/herself as an Indian citizen. The court, however, did note that Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving license or ration card cannot be used as proof of citizenship. Furthermore, not too long back in December last year, a magistrate court in Mumbai, held both the passport and the voter ID card as sufficient proof of citizenship. According to The Times of India, adjudicating in a case against Mohamed Mulla and Saiful who were arrested in 2017 on suspicion of being Bangladeshi infiltrators, the magistrate court held that the passport authorities verify the nationality and voter cards are issued after a declaration that the holder is a citizen of India. While the court said that the police failed to prove the documents including passports and voter ID cards submitted by the accused are forged, it made clear that documents such as "ration card, Aadhaar card and other identity cards are not enough to prove nationality". In both the judgments what stands out is the approach taken by both the courts with respect to the passport. While one court considers the passport as a document "to establish the origin of any person" (not citizenship), another court considers the same document as "sufficient to prove the nationality". Significantly, just a day before the aforementioned Esplanade Court judgment validating voter ID card as proof of citizenship, a Gauhati High Court division bench held a completely different view. The bench comprising justices Manojit Bhuyan and Parthivjyoti Saikia adjudicating on Munindra Biswas versus Union of India and 4 Others on 12 February said that an Electoral Photo Identity Card is not a conclusive proof of citizenship. Biswas had approached the high court challenging a 30 July 2019 order by the Foreigners Tribunal which had declared him a "foreigner". Apart from the EPIC, the petitioner had also submitted the voter lists of 1997 bearing his name, a registered sale deed of 1964 and a sale deed dated 23 April 1970. "Sale Deeds are private documents, therefore, they must be proved in accordance with law. In the case of Narbada Devi Gupta Vs. Birendra Kumar Jaiswal reported in (2003) 8 SSC 745, the Supreme Court has reiterated the legal position that marking of documents as exhibits and their proof are two different legal concepts. Mere production and marking of a document as exhibits cannot be held to be due proof of its contents. Its execution has to be proved by admissible evidence i.e., by the evidence of those persons who can vouch safe for the truth of the facts in issue," the high court said in its order. Biswas also failed to file voter lists prior to 1997 which proves that he has been staying in Assam prior to 25 March 1971, which is the cut-off date as per the Assam Accord. Clause 5.8 of the Assam Accord states: "Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law." The same division bench on the same day dismissed another writ petition WP(C) 7451/2019 by Jabeda Khatun who challenged the 31 May 2019 verdict in the F.T. Case No. 22/BAKSA/2018 by the Foreigners Tribunal "declaring her to be a foreigner of post 1971 stream". Khatun had submitted 15 documents before the Tribunal and filed her written statement claiming to be a citizen of India by birth. These documents are: 1) NRC details of Jabed Ali (her father); 2) The Voter Lists of 1966; 3) The Voter Lists of 1970; 4) A Land Revenue Paying Receipt; 5) The Voter Lists of 1997; 6) The Voter Lists of 2015; 7) A Land Revenue Paying Receipt; 8) Another Land Revenue Paying Receipt; 9) Another Land Revenue Paying Receipt; 10) Certificate of Gaon Bura certifying that Md. Jabed Ali is a permanent resident of Village No. 2 Dongergaon; 11) Another certificate of Village Gaon Bura certifying that the petitioner being the daughter of Lt. Jabed Ali was married to Rejak Ali; 12) A copy of Ration Card in the name of the petitioner; 13) The Bank Passbook; 14) The PAN Card of the petitioner; and 15) Another bank document of the petitioner The Tribunal rejected the certificates from the Gaon Buras (village headman) as they "are not entitled to issue certificate supporting the citizenship of a person". The Tribunal also rejected the bank passbook "on the ground that it has not been proved" and most importantly, "the Tribunal held that the petitioner failed to file documents linking herself with her projected parents". The high court in its judgment upheld the verdict of the Tribunal saying that the "certificates issued by a Village Gaon Bura can never be the proof of citizenship of a person" and that "such certificate can only be used by a married woman to prove that after her marriage, she had shifted to her matrimonial village [Rupjan Begum Vs. Union of India, reported in (2018) 1 SCC 579]." On 28 February 2017, a Gauhati High Court division bench of justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Rumi Kumari Phukan in the WP(C) No. 2634 of 2016 in the Manowara Bewa alias Manora Bewa vs Union of India and 3 Ors case had held that a certificate from the Gaon Panchayat Secretary "has no statutory sanctity, being beyond the mandate of the 1994 Act and the Rules framed thereunder." "We have already held that issuance of such certificates is contrary to the mandate of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, besides not being in the national interest," the court said. It further added: "Therefore, if a Gaon Panchayat Secretary issues such a certificate, it would at best be a private document. Being a private document, he will have to take full responsibility as to the contents of the certificate with all its attendant consequences. If a residency certificate issued by such Gaon Panchayat Secretary is disbelieved by a Foreigners Tribunal or by the High Court as in the present case and the certificate holder is declared to be a foreigner, the concerned Gaon Panchayat Secretary would run the risk of issuing such certificate to a person who has been declared to be a foreigner. Such an act may be construed to be an act of harbouring an illegal migrant, which may amount to a gross misconduct exposing himself to departmental action besides attracting penal consequences." However, on 5 December 2017, a Supreme Court bench comprising then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice RF Nariman set aside the above Gauhati High Court order and allowed the usage of such certificates only to establish legacy linkage between a married woman and her pre-marital family to enrol herself in the Assam NRC subject to proper verification. "We make it clear that the certificates issued by the GP Secretary/Executive Magistrate will however be acted upon only to establish a linkage between the holder of such certificate and the person(s) from whom legacy is being claimed. The certificate will be put to such limited use only if the contents of the certificate are found to be established on due and proper enquiry and verification," the Supreme Court judgment said limiting the use of such documents to specific purposes. "The certificate issued by the G.P. Secretary merely acknowledges the shifting of residence of a married woman from one village to another. The said certificate by itself and by no means establishes any claim of citizenship of the holder of the certificate.... The certificate issued by the G.P. Secretary, by no means, is proof of citizenship. Such proof will come only if the link between the claimant and the legacy person (who has to be a citizen) is established. The certificate has to be verified at two stages. The first is the authenticity of the certificate itself; and the second is the authenticity of the contents thereof," the Supreme Court said in the same judgment. Although the apex court dismissed the Gauhati High Court order on certificates issued by the Gaon Panchayat Secretary/Executive Magistrate, the other observations by the high court however stand. Referring to one of its earlier judgments, the Gauhati High Court said that "in Md. Babul Islam Vs. Union of India [WP(C)/3547/2016], (it) has already held that PAN Card and bank documents are not proof of citizenship." It also added that "land revenue paying receipts do not prove citizenship of a person" and that the "Tribunal has correctly appreciated the evidences placed before it and we could not find any perversity in the decision of the Tribunal". Lack of reference document that lists documents as legal proof of citizenship It is ironic that despite possessing numerous documents, there is hardly any guideline which can conclusively prove the Indian citizenship of an individual. It seems that these documents are perhaps appendage of one another depending upon the situation an individual is in. "There is no such law which says that these particular documents are proof of citizenship. Had there been legislation, then things would have been clear as to which documents are proof of citizenship and which are not. In India, no law has ever been drafted or passed on documents that can be constituted as proof of citizenship. So in a given case depending on the circumstances and various other factors and also the mentality of the judge is important on what he or she thinks about citizenship. In which court the case is going on is also important. Like in Mumbai there is not a huge problem of illegal infiltration. There may be cases here and there but that's not a threat. In Assam, there is definitely a perception of threat. So the perspective of the Gauhati High Court while adjudicating on a case will be different because documents like ration card, a voter ID card can be illegally obtained. In this context, the judgments of the Gauhati High Court considering the facts and circumstances are quite natural. Similarly, the judgments by the metropolitan courts in Mumbai are equally applicable because the city does not suffer from this threat perception when it comes to illegal Bangladesh nationals," senior Gauhati High Court lawyer Dipak Sarma told Firstpost. "Due to the lack of proper guidelines, the same document is once hailed as proof of citizenship but rejected in another case by the same court. In Assam, if an individual's name is part of a voter list prior to 1971 it is a proof of citizenship. When cases are filed in the Foreigners' Tribunals, the accused are needed to submit documents prior to 1971. If the accused submits the voter list of 2019 having his or her name at any court in Assam, the court won't accept it. Without standard guidelines, it is even confusing for a lawyer. It is high time now that certain documents are identified as proof of citizenship," the senior lawyer said. The sanctity of the voter list itself in Assam has compounded the problem even more. "There is no judgment till date which determines valid documents for citizenship. For instance, Gauhati High Court does not consider documents like passport, voter ID card etc. as proof of citizenship. In the context of Assam, documents like land deed, birth certificate are considered as evidence although the deposition by a witness is critical. Earlier in Assam if anyone could show their name in the voter list then the citizenship issue is resolved. But the problem now is there many illegal immigrants who have got their name included in the voter list. That's why the court only gives some importance if it gets nod from the Foreigners' Tribunal in Assam," said another Gauhati High Court advocate Santanu Borthakur. The question of citizenship has burgeoned so much that only hope is now from the Supreme Court. "There are loopholes in the government machinery which has led to this uncertainty and it cannot be the fault of the individual who has obtained a particular document. From the perspective of the Gauhati High Court, each and every name in the voter list can be suspicious. A list needs to published by the government or even by the court mentioning the specific documents. In view of the contradicting judgments by various metropolitan and high courts, it is now time for the apex court to step in and provide with a set of guidelines as to which documents are admissible as proof of citizenship. For Assam, the Supreme Court should remember the cut-off year of 1971 for any such guidelines," Sarma said. Without proper guidelines, it is evident that resolving the citizenship row is nothing but a Sisyphean endeavour. "There is indeed a need for guidelines as the citizenship issue has been gradually emerging as a contentious issue. In the absence of such guidelines, such conflicting judgments will continue to come even in the future. When there are conflicting judgments it is the judgment of the higher court that should ideally prevail. Although many cases from the Gauhati High Court has gone to the Supreme Court till date, the apex court has so far only adjudicated on the validity of individual verdicts but has not come up with any guidelines on documents that can be considered as proof of citizenship," said Borthakur. Judiciary risks erosion of trust Apart from the confusion, it is also the faith of the people in the judiciary that is shaken when no definite solution emerges to problems that actually deals with an individual's identity. "There is a possibility that due to political influence or government intervention the judgments are conflicting many a time. What will the common people do in this scenario? The common people always look up to the judiciary for the protection of their rights. If the judiciary itself is not consistent with its views how will the common people retain their trust in the judiciary? Judiciary is called independent because it can put a check on the political motives of the government. These inconsistencies will ultimately erode the faith of the people both in the legislative and judiciary. The government is making this whole controversy so big that the people are engrossed with things like which document proves citizenship. They get diverted from their actual work to scrutinise the performance of the government for which it was actually voted for. When an individual is busy fixing his or her identity crisis, he or she will have no time to check what the government has done for his or her welfare," said Jintu Gohain, assistant professor of Political Science, Royal Global University, Guwahati. There are so many people in the country who have lived in India since their birth, whose ancestors might have lived here since ages but they can now only be Indian by spirit and not by documents. The absence of a basic norm for determining citizenship has led to a political fiefdom in the country for different parties only to proselytize them for political dividends. It is time the judiciary and the legislative get down to brass tacks and build a guard rail through a set of norms that can act as standard-bearer to protect bona fide citizens from losing their citizenship. Or, should we say wrongly include one! China has had a setback in its infrastructure building along the Mekong River after Thailand cancelled a project on the vital Southeast Asian waterway. But observers say that without more coordination between downstream countries, Chinas influence in the region will continue to go unchallenged. In a win for locals and activists concerned about the ecosystem and their livelihoods, Thailands cabinet called off the Lancang-Mekong Navigation Channel Improvement Project also known as the Mekong rapids blasting project along its border with Laos. Proposed back in 2000, the project aimed to blast and dredge parts of the Mekong riverbed to remove rapids so that it could be used by cargo ships, creating a link from Chinas southwestern province of Yunnan to ports in Thailand, Laos and the rest of Southeast Asia. But it drew strong opposition from local communities along the river and environmentalists, who feared it would destroy the already fragile ecosystem and would only benefit Chinese. The decision two weeks ago came as a prolonged drought has seen the river drop to its lowest levels in 100 years, depleting fish stocks in downstream communities. The Jinghong Hydropower Station in Yunnan province is one of several China has built on the Mekong River. Photo: Xinhua The 4,800km Mekong, which is known as the Lancang in China, flows from the Tibetan plateau through six nations to the South China Sea. Its biologically diverse habitats provide livelihoods for river communities and a food source for 80 per cent of the 60 million people living in mainland Southeast Asia. Beijing has long seen the Mekong basin as a gateway to the Indian Ocean and beyond, as it seeks to reduce reliance on the Strait of Malacca trade route. To this end, it set up the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) grouping in 2015, with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Part of Beijings global trade and infrastructure scheme, the Belt and Road Initiative, a flurry of new roads, railways, ports and hydropower plants have been built as a result of this grouping most of which are supported by Chinese money, technology and workers. Story continues Chinas dam-building programme along the drought-hit Mekong has been controversial, but Beijing has firmly defended its activities. Speaking at an LMC meeting in Vientiane on Thursday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was a lack of rain, not Chinas dam projects, that had caused the drought. He said the six countries had agreed to boost cooperation to ensure the rational and sustainable use of water resources, and that China would consider sharing water information to assist these efforts. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a lack of rain, not Chinas dam projects, had caused the drought. Photo: Xinhua Gary Lee, the Southeast Asia programme director for International Rivers, an NGO based in California, said the Thai decision was a welcome development. It could signal a shift in how downstream nations deal with Chinas ambitions to develop the waterway that drives their economies, he said. The LMC is an intergovernmental mechanism linked to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, and as such has very limited space for the public to engage or to have a say over decisions affecting the river system, Lee said. Projects identified and financed through the [belt and road] have often been characterised by lack of transparency and limited opportunities for meaningful public participation, he said. A shift in approach and priorities is badly needed. Days after the rapids blasting project was called off, the Chinese embassy in Bangkok sent a diplomat to the northeastern province of Loei, which borders Laos across the Mekong River. The diplomat, Yang Yang, told local politicians and media that Beijing had paid great attention to the drought in the region and had taken special measures and increased the release of water from its dams along the river in January, according to the embassys website. Observers said drought relief would be high on the agenda in negotiations between downstream countries and China, but they did not expect any substantial response to the water crisis in the near future partly because those nations did not have a united position. Beijing treats the Mekong much like its treated other Chinese rivers with an engineering approach to basin development that promotes regulating the so-called wild nature of the Mekong, said Brian Eyler, director of the Stimson Centres Southeast Asia programme. The Mekongs ecosystem has built-in resilience to extreme drought like the one currently unfolding ... but previous extreme droughts were not exacerbated by the impacts of more than 100 upstream dams that block water, fish and sediment flows on the Mekong tributaries and mainstream, he said. I have yet to see Beijing or anyone with power in China treat the Mekong as the Mekong should be treated. Work on a mega hydropower dam near Luang Prabang in Laos is expected to begin later this year. Photo: Reuters Chinas enthusiasm for building dams appears to be increasingly shared by downstream countries, particularly landlocked Laos. The poorest nation in the region, it has, with the help of China, ramped up dam construction as it seeks to become the battery of Southeast Asia by exporting power to its neighbours. Laos plans to build 72 large dams across the country, including two that were completed in the past four months. Unlike the South China Sea dispute which impinges on broader security issues in the region like freedom of navigation and access to fisheries, the Mekong involves countries that have become more economically interdependent with China, with some also harbouring their own plans to dam the Mekong and its tributaries for power, said Pichamon Yeophantong, an expert with the UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy. So while we might hear concerns being voiced by downstream countries now, it is likely that these will gradually die down until the next severe drought or floods. Moreover, with the impacts of climate change on the Mekong River still not fully understood, it is also difficult to officially apportion most or all of the blame to Chinese dams, she said. There has been speculation that Vietnam the most outspoken critic of Beijings activities in the South China Sea could take the lead in coordinating efforts to push for change on Chinese dam building in the Mekong when it takes over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations chairmanship this year. But the signs are not good, with Vietnam facing severe power shortages endorsing a US$2.3 billion mega hydropower dam near Luang Prabang in Laos. Work on the project is expected to begin later this year, and PV Power, a subsidiary of state-owned PetroVietnam, reportedly has a 38 per cent stake in it. Carla Freeman, director of the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, was concerned that even if there were coordinated efforts, it may be too late. What is needed is cooperation for better Mekong governance involving all Mekong countries, she said. I worry that the damming frenzy under way in the region means that whatever may be done could be too little too late. 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 Thailand nixed Chinas Mekong River blasting project. Will others push back? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Ranchi, Feb 22 : Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi is likely to be elected the legislative party leader of the BJP on February 24, sources said. "A meeting of party legislators has been called on February 24 to elect the legislative party leader," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jharkhand unit general secretary Deepak Prakash told IANS. All the legislators have been asked to be present on February 24 at the BJP headquarters in Ranchi for the election. BJP sources say that the legislators' meeting is a mere formality. Babulal Marandi, who has rejoined the saffron party, is all set to be elected the legislative party leader. The election will take place in the presence of central BJP leader P. Murlidhar Rao. After getting elected as the legislative party leader, Marandi will become the Leader of Opposition. Marandi returned to the BJP after 14 years in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on February 17. After Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, Marandi had become the first Chief Minister of the state. Marandi was seen as a leader with a clean image. He is also known for his fight against Maoists. The Maoists killed Marandi's son in 2007 in Giridih district. Marandi as Chief Minister worked on improving the condition of roads and road connectivity, especially in the rural areas. He, however, failed to keep the BJP's allies together, who revolted against him and forced him to resign in March 2003 leading to the elevation of Arjun Munda as Chief Minister. Marandi quit the BJP just after the fall of the Arjun Munda government in 2006 and floated the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P). A partial truce marking a potential turning point in Afghanistan's gruelling war appeared to be holding Saturday, with only isolated attacks threatening to mar a process that drew jubilant civilians across the shattered country onto streets to celebrate. The Taliban, US and Afghan forces have all agreed to a so-called "reduction in violence", marking only the second lull in fighting since the US-led invasion of 2001. "It is the first morning that I go out without the fear of being killed by a bomb or suicide bomber. I hope it continues forever," Kabul taxi driver Habib Ullah said, while in other parts of the country people danced in the streets after the truce kicked in at midnight. However in Balkh province in the north, Taliban fighters attacked a district headquarters near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing two Afghan soldiers, a local official told AFP. There were also reports of a separate incident in central Uruzgan province. General Scott Miller, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, did not directly address those incidents, but stressed that Western forces would continually monitor the situation. "We've stopped our offensive operations as part of our obligations," Miller told reporters. In the event of any breaches of the truce, Miller said the US would communicate with the Taliban through various channels set up in Doha, where the insurgents have a political office. "As more days go on we will have a better understanding of what trends are," Miller said. "Very clearly this is a conditional effort, this is a trial period." The partial truce is expected to set the conditions for Washington and the insurgents to sign a deal in Doha on February 29 that could, ultimately, pull US troops out after more than 18 years and launch war-weary Afghanistan into an uncertain future. A successful week would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing. It also gives a much-needed respite to civilians, who have long borne the brunt of the bloody conflict. The UN's Afghanistan mission said Saturday that more than 10,000 people had been killed or wounded in the war in 2019 alone. In Kandahar in the south, considered the Taliban heartland, and the eastern province of Jalalabad, dozens of Afghans could be seen dancing the attan -- a traditional Pashtun dance -- in the streets in celebration overnight. In Kabul, which for years now has been one of the deadliest places in the country for civilians, those who spoke to AFP were more wary. Shopkeeper Emamuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, said Afghans want peace "whatever it takes". "A week of no violence will pass in a blink of the eye," he said. "They should find a long-lasting solution for this country's problem." - Dangerous moment - Details of how exactly the reduction in violence will work have remained scant. The US has said there is an "understanding" for a "significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan", while Afghan security forces will remain "on active defence status" during the week. Highlighting the partial nature of the truce, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stressed it was "not a ceasefire". "The reduction in violence covers provincial capitals, army HQs, divisions, battalion centres and foreign forces compounds," he said on Twitter. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Since the US invasion in 2001 there has only been one other pause in the fighting -- a surprise three-day ceasefire between the Taliban and Kabul marking the religious festival of Eid in 2018. Afghans responded joyfully, with Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians hugging, sharing ice creams and posing for selfies in previously unimaginable scenes. Perhaps in a bid to avoid such scenes, the Taliban have instructed their fighters to stay away from government-controlled areas during the truce, but a senior Afghan security official said the insurgents would be welcome with "open arms". Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal which would see it initially reduce troop levels from approximately 12-13,000 to an expected total of about 8,600. In return, the Taliban would give security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. Conflict in Afghanistan has forced hundreds of thousands of Afghans to flee into neighbouring Pakistan, where they are monitoring developments in their homeland closely. "I am hopeful the peace agreement will bring peace in Afghanistan and we will be able to return," said Amir Khan, a father of six who fled Afghanistan 35 years ago and now lives in Peshawar on the Pakistani side of the border. "We were not given any chance to become Pakistanis, so better to return to our origin." Peace activists gather in Kandahar to celebrate the partial truce, a potentially historic turning point in the war US troop deployment and death toll in Afghanistan since 2001 The partial truce marks a historic step in more than 18 years of gruelling conflict in Afghanistan Washington has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year On April 13, 2029, an icy chunk of space rock, wider than the Eiffel Tower is tall, will streak by Earth at 30 kilometers per second, grazing the planet's sphere of geostationary satellites. It will be the closest approach by one of the largest asteroids crossing Earth's orbit in the next decade. Observations of the asteroid, known as 99942 Apophis, for the Egyptian god of chaos, once suggested that its 2029 flyby would take it through a gravitational keyhole -- a location in Earth's gravity field that would tug the asteroid's trajectory such that on its next flyby, in the year 2036, it would likely make a devastating impact. Thankfully, more recent observations have confirmed that the asteroid will sling by Earth without incident in both 2029 and 2036. Nevertheless, most scientists believe it is never too early to consider strategies for deflecting an asteroid if one were ever on a crash course with our home planet. Now MIT researchers have devised a framework for deciding which type of mission would be most successful in deflecting an incoming asteroid. Their decision method takes into account an asteroid's mass and momentum, its proximity to a gravitational keyhole, and the amount of warning time that scientists have of an impending collision -- all of which have degrees of uncertainty, which the researchers also factor in to identify the most successful mission for a given asteroid. The researchers applied their method to Apophis, and Bennu, another near-Earth asteroid which is the target of OSIRIS-REx, an operational NASA mission that plans to return a sample of Bennu's surface material to Earth in 2023. REXIS, an instrument designed and built by students at MIT, is also part of this mission and its task is to characterize the abundance of chemical elements at the surface. In a paper appearing this month in the journal Acta Astronautica, the researchers use their decision map to lay out the type of mission that would likely have the most success in deflecting Apophis and Bennu, in various scenarios in which the asteroids may be headed toward a gravitational keyhole. They say the method could be used to design the optimal mission configuration and campaign to deflect a potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroid. advertisement "People have mostly considered strategies of last-minute deflection, when the asteroid has already passed through a keyhole and is heading toward a collision with Earth," says Sung Wook Paek, lead author of the study and a former graduate student in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. "I'm interested in preventing keyhole passage well before Earth impact. It's like a preemptive strike, with less mess." Paek's co-authors at MIT are Olivier de Weck, Jeffrey Hoffman, Richard Binzel, and David Miller. Deflecting a planet-killer In 2007, NASA concluded in a report submitted to the U.S. Congress that in the event that an asteroid were headed toward Earth, the most effective way to deflect it would be to launch a nuclear bomb into space. The force of its detonation would blast the asteroid away, though the planet would then have to contend with any nuclear fallout. The use of nuclear weapons to mitigate asteroid impacts remains a controversial issue in the planetary defense community. The second best option was to send up a "kinetic impactor" -- a spacecraft, rocket, or other projectile that, if aimed at just the right direction, with adequate speed, should collide with the asteroid, transfer some fraction of its momentum, and veer it off course. advertisement "The basic physics principle is sort of like playing billiards," Paek explains. For any kinetic impactor to be successful, however, de Weck, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics and engineering systems, says the properties of the asteroid, such as its mass, momentum, trajectory, and surface composition must be known "as precisely as possible." That means that, in designing a deflection mission, scientists and mission managers need to take uncertainty into account. "Does it matter if the probability of success of a mission is 99.9 percent or only 90 percent? When it comes to deflecting a potential planet-killer, you bet it does," de Weck says. "Therefore we have to be smarter when we design missions as a function of the level of uncertainty. No one has looked at the problem this way before." Closing a keyhole Paek and his colleagues developed a simulation code to identify the type of asteroid deflection mission that would have the best possibility of success, given an asteroid's set of uncertain properties. The missions they considered include a basic kinetic impactor, in which a projectile is shot into space to nudge an asteroid off course. Other variations involved sending a scout to first measure the asteroid to hone the specs of a projectile that would be sent up later, or sending two scouts, one to measure the asteroid and the other to push the asteroid slightly off course before a larger projectile is subsequently launched to make the asteroid miss Earth with near certainty. The researchers fed into the simulation specific variables such as the asteroid's mass, momentum, and trajectory, as well as the range of uncertainty in each of these variables. Most importantly, they factored in an asteroid's proximity to a gravitational keyhole, as well as the amount of time scientists have before an asteroid passes through the keyhole. "A keyhole is like a door -- once it's open, the asteroid will impact Earth soon after, with high probability," Paek says. The researchers tested their simulation on Apophis and Bennu, two of only a handful of asteroids for which the locations of their gravitational keyholes with respect to Earth are known. They simulated various distances between each asteroid and their respective keyhole, and also calculated for each distance a "safe harbor" region where an asteroid would have to be deflected so that it would avoid both an impact with Earth and passing through any other nearby keyhole. They then evaluated which of the three main mission types would be most successful at deflecting the asteroid into a safe harbor, depending on the amount of time scientists have to prepare. For instance, if Apophis will pass through a keyhole in five years or more, then there is enough time to send two scouts -- one to measure the asteroid's dimensions and the other to nudge it slightly off track as a test -- before sending a main impactor. If keyhole passage occurs within two to five years, there may be time to send one scout to measure the asteroid and tune the parameters of a larger projectile before sending the impactor up to divert the asteroid. If Apophis passes through its keyhole within one Earth year or less, Paek says it may be too late. "Even a main impactor may not be able to reach the asteroid within this timeframe," Paek says. Bennu is a similar case, although scientists know a bit more about its material composition, which means that it may not be necessary to send up investigatory scouts before launching a projectile. With the team's new simulation tool, Peak plans to estimate the success of other deflection missions in the future. "Instead of changing the size of a projectile, we may be able to change the number of launches and send up multiple smaller spacecraft to collide with an asteroid, one by one. Or we could launch projectiles from the moon or use defunct satellites as kinetic impactors," Paek says. "We've created a decision map which can help in prototyping a mission." This research was supported, in part, by NASA, Draper, and the Samsung Foundation of Culture. The writer, of Omaha, represents District 4 in the Nebraska Legislature. For schoolchildren in Iowa and those in the Lincoln Public Schools, policies regarding lap and shoulder belts for all passengers on school buses are becoming a reality. However, for the majority of Nebraska children who are transported in big yellow buses across our state, we have yet to act. The issue of requiring lap and shoulder belts on all new school buses is not a new issue to the Legislature. Since the tragic Seward school bus accident in 2001, bills have been introduced to add seat belts to school buses seven times, three of them by me. The closest any of them got to the finish line was in 2008 when the bill advanced with 33 votes on the first round of debate but did not advance any further. The other six bills have been consistently held up in committee. In the early years of this debate, much of the opposition centered on the assertion that compartmentalization keeps children safe enough. That design concept involves using tall seat backs, padded with energy-absorbing construction covering all metal parts, and spacing that is closer than typically found in passenger vehicles. Tourists in traditional Korean hanbok dress wear face masks as they visit at Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul on Jan 30, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Jung Yeon-Je) This is the highest number of people infected outside of China. On Friday afternoon, a total of 100 new cases were confirmed with 85 of them connected to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu. The mayor of Daegu - South Korea's fourth-biggest city, with a population of over 2.5 million - has advised locals to stay indoors, while access to a major US military base in the area has been restricted. The new coronavirus started in the Chinese city of Wuhan but has since spread to more than 25 countries. Globally more than 2,000 people have died from the disease and more than 76,000 people have tested positive, the vast majority in China. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 23:48:19|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Some members of the China-World Health Organization (WHO) joint expert team traveled to Wuhan Saturday to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Health Commission said. The experts will have discussions with Wuhan's health authorities and visit medical and health institutions, the commission said. The joint expert team began its work in China on Feb. 16 and has finished investigation in Beijing, Guangdong Province and Sichuan Province. One of the funniest scenes in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (SMZS) is set in a wedding. The patriarch of the Tripathi family, Shankar (Gajraj Rao) gets into a passive-aggressive dance-off with Kartik (Ayushmann Khurrana) after he discovers his son Aman (Jitendra Kumar) is gay and in love with Kartik. Despite moves that look vaguely like a bad Bruce Lee impersonator attempting Bharatnatyam, Shankar does succeed in pushing Kartik on to the backfoot (literally) and Kartik stumbles. A furious Aman helps Kartik to his feet and throwing caution to the winds, fits his lips to Kartiks. Panicked by this act of homoerotic rebellion, Shankar turns to his younger brother Chaman (Manu Rishi Chadha) and tells him to do something dammit. Chaman flounders for a moment and then takes off his shiny jacket and drapes it over the kissing pair, thus recreating the poster of Aashiqui because in India, when you need to fool yourself into thinking all is well with the world when it patently is not, the first port of call is Bollywood. The second is religious ritual, and so Chaman throws himself upon the altar of Sanskrit and starts reciting shlokas. With Pavlovian efficiency, everyone else in the gathering joins in because there is no band-aid more effective than a bogus Hindu ritual when youre in Uttar Pradesh. When the kiss continues beyond the length of the mantras, Shankars wife Sunaina (Neena Gupta) introduces the third comfort to tortured conservatism tradition. In the Tripathi family, this is a thing they do, she says, smiling shinily. Theyre not kissing, she explains, but trying to find the elaichi in the other persons mouth. Obviously, none of this is realistic, but it is funny and nestled in its elaichi-flavoured absurdity are a host of uncomfortable truths that we rarely examine. Written and directed by Hitesh Kewalya, SMZS doesnt always get this balance between ridiculous artifice and genuine insight, but for most part, the film walks that tightrope with flair. Following the tradition revived by Dum Laga ke Haisha, once again we have a madcap family in a small town in Uttar Pradesh and a diffident hero with daddy issues who is forced to adult when he falls in love. Only in SMZS, the love interest is a man. Kewalya is keenly aware of every Bollywood cliche that he deploys in SMZS. Gift-wrapped in quick-fire dialogues, theyre devices to hold the audiences attention while lulling it into feeling comfortable, rather than challenged. The hope is that the audience will be entertained in the present and nudged into introspection in the future. That itll strike you afterwards that although this is a film about men and manliness, SMZS has some great women characters. Then, while thinking to yourself that you know so many women who are loud-mouthed and bossy like the Tripathis, maybe youll wonder whether the real women have more agency than the reel women. Because for all their volume, the Tripathi women are rendered ineffective by a social and familial hierarchy that forces them into subservience. The sight of Amans cousin Goggle (Maanvi Gagroo) defiantly riding a white horse into the dark night, dressed not in shining armour but a shinier-than-armour lehenga, may have the audience cheering, but Goggle returns bedraggled, without her steed and filled with more rage than before because her family privileged the lost son over the lost daughter. Sunaina cant be Mother India because as a married woman (never forget the gun-toting Mother India was a widow) she has only as much authority as her husband will grant her. She can only plead with the men and hope they will listen (spoiler: They dont). Tucked into the absurdities, cliches and illogical details of SMZS is an unforgiving and unflattering portrait of patriarchy. The film isnt only about homophobia. By the end of the film, rather than Kartik and Amans love story, its the hollow comfort of Shankar and Sunainas marriage that stays with you. Kewalya holds out no sop that the older couples relationship will change after the upheavals it faces, and that really is the point. For all the fights and the heartbreak, what remains unchanged is the normal made up of truisms like marriage is a compromise, feelings of inadequacy, gender inequality, and a deep-rooted conviction that misery is our lot. Unless, of course, you take a leaf out of Goggle, Aman and Kartiks lives, and be a little extra. Behind the headlines about Brexit, a counter-revolution has quietly occurred in Britain in recent years. Its reverberations seemed certain to reach beyond the English Channel when last week the guillotine unexpectedly came down on Sajid Javid, the Chancellor of the British Exchequer. Javid, a devotee of the libertarian philosopher Ayn Rand and alumnus of Deutsche Bank, was edged out of Boris Johnson's Cabinet largely because he seemed too much a foot soldier of the ideological revolution that occurred in the 1980s in, first, Britain, and then, the United States. In that upheaval, the hyper-individualist free-marketeering of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan became dominant across the West. Thatcher aimed to "roll back the frontiers of the state." Her ideological kin Ronald Reagan claimed that "government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." In this view, the primary, if not the only, legitimate economic role of the government is to guarantee price stability rather than to intervene repeatedly to stem inequality and protect the weakest members of the population. Today, however, many citizens buffeted by global economic headwinds have come to see government yet again as a necessary player in the national economy. Javid is actually the latest casualty of the counter-revolutionary urge to overthrow obsolete pieties. The much bigger victims have been left-leaning parties across Europe, such as the Labour Party, the creator of Britain's welfare state. Rebranded as New Labour under Tony Blair, it embraced Thatcherism - to the point where Thatcher identified Blair as her heir. During its 13 years in power, New Labour pushed through Thatcher-style deregulation and privatization, often disguising it through "public-private partnerships." Failing to check de-industrialization, or rising social inequality, New Labour started to lose the party's traditional working-class base in the manufacturing and mining districts of North England. Claiming to be Blair's "true heir," the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron, together with his Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne, more aggressively advanced policies of "austerity" that further shrunk the remnants of the welfare state. The eventual outcome of Thatcherism on steroids was Brexit: a furious rejection by Britain's working class of a long ideological status quo that seemed to benefit only a rich metropolitan minority. An early beneficiary of the anti-establishment mood was Jeremy Corbyn, who, in elections held one year after the Brexit referendum, dramatically increased his party's vote share. Corbyn belonged to the marginalized left wing of the Labour Party, which had always seen the European Union (EU) as an enforcer of free-market fundamentalism, drastically constraining the British state's ability to intervene in the economy. Accepting that Brexit had to get done, Corbyn offered in his popular election manifesto of 2017 a bonanza of spending promises. The manifesto was pathbreaking not only because it broke with the Thatcherite orthodoxy of non-intervention that for decades had prevailed inside the Labour Party. It was extraordinary also because the Conservative party, traditionally representatives of big business and the landed aristocracy, rushed to imitate Corbyn's rhetoric, and to disown Thatcherism, claiming in own manifesto that "we do not believe in untrammeled free markets" and that "we reject the cult of selfish individualism." "She has even adopted," the Economist complained of the then-British Prime Minister Theresa May, "Labour's 'Marxist' policy of energy-price caps." In last year's elections, the Conservative Party under Johnson competed even more fiercely with Labour to offer spending plans (much to the despair of orthodox economists and balanced-budget diehards). Johnson carefully distanced himself from his posh Tory pals, such pro-EU architects of austerity as Cameron and Osborne. He promised to use Brexit to re-engineer British laws in favor of British people. He even abandoned an earlier promise to cut corporation tax from 19% to 17%. Johnson, closely identified all his life with Tory free-marketeers, was responding to an altered public mood. According to a recent British Social Attitudes survey, 60 percent support more government spending. As it turned out, Johnson's gamble succeeded. While the London-based leadership of the Labour party strove futilely for a second referendum on Brexit, many of its lifelong voters in the Northern England lent their support to a party that seemed more capable of extracting Britain from the EU and turning on the spending taps. Johnson is moving fast to please his new and potentially fickle constituency, nationalizing Northern Rail and increasing public spending. Sajid Javid, with his tattered copy of The Fountainhead, clearly stood in his boss's (and neighbor's) way, insisting that Britain should run a balanced budget by 2023. Javid's replacement, Rishi Sunak, a hurriedly promoted Johnson loyalist, has no such constricting goal. As a political insider told the Financial Times about the new occupants of Downing Street: "It wasn't a question of what they wanted to spend more money on; it was more a question of whether there was anything they didn't want to spend more money on." Johnson is, of course, an opportunist; and his actual ability to spend, already limited, may shrink even more by the time Brexit gets done. Moreover, he has barely started on his impossible task: triangulating the clashing demands of rich Tory grandees and North England's immiserated working class. Nevertheless, the political alignments and re-alignments of the last three decades are now in plain sight. During the ideological hegemony of Reagan and Thatcher, left-leaning parties with electoral bases among working classes moved right - or, to the "center," in their preferred euphemism. One unexpected outcome of this shift is that, today, they appear complicit in extensive social and economic breakdown. Worse: Their founding ideas about beneficent government, which they have steadily discarded since the 1980's, are being stolen by carpetbaggers and the far-right. Indeed, Boris Johnson's success in the UK could be paralleled by Marine Le Pen in France. Presidential elections are due in two years, and Le Pen, pitted against a weakened Emmanuel Macron (hailed early and fatefully in his tenure as the "French Blair") is surging on the back of her promise to deepen the activist role of the state in the national economy. France may witness in 2022 what has already occurred in Britain: a counter-revolution that sends both free-marketeers and self-proclaimed "centrists" to the guillotine. - - - This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Pankaj Mishra is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. His books include "Age of Anger: A History of the Present," "From the Ruins of Empire: The Intellectuals Who Remade Asia," and "Temptations of the West: How to Be Modern in India, Pakistan, Tibet and Beyond." President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi. President Ilham Aliyev hailed the results of his state visit to Italy. Noting that more than 25 documents were signed during the visit, the head of state underlined that Azerbaijan and Italy were strategic partners. The strategic partnership will cover all areas of our cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev said that the meetings held during the visit were very fruitful. The head of state noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Italy were at a high level. The President pointed out that cultural cooperation and inter-city relations between Azerbaijan and Italy were also developing, adding that Baku and Naples were declared sister cities in 1972. A monument to great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi was unveiled in Villa Borghese park in Rome in 2012. The Azerbaijani Cultural Center will also open in Rome. The Azerbaijani President stressed that a declaration to be signed between Baku and Rome would create wide opportunities for developing relations between the two countries` cities, adding that there was similar cooperation among other cities of the two countries. Mayor Virginia Raggi thanked Azerbaijan for its support for archaeological excavations in Rome. She emphasized that they intended to continue cooperation between the cities of Baku and Rome. The mayor also underlined that numerous events would also be held in Rome as Italy declared 2020 as the Year of Azerbaijani Culture. Following the meeting, the head of state and the mayor viewed the remains of an ancient site in Rome. The head of state signed the guest book of the Mayor's Office. The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Mayor's Office of Rome signed an agreement during the official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy in July, 2014, providing for the allocation of funds for archaeological excavations in the area of the Mercati di Traiano museum. The head of state was informed of the works carried out here. It was noted that very important historical and archaeological discoveries were found during the excavations. The discoveries were presented to President Ilham Aliyev. It was stated that the residents of Rome praised the work done under the agreement and archaeological discoveries. Then the Declaration of Cooperation was signed between the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve and the Mayor's Office of Rome witnessed by President Ilham Aliyev. The document was signed by Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22.02.2020 LISTEN Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, who is sitting on the case involving the former Ghana Cocoa Board boss, Dr. Stephen Opuni and businessman, Seidu Agongo, has sparked social media rage over his declaration of support for President Akufo-Addo, during his tour of the Oti and Volta regions. The Opuni case, has been cited among the cases the Akufo-Addo government is prosecuting against appointees of John Dramani Mahama, as a testimony of the corruption which existed under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. The Court of Appeal judge, who is presiding over the case as additional High Court Judge, had declared support for President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in his capacity asthe Paramount Chief of the Nyagbo Traditional Area, Torgbui Ashui Nyagasi V. But it is becoming increasingly difficult for some people to separate his traditional role and authority, from his professional duties as a judge, which requires him to be neutral and apolitical. The state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper, had quoted him as calling on Ghanaians to give President Akufo-Addo, another term to implement his vision for the country. We wish to congratulate you for the excellent manner you are governing this dear country of ours, it is our hope that with your vision and the gains made in your first term, Ghanaians may consider giving you another four years, he stated. Torgbui Nyagasi, who made the call at a durbar of chiefs and people of Nyagbo to welcome the President, as part of his three-day tour of the Volta and Oti regions, also implored the President to ensure that the forthcoming elections on December 7, 2020, were peaceful. The newspaper, continued that Torgbui Nyagasi, courted the President on the tourism potential of the area which he said, were embedded in several natural wonders. He said, the district had waterfalls, ancestral caves, monkey sanctuary, among other sites that could be developed to generate more revenue for the country. He stated that the governments blueprint for the Year of Return which greatly enhanced tourism, economic gains among others, could be used to develop tourism in the district. Many social media commentators, could not come to terms with Torgbui Nyagasis comments in favour of the President and they took to Facebook to express their views. Torgbui Nyagasis younger brother, is presently the Rector of Ho Technical University (HTU). Prof Ben. Q. Honyenuga, was appointment by the governing board of the University, despite concerns and protests from some lecturers of the school which led to investigations by Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and other bodies in charge of tertiary education in Ghana. Meanwhile, there are reports that he and other Judges, Justice Tanko and Private Legal Practitioner, Yoni Kulendi, are being considered for Supreme Court appointments by the government. Those who know him well, reveal he is a known friend of Justice Jones Dotse, one of the Supreme Court judges, recently considered the vacant Chief Justice position until Justice Anim Yeboah was preferred by President Akufo-Addo over him. Responding to Torgbui Nyagasis comments at the durbar, President Akufo-Addo, gave an assurance that the government would ensure that the 2020 general election, would be conducted in a free and fair environment. I want to assure you that the circumstances that made previous elections peaceful, free and fair are going to be present in this years election, he assured the people. He noted that, Ghana had a good reputation for holding free and fair elections which had seen the successful change in governments for the past 27 years. Nothing is going to disturb the peace and stability of our country this year. We are going to have a clean election this year. The winner will be the winner and the loser will be the loser, he stated. Touching on the request for the tourist sites to be developed in the area, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that, the Afadjato South District, was one of the most endowed tourist sites in the country. He said, the government would pay attention to develop the tourism sites, as well as the roads as outlined by the Minister of Roads and Highways. The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said the Free SHS policy, was going to put the country on the right path to development such as South Korea. If God didnt want women leaders He wouldnt anoint them, preacher who ordained 6 daughters says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Pentecostal pastor in Michigan who ordained his six daughters as ministers earlier this month says if God didnt want women to be leaders in the church, he wouldnt anoint them. Responding to questions from The Christian Post about his decision to ordain his daughters as ministers while some denominations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, oppose having women in leadership roles, apostle Keith Barr of Keith Barr Ministries, said he is not going to argue with the Holy Spirit on the issue. The Bible says in the last days, in Acts, it shall come to pass that Ill pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, old men shall dream dreams. Young men shall see visions, he said. This is a time when were experiencing a massive outpouring around the world and God is using men and women. So the people that would argue, I would tell them, if the Holy Spirit does not want women to be in leadership, then He shouldnt anoint them, Barr said. If that was true [women should not be leaders in the church,] then He wouldnt anoint them, he reiterated, pointing to influential female evangelists such as Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of The Foursquare Church that has more than 8.8 million members in over 90,000 churches across 146 nations. He also pointed to his own mother, Patricia Barr, who after giving her life to God in 1963 went on to start the Revival Center in Pontiac, Michigan, in March 1980 with pastor Barr, her eldest son. She led the independent Pentecostal ministry until she died in 2005, leaving her son at the helm. My mother was a powerful woman of God. God used her mightily and the spirit of God would come over her so strong in the service and sometimes the Spirit would make my mother shout and dance. And my mother could dance her way through a minefield, Barr said. Pastor Barr ordained all six of his daughters, Gina, Katrina, Christina, Sabrina, Angelina, and Tina, who range in age from 24 to 38, during a special service with his congregation earlier this month. Theyve been in ministry with me their whole lives. They started out with singing, working in our local church, evangelism, missionary work. They have been with me to many countries such as Mexico, Barr told CP. They love ministry with all their hearts. I believe that a person should not just sign up for ministry, especially full time ministry. They should be called, he added, noting that he initially didnt have any plans for them in the ministry. He said that while his daughters are not being ordained as pastors yet, he might ordain them later as missionaries and evangelists. Barrs four oldest daughters are known for their singing, while the three youngest have formed a gospel rap group called BLT MLive reported. Some of the sisters began preaching as young as 9, while the others have been leaders in youth groups at school and led revivals in addition to participating in missionary work. I love that Im able to do this with my sisters, Christina told MLive. We all encourage and inspire each other, and its my prayer that we can do the same for other women and men. Apostle Barr added: Though theyre all sisters, they all minister uniquely, with perspectives that speak to a wide range of people. Their mother and I have encouraged them to think for themselves, challenge each other, and challenge the norm. Im proud theyve done that in the best possible ways. Apostle Barrs only son, Keith Gino Barr Jr., has already been ordained and leads a congregation in Rochester Hills. The official says Kyiv expects Tehran will pay decent compensations to the Ukrainian victims' families. Iran will not analyze without Ukrainian experts the black boxes from the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing, which was shot down by an Iranian missile on January 8. "I can assure the citizens of Ukraine that no one has the right to touch the black boxes without Ukraine. They are in Tehran now... Nobody the Ministry of Defense or anyone else is touching them," Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov said on TV channel Inter on Friday evening, February 21, according to the news portal zn.ua. The official says Kyiv expects Tehran will pay decent compensations to the Ukrainian victims' families. Read alsoCBS News: MH17 prosecutor says Russians "haven't been helpful at all" "I do not want to get ahead of events. But the process is underway, it is under control. And believe me, the compensations should be big enough," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Kyiv-bound UIA flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors. On January 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially admitted that the Ukrainian airliner had been shot down by accident as a result of a "human error" and that those responsible would be held accountable. On February 2, intercepted communications between Tehran Airport's air traffic control tower and the second pilot of Iran's Aseman Airlines flight at the time of the crash of flight PS752 were released by TSN.Tyzhden. Tehran blamed the Ukrainian authorities for leaking what it described as confidential evidence, and said it would no longer share investigation materials with Ukraine. On February 14, the Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran did not plan to hand the black boxes over but it would not decrypt their data without the participation of the parties concerned. MBABANE Has governments finan- cial position improved to such levels that shopping for new wheels is now affordable? Well... so it seems. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg has decided to exercise some flexibility on one of the austerity measures that were announced by Prime Minister (PM) Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini in November 2018. As part of the austerity measures, the PM announced that government would not be buying any new vehicles for himself, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku and the 20 other Cabinet ministers. However, on Thursday morning, during the post- budget seminar organised by the Central Bank of Eswatini, the Finance minister hinted a shift from this position. The minister said government definitely does need to buy a fleet of vehicles for Cabinet ministers, and that these cars will be coming. He told the Times SUNDAY newspaper that the reason for the need to buy the new cars was because the current fleet is very old. He said the cars they were currently using leave them stranded sometimes resulting in a few min- isters currently using their personal vehicles on a full-time basis. The minister was asked if there was any money that had been budgeted for the purchase of the new vehicles and his response was that there is space or policy in the CTA allocations for the replacement of vehicles. The CTA is the Central Transport Administration, whose core function is to purchase, maintain and dispose of government vehicles and other related equipment as well as to provide fuel for govern- ment vehicles. Also, the CTA provides vehicles on short-term hire to government ministries and departments. The countrys workforce under the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) is the least impressed by governments intention to purchase the new cars. Mduduzi Gina, the TUCOSWA Secretary Gen- eral, said even though they do understand that the work of Cabinet ministers requires that the nation provides them with cars, it may not yet be ideal to purchase the new vehicles. Alternative transport means could be explored through the use of the cars that were bought for the heads of State when Eswatini was the Chair of SADC; the nation has not been briefed on what happened to those cars, he said. SLASHED In March 2016, the then Minister of Finance, Martin Gobizandla Dlamini, told Parliament that government would buy 14 new cars to be used by Heads of State during the 36th SADC Summit in August of that year. Martin said an amount of E50 million had been set aside for the Summit and the cars would be bought with part of this money. He said initially, E92 million was set aside for the Summit but the budget was slashed to E50 million after consultations with various committees. Indeed 14 BMW 740i sedans and 80 motorbikes were bought at a cost of E29 million for the two- day event. In September 2017, this publication reported that the vehicles were lying idle at the Matsapha Police College while government was contemplating whether to sell or keep them. To this date, no decision was ever publicly com- municated on these vehicles. Gina, therefore, said these cars should be utilised by the current Cabinet ministers instead of buying new ones for them. Not unless the economic circumstances that warranted the decision not to buy the cars (for the ministers) when they got into office has adequately changed for the better, he said. The TUCOSWA leader said they would, how- ever, appreciate a first things first approach in governments priority list, which, to them, would be the fixing of the challenges facing the education and health sectors. The EMS (Emergency Medical Services) de- partment of health has literally collapsed because of lack of cars; there are looming strikes in the public sector because of non-increase of work- ers salaries; there are disruptions in the tertiary institutions because of allowances; government service providers have not been paid...the list is long, Gina said. CHALLENGES He said these challenges were affecting the lives and the future of the country, which was why clearly that should be the starting point. Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), was equally critical of the decision to buy the new vehicles. He said deciding to purchase new cars yet there were other vehicles in the government system could mean one of two things. This could be an indication that the econom A curious thing happens when you search among Sen. Amy Klobuchars supporters for the positive case for her candidacy for president: There doesnt seem to be one. New recruits to a campaign sometimes register something like the zeal of the converta passionate rationale for their choice now that theyve finally decided. And there are, to be sure, some Klobuchar megafans. Shes everything that Ive been hoping for in a candidate, one supporter who teared up after meeting Klobuchar told the New Yorker, and I havent been able to say that in a really long time. And shes a woman, and shes so nice. But by and large, voters who switched to Klobuchar from another candidate in New Hampshire were uniquely poor at explaining why their allegiance shifted. Take this Nevada resident, a former Warren voter, who told CNN: We werent really considering her. We were firmly with Elizabeth Warren. [New Hampshire] changed our mind. This isnt an explanation; its a reassertion. (This interview happened before Warrens blistering debate performance.) Even when explanations for Klobuchar do materialize, they tend to be relational rather than substantive. Another voter, asked why she supported Klobuchar, gave what CNN called one key reason: She is still viable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These arent especially inspiring arguments. Theyre barely arguments at all. That seems to be the point: The senator appeals to those who claim to value pragmatism over passion. This position has its meritsKlobuchar won 19.8 percent of the vote in New Hampshirebut given how much we all rationalize our preferences, the lack of defense is odd. Many voters whove recently tuned in to the election seem to be turning to Klobuchar not out of any positive attraction, but out of a very American distaste for what they see as the extremity or bellicosity of the rest. In a column ostensibly championing her at the Daily Beast, Matt Lewis called her the Goldilocks candidate, a phrase one can read as either the perfect compromise or a sagging embrace of averages. Lewis argument would seem to tilt toward the tepid porridge reading: Shes young, but not too young. Shes philosophically moderate (for todays Democratic Party), but wont lose progressives. This last seems unlikely, especially given her lack of support among minorities, but the column as a whole reflects a broader tendency to describe Klobuchar as the solution to a logic problem. Advertisement Advertisement This is largely the candidates doing. Its unjust to say Klobuchar has no plansshe does, and the New York Times editorial board laid them out in its endorsement of herbut her supporters, the pundit class, and the senator herself have framed her campaign as the Not-That candidate. Shes not a man, shes not a socialist, shes not a New Yorker, shes not gay, shes definitely not a firebrand or a reformer or a visionary. She has no online armytwo subreddits dedicated to her campaign have fewer than 1,000 members each. Shes not Hillary and shes not AOC. Shes not Bernie and shes not Warren. She not rich and shes not poor. Shes not legible as a wife or mother in ways that can hurt female candidates who seem too feminine or nurturing. Nor can she be slotted into the Tracy Flick or Lisa Simpson tropes that so often plague political women: Shes not a try-hard. Yes, she shared that her Spanish name was Elena, but she also forgot the name of the president of Mexico. (This last may ironically have saved her: We dont really have a category for a less-than-perfectly-prepared Tracy Flick.) Shes not funny (sorry) but shes not humorless. Shes not a political novice but shes also not D.C. She does have proposals, but those proposals largely reflect her strategy to run on a politics of nomainly to reject her opponents ideas. No Medicare for All, no pandering. And though shes also a moderate Midwesterner, shes also tried to make it clear that shes not Pete. And of course, shes not Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can an appetite for compromise with Republicans, among Democrats, win a presidential election against Republicans insatiable appetite for power? Klobuchars theory seems to be that it can: that the polarization of the United States is overstated and that theres a middle ground to recapture, powered by distaste for the other options on offer. If you are tired of the extremes in our politics, of the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me, Klobuchar said in New Hampshire. If theres a base out there with a passion for political compromise, shell find it. Shes pinned her case on electability, her Real American authenticity as someone from a state that doesnt touch a coast, and her history of winning elections and passing bipartisan bills. To say this isnt exactly an attention-grabber is putting it mildly; even columns that are explicitly about Klobuchar frequently drift off into analysis of her opponents. An op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times titled Amy Klobucharthe Democrats only hope mentions the senator in question a grand total of three times, and only at the very end. Heres the case it makes for her in full: Amy Klobuchar is rumored to be tough on her staff. Thats it. Shes a solid, midwestern senator who wins in her home state by double-digit margins. Shes sane and centrist. And shes the Democratic Partys only hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a little unfashionable, in this political environment, to suggest that compromise can amount to a win-winweve all gotten used to zero-sum thinkingbut Klobuchar isnt remotely worried about being fashionable. Some of her supporters in the wild have found this not just persuasive but legible as an actual campaign promise. Perhaps her ability to compromise could translate to an ability to heal. Shes honest, super smart, hard working, down to earth. I live in MN and she actually does reach out to everyone. Shes been ahead on issues like environment, healthcare, was the first to go up against pharma years ago. Amazing energy level, gets things done. Shes not a divider, one person wrote on Twitter when asked why they supported her. My Senator is smart; quick on her feet; an experienced stateswoman but able to connect to the average person. She is caring but tough; confident but flexible; and wise enough to choose a good team. Most importantly she is the only one I feel that can heal our divided country, tweeted another. Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to square these sunny assessments of the senators capacity for compassion and rift-mending with reporting that shows that she has been cruel and even abusive to her staff. This hasnt seemed to matter much to voters; virtually every endorsement shes received praises her empathy. The New York Times Editorial Board hand-waved their own reporting on this issue away, noting that it give[s] us pause but that Klobuchar pledged to do better. To be fair, they added, Bill Clinton and Mr. Trump not to mention former Vice President Biden also have reputations for sometimes berating their staffs, and it is rarely mentioned as a political liability. This is anti-aspirational rhetoric, more or less of a piece with other aspects of a compromise candidacy: The message seems to be why bother aiming higher, laced with a slim hope that an established politician might change, and a gesture at sexism to cover up the hall pass theyre granting. Advertisement Advertisement Klobuchars recent debate performance make it harder to filter out claims that she takes things too personally and misdirects her rage. The senator took some criticism (over her failure to name the president of Mexico and mistakes made as a prosecutor) well enough during the Democratic debate Tuesday night. (She was certainly more controlled than Sanders, for instance, whose anger at Bloombergs cheap shot about Communism was justified but almost medically concerning in its intensity). But as the questions wore on, her amiability became more strained until her responses devolved into petty sniping at her favorite target, Pete Buttigieg. This was probably at least somewhat strategic. Attacking Pete has historically worked for the senator; after her victory in New Hampshire, my colleague Will Saletan described how Klobuchars deliberate (and repeated) misrepresentation of something Buttigieg said about the Senate impeachment trial helped save her campaign. Klobuchars animosity toward Buttigieg is obvious: Theyre both vying for the same middle-lane voters and she seems to especially resent the ex-mayor, whose experience pales next to her own. But on that debate stage, Klobuchar wasnt, as her recent San Francisco Chronicle endorsement would have it, a listener with a wickedly quick sense of humor that can make her point effectively and with civility. Her attacks werent pointed or astute or rhetorically lethal; they were childish and ineffective. Are you trying to say Im dumb? Are you mocking me, Pete? she said at one point, her voice seeming to crack slightly. And rather than respond to Buttigiegs charge that she voted to make English the national language, she said, I wish everyone was as perfect as you, Pete. This was hardly gladiatorial conduct (despite Klobuchars repeated references to her experience in the arena). In fact, what it drove home was her understanding of what the arena requires: not perfection but an emphasis on getting things done that requires detachment from anything like a strong and unyielding stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether compromise is the same as healing is still an open question. So is whether a candidacy that has leveraged the negative space of the electoral field can flip into the foreground. So far, the results of a Not-That candidacy seem mixed. Yes, Klobuchar picked up a few delegates and keeps getting endorsements. But even the pundits championing her seem unable to focus on her. What they and other Klobuchar supporters seem to want is an abstract principle of moderation that will drag an alienated Midwest back to the Democrats and make unity (of a very specific kind) possible. They consider this pragmatic even if the definition of unity theyre using leaves voters of colora crucial demographic without which no Democrat can winbehind. Its a gamble. Today, as voters head to the polls in Nevada, well find out if the politics of no pay off. Permission for Shahs Bengal rally being delayed says BJP India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 22: West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Friday accused the state police of "dilly-dallying" over granting permission for Union home minister Amit Shah's proposed rally here on March 1. Shah is scheduled to address a rally at Shaheed Minar Ground where the BJP's state unit wants to felicitate him for the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "We are yet to get permission from the police for the rally. The police department is saying board exams will be on during that period and we can't use loudspeakers. They have cited this reason and are dilly-dallying," Ghosh said. Ghosh said Shaheed Minar Ground is neither located in a residential area nor does it have any school in the vicinity. He also said no examination is scheduled for that day. "This is being done to politicize the matter." The BJP had submitted a letter to Kolkata police on Thursday seeking permission for the rally. The secondary examinations of the state board which started on February 18 will end on February 27. The higher secondary examinations will be held from March 12 to March 27. Restrictions are in place on the use of loudspeakers due to that. Mamata inducting ex-Maoists in TMC to counter BJP: Dilip Ghosh If allowed, it will be Shah's second visit to West Bengal after assuming the office of Union home minister. He had addressed a seminar on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) at Netaji Indoor stadium on October 1. The state's TMC government had denied police permission for Shah's rallies several times when he was the BJP president. Speaking about the upcoming municipal polls, Ghosh said his party is fully prepared but ample time should be given to parties for campaigning as the elections are likely to be held in mid-April and the board examinations will continue till the end of March. "We are ready to face the civic polls but where is the time for campaigning? We will get only 10-12 days for it. There should be ample time for campaigning," Ghosh said. When asked whether the BJP would move court if adequate time was not given for electioneering, he said, "Let them announce the dates. We would then take a call." According to the state government and State Election Commission (SEC) sources, dates between April 12 and April 26 are being considered for elections to 107 civic bodies and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) which is being billed as "mini Assembly polls" ahead of the 2021 state election. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 5:50 [IST] NCAA President Mark Emmert called on Congress to pass federal legislation governing student-athlete compensation Tuesday, warning the recent flood of state laws allowing college athletes to earn money could lead to corruption. Emmert was one of several officials to appear before a U.S. Senate Committee to address the current state of amateurism in the NCAA. Facing pressure from more than two dozen states that have passed or proposed bills allowing student-athletes to earn money from their names, images and likenesses, the NCAA removed its longstanding ban on compensation last year. California enacted a law last fall allowing college athletes in the state to earn money from endorsement deals and hire agents without risking their eligibility. Speaking at the hearing, Emmert warned the passage of more laws at the state level would grant schools an unfair advantage. NCAA ATHLETE PAY DEBATE: WHY A POLITICAL SHOWDOWN IS COMING IN 2020 If implemented, these laws would give some schools an unfair recruiting advantage and open the door to sponsorship arrangements being used as a recruiting inducement," Emmert said. "This would create a huge imbalance among schools and could lead to corruption in the recruiting process. We may need Congress support in helping maintain uniform standards in college sports. The NCAA established a working group to develop an updated policy on student-athlete compensation. The groups recommendations are expected by April. A total of 25 states are considering legislation that would force the issue. Californias law takes effect in 2023. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), a former Ohio State University wide receiver, became the latest lawmaker to propose a bill on name, image and likeness rights. Gonzalez said the bill would provide a basic economic opportunity to college athletes, according to Cleveland.com. The NCAA has taken an aggressive approach in its push for federal intervention. The organization and two conferences spent at least $750,000 in 2019 on lobbying efforts related to student-athlete compensation, according to an Associated Press investigation. Story continues Critics of the NCAAs stance argue that major conferences already have a recruiting advantage over their lesser-known peers. The power conferences have advantages and they consistently pull the best recruits, said Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association. They will continue to get the recruits. The reality is, youre not going to change the recruiting by limiting the players opportunities. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Huma noted that massive media rights deals have already given the major conferences a recruiting advantage. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), who oversaw the hearing, said the NCAA should present its proposed guidelines in April before Congress determines whether a federal framework is necessary. The NCAAs approach to student-athlete compensation has drawn bipartisan scrutiny from lawmakers in recent months. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) established a working group to examine the issue last year. The two senators met with Emmert in December. We now have growing bipartisan support in Congress and a number of states to actually do something about it. I hope that athletes voices are put first in todays hearing, Murphy said in a statement. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM The Associated Press contributed to this report. Related Articles West Des Moines Police Department An Iowa professor has been charged for allegedly gagging and binding her husband to a chair with rope for hours before his death, authorities said on Wednesday evening. Gowun Park, a 41-year-old assistant economics professor at Simpson College, was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in the death of her 41-year-old husband, Sung Nam, on Saturday, West Des Moines police told The Daily Beast. Ms. Parks actions and in-actions were directly responsible for Mr. Nams death. The injuries sustained by Mr. Nam were not self-inflicted, a criminal complaint obtained by the Des Moines Register says. Ms. Park stated that the only people present during the duration of the events were her and her husband, Sung Woo Nam. California Woman Fabricated Firefighter Husband to Scam Donors: Police Authorities allege Park bound her husbands hands and feet with zip ties before tying him to a chair in their West Des Moines home on Saturday between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Park then allegedly stuffed an item of clothing into Nams mouth to prevent him from yelling in protest before finally using duct tape to place a towel over his head to cover his eyes. Several hours later, at about 5:05 p.m., police say Nam asked to be untied in distress, but his wife refused to free him. Gun finally called West Des Moines police officers at around 6:45 p.m., at which point deputies found Nam unresponsive with ligature marks on the front of his neck and throat. His wife was performing CPR on him, authorities said. Ms. Park made efforts to hide and conceal the binding items prior to the arrival of emergency personnel, the criminal complaint said. Nam was transported to UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The next day, Park emailed her students to say she was canceling classes for the following week and postponing their midterm because of a personnel issue, according to the Des Moines Register. Park, who was hired at the small liberal-arts college in 2017, was arrested on Wednesday after faculty members saw deputies in her office. Story continues Air Force Major Charged With Murder After Missing Wifes Remains Found I witnessed three police officers in the faculty member's office searching through papers and drawers, Brian Steffen, professor of multimedia communications, told the schools newspaper, The Simpsonian. I did see police officers remove a computer from her office. I dont know whether they took other materials, but I did see them take a computer away. A Simpson College spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the school has suspended Park following her arrest and is cooperating with authorities during the ongoing investigation. As of Thursday afternoon, Parks staff profile page was removed from Simpson Colleges website, as was any mention of the assistant economics professor. Wife Kills Husband, Admits It in a Bar Bathroom The recent news has left me and other classmates in shock, Kody Ricken, a sophomore and one of Parks advisees, told the student newspaper. We never would have expected her to do anything like this. Park received her masters degree in economics from New York University in 2010 before teaching there as an adjunct professor for five years, a school spokesperson confirmed. She later received her doctoral degree in economics in 2017 from the City University of New York just before joining Simpson College faculty, according to alumni records. Park is being held on a $5 million bond at Dallas County Jail. It was not immediately known whether she has a lawyer. 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. The US seems to be engaging in a game of brinkmanship where President Trump's visit has been used as 'leverage' to pressure India into agreeing to a trade deal, notes Kashish Parpiani. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with US President Donald J Trump at the Howdy Modi event in Houston, September 22, 2019. On Monday, US President Donald J Trump will make his maiden visit to India. The visit comes amidst trade frictions nearing a crescendo and negotiations concurrently stalling on multiple occasions under the Trump era. Over the past three years, trade tensions between India and the US have escalated. Interestingly, even as the US's trade deficit with India has begun to narrow (external link) and stands at less than a tenth (external link) of the US's trade deficit with China, tensions have escalated -- signifying American apprehensions to have stemmed from factors beyond trade imbalances (external link). As a result, the Trump administration levied steel and aluminium tariffs on India, revoked India's status under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme, momentarily contemplated limiting Indians's H1-B visas quota to 15 percent due to differences over e-commerce regulations, and raised the prospect of a Section 301 investigation into India's tariff/non-tariff trade barriers. On a limited trade deal that is expected to be signed during the visit, reports have been mixed -- with some suggesting that officials are 'considering taking even a modest trade deal off the table'. The impending trade package reportedly could include gains for the US worth nearly $10 billion, with greater market access for agricultural and dairy products. This would be in addition to India also finalising a defence package worth $3.5 billion for 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters and 6 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. However, talks have reportedly reached a stalemate as both sides have alleged the either party of 'changing goalposts'. For instance, with the limited trade deal, India's expectation has been to have its GSP benefits reinstated -- under which Indian exports worth $5.7 billion to the US enjoyed duty-free status in 2017. However, regardless of the deal materialising, it seems the US has already foreclosed the possibility of India having its GSP benefits reinstated. Within days of the Trump administration announcing the dates of President Trump's visit to India, the United States trade representative released a federal notice on announcing the removal of a group of countries from its methodology for countervailing duty investigations. As a result, India was removed from the list of developing countries that 'are exempt from investigations into whether they harm American industry with unfairly subsidised exports'. With this move, the US essentially has now classified India as a developed country. This effectively renders India to no longer be eligible for benefits under the GSP, which is an American preferential arrangement solely for developing countries. Without GSP, the Indian economy is expected bear a direct and indirect cost of nearly $260 million. With this development -- possibly reflective of Trump's 'Art of the Deal' of gaining competitive leverage by pursuing zero-sum negotiations, the American president's visit may be reduced to mere pomp and galore. Beyond the possibility of the two sides inking a limited trade deal, Trump has expressed his exhilaration over 'millions and millions of people' that are expected to attend the 'Namaste, Trump' event in Ahmedabad. However, with public appearances like the 'Namaste, Trump' event in Ahmedabad, much like the 'Howdy, Modi!' rally in Houston last year, Trump's political arithmetic on the Indian-American voter is writ large. In case of the latter, there was a singular-attempt to court the 270,000-strong Indian-American community (external link) in the emerging battleground state of Texas. With the event in Gujarat, reports underscore Trump's attempt to consolidate the votes of the Gujarati Diaspora in the United States which already tends to lean towards Trump's pro-business policies like eliminating regulations. Moreover, by visiting Prime Minister Narendra Damnodardas Modi's home turf, Trump would also attempt to court the three million-strong Indian-American community (external link) at-large via underscoring his proximity to Modi's India. With the possible limited trade deal as well, Trump's 2020 re-election campaign stands to gain. The US senate acquitted Trump over the impeachment proceedings into his alleged quid pro quo over offering Ukraine military aid in exchange for political dirt against former US vice-president and now Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Given the partisan nature of the impeachment proceedings, Democrats are expected to continue to underscore the Ukraine affair during the 2020 US presidential elections. By that extension, Trump's values-bereft, transactional, conduct at-large on the world stage will also accrue considerable attention. In response, the Trump campaign would possibly double-down by highlighting the supposed efficacy of the 'America First' worldview. Thus, the US-India limited trade deal would be listed amongst other renewed partial/complete trade deals -- such as the USMCA deal with Canada and Mexico; renegotiated trade terms with South Korea and Japan; and finally the Phase One deal with China, as instances of vindication. Days before the Democrats's Iowa caucus, Trump addressed a rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Referencing his renegotiated trade deals and the Democrats's opposition to his administration exacting renewed deals, Trump sought to galvanise American farmers that make up for a considerable share of his vote base even though some are adversely affected by Trump's trade wars. Similarly, with the US-India deal, reports suggest American negotiators have been pushing for India to lower tariffs on pecan nuts. The same also holds relevance from the 2020 elections standpoint. The pecan industry contributes more than $3.5 billion to the 15 pecan-producing states, including Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi -- many of them being the 'flyover states' which were instrumental in Trump's victory in 2016 and would surely be so once again in 2020. Given these apparent political considerations behind Trump's visit to India -- and the intent to explore a limited trade deal, it would be prudent for India to steer clear of according Trump a political endorsement ahead of the 2020 elections. The 'Howdy, Modi!' event's partisan fervour in favor of Trump may have only accentuated the recent rise in the Democrats's apprehensions on India's prolonged communications lockdown in Kashmir. Thus, amidst rising partisanship in American politics, the 'Namaste, Trump' event too must refrain from being a celebration of the incumbent US president. A welcomed step in this regard was the recent decision to rename the event in Ahmedabad from 'Kem Chho Trump' to 'Namaste, Trump' in order to give it a pan-India appeal, rather than reflecting Trump's need to court Gujaratis. Similarly, on the trade deal, India must pursue a politically neutral trade package -- bereft of latent asks -- on pecan nuts, for instance. Recent reports suggest, the US to be testing India's anxiety level -- how desperately does New Delhi want the deal? Essentially, in raising the spectre of not finalising the deal ahead of Trump's visit, the US seems to be engaging in a game of brinkmanship, where President Trump's visit has been used as 'leverage' to pressure the other side into agreeing to a deal in time. Therefore, in insisting the purview of the suggested limited deal to remain as it were, India must be prepared to call the 'deal-maker' American president's bluff. Kashish Parpiani is a Research Fellow, Observer Research Foundation. MARK RALSTON Federal officials announced Friday that their tally of 2019 novel coronavirus cases in the United States had increased to 34, with more infections expected sooner than later, even as questions lingered about how efforts at containing the deadly illness had fallen short so far. The jump came after the State Department repatriated 18 infected U.S. citizens from aboard a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. Three other people confirmed to have the disease have been repatriated, in addition to 13 other American travelers who fell ill upon returning from abroad, as The New York Times reported. This new virus represents a tremendous public health threat, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on a call with reporters. The virus has infected over 75,000 people in more than two dozen countries and killed at least 2,240, mostly in mainland China, where the disease originated. The virus has affected every aspect of life in that country, from travel to business to government to family relations, and spread outward from there. Roughly 760 million people are subject to some type of quarantine measure, more than double the population of the entire United States. The Ticking Coronavirus Time Bomb: Americas Uninsured But the release of the new numbers also amounted to the first significant CDC update since the feds response to the outbreak came under harsher scrutiny this week. According to The Washington Post, federal officials learned 14 passengers on flights out of Japan were infected while the evacuation was under way earlier this week, and decided to fly them home with hundreds of uninfected people despite a CDC recommendation they not do so. It was like the worst nightmare, one U.S. official told the paper. Quite frankly, the alternative could have been pulling grandma out in the pouring rain, and that would have been bad, too. Meanwhile, Reuters on Friday reported that only three states were able to effectively test for the illness, a logistical problem poised to fan the flames of anxiety about a possible pandemic. Its a looming crisis for which some U.S. hospitals have begun to prepare. Story continues 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. Ballots Being Counted In Iranian Election Seen By U.S. As A 'Sham' By RFE/RL February 21, 2020 Ballots are being counted in Iran's February 21 parliamentary elections in a polling certain to favor conservative candidates following the pre-vote disqualification of thousands of reformists or relative moderates. Initial results are expected on February 22 after authorities three times extended voting by a total of five hours to allow more people to cast ballots. Final results are expected a day later. All of those standing for election were prescreened by a group of hard-line Islamic clerics who disqualified some 9,000 potential candidates. Because of the disqualifications, turnout was expected to be lighter than usual despite pleas by Iranian leaders for citizens to head to the polls. Official figures were not immediately released, but the semiofficial Fars news agency said turnout was estimated at 40 percent nationwide and 30 percent in Tehran. State TV reported very high turnout early in the day in Tehran and other provinces, but the German dpa news agency quoted witnesses in the capital as saying most polling stations were empty. Iranian authorities had predicted a turnout of about 50 percent, compared with 62 percent in the 2016 vote. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his ballot at a mosque near his Tehran office shortly after polls opened. "Anyone who cares about Iran's national interests should participate in the election," he said in televised remarks. Conservative clerics in the Guardians Council cleared a total of 7,148 candidacies for the 290-seat chamber. Ninety members of Iran's outgoing parliament were among those whose rejected. Many were moderates or reformist lawmakers who support engagement with the West. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the election as a "sham" and a vote that "is not free or fair." Washington on February 20 imposed sanctions on five members of Iran's Guardians Council and its Elections Supervision Committee, accusing them of rigging the election. President Hassan Rohani, who initially criticized the disqualification of so many moderate would-be candidates, said Iranians could stage what he called another "victory" by voting in large numbers. "Our enemies will be disappointed more than before," Rohani said, after casting his ballot. Officials initially extended voting for two hours due to what state television described as a "rush of voters" during the final hours of scheduled voting. Balloting was then prolonged again for a further two hours and then a third time for one additional hour. The elections were seen as a test of the popularity of Iran's conservative clerical establishment. Voting comes amid public anger over official corruption, Iran's worsening economy, and Tehran's handling of the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet by Iranian air defenses that killed all 176 people on board. A U.S. campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran, including crippling economic sanctions, have hurt the country's economy and contributed to a crash of the national currency, the rial. Angry Iranians have taken to the streets protests in recent months. The demonstrations have included antiestablishment protests in November, sparked by a sudden gasoline price hike in more than 100 cities and towns, that met with a violent crackdown by security forces. Inside and outside the country, some Iranians have suggested that voting in such an uncompetitive elections does not make sense. Paris-based political activist Ali Keshtgar told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that only candidates loyal to Khamenei have been allowed to run. "Critics of the establishment have no chance of entering the elections," Keshtgar said. Observers had said turnout could be affected by announcements from Iranian health officials of several infections and deaths related to the deadly coronavirus in Iran. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, AFP, dpa, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-voting- parliament-vetted-conservative- clerics/30446071.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address What happens in the bubble, stays in the bubble, right? Wrong. This week the Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders was forced to distance himself from his vicious Bernie Bro online supporters renowned for their bullying tactics, mostly on Twitter when the issue bled over into the real political sphere and became a problem for him in the presidential nomination debate. Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit: His nomination rival, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, even aired an attack ad on Sanders over the nastiness of his online supporter mob. Fellow candidate Pete Buttigieg said Sanders should accept some responsibility and ask yourself what is it about your campaign in particular that seems to be motivating this behaviour more than others. In the US, the crossover between real life politics and the online/Twitterati politics is obvious. In Australia, our politicians still like to hold the line, to insist on a strong separation between what happens in the divisive world of Twitter, and what ordinary Australians talk about and value. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 16:06:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday announced formation of a committee to investigate violence events during recent protests in Khartoum. "It has been decided to form a committee to investigate the recent events which took place on Feb. 20, 2020, under chairmanship of the General Prosecutor," said Hamdok in a speech aired live by Sudan TV early Saturday. He added that the committee is to submit its final report within maximum one week. Hamdok further voiced rejection of what he termed as "use of excessive force against civilians," saying that "it is totally unacceptable in a government brought by the people." He stressed that everybody is equal before the law without discrimination, noting that this would always be the method of the transitional government. On Thursday the capital Khartoum witnessed popular protests where the police forces used tear gas to disperse them. According to official statistics, around 52 citizens were injured during the protests. Six additional vote centers are opening Saturday on the peninsula for residents to cast ballots in the March 3, 2020 presidential primary election. Vote centers have replaced traditional polling places in the past three elections in San Mateo County, which is one of 15 counties around the state to implement the Voters Choice Act of 2016. The law aims to modernize elections and allow voters to choose the most convenient place cast ballots. The six new vote centers are located in Daly City, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, San Bruno, Redwood City and San Mateo, said Mark Church, chief elections officer for the county. Three centers previously opened on Feb. 3 in Redwood City, San Mateo and South San Francisco. Thirty-three additional vote centers will open in the county on Feb. 29, bringing the total to 42 available through Election Day, Church said. The vote centers are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Saturday through March 2, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, March 3. Vote centers that opened Feb. 3 were: -- Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City -- Registration & Elections, 40 Tower Road, San Mateo -- South San Francisco Main Library, 840 W. Orange Ave., South San Francisco Vote Centers opening Saturday are: -- City Hall, 333 90th Street, Daly City -- Lewis and Joan Platt East Palo Alto Family YMCA, 550 Bell St., East Palo Alto -- Half Moon Bay Emergency Operations Center, 537 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay -- Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City -- San Bruno Senior Center, 1555 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno -- Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club, Teen Center, 200 N. Quebec St., San Mateo Voters are encouraged to check My Election Info on www.smcvote.org to track when the Registration & Elections Division received their voted ballot. Voters can also confirm if their ballot was accepted. The Registration & Elections Division offers a toll-free hotline at (888) 762-8683 to assist in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Tagalog. Every registered voter will also receive a vote by mail ballot, which they can return with no postage required in any mailbox or into secure county ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. More information is available at www.smcacre.org. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Musthofid (The Jakarta Post) Sat, February 22 2020 Wonderful fingers: Alif Gustakhiyat, a fingerstyle entertainer, demonstrates his talent in playing guitar in Jakarta. His performances on the Alip Ba Ta channel, in which he covers songs of various genres, are going viral on YouTube and drawing millions of viewers.(Courtesy of YouTube) Alif Gustakhiyat has catapulted himself from blue-collar worker to arguably a world-class guitar fingerstyle entertainer with his monthly earnings rocketing well above the wage of a forklift operator, a job he used to hold. His performances, in which he covers songs of various genres, are going viral on YouTube and drawing millions of viewers, from common music lovers to musicians and even President Joko Jokowi Widodo. 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 Aadujeevitham, the survival drama which features Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role, is unarguably one of the most-anticipated upcoming projects of Malayalam cinema. As reported earlier, lead actor Prithviraj is undergoing a drastic makeover for his character Najeeb in the project. The actor's look for Aadujeevitham has recently taken social media by storm. As per the latest reports, the next schedule of Aadujeevitham, which marks Prithviraj's first collaboration with the renowned filmmaker Blessy, will kickstart on March 24, 2020, in Jordan. This is the third schedule of the project, which is based on Benyamin's best-selling novel of the same name. The first and second schedules of Aadujeevitham were widely shot at the various location of Kerala and Jordan last year. The team later opted for a long schedule break, as Prithviraj had to shed about 30 kilos before the next schedule. In a recent interview, the actor had revealed that he is planning to be in the lowest bodyweight of his entire adulthood, for Aadujeevitham. Prithviraj Sukumaran had taken a 3 months long break from cinema to prepare for his character in the movie. The actor is playing the role of Najeeb Mohammed, an abused migrant labourer who gets stranded in the middle of a desert of Saudi Arabia in Aadujeevitham, which is scripted by the director Blessy himself. AR Rahman, the Academy award-winning musician, is making a comeback to Malayalam cinema after a long gap of 2 decades, with Aadujeevitham. The legendary musician will compose the soundtrack and original score for the project. KU Mohanan, the veteran cinematographer, is the DOP. A Sreekar Prasad is the editor of the project while Academy award-winner Rasool Pookutty handles the sound design. Amala Paul is the female lead opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran in the movie. The Blessy directorial features an extensive star cast including Vineeth Sreenivasan, Lena, Aparna Balamurali, Santhosh Keezhattoor, and so on. Aadujeevitham is produced by KG Abraham, under the banner KGA Films. Also Read: WELL DESERVED! Prithviraj Sukumaran Is Kochi Times Most Desirable Man Of 2019 A Vietinbank office. The bank shares fell 3.9 per cent on Friday. - Photo vietnamplus.vn The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange fell 0.54 per cent to end at 933.09 points. The VN-Index increased by a total of 1.20 per cent in the previous two trading days. The benchmark dropped a total of 0.46 per cent during the week. More than 206.7 million shares were traded on the southern bourse, worth nearly VND4 trillion (US$172.2 million). Of the total, more than 179.5 million shares were exchanged via order-matching methods, worth VND3.15 trillion. The market breadth was negative as declining stocks outnumbered gainers by 222 to 130 on the southern bourse. Vietinbank (CTG), Military Bank (MBB) and Sacombank (STB) were the top three most-active stocks on the southern bourse. Vietinbank and Military Bank shares lost 3.9 per cent and 2.1 per cent, respectively, while Sacombank shares stood still. Other bank stocks that decreased were Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), Techcombank (TCB), Vietcombank (VCB) and TPBank (TPB). The banking sector index tumbled 1.9 per cent, according to vietstock.vn. As a result, bank stocks were the major cause of the market decline as they were hit by profit-taking after rising significantly, Thanh Cong Securities Co (TCSC) said in a note. Selling pressure also spread to other sectors and pulled the three trackers down. The large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap trackers dropped between 0.29 per cent and 0.75 per cent. Other declining large-cap stocks included FLC Faros Construction (ROS), tech group FPT (FPT), jewellery retailer PNJ (PNJ), PetroVietnam Power Corp (POW) and construction business Coteccons (CTD). The 940-945 points zone was clearly challenging for the VN-Index as investors were tempted to offload stocks at this zone, TCSC said. The benchmark would keep fighting with this resistance zone in the coming days especially when investors were trying to escape from risky assets and shelter in safe havens such as gold and bonds, the company forecast. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index lost 1.36 per cent to end at 108.09 points. The northern market index rose 0.25 per cent on Thursday. The HNX-Index totalled a weekly loss of 1.50 per cent after five trading days. Nearly 37.3 million shares were traded on the northern bourse, worth VND415 billion. Bennisons Bakery: Choose from 11 flavors available through Tuesday, including apricot and custard, for $1.75, or go all out with praline chocolate mousse and German chocolate for $2.75. Advance orders can be made before Monday, though the fresh banana cream and fresh strawberries with cream varieties are only available to preorder if you buy four for $11. 1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, bennisonscakes.com With 17 non-self-governing territories remaining worldwide, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has said that decolonisation is a process that has to be guided by the aspirations and needs of the communities living in the territories. At the opening of the latest session of the UN Special Committee dealing with decolonisation, Secretary-General Guterres on Friday said that since the UN was established in 1945 more than 80 former colonies have gained independence. Today, 17 territories remain, mainly in the Americas and the Pacific. Many are even facing "very real and pressing challenges," he told the committee. "Decolonisation is a process that has to be guided by the aspirations and needs of the communities living in the territories. The concerns of the peoples of the territories are varied, and it is our collective responsibility to amplify their voices," Guterres said at the session, which he called one of the defining mandates of the global Organisation. "The vast majority of the territories are small islands on the frontlines of climate change. Many have faced devastating natural disasters. Others are struggling to build sustainable and self-sufficient economies, he said. We must continue to serve as a forum for meaningful dialogue between Territories and administering Powers to enable the peoples of the territories to make informed decisions about their future. The non-self-governing territories are Western Sahara in Africa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and United States Virgin Islands in Atlantic & Caribbean, Gibraltar in Europe and American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Pitcairn and Tokelau in the Pacific. The Secretary-General, who is from Portugal, also spoke about his deep connection to the issue. Indeed, I can never forget the fact that it was thanks to the liberation movements of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, and their struggle for independence, that the Portuguese Army conducted the April (1974) revolution that led to democracy in my own country, he said. People living in the world's remaining territories are still waiting for the promise of self-government to be fulfilled, he said. With the Timor-Leste being the last to achieve this milestone nearly 20 years ago, the UN chief described the decolonization agenda as slow, but still moving forward. He pointed to New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, which will hold a second independence referendum in September. The first was in 2018. Decolonization is certainly one of the most significant chapters in the UN's history, according to the Secretary-General, who commended the key role played by the Committee. UN engagement derives from the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, as stipulated in the UN Charter, the Organisation's founding document. The Special Committee on Decolonisation examines the application of a 1960 General Assembly declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Ambassador Keisha McGuire of Grenada is the chair, which she described as an uplifting responsibility. In December, McGuire led a mission to the British overseas territory of Montserrat, where a 1995 volcano left nearly half of the Caribbean island uninhabitable. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The actress says she has accepted it's not meant to be. (Getty Images) Amanda Redman has opened up about her nine miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies in an interview with The Mirror. The actress is playing a lead role in BBCs new comedy, Bumps, where she plays a woman of 62 who has had a baby after fertility treatment. She explained how she could sympathise with her character after her own battles. The 62-year-old has one daughter but when it comes to growing her family she has accepted its not meant to be. Read more: Women share their miscarriage experiences Redman suffered nine miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies in her 40s and 50s having previously described not having more children as her biggest regret. It is very possible and lots of people do it. Certainly in your early 60s thats quite a doddle, apparently. But Id prefer to have grandchildren and be able to give them back at the end of the day. She said of her characters decision to have a baby at 62. Over the years she admits her sadness about not having a bigger family has faded. Thats partly down to her daughter Emily, 32, saying she enjoyed being an only child. Emily was thrilled I didnt have any other babies. She wanted to be No 1. Redman admitted. Read more: Beyonce opens up about numerous miscarriages She also credited menopause with giving her acceptance. In one way, its a relief I know Ill never have another child. I dont live with the sorrow I had when it was still an unfulfilled possibility. In the comedy, Redmans character Anita tries for a baby when it appears her daughter cant have children. She is treated in Holland but when she returns she finds out that her daughter has defied the odds and is, in fact, pregnant. Thats why I loved the script. Its different. It will hopefully get people debating. I think theyre debating it on Loose Women as we speak. I think a couple of the panellists would like to. She said. Bumps airs on BBC One on 22 January. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK: The Nigerians in the Diaspora constitute a sizeable chunk of the Nigerian population and a majority of them play more than an active role in the quest for good governance in the country touted to be the most populous in the African continent. The ruinous economic policies of the military led many of them particularly the brightest of the bright to flee the country in their quest for economic liberty. During the struggle for democracy, many members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) particularly those resident in the United Kingdom and United States fought the military junta of Generals Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Late General Sani Abacha for the revalidation of the June 12 election adjudged as the freest and fairest in the nations chequered electoral history and for the Khaki boys to go back to the barracks. Their population runs into millions and they contribute billions of dollars to the Nigerian economy on an annual basis. Many of them came back home after the military locust years to take part in the return to civil rule where their wealth of experience was brought to bear in the countrys governance. There has been a recent clamour by many of them there to vote for the candidates of their choice in forthcoming elections. They cite Senegal as an example of a country that has set the precedent in Africa and wonder why their dear country cannot follow suit. Their dream was short lived when the Senate and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) threw the spanner in the works of their long held dream. In the words of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru he was quoted to have said from the Punch Newspaper There are so many things that are involved in Diaspora voting. It is not just enough to say that we are going to do diaspora voting. It is not as if we are opposed to diaspora voting as a parliament but there are so many challenges and issues that we have to be resolved first. First, we need to have accurate data of Nigerians that constitute Diaspora. We need to know their population and who is qualified to be a Nigerian in Diaspora. Basiru noted that the local elections in the country are usually confronted with numerous challenges especially when few numbers of votes are needed to determine the winner of an election, particularly at the state levels. He said, For instance the Sokoto governorship election where the margin between the winner and the runner-up was very slim. Who will be the beneficiary of the votes from the Diaspora especially when the winner would be determined by the votes from the diaspora? We also have to determine who constitute the diaspora. Are they only Nigerians in Europe, America and Asia or are we also going to recognise Nigerians who are living in the African countries? There are speculations that the population of Nigerians in Sudan, Niger, and Chad alone are running into millions. We also have Nigerians residing in other African countries. So, will all those millions of Nigerians there be allowed to vote under the diaspora voting? Another issue to determine is that, is it only those who genuinely emigrate and legitimately living in those country that would be regarded as diaspora? Are we talking about the documented and non documented Nigerians that are living abroad? Now, because of the nature of our elections, in which of the elections would the Nigerians in Diaspora vote? For instance, we talk about the local government election. Will the Disporans vote in such elections? How are we going to determine the local government they are voting for? Will they also vote in the National and state assembly elections? How are we going to determine the constituency or the lawmakers they are voting for? Is there any machinery in place to determine that? The answer is No! In the governorship election, are they going to vote according to their state of origin? The fact is that we dont even have any arrangement or records in place to determine that, at least for now. So, it is not just enough to say we are legislating on Diaspora voting but we have to find a way to address the serious issues that could hinder the process before coming up with any legislation that would give it a legal backing. INEC also ruled that Diaspora voting was unconstitutional and it wont be feasible in 2023 as it was alien to Nigerian law. The problem of Nigeria since independence has been that of leadership. Diaspora voting has the potential of changing the leadership narrative in the country as majority of them wont be easily swayed by bags of rice or sewing machines. Many of them have achieved a certain level of financial independence and will be at an advantage over majority of Nigerians resident in the country to be able to vote wisely. Let us cast our minds back to when Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory and Prof. Pat Utomi contested in 2003 and 2007 respectively, a sturdy vote from the Diaspora may have upset the apple cart in their favour. Even the recent noble attempt by Omoyele Sowore to have emerged as the nations President may have flown with Diaspora voting. What is the red chamber afraid of? The same body blocked the attempt by some political activists to have independent candidacy. The nation is badly in need of a Lee Kuan Yew or Mahathir Mohammed kind of leadership and realistically speaking, only Diaspora voting can guarantee that. This is a globalized age where curtains and barriers have been broken down through the power of the internet and it is scandalous for the Nigerian voter to be kept for hours in the scorching sun under the guise of voting for their preferred candidates. Electronic voting is the future and INEC should stop acting like the Luddites of the 19thcentury England who tried to stop the machines from operating during the industrial revolution as they feared that they may be made redundant if they allowed them to operate. We should take a cue from developed nations who dont declare public holidays on election days. We shouldnt shut down the economy simply because we want to vote; it doesnt make any sense not in these perilous times of employment scarcity. Why should the system allow the inflow of foreign currencies into the country but prevent the same people from exercising franchise in a country they still hold so dear to their hearts? It is high time the Senate and INEC revisited their anachronistic stance and allow these public spirited individuals enjoy what they ought to have been enjoying if the leadership was right. Tony Ademiluyi writes from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com Flaring wells Regarding Regulator: Flaring of gas is off the charts, (B1, Feb. 19): Thank you for continuing to cover this issue. My husband and I have a house in the middle of the Eagle Ford Shale, completely surrounded by flaring wells. I see the wastefulness and worry about the air we are breathing. This is not a generalized commentary on the environment, I can literally smell the wells and see the flames from my house sometimes. I write to my government representatives, and if I receive a response at all it is a stock email expressing their support for the oil and gas industry. Thanks a lot senators and representatives, I thought you were supposed to support the people of Texas. Chris Greene, Gonzales CenterPoint Energy Regarding Houston electric utilitys leader ousted, (B1, Feb. 20): During the calendar year of 2019, I had 14 documented power outages at my home. By documented I mean that 14 times I received a text message from CenterPoint acknowledging they were aware of a power outage. In addition I had at least 10 other blips where the power goes on and off fast enough not to trigger a text message but does knock out all lights, appliances, etc. Year to date in 2020 weve had five of these blips. Im grateful that HEB stepped up and helped keep this from being 10 times worse. But what Id like to know is what is CenterPoint doing to improve things? Is firing the CEO going to keep my lights on? The Chronicle has done a fine job digging into other issues, maybe its time to look deeper into this one. Joseph Quinlan, Houston Lake Conroe levels Regarding Bitter clash over waters level pits Lake Conroe, Kingwood residents, (A1, Jan. 26): Seems to be a no brainer on Lake Conroe water levels. Since when should recreation overshadow protecting lives and property downstream? Let those who are opposed to lowering the water levels in Lake Conroe to help prevent downstream flooding guarantee 100 percent compensation or pay for flood insurance to those who would be impacted by floodwaters downstream from the lake. Those who built or purchased homes around Lake Conroe should have been aware that the lake was built by and for the city of Houston. Lynn Bellard, Humble A call for volunteers I recently volunteered at the Houston Food Bank for the first time. I learned that they serve over 100 million good meals to over 800,000 people each year. Many of those are kids who might not get to eat without their help. The food bank gets lots of donations from businesses like grocery stores, but that food needs to be sorted and packaged and delivered. They cant do it without lots of volunteers. I am writing you to help raise awareness and ask more people to go there and volunteer. Thank you. Jason Raskin, Boy Scout working on Eagle Scout rank, Houston Last year, the ED had initiated an investigation against Amazon and Flipkart for alleged violation of foreign direct investment laws. Chennai: Following in the footsteps of Amazon, Walmart-controlled Flipkart too has legally challenged the competition watchdogs probe ordered against it. The move assumes importance as it comes ahead of US President Donald Trumps visit to India and the US administration has been expressing its concerns over the tightening of FDI rules for e-commerce players. Flipkart has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a stay on the Competition Commission of Indias probe against it regarding violation of anti-trust laws. Amazon had earlier approached the court and secured a stay on the investigation.. In its petition, Flipkart claimed that the CCI probe is without initial evidence on whether the company's practices were harming competition. "Such an order exposes responsible corporate entities ... to the rigours of an intrusive investigation prejudicially affecting not only its credibility and reputation, but also its commercial prospects," said Flipkart. The CCI in January had ordered a probe into alleged violations of competition laws on a complaint filed by the Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh (DVM), representing small businesses. It is most amazing that after Amazon, Flipkart has also reportedly filed a petition in Bangalore High Court praying the stay against investigation ordered by Competition Commission of India though order of High Court also applicable on investigation against Flipkart, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general, Confederation of All India Traders (Cait). Granting a stay on the probe, the court had found that the ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should be first completed before the CCI could initiate a probe. Last year, the ED had initiated an investigation against Amazon and Flipkart for alleged violation of foreign direct investment laws. The court had opined that FDI violations being in the realm of the ED and the adjudicating authority under the Fema, the case of CCI vs Bharti Airtel would apply to the case and the ED would have to give its report before the CCI could proceed with the matter. The HC had also noted that while the CCI had asked Amazon for its comments in a previous case filed by All India Online Vendors' Association, it should have also called the parties in the current case. Jose Zalaquett, a Chilean lawyer who investigated human rights abuses during Augusto Pinochets regime spending time in prison and in exile as a result and then helped bring to light similar abuses elsewhere in the Americas as well as in Africa and the Middle East, died on Feb. 15 in Santiago, Chiles capital. He was 77. His daughter Valeria Zalaquett said the cause was Parkinsons disease. Mr. Zalaquett was admired not only for his efforts in Chile in the 1970s, when standing up to Pinochet was an act of courage, but also for his work years later in helping that country come to grips with its past after its return to democracy in 1990. He was a key figure on the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission, writing much of its 1991 report, which detailed abuses under the dictatorship and suggested how to guard against a recurrence. That became an area of expertise for him, not just in relation to Chile but to any country Argentina, South Africa, Panama that faced the challenge of restoring order and justice after a period of war or oppression. Cristian Correa, a senior staff member at the International Center for Transitional Justice, a human rights group on whose advisory board Mr. Zalaquett served, was one of many to post tributes to him after his death. He helped pioneer the field of transitional justice and inspired countless human rights defenders around the globe, Mr. Correa wrote. Flash Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, may once again seek asylum in France to avoid extradition to the United States where he could face trial over the publication of classified documents, his lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti said on Friday. "Article 53 of our constitution allows France to give asylum to a man who is threatened because of freedom of expression," Dupond-Moretti told local broadcaster Europe 1. Citing a United Nations special report on torture and medical evidence, the French lawyer, a member of Assange's legal team, added the asylum request would be based on health grounds. He argued that "in addition to physical disturbances, Assange shows all the symptoms of prolonged exposure to psychological torture." In 2015, Assange asked France to grant him political asylum status, but his request was rejected. The 48-year-old Australian computer programmer had released, in 2010 through his website WikiLeaks, a batch of U.S. classified information and military reports and documents showing Washington had spied on world leaders. Assange has resided in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid arrest. In 2019, he had been evicted from the embassy and jailed in London for skipping bail. He has remained in prison ever since and risks being sent to the United States to stand trial. Assange is wanted by the U.S. on 18 criminal counts of conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law. A London court will start hearings on Monday to decide whether Assange should be extradited or not to the United States. Oregon attorney Craig Wymetalek resigned from the Oregon State Bar in December after admitting to forging court documents. Dubbed a resignation under fire, Wymetalek admitted to allegations and left the bar before disciplinary actions were taken. The state bar was investigating five incidents of potential misconduct, four of which came from complaints. Three of those cases had already been approved for formal ethics charges, and we were preparing to take those charges before the disciplinary board, said Kateri Walsh, Oregon State Bar public information officer, in a statement. The remaining two cases were still under investigation, and in December the state Supreme Court suspended him for violation of rules of professional conduct, three counts of criminal felony forgery and intentionally engaging in deceit and dishonest conduct. On Dec. 26, 2019 Wymetalek formally resigned. Mr. Wymetalek made the decision not to contest the charges, said Walsh. [He] is effectively and permanently disbarred from practicing law in Oregon. An original petition submitted by the OSB alleges that Wymetalek forged documents after a client complained to him saying no progress was being made about his case. After being laid off, the client, David Schwartz, had sought help reducing a $3,600 monthly spousal support payment. In an effort to appease Schwartz, Wymetalek forged three court orders, including signatures of two different judges and then gave the forged documents to his client and blamed the court for the delay, according to the petition. In October 2018, after a year of delays, Schwartz went to the court and discovered the court had no record of the documents Wymetalek had given him. The documents tipped off court employees who reported them to the OSB after failed efforts to contact Wymetalek. In a petition to suspend Wymetalek, the state bar notes The serious nature of the charges demonstrates a pattern of behavior, and says that any attempts for Wymetalek to continue practicing law are likely to result in immediate and irreparable harm to his clients and the public at large. In a response to the allegations, Wymetalek cited several personal issues and extreme insomnia he had suffered from for five years, saying he was severely sleep-deprived, depressed and suffering extreme anxiety and stress. His stress was compounded in March of 2018 when Wymetaleks wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, he said. Wymetalek was distracted at work, not sleeping, and focused on dealing with his wifes diagnosis. Wymetalek says the forgeries were a lapse in judgement, and contends that he did not plan to use the documents to deceive the court or other parties involved and had forged them to buy more time with his client. Another complaint filed by James Matthew Landrum alleged Wymetalek ran up almost $18,000 in unauthorized charges on his credit card. At the time the complaint was filed, Landrum had been attempting to get reimbursed by Wymetalek for three years, according to the complaint. In the response, Wymetalek, who had practiced law in Oregon for 22 years, state s that he believes himself to be an honest person and lawyer who never represented anything to the court or clients prior to that situation. According to court records, no charges have been filed against Wymetalek. Information about whether or not an investigation was underway is not available. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi. President Ilham Aliyev hailed the results of his state visit to Italy. Noting that more than 25 documents were signed during the visit, the head of state underlined that Azerbaijan and Italy were strategic partners. The strategic partnership will cover all areas of our cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev said that the meetings held during the visit were very fruitful. The head of state noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Italy were at a high level. The President pointed out that cultural cooperation and inter-city relations between Azerbaijan and Italy were also developing, adding that Baku and Naples were declared sister cities in 1972. A monument to great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi was unveiled in Villa Borghese park in Rome in 2012. The Azerbaijani Cultural Center will also open in Rome. The Azerbaijani President stressed that a declaration to be signed between Baku and Rome would create wide opportunities for developing relations between the two countries` cities, adding that there was similar cooperation among other cities of the two countries. Mayor Virginia Raggi thanked Azerbaijan for its support for archaeological excavations in Rome. She emphasized that they intended to continue cooperation between the cities of Baku and Rome. The mayor also underlined that numerous events would also be held in Rome as Italy declared 2020 as the Year of Azerbaijani Culture. Following the meeting, the head of state and the mayor viewed the remains of an ancient site in Rome. The head of state signed the guest book of the Mayor's Office. The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan and the Mayor's Office of Rome signed an agreement during the official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Italy in July, 2014, providing for the allocation of funds for archaeological excavations in the area of the Mercati di Traiano museum. The head of state was informed of the works carried out here. It was noted that very important historical and archaeological discoveries were found during the excavations. The discoveries were presented to President Ilham Aliyev. It was stated that the residents of Rome praised the work done under the agreement and archaeological discoveries. Then the Declaration of Cooperation was signed between the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve and the Mayor's Office of Rome witnessed by President Ilham Aliyev. The document was signed by Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi. SACRAMENTO, Calif. Sacramento Public Health officials confirmed the first travel-related 2019 novel coronavirus case in Sacramento County. Health officials said the Sacramento resident recently traveled to China and returned to the U.S. on Feb. 2. RELATED: This map tracks the coronavirus in real time The person took precautionary measures during travel and has self-quarantined since returning, according to health officials. During the quarantine period, the individual began exhibiting mild symptoms. "Currently, the individual is asymptomatic, but will remain home for mandatory isolation until cleared by Sacramento County Public Health. Sacramento County Public Healths investigation determined that currently, the publics risk of exposure is extremely low," health officials said in a statement. California health officials say 7,600 people who returned to the state after visiting China during the outbreak of the new virus have been asked to quarantine themselves at home since. The California Department of Public Health says the travelers are being asked to monitor their health, stay home and limit interactions. All returned to the United States from China on or after Feb. 2. The U.S. is funneling travelers from China to 11 airports to ensure they get medical screening and care. RELATED: Humboldt County has confirmed its first case of coronavirus The novel coronavirus has been ongoing since December 2019. A six feet high and six feet wide 'Mini Motera Stadium' has been set up at Kumkum Temple in Maninagar here ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the city on February 24. The model was completed in 80 hours. It also highlights Swami Vivekananda's Chicago visit in 1893. "US President Donald Trump is coming to India. We have made a six feet high and six feet wide Motera Stadium. It took 80 hours to make this. We have also put a cutout of Swami Vivekananda," said Sadu Premvatsal Dasji. Trump will be on a two-day visit to India from February 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new study undertaken jointly by University College Cork and Keele University in the UK has found that most GPs do not feel adequately equipped to deal with people who self-harm. Recognised as being a serious risk factor for suicide, more than half of young people who take their own lives have had a history of self-harm. Research has also shown the rate of self harm reported among male patients in mid-life and over the age of 65 have increased dramatically - increasing the risk of suicide by 145 times. The UCC/Keele research, published in the British Journal of General Practice, arose from a systematic review which analysed 12 studies published between 1997 and 2016 on the experiences of 789 GPs and family medicine physicians from across Europe, America and Australia. The study, which has significant implications for the training of GPs in Ireland who see themselves as being the first point of support for people who self-harm, identified both barriers and facilitators that impacted the management of patients that self-harm. It found that a combination of limited consultation time in general practice and existing shortages of alternative self-harm and associated support services were a serious barrier to the provision of good patient care. The study also found the development of specialist GP clinical guidelines for people that present with self-harm were essential. Commenting on the study Dr Isabela Troya of UCC and the National Suicide Research Foundation said evidence indicated that the majority of self-harm incidents occur within community settings. "This is extremely relevant to Ireland as there are over 2,500 registered General Practitioners in Ireland who are the first point of contact to patients seeking medical support. Our review shows they self-harm as a serious risk for suicide, but many report feeling unprepared to manage self-harm," said Dr Troya. "This has implications for GP training in Ireland and worldwide. In Ireland, previous research conducted by the National Office for Suicide Prevention with over 469 GPs has highlighted GPs reported limited suicide prevention training," added the UCC expert. Dr Troya said GPs and primary care were 'ideally positioned' to address mental health issues. "The role of the GP is multidimensional and includes assessment, treatment and referral to specialist care when necessary. Primary care is well placed to promote mental health, and identify people at risk of self-harm and suicide at an early stage," she said. Ranchi, Feb 22 : A man commited suicide in Jamshedpur on Saturday as he was disappointed by the snapping of his daughter's proposed marriage, the police said. According to the police, Prem Chandra Ravi, a resident of Bagonhatu basti situated under the Siddagora police station, committed suicide by jumping into a nearby river. Divers of Jamshedpur Utility and Services Company (JUISCO) fished out the body on Saturday. According to Ravi's son, the deceased was living in depression after the marriage of his daughetr got snapped after engagement. Ravi left home on February 18 did not return since. The famliy members informed the police and a search operation was launched on Friday. The body has been sent for post-mortem. At its 2020 ADDY awards gala, the American Advertising Federation of Tampa Bay awarded its distinguished Silver Medal Award to Troy Dunn, president and CEO of Dunn&Co. The lifetime achievement award in advertising is the highest level of recognition given by AAF Tampa Bay. The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 and recognizes industry professionals who have made outstanding contributions to advertising, and have been active in furthering the industrys standards, creative excellence and social responsibility. Many outstanding practitioners in our community were nominated for our Silver Medal Award, said Alexis Quintal, president of AAF-Tampa Bay. Troy Dunn has impacted so many employees, clients and charity organizations throughout his career at Dunn&Co. He has set a high standard of achievement for future recipients. Im truly honored to be recognized by the American Advertising Federation for a career that allowed me to flourishcreatively, professionally and emotionallyall while surrounded and supported by amazing colleagues that include life-long friends, said Dunn. Tampa Bay continues to build a strong reputation for marketing excellence and Im proud to be counted among those helping to establish that status. The prestigious American Advertising Awards event is a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by AAF. The American Advertising Awards, considered the worlds largest advertising competition, honors creative excellence and cultivates the highest creative standards in the industry. Awards are given in 15 categories, including broadcast, collateral, direct marketing, interactive and sales promotion. About Dunn&Co. Dunn&Co. (http://www.dunn-co.com) is a branding, advertising and marketing communications firm with offices in Tampa and London. They provide award-winning creative solutions for clients worldwide, including GE Healthcare, The Tampa Bay Lightning, Trivago, Baxter Healthcare, Smokey Bones, Checkers, Grow Financial, Edgewater Spirits, Sabal Trust, Arrmaz, and The United Way. PHILIPSBURG:--- In an effort to reduce the upward trend of car theft on the island, the Sint Maarten Police Force in collaboration with the French Gendarmerie took to the streets on Friday 12th February 2020 to implement the plans discussed in the weeks prior to reduce car theft crimes. The control which commenced during the early morning hours at approximately 2:00 am was aim towards ensuring that motorists are in possession of the correct and up to date documentation for their vehicle. During the controls the KPSM police working along with the Gendarmerie stopped a total of 30 vehicles, two of these vehicles were cars were seized for further investigation. The law enforcement duo also made two arrested suspects with the initials G.P and J.W in connection with car theft. On Thursday 6th February both the Dutch side and the French side of the island, the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) together with the Public Prosecutor (OM) met with the Gendarmerie and came up with a plan of action to combat the increase in car theft crimes. The meeting was a means for all parties to come up with a joint solution to help alleviate car theft and formulate a plan to do so. These plans were set into motion during the first of many controls to be held by the joint law enforcement teams. We continue to urge the public to take precautionary measures by always taking your keys with you when you leave your vehicle; always close your windows and doors when you are not in your vehicle; make an effort to park in well-lit areas at all times; never leave your vehicle unattended while running; never leave valuables in the vehicle in plain eyes view; protect your vehicle with an antitheft / immobilizer device. As stated in a previous press release, law enforcement can only do so much to help prevent your cars from being stolen. Prevention is always better than finding a cure; protect your property by taking the necessary precautionary measures. KPSM Press Release. WESTPORT In response to a teens letter published online claiming a racist culture exists at Staples High, the schools principal says hes exploring ways to create an ongoing open and inclusive environment for students. Clearly, as a newcomer coming in, we have to build community, said Stafford Thomas, who replaced James DAmico as principal this year. Part of what were working on is to build up these advisory groups and to start having these conversations. In her letter, published Feb. 14 on WestportNow, Staples High senior Niah Michel alleged that she and her friends have faced racism from classmates while teachers and administrators have not done enough to address the problem. Thomas responded later that day in an email to Staples families that the school was working to identify bias and being mindful of offensive behaviors. In an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media on Thursday, Thomas said minority students had approached him several months ago about their concerns. The day before Michels letter was published, Thomas appeared on a podcast for the schools student newspaper to outline steps the Staples community planned to address these issues. One idea involves developing a more collaborative relationship with TEAM Westport, a nonprofit that promotes multiculturalism in town, and the high schools Connections program, a workshop that creates a space for difficult conversations. First Selectman Jim Marpe said the town was fortunate to have organizations like TEAM Westport to help the community find long-term solutions for inclusivity. This is an ongoing challenge to deal with issues of inclusiveness, he said Friday. We need to be focused on this not just for a period of time, but an ongoing basis. Im committed to doing what I can in conjunction with TEAM Westport to address specific issues in our schools. Thomas anticipates a two-fold approach, focusing on both educators and students. Really I think it starts with education, if you will, on implicit bias, he said. We all carry bias. No matter what color you are, we all have a bias toward something. Considering the pressures students already face in high school, Thomas said theres an added layer when societal challenges are thrown into the mix. This is obviously extremely difficult and it takes time, he said, adding further dialogue can help to raise awareness on microaggressions. Thomas acknowledged he may be one of the few black administrators in a predominantly white suburban school district like Westport. Thomas said hes also faced racial stereotypes. He said there have been times when hes been grocery shopping dressed in a suit and tie and customers have mistaken him for a store employee. I was brought up that you have to keep your head down, tough skin, and you work to get your opportunities, he said. To tackle these difficult conversations in school, Thomas suggested advisory classes could be key, due to the intimate setting of smaller groups. When you have 600 people or 900 people in one meeting hall, its hard to make it personal or do activities, he said. You can have powerful moments, but for moments that create change, we do have an advisory group that could be beneficial. Other initiatives include a climate survey to discover how the student body is feeling regarding racial bias, and a freshman orientation program to address student expectations, which begins next year. I think every year youll have more students coming in with an understanding, Thomas said. Thomas said school officials are considering how to continue the dialogue following Michels letter, including a possible roundtable discussion or podcasts to give students a platform. Its about how do you make Staples a school for everyone where they feel comfortable, want to come, and have similar experiences, Thomas said. Its really looking at other ways to start and have a conversation. dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com Statement by the NATO Secretary General on Afghanistan NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 21 Feb. 2020 Press Release (2020) 024 Issued on 21 Feb. 2020 Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of meetings of NATO Foreign Ministers and following a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council I welcome today's announcement that an understanding has been reached on a significant reduction in violence across Afghanistan. This is a critical test of the Taliban's willingness and ability to reduce violence, and contribute to peace in good faith. This could pave the way for negotiations among Afghans, sustainable peace, and ensuring the country is never again a safe haven for terrorists. NATO Allies have been in Afghanistan since 2001. NATO currently has 16,000 troops in the country to support the Afghan security forces with training and funding, so that they can create the conditions for peace. NATO remains committed to Afghanistan's long-term security and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Hanan, has disowned the State Security Service (SSS) in the human rights abuse allegations levelled against her by Anthony Okolie, a man detained by the SSS for 10 weeks over the use of a sim card previously used by Hanan. Hanans lawyer, M.E. Sheriff, in a counter affidavit filled on Friday, agreed that the MTN sim card which caused the dispute was once used by her. She, however, claimed not to be aware that any arrest was made by the SSS. Hanan in the 20 paragraph affidavit obtained by PREMIUM TIMES said although she was not happy with the complaint from the public that someone else was using her former sim card, but I have never complained to the State Security Service or any law enforcement agency in Nigeria or outside the country to make arrest of anyone. The presidents daughter said she is being accused of an allegation, she knows nothing about. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Okolie was illegally arrested and detained by the SSS. He has dragged Hanan, MTN and the SSS before a Federal High Court in Asaba for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. He is seeking an order to compel the respondents to jointly or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500 million as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicants right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self dignity. On February 12, when the matter was heard before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, Hanans lawyer said there was no need to make a reply to the allegations. The lawyer was later condemned by the judge who furiously responded saying: What do you mean you havent seen a reason? Sheriff, how can you not see a reason? Somebody has accused you. Even if it is to say, I didnt do so, cant you respond? Youre saying you did not see a reason. Sheriff, what kind of thing is this? PREMIUM TIMES understands that it was the judges condemnation that necessitated Hanans counter affidavit in which she disowned the SSS. False Reacting to the counter affidavit, Mr Okolie, in court papers seen by PREMIUM TIMES, said it is not true that Hanan did not order the arrest. I was told by the DSS that it was Hanan Buhari that told them to arrest me. My file was named first family and they called her 3 different times to come to substantiate the allegations against me but she did not show up. Tope Akinyode, who is representing Mr Okolie, told PREMIUM TIMES that he is confident his client will get justice through the court, being the last hope of the common man. The case has been adjourned to March 3, 2020. New York, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Armored Vehicle Procurement and Upgrade Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865840/?utm_source=GNW Growing military expenditure of these countries is expected to help in this regard, by giving freedom to the militaries for spending huge amounts for the procurement of these vehicles, in order to satisfy the increasing demand. - Countries with vast land-based borders are emerging as lucrative markets for armored vehicles. The procurement of land-based vehicles has been increasing, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Europe, due to the growing political tensions between the neighboring countries and increasing hostile activities in the regions. - In addition, these factors are increasing the need for incorporating the latest technologies into the land vehicles. This, in turn, is a major driver for upgrade and retrofit activities. Key Market Trends Infantry Fighting Vehicle Segment Held the Largest Market Share in 2019 As of 2019, the Infantry Fighting Vehicle Segment has the largest market share. The demand for the IFVs has increased in the recent past from the armies worldwide due to the requirement for vehicles with high firepower. IFVs are less expensive and easier to maintain than MBTs. Also, IFVs are designed to have higher mobility than MBTs. In addition, the IFCs also provide personnel protection like APCs with greater firing capabilities and thus they are used as substitutes for APCs. Driven by their growing popularity, there is an increase in the procurement and upgrades of the IFVs in recent times. For instance, as part of the US Armys combat vehicle modernization strategy that aims at ensuring force readiness of the Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT), in October 2019, BAE Systems was awarded a contract covering the upgrade of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) to Bradley A4 configuration, in addition to production of new vehicles. On the other hand, Russia received the upgraded BMP-3Ms in 2019, with new Sodema gunners sight and new radios. The United Kingdom is also expected to upgrade its fighting vehicles, as the army is focusing on the modernization of its armored fighting vehicle fleet, including the Warrior, Challenger 2, and mechanized infantry vehicles. Such procurement and upgrade requiremenrts are expected to increase the revenues for the segment in the years to come. Asia-Pacific is Projected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period In terms of geography, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for the highest market share in 2019. The region is also projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the increasing demand from countries like China and India, among others. Chinas production capacity is advancing in almost every category of ground systems, like armored personnel carriers, assault vehicles, artillery systems and pieces, air defense artillery systems, and main and light battle tanks. China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) has been focusing on increasing the production and sales of domestically manufactured armored vehicles, since the past few years. In November 2018, China started testing unmanned Type-59 tanks. Also, in February 2019, Norinco revealed a concept for a heavy IFV, based on the VT4 export main battle tank. Currently, the demand for maintenance and modernization of the existing armored vehicles fleet is high, as several armored vehicles, like Norinco A-100 MLRS, Norinco PGZ-07, Norinco PGZ-95 (Type 95), and Norinco Type 99 (ZTZ-99 / WZ-123), are 20-30 years old. To extend their lifespan, these vehicles require an update. Hence, the market for retrofit and modernization is expected to witness immense growth in China. In addition, India is also increasing its armored vehicle strength, due to its issues with land-border sharing countries. A significant focus is on the modernization of its aging armored vehicle fleet. In April 2019, the Indian government approved the procurement of 464 upgraded T-90 Bhishma tanks at a cost of approximately USD 2 billion, as a part of the modernization of ground forces between 2022-2026. Furthermore, India is planning to replace its aging T-72 tanks with new generation tanks under the Future Ready Combat Vehicle program. Such plans are expected to increase the prospects for the market in the Asia-Pacific on a whole, in the years to come. Competitive Landscape The armored vehicle procurement and upgrade market is a fragmented one, with many global and local players competing with their manufacturing, MRO and upgrade capabilities. General Dynamics Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Rheinmetall AG, Textron Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd, Oshkosh Corporation are some of the prominent players in the market. The market has seen an increase in the local players over the last decade. The aging fleet of armored vehicles in Asia-Pacific and Middle-East and Africa have given the necessary opportunities for the local players in these regions to develop their capabilities, helping them gain significant share in local markets. The countries now have the capability to produce their own 3rd and 4th generation MBTs and other armored vehicles locally. In such a competitive environment, the global players are compelled to improve their policies and delivery promises to remain major players outside the US and EU, where they enjoy higher revenues. Also, in the coming years, global players will also have to cut down on prices to compete with local manufacturers. Reasons to Purchase this report: - The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format - Report customization as per the clients requirements - 3 months of analyst support Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865840/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Greenville police raided what they said was a home-based drug operation capable of manufacturing thousands of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine pills in an hour and charged two people in the drug scheme. Thursday, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit searched a house at 105 North Oak Forest Drive in the Berea community. They found a hand-cranked machine that makes pills. The machine could make 3,000 to 5,000 tablets an hour, according to a police statement posted by Crime Stoppers of Greenville. Investigators also discovered a substantial quantity of finished heroin, fentanyl and meth tablets. Police found cash, two guns, one of which was stolen from Mauldin, and chemicals used to make pills, according to the statement. Police arrested two people who live at the home. Latravic Cajun Bigby, 35, and Vanhorren Freeda Hor, 28, are charged with trafficking meth and heroin, cocaine possession and owning a gun to commit a violent crime, jail records show. A machine used to manufacture pills was confiscated in a Greenville County drug bust, police said. Greenville police were tipped off about the house being used as a base for a drug operation, the Crime Stoppers statement said. Drug investigators staked out the location for a month before raiding it. The pill press showed signs of being operated for months, authorities said. The walls and flooring where the machine was being used were covered with a green-colored powder from ingredients used to make the tablets. Police called in the National Guard to test the air quality in the house to make sure officers were safe while investigating. The tests concluded investigators needed to wear protective clothing and masks during the search. The spread of these pills trafficked across Greenville County is frightening when you think of the potential health risks to users and the sheer number of fentanyl pills being uncovered by law enforcement is alarming, Bart McEntire, an officer with the drug enforcement unit said in the statement. Greenville police confiscated cash and pills in a drug bust, they said. The pill press that police confiscated can easily be bought on the internet, police said. Story continues The spread of opioid-based drugs and methamphetamine has accelerated at an already deadly epidemic rate in Greenville County, said Greenville County Sheriff Johnny Mack Brown. Dangerous synthetics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, simply put, will kill unwitting individuals. Bigby has drug convictions going back to 2008, court records show. That year he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to possessing and selling drugs, according to the records. Last year, he pleaded guilty to distribution an imitation controlled substance. If convicted of the drug trafficking charges, Bigby and Hor face up to 65 years in prison. As of Saturday afternoon, they were still jailed in Greenville County Detention Center. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday minimized new warnings from U.S. intelligence experts that Russia is interfering in this years election campaign, and revived old grievances in claiming that Democrats are determined to undermine the legitimacy of his presidency. Intelligence officials told lawmakers in a classified briefing last week that Russia is meddling with the hope of getting Trump reelected, according to officials familiar with the briefing. But Trump pushed back against the notion that Russia is working again to help him win and accused Democrats of trying to politically damage him. "Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7! Trump tweeted. The fresh intelligence warnings about Russian interference came in what has been a tumultuous stretch for the intelligence community. A day after the Feb. 13 briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, Trump berated the acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire in a meeting at the White House. Then this week, Trump abruptly announced that Maguire would be replaced by Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist who also will hold the job in an acting capacity. Trump tweeted Friday that he was considering four candidates to serve as permanent intel director and expected to make a decision within the next few weeks. He told reporters Thursday evening that Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia was among those he's considering. But Collins, who is vying for one of Georgia's Senate seats, said Friday hes not interested in the job overseeing the nations 17 spy agencies. The installation of Grenell, even in a temporary role, has raised questions among critics about whether Trump is more interested in having a loyalist instead of someone steeped in the complicated inner workings of international intelligence. Grenell has a background that is primarily in politics and media affairs. Most recently, hes been serving as Trumps chief envoy to Germany. The Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, dismissed Grenell as someone who, "by all accounts, rose to prominence in the Trump administration because of his personal devotion to Donald Trump and penchant for trolling the President's perceived enemies on Twitter." From the start of his presidency three years ago, Trump has been dogged by insecurity over his loss of the popular vote in the general election and a persistent frustration that the legitimacy of his presidency is being challenged by Democrats and the media, aides and associates say. He's also aggressively played down U.S. findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. In addition to those findings by the major intelligence agencies, a nearly two-year investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller concluded there was a sophisticated, Kremlin-led operation to sow division in the U.S. and upend the 2016 election by using cyberattacks and social media as weapons. Moscow has denied any meddling. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that the newest allegations are paranoid reports that, unfortunately, there will be more and more of as we get closer to the elections (in the U.S.). Of course, they have nothing to do with the truth. But in the U.S., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted that, American voters should decide American elections not Vladimir Putin." She added that all members of Congress should condemn the Presidents reported efforts to dismiss threats to the integrity of our democracy & to politicize our intel community. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, tweeted: We count on the intelligence community to inform Congress of any threat of foreign interference in our elections. If reports are true and the President is interfering with that, he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling. Exactly as we warned he would do. Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, said of Trump and the new warnings: Putins Puppet is at it again, taking Russian help for himself. He knows he cant win without it. And we cant let it happen, she said on Twitter. The U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia interfered in the 2016 election through social media campaigns and by stealing and distributing emails from Democratic accounts. They say Russia was trying to boost Trumps campaign and add chaos to the American political process. Mueller concluded separately that Russian interference was sweeping and systematic, but he did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign. Republican lawmakers who were in last week's briefing by the director of national intelligence's chief election official, Shelby Pierson, pushed back by saying Trump has been tough on Russia, according to one of the officials describing the meeting. While Trump has imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia, he also has spoken warmly of Putin and withdrawn troops from areas including Syria, where Moscow could fill the vacuum. He delayed military aid last year to Ukraine, a Russian adversary a decision that was at the core of his impeachment proceedings. The tumult caused by the sudden ouster of Maguire adds a new chapter to Trump's fraught relationship with the intelligence community. He has derided intelligence officials as part of a deep state of entrenched bureaucrats who seek to undermine his agenda. In addition to feuding over the Russian interference, he's claimed that members of the intelligence community unfairly accused him of unlawfully pressuring Ukraine's president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, another central element of the impeachment drama. At times, Trump has mocked the intelligence community, which he sees as obsessed with Russia. During a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of an international summit in Japan last year, Trump jokingly turned to Putin and playfully told him, Dont meddle in the election, President. Pierson told NPR in an interview that aired last month that the Russians are already engaging in influence operations relative to candidates going into 2020. But we do not have evidence at this time that our adversaries are directly looking at interfering with vote counts or the vote tallies. Pierson, appointed in July 2019 by then-Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, works with intelligence agencies including the CIA, the FBI, the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to identify anyone seeking to interfere with U.S. elections. Pierson said its not just a Russia problem. Were still also concerned about China, Iran, non-state actors, hacktivists and frankly certainly for DHS and FBI - even Americans that might be looking to undermine confidence in the elections. At an open hearing this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee that Russia was engaged in information warfare heading into the November election, but that law enforcement had not seen efforts to target Americas infrastructure. He said Russia is relying on a covert social media campaign to divide the American public. Staten Island NYPD officer arrested in child-pornography shocker An NYPD officer from Bay Terrace bought illicit images of minors from the account of a Twitter user purporting to be a 14-year-old girl, then a subsequent search of his computer found several hundred photos of child pornography, federal prosecutors allege. Timothy Martinez, 40, was arrested on Feb. 7 and charged with possession of child pornography, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York told the Advance. Click here for the exclusive story. Don't Edit He's accused of 2 heists in 1 morning at gas stations on Hylan Blvd. in Dongan Hills A 27-year-old man committed a robbery and an attempted heist at two gas stations in one morning on Hylan Boulevard in Dongan Hills, authorities allege. Fadie Said, of Winfield Street in South Beach, is accused in the incidents on Saturday at about 1:50 a.m. at the BP station at 1416 Hylan Blvd. and at about 5:20 a.m. at the Citgo station at 1870 Hylan Blvd., according to police and the criminal complaint. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Driver in fatal wrong-way crash drove entire length of West Shore Expressway, D.A. says The 47-year-old man charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter after a fatal crash on the West Shore Expressway drove for nearly the entire length of the expressway while over twice the legal blood alcohol content limit, prosecutors said on Thursday. Aureliano Garcia Juarez, who has a Maryland drivers license but has a residence in New Jersey, appeared in state Supreme Court, St. George Thursday afternoon before Judge Marina Cora Mundy and was served an 18-count indictment. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit Mob Wives husband pleads not guilty to federal gun-possession charges Lee DAvanzo, the husband of Mob Wives star Drita DAvanzo, pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to federal gun-possession charges, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York confirmed to the Advance. Federal prosecutors hit D'Avanzo with a charge of possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon in January after officers from the New York Police Department and the Narcotics Task Force of the Office of the Monmouth County Prosecutor raided the couple's home at 226 Woodvale Ave. in Pleasant Plains on Dec. 19 and found two loaded firearms, according to the criminal complaint. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Man, 23, accused of DWI in crash on Goethals Bridge A 23-year-old man was arrested for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol during a crash on the Goethals Bridge on Sunday morning. The suspect allegedly was one of two drivers taken into custody in unrelated accidents that happened within minutes of each other on the span. Two police vehicles were damaged and an officer examined for injuries at a nearby hospital following the crash, according a spokeswoman for Port Authority Police. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit Don't Edit Mob Wives twist! D.A. drops all charges against Drita DAvanzo The district attorney dropped all criminal charges against Mob Wives star Drita DAvanzo Friday morning, two months after officials raided her and her husbands home in Pleasant Plains and allegedly found weapons and drugs. She was not the target of the search warrant, said Assistant District Attorney Matthew Gamberg. But while she is in the clear, thats not the case for her husband, Lee. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit 3 sought for questioning in use of fake money at theater on South Shore The NYPD is asking for the publics help to identify three men sought for questioning in connection with the use of bogus currency at a movie theater on the South Shore. Officers responding to a 911 call of petit larceny were told by an employee that three unidentified individuals entered the theater and used counterfeit money to pay for services. The individuals fled the location to parts unknown, a police spokeswoman said. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Man sought in stabbing fled, sparking massive Todt Hill police response A stabbing earlier in the week prompted a major search by police of Todt Hill and surrounding neighborhoods on Thursday afternoon, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. The pursuit began after officers spotted a male person of interest with other men in a car. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the people inside ditched the car and fled into the woods of Todt Hill, the source said. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Man was shot in both thighs inside West Brighton home, cops say The NYPD continues to investigate a shooting that occurred in a West Brighton home Tuesday night. The shooting occurred inside a home on Barker Street near Castleton Avenue at approximately 10:30 p.m., an NYPD spokeswoman said, and left a 31-year-old man with bullet wounds to both thighs. Police initially said the man was shot in the ankle. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Felon admits to Forest Avenue restaurant heist; was also charged with tavern break-in A repeat felon from Stapleton, whos currently serving a prison term of up to five years for gun possession, has racked up his third felony conviction, this time for breaking into a West Brighton restaurant last year. And its going to cost Jeffrey Reader some extra time behind bars. Reader, 28, burglarized two establishments on the 300 block of Forest Avenue between 3 and 4 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2019, prosecutors said. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Don't Edit Cops: Man, 21, allegedly nabbed with gun outside Mariners Harbor Houses A 21-year-old man from Brooklyn was arrested with a gun outside the Mariners Harbor Houses, police allege. Andre Morris, 21, of Navy Walk, was arrested on Wednesday at about 3:12 p.m. in front of 40 Roxbury St., according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Morris has been charged by police with criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana. Click here for more details. Around 500 people, mostly women, gathered near the Jaffrabad metro station in northeast Delhi on Saturday night in protest against the new citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), blocking a major road. The women, carrying the national tricolour and raising slogans of aazadi, said they would not move from the site till the Centre revoke Citizenship (Amendment) Act. They also tied a blue band on their arm and also raised Jai Bhim slogans. There was heavy security deployment, including women police personnel, in the area. The women have blocked road No. 66 which connects Seelampur to Maujpur and Yamuna Vihar. Traffic was also blocked due to the sudden protest at the site. The police were trying to talk to protesters to clear the road. A woman, who identified herself as Bushra, said till the time CAA is not revoked, the protesters will not leave the site. Social activist Faheem Baig said there is a resentment within the people against the way the government is handling the issue. Shamim Ahmed, a local cleric, was in talks with the protesters at Jaffrabad to persuade them to leave the site. A protest is already going on near the main Seelampur road and Kardampuri against the amended Citizenship Act. The protest at Jaffrabad took place at a time efforts are being made to clear a road blocked by anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh. The protesters have been staging a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh for over two months, blocking the road connecting southeast Delhi and Noida. The Supreme Court has appointed interlocutors in an attempt to reach out to the anti-CAA protesters. A Delaware man found with a loaded gun and more than 100 rounds of ammunition outside a Westfield elementary school last year was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison. Thomas Wilkie must serve a minimum of 42 months behind bars before being eligible for parole, according to the Union County Prosecutors Office. Police found the 46-year-old outside Tamaques Elementary School on June 13, 2019 after receiving a tip from the New Castle County Police in Delaware, who learned he was headed to the school and possibly armed. Wilkie was holding a .45-caliber handgun loaded with hollow point bullets, according to authorities. Officers also recovered two more loaded clips of ammunition and a folding knife from him, along with 130 rounds of ammunition in the trunk of his car. He was arrested without incident and charged with weapons offenses. Wilkies father, George, previously told NJ Advance Media his son went to the school to see a current or former girlfriend. Speaking at sentencing in Union County Superior Court, Thomas Wilkie read from a five-page handwritten note, according to an account from the prosecutors office. He expressed remorse for his crimes - calling his actions unconscionable, frightening, and unacceptable, and thanked the police officers who arrested him. Wilkie credited cops for professionalism, restraint, and mercy," in defusing the tense scene. The bravery and professionalism demonstrated by Officers Jeffrey Johnson and Michael Pollack of the Westfield Police Department was exemplary. Their quick thinking and heroism deescalated a situation that easily could have turned tragic, Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said in a statement. Wilkie pleaded guilty last month to unlawful possession of a weapon. Assistant Prosecutors Theresa Hilton and Nicole Siano handled the case. The defendant went to school with a gun and there were children present, Siano said. Authorities did not allege Wilkie planned to harm children at the school, but the incident forced a lockdown of the building and left parents in fear. Wilkie admitted to police that he had a gun and ammunition, but claimed it was for self-defense, according to court documents. He said he was at the school to visit a teacher, who he called before he was arrested. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Six policemen were injured, two of them critically, after a Jharkhand Police vehicle fell into a deep ditch, here in Palna village of Jamshedpur on Saturday. The injured include one officer, four constables and a home guard. The injured have been admitted to Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur for treatment. Jamshedpur Rural SP Piyush Pandey has confirmed the incident. According to the police, the condition of two is very critical. "The accident happened when the soldiers were coming back from the DLSA (District Legal Service Authority) programme and patrolling in the Naxalite affected area. The driver of lost control and the vehicle fell into a ditch while he was trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle," the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) But their intense, epistolary love affair is captured permanently in a vast collection of similar letters at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. As the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II approaches, the museum is highlighting thousands of love letters from soldiers and sailors to their wives and girlfriends. The letters by Upcraft are among many collections staff members are digitizing so they can be more accessible and be read online around the world. (The museum does not have letters Russo wrote.) Mayor Yolanda Ford and members of the City Council honored two Missouri City Police Officers at the Feb. 17 city council meeting. Police Chief Mike Berezin led the award presentation ceremony recognizing Police Officer Leonard Scott and Police Officer Valery Elias for being selected as Officers of the Month for January 2020. In addition, Chief Berezin honored the officers with the departments prestigious Life Saving Award. Related: Sugar Land, Missouri City rank among Texas safest cities On Sunday, Jan. 25, a set of circumstances presented themselves and these two gentlemen rose above, stepped up to the plate and did something quite heroic, Chief Berezin said and described how first responders were called to the scene of a horrific car crash. Officer Scott was the first to arrive and found the driver was not breathing and began administrating CPR to the injured man. Officer Elias arrived next and took over CPR efforts until the victim began breathing again and his pulse returned. They stayed at this mans side until medics arrived in an ambulance and took over his care, Chief Berezin said. Then, the officers took over their responsibilities investigating the collision and clearing the roadway. The Officer of the Month program is a newly established honor within the Missouri City Police Department and Officer Elias and Officer Scott, as the first two recipients, had set a high bar by being awarded the departments Life Saving Award at the same time, Chief Berezin said. Related: Missouri City Police annual report shows theft, burglary, violent crimes on the decline It is my distinct honor not only to serve with fine officers such as this but to recognize them with a Life Saving Award, he said and presented each officer with the two awards. Officer Scott voiced his appreciation to Mayor Ford, Chief Berezin and city officials. We were just doing our job, I promise, Officer Scott said. We do this job and we dont even think about it. Its very much appreciated when someone takes the time to say, Thank you and to be recognized for our work. Officer Scott has served with the Missouri City Police Department for roughly three years and Officer Elias has served for almost two years. SIOUX CITY -- On a State Of Iowa Official Voter Registration form, Jeremy Taylor recently signed an affidavit affirming his legal address as 5202 Christy Road in Sioux City, which was the location over the prior two months he had vociferously denied having as his principal residence. Taylor, a former Republican state legislator and Woodbury County Board of Supervisors member, updated his voter registration address from the address of 3215 Grandview St., in the city. That made for a notable turnabout from his assertions that he lived at the Grandview home, and Taylor had said those who asserted otherwise were on a political witch hunt against him. On Jan. 31, Taylor held a press conference to give up his Woodbury County Board of Supervisors position, and by the end of the day he had completed a change in the address on his voter registration. He signed just below a section that said "I live at the address above," and Taylor put the Christy Road home in the blank for "address where you live." Taylor had exited the supervisors position after a special county inquiry resulted in revoking his voter registration. Taylor and his wife, Kim, own two homes, the one on Grandview that Taylor claimed as his legal residence, and another at Christy Road, which the couple purchased in May 2019. A local citizen, Maria Rundquist, in December filed a legal challenge to Taylor's voter registration, claiming the Christy Road home is his primary residence. After weighing various evidence and testimony at a Jan. 23 hearing, County Auditor Pat Gill found the "preponderance of evidence establishes" Taylor's voting residence as Christy Road. Taylor quickly vowed to appeal the decision in Woodbury County District Court, but did not. Taylor also at a Jan. 24 news conference claimed Rundquist, a past candidate for public office, was among those out to get him in a "very partisan" matter. He said even moving his entire family back to the Grandview home wouldn't satisfy Democrats who want to unseat him. In his ruling after the two-hour hearing, Gill found the "preponderance of evidence," which included water bills and mortgage documents, established Taylor's voting residence as Christy Road and cancelled his registration. Gill cited a copy of Taylor's mortgage for the Christy Road home in which he agreed to maintain that property as his "principal residence." Taylor faulted Gill for overlooking notarized statements from five neighborhood residents in the 3200 block of Grandview who vouched that he has been living at the home. In the Jan. 23 hearing, Taylor said he has "taken great steps" to maintain his legal residency at the Grandview Boulevard home, staying there four nights per week, even though it's a hardship to miss his wife and six children, who spend 90 percent of their time in their larger home on Christy Road. "I am there (Grandview) most of the time alone...We haven't lived traditional lives," Taylor told Gill during the hearing. Two months after winning his second term in Woodbury County's District 2 in November 2018, Taylor launched his campaign for the Iowa 4th seat held by Republican Rep. Steve King. Four other Republican challengers also are seeking the party's nomination in the June primary, and Taylor remains a candidate for that post. A special election to fill the county supervisors District 2 seat will be held on April 14. County residents can file papers to become candidates through March 20. That position will run nearly three years, through the end of 2022. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Trump and First Lady Melania are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. Srinagar: The US President Donald Trumps upcoming visit of India has caused fear psychosis and panic among the Sikhs of Kashmir Valley as they are reminded of the horror of the night of March 19, 2000 when as many as 35 members of the minority community were massacred by gunmen in Chattisinghpora village of southern Anantnag district during then President Bill Clintons official visit of the country. Stating this, Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), an amalgam of J&Ks Sikh organizations, said that the Sikhs of the Valley have to face such fearful situation whenever a high profile foreign personality, especially, that from USA visits India. The whole India seems to be busy in making preparations for Mr Trumps visit, but for Sikhs of Kashmir, the visit has brought in fears that the members of community are yet again on the radar. The Sikhs are feeling insecure and they fear that something untoward might happen on the eve of Donald Trumps visit, Mr. Raina said in a statement here on Saturday. In 2000, on the intervening night of March 19 and 20, when the then US President Mr. Clinton was in India, 35 Sikhs were shot dead by gunmen in Army uniforms after descending to Chattisinghpora. A local woman had also died of cardiac arrest on seeing piles of bullet-riddled corpses of the victims, raising the toll to 36. The authorities had blamed the gory incident on separatist militants. Five days after the massacre, Army and J&K police had claimed that five perpetrators were killed in an encounter in Anantnags Pathribal area and all of them were foreign terrorists. But later, it turned out to be a fake encounter and all the five slain men were unarmed civilians, who were picked up by the forces from different areas of the district earlier. Subsequently, at least, ten persons were also killed after security forces opened fire on the people protesting against the fake encounter in Anantnags Brakapora area. The CBI had in 2006 chargesheeted Brigadier Ajay Saxena, Lt. Col. Brajendra Pratap Singh, Major Sourabh Sharma, Major Amit Saxena and Subedar Idrees Khan for killing five civilians. However, in January 2014, the Army closed the Pathribal fake encounter case, asserting that the evidence recorded couldnt establish a prime-facie case against any of the accused. The Army had taken up the case from the civil court in 2012 following the directions of the Supreme Court before which it has earlier challenged the chargesheet filed by the CBI, which had described the incident as staged encounter and the killing of the civilian as a cold-blooded murder. Even after the lapse of nearly two decades the people of J&K particularly the Sikhs of the Valley are still waiting for the justice to be delivered. Mr. Raina said that the scars inflicted on the Sikhs of the Valley during Mr. Clintons visit are yet to be removed even after 20 years as the people who carried out the crime are yet to be identified. He said, It is highly unfortunate that neither the Government of India nor the successive J&K governments have reached to any conclusion with respect to identifying the killers of Sikhs at Chattisinghpora. The people at helm have just been making claims and truth of the matter is killers continue to roam free, he added. He said the Sikhs of the Valley were gripped by panic also during the India visit of (former) President Barrack Obama but, fortunately, nothing untoward happened. He, however, asked the Sikh living in village of north and south Kashmir to remain alert and vigilant during the Trump visit. Mr. Trump and First Lady Melania are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. TEHRAN,Iran,Feb.7 Trend: Iran and Turkey trade ties remain consistent, head of Iran-Turkey Joint Chamber of Commerce Mehrdad Saadat Dehghan told Trend. "The US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and political tensions between Iran and the US have affected the Iran-Turkey relations, but the Chamber has doing everything to keep the ties consistent," he said. The official noted that the trade ties between the two countries, as of current, are in good condition, without any specific problems. "Good Iran-Turkey trade was observed during the last Iranian year (started March 21, 2018). The trade continues, despite the statistics show a decline in 2019, compared to 2018," Dehghan said. "The Iran-Turkey trade volume in 2018 was $6 billion, and this figure can be increased. Trade interaction is ongoing in all fields, from consumer and non-consumer goods, to attracting investments in Iran. Fortunately, Turkey has invested in various sectors of Iran and big companies have good relations as well." He added that even if the JCPOA is completely eliminated, there won't be any problems in the Iran-Turkey trade relations. "Both countries understand each other's private sectors, and wouldn't cut economic relations," he said. He mentioned that among the pressing problems is the money transfer between the sides. "This was a serious obstacle, but we've found solutions to transfer money to and from Turkey," Dehghan said. After four days of deliberating, jurors in the Harvey Weinstein trial have yet to return a verdict and are recessed for the weekend. On Friday, jurors asked Manhattan Supreme Court Judge James Burke about returning a partial verdict on the five counts against Weinstein. MORE: Weinstein jury asks judge if they can issue partial verdict "We the jury request to understand if we can be hung on [counts] one and or three and unanimous on the other charges," they said on Friday afternoon. Counts one and three are the two top charges of predatory sexual assault. PHOTO:Harvey Weinstein arrives at Manhattan criminal court house as a jury continues with deliberations on Feb. 21, 2020 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The jurors were sent back to deliberate after the prosecution refused to accept a partial verdict, a smart move that may increase the likelihood of Weinstein being found guilty on all counts, Stewart Ryan, a former Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, prosecutor in both Bill Cosby trials, told ABC News. "I think the logical conclusion, assuming [the jurors] are talking about counts one and three, is they have guilty verdicts on two, four and five, and some compromise is being struck," said Ryan, now with the Philadelphia-based firm Laffey, Bucci & Kent, LLP. Charges Harvey Weinstein Faces (ABC Photo Illustration) He called the prosecution's refusal to accept a partial verdict a "smart move." "From a legal perspective, it made sense to send them back," Ryan continued, "but I think it can ultimately benefit them to give the jury the weekend. Sending them home increases the likelihood they come back with a full guilty verdict." However, he cautioned, "You never know what a jury is thinking." MORE: In closing arguments, prosecutor calls Harvey Weinstein an 'abusive rapist' and a 'predator' For attorney Lara Yeretsian, the jury's question about a partial verdict may indicate it's deadlocked on the two charges of predatory sexual assault, which could be good news for the defense. "It would be cause for celebration by the defense attorneys if he was acquitted on those charges or if it was a hung jury," Yeretsian, who has represented celebrities including Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson, said in a statement. Story continues "This is a good sign for Weinstein," she added, "because it means the jury can't agree on the most serious charges, the ones that could be a life sentence. It also means they're not unanimous on at least one of the accusers or possibly both of them. PHOTO: Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke at New York Criminal Court for Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, Feb. 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg via Reuters) "If he's lucky, they'll acquit him on at least one of the women's charges, likely Jessica Mann. If they believed even one of the accusers' stories, they wouldn't have a hung jury -- unless it turned out to be Anabella Sciorra, the strongest witness, whose story they didn't believe. In any event, this looks like good news for the defense." Weinstein has been charged with five counts of sexual assault related-crimes including predatory sexual assault and rape in the first degree, stemming from two women's allegations. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and claims all sexual encounters were consensual. The trial is scheduled to continue on Monday. Weinstein prosecutors increased chance of guilty verdict: Cosby trial attorney originally appeared on abcnews.go.com From a distance, it might have been mistaken for an early autumn snowfall: torn leaves of a Quran fluttered all around the famous Rozabal ziarat in Srinagar; the grave of the saint Yuz Asaf, believed by some to, in fact, be the resting place of Jesus, had been dug up. In the small village of Wutligam, a woman charged with promiscuity had been marched to the village square, and then shot through the back of the head. In Arigam, jihadists looted the store of Hindu grocery-store owner Raj Nath; in Arizal, they tried to assassinate the pro-India politician Ghulam Qadir. In August 1965, Hayat Mir a crack intelligence operative with special forces training had crossed the Chor Panjal pass with the columns of advancing Pakistan army troops. Then, perched on the mountains near the Baba Reshi shrine, he abandoned his uniform: Mirs job was to provoke a mass Islamist insurgency against Indian rule. Two years earlier, sitting in his office in Washington, DC, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer-turned-diplomat Robert Komer had watched the unravelling of a secret United States effort to mediate on Kashmir and predicted it would end in just such bloodshed. Everybody from [Field-Marshall] Ayub [Khan] down is on a new hate-India jag, he observed in a terse October 22, 1963, missive to President John F Kennedys National Security Advisor, McGeorge Bundy. The Pakistanis, he noted, appear to be deliberately building up tensions over Kashmir. I cite this not because I lack sympathy for the Paks but because until we do give them a cold shoulder on this sort of business well continue to have all sorts of problems. Four weeks later, President Kennedy was assassinated. The prospect of peace in Kashmir was buried with him. Indeed, the failed effort of 1961-1963 into which declassified documents now give historians granular insight helps understand why the road to peace in Kashmir has so often led, paradoxically, to war. On February 24, when the folk-dances and hugs celebrating the India-US relationship are done, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump will get down to the real business backstage. Theres little doubt Kashmir is high on Trumps mind. Last summer, he outraged Indias foreign policy establishment by asserting Modi had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir conflict and then brushed off New Delhis denial, to repeat his claim. Early this year, Trump went even further, saying he and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan were working together on some borders, and were talking about Kashmir. The reasons for Trumps interest aren't opaque. Hoping to pull out of the endless war in Afghanistan, Trump has negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban. Theres even odds, though, that the Taliban might use a draw-down in US troop levels to overrun major Afghan cities. That would be a disaster for Trumps re-election prospects and he needs the Talibans patrons, Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, to keep them to their word. Islamabads support, however, comes with a price-tag: support on securing concessions in Kashmir. Trump also has other reasons to intervene on Kashmir. Like Kennedy, he sees India as a strategic buffer against China but the conflict over Kashmir gives Beijing leverage across South Asia. He is also apprehensive, with good reason, about the conflict escalating into a large-scale war, even a nuclear conflagration with catastrophic impacts on the region. For these very reasons, President Bill Clinton had offered to mediate over Kashmir in 2000, while President Barack Obama had hoped his Afghanistan envoy, Richard Holbrooke, would be able to engage Islamabad and New Delhi on the issue. New Delhi, in turn, has often sought international help though it doesnt like the word mediation. US mediation helped bring a rapid end to the Kargil war in 1999, and since 26/11, its played a key role in tempering Pakistans use of jihadists against India. Following the Balakote air-battles, which mercilessly exposed gaps in Indias military preparedness, New Delhi has also lobbied hard for Washington to hold back Pakistan from staging terrorist attacks which could force it to risk another crisis. This all makes mediation conducted in secret, so it doesnt appear to be mediation seem like an excellent idea to many in Washington, Islamabad, and even New Delhi. Except, it isnt. To the negotiating table? In the autumn of 1961, Komer floated the idea of a grand India-Pakistan bargain that read like a Wagah candle-wavers dream: a common air-defence system; a customs union; even joint management of agriculture in Punjab. This, he hoped, would allow India and Pakistan to negotiate a new relationship in Kashmir: perhaps New Delhi could be persuaded to give up a little more wasteland up in Ladakh, and some minor territorial concessions alone the ceasefire line of 1948; perhaps there could even be joint tenancy in the Kashmir valley. The China-India war of 1962 gave traction to Komers proposals: New Delhi now desperately needed US military aid, and Washington thought it could use the opportunity to push for progress on Kashmir. Late in 1962, the United Kingdoms Secretary of State for Commonwealth relations, Duncan Sandys, and the US Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, Averell Harriman, were dispatched to South Asia to determine what military assistance India needed. Lord Louis Mountbatten travelled with Sandys on this mission, hoping to persuade Nehru to agree to a demilitarised and independent Jammu and Kashmir. Indias Cabinet, however, shot down the idea. The diplomats did, however, succeed in pushing Nehru and the Pakistani military dictator General Ayub Khan, who had taken power in 1958, to the negotiating table. After two rounds of talks, an event took place which, for all practical purposes, destroyed the prospects of an accord. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had taken over as Pakistans Foreign Minister, travelled to Beijing in March 1963 and ceded parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to China. To the President, Komer was blunt. I wonder if we arent doing ourselves a disservice by our continued pressure on Kashmir, he wrote in a May 14, 1963, note for Kennedy. There is no denying the great value of a Kashmir settlement to us, he recorded, and until recently, I was as much of a hard-liner as anyone on this issue. I would be still if I saw a sporting chance. In reality, Komer argued, the prospects of a deal had been dimmed by Pakistans own excessive appetite and misguided tactics, such as trying to use the Chicoms [Chinese communists]. Talk of Indian concessions on Kashmir, he went on, would engender a dangerous Pak emotional reaction. The longer we nurture Pak illusions, Komer told Kennedy, the more a head of steam is built up in Pakistan, and the harder such a reaction will be to head off. Build-up to armed conflict From the memoirs of Lieutenant-General Gul Hasan Khan, we know just how high that head of steam had built up: hoping to pressurise India into making the concessions Kennedy sought, it prepared to use force. There was, General Khan wrote, to first be an intensification of the firecracker type of activity that was already current, a reference to terrorism. Then, the Pakistan Army was to train guerrillas like Hayat Mir, who would be tasked with arming the locals and helping them rise against the Indian Army of occupation. Then, on August 29, 1965, Pakistans army chief, General Mohammad Musa received secret orders to initiate full-scale war: a general rule, the orders read, Hindu morale would not stand for more than a couple of hard blows delivered at the right place and the right time. New Delhis own position in Kashmir hardened in the build-up to the war, with Prime Minister Nehru moving to tie the territory closer into the Indian union. In 1963, with political patriarch Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah in jail on charges of seeking independence, Nehrus hand-picked regional strongman, Ghulam Muhammad Bakshi, ceased to call himself Kashmirs 'wazir-i-azam', or prime minister, and picked the standard title of chief minister instead. The arrangement would be formalised by the legislature in 1965. In late 1964, an order issued by the President of India allowed the central government to take charge of Jammu and Kashmirs administration in the event of the collapse of the constitutional machinery. Prior to this order, the imposition of emergency powers required the concurrence of the state legislature. A wide variety of central legislation was made applicable to Kashmir; high officials and candidates contesting elections now had to vow to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Then, in January, 1965, the Indian National Congress amended its party constitution and enabled the setting up of a state unit in Jammu and Kashmir, which in turn simply subsumed the National Conference, then led by chief minister GM Sadiq. For both Islamabad and New Delhi, there are important lessons in those events. Pakistans efforts to seize Kashmir failed spectacularly: far from rising in support of jihad, the villagers of Wutligam and Arizal were repelled by jihadists like Hayat Mir, and betrayed them to police. New Delhis integrationist efforts, in turn, failed: incarcerating Sheikh Abdullah in jail, and the National Conference-Congress merger, left the state without legitimate political opposition, strengthening the Islamist tendencies that would exploded in the 1980s. Theres an even more important lesson for the US. Kennedys peace efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, had led both India and Pakistan to sharpen their swords, not beat them into ploughshares. Either hoping to secure concessions or to avoid having to make them, both nations hardened the status-quo a process that led on, inexorably, to war. Late on the afternoon of November 17, 1965, Hayat Mir walked into the lunch-room at Srinagars Ahdoos Hotel, to discuss plans to take forward the jihad in Kashmir after Pakistans military defeat. Plainclothes police personnel were waiting. This is the first time in my life I have failed, police files record him as saying. Everybody failed: Washington, Islamabad, and New Delhi alike. Leaders who dont read history are condemned to repeat its errors. The path Trump is now embarked on with Khan leads to the same destination so many other leaders found themselves at: a grim, blood-soaked place called impasse. February 21, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada; National Defence The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, today announced that the plane chartered by the Government of Canada to repatriate Canadians who were on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship has arrived in Canada from Tokyo, Japan. At 2:01 (EST) today, 129 Canadians and accompanying family members travelling on the chartered plane arrived at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton. None of the passengers exhibited symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) upon arrival. Upon landing, the returning passengers were screened at CFB Trenton by quarantine officers and then met by officers from the Canada Border Services Agency. They were then transported to the NAV CENTRE in Cornwall, Ontario where they will be subject to a 14 day quarantine period. They will undergo the same medical assessment and observation as those who were repatriated earlier this month from Wuhan, China, The Government of Canada continues to work with provincial, territorial and local health authorities to ensure that the returning Canadians and their family members receive all the medical and ongoing support necessary to protect their health and the health and safety of all Canadians. We encourage Canadians in Japan to consult the Government of Canadas Travel Advice and Advisories and Travel Health Notices, and register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Canadians in Japan in need of emergency consular assistance can contact the Embassy of Canada to Japan in Tokyo at +81 (0) 3-5412-6200 or email tokyo-consul@international.gc.ca. They can also contact Global Affairs Canadas 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613 996 8885 or email sos@international.gc.ca. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 22, 2020 09:12 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065ee6f5 1 Editorial #Editorial,family-resilience-bill,patriarchy,house-of-representatives,LGBT-in-Indonesia,conservatism,family,marriage,women-rights,housewives,household Free The state has long seen it fit to meddle in our private lives. The 1974 Marriage Law ruled that the husband is the head of the household and the wife is a housewife. It also states that the husband must as best as possible provide all the family needs, while the wife is obliged to manage household affairs as best as possible. After 45 years, this law remains effective, with the only change coming near the end of 2019 when the legal age for marriage was increased to 19 for both genders, from 16 for females. The landmark decision followed a long struggle to curb child marriage, while other points of contention remain in the 1974 law, such as legal reasons for polygamy among Muslim men and the aforementioned divisions of household duties between husband and wife. The draft family resilience bill echoes parts of the Marriage Law and seeks to allow the state to have greater authority in conjugal affairs. In the past few years, discussions on a family resilience law have seen support from government institutions dealing with families, notably the Social Affairs Ministry and the National Population and Family Planning Board. However, the board under its new head has warned against excessive state intrusion into private lives. The state should focus on creating quality families, Hasto Wardoyo was quoted as saying; thus, the 2009 law on population and family development emphasizes the governments provision of information and services for families wellbeing. A Social Affairs Ministry official said previously that a family resilience law was urgently needed to prevent family crises, of which children suffer the most. Yet, despite the good intentions, the bills many contentious clauses led to a new online petition on change.org to kill it an objective that we support. Apart from calling for the reinforcement of rigid divisions between a wife and her husband, which do not represent Indonesias widespread reality of households, unimaginable stipulations of the draft bill include a special government body to deal with family crises due to sexual deviation such as homosexuality. Such content may easily draw support from conservative groups that often express the conviction that putting women in their place is key to family and national stability. Parents who have voiced deep fears of the imagined, deliberate spread of homosexuality would also wholeheartedly agree with the bill. A lawmaker of the Golkar Party was among endorsers of the draft bill, which the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) backs. However, following howls against this, Golkar politicians denounced the members endorsement, saying it was her personal view. Too much time has been wasted on vague, contentious bills. The House of Representatives must immediately pass the bill on sexual violence into law, which now risks being sidelined further. Such a law would help prevent and protect victims of all forms of sexual crimes. Politicians seeking further progress in their populist constitutional jihad may win or lose in the latest squabble over whats best for citizens. We have chosen to join arms with citizens who do not wish to resort to settling all troubles under a nanny state that monopolizes definitions of deviance, as in the past. WASHINGTON - A federal judge on Friday dismissed a racketeering lawsuit brought by Republican Rep. Devin Nunes against the political research firm that enlisted a former British spy to look into Donald Trumps ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign. Nunes, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a vocal ally of Trump, had accused Fusion GPS in a lawsuit last year of harassing him and trying to impede his panels investigation into Russian election interference. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, and also named a non-profit advocacy group as a defendant, sought nearly $10 million in damages. Lawyers for Fusion denied the allegations, and U.S. District Judge Liam OGrady dismissed the lawsuit in a two-page order Friday. Defendants raise significant questions and make meritorious arguments as to both the sufficiency of the factual pleadings and the courts jurisdiction over these defendants, OGrady wrote. Fusion GPS was paid by Democrats in 2016 to investigate Trumps ties to Russia ahead of the election. As part of that work, Fusion enlisted a former British operative named Christoper Steele, who compiled his research into a series of files that came to be known colloquially as the Steele dossier. It would seem that the current selection of Democratic presidential candidates all share a profound obsession with 'gun control', and in particular the desire to ban anything they can remotely classify as an "assault weapon". This is a much over used and inaccurate definition that gets unjustifiably applied to almost any rifle that is an auto-loader, commonly often including the cosmetic features of the dreaded 'black rifle' with attributes such as a pistol grip and adjustable or folding stock. Of course these candidates are not alone with their obsession, as many states seek the same goal - such as the recent ban attempts in Virginia have demonstrated. It has to be wondered where is the logic as to why a majority of gun owners should be penalized for the sins of the very few, other than simply achieving the means to effect a wide spread disarmament policy. If as is estimated some 45 million gun owners possess so called "assault" rifles, and applying a 'guestimated' evil-use figure of one in every 1,000,000 owners (0.000001%) we might have, say, a hypothetical figure of as many as 45 potential mass murderers - an unlikely high number. Result - many millions of legitimate owner's rights would be infringed upon - and yet, the potential availability of such firearms thoughout the criminal underworld would remain unchanged. ..... Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal Dorchester shooting as 42-year-old Marcos Blanco, of Dorchester. Boston police said Marcos was fatally shot in the area of 89 Woodrow Ave. in Dorchester Thursday night. Police responded to a call about a person shot off Woodrow Avenue at roughly 11:11 p.m. Officers arrived and found a man suffering from gunshot sounds. He was taken an area hospital and later died. Blancos death marks the third shooting fatality in two weeks, and came the day after a teenager was shot and killed in the area of 6 Cameron St. in Dorchester. Police arrested a 15-year-old boy, who allegedly possessed a firearm, in connection with that incident. On Feb. 7, 62-year-old Andrew Farley, of Dorchester, was shot to death near Columbia Road and Hancock Street. The Boston Police Department is investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470. Time to raise your non-alcoholic cider: this week, the Utah State Senate voted unanimously on decriminalizing polygamy, the act of being married to several people at once. So while wearing half a pound of gold rings on your finger is still illegal, it's now merely an infraction, like getting a parking ticket, the penalty now $750 fine and some community service for parking in several driveways at once. Meanwhile, acts like forced polygamy, underage polygamy or tricky polygamy (i.e. bigamy) remain felonies with punishments of up to five years of prison time. And it's both unsurprising and surprising that the Mormon state is the first to soften laws on multi-marriages. While Utah still has roughly 30,000 polygamist Mormons (or about 78 polygamist Mormon men), it also made a very clear promise in 1890 that Mormons would legally keep it in their temple garment for but the one spouse in return for being granted statehood. Continue Reading Below Advertisement This might be why the decision has been sold as a strategic shift instead of an ideological one. According to Utah Senator Deirdre Henderson, the move is to send a message to victims in Mormon polygamist communities (mostly women) that they can now forward and report abuse to the police without the fear of automatically being thrown into jail. But it's hard for many advocacy groups to believe that this softening is actually done in the interest of supporting polyamory or polygamist women. After all, this bill was passed unanimously by a Republican government, not exactly known for their progressive law-making (see: they're also super-concerned about porn these days). Only in January 2020, a Utah judge convicted a woman for the crime of being topless in her own house, since merely having boobs should be deemed a lewd act. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizes the contributions of Latinos in the country's agriculture industry. The photo of Representative Eligio "Kika" de la Garza is posted in the Library of Congress to honor him as the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. He is a Mexican-American from Texas who has lots of contributions to the nation's agriculture industry. He did not only support trade and rural economic development, but he also spearheaded in the House to pass federal reforms on pesticide laws, overhaul the agricultural lending system, crop insurance reform, and a major reorganization of the USDA. Moreover, he also passed three farm bills and countless measures that helped improve human nutrition. During the time of de la Garza as the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, he passed agriculture-related laws from 1981 to 1984 that did not only benefit Latinos living in the country, but all farmers. One of the laws that he passed was the Agriculture Credit Act of 1987 that aimed to provide crucial assistance to the struggling farm credit lending institutions. He also became instrumental in nurturing the U.S.-Mexico trade relations and he has served as a key player in the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and helped to expand the agreements that impacted commodity tradings for U.S. farmers and consumers, also known as General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades. (GATT). The Mexican-American representative has also served as a founding member and the chair from 1989 to 1991 of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Insitute. Latinos have been an integral part and played an important role in the country's agriculture sector. In a recent report in the Census of Agriculture, it was found that there is an increase of 14 percent of Latino origin farmers that include Latino farm owners, managers, tenants, renters, or even sharecroppers. This only means that Latinos in the United States have great impacts and contributions to the country's agriculture industry. The USDA also posted on their website that they continued the legacy of de la Garza and other Hispanic leaders in terms of the reforms they made in agriculture. They created a team that traveled across the country and reached out to the small and disadvantaged farmers not only for the Latino community but in all races and ethnicities in general. Their main mission is to make sure that the agency's vision which is to promote the services of the agency will be easily understood and accessed. To make it more effective, they make sure that there are webinars, brochures, and other items are in the Spanish language. The USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) attended also different events to make sure that participants know about the available job opportunities. Through this, the AMS will let the national leaders, educators, elected officials, and other persons concerned know the critical issues and the country is facing most especially in agriculture. USDA hopes to develop more leaders like de la Garza. They help support students and children from different races and ethnicities for their academic success. The USDA has sponsored the first Hispanic Youth Symposium in 2004 that has served more than 3,700 students. Moreover, the AMS will continue its outreach to the Latino community and encourage everyone to continue the lasting contributions of Latinos and Hispanics in the agriculture sector. The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday arrested one more person allegedly involved in swindling crores of rupees by fraudulent means from gullible people in Poonch district last year. Six people, including main accused Tariq Mehmood, were arrested last year in connection with the case, while property and cash worth Rs 1.5 crore was seized. Nazeer Hussain, a resident of Dhanwan Morha village of Chingus, was arrested from his hideout at Kalakote in Rajouri district, a spokesman of the Crime Branch said. Hussain, who was working as a driver of Mehmood, was evading his arrest for the last seven months. He is being put to questioning to ascertain the modus operandi of the gang and other aspects related to the case, the spokesman said. The case pertains to huge financial fraud committed by a non-banking financial company in the name and style of 'Hables-e-Commerce Private Limited' run by the six accused persons. Huge amounts were deposited by the people of Rajouri and Poonch districts with the company before the accused persons went underground. On May 16 last year, a complaint was lodged at Police Station Mendhar in Poonch by Abdul Karim of Pathanteer village and others alleging that Mehmood, Murtaza Ahmed, Imtiaz Ahmed and others swindled crores of rupees from the inhabitants of Mendhar and its surrounding areas on the pretext of providing different products with huge interest. On receipt of the complaint, a case under relevant sections of law was registered, the spokesman said, adding in view of the sensitivity of the case, the investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch, Jammu. He said the investigation of the case was taken up by the Crime Branch on May 22 last year and after conducting a thorough investigation, a preliminary charge sheet of the case has been produced before a local court in Mendhar against the six arrested persons. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the summer of 1999, a young United States diplomat found himself inside a safe-house in the garrison-city of Rawalpindi, face-to-face with the patriarch of Afghanistans Islamic jihad. The Talibans minister for borders, Sirajuddin Haqqani, turned out to have a well-developed sense of irony: it was, he said, good to meet someone from the country which had destroyed my base, my madrassa, and killed 25 of my mujahideen. Haqqanis assistants glared sullenly, a diplomatic cable records. Less than a year earlier, the al-Qaida had bombed the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing more than 200. The United States responded by firing cruise missiles at jihadist camps in eastern Afghanistan. The diplomat warned that more strikes could follow unless the Taliban expelled al-Qaedas chief, Osama bin Laden. Even though the Taliban would not expel Bin Laden, Haqqani responded, they had him under control. William Milam, the United States ambassador in Islamabad, exulted: his countrys threats of violence and moves to isolate the regime were indeed pinching the Taliban. Lethal as missiles are, self-delusion is even more dangerous. In the months before that meeting took place, we now know, Bin Laden had summoned the head of al-Qaedas military committee, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to Kandahar, and green-lighted the 9/11 plot. Ahead of his visit to India, President Donald Trump signed off on a Reduction in Violence agreement with the Taliban the first in a series of steps meant to prepare the way for the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan. For India, the deal is exceedingly bad news. The Talibans second sunrise will energise jihadist movements in Kashmir, and across the region, just as the Afghan mujahideens defeat of the Soviet Union did in 1989. Theres little New Delhi can do but prepare for the rising storm. India has neither the military capacities nor the diplomatic heft needed to influence the course events will take in Kabul. History, though, leaves no room for illusions about what lies ahead. In 1992, almost a decade before 9/11, Pakistani Islamist politician Fazlur Rahman laid out a road map for the global jihadist magazine. The Afghan jihad, he told the Pashto language Manba al-Jihad magazine, "which was spearheaded by Maulana Haqqani and other truthful leaders, defeated the Soviet empire. But now there is another enemy to this jihad. That is America and its conspiratorial policies that are intended to bring Afghanistan, the centre of jihad, under American attack. Fazlur Rahman concluded: We are sure that people like Haqqani will fuel the flames of jihad worldwide. Kashmir was one of the new theatres. A small nation with a small population, with limited resources and weapons rose in revolt against the Soviet onslaught, the jihadist-turned-politician Altaf Khan, also known as Azam Inquilabi, recalled to the extent that the Soviet Union ultimately disintegrated into fragments. So we got inspired, he proceeded, if they could offer tough resistance to a super power in the east, we too could fight India. Faced with these threats, though, the United States sought accommodation. In 1994, President Bill Clintons administration began working to facilitate energy giant Unocal's plans to build an ambitious pipeline linking Central Asia's vast energy fields with the Indian Ocean. Muhammad Ghaus, the Talibans foreign minister, led an expenses-paid delegation to Unocal's headquarters in Sugarland, Texas, at the end of 1997. The clerics, housed at a five-star hotel, were taken to see the NASA museum, several supermarkets and the local zoo. In April 1996, Robin Raphel then-Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, and later Barack Obamas ambassador for non-military aid to Pakistan visited Kabul to lobby for the project. Later that year, she was again in Kabul, this time calling on the international community to engage the Taliban. The Taliban does not seek to export Islam, only to liberate Afghanistan, she said. Even as the State Department report described Bin Laden as one of the most significant sponsors of terrorism today, the regime which sheltered him was never declared a state sponsor of terrorism. The truth, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright later wrote, was that those [attacks before 9/11] were happening overseas and while there were Americans who died, they were not thousands and it did not happen on US soil. For Prime Minister Imran Khan, and General Qamar Bajwa, the army chief who underpins his authority, President Trumps Afghan deal will prove a gift just as 9/11 was for General Pervez Musharraf and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate will have to guarantee sure the Taliban does not attempt to seize Afghan cities like Kunduz before the United States presidential elections are complete and for that, there will be a price. New Delhi can, thus, expect greater United States pressure to negotiate with Pakistan over Kashmir and to temper its reactions to acts of terrorism. Already, Jaish-e-Muhammad training camps, shut down after last years Balakote air-strike, have reopened. From the Doha Accord the roadmap for the Afghan peace talks signed last year it's clear that Afghanistan is headed towards a dismantling of its fledgling, post-9/11 republican order. The parties agreed to institutionalise [an] Islamic system in the country for the implementation of comprehensive peace; clearly, the Afghan constitution itself is an inadequate framework for the Taliban. Last year, Taliban delegates at a dialogue in Moscow described the current Afghan constitution as un-Islamic, and labelled womens rights immoral. And Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada vowed in an Eid message to continue fighting until ending the occupation and establishment of an Islamic system. From President Trumps optic, the case for withdrawal is simple: the payoff from the expensive, murderous war of attrition in Afghanistan, just doesnt justify its costs. Even if jihadists seize power in Afghanistan, the argument goes, the United States massive counter-terrorism capacities give it a formidable shield and Pakistan can be paid to play policeman. Plenty of President Trump aides, well-aware of how the road to 9/11 was paved disagreed with this line of argument among them, former secretary of defence Jim Mattis and national security advisors HR McMaster and John Bolton. They found their boss was determined to fulfil his election promise to pull out of foreign wars. Back in 1989, as the Kashmir jihad rose, New Delhi was caught unawares: the states political system was in disarray, the consequence of elections rigged by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi; its administrative structure in ruins; its economy incapable of accommodating the aspirations of young people. Islamists were able to fill these voids with devastating consequences. Ever since 1999, Indian policies in Kashmir have been predicated on the assumption that New Delhi and Washingtons regional interests converge: reining-in Pakistans jihadist proxies, it seemed, was a common interest. President Trumps Afghan deal makes that not necessarily true. Time no longer on its side, New Delhi needs to act now to reestablish not just its authority, but Indias legitimacy, in Kashmir. A 74-year-old Dublin man who slashed the tyres on a student's car because he didn't like where it was parked has escaped without a conviction after paying for the damage he caused. Joseph Farrelly, of Maol-buille Road in Glasnevin, pleaded guilty to slashing two tyres on a Toyota Yaris belonging to student Natalia Lubinska, who was a tenant in a house next door to him. Judge Colin Daly described it as a "particularly nasty" act of vandalism against a young woman. Footage At a sitting of Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Thursday, evidence was given that last November 3 a complaint was made by the student that two tyres had been slashed on her 08-registered Toyota at around 11.30pm. CCTV footage viewed by gardai showed Farrelly leaving his house and crossing the road before reaching down to the wheels of the car parked nearest the kerb. Expand Close Damage similar to that caused to the parked car / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damage similar to that caused to the parked car The footage showed Farrelly making two trips from his house with an implement in his hand and crossing the road to the car, which was parked opposite his neighbour's house, and bending down behind the vehicle. The court heard that Farrelly was arrested and charged with criminal damage on the basis of the CCTV footage. He pleaded guilty to the charge, and counsel for Farrelly submitted medical records to the judge on a mental health issue, and said that at the time of the incident Farrelly had been drinking and had recently suffered bereavement following the death of a friend. "There was frustration with where the car was parked," he said. He said Farrelly had made a terrible decision and accepted the difficulties he had caused the car's owner, and explained that his actions were an aberration of his character. He added that Farrelly was very apologetic and had no previous convictions. Judge Colin Daly asked what level of means Farrelly had and was told he was on the State pension. Vandalism The judge dismissed the case, leaving Farrelly without a conviction, after 250 in compensation was paid over to the victim to cover the cost of replacing the two tyres. Addressing Farrelly, Judge Daly said the incident was "an act of vandalism against a young woman" and was "particularly nasty". Speaking after the case, the owner of the house where the student, Ms Lubinska, was living said she was angered by the verdict. "My tenant's car was parked across the road in front of my house. It wasn't in front of Farrelly's house. He had to cross the road to get to it," she said. Chennai police has begun a probe into an accident involving the collapse of a crane while constructing a set for the shooting of Kamal Haasan-starrer "Indian 2", a police official said on Friday. The police have arrested the crane operator in connection with the accident. A police official said police will prepare a questionnaire and issue summons to those present at the spot when the accident occurred. Three technicians -- Madhu, Chandran and Krishna -- were killed and 12 others injured after the crane fell on them while constructing the sets at the EVP Film City near here on Wednesday night. Directed by S. Shankar, "Indian 2" features Kajal Aggarwal too. Haasan, Aggarwal along with Shankar had a providential escape on the fateful night. Meanwhile, it is rumoured the case has been transferred to the Central Crime Branch, though there is no official confirmation. The south-west suburb had more than twice as many reported attacks as the next most dangerous suburbs, Acacia Ridge and Tarragindi, which both had 14 reports. Inala had the most complaints about attacks on people last year, with 33 reports. Almost 150 people reported being attacked by an animal in Brisbane last year, with southern suburbs topping the list for aggressive behaviour. Kidsafe Queensland CEO Susan Teerds said small children were most at risk from dog bites, which were the most common animal attack complaints. "Don't assume just because you have had this beautiful dog that has been perfectly behaved for years that it is going to love everybody," she said. "Dogs get very jealous and they don't understand toddlers trying to hug them around their neck, ride on their back, pull their tail and try to take their biscuit out of their mouth." Ms Teerds said a three-year-old Brisbane child was taken to hospital last year after their dog started "ripping at their face". "The child had been happily playing with their dog for the past three years then for no reason it just said, 'I don't want you here anymore' and attacked them. CALGARYTo buffalo or to bison, that is the question. At least, its a question some are asking this week, after an abundance of hairy bovine news, ranging from the natural to the political. Theyre both big and shaggy, so what is the difference between buffalo and bison? Whatever you call them, the Canadian prairies were once thick with moving herds of them. And we used to call them buffalo. Peter Erasmus, translator for Treaty 6, which covers central Alberta and Saskatchewan, wrote about galloping a horse in some of the last big hunts of the late 19th century in his book Buffalo Days and Nights. Buffy Sainte-Marie laments Now That the Buffalos Gone in song. Even classic country tune Home on the Range longs for a home where the buffalo roam. But nowadays, sticklers insist that Canada never had buffalo, and that its bison. What gives? First, to recap recent buffalo news: On Thursday, a group of Conservative MPs raised the spectre of Western separation with the so-called Buffalo declaration. The document, which purports to stand up for the West, demands that the federal government recognize Alberta or Buffalo as a culturally distinct region within Confederation. This is a reference to Sir Frederick Haultain, the first premier of the Northwest Territories, who argued for the creation of a single territory called Buffalo. (He also wanted it to be managed by non-partisan governments, though thats not in the declaration.) Instead, Alberta and Saskatchewan were created as separate entitles in 1905. While political drama was unfolding, a small herd of bison were causing problems of their own outside the northern Alberta village of Hythe. RCMP warned residents Wednesday that 15 bison had escaped a trailer parked at a Husky gas station in the village, which has a population of less than 1,000 people. As of Thursday, three of the animals were still at large. Have your say: Its technically true that there are no buffalo native to North America. As far as biologists are concerned, that name only belongs to the cape buffalo of Africa and the water buffalo of Asia. To tell the difference, the Encyclopaedia Brittanica advises focusing on the three Hs: home, hump and horns. Buffalo, as mentioned, live in Asia and Africa. Buffalo dont have a a hump at the shoulders, though bison do. Buffalo also have big horns some, approaching two metres. (Buffalo also have beards, though that is not an H.) So why do we still sometimes say buffalo? There are several theories, according to Canadian Encyclopedia. One is that when Europeans arrived in North America, they saw the large furry ungulates and thought they looked like the buffalo on other continents. Another is that the word is a twist on the French word boeuf, which can mean ox or bullock. It notes that the name still has cultural and romantic connotations in Canada. For many Indigenous peoples, buffalo remains the name of choice. As a general rule, buffalo is often used in a cultural context, while bison is used in a scientific context. Read more about: This immunity of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State has come under political turmoil in an endless power tussle in the state. An Abuja Area Court on Friday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the allegation of forgery of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) certificate against the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. Report indicated that an APC leader from Bayelsa State, Benjamin Youdiowei, had gone to the Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja, making accusation that Ewhrudjakpo presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his nomination as a candidate, a forged NYSC Exemption Certificate. Youdowei alleged that Ewhrudjakpo had been using the allegedly forged document as part of his credentials. The NYSC certificate is dated February 2, 1998, with number 139708. The presiding judge, Abubakar Sadiq, had on November 27, 2019, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ewhrudjakpo following his absence from the court for the days proceedings. He had also ordered the police to investigate the deputy governor before issuing a fresh order directing the DSS to take over the investigation. ALSO READ: APC files suit, seeking reversal of Supreme Court judgment on Bayelsa Ewhrudjakpo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was until his swearing-in as the Bayelsa State deputy governor on February 14, 2020, the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District. He was sworn in with the state governor, Duoye Diri, following the February 14, 2020 judgment of the Supreme Court which nullified the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates in the last governorship election in the state. Meanwhile, since the deputy governor has been sworn into office, he has immunity and cannot be prosecuted on criminal cases but can be investigated. However, except this is a pre-election suit, actions may not go beyond investigation. PV: 0 The Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ) encourage troops to incorporate the Cookie Share program into their annual cookie sale. Cookie Share is a service project that enables the community to send Girl Scout cookies to our Armed Forces without having to incur the effort or cost of handling and shipping. GSCSNJ has partnerships with the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst and Coast Guard, to ensure that our cases of cookies get into the right hands. In 2019, GSCSNJ shipped 2,945 cases (thats 35,340 boxes) of cookies overseas. To help exceed last years delivery, Troop 70641 increased its goal by 10%. Each year, the girls select a specific service member deployed overseas to send the cookies. This year, cookies will be deployed to a chaplain based out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst who stationed in Turkey. Over Valentines Weekend, with the support of Starbucks (at 2673 Main Street), the girls advanced their campaign. The girls would like to thank the community for stopping to purchase cookies and for asking questions about the Cookie Share program. The girls are confident that the chaplain will place the cookie packages in very deserving hands. Its not too late to participate and send some delicious cookies to our troops. Cookies will be sold through early March. Readers can find a Girl Scout Cookie Booth near them by going to www.GirlScoutCookies.org and entering their zip code. The site will provide a schedule of cookie booths in their area. Local scouts have a cookie pop-up at the Quakerbridge Mall that has a troop assigned every evening from 6:00 8:00 pm, as well as Saturday and Sundays from 10:00 am 4:00 pm. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the worlds largest girl-led entrepreneurial program. The proceeds from cookie sales stay local to power programs and service projects. The Girl Scouts would love to tell you more about it! Portland police say they spent more than an hour chasing a reckless driver Friday night, pursuing him from Portland to Vancouver as the man switched from one stolen vehicle to another and then drove back and forth between the two cities again. The drivers speeds topped 100 mph at times, police said, so they backed off periodically while monitoring his progress from an airplane overhead. The wild chase began at 7:30 p.m., near North Houghton Street and North Foss Avenue, when police attempted to pull over a Chevrolet pickup that had been reported stolen. The vehicle sped away, and officers opted not to pursue. Other officers nearby saw the truck soon afterward but also chose not to pursue the speeding vehicle, according to police. A police airplane monitoredc the truck as it went onto Interstate 5 into Vancouver, then headed east before crossing back into Oregon on I-205. Police say the driver jumped out of the truck at the Cascade Station mall and drove off in a Honda Accord that had been also previously reported as stolen. Police again attempted to stop him, but he drove back into Vancouver up I-205, moving above 100 mph. Police say they backed off again as the driver returned to Oregon on I-5, running red lights through North Portland neighborhoods and driving into oncoming traffic. Officers put down spike strips on Northeast Sandy Boulevard, near 122nd Avenue, but police say the driver sped through the obstacle and continued with at least one flattened tire at speeds above 60 mph. Police say a second spike strip punctured more of the Hondas tires near Northeast 185th Avenue, and the driver ultimately drove off the road and crashed near Northeast 223rd Avenue in Fairview. Officers booked Dylan M. Miller, 25, into jail on multiple charges including two counts of reckless driving, two counts of possessing of a stolen motor vehicle and two other counts related to Friday nights chase. Police are still seeking information from anyone endangered by the incident and ask for tips to be called in to 503-823-4106 or emailed to GVRT@portlandoregon.gov. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A man has suffered serious burns to his chest, arm and airways after his shisha pipe caught fire and went up in flames. The 29-year-old was smoking with his family at a residence in North Parramatta in Sydney's western suburbs on Saturday afternoon. Paramedics treated the man at the scene and a CareFlight Rapid Response Helicopter landed in a nearby park just before 2.30pm. A 29-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious burns after his shisha caught on fire WHAT IS SHISHA? Shisha is an ancient form of smoking, also called narghile, waterpipe, or hookah, which uses charcoal-heated tobacco or non-tobacco based shisha smoke which is passed through water before inhalation. It is often seen as less toxic compared to cigarettes Hookah smokers can spend long periods of time in lounges and bars inhaling the fumes. A typical hookah session lasting one hour involves 200 puffs, which results in 90,000 milliliters of smoke being inhaled. Smoking a cigarette involves 20 puffs, resulting in 500-600 milliliters of smoke being inhaled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But mounting evidence finds smoking shisha is not safe. Advertisement NSW Fire and Rescue crews and NSW Police also responded. The paramedics placed the man in an induced coma to stabilise him. He was taken to the specialist burns unit at Concord Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Cancer Institute NSW chief executive Professor David Currow told The Pulse that smoking shisha is not a safe alternative for smoking tobacco and that people should be aware of the inherent risks of smoking in any form. 'A person who smokes shisha is at risk of the same health problems that a person who smokes cigarettes faces, including cancer and respiratory illness,' Professor Currow said. 'While these products, also called ''herbal shisha'', may not contain the nicotine in tobacco, the smoke contains highly toxic substances. 'The addition of fruit flavouring and sweeteners does not reduce the harmful effects of the smoke.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 18:01:48|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and one was injured in a freeway accident involving three vehicles in east China's Shanghai early Saturday morning, Shanghai police said. The accident happened at 5:23 a.m. when a truck rear-ended a passenger car and then a semi-trailer on the Shenyang-Haikou Expressway, according to the city's public security bureau. Five people aboard the car and one from the truck were killed. Another person from the truck was injured but not in life-threatening condition. Police said the cause of the accident is still under investigation. The UN counter-terrorism chief has said that cheap and easily accessible small arms are increasingly becoming the "weapon of choice" for many terror groups around the world posing a serious threat to international peace and security. "Insufficient international response in countering the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, the challenges that Member States face to detect and seize them, as well as porous borders, allow terrorists and criminals to move illicit weapons from one country or region to another," UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov said. "Small arms and light weapons are increasingly becoming the weapon of choice of many terrorist groups around the world as they are cheap and easy to access, transfer, hide and use, he said. It is widely acknowledged that the connection between terrorism and organised crime, including illicit small arms and light weapons trafficking, is a serious threat to international peace and security. It is also an obstacle to sustainable development and a menace to the rule of law. To illustrate the challenges, Voronkov, who is also Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), revealed estimates indicating that the African continent alone has one hundred million uncontrolled small arms and light weapons concentrated in crises zones and security-challenged environments. "With an estimated population of 1.2 billion in Africa, this is an unfortunate and significant ratio of one to 12," he said. Without a strong international response, terrorists and criminals would easily be able to move illicit weapons from one country or region to another. The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy underlines the connection between terrorism and the illicit small arms trafficking, conventional ammunitions and explosives, and calls on Member States to strengthen coordination and cooperation to address this challenge. The UNOCT chief illustrated this through the example that illicit weapons originating from Libya were finding their way into the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel. Since last year, the UNOCT and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) worked closely with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) to develop a project enhancing national legislative, strategic and operational capacities to prevent, detect and counter the firearms trafficking and other illegal activities related to terrorism and organised crime in Central Asia. "The project is also another example of our 'All-of-UN' approach to support counter-terrorism efforts of Member States," Voronkov said. In her video statement, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Fathi Waly affirmed her Office's "unique approach" to addressing the complex interlinked challenges of terrorism, crime and corruption. "I am confident the project implementation will bring concrete results benefiting all Central Asian States. Our common goal is to make the region more secure & prosperous, free from illicit weapons & terrorism," she said. Using a "holistic approach", Waly maintained that the project tackles the full range of obstacles. She singled out adequate legal frameworks, strengthening law enforcement and criminal justice capacity, improving data and addressing cooperation gaps, saying that it is essential to deal effectively with threats that no country can face alone. The UNODC supports nations in implementing global counter-terrorism instruments, as well as the Firearms Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, through the UNODC Global Firearms Programme. "I will be eagerly following the project's advancement and I hope that its outcomes and learnings can inform the international community's efforts, feeding into the next reviews of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, this year and in 2022," the UNODC chief said. Meanwhile, CTED Deputy Executive Director Weixiong Chen pointed out that the new initiative is one of the important requirements of several relevant Security Council resolutions. Citing five resolutions, he noted that the Council has repeatedly stressed the importance to prevent terrorist access to weapons. Chen noted that the most recent resolution, 2317, brought a comprehensive new set of topics and domains, saying that they have strengthened CTED's mandate, particularly through its assessments, analyses and identification of gaps. The CTED chief underscored the importance of Member States' will to implement Security Council resolutions on preventing illicit small arms and light weapons trafficking and concluded by sharing his hope that OCT and UNODC will be able to fully utilize CTED's expertise and recommendations in this field. The launch also introduced the new project's activities, including missions to assess regional situations, relevant legislation and response capacities to the threat posed by firearms trafficking, terrorism and related crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The administration has agreed to share details of the committee that will decide the new fee structure New Delhi: Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) students on Friday said they have called off their hunger strike against a fee hike after the administration accepted their demands. In a statement, the students said the last date for submission of second semester fees has been extended upto 31 March, 2020, or till the finalisation of the new fee structure, whichever is later. The administration has agreed to share details of the committee that will decide the new fee structure and it also ensured students' participation in the panel, they said. The suspension of nine students for organising a talk on affordable education has also been revoked, they added. The students had begun the hunger strike on Tuesday demanding an affordable fee structure. Update: A second death has been confirmed in Italy just hours after the first death was reported in the country, ANSA news agency reported, citing healthcare sources. MILANAn elderly man in the northern city of Padua has died after being infected with the coronavirus, becoming the first Italian victim of the disease, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday. Health authorities announced earlier in the day 15 cases of the virus in the wealthy northern region of Lombardy and two in neighbouring Veneto where Padua is locatedthe first known cases of local transmission in the country. None of those infected were believed to have travelled to China, the epicentre of the new illness, and local authorities in Italy scrambled to contain the outbreak. Local media said the dead man was a 78-year-old from the small town of Vo Euganeo who was hospitalised two weeks ago. Strict measures to create a health cordon around Vo Euganeo (have been put in place), regional governor Luca Zaia wrote on Facebook. In neighbouring Lombardy, the government banned all public events and closed schools in several small towns southeast of Italys financial capital Milan. We had prepared a plan in recent days, because it was clear what has happened could somehow happen, Health Minister Speranza told reporters as doctors tested hundreds of people who might have come into contact with the coronavirus sufferers. Speaking on the margins of a European Union meeting in Brussels before the Italian fatality was announced, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he would meet the chiefs of Italys civil protection agency, and that the situation was under control. We were ready for this (outbreak) the people have no need to be worried, we will adopt increasingly severe and precautionary measures, he said. Health Workers Local officials said the first infected patient in Lombardy, a 38-year-old man from the town of Lodi, fell ill after meeting a friend who had recently visited China. That man has since tested negative for the disease, but doctors were investigating whether he carried the virus and subsequently recovered without showing any symptoms, said Lombardy regional councillor Giulio Gallera. The pregnant wife of the initial patient and one of his friends were infected, along with three others admitted to hospital overnight suffering from pneumonia-like symptoms. Officials later said five health workers who had come into contact with the virus carriers had themselves fallen ill. Zaia said it was unclear how the two individuals in Veneto might have caught the disease. There was certainly no contact with the people infected in Lodi, he said. Prior to Friday, Italy had reported just three cases of the virus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. Two Chinese tourists from Wuhan tested positive in Rome in late January, while an Italian who returned home on a special flight repatriating some 56 nationals from the same city was hospitalized a week later. After the first confirmed cases, Italy suspended all direct flights to and from China, provoking the ire of the Beijing government. Diplomatic and economic issues are fundamental but health comes first, Speranza said on Friday as he announced the governments latest measures. All those who have entered Italy after visiting areas in China affected by the coronavirus will have to stay home under surveillance, the health ministry said in a statement. By Elisa Anzolin and Angelo Amante About a week after a lawmaker in the neighboring state of Tennessee introduced a bill that would block all porn sites for any viewer who did not opt in to view porn, a Mississippi legislator has introduced not one but two bills that would ban all online porn completely. In fact, according to a report on the local news site Yall Politics, the bills authored by Republican Rep. Tracy Arnold would not only ban porn in Mississippi but also would create a coalition of Southern states where the porn ban would apply. Other states would need to join in the legislation, but among those Arnolds bill targets would be Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Oklahoma. The states would join to create what one of the bills, HB 1116, calls an Area of Moral Decency. Arnold told the site that because the state would define pornography for purposes of the bill, the new proposed law would not infringe on First Amendment freedoms. This isnt an attempt to infringe on anyones rights, the Republican said. Its to protect our children. Arnolds companion bill, HB 1120, would bar social media platforms from carrying advertisements for obscene and pornographic content. As AVN.com has reported, a 2016 study found that in the U.S. the states with the highest numbers of people who describe themselves as religious are also the states with the highest rates of porn consumption. Mississippi led the way among all U.S. states, with porn viewers spending an average of 11 minutes and eight seconds per visit to the porn tube site PornHub. As bans against online porn have taken hold, or at least been seriously considered, in countries around the world, conservative groups in the United States have undertaken a push to persuade Donald Trumpdespite his previous relationship with AVN Hall of Famer Stormy Danielsto lead a new War on Porn on the domestic front. Photo by Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons Tom Daly and San Pierre Bank made the front page of newspapers around the country in July 1932 for a bank robbery that was thought to be linked to members of the gang of John Dillinger. At the time of the incident, Dillinger was serving a six-year sentence behind bars at Michigan City Prison before his release in May of 1933. A month after his parole, the gangster joined his gang in the now infamous string of 12 bank robberies throughout Northwest Indiana between June 1933 to June 1934 earning him the title of Public Enemy No. 1 after his escape from the Crown Point Jail March 3, 1934. Democratic presidential candidate South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks at the Carroll County Democrats Fourth of July Barbecue, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Carroll, Iowa. Associated Press/Charlie Niebergall Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg quipped he was more of a "Microsoft Word guy" during Wednesday's candidates' debate in Nevada. The remark came after rival Elizabeth Warren described Buttigieg's healthcare plan as "a PowerPoint" and "not a plan." Buttigieg's quip was mocked on social media, with some Twitter users likening him to Microsoft's now-defunct "Clippy" virtual assistant. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana used the debate to launch a number of jabs at his competitors, particularly Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg expressed an unlikely preference for Microsoft Word during Wednesday's candidates' debate in Nevada. After rival candidate Elizabeth Warren described Buttigieg's healthcare plan as a "PowerPoint" and "not a plan," Buttigieg responded by saying: "I'm more of a Microsoft Word guy." The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana has been mocked on social media for the quip, with some Twitter users likening him to Microsoft's now-defunct '"Clippy" assistant. Remember this guy? Microsoft One user, @knguyens, tweeted that Buttigieg was "confirmed as a Microsoft Word guy" alongside an image of Clippy, while Daily Beast reporter Scott Bixby went one step further, calling him "the personification of Clippy." Elle journalist Katherine Kruger even drew an extended analogy between Buttigieg and Word. She tweeted: "Wow it's so true: Pete is the Microsoft Word candidate. costs a lot of money, outdated, huge pain when you see the preview coming." Buttigieg's unlikely Word reference formed part of a fiercely-contested debate between himself, Elizabeth Warren, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Story continues He used the debate to aim a number of jabs at his competitors, most notably Klobuchar, whom he criticized for being unable to say who the current Mexican president was during a televised interview with Telemundo last week. The next Democratic debate will take place in Charleston, South Carolina on February 25. Read the original article on Business Insider Around 100 more passengers were allowed to disembark from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship on Saturday as Japan's health minister apologised after 23 others were allowed to leave without being properly tested. The news came as a Japanese woman who left the ship on Wednesday tested positive for the virus after returning home to Tochigi Prefecture, Kyodo news agency reported, citing the prefectural government. She is the first person to have tested positive for the virus among the group of approximately 970 passengers who disembarked earlier this week, it said. The 100 passengers who left on Saturday had been in close contact with infected people on board, local media said. They included the last group of Japanese passengers to leave the ship, while some foreign passengers were still waiting on board for their governments to send chartered aircraft. Television footage showed a driver in a white protective suit at the wheel of a bus with the curtains drawn so that passengers could not be identified. They will be quarantined for two weeks near Tokyo, officials said. - An official apology - At a news conference on Saturday, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato apologised for 23 passengers having been allowed to leave the ship without undergoing all the required tests. "We deeply regret that our operational mistake caused the situation," Kato said, adding that the passengers would be tested again. With the latest disembarkation, a 14-day quarantine is expected to start for more than 1,000 crew still on board. Many of them were not placed in isolation as they were needed to keep the ship running -- preparing food and delivering meals to cabins. Critics have charged that they were inadvertently spreading the virus throughout the ship, which has seen more than 600 cases of the potentially deadly COVID-19 disease. Kato defended Japan's on-board quarantine, telling a TV programme Saturday there was no medical facility large enough to admit more than 3,000 people at once. Speaking at the news conference, Kato said six Australian passengers tested positive after leaving Japan. Meanwhile, 18 repatriated Americans and one Israeli who returned home from the ship have tested positive, authorities from the two countries announced Friday. Kato also confirmed that a Japanese hospital on Saturday used the anti-influenza medication Avigan, also known as Favipiravir, to treat a patient infected with the virus. Earlier in the day, Kato said the government would push for the use of such medicines if they were confirmed to be effective. Outside the Diamond Princess, Japan has seen 105 cases of the new coronavirus. Female genital mutilation has been criminalised in Egypt since 2008. A 2016 amendment mandates sentences of between five and seven years in prison for those convicted Egypt's top prosecutor referred a doctor and the parents of a 12-year-old girl to a criminal court over an illegal female genital mutilation (FGM) procedure which subsequently killed her last month due to complications. According to a statement by the prosecution on Saturday, Prosecutor-General Hamada El-Sawy referred retired doctor, Ali Abdel-Fadil, and the girl's parents to an Assiut criminal court over the criminalised procedure. Nada Hassan Abdel-Maqsoud died last month in the Upper Egyptian governorate at Abdel-Fadil's private clinic, which had its licence expired in 2016. According to the prosecution's investigation, the parents agreed on circumcising their daughter according to "customs and traditions" on 29 January, agreeing with Abdel-Fadil to perform the procedure. The girl went into a coma following the half-hour procedure. Resuscitation attempts failed and she passed away. The doctor denied performing the procedure, claiming the operation concerned an external tumour in her reproductive system. He said her death was the result of suffocation due to an allergy from long-term Penicillin and Cefotaxime. His claims were shortly dismissed by Egypt's Forensics Authority after the prosecution ordered an autopsy, which confirmed the FGM procedure was conducted and dismissed traces of the two medicines in the girl's body. The girl's death came after severe hypotension caused by a nervous shock and excruciating pain from the operation. FGM has been criminalised in Egypt since 2008. A 2016 amendment mandates sentences of between five and seven years in prison for those involved in a procedure if it results in the death or disability of the victim. The first conviction for performing FGM in Egypt was in January 2015, seven years after the practice was first criminalised in 2008. According to the 2014 Egyptian Demographic Health Survey, 92.3 percent of ever-married women aged 15-49 have undergone FGM. Four-fifths of such operations are carried out by medical professionals, according to the survey. According to the health ministry in 2018, the rate of FGM among teenage girls aged from 15 to 17 fell from 74 percent in 2008 to 61 percent in 2014. Search Keywords: Short link: The Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Saturday continued to stage an agitation against the Andhra Pradesh government's three-capital decision. Speaking to ANI, JAC convenor Siva Reddy said that along with the opposition of the three-capital decision, the protestors are also condemning the cases which have been registered against over 400 farmers for protesting against the issue. "Since the last 65 days, we have been holding agitations against the government's decision regarding the three capitals of Andhra Pradesh. We strongly condemn the cases registered against the farmers here. This is undemocratic and we are requesting the Andhra Pradesh government to withdraw all the cases which are already filed. This is our main demand," Reddy said. "The government should rethink about the three-capital issue," he added. CPM leader Baburao said that the government is imposing registered cases against the farmers and agriculture workers in Amaravati capital city. "Around 460 farmers were booked under so many cases. It is the democratic rights of the farmers. The government is curbing farmers' rights. So, on behalf of CPM, we are supporting the farmers' agitation. The government is playing with the sentiments of the people to shift the capital city," Baburao told ANI. "We are demanding that the administrative capital should be at one place only. It is the right of the farmers to protest against the government's policy. So, we are with the farmers," he added. The state Assembly had earlier passed the 'Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020'. The Bill proposes to have a legislative capital at Amaravati, executive capital and Raj Bhavan at Visakhapatnam and judicial capital at Kurnool. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Christian lawmaker group blames satanists and atheists for Twitter poll results Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The National Association of Christian Lawmakers, which aims to bring lawmakers together in support of clear biblical principles, says they recently came under attack from Satanists and atheists after launching a poll on Twitter asking if America would be better off with more Christians serving in elected office. The poll, which was launched on Sunday, and has received more than 100,000 votes as of Thursday evening, showed nearly 94% of respondents voting no while just over 6% voted yes. Reacting to the poll results, the group said the poll attracted the fury of atheists and Satanists. We are aware the Satanists and Atheists have decided to pile on this poll. While you are here know this - God loves everyone and forgives all who ask Him. Salvation is available only through His Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16, the group, which boasts former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on its national board of advisers, revealed in a tweet Sunday. They later stated that the reactions to the poll are a clear example of anti-Christian bigotry in America. View the comments on this thread to see what religious persecution and anti-Christian bigotry looks like in America. Satanists and Atheists piled on this poll and have begun leaving vile messages as well, the group noted. A new study from the Pew Research Center noted in October that only 65 percent of Americans now identify as Christian while those who identify as religiously unaffiliated a group which includes atheists, agnostics and people who dont identify with any religion swelled to 26 percent of the population. The drop in the number of Americans identifying as Christian reflected a 12 percent decline when compared to the general population 10 years ago. The decline was visible across multiple demographics but particularly among young adults. Research by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2016 on why Americans are leaving religion also pointed to the increasing share of American adults who have been joining the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated, and said it is being fed by an exodus of those who grew up with a religious identity. Younger Americans today are also more likely than seniors to be raised without a religious identity. The National Association of Christian Lawmakers was started last year by Republican Arkansas State Sen. Jason Rapert, who warned about the rise of witches in a recruitment email. It has become crystal clear to me over the past eight years that we must begin rebuilding the foundation of our Judeo-Christian heritage in this nation. One of the greatest things we can do for our country in the long term is to organize fellow Christian lawmakers into a formidable force to steer this nation back towards God. I sure hope that you will help me, Rapert wrote. The goal is for lawmakers to come together in support of clear Biblical principles and do our best to ensure that our nation lives up to our national motto In God We Trust. There are two central issues burdening our nation at this time that must be addressed by lawmakers to restore the honor of God in our country - abortion and same-sex marriage clearly violate biblical principles. The time is now to take a stand before our Judeo-Christian foundation is forever lost in the nation. It is unclear how many members are in the group. If its ooey, gooey, fried and chewy, you can find it at the rodeo. Thats a promise from Dominic Palmieri, who calls himself the Midway Gourmet and wears that title proudly as the man who brings some of the tastiest and most outrageous edibles to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeos sprawling midway. As food manager for RCS, the carnival concessions company that operates 38 concession stands at the rodeo, Palmieri is a foodie fixture at the fair a veteran of the carnival circuit and company innovator of sweet and savory concoctions designed to thrill taste buds. That means food like liquid nitrogen churros, hot Cheetos cotton candy and frozen pineapple whip in a waffle cone. We do it all, Palmieri said, from the traditional rodeo foods to the wild and wacky. And its that breadth of palates that the rodeo makes sure to accommodate when planning the food offerings for Houstons annual carnival chow down. Thats their thing with the outrageous, cool, funky and far out, senior manager of exhibits and events Amanda Schlatre said of the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, known for its almost shocking array of carnival food. Were looking for some of that, too, dont get me wrong. But our mission also includes a mixture of local and traditional. We know a lot of people have their rodeo favorites. In other words, you can get your turkey legs, burgers, curly fries, candy apples, corn dogs and burritos at the rodeo. But you can also find foods specifically engineered to wow your mouth and light up your Instagram feed. More Information New vendors El Patio Restaurant (Rodeo Plaza outside NRG Center) Jasper's The Woodlands' Jasper's Rattlesnake Round Up (Arena, outside NRG Center) Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Co. (Circle Drive) Island Noodles (Junction or kids area of carnival) The Tot Spot and Mac Shack (Junction) New carnival food highlights Cheetos Cheese Pickles (pickle slices topped with hot cheese sauce and sprinkled with crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos) Deep-fried bacon macaroni and cheese eggrolls Black Gold Truffles (made from crushed chocolate cookies, cream cheese and white chocolate chips that are rolled into balls, coated with crumbled vanilla wafers and corn flakes and fried to a golden crisp) Harlon's BBQ bacon-wrapped stuffed spud Jasper's Heart Attack Burger (French bread stuffed with pork, beef, cheese, salsa and jalapenos) See More Collapse Schlatres committee oversees about 80 vendors throughout NRG Center and NRG Arena, where eight new restaurants and businesses will come on board this year as new concessionaires, including Houstons beloved El Patio restaurant, Jaspers The Woodlands and a Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Co. New foods from those vendors will augment the established lineup of fare from familiar names such as Goode Company, Saltgrass Steak House, Cadillac Bar and Pappas Restaurants. During a recent preview of all that the rodeo has to offer for 2020, several new carnival food dishes were announced, including deep-fried bacon macaroni and cheese eggrolls and Black Gold Truffles made from crushed chocolate cookies, cream cheese and white chocolate chips that are rolled into balls, coated with crumbled vanilla wafers and corn flakes and fried to a golden crisp. But its RCSs Cheetos Cheese Pickles that Palmieri thinks will be the breakout hit this year: Cold slices of thick-cut kosher dill pickles topped with a hot cheese sauce and sprinkled with crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos. Its the perfect balance of salt, fat and acid, Palmieri said. Its an explosion of great flavors. By this time, hes good at predicting carnival food trends. This is his 26th year feeding the hungry on the midway. Or, as Palmieri likes to put it: This isnt my first rodeo. New vendors El Patio Restaurant (Rodeo Plaza outside NRG Center) Jaspers The Woodlands Jaspers Rattlesnake Round Up (Arena, outside NRG Center) Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Co. (Circle Drive) Island Noodles (Junction or kids area of carnival) The Tot Spot and Mac Shack (Junction) New carnival food highlights Cheetos Cheese Pickles (pickle slices topped with hot cheese sauce and sprinkled with crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos) Deep-fried bacon macaroni and cheese eggrolls Black Gold Truffles (made from crushed chocolate cookies, cream cheese and white chocolate chips that are rolled into balls, coated with crumbled vanilla wafers and corn flakes and fried to a golden crisp) Harlons BBQ bacon-wrapped stuffed spud Jaspers Heart Attack Burger (French bread stuffed with pork, beef, cheese, salsa and jalapenos) greg.morago@chron.com instagram.com/gregmorago Yonhap/Reuters This article was updated on February 23, 2020, at 11:55 p.m. local time in South Korea. SEOULA South Korean church whose founder says, rather mysteriously, that he represents the second coming of Christ on Earth and has unique insights into Gods revelations is getting much of the blame for a major surge in the spread of the deadly coronavirus here. Coronavirus Now a Tremendous Public Health Threat: CDC Fear of the disease now known as COVID-19 actually had been on the decline in South Korea until a fresh outbreak was traced to a 61-year-old woman who belonged to the Shincheonji Church in Daegu, a city of 2.4 million about 170 miles southeast of Seoul. Soon it was clear that more than half the known cases were connected to Shincheonji parishioners. As the number of infections started climbing with disconcerting speed on Sunday, the government here put the country on the highest possible alert, opening the way for it to lock down whole cities if deemed necessary. All told, as of this writing late Sunday night local time, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 602 cases, including six people who have died. Of the total number diagnosed, 329 were members of Shincheonji or had had contact with members. A former member of the church told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that Shincheonjis practices during worship may heighten the risk of coronavirus contagion, since participants kneel close together and sing songs with their arms on each others shoulders during services. There are also concerns about its presence outside South Korea, possibly including Hubei province in China, the epicenter of the growing epidemic. Lee Man-hee, the 88-year-old founder and leader of the church, has called the disease the devil's deed and a test of faith meant to stop the growth of Shincheonji, according to Yonhap. Leaders of more traditional churches have been quick to denounce Shincheonji, which means New Heaven and Earth. And the spread of COVID-19 from one of the 74 Shincheonji sanctuaries strengthens the view among the mainstream that Shincheonji is a dangerous cult that keeps many of its 200,000 members in secret compounds while pressuring them to absorb its teachings and recruit other followers. Story continues Christian critics for years have denounced Lee Man-hee as a heretic who has exploited thousands of adherents since opening his first congregation 36 years ago. He calls himself the promised pastor. They are not real Christians, says a member of Koreas Presbyterian church, the countrys largest Christian organization. They are fake. SEWING UP SEOUL Park Won-soon, the mayor of Seoul, has picked up on the hostile sentiment, warning against the evil the church poses in the metropolitan region of the Korean capital. Shincheonji sect, also known as Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Daegu, has become a hotbed of the infections in local communities, he warned in a lengthy media briefing as the extent of the outbreak became known, calling for measures to stop the disease from spreading. Already, he said, confirmed cases elsewhere were related to the church in Daegu and another confirmed patient in Seoul attended the chapel in that church. It was to proactively prevent the further spread of the virus, he said, that the Shincheonji churches in Seoul will be closed. That crackdown was not the only severe measure ordered by Park. He also banned street demonstrations, notably by conservatives hostile to his own municipal government and the national government. Park, a left-leaning politician who has long advocated dialogue with North Korea, insisted he had in mind the health of old people who join in such protests waving American and Korean flags. The symptoms and prognosis of the confirmed cases could be fatal to people with underlying conditions, and the elderly in particular, he said, ordering the closure of welfare facilities, senior citizen centers and an historic park in central Seoul where old men frequently gather. Conservatives, hoping to defeat ruling party legislators in national assembly elections in April, denounced the ban as politics and promised to turn out in defiance of rows of policemen massed on the main avenue running by city hall. MESSIANIC TENDENCIES The role of Shincheonji in spreading the disease, however, seems far more important than political protests in a country where religious groupings often fight one another. About a third of South Koreas 51 million people identify as Christians, but there are deep divisions among them, and these movements like Shincheonji draw adherents despite social and cultural barriers to proselytizing and preaching. Cults and cult-like groupings have proliferated, seeming to fill some sort of spiritual void in this fast-moving fast-growing country always under threat from its neighbor to the north. If the COVID-19 epidemic is striking down members of Shincheonji its critics will say God has struck heretics, says Michael Breen, author of books on Korean culture and a former member of the Unification Church of the late Rev. Moon Sun-myung. A lot of people will be thinking, they kind of deserve this. In fact, in the years since Lee Man-hee first mesmerized young Koreans with his claim to embody Jesus Christ, the Shincheonji Church has proven about as controversial as the Moonie Unification Church. Lee may not call himself the messiah or true parent of mankind as did Moon, but he preaches an extremist view of Christianity whose message is essentially that he came to know the meaning of Christ on Earth through the Bibles Book of Revelation. More people are upset with Lee than with Moon, says Breen. They will go after him. They are very dogmatic and judgmental. The secrecy of the church adds to the build-up of emotions against its activities. Health authorities are having difficulties as they could not reach or contact more than 400 followers of the church, reported Dong A Ilbo, a leading newspaper in Seoul. It was only through GPS tracking, the paper said, that the church member who was first diagnosed was discovered to have visited Cheongdo, where an outbreak was reported in a hospital and the first person in Korea died of the disease. Since the entire nation is experiencing a national crisis, Shincheonji religious followers should voluntarily report symptoms and self-quarantine at home while fully cooperating with the authorities in quarantine efforts, the paper editorialized. At the same time, Dong A called on citizens not to attack patients even for the sake of ensuring the success of quarantine efforts. Kukmin Ilbo, a Christian newspaper with strong ties to South Koreas largest congregation, the evangelical Full Gospel Church in Seoul, suggested Shincheonji members are reluctant to cooperate with authorities tracing the course of the disease. North Koreas Secret Coronavirus Crisis is Crazy Scary It seems to be the tendency to act in a closed manner without showing much of its beliefs, said the paper, describing Shincheonji as a pseudo-religion or cult. It claimed that there were even allegations that Shincheonji sent an internal notice to the congregation telling them to say, I didnt go to church that day and I worshipped somewhere other than there. Shincheonji says such claims are concocted by its mortal enemies. There is no such thing as an internal notice, a church official responded. More to the point, Mayor Park said, Anyone who attended the chapels of the Shincheonji Church in Daegu must report to an emergency telephone number. Seoul will quickly get the list of names, he said. This is an inevitable measure to ensure and protect the health, safety and life of citizens. Seoul, he promised, will exert all its administrative effort. Shin Hyun-wook, a pastor who specializes in deprogramming Shincheonji members, says they are told not to let their families know they belong to the church. They believe in eternal life, he says, dying only from lack of faith. UPDATES The warning EMERGENCY ALERT in capital letters, preceded by loud beeping sounds, flashed simultaneously on the screens of the mobile phones of millions of South Koreans late Sunday as the government elevated the fast-spreading coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, to the highest level. President Moon Jae-in, who several days earlier had tried to calm fears and warn against panic, came on South Korean TV networks announcing the COVID-19 incident has been confronted by a grave watershed. A few days from now is a very important moment, he said. Moon did not say what he believed had to happen in that short time span to stem the crisis other than to call for unprecedented, powerful measures, but never before had the government gone to such extremes as to warn Koreas 51 million citizens of the danger to health and safety. Armed with the authority to stop public gatherings, including political protests, the government postponed the opening of schools from next Monday, March 2, until the following Monday. Seeking to get on top of a situation about which he had been criticized for acting too slowly, Moon said his government now would perceive the crisis in the southeastern city of Daegu and the surrounding province as a national one. Henceforth, he said, the government would focus on riding out the difficulty without sparing any support. Earlier, the health and welfare minister, Park Neung-hoo, assured the country the virus was limited within a specific region and groupa reference to the members of Shincheonji. Four of the six victims of the virus died in the same hospital in Cheongdo, near Daegu. The nation's health authorities are concerned that more virus cases will be identified at the hospital as most patients have underlying illnesses, according to the Yonhap news service. Transmissions taking place in hospitals and clinics are also of grave concern because of the risk of exposing sick people, who are more vulnerable to infections, to the virus. A sign of concern about the spread of the virus was that Shinsegae, an historic department store featuring luscious displays and popular food courts, shut down the restaurants in a major branch in one of Seoul's most upscale high-rise office and apartment districts. A customer, the store announced, was reported to have come down with the virus after attending a Shincheonji gathering in Daegu. Moon pointedly urged the cooperation of Shincheonji members, noted for standing close together in mass meetings closed to outside observers and refusing to answer questions about what they are doing. Trust and cooperation are the way to win the fight against the virus, he said. He coupled that remark with a demand that Koreans in general refrain from mass meetingsa remark that his political foes interpreted as an effort to suppress large-scale mass protests against his policy of reconciliation with North Korea. The protests were expected to climax next Sunday, the anniversary of a short-lived revolt on March 1, 1919, against Japanese rule. The urgency of the need to halt the COVID-19 before it got out of the Daegu region and spread all over the country provided another week of vacation for Korean students of all ages and education levels. Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae postponed the opening of schools from March 2 to March 9 to prevent the spread of infection and for the safety of students and school faculty. The frankness with which South Korea announced the numbers of those who had suffered from the disease, including deaths, contrasted with the secrecy imposed by North Korea, which continues to tighten controls but denied any victims. Most recently, North Korea announced a quarantine on all imports, most of which come from China, many in violation of United Nations sanctions. The Norths leading newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said the quarantine for 10 days was needed since "materials being brought from another country could be used as a carrier to spread the virus." 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. Bahrain will host the Fourth Middle East Refining Technologies Conference (MERTC) and Exhibition from March 3 to 4 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Bahrain. The event is organised by the World Refining Association in cooperation and coordination with the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) and with the support of the Gulf Refining Union and a number of international oil companies. Under the patronage of Oil Minister, Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the event will see a number of experts, specialists, heads and managers of companies operating in the field of oil refining, as well as those interested in the field of refining technology in the technical, research and academic sectors participating in the conference. The Minister of Oil appreciated the World Refining Association for choosing Bahrain to hold a series of conferences and exhibitions in the Middle East for refining technology for the fourth time on the territory of the kingdom. He valued highly the tireless efforts that contributed to organising this important event. He said that the participation of various specialised agencies in the event will enhance the exchange of knowledge and access to the latest developments in modern technologies in this aspect, which in turn enhances the national economy, sustainable development and constructive participation to raise the efficiency of the human element and other relevant sectors in order to develop refining projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the private areas of the Middle East in general. He praised the positive support provided by the government and its keenness to put in place the success requirement for such important events. The scientific papers and discussion sessions of the conference will focus on many topics, including: the future of the refining industry and future technologies and strategic projects aimed at raising the level of refineries, the optimal investment in development research and benefiting from it commercially and the integration of opportunities in the field of refining and petrochemicals, digital transformation and other sectors. The minister said that Noga is working on implementing a number of vital projects that support the development of the oil and gas sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain during this period. He pointed out that the Bahrain Refinery Modernisation Project that is in process done with support of TechnipFMC company as a prime contractor for the refinery modernisation project, which is one of the strategic projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain to raise the level of the refinery in order to enhance competitiveness and profitability and continue to contribute to the national economy by increasing the production of the refinery. He stressed the importance of knowing the latest modern technologies in this field and the possibility of using them in vital projects in order to speed the completion and implementation and reduce the cost. The Middle East Refining Technology Conference and Exhibition is a global event that brings together decision makers from stakeholders in refineries, petrochemical producers and technology providers from all parts of the world to exchange knowledge and experiences and discuss the most important issues related to this vital field that will help in the study and review of existing technologies and how to benefit from new technologies. A number of local, regional and international companies will participate in the exhibition accompanying the conference to showcase the latest findings of modern technologies and studies and discuss the most important issues related to the refining and petrochemical industry. -- Tradearabia News Service Zimmerman filed an earlier lawsuit in December based on the same claims in which he and his lawyers accuse members of Martins family, their attorney Benjamin Crump, various law enforcement officials, Jeantel and the woman she allegedly impersonated of perpetrating a massive fraud on the court when the prosecutors brought Jeantel forward to testify. In her account, Martin told her he was trying to elude a creepy cracka " who was following him, then she heard Zimmerman confront Martin What you doing around here? followed by the sounds of a scuffle in which Martin protested, get off, get off! Four men have been found guilty of killing a British businessman who tried to defend his wife on their yacht in Vieux Fort, St Lucia. Roger Pratt, 62, and his wife Margaret, from Warwickshire, were on a round-the-world trip when they were brutally attacked on the evening of January 17, 2014. Six years on from his death, Jeromine Jones, Richie Kern, and Kervin Devaux have been found guilty of murder and Fanis Joseph guilty of manslaughter. The jury members deliberated for a short time before returning a guilty verdict after a six-week trial. Roger Pratt, 62, and his wife Margaret, from Warwickshire, (pictured together) were on a round-the-world trip when they were attacked in St Lucia in January 2014. Four men have now been found guilty of killing Mr Pratt 'After six years and several adjournments, I'm just very relieved that after six years we got justice for Roger,' Widow Margaret Pratt said following the conviction. 'I want to thank the jury for considering all the evidence and for coming to their conclusion,' she added. The trial was extensive, featuring six weeks of witness testimony from Margaret Pratt, the pathologist, crime scene investigators, the forensic lab director, counselors, and a psychologist. Joseph received a lesser conviction because of the role he played in sending a lifebuoy to Mr Pratt when he fell into the sea after being struck several times by Kern. Six years on from his death, Jeromine Jones, Richie Kern, and Kervin Devaux have been found guilty of murder and Fanis Joseph guilty of manslaughter (Jones is pictured wearing a checked shirt in 2014 alongside two of the men covering their faces) Mr Pratt was punched eight times in the face when he fell - or was thrown into the water unconscious and drowned. Mrs Pratt, who had been married to her husband for 37 years, suffered two black eyes and bruising to her cheekbones during the assault. The four men were quickly arrested after Mr Pratt's murder in 2014, but the case was held up because of a backlog of criminal cases needing to he heard. It was then delayed again due to renovations at the court closing it for nine months, reports The Telegraph. Mrs Pratt, who had been married to her husband for 37 years, suffered two black eyes and bruising to her cheekbones during the assault (the couple are pictured together) 'I am pleased that the jury had quite a task and they were able to return with a verdict of manslaughter. I would prefer a better outcome for my client, but the jury has spoken at this time,' George Charlemagne, attorney for Joseph said. 'I was hoping for a different outcome in this matter, it is not really what I expected but at the end of the day, the jury adjudicated and came to a verdict,' David Moyston, Devaux's lawyer said. Jones was represented by Alberton Richelieu and Sandy John represented Kern. The sentencing of the four men is scheduled to take place on April 6, 2020. A pre-sentencing report must be submitted beforehand for all four men, however, a psychiatric evaluation must be done for the three convicted of murder. PHILADELPHIA (AP) A pregnant woman and her child were killed in a double shooting that critically injured a man in north Philadelphia, authorities said. The woman, described as approximately in her 30s, was shot once in the chest just before 6 p.m. Friday, police said. A 40-year-old man was shot in the chest and left shoulder, police said. WPVI-TV reported that police said two or three men began firing shots at a minivan occupied by the victims. The male victim drive to Temple University Hospital with the female victim, who was pronounced dead minutes after she was shot, police said. An emergency C-section was done and the newborn was also pronounced dead, police said. The male victim was listed in critical condition. No arrests were reported and no weapons have been recovered. For one quarter of the 19th century, Mexico City was Californias national capital. I wish it could be again. Ive been visiting Mexico City regularly to plan a direct democracy conference there next year. And Ive been struck by how well the Mexican capitals sprawling greatness fits California. I also wonder whether Mexico Citys advances in democratic sovereignty might inspire Californians as we defend ourselves against the U.S. government. Mexico City, with 9 million people within the city proper and 21 million in the metro region, is a giant global capital, worthy of the giant global state of California. Set in a large elevated valley, its landscape and weather feel more Californian than that swamp alongside the Potomac ever could. Mexico City would also be a practical improvement as Californias national capital. Its hundreds of miles closer to California, and its major cities, than D.C.; a flight from LAX to Benito Juarez International Airport is an hour shorter than a flight to Dulles. But what really connects California to Mexico City is a shared interest in local sovereignty. Until the past decade, Mexico City and Washington were both federal districts the Distrito Federal and the District of Columbia with limited local power. Thats still true in D.C. But in recent years, Mexico City has established itself as its own Mexican state. This new state needed a new constitution, or Carta Magna. So Mexico City embraced an unusually participatory process, with a constitutional assembly of citizens and an online method that allowed citizens to propose constitutional provisions via Change.org, the San Francisco company. In the end, online proposals on parks, gay rights and disabled rights were included in the constitution. This Carta Magna created openings for forms of participatory and direct democracy, like the ones we use in California. But the document went even further, giving mayors and city halls to Mexico Citys 16 alcadias, or boroughs, and giving neighborhoods more control over public resources. This structure is already producing more small public spaces, and greater attention to neighborhood concerns. Imagine how transformational this model might be in California, where local communities suffer under a governing system that centralizes power in Sacramento. Mexico Citys constitution is innovative in other ways. One article establishes the right to the city guaranteeing that Mexico Citys services are available to everyone. Another constitutional article, Global City, commits Mexico City to peace, solidarity, hospital and asylum and to cooperation with other cities and countries on international initiatives. If only California had a national capital with that welcoming policy, instead of a Washington committed to nativism and protectionism. This Mexico City constitution has produced leadership of the sort that would fit the Golden State. Mexico Citys elected head of government is Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist who did her doctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Sheinbaum has visited California to urge closer ties. We should take her advice; Mexico is rising economically and educationally, and producing more of the engineers and skilled workers that California lacks. And wed be wise to cooperate with Mexico in rebuilding infrastructure, with an eye toward promoting sustainability and boosting trade. But closer ties cant be all about economics. We should also shift our attention and cultural exchanges from D.C. to Mexico City. California schools could start by replacing the traditional class trip to Washington with journeys to Mexico City. California universities with programs in D.C. might consider relocating scholars and students to the Mexican capital. (Disclosure: this column is produced by L.A. nonprofit Zocalo Public Square, whose name references Mexico Citys central square.) As D.C. has abandoned soft power and embraced strong-arm tactics and digital surveillance, Mexico City has embraced world engagement and shown whats possible by expanding peoples rights, rather than taking them away. Mexico City may be a capital out of Californias past. But it now feels like a capital of the future. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. Local leaders in Alabama say they will try to stop Americans who tested positive for coronavirus and evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship from being quarantined at a facility in Anniston. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday announced plans to quarantine the evacuees at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston. Elleen Kane, an HHS spokeswoman, told AL.com the evacuees will be transported next week. Here is AL.coms complete coverage of the plan to bring coronavirus patients to Alabama The Anniston City Council and Calhoun County Commission on Sunday will convene emergency meetings about seeking court intervention to stop the federal governments plans . The county commission will also consider declaring a local emergency. Were live at an Anniston City Council meeting called to discuss people infected with Coronavirus being quarantined at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston. Posted by al.com on Sunday, February 23, 2020 The city council will meet at 10 a.m. at the Anniston City Meeting Center. The commission will meet at 2 p.m. at the Calhoun County Offices. The Oxford City Council will meet at 3 p.m. in support of the leaders in Anniston and Calhoun County. Local leaders said they were completely caught off guard" by the HHS announcement, which they learned about on Saturday afternoon through local news media. UPDATE: We have been in contact with Congressman Mike Rogers and Senator Richard Shelby. The plan to house the... Posted by Calhoun County EMA on Saturday, February 22, 2020 Local officials announced Saturday night that they will ask a court to stop the transportation of the evacuees. At a press conference earlier Saturday, Tim Hodges, chairman of the Calhoun County Commission, referenced a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge to halt the transportation of anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus to Costa Mesa, California. City leaders there had asked the court to intervene. That may be something that we need to do on behalf of not only Anniston but the entire county, Hodges said, because whether this happens or not or we can stop it or not, it cant happen this quick." Local officials said they learned of the federal governments plan to transport the evacuees to Anniston through local news media around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. They said they were not consulted by the government beforehand. This was a decision by the federal government and the federal government solely, Anniston Mayor Jack Draper said at the press conference. The City of Anniston, along with the Calhoun County Commission hold a news conference in response to a coronavirus quarantine. The City of Anniston, along with the Calhoun County Commission hold a news conference in response to a coronavirus quarantine. Posted by WVTM 13 on Saturday, February 22, 2020 Those who will be quarantined have tested positive for coronavirus, according to federal health officials, though they either dont have symptoms or have mild flu-like symptoms. Coronavirus can cause mild to severe symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The federal government has assured us these patients will not have any impact on our local community, and that no one is at risk, Draper said. U.S. Rep Mike Rogers, a Republican of Anniston, said he spoke to President Donald Trump about the situation and both men agree transporting the evacuees to Alabama is the wrong decision. I will continue to work with President Trump & HHS to find the best facilities that meet the needs for those Americans that have been exposed to this dangerous virus, Rogers said on Twitter. The CDP (Center for Domestic Preparedness) is not that place. Earlier this evening, I spoke w/ @realDonaldTrump. He agreed with me that the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to house those Americans exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston is the wrong decision. Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) February 23, 2020 Under the HHS plan, evacuees will stay in an area separate from the FEMA Centers training participants, officials said. HHS said it will provide the evacuees with basic medical care, and they will remain at the Center until being medically cleared. Any of the evacuees who become seriously ill will be transported to pre-identified hospitals for medical care, says a news release from HHS officials. The passengers were evacuated back to the U.S. by the federal government from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Local leaders in Alabama said they dont know how many of the passengers are being sent to Anniston. As of Saturday, coronavirus cases have been reported in 28 countries, including the U.S., The New York Times reported. In the U.S., at least 34 people 18 of them evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship were infected as of Friday, according to the Times. President Trump was furious and surprised that Americans evacuated from the cruise ship were being flown back to the U.S. earlier this week, despite testing positive for the coronavirus, The Washington Post reported. All of the U.S. cases are linked to international travel, the Times reported. As of Saturday, the virus was not spreading in U.S. communities, according to the CDC. The overwhelming majority of coronavirus cases more than 76,000 have been reported in China, where the virus originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, the Times reported. Of those cases in China, more than 2,300 have been deadly. Read more: What you need to know about FEMAs Anniston facility This story was last updated at 10:56 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. The World Health Organization said Friday that time was running out to stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak as the number of cases outside China grew. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "We are still in a phase where containment is possible, but he warned our window of opportunity is narrowing." He said that while the number of cases outside China remained "relatively small," he expressed concern about the rise in cases around the world with no clear link to China. Tedros cited new cases of the virus in Iran, as well as in an Iranian traveler who carried the virus to Lebanon, and another traveler who spread the virus from Iran to Canada. Lebanon confirmed its first coronavirus case Friday, a 45-year-old woman who had arrived from Iran and was being quarantined in a hospital. "We confirmed the first case today," Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan told a news conference, adding that two other suspected cases were being investigated. The woman arrived Thursday on a flight from Qom, Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian health authorities Friday reported two more deaths from the new coronavirus. The spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry, Kianoush Jahanpour, said the newly detected cases were all linked with Qom, where the first two elderly patients died Wednesday. So far, 18 cases have been confirmed in Iran, including the four who died. Another official with Iran's Health Ministry, Minoo Mohraz, said the virus "possibly came from Chinese workers who work in Qom and traveled to China." A Chinese company has been building a solar power plant in Qom. Qom is a popular religious destination and a center of learning and religious studies for Shiite Muslims from inside Iran, as well as Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. In neighboring Turkey, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said officials had started to screen travelers arriving from Iran at border gates and were refusing entry to anyone who had traveled to Qom in the past 14 days or who had signs of illness. There have been few virus cases in the Middle East. Nine cases have been confirmed in the United Arab Emirates and one case in Egypt. The virus also spread further Friday in South Korea and Italy. Infections nearly doubled in South Korea, rising to 204, making the country the hardest-hit outside China. Tedros said Friday, I hope South Korea will do everything to contain this outbreak at this early stage. South Korea Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun told a government meeting about the virus, We have entered an emergency phase. In Italy, authorities said 14 people had tested positive for the virus in the northern region of Lombardy, bringing the number of cases in the country to 17. Officials have ordered the closure of schools, restaurants and businesses in the region. Also Friday, two Australians and an Israeli evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan tested positive for the virus after returning to their home countries. Israel's Health Ministry said this was the first case to be reported inside Israel. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-23 05:25:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A gunman on Saturday attacked a shisha bar in southwestern German city of Stuttgart, local media N-TV reported. Police said there was no one in the building when the incident occurred. The perpetrator could have escaped and nobody was injured. The attack came days after a fatal shooting attack in Germany's southwestern city of Hanau. On Wednesday, a 43-year-old man killed nine people with immigrant background in two shisha bars in Hanau before killing his mother and himself. James Bond actor George Lazenby has said that he slept with five girls a day while filming On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The Australian 007 actor, who described himself as a 'rugged' male model in his younger years, said it was 'outrageous' that he was having so much sex. He said: 'And that couldn't happen on the set, because there were only eight girls there for the whole nine months', the Daily Star reported. The Australian 007 actor, who described himself as a 'rugged' male model in his younger years, said it was 'outrageous' that he was having so much sex Lazenby admitted he would sometimes go out until daybreak and liked to drink. But the Bond actor said he couldn't bed British actress Diana Rigg, and claims she considered having an affair with him. He admits that she caught him pants down with a receptionist at the hotel. James Bond actor George Lazenby has said that he slept with five girls a day while filming On Her Majesty's Secret Service He said: 'I was in the stunt tent, because there were lot of mattresses in there. 'And Diana [Rigg] is walking up the path and this bloody stuntman lifted the side of the tent up . And I am fully fledged into it and I said: 'Hi'. The actor has recently had his own face put on a Royal Mail stamp along with others who have played 007 through the decades. Lazenby only played Bond for the one film, but in 2017 admitted that he had not seen the film in three decades. No fewer than 13 armed bandits have been killed by the military under Operation Hadarin Daji in several villages in the war theatre area covering the three states of Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi. This was confirmed to newsmen in Gusau by the Acting Force Information Officer of the operation, Capt. Abayomi Orii-Orisan, in a statement on Friday. He said that the operations also resulted in the interception of a large cache of ammunition, 4,630 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitions around Moriki town in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara where many other bandits were fatally wounded, He further said eight suspected bandits, including a female, were arrested along with the recovery of seven AK-47 rifles, eight loaded magazines, 22 motorcycles, two Dane guns, four GSM phones and 30 jerrycans of petrol. According to Orii-Orisan, the operations burst a drugs counterfeiting cartel where 350 cartons of fake drugs were recovered. He said the joint operations involving Army, Air Force, Police, DSS, Civil Defence and other sister security agencies were carried out in all the areas of coverage between the Feb. 10 and Feb. 20. He named affected villages, local government areas and states to include Tungar Mata, Tuduki, Kawaye and Mararaban Kawaye villages in Anka Local Government Area, Moriki town, Belhi, Ruwar Kura, Kyaram, Gallai and Shirkai villages of Bukkuyum Local Government Area, all in Zamfara State. He also named Tsauwa, Dankar and Yan Gayya villages of Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, and Gallai, Shirkai and Yarkuka villages in Kebbi State. He said the joint operations commander and Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Aminu Bande, assured members of the public of the determination of all personnel in the operation to rid the area of all criminal elements. He equally advised the bandits to lay down their arms and embrace peace or face the consequences. (NAN) ABA/ECN/MST South Africa's graft-accused former president Jacob Zuma returned home on Saturday after a month-long trip to Cuba for medical treatment, and declared he was not afraid of prison. Zuma, 77, was slapped with an arrest warrant earlier this month after his lawyers claimed he was too ill to travel back to South Africa for a pre-trial hearing on corruption charges. A high court issued the warrant after it questioned the authenticity of his sick note, but said it would not be executed until the case is set to resume on May 6. A crowd of people gathered at Johannesburg's OR Tambo international airport to welcome Zuma, the former ANC leader who ruled South Africa from 2009 to 2018. "I am not afraid of prison," Zuma told his supporters in Zulu before being ushered out of the arrivals hall. He raised his thumbs and grinned from behind a pair of dark glasses as a singing crowd gathered around him. Zuma is alleged to have taken bribes of four million rand (about $267,000) related to a $3.4 billion arms deal in 1999 when he was deputy president. In all, he faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering related to the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment. The arrest warrant was just the latest twist in a case that has seen many legal turns over the past decade and a half. Critics have dubbed Zuma the "Teflon president" for his reputed ability to evade judicial reckoning. He has also been accused of orchestrating the systematic plunder of government coffers during his rule in a scandal known as "state capture". "(Zuma) has always respected the courts," supporter Carl Niehaus told reporters before the ex-president's arrivals. "There is no need to vilify him and try and turn him into a fugitive of justice." Little has been disclosed about the current state of Zuma's health or the type of treatment he has been receiving. He was forced to step down in 2018 by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) after a nine-year reign marked by corruption allegations and dwindling popularity. sch/txw Veterans march during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Montreal on Nov. 11, 2019. Veterans ombudsman Craig Dalton is calling for nationwide consultations to develop what he says is a much-needed vision and plan for supporting former service members and their families. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Ombudsman Calls for National Consultations, Plan for Supporting Veterans OTTAWAThe watchdog for Canadian veterans is calling for nationwide consultations to develop a much-needed vision and plan to support veterans and their families with all their needs. The call by veterans ombudsman Craig Dalton follows more than a decade of anger and broken political promises over the financial compensations available to those hurt in uniform through the three benefits regimes that have been in place at different times over the years. The current Pension for Life scheme was rolled out by the Liberal government last April and provides more money to most former military personnel than the New Veterans Charter it replaced. Yet both have been blasted for offering less money than the original Pension Act, which the Charter replaced in 2006. That is despite the Pension for Life and New Veterans Charter having additional rehabilitation programs and other supports to try to offset the difference. Dalton believes the bitter debate around the three regimes misses the mark. Rather than talking about how much money veterans can receive under each, he said, the focus should be on whether veterans and their families are getting what they need. The challenge, he added, is there is no clearly articulated vision, let alone a plan, for what the government wants to achieve for veterans. Theres been considerable investment in veterans programming in recent years, and theres no doubt that investment has made a difference in the lives of veterans and their families, Dalton said in an interview this week. But that investment is still taking place in an environment where we do not have a clear strategy, a clear vision for what we are trying to achieve for veterans in this country. It is in this context that Dalton would like to see the government hold nationwide consultations with veterans and non-veterans alike, including service providers and advocacy groups, to find out what they really need and to chart a path toward accomplishing the task. Government goes coast to coast to coast when theyre developing things like legalizing marijuana or talking about gun-control policy or copyright infringement or budget and everything else, he said. So I think it would be great if we were to have a national conversation to say: What is our vision for veterans? That could then inform discussions about whether we are meeting their needs or not and if theyre not where is the best place to do that. Canada would not be the first country to conduct such an exercise. In fact, it was the recent experiences of the United Kingdom and Australia that prompted Dalton to start thinking about the need for a broader vision for veterans. Dalton suggests the federal government could learn a great deal from the British experience, where the government unveiled a new veterans strategy in November 2018 that included consultations and annual reports to Parliament as the plan is implemented. In the absence of such a vision, Dalton worries successive governments will continue to struggle to meet veterans needs. When you look at the amount of change thats occurred in the area of veterans programming over the last 10 to 15 years, its significant: Programs added, programs removed, programs altered, all without a real clear understanding of where we are hoping to go, he said. Not that those programs werent addressing needs that emerged but did those discussions take place inside of some sort of a broader framework focused on a future vision for veterans? STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York state cant seem to get out of its own way when it comes to banning the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and other shops. Thats what happens when knee-jerk virtue signaling trumps sound, well-considered public policy. Ill bet it sounded really simple to green-obsessed lawmakers bent on showing how progressive they could be: Theres too much plastic, both bags and bottles, in our landfills and our oceans. Its killing the Earth. Lets ban the bags! People can bring re-usable bags to the supermarket. They can use paper bags. Heres one thing lawmakers didnt plan on: The coronavirus epidemic. Whats the outbreak got to do with banning plastic bags? A lot. China is the largest exporter of re-usable bags to the United States, as the Advance reported. And the coronavirus outbreak is likely going to affect that supply chain. Just as its going to affect the supply chain of a lot of other products, like iPhones. Workers, even slave laborers under the boot of the Communist Chinese, just arent as efficient when theyre sick and dying. The city Sanitation Department is among those who get re-usable bags from China. The agency says its got plenty on hand. So get those re-usable bags when you can, folks. Supplies are definitely going to be limited. Heres another thing about those re-usable bags that are supposed to help us save the environment: Theyre actually not all that environmentally friendly. Oh, sure, you can re-use them multiple times, so theyre green in that respect. But they definitely have a shelf life. After a certain point, they become so stained with blood and sticky grease from meat, or sour-smelling from milk leaching out of the carton, that you have to throw them out. Either that or the handles will break, or the bags will tear. A lot of the re-usable bags Ive seen dont look all that sturdy. Guess what? Those bags arent recyclable. So where do they go once youre done with them? Into the waste stream. Into landfills. Who knows how long theyll take to finally decay? Thats not very green. Heres something else Ive been wondering: Whats going to happen to the backlog of plastic bags that the supermarkets and stores already have in stock? Its not like everybodys going to magically run out of bags all at the same time. There have to be warehouses full of plastic bags out there. Imagine how many plastic bags your local supermarket goes through every day. They have to have plenty on hand. Various cities and towns that have already instituted plastic bag bans have suggested that retailers send their leftover plastic bags to their stores located in places where the bags are not banned. Ill bet that supermarkets and retailers in New York will do just that once our ban kicks in on March 1. Pharmacy chain CVS has already told the Advance as much. So those horrible, polluting bags arent exactly being eliminated. Theyre just being shifted to somebody elses waste stream. To somebody elses landfill. Under the New York ban, shoppers can buy paper bags for a nickel to take their items home. Except that theres a looming shortage of paper bags in North America, and the New York ban is only going to make it worse. There are only so many bags manufactured each year, and the supply is not going to be able to keep up with the demand once our ban goes into effect. Oh, and its true: The paper bags are a lure for cockroaches, who love to lay their eggs in the creases of the bags. So the bags are actually a sanitary threat to us. Good for exterminators, bad for homeowners. Did New York lawmakers actually think this ban through before putting it in place? STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson is headed to Netflix next week. The Great Kills natives standup comedy special, Alive from New York, is set to launch on the streaming service Tuesday. The special was filmed at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan. Fans attending the taping were asked to sign a $1 million non-disclosure agreement to prevent them from discussing or reviewing the show on social media. The official trailer for the special describes Davidsons performance as candid and intimate." (Warning: Its NSFW.) In the clip posted by Netflix, the comedian discusses his friendships with gay men. I dont think theres a more honest relationship between a gay dude and a straight dude, because theres just nothing to gain, Davidson jokes. Its just pure honesty." This is Davidsons first Netflix comedy special. His previous one, SMD, aired on Comedy Central in 2016. The Netflix special isnt Davidsons only new project. Throughout last summer, he and director Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Bridesmaids," Trainwreck) filmed a feature-length movie set to premiere this summer. The project, titled The King of Staten Island, will be the opening night film at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 13. The Universal Pictures feature, which was written by Davidson, Apatow and former SNL writer Dave Sirus, opens in theaters June 19. WESTMORELAND, N.Y. Funeral services will be held Saturday for a man killed in the two-car crash in Westmoreland last week. Hector Rodriguez, 42, died after his pickup truck was hit on Dix Road just after 3 p.m. on Feb. 14. Calling hours will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Barry Funeral Home, 807 Chestnut St., Rome. Rodriguezs father and sister were at the crash site on Friday as state police were continuing to investigate the accident. His sister, Francisca Guzman, says she will miss the brother she describes as, "a good person, a good worker, a good brother, a good husband, a good father. A good unclehe used to play with my son every night." Guzman says she and her brother spoke every day, and that's what she'll miss the most. "And I know I'm going to miss him because he used to call me every day and every night. And that is what I'm going to miss...his call and every Sunday coming to my house. The passenger in the other vehicle, 19-year-old- Noah Lekki, also died after he was airlifted to Upstate University Hospital from the crash scene. The driver of the other car, Lincoln Armstrong, 17, ended up in the hospital after the accident, but has since been released. JERSEY CITY Artists like affordable exhibition spaces and personal conversations with fellow artists and aesthetes, and some said thats why they came back for Art Fair 14C. The second edition of the Art Fair 14C attracted many art lovers on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency, 2 Exchange Place. The show continues through 8 tonight and then from noon to 6 p.m. tomorrow -- time you may need to get through all 56 exhibition rooms, on two levels, and chat with the fairs over 300 local, national and international artists. Unlike other art shows, the exhibition rooms for 14C are curated within the Hyatts hotel rooms. The crowd here is different, said Daniel Sciacco, an artist from Sciacco Studio in Brazil. Its mainly locals here ... and its more cozy. Gallery Juichigatsu, from Tokyo, is another international exhibit, featuring paintings and threaded artwork from Japanese artists Seiko Utsumi, Naoto Hashida, Takuya Kinoshita and Nobuyuki Fukata. Masumi, a representative of Juichigatsu, said she was grateful to return to the fair. Though 14C has attracted global works, it stayed true to displaying local artists work in the ninth floors penthouse ballroom for the Juried Show, a showcase for visual artists who either live in New Jersey or have a studio in the state. Included are: Allison Green, Anthony E. Boone, Auguste Rhonda Tymeson, Bryant Small, Cheryl Gross, Girgory Gurevich, Tyler D. Ballon, and Ken Huston, all of Jersey City; Charlie Churchill of Secaucus; Donna OGrady of Hoboken; and Jada Fabrizio of Weehawken, among others. Tickets can be for $10 at eventbrite.com/e/art-fair-14c-tickets-86837935603. Hornby has raised 15million from investors to take it into the 21st century. The models firm, most famous for its toy trains, said it had sold 37.2m shares for 36p each to its existing investors Phoenix Asset Management and Artemis Investment Management, pulling in 13.4million. Another 4.5m shares, worth 1.6million, are up for grabs to other investors. Any which are not picked up will be bought by Artemis. Models firm Hornby, most famous for its toy trains, said it had sold 37.2m shares for 36p each to its existing investors Phoenix Asset Management and Artemis Investment Management Hornby said it wanted the money to start developing new products and invest in digital marketing. Chief executive Lyndon Davies, who was brought in to turn Hornby around in 2017, is particularly keen on boosting the company's presence on social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook. He wants to popularise Hornby and its brands, including Scalextric and Airfix, with younger generations who may not have been alive during its heyday last century. Hornby chief exec Lyndon Davies, who was brought is particularly keen on boosting the company's presence on social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook Davies said: 'There is momentum at Hornby. We have a bold vision.' The firm has recently invented Scalextric sets which can be controlled by mobile phones in a bid to draw in tech-savvy youngsters. Product launches have included Harry Potter train sets and Wacky Races Scalextric. The chiefs of two Greater Toronto Area police forces now slamming the brakes on the use of a contentious facial recognition tool admit the app should have undergone greater scrutiny before it was tested by their investigators. Clearview AI, a U.S.-based app providing an artificial intelligence-powered tool to law enforcement agencies, clearly deserves a lot more thought and scrutiny, Peel Regional Police chief Nishan Duraiappah told the Star in a sit-down interview Friday, the same day federal and provincial regulators launched an investigation into the potentially illegal tool. Both Duraiappah and Halton Regional Police chief Stephen Tanner say the tool was first introduced sometime last fall to investigators from their respective Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) units. The officers were attending a professional development event, both chiefs say a gathering that typically sees officers from different forces swapping tools and techniques and includes law enforcement product vendors. Billed as a database of more than 3 billion images scraped from Facebook, YouTube and millions of other websites, the apps ability to match an image of an unidentified person caught the attention of ICE investigators, each one of whom just lives and breathes identifying children that have been exploited, Duraiappah said. We cant be the gatekeeper of every conference that we go to, Duraiappah said. I can see how an officer got a test licence and said, Hey, this sounds interesting. Could it be useful to our work? Nonetheless, when he learned in January that officers were testing the technology, Duraiappah like police chiefs in Toronto and Durham Region immediately halted its use in light of mounting concerns about inherent privacy concerns. Speaking to the Star this week, Tanner agreed that in hindsight, greater evaluation was needed before his Halton officers tested the tool. I would say we I or we could have done more background checking into it before we implemented any pilot projects, he said. Unlike other chiefs, Tanner did not initially stop his officers from using the tool when he learned they were testing it, because he believed it was fair game to use an app using images scraped from the open web, he said. Clearview is just a name I dont know what Clearview is, really. Ive read a little bit about it in the last few days, he said. But while both chiefs acknowledge the need for a thorough review of Clearview AI, they stress that when used appropriately, facial recognition technology boasts dramatic potential to speed up investigations, identify victims of child pornography, link crimes across geographic regions, and more. Theres gotta be a space for us to use AI (artificial intelligence), said Duraiappah. Im trying to be sensitive, but also not lose the narrative about how this could be good for us. Clearview AIs database of images may violate laws protecting Canadians against businesses collecting personal information, including photos posted online, without their consent. The investigation launched Friday by privacy commissioners of Canada, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia is seeking to clarify the issue. In an email Friday, Tor Ekeland, lawyer for Clearview AI, said the tool only accesses publicly available data from the public internet, saying the app is is strictly an after-the-fact investigative tool for law enforcement, and is used to solve crimes including murder, rape and child exploitation. Alongside Peel and Halton, Toronto and Durham police have confirmed they recently tested Clearview AI. A spokesperson for Durham Region said the chief was not available for an interview, while Toronto police chief Mark Saunders will speak to the media once that services ongoing review has been completed, a Toronto police spokesperson said. On Friday, Hamilton police confirmed to the Star that officers from its forces tech crime unit were given login credentials for Clearview AI as part of a trial period, but havent used the tool for any investigative purposes. A spokesperson said the force has no plans to adopt the use of Clearview AI. The RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police will not say if they have used the facial recognition tool. Its not clear if any arrests have been made as a result of the technology; both Tanner and Duraiappah said the tool wasnt used on active cases. Duraiappah says hes unperturbed about parking Clearview AI it wasnt a dominant software that we were committed to. But he wants there to be a greater conversation about other ways police can make use of facial recognition. Recently, he said, a civilian officer watched 1,000 hours of surveillance video to identify a face in an effort to solve a homicide something he said could much more easily be done leveraging AI tech. Both Duraiappah and Tanner said police should be able to search, via facial recognition, their internal databases of photos taken of suspects under the Identification of Criminals Act, which allows police, under certain circumstances, to fingerprint and photograph people charged with a crime. Toronto police revealed last year that they were using facial recognition technology to compare images of potential suspects captured on public or private cameras to its internal database of approximately 1.5 million mugshots. Im really interested in innovative ways to leverage technology to help us towards a public safety goal, without really jumping the queue on privacy issues, said Duraiappah. Brian Beamish, Ontarios privacy commissioner, expressed concerns about expanding the use of facial recognition technology for police before all of the privacy considerations are carefully worked out. The potential privacy dangers of facial recognition have really come to a head around the Clearview AI application, Beamish told the Star. I think we all understand that there are some legitimate law enforcement uses for biometrics and even facial recognition. But I think we have to be really careful about going down that road. Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis Democratic White House hopefuls barnstormed Nevada Friday hunting for votes on the eve of the latest contest in the nomination race, as the state seeks to avoid the chaos that marred Iowa's caucuses. The battle to see who challenges Republican President Donald Trump in November has entered an urgent phase, with eight candidates including late entrant Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, scrambling for advantage. Senator Bernie Sanders is the clear frontrunner, with rivals including a struggling Joe Biden and a re-invigorated Elizabeth Warren desperate to blunt the leftist firebrand's momentum. Compounding the gravity, chilling warnings have emanated from Washington's intelligence community that Russia is interfering in the campaign, much as it did in 2016 when it sought to boost Trump's candidacy. Trump, who was impeached in December over accusations that he tried to coerce ally Ukraine into helping him win the 2020 election, reportedly erupted in anger about a congressional briefing on the threat and sacked acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire. In a fresh twist, The Washington Post reported that Sanders was told by US officials that Moscow is trying to help his campaign, efforts Sanders said he strongly rejects. "My message to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections," Sanders said. Eager to steal some of the Nevada spotlight, Trump held a raucous campaign rally Friday in Las Vegas, where Democratic candidates were converging for 11th-hour rallies of their own. Trump lit into the "sick" Democrats who seek to oust him from power. He reserved his harshest criticism for fellow New York billionaire Bloomberg, whom he mocked for his rough debate performance on Wednesday -- his first showdown with other Democrats since jumping into the race last November. "I think he's gone," Trump said dismissively. "But you know what, he'll spend another $500 million." Bloomberg has already spent a staggering $364 million, a campaign record, on advertising, according to Advertising Analytics. For some, Nevada -- or South Carolina, which votes on February 29 -- is a make-or-break moment before the race goes national on "Super Tuesday" on March 3, when 14 states vote. Several contenders are facing fundraising hurdles and Nevada or South Carolina could be the end of the road. Bloomberg chose to unconventionally skip the first four nominating contests and flood Super Tuesday states with advertising. Rivals have revolted against the big-money tactic. "We are a democracy. One person, one vote -- not a guy worth $60 billion buying an election," Sanders fumed in a CBS interview. Sanders added that he was surprised at Bloomberg's ineffective debate performance, when the media tycoon suffered a full-on assault from rivals. Should Bloomberg -- currently third in national polling behind Sanders and Biden -- become the nominee, Sanders warned, "Trump will chew him up and spit him out." - 'Fight like hell' - Warren, whose campaign sagged after mediocre showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, eviscerated Bloomberg during the debate, leading to a much-needed injection of donations -- more than $5 million since the event, she said. "I'm going to fight like hell to build a country that works for everyone," Warren said Friday. Her debate attacks highlighted the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that Bloomberg has with women who have accused him of misconduct. With polling by Morning Consult showing Bloomberg losing ground, from 20 percent support before the debate to 17 percent after, the media tycoon addressed the issue head-on. In a tweet, Bloomberg said his company had identified three NDAs "signed over the past 30+ years with women to address complaints about comments they said I had made." The women would "be given a release" if they ask, he said. One candidate under tremendous pressure to turn his sinking campaign around is former vice president Biden, who performed dreadfully in the opening contests. Biden must bounce back in Nevada and then South Carolina, two states with diverse demographics, if he wants to show he is still a contender. Nevada's voting format is a caucus. Unlike a primary, where voting is by secret ballot, caucusgoers attend precinct gatherings where they vote publicly by standing with fellow supporters of their chosen candidate. That process in Iowa devolved into chaos when online applications malfunctioned. "What happened in Iowa will not happen in Nevada," the state's Democratic Party chairman William McCurdy declared on CNN. Precinct captains and volunteers have been trained on what McCurdy called "low-tech" programming used to collate and transmit votes to party officials. US Senator Bernie Sanders, a leftist firebrand, leads in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and polling showed he is likely to win Nevada, which votes on February 22 Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg (L) and former vice president Joe Biden are two establishment candidates seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose cardboard cutout proved a hit at her Las Vegas field office, claimed a fundraising bump after her standout debate performance ahead of Nevada's caucuses US President Donald Trump attacked "sick" and "crazy" Democrats on the eve of Nevada's vote in the process to determine the party's presidential nominee A woman succumbed to burn injuries and her husband and six-month-old daughter are fighting for their lives after their television set exploded following a suspected electrical short circuit in Sundargarh district of Odisha, officials said on Saturday. Police said housewife Bobby Nayak of Lahandabuda village under Dhuruhadihi police station was watching a serial on TV with her husband Dileshwar Nayak and their daughter on Friday evening when it exploded. Sundargarhs superintendent of police Saumya Mishra said the three sustained severe burn injuries as well as injuries due to flying glass shards. Neighbours rushed to the spot after they heard the loud noise of the explosion and rescued the family after disconnecting the power supply to their house. Later, they were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Sundergarh in a 108 ambulance with the help of local police and fire services personnel. The housewife died at the hospital in Sundargarh during treatment. Dileshwar Nayak and his daughter were sent to the Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela as their conditions worsened. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Christian pastor Rick Wiles' channel TruNews was permanently banned from Google-owned YouTube on Thursday for "hate speech." TruNews has been banned permanently from Youtube. TruNews (@TruNews) February 20, 2020 "It was only a matter of time, YouTube finally canceled our channel," Wiles said on his show Thursday. "What was our crime? They accused us of hate speech." "Of course, there is no such thing as hate speech -- it's a crime that was invented by the political left several decades ago," he said. "What it really means is free speech that somebody doesn't like." Wiles said the "final nail in the coffin" according to YouTube was their February 12 interview with Israeli News Live's Steve and Jana Ben-Nun titled, "Christianity Vs. Evangelical Zionism." Wiles said he got hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free bandwidth off YouTube and plans to conduct "business as usual" on their own website. "Nothing they do to stop us will succeed, in fact, the more they try to destroy us the more God will bless us, the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church," Wiles said. YouTube may have permanently banned TruNews, but all of our content is ALWAYS available at https://t.co/BfhXUKxqnr Keep watching! TruNews (@TruNews) February 21, 2020 "YouTube has finally banned #antiSemitic outlet TruNews, and we hope other social media platforms will follow suit," Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt said Thursday on Twitter. .@YouTube has finally banned #antiSemitic outlet TruNews, and we hope other social media platforms will follow suit. More on TruNews and its long history of perpetuating vile #hate: https://t.co/koamDsGP41 pic.twitter.com/jikmunnSy0 Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 20, 2020 The Anti-Defamation League last year put TruNews on what many have called a "hit list" of 30 Christian and right-wing channels they demanded YouTube ban for "anti-Semitism." Greenblatt said in the past that the ADL works with Google and Facebook to "tweak their algorithms" and "redirect" searches through AI to protect people's right to "not be harassed or hated." Sacha Baron Cohen said during a viral speech to the ADL a few months ago that nothing should be allowed to be posted on social media which hasn't gone through their "monitors" first for manual approval. YouTube's decision was met with outrage on TruNews' Facebook page. YouTube's decision to ban TruNews came one week after they decided to permanently ban Christian conservative commentator Nick Fuentes for "hate speech." YouTube appears to be following a policy paper I covered from "researchers" led by professor Neil Johnson of George Washington University released in August which called for a slow but steady stream of mass bannings of right-wing dissidents on social media to avoid "inflaming the entire hive" by generating too much pushback. Reminder: Leftist "researchers" released a paper in August 2019 which called for a slow but steady stream of mass bannings of right-wing thought criminals to avoid "inflaming the entire hive" by generating too much pushback. https://t.co/IxGvPLV6m4 Chris Menahan (@infolibnews) October 17, 2019 The paper recommended tech giants ban "small clusters" of dissidents "at random" to "weaken the cluster over time without inflaming the entire hive." Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab and Minds Two insurgent Democrats, very different times. Photo: Getty Images Weve known for a long time that the GOP strategy for victory in 2020 is to rev up the Trump-loving MAGA base while convincing swing voters that Democrats are a bunch of baby-killing, job-killing hippies obsessed with political correctness and resentment toward virtuous middle-class folk (and the billionaires who employ them). While wallowing in a chronic extremism that Trump has mostly just exacerbated, Republicans cant legitimately reach out to the unconverted to expand their coalition, so they have to pretend the other side is even more dangerous and irresponsible. Until very recently, this task was pursued by the generalized claim that Democrats were moving to the left at a breakneck pace, letting socialists like Bernie Sanders call the shots. Now, of course, it looks like Republicans may be able to leave out a step in this train of illogic if Bernie Sanders is in fact calling the shots as presidential nominee. So you can expect a barrage of propaganda from both the right and some panicked centrists treating a Sanders-led ticket as a once-in-a-generation calamity. And inevitably, comparisons will be drawn between Bernie and the last left-bent Democratic insurgent to win a presidential nomination, George McGovern in 1972. McGovern is a useful devil-figure for Republicans and a cautionary tale for Democrats because, of course, he managed to lose 49 states to Richard Nixon, a president who, before his second term was halfway done, was forced to resign the presidency in disgrace. So before too much myth-making is incorporated into the conventional wisdom, its a good idea to revisit 1972 and see what lessons can and cannot be derived. I weighed in on this topic last August, when I argued that much of the demonization of McGovern was misplaced. The New Deal coalition he was alleged to have destroyed with his extremism was already kaput. The party abandoned his candidacy more than he abandoned the party. A second Nixon term seemed acceptable to a lot of Democrats, in part because he systematically tailored his policies and his political operation to expand his coalition. And the habit of massive ticket-splitting meant that down-ballot Democrats could sacrifice McGovern without consequences for their own campaigns. To the extent that McGovern was responsible for his own demise, it was less a matter of ideology than of inept campaign mechanics and tactics, exemplified by his disastrous process for selecting a running mate (an entirely non-vetted senator who turned out to have an undisclosed history of electroshock treatments and apparent alcohol abuse), leading to an even more disastrous decision to dump him and start over mid-campaign. So what does this history have to do with Bernie Sanders? Derek Thompson asks this question, and finds some similarities as well as differences. The former include a major overlap in policy positions; an effective grassroots-fundraising operation (unheard of before 1972); a similar appeal to young voters (without publicly released exit polls its hard to tell, but McGovern may have actually won among first-time voters despite a calamitous performance overall); and even a nomination campaign that depended on steadily increasing strength among minority voters (McGoverns campaign chief in the final primary in California was none other than future assembly speaker and San Francisco mayor Willie Brown). Thompson thinks the single biggest difference between then and now is that Nixon in 1972 was a lot more popular than Trump is now. And thats absolutely true: Even though Trumps job-approval rating is currently drifting up into the higher 40s in some measurements, theres no way he will approach the 62 percent Nixon had on Election Day in 1972. But I would draw attention to other differences as well. Partisan polarization and a radical decline in ticket-splitting means that down-ballot Democrats will have little incentive to abandon their presidential candidate even if they think he cant beat Trump in their areas. And just as importantly, todays Democratic Party and its constituent elements are a lot closer to Bernie Sanders than they were to McGovern in 1972. If you get too caught up in todays warring factions of the Democratic Party you can forget that it used to be far, far more diverse ideologically. McGovern was dealing with a party that still had hosts of open segregationists, Cold War militants, law-and-order enthusiasts, and culturally conservative Catholics. His Democratic Party was still divided over the Vietnam War. The famous claim that McGovern was the candidate of the three As acid, amnesty [for draft evaders] and abortion wasnt invented by Nixons dirty trick artists, but by fellow Democrats (including his future running mate, Thomas Eagleton). And most notably, McGoverns abandonment by the Democratic Party was exemplified by the exceptional hostility of the labor movement. The AFL-CIO was neutral in the 1972 general election for the first and only time since it was formed. Thats not going to happen to Bernie Sanders in 2020. He has a 98 percent lifetime rating from the AFL-CIO on congressional votes, and attracted significant labor support in both 2016 and 2020 despite heavy pressure to support Clinton in the former year and nobody in the latter. A changing Democratic Party reflects a changing country, too. In retrospect, the McGovern campaign reflected the first effort to put together a new coalition of upscale professionals along with minority voters to replace some of the white-working class voters Democrats were already beginning to lose. The demographics for that sort of effort are obviously much, much better now, in part because of an enormously more diverse population and in part because the ancient hold of the GOP on professionals has long been broken. The residual question is whether Bernie Sanders will run a general election campaign anything like McGoverns. Keep in mind that the South Dakotans primary campaign (run by future senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart) was then and later adjudged as quite good. But its as though the same people lost their minds once the nomination was in hand. Its impossible to entirely separate cause from effect, but the abandonment of McGovern by Democrats was made easier by the perception that his campaign was bumbling and amateurish, and unsure about its own relationship to the party Establishment it had temporarily toppled. Can the Sanders campaign fulfill its potential of uniting Democrats while expanding the partys coalition to include previously disengaged nonvoters and perhaps even a share of the alienated white working-class voters Trump won? Or will it be psychologically incapable of abandoning its quality as an insurgency and imagine it can win while spurning regular Democrats? To put it another way, does Team Bernie want to conquer the Democratic Party, purge its impure elements, and begin rebuilding the party for the long-term future? Or does it want to beat Trump in 2020, even if that means passing up the opportunity to settle intra-party scores and dance on the political graves of its former persecutors? These questions may need to be answered even before the convention in Milwaukee, because Sanders may need help from Democrats who fear his nomination to get over the top. The Sanders campaign has an opportunity to make history in 2020, but that may require skill and tolerance as well as grassroots energy and audacity. Bernies revolution wont ultimately amount to a hill of beans if he wins the nomination and loses to Trump, even if its not his fault. So he and his fans would be well advised not to drink the Kool-Aid and believe in electability arguments that depend on the idea that theres a hidden majority of nonvoters out there who have been waiting for a democratic socialist option all these years. More likely, the electorate we already know about will decide 2020. But if Sanders does win, it will lay to rest once and for all the myth that Democratic progressives are doomed to McGoverns fate. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Jibran Ahmad KABUL/WASHINGTON/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - The United States and the Taliban will sign an agreement on Feb. 29 at the end of a planned week-long 'reduction in violence' in Afghanistan, U.S. officials and the Taliban said on Friday, stirring fresh hopes for an end to the protracted conflict. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Jibran Ahmad KABUL/WASHINGTON/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - The United States and the Taliban will sign an agreement on Feb. 29 at the end of a planned week-long "reduction in violence" in Afghanistan, U.S. officials and the Taliban said on Friday, stirring fresh hopes for an end to the protracted conflict. The agreement could represent a chance for peace and a pullout of thousands of U.S. troops that have been in the country since U.S.-led forces ousted the hardline Islamist Taliban from power in 2001. Previous attempts at negotiating peace agreements have been scuttled by Taliban attacks on international forces, most recently in December last year when an attack on a U.S. military base put talks on hold. The reduction in violence (RIV), to be observed by Afghan, international and Taliban forces, will begin at midnight (1930 GMT) on Friday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in a televised address. Written instructions from the Taliban's leadership, shared with journalists, instructed all fighters to be on the defensive and to not travel to areas controlled by the Afghan government and international forces. Instructions on what would happen after signing a deal with the United States after seven days would be shared later, the Taliban spokesman told fighters and commanders. 'SEIZE THIS MOMENT' The United States and the Taliban have been engaged in talks aimed at a political settlement and reducing the U.S. presence in the region, U.S Secretary of State Pompeo said in a statement on Friday. He urged all Afghans to "seize this moment". Both sides would also make arrangements for the release of prisoners, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. The agreement will be signed in Doha between Taliban representatives and U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been leading the United States' negotiation team, a senior State Department official told journalists. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to stop "endless wars" as he seeks re-election in November, has long sought to withdraw U.S. troops. NATO, which currently has 16,000 troops in Afghanistan, welcomed Friday's announcement, calling the reduced violence a critical test of the Taliban's willingness to contribute to peace. The U.N. Mission in Afghanistan also welcomed Friday's announcements. U.S. and Taliban negotiators have been meeting in Doha since 2018 even though fighting has raged in Afghanistan and thousands of civilians and combatants have been killed as the insurgents have expanded territory under their control. "We hope the reduction in violence is extended for a longer time and opens the way for a ceasefire and intra-Afghan talks," Javid Faisal, spokesperson for the Afghan National Security Adviser, told Reuters. The Taliban have previously refused to speak directly to the Kabul government, which they denounce as a U.S. puppet. NOT A 'CEASEFIRE' One Taliban leader based in Doha told Reuters that the reduction in violence could not be called a "ceasefire". "Every party has the right of self-defence but there would be no attacks on each others positions in these seven days, the Taliban leader said. Afghan forces will keep up normal military operations against other groups such as Islamic State during the period, Afghan spokesman Faisal said. He added that Afghan forces would also retaliate against the smallest violation by the Taliban. "Local government and security officials have been instructed by the president himself on how to follow the regulations agreed upon for the RIV period," he said. Officials privy to the talks had said last week that an agreement with the Taliban would be followed by negotiations on an intra-Afghan political settlement between the Taliban and an Afghan delegation that would include government officials. Members of the Afghan delegation have yet to be announced. Reaching a consensus on members could pose a challenge with fresh political uncertainty in Afghanistan after Ghani was declared last week as the winner of a disputed 2019 presidential election. His political rivals, whose representatives expect to be included in the intra-Afghan talks, rejected the election result and announced that they would form their own government. (Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Humeyra Pamuk, Jibran Ahmad, Rupam Jain, Bhargav Acharya and Kanishka Singh; Additional reporting by Foo Yun Chee in Brussels; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Frances Kerry and Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter warning Democrat voters to 'be careful' of Russian interference - despite dismissing claims of Kremlin meddling as a 'hoax' just 24 hours earlier. The Commander-in-chief took to Twitter on Saturday morning after news that Democratic front-runner Bernie Sanders was recently told by officials that Russia is trying to help his campaign. 'Democrats in the Great State of Nevada (Which, because of the Economy, Jobs, the Military & Vets, I will win in November), be careful of Russia, Russia, Russia. According to Corrupt politician Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, they are pushing for Crazy Bernie Sanders to win. Vote!' Trump tweeted. Scroll down for video President Trump has taken to Twitter warning Democrat voters to 'be careful' of Russian interference that may be bolstering Bernie Sanders - despite dismissing claims of Kremlin meddling as a 'hoax' just 24 hours earlier Trump has previously dismissed claims of foreign interference, but Saturday's tweet now indicates that he sees it as a plausible threat On Friday, The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort to bolster his chances in the primary. Sanders confirmed that he was briefed on the claims about a month ago. His campaign noted the briefing was classified. 'We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign,' Sanders told reporters. 'Look, here is the message: To Russia, stay out of American elections.' 'What they are doing, by the way, the ugly thing that they are doing - and I've seen some of their tweets and stuff - is they try to divide us up,' he said. 'They are trying to cause chaos. They're trying to cause hatred in America.' Sanders' campaign put out a statement which read: 'Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. But while Trump, in his tweet on Saturday, appeared to indicate that claims Russia was helping Sanders were legitimate, he has dismissed any notion that the country could also be bolstering his chances of reelection in 2020. On Friday, The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that US officials had told Sanders about the Russian effort to bolster his chances in the primary 'Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7!' Trump lamented on Twitter Friday morning. The president's comments come after The New York Times published a report Thursday claiming Acting DNI Joseph Maguire told Congress during a classified briefing that the Kremlin wanted to see Trump win reelection because it would be better for their interests. Maguire was recently ousted from his acting post and U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell was appointed in his stead as Trump continues to search for a permanent director. Donald Trump said reports that an intelligence community aides warned Congress that Russia wants him to win reelection is a 'misinformation campaign' and another 'hoax' created by Democrats He was responding to a report that during a classified hearing, the Intelligence Committee was briefed that Russia felt another four years of Trump would be better for their agenda Maguire's aide, according to the Times report, told the House Intelligence Committee that Russia was attempting to interfere in the 2020 elections on the side of getting Trump back for another four years. The committee members were briefed that Russia favors Trump and were told about its efforts to hack and attack election infrastructure and the Kremlin's continued attempts to use social media platforms in its campaign of distrust. Vladimir Putin's operatives want to both help Trump and create public doubts about the outcome of the election, the officials briefed lawmakers during the session about 'the integrity of our upcoming elections.' One lawmaker told the Daily Beast that the officials briefed them that: 'It continues with the same target, and the same purpose, and it's clear that they [the Russians] favor one candidate over the other. Meddling? A senior intelligence official told the House Intelligence Committee, which is headed by Trump's impeachment rival Adam Schiff, that Vladimir Putin's Russia is interfering in the 2020 election Three Republican senators want answers from the Trump administration about why it has not moved forward with strengthening U.S. export controls related to Chinese telecom Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Marco Rubio of Florida, all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, asked Defense Secretary Mark Esper in a recent letter about reports that the Defense Department objected to Commerce Department regulations that would have made it more difficult for U.S. companies to sell to Huawei. Late last year, the Commerce Department proposed reducing the U.S.-made content or "de minimis" amount required for U.S. reexports to be licensed as a measure to further curtail Huawei's access to U.S. semiconductor technology. Currently, for exports to Huawei in China, a foreign-made product is not subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) if it contains 25% or less U.S.-origin "controlled content," a policy that has been in place in the U.S. for the past 30 years. The amount of U.S.-controlled content determines whether an export requires an export license from the Commerce Department. The Commerce Department had proposed reducing the 25% U.S. content threshold, including technology and software, for triggering a license to 10%. A separate regulatory change has been proposed that would effectively prohibit any foreign product made using U.S. technology (regardless of classification) from being exported to Huawei. Semiconductor industry associations raised concerns about that proposal at the time it was announced. In late January, the Defense Department in a surprise move reportedly balked at the Commerce Department's proposal, suggesting that the lowered content de minimis would have a detrimental impact on U.S. semiconductor manufacturers. The Commerce Department then withdrew the proposal. The Republican senators, who referred to Huawei as "the Chinese Communist Party's tech puppet," want the Defense Department within the next 60 days to explain the reasoning behind its objection to the Commerce Department's proposal. Story continues "Huawei is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party and should be treated as such," the senators told the defense secretary in their letter. "It is difficult to imagine that, at the height of the Cold War, the Department of Defense would condone American companies contracting with KGB subsidiaries because Moscow offered a discount. We are concerned that the Defense Department is not appropriately weighing the risks." According to Reuters, the White House on Feb. 28 is expected to hold a cabinet-level meeting to further discuss the Department Defense's denial of the Commerce proposal regarding Huawei. The Commerce Department added Huawei and 68 of its overseas affiliates and subsidies to the Entity List on May 16, 2019, citing national security concerns with the company's technology and close ties to the Chinese government. An additional 46 Huawei overseas affiliates were added to the list on Aug. 19, 2019. The Entity List imposes significant restrictions on U.S. goods and technology exports to Huawei and requires a U.S. company or organization to obtain an export license from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security. Image by THAM YUAN YUAN from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Every now and then, our electoral system produces one of those quintessentially American characters who coopt the energy of the presidential voting cycle to become national celebrities or elevate an obscure social movement into greater popular visibility. In the current cycle, New Age guru Marianne Williamson, who popularized A Course in Miracles, fits the archetype. So does entrepreneur Andrew Yang. But for my money, the transhumanist proselytizer Zoltan Istvan Gyurko (professionally known as Zoltan Istvan) is the champion at harnessing the energy generated by electoral politics to both make himself a known media personality and promote his philosophical obsessions. For those who may still be unaware, transhumanism is a futuristic social movement that (all but) worships technology as the means of attaining the long-held human dream of immortality and the more modern yearning for radical individual bodily self-transformation. Want to have the eyesight of a hawk and the superpowers of cartoon characters, and live longer than a redwood tree? Transhumanism predicts that these dreams will come true when a crescendo of unstoppable technological advances known as the Singularity unleashes the power to transform humanity into a post-human species. Until recently, transhumanism advocacy was limited mostly to the high academy and the speculations of futurism conferences. But then along came Istvan. With few resources beyond the financial security earned through small-scale real-estate development and his indefatigable genius for self-promotion, in 2016 Istvan propelled himself and his movement into international notoriety by touring the United States as a candidate for president on the Transhumanist Party ticket, promising to end death as he drove across the country in the immortality bus designed to look like a coffin. It was a great gimmick that worked like a charm. Istvan was interviewed countless times and featured in stories in some of the worlds most prominent media, including the New York Times and The Guardian. Story continues In 2018 he was less successful running for governor of California on the Libertarian Party ticket. But, never one to miss a chance at elevating his prominence, in this presidential cycle Istvan is running as a Republican, challenging President Trump for the nomination under the campaign slogan Upgrading America. As, respectively, a committed proponent and a persistent critic of transhumanism, Istvan and I have jousted publicly for years, but always without rancor. We finally spent some quality time over lunch recently when his campaign brought him to Washington, D.C., where, as part of his no publicity is bad publicity approach to advocacy and self-promotion, he agreed to an open, on-the-record interview. Istvan first became interested in immortality in college when researching an essay on cryogenics. But his commitment to the cause became indelible in a moment of terror. In 2003, Istvan was working as a video journalist for National Geographic, covering a story about Vietnamese farmers dangerous harvest of metal from unexploded American ordnance. When he barely missed stepping on a landmine, he had a sudden epiphany. I felt like a nuclear bomb went off in my head, he recalled. Instead of covering war stories and reporting on the suffering of humanity, I had the revelation that I should eliminate suffering altogether. He quit working as a journalist, joined the nascent life-extension movement, and penned his novel, The Transhumanist Wager which he describes as a transhumanism Atlas Shrugged. Since those early days, Istvan has become the popular face of transhumanism. He has given thousands of media and podcast interviews and boosted transhumanism in a barrage of columns, including in mainstream publications such as the New York Times, Wired, Psychology Today, the Huffington Post, and Vice. He is also an international lecturer. Most prominent transhumanists are atheists, as was Istvan, a lapsed Catholic, when I first met him in 2014 at a transhumanism and religion conference in Berkeley. He has since adopted a soft agnosticism, embracing what is known as theistcideist theory, which he describes as the belief that a super intelligence created all that is but committed suicide to give free will to the universe. That sounds like a distinction without much of a difference to me, since it leaves humanity wholly on our own. In any event, Istvan fervently believes that our most urgent duty as a species is to save ourselves materially from the existential obliteration of death and that government must focus on both promoting and protecting that quest. During our long conversation, I told Istvan that his views dont sound very conservative or Republican. He laughed and insisted that while he opposes born-again fundamentalism, he is fiscally very conservative. He believes in lower taxes, less regulation, tort reform, smaller government, a balanced-budget constitutional amendment, and providing tax incentives to induce people to live healthier lives. He is against the Green New Deal and its push to cut carbon emissions through government fiat, preferring the deployment of technological remedies such as geo-engineering and green energy. Moreover, he insisted, he is trying to save the transhumanist movement from what he describes as the fervent leftwingism of Silicon Valley and the socialistic views that he worries have come to permeate transhumanist advocacy generally. But conservatism rejects utopianism. It rejects dangerous superman and eugenics theories. Believing in the equal dignity of every human being, conservatism is ultimately anti-authoritarian. Yet all these disquieting beliefs and approaches permeate transhumanist advocacy from top to bottom. And that includes many of Istvans policy proposals. Beneath conservative planks such as requiring all immigrants to become proficient in English, the libertarian belief in open borders, and the less conservative idea that the government should provide a universal income funded by leasing federal lands, his policy views are radically transgressive and antithetical to human liberty. In this regard, I reminded him that when we first met at the religion seminar, he told the audience that war is justified against any government that thwarts transhumanism. He told me he is a bit embarrassed by putting it that starkly, but yes, he still believes that violence in the name of transhumanism is justified in certain circumstances. I am sort of an authoritarian libertarian, he laughed. Indeed, he is. The more one digs into Istvans policy proposals, the wilder they become. He wants society to prepare for awarding civil rights for future advanced sapient beings like AI, conscious robots, cyborgs and genetically created sapient beings. He proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit laws interfering with citizens pursuit of health and longevity, creating a right to genetic editing of progeny, cloning, and other forms of what he calls radical science. As just one example, such a right would allow parents to germline-engineer their progeny for health reasons or to fulfill their eugenic desires, creating genomic alterations that would flow down the generations. Until very recently, he supported government licensing of parents, but hearkening to some blowback on that issue, he backed off that proposal. He would promulgate state regulatory protection over what could become a process of manufacturing humans including custom design, special order, quality and inventory control all of which are core goals of the transhumanist social revolution. Istvan also wants to roll back privacy norms. This would include the governments making massive use of high-tech surveillance, including facial-recognition cameras, drones, robots, AI scanners, and other technology, in public places so that criminals are caught before they can carry out their harm (he adds lamely that this plan will protect gun owners while protecting those who are afraid of or dislike guns). Never mind that such all-encompassing surveillance would enable the effectuation of an all-encompassing tyranny. China has already demonstrated the fascistic possibilities by introducing a social credit system, in which facial-recognition technologies, artificial intelligence, GPS, and other means of high-tech surveillance track individual behavior and social associations. Those branded by computer algorithms with a low social-credit score face societal excommunication, including job loss, the inability to rent an abode, even exclusion from public transportation. That isnt all. Istvan also proposes cerebral reconditioning as an alternative to the death penalty, and, one presumes, other traditional forms of penal justice. Anyone who thinks these technologies would be a good idea has never read 1984 or Brave New World. Why should we take any of this seriously? After all, transhumanism is hardly mainstream, and Istvan doubts his candidacy which is mostly self-funded will last much beyond Super Tuesday (although, knowing him, he will find some other way to harness the centrifugal energy of the presidential contest to boost himself and his ideas). Heres why. Istvan is just the popularizer; behind him, some of the worlds richest and most powerful people fund transhumanism research and advocacy, including Googles Ray Kurzweil and Teslas Elon Musk. Moreover, it isnt the unlikely coming of the Singularity that makes transhumanism a perilous social force. I truly doubt we will ever upload our minds into computers to live forever in the Cloud, a core eschatological transhumanist belief. Rather, it is transhumanisms explicit utopianism and denigration of human exceptionalism that cause ones neck hair to stand on end. Attention must be paid. The movement is growing and often receives laudatory press. For example, Time published a fawning profile of Kurzweils quest to live indefinitely under the serious title 2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal. As society secularizes and atheism grows, transhumanisms ideology of radical self-liberation is increasingly resonating. People who have lost traditional faith are looking for new sources of meaning, purpose, and hope. Indeed, committed transhumanists believe in their ageless post-human future with a fervor that borders on fundamentalist religion. That kind of unyielding devotion, driven in part by a terror of death, has power to profoundly corrode the core liberty values of Western society. If we are going to preserve a culture founded on the Judeo-Christian ideal of equal human dignity and the concomitant obligation of individual behavioral restraint transhumanism must be rejected in our public policies, spurned intellectually, and shunned in the ways we live our individual lives. And that starts with taking the movement as seriously as do its adherents. So, as we chuckle at Istvans eccentric campaigns, let us not lose sight of the fact that many people are being seduced by the radical values the movement fosters. And therein lies the rub. Transhumanism will never kill death. But it could be the death knell of human freedom. More from National Review Louis Hofmann, star of German time travel drama "Dark", is set to play the central role in director Damian John Harper's next feature "Fresh". The film is a German-language adaptation of Scottish writer Mark McNay's novel of the same name, reported Variety., The movie will feature Hofmann, 22, as a young man who must emancipate himself from his tyrannical older brother. The book was set in the outskirts of Glasgow, but the film's events take place in a working-class neighbourhood near Duisburg in western Germany's Ruhr Valley region. According to Harper, the film is "a mosaic of a ticking bomb, brutal memories and trauma-induced daydreams." Post the success of the Netflix sci-fi series, Hofmann has appeared in Ralph Fiennes' Rudolf Nureyev biopic "The White Crow" and Christian Schwochow's "Deutschstunde". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) is advising that Irish travellers and holidaymakers follow the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and avoid all non-essential travel to China amid the coronavirus outbreak in a number of Chinese cities. The ITAA is also advising affected holidaymakers in the country to follow the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Chinese local authorities and accommodation providers. In its advice, the Det of Foreign affairs states: 'the situation remains very fluid and it is likely that increasing containment measures will be deployed by the Chinese Government. In this environment, the advice of the Department is to avoid non-essential travel to and within China. 'Citizens with underlying medical conditions should not travel to China at this time. 'As a precautionary measure, if your continued presence in China is not essential, citizens are advised to contact their travel agency or airlines regarding available routes out.' The ITAA is advising travellers to read the Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice for the country they are travelling to, which includes entry requirements and a link through to download the DFA Travelwise smartphone app that provides specific travel health advice for countries. Travelwise advises that travellers currently in countries that are reporting cases of Novel Coronavirus, otherwise known as Coronavirus or Covid-19, should follow local public health advice. Travellers should keep up to date on the country advice during their visit. Enhanced health screening procedures have been put in place at arrival and departure areas in many countries. Travellers should comply with these processes and take relevant preventative measures to reduce the risk of exposure. The ITAA also noted that the advice not to travel does not include travel to Hong Kong and Macao. LAS VEGAS - The Latest on the 2020 presidential campaign (all times local): 7:55 p.m. Elizabeth Warren is thanking Nevada voters for keeping her campaign in the fight. She was addressing over 2,000 people at a campaign event in Seattle. She told the crowd at the Seattle Center Armory she believes voters are ready for big, structural change. Warrens public event took place at the armoury near the Space Needle, the same day as the Nevada caucuses where Bernie Sanders scored a resounding victory. Joe Biden was running a distant second in Nevada as results came in and Buttigieg and Warren were further behind. She congratulated Bernie Sanders on winning. She says her campaign has raised $9 million since the candidate debate Wednesday night. She said: We have a lot of states to go and right now I can feel the momentum. She turned immediately from Nevada to attacking Mike Bloomberg, calling him not a tall threat but a big one with his billions of dollars. 6:30 p.m. Precinct captain Nadia Albulet says a deck of cards helped break a tie in very Las Vegas fashion. The Las Vegas entertainer said Saturday that Sen. Bernie Sanders led the precinct at Lucille S. Rogers Elementary School. But, she says, her king of spades trumped a queen of diamonds to get the fourth delegate for former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. At Buttigiegs after-caucus rally in a packed room at the Springs Preserve, she said she was motivated by climate change to do more than just vote this year. 6:10 p.m. Pete Buttigieg is delivering a blistering attack against rival Bernie Sanders, who he accuses of leading a divisive movement that has furthered the toxic tone of our politics. The former South Bend Indiana mayor and Democratic presidential hopeful made the remarks while addressing supporters in Las Vegas, shortly after Sanders won the Nevada caucuses. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has performed strongly in early contests giving him an early lead. But Buttigieg said the Vermont senator has proven to be ideologically inflexible, fails to police aggressive supporters and has alienated moderate voters who dont support the wholesale political revolution Sanders advocates for. He urged voters to take a sober look at the consequences of making Sanders the partys nominee. Buttigieg said Sanders has a vision of capitalism as the root of all evil. And he added that Sanders political vision would reorder the economy in ways most Democrats -- let alone most Americans -- dont support. Buttigieg called for a broad Democratic coalition. But he said Sanders army of online supporters often referred to as Bernie Bros threaten, intimate and harass the very same people needed to beat President Donald Trump. 5:55 p.m. Sen. Bernie Sanders is celebrating his Nevada caucus victory hundreds of miles away in Texas. The Vermont senator took the stage before thousands of cheering supporters inside the Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio on Saturday night and declared, Were going to win this election. The countrys second largest state votes on Super Tuesday on March 3, after next weeks South Carolina primary, but Sanders wasted little time declaring, We are going to win here in Texas. He added: We are going to win across the country because the American people are sick and tired of a president who lies all of the time. Sanders then modified the standard campaign speech he gives multiple times a day to touch more heavily on immigration for an audience about 150 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. He noted that his father immigrated to the U.S. from Poland without a nickel in his pocket and added, I know something about the immigrant experience. Together we are going to end the demonization of immigrants. 5:50 p.m. Amy Klobuchar is telling supporters her presidential campaign has exceeded expectations and she plans to carry on, even as she trailed far behind several rivals in Saturdays Nevada caucuses. The Minnesota senator returned to her home state Saturday following a morning event in Las Vegas. Speaking to volunteers Klobuchar said that a lot of people didnt even think I would still be standing at this point. Klobuchar finished in fifth place in the kickoff Iowa caucuses before a strong debate performance helped lift her to third place in New Hampshire. She will campaign Sunday in Fargo, North Dakota, before holding events in Arkansas and Oklahoma, both states that will vote in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests. On Monday she will be in South Carolina, which holds its primary Saturday and where she will participate in a Tuesday debate. ___ 5:45 p.m. Joe Biden is declaring himself back into the race for the presidency after early results in Nevada showed the former vice-president in second place. Biden told supporters Saturday that were alive and were coming back and were gonna win. Biden thanked unions for their support, citing labour groups that have endorsed him including firefighters, ironworkers and electrical workers. He took a shot at the races frontrunner, self-declared democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who isnt competing in the first four states but has spent hundreds of millions of dollars of his own fortune hoping to pick up delegates starting on Super Tuesday. I aint a socialist. I aint a plutocrat, Biden said. Im a Democrat. And Im proud of it. Biden said the Russians will continue to support President Donald Trump and Sanders, whose campaign acknowledged Friday that he was briefed last month by U.S. officials about Russian efforts to boost his candidacy. Lets give Trump exactly what he doesnt want, Biden told his supporters. Lets give him you and Joe Biden as the nominee. 4:25 p.m. Hundreds gathered for a Bernie Sanders event at the Cowboy Dance Hall in San Antonio which features two levels of dance floors and a mechanical bull that was, perhaps appropriately, not operating as supporters waited for theVermont senators event to begin Saturday night. The crowd watched CNN coverage of results from Nevada on television and projector screens placed around the venue and cheered whenever a new batch indicated Sanders was performing well. It chanted Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! and Bernie Beats Trump! Teddy Hilton, a 31-year-old bar tender and server from San Antonio, said he voted for Sanders during the 2016 Democratic primary when the senator was defeated handily in Texas by Hillary Clinton. He said back then Sanders was still unknown to a lot of Texans but not now: Its more name recognition but also, I think, a lot of it is passion. Hilton said of Sanders, He talks about issues that people are passionate about and they talk to more and more people and it just spreads. 3:55 p.m. Two of the four caucus precincts at a middle school the northern Nevada city of Gardnerville had trouble getting through on the phone hotline to report results. Kimi Cole, the chair of the Douglas County Democrats who was the site lead at the school, said her precinct and another tried to call the hotline after their caucuses wrapped up early afternoon but instead of being put on hold they were met with a tone that seemed to indicate the number wasnt working. I dialed two or three times, couldnt get through. My friend dialed, couldnt get through, Cole said. A third person at the caucus site was able to get through and report results right after, but Cole said she and the other precinct leader decided to use one of the Nevada Democratic Partys backup methods by texting a photo of their caucus reporting worksheets. Cole said the data was also transmitted by the iPad calculator, which seemed to run smoothly for everyone at that site. 3:45 p.m. Nevadas Republican party Saturday awarded all 25 of its delegates to President Donald Trump. The Nevada party had already cancelled its caucuses. Instead, the state Republican committee voted by acclimation to give Trump all of its delegates at the same time as Democrats were tallying caucus votes, according to party executive director Will Sexauer. No other Republican qualified for the balloting by the state committee, Sexauer said. This gives Trump 86 of the 87 delegates awarded so far. Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld won one delegate in Iowa. South Carolina, which votes next Saturday, also had cancelled its primary. Its delegates will not be bound to any candidate. 3:35 p.m. Pete Buttigieg is trying to fundraise off the recent revelation that Russia may be trying to help the campaign of his rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders. News broke Friday that intelligence officials briefed Sanders a month ago about the apparent Russian meddling effort. Sanders called on the Russians to stop, but also used the occasion to take a shot at The Washington Post, which first to report it. He suggested that the story could have been timed to hurt him in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. Buttigiegs campaign said in a fundraising email Saturday that Sanders response was deeply troubling but also telling of the kind of politics were in for in Bernies vision of the future. The email went on to suggest Sanders would foment what it called more conspiracy theories, more attacks undermining the free press when they write something you dont like, more attacks on anyone who doesnt agree with you 100% of the time. ___ 3:30 p.m. Nevada Democrats have discovered an anomaly as they count up caucus votes at the site on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno: one of the precincts doesnt have any voters. Amy Travis, a Bernie Sanders supporter from a neighbouring precinct, was given the task of filling in the zeroes next to all the candidates names in precinct 7321. She thought it was strange that no one voted there either during early voting or at Saturdays caucus. So she got out her phone and found a map of the precinct to find it consists entirely of a 600-acre county park just west of the UNR campus. Austin Daly, the site leader at the UNR campus, says he thinks there used to be two houses in the precinct along the edge of San Rafael Park. But he says they might be vacant now or at least arent occupied by residents who wanted to cast a ballot in the Democratic caucus. Daly says the precincts lone delegate to the county convention will be recorded as uncommitted. Once they get to the county convention, a delegate will be elected to that uncommitted slot. 2 p.m. Bernie Sanders has moved on to Texas, where he addressed about 1,500 supporters in El Paso as the results came in from the Nevada caucuses. Early voting is already underway in Texas, one of the Super Tuesday states holding contests March 3. Before his El Paso campaign event, Sanders visited a memorial for the victims of the Aug. 3 shooting that left 22 dead and about two dozen injured. Thats according to a local politician who addressed the crowd before Sanders took the stage. Another 2020 contender, Mike Bloomberg, also said he visited the memorial before his rally this month. ___ 1:45 p.m. A national co-chair of Elizabeth Warrens presidential campaign says the Massachusetts senators finishes in some of the first voting contests are not reasons to count her out. Rep. Ayanna Pressley told The Associated Press on Saturday that Warrens strengths have long been underestimated and that shes unconcerned about prior finishes or poll numbers. Warren finished third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire. As voters caucused Saturday in Nevada, Pressley said she believed Warren would surprise voters in the states that follow, like South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states. Pressley is spending several days campaigning for Warren in South Carolina before its primary in a week. ___ 12:45 p.m. Votes are being cast in the Nevada presidential caucuses. Its the first presidential contest in the West and the first to test the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates with black and Latino voters. Altogether, 200 locations are hosting caucuses. Among them are seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is a Democrat whos not endorsing a candidate. He says the state represents an opportunity for these candidates to demonstrate their appeal to a larger swath of our country. All eyes are on the process after the lead-off Iowa caucuses yielded a muddy result marked by error. ___ 12:40 p.m. What happens at a Nevada caucus site if two candidates end up in a tie? According to one precinct leader, it comes down to the luck of the draw. Several hundred voters and about a dozen observers were crowded into a site on the campus of the University of Nevada in Reno when things got underway. The temporary precinct captain, Becky Cohen, explained the process and said everything will be transparent, with results at each stage written on poster boards stuck to the walls. She closed by holding up a deck of cards and saying, If theres a tie, God forbid, this is what we do. Its Nevada. ___ Noon Several of the Democratic presidential candidates are out among the voters as the Nevada caucuses get underway. Pete Buttigieg greeted supporters at a Las Vegas caucus site shortly before the start. The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor shook hands and exchanged small talk with those gathered at a south side high school. Buttigieg nodded to Nevadas diversity compared with the predominantly white states of Iowa and New Hampshire that have already held contests. He says Nevada offers him a chance to prove he has a broad base of support. Buttigieg has been dogged by low polling numbers with minorities, particularly black voters. Elizabeth Warren swung by a suburban Nevada caucus site to pose for pictures with supporters and offer doughnuts to volunteers. She ducked inside for a moment and called out to voters still waiting in line to caucus. She said: Thank you for participating in democracy. ___ 11:45 a.m. At Rancho High School, a 38-year-old Las Vegas resident, community organizer and political activist was changing her voter registration from independent so that she could caucus. Lashonda Marve-Austin said: Im black, so I dont want a candidate that just wants to do the right thing for black people. I want them to do the right thing for all the people. She added: And then Im poor, so I dont want them to just do the right thing for poor people, I want them to do whats right for people overall. ___ 11:30 a.m. The chairman of the Democratic National Committee is expressing confidence that the Nevada caucuses will go smoothly and wont repeat the problems that muddied the results in Iowa. The hours ahead will show whether hes correct. Tom Perez spoke to reporters Saturday at a caucus site at the Bellagio hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip. He says the goal in Saturdays caucuses is to release the results as soon as possible but first and foremost, to get it right. Perez says the popularity of early voting made processing those votes difficult but party officials have worked overtime to accomplish the task. Nearly 75,000 people participated in a four-day early voting period that ended on Tuesday. Their choices will be added to results of Saturdays in-person caucusing. Perez says the party has trained more than 3,000 people to carry out the caucuses, with training going on as recently as Friday. ___ 11 a.m. Before the sun started peeking out behind the clouds in late morning, Elizabeth Warren volunteers were shielding Nevada caucus goers for the rain with umbrellas as they entered a caucus location at a high school on the east side of Las Vegas. Turnout appeared to be light and there was no line at the registration tables an hour before caucuses were supposed to start. In one room with about a dozen caucus-goers standing around chatting, about half the attendees were wearing Pete Buttigieg buttons. One Buttigieg supporter, 54-year-old Sue Thornton, said she worried the poor weather in the morning and the early vote may have cut into caucus-day turnout. She said in 2016, lines were out the door when she showed up to caucus. Thornton works in food and beverage management at a hotel-casino. She said she was interested in Buttigieg from the start and his performance in the campaign sealed her support. She says: I am a sucker for a nerd and a geek, and he fits the bill. ... Stays calm and collected. Speaks seven languages, for goodness sake. ___ 10 a.m. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren says her presidential campaign has raised $14 million in the past 10 days. In a tweet, the Democratic hopeful says the haul is double what the campaign had hoped to raise between the New Hampshire primary and Saturdays Nevada caucuses. Its unclear how much came in since Wednesday night, when Warren savaged New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg during the Democratic debate in Las Vegas. Warrens disappointing fourth place finish in her neighbouring state of New Hampshire was considered potentially fatal to her campaign. But her supporters believe she can build on her strong debate performance and find a path to victory. The money will help. ___ 9:45 a.m. Nevada Democrats say they added 10,000 people to their rolls during four days of early caucus voting this week. The state party announced Saturday, hours before presidential caucuses were set to begin, that more than one out of 10 early voters took advantage of same-day registration and became Democratic voters. Nevadas caucuses are open only to Democrats but people can register as Democrats or switch their affiliation as they show up to vote. Democrats outnumber Republicans in Nevada and had about 610,000 active registered voters through the end of January. ___ 9:15 a.m. The political focus Saturday is on the 200 locations across Nevada that are hosting presidential caucuses. Its the third contest on the 2020 election calendar as Democrats try to determine which candidate will take on President Donald Trump in November. Nevada will test the candidates strength with black and Latino voters for the first time in 2020, after contests in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire. Questions linger about Nevada Democrats ability to report election results quickly as new concerns surface about foreign interference in the U.S. election. Saturdays caucuses are the first since technical glitches and human errors plagued Iowas kickoff caucuses. Nevada Democrats have projected confidence in their process but its not certain full results will be released on the day of the vote. The state party added to its responsibilities by offering early voting something Iowa didnt attempt. ___ 9 a.m. President Donald Trump is mocking a recent intelligence briefing given to the House intelligence committee about Moscows interference in the 2020 race. Hes claiming that House Democrats are saying Russia wants Bernie Sanders to win. Democratic presidential candidate Sanders said Friday that U.S. officials told him about a month ago that Russia has been trying to help his campaign, just as Russia did on Trumps behalf in 2016. There actually are conflicting accounts about what the briefers told the House intelligence committee about Russias intentions. One intelligence official said members were not told in the briefing that Russia was working to aid Trump directly. But advancing Sanders candidacy could be seen as beneficial to Trumps reelection prospects. Trump tweeted sarcastically that Nevada Democrats, voting in Saturdays caucuses, need to be careful of Russia, Russia, Russia. ___ 8:45 a.m. A busload of volunteers for Pete Buttigieg is on its way to South Carolina from Indiana to knock on doors for him in the campaign for the Democratic presidential primary a week away. His campaign says 18 volunteers are coming from South Bend and Gary to spread the word on the former South Bend mayor. Theyll also attend Sunday church services before heading back. Buttigieg and other contenders are in Nevada for that states caucuses Saturday. The candidates are expected to spend much of the coming week campaigning in South Carolina for the last of the four early-voting contests. Their debate in Charleston on Tuesday will be the final one before that primary and the March 3 Super Tuesday contests. Philanthropic Tej Kohli Foundation will establish a new incubator to back scientific projects and commercial ventures that are targeting new solutions. Forms part of strategy by investor Tej Kohli to focus on new innovations borne from research, science, technology and enterprise for the prevention and cure of corneal blindness. Solutions must be affordable, scalable and accessible in the poorest countries in the world, where 90% of those affected by blindness and visual impairment live. The Tej Kohli Foundation is to establish a new incubator to provide seed and acceleration funding to projects with the potential to help eliminate corneal blindness worldwide. Funding, practical resources and intellectual capital will be available to both commercial and non-commercial projects that have a clear path to the prevention, treatment and cure of corneal blindness; with funding decisions based on the magnitude of the total impact that a project will likely have in poor and underserved communities worldwide by 2035, as well as the likelihood that a project will succeed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200221005010/en/ Mrs. Gurujalli Tejavathi outside her home in the Bhadradri District in India. Mrs. Tejavathi receives free eye care for a previously transplanted cornea from the Tej Kohli Foundation. (Photo: Business Wire) The Tej Kohli Foundation continues to build its position as a multi-disciplinary global centre of focus for the development and advancement of an affordable, scalable and accessible universal solution for preventing and eliminating corneal blindness. The World Health Organisation says that 90% of those affected by blindness and severe visual impairment live in the poorest countries in the world. Whilst approximately 75% of corneal disease is curable by corneal transplant, the costs of invasive surgery, and the many years of medicine needed to prevent rejection after surgery, makes this form of treatment entirely inaccessible to the majority of the people in the world who suffer from severe visual impairment or corneal blindness. Tej Kohli co-founded the eponymous Foundation in 2005 alongside wife Wendy Kohli. He has previously spoken about funding life-changing corneal transplants in poor and underserved communities as being like Schindlers List, you do a few, then you just have to do more (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/10/04/tej-kohli-indian-tech-billionaire-plans-turbocharge-britains/). In December 2019 the Tej Kohli Foundation announced that it had restored the sight of 5,736 blind people during the year (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191219005417/en/5736-World%E2%80%99s-Poorest-People-Received-Gift-Sight) and committed $14m of further funding to its Cornea Institute. Tej Kohli is also an evangelist of the opportunities that can be derived from the chain reaction of technological progression and the impact that they can have on human life: https://www.spearswms.com/billionaire-philanthropist-tej-kohli-ai/. The new Tej Kohli Foundation incubator hopes to back projects that can leverage this chain reaction of technological progression to develop and deliver new techniques and applications and game-changing innovations for improving access. The Foundation is seeking to incubate between one and three new projects initially, and welcomes funding applications from all fields of expertise. Projects must show that they can make a significant impact by 2035. The Tej Kohli Foundation funded its first donor cornea implants at Niramaya Hospital in India in 2010. After funding thousands of corneal transplants, in 2015 the Tej Kohli Foundation substantially expanded its efforts to tackle corneal blindness in poor and underserved communities with the ambitious launch the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in Hyderabad. Between January 2016 and November 2019 the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute welcomed more than 223,404 outpatients and completed more than 43,255 surgical procedures. The Tej Kohli Foundation has also pursued a universal treatment for corneal blindness through its Applied Research program, which is a longstanding scientific collaboration between researchers in Montreal Canada, and Moorfields Eye Hospital in the UK. In January 2020 seed funding from the Tej Kohli Foundation was granted to two new research projects. The first project will focus on preventing corneal endothelial cell loss, which is usually permanent and is the leading reason for corneal transplantation worldwide. The second project will use novel drugs released by contact lenses to treat ocular surface pain and overcome the need for opioids when treating severe eye pain, which remains one of the unmet needs in Ophthalmology. Eligible projects are invited to submit a 2-page project abstract as a PDF to: [email protected]. Submissions will be considered by the Tej Kohli Foundation on a case-by-case basis in direct collaboration with its global network of specialists. Wendy Kohli, co-Founder of the Tej Kohli Foundation said: The YouTube channel of the Tej Kohli Foundation has many stories of individuals who have been cured of severe visual impairment or corneal blindness. But the overwhelming majority of those living needlessly with blindness still cannot afford or access treatment. It is only through major innovations borne from research, science, technology and enterprise that we can move toward a world where nobody is needlessly blind because of poverty. Tej Kohli, co-Founder of the Tej Kohli Foundation said: There are many innovations already in the pipeline that could one day offer affordable, scalable and accessible solutions for prevention and cure in the poor and underserved communities where corneal blindness is most pervasive. At the Tej Kohli Foundation we are interested in backing and funding new innovations and projects that will accelerate progress toward the goal of eliminating poverty-driven corneal blindness worldwide by 2035. About the Tej Kohli Foundation: Website: http://www.tejkohlifoundation.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/tejkohlifoundation About Tej Kohli: Profile: https://www.tejkohlifoundation.com/tej-kohli Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtejkohli About Wendy Kohli: Profile: https://www.tejkohlifoundation.com/wendy-kohli View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200221005010/en/ The rules establish new criteria for who can be considered dependent on the U.S. government for benefits public charges, in the words of the law and thus ineligible for green cards and a path to U.S. citizenship. They were proposed to start in October but were delayed by the lower-court decisions. Police said they responded to a report of a vehicle collision in the area. When officers arrived, they found a man, later identified as 44-year-old Brian K. Woods of Silver Spring, outside the car and suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said Woods had been driving the car when it hit a parked vehicle. At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded that the indigenous blockades that have paralyzed Canadas rail system for the past two weeks must now come down. By ordering the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and Quebec Provincial Police to forcibly remove the barricades, the Liberal Prime Minister is carrying out the dictates of big business, which has lobbied with increasing frenzy over the past two weeks for the protests to be suppressed. Within minutes of Trudeau concluding his remarks, the Quebec Provincial Police moved in to demolish a blockade set up in St. Lambert, south of Montreal. The right-wing populist Quebec Premier, Francois Legault had been urging Trudeau for days to order coordinated cross-Canada police action to end the blockades. Trudeaus press conference was held as the ruling-class clamor for a forcible end to the two-week campaign of solidarity protests in support of the Wetsuweten hereditary chief-led campaign against the Coastal Gas Link (CGL) pipeline reached a fever pitch. On February 6 and 7, armed RCMP officers carried out a violent assault on a blockade of a remote northern-eastern British Columbia road that had been set up by Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs to protest CGLs plans to traverse their traditional lands. After the RCMP detained around two dozen Wetsuweten activists, solidarity blockades of rail lines sprang up at multiple points across the country, including in Ontario and Quebec. Although Trudeau has repeatedly sought to strike a conciliatory pose over the past two weeks, including insisting he desired a peaceful solution, his message yesterday could not have been clearer. The injunctions must be obeyed, and the law must be upheld, he declared at the press conference, which followed a meeting of the secretive Incident Response Groupa body made up of cabinet members and senior civil servants that meets during a national crisis. The invocation of the rule of law by Trudeau and all those within the business and political elite who have demanded he unleash police on the protesters is a hypocritical sham. Over several centuries, Canadas ruling elite has systematically ignored, manipulated, and rewritten the law to seize native land and deny indigenous people basic rights. Moreover, the canard of upholding the rule of law is routinely invoked by governments of all political stripes to justify the criminalization of workers strikes. Even as Trudeau publicly sanctioned a police assault on the blockades, he cynically sought to absolve his government of all blame for a decision that could easily result in bloody violence or worse, as shown by the lethal outcome of the Oka and Ipperwash standoffs during the 1990s. Every attempt at dialogue has been made, he arrogantly declared, before informing indigenous leadership that the onus is on them. Trudeaus demand for state repression fully vindicates the repeated warnings made by the World Socialist Web Site since the outset of the protests. As we wrote on February 19, The governments convening of the IRGeffectively a declaration that the blockades constitute a national crisisand its repeated pledges to uphold the rule of law are unmistakable signs it is preparing state violence if the native protesters cannot be persuaded to dismantle their barricades (See: Behind promises of dialogue, Canadian government prepares state assault on Native protests). Corporate Canada made clear over recent days that it would no longer tolerate the protests. A joint open letter from the heads of the Business Council of Canada, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters denounced the protests as illegal disruptions and warned that the damage inflicted on the Canadian economy and on the welfare of all our citizens mounts with each hour. In his remarks Friday, Trudeau made clear that he agrees with the business leaders contention that the protests were illegitimate. He claimed that there are two kinds of protests: those motivated by genuine historical wrongs that seek to promote reconciliation between the Native people and Canada; and those, in what was an unmistakable reference to the blockades, launched by people who attach themselves to an issue to advance a particular point of view. In other words, the Liberal government is prepared to tolerate activities that comply with its phony reconciliation agenda, which is aimed at cultivating a tiny privileged elite within the native population to provide the Canadian bourgeoisie with social license for major energy and natural resources projects. However, protests that challenge the immediate core economic interests of Canadian capitalism will be dealt with ruthlessly. The Trudeau governments ordering of state repression will strengthen the most reactionary right-wing political forces, who have whipped up a toxic political climate over recent days against the protests. On Tuesday, Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer denounced the illegal actions of radical activists, and urged Trudeau to take swift action to enforce the rule of law. He also cynically postured as a defender of working people, denouncing Trudeau for failing to act as CN Rail and CP Rail issued temporary lay-offs to their employees. This fraudulent campaign was amplified by the corporate media, which chose to ignore the inconvenient fact that CN has been laying off workers since last year. Erin OToole, one of the leading candidates to replace Scheer in the Tories upcoming leadership contest, declared that as Prime Minister, he would enact legislation criminalizing and imposing harsh punishment for the blockading of critical national infrastructure. Such legislation, he emphasized, would enable police to dismantle blockades without having to obtain a court injunction. Marilyn Gladu, another leadership candidate, stated that the military should be called out if Trudeau feared that the police were incapable of removing the blockades. Arguably the most politically significant intervention was that of fellow Tory leadership candidate Peter McKay, who explicitly praised the vigilante actions of United We Rolla far-right group of independent truckers in Alberta. United We Roll responded Wednesday to a small solidarity blockade in the west of Edmonton by tearing it down and transporting the barricades away in a truck. Glad to see a couple Albertans with a pickup truck can do more for our economy in an afternoon than Justin Trudeau could do in four years, quipped McKay on Twitter. After a public backlash, he deleted the tweet. However yesterday, he made clear that his remark had been well considered when he stated that the United We Roll activists were good Samaritans. In truth, the group, which organized a convoy from Alberta to Ottawa last year to protest what it perceived as an over-regulation of the oil and gas sector, is a haven for racist and outright fascist forces. The convoys protests on Parliament Hill in February 2019 were dominated by far-right insignia and included demands for an end to immigration to Canada. The movement has been lauded by the right-wing extremist Rebel Media website, which is notorious for its support of British fascist Tommy Robinson. United We Roll felt able to take the law into its own hands because it has been actively promoted by sections of the Canadian ruling elite. Scheer addressed the groups protest rally in Ottawa last year. In the course of the ongoing lockout of 750 workers at the Federated Cooperatives Ltd. oil refinery in Saskatchewan, United We Roll activists, openly incited by FCL chief executive Scott Banda and right-wing Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, broke through a secondary picket line established by workers affiliated with Unifor at an FCL site in Alberta. United We Roll leaders are well aware of the part that sections of the ruling elite are encouraging them to play in the suppression of popular opposition, whatever form it may take. Leader Glen Carritt drew a direct parallel between the breaching of the FCL picket line and the dismantling of the Edmonton blockade, warning ominously, Alberta is not going to stand for this. We had the same thing down in Carseland with the UNIFOR blockade and were going to continue to fight. Predictably, the official left wing of Canadas ruling elite has closed ranks around the suppression of the protests. The New Democrats, which lead a minority government in BC supported by the Greens, endorsed the initial RCMP crackdown on the Wetsuweten camp as an operation aimed at upholding the rule of law. Trudeau made specific reference to NDP Premier John Horgan in his press conference Friday, remarking on the close contact he had maintained with his NDP colleague since the blockades began. For his part, NDP federal leader Jagmeet Singh offered progressive cover to Trudeaus preparations for the violent crackdown on the blockades by attending a closed-door meeting with the Prime Minister Tuesday to discuss how the protests could be ended. Samsung started rolling out the update to Android 10 with One UI 2.0 on top to the Galaxy S9 in late January, and today this has reached those units sold by Verizon in the US. The update will arrive over-the-air in the next few days, as it's likely to be undergoing a staged rollout. After installation, you'll be running Android 10 with Samsung's brand new One UI 2.0 on top, and you'll also have the February 2020 security patch level, which is still the most up-to-date there is. Your new software version after installation will be QP1A.190711.020.G960USQU7DTA8. If your phone hasn't yet notified you about this update, and you're the impatient type, then it can't hurt to manually check from time to time by going to Settings > System updates > Check for system updates. You'll need to be on Wi-Fi. Source | Via Rome, Feb 22 : A 78-year-old man has become the first person in Italy to die after being infected with the coronavirus, with authorities confirming 16 cases of the disease in the country, it was reported. The man, identified by Italian news agency Ansa as a former construction company owne, was among 18 confirmed cases in Italy, Sky News said in a report. The father of three died at a hospital in Padua, where he had been admitted along with another person who tested positive for COVID-19. There are currently 16 Italians confirmed to have the virus in Lombardy and one in Veneto. Among the cases, a 38-year-old man from the town of Codogno near Milan, had spent time with a friend who returned from a trip to China on January 21, Xinhua news agency reported. The man passed on the virus to five relatives and friends. Besides Italy, fatalities outside China were recorded in Iran (four), Japan (three), South Korea (two), Hong Kong (two), France (one) and the Philippines (one). -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Visitors wearing face masks walk near the Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the 14th-century Gyeongbok Palace, and one of South Korea's well-known landmarks, in Seoul on Feb. 22, 2020. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo) South Korea Sees Record Jump in Virus Cases to 433 South Korea on Saturday reported 229 new cases of coronavirus, the largest jump in a day for the country, taking its total cases of COVID-19 tally to 433. South Korea early Saturday first reported a rise of 142 from the previous days total of 204, taking the countrys total tally to 346. Later, the KCDC logged 87 more cases, thereby bringing the countrys total COVID-19 cases to 433. The jump marks a more than eight-fold increase in the number of confirmed cases from four days prior, Feb. 19, when South Koreas total stood at 51. Of the 229 new cases, 200 are linked to a church in Daegu and a hospital in nearby Cheongdo county. The region has become the latest front in the global fight against COVID-19, where schools were closed and worshipers and others were told to avoid mass gatherings. Daegu is the countrys fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million. The countrys central government has declared Daegu and the surrounding region as a special management zone and is concentrating its support to the region to ease a shortage in sickbeds, medical personnel, and equipment. Of the new cases, 95 are related to the Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, where South Korea saw its first death from the virus, according to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Workers wearing protective gears spray disinfectant against the new coronavirus in front of a church in Daegu, South Korea, on Feb. 20, 2020. (Kim Jun-beom/Yonhap via AP) South Koreas Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said early Saturday that the outbreak had entered a serious new phase, but still expressed hope that it can be contained in Daegu and the surrounding area. Although we are beginning to see some more cases nationwide, infections are still sporadic outside of the special management zone of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, Kim said during a briefing, The Associated Press reported. He emphasized maintaining strong border controls to prevent further infections in the country. There were 20 new cases reported Wednesday, 53 on Thursday, and 100 on Friday. Some 231 cases have been traced to a single house of worship, the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church, reported Yonhap News, citing KCDC. A 61-year-old woman, known as Patient 31, had attended two services at this church before testing positive for the virus. The KCDC described the outbreak there as a super-spreading event. All 74 sites operated by the Shincheonji Church have been closed. The KCDC said that some 9,336 Shincheonji members have been put into self-quarantine at home, reported Yonhap. Kim said health officials were screening the church followers in self-quarantine, and that about 540 have shown coughs and other symptoms. Meanwhile, some 17 coronavirus patients at Cheongdo hospital were in critical condition, he said. A teacher dispenses hand sanitizer to a student at Yongsan elementary school in Seoul on Jan. 30, 2020. (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap via AP) Eight hundred area schools in Daegu that were due to start March 2 have delayed their openings by a week. South Korea on Friday reported its second coronavirus death as well as the first three cases in its 600,000-member military. The military cases involve a sailor on Jeju Island and an army officer in North Chungcheong province, who had both recently visited Daegu, according to officials. The third case involved an air force officer based in Daegu but recently traveled to central South Korea to military headquarters there. This sparked a quarantine of some 80 soldiers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When Dastan Kuldanov paid a little over $5,000 for a second-hand Nissan X-Trail last March, it felt like a bargain. Bought brand new, a spacious SUV model like that normally costs several tens of thousands in Kazakhstan. But with this years introduction of new rules on vehicle registration, Kuldanov is about to get another bill one that could set him back more than buying the car in the first place. As Eurasianet reports, cash-strapped motorists in Kazakhstan are livid. There have been spontaneous demonstrations up and down the country. Some are now threatening to go to the streets on February 22, joining the ranks of a protest rally summoned by the governments most persistent, foreign-based critic, thereby further politicizing the issue. Kuldanov told Eurasianet that his purchase was not an indulgence. "I have two sons and a daughter. I take them to, and pick them up from, school. I also give my wife lifts to her work, said Kuldanov, who lives in the northwestern city of Aktobe. Kuldanov did not want to take on more debt, as he is still paying off his mortgage, so he decided to copy a popular trend. I saw many cars being brought over from Armenia. They were secondhand cars in good condition. So, I went to Yerevan with my friend and bought a Nissan X-Trail for 2 million tenge [$5,200], he said. Many others are doing the same. The authorities estimate there are around 170,000 vehicles registered in places like Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Russia circulating on Kazakhstans roads. The appeal of those countries is that they are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, or EAEU, trading bloc, so customs payments are not an issue. The Interior Ministry is not amused. Only people from those countries are permitted by law to drive around, for limited periods, with their foreign plates. Kazakhs importing cars for the long haul should get registered and pay their taxes like everybody else, officials say. What is more, vehicles not locally registered become a particular headache when accidents occur, since drivers of foreign-registered cars are in effect not recognized as being local residents. Car-owners grumble, however, that the government has pulled a mean trick by cracking down and charging exorbitant fees after the fact. In the face of a spike of anger over this issue, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev intervened by approving a temporary, interim registration regime, which has in effect given motorists until March 1, 2021, to comply. That may just compound the problem. Kuldanov told Eurasianet that he will have to pay 1.3 million tenge [$3,500] just to get the interim yellow plates. And the problems do not end there. "To get temporary registration, the car needs to meet Euro-5 or Euro-4 emission standards. Most of the cars imported from Armenia do not meet even Euro-4 standards, he said. Kuldanov said that by the time all is said and done, he will have spent double on registration than he did buying his car in the first place. Askhat Bersalimov, who lives in the business capital, Almaty, went to Yerevan in December to buy a Toyota Alphard minivan. That vehicle was to be his meal ticket. I work as a driver with Yandex Taxi service. I earn around 7-8 thousand tenge per day driving for Yandex, Bersalimov said. Temporary registration will cost me 1.3 million tenge. And before that temporary registration expires, I will have to pay customs duties and a utilization fee. So permanent registration will end up costing 4.5-5 million tenge, when I bought my car for 3.5 million tenge. One reason that motorists look abroad is that the second-hand market in Kazakhstan is still very weak. "The local second-hand market offers old and worn vehicles, Bersalimov said. New cars at the car dealerships are expensive. We do not have any option other than to buy in Armenia. Ruslan Lazuta, who runs a civic organization that provides legal assistance to motorists, said the blame for the impasse lies with the Interior Ministry, which he says failed to properly warn about its plans in good time. "Kazakhstan allowed 170,000 cars from other EAEU states to enter the country. And over this whole time, the Interior Ministry took no action. Moreover, they promised to create an online registration system, Lazuta said. But now they have designated all citizens who bought cars in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan as lawbreakers. Lazuta has raised the stakes of this confrontation by filing a police report against Interior Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev and his deputy, Marat Kozhayev. "They should be prosecuted for dereliction of duty, Lazuta said. As Eduard Poletayev, an Almaty-based political analyst, told Eurasianet, this is not the first time the government has made a foe of motorists. The authorities went through a similar experience with right-hand-drive cars in 2006, when they decided to ban their importation and use. But after car owners protested, the government made concessions by allowing the import ban to stand, but allowing the cars to be used, Poletayev said. Officials are usually wary of anything that could feed public discontent among normally apolitical sections of the population, so this whole episode looks like a strategic bungle. Owners of cars with foreign license plates have already held protests and organized a petition of 5,300 signatures, which has been sent to the authorities, Poletayev said. There is talk of creating a movement to defend the interests of motorists. When the authorities start picking peoples pockets, that immediately provokes anti-government sentiments. Still, there may yet be room for compromise. The authorities could divide cars with foreign plates into categories old and newer, for example and then apply different customs clearance rates to them at a later date, Poletayev said. They could also push back the deadlines and make utilization fees lower. Lome, Togo (PANA) - Voting is progressing quietly with queues at polling stations in the West African state of Togo on Saturday as voters turned out to cast their ballots in presidential election in which the incumbent, Faure Gnassingbe, who is seeking a fourth term, is being challenged by six candidates Iranian health officials have confirmed the fifth and sixth deaths from the coronavirus in the country. The country's fifth fatality came from among 10 new confirmed cases of the virus, officials reported on February 22. The sixth fatality was a patient who died in the central city of Arak. It was not clear exactly when the two deaths occurred. Iran has reported more fatalities from COVID-19 than any other country besides China. Two people had died earlier on February 21 from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Two other deaths were reported earlier in the week. Jahanpour said that, of the 10 newly detected cases, two were in the capital, Tehran, and eight were in the holy city of Qom, located some 120 kilometers south of the capital. Two elderly patients died from the virus in Qom on February 19. Jahanpour said the two patients in the capital had visited Qom or had links with the city. Health officials said all religious gatherings in Qom had been suspended. Minoo Mohraz, an Iranian Health Ministry official, had said on February 21 that the virus "possibly came from Chinese workers who work in Qom and traveled to China." She did not elaborate. A Chinese company has been building a solar power plant in Qom. Cases have been reported in the provinces of Tehran, Gilan, Markazi, Qom, and Hamadan. Ali Atta, a spokesman for the Tehran City Council, said authorities were distributing free masks at bus and metro stations. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia announced that citizens and residents of the kingdom are not permitted to travel to Iran following the spread of the virus there. Anyone previously in Iran will only be permitted entry to the country after the 14-day incubation period of the virus has passed. Earlier in the week, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia suspended most flights to Iran. In China, where the virus emerged, more than 2,300 people have died of the illness. Another large cluster has been detected in South Korea, which reported 142 additional confirmed cases for February 21, bringing the nation's total to 346. In Italy, a 78-year-old man died of the coronavirus, becoming the first European fatality for the disease. Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters Members of the Myanmar military honor guard take part in a ceremony marking the 73rd National Union Day in Myanmar's commercial capital Yangon, Feb. 12, 2020. The Myanmar military announced Friday that it will investigate and open court-martial proceedings against soldiers accused of killing Rohingya Muslim civilians during a violent army-led crackdown in the countrys Rakhine state in 2017, the third such case in a country facing international criticism for failing to hold troops accountable for widespread atrocities. In a move experts said would be unlikely to meet Myanmars U.N.-mandated obligations toward the Rohingya, the military said it would probe a government-appointed commissions findings on killings in Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages, where about 300 civilians are believed to have died at the hands of soldiers during clearance operations. The military said it had reviewed reports of the killings in the two communities in a report issued in January by the Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE), a Myanmar government-appointed body tasked with probing allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine. The ICOE made more than 20 recommendations in the report and advised both the military and the government to continue investigating incidents related to the crackdown. President Win Myint sent copy of the report to armed forces commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to be used in military investigations and prosecutions. The military and the ruling civilian-led National League for Democracy (NLD) government said that the new investigation is not related to international pressure on Myanmar to bring to justice servicemen who ordered and participated in the rampage of random killings, torture, mass rape, and village burnings during the crackdown. We have already reviewed the Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages cases, said Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun. We will work on these cases by forming a court of inquiry, and then we will refer the cases to a court-martial and decide them according to military law. We are working on these cases not because of international pressure, but because of our responsibility and accountability, he said. The military did not say when the trial for soldiers who allegedly killed Rohingya residents of the two villages would begin. The military also said it was reviewing other incidents, including alleged deadly attacks on a group of Hindus by Rohingya militants. The new court-martial comes about a month after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the U.N.s top court ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya Muslims from further harm and genocidal acts and to refrain from destroying evidence of alleged crimes that could be used in later hearings. The provisional measures order is part of a larger lawsuit filed by Muslim-majority Gambia accusing Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention during the alleged expulsion of more than 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh amid the crackdown. Crimes at the very top Laura Haigh, the Myanmar researcher for London-based Amnesty International, told RFA on Friday that the announcement about the latest court-martial points to an admission of crimes well documented by human rights groups and by a U.N. fact-finding mission that found the country had acted with genocidal intent against the Rohingya. In terms of the ICJs order, what the government and the military are doing will not be enough to stave off what are very, very serious allegations of international crimes, genocide among them, she said. Haigh also said military courts are not the answer to holding to account soldiers who allegedly committed atrocities against the Rohingya, because the bodies are not independent or under civilian oversight. Military courts are also unlikely to mete out justice for high-ranking officers who ordered the violence, including the mass rape of Rohingya women and girls, she added. Its difficult to see how the military can be trusted to bring itself to justice, especially when those most accountable of the crimes actually sit at the very top of the military system, Haigh said. Were talking about senior generals; were talking about the commander-in-chief. Its also clear that the military justice system is not going to address issues like the widespread rape of Rohingya women that we know was a very deliberate, very calculated tactic of the Myanmar military, she said. She also noted that in ICOE's final report, the commission members claimed not to have been able to find credible evidence of rape and sexual violence, despite widely documented reports by rights groups and the U.N. fact-finding mission. Rohingya refugee woman Anu (C) holds her son Mohammad Anas outside their shelter at the Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh, Nov. 17, 2018. Credit: Associated Press Acknowledging the cases Both the government and the armed forces have largely denied that soldiers were responsible for widespread human rights abuses and atrocities against the Rohingya. NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told RFA that the government had previously denied reports of atrocities because it lacked information. We didnt admit to these cases earlier because they were still under investigation, he said about the killings in Maung Nu and Chut Pyin villages. When the ICOE mentioned them, the military accepted its recommendation and tried to investigate them. The government denied them earlier because it didnt have informationbut when the government got the information, it acknowledged them and said it would admit to these cases based on human rights, the rule of law, and justice, he added. The Myanmar military has conducted only two other courts-martial of officers and soldiers accused of committing grave rights abuses during the 2017 campaign of violence. In March 2018, four officers and three soldiers were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing a group of Rohingya in Maungdaw townships Inn Din village, but they were later pardoned and freed by the military chief. In the other proceedings that began in late November 2019, soldiers stand accused of killing hundreds of Rohingya civilians, dumping their bodies in mass graves, and burning the corpses with acid near Buthidaung townships Gu Dar Pyin village. The military has disputed the number killed, giving a much lower figure and saying that the villagers died during fighting between government forces and members of a Rohingya militant group. Myanmar government and military leaders meanwhile are facing legal action on genocide-related charges at the International Criminal Court and in an Argentine court. Information block A government-ordered internet service suspension in northern Rakhine state, where Myanmar forces are fighting the rebel Arakan Army (AA), is preventing information about any current rights violations by soldiers against ethnic Rakhine or Rohingya living there from getting out. Its very difficult to get information about ongoing abuses by the military, Amnestys Haigh said. The government reimposed the internet shutdown in five Rakhine townships and in Paletwa township in neighboring Chin state on Feb. 3 amid the ongoing armed conflict, after partially lifting the block five months ago. Presidents Office spokesman Zaw Htay told a news conference on Friday that the government has imposed internet shutdowns in Rakhine for the sake of national security and that other countries are doing the same if they deem it necessary. He said the government would consider lifting the ban in the future based on the status of the armed conflict and regional security. The estimated 600,000 Rohingya still living in Rakhine state meanwhile continue to face systematic discrimination in the form of denials of citizenship, freedom of movement, and access to jobs, education, and services. Thousands have fled the conflict-ridden region in recent years, many of whom have paid human traffickers to transport them to Muslim-friendly countries in Southeast Asia where they will not face persecution. Myanmar authorities on Wednesday arrested about 50 Rohingya in Yangon region as they attempted to leave the country for Malaysia, with police searching for others who may have been part of the group but fled. They appeared in court on Friday. Police on Friday said they arrested 14 others in Yangon's Hlegu township, two of whom have been charged with trafficking. They join scores of others apprehended in recent months in different regions of Myanmar, who face charges for illegal travel and jail terms if found guilty of violating immigration laws. Reported by Nay Myo Htun, Thiha Tun, and Nayrein Kyaw for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. A Cibolo Police Department officer admitted to viewing and saving child pornography after investigators found explict images in his home, officials said. Officer Christopher Ybarra, 37, is charged with two counts possession of child pornography and one count of obscene wholesale promotion with deviant sex acts. Ybarra was arrested at 4:40 p.m. Thursday after police were notified of warrants for his arrest in the case, according to Cibolo Police Chief Bryan Hugghins. He posted bonds totaling $75,000 on Friday and was set to be released from the Guadalupe County Jail. Kayleigh Date, a spokeswoman for the Texas Attorney Generals Office, said the child exploitation unit searched Ybarras home and found child porn on a digital storage device. Numerous other items were seized from the residence, she said. At least one video is known to have been made by Ybarra, who confessed to viewing and saving images of child porn, officials said. Date said the case is the result of two separate investigations, including one out-of-state and another with the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office. Ybarra, an 11-year veteran of the force, was placed on leave pending the outcome of an administrative investigation. Hugghins said the department is cooperating with authorities. We will continue to hold those within our organization accountable to those high morals and ethical standards and swiftly deal with those who choose to violate those standards, the chief said in a statement. The number of men seeking help to stop committing domestic violence has surged after the horrific death of Hannah Clarke and her young children. Evil father Rowan Baxter killed Hannah Clarke and their children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, when he doused them in petrol and set their car alight in Camp Hill, Brisbane t on Wednesday morning. He died shortly after stabbing himself in the abdomen with a knife. The shocking attack has seen more people turn to domestic violence services for help, Queensland's Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Di Farmer says. 'I've spoken with many people who work in the DFV sector and everyone has been absolutely devastated by the deaths of Hannah and her little babies,' Ms Farmer told AAP. Hannah Clarke (pictured with her three children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3) is seen enjoying a day with her own grandmother (far left) Hannah Clarke (pictured with daughters Aaliyah and Laianah) had just broken free from her abusive husband in December last year 'But they've also said that in the past few days, they've seen an incredible surge in calls from people asking for help - and importantly, from people asking for help to stop being violent.' Details of the couple's toxic split continue to emerge with revelations Rowan Baxter had been in counselling and had rejected a shared custody offer. The offer would see him with the children several times a week, according to the ABC. Baxter rejected his lawyer's advice during a mediation session with Clarke and refused to sign the order that would allow him 165 days of custody per year. A shrine at the scene where Hannah Clarke and her three kids were set alight. Brave men have come forward to seek help to stop being violent in the wake of the horrific crime Baxter poured petrol on his estranged wife and their children in their car then set it alight on Raven St, in Camp Hill, Brisbane. Pictured above is the horrendous scene Instead, Baxter signed a non-legally binding agreement that gave him just as much access to the children as their mother. Ms Clarke's mother Suzanne told Channel 9's A Current Affair that her daughter first experienced psychological trauma and abuse from her estranged husband, which slowly turned physical, leaving Ms Clarke in fear for her life. Mrs Clarke was blunt in her assessment of Baxter: 'He was evil.' Mrs Clarke said her daughter was 'scared to leave' but had been making small steps to move away in recent times. She said her daughter only last week brought up the idea of organising a will. Hannah Clarke and her three children were torched in their car on Wednesday morning by Rowan Baxter (all pictured together) who stabbed himself to death at the scene in Camp Hill HELP FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE If you are in immediate danger call 000 for help 1800 RESPECT: Call 1800 732 732 for counselling and support 24 hours a day for anyone who is at risk of violence or sexual assault Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, someone always answers and can put you in contact with a crisis service in your state Men's Referral Service: Help for men who want to stop using violence. Get free information and counselling. Call 1300 766 491 for help with relationship concerns. Mensline Australia: Call 1300 789 978 for help 24/7. Supports men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties. Kids Help Line: Kids and young people under 25 can ring 1800 551 800 for free, private counselling Relationships Australia: call 1300 364 277 for support groups and counselling on relationships, and for abusive and abused partners Source: White Ribbon Australia Advertisement The family claims Baxter stalked Ms Clarke through her mobile phone and knew where she was at all times. 'She wasn't allowed to wear bikinis, she works in the fitness industry and wasn't allowed to wear shorts. She had to cover up,' Mrs Clarke said. 'In the beginning we thought he was a prude, but in hindsight we know there was more to it than that. He was controlling. It was Rowan's way or the highway. 'He could manipulate her. The night before he killed them he was on the phone to the children crying and she hung up or the children hung up she said to me 'Mum I feel so bad for him'. 'He was very good at playing the victim. We knew there was no way she could just say, 'I'm going and walk out the door'. 'She said, 'What happens to my babies if he kills me?'' The Clarke family say more needs to be done to ensure victims are better protected from their abusers, and are hoping to establish a support system for women suffering at the hands of domestic violence. On Saturday, they posted a thank you message for public support as donations for the family soared past $206,000. Hannah (left) with her mother Suzanne Clarke. Mrs Clarke said Baxter was 'evil' and controlling 'It is the most beautiful thing to see so many people offering donations and such kind messages - It has given the family hope for change and touched their hearts to know so many care,' said Hannah's sister-in-law Stacey Roberts. She said the family had been pushed into debt by Baxter's 'inability to support his family financially for years and to fight this monster'. By Express News Service KENDRAPARA: Rajnagar police on Friday arrested two persons for attempting to rape and murder a 35-year-old Dalit woman at a Shiva temple in Keredagada village. They were identified as Chabindra Bindhani (34) and Hagura Mian (32) of Kereragada. Sources said the woman, a cancer patient, was advised by some priests and her family members to spend the night before Shivratri prostrating on the temple premises to get cured of the disease. Accordingly, she was observing the ritual on Thursday night. Finding her alone, three miscreants, including Bindhani and Mian, tried to rape her. When the woman resisted their attempts, they assaulted her and tried to kill her. However, the three accused fled after she screamed and some locals rushed to the temple. Rajnagar IIC Tapan Kumar Nayak said the victim lodged an FIR with the police on Friday basing on which the two accused were arrested under Sections 307, 376/511 and 34 of the IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. We are raiding the hideouts of another accused, identified as Sarbeswar Sutar, to nab him, Nayak added. The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $1 million in federal grants to Ohkay Owingeh Airport, Gallup Municipal Airport, Deming Municipal Airport, Hatch Municipal Airport, Cavern City Air Terminal Airport in Carlsbad and Portales Municipal Airport for runway infrastructure improvements, New Mexicos congressional delegation announced Friday. The FAA has also awarded $750,000 to the Roswell Air Center as a revenue guarantee and marketing program to facilitate a future United Airlines direct service to Denver, Colorado. Ohkay Owingeh Airport, near Espanola, will receive $270,000 to rehabilitate the structural integrity of its runway and taxiways pavement. Portales Municipal Airport will receive $150,000 to perform pavement sealing and crack repair of the existing taxiway. The FAA grant will also fund a $75,000 runway reconstruction at Cavern City Air Terminal airport in Carlsbad and a $280,000 runway reconstruction Hatch Municipal Airport. Deming Municipal Airport will receive $157,000 and Gallup Municipal Airport $153,000 to rehabilitate existing terminal and runway pavement. New Mexicos regional airports are critical transportation lifelines for our states rural economies and communities, U.S. Sen. Udall said in a statement. As travel to and from New Mexico continues to increase, residents and visitors will increasingly rely on our regional airports and this infrastructure and marketing funding will help them support New Mexicos economic success, he said. Hundreds of health care and social workers from State-funded bodies went on a 24-hour strike over pay today. A leading trade unionist has urged the government to release funds to the HSE to enable them to restore the pay of these workers to pre-austerity levels. The strike was staged by workers in Section 39 organisations, which are State-funded to provide essential services like hospice, health and social care. Organisations affected included the National Council of the Blind in Ireland (NCBI), Western Alzheimers, South West Doctors, Co-Action Bantry and St Joseph's Killorglin, Co Kerry. There are about 300 Section 39 bodies that provide services on foot of grants paid by the HSE. A deal was reached in October 2018 for the restoration of pay to an initial 50 organisations. The HSE is committed to the continued implementation of Section 39 pay restoration to the 50 agencies covered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement. However, the health authority has stated in its 2020 National Service plan that it wants to engage through the WRC about the feasibility of extending the agreement beyond the initial 50 bodies. The HSE said it regretted the industrial action as it would affect patient and client services. Each community healthcare organisation, in which the agency sits, is engaging directly to establish any effect on the service they deliver on behalf of the HSE so that any appropriate mitigation can be identified," a HSE spokesperson said. The pay restoration for the initial 50 organisation amounts to around 7 million but a further 7 million is needed to restore pay in the remaining 250 organisations. SIPTU health division organiser Paul Bell said there was still a government in place and it could release the necessary monies to the HSE to complete the pay restoration programme. What we want is that the agreement that we made for the initial 50 organisation to roll into the other organisations that are now due payment, Mr Bell said. Mr Bell, who was speaking on RTE radio, said the workers affected were providing critical services that the State had decided to divest itself of to give to third parties who were Section 39 employers. Up to 500 home helps working in community and disability services across Dublin city deferred their strike action on Friday after SIPTU secured a pay restoration agreement for them. Mr Bell said roughly 6,000 members were involved in the dispute and strikes will take place in other parts of the country in the coming weeks. Forsa members employed by the National Council of the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) and Delta services CLG in Carlow also took part in the strike. Forsa's general secretary, Kevin Callinan, said Section 39 workers were forced to organise and threaten action to get a hearing. While progress was made, the Government failed to deliver what was required to complete the agreed pay restoration process and that was not good enough. There's no excuse for leaving workers providing these vital care services behind. A state that fails to treat the workers providing those key services fairly is an unjust state, said Mr Callinan. North Korea was among the first countries to seal its border with China after the coronavirus first emerged. (Photo: AFP/STR) The country was among the first to seal its border with China - its main provider of trade and aid - and has since suspended flights and train services, banned tourists, and imposed 30 days of quarantine on resident foreigners. Authorities insist they are in control, with the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper reiterating Friday (Feb 21) that: "Fortunately, the new coronavirus infection has not yet entered our country." But medical infrastructure in North Korea - which is subject to multiple international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes - is weak, with inconsistent water and electricity supplies to hospitals and chronic shortages of medicines. "If there is an outbreak, the North Korean system will be helpless," said Choi Jung-hun, a former North Korean doctor who defected to South Korea in 2012. "It will spiral out of control." According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, North Korea lacks "essential medicines, laboratory consumables and diagnostics; medical, therapeutic and diagnostic equipment and supplies for critical and emergency health interventions". It ranked 193th out of 195 countries - ahead of only Somalia and Equatorial Guinea - in the 2019 Global Health Security Index by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Pyongyang has previously resorted to similar methods of national self-quarantine in the face of perceived biological threats. It banned tourists for more than four months from October 2014 to keep out the Ebola virus, even though no cases had been reported in Asia. And it clamped down on travel for six months during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03, which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong. During a measles outbreak in 2006, Choi - now a research professor at Korea University's Public Policy Research Institute - was stationed on trains from Chongjin to Pyongyang with orders to detect any passengers with signs of fever. "By the time the train reached Pyongyang, all suspected patients had been removed," he said, adding all efforts were concentrated on protecting the capital. "The most crucial point is defending the leadership in Pyongyang," he told AFP, noting the current virus scare had kept leader Kim Jong Un away from the public eye for more than three weeks. "VERY ABNORMAL" North Korean state media has been full of coverage in recent weeks of the anti-virus effort, calling it a fight for "national survival". Masked officials have been pictured holding emergency meetings and workers disinfecting public places such as railway stations and schools, and the citizens who paid tribute to Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong Il on the anniversary of his birth at the weekend also wore masks. The World Health Organization has not contradicted Pyongyang's denial of cases, with its head of health emergencies programmes Michael Ryan telling reporters: "At the moment, there are no signals or indications that we are dealing with any COVID-19 there." But defectors and South Korean media reports claim there have been infections, and Thae Yong Ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to London who defected in 2016, cast doubt on the reliability of the WHO's information. The movement restrictions imposed by Pyongyang were "very abnormal", he said, and that meant international organisations present in North Korea had no way of establishing facts for themselves. "The only information the WHO office in Pyongyang can get is the one-way single information from the regime." Pyongyang has always denied it had any cases of SARS, but doctor Choi told AFP the virus could not be diagnosed because of a lack of equipment. "The North Korean authorities could not determine if a patient had died from SARS or something else." "NOT TRIVIAL" The novel coronavirus now known as COVID-19 originated in Hubei and has since spread to every Chinese province, killing more than 2,000 people, with cases reported in more than two dozen countries. The two Chinese provinces neighbouring North Korea, Jilin and Liaoning, have recorded more than 200 cases between them according to official figures, with transport and residential restrictions imposed in the Chinese frontier cities of Dandong and Yanji. Pyongyang had rushed to adopt an "all-out prevention strategy", said Kee Park, a Harvard Medical School lecturer who has taken part in 18 medical missions to North Korea, adding the impoverished state was paying a "not trivial" price to do so. "These measures reflect the realistic assessment by the government of its fragile health system." 'Even as discord over US-India trade and commerce colours diplomatic relations, defence relations between the two countries remain on a firm footing,' points out Ajai Shukla. IMAGE: A vintage car decorated with cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and US President Donald J Trump and a placard reads 'Namaste Trump' ahead of the US president's visit to India in Ahmedabad, February 21, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo In Washington DC, after the second US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, in which US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper co-hosted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, persistent questions from the US media about the continuing crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir and the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which discriminates against Muslim refugees in granting Indian citizenship, made it clear that these issues are now front and centre in the American perception of India. Since the warming of US-India relations two decades ago, Washington and New Delhi have both talked up the 'natural partners' rationale for partnership, with almost every US and India joint statement citing the 'shared values' between the two 'vibrant democracies'. Lovers of realpolitik have tended to dismiss that as empty rhetoric, pointing to America's long and unlovely record of backing dictators -- not least Nguyen Van Thieu in Vietnam and the Shah of Iran; and in more recent times the undemocratic leaders of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The cynics argue that expediency, not principle, dictates Washington's policy, and that even the post-Soviet expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has involved a strong element of holding one's nose. This argument, however, overlooks the fact that while Washington happily makes tactical compromises with strongmen and their authoritarian regimes, its strongest and deepest partnerships -- such as the Five Eyes alliance with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK -- rest on the bedrock of shared values and worldviews. Others argue that Donald J Trump can hardly accuse New Delhi of discrimination against Muslims, given his own misogynistic racism and his shameful imposition in 2017 of a travel ban on citizens of specified Muslim countries. However, it should be remembered that his ban was repeatedly overturned by US courts, strongly opposed by the American media and by large sections of US lawmakers. Trump is an aberration in the US polity and will cease to be president latest in January 2025. The US administration has not so far meaningfully chastised New Delhi for discriminating against Muslims or its continuing detention of Kashmiri leaders. Pressed by the US media on whether Washington had brought up these issues in the 2+2 dialogue, Mr Pompeo trod carefully, noting that 'We care deeply and always will about protecting minorities, protecting religious rights everywhere... and the US will be consistent in the way that we respond to these issues, not only in India but all across the world'; but also saving Indian face by telling the questioner that 'We honour Indian democracy as they have a robust debate inside of India on the issues that you raised.' However, it would be hard to dispute that the US administration faces a new element of embarrassment due to its India relationship, something that will inevitably corrode the solid bipartisan consensus in the US Congress on the India relationship. It would be prudent to anticipate that New Delhi's days of an unending free ride -- when it needed to do little for the US and just being India was enough -- are now coming to an end. The implications of this are significant. It might become increasingly difficult to obtain waivers from US laws on issues like the import of S-400 air defence missiles from Russia. And India might now have to contribute more visibly and to take more visibly pro-US positions on certain issues, even where Indian interests would be better served by ambiguity. With India's moral power diminished in global perceptions, New Delhi might have to compensate with other, more overt, forms of influence. The 2+2 dialogue itself yielded predictable diplomatic outcomes. Washington backed India's security positions in the Indo-Pacific, while New Delhi catered to Chinese sensitivities by backing an Indo-Pacific security architecture 'based on the recognition of ASEAN centrality'. The US side appreciated India's contributions to Afghanistan, but there was clear divergence over Washington's continuing peace talks with the Taliban. Mr Pompeo said: 'We understand the concerns, too, that India has, rightful concerns that they have about terrorism emanating from Pakistan and we assured them that we would take that into account.' On Iran, Washington urged New Delhi to back the 'maximum pressure campaign', even though the US has already granted sanctions waivers for India-Iran cooperation in the Chabahar Port and connectivity project. The US side voiced 'common fears' on the risks associated with Chinese 5G communication networks, while the Indian ministers remained silent on this. IMAGE: From left: India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India's External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense Dr Mark Esper in Washington, December 18, 2019. Photograph: Kind courtey Dr S Jaishankar/Twitter There was more visible progress on the defence partnership. A clear achievement was the signing of an 'Industrial Security Annex' (ISA) that will facilitate the flow of critical US defence technology to India. The ISA stipulates measures that Indian firms, including private companies, would need to take in order to protect sensitive US information and intellectual property, thus facilitating closer cooperation and collaboration between defence industries on both sides. The start of negotiation for the ISA was announced during the first 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi in September 2018, which means it has taken just over a year to negotiate. This is a measure of growing comfort between the two sides, since the two earlier 'foundational agreements' -- the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2016; and the Communications Compatibility and Security Arrangement signed last year --both took over a decade. That leaves just a single 'foundational agreement' to complete the military-legal framework that Washington requires for close defence cooperation -- which is the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), which will streamline the sharing of geospatial intelligence between the US and Indian militaries, allowing for, amongst other things, better navigation and targeting. Vikram Singh, former deputy assistant secretary of defence for South and Southeast Asia who now advises the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, says there was hope that BECA could be concluded early, but clearly areas of concern remain. In the defence relationship, the two sides also announced the finalisation of three agreements under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative for co-developing and co-producing critical technologies. Also announced was the completion of a hotline between the two sides's defence ministers, a link between the navy headquarters in Delhi and US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) in Hawaii and the posting of an Indian naval officer at the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain. With the two sides cooperating closely in tracking Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean, the cross posting of officers will help in coordination. It was also agreed that, with the Indian Navy's 'area of interest' including the West Asian and East African littorals, senior US officers from Central Command (USCENTCOM) and Africa Command (USAFRICOM) should participate in joint training and patrolling. Even as discord over US-India trade and commerce colours diplomatic relations, defence relations between the two countries remain on a firm footing. Traditionally, as in the case of Pakistan, the Pentagon has been guided by alliance and security partnership concerns, rather than human rights, political and religious freedoms. But India would do well not to test this tolerance and to return to the values that have brought it influence and admiration in the international arena. Do you remember being 5-years old? Well, all I remember is being excited about attending kindergarten and having fun with my friends. The only things I owned were parent-sponsored toys and a fairly decent wardrobe made up of at least three of my most precious pieces of clothing. There was no talk of owning property or stacking money in a dedicated personal bank account. Heck, I wouldnt even get my hands on physical money that often at that age! Twitter But that isnt the case anymore with 5-year olds these days. Because it turns out that ex-Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidus 5-year-old grandson, Nara Devansh, reportedly possesses assets worth Rs 19.42 crore! Thats more than five times Naidus declared assets at Rs 3.87 crore. As per latest reports, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chiefs net assets saw a steep rise by 30 percent in 2018-19, and yet as per the declaration of assets, Naidu is poorer to his grandson by Rs 15.55 crore. Twitter Thats not all, Devansh is richer than even his father Lokesh whose net worth is Rs 19 crore while Devnashs mother Nara Brahmanis assets are worth Rs 11.51 crore. Talk about being rich and mighty at a tender age. While we busied ourselves counting stones in the park as 5-year-olds, Nara Devansh is almost sitting atop a gold mine! His assets include a Jubilee Hills plot worth Rs 16.17 crore, a number of fixed deposits and shares in Heritage Foods. Thats some parent-sponsored goodies to own. As expected, people are smelling something fishy here: Great leader, who lives for poor. Seeing Andhra villages will give you right knowledge about those exploited villagers. Sreeba (@sreebalann) April 12, 2019 Ouch... Loot liya Andhra ko. KiSi (@K_Singhania) April 12, 2019 We are in too. Arey baap re time yo leave planet Deeksha Thakur (@thakur_deekshaa) April 12, 2019 That might be a stretch, but we get your point. By the time he is 18 he will overtake Bill Gates!! ThePatriot (@callvrao) April 13, 2019 Fair enough. Wait on ...@ncbn has a family & business estab -@hfltd ! He must hv gifted family wealth to his lone grandson . P.V.SIVAKUMAR (@PVSIVAKUMAR1) April 13, 2019 W orld health chiefs fear that time is running out to "contain the outbreak" of the deadly Covid-19 coronavirus. The World Health Organisation warned that the timeframe to stop the situation becoming an international epidemic in a latest update on Friday evening. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organisation's director-general, questioned whether the outbreak is at a "tipping point" after new cases and deaths in Iran. "Although the window of opportunity is narrowing to contain the outbreak, we still have a chance to contain it," Dr Ghebreyesus said. "If we don't, if we squander the opportunity, then there will be a serious problem on our hands." Coronavirus: WHO working 'day and night' to combat virus He said it was "very concerning" that Iran had reported 18 cases and four deaths in just the past two days. The vast majority of deaths from the outbreak have been in China, where the virus originated, though a number of fatalities have been confirmed elsewhere. Wuhan, China: Convention Centre turned into a hospital for Coronavirus 1 /16 Wuhan, China: Convention Centre turned into a hospital for Coronavirus The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center on February 4th.2020 in Wuhan.Hubei Province,China. Wuhan epidemic prevention headquarters started converting three existing venues, including a gymnasium and an exhibition center, into hospitals to receive patients infected with the novel Coronavirus Getty Images Reuters AP REUTERS AP Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AP AP AP AP China has reported more than 75,500 cases and 2,230 deaths while twenty six other countries have reported 1,151 cases and eight deaths. Britain has seen more than 5,000 people tested but just nine confirmed cases. The latest numbers come as a repatriation flight expected to contain 35 passengers, who spent more than two weeks trapped on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan, is set to depart for the UK within hours. The passengers are due to land at Boscombe Down Ministry of Defence base, near Salisbury in Wiltshire. U.S. officials have long worried about the possibility of alliances between the worlds most notorious terrorist organizations, and the concerns have intensified in the months since the collapse of the Islamic States self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Both groups are undergoing changes in leadership Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. commando raid in Syria late last year, and al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, 68, reportedly suffers from health problems. Comments assume significance as Shiv Sena, Congress are part of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in state New Delhi: Former Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari has said that the Maharashtra chief minister requires a briefing on the citizenship amendment rules of 2003 to understand how the National Population Register (NPR) is the basis of National Register of Citizens (NRC). "Chief minister Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules 2003 to understand how NPR is basis of NRC. Once you do NPR you can not stop NRC. On CAA needs to be reacquainted with design of Indian Constitution that religion can not be basis of Citizenship," Tewari tweeted on Saturday. The comments assume significance as the Shiv Sena and Congress are part of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in the state. The statement came a day after Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Friday. The Maharashtra chief minister had stated that he discussed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NRC and NPR in his meeting with the Prime Minister and no one should be scared of the new Citizenship law. "We have discussed the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. I have already cleared my stance on these issues. This law (CAA) is not to take away citizenship from anyone. However, this law is about giving citizenship to the minorities of the neighboring countries. No one should be scared of CAA," Thackeray said at a press conference after meeting the Prime Minister. "Regarding the NRC, the Centre has said that it will not be held nationwide. As for the NPR and Census, Census is conducted every 10 years and I have assured all my state's residents that their citizenship will not be taken away," he added. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 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. Defensive driving courses are beneficial for drivers of any age in more ways than one. 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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/577449/Car-Insurance-2020-Guide-The-Main-Topics-Covered-By-Defensive-Driving-Courses Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A detailed analysis report of the Global Water Desalination Equipment Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments. Water desalination equipment is used to extract clean water from the salt-water bodies by removing salt or saline. This equipment is majorly used by dry countries like Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel to meet the provision of drinking water. Desalination process is capable of providing drinking water for consumption. Salted water bodies occupy major water share on earth. Water desalination equipment will help to convert this water into drinking water. Drivers Increasing urbanized population Increasing industrialization Depleting fresh-water resources Restraints High capital investment Energy consumption Environment considerations Report includes a detailed analysis on value chain in order to provide a holistic view of the water desalination equipment market. Value chain analysis comprises detailed evaluation of the roles of various players involved in the water desalination equipment industry, from raw material suppliers to end-users. Water desalination equipment market attractiveness analysis has been included in order to analyze the application segments that are estimated to be lucrative during the forecast period on the basis of their market size and growth rate. Attractiveness of the market has been derived from market size, profit margin, growth rate, availability of raw materials, competition, and other factors such as social and legal constraints. Browse the complete Global Water Desalination Equipment Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/601-water-desalination-equipment-market-report The report also offers a competitive landscape of the overall market with company profiles of players such as: Acciona SA Biwater, Cadagua Degremont SAS Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd. General Electric Company Genesis Water Technologies Hyflux Ltd. IDE Technologies Ltd. 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DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 9028057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's names have been dropped from the school event where US First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to visit on February 25. Sources claim that both were to attend the programme since the school comes under the government of Delhi. US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in India on a two-day visit on February 24-25 Melania after reaching Hyderabad House here on February 25 will move to a Delhi government school in Moti Bagh to meet school children. The school is getting ready to welcome the First Lady of the US. Sources, who are engaged in arranging the visit of the First Lady Melania Trump, said that she would witness the programmes organised by the children followed by a short meeting with the staff. The school, which is situated in the residential area of Moti Bagh, will have massive security arrangements as well. Multi-layered security will be provided to her apart from the security cover of the US agencies. After meeting kids, she is expected to attend famous Happiness Classes started by the Delhi government.The Happiness class was started by the Aam Aadmi Party in 2018. As a part of the programme, students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience and aims to reduce anxiety and stress levels among children. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exhorting party workers in Bihar to spread the message that 'BJP is synonymous with development', its national president JP Nadda asked them to work towards ensuring the NDA's return to power in the upcoming Assembly elections. Patna: Exhorting party workers in Bihar to spread the message that "BJP is synonymous with development", its national president JP Nadda on Saturday asked them to work towards ensuring the NDA's return to power in the Assembly elections due later this year. Nadda inaugurated, through video conferencing, 11 new district offices of the BJP across the state. Speaking at the function, he called upon party workers to make use of technology at their disposal and explain to the people that "Bihar has the blessings of Narendra Modi, who has provided assistance worth billions to the state and these have been effectively utilised on the ground through Chief Minister Nitish Kumar". Nadda also asked workers to dispel "misinformation" about the Modi government's measures such as abrogation of Article 370 provisions and making triple talaq a punishable offence. He said they should explain to the people that these "decisive steps" had brought "happiness" to residents of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir who were previously deprived of many rights and women who were aggrieved by the practice of instant divorce. Apparently mindful of the dissidence that comes to the fore ahead of the elections with many aspirants not being considered for tickets, Nadda said, "Always do remember, politics is a serious full-time job where there is an entry point but no exit." "Do not get swayed by concerns of individual benefits. Do remember that if the party thrives, the benefits will reach all," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 21:24:05|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SARI PUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Abdullah Abdullah, chief executive of the Afghan National Unity Government and a main contender of the Sept. 28 presidential election, has appointed a new governor for the northern Sari Pul province, a source close to Abdullah said Saturday. Afghanistan's election commission on Feb. 18 announced the final results of the presidential polls and declared incumbent President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani as the winner. Abdullah has rejected the result and vowed to form a parallel government. "In line with Abdullah's decree and General Dostum's endorsement, Mohammad Noor Rahmani the head of Sari Pul provincial council assumed his office as new governor for the province today morning," Bashir Ahmad Tayanj, a close aide of Abdullah, told Xinhua. The security forces have remained impartial and provided security, Tayanj added. Presidential Palace in Kabul has yet to make comment. The election commission announced that Ghani secured 50.64 percent of the votes, winning a second term, and his rival Abdullah came in second with 39.52 percent of the votes. More than 1.9 million out of 9.4 million eligible voters casted their ballots in the election, the fourth of such race in Afghanistan since the collapse of the Taliban regime in late 2001. (Natural News) The more than 300 Americans who were on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship thats been floating off of Japans coast due to multiple confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) have all been flown back to the United States for land-based quarantine. But reports indicate that everyone was flown together on the same airplane, infected and uninfected alike, despite objections by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the decision of the State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the 14 confirmed American cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) on the Diamond Princess traveled together alongside the hundreds of other American passengers who were not infected, even though the CDC had previously warned that rescuing them all in one fell swoop might expose everyone else to the novel disease. The agencies responsible for this decision say all is well because the plane reportedly had a plastic-lined enclosure that separated the infected passengers from the uninfected passengers. Theres no word, however, as to how the circulating air throughout the entire cabin was filtered to ensure that the uninfected passengers on one side of the plastic curtain didnt breathe the same contaminated air as the infected passengers on the other. These individuals were moved in the most expeditious and safe manner to a specialized containment area on the evacuation aircraft to isolate them in accordance with standard protocols, reads a statement issued by the agencies in support of this CDC-opposed decision. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan described as being abandoned by the Earth, is a literal virus incubation factory: Why are U.S. authorities still quarantining people for only 14 days when the true incubation period is as long as a month? Upon their arrival stateside, all of the passengers aboard this evacuation flight were immediately put into a mandatory 14-day quarantine, even though we now know that the incubation period for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) is actually as long as 24 days. Why the U.S. government is still abiding by a 14-day maximum quarantine period is anyones guess, because its not actually going to work in terms of protecting the public against mass infection. It might cover the incubation period in some of the cases, but certainly not in all of them. Meanwhile, the rest of the remaining passengers on the Diamond Princess are finally being vacated from the ship. Japan has reportedly released 443 people from the ship, saying they have now completed their 14-day quarantines, but scores of others, including 40 Americans, are still being hospitalized with the infection. The State Department has also issued a plea to all U.S. citizens urging them to reconsider all travel to or within East Asia, as well as throughout the Asia-Pacific region. We have to recognize that some branches of our federal government are worse than others, and the State Department is one of the worst ones, contends one commenter at The Gateway Pundit. The State Department has been infested with traitorous communists since at least the 1950s. A planes air filtration system has always been known to be a serious danger to all passengers! emphasized another. But then, these were government officials making the decisions, and government officials are usually braindead. I think it is a job requirement! You can hear more podcasts each day at the the H.R. Report channel at Brighteon.com. Also, be sure to check out the new Pandemic.news website to keep up with the latest news about the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). Sources for this article include: TheGatewayPundit.com WashingtonPost.com NaturalNews.com In a rare move, the government has barred the Karnataka-based Manipal University from receiving foreign funds after it allegedly carried out research on the Nipah virus, a a biological warfare grade pathogen, according to a senior government official who didnt want to be named. The institution confirmed the move, but denied the allegation. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act -2010 (FCRA) account of the university for carrying out the unauthorized research at the Manipal Institute of Virology, the official said. The account of Manipal University was suspended in January 2020 and the university informed, the official added. Manipal Institute of Virology carried out the tests on the Nipah virus, of which there was an outbreak in Kerala in 2018 and 2019. Hindustan Times reported first on February 7 that the government had asked Manipal University and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a federal agency of the United States which reports to the Department of Health to stop the research immediately. An official communication reviewed by Hindustan Times, titled Unapproved, US-funded Indian Laboratory stored samples of Nipah Virus a bioterrorism agent, noted; the Ministry has taken a serious view of the entire matter. Manipal University was asked to stop the research and hand over samples to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act -2010 an internal security legislation - regulates and monitors the use of foreign contributions, donations and even hospitality (air travel, hotel accommodation and so on) extended to Indian organizations and individuals. Foreign donations and contributions to non-governmental organizations and charitable trusts whose activities were considered to be questionable have been routinely blocked in the past. But foreign aid and grants to established universities and educational institutions have rarely been blocked. The Union home ministry, which administers the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act -2010, did not respond to queries. Manipal University admitted that the MHA had suspended the FCRA account of the university for its research on Nipah virus. In a detailed response to queries from Hindustan Times, Manipal University said it had written to the MHA objecting to the block on the institution receiving foreign funds. The University has not used any foreign contribution for Nipah testing. In addition, the University has filed reports on the use of foreign funding every 15 days. All account details have been provided, Dr G Arun Kumar, the director of the Manipal University of Virology, said. Manipal Centre Virus Research (now Manipal Institute of Virology) was established in 2010 as the first operational ICMR Grade1 Virus Research Diagnostic Laboratory. The recent action of the government is actually nullifying the facility and national capacity particularly at a time when the country needs it the most, Kumar said. Nipah Virus investigation done in Kerala was funded exclusively by the Indian Council for Medical Research. MIV carried out only molecular diagnostics (PCR assay) in inactivated samples for diagnosing Nipah and samples were transferred to National Institute of Virology, Pune for virus, he said. We did not perform virus isolation. We have taken due diligence in bio-safety and bio-security of the Nipah samples handling at MIV and followed WHO {World Helath Organisation} EBOLA molecular diagnostic guidelines in letter and spirit. All Nipah diagnostic was done with real-time information to ICMR and National Centre for Disease Control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with daily email reports. We categorically deny all allegations. Kumar said., The research at MIV was not connected to any vaccine development and no intellectual property right was generated or transferred. China has been advancing research on drugs and therapies against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a Chinese official said on Feb. 21. Convalescent plasma therapy has proved to be effective on severe COVID-19 cases, said Xu Nanping, vice minister of science and technology, at a press conference in Beijing. More than 100 patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have donated plasma, and the plasma can be prepared into therapeutic products to treat more than 200 patients with severe and critical symptoms, said he. He noted that the therapy so far proves effective on patients. According to the official, among the first 11 patients who received the therapy in Wuhan, six have viremia which means they had the presence of the virus in their bloodstream. Two to three days following the therapy, viremia disappeared and the patients' conditions were improved. In northern China's Shanxi Province, patients who were once in critical condition turned stable after receiving the convalescent plasma therapy. He added that it will be further applied to patients with severe and critical symptoms, as well as patients with rapid onset of COVID-19. A total of 20 teams have been sent to 11 provinces to collect convalescent plasma. Local health authorities have been asked to provide support for plasma collection. He called on recovered patients to donate plasma. Along with convalescent plasma therapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chloroquine Phosphate, an antimalarial drug, have been included in the treatment guidelines. Traditional Chinese medicine has been involved in the treatment of more than 60,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, accounting for more than 85 percent of the total, Xu told reporters. In general, traditional Chinese medicine has shown a certain curative effect, and the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment has proved to be effective much more obviously, he said. Chloroquine Phosphate, which has been used for more than 70 years, has been tested in 135 cases in Beijing and southern China's Guangdong Province. Among them, 130 patients have light and common symptoms, and five are severe patients. None of the patients with light and common symptoms have developed severe symptoms. Four severe patients have been discharged from hospital, and one has seen severe symptoms mitigated to normal, Xu said. "The drug has been enrolled in the sixth version of the treatment guidelines, and we hope to further sum up its effect on the basis of wider clinical application," he said. Meanwhile, two drugs, Favipiravir and Remdesivir, and stem cell therapy are currently under clinical trials, Xu told reporters. Favipiravir, an influenza drug available on overseas markets, has been put in a parallel controlled study in Shenzhen, Guangdong, with 80 patients enlisted, Xu said. According to earlier reports, the initial outcome of the trial shows the drug has relatively obvious efficacy and low adverse reactions. Three to four days after treatment, the group taking the drug had a significantly higher turning-negative rate in the viral nucleic acid than the parallel control group. "Experts have suggested expanding the trial to further observe and study its effect," he said. Remdesivir, developed against Ebola infections by American pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, has shown fairly good antiviral activity against the novel coronavirus at the cellular level. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital and the Institute of Materia Medica under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences have been authorized to conduct a clinical trial on the drug in over 10 hospitals in Wuhan, the center of the epidemic in central China's Hubei Province. So far, more than 200 patients with severe and critical symptoms and over 30 patients with mild and common symptoms have been enrolled in the trial, Xu said. The trial, which started on Feb. 6 and will last until the end of April, adopts a strict randomized double-blind controlled design, which means both patients and doctors do not know who has taken the trial drug. The result will only be revealed after the trial is completed. "If it has a good effect, we will work with Gilead Sciences to develop a proper drug supply method," Xu said. Clinical studies on stem cell therapy, which can inhibit the overreaction of the body's immune system, have also been carried out to treat severe patients. Four patients who have received the therapy have been discharged from hospital, and the trial will be further expanded, he said. Also at the press conference on Friday, an official with the National Health Commission (NHC) said the COVID-19 epidemic has shown a positive trend on the Chinese mainland, indicating that the outbreak is under control. Figures including new confirmed cases across the country, new confirmed cases outside Hubei Province, and new confirmed cases in Wuhan, epicenter of the outbreak, as well as in other places of Hubei, have all been dropping gradually, said Zeng Yixin, deputy director of the NHC. The arrest of Altoona schools Superintendent Dan Peggs on Thursday morning is connected to similar charges against a man arrested the same morning in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Western Wisconsin. Peggs, 32, is charged with sex trafficking of a minor and making child pornography. A federal grand jury indicted Peggs on Feb. 12, but details of those charges were only unsealed and released following his arrest on Thursday morning. The indictment alleges that between October 2015 and May 2016, Peggs recruited and maintained an underage female referred to Jane Doe 1 knowing this person would engage in a commercial sex act. Furthermore, Peggs is accused of using the minor to engage in a sexually explicit act that was video recorded in December 2015 on an iPhone. If convicted, Peggs faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison on the sex trafficking charge alone. On the child pornography charge, the penalty ranges from 15 to 30 years in prison. Charges against Peggs are the result of an investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies. Those are Wisconsins Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. In North Carolina on Thursday, federal prosecutors announced numerous charges against Bryan Lee Ragon, 43, of Charlotte after arresting him that morning. Two of the charges are the same that Peggs is facing sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography but Ragon also was indicted on transportation of a minor and receipt of child pornography. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the West District of North Carolina, Ragon is accused of trafficking a minor in North Carolina, Wisconsin and elsewhere between Dec. 16 and 31, 2015. In the same month Peggs is accused of using an iPhone to record a minor in a sexually explicit act December 2015 Ragon is accused of receiving child pornography, based on news releases on the two indictments. Ragon appeared in federal court in Charlotte on Thursday morning and remains in federal custody. Ragon knowingly produced a visual depiction of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that he knowingly transported the minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual activity, stated the news release from U.S. Attorney Andrew Murrays office. Murray credited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for their work on the case, and also thanked state investigators and federal prosecutors in Wisconsin for their assistance, cooperation and coordination. Investigations into Peggs and Ragon were part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006, Project Safe Childhood uses federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute people who exploit children via the internet as well as rescue victims of those crimes. Court appearance Charges against Peggs are for crimes that occurred in western Wisconsin, but the U.S. Attorneys Office would not specify exactly where they happened. The office did state that the victim is from Wisconsin but not not from the Altoona school district. However, officials would not specify her age when the incidents occurred or what part of the state she is from. Peggs appeared in street clothes Thursday afternoon in a federal courtroom in Madison, where an attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf. Judge Stephen Crocker ordered Peggs to remain in custody and scheduled a 1 p.m. Monday hearing to determine whether Peggs should be further held or released. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger said she wants court officials to conduct a home visit before a recommendation can be made whether Peggs can be released. Federal defender Joseph Bugni said his office would represent Peggs. When asked why the federal agency that oversees immigration was involved in the case, Pfluger said that is because ICEs investigators conduct child pornography cases. Morning arrest Officers from four law enforcement agencies were staked out Thursday morning along 10th Street in Altoona, waiting for Peggs on his usual route to work to the school districts offices. In addition to Altoona police officers, there were people from the Eau Claire County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the investigative branch of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Altoona Police Chief Kelly Bakken. After a 5 a.m. briefing to coordinate how the arrest would go, the multi-agency team took their places. Just before 7 a.m., they spotted Peggs car and did a traffic stop. From there he was taken to the sheriffs office where officers spoke to him before he was driven to Madison for his initial appearance Thursday afternoon in a federal courtroom. Bakken became aware last Friday of an open investigation the state Division of Criminal Investigation had that involved Altoona, but said she didnt know details of it until the indictment against Peggs was unsealed Thursday morning. I was shocked to hear that Mr. Peggs was involved in this and at the same time concerned for the safety of the community and students within our school district, Bakken said of her reaction to the charges. Usually one school resource officer patrols hallways of Altoona schools, but police presence multiplied at the school following Peggs arrest in an effort to make students feel safe. Bakken said she and her officers were at the school for much of Thursday to answer questions from students and make themselves available to parents as well. Kevin Murphy contributed to this report from Madison. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 5 Angry 20 Company Announcement Copenhagen, Denmark; February 21, 2020 Genmab A/S (GMAB) announced today that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Mats Pettersson, B.Sc., has decided to step down from the Board at Genmab A/S Annual General Meeting on March 26, 2020, when his election period is set to expire. Mr. Pettersson has led the companys Board of Directors since his election in 2013 and will not be up for re-election at the companys 2020 Annual General Meeting. I am extremely grateful to Mats for his strong leadership as Chairman and for his service in overseeing our goals and strategies and monitoring our business performance over the last seven years, said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the Executive Management Team, Id like to thank Mats for his excellent contributions and wish him continued success. Subject to re-election at the 2020 Annual General Meeting, it is the Board of Directors intention to appoint Ms. Deirdre P. Connelly as the new Chairman of the Board. Additionally, the Genmab Board of Directors expects to nominate a new candidate for election to join the Board at the 2020 Annual General Meeting. It has been an honor to lead the Genmab Board of Directors during these seven fantastic years and to have worked alongside Jan and the management team. Their passion for science and innovation and their clear vision of the future have positioned Genmab for continuous success, said Mr. Pettersson. Genmab now has all the resources to realize its vision of transforming cancer treatment, including a strong financial foundation, cutting-edge technology and highly skilled and dedicated teams. About Genmab Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Founded in 1999, the company is the creator of three approved antibodies: DARZALEX (daratumumab, under agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc.) for the treatment of certain multiple myeloma indications in territories including the U.S., Europe and Japan, Arzerra (ofatumumab, under agreement with Novartis AG), for the treatment of certain chronic lymphocytic leukemia indications in the U.S., Japan and certain other territories and TEPEZZA (teprotumumab, under agreement with Roche granting sublicense to Horizon Therapeutics plc) for the treatment of thyroid eye disease in the U.S. Daratumumab is in clinical development by Janssen for the treatment of additional multiple myeloma indications, other blood cancers and amyloidosis. A subcutaneous formulation of ofatumumab is in development by Novartis for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis. Genmab also has a broad clinical and pre-clinical product pipeline. Genmab's technology base consists of validated and proprietary next generation antibody technologies - the DuoBody platform for generation of bispecific antibodies, the HexaBody platform, which creates effector function enhanced antibodies, the HexElect platform, which combines two co-dependently acting HexaBody molecules to introduce selectivity while maximizing therapeutic potency and the DuoHexaBody platform, which enhances the potential potency of bispecific antibodies through hexamerization. The company intends to leverage these technologies to create opportunities for full or co-ownership of future products. Genmab has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with sites in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. and Tokyo, Japan. Contact: Marisol Peron, Corporate Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations T: +1 609 524 0065; E: mmp@genmab.com Story continues For Investor Relations: Andrew Carlsen, Senior Director, Investor Relations T: +45 3377 9558; E: acn@genmab.com This Company Announcement contains forward looking statements. The words believe, expect, anticipate, intend and plan and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with pre-clinical and clinical development of products, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products or technologies obsolete, and other factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk management sections in Genmabs most recent financial reports, which are available on www.genmab.com and the risk factors included in Genmabs final prospectus for our U.S. public offering and listing and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov . Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward looking statements in this Company Announcement nor to confirm such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made or in relation to actual results, unless required by law. Genmab A/S and/or its subsidiaries own the following trademarks: Genmab; the Y-shaped Genmab logo; Genmab in combination with the Y-shaped Genmab logo; HuMax; DuoBody; DuoBody in combination with the DuoBody logo; HexaBody; HexaBody in combination with the HexaBody logo; DuoHexaBody; HexElect; and UniBody. Arzerra is a trademark of Novartis AG or its affiliates. DARZALEX is a trademark of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. TEPEZZA is a trademark of Horizon Therapeutics plc. Company Announcement no. 06 CVR no. 2102 3884 LEI Code 529900MTJPDPE4MHJ122 Genmab A/S Kalvebod Brygge 43 1560 Copenhagen V Denmark Attachment Bradley Cooper is in talks to play Bee Gees member Barry Gibb. (Credit: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images/Chris Walter/WireImage) Bradley Cooper has already growled his way through one musical as country rocker Jackson Maine in A Star is Born, but his next role might require him to hit some much higher notes. Cooper is reportedly in informal talks to play Barry Gibb in the upcoming Bee Gees movie biopic. The Daily Mails reliable showbiz reporter Baz Bamigboye says that the 45-year-old is circling the role of the groups rhythm guitarist and main songwriter, who is credited with driving their global popularity. Read more: Bradley Coopers surprising role in Joker success Anthony McCarten is penning the script, on the heels of a hot streak of high-profile biopics including The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour, Bohemian Rhapsody and The Two Popes. Bradley Cooper performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury for 'A Star is Born' on June 23, 2017. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/Redferns) Given that three out of the four lead actors of those movies won Oscars for Best Actor, this is likely an attractive proposition for Cooper. The star was Oscar-nominated for his role alongside pop sensation Lady Gaga in A Star is Born, for which he also contributed to the songwriting process. No director has currently been announced for the Bee Gees movie. Read more: Lady Gaga dismisses silly Cooper romance rumours Sir Barry Gibb, now aged 73, formed The Bee Gees with his younger twin brothers Robin and Maurice in 1958, having previously performed with them and others in skiffle group The Rattlesnakes. Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb and Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees. (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) The movie will follow the early years of the groups fame in the 1960s, their unravelling and issues with addiction and their subsequent reunion and rise to global prominence with the iconic disco soundtrack to John Travolta music Saturday Night Fever. That soundtrack remains the biggest selling movie album of all time. Read more: Roger Taylor slams sneering Bohemian Rhapsody critics The Bee Gees have sold more than 120 million records worldwide and songs including Night Fever, Stayin Alive and How Deep Is Your Love? are renowned as classics. Barry Gibb is now the only surviving member of the group after Maurice passed away in 2003 and Robin died in 2012. Liberal MP Tim Smith is demanding Bettina Arndt be stripped of the Order of Australia honour she was awarded in January, over comments that are "totally at odds with the values of the Australian people, the Crown and the Australian Government". Following the murder of Queensland mum Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her estranged husband Rowan Baxter, Ms Arndt spoke in support of comments made by a detective who has since been removed from the case. Bettina Arndt. Credit:Joshua Morris Queensland Police Service detective Mark Thompson drew widespread criticism after questioning whether the horrific murders were an act of domestic violence or of a "husband being driven too far." Ms Arndt, who is well known for her "not all men" commentary, praised the Queensland police for "keeping an open mind and awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility that Rowan Baxter might have been driven too far". The Week In Russia: 'Not Telling' (Or How The Kremlin Holds Back Information) By Steve Gutterman February 21, 2020 The architect of "managed democracy" is managed out, and President Vladimir Putin reveals almost zero about the motives for Vladislav Surkov's departure. Same goes for the dismissal of Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet, with Putin's telling remark about the timing of the move being, "Not telling." And the Kremlin keeps Russians guessing about whether it will reach in and shorten the sentences handed down to seven men convicted in a terror trial marred by torture claims. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. The Short Answer In a terse, two-word response to an interviewer's question, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he "won't say" when he decided to fire the government led by his longtime protege and tandem partner Dmitry Medvedev. In a terse, two-sentence decree, he didn't say why he fired his longtime aide Vladislav Surkov, a chief architect of his policies at home and in the nearby lands where Moscow meddles the most. And in full poker-face mode, Putin's spokesman made a statement of fact about the harrowing, highly controversial Network case that could be taken at face value -- or as a hint that the prison sentences imposed on the seven defendants, who claimed they were subjected to electric shock and other forms of torture in a trumped-up prosecution over a terrorist plot that did not exist, could be shortened or overturned. All in a week's work of information management at the Kremlin, perhaps. Much was said by Putin, Peskov, and others in and around the Kremlin -- but little of it had substance, at least on the surface. Speaking of managing, Surkov, who is seen as the architect of "managed democracy" -- a term used to describe a system Kremlin critics charge consists of a great deal of management and a vanishingly small amount of democracy, aside from the framework of parliament, constitution, elections, and such appears to have finally been managed out of the Kremlin. Whether it's for forever would be hard to say. Surkov has been out before, only to come back in albeit with his once all-but-unparalleled influence diminished, like a wizard running low on hit points. But there was an air of finality to Putin's decree. Often, these ukases include wording seemed designed to soften the blow saying, for example, that someone has been dismissed "in connection with a move to another job," even if that job is not described. This time, the document said only that Surkov was "relieved of his post" with immediate effect. What it did not say was why. One pretty straightforward reason is that he was quite simply out of a job, or part of one. On February 11 more than two weeks after an acquaintance of Surkov's said he was leaving the Kremlin because of a change of course on Ukraine policy Peskov told reporters that Dmitry Kozak, the deputy Kremlin chief of staff, was replacing Surkov as Putin's point man on Ukraine and efforts to resolve the conflict in the Donbas, where a war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of two Ukrainian provinces has killed more than 13,000 people since April 2014. Mark Galeotti, a senior associate fellow at Britain's Royal United Services Institute and a writer on Russian affairs, suggested that Surkov had essentially failed in that position, or at least was seen to have failed by Putin. The "pseudo-states" of the Donbas "turned out both impossible to control with his brand of promise, threat and cajolery, and also impossible to sell as real entities, let alone victims of Ukrainian prejudice, to a skeptical and hostile West," Galeotti wrote in The Moscow Times. Surkov Vs. Kozak Surkov was Moscow's chief negotiator with Kyiv on the Donbas conflict, but was toxic in Ukraine because he is strongly associated both with Russian interference as a whole and more specifically with indications that earlier in the war, Moscow was out to seize a large swath of southern Ukraine, up to the Moldovan border, that Putin and others for a time were calling Novorossia or "New Russia" -- a tsarist-era term for an area encompassing maybe half of present-day Ukraine. Surkov's negotiations with Kyiv produced little apparent progress, as did his talks with Kurt Volker, who was the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine for more than two years before resigning in September. Galeotti described Surkov as less of a "political technologist" than a "political theatrician" -- a "circus barker who could promise the greatest show on Earth, but not himself deliver it." Kozak is widely perceived as perhaps the exact opposite, a hard-nosed and hard-working official who gets down to tasks with a sense of pragmatism. So, the personnel switch suggests that Putin wants the job done better. But what job, exactly? Meetings among officials at various levels on the conflict in the Donbas are often called "peace talks." But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who faces formidable pressure not to capitulate to Russia or be seen as doing so, has made clear that doesn't mean peace at any cost. The same probably goes for Putin and critics charge that his main priority in the Donbas is not to make peace but to squeeze as much influence on Kyiv as Russia can out of the conflict. Since Kozak's appointment, there has been no sign of a shift in Moscow's stance on key obstacles to peace, and a flare-up in fighting earlier this week underscored the war's persistence. Another priority for Putin, analysts say, is to improve ties with the West or more precisely, to repair relations enough to improve its standing, increase its clout, and win a reduction of the sanctions imposed over Moscow's interference in Ukraine. For goals like that, Surkov may not be the best fit. 'Geopolitical Solitude' As the chief champion of "managed democracy," also known as "sovereign democracy" seen by Kremlin critics in the West as terms that really mean, if anything, non-democracy Surkov to some extent embodies Russia's public turn away from Europe and the United States under Putin despite his apparent interest in American culture -- from the abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock to the groundbreaking rapper Tupac Shakur. He appeared to double down on the idea of a turn away from the West in a magazine article published in 2018, writing that "Russia's epic journey toward the West" is over and that it faces "100 years (200? 300?) of geopolitical solitude." That is not what Putin wants, though he often suggests to the people that Russia could endure it. Putin is "symbolically demonstrating a change of course," Russian political analyst Leonid Radzikhovsky told RFE/RL, by "replacing the man who symbolizes one approach with a man who symbolizes the other." If switching out Surkov for Kozak is a move both symbolic and potentially practical, Putin suggested that his decision to replace Medvedev with Mikhail Mishustin, the little-known tax service chief who is now prime minister, was all about practicality and pragmatism. In an on-line interview with TASS -- a new format for Putin and the state news agency that still bears its Soviet-era initials Putin said Mishustin has proved to be "a good practitioner who understands what must be done, knows how to do it, and does it, achieving a concrete result." 'I'm The Decider' Few Western media outlets published articles about the interview a sign that reporters may have sifted through it for news but found mostly propaganda. Arguably, the main point of Putin's remarks seemed to be to convey the impression that he is very much in charge and that he knows best. That's an idea that he may be seeking to emphasize as he prepares to steer a successor into place as he hits up against term limits in 2024 or to retain power in a position other than president or to do both, as many analysts predict. Putin said that he was presented with three or four other suggestions for a new prime minister but batted those aside and picked Mishustin. When the interviewer called the move a surprise and asked who had known about it, he quipped: "I knew. Isn't that enough?" Several of Putin's responses consisted of one or two words in Russian, including his answer to the question of when he decided to dismiss the cabinet: "I won't say," he said -- though it could also be translated as, "Not telling." Putin's spokesman was a little less parsimonious with words, at least, if not actual information when he commented on the so-called Network case, which has drawn criticism of Russia's law enforcement and judicial systems ahead of the fifth anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's killing. On February 10, seven members of an anti-fascist activist group were convicted of plotting terror attacks and sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 18 years despite their claims of torture in custody and what supporters said was a glaring lack of evidence. The defendants denied the very existence of the Network, the name investigators gave their alleged organization. Trial And Torture Like several other controversial cases over the past year, the trial and verdicts generated a wave of anger in Russia and prompted calls for justice. On February 18, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated the obvious: that Putin was aware of the public outcry. He did not state what many in Russia believe is obvious: that the ultimate outcome of high-profile, politically charged cases is often decided in the Kremlin. But even as he made clear the Kremlin would not comment on the verdicts and sentences, he pointed out that the rulings by a military court in the provincial city of Penza could be appealed and that "it's necessary to wait for the result." On one level, that was a simple statement of fact. On another, it could be taken as a hint that Putin is at least considering reaching in to alter the fate of the defendants. In any case, the drawn-out process gives Putin plenty of time to decide. At this point, there's no clear answer. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/the-week-in- russia-not-telling-how-the-kremlin-holds- back-information/30447770.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British-flagged Diamond Princess, operated by Carnival Corp, arrived in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on 3 February. with about 3,700 people onboard after the virus was diagnosed in a man who disembarked last month in Hong Kong Hong Kong: A second plane with 82 Hong Kong residents who were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise in Japan for more than two weeks landed early on Saturday in the Asian financial hub, where they will face a further 14 days of quarantine. The first batch of 106 passengers arrived in the Chinese territory on Thursday. The British-flagged Diamond Princess, operated by Carnival Corp, arrived in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on 3 February. with about 3,700 people onboard after the virus was diagnosed in a man who disembarked last month in Hong Kong. Japan reported the deaths of two elderly passengers on Thursday, the first fatalities from aboard the ship where more than 630 cases account for the biggest cluster of infection outside China. Authorities said 66 of the 364 Hong Kong residents on the ship were infected with the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. They will remain in Japan along with other citizens who were in close contact with them. Hong Kong immigration authorities are in Japan and are arranging further flights, government officials said. Government-funded broadcaster RTHK reported delays and confusion over the latest flight, with Hong Kong officials saying Japanese authorities eventually barred some 17 people at the boarding gate, saying they had been in close contact with confirmed cases. Those passengers were later cleared and returned to Hong Kong on later flights. They will also placed under quarantine in Hong Kong, the broadcaster reported. Two Macau residents also returned on the flight, and were taken back to the city by road on arrival in Hong Kong. Aside for the passengers, Hong Kong has confirmed 68 cases and two deaths from the disease and dozens of police officers were quarantined after an officer tested positive on Tuesday following a banquet. Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], Feb 22 (ANI): Ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Ahmedabad, Police has advised all hotel and restaurant owners to tighten the security at their premises. "Hotels are advised to maintain their CCTV, metal detectors and guest list. After check-in of customers, hotel management should share the details with government and state police through a software," Ahmedabad Police said. Narendra Somani, President of Hotel and Restaurant Association, Gujarat told ANI: "Police has advised us to tighten the security of all hotels and restaurants ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Ahmedabad. It a matter of pride for all of us that Prime Minister Modi and Trump together chose Ahmedabad for an event. As president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, I appeal to all members to follow the police instructions and make this visit successful." "Foreign guests are travelling to Ahmedabad in a large number due to Trump's visit. Their passports and other details should be matched properly as per current advice by city police," he added. Security has been tightened outside Motera Stadium also where Trump will be attending an event on February 24. Barricades have been set up with policemen manning the entrance and vicinity of the stadium ahead of the dignitary's visit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A British couple who were diagnosed with coronavirus on board the bug-riddled Diamond Princess ship are 'in a bad way' after contracting pneumonia. David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, have now been moved to a 'prison'-like hospital in Japan with the lung infection which is a known deadly complication of the deadly virus. The couple told their son Stephen Abel that they are in a hospital room with no shower or bathing facilities which is only provided with basic paper towels. David (pictured) and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, underwent a series of medical tests after they were taken off the quarantined ship and to a hospital in Yokohama Roberta Abel said her and Steven have seen the CT scans of the Abel's lungs showing Mrs Abel with mild pneumonia and Mr Abel who has acute pneumonia. 'Very upsetting but they were in good spirits, they were telling us about the treatments they are going to get and it was all quite positive - as positive as it can be when you are in that situation.' Stephen tweeted President Donald Trump at 11.25pm in a bid to get his parents out of the Japanese hospital. He posted: '@realDonaldTrump need help getting my mum and dad out of Japan with Coronavirus. UK government are not helping us. 'They say Japanese hospital is like a prison. Can you help? My folks are big trump supporters.' Stephen Abel posted a video update on the couple's YouTube channel alongside his wife Roberta on Friday night and Saturday morning It comes after an evacuation carrying 32 British and European passengers who were on the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess landed in Britain. The amount of people flying back to Britain is less than half of the 78 UK nationals who were trapped on the doomed vessel as officials admitted some refused to get on the plane. The couple were on the cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary when it was placed into quarantine. Stephen Abel posted on Twitter late last night to President Trump in a bid to help get his parents out of the Japanese hospital Although they were originally in a hospital just 90 minutes from the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, Mrs Abel called her son in the middle of the night to say the couple were suddenly being moved to a different 'three-star' hospital. It took seven hours for the family to track down which hospital they had been taken to. Princess Cruises have sent the Abels a mobile phone that can make calls to their family. David posted a picture of his wife, Sally, also getting treated. She was also taken off the cruise after she tested positive The Diamond Princess has been moored in Yokohama since February 3, and more than 630 passengers on the gigantic vessel have caught the coronavirus Stephen Abel posted a video update on the couple's YouTube channel alongside his wife Roberta on Friday night and Saturday morning. Speaking on Friday evening, he said: 'They are in a really bad way. 'Dad is very weak. He can't walk around he's in a wheelchair now. I haven't seen him in a wheelchair, but mum tells me he has to be put in a wheelchair to go from the ambulance to the hospital. Passengers wearing masks have their body temperatures taken after leaving the ship, docked at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo 'They are really distressed. His exact words to me were, 'this has to stop now, we can't take any more of this. It's like a prison.'' He said the pensioners were left in a hospital room that has no shower or bathing facilities, and only provided with basic paper towels: 'They haven't eaten properly. Neither of them can eat the food.' 'They don't know what's happening, they haven't had any treatments. Sally called her son Stephen (pictured) in distress at 1am to say the couple were moved to a different hospital 'more suitable' to their needs 'They have been told they won't get any treatments, but have been told they will see if they test negative for the coronavirus in two or three days and if they test negative twice they can go but that doesn't treat the pneumonia, which is what we are so worried about.' On Saturday morning Steve Abel posted a second update and said: 'They have spoken to a doctor who can liaise with them a bit better. That is really reassuring and has done a lot for their mental well-being. They are brighter today and seem a lot happier, but they are still in the same situation.' The family have said they are willing to fly out to Japan to bring the couple home. Roberta Abel said: 'We are in fight mode now, we just want them back.' She criticised the reaction of the Foreign Office, and said their response had been 'next to useless'. She said, in an update on Saturday morning: 'We do not believe they are in the best possible place like the Foreign Office are telling people.' A spokesman for the FCO said: 'The welfare of all British nationals is of the highest priority to the UK government. 'We are working with the Japanese authorities to ensure those British nationals who are remaining in Japan for health reasons get the best care possible.' Indians who were air-lifted from coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China stand in a queue to collect release certificates from medics at a quarantine facility at Chhawla in New Delhi on February 17, 2020. A total of 650 people were brought back from Wuhan in China on February 1- 2 in two 747 Boeing Air India aircraft. (PTI) New Delhi: India and China seemed to be locked in a dispute over clearance for an Indian flight that will evacuate Indians quarantined in the coronavirus-stricken city of Wuhan in Hubei province. An Indian official said China was deliberately delaying the clearance. The IAF flight is expected to carry relief supplies to Indian in Wuhan and bring back more Indians from that city. China maintained there is no delay. Seoul, South Korea Cases of a new virus swelled Friday in South Korea, making the country the newest front in a widening global outbreak centered in China and now reverberating elsewhere. South Korea said two people have died and 204 have been infected with the virus, quadruple the number of cases it had two days earlier. Schools were shuttered Friday, churches told worshipers to stay away and some mass gatherings were banned. The multiplying caseload in South Korea showed the ease with which the illness can spread. Initial infections were linked to China, but new cases in South Korea and Iran don't show a clear connection to travel there. In an emerging cluster of illnesses in northern Italy, the first to fall ill met with someone who had returned from China on Jan. 21 without experiencing any symptoms of the new virus, health authorities said. The World Health Organization warned that clusters not directly linked to travel, such as the ones in South Korea and Iran, suggest that time may be running out to contain the outbreak. "Our window of opportunity is narrowing," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "We need to act quickly before it closes completely." Tedros singled out Iran's discovery of 18 cases and four deaths in two days and that a traveler from Iran carried the virus to Lebanon, and another traveler from Iran to Canada. South Korea Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun started a government meeting on the health emergency by saying, "We have entered an emergency phase. Our efforts until now had been focused on blocking the illness from entering the country. But we will now shift the focus on preventing the illness from spreading further in local communities." Daegu, a southeastern city of 2.5 million that is the country's fourth largest, emerged as the focus of government efforts to contain the disease known as COVID-19, and Chung promised support to ease a shortage in hospital beds, medical personnel and equipment. Mayor Kwon Young-jin of Daegu urged residents to stay inside, even wearing masks at home. The first case in Daegu was reported Tuesday. By Friday, the city and its surrounding areas had 152, including South Korea's first two fatalities from COVID-19. Nationwide, the numbers told of a ballooning problem. There were 20 new cases reported Wednesday, 53 on Thursday and 100 on Friday. The central government declared a "special management zone" around Daegu on Friday, which didn't restrict movement of residents or supersede local officials' power but served as official recognition of the problem. Most of those cases have been linked to a single house of worship, a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where a woman in her 60s attended two services before testing positive for the virus. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. About 1,000 others who attended services with the woman have been isolated in their homes for screening, and health authorities say they're trying to monitor thousands of other church members. All 74 sites operated by the Shincheonji Church have been closed and worshipers have been told to instead watch services online for a sect whose leader claims to be an angel of Christ, but who is dismissed by many outsiders as a cult leader. Health and city officials say the woman eyed as a potential transmitter at the church had contact with some 1,160 people, at the church and at a restaurant and a hospital where she was treated for injuries from a car accident. The streets of Daegu were nearly deserted Friday as people wearing face masks lined up at clinics seeking testing. Crowds formed in supermarkets where shelves of ramen and curry were nearly bare. Eight hundred area schools delayed their openings by a week. The first three cases in the country's 600,000-member military also sprung up on separate bases Friday, bringing added concern. A sailor on Jeju Island and an army officer in North Chungcheong province both tested positive. Both had made recent visits to Daegu, officials said. A third infection was reported in an air force officer who is based in Daegu but who had recently traveled to military headquarters in central South Korea, the defense ministry said, prompting the quarantine of 80 soldiers there. In China, officials expressed optimism over the number of new infections, which has been trending downward. China said Friday 889 new cases were recorded in the preceding 24 hours and 118 additional deaths. Globally, more than 76,000 people have been infected in 27 countries, and more than 2,200 have died. In the United States, 35 people have tested positive for the virus, including 18 who returned home from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan and one new case reported Friday in California. During a 2019 White House meeting on asylum and immigration policy, senior policy advisor Stephen Miller said that limiting asylum in the US was all that mattered to him. In an extended profile on Mr Miller published in The New Yorker, the vehemently anti-immigrant, alleged white nationalist, reportedly said: I didn't mean to come across as harsh. It's just that this is all I care about. I don't have a family. I don't have anything else. This is my life. Mr Miller was engaged to Katie Waldman, vice president Mike Pences press secretary, at the time of the meeting. Ms Waldman and Mr Miller married at the Trump International Hotel over Presidents Day weekend this year. The meeting at which he made the comments is said to have included representatives from the departments of state, homeland security and justice. On the agenda was a new policy to limit asylum seekers from settling in the US by forming agreements with Central American countries that would force them to settle there instead. 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 Mr Miller is the face of the Trump administrations harsh line on asylum and immigration. He has a hand in all related policies, including family separation at the border and the travel ban. Giving credence to the latest account of Mr Millers obsession with immigration, in August 2019, The Washington Post quoted a senior administration official as saying that Mr Miller is singularly focused on how to get people out of the country. A 33-year-old man was arrested Monday evening after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a 24 Hour Fitness in California, police said Wednesday. The Fremont Police Department said that Jonathan Anderson walked into the gym while a fitness class was taking place. According to police, Anderson "entered the class" without warning and approached a woman doing pushups on the ground alongside other patrons. The 6-foot-1 man then allegedly pushed the woman onto the ground, pulled off her clothing and tried to sexually assault her. Police said another person in the class intervened and forced Anderson off the woman, and gym employees stopped the suspect from leaving until officers arrived. Anderson was arrested on charges of felony sexual battery and assault. Anderson has remained in custody since his arrest, and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning at the East County Hall of Justice. Police said that Anderson later confessed to the assault "in detail." Video: Tree trimmer accused of sexual assault The Fremont Police Department wishes to thank the good Samaritan for intervening in the attack, Lt. Michael Tegner said in a statement. Their quick action stopped this horrendous assault and aided in the suspects quick arrest. It took bravery and courage to intervene. Officials are publicizing the alleged assault since they believe Anderson may have committed similar acts of violence. They are encouraging other potential victims to come forward. Anyone with relevant information is asked to call the police department's investigative unit at 510-790-6954. Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting By Trend Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs state visit to Italy is of great importance from the point of view of strengthening and developing cooperation between the two countries, Azerbaijani political analyst Arzu Naghiyev told Trend on Feb. 22. One of the most important components of the presidents visit was the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Multidimensional Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Italian Republic, the analyst added. The signing of the document by President Aliyev and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte increases its political and economic significance, Naghiyev added. The document includes very important issues. Firstly, the Joint Declaration envisages bringing of the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy to a qualitatively new level, the analyst said. The signing of such an important document by Azerbaijan with G7 member - Italy is extremely important. Another important point included in the document is that the parties express support for independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty within the internationally recognized state borders of both countries, Naghiyev said. Of course, the main feature of this point is related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the analyst said. In accordance with the document, the unequivocal support for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict upon the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Final Act, in particular on the basis of the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of international borders, as indicated in the UN and OSCE relevant documents and resolutions, as well as within the negotiation process, which is carried out under the OSCE auspices, is extremely important, the analyst said. The full support for Azerbaijans fair position has been indicated in the document," Naghiyev added. The analyst added that Italys current support for Azerbaijan as its strategic partner is an extremely important factor. "I would even say that Italy ranks first among the European countries supporting Azerbaijan, Naghiyev said. The Joint Declaration includes such spheres as politics, defense, security, trade, energy, investment, transport and other issues. In accordance with the document, Italy perceives Azerbaijan as a strategic partner. As is known, before this visit, the Azerbaijani president delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference, the analyst said. The fact that one of the most important EU countries - Italy supported President Aliyevs words after the president once again brought to the attention of a wide audience that Armenia is an aggressor while Azerbaijan is a country subjected to aggression is of great importance." The analyst stressed that the Joint Declaration paid special attention to the economic issues. "Today Azerbaijan is one of the most important countries in the context of ensuring the energy security of Europe, in which Italy is a part, Naghiyev said. From this point of view, one can mention TAP pipeline. This 878 kilometer-pipeline, which is the European part of the Southern Gas Corridor, passes through Greece and Albania, via the bottom of the Adriatic Sea and ends in southern Italy, the analyst said. From this point of view, the Joint Declaration is a document that will create conditions for the operation of the Southern Gas Corridor at full capacity, transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe." The analyst added that another important issue indicated in the Joint Declaration is the issue of security. "As is known, Italy is a NATO member and is building its armed forces in accordance with the NATO standards, the analyst said. In turn, Azerbaijan is a permanent participant in NATO peacekeeping operations. At the same time, the country takes an active part in the anti-terrorist operations. I think that after the signing of the Joint Declaration, Italy will play an important role in providing the Azerbaijani army with the modern weapons and equipment, the analyst said. As a result, relevant documents are expected to be signed in this sphere." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Cautious welcome but also celebrations after agreement between the Taliban, Afghan and US forces. In the space of just a few months in 2017, Jannat Bibi lost her son and two grandsons all serving in Afghanistans police force in gun battles with fighters in the countrys south. Since then, she has been struggling to support her 17 great-grandchildren, as well as the three wives of her son and grandsons. Now aged 80, Bibi relies on donations but they barely cover the cost of living. Reflecting upon the effect of Afghanistans long-running conflict and the death of her family members, Bibi said a weeklong reduction in violence (RIV) period, which was agreed by the Taliban, Afghan and US forces and came into effect on Saturday, is a step forward in securing lasting peace. My neighbours told me about the truce and I felt really happy because I dont want [anyone to suffer the losses] I did, said Bibi, who lives in Shemal village, in the Darai Nur district of Nangarhar province. It is something I dreamt of all my life. If this truce lasts, I will know that my [great] grandchildren will get to live in a peaceful country free of war and conflict. If maintained, the RIV agreement could culminate in a peace deal between the Taliban and the United States, which is expected to outline the withdrawal of US troops and a guarantee that Afghan soil will not be used as a launchpad to conduct attacks outside the country. The agreement was struck during negotiations between US and Taliban representatives, which started in 2018 as part of a push by US President Donald Trumps administration to sign a deal with the armed group that has been fighting the US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan since it was toppled in 2001. The US and the Taliban were on the verge of signing a peace agreement in September when Trump abruptly cancelled the talks after an attack by the group. Some celebrate, others remain cautious Now, the reduction in violence offers hope to civilians who have constantly borne the brunt of the almost 19-year-old war according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, more than 10,000 people were killed or wounded in 2019 alone. In Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province where both the ISIL (ISIS) group and the Taliban are active, the commencement of the RIV period was met with celebration. There were huge celebrations in Jalalabad city people came out on roads dancing, waving Afghan flags and cars were decorated with flowers as they drove around the city blasting music, Siraj Pathan, a resident of Surkh Rod district, told Al Jazeera. In the past several years, most Afghans have lost their loved ones in this war. If you look around in our village, most of the children are orphans. This is how badly the war has affected us. In the capital, Kabul, which has long been hit by deadly attacks, many welcomed the announcement of the RIV period with cautiousness. It all seems too good to be true, Hamayun, a resident of Kabul, told Al Jazeera. I am still doubtful and dont fully trust all three parties that they would maintain the RIV agreement, he said. However, if peace persists, it will result in huge positive changes and developments: the conflict will end; social ties between people will grow; urban and rural connection will be established. If peace comes Khalid Bashari, a 22-year-old Kabul resident, echoed a similar sentiment, underlining the past failed attempts to achieve peace. Good things will happen [for] Afghans if peace persists; we will no longer have to fear for our lives, Bashari told Al Jazeera. We are not sure of what will come next, but what option do we have other than just to take a leap of faith and trust? Meanwhile, hashtags such as Imagine peace and if peace comes trended on Saturday as many Afghans took to social media to express their hopes for peace and describe the possibilities that would come with it. #IfPeaceComes to Afghanistan, my dream is to see love & affection more frequently across the country, one Twitter user said. Another wrote: Imagine, today is the beginnings of true peace and I can take a road trip around Afghanistan. Imagine, I can drive to my village in Paktia, I can hike in the mountains of Badakhshan, I can camp on the bank of Helmand River, I can see the majestic beauty of Nuristan. #ImaginePeace. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report on " Vietnam Textile And Garment Industry Standard Report Q4 / 2019" under Textile Category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and market reports. VIETNAM TEXTILE & GARMENT INDUSTRY The world Textile Industry is deeply influenced by macroeconomic fluctuations. China is the largest textile production factory in the world with the complete supply chain and the advantages of cheap machinery as well as workers. In 2018, the global textile turnover scale was estimated at $1,438.6 million. Textile industry is one of the most spearheaded industries in Vietnam, the industry has the second largest export turnover with export value contributing from 10-15% to GDP. In recent years, the textile industry has continuously evolved at an average rate of 17% a year. Request a free sample copy of Vietnam Textile and Garment Market Report @ https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/sample/reports/1994182 In the quarter 3/2019, the production of fibrous fibers increased by about XX. x% over the same period 2017, in which the production output of synthetic fibers and natural fibers accounted for nearly x0%. Estimated consumption yield increased by about XX. xx% in 2017. In the quarter 3/2019, production of apparel growth X. x% over the same period in 2018 due to the export of positive growth from export orders to many major countries such as the US, Japan, South Korea to rise. Export Quarter Textiles 4/2019 up xx. x% compared to the same period 2018. The prediction of Vietnam's textile export turnover can touch US $ xx-XX billion in 2025 thanks to the FTA. In parallel with that, Viet Nam is also faced with little difficulties and challenges to comply with the rules of origin, labor standards, strict requirements for social responsibility, ecological label, environmental protection... Table of Contents Abbreviations Executive Summary 1. Business Environment 1.1. Macroeconomic situation 1.2. The legal framework II. Operational status Sector 1. Textile World Market 1.1 Industry size 1.2. Textile industry value chain 1.3. Spinning 1.4. Textile dyeing 1.5. May 2. Vietnam's garment market 2.1. Overview of Vietnam's garment sector 2.2. Spinning 2.3. Textile dyeing 2.4. May 2.5 Export System III. Industry prospects and risks 1. Prospects Sector 1.1. Planning Sector IV. Business Analysis 1. Analysis of garment enterprises 2. Analysis of textile and yarn business V. Conclusion List of Figures Figure 1: GDP growth rates by quarter, 2016-2019 Figure 2: Evolution of the monthly CPI, 1/2015 -9 / 2019 Figure 3: The VND / USD, 1/2013 - 9/2019 Figure 4: The VND / CNY, 8/2018 - 9/2019 Figure 5: The imports mainly from China, 9M / 2019 Figure 6: The main export items to China, 9M / 2019 Figure 7: Proportion of exports textile and garment industry in the total value of merchandise exports, 2013 - 9M / 2019 Figure 8: production and consumption of fiber in the world, in 2000 - 2018e Figure 9: consumption of fiber world by type, 2018 Figure 10: exporting fiber, yarn world, 2010 - 2017e Figure 11: structure of consumption purposes world fiber 2014 Figure 12: Demand yarns world 1980 - 2030e Figure 13: The production of yarns and fabrics globally from Q2 / 2016 - Q1 / 2019 Figure 14: Trade Cloth World, 2010 - 2018e Figure 15: Top 10 economies, exports of textiles of the world, 2018 Figure 16: Top 10 economies, imports of textiles of the world, 2018 Figure 17: production scale global textile, 2016 - 2021e Figure 18: profit global garment industry, 2019-2023e Figure 19: the value of global textile imports, 2010 - 2023e Figure 20: Top 10 export economy of the world garment, 2018 Figure 21: Top 10 economies garment importers of the world, 2018 Figure 22: structure of global textile exports 2017e Figure 23: The value of the global garment trade 2010-2018F Figure 24: Scale consumption global apparel market 2015 - 2025f Figure 25: Per capita spending for apparel 2014-2019F Figure 26: the average wage textile industry of several countries, 2017 Figure 27: Production and consumption value fibers, 2010 - 9M / 2019 Figure 28: export fibers of Vietnam, 2010 - 9M / 2019 Figure 29: structure of exports textile fibers by value, 9M / 2019 Figure 30 : structure of import of textile fibers by value, 9M / 2019 Browse our full report with Table of Content: https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/vietnam-textile-and-garment-industry-standard-report-q4-2019/1994182 About Bharat Book Bureau: Bharat Book is Your One-Stop-Shop with an exhaustive coverage of 4,80,000 reports and insights that includes latest Market Study, Market Trends & Analysis, Forecasts Customized Intelligence, Newsletters and Online Databases. Overall a comprehensive coverage of major industries with a further segmentation of 100+ subsectors. Contact us at: Bharat Book Bureau Tel: +91 22 27810772/27810773 Email: poonam@bharatbook.com Website: www.bharatbook.com Texas is home to myriad state parks that offer stunning scenic trails, magical watering holes and historical sites that make for the ultimate adventure. Drive out to Canyon and see the "Grand Canyon of Texas" at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Located in the heart of the Panhandle, the canyon is the second largest in the country, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Camp in one of three beautiful brick cabins built 100 years ago and located along the canyon rim, or spend the day hiking, biking or horseback riding through the canyon. An article from the Arabian Business stated that the Ministry of Economy of the UAE had released a public announcement that it will be arranging a visit by a high-ranking official and commercial delegation to Colombia and Mexico in the following week. This is one of the many opportunities that is booming in Latin America's international trade. UAE Visit to Latin America The delegation will be led by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri of the Minister of Economy. Also, many officials of the government from various federal and local authorities, a collection of UAE investors, traders, and entrepreneurs will attend the event. The government of the UAE stated that it aims to strengthen its economic partnerships and commercial relations with the Latin American market. According to a statement given by Al Mansouri, the UAE is eager to take to a new level their economic partnerships with Latin America. Also, they emphasized that it primarily aims to improve commercial and economic trades with Colombia and Mexico. During the time of the visit, UAE plans to locate collaborative opportunities. Also, it aims to improve the presence of Emirati businesses as investors in the many Mexican and Columbian sectors. The February 24 to February 27 visit will compose of the collaboration with key economic industries such as non-oil foreign trade, tourism, halal industry, mutual investments, aviation, logistics, and the Mexican and Colombian participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai. The agenda of the visit include a Mexican City Investment Forum and UAE-Mexican Trade. It will also include conferences with the ministers of Mexico and Bogota high-ranking officials. Additionally, UAE-Colombian Trade and Investment Forum will also take place. Bilateral meetings with the government of Colombia will also be part of the visit. The task includes Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh,t he Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade Affairs' Under-secretary, and Mohammad Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, the Department of Trade Promotion at the Ministry's director. Another International Trade Opportunity for Latin America Latin America's international trade relations are doing great. An article from Logistics Middle East stated that the Director of International Services in Dubai said Panama is a mirror of the image of Dubai. The multiple sand dunes, fancy cars, and skyscrapers of Dubai frequently witness unending flights of travelers. Similarly, Panama, a small country in Central America can be seen as a partner of Dubai. According to Omar Khan, the Director of International in Dubai, Panama has the potential to become the next gateway of the emirates to Latin America. According to Khan, the unpredictability of the region allows it to decide to look for new opportunities involving international trade. The relevance of the region was pointed out in April 2019 when the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the Global Business Forum Latin America 2019. This is the first time that such an event was held outside the emirate. It was concluded during the event that the trade relations of Dubai, Latin America, and the GCC is still open for growth. Based on the results of a study conducted by the Dubai Chamber and the Inter-American Development Bank, trade flows between the GCC, Caribbean, and Latin America totaled $16.3 billion in 2018. Gulf countries had imported $10.9 billion and $5.4 billion worth of goods. The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday conducted searches at around a dozen locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in connection with its money laundering probe against a Noida-based firm alleged to be involved in a ponzi scam, officials said. They said the raids are being conducted at about 12 premises in Delhi, Noida and Lucknow under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the 'Bike Bot' case. The searches are aimed to collect additional evidence and documents to take forward the probe in the case, the officials said. The Greater Noida-headquartered Bike Bot taxi service is accused of duping Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore from 2.25 lakh investors in multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. Over a dozen company officials including the chief of Bike Bot company, Sanjay Bhati, have been sent behind bars by the Noida Police. A few others wanted in the case are absconding. The Garvit Innovative Promoters Limited (GIPL) company in Greater Noida had come out with multi-level marketing scheme "Bike Bot" and lured investors with a promise of double returns in an year. They sought Rs 62,100 in investment for a motorcycle taxi and assured monthly returns besides double the investment amount in just one year but failed to deliver on the promise, as per the police. The bike-taxis have been operating in districts like Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur and Bulandshahr in western Uttar Pradesh, while its network was also active in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, among others, officials said. The company had used internet, social media, pamphlets, and motivators to spread word about the scheme and encourage gullible people to invest in it. The investors would be further assured of some extra bonus if they could connect more investors with the scheme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating: Adesto Technologies Corporation (IOTS) related to its sale to Dialog Semiconductor plc. Under the terms of the agreement, each share of Adesto common stock will be converted into the right to receive $12.55 in cash for each Adesto common stock owned. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/adesto-technologies-corporation. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. (IOTS) related to its sale to Dialog Semiconductor plc. Under the terms of the agreement, each share of Adesto common stock will be converted into the right to receive in cash for each Adesto common stock owned. https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/adesto-technologies-corporation. E*TRADE Financial Corporation (ETFC) related to its sale to Morgan Stanley. Under the terms of the agreement, E*TRADE stockholders will receive 1.0432 Morgan Stanley shares for each E*TRADE share owned. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/etrade-financial-corporation. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. About Monteverde & Associates PC Monteverde & Associates PC is a national class action securities and consumer litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders and consumers from corporate wrongdoing. Monteverde & Associates lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions, whereby they protect investors by recovering money and remedying corporate misconduct. Mr. Monteverde, who leads the legal team at the firm, has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019 an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2019 Top Rated Lawyer. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341. Contact: Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405 New York, NY 10118 United States of America [email protected] Tel: (212) 971-1341 Attorney Advertising. (C) 2020 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC Related Links http://www.monteverdelaw.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Public Safety at Wagner College found several unauthorized and offensive stickers from a purported white supremacy group on school grounds on Thursday, according to a school email sent to students and shared with the Advance. The discovery comes as propaganda from such organizations continues to turn up around Staten Island and across the country. A total of three stickers were found at different locations on campus and were promptly removed, the email reads. Unfortunately, there have been growing reports of white supremacist propaganda being posted around the country and on college campuses in particular, the email told students. We do not condone racist and anti-Semitic messages and behavior. We also do not condone messages that promote fear, promote hate, and devalue others. A spokesman for Wagner confirmed to the Advance the content of the email. The spokesman added that the stickers appeared in two versions: One version referenced the Patriot Front group, with the words To Ourselves and our Posterity around the organizations emblem, while the second version had the slogan reject poison, with the URL of the Patriot Front. The Patriot Front is a white supremacist group whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it solely to them," according to the Anti-Defamation League. Previously, flyers from the New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA) were found all over Staten Island, including at Wagner College and the College of Staten Island (CSI). Those flyers, which commonly refer to an unsubstantiated conspiracy that white people are facing extinction, urge viewers to Reclaim your nation and Reclaim your heritage. At the end of January, the Advance exclusively reported that the NYPD and the District Attorney Michael E. McMahon started an investigation into NJEHA. "[The NYPD] is aware of the posters and the purported connection to a specific group that has engaged in hate speech, a spokeswoman said. The matter is being investigated. Earlier this month, the ADL released a study indicating that white supremacist propaganda distribution more than doubled in 2019 compared to the previous year, making it the highest year on record in the United States. Patriot Front, American Identity Movement and NJEHA all groups designated as white supremacist organizations by the ADL are responsible for approximately 90% of the activity, according to the study. The newly-released data shows a total of 2,713 cases of literature distribution nationwide, which is about seven times per day, compared to 1,214 reported cases in 2018. On Staten Island, the ADL said there were 21 instances of white supremacist propaganda in 2019; however, an Advance investigation revealed that NJEHA alone posted at least 50 flyers and stickers across multiple neighborhoods on Staten Island over the past eight months, indicating that the ADLs data could perhaps under-represent the extent of the issue. 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 CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt. 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. Toronto, Canada: Refugee advocates have described a Rohingya asylum seeker's escape from Australia's offshore processing centre on Manus Island, and successful resettlement in Canada, as unprecedented and extraordinary. Jaivet Ealom, 27, has spoken publicly for the first time about his high-risk and secretive journey to freedom in a series of interviews with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in Canada. Jaivet Ealom staged a daring escape from Manus Island before eventually making his way to Canada. Credit:Cole Burston Ealom says he escaped from the Manus Regional Processing Centre in May 2017 and boarded a flight to Port Moresby by posing as an interpreter. He then lived for six months as a fugitive in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands before arriving unannounced in Canada, where he was granted protected refugee status. Buoyed by popular-vote wins in Iowa and New Hampshire and small donations from millions of supporters, Bernie Sanders enters the Nevada caucus with the lead in 10 national polls, with forecasters predicting his victory with as much as 32 per cent of the vote. But the Democratic frontrunner is facing a fresh round of attacks on his vision of Medicare for All, which would expand the program by enrolling every American into a comprehensive "single-payer" healthcare plan, free at the point of service, without monthly enrollment costs, co-pays and costly deductibles. Donald Trump and Mike Bloomberg have raised red-scare flags. Pete Buttigieg warns that the senator's ambitious plan would explode the growing deficit. But it's the health lobby that has spent millions on advertisements as well as candidates' campaigns, stoking fears about Americans' health insurance disappearing overnight and hoping to drown out support for his signature proposal. "My former employers see this as an existential threat", says Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive who has emerged as a vocal Medicare for All advocate. "It's the quest for profits that has led to the spiraling spending on health care, and has developed to a situation where we don't have a health care system but a sickness industry." As the US prepares for an election at which the future of medical care is at stake, Mr Potter is sounding the alarm for the "mother of all propaganda campaigns" while Medicare for All is attacked from all sides. 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 His exodus from his 20-year career with health insurance giants Cigna and Humana has manifested into his ongoing whistle-blowing effort to expose the industry's political and media manipulations to combat a plan that could make the multi-billion dollar business obsolete. The US currently relies on a multiple-payer system, with insurance companies, government programmes or other services covering care for millions of Americans. Medicare for All would consolidate Americans into one government "plan", giving the US leverage to drive down costs. Just as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) invoked the wrath of conservative lawmakers a decade ago, the renewed fight over future American healthcare is shaping together "right out of the industry playbook", one Mr Potter helped write to push back against the ACA's reforms. "I saw that campaign being implemented", he says. "I was getting pissed off, quite frankly ... I saw the work I was doing showing up in the media ... I couldn't stay on the sidelines." 'It's finally not working for most people' While the field begins to reshape after losses in the first two primary states, the Vermont senator's ground game in Nevada is stronger than his opponents' with 10 offices and 200 staffers, a quarter of whom are Latino, campaigning in the Silver State. Mr Sanders also has the most union support among candidates, counting more than a dozen in all that support his Medicare for All plan, including National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the US. But Nevada's largest and most politically powerful union has refused to endorse a candidate. The Culinary Union, representing 60,000 hospitality workers, released a flyer on the night of the New Hampshire primary singling out Mr Sanders' health plan, which would "end Culinary healthcare". Culinary 226 Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline announced "we're not going to endorse a candidate" but instead will "endorse our goals". The union also didn't endorse in 2016. A one-page flyer summarising several candidates' positions posits that Mr Sanders will "end Culinary healthcare" while it says that Elizabeth Warren will "replace Culinary healthcare" with a three-year transition plan or at the end of existing collective bargaining agreements. Both candidates endorse Medicare for All. Culinary Union's healthcare plan, administered through a nonprofit trust, provides care for 130,000 people, including union members and their families. The union didn't explain to its members that Mr Sanders' plan would guarantee healthcare for all union members, and all Americans, regardless of their employment. Striking workers wouldn't lose their care, for example, and supporters argue that a guaranteed medical plan would allow unions to organise around other crucial benefits, like higher wages, once employers are no longer on the hook for paying partial costs of their employees' healthcare. The flyer drew swift condemnation from Mr Sanders' supporters while his opponents seized the moment to express their support for the union and pitch their health plans. Mr Sanders' chief opponent among the Democrats former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, who paced neck-and-neck with Mr Sanders for delegate votes in Iowa and New Hampshire shared on Twitter: "There are 14 million union workers in America who have fought hard for strong, employer-provided health benefits. Medicare for All Who Want It protects their plans and union members' freedom to choose the coverage that's best for them." Mr Potter, in response, said that Mr Buttigieg's attack on Medicare for All "will thrill my old pals in the insurance industry, as Pete's plan preserves the very system that makes them huge profits while bankrupting [and] killing millions." He told The Independent that candidates leaving room for private insurers like Mr Buttigieg's "Medicare for All Who Want It" and the introduction of a "public option" alongside the preservation of private insurance companies "is still leaving in place the foundation of a system that is absolutely dismal and overly expensive". "If you just add the public option you're leaving in place the very reason why our system is so darn expensive", he says. Mr Buttigieg's campaign also is supported by significant donations from the health industry, which spent more than $3m on the candidate in 2019. But that support is dwarfed by the army of insurers, drug companies hospitals and other groups that have waged a war against Medicare for All and to protect the Affordable Care Act, the last major Democratic victory on healthcare. Partnership for America's Health Care Future and other groups have lobbied to suppress Medicare for All and legislation that would expand the government's role in administering healthcare. The organisation is an alliance of hospital and insurance groups, including the Federation of American Hospitals, America's Health Insurance Plans, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the American Hospital Association and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Its latest campaign includes ads airing on MSNBC and NBC websites, including a Spanish-language version, features actors worrying about their families losing private insurance care and higher taxes, claiming that "government-controlled proposals could double" their income taxes. The group argues that Americans would be "forced to pay more" to "wait longer for worse care" under a system "run by politicians" which Mr Potter says are among the talking points he assembled while working for insurance companies. Timothy Faust, a single-payer advocate and author of Health Justice Now: Single Payer and What Comes Next, says decades of "fraud and inefficiencies" have proved too lucrative for the industry to give up. "If you're a big hospital corporation or private equity firm that owns a hospital, a benefits manager, an insurance company all of this fraud and all of this waste is how you line your pockets," he tells The Independent. With the average insurance deductible tipping over $4,000 while 40 per cent of Americans don't have $400 for a medical emergency, "the contradictions are too great" to preserve the status quo, he says. "It's finally not working for most people." 'Fear, uncertainty and doubt' Mr Buttigieg has attacked Mr Sanders for the high cost of enacting a Medicare for All plan estimates are as high as several trillion dollars over 10 years. Rather than pay into deductibles, co-payments and other costs, Americans would pay into the programme through higher taxes. But at least five analyses from the last decade have argued that a single-payer programme would significantly drive down current costs. The most recent study from Yale University found that a single-payer plan could save Americans more than $450bn in health costs and prevent 68,000 unnecessary deaths every year. Families would see an average of $2,400 in annual health savings. Recommended ER doctor confronts Mike Pence over Medicaid cuts "In this case single payer is the financially prudent choice," Mr Faust says. "Plans like Buttigieg's kind of continue that grovelling to insurance companies ... to keep this stupid thing afloat." Many Americans are currently insured through plans provided by their employer, which ultimately negotiates a plan for its employees. If an employee leaves the job, changes jobs or is fired, they lose that insurance, unless they elect to continue to pay for it for a brief period, often at a higher rate than when they were employed. But there remain 37 million uninsured people in the US, while more than 40 million others are under-insured, paying overwhelming out-of-pocket costs or, in some cases, facing bankruptcy to pay for their medical bills. Insured Americans still are paying thousands of dollars in monthly premiums, annual deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses for treatment even when covered within an insurance network. Costs for seeing providers that aren't covered by the insurer outside the network can skyrocket those costs. Insurance companies are engaged in messaging campaigns around "fear, uncertainty and doubt" - also known as "FUD", Mr Potter says. "They're very skilled at that, they know there's little accountability, and few people know what they're up to," he says. A disinformation campaign targeting the importance of "choice" and "competition" in healthcare obfuscates the lack of choice in private insurance carriers, as Americans are limited by in-network doctors and the often-prohibitively expensive cost of seeing providers out of network. Employers ultimately choose what their employees get, and that freedom to "choose" goes both ways at-will employment gives companies the freedom to sack their staff, leaving them without insurance. "Single payer represents an emancipatory movement for people in America," says Mr Faust, who argues that guaranteeing insurance for all Americans could relieve workers from poor quality jobs or help people escape abusive relationships that rely on partners' insurance coverage. Mr Potter also warns against the opposition's message that eliminating private insurance will "stifle innovation", despite massive investments from government programs like the National Institutes of Health into private companies at taxpayers' expense. He says fear over the "government takeover of healthcare" is "one of those messages that has been tested in focus groups" while conservatives have sowed distrust about the role of government to boost support for the private sector. Claims that a nationalised health plan is "out of step with American values" also send him back to the fight over the Affordable Care Act, as one group the health lobby determined mattered most to Americans. "We take care of each other", he says. "This is something we have to emphasize and push back on." 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. New Delhi, Feb 22 : Tech company Bobble AI on Saturday launched a special series of GIFs and stickers on its Indic keyboard and to welcome US President Donald Trump on his maiden visit to the country next week. The new set of stickers and GIFs features Trump in Indian style, like wearing kurta-pyjamas, greeting with Namaste, performing Balle Balle in Punjabi attire and taking selfies with Indians. "The new set of Trump-inspired GIFs and stickers will add a lot of personality and style to the related online conversations," Ankit Prasad, Founder and CEO, Bobble AI said in a statement. According to the company, these stickers have the Trump caricature designed in a desi style. Trump will arrive in Ahmedabad on Monday where he will deliver remarks at Sardar Patel Stadium with Modi. With Modi, the President and the First Lady will then head to Agra where they will visit the Taj Mahal. Later in the day, they will fly to New Delhi and have a full programme on Tuesday. Donald Trump will also have a meet-and-greet with the US embassy staff and a meeting with his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind. To conclude the visit, there will be a state dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday evening. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston New Ager-Turned-Christian Steven Bancarz Exposes Connection Between Psychedelic Drugs and Witchcraft Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A former New Ager who became a born again believer in Jesus is explaining the link between the use of psychoactive substances and the occult. In a video released on his YouTube channel Sunday, Steven Bancarz, who shared his remarkable testimony with The Christian Post last year, unpacked the spiritual darkness tied to the use of psychedelic drugs. "Psychedelic drugs are a class of substances that interact with the seratonin receptors in the brain, causing an alternation in perception and sometimes resulting in visionary or hallucinatory experiences," he explained, the most common of which are LSD, DMT, mescaline, and Psilocybin mushrooms. These substances have been used for thousands of years among practitioners of pagan religions of all kinds, Bancarz noted. He made the video in response to the many questions he received about this after dispensing his New Age beliefs, and said he has some personal experience with mushrooms. The use of psychedelics has profound spiritual implications, he stated. And although the phrase "psychedelic drugs" never appears in text, Scripture forbids it. And these same biblical prohibitions apply to other drugs like marijuana, meth, and cocaine, he said. The use of psychedelics thwart the meaning of life, Bancarz said, which for the Christian is "fellowship with God through Jesus." Whatever the appeal of using these drugs like "expanded perspectives," "contact with the spirit world," or fulfilling human curiosity, "the end of human life is to be restored to relationship with the Father, through faith in Jesus." "Biblically speaking, the shifting of our consciousness with drugs is not something God calls us to do. It does not bring us closer to Him," Bancarz said. He noted that several passages of the New Testament forbid drug use, which is contained in their condemnation of "sorcery," such as in Galatians 5:19-21 where it is listed alongside sexual immorality, jealousy, and fits of anger sins the apostle Paul calls "works of the flesh" that inhibit people from inheriting the Kingdom of God. "The Greek word used here is pharmakeia," Bancarz said, "which is where we derive the word pharmacy from." While "sorcery" refers to magic in its witchcraft sense, it also includes magic with drugs, like substances and medicines used for spiritual, recreational, religious ceremonial, and other non-medicinal purposes. The Book of Enoch, while not a canonical book of the Bible and should not be considered God-breathed like the rest of Scripture even though part of it is quoted in Jude 14-15, affirms this definition, Bancarz added. The Book of Enoch also describes how fallen angels taught humans how to utilize plants and cut roots to tap into their psychedelic compounds and to elicit metaphysical experiences and cast spells. "If transpersonal mystical experiences coming alongside the use of drugs cannot be called pharmakeia, I don't know what can. This is literally what the word means." Elsewhere in Scripture, such as in 1 Corinthians 6:9, "drunkenness" is condemned, and Bancarz maintained that drug use falls under this category. The word used in that passage is "methe," which primarily refers to intoxication through alcohol but includes any kind of intoxicant. Whatever the substance, anything that impairs someone's physical and mental faculties is grievous to God. Moreover, Scripture also exhorts Christians to be sober, he continued. 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 2 Timothy 4:5, and 1 Peter 1:13, and several other instances all emphasize the importance on being sober-minded, being temperate in our thinking. "And we can't be sober in our minds and in our thinking if we are intoxicated under chemically induced states of consciousness," Bancarz said. The use of psychedelics is also a pagan practice, and to employ them is to disobey God's call to be separate and distinct from the world, a holy nation, a pure people for himself, he stressed. "[God] wants us to look different, think different, and act different," Bancarz explained, "and historically speaking, the only cultures that used these [psychoactive] substances were pagan." In light of all this evidence, "we need to turn away from our sin, put away the use of these substances, put our faith in Jesus for our salvation, and follow the straight and narrow path that leads to everlasting life," he concluded. Bancarz's website, Reasons for Jesus, is an apologetics resource hub that helps Christians understand the deception of occultic spirituality and the demonic realm. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Calls for Countermeasures on Iran, Evaluates U.S. AML Framework, Releases Digital Identity Guidance U.S. Department of the Treasury February 21, 2020 Paris Today the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) concluded its 31st plenary meeting with a public statement calling for countermeasures on Iran. The FATF also released guidance on digital identity for customer identification and verification, and evaluated Treasury's Customer Due Diligence rule for compliance with the FATF standards. "Iran claimed it was finally ready to implement basic controls to counter illicit finance, but the regime has failed to live up to its commitments," said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "We commend FATF for calling on our partners around the world to take concrete steps to impose financial restrictions to protect the global financial system from Iranian threats." "The U.S. applauds the condemnation of Iran's failure to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, a consensus decision of 39 FATF members," said Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Marshall Billingslea. "We urge countries around the world to take meaningful steps to prevent Iran from using the international financial system for illicit purposes. The safety and security of the international financial system depends upon it." FATF CALLS ON COUNTRIES TO IMPLEMENT COUNTER-MEASURES ON IRAN The FATF called on all jurisdictions to impose effective countermeasures on Iran, such as requiring financial institutions to review, amend, or if necessary terminate correspondent relationships with Iranian banks or limiting business relationships or financial transactions with Iran. The countermeasures should be developed and implemented to protect the international financial system from the ongoing money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing (ML/TF/PF) risks emanating from Iran. THIRD-YEAR FOLLOW UP OF THE UNITED STATES As part of a follow-up process, the FATF discussed the changes made by the United States to improve the AML/CFT system since the 2016 Mutual Evaluation Report, including Treasury's CDD rulemaking and beneficial ownership requirements that went into effect in 2018. The United States also joined Switzerland as one of the first countries to voluntarily submit to an assessment of its compliance with the new FATF standards regarding virtual assets. The results of the FATF's findings will be published after they go through the FATF's quality and consistency process. FATF RELEASES GUIDANCE ON DIGITAL IDENTITY The FATF also issued guidance on the issue of digital identity systems for customer identification and verification. This guidance explains how digital ID systems could meet FATF's customer due diligence requirements and will assist governments and financial institutions worldwide to apply a risk-based approach to using digital ID systems. FATF UPDATES REPORT ON ISIL AND AL-QAEDA FATF adopted its twelfth non-public update on the financing of ISIL, Al-Qaeda and affiliate groups. The report notes the growing trend of ISIL affiliates generating their own revenue and relying less on funds sent from Syria and Iraq. This decentralization and growing independence of ISIL affiliates are increasing the terrorist financing risk from ISIL throughout the FATF global network. The report also details Al-Qaeda financial links and support to its affiliates, highlighting the ongoing threat of Al-Qaeda to international peace and security. IDENTIFYING COUNTRIES WITH STRATEGIC AML/CFT DEFICIENCIES The FATF also called on all countries to apply countermeasures on North Korea due to the ongoing money laundering, terrorist financing, and weapons of mass destruction proliferation financing risks to the international financial system. In addition, the Plenary identified new countries as well as updated statements of countries that are working with the FATF to implement an Action Plan and strengthen their domestic frameworks. FinCEN will release an advisory updating financial institutions to the FATF list of jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. ADOPTION OF MUTUAL EVALUATION REPORTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The Mutual Evaluation Reports of the Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates were also adopted and will be published on the FATF website in the near future, representing the culmination of a peer review by FATF members to assess both jurisdictions' AML/CFT and counter-proliferation financing legal frameworks as well as the measures in place to implement these frameworks effectively. Outcomes of the FATF Plenary, 19-21 February 2020 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an international policy-making and standard-setting body, headquartered in Paris, dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Treasury's Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes leads the U.S. delegation to FATF. #### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Saturday the spread of a new virus in the country has "entered a more serious phase". Chung said the number of cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus which originated in China, were rapidly increasing in South Korea and called on people to avoid crowded events. The number of coronavirus cases in the country has soared to 433 as of Saturday afternoon. Of that total two people have died and there is concern the number could grow. In mainland China more than 76,000 cases of the virus have been reported and more than 2,000 people have died. South Sudanese refugees take part in biometric verification at Khor Al Waral camp in Sudan. UNHCR/Roland Schonbauer UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomes the formation of a long-awaited unity government in South Sudan, bringing political rivals together to work for lasting peace. The new government follows the Revitalised agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan signed in September 2018 by South Sudans warring parties The two main parties have agreed to join forces in running the conflict-affected nation and ending their years old differences. The new government revives hope for a peaceful future for the people of South Sudan, who are suffering the consequences of this prolonged conflict, High Commissioner Grandi said. Millions of South Sudanese including refugees and internally displaced people, deserve to see an end to their miseries. This peace agreement has brought hope to the worlds youngest nation, which remains Africas largest humanitarian and refugee crisis with 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees and 1.46 million internally displaced. UNHCR is extending its support to South Sudan and its people in their endeavours to find peace and stability. For more information on this topic, please contact: Say hello to wedding goals! Lush, colorful florals and metallic lace bridesmaid dresses by Adrianna Papell are just the beginning of this romantic summer wedding day. The bride and groom worked to create a warm and inviting celebration overflowing with timeless, elegant vibes and stunning details. In addition, Stephanie Kase Photography flawlessly captured all the sweet moments and stylish design. You're going to love every bit of this romantic summer wedding in the FULL GALLERY! Sarah and Rob met on the dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel. Rob was still living in Providence, RI, and was finishing up medical school. He signed up on the app with an Atlanta location, since that was where he was moving in the next few weeks. Sarah was living in Atlanta as a student in physician assistant school. As a result, they started talking casually, and once Rob moved down, they went on their first date! It was the second day Rob was in Atlanta, and he had four other dates lined up. But, he canceled them after his date with Sarah! Rob proposed in Rhode Island, at his hometown beach, on Christmas afternoon in 2016. They love walking their dog in the park, lounging by the pool, and trying different ethnic cuisines. Sarahs favorite thing about Rob? He is always working hard towards a specific goal and if he gets a set back he doesn't let it bring him down Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Coronavirus: Government asks citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 22: In furtherance to the travel advisory issued earlier in the wake of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the government on Saturday advised citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore. It also said screening at airports is now being planned for flight passengers coming to India from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia from Monday. Currently, passengers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan are screened at 21 designated airports in the country for a possible exposure to the novel coronavirus. The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to take a stock of the status, actions taken and preparedness of states and UTs regarding management of novel coronavirus (COVID19) here on Saturday, the Union Heath Ministry said. "In furtherance to the travel advisory issued earlier, citizens are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore," the ministry said in a statement. Coronavirus: China 'deliberately delaying' IAF flight to evacuate Indians As on date, 21,805 passengers have been brought under community surveillance. In addition, 3,97,152 flight passengers and 9,695 travellers at sea ports have been screened, it said. After a detailed review, in addition to the screening as per earlier advisories, universal screening at airports is now being planned for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia from Monday, the ministry said. Secretaries of ministries of Health, Civil Aviation, Defence, Information and Broadcasting, DG AFMS and representatives from External Affairs Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, Bureau of Immigration, ITBP and Army were also present at the meeting, the statement said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 15:58 [IST] Google is flashing a warning message on Microsoft Edge telling users to not install Chrome extensions on this browser. Microsoft recently launched its Chromium-based Edge browser for Windows 10 users. A new report now reveals that Google is warning Edge users from installing Chrome extensions on this browser. According to a report by Windows Latest, the Chrome Web Store page on Edge browser flashes a banner with a warning. The warning message reads, "Google recommends switching to Chrome to use extensions securely". It also has a link to download Google Chrome just below the banner. Google is also flashing this message only on Edge and not on other Chromium browsers like Opera and Brave. The report also suggests Google is using 'user agent string' to specifically target Edge. This tool allows browser to identify itself to websites and even the browser version. This appears to be a mere tactic to get people to use Google Chrome instead of Microsoft Edge. There isn't any reported security issues of using Chrome extensions on Edge. Despite the warning, users can download and install Chrome extensions on Edge. Interestingly, Google had recently removed 500 malicious Chrome extensions after an investigation by security researchers. The investigation also revealed browser extensions are one of the most vulnerable to scams. Google's latest move to pull Edge browsers is not the first. The company has already blocked access to its cloud gaming service Google Stadia on Edge. Google also issues warnings on its services like Gmail, YouTube Music and Google Docs on the Edge browser. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 17:06:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Health worker Li Hao of Yonghe health station in Changning Community calls to know the health condition of staff members in quarantine in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 21, 2020. Thirty five staff members of the Anhui Branch of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp. Ltd., who attended the construction of the makeshift Leishenshan hospital for novel coronavirus pneumonia patients in Wuhan, have recently come back to Hefei. They are now in quarantine for medical observation in a hotel in Hefei. Each of them has a separate room which is disinfected every day. There are also designated health workers who provide psychological assistance to them. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan) Image: Twitter/@AmdavadAMC Praveen Swami This weekend, when you are catching up on sleep or heading off for a weekend break, a small army of people are going to be working 24/7 to make sure the February 24 summit meeting between two of the world's most powerful leaders goes off flawlessly. That does not just include the thousands of government staff organising United States President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Gujarat, or the security staff who have the gargantuan job of making sure the unthinkable remains exactly that. Trade negotiators, defence experts, diplomats, politicians and intelligence officials are all going to burning the midnight oil, until the moment Air Force One touches down on February 24. Long before Trump lands in Ahmedabad on February 24, hundreds of Secret Service Agents began working with India's Intelligence Bureau and the Special Protection Group to make sure both he and PM Modi will be secure through the course of their two-day summitno small challenge when they'll be appearing before almost-impossible-to-police crowds of hundreds of thousands. In addition to the specially-modified Boeing 747 Trump will be flying on, he'll be bringing with him a car capable to withstanding explosive blastsand top-secret communications equipment that can even let him unleash America's nuclear arsenal remotely. Through February 24-25, we will be casting light on the backroom boys who have put together the perfect summita cast of characters including spies and hospitality workers, hospitality workers and diplomats, who have worked to make this summit work. The bedrock of the India-US relationship, ever since it began to flower in the late-1980s, has been the economybut, in recent years, protectionism in the US and the slowdown in India have raised questions on its future. The bad news is that India and the US will not be signing the limited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) many had hoped for. They have chosen, instead, to work on something far bigger: a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, that will encompass not just duty-free trade of merchandise, but also free movement of professionals and easier investment norms. The deal will take the time of hammer out, because of its enormous complexity, but when it's done, it should be a game-changer. From the early 2000s, the US has emerged as India's second-largest defence supplier. This visit will see the firming up of 8-10 major acquisition decisions, worth around $10 billionamong them, the $2.6bn. acquisition of 24 MH60 helicopters for the navy, and 6 AH64E Apache attack helicopters valued at $795 million. There will also be negotiations on the acquisition of the NASAMS air-defence system, part of a three-tier ring to guard our cities, and the P8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft. The US will also push for India to purchase its F21 combat jets. There are tensions in the relationship: the US hasn't been as willing to part with technology for India's indigenous defence industry as New Delhi hopes, while Washington is irked by New Delhi's purchase of the S-400 air-defence system from Russia. But the two sides have shown the ability to overcome differences in the pastlaying the foundations for a defence relationship critical to shaping Asia's future security. Last month, President Trump set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi's strategic establishment when he said he was negotiating borders, and a future course of action on Kashmir, with Pakistan's prime minister, Imran Khan. He's irked New Delhi in the past by offering to mediate on Kashmiran absolute no-no for India, which insists the conflict is a bilateral matter to be resolved with Pakistan. That is not all: Trump's peace deal with the Taliban holds out the prospect that the jihadist organisation, closely-linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, could soon wield significant power in Afghanistan. For New Delhi, all this raises the nightmare prospect of a Pakistan Army more assertive in using its jihadist proxies against India. Behind closed doors, the two leaders will be discussing this complex geopolitical jigsaw puzzle, trying to find middle-ground. Late in the nineteenth century, when the first Indian immigrants arrived in the US as agricultural workers hoping for better lives, they could never have imagined where the community stands today. Indians are now the second-largest foreign-born ethnic group in the US, after Mexicansand solidly represented at the top of its structure of power, including the economy, government, academia and politics. Even though US-born and Indian-born Americans together make up just 1 percent of the country's population, too small a community to be of direct electoral significance, their influence gives them almost unrivalled heft and influence. Irrespective of the many crisis India and the US have encountered over the decades, the community has ensured the relationship has grown. Now, though, the community faces new challenges, ranging from visas to rising nationalismand is hoping the goodwill from the summit will help resolve these problems. Praveen Swami is National Security Analyst with Firstpost and CNN-IBN The European Union is accused of seeking to create a network of national police facial recognition databases that could lead to 'politically motivated surveillance'. Leaked internal documents obtained by The Intercept allegedly indicate that police forces from 10 EU member-states led by Austria had called for laws introducing and interconnecting facial recognition databases in every member-state. The report was produced as part of conversations on expanding the mandate of the Prum Convention, which allows for DNA-sharing between countries. It calls for Europol to play a role in exchanging facial recognition and other biometric data with non-EU member states, giving concern to the notion that the network would be connected to similar databases in the United States. Circulated amongst EU and national officials in November 2019, preparatory work on new legislation recommended by the paper is reportedly ongoing. Leaked documents obtained by The Intercept allegedly indicate that police forces from 10 EU member-states led by Austria had called for laws introducing and interconnecting facial recognition databases in every member-state (pictured, Europol HQ, The Hague) The advantages of interlinked facial recognition databases to the police, which hope to link these pools of data quickly, include identifying unknown suspects. But human-rights advocates have raised fears about possible breaches to privacy, due process, and - if shared with the US - First Amendment expressions. According to Edin Omanovic, advocacy director for Privacy International, the risk of such data being used for illegal 'politically motivated surveillance' is serious. He told The Intercept: 'This is concerning on a national level and on a European level, especially as some EU countries veer towards more authoritarian governments.' Almost 700,000 euros has been invested in studies by consultancy firm Deloitte to possible changes to Prum, according to information provided to the European Parliament by the European Commission last November. The report calls for Europol to play a role in exchanging facial recognition and other biometric data with non-EU member states (pictured, Catherine De Bolle, Europol Director) Led by Austrian police (pictured) the report was produced amid conversations on expanding the mandate of the Prum Convention, which allows for DNA-sharing between countries The European Commission has separately also paid 500,000 euros to a consortium of Estonian-led public agencies to 'map the current situation of facial recognition in criminal investigations in all EU Member States,' with the aim of moving 'towards the possible exchange of facial data', The Intercept also reported. EU authorities and the FBI did not respond to The Intercept's requests for comment. France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Austria signed the Prum Convention in May 2005. It was adopted to enabled the signatories to exchange DNA, fingerprints, and vehicle registration data to combat terrorism. Core elements of the Convention were picked up by the European Council in 2008, including further co-operation on tackling cross-border crime. As far back as 2004, the US Embassy in Brussels (pictured) called for a relationship with the EU that allowed for 'expansive exchanges' and sharing 'personal data' Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden have all signaled their desire to accede to the Convention, which has been described by its detractors as a 'regime'. A paper commissioned by the EU said critics of the Prum system disliked its lack of 'democratic and judicial control' and 'transparency and equality'. Critics of the system continue to question its legality and legitimacy. As far back as 2004, the US Embassy in Brussels called for a relationship with the EU that allowed for 'expansive exchanges' and sharing 'personal data'. In October 2017, Austria started checking fingerprints against the FBI's criminal finger databases that led to the cross-checking of 12,000 individuals' prints. This vast data-sharing led to just 150 matches. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says after two weeks, barricades on rail lines and other major transportation routes have to come down, but a local MP says Trudeau waited too long to take a definitive stand on the issue. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/2/2020 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us CP People protest at a rail blockade in St-Lambert, south of Montreal, Que. on Thursday in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to a pipeline in northern British Columbia. (The Canadian Press) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says after two weeks, barricades on rail lines and other major transportation routes have to come down, but a local MP says Trudeau waited too long to take a definitive stand on the issue. Reached on Friday, Brandon-Souris Conservative member of Parliament Larry Maguire said its "about time" the prime minister acknowledges the blockades of some of the countrys rail lines are "illegal." "Its been two weeks since this started, it has brought a lot of things to a standstill. Weve got more ships waiting for grain on the west coast than there have been in probably 30 years that I can remember as a farm leader," Maguire said. "Im very happy that (Trudeau) has made an announcement finally but he didnt even acknowledge that this is an illegal blockade then, he still hasnt acknowledged that theyre illegal blockades as far as I can tell." Maguire said he supports peoples freedom of speech and right to protest, but the federal government must also uphold the rule of law. "Im all for trying to negotiate theses types of situations; I do know that we need to make sure we need to acknowledge the circumstances and try to deal with it as quickly as could be and that more negotiations, more support for intervention and further education and opportunities in our Indigenous communities is necessary." Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Dan Mazier could not be reached for comment by press time Friday afternoon. Trudeau called a news conference Friday afternoon, where he said the federal government is waiting on Indigenous leadership "to show that it understands," he said. "The onus is on them." He said injunctions to clear tracks must be obeyed, and the law must be upheld, and theres no point making the same overtures to Indigenous leaders if they arent accepted. "Let us be clear: all Canadians are paying the price. Some people cant get to work, others have lost their jobs," Trudeau said. "Essential goods cannot get where they need to go." The situation "is unacceptable and untenable," he said. The blockades, particularly one on a critical east-west rail line in Ontario, are responses by Indigenous people and supporters to a move by the RCMP to clear protesters who had been blocking access to a work site for a major natural-gas pipeline project in British Columbia. Hereditary chiefs of the Wetsuweten Nation oppose the work on their traditional territory, despite support from elected band councils along the pipeline route. On Thursday, the RCMP in B.C. sent a letter to the traditional leaders of the Wetsuweten Nation, telling them the force intends to move its officers off the access road and station them instead in the nearby town of Houston. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said he believes this move meets the original conditions set by the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs and that the time has come for the barricades to come down. In response, one of the traditional chiefs of the Wetsuweten Nation said his people are willing to engage in nation-to-nation talks with B.C. and federal governments, but not until the RCMP in B.C. have left traditional Wetsuweten territory entirely and Coastal GasLink, the pipeline company, ceases work in the area. Hereditary Chief Woos, also known as Frank Alec, said the B.C. RCMP have not yet left the Wetsuweten territory and charged they have also "increased harassment, made illegal arrests, increased surveillance and monitoring of Wetsuweten people and their invited guests." "This is completely unacceptable and far from a show of good faith and contradicts the announcement of the RCMP," Woos said. Until their demands are met, the barricade in Ontario erected by the Mohawks at Tyendinaga will not come down, said Kanenhariyo, who also goes by Seth LaFort, of the Mohawks of Tyendinaga. The Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs were visiting supporters at Tyendinaga to thank them for their support and held a news conference afterward. Woos took issue with Trudeaus comments that the blockades are causing trouble for Canadians, suggesting the Wetsuweten are facing injustice. "There is a difference between inconvenience and injustice total difference. Dont confuse one with the other," Woos said. Meanwhile, the prime minister is contending with pressure from several premiers to take more swift and decisive action to end the blockades. "Weve sent a message clearly with our willingness to say, quite publicly, that we dont believe its in the best interests of protesters or the general public to stand back in respect of the laws being broken, that it can endanger peoples lives and endanger their well-being," Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said Friday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a statement Friday saying "enough is enough." "The illegal blockades must come down. This is a national emergency, and innocent people from coast to coast are being hurt. The federal government must co-ordinate action to take down these illegal blockades across the country." Albertas Jason Kenney, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister, was sharper in an appearance of his own. He said he made it clear to the prime minister on the conference call with the other premiers that the blockades are having devastating impacts on people across the country. dmay@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Twitter: @DrewMay_ NEW HAVEN A city man was arrested after allegedly being caught with an AR pistol and dozens of rounds of ammunition after officers investigated a tip from Virginia, according to the New Haven Police Department. Dante Hammie, 33, of Bassett Street, is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a large-capacity magazine and illegal possession of an assault weapon. According to his report on the matter, Detective Freddy Salmeon received a call from a Virginia state trooper soon after 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, who told him he had stopped a Dante Hammie, who was in possession of an AR-Pistol with approximately 200-300 rounds of ammunition, but let him go, as he was not a convicted felon and thus was not violating Virginia law. Hammie, driving a white Nissan Versa, told the trooper he was headed to New Haven, according to a supplemental report. Salmeon found Hammie is disqualified from owning a handgun in Connecticut due to a prior conviction, according to the report. New Haven officers contacted the New York Police Department, who later indicated that the vehicle Hammie was driving had crossed the George Washington Bridge, heading north, just before midnight on Feb. 12, according to a supplemental report. At approximately 10 a.m., Officer Paul Vitale found the Nissan outside the Bassett Street residence. Patrol officers surrounded the residence and did not let anyone enter or exit the home at that point, according to the supplemental report. Officer Scott Shumway noted that he previously had responded to the residence for a call of service. Detective Joe Landisio watched body camera footage from that call and found Hammie had been present at the time and noted he lived in the residence. Hammie exited the home soon after 10:39 a.m., according to Sanchezs report. He was cooperative with police, allowing them to search his residence and vehicles. Hammies girlfriend told police he had discarded the firearm after being stopped in Virginia, according to the report. However, Sanchez noticed while searching a vacant apartment in the residence a hatchway in the ceiling that had been left partially open, according to the report. Detective Sanchez was able to prop himself up into the hatchway. The attic was dirty, and it appeared that items inside of the attic had been there for an extended amount of time, said an officer in the supplemental report. Using a flashlight, Detective Sanchiez illuminated the attic and located (1) toothbrush case, (1) package containing mens underwear, (1) AR15 style firearm, multiple magazines, and multiple boxes of ammunition. These items appeared as if they had just recently been thrown there, as dust and dirt was not yet settled on top of them as it had on other items in the attic. Hammie then told police he put the firearm into the attic when he observed officers outside of his residence, and said it was the same weapon as he had in Virginia, according to the report. He was arrested and brought to the departments detention center, according to the report. Police seized the firearm after obtaining a search and seizure warrant for the attic, according to the report, as well as two magazines, each loaded with more than 30 rounds, and three boxes of ammunition. The toothbrush case was placed with Hammies personal items in the detention center, according to the report. Hammie is free on a $50,000 bond, according to judicial records. He is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 26. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Singapore unveiled an extraordinary Budget 2020 to take the outbreak of COVID-19. (PHOTO: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) By Selena Ling SINGAPORE Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat unveiled an extraordinary Budget 2020 on 18 February to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak with $6.4 billion, address economic uncertainties and press on with economic transformation. Here are some of my thoughts. A blockbuster Budget as promised, with an eye-catching $10.9 billion overall budget deficit equivalent to 2.1% of GDP. This fiscal latitude is unprecedented in terms of dollar amount in nearly two decades, but is a clear acknowledgement of the significant downside growth risk posed by the Covid-19 outbreak. Like we mentioned earlier, the downward revision of the official 2020 GDP growth forecast from 0.5-2.5% to -0.5% to 1.5% had essentially set the stage for a strong fiscal stimulus, coming on the back of the monetary policy easing seen in October 2019. The extraordinary fiscal response to uncertain times sends a clear strong signal that policymakers would do whatever it takes to mitigate and cushion the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. Singapore is one of the fortunate economies that have the fiscal ammunition to respond to any crisis through its fiscal prudence principle. That said, the domestic economic data has probably not hit bottom yet and we expect the February-March numbers to take another leg down due to the softening business and consumer sentiments, especially for the SMEs. Our 1Q20 GDP growth forecast is for a 0.6% yoy contraction. In addition, it remains to be seen if the realised 2020 Budget outturn will materialise as planned for instance, the $3.48b deficit planned for Budget 2019, which was supposed to have been the largest deficit since 2015, also eventually became significantly smaller at $1.65 billion (equivalent to 0.3% of GDP) despite the muted 2019 GDP growth of 0.7% yoy, albeit this was attributed to lower-than-expected military and transport spending. Hurray, there will be no GST hike in 2021. It came as welcome but unsurprising news that the 2% GST hike from 7% to 9% will be delayed beyond 2021, given the lacklustre economic environment. However, the GST hike would still materialise sometime between 2022-2025, albeit it would be coupled with a $6 billion GST Assurance Package that would give all Singaporean adults cash payouts between $700-1600 over five years. This would ensure Singapore households will get offsets for at least 5-10 years of additional GST expenses. Note that GST remains the third largest tax revenue source after the corporate and personal income taxes, with an estimated $11.2 billion anticipated in Budget 2020. Story continues To fund the ageing population and need to keep corporate tax rates competitive globally, the GST hike still appears to be the fiscally prudent route in the medium term to fund ever-growing socio-economic needs including recurrent healthcare needs. Healthcare spending alone accounts for $13.4 billion in Budget 2020 expenditure, second to defence spending with $15.1 billion. More help for businesses in the short-term to tide over this challenging period, but some SMEs will still ask if it will be enough given they are badly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. In my view, it was a generous Budget with $4 billion in the Stabilization and Support Package, comprising $1.3 billion to the Jobs Support Scheme that will benefit more than 1.9 million local employees, the 25% corporate income tax rebate for YA2020 capped at $15,000 per company, the one-year enhancement to the Enterprise Financing Schemes Working Capital Loan to help SMEs access financing, 30% property tax rebate for hotels and MICE venues for 2020 etc. Hawkers in government hawker centers will receive a one-month rental waiver, while qualified tenants in government-managed properties will also receive a half-month rental waiver. However, the latter may fall short of what the F&B industry for example is hoping for. Some food services and retail businesses had probably hoped for more direct and extended help for a longer duration given the uncertainties about the Covid-19 outbreak. In addition, the 8% wage subsidy would only come in July and may not come in time for some SMEs facing liquidity challenges. Moreover, we have to wait and see if commercial landlords will fully pass on the property tax rebates, albeit CapitaLand Group has announced that it will fully pass on the property tax rebate savings. The only sting, albeit a modest one, from the Budget 2020 was the tightening of the S-Pass sub-dependency ratio ceilings which will be cut from 20% to 15% for the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors. The adjustment will be in two phrases to 18% on a January 2021 and to 15% on 1 January 2023, to combat the 3.8% per annum growth in the number of S Pass holders in these sectors over the last two years. This probably comes as unwelcomed news to the three sectors, but may signify that policymakers still see a manpower-lean trajectory as the way to go and these sectors still have room to step up. The outlook for these affected sectors may have already bottomed too. Meanwhile, the S-Pass sub-DRC for the manufacturing sector will not be adjusted at this point given the current economic uncertainties. No deviation from the fiscal prudence principle. From FY16-FY19, the accumulated fiscal surpluses amounted to $18.7 billion. Even after factoring in the planned FY20 budget deficit of $10.9 billion, there is still $7.8 billion to be transferred to Singapores reserves. This is not insignificant even though special transfers ballooned to nearly $22 billion (up 44% from FY19). Note that the net investment returns contribution (NIRC) also surged 9.3% yoy to $18.6 billion for Budget 2020, which is double that seen back in Budget 2015 following which Temasek was added into the NIR framework. While there is so much market focus on the highly anticipated upcoming 2% point GST hike, the NIRC is single-handedly the most important revenue source and will stay so in the years ahead. Budget 2020 struck a good balance between the immediate economic needs and medium-term structural needs. Citing structural shifts such as the declining globalisation support, the economic tilt towards Asia, the technological advances and bifurcation, and Singapores transition to an ageing population, $8.3 billion (which is 48% larger than the $5.6 billion set aside for the two support packages for firms and households) will be earmarked for enterprise transformation over the next three years. In particular, I liked the new SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit which is targeted at SMEs to help defray 90% of out-of-pocket costs of transformation, job redesign and skills training, as well as the Enterprise Leadership for Transformation Programme which supports business leaders of promising SMEs (which has been on the wishlist for many SMEs). The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit, coupled with the 8% wage subsidy for local employees, should go some way to deter Covid-19 firms from taking the easy way out of laying off workers to cut costs in the short-term. Consumer confidence is still the key to any Covid-19 turnaround. All Singaporeans aged above 21 in 2020 will receive up to $300 cash payout, with $100 additional cash payout for every Singaporean with at least one child 20 years old and below this year. Singaporeans aged 50 and above in 2020 will also receive a $100 top-up for their Passion card, while there will be an additional 20% of Workfare payments for work done in 2019 with a minimum payment of $100. Eligible HDB households will also receive grocery vouchers, additional GST U-Save vouchers, S&CC rebates, higher pre-school subsidies, enhanced MOE Financial Assistance schemes and bursaries for higher education, enhanced cash payouts for the Silver Support scheme, and healthcare subsidies of up to 80% at Public Healthcare Institutions and aged care services. This is a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing Singaporeans cost of living concerns. Timely top-ups to the SkillsFuture Credit of $500 for every Singaporean aged 25 years and above, with an additional $500 for every Singaporean aged 40-60 in 2020, to support continuous learning. The use it or lose it principle is illustrated in the innovative 5 year expiry date of end-2025 which incentivizes early action. In addition, there is a special focus on mid-career workers in the 40s and 50s to help them stay employable with the introduction of a SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package. The government will double the annual job placement for locals in their 40s and 50s to around 5,500 by 2025 by increasing the capacity of reskilling programmes. If employers hire local jobseekers aged 40 and above through a reskilling programme, the government will provide 20% salary support for six months capped at $6,000. In addition, there are the Senior Employment Credit which will take effect from 2021 will provide employers with wage offsets when they employ Singaporean workers aged 55 and above, as well as 50% CPF transition offset for 2021 when employer CPF contributions increase, and the Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant for enterprises that raise their own retirement and re-employment ages ahead of the legislated changes. This will go some way to assuaging the anxieties of workers, especially older PMETs, in view of digital and technological disruptions. Go electric and buy electric vehicles (EVs). The signal is clear with up to 45% rebate on additional registration fee capped at $20,000 for those who buy fully electric cars and taxis. The government will progressively phase out vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2040 due to their pollution. On the infrastructure side, public charging infrastructure for EVs will also be expanded from 1,600 points to 28,000 points islandwide by 2030. There will also be incentives to help lower-income households buy energy-efficient household appliances and make sustainable living a key feature of HDB estates with a new Green Towns Programme to reduce energy consumption, recycle rainwater and cool HDB towns. At the end of the day, there are few governments which can unveil a $106 billion financial plan to chart its future. In this sense, the Unity Budget is not one to be sniffed at and may set the tone for regional economies to follow. The market reaction was relatively muted for the STI, USDSGD and SGS bonds yesterday, maybe because it was already highly anticipated and has no need to draw on past reserves or increase SGS bond issuance. The expansionary fiscal stance outlined in Budget 2020, coupled with the close monitoring to ascertain the Covid-19 outbreak impact going ahead, gives more confidence that the Singapore economy is in good hands. The next milestone to watch would be the MAS monetary policy decision in April where a further easing is not off the table as yet. Selena Ling is OCBC Banks Head of Treasury Research and Strategy . Related stories: Tourism sector: Will COVID-19 impact outlast Budget relief measures? Singapore Budget 2020: More winners than losers Budget 2020: Singapore expects overall budget deficit of $10.9 billion UNIQLO, Gap, and Nike are struggling with supply and material shortages Many garment and textile manufacturers have suspended their operations or began operating at reduced capacity due to the lack of material supply from China. Many of these enterprises are suppliers for international fashion and shoe brands. For example, UNIQLO does not focus on manufacturing exclusively in China as it has bases in other Asian countries as well. It has co-operated with 70 manufacturing companies as business partners, one-fifth of which come from Vietnam, such as Kim Thanh Textile and Garment Co., Ltd., Viet Tieng Garment, Panko Vina, and Shin Dong Garment. According to the representative of Saigon 3 Garment JSC, a supplier of UNIQLO and Nike, the company has enough materials for production until March. Nike also has a series of Vietnamese suppliers, including Oriental Garment An Giang Co., Ltd., Nam Dinh Garment JSC, and Damco Vietnam. Having many suppliers from Vietnam is, unfortunately, a disadvantage for international fashion and shoe brands because 60 per cent of imported fabrics come from mainland China and Taiwan. In another side, UNIQLO issued an announcement on its Japanese website that it has been experiencing delays in production and logistics. The company had to adjust the timeline of launching its new collections. Notably, it will delay the launch of UNIQLO U coat in the Spring-Summer collection to March instead of February 21 as initially planned. Besides, there is information that customs checks have been delayed and its factories in China have to operate at reduced capacity due to a lack of employees. Rosario Dawson's "coming out" in 2018 was quite subtle but it has opened discussions on what the term "bisexuality" encompasses, according to an article by BeLatina. One thing, however, is for sure: the Puerto Rican and Cuban-American actress, mother, and activist remains a force to be reckoned with. Dawson appeared in television and film with roles in Clerks 2, Jane the Virgin, Daredevil, Jessica Jones and The Defenders, among others. She also played in the theater adaptation of the musical Rent. During an interview with Bustle, Dawson talked about her career, the people who have accompanied her along the way, and her recent arrival to the political spotlight with her current partner, New Jersey Senator and former presidential candidate Cory Booker. "It's the first time I felt like I had to be responsible about my choice of love, which is a challenging thing to do," she says. "If you fall in love, you fall in love. But there's another aspect I had to consider: what this meant in [putting] a microscope on my family and particularly on my daughter." In 2014, Dawson adopted her daughter Isabella, now 17. "But in each other I think we found our person," she adds. But Dawson's involvement in the country's politics long precedes her relationship with Booker. In 2004, Dawson was arrested at a protest against President George W. Bush. In 2012, she supported the candidacy of Barack Obama and that of Bernie Sanders in 2016. She is also the co-founder of the organization Voto Latino which seeks to mobilize the vote of the Hispanic community in the country. She is also devoted to the Lower East Side Girls Club, which helps break the New York neighborhood's cycle of poverty. On top of her advocacies, it was her Instagram post during the Pride Month celebration in 2018 that sparked discussions in the LGBTQ+ community. "Happy pride month! Sending love to my fellow lgbtq+ homies. Keep being strong in the face of adversity. Loud & proud," she wrote. In her interview with Bustle, Dawson noted, "People kept saying that I [came out]... I didn't do that. I mean, it's not inaccurate, but I never did come out come out. I mean, I guess I am now." "I've never had a relationship in that space, so it's never felt like an authentic calling to me," she added. Rosario Dawson's coming out give rise to the question of the necessity of having a same sex partner to be called "bisexual." The struggle for the visibility of the bisexual community is widely debated, among those who believe that the absence of absolutism in taste is equivalent to the lack of a solid and consolidated identity. Since the 1990s, the structuring of bisexual theory, as well as bisexual politics, has emphasized that bisexuality is greatly oversighted by the queer community and its academic branch. Anthropologist April S. Callis noted that "although queer theory is dedicated to the deconstruction of the naturalized binary of heterosexual and homosexual, bisexuality, which seems to aid this deconstruction by its very existence, is rarely a topic of interest or inquiry for queer theorists." She added that this is due, in part, to the need for queer theory, for example, to be built on absolute rejection and to distance itself from any point "in between." Callis in her article Playing with Butler and Foucault: Bisexuality and Queer Theory wrote, "Groups like Queer Nation practiced a 'politics of provocation, one in which the limits of liberal tolerance [were] constantly pushed.'" The first large-scale government survey on sexual orientation and identity in the United States in 2014, the NHIS found that only 0.7% of Americans identify themselves as bisexual. Two years later, bisexuality was "on the rise" in the country, with 5.5% of women and 2% of men identifying themselves as bisexual, according to a survey cited by CNN. The BeLatina article emphasized that the rise, is not a "surge" of cases or a cultural contagion syndrome, but rather about visibility, education, and understanding of the broad spectrum of sexuality, away from extremisms on both sides. This is the reason why Rosario Dawson's coming out is fundamental to understanding the LGBTQ+, especially the bisexual community. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was filled with young filmmakers from around the world Friday for the fourth annual Kids Film It Fest. Ahead of the awards ceremony, the red carpet was brimming with energy as kids, teenagers and family members made their way inside the museum. A small paparazzi-style pack of photographers flashed bright lights as kids enjoyed a red-carpet photo session to kick off the evening. Local filmmakers, and also some filmmakers from as far away as Tennessee, Michigan and Canada were in attendance on Friday nights sold-out event, which packed the Foster Theater on the fourth floor of the museum. Every film that was nominated for a prize was screened inside the theater -- and there were a few surprise video appearances from the festivals 2020 celebrity judges. The panel included The Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo, Beauty and the Beast producer Todd Lieberman, My Name Is Earl director and producer Marc Buckland and Big Fish producer Dan Jinks. Each filmmaker appeared in a video greeting during the fest. I am genuinely impressed and frankly floored by your talents, Lieberman said in his video. I cant tell you how inspired we were by the imagination and creativity put into these movies, Anthony Russo said. In addition to their video greetings, the judges gave thoughtful critiques for winning films, which were shown on the large screen behind the stage after top awards were announced. Winners received cash prizes and Oscar-like trophies once they walked up to the stage. (See a full list of winning films at the bottom of this article.) Sofia Dewey from Moreland Hills won the short film category in the 12-14 age group for her film Its Cold. Buckland weighed in quickly with his thoughts on the film: "I found 'It's Cold' to be very moving, he said. The subject matter was very touching and the execution was fantastic. The camera angles and editorial style were very evocative and the use of music was great. This was a very thought-provoking short film." Akron native Evan Lifke won the music video category for the 15-18 year old age group, crafting a unique video for Beach Song by local rock band Funeral Proposals. The director got some professional-looking footage of the talent driving in a car, Lieberman commented. This gets the number one spot both for what the filmmakers attempted and what they accomplished. Beyond judge-picked winning films, some movies were honored with The Nikki, a peoples choice award named after cleveland.com writer Nikki Delamotte, who died tragically in late 2018. Winners were chosen by online voters through a cleveland.com poll. Cleveland.com entertainment reporter Troy L. Smith presented the awards. Lindsey OKeefes Alive Day won the Nikki for the 15-18 age group. The mini-documentary told the story of Breanna Sprenger, a young paralympic swimmer. Sprenger was in the audience when the award was announced. The other two Nikki awards went to Piotr Kazmierczak in the 8-11 year old age group, for the short animated film Four Seasons, and to Sayer Baca in the 12-14 year old age group for the film Gravity. The festival has raised money every year for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds Parkinsons disease research. Levine chose to donate to the foundation after his grandmother was diagnosed with the disease. This year, Kids Film It Fest raised its highest total yet, with $66,000 to donate, bringing the total to $215,000 over the course of the festivals four years. Check out the list of winners at the Kids Film It Festival below: ANIMATION Ages 8-11: Four Seasons, Piotr Kazmierczak Ages 12-14: Talent Trouble, Theo Hawk Ages 15-18: Ugly, Melanie Tulagan SHORT FILM Ages 8-11: The Goose Chase, Gabriel Schaul, Leigh Cooper, Torm Ross, Miles Nam-Hardie, Jake LeRoy and Allison Byrne Ages 12-14: Its Cold, Sofia Dewey Ages 15-18: Bittersweet, Ishaan Parmar MUSIC VIDEO Ages 12-14: Noted, Alaina Tennant Ages 15-18: Funeral Proposals - Beach Song, Evan Lifke BEST FOREIGN FILM Lunch Break, Thamanna Sol TEAM AWARD Citizens Academy THE NIKKIs: CLEVELAND.COM PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD Ages 8-11: Four Seasons, Piotr Kazmierczak Ages 12-14: Gravity, Sayer Baca Ages 15-18: Alive Day, Lindsay OKeefe London: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have decided not to use the word "royal" in their branding after they start a new life in Canada following their decision to step back from royal duties. The decision follows weeks of talks between the couple and the British royal family about how they will present themselves to the world in the future. Harry and Meghan want to build a new life in Canada. Credit:Getty The couple agreed last month with Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, that they would no longer work as royals after their surprise announcement that they wanted to carve out a "progressive new role" which they hope to finance themselves. "It has been agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this [northern] Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation," a spokeswoman for the couple said. Judith Dale looks back to 1920, offering a timeline of progress the U.S. has made over the last 100 years. In most areas such as life expectancy, industry, technology, and position in the world, the U.S. has come a long way. However, many of the social/cultural challenges the country faced in the 1920s, are still with us today. New Delhi, Feb 22 : Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Manish Tewari on Saturday said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules - 2003, to understand how National Population Register (NPR) is the basis of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and "religion" cannot be basis of citizenship. In a tweet, Tewari said, "CM Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules - 2003 to understand how NPR is basis of NRC. Once you do NPR, you cannot stop NRC. On Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he needs to be reacquainted with design of Indian Constitution that religion cannot be basis of Citizenship," he said. His remarks came a day after Thackeray met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that no body should feel threatened by the CAA or NPR as these measures are not meant to drive away anyone from the country. Thackeray made the remarks at a press conference held after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday here, the first after he took over as the Chief Minister. "We discussed CAA and NPR," Thackeray said, adding he has come to understand the role of the Centre in the NRC. "No one should fear CAA or the NPR. These are not going to throw anyone out of the country," Thackeray said. "Those who are provoking people in the name of CAA or NPR must fully understand the provisions." Thackeray also refuted reports about rift among the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. "We will work according to our common minimum programme and complete the full term", he said. However, the remarks of the Congress leader clearly indicated that the grand old, which is one of the alliance partners in the state government was unhappy with the statement of the Shiv Sena chief. Reportedly, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar is also upset with the Chief Minister's stand of NPR and CAA. By James Boyce, Senior Fellow, Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website Freeing ourselves from reliance on fossil fuels is not only good for the planet and future generations. It also saves lives here and now. Thats the message from studies of the public health co-benefits that come with reduced emissions. In many cases, these alone are large enough to provide a compelling case for replacing fossil fuels with clean energy, even without counting benefits for the climate. The burning of fossil fuels releases a toxic stew of air pollutants alongside carbon dioxide, the number one culprit in climate change. Foremost among these co-pollutants are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are hazardous in themselves and undergo chemical reactions in the air to form suspended particulates that penetrate the lungs and further damage human health. Coal-fired power plants are the main source of sulfur dioxide emissions, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated are responsible for about 70% of the health costs from power plants. Air pollution is a leading cause of death at home and abroad. In the U.S., a 2019 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimated that outdoor air pollution kills more than 100,000 Americans each year. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that dirty air kills more than 4 million people annually. Economically, this is a big deal even bigger than the climate damages often measured by conventional cost-benefit analysis. And politically, the deaths and ill health caused by air pollution are more immediately visible than climate instability: the costs are borne by people alive today rather than by future generations, and they are borne mainly in the same places where the emissions occur rather than by people worldwide. The Co-Pollutant Cost of Carbon In a recent study I carried out with colleagues at MIT and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, we analyzed the co-pollutant cost of carbon in U.S. electric power generation the premature deaths from co-pollutants per ton of carbon dioxide emissions. A prior study by MIT researchers estimated that in 2005, power plant emissions were responsible for 53,900 deaths per year nationwide. Using standard EPA measures for the value of a statistical life, we found that in 2011 the average co-pollutant cost of carbon was roughly $45/ton. This can be regarded as a conservative estimate in that it does not include the costs of non-fatal illnesses. The co-pollutant cost was 20% higher than the social cost of carbon estimate of $37/ton that the Obama administration used for climate damages. In other words, including the here-and-now health benefits of cutting fossil fuels alongside the climate benefits would have more than doubled the economic rationale for doing so. These results are even more striking when we compare public health co-benefits to the revised social cost of carbon being used now in the Trump administration. By making two changes to its calculations bumping up the discount rate so that future damages look smaller in terms of present dollars, and zeroing out the costs of damages outside the U.S. the EPA whittled its measure of the social cost of carbon to merely $1-$6/ton. By this measure, the co-pollutant cost of carbon vastly exceeds its climate cost. The Trump-era EPA maneuver underscores the difference between the health costs and climate impacts of fossil fuels. Unlike climate damages, the health costs of co-pollutants are not affected by how much or little weight policymakers put on the well-being of future generations and of people in other countries. Elsewhere, too, the public health costs of fossil fuels provide a compelling reason to shift to clean energy. In Europe, a 2019 study estimated that outdoor air pollution causes 790,000 premature deaths annually. In India and China, countries with some of the worst air quality in the world, the World Health Organization puts the annual death tolls at 620,000 and more than one million, respectively. Differential Benefits from Emissions Reduction Apart from strengthening the case for replacing fossil fuels with clean energy, accounting for the health co-benefits changes how we think about where to cut emissions. From the standpoint of climate change, all carbon dioxide molecules are the same, so it doesnt matter where emissions are reduced. The quantity and impacts of co-pollutant emissions, on the other hand, vary greatly across pollution sources. From the standpoint of efficiency, it makes sense to cut emissions where they result in the highest number of premature deaths from co-pollutant exposure. From the standpoint of safety and the right to a safe environment the cornerstone of U.S. air pollution policy it makes sense to cut emissions where they pose the greatest health risks to individuals (even if some of them live in sparsely populated areas where the total number of deaths is not so high). From the standpoint of environmental justice, it makes sense to cut emissions where they harm vulnerable communities already facing disproportionate pollution burdens. To some extent these three criteria efficiency, safety, and justice overlap. Regardless of the relative weight assigned to them in environmental policy, all point to the conclusion that we should put priority on cutting emissions in the locations and sectors where the benefits are greatest. In our study of the electric power sector, for example, we found that the co-pollutant cost of carbon varies significantly from state to state. In terms of total deaths, the impact per ton of carbon emissions in New Jersey was more than double the national average, reflecting proximity to major population centers, and more than 20 times the impact in Arizona, the state with the lowest number of deaths per ton. In a multi-sectoral study, Manuel Pastor of the University of Southern California and I found that emissions from petroleum refineries generally have the biggest adverse health impact from air pollution of any major industrial sector in the U.S. Refineries also have the greatest disproportionate impacts on African-Americans, Latinos, and low-income communities. Internationally, too, we find wide variations in the co-pollutant cost of carbon. The number of premature deaths per ton of carbon emissions is roughly twelve times higher in India than in the U.S. and more than five times higher in China. The people of both countries have a lot to gain from a clean energy transition. Changing the Narrative on Fossil Fuels A favorite ploy of the fossil fuel lobby is to claim that we face an inexorable tradeoff between advancing economic well-being and protecting the environment. Environmentalists all too often play into this narrative when they call for belt-tightening by the present generation on behalf of generations to come. The result is to give an eat your broccoli flavor to climate policy: you ought to swallow it even if you dont like it. Recognizing the health co-benefits of freeing ourselves from fossil fuels can help change this narrative. The clean energy revolution will save millions of lives worldwide. It will improve public health for people alive today, and will achieve this regardless of what other countries do. The here-and-now benefits of replacing fossil fuels are not limited to cleaner air and longer lives. Investments in clean and renewable energy will create millions of new jobs, employing far more workers than will continued reliance on fossil fuels. Just transition policies can ensure that workers and communities who now depend on the fossil fuel industry will benefit, too. If the climate policy mix includes measures to keep fossil fuels in the ground by strictly limiting the amount allowed into the economy, this will raise their price. Returning this money directly to the people in the form of equal per capita carbon dividends will bring net gains to the majority of households, protecting their incomes in the face of rising fossil fuel prices and helping to win durable public support for the clean energy transition. Clean air, good jobs, more money in your pocket whats not to like? The bottom line: Effective and equitable policies to free ourselves from fossil fuels do not pose a threat to our well-being here and now. Instead, climate policy can be a potent tool for building an economy that works better for people as well as for the planet. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mushtaq Mojaddidi (Agence France-Presse) Kabul, Afghanistan Sat, February 22, 2020 08:03 690 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2065ea5b3 2 World US,Afghanistan,Taliban,Middle-East Free The US and the Taliban are set to sign a historic agreement that would pave the way to ending America's longest war, the bitter foes announced Friday, hours after Kabul said a week-long partial truce across Afghanistan would kick off this weekend. If that so-called "reduction in violence" holds, it would mark a major turning point in the grueling conflict and set the conditions for a deal that could, ultimately, pull US troops out after more than 18 years and launch Afghanistan into an uncertain future. Both US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Taliban issued statements saying they had agreed to sign the accord on February 29 in Doha, following the one-week partial truce. "Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the US-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward," Pompeo said, adding negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government would "start soon thereafter". Afghanistan's National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal and Taliban sources earlier said the "reduction in violence" between US, Taliban and Afghan security forces would begin Saturday. The United States has been in talks with the Taliban for more than a year to secure a deal in which it would pull out thousands of troops in return for Taliban security guarantees and a promise to hold peace talks with the government in Kabul. A reduction in violence would show the Taliban can control their forces and demonstrate good faith ahead of any signing, which would see the Pentagon withdraw about half of the 12,000-13,000 troops currently in Afghanistan. In a statement, the Taliban said warring parties would "create a suitable security situation" ahead of a deal signing. One Taliban source in Pakistan said that if an agreement is signed on February 29, talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, needed to cement a broader peace deal, are slated to start March 10. Stand down In Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, which is seen as the Taliban's heartland, one insurgent told AFP he had received orders to stand down. However another Taliban commander based in Kandahar, Hafiz Saeed Hedayat, said he had only been ordered to refrain from attacking major cities and highways. "This means maybe the violence will continue in the districts," Hedayat said. Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusufzai said the move signaled a wider change in thinking for both the Taliban and the US after years of fighting. "Both sides have shown their commitment to sign the peace deal, and it's a big development -- a significant one," he said. The US and the Taliban have been tantalizingly close to a deal before, only to see President Donald Trump nix it at the eleventh hour in September amid continued insurgent violence. Any truce comes fraught with danger, and analysts warn the attempt to stem Afghanistan's bloodshed is laced with complications and could fail at any time. Worse still, they say warring parties could exploit a lull to reconfigure their forces and secure a battlefield advantage. The reduction in violence is "still just the first step to get to intra-Afghan negotiations," Andrew Watkins, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, told AFP. "Those talks will be a tough road of their own, but are the best avenue to peaceful settlement to Afghanistan's conflict." On Thursday, the deputy leader of the Taliban said the insurgents are "fully committed" to a deal with Washington. "That we stuck with such turbulent talks with the enemy we have fought bitterly for two decades, even as death rained from the sky, testifies to our commitment to ending the hostilities and bringing peace to our country," Sirajuddin Haqqani wrote in an opinion piece in the New York Times. Haqqani is also head of the Haqqani network, a US-designated terror group that is one of the most dangerous factions fighting Afghan and US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, America has spent more than $1 trillion in fighting and rebuilding in Afghanistan. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. In 2017, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a rally, "Aisi machine lagaunga, iss side se aloo ghusega, uss side se sona niklega," (I'll install such a machine that if you feed in potatoes from one side, you'll get gold in return from the other side); I think we all misunderstood him back then. Maybe, he was predicting the future. Maybe, that 'machine' he was talking about was actually mining equipment that was supposed to be used three years later to dig up a gold mine that has given a thirsty economy their Lagaan moment. Given how almost everyone on social media and the internet is talking about #Sonbhadra and #GoldMine, chances of you missing out of this golden news is rare. But, in case you missed it, the officers of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have discovered gold deposits of around 3000 tonne that are expected to be worth nearly Rs. 12 lakh crore. The gold deposits were discovered in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh in Son Pahadi and Hardi areas. Deposits in Son Pahadi are estimated to be around 2943.26 tonne and around 646.16 kilogram in Hardi. Reportedly, according to the World Gold Council, India currently has 626 tonnes of gold reserves and this is almost 5 times India's current gold reserve. Can we now officially change our name back to 'Sone Ki Chidiya' now that we've literally struck gold? Maybe, it's time to create a page on Change.org. Twitter Jokes apart, District mining officer KK Rai told the media that GSI had started looking got gold reserves in Sonbhadra nearly two decades ago in 1992-93. The state government has expedited the process of leasing these mines too and the process of geotagging has been started before the auction process for mining. KK Rai told ANI, "The government is thinking of putting these deposits on lease for mining, for which survey is being done. Gold deposits are found at two places - Sonpahadi and Hardi field. GSI estimated gold deposits of 2900 tonnes in Sonpahadi while 650 kg in Hardi field." While the GSI officials are busy doing their job, people on social media are busy doing what they do best - turn everything into memes. And since we're talking about actual gold, their reactions are also equally golden and hilarious. All credit goes to Rahul Gandhi for #GoldMines pic.twitter.com/dvlkoqzXKg Suraj Bhiwal TPN (@SurajBhiwal) February 22, 2020 #GoldMines India will become 2nd ranked country with largest gold reserves In IMF .Now we are at 9th rank . pic.twitter.com/Qnhd36PpCJ Ankit Kumar (@AnkitKu87628348) February 22, 2020 India moved from 10th position to 2nd position in terms of gold reserve after 3350 tons of gold was found .#GoldMines India to other countries be like :- pic.twitter.com/JDKd7AxR0H Thakkar Shourya (@ThakkarShourya) February 22, 2020 He's found 3,500 tonnes of gold. It's time to rename him Yogi Audityanath. #Sonbhadra Kajol Srinivasan (@LOLrakshak) February 22, 2020 #Sonbhadra Modiji to trump after founding a huge gold reserve.. pic.twitter.com/aLHZ3ccwew Sonu singh (@Sonusin35301050) February 21, 2020 When you're happy about 3000+ tonnes of gold found in #Sonbhadra then remember BJP is in-charge of spending the money... pic.twitter.com/iOHOsGIfIW Ahmed Shariff (@TheAhmedShariff) February 21, 2020 1 Laxmi goes where Narayan is.For so long Ram was disrespected,she naturally stayed away. Today Ram got his rightful place, Laxmi is come. 2 So,PM Modi's 5 Trillion Economy dream for India turned out to be prophetic .It would be $208B USD.That a huge amount of money.#Sonbhadra pic.twitter.com/6UD7rzUzAi ANJALI (@ANJALI72348961) February 22, 2020 Me thinking how govt will spend the money from gold whole damn night#Sonbhadra #Sonbhadra pic.twitter.com/TQUm6L6kpJ Sanchita Singh (@Sanchit36631874) February 22, 2020 The "loving packages" are ready to be delivered to the families of the frontline medical workers in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. [Slow News] The China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) recently initiated a project aiming at providing care and support to families of frontline medical workers fighting against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. The project has allocated funds to the women's federations nationwide, for delivering "loving packages" consisting of protective supplies and daily necessities worth 500-1,000 yuan (US $71.19-142.38) to frontline medical workers fighting against the COVID-19 and their families. The first phase of the project has covered 5,000 medical workers and their families in eight provinces, including Hubei, Henan, Hunan, and Anhui. It will be expanded to more medical workers' families in other provinces and cities as the CWDF collects more funds. Many enterprises and organizations responded to the CWDF's call for fund-raising. As of February 18, the project had raised about 4.13 million yuan (US $587,474.72). Based on the needs of frontline medical workers and their families, the local women's federations selected various items, including specialties, nuts, vegetables, fruits, protective products and daily necessities. In Central China's Hunan Province, the Hunan Women's Federation identified the contact information and addresses of 1,250 frontline medical workers fighting against the COVID-19 in hospitals as well as medical workers assisting Hubei. The "loving packages" will be delivered to their home soon. In East China's Jiangxi Province, the project fully covers the families of medical staff who are helping COVID-19 control efforts in Hubei. In Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the Chongqing Women's Federation sent "loving packages" worth 800 yuan (US $113.90) to families of more than 1,900 medical staff working on the frontline in Hubei and in four local hospitals, to help ease their worries. The "loving packages" are ready to be delivered to the families of the frontline medical workers in East China's Jiangxi Province [For Women of China] (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) Is The Technology Sector FANG Stocks Setting Up For A Market Crash? FANG stocks seem uniquely positioned for some extreme rotation over the next 6+ months. The continued capital shift that has taken place over the past 5+ years has driven investment and capital into the Technology sector much like the DOT COM rally. The euphoric rally in the late 1990s seems quite similar to today. The biggest difference this time is that global central banks have pushed an easy-money monetary policy since just after 2000. The policies and rallies that took place after 9/11 were a result of policies put in place by George W. Bush and Alan Greenspan. Our research team believes these policies set up a process where foreign markets gorged on cheap US Dollars to expand industry and manufacturing throughout the late 1990s and most of the early 2000s. This process sets up a scenario where the US pumped US Dollars into the global markets after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and foreign markets gobbled this capital up knowing they could expand infrastructure, industry, and manufacturing, then sell these products back to the US and other markets for profits. Multiple QE attempts by the US Fed continued to fuel this capital shift. It wasnt until after 2008-09 when the US Fed entered a period of extreme easy money policy. This easy money policy populated an extensive borrow-spend process throughout most of the foreign world. Remember, as much as the US was attempting to support the US markets, the foreign markets were actively gorging even more on this easy money from the US and didnt believe anything would change in the near future. China/Asia and most of the rest of the world continued to suck up US Dollars while pouring more and more capital into industry, manufacturing and finance/banking. This process of borrowing from the US while tapping into the expanding US markets created a wealth creation process throughout much of Asia/China that, in turn, poured newly created wealth back into the US stock and real estate markets over the past 7+ years. It is easy to understand how the trillions pushed into the markets by the US Fed created opportunity and wealth throughout the globe, then turned into investments into US assets and the US stock market. Foreign investors wanted a piece of the biggest and most diverse economy on the planet. This foreign investment propelled a new rally in the Technology sector, which aligned with a massive build-out of technology throughout the world and within China. Remember, in the late 1990s, China was just starting to develop large manufacturing and industry. By the mid-2000s, China had already started building huge city-wide industry and manufacturing. But in the late-2000s, China went all-in on the industry and manufacturing build-out. This created a massive beast in China that depends on this industry to support finance and capital markets. This lead to the recent rise in the global and US markets as all of this capital rushed around the globe looking for the best returns and safest locations for investment. FANG stocks have taken center stage and the recent rally reminds of us the DOT COM rally from the 1990s. Could the Coronavirus break this trend and collapse future expectations within the global markets? Is it possible that we are setting up another DOT COM-like bubble that is about to break? The weekly chart of Apple (AAPL) This first Weekly chart of Apple (AAPL) shows just how inflated price has rallied since August 2019. The share price of AAPL has risen from $220 to almost $320 in the last 6 months an incredible +49%. We attribute almost all of this incredible rise to the Capital Shift that took place in the midst of the US/China trade war. Foreign capital needed to find a place to protect itself from currency devaluation and to generate ROI. What better place than the US Technology Sector. The weekly chart of Facebook (FB) Facebook has also seen a nice appreciation in value from the lows in late 2018. From the August 2019 date, though, Facebook has seen share prices rise about +25% from the $180 level to the $225 level. Although many traders may not recognize the Double Top pattern set up near the $220 level, we believe this setup may be an early warning that Technology may be starting to rollover as capital may begin searching for a safer environment and begin exiting the Technology sector. The weekly chart of Google (GOOG) Google (Alphabet), GOOG, is another high-flier with share prices rising from $1200 to $1500 from August 2019 till now a +28% price increase. We can clearly see that GOOG is well above the historic price channel set up by the rotation in late 2018. We believe resistance near $1525 will act as a price boundary and may prompt a downside price rotation associated with the rotation away from risk within the Technology sector. Any downside move, if it happens, could prompt a price decline targeting $1350 or lower. Concluding Thoughts: Remember, we are warning of a change in how capital operates within the markets. The Capital Shift that has continued to drive advancing share prices in Technology may be nearing an end. It does not mean the capital shift will end, it just means this capital may rotate into other sectors in an attempt to avoid risks and seek out returns. We believe this is a real possibility because we believe the Coronavirus in China is disrupting the markets (supply/manufacturing and consumer spending) by such a large factor that we believe capital will be forced to identify new targets for returns. In other words, we believe the Technology Sector may be at very high risk for a price reversion event if this black swan event continues to disrupt the global markets. Lets face it, a very large portion of our technology originates and is manufactured in China. In fact, a very large portion of almost everything we consume is manufactured in China. Heck, the cat food I buy every week is made in China. If this Coronavirus continues to force China to shut down large sections of their nation and manufacturing while it continues to spread, then the only real outcome for the rest of the world is that China manufacturing capabilities will be only 10~20% of previous levels (if that). Once supply runs out for most items originating from China, then we are going to have to deal with a new reality of what are the real future expectations going to really look like and that is why we are preparing our followers and friends the Technology sector may be one of the biggest rotating sectors in the near future. Join my Swing Trading ETF Wealth Building Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. BJP President JP Nadda on Saturday said that the Congress party had several opportunities to Abrogate Article 370, which conferred special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, but added that it didn't dare to do it. "Congress got a majority government several times. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mrs (Indira) Gandhi each got the majority twice. Rajeev Gandhi came to power with a majority once but they could not date abrogate Article 370," Nadda said addressing a public gathering here. He said that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government that came to power with 303 MPs in May and abrogated Article 370 in August. "People of Jammu and Kashmir are very happy after the abrogation of Article 370. You must have heard the speech made by Ladakh BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal in the Parliament. He had said, 'Shasan karne mein aur raj karne mein antar hai' (there is a difference between governing and ruling)," Nadda said. The Narendra Modi government had in August last year scrapped the provision of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kasmir. The erstwhile state was also bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. "Our party is based on ideology, ideas and organisation. There are around 2,500 political parties in the country. Fifty-nine of these parties have received recognition from the election commission on the state level and there are seven parties. However, most of these parties are based on nepotism," he added. Nadda, who was in Patna to inaugurate 11 new district party offices in the state, said that former party president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had planned that no district in the country shall remain without a BJP party office. "Land for 590 party offices has been acquired and 487 offices have already come up. The process to acquire land in other districts is underway," he said. "Bihar has changed in the last five years. We have to put all our efforts so that an NDA government comes to power in the state in the upcoming assembly election in November," Nadda added. The visit assumes significance as Bihar's 243 member Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go for polls later this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SAGINAW, MI A 16-year-old male is dead after a shooting on Saginaws East Side. After 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, police responded to the shooting scene in the 1500 block of Annesley St. They arrived to find the teen shot and killed, according to police. Police said a large group of people were inside the house when two people entered the home. After the pair were inside the home, an altercation ensued and the victim was shot, according to MSP Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser. The 16-year-old that was inside the house confronts these two people, theres an altercation - the 16-year-old gets shot and dies, Kaiser said. He said the pair fled the scene. No suspects are in custody, according to police. The incident may also have been an attempted robbery, Kaiser said. Michigan State Police are urging anyone with details about the shooting to contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-422-5245. CrimeStoppers callers can remain anonymous. Related news: Police investigating shooting on Saginaws East Side Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Indias growth was testimony that economic and infrastructure development can go hand-in hand with environmental protection. PMs comment came in his inaugural address at the international judicial conference 2020 organised by the Supreme Court of India on Saturday. While India has grown from being the 11th largest economy to the 5th largest economy in the last five to six years, its forest cover has also expanded substantially, the PM pointed out. Thus, India has shown that infrastructure development can happen simultaneously with the protection of environment, he said. Foreign dignitaries including the Right Honble Lord Robert John Reed, President of the Supreme Court of United Kingdom and Honble Susan Kiefel AC, Chief justice of Australia are attending the conference the two-day conference. The Prime Minister also highlighted governments initiatives for gender justice. He said more girls enrolled in educational institutions than boys for the first time in India and this, the PM claimed, was on account of successful government schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. The government has brought about many changes for empowerment of women including appointment of women in military service, changes in selection process of fighter pilots and freedom of women to work in mines at night, Modi said. India, the PM said, is among the few countries in the world which sanctions paid maternity leave of 26 weeks to women. Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was also present at the inaugural function, commended the steps taken by the prime minister with regard to womens rights. Gender justice, he said, is at the core of Indias constitutional ethos and the prime minister has taken a lead in empowerment of women in India. One-third of the 4 million professionals who work in IT sector in India are women. Our Prime Minister was bold enough to permit that women Indian Air Force pilots will also fly fighters planes and this was complemented by the recent judgment of Supreme Court where Indian women army officers were given the right to command. These are great initiatives of women empowerment, Prasad said. PM Modi also claimed that his government has worked with sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of modern society by enacting laws for the rights for transgender, law against triple talaq and expanding rights of persons with disabilities. Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said that the Constitution makers in India studied various models of Constitution from different parts of the world and tailored our Constitution to fit the countrys diversity and thought. Individuals and rights of individual are at the heart of the Constitution and the rights have been balanced with demands of public order, morality and health, he said, while underscoring the significance of duties of citizens. Central governments top law officer attorney general (AG) KK Venugopal in his speech on taking poverty to the courts, highlighted the role of the government and the Supreme Court in reducing poverty in the country in pursuit of the goals of a welfare state set out in the constitution. Venugopal said India has moved beyond the traditional concept of fundamental rights and has made human living conditions a facet of right to life. Traditional concept of human rights violation is torture, illegal incarceration, violation of freedom of speech. But there is another dimension allowing to live in sub-standard human conditions. It is now well settled that so far as poverty is concerned, if there is a failure on the part of the state, the state will be violating fundamental rights, said the AG. Various schemes by the government coupled with expanded interpretation of the fundamental right to life by the Supreme Court contributed to the reduction in poverty level from 70 percent in 1950 to 21 percent as it stands today, Venugopal claimed. The government has brought in a series of social reforms, about 50 of them. A few of them are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, the Prime Ministers life insurance scheme, the Prime Ministers Peoples Wealth Scheme, the Prime Ministers All India Mass Medicine project, he said. To cap it all we have an Act which was recently passed, known as the Food Security Act as per which food grains are distributed at subsidized rates to about 70 percent of the people of the country, the AG said. Interestingly, some laws cited by the AG were introduced during the tenure of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at the centre. The Twitter is not real life people have a few solid arguments in their favour. As the Times analysis shows, the politically hyper-engaged and more radical tend to share opinions on Twitter. Similarly, Pew Research polling from last year showed that those on Twitter are younger and more likely to be Democrats than the general public. Most users rarely tweet, but the most prolific 10 per cent create 80 per cent of tweets from adult US users. Still, the notion that Twitter isnt real life is untrue. Theres the obvious literal sense. Twitter is a real-world platform and is used by very real humans. Then theres the notion of tangible impact. Donald Trumps use of the platform for campaigning and governing and acting as assignment editor to the media is the sterling example, but it goes well beyond that. Ask a journalist who has been fired for an old, dredged-up tweet or a woman or person of colour who has been doxxed, swatted or harassed and driven from his or her home if Twitter is real life. Theyll say yes. Theres also something ineffable about Twitters influence, especially as it pertains to politics, around movement building and fandoms. Honest, sustained social media momentum behind candidates does seem to translate into something, even if its not clear how much to trust it. Take Andrew Yang. Though his campaign sputtered out last week, he outlasted multiple high-profile governors and senators. His staying power was linked in part to a movement he built across platforms like Twitter. Establishment pundits and politicos shocked by his longevity might have felt different had they engaged with or even observed #YangGang faithful on Twitter. A better example might be Senator Bernie Sanders, arguably now the Democratic front-runner. The Sanders movement has been criticised for its intensity on Twitter, which infrequently but occasionally veers into toxic territory. And while analysts dissect the particulars of the Sanders online movement, whats unquestionable is that it exists and is a stand-in for something very real: enthusiasm. As weve seen so far in the Democratic primary, enthusiasm matters. The gap between hypothetical polling, months out before the first primary contests and the genuine, fandom-like enthusiasm that might motivate voters to caucus, canvas or brave the cold to cast their ballots can collapse quickly. Indeed, as New York magazines Eric Levitz pointed out last year, while Twitter may not be real life, neither is what shapes most electoral politics. Major parties governing agendas arent set by their rank-and-file voters in popular referenda, he wrote. Rather, each partys priorities are shaped primarily by its political elites which is to say, by its most influential elected officials, activists, donors, policy intellectuals, and interest-group leaders. Such partisan elites have never been representative of their normie allies. Voxs Ezra Klein recently put it similarly. Political elites have an outsized effect on what actually happens in politics, and theyre constantly on Twitter, he said. And they (we!) create a politics that looks more like Twitter even if thats not what the country wants. One way to read my Twitter is real life argument, then, is that elites opinions arent in step with America, but it doesnt matter because theyre more influential. That Twitter is dominated by political and media elites who have outsize power and that the narratives they write 280 characters at a time dictate our political reality. Theres a slice of that argument thats true. The conversation that takes place on Twitter often programs the media; that commandeering of broad voter attention sets political agendas and grants certain candidates outsize power. But the effect on elites is not more influence. Thanks to places like Twitter, Id argue that the elites power to create political narratives and champion specific political movements has waned. Politicians who build organic online movements and flood the zone with content thats both proactive and reactive dont need to woo the medias or politicos attention; they command it at will. Donald Trump and the pro-Trump media have used this to their advantage, while left-leaning politicians like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez use a similar attention-commandeering tactics (although to different ends). Mike Bloomberg a candidate who has yet to appear on the ballot in early primaries is largely using Twitter to appear like a top-tier contender for the Democratic nomination. Take the primary process, which is fuelled some by polling, but also by a great deal of punditry. If you were honest about it, youd admit that the media itself drove much of this process, BuzzFeed Newss Ben Smith wrote about the early part of this election cycle. But, as Mr. Smith notes, that process didnt stick in 2016. Trumps supporters werent taking their cues from analysts, or taking much interest in the traditional vetting from the mainstream media. The more I looked through the Twitter is not real life conversation over the past year, the more it became clear that the refrain emanated most frequently from those whose influential status is at risk. Each Twitter is not real life piece seemed to perform extremely well on (uh) Twitter, especially among a kind of centrist political and media elite who bristled at the extreme opinions of far-right and far-left leaning Twitter folk. This., former Senator Claire McCaskill tweeted with a link to the original Times piece, signalling her approval of its analysis. Ms. McCaskill, a moderate Democrat, recently said on MSNBC that America is, generally, not as far along the left line as Bernie and Elizabeth [Warren] despite Senator Sanderss current front-runner status. The official Twitter account of Morning Joe (a favourite show of Beltway elites that frequently tacks to the centre) also posted the piece, as did scores of legacy political journalists, usually with the some disclaimer suggesting, this might be hard to read but its worth it. The longtime Washington pollster Frank Luntz tweeted the piece numerous times throughout the spring and summer, including before the first set of Democratic debates in June. One thing to keep in mind as you see Internet pundits live-scoring Tonights #DemDebate: Twitter is not real life, Mr. Luntz wrote. Even Pete Buttigieg currently the leader of the moderate wing of the Democratic candidates has lamented he just might get cancelled on Twitter. The one thing I am learning is just how much daylight there is between what has currency on social media and what Im getting asked about when Im on the ground, he said in an interview with the Times editorial board. I would not be surprised if it continues to be the case that doing what I view to be the right thing as president is not just politically costly in general but may cost me the hearts and minds of those who are disproportionately represented online. Interestingly enough, both the Pete Buttigieg for MA and San Francisco for Pete Buttigieg Twitter accounts tweeted the Timess analysis piece on Twitter opinion not lining up with broader American political sentiment. The cries of Twitter is not real life become a filter bubble of their own: A way to assuage those who traditionally had great influence over creating political narratives (and who rarely had to compete with dissenting voices) that they are still in touch with the body politic. And that those loud, unfamiliar voices causing all that ruckus arent representative of a broader, truer lived experience. Its possible, of course, that many things are true at once. As they did about radio or television before Twitter, critics and evangelists opine about new forums for public discourse as either deeply corrosive or utopian. Twitters aspirations as the global town square are utopian, while the day-to-day experience of politics on the platform veer quickly toward corrosion. Whats impossible to ignore, though, is the entrance and elevation of millions of new voices into the daily political conversation. Its not perfect. But the end product of those new voices coalescing communities and sustained enthusiasm is very real. Haiti - FLASH : Shipment of arms and ammunition seized at the Port of Cap-Haitien Friday, February 21 in the morning, during an inspection of a 40-foot container, agents of the Brigade of Surveillance and Fight against Fraud and Contraband came to help their customs colleagues assigned to the port of Cap-Haitien, discovered a batch of illegal weapons and ammunition hidden in coolers. According to Jean-Claude Clerveaux, of the General Administration of Customs, the container carrying these weapons was on board the ship "Delphinus" from the United States. These are 10 handguns (9 of 9 mm caliber and one of 38 caliber); 3 12-gauge rifles and 1 AM 15 assault rifle; 2 5.56 45 magazines, 5 7.62 39 magazines, 3 12-caliber magazines and 6 tactical riflescopes as well as more than 4,000 ammunition of different calibers. The Government Commissioner and Justice of the Peace Frito Aristil, after the legal report, handed over these weapons and ammunition to the police authorities. An investigation is opened to identify the owner (s) of these weapons and ammunition for legal proceedings. Following this operation, Alcime Joseph, responsible for receiving this container, was arrested for questioning. TB/ HaitiLibre System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0483824fd8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048387ebd8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0483824fd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048387ebd8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f048386f078)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048387ebd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048387ebd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482272fd0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0483845258)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0483845258)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 London, Feb 22 : A yellow American school bus is driving around London with a poster featuring Prince Andrew on the side and a message urging him to answer questions from the FBI about his friendship with late American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a media report said. The poster on the side of the bus, which drove past the Buckingham Palace on Friday, read: "If you see this man please ask him to call the FBI to answer their questions," the Metro newspaper reported. The stunt was reportedly organised by attorney Gloria Allred who is representing several of Epstein's accusers. The bus, which featured her website address and a phone number, was pulled over by police in Park Street, according to witnesses. One witness described the vehicle as "weird" and claimed that officers spoke to the driver for around 10 minutes before it was allowed to drive off. The development comes after Allred gave an impromptu press conference on the steps of the New York supreme court on Friday in which she appealed for the Duke of York to share information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "My clients deserve the truth. They have been denied justice so many times over so many years, and there will be no justice without the truth. And there will be no truth unless Prince Andrew stops hiding from the FBI and from the public. This is unacceptable," the Metro newspaper quoted the lawyer as saying. "I implore you Prince Andrew. You must do the right thing and stop shaming your family - the Queen, your children. If you have done nothing wrong then just talk to the FBI." The UK royal was removed from public duties last November following allegations he had slept with a teenager who was trafficked by Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial last August. The victim, Virginia Giuffre, has claimed she was trafficked when she was 17 and was forced into sexual encounters with the Prince in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein. Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing and last year, he had indicated his willingness to cooperate with investigators. New Delhi: The camaraderie between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary enthralled hundreds of spectators who were attending the three-day long cultural festival Arth at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday (February 22, 2020). ''Bharat Mata Ki Jai'' slogan reverberated in the stadium as Zee News Editor welcomed the Home Minister in the event. While the two shared the stage, Home Minister Shah praised Sudhir Chaudhary as a ''well-known journalist in India'' and thanked Zee News for organising an event like Arth to promote India's culture Responding to that, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary whole-heartedly thanked Shah for giving his precious time to attend the Arth cultural festival and shared the same on social networking site Twitter. Thank you Shri @AmitShah for supporting @arth_live to promote Indias culture and heritage. Your presence made this evening very special. It was very heartening to see the energy of the young audience and how they welcomed you. https://t.co/Fc3gCIq3fR Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) February 22, 2020 Shah, in his opening statement, said that he appreciated the effort of Zee News for understanding the importance of Indian culture and promoting it. He said, ''I appreciate the effort of Zee News which is taking step towards uplifting Indian culture rather than just focusing on commercialisation,'' adding, '' We all should take the responsibility of promoting our culture. exists in our culture. I believe that the solution to a lot of worldly problems exists in our culture.'' Addressing the gathering, Shah further said, ''More events like Arth are needed to promote and strengthen India's culture.'' Shah who was running short of time promised Sudhir Chaudhary that he will attend the third edition of Arth cultural festival and said, ''I want to assure you all that I will attend the third edition of Arth festival. I hereby announce that I credit my time to your account.'' Stressing on the importance of Indian language, Shah said, ''India is the only geo-cultural country in the world. India has several dialects and languages, probably the maximum in the world. These are a sign of our heritage. I call upon the youth to use their local dialect in their conversations and keep it alive.'' The Arth festival is being organised with the objective to discover, celebrate, promote and preserve India's culture and its ancient tradition and values and the festival is witnessing the participation of scholars, philosophers, writers, artists and craftsmen of India. The employee who processed them did not remember if Hubbards card was a concealed carry license. The employee recalled only that Hubbards identification card did not have a barcode on it that could be scanned, like most drivers licenses and state identification cards. The employee asked for information, such as Hubbards birthdate, which was then entered into the system which checks the information against electronic databases of people who are registered as sex offenders, have restraining orders or other safety alerts, Jasculca said. Add CoolSocial badge. Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Roomsandthings.com scored 52 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 8 Nov 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Add a widget like this on your site: click here The total number of people who shared the roomsandthings homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the roomsandthings homepage on StumbleUpon. 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Basic Information PAGE TITLE Furniture, Home Furnishings - Rooms And Things DESCRIPTION Rooms and Things is an online discount furniture and home furnishings store featuring Ashley Furniture, Millennium By Ashley Furniture, Signature Design By Ashley Furniture, Klaussner Furniture, Powell Furniture at low prices, huge selection and great cus KEYWORDS Furniture, Home Furnishings, Ashley Furniture, Millennium By Ashley, Signature design By Ashley, Powell Furniture, Klaussner, Bedroom Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Kitchen Furniture, Kids Furniture, Home Bar Furniture, Home Office Furniture OTHER KEYWORDS The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 4.01 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English ISO-8859-1English DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.3 (CentOS) (PHP/5.1.6) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of roomsandthings.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for roomsandthings.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The URL of the found Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/roomsandthings DESCRIPTION Rooms And Things offers a large selection of brand name home furnishings products for every room in your home at every day low prices ACCOUNT CREATED ON 03 Jul 2011 LOCATION USA TWEETS 103 FOLLOWERS 26 LISTED 0 LIVONIA, Mich. Bitter cold couldn't stop supporters of the Madonna University Welcome Center and Felician Sisters of North America Heritage Center and Archives from attending the final beam raising and topping off ceremony on Thursday, February 20. The sun was shining brightly, however, over the shell of the building that is currently under construction on the southwest corner of Madonna Universitys Livonia campus. Nearly 150 alumni, faculty, staff, and benefactors joined Madonna University President Michael Grandillo, Ph.D., and the Felician Sisters of North America, for this milestone celebration of the $12 million, 30,000-square-foot building, slated to open spring 2021. All in attendance applauded as the final beam, adorned with an evergreen tree, the American flag and the Madonna University flag, was secured into place. The Felician Sisters and the Madonna University community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and supporters had an opportunity to sign the beam and leave their mark on history prior to the event. When our founders came to this new world more than 150 years ago, they sought to serve, to help those in need...they knew they would endure, but did they know they would change America and the communities they served through their good works? said President Grandillo at the beam raising and topping off ceremony. I say yes, and this building will forever document that vision. Each entering class (at Madonna University) shares what it means to be Felician. All will be welcome here. This Welcome Center and Felician Sisters Heritage Center, designed by MKC architects and built by J. S. Vig Construction, was inspired by the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Central Italy and is reflective of the values of St. Francis that are espoused by the Felician Sisters and the University Community. It will boast the Basilicas sanctuary feeling with an open interior, meandering paths, special repetition of columns, and a center for gathering, reflection and learning. This will be a place that students and constituents are first welcomed to the university, and where community visitors and beyond can learn about the infinite service of the Felician Sisters and the legacy they have created. Representing the Felician Sisters of North America at the beam raising event, Sister Nancy Jamroz, CSSF, co-director, Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue, Madonna University, shared that the Felician Sisters were founded by two women in Warsaw, Poland in 1855 and later expanded to North America. Today, we are excited to move one more step forward to the completion of the Felician Sisters of North America Heritage Center and Archives. It is our hope that the experience will inspire visitors to reflect , remember and honor the lives and ministries of our sisters, coming away with not only a greater understanding of the sisters, but their place in history and the world today, she said. The building will also feature a Great Room accommodating up to 400 people for a wide range of University and community events, an art gallery and offices for University admissions and advancement staff members. The Felician Sisters Heritage Center and Archives, housed within the Welcome Center, will be the historic site of the first Felician Province in North America, celebrating the Felician Sisters heritage and a remembrance of the many courageous, selfless, and faith-filled Sisters who came years before. The Felician Sisters archives, as well as reading rooms, storage, and circulation equipment will be housed in the lower level for all to enjoy. This beam raising for us as a city is significant. This is the beginning of building a place where people are going to come and just like we get to recognize every day the history thats been laid here now people from outside of Livonia are going to have reasons to celebrate all of that right along with us, said Livonia Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan about the Felician Sisters, and the Center. A beam raising and topping off ceremony is an often-celebrated milestone in building construction when the last or highest beam is put into place. A tree, or sometimes a branch, is placed on the highest beam of the structure. In the United States, its not uncommon for an American flag to be lifted into place with the tree or in place of the tree. Often, for posterity, the last beam is signed by those involved in the construction process and those for whom the building is built. The beam raising and topping off ceremony for a modern-day construction project remains an important symbol of teamwork, safety, quality, craftsmanship, and good luck for the future, and that the structure will last many years much like the evergreen tree that adorns it. Follow the progress of the Welcome Center and the Felician Sisters of North America Heritage Center and Archives development at madonna.edu/welcomecenter. About Madonna University A Felician-sponsored ministry, Madonna University has been providing liberal arts education, career preparation and service-learning to students for more than 80 years. In addition to the beautiful main campus, conveniently located at I-96 and Levan Road in Livonia, Madonna offers academic programs in Gaylord, Macomb, and online in China, Haiti and the United Arab Emirates. Michigans most affordable, independent, Catholic, liberal arts university, Madonna offers more than 100 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs in the colleges of arts and humanities, natural and social sciences, education, and nursing and health, as well as the School of Business. About the Felician Sisters of North America A joy-filled, apostolic congregation of women religious, the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice, known as the Felician Sisters, is a Franciscan community inspired by the spiritual ideals of its Foundress Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska and Saint Francis of Assisi. Consecrated to God through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Felician Sisters of Our Lady of Hope Province live in community and dedicate their lives to God and the Church. At Felician-sponsored ministries across North America the Sisters can be found serving the impoverished; marginalized; the imprisoned; the sick, elderly, and the infirm; those with profound disabilities and those with developmental and physical disabilities; young adults and youth ranging from pre-school through college. # # # Photo 1: Front row (in front of beam), L-R, Capturing a photo before the final beam is raised for the Madonna University Welcome Center and Felician Sisters Heritage Center and Archives are: Marcia Wallander, director of development, Felician Services, Inc.,; Sister Victoria Marie Indyk; Joan Nardi, Madonna University Alumna and supporter; Sister Nancy Marie Jamroz; and Sister Cynthia Ann Machlik. Back row, l-r: Joe Vig, CEO J.S. Vig Construction; Janet McGuirk, EVP, Felician Services Inc.; Terry Schweizer, President, Felician Services, Inc., Matthew Teismann, MKC Architects; Michael A. Grandillo, Ph.D., Madonna University President. Photo 2: The final beam was blessed by Father Charles Morris, Madonna University before being raised and placed in its final position on the structure of the Madonna University Welcome Center and Felician Sisters Heritage Center and Archives. Photo 3: Livonia Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan (fourth from left) celebrates the beam raising and topping off ceremony with Felician Sisters, Sister Cynthia Ann Machlik; Sister Nancy Marie Jamroz, and Sister Victoria Marie Indyk, and Madonna University President Michael A. Grandillo, Ph.D. Photo 4: The final beam of the Madonna University Welcome Center and Felician Sisters Heritage Center and Archives being placed it its final position. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Last week, actor John Rhys-Davies, best known for playing the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings films, gave a strong defense for Christianity. Speaking to the Christian Post from the red carpet at the Movieguide awards, Rhys-Davies said, We seem to forget that Christian civilization has made the world a better place We owe Christianity the greatest debt of thanks that a generation can ever have he went on, crediting it for the ideas of religious liberty, free speech, and individual rights. Rhys-Davies, who recently starred in an animated adaptation of Pilgrims Progress and is the lead in an upcoming biopic of Saint Patrick, said he often finds himself sticking up for Jesus in his line of work. The strange part of this story is that Rhys-Davies is a self-professed rationalist and a skeptic, not a Christian. Yet he is still able to see how the faith of Christs Church, as author Alvin J. Schmidt puts it, changed the world for the better. Rhys-Davis is just one of many skeptics, atheists, and secularists of late who reject the rhetoric of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris and recognize the immense good the Gospel has done for the world. Whereas the so-called New Atheists slandered Christianity as being backward and poisonous, a new crop of unbelievers see it as beneficial, beautiful, and maybe even in some limited sense, true. Take Douglas Murray, British journalist, political commentator, and author of the new book, The Madness of Crowds. Though a self-professed non-believer and gay man, Murray admits to admiring Christianity and the positive role it has played in building Western civilization. He even labels himself, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, a Christian atheist. In a recent dialogue with Christian writer Esther OReilly on the Unbelievable podcast, Murray praised Christianitys revolutionary moral insights such as the command to love and forgive your enemies. The more atheists think on these things, he confessed, the more we may have to accept thatthe sanctity of human life is a Judeo-Christian notion which might very easily not survive [the demise of] Judeo-Christian civilization. But even more than recognizing Christianitys usefulness, Murray sees the faith as meaningful. Describing a trip he took last year to the Sea of Galilee, Murray admitted he couldnt stop thinking that, as he put it, something happened here. Murray was one of several Christ-haunted unbelievers discussed on a recent BreakPoint Podcast conversation between Shane Morris and Esther OReilly. In addition to her recent interaction with Murray, OReilly also contributed to an upcoming book about clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson, another who has articulated a strong respect for Christianity from the perspective on non-belief. According to OReilly, skeptics admitting to the Christian faiths positive influence on history is only the headline of this story (although wed be remiss to not include the recent book Dominion by Tom Holland as yet another example). OReilly thinks that under the surface, spiritual truth is being found too, much like the skeptics C. S. Lewis describes in the essay entitled Myth Became Fact. Lewis, himself a convert from atheism, wrote, A man who disbelieved the Christian story as fact but continually fed on it as myth would, perhaps, be more spiritually alive than the one who assented [to it as fact] and did not think much about it. With OReilly, we hope the flame of myth and meaning fans into full-blown belief, that they will come to see Christianity as the place where the hearts deepest longings and deepest intuitions about what is goodconnect(s) with the minds deepest understanding [of what is true.] After all, no unbelief can survive that moment. Just ask C.S. Lewis. Catch Shane Morris conversation with Esther OReilly on the BreakPoint Podcast. Originally posted at breakpoint.org A FRANCHISE does not mean the media organization cannot be critical of the government or would have to prostrate itself before the powers that allowed it to operate. But a franchise-holder would have to abide by rules and laws governing its organization and operation. It would have to be transparent in its registration and in its acceptance of additional investment. For allegedly violating laws, Solicitor General Jose Calida has asked the Supreme Court to invalidate franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and ABS-CBN Convergence because of abuses, including violations of restrictions on foreign ownership. Most of the public commentary, based on social media posts, rested however on the fallacy that a franchise granted to ABS-CBN meant the media company should not criticize the government or go with critics of the administration. A broadcast company has to get two kinds of franchises before it could operate or continue to operate. This is unlike newspapers and online platforms where no such franchise is required. According to the Media Ownership Monitor Philippines, with Vera Files and Reporters without borders at https://philippines.mom-rsf.org/, setting up a broadcast business follows a twin-franchising principle. Aspiring broadcast owners first have to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, like all private corporate entities, in order to begin its corporate existence and conduct business in the Philippines. The next step is to seek a legislative franchise from Congress, also called a primary franchise, with a term of 25 years, subject to renewal. Starting a new TV or media outlet then needs authorization by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) through a certificate of public convenience and necessitya secondary franchise, although the NTC is powerless when it comes to revoking a license. Licensing became necessary as broadcast frequencies constitute a scarce resource, the report added. Without government control, the medium would be of little use because of the cacophony of competing voices, none of which could be clearly and predictably heard, it said. The government has to limit the frequency to a set number of television and radio channels. Story continues In Metro Manila, the report said, the frequency is limited to 23 physical spots for TV channels, 32 spots for AM radio channels, and 25 FM spotsand they are all taken. The same goes for the other metropolitan areas, it added. Cable television does not need a secondary franchise but an authorization by the NTC. The physical limitation that applies to broadcast does not exist for print and online media. Thus, they do not need a media-specific franchise to operate. Print and online media, however, have to comply with laws governing ownership and operations. But, sadly, this debate about the ABS-CBN franchise is not about the franchise. Its about curtailing voices, not alone of the television network. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held extensive deliberations with his Maldivian counterpart Sheikh Imran Abdulla to further increase mutual cooperation between the two countries in the area of security and law-enforcement. Abdulla is on a four-day visit to India since Thursday. Held extensive discussions on ways to further deepen and strengthen ties between India and Maldives, Shah tweeted. Welcoming the strengthening of the India-Maldives partnership, the ministers appreciated the expansion of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including policing and law enforcement, counterterrorism, counter-radicalisation, organised crime, drug trafficking and capacity building, an official statement said. The meeting was also attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and other senior officials from both sides. India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity. Turkish president says he will meet leaders of Russia, France and Germany to discuss Idlib at summit on March 5. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will meet the leaders of Russia, France and Germany next month to discuss the situation in northwest Syria, where a military push by Moscow-backed government forces against the last opposition-held enclave has displaced nearly a million people. His comments on Saturday came as the Turkish defence ministry said a Turkish soldier had been killed in Syrias Idlib province in a bomb attack by government forces, becoming Turkeys 16th military death during a month in which talks between Ankara and Moscow have failed to de-escalate a recent spike in fighting. Speaking to reporters in Izmir, Erdogan did not specify where the March 5 meeting would be held. He added, however, that Turkey determined our road map for Syria after calls on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. I expressed our determination clearly to them, said Erdogan, who last week threatened an imminent operation against Syrian forces in the region. Turkey has sent thousands of troops and equipment to the region just south of its border to head off the government forces campaign driven by Russian air raids. Already hosting some 3.7 million Syrian refugees, it says it cannot handle another wave and has closed its borders. Macron and Merkel on Friday expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Idlib and urged an end to the conflict, while the Kremlin said it was discussing the possibility of holding a four-way summit. The Turkish president told Putin over the phone on Friday that the solution was to return to the Sochi agreement they signed in 2018, which allowed Turkey to establish military posts across Idlib designed to prevent a Syrian government assault. That deal has been increasingly set aside as Russian-backed Syrian forces advance steadily into the region, the final stronghold of rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government during a nine-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. The United Nations warned on Friday that an escalation in fighting could end in a bloodbath and called for an immediate ceasefire. Nearly 900,000 people, more than half of whom are children, have fled their homes since December 1, when the Russian-backed Syrian government forces pressed ahead with their military offensive, Separately, Turkeys defence ministry said its forces retaliated to the despicable bomb attack that killed the soldier, destroying 21 Syrian government targets. It said the soldier was a tank mechanic who died when transferred to hospital. The incident came two days after two Turkish soldiers were killed in an air raid in Idlib, which Ankara blamed on Syrian government forces. Earlier this month, 13 Turkish soldiers were killed in Syrian attacks, prompting Erdogan to say Turkey will attack Syrian forces anywhere in Syria if another soldier was hurt. Syrian troops have reconquered swathes of Idlib and retaken the strategic M5 highway connecting the countrys four largest cities, as well as the entire surroundings of Aleppo city for the first time since 2012. On Saturday, the highway opened for public use for the first time in nearly eight years, the transport minister said. Neely, a grassroots worship duo, has partnered with UK's Homegrown Worship to release their brand new single "Whisper." Intriguingly, Jeremy and Kaci Neely opted not to record in one of Music City's vast array of studios but instead decided to travel 4000 miles across the Atlantic ocean to record a new collection of songs in Sheffield, England. The couple, who have been touring their blend of faith-infused country/rock/pop internationally since 2008 joined forced with Homegrown Worship; a fresh new label and community born in the UK in 2018. The movement now has more than 50 writers, artists and churches signed up to share new songs'. We are honored to catch up with Jeremy Neely for this exclusive interview. Q: Jeremy, thanks for doing this interview with us. Can you tell us about yourselves as the Neelys and your journey thus far? It's my pleasure. Thank you so much for this opportunity! Kaci and I have been doing music ministry since 2001 but the Lord did not have us go full time in music & ministry until 2010. We have four beautiful daughters: Allison, Aubrey, Emma, and Ella. Allison and Aubrey are old enough that they no longer travel with us. As a matter of fact, Allison married our guitarist, Brad Rankin, 4 years ago and they have given us 3 beautiful grandchildren. When the Lord took us into full time ministry and moved us to Nashville, TN (Music City USA) we both thought that we would plug into the Christian Music Industry and that's how God would use us. Wow, how wrong we were but how graciously God directed us in His will. It was winter of 2011 when we heard the Lord tell us, "No more contracts, no more fees, just go and serve. Leave the finances between me and the Churches you serve." To say that we were a lot frightened to move in this direction is an understatement! However, we did and that is how we have lived our lives since. God has always provided and we've never missed a bill payment and we've always had our needs met. The Lord has grown us in so many other ways as well. Reminding us that while we are not defined by our past, we should not forget where we came from either. In this way, it helps us to posture ourselves to reach out to folks who don't know Jesus so much more effectively. Thus, why you see some seemingly secular songs in our discography. As "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19) we know our music is our fish bait and to give you some of my downhome country boy talk, "you ain't fishing if you ain't got bait!" As we grasped these changes from the Lord, He grew our ministry from just a regional ministry to an international ministry without a Record Label, Manager, or Agent of any kind. Just God opening doors for us. With that said, we did feel led to partner with Andy Baker and his team at Homegrown Worship. Not because of the label aspect of Homegrown Worship but rather because of the community aspect. To link arms with other like minded Brothers and Sisters who share a dream and talent is amazing. What is even more amazing is when we can share some of our contacts and resources to bless them and see them soar higher! Our journey hasn't been all green pastures and flowers in our hair. Life is tough and the enemy is real but through it all God is who He says He is and He is so faithful! We simply continue to move ahead one step at a time as the Lord leads us. Q: You have recently worked with Homegrown Worship. Tell us a little about Homegrown Worship and why you chose to work with them? As I had said previously, we were content to continue in ministry with no label\management\agent. Then we noticed what Homegrown Worship was doing and was intrigued by the efforts they were making to build a community. Because of the posturing of our ministry as outreach we didn't really think we were Homegrown Worship material. Then a dear friend of ours, Loulita Gill, intervened and put Andy Baker and I together. We found out that we both had a similar vision for ministry and a heart for worship. Andy and I have both been around the music industry for a long time and both of us are really tired with the formulaic sounds coming out of the music scene. We both prayed on it for several days and Andy came back saying, "let's do four songs together and see where it goes from there..." and here we are! Q: You have released a new single "Whisper." What's the story behind this song? I'll never forget the evening this song was conceived. It was the evening of April 4th, 2019 and I had just finished going through our social media one last time before going to bed. I was overwhelmed with grief because I saw so many friends posting, whether in their joy or pain, that they "heard the universe saying..." and I thought to myself, "they are so close and yet so far off the mark!" At the same moment, the Lord was bringing to mind individuals throughout scripture whom didn't have Church buildings, Bibles, daily devotional books, and the like that simply heard from Him. One of those individuals that immediately came to mind was Abraham and how he simply stood before the grandeur of creation speaking to the Creator. Immediately the words, "I hear You whisper, when the wind blows. I feel Your peace when the rain washes over me" just burst out of my mouth. I immediately sent a voice recording of those words & melody to Loulita Gill and by the time I woke up she had already crafted the rest of the chorus. From there our son-in-law, Brad Rankin, and our dear friend and fellow musicianary, Patrick Steele, helped me craft the verses and the bridge. Q: On this song you got to work with worship leader Loulita Gill, whom we have also recently interviewed. What was it like working with her? Working together with Loulita on "Whisper" was not our first time writing together and it was not our last time. Lord willing there will be even more opportunities because we have a uniquely, wide open, writing style. What I mean by this is, for example, when working together on "Whisper" not only did I send her the initial voice recording in which she returned to me with the rest of the chorus finished, but we also write via video calls via FaceTime. That's just writing "Whisper." Then we've had the pleasure of writing together in a hotel room in South Africa as well as a last moment, 11th hour writing session on our last evening in the studio (this was a killer song you'll hear later this year via Homegrown Worship). Most songwriting teams I know of have a specific setting and routine they like to get into and don't like to step out of that. It's definitely a blessing to work with someone as flexible and as creative as Loulita. Q: Are you working on a new album now? If so, give us a sneak preview of what we can expect from the new record? We are not working on a new album, but rather we are working on singles. I am an incredible fan of all types of music and I'm an artist to the core. That means for me to be cornered into one specific genre makes me feel creatively claustrophobic. Our current production cycle will give the folks following us a new song every three months. In the meantime, the Lord is moving us into a realm of doing stripped down acoustic music and videos that we will release every two weeks via our YouTube Channel (as well as other streaming services). We will be doing all of this via our Patreon page (www.patreon.com/neelymusic) where those who help fund the projects will get to step behind the scenes and see the music making process. For instance, I just had a band from Mexico ask me if I would be featured on a song on their new album and that I would need to learn the verse and chorus in Spanish. I love these guys, their music, and I do love a challenge so I said, "yes!" I invited our Patrons for the exclusive opportunity to go "live" with me in the vocal booth in the studio. Several did and said it was one of the most amazing experiences they had. It's a new and different way of making and delivering music and we are certainly excited about it. Does that mean we won't collect songs and release an album? I honestly can't answer that question as the music industry really is going through some major and interesting changes at the moment. Q: You also have an autobiography coming out entitled "Falling Down." Tell us a little about this release. This book was a long time in the coming. God has been on me for years to write my story but the project just seemed too big. In August 2017 my intestine ruptured while Kaci & I were in England and I nearly died. Thankfully the good folks at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro nursed me back to health (along with a couple of big miracles from God but that's a whole bigger story). As you can imagine the recovery from this kind of medical emergency is quite long. While I was bedridden the Lord helped me to realize how to tackle this project. Or as I would say, "How to eat the elephant". When we tour we do so as an acoustic duo and we do what we call a "storyteller concert". To simplify, we share our testimony between songs, linking the music together, to tell our story. The Lord made this painfully obvious connection for me: why not break your life story up into short stories and tell them as you would at a concert? "Falling Down: My Life Story as Seen Through the Eyes of the Prodigal Son" is a collection of short stories from as early as I can remember right up to the editing process (which began early 2018). The stories are put together in chronological order so they read like one big story.Thus the Lord helped me eat the elephant...one bite at a time.I've been blessed to receive so many good reviews about the book. People are telling me that once they start reading it they can't put it down. Most complete the book in 2 - 3 days! Through the whole process I learned something new about myself: I love to write! Q: How do you wish your songs would impact the lives of your listeners? Our heartfelt prayer is that every song we write and\or sing would draw people closer to God in some fashion. Our heart is that even in our "secular songs" the Spirit of God would be entwined in them on a deeper "Holy Spirit level" that would move people in ways that we never could. Connect with Neely: Facebook - https://facebook.com/neelymusic Instagram - https://instagram.com/neelymusic Twitter - https://twitter.com/neelymusic Tags : jeremy neely homegrown worship Loulita Gill jeremy neely interview neely interview NEELY NEELY whisper NEELY whisper CODOGNO, ItalyA dozen northern Italian towns were on effective lockdown Saturday after the new virus linked to China claimed two lives in Italy and sickened an increasing number of people who had no direct links to the origin of the virus. The secondary contagions prompted local authorities in towns in Lombardy and Veneto to order schools, businesses and restaurants closed, and to cancel sporting events and Masses. The mayor of Milan, the business capital of Italy, shuttered public offices. Hundreds of people who came into contact with the more than 40 people confirmed infected in Italy were in isolation pending test results, and civil protection crews set up a tent camp outside a closed hospital in Veneto to screen medical staff for the virus. In hard-hit Codogno, where the first patient of the northern cluster was in critical condition, main street was practically a ghost town Saturday, with supermarkets, restaurants and businesses closed. The few people out on the streets were wearing coveted face masks, which were nearly impossible to find in sold-out pharmacies. The regional president of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, said there were 32 confirmed cases in the region, where 10 towns are under orders to shutter nonessential activities and services. Seven cases were reported in the Veneto region, including that of a 78-year-old man who died late Friday, said the Veneto regional president, Luca Zaia. Two those infected were related to the man who died. Premier Giuseppe Conte sent condolences to his family, and to the family of an unidentified second victim. Zaia said Saturday that the contagion showed that the virus is transmitted like any other flu, and that trying to pinpoint a single source of infection or one with direct links to China is no longer effective. You can get it from anyone, he told reporters. We can expect to have cases of patients who had no contact with suspected carriers. While the virus isnt particularly lethal, it can be for the elderly or people with existing conditions, he said. An initial ordinance penned by the health minister imposed an effective lockdown on 10 Lombardy towns around Lodi, southeast of Milan, after Lombardy reported a quadrupling of cases Friday. But individual cities outside that core cordon area, such as Cremona, issued their own restrictions canceling school after confirming their own cases. The numbers of infected were in constant flux, but by Saturday had topped 40 nationwide. A press conference was planned later Saturday to provide the most up-to-date figures. Authorities urged calm, but acknowledged that the clusters were alarming given the secondary contagions. The first man to be confirmed as infected in Lombardy had met with someone who had returned from China on Jan. 21, but remains without symptoms. The infected man worked at a Unilever plant near Codogno, and more than 100 of his colleagues were being kept in isolation pending test results. In Rome, doctors at the Spallanzani infectious disease hospital reported some good news in the otherwise bleak day: An Italian who tested positive for the virus two weeks ago is to be released, and a sickened Chinese tourist has tested negative for the first time. Spallanzani had been caring for these patients for more than two weeks, Italys only cases until the clusters emerged in the north on Friday. Separately Saturday, 19 Italians who spent more than two weeks quarantined on a virus-stricken cruise liner in Japan landed at Romes military Pratica di Mare airport. They had been stranded on the Diamond Princess since Feb. 5. Following the first health checks and decontamination process, the passengers were transferred to the military campus of Cecchignola where they will spend a 14-day isolation period. Britain also welcomed home passengers from the Diamond Princess: 32 British and other European passengers landed at a British military base in southwest England. They will be quarantined for 14 days at Arrowe Park hospital in northwest England, where more than 80 other Britons evacuated from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the outbreak, have already spent time in isolation. Four U.K. nationals from the Diamond Princess who tested positive for the virus are being treated at hospitals in Japan. Britain has nine confirmed cases of the virus. By Luca Bruno and Nicole Winfield Three state representatives will help lead President Donald Trumps re-election efforts in Oregon, the presidents campaign announced Friday. Reps. Greg Barreto, Vikki Breese Iverson and E. Werner Reschke will all serve as honorary state chairs for Trumps campaign. The three lawmakers together represent a vast expanse of Oregon where voters overwhelmingly backed Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Barreto, of Cove, represents the northeast corner of the state. Breese Iverson, of Prineville, represents parts of central Oregon. Reschke, of Klamath Falls, represents parts of two counties on the states southern border. A campaign spokesperson has not yet returned a message regarding what specifically the lawmakers will do in their honorary posts. Campaign officials havent announced if Trump plans to swing through Oregon as he vies for re-election. He appeared once before the May 2016 state primary, which he won. Trumps campaign committee has so far reported receiving $466,000 from Oregonians, according to federal campaign filings. The sum is within $2,000 of two Democratic frontrunners, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg. Bernie Sanders eclipsed all three by at least $65,000. The figures do not include any donations from 2020, because campaigns havent yet had to report those contributions. The top Oregon donors to Trump include four people who have given the individual election cycle limit of $2,800: Douglas County residents Michael and Carol Clarenbach, McMinnville surveyor Kenneth Pannell and Union County retiree Terry Inscoe. Its unknown if Trump can count on financial support from his highest-profile Oregon donor, former Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, after the president fired Sondland earlier in February. Sondland, a Portland hotel developer, donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration. The president nominated Sondland to the ambassadorship the next year. Sondland emerged last fall as a key witness in House-led impeachment proceedings against Trump over the White Houses dealings with Ukraine. Trump dispatched Sondland two days after the Senate voted to acquit him. -- Molly Young myoung@oregonian.com Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Campus News Arts incubator aims to nurture new works By JACKIE HAUSLER Have you ever wondered what it would look like if a sculptor were on Shark Tank? Or a contemporary dancer was on Americas Got Talent? That concept will be in play at UB with Work In Real Time, a monthly salon-meets-project incubator. Every month artists across disciplines will present their works-in-progress to a panel of judges in the atrium of the Center for the Arts. At the end of each evening, a total of $1,500 as well as expertise from artists and funders will be awarded to worthy projects. Work in Real Time will take place at 4:30 p.m. March 10, April 15 and May 5. Producers are seeking submissions from UB student artists and community members for this public competition. Interested artists from all disciplines and experience levels should propose new projects they are working through, or projects that they have hoped to realize but have yet to. Those who are selected to take part in the competition will have 10 minutes to present their ideas in an engaging and exciting way. Each presentation will be followed by 10 minutes of questions and responses from a rotating panel of judges, including a guest visiting artist in each round. Artist proposals are accepted online at UBCFA.org/WIRT. Organizers say Work In Real Time is a public platform to empower artists from UB and the Buffalo community to implement new directions, practices or collaborations in their artistic ideas. The events aim to nurture the growth and development of interdisciplinary works by UB students in the arts and foster a dialogue among the university, Buffalo and visiting artists to enable cross-pollination between disciplines, sensibilities and cities. Work In Real Time is presented by the UB Arts Collaboratory, the Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art, UB faculty, UB students and alumna Kyla Kegler, MFA 18. Major support for Work In Real Time is provided by M&T Bank; additional support is provided by Savarino Companies. On Thursday, tens of thousands of people in over 50 cities took part in spontaneous vigils and demonstrations in memory of the victims of the Hanau attack. In Hanau alone, thousands gathered to express their horror and anger at the right-wing terror. Many deplored the close links between right-wing terrorism and the state apparatus and stressed the significance of right-wing and anti-refugee policies in the attack. At the Heumarkt in downtown Hanau, where the first four people were shot on Wednesday night, many groups of people stood together until late in the evening. This is where we met Sadveddin and his family. This racist attack affects our compatriots and all of us who were born and raised here in Germany, Sadveddin says. This is not the first attack. We were immediately reminded of Enver Simsek, the florist killed, and the other victims of the [neo-Nazi] NSU. Now you can see that nothing has been done since then. Sadveddin works at BASF in Ludwigshafen and immediately came to Hanau with his whole family to express his solidarity. He reported that shortly before that, the great politicians Hesse state Premier Bouffier, federal President Steinmeier and Hanaus mayor Kaminsky were there. They didnt say a word to us, they just laid down their flowers in front of the press and left very quickly. But he was not surprised. What he found terrible was that the perpetrator has announced practically everything on Facebook in advance without anything having been done to prevent the terrorist attack. Sadveddin and children in Hanau Thousands have gathered on the marketplace in Hanau. Hesse state Premier Volker Bouffier and Federal President Steinmeier gave short speeches. There were repeated shouts of Nazis out! by the crowd. Many came from around Hanau, like Julia and Kevin, who are from Nidderau, to show that racism is not a majority opinion, as they said. The political treatment of the Confidential Informants inside the NSU [National Socialist Underground] was already a tragedy, Kevin remarked, for far too long it was kept silent. One can no longer tolerate this silence. A boy reports that he was at the scene of the crime 10 minutes before the bloody crime. It could have been me. We are deeply sad, said Zeynap, who came to the vigil with her husband Suleyman from Rodgau. The attack was aimed specifically at Muslims. Thats the AfD [Alternative for Germany] tactic, Suleyman added. Hitler also pulled this scam. First, he raised social issues in order to gain popularity, and combined this with racist hate. Suleyman and Zeynep in Hanau The two criticized the fact the federal government had learned nothing. When this government came to office, it even cut funding to fight right-wing extremism. We are left alone by the politicians, he added. How much longer should we wait? Until racism turns into a giant monster? Ali Yaman lives in Hanau and said he knew the victims, I was born in Hanau. A friend accompanying him added, These were our friends and relatives who were murdered here. Young, innocent people have died. It didnt have to happen. Ali Yaman in Hanau The perpetrator could fire in all directions unhindered for hours, said Ali Yaman. He even had a gun license and could get all his equipment on the Internet. The perpetrator was well known! But why wasnt he being watched? Young people were still stunned that these murders could have easily been prevented. At the vigil in Stuttgart, many of the hundreds of participants asked critical questions about the perpetrators connections to the state apparatus and the responsibility of the establishment parties. Two demonstrations took place in Berlin. The establishment parties had called a demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate, while various social initiatives organized a rally on Hermannplatz in the Neukolln district, which was much bigger, with thousands of participants. WSWS reporters spoke to Mohammed and Fatid, who had both fled Syria about five years ago and have recently started studying economics in Frankfurt (Oder). They had heard about the demo by chance on social media and were positively surprised about the mass of people who had come. Yes, the right is in the minority, but this is enough to spread such fear. Ive been in Germany for a good five years and its only recently that I really feel like a foreigner, Fatid said when we approached him. Such attacks are the natural reaction to the media, which only spread hatred. Especially recently, there has been a lot of talk about Islam. A situation like today would not have been possible without the years of haggling in the media, both explained. Rike and Bobby were also outraged about the role of the media in the rise of the right in Germany. Both are studying humanities at the Technical University Berlin. The media only stir things up. A terrorist attack like yesterday is happening and all you hear is, Yes, but the left-wing extremists. Money is earned by stirring people up against each other, while right-wing terrorist networks and crimes are played down. The parties in the Bundestag [federal parliament] also bear responsibility for the rise of the right, he said, The major parties are doing nothing. All the parties have moved to the right and are helping to normalize the politics of the AfD. Rike stressed that while Hanau was the concrete cause for the demonstration today, the actual background was much broader. Hundreds of people took part in the vigil at the Brandenburg Gate. Pensioner Holger had come spontaneously after hearing about the attack in Hanau. That simply cant be! he said. Its mainly the AfDs fault. It had made this agitation against foreigners acceptable again, so one should not be surprised that these terrible attacks happened more and more often, he said. Remembrance vigil at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin Asked about the latest events in Thuringia, Holger remarked that the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) were also to blame for the fact that the AfD was gaining more and more influence. You have to fight the right-wing radicals and not let them vote for you. In Munich, hundreds of people took part in a vigil on Odeonsplatz. In Duisburg, around 200 people spontaneously gathered in the city centre. The alliance Duisburg stands against had called for a rally against fascist terror. Sebastian and Markus had arranged to meet at the demonstration. Sebastian supports actions against the right where he can, saying he was shocked by the election of state premier Kemmerich in Thuringia with the effective collaboration of the CDU/FDP and AfD. He was critical of both the Left Partys offers to the CDU before and after Kemmerichs election. Since Ive been eligible to vote, Ive voted for the Left Party; trusting that the Left Party will sit there and make appropriate policies. This trust is obviously damaged. I can understand that [former Left Party state premier] Ramelow and the Left Party are moving to the right to get even more votes. But theres a danger in making deals with the devil. Markus and Sebastian (left) in Duisburg Kemal, who took part in the demonstration, also thought that all the Berlin parties shared responsibility for the right wings activities. CDU, FDP and AfD had come to an agreement in the weeks before the demonstration. They share the same politics. Kemal was particularly outraged that an equivalence was being drawn between left-wing extremists and right-wing extremists or the left and AfD. Left-wingers and left-wing extremists are not misanthropists and racists. The former head of the secret service, Maassen, had always used this equation to work together with the right and the AfD, he said. Kemal thought that large sections of the population had underestimated the right-wing extremists in recent years. But now, it is becoming open and really threateningnot only for Muslims and people with a migration background; also for German dissidents. Now one had to stand up against the right-wing danger. Eva, a student, had learned about the demonstration in Duisburg through Instagram and came spontaneously. She was very upset and worried about the murders in Hanau, that things could become like our grandparents time in Germany. She was also very angry that so-called left-wing extremism had been denounced as a reaction to the events in Hanau. Not only from the AfD, but also from the CDU and other moderate partiesand this on a day when nine people were killed in Hanau. I find that simply disgusting. When she saw on television how Kemmerich had shaken hands with AfD leader Bjorn Hocke in the Thuringian parliament, she simply got sick. Dinendra Das, member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday said that construction of Ram temple will start within the next six months as assured by Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. "It is our good fortune that the Temple Trust has undertaken the effort to make the temple. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji's commitment that construction of the temple will start within the next six months will come true. Lord Ram will give his blessings," said Dinendra Das. Another member of Trust, Dr Anil Kumar Mishra said that the Trust will strive to make the commitment of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das true. BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the parliament that a grand temple of Shri Ram will be built by a Trust created for the purpose. The devotees of Lord Ram across the world are making donations for this purpose and the temple will be constructed from this fund." Earlier, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said that the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is expected to start within six months. He also insisted that the Trust will not seek any grants from the government for the construction of the temple and would build it entirely from the public donations. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) A man accused of fatally stabbing two people who prosecutors say tried to stop his racist tirade against two young black women on a Portland, Ore., commuter train was convicted of murder Friday after an emotional trial that featured testimony from both women and the sole survivor of the attack nearly three years ago. Jurors found Jeremy Christian, 37, guilty of the deaths of Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best, the AP reports. He also was convicted of attempted murder for stabbing survivor Micah Fletcher and assault and menacing for shouting slurs and throwing a bottle at a black woman on another light-rail train the day before the May 2017 stabbings. A judge last year dismissed charges of aggravated murderwhich carries a potential death sentencebecause of a new Oregon law that narrows the definition of aggravated murder. story continues below Per prosecutors, Christian boarded the train on May 26, 2017, and began shouting racist, anti-Muslim, and xenophobic slurs at the two black women. One was an immigrant from Somalia and wore a Muslim headscarf. During his tirade, Christian got into confrontations with Namkai-Meche and Fletcher and took out a 4-inch folding knife and stabbed them. Authorities say he also stabbed a third passenger, Ricky Best, standing nearby. Namkai-Meche and Best died at the scene of stab wounds to the neck; Fletcher was seriously injured but survived. Christian stabbed the men 11 times in 11 seconds. The stabbings' racial undertones shook Portland, which prides itself on its liberal and progressive reputation but also grapples with a racist past that included limits on where black families could live and a neo-Nazi community so entrenched that the city was once nicknamed "Skinhead City." (Read more murder stories.) Tourists wearing protective masks walk past the Colosseum, after two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Italy, in Rome, January 31, 2020. Remo Casilli | Reuters Localized outbreaks of the new coronavirus outside of China are fueling concerns among infectious disease experts and scientists that the virus is spreading too quickly and may be past the point of containment. Health officials are warning the public to prepare for a potential global pandemic. Iran health officials said Friday the COVID-19 coronavirus had spread to several cities, confirming 13 new cases and bringing its total in the country to 18 in just a matter of days. Hours later, Italy announced its outbreak had worsened, confirming 14 cases in the region of Lombardy and two cases in the adjacent region of Veneto. Outside of China, there are now 1,152 cases across 26 countries up from 505 cases across 24 countries a week ago and eight deaths as of Friday, according to the World Health Organization. The number of new cases was unprecedented just a month ago when there were as little as 300 COVID-19 cases worldwide, mainly in China. Experts are beginning to wonder: Is the genie out of the bottle? "Over the last few weeks, many in the medical and public health communities wondered how much transmission is ongoing outside of China that we're just not aware of," Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the University of Toronto, said in a phone interview with CNBC. "The concern is that there may be significant numbers of undetected and unreported cases in Iran. And that this may be another potential global focus for disease exportation," he said. Bogoch said the detection of the coronavirus in a Canadian woman who recently traveled to Iran was particularly concerning. "There are possible arrows pointing in the direction that there may be an underappreciated burden of illness in Iran and if this person acquired infection in Iran and into Canada, it could be an indication that there are many, many more infections in Iran," he said. The virus appears to stabilize in China The outbreak looked like it was going in a different direction just a week ago. WHO officials said on Feb. 12 that the number of new cases in China appeared to have stabilized and that officials had "a good view on the virus" overall. Daily reports from Chinese health officials showed new cases in the country were declining. On Feb. 14, WHO reported 505 cases in two dozen countries outside of China but said there were no signs anywhere beyond China of community transmission, which is when officials cannot identify the source of the virus. Nearly all the cases outside of China were traced to people who had traveled through the epicenter of the outbreak. Only 107 cases were spread from one person to another outside of China, but many of those cases were people with a close relationship to a traveler who had carried the virus from China. China was taking drastic measures at that point to contain the virus, and WHO officials said new cases in China appeared to slow. The cases take a turn Developments since then paint a bleaker picture. Cases outside of China have now doubled, to over 1,200, with more than 350 cases of transmission occurring outside of China. Cases in South Korea have spiked from 28 a week ago to 204 as of Friday, leading the southern city of Daegu, where many of the cases are centered, to ban mass gatherings and encourage self-quarantine. Iranian health officials confirmed this week that the virus had appeared in the country, infecting two patients, who died the same day their infections were confirmed. In just two days, Iranian health officials confirmed the virus had spread to 18 people in the country and warned of a possible wider spread. "It's possible that it exists in all cities in Iran," health ministry official Minou Mohrez said. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said Friday that the sudden outbreak in Iran and other parts of the world is "very worrisome." He said there is still a chance for health officials to contain the virus, but it's getting less likely by the day. "The window of opportunity is still there, but our window of opportunity is narrowing," Tedros said at a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Geneva. "We need to act quickly before it closes completely." He also cautioned: "This outbreak could still go in any direction." Health officials are receiving information about the patients in Iran, but "we have to engage them even more," Tedros said. A new phase Video PlayerClose A medical worker talks with people under quarantine via an intercom at a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose A staff member disinfects a corridor of a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose A medical worker helps his colleague wear medical gloves at a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose Medical workers check a worker of Leishenshan Hospital, a makeshift hospital built in Wuhan, at a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose A medical worker carries lunch for people under quarantine at a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose A medical worker teaches a woman under quarantine to do indoor exercises at a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose Lunch for people under quarantine is placed in front of their rooms of a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose A staff member disinfects express packages at the entrance of a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose Staff members collects paper boxes used to contain wastes at a medical obervation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] A staff member disinfects a corridor of a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] Video PlayerClose A staff member disinfects the sewer of a medical observation area in Fengtai District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. The medical observation area was converted from a hotel for people under quarantine. About 90 people have been quarantined here with daily necessities and proper medical care. [Photo by Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Doctors will be banned from warning patients about the risks of coronavirus under EU rules that are set to become law in Britain despite Brexit. Public bodies face being fined up to 17million by Brussels if they send unsolicited messages by text or email even as part of a public health campaign. The plan has caused fury in Downing Street because of the role of UK Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, who is working to put EU data protection laws into a statutory code that the Government would have no power to amend. Doctors will be banned from warning patients about the risks of coronavirus under EU rules that are set to become law in Britain despite Brexit (stock image) One senior Government source last night described Ms Denham as an 'unelected anti-Brexit pen-pusher'. The plans have been drawn up as part of a consultation by Ms Denham on a new statutory code of practice for direct marketing that will enact EU data protection and e-privacy regulations. No 10 advisers say that if the code becomes law, health campaigns would be ineffective because the public would be forced to 'opt in' to receive advice by email or text on health threats such as the potentially fatal coronavirus. Council tax bills would also rise because local authorities would be forced to print leaflets to publicise services such as bin collections. Under the code, GPs would be banned from sending text messages to patients giving even simple information such as: 'Our flu clinic is now open. If you would like a flu vaccination please call the surgery to make an appointment.' The plan has caused fury in Downing Street because of the role of UK Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham (pictured), who is working to put EU data protection laws into a statutory code that the Government would have no power to amend Ms Denham, whose salary and pension benefits come to nearly 245,000 a year, investigated the use of data by Leave campaigners, including Boris Johnson's senior adviser Dominic Cummings in the 2016 referendum campaign, but found no evidence of wrongdoing. She once said: 'I don't think Brexit should mean Brexit when it comes to standards of data protection.' Conservative MP Ben Bradley told The Mail on Sunday: 'We have the left the European Union, but anti-Brexit quangos are continuing to gold-plate EU laws. 'Such bonkers rules threaten to put public safety at risk by undermining vital anti-flu and coronavirus campaigns. 'Even town halls giving advice on your next bin collection might be banned under these bully-boy diktats. 'Given that we have waved goodbye to the EU, we should be cutting back its reams of red tape, not adding to it.' An Information Commissioner's Office spokeswoman said: 'The ICO is currently consulting on the development of the statutory direct marketing code, as required by UK data protection law. 'The law or the code do not prevent the sending of public health alerts which are vital to the management of health risks and incidents like the coronavirus.' OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- For at least two decades, Chic Cody has served as the City of Ocean Springs event coordinator -- helping organize all of the citys major events, from Cruisin the Coast to the Peter Anderson Festival to the two major Mardi Gras parades. But Friday night, with the Ocean Springs Carnival Association parade about to roll, Cody was sitting on his rear end, watching others take care of the last minute details he normally oversees. It was hard, said Cody, who had to give up his normal event duties to instead serve as the OSCA parades Grand Marshal. "I wanted to get out of that car so many times to help with this thing. My wife kept telling me Sit down. Let them do it. Its your turn to enjoy. But it was hard. Ive done it so many years, its just second nature, really. Im so grateful to the carnival association for asking me. It was really an honor. Longtime OSCA parade captain Heather Eason said Cody was a no-brainer choice for the association. It was unanimous we were going to ask him, Eason said, but he was hesitant. He said there were people more deserving, but I told him the association makes the decision and we wanted him. He finally agreed. This was the 12th installment of the night parade and its biggest yet, with some 70 units and 48 floats. Eason said the parade would not be at this point without Codys help. He was the reason Ive been able to be successful with this parade, she said. When Clark (Levi) handed it over to me, I didnt even know the things I didnt know. Chic held my hand through it, walked me through it. I would have never thought about some of the things like extra lighting or port-a-pottys. I didnt know enough to even ask those questions. In addition to serving as the parade grand marshal, it was also revealed that Cody will portray Pierre LeMoyne dIberville in the Citys annual Landing of DIberville reenactment in April. Normally, the identity of the landing cast is kept under wraps until shortly before 1699 weekend, but with Cody as grand marshal it was decided to announce the landing cast and allow Cody and others to wear their landing attire for the parade. In addition to Cody as grand marshal, Chad Cashin and his wife, Jennifer Cashin, reigned as King Ocean VI and Queen Springs VI, respectively. PARIS - A respected Canadian Catholic figure who helped improve conditions for the developmentally disabled in multiple countries over half a century sexually abused at least six women, a report produced for his French-based charity has found. According to the report released by LArche International Saturday, the womens descriptions provide evidence enough to show that Jean Vanier engaged in manipulative sexual relationships over a period from 1970 to 2005, usually with a psychological hold over the alleged victims. Vanier died last year at age 90. The alleged victims felt deprived of their free will and so the sexual activity was coerced or took place under coercive conditions, the report said. It did not rule out potential other victims. None of the women was disabled, a significant point given the Vatican has long sought to portray any sexual relationship between religious leaders and other adults as consensual unless there was clear evidence of disability. The #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, however, have forced a recognition that power imbalances such as those in spiritual relationships can breed abuse. During the inquiry, commissioned by LArche last year and carried out by the independent, U.K.-based GCPS Consulting group, six adult, non-disabled women said Vanier had engaged in sexual relations with them as they were seeking spiritual direction. According to the report, the women, who have no links to each other, reported similar facts and Vaniers sexual misconduct was often associated with alleged spiritual and mystical justifications. A statement released by LArche France Saturday stressed that some women still have deep wounds. The report noted similarities with the pattern of abuse of the Rev. Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest Vanier called his spiritual father. Philippe, who died in 1993, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women. A statement from LArche International said analysis of archives shows that Vanier adopted some of Father Thomas Philippes deviant theories and practices. Philippe was banned from exercising any public or private ministry in a trial led by the Catholic Church in 1956 for his theories and the sexual practices that stemmed from them. In a letter to the charity members, the Leaders of LArche International, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates Carney, told of their shock at the news, and condemned Vaniers actions. For many of us, Jean was one of the people we loved and respected the most. ... While the considerable good he did throughout his life is not in question, we will nevertheless have to mourn a certain image we may have had of Jean and of the origins of LArche, they wrote. Vanier worked as a Canadian navy officer and professor before turning to charity work. A visit to a psychiatric facility prompted him to found the charity LArche in 1964 as an alternative living environment where those with developmental disabilities could be full-fledged participants in the community instead of patients. The charity now has facilities in 38 countries that are home to thousands of people both with and without disabilities. Vanier, who was unmarried, also travelled the world to encourage dialogue across religions, and was awarded the 2015 Templeton Prize for spiritual work, as well as Frances Legion of Honor. He was the subject of a documentary shown at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival called Jean Vanier, the Sacrament of Tenderness. The allegations against Vanier reveal a major gap in the Catholic Churchs handling of sex abuse allegations to date: Because he was a layman, he was exempt from the Vaticans in-house sanctioning procedures for abuse, which only cover priests, bishops and cardinals. For these offenders, the worst penalty the Vatican can impose is defrocking essentially, making the priests laymen again. A similar case concerned the lay leader of a Peru-based organization, Sodalicio, who escaped Vatican justice for years even though there were credible allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse against him. The Vatican finally ordered him to live in isolation from his followers, a penalty that drew scorn from his victims given that it amounted to an all-expense-paid retirement in Rome. ____ Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this story. He's enjoying the limelight thanks to his first solo album release in ten years, and is doing his best to keep up with it all in spite of some ongoing health trouble. And while legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne is continuing to deal with symptom's of Parkinsons Disease, it didn't stop the Black Sabbath frontman from having a little fun with a teaser clip for his upcoming music video for the new track Scary Little Green Men. In the clip, guitar strumming is heard along with the cheering of an expectant audience, as a figure cloaked in black leather ambles down a dimly lit hallway. Though many expected it to be the Prince Of Darkness himself, they were in for quite the surprise. The prince himself: While legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne is continuing to deal with symptom's of Parkinsons Disease, it didn't stop him from having a little fun with a teaser clip for his new album dropped Friday; seen here at Amoeba Music in Hollywood on Friday The hooded figure had all of Ozzy's signature additions - wearing rings on his fingers, walking with a cane, and letting a grand train trail behind him. As the music builds, he approaches the microphone, and the man finally removes his hood to reveal not Ozzy, but Aquaman star Jason Momoa doing his best rendition OF the Crazy Train rocker. Momoa lip syncs to Osbourne's new track and makes love to the camera in crash zooms, displaying his copious rings and black manicure. Just before the end of the snippet, Momoa makes as it he's about to bite the head off a bat, just as Ozzy famously did 40 years ago. That's not Ozzy: In the snippet, a cloaked and hooded figure thought to be Osbourne turns out to be none other than Jason Momoa The buildup: At the opening, guitar strumming is heard along with the cheering of an expectant audience, as a figure cloaked in black leather ambles down a dimly lit hallway Rock on, Aquaman: Momoa lip syncs to Osbourne's new track and makes love to the camera in crash zooms, displaying his copious rings and black manicure And while Osbourne attended his first in-store record signing in ten years at the historic Amoeba Music store in Los Angeles, California on Friday, and a listening party with his wife Sharon and daughter Kelly the evening before that, the septuagenarian crooner has had to slow down and even cancel some appearances as he continues to manage his health. Chief among those appearances was a separate appearance at KLOS on Friday for the launch of Ordinary Man. The Osbournes star has been very candid and vocal about his health woes, revealing that he's 'in unbelievable pain 24/7.' Wild: Just before the end of the snippet, Momoa makes as it he's about to bite the head off a bat, just as Ozzy famously did 40 years ago Giving his John Hancock: While Osbourne attended a record signing at the historic Amoeba Music store in Los Angeles, on Friday, the septuagenarian crooner has had to slow down and even cancel some appearances as he continues to manage his health Walking with difficulty: Chief among those appearances was a slated separate appearance at KLOS on Friday for the launch of Ordinary Man; seen here making his way into Amoeba By his side: A beautifully natural-haired Sharon accompanied Ozzy to Amoeba Music for his first in-store record signing in ten years on Friday It has even forced Ozzy to entirely cancel the North American leg of his highly anticipated No More Tours II in support of the new album. Ordinary Man is Ozzy's twelfth solo studio album, coming seven years after his last album with Black Sabbath, 2013's 13, and a full decade after his last solo effort Scream. The record has received mostly positive reviews, with a current score of 79 on meta-review site Metacritic. It seemed a fair enough question. Here we were in Las Vegas, a city famed not just for its Blackjack tables, but for blockbuster shows and musical residences dating all the way back to the 1930s. So, if Bernie Senator were to perform a Vegas show tune, what would his supporters select, and why? There was a vast repository of musical history supporters attending a get out the vote" rally in Spring Reserve ampitheatre in the west of Las Vegas could have reached for in order to answer The Independents question. Dating back over more than 70 years, the hotels and clubs that line the Strip have hosted residencies from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, to Liberace, Cher, Celine Dione, Engelbert Humperdinck, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Britney Spears, Drake and Lady Gaga. In May, Sting will start his own Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. 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 They could have reached back further, to the 1940s when African American stars such as Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong were repeat performers. As an article published last year in UDisoverMusic pointed out, that was a time when the city was deeply entrenched with racism and known as the The Mississippi Of The West. Cole was not allowed to gamble at the venue he was headlining. Isiah Garcia, 24, an engineering student, said he would like to see the senator sing Armstrongs What a Wonderful World. Its one of my favorite songs and Bernie sees the best in people, he said. Neil Gillfillian opted for Danke Schoen by Las Vegas legend Wayne Newton, a song of break up and survival, and whose lyrics include: Though we go our separate ways. Still the memory stays for always. Christina Rivera, 34, chose Michael Jacksons cover of Come Together by The Beatles, which she said he performed on the Strip in his shows with Cirque du Soleil. Sheila Wright, an elementary school teacher, said she was supporting Mr Sanders because she was tired of teaching children who were coming to school hungry and sick. She was quick to pick My Shot from Hamilton, with the words: I am not throwing away my shot, Hey yo, Im just like my country, Im young, scrappy and hungry. The idea behind the question was to make people consider what made them connect with the senator at a deeper, more visceral level, rather than simply thinking his plan for universal health care made good common sense. What do Bernie Sanders's neighbors think about him? When The Independent conducted a similar primary season experiment at Harlems Apollo Theatre in 2016 when the senator was holding a campaign event at a venue which only permitted black patrons after 1934, people suggested This Land is My Land, Faith, and America. Rachael Singleton, a nurse, had suggested We are the World. At that point in the political cycle, Mr Sanders was fighting to keep up with Hillary Clinton, the favourite, who had the support of the Democratic establishment and corporate donors. Four years on, Mr Sanders is the partys frontrunner to take on Donald Trump in November. Was Tereresa Perez, another supporter of the senator, unconsciously displaying confidence he might seal the deal when she suggested Frank Sinatras My Way? He does his own unique thing, she said. And he has done for 40 years. It was a beautiful evening and The Independent was feeling in a generous mood. So when Shaun Richards and Jacqueline Bunge suggested Power to the People one of the songs actually played at the rally it was permitted, even though it was by John Lennon, not The Beatles, whose music features in Love, a show at the Mirage Hotel. All you need is love, said Ms Bunge. All you need is love, and Bernie Sanders. There were several people who went for My Way, and a number who went for My Shot. Mr Sanders' campaign did not immediately respond to questions as to whether he had a favorite show tune, or which one best summed up his campaign. Among the most interesting selections came from Frank Votaro, who pointed out that at the age of 77, he was almost the same age as the senator, who last October suffered a heart attack, and believed he was the real McCoy. He also suggested a Sinatra song, not My Way, but Thats Life, which was recorded and released in 1966. Sinatra did Thats Life first My Way came afterwards, he said. The song was written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon and first recorded in 1963 by Marion Montgomery. Mr Votaro, who said he still worked part-time as a croupier, said he had served in the army with one of the men who composed it. It talks about the events that happen to us in life, and carrying on, said Mr Votaro, as he began to sing the opening lines. The lyrics begin: Thats life, Thats Life, thats what all the people say. Youre riding high on Monday, shot down in May. But I, I aint never gonna change my tune, when Im back on top in the month of June. By Praveen Menon WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A 28-year-old man who murdered a British woman backpacker in New Zealand was handed life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years behind bars, one of the longest sentences given in a country where serious crime was once considered rare. The murder of 22-year-old Grace Millane, from Essex, shocked New Zealanders and raised questions about the country's reputation as a safe, easy-going holiday destination. Millane went missing in Auckland on Dec. 1, 2018, while on a backpacking tour through New Zealand after finishing university. She met the convicted killer through dating app Tinder. Both shared drinks on the eve of her 22nd birthday, the day she went missing, and later went to his downtown Auckland apartment. Police found her body several days later in a shallow grave in a bushland just a few metres from a scenic drive in hills west of the city. The man, whose name still remains suppressed by the court order, was found guilty of the murder by a jury on Nov. 22. Justice Simon Moore opted for a non-parole period of 17 years, one of the longest stretches ever handed down to a murderer in New Zealand, 1NEWS said. The judge said this was not a case where the strangulation was driven by rage or was premeditated. But Millane was vulnerable and appeared to be restrained. "You were in a position of total physical dominance," the judge told the killer, according to New Zealand Herald newspaper. NATION SHOCKED The man confessed Millane died in his apartment but pleaded not guilty to murder, and his lawyers argued she died accidentally during consensual sex. But prosecutors said the accused had murderous intent and Millane was strangled to death. Justice Moore said in the minutes after her death the man looked up pornography sites and then took intimate photos of Millane's body, noting these were not the actions of a man in panic. The man then transported Millane's body out of his apartment in a suitcase and later buried it. Story continues Earlier in the day, Millane's mother Gillian read a statement in court via a video link from the UK. The news that her daughter was found in a shallow grave would "haunt" her for the rest of her life, she said, according to the Herald. Gillian said the killer had "taken my daughter's future" and robbed her family of so many memories, the newspaper reported. Thousands of people held candlelight vigils after Millane's death in a national outpouring of grief. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern held back tears as she apologised to Millane's family on behalf of New Zealand. (Editing by Tom Brown and Lincoln Feast.) STEPANAKERT. One of the most important security components is competitive capabilities of Armenia and Artsakh, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said during a joint meeting of the national security councils in Stepanakert. It is the economy that should provide the Armed Forces of Armenia and Artsakh with the necessary resources for the implementation of their functions, and the issues of economic strategic significance is on our agenda today. But on the other hand, we must state that the security situation in our region, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly tense, and we are seeing more escalation than solutions, and this will also be discussed at a joint meeting of security councils. From this point of view, I want to draw our attention to the following problem. I think that under the prevailing geopolitical realities, we must state that we have a joint responsibility not only from the point of view of security of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, but also a special responsibility from the point of view of ensuring regional and global security, he noted. Open source Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) has blacklisted Iran that does not meet the international criteria for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, DW wrote. This decision was made after repeated warnings over three years, in which the FATF called on Iran to accede to the convention on combating the funding of terrorism. The organizations statement said that Iran has not taken sufficient measures to criminalize the financing of terrorism, to ensure the transparency of bank transfers or to freeze the terrorist assets against which UN sanctions are directed. At the same time, the FATF left Iran the opportunity to rectify the situation. Tehran has already responded by calling the FATF decision politically motivated. Head of the country's central bank assured the Iranians that this decision would not affect Irans foreign trade and the stability of the local currency. Pakistan, meanwhile, was given a respite until June 2020 to implement the necessary measures. As we reported before, the black box of the Ukrainian plane PS752 downed on January 8, 2020, in Iran is heavily damaged and it is impossible to retrieve the information from it. The authorities asked the defense industry sector to assist in the repair of the black box and restoration of the information. West Deptford resident Lillian Wolfe went out to get the mail and noticed a blank envelope. Inside it was a document labeled 2020 Congressional District Census. It wasnt until Wolfe delved deeper into the questions about age, political affiliation and then later questions about social media influence on public opinion, and fear of foreign powers interfering with elections that she realized it was definitely not the Census. I was confused because I knew that the notice that was coming out from the Census Bureau was not coming out until March, and it certainly was not going to look like the old census did being in a big envelope, Wolfe told NJ Advance Media. When I opened it up, and I saw that it said 'census 'and I saw it was from the Republican Party and I started looking at the questions, I went this is fraudulent. This is going to confuse people who will answer, and then in March, when they get the information to go online to answer the census, they are going to think they already did it and not fill out the census. Wolfe is a member of Action Together New Jersey which was asked by the Census Bureau to distribute fliers about the upcoming Census and post them in different towns. The Census, mandated in the Constitution to be conducted every 10 years, is vital because it plays a role in determining federal funding, the number of congressional seats a state sends to the House of Representatives and provides information useful demographic information used by businesses and municipalities. The document Wolfe received, labeled Census," however, is a political survey commissioned by the Republican National Committee, and does not violate any state law or ethics rules. The surveys are called FRUGing, meaning Fundraising Under the Guise of Research, and every political party does it, the Director of Goucher Colleges Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center Mileah Kromer told The Baltimore Sun. The Democratic Party issued a similar survey, asking about foreign and domestic policies as well as views on President Trump, according to a 2019 Baltimore Sun story. Some are worried that the existence of this document called a congressional census will deter others from filling out the national census form. With the 2020 Census about to begin, we cannot allow these fake surveys to have a real impact, said Congressman Donald Norcross (D-1st District). "Reports are coming in from across the country about this apparent scam to raise money and derail the census by deliberately confusing residents. Its appalling, and Im working with the Census Bureau and leaders throughout our community to ensure that everyone in South Jersey gets counted and our region gets the resources it deserves. The document asks for demographic information as well as views on domestic issues and views on potential election meddling While the census will mainly be filled out online, people will have the option to request a paper form. According to the United States Census Bureau website, one of the ways to verify if the document received in the mail is an official Census Bureau form is to see if the enclosed envelope to mail back the questionnaire would be addressed to Jeffersonville, IN, or Phoenix, AZ, locations where the Census Bureau have processing centers. The Census Bureau said anyone with questions about a census-related document can visit census.gov, and anyone who has received a fictitious or scam related to the census to visit this webpage or call the Census Bureau Customer Service Hotline at 1-800-923-8282. Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Lori Vallow, the Idaho mother of two missing children who has been charged with desertion, told police when they were looking for her son that he was staying with a friend of hers out of state. That friend told police she had been asked to lie and tell investigators that she had the boy, even though he hadn't been there for months. Police in Rexburg, Idaho, also said in a probable cause affidavit filed against Vallow that she has not been seen with her two children for months and essentially erased them from her life before moving to Hawaii with her new and fifth husband. The affidavit also said there is no evidence Vallow put her children, Joshua Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, in anyone else's care. Vallow was arrested Thursday in Hawaii and charged with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, resisting an officer, solicitation and contempt. Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan. She appeared in court Friday in Kauai, where she was arrested, and declined to waive her right to an extradition hearing. Justin Kollar, Kauai's elected prosecuting attorney, said at a news conference Friday that a challenged extradition can extend the process up to 90 days, but he does not expect such a delay. A judge set her bail at $5 million. The next hearing was scheduled for March 2. Tylee has not been seen or heard from since Sept. 8. Police were able to find a photo dated Sept. 8 of her on a trip with Vallow, Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, and Joshua to Yellowstone National Park. "This photo is the last time we can find any record of [Tylee] being with Lori Vallow," the affidavit says. Tylee's older brother, Colby Ryan, said he last talked to her on Facetime in August, and his mother would make up excuses about why Tylee couldn't get on the phone when he asked to talk with her since then. Vallow told a friend that Tylee was attending BYU Idaho, but police discovered she was never registered there or at any other BYU school. Joshua, who has special needs, was last seen alive on Sept. 23 at Kennedy Elementary School. Vallow called the school later that day to inform them that the boy would no longer be attending the school, and she would be homeschooling him. But no educational records were ever requested, police said. Story continues On Nov. 26, at the prompting of Joshua's grandmother, police went to Vallow's home to conduct a welfare check. Her husband, Chad Daybell, "acted as if he didnt know Lori very well" and didn't know how to get in touch with her, the affidavit says. Kauai police Chief Todd Raybuck told reporters Friday that as long as Daybell is not wanted by authorities in Idaho, he "can move about as he wishes." Cox, Vallow's brother, told detectives that Joshua was with his grandmother, "which was not likely to be true due to the fact that [she] was the individual who first called in a missing child report," the affidavit says. Police spoke with Vallow the same day, and she told them Joshua was with her friend Melanie Gibb in Arizona. Investigators had trouble contacting Gibb, but when they finally did in December, she told them the boy had not been at her home for several months, adding that both Vallow and Daybell had called her separately in November to ask her to tell police she had Joshua. "The statement Lori made to RPD (the Rexburg Police Department) about [Joshua] being with Melanie Gibb delayed the investigation into the whereabouts and safety of [Joshua] by requiring us to take time to investigate a lead that was verified false," the affidavit says. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell. Vallow had told neighbors, whose son Joshua who used to play with, that he had gone to stay with his grandmother. She informed a babysitter on Sept. 24 that her services were no longer needed, and she requested in July that Joshua's service dog be retrieved by the trainer. She also hadn't refilled the prescription for medication to treat Joshua's autism since January 2019. A late November search warrant on Vallow's storage unit uncovered blankets with pictures of the children, Joshua's backpack, toys, children's clothing, bikes, a scooter and a photo album. In early December, Vallow and Daybell flew to Hawaii without any children, according to the affidavit, and the kids have never been seen there with the couple. But Vallow had Tylee's debit card. Daybell's parents told police they were told their new daughter-in-law was an "empty-nester." His ex-sister-in-law told police she was told Lori had no juvenile children. Daybell and Vallow married weeks after Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell, 49, was found dead in her home in October. Police have said they believe the children's disappearance is tied to an investigation into Tammy Daybell's death. Vallow's previous husband, Charles Vallow, was fatally shot by Cox during a confrontation July 11 in Chandler, Arizona. Cox claimed self-defense. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner in Arizona ruled the death a homicide, and police are still investigating. "Our case is still open," Chandler police Det. Seth Tyler said by email. Vallow and Cox were questioned by police but not charged. Cox died in December, The Associated Press reported. Before Charles Vallow died, he filed for divorce, claiming in documents that his wife believed she was reincarnated and was a god sent to lead people during the second coming of Christ in July 2020, and she told her husband that if he got in her way, she would kill him. An attorney who represented him during the divorce proceedings said in a statement that Charles Vallow had a "genuine fear for his life." Vallow's third husband and Tylee's father, Joseph Ryan, also expressed "real and serious concerns" in court documents in the midst of their divorce and custody battle. The documents said Vallow was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after she told social workers that death would be an option before giving Tylee to her father, Mr. Joseph Ryan, even for a visit. Ryan died of an apparent heart attack in 2018. An online obituary said Ryan was 59. Before Rexburg police went to Vallow's home to check on Joshua at the end of November, they were already familiar with her. A detective had begun monitoring her Nov. 1 after police in Arizona told them that a vehicle in her possession was used in the alleged attempted murder in October of Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Vallow's niece, Melanie Boudreaux. "Brandon witnessed the Jeep," which he recognized as the Jeep that Tylee usually drove, and "observed a rifle with a silencer come out of the rear window of the Jeep and then Brandon's vehicle was shot once in the front drivers doorframe," according to the probable cause affidavit. That same Jeep was seized from Vallow in November. Police noted, "It is significant that the vehicle (Tylee) regularly drove was still in Rexburg nearly two months after the last known sighting of (Tylee)." For more on the story watch Datelines "Where Are The Children?" Sen. Amy Klobuchar is finding Nevada very different from New Hampshire. Her third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary vaulted her into the top tier of candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. Her fundraising exploded , allowing her campaign to have a substantial presence in TV ads in Nevada and to put 50 staffers in the state. "After we saw the New Hampshire results, immediately you started seeing their team nationally pouring into the state," said Nevada State Assemblyman Edgar Flores, who chairs Nevadas bipartisan Hispanic Legislative Caucus. Flores, whos not endorsing anyone in the Democratic presidential contest, said Klobuchar is doing all of the right things when it comes to voter outreach in Nevada, but that Klobuchars infusion of cash and attention in Nevada may have come too late. "I see them very aggressively working. I don't know if it's going to be enough," he said. ADVERTISEMENT "Unfortunately, from my own anecdotal conversations in the community both as an immigration attorney and as an elected official, I still think that there's still more voter contact that needs to be done to get her name out there, particularly in the Latino and Latina community." And in pivoting from mostly white Iowa and New Hampshire to Nevada, Klobuchar suffered a self-inflicted political wound when she was unable to name the president of Mexico in an interview with Telemundo. Days later in front of a national audience of 20 million viewers, Klobuchar lost her cool during the debate in Las Vegas when Pete Buttigieg pressed her on her gaff. "It's hard to say who won," said University of Nevada, Las Vegas political science professor Dan Lee because there was so much confrontation. It was not a high moment for Klobuchar, Lee said. "It was somewhat mixed for for actually a lot of the candidates, but for Klobuchar in particular." Still, Lee said he doubts the debate will hurt Klobuchar because so many people have voted early in the caucuses, nearly as many as voted in Nevadas 2016 Democratic caucuses. What might be more problematic for Klobuchar among nonwhite voters both in Nevada and in South Carolina, Lee said, is Klobuchar's record as a county prosecutor and the case of Myon Burrell , the black teenager who was sentenced to life in prison on evidence which is being questioned. ADVERTISEMENT And theres a vote Klobuchar cast in the Senate 15 years ago that would have made English the official language of the United States. In many places in Nevada there are more signs in Spanish than in English. "Stories like that of those kinds of votes certainly dont help paint her in the most positive light as well as the stories coming out about her work as a prosecutor back in Hennepin County," Lee said. "It just makes it harder for her to build a picture where she can appeal to a more diverse electorate." Klobuchar returns to her home ground after the Nevada caucuses. She has a Saturday evening event in Minneapolis to meet with volunteers and will be in Fargo, N.D., Sunday morning for an appearance at North Dakota State University. The Associated Press contributed to this story. This story originally appeared at: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/02/21/klobuchar-struggles-in-nevada-to-maintain-momentum of story Questions or requests? Contact MPR News editor Meg Martin at newspartners@mpr.org 2019 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved. A simple stick, says Doug Fargher, is a wonderful tool for students. When they are playing with a stick, it can be whatever their imagination requires: something for making marks, for counting, or measuring. The best materials for children are open-ended. Bush kinder educator Doug Fargher with children at the Darebin Parklands. Credit:Eddie Jim Mr Fargher has long experience in encouraging children to wield sticks (and stones, and flowers and mud). Hes a founder of the bush kinder program at Westgarth Kindergarten, the first outdoor play program in Victoria. Immersing children in unstructured free play in nature (like the bush, green spaces and gardens) has a myriad of benefits, according to a world-first Australian review of studies into nature play. Nirbhaya convicts left no stone unturned to escape gallows, failed to get relief Squirmed for a bit before going still: The final moments of Nirbhayas killers Nirbhaya case: Delhi court dismisses Vinay Sharma's plea claiming he suffers from mental illness India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Feb 22: The plea by one of the convict of 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case Vinay Sharma claiming he has mental illness and needs treatment has been dismissed by a Delhi court on Saturday On Saturday, the Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana rejected the plea by Sharma. The plea had claimed that Sharma had sustained grievous head injury and fracture in his right arm, and was suffering from mental illness and schizophrenia. Sharma has reportedly urged the court for a high level medical treatment this. According to a jail official, Sharma who along with the other three convicts in the Nirbhaya ganag rape case were to be hanged on March 3, on Sunday afternoon he had attempted to hurt himself by banging his head against a wall. Suddenly a security personnel of the jail saw him and stopped him. He has suffered some minor injuries. Nirbhaya's convict Vinay Sharma has head injury, can't recognise mother: Lawyer However, Sharma's lawyer claimed that the he has been unable to recognise people, he couldn't recognise his mother. On Monday, the court has put out a third death warrant for the four convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gand rape case. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 17:51 [IST] NGOMAHURU Psychiatric Hospital in Masvingo is running with only 17 psychiatry nurses against the expected establishment of 60 affecting operations and posing challenges that have seen some inmates attacking nurses. A visit to the institution by the Chronicle on Thursday revealed that more inmates, both men and women, are being attended to by less than five nurses per shift. The situation is worsened by the fact that of the nurses on duty at each given time, only a few are trained in psychiatry, posing a challenge on the management of inmates. The institutions matron, Mr Thomas Hwami Mahwehwe, said the situation was unbearable. He appealed to Government to unfreeze some posts so that the hospital can have more staff. We are operating with only 17 nurses and yet we should be 60 of us here, said Mr Mahwehwe. We are seriously understaffed that we are overwhelmed by the situation here. This is evident when we receive hyperactive inmates who need continuous monitoring. YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region will honor eight regional leaders at the ninth annual YWCA Women of Achievement Awards on March 26 at Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw. These awards honor women from the Great Lakes Bay Region who have demonstrated volunteer or professional activities and have made outstanding contributions in the categories of social justice, business and entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, community leadership, and the lifetime achievements. The Lifetime Achievement Award is granted to women who through a lifetime of volunteer and/or professional activities, have made outstanding contributions to her community. The 2020 honorees include: Dr. Brenda Coughlin, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers; Sharon Mortensen, Midland Area Community Foundation; and Dr. Judith Ruland, Saginaw Valley State University. The Women of Achievement Awards are given to women who have made outstanding contributions in volunteer and/or professional activities in their respective fields. The 2020 honorees include: Ashley Anderson, Two Men & A Truck/Sunrise Pedal Trolley - Business & Entrepreneurship; Dr. Dawn Hinton, Saginaw Valley State University - Community Leadership; Michelle McGregor, First Ward Community Center - Racial Justice; Dr. Kathy Stewart, Saginaw Intermediate School District - Education; and Dr. Lydia Watson, MidMichigan Health - Healthcare. The Women of Achievement Emerging Leader Awards are given to women, between the ages of 18-25, who demonstrate emerging leadership skills and have exhibited through their character, accomplishments, and activities, a philosophy of empowering women, and commitment to their community. The 2020 honorees include: Indigo Dudley - Saginaw Valley State University; Kourtney Koch - Central Michigan University; Anna Martinez - Northwood University; and Hannah Soto - Delta College. The YWCA Women of Achievement Awards are proud to feature Meg McLeod, anchor/reporter for WNEM-TV5, as special guest emcee. "It is our absolute privilege to host the Women of Achievement event. The accomplishments, professions and backgrounds of this year's honorees are incredibly diverse, but they all have one thing in common: their tireless work toward making our community a better place. Recognizing and celebrating these amazing women- sharing their stories- will hopefully empower other women and that is at the very core of who the YWCA GLBR is," said Jenna Briggs, YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region Board chair. "We're incredibly honored to highlight the accomplishments of these women. Through their leadership and tireless work, they have made a lasting impact and we're looking forward to honoring and celebrating them, " said Moira Branigan, executive director of the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region. The awards dinner is open to the public. Tickets are $60 each or a table of 8 for $600. To purchase tickets, call the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region at 989-894-9055 or visit ywcaglbr.org. Conronavirus Disrupts China-Backed Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia 2020-02-21 -- At least two China-backed infrastructure projects in Indonesia have been disrupted because of travel bans and shipments suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak, project managers said, while employees at an industrial park have been cleared to work after being quarantined. Thousands of Chinese nationals are constructing a high-speed railway connecting the Indonesian capital Jakarta to Bandung, and a hydropower project in North Sumatra province. But as a result of Jakarta's ban on flights to and from China, many of the workers have been unable to return to Indonesia after going home to celebrate the Lunar New Year, company executives said. PT Kereta Api Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), the consortium building the railway, is expected to miss construction targets because about 300 Chinese workers are absent and some materials have not been shipped, the company's managing director, Chandra Dwiputra, told reporters on Friday. "I can't talk about targets for this year," Chandra said. "The problem is many of those who returned to China are at senior levels and this has affected decision making." So far, Indonesian officials have reported no cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), whose epicenter was reported to be Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in China. As of Thursday, at least 75,000 cases had been detected in 27 countries with most concentrated in China, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). At least 2,100 deaths have been reported. Chandra said project directors, managers, engineers and consultants were among the absent Chinese workers. The project employs 14,000 people, including 2,000 Chinese nationals. In addition, nearly 50 percent of materials used in the project including pipes, waterproofing materials and signaling equipment are made in China, and some manufacturers have not resumed production, he said. "Concrete, steel and some other materials are available here, but if there are no supporting materials, construction will be disrupted," he said. Chandra said he had asked contractors to replace the Chinese workers with Indonesians temporarily. "The point is I am encouraging contractors to adjust plans according to the current conditions," he said. However, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said he expected no major disruptions to China-funded infrastructure projects. "Here, there are no problems," Budi told reporters. "On the contrary we want them to be faster," he said. Indonesia's president, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, has made improving Indonesia's infrastructure a priority during his second term in office. Prior to his re-election last year, Jokowi embraced Chinese investment and attended the 2017 unveiling of Beijing's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, an estimated U.S. $1 trillion-plus initiative to build a network of railways, ports and bridges across 70 countries. The $6 billion high-speed railway is OBOR's flagship project in Indonesia. Hydroelectric project In North Sumatra, the construction of the hydroelectric power plant has been suspended because of the absence of Chinese workers and it could miss its 2022 completion target date, said Emmy Hafild, a senior adviser at PT North Sumatra Hydro Energy (NSHE). China's ZheFu Holding Group owns a majority stake in NSHE, which is building the 510-megawatt hydropower dam in the Batang Toru rainforest. More than 120 of the 1,200 employees constructing the plant are Chinese nationals, Emmy told local media earlier this week. "We don't know how long it will stop, because it depends on the lifting of the ban on Chinese entering the country," Emmy told Kompas.com. Environmental groups and scientists have called on the government to scrap the project, saying the plant would divide the habitat of about 800 Tapanuli orangutan and increase the risk of their extinction. The Batang Toru Ecosystem is the only known home to the Tapanuli orangutan, which was discovered in 1939. It has been identified as a distinct species, and recently was listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The company has said the project would not threaten protected animals, including the orangutan. Meanwhile, 3,000 Chinese employees at an industrial complex in Central Sulawesi province who went into a quarantine last month amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak have since been released. Production at the Chinese-owned company, PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, which employs 28,000 Indonesians, continued during the quarantine carried out by the company. "We are grateful. The 3,000 workers from China are declared free from the coronavirus. No one is infected," company spokesman Dedy Kurniawan told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Reny A. Lamadjido, chief of the Central Sulawesi Health Office, confirmed the result. Slower growth forecast The project disruptions and other trade issues linked to the COVID-19 outbreak prompted Bank Indonesia, the country's central bank, to cut the 2020 growth forecast for Indonesia, expected to be 5.1 percent to 5.5 percent, to 5.0 percent to 5.4 percent. Bank Gov. Perry Warjiyo said the revised estimate was in line with the uncertain outlook of the global economy after the epidemic. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism said Indonesia could lose $4 billion as a result of flight bans to and from China. About 2 million Chinese visit Indonesia annually. China's ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said he expected the negative impact on the economy would be temporary and short-term. "We are hopeful that with the decisive measures taken by the Chinese government, the epidemic will be controlled and cleared up and production by manufacturers will recover," Ambassador Deng Xijun told reporters in Jakarta. "So we hope that people-to-people relations, normal trade and investment will be resumed as early as possible." Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content February not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Donald Trump also becomes the first American President to visit India with his wife and daughter and son-in-law in tow. Bill Clinton came with daughter not wife, Jackie Kennedy came minus husband, Hillary came minus husband but with daughter. Obama Eisenhower, Nixon, Carter and George W Bush came with wives and not children. Trump is not known not to be too fond of traveling abroad. His Asia visits are few and far between. Hence, this visit in an election year is significant.None of the children of former presidents were office-bearers in the American President's administration unlike the Trumps. DT's daughter Ivanka, a senior advisor to the President, is no stranger to India, having visited Hyderabad in 2017. Her husband Jared Kushner is advisor to the President and crucial to the President's decision-making process. That all four of them are coming to India is extremely significant because the visit will be high on showmanship and drama while not lacking in substance. Secretaries of Commerce, Energy departments as well as advisors and assistants on Policy, Digital Strategy, National Security are also part of the delegation.Trump in his election year is keen to shore up as much goodwill as possible. He understands India well by now. The Howdy Modi event in Texas in 2019 must have gone a long way in clearing any doubts where Indian origin Americans and Indians in India stand on India-US relations. It was Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008 who said to George W Bush, "The people of India deeply love you." And this when 'W' was an object of ridicule in the rest of the world and Dr Singh is not known to be an effusive gentleman. But Dr Singh was right when he said "When history is written, I think it will be recorded that President George W Bush played a historic role in bringing our two democracies closer to each other." He was referring to the 123 nuclear deal, of course which ended India's nuclear isolation.The Presidential visits before Bush were not significant at all. Eisenhower and Carter was about elephant ride, sandalwood garlands, Clinton was with daughter and not wife at the Taj, Agra and a Holi dance, Carters' visit was a blip that was forgotten post-Pokhran, Nixon's one day visit was bleeped out after his nastiness on Bangladesh and Indira Gandhi.Obamas were the only ones who came twice in two terms, once during Dr Singh's tenure and once in Mr Modi's first term. It can safely be assumed that were Trump to win again, India will be high up on his agenda. He has a peculiar rapport with Modi. He jokes about him and mimics his English accent but seems to be quite taken in with the Indian Prime Minister. Trump doesn't have many friends among world leaders. That he thinks of Modi as one is interesting. Modi on his part is very demonstrative in his affection, hugging the American President whenever there was an opportunity, clutching his hand and walking the stadium at the Howdy Modi event was as much PDA as can possibly be termed acceptable between two heterosexual men.Trump will surely be suitably impressed by the millions who are expected to welcome him as soon as he lands in Ahmedabad, he will take all the proverbial pictures at Agra with his perfectly coiffured wife and the extremely photogenic daughter and son-in-law. The family pictures at the Taj will also be flashed back home in the US. The wholesome American family in an exotic location. His supporters are sure to flash these in comparison to potential Democratic Presidential nominee Pete Buttigieg whose gay bonafides are toast of the town in liberal media circles but is not supposedly ticking all the right boxes as he is not 'intersectional enough'.The media contingent traveling with the American President will looking beyond the drama and hype, they will look at tangibles even though expecting it from any administration in its last leg is quite unfair. But then who expects the media to play fair. Not in the US and not in India. India and the US are likely to finalize five pacts, including on trade facilitation, homeland security and intellectual property rights. $2.6 billion deal for 24 Seahawk helis for the Indian Navy is on the cards. The MOU on Homeland Security will have far-reaching impact on the security scenario in the subcontinent particularly in view of the peace agreement that is likely to be signed between the US and Taliban representatives that many in the US are hoping will pave the way for an end to the 18-year long war. The implications of the pact could result in increased Indian participation in global supply chain in security, transnational crime and terrorism.Final contouring is also taking place to a possible pact between Indian Oil and Exxon on LNG pipeline infrastructure. ExxonMobil has been planning to enhance its presence in India's gas market and signed a preliminary agreement with IOC in October last year.The US has always been keen to scale up its trade with India, similar to say the Japanese model but India has played a reluctant customer. Trump even calling India a "tariff king". However, he has also expressed grudging respect for Modi for pushing back a giant like the US if it is in his national interest. Trump has tried to play down expectations back home saying it might happen but that could be later this year.Indian origin Americans are also pinning their hopes on this visit to go beyond hype and deliver on substance. Almost every US presidential candidate in the US today has Indian origin Americans in their strategy teams. There are influential Indian Americans in think-tanks, political interest groups, commentators on TV all keen to see the visit be a success and thereby give more muscle to the fastest growing racial group in the US. (ANI) ANN ARBOR, MI -- Ann Arbors bike share system will relaunch in the spring and become a year-round operation, transit leaders said at a Thursday Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) board meeting. The plan from the partners is to relaunch the bike program sometime in the next three months, as spring approaches, and have a good full season of this, said Matt Carpenter, CEO of TheRide. ArborBike includes 13 stations of 125 bikes, which will cost $200,000 to operate, using funds from the city, Downtown Development Authority, TheRide and University of Michigan, Carpenter added. Ann Arbor approved a resolution in April 2019 to contribute to the program. (The) intent is to run it year-round, Carpenter said. Some people might want to keep biking through the winter. Chicago-based Shift Transit became the operator in January 2019 and is under a contract for five years with TheRide, which owns the bikes and infrastructure. Shift Transit also operates Detroits MoGo, the citys first public bike share system, and bike share programs in Toronto, Chattanooga, Tennessee and Tucson, Arizona. The company runs 600 stations and 6,500 bicycles across North America. Update: A previous version of this story reported that Shift Transit operates 475 stations and 4,850 bikes. Heili Toome, vice president of marketing for Shift Transit, provided an updated number of stations and bikes. Clean Energy Coalition previously ran ArborBike and helped launch the program. Memberships are priced at $80 for an annual pass, $18 for a monthly pass and $8 for a 24-hour pass for 30-minute periods. Stations include Kerrytown, Main Street, the Ann Arbor District Library/Blake Transit Center, State Street and other locations on. View the station map online. Ann Arbor bike share to re-launch under new operator Ann Arbor agrees to fund bike share program Lower fares approved for Ann Arbor-Detroit hourly bus service DENVER, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DCP Midstream, LP (DCP) has filed its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of the Form 10-K, which contains our audited financial statements, is available on the investor section of our website at www.dcpmidstream.com. Investors may request a hardcopy of the Form 10-K free of charge by sending a request to the office of the Corporate Secretary of DCP Midstream at 370 17th Street, Suite 2500, Denver, Colorado 80202. INVESTOR AND MEDIA RELATIONS: Sarah Sandberg Phone: 303-605-1626 About DCP Midstream, LP DCP Midstream, LP (DCP) is a Fortune 500 midstream master limited partnership headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with a diversified portfolio of gathering, processing, logistics and marketing assets. DCP is one of the largest natural gas liquids producers and marketers and one of the largest natural gas processors in the U.S. The owner of DCPs general partner is a joint venture between Enbridge and Phillips 66. For more information, visit the DCP Midstream, LP website at www.dcpmidstream.com. During the 1980's, artist Matthew Wilder composed a song in about 30 minutes. That song, "Break My Stride," has been featured in films and commercials over the years and turned him into a one-hit wonder. Now, nearly four decades later, the song is gaining relevance for listeners who weren't even born when it was first released, thanks to its popularity on an unexpected platform: TikTok. On the short-form video app, popular with Generation Z, users typically share 15-second clips of themselves dancing, lip-syncing or doing comedy skits, most often set to music. "Break My Stride" began trending on TikTok earlier this year and has since been used in well over 800,000 videos on the app, while the hashtag #breakmystride has been viewed nearly 100 million times. Teens have posted videos of themselves dancing to the song, or acting out its lyrics with props like laundry baskets. The upbeat and bubbly pop song, coupled with its memorable refrain, has an almost magical power to make people feel like dancing. In one TikTok video that was liked 3.5 million times, the creator took a video of his mom sleeping, and then Photoshopped her into different backdrops relevant to the lyrics, such as sailing across the sea to China and in a row boat. "Now with the advent of TikTok, it's like having a hit record all over again with a whole new generation," Wilder, 67, told CNN Business. "Break My Stride" recently landed on Spotify's Viral 50 playlists in the US and the UK and was on Apple Music's Top 100 chart in over 20 countries. "Break My Stride" isn't alone. A number of other artists have seen their songs go viral on TikTok. The success of Lil Nas X's blockbuster country rap hit "Old Town Road" has been largely attributed to its popularity on TikTok, where the remix of the song, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, has been used in 7.5 million videos. The song finished 2019 as Billboard Hot 100's "Song of the Year." Other popular songs on TikTok include: "Roxanne" by Arizona Zervas, "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I, and "Say So" by Doja Cat, all of which cracked the Billboard Top 100 at some point. The success of these tracks, both old and new, highlights the impact that social media platforms -- even a relative newcomer like TikTok -- have on arts and culture. Just as Tumblr launched book deals and Instagram impacted the design world, TikTok is changing how musicians create and promote their work. Music is crucial to TikTok and its roots. In 2018, parent company ByteDance shut down Musical.ly, a short-form video app known for lip-syncing videos, and merged it with TikTok. Today, it is arguably still best known for lip syncing and dancing. As a result, emerging and established artists sometimes get to watch as their music takes off organically as part of a trend or challenge on the social network. Others will pay TikTok stars to feature their song in a video. Kio Cyr, 19, a social media influencer with about 4 million TikTok followers, charges as much as $3,000 to post one video featuring a song. Since joining TikTok last summer, he estimates that he's been paid to promote about 25 songs so far. "If you want a song to do well in the music industry today, you have to get on TikTok," Cyr said. Ricky Ray Butler, CEO of influencer marketing firm BEN, said once a song goes viral on TikTok, it sees huge spikes on other streaming services such as Spotify or YouTube, which "directly translates to money in the artists' and labels' pockets." "It has a domino effect. It spills over into every conceivable streaming format ... and creates a wave of acknowledgment and awareness in a generation that was not even aware of the song back when it originally was released," Wilder said of TikTok. Beat drops and heavy bass are two of the most obvious ingredients that help songs gain traction on TikTok. But Cyr said "relatable" lyrics are important, too. The right words can inspire the content that influencers (and regular users) create or make into a meme. Butler agreed, noting that songs with simple and catchy lyrics that are easy to dance to prove to resonate on the platform. Jacob Pace -- CEO of Flighthouse, a media brand on TikTok that also works with artists and record companies to promote music -- said artists should keep TikTok in mind when it comes to their records. "They don't necessarily have to make records for a TikTok, but there's ways of editing and remixing songs for them to then become better [suited] for TikTok," he said. For example, artists could add sound effects, speed up or slow down the track, or add voices before or after the song. As for Wilder, he has more music in the works. "I'm planning on writing and releasing new music as a result of the raised awareness through TikTok," he said. "And most definitely, I'll be posting on TikTok and every other platform that's available to let people know about the new music that's coming." WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday night removed the remaining obstacle to the Trump administrations plan to implement new wealth test rules making it easier to deny immigrants residency or admission to the United States if they might depend on public-assistance programs. Although legal challenges will continue on the merits of the policy in lower courts, the justices voted 5 to 4 to remove the last remaining judicial order blocking the new standards from going into effect while those battles play out. Critics say the rules, which the administration plans to begin enforcing Monday, replace decades of understanding and would place a burden on poor immigrants from non-English-speaking countries. A judge had blocked the administration from implementing the new standards in Illinois, and the Supreme Court's decision dissolves that order. As is common in such emergency applications, the majority did not explain its reasoning. By the same 5-to-4 vote last month, the court had gotten rid of an injunction imposed by a judge in New York that blocked the changes elsewhere in the country. The court's four liberal justices dissented then and Friday, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the court was violating its own rules about when to step into the legal process. "It is hard to say what is more troubling: that the government would seek this extraordinary relief seemingly as a matter of course, or that the court would grant it," Sotomayor wrote. The rules establish new criteria for who can be considered dependent on the U.S. government for benefits public charges, in the words of the law and thus ineligible for green cards and a path to U.S. citizenship. They were proposed to start in October but were delayed by the lower-court decisions. Under the new policy, immigrants would be suspect if they are in the United States legally and use public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps or housing assistance too often or are deemed likely to someday rely on them. The new criteria provide positive and negative factors for immigration officials to weigh as they decide on green-card applications. Negative factors include if a person is unemployed, dropped out of high school or is not fluent in English. Opponents of the rule argue that punishing legal immigrants who need financial help endangers the health and safety of immigrant families including U.S. citizen children and will foist potentially millions of dollars in emergency health-care and other costs onto local and state governments, businesses, hospitals, and food banks. The rules change brought legal challenges filed around the country, and some district judges had imposed nationwide injunctions. The Trump administration objected, and in last month's decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch said nationwide injunctions had gotten out of hand. "As the brief and furious history of the regulation before us illustrates, the routine issuance of universal injunctions is patently unworkable, sowing chaos for litigants, the government, courts, and all those affected by these conflicting decisions," Gorsuch wrote. But Sotomayor said that was not the case here. A judge in Illinois had issued a limited injunction, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit had scheduled a hearing on the issue for next week. She said that is the normal process, and indicated that conservative justices were indulging an impatient administration. "Claiming one emergency after another, the government has recently sought stays in an unprecedented number of cases, demanding immediate attention and consuming limited court resources in each," she wrote. "And with each successive application, of course, its cries of urgency ring increasingly hollow." The court has been too quick to agree with the government, she said. I fear that this disparity in treatment erodes the fair and balanced decision-making process that this court must strive to protect. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Homeland Security agency that processes green card and citizenship applications, says on its website that it will implement the new public charge rule starting on Monday. Illinois has the sixth-largest immigrant population in the United States, some 1.8 million people. About half are not U.S. citizens, according to census estimates (after California, Texas, New York, Florida and New Jersey). Immigrants account for 14 percent of the states population. The Washington Posts Maria Sacchetti contributed to this report. After reversing various decisions of the previous Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) government, water resources minister Jayant Patil has hinted at ordering a probe into former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnaviss pet scheme Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan . Delivering a lecture at Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce, Patil said, There are many complaints about the Jalyukta Shivar scheme. The works that have happened under this scheme are not strong enough. There has been corruption at some places. The previous government claimed that 72 TMC (Thousand Metre Cubit feet) water storage capacity was created under this scheme which is false. People know this quite well. He said, even as an opposition party, the NCP had demanded an inquiry of this scheme. I am not aware of any such instruction by Fadnavis,Patil said. In 2016, the Maharashtra government had launched a water conservation scheme called Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan to make Maharashtra a drought-free state by 2019. The project involved deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen check dams, work on nullahs and digging of farm ponds to make 5,000 villages free of water scarcity every year. Fadnavis had been closely monitoring this scheme and had been citing it as an example during his speeches as one of the achievements of his government. Recently, he had warned the new Maharashtra Vikas Agadhi (MVA) government that the BJP will start state-wide agitations if the new government this scheme. The first phase of the scheme ended on December 31, 2019 and the Maharashtra government did not give an extension or make any new provision for this scheme, irrigation department officials said. It was business as usual Saturday for Milan Fashion Week despite a clutch of coronavirus cases including two fatalities near the northern venue. Barely 60 kilometres (35 miles) away from the capital of the Lombardy region, where outfits from Salvatore Ferragamo and Ermanno Scervino were headlining runway interest, 39 confirmed cases have emerged. The small town of Codogno, about an hour away from Italy's business capital by road, was in lockdown along with several other neighbouring towns after the deaths of an elderly woman and man. Those fatalities saw Italy become the first country in Europe to report the death of one of its own nationals from the virus. Authorities confirmed Saturday the other people infected had all had contact with "patient number one", a 38-year-old man still in intensive care in Codogno. Members of his family, friends and his doctors are all among those who have been disgnosed with the COVID-19 virus and Italian authorities have reacted by asking some 50,000 people in the area to stay at home to keep the virus spread at bay. "The (fashion) shows are going ahead calmly, there is no panic, there are no cases of contamination or suspicion of cases in Milan or in our sector for the moment and we hope that stays so," said Carlo Capasa, president of Italy's National Fashion Chamber. "Prevention measures are absolutely active -- we are in permanent contact with health institutions who tell us the situation is under control," Capasa told AFP. Salvatore Ferragamo's new collection had been the day's early highlight, the Florence-based house's British creative director Paul Andrew bringing its legendary flair alive with items including long coats and culottes. Lingerie-inspired dresses, in silk or leather, were more the order of the day for the Scervino set, replete with shiny sequins and feathers. Also on bill was was Bottega Veneta, owned by French luxury house Kering, winning a seal of approval from actress Sigourney Weaver, who found it "superb". The house's US artistic director Daniel Lee, 34, is avowedly out to turn a cold shoulder on the sensational in offering a collection which will pack a punch over time and ultimately even earn cult status rather than be cast aside at season's end. The collection married classic Bottega Veneta style with a modern approach to colour including silhouettes ranging from black to pistachio green, while other offerings included knitted black frock paired with Texan-style big boots. Organisers said the show would go on despite three dozen coronavirus cases barely an hour away, leaving Milan punters to enjoy a show including offerings from Ermanno Scervino and also Salvatore Ferragamo Salvatore Ferragamo's new collection had been the day's early highlight, the Florence-based house's British creative director Paul Andrew bringing its legendary flair alive Also on bill was was Bottega Veneta, owned by French luxury house Kering, winning a seal of approval from actress Sigourney Weaver, who found it "superb" A group calling itself Save the Nation for Future Leaders want those caught in the illegal mining operations also known as galamsey and their collaborators killed to serve as a strong warning to others for destroying the earth. In a petitioned to the President and the Speaker of Parliament, the group leader Mr.Kwadwo Atta Apeakorang appealed to the Office of the President to act with urgency on the devastating nature of the environment before it up end killing everybody. The group who doubts the credibility of the Operation Vanguard team and the sector minister Prof Frimpong Boateng's sincerity of the galamsey fight believes such action is necessary in the wake of issues surrounding the campaign which they claim sometimes appear too provocative to accept. Read full petition below: BACKGROUND In our petition and reminder of same dated 1st October, 2018 and 17th July, 2019 respectively and none of which received any response and action from you, we stated our concerns over a number of issues and particularly brought to your attention the devastation gold mining was causing to water bodies in Ghana. We have keenly followed activities of both licensed and unlicensed mining companies through the media and our own personal efforts of visiting some mining concessions with Operation Vanguard and we are privy to the devastation nature of the environment. Our concerns stem from the incessant calls from the Ghana Water Company Limited for the State to be tough on gold mining in order not to destroy water bodies, including similarly moved by statements made by Dr. Donaltus Agnorien of the Centre for Coastal Management of the University of Cape Coast that water bodies are at a stage of extinction. Ghana Water Company Limited has said that Ghana could be importing water by 2020 and that due to the high cost of treating contaminated water for public consumption, water tariffs could be increased; the Water Research Institute that Ghana risks importing water in the near future and Hon. John Peter Amewu (when he was in charge of Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources) that Ghana might be importing water by 2030. Based on these findings we asked for the re-imposition of the ban on all forms of small-scale mining and the adoption of an environment-friendly approach to renegotiating mining contracts but we have not received any communication from the Presidency and all other stakeholders that were petitioned. Moreover, the concerns we raised persisted even on a larger and more destructive scale. Save The Nation For Future Leaders' is convinced that if any of our numerous petitions had received the needed attention and acted upon, Ghana would not have been experiencing the intermittent water shortages in parts of the country and the corruption by Ministers of State and other officials. Nonetheless, we reiterate our concerns once more and we believe Ghana can recover all that has been lost if an effort is made. RESIGNATION OF PROF. FRIMPONG-BOATENG In 2019 when we toured some mining sites in the Atiwa East and Fanteakwa South districts of the Eastern Region, we found out that Operation Vanguard did not seize excavators as they reported in the news. According to Mr Appeakorang the task force officers often alerted the miners to inform them of their visit hence, the sites were always cleared of machines prior to their arrival at the mining sites. It is therefore shocking to hear from Prof. Frimpong-Boateng that 500 seized excavators were stolen. Our tour with Operation Vanguard, officers told us they were only allowed to disconnect the control boards to render the equipment immobile. We therefore challenge the Minister to provide answers to the following questions; How were the excavators ceased? In whose custody were the excavators? In whose care were the keys and other parts of the ceased excavators? If the Ministers fails to convincingly provide answers to these and other questions lingering in the minds of Ghanaians thorough, non-partisan investigations, it is evidenced that the Minister was compromised, not only should he resign but he should be made to retrieve or replace all five hundred excavators. upon fulfilment of this, he should be killed to serve as a deterrent to all corrupt officials. OPERATION VANGUARD Prior to the involvement of Save The Nation For Future Leaders, private individuals contacted Operation Vanguard and carried out operations on some concession in the Atiwa East and Fanteakwa South districts of the Eastern Region. On each occasion, Operation Vanguard met the absence of labourers. On 11th May, 2019, Save The Nation For Future Leaders and Operation Vanguard toured the concessions and met no labourer as before but some excavators. Officials of Operation Vanguard disconnected and removed the control boards from the excavators but there had not been any report of the owners of the excavators being prosecuted. We can state empirically (based on our own experience and through public reports by other affected individuals and communities) that Operation Vanguard is incapable of fighting the war against small-scale mining. To make it appear Operation Vanguard was winning the war, there were reports of water bodies returning to usability were made but that turned out to be a hoax of the decade". Reports of officers taking bribes from miners to pitch camp and offer protection abound. On 16th June, 2019, a note from unknown men was delivered to Mr. Appeakorang President' of Save The Nation For Future Leaders" threatening his life and that of his family. Not only do we require the President of the Republic to recall the task force but we challenge him to institute true and patriotic investigations into their activities and whoever is found compromised in their duties should be killed to deter other public officers. However, we require the President to give detailed account of the investment it made in the operation and juxtapose that to the gains it made. Community Mining Save The Nation For Future Leaders is concerned about the safety of our environment. Therefore, we call on Your Excellency to clearly distinguish between small-scale mining and community mining and how the latter would be different from the former. We also ask you to explain the policy and how it would yield better results in keeping our environment safe. The policy should be made available to all Ghanaians and discussed at the local level to ascertain its usefulness. Your Excellency, we are convinced that your men have failed in their mandate in your resolve to fight galamsey and you are under pressure from your party to christen an illegal activity to play on the intelligence of Ghanaians. Our Call Over the past few years, governments and state institutions have paid lip-service to the fight against the harm gold mining has caused. Similarly, mining companies have officially indicated in documents how they did or want to manage the devastation from mining activities but in practice, have not been able to do so as a result of the impossibility to do so. Additionally, individuals entrusted with State power to act on behalf of the people have gravely disappointed, only ensuring that they recoup the investment they made in their struggle for political power. Knowing that no one person is more important than the entire country, we call for the execution, not prosecution, of all individuals who are found engaging in illegal-mining-related activities to cause harm. If an individual deems the lives of millions of people worthless, the individuals life must not be spared. Additionally, we ask for the re-imposition of the ban on gold mining with immediate effect. As citizens concerned about our current generation and posterity, we do plead with Your Excellency to revoke any licence (prospecting or mining) granted to any mining company. If indeed you are determined to fight the illegal mining were genuine. Actor Aamir Khans daughter, Ira, has shared a couple of throwback pictures from Christmas celebrations in 2004, in which she poked fun at the prominent ears that shes inherited from her dad. Taking to Instagram, Ira wrote, Santas helper. I even have the ears for it! The pictures show a 2004 watermark, which was around the time that Aamir was shooting for Mangal Pandey, going by his long hair and moustache. In the first picture, Ira is seen handing a present to her dad, while in the second picture, shes giving one to her friend. A large Christmas tree is visible in the background. Ira has spoken about her reluctance to join the film industry; she prefers to be behind the camera. She recently made her debut as theatre director, with an adaptation of Medea, starring Hazel Keech. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Aamir said that he was proud of Ira and son Junaid for making it on their own, without any assistance from him. Theyre doing things entirely on their own, which is good because I think thats how it should be. Ira had told me (about the play), but she had not asked me for any help, nor did she say, Dad, please guide me. Junaid is acting in theatre and hes also on his own. So, both are doing what they feel like doing. He added, When I go to see Junaids play, Im like, I hope he has done well. And now that Ira is directing a play, I hope she does well. Im nervous for her. Its a natural parental response hoping that your child has done well. But I guess that theres no escape from that nervousness. Follow @htshowbiz for more Staff and their students at a top university have been banned from having relationships to prevent sexual misconduct. University College London yesterday became the first Russell Group institution to introduce the policy. Although 97 universities have codes of conduct on relationships between staff and students, many only discourage them. University College London (pictured) yesterday became the first Russell Group institution to introduce the policy The UCL rules prohibit 'close personal and intimate relationships between staff and students where the staff member has a direct responsibility for, or involvement in, that student's academic studies'. Tutors are allowed to have relationships with students they do not supervise, but they must declare it. Sanctions range from a formal warning to dismissal. Kelsey Paske, of UCL, told the Guardian the ban would 'prevent abuses of power'. Rachel Watters, women's officer at the National Union of Students, added: 'Given the public focus on sexual misconduct in higher education and elsewhere, we would hope and expect more universities to revise their policies in similar ways.' Greenwich and Roehampton universities already have similar policies to UCL's. -TRAVIS COVID19 FAIRFIELD (BCN) All of the 234 people evacuated from China and quarantined at Travis Air Force Base have been released after remaining free of the COVID-19 virus, according to officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those evacuees were flown from China by the U.S. State Department and arrived at Travis on Feb. 5 and Feb. 7. They were released in two batches - one on Tuesday and one on Thursday -- following a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, according to CDC spokesman Scott Pauley. Nationwide, nearly all of the other people flown back to the U.S. and housed at military bases during the quarantine have also been allowed to return home, according to Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Those released are not at risk of spreading the virus because they aren't infected, Messonnier said. Travis, however, continues to house 167 people who were flown back from Japan on Monday after possibly being exposed to the virus while abord the cruise ship Diamond Princess, Pauley said. Five other passengers from that ship have tested positive for COVID-19 and 10 are awaiting test results. All 15 are being cared for or monitored at local hospitals, Pauley said. Japan has reported that two of its citizens abord the Diamond Princess have died after contracting COVID-19. Also, two new California cases have been reported, one in Humboldt County and one in Sacramento County, according to local public health officials. The CDC reported Friday that there are now 14 confirmed cases in the U.S. While the virus isn't spreading in the U.S. at the moment, Messonnier said "it's possible and even likely" that it will. She added that currently there is no vaccine or medicines to specifically treat this virus. "We recognize the uncertainty of the current situation," Messonnier said. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. One in 10 children at a Sydney under-age music festival faced random drug testing that has been labelled by legal experts "potentially unlawful" and an infringement on civil liberties. In addition to the tongue swipes for drugs, organisers of the Lost City music festival for 13- to 17-year-olds at the Sydney Showground on Saturday also estimated one in five teenagers would face random breathalysing for alcohol when they entered or during the event. A child is breath-tested at the Lost City music festival at the Sydney Showgrounds. Credit:Brook Mitchell There were lengthy queues as children waited up to an hour to enter the festival, facing repeated warnings that the event was "100 per cent" alcohol and drug free. "If you're asked to stop for a breath test, please do so." Lisa Woods said she had mixed thoughts about the drug and alcohol testing as she waited for her 14-year-old daughter to enter the festival. (Adults, including parents, were not allowed in.) By Munsif Vengattil and Paul Lienert Feb 21 (Reuters) - Developers of self-driving cars are amping up criticism of a California reporting requirement on test data, saying the data could mislead, as the state prepares to release the latest results for 2019. Companies such as General Motors Co's Cruise and startup Aurora have said the metric, called disengagements, is not an accurate or relevant way to measure their technical progress, even though it is widely used to do just that. The debate is taking on more importance amid delays in the rollout of self-driving vehicles and concerns over a lack of regulation and the prospects for profitability for the companies that make such vehicles. The focus on disengagements -- when a human driver must take manual control from a self-driving system -- and the backlash from self-driving companies have been growing since the California Department of Motor Vehicles began releasing annual disengagement reports five years ago. California requires all companies testing self-driving vehicles on public roads to submit an annual report on disengagements and what caused them, "written in plain language." In 2018, the companies with the most miles between disengagements were Alphabet Inc's Waymo and Cruise. Companies with the greatest number of disengagements were Apple Inc and Uber Technologies Inc. In a February 2019 blog post, Waymo wrote that "the key to self-driving technology safely improving and scaling is through a robust breadth of experience and scenario testing, represented by a wider array of data points beyond disengagement alone." In the same post, Waymo noted its disengagement rate in 2018 dropped 50% from the previous year, while miles between disengagements nearly doubled. Self-driving companies say the disengagement data can draw unfair comparisons between companies and their self-driving technology. Aurora co-founder Chris Urmson, who previously headed Waymo's self-driving program, wrote last month that "these numbers mean little when there's no clear definition of what constitutes a disengagement." Cruise co-founder Kyle Vogt expressed similar concerns in a blog post last month, adding: "The general public and regulators deserve hard, empirical evidence that an (autonomous vehicle) has performance that is super-human" -- that is, better than the average human driver -- if the deployment of that technology is to have "a positive overall impact on automotive safety and public health." (Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit and Munsif Vengattil in Bangalore; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Two organizations that educate the public about the Holocaust are calling on Amazon to stop selling Nazi propaganda, rekindling a debate over what should be sold through the worlds biggest digital marketplace. The Holocaust Educational Trust, which trains students and teachers across Britain, posted a letter on Twitter on Friday calling on Amazon UK to stop selling books by Julius Streicher, the founder of the Nazi-era anti-Semitic newspaper Der Sturmer. Karen Pollock, the trusts chief executive, cited The Poisonous Mushroom, an illustrated ... It's been 13 years since 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin died after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary. And his wife Terri, 54, took to Twitter on Saturday to post an emotional tribute to the passionate conservationist on what would have been his 58th birthday. While Terri said she still 'aches' for her husband of 14 years, she was determined to celebrate the things he loved most - his children and Australia Zoo. My heart aches missing him every day: Terri Irwin took to Twitter on Saturday to post a tribute to late husband Steve on what would have been his 58th birthday 'Today wouldve been Steves 58th birthday. While my heart aches missing him every day, Im determined to celebrate what he loved the most,' she wrote. 'He was my best friend, best dad, & built the best Zoo. I love you'. The mum-of-two included four photos of the Wildlife Warrior, who died when he was 44-years-old. Daddy's girl: The tribute included images of Steve with his children, including this picture of him performing a show with a much younger daughter Bindi on his shoulders They included an image of the Crocodile Hunter performing a show with a much younger daughter Bindi on his shoulders and another of Steve feeding a flower to a lizard while his son Robert, now 16, looked on as a toddler. Terri also included a picture of her and Steve from back in their younger years and another of him throwing his hands in the air with excitement as he checks out construction work at their family owned zoo in Beerwah, Queensland. Fans were quick to praise Terri for her family's efforts to protect wildlife, saying 'how proud' Steve would be. Like father, like son: An infant Robert Irwin is shown looking on as Steve feeds a flower to a lizard Crikey: Always known for his enthusiasm, Steve is seen throwing his hands up in excitement as he checks on construction taking place at Australia Zoo 'He will always be watching over all of you, Im sure he is so incredibly proud of all of you and what you have accomplished,' commented one man. 'The whole world misses him. He would be so proud to see what his family has done,' wrote a woman. The tribute comes as the Irwin clan prepares to celebrate a much happier occasion. Bindi, 21, and her fiance Chandler Powell, 23, are currently busy planning their lavish wedding, which is set to take place at Australia Zoo later this year. The young lovebirds met at the Irwin family's zoo back in November 2013, where they now live and work. A composite image showing a hare in Germany in 2019 and an Aer Lingus plane. Moritz Frankenberg/picture alliance via Getty Images/Aer Lingus/Business Insider An Aer Lingus plane had to turn back shortly after taking off from Dublin Airport on Thursday morning after it hit a hare on the runway during takeoff. The flight, bound for the UK, landed safely and was inspected, Stobart Air, the airline operating the plane, told Business Insider. The flight took off again shortly after. Planes frequently hit animals, typically birds, but it can be a risky situation that has the potential to cause engine failure, which could bring down the plane. Dublin Airport has a longstanding problem with hares and birds, which it says are sometimes "ingested directly into an aircraft engine." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. An Aer Lingus plane was forced to turn around and land back in Dublin Airport after it hit a hare on takeoff. Flight EI3390, which was being operated by Irish regional airline Stobart Air, was due to fly to Leeds Bradford Airport in the UK on Thursday morning. But the plane hit a hare on the runway, prompting it to turn back and land just after takeoff. Stobart Air told Business Insider in a statement that the plane hit an animal and was inspected after landing, and operated as normal shortly after. "We can confirm that flight EI3390 operated by Stobart Air from Dublin Airport to Leeds Bradford Airport returned to Dublin shortly after take-off as a precautionary measure due to an animal strike on the runway. Dublin Airport's Terminal 2. Dublin Airport "The aircraft landed normally and following an inspection, flight EI3390 operated to Leeds Bradford a short time later. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers and thank them for their patience." A spokeswoman for Stobart Air also confirmed to Business Insider that the animal was a hare a large animal in the same family as the rabbit. According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the plane completed a loop in the air, landing back in Dublin airport more than 30 minutes after takeoff. Story continues Here is its path: Flight EI3390 turned around and flew back to Dublin Airport. FlightRadar24. And here is the flight's usual route: The flight usually runs between Dublin, Ireland and Leeds, UK. FlightRadar24. Animal strikes are common for planes, but the vast majority those tend to involve birds. Such strikes can, in severe cases, cause engine failure and bring down planes. In the US, for example, planes struck birds more than 40 times a day in 2019, a USA Today analysis of federal statistics found. Birds and hares have long created problems for airlines at Dublin Airport. The Dublin Airport Authority described animal strikes as "high-risk events" that can bring down planes in a 2018 report, and said there were 105 collisions involving hares over the previous three years. It said the vast majority of these involved hares being "ingested directly into an aircraft engine." In one case six hares were sucked into the engines at once, Irish news website Dublin Live reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, says the electoral commission, INEC, has the constitutional backing to deregister political parties if proven to have performed poorly at elections. The commission had deregistered 74 political parties bringing the total number of parties in Nigeria to 18. The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said the action followed their poor performance in the 2019 general elections and court-ordered re-run elections arising from litigations, and the parties failure to win at least one political seat in the last general elections. INEC had, in 2012, under the leadership of Attahiru Jega deregistered 28 political parties for similar reasons. Mr Ekweremadu, during his appearance on Channels TV Hard Copy on Friday said the electoral umpire can deregister political parties on a number of reasons. The senator representing Enugu West senatorial district for the fifth consecutive time, explained that a political party must secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast in a state for a presidential election. He said the same requirements goes for the governorship election, that a party must win 25 per cent of votes in every local government. Yes, I understood that they went to court for an induction to restrict INEC from deregistering those political parties. Well, I think they are just buying time. The Constitution has been amended, probably they did not have the opportunity of going through what the law says before they went to court, or their lawyers did not advise them properly. We amended the constitution and the president signed it into law, empowering INEC to deregister political parties on a number of reasons one which a party fails to meet a condition upon which you were registered in the first place. So if they say a party is to maintain an office in five places and the party could only maintain only one. Then INEC says that since we cannot see the remaining four, you can go. But if you decide to run for a presidential election as a political party, and you did not make 25 per cent in one state then you are gone. And you decide to run for governorship and also do not make 25 per cent in any local government in that state then INEC can decide to deregister you (party). If a party wants to run for a legislative election either the state or National Assembly and a party refuses to win a seat of course they can deregister the party. Let us now say the local government elections, and a party fails to win a council seat INEC can also deregister a party the law is clear, he said. The affected parties have since kicked against INECs action with a few of them threatening legal action. Affected parties like KOWA party and Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) have said they would seek legal redress. Mark Adebayo, acting national chairman of KOWA party, explained that his party and 32 others had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja in 2019, to among other things, restrain INEC from deregistering parties pending the determination of the suit. He said the court upon hearing the Motion for an Interlocutory Injunction adjourned for ruling on February 17. The court on Monday granted the injunction sought by the parties barring the electoral commission from deregistering them. Justice Anwuli Chikere said INEC failed to counter the application by the applicants whose rights must be protected. Our digital activity increasingly parallels our real-world activity. Participation in the modern economy, the ability to buy and sell, attain employment, healthcare, social services and more are virtually impossible without a digital identity. In May of 2016, at the United Nations Headquarters in NY, ID2020, an alliance of governments, non-profits, academia, over 150 private sector companies and 11 United Nations agencies collaborated on how to provide a unique digital identity to everyone on the planet. Most coverage of the ID2020 Alliance focuses on its noble objective to provide digital identities to the over one billion refugees, women, children and others without any form of identification. The message of providing digital identification for this "invisible" portion of the earth's population to enable their participation in society places a human face over the true mission. It also creates a rallying point that this open alliance hopes other entities will, like Microsoft, embrace and become a part of this global effort. The fundamental mission of creating a universal identification system that incorporates every person on the globe, using modern technology and the support of various governments, financial institutions and more is the goal hidden behind the humanitarian cause. The ID2020 Alliance and its 2030 goal A Spanish judge has shelved his probe into a couple whose daughter was seen walking along the narrow fourth-floor ledge of a block of flats while the mother was in the shower. He decided to close the case and recommend no charges over the incident which saw the toddler scaling the outside of a block of flats in Playa Paraiso, Adeje, Tenerife on January 4. The girl's parents were criticised on social media for the video which saw the toddler walking along the narrow ledge 82 feet above ground. Nail-biting footage showed the toddler sit down on a railing while she was filmed from a neighbouring apartment complex. And rather than climbing over the balcony to safety, the toddler was then seen to walk back the way she came. In a terrifying moment the child jumped as she appeared to lose her footing and raced back along the ridge, before she stopped at the window where the footage ended. The little girl appears to climb out a window before walking along the narrow ledge in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife The mother was 'deeply affected by the episode' and told the judge that the incident happened in 'a matter of seconds' while she was in the shower and her husband was running an errand. Nationalities of the youngster's parents were never revealed at the time, although court sources have since said the mother is Finnish. A spokesman for the investigating judge said in a statement: 'Investigating Court Number One in Arona, Tenerife, has ordered the provisional archiving of the case sparked by the girl filmed walking on a ledge some 82 feet above the ground at an apartment block in Playa Paraiso in Adeje.' She scurries towards the apartment's balcony while brushing her left hand on the wall for support (left). The unnamed child reaches a railing around the veranda (right) and sits down on it, as she is filmed from a neighbouring apartment complex 'The decision was made after the girl's parents were interviewed and the court concluded the incident was a one-of accident with no apparent prospect of it being repeated. 'The case had enormous media repercussion because the girl was filmed from another building by a person who posted the images on social media. 'The judge, Daniel Pedro Alamo Guzman, interviewed the parents last week. 'The mother was questioned as a person under formal investigation and the father as a witness. The child jumps as she appears to lose her footing (pictured) and races back along the ridge, before stopping at the window where the footage ends 'When the incident occurred, the father was not at home. 'In the judge's opinion the couple offered a sufficient, coherent and detailed explanation of what had happened to the extent that it became apparent this was an isolated domestic accident with no criminal responsibility. 'She also said they've taken remedial measures to make sure it doesn't happen again by putting locks on each of the windows in their apartment which is on a fourth floor.' Radio presenter Jer Dixon, who shared the video at the time, said: 'This is absolutely terrifying to watch. Apparently recorded in Tenerife. 'I always try to book ground floor rooms when on hols with the kids. You can see why.' It was posted on the I Love Tenerife's Facebook page with the caption: 'OMG! This toddler managed to climb out of this building window whilst the parents were taking a shower. 'This apparently happened over the weekend at a property in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife!' However Mr Dixon said: 'Lots of parent-shaming in the comments though. You only have to take your eyes off your child for a split second. We've all done it.' The court decision does not mean the case will not necessarily be closed permanently. However it will only be reopened in the unlikely event future new evidence emerges pointing to it not being accidental. A well-placed source said: 'As things stand at the moment, the investigating judge feels there is nothing to warrant continuing the criminal probe. Spice farmers should double production and exporters need to increase trade with other countries to enable the country reach the targetted USD5 trillion economy and make India a global powerhouse by 2024-25, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said on Saturday. He was speaking after inaugurating a function to present trophies and awards of the Spices Board to exporters for Excellence in Export of Spices and launch of new projects to ensure sustainable development of the spices sector here. "The income of farmers should be doubled through increase in production so as to reach the target, which is also Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Exporters should help in protecting the interest of the farmers to compete in the world market with quality products from India," he said. Parkash said the Centre was in discussion with all stakeholders to achieve the goalof becoming a USD 5 trillion economy. The Minister also stressed the need for formation of farmers clusters for all crops, as envisagedin the New Agriculture Export Policy, for integrating Indian farmers and agricultural products with the global value chains, which would help India achieve the set goal for agriculture exports. India is one of the largest producers,exporters and consumers of spices globally. The country produces around 180 spice products, which are exported to 160 countries. The Minister pointed out that every state produces spices and its value added products, which come to around nine million metric tons a year The Spices Board plays a major role in assisting cultivation ofsmall and large cardamom and exports of Indian spices. The Board has conducted seven buyer seller meets this year for facilitating direct linkage between farmers and exporters by avoiding the middlemen, the minister said. Parkash gave away the 29th and 30th set of export awards to spice exporters for their 'commendable performance' during 2015-16 and 2016-17. On the sidelines of the award function, the Plant Protection Code (PPC) for small and large cardamom, developed by the Indian Cardamom Research Institute to achieve sustainability in cardamom production, was launched. The minister also launched online sales of Spices under the brand Flavourit, which is promoted by Flavourit Spices Trading Limited (FSTL), an initiative of the Board to help farmer groups to sale high quality spices in retail market. He also distributed Certificates of Merit to exporters for remarkable growth in exports over the previous year. The function also witnessed the curtain raiser of the 14th edition of World Spice Congress to be held later this year at Navi Mumbai (CIDCO Convention Centre) under the partnership of Spices Board, Spice exporters associations and other stakeholders of the spice fraternity. The three-day event is slated to begin on November 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Galway writer Maire Holmes is making a return to the Kingdom as Writer-in-Residence with Kerry County Council. In a position co-funded by the Arts Council and Creative Ireland, Ms Holmes will once again interact with students and members of the public at events right across Kerry during her tenure. It follows from a previous stint as writer in residence that saw Maire proving very popular with readers, writers and budding writers everywhere. "I am delighted to be coming back to Kerry, and am looking forward to meeting with writers for my residency. "I want to give dedicated writers a performance platform. The solo writer is familiar with solitude and yet seeks some way to be heard, by sharing work that is not yet published," she said. She meanwhile thanked the Muckross House Trustees for making available a cottage at which she can stay during her residency. Maire plans on meeting writers in one-to-one mentoring sessions among many other things. EDWARDSVILLE The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) has invited Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Dennis Bouvier, PhD, to serve as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Computer and Cyber Sciences from June 2020 to May 2021. Located in Colorado Springs, the university offers more than 30 majors and has about 400 faculty members, both civilian and active military. Its visiting faculty program invites outstanding educators, who can be released from their home institution for the duration of the assignment, to join its faculty and enhance student learning. An American man has been indicted for having sex with boys as young as 11 or 12 years old in HCMC. Illustration photo by AFP. A 64-year-old man is being prosecuted in San Francisco for engaging in illegal sexual conduct with Vietnamese minors. Paul Marshall Bodner, a former substitute teacher, is alleged to have traveled to Vietnam multiple times between July 2015 through August 2016 for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Ho Chi Minh City, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said in a Friday release. The indictment filed on February 13 followed an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in partnership with Vietnams Ministry of Public Security. Details of Bodners arrest was not revealed. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Bodner met Vietnamese boys as young as 11 or 12 years old and had sex with them at a hotel in HCMC. A U.S. federal grand jury has charged Bodner with three counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment for each count, a life term with supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. "Strong collaboration between the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in HCMC and Vietnams Ministry of Public Security have brought multiple child victims one step nearer to finding closure," said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink. "This arrest also underscores how the U.S. and Vietnam can work together effectively to combat child exploitation." The investigation and prosecution of the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Justice Department to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state and local agencies as well as international law enforcement partners. Last August, special agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Christopher Edwin Day, 49, of St. Petersburg, Florida after he tried to entice two Vietnamese minors to engage in sex. Vietnam is a destination country for child sex tourism with perpetrators arriving from several continents, according to the United Nations Action for Cooperation Against Trafficking in Persons. An increasing demand for virgins and children in prostitution has also resulted in rising levels of child sex tourism, it said. Vietnam recorded 1,547 child sex abuse cases in 2018, down 2.8 percent from a year ago, according the Ministry of Public Security. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, two Vietnams largest cities, took the lead in terms of reported child molestation cases. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's governor is offering to allow federal officials access to the state's motor vehicle database but not to drivers' Social Security numbers. It's part of an effort to persuade the Trump administration to let state residents back into Global Entry and other frequent traveler programs. The proposal is the latest compromise that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is publicly floating in hopes President Donald Trump's administration will reverse its decision announced earlier this month to prevents New Yorkers from enrolling or re-enrolling in programs that let them skip long security lines at airports. But Cuomo says the Trump administration rejected the idea when he proposed it privately weeks ago. For almost a decade, President Trump has been complaining about America's war in Afghanistan. When he ran for president, Trump promised to stay out of foreign wars, saying, "I will never send our finest into battle unless necessary, and I mean absolutely necessary, and will only do so if we have a plan for victory with a capital V." The media were therefore excited when Trump not only did not pull out of Afghanistan, but actually sent more troops there. CNBC rubbed Trump's nose into the escalation by digging up his tweets going back to 2012 in which he insisted that the Obama administration bring American troops home. It seems, though, that Trump had a strategy. This strategy was consistent with "hav[ing] a plan for victory," or at least avoiding an ignominious retreat or, worse, creating a vacuum such as that left in Iraq after Obama's precipitous withdrawal. Because Trump understood that it's best to negotiate from a position of strength, he didn't slink away, but instead made the Taliban hurt. He also didn't set artificial deadlines. He made it clear that while he dislikes foreign wars, he was not going to destroy America's strength with another Vietnam-style drawdown. Only when Trump had all the pieces in place, including cooperation with neighboring Arab states, did he invite the Taliban to the table. On Friday, his efforts finally bore fruit when Pompeo released a statement that America and the Taliban would sign a reduction in violence agreement on February 29: The United States and the Taliban have been engaged in extensive talks to facilitate a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, reduce United States and Allied Forces presence, and ensure that no terrorist group ever uses Afghan soil to threaten the United States or our allies. In recent weeks, in consultation with the Government of National Unity, U.S. negotiators in Doha have come to an understanding with the Taliban on a significant and nationwide reduction in violence across Afghanistan. Upon a successful implementation of this understanding, signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement is expected to move forward. We are preparing for the signing to take place on February 29. Intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon thereafter, and will build on this fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for Afghanistan. The only way to achieve a sustainable peace in Afghanistan is for Afghans to come together and agree on the way forward. Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment. The United States thanks the State of Qatar and all other allies and partners for their support of peace in Afghanistan. That last sentence spells out what's behind America's ability safely to withdraw its troops: Afghanistan's neighbors have agreed that they will be responsible for policing that state. Trump kept his campaign promise, but he had the patience to wait until the right time. That is one of the signs of a statesman rather than a politician. It's also consistent with Trump's repudiation of the Wilson Doctrine. Back in 1917, in order to justify getting America into World War I, Wilson explicitly said that it was America's responsibility to make "the world safe for democracy." Bush's war in Iraq and Obama's bombing raids in Libya represented the last gasp of that doctrine. Trump's "America First" doctrine, rather than being the imperialist nightmare Democrats imagine it to be, is actually the opposite: Trump said America's responsibility is first to herself. She is no longer the world's policeman, although Trump understands that, in an interconnected world, America must be vigilant and form alliances both of which we see playing out in Trump's approach to Afghanistan. Your browser does not support the audio element. Nguyen Ngoc Cam, aged 44, has become the first Vietnamese-Korean chosen by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DP) to run in the 21st parliamentary elections scheduled for this April, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Cam, born in Long Thanh District in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai, got married to a Korean engineer when she worked as a translator for a Vietnamese construction firm in 1996. She left for South Korea in 1997 and was granted Korean citizenship one year later. While managing a forum on Korean-Vietnamese multicultural families in 2004, she gave advice and helped many Vietnamese brides handle challenges such as language and cultural barriers when they began a new life in the country. She then became an activist for the rights of immigrants in South Korea after studying Korean and getting a masters degree in law at Konkuk University. Cam proposed to local authorities rational policies for immigrants, as well as made efforts to build a multicultural society in which people respect each other, contributing to nurturing the Vietnam-South Korea relations, the Vietnam News Agency said. Three years ago, she was elected chairwoman of the Vietnamese People Association in South Korea, which has 200,000 members. She is now a member of the Presidential Committee to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, director of the Korea Support Centre for Foreigners, and managing director of the support center for migrant workers in Seoul. Cam has received a multitude of certificates of merit from the South Korean President and Vietnamese State for her considerable contributions to the Vietnamese community in South Korea and the immigrant community there. South Koreas upcoming legislative elections will be on April 15. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Wellington, Feb 22 : Skipper Kane Williamson made sure New Zealand didn't let the efforts of the bowlers go in vain as the hosts collected 99 runs in the afternoon session and further strengthened their position on Day Two of the first Test against India at the Basin Reserve. At Tea break on Saturday, New Zealand were 116/2 and trailing by 49 runs in reply to India's first-inning total of 165. Resuming the session at 17/0, New Zealand lost Tom Latham (11) early as he was caught down the leg-side by Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Ishant Sharma. Williamson, however, then joined forces with Tom Blundell (30) and shared a 47-run partnership before the opener was undone by a brilliant delivery from Sharma. Ross Taylor, playing his 100th Test for New Zealand, took the attack to the Indian bowlers right from the word go and kept on collecting runs at brisk pace. Along with Williamson, he stitched an unbeaten 43-run partnership and took the Black Caps to a commanding position against India. Williamson and Taylor were batting on 46 and 22 when umpires called on the Tea break. Sharma was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he picked both the wickets and was able to create difficulties for the Kiwi batters. All the other three bowlers -- Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin -- did bowl on tight lines and lengths but were unable to make an impact. Brief Scores: India 165 all out, New Zealand 116/2 (Kane Williamson 46*, Tom Blundell 30; Ishant Sharma 2/17) Crimes against women especially children never seem to come down. Every now and then we hear barbaric incidents which make us ponder on how safe our country is for our women. In yet another horrific and shameful incident, a 6-year-old was murdered after being allegedly raped by a 30 year-old man in Southern Tripura. Representational Image The accused who goes by the name Kachakla Tripura, was arrested by the police late on Thursday evening. Police said that when the victim was playing with the accused's daughter in the latter's courtyard at Ghorakappa village in Gomati district on Thursday, the accused kidnapped the girl and after raping her repeatedly, he killed the minor and dumped her body in a jungle. Representational Image Deep strangulation marks were found on the girls throat and there were injury marks on her private parts as well, police said. The minors father lodged a complaint against the accused at Shilacherri Police Station after which he was booked under Section 363, 376(a), 376(ab), 302,201 of IPC and 6 of POCSO Act. "The accused confessed that he repeatedly raped the kid and later strangled her to death in the jungle," police said. The victim was a friend of Kachakla Tripura's daughter. Few days ago, a similar case had rocked the nation after a five-month-old baby girl was allegedly raped by a relative in Lucknow. Reports said that the incident took place in a marriage hall in Mandiaon police circle. The victim's mother had come from Hardoi district to attend a wedding. Her cousin Pappu took the baby to play during the wedding and did not return for a while. When the mother and other members of the family started looking for Pappu, he was nowhere to be found. Four hours later, the baby was found lying at a short distance from the wedding venue in critical condition. At a time when governments are trying to make their cities safe for women, such incidents tend to raise eyebrows on their seriousness. Libya's eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar has promised to fight Turkish forces if UN-led peace talks in Geneva break down. We cannot sit idly by, said Haftar, according to comments to a Russian news agency carried by Sputnik News. "The armed forces will fulfill their national and constitutional duty to protect citizens, the country's sovereignty and borders from Turkish invaders, added Haftar. Haftar accused Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj of using the ceasefire to transfer Syrian mercenaries, Turkish soldiers, terrorists and weapons to Tripoli. Haftar also said he supported European Union plans to use a naval mission to enforce a UN arms embargo. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed on Friday that Syrian fighters are operating in Libya alongside a Turkish training force, according to reports from the AFP news agency. There are also people from the Syrian National Army, said Erdogan, referring to fighters formerly known as the Free Syrian Army. Erdogan levelled fresh accusations at Russia, saying some 2,500 mercenaries had been sent to Libya by Moscow. He said some 15,000 terrorists were supporting Haftar. Turkey, as well as Qatar, backs the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which opposes Haftar who is supported by Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 'More hope' in UN talks UN envoy Ghassan Salame on Thursday kicked off military negotiations between the GNA and Haftar loyalists. The GNA had shunned a second round of indirect talks following a rocket attack on a port in Tripoli. However, GNA representatives returned to negotiations following a short break, Salame told the AFP news agency. Salame optimistically described both sides in discussions as returning for fresh talks with even more energy towards finding a deal, referring to a military settlement as essential. Libya has been in conflict since the toppling of longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, sparking fighting between armed factions vying for control of the oil-rich country. Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli last April and made a number of quick advances, but his fighters stalled on the edge of the city. The first round of military discussions ended with no outcome earlier this month, although Salame has said there is more hope in these latest negotiations. A Hyderabad resident on Saturday sought help from the Ministry of External Affairs, headed by S Jaishankar, to find his missing son, Azmathullah Shareef, who had been working in Dubai. Speaking to ANI, Asadullah Shareef, the father of the missing person stated that Azmathullah went missing in February 2019 and the family was still awaiting a word from him. "My son Azmathullah went to Dubai in the year 2009 for work and was staying there since then. We were in regular contact over the years. In 2015, Azmathullah came to India on vacation and later returned to Dubai. Last year, I had an accident, and he told me that he will try to return but we lost contact with him," said Asadullah Shareef. "When we contacted his Dubai office they said Azmathullah is not reporting for work. He went missing in February 2019 and till now we are waiting for his call. We do not know where he is and in what condition he is in?" he added. Ghani has urged the Central government and the Indian Embassy in Dubai to trace his son Azmathullah and bring him back to India safely. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Northern Ireland Office has told Belfast City Council that the requirements for an Irish unity referendum have not been satisfied. Government departments in London and Dublin responded to a motion passed by the Council at its meeting in December. The motion called for the establishment of a 'New Ireland Forum' alongside a series of Citizens' Assemblies ahead of a border poll, as well as specific details from both governments as to what conditions would facilitate a referendum. Matthew Ellesmere, from the Northern Ireland Office in London, sent a response on behalf of the British Government to Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of Belfast City Council. It said: "This Government fully recognises and respects the fact that a significant section of society in Northern Ireland legitimately regards itself as Irish and aspires to a united Ireland. "The Belfast Agreement itself allows for people living in Northern Ireland to identify as British, Irish, or both. This Government's clear preference is for Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. We have always made clear that, in accordance with the 1998 Agreement, it is for the people of Northern Ireland to decide and we will always back their democratic wishes. "It remains the Secretary of State's view that a majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue to support Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom and that this is unlikely to change for at least the foreseeable future. The circumstances set out in the Belfast Agreement that require the Secretary of State to hold a referendum on Irish unification are therefore not satisfied." The Irish government response failed to commit to the creation of a forum, and offered no further criteria for a border poll. The letter states: "The Taoiseach has stated that the Government will continue to listen to and engage with the views of everyone on this island, both on rights issues and on the constitutional future that they wish to see for NI - whether nationalist, unionist or neither. These are extremely important issues which naturally require very careful and serious consideration and the Government will continue to engage and reflect on them." The motion, proposed by Stormont Communities minister and former councillor Deirdre Hargey, states: "This city has an ever-growing population of young people who will ultimately have to live with the long term consequences of this British Government's damaging policy of attempting to drag citizens out of the European Union against the wishes of the majority of citizens in Belfast who voted to remain. "There is no Brexit that is a good Brexit for the citizens of Belfast or elsewhere in Ireland. This council must, therefore, investigate alternative solutions to Brexit that seek to protect its citizens from the damaging effects which Brexit will ultimately bring. In seeking alternative solutions to protect Belfast citizens, a referendum on Irish Unity, as enshrined within the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, must be legitimately considered. "This is a solution that would protect our citizens from Brexit and is supported by categorical statements from the European Council where, in the event of Irish Unity, the citizens in the north would be returned back into the European Union." Wells Fargo has agreed to pay US regulators USD 3 billion to settle three investigations into the bank's damaging fake accounts scandal, the Department of Justice said on Friday. The fine settles criminal and civil liability in the case in which the nation's fourth largest bank between 2002 and 2016 pressured employees to meet unrealistic sales goals that led to creating millions of accounts or credit cards without consent. Wells Fargo admitted it collected millions in fees and interest, harmed the credit ratings of certain customers, and misused personal information, the Justice Department said in a statement. The Securities and Exchange Commission said USD 500 million of the total will be returned to investors. "When companies cheat to compete, they harm customers and other competitors," Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D Granston said in a statement. After shifting its strategy in 1998 to emphasise increased sales, the Justice Department said bank employees resorted to unlawful means to move financial products such as fraud, identity theft and the falsification of bank records. Within Wells Fargo the practice was referred to as "gaming," the Justice Department said. "Today's announcement should serve as a stark reminder that no institution is too big, too powerful, or too well-known to be held accountable and face enforcement action for its wrongdoings," said Andrew Murray, US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Employees went as far as "forging customer signatures to open accounts without authorisation, creating PINs to activate unauthorized debit cards, moving money from millions of customer accounts... opening credit cards and bill pay products without authorization," among other tactics, prosecutors said. Bank executives were aware that this was going on, and an internal investigator in 2004 referring to it as a "growing plague." But nothing was done to stop it. "The following year, another internal investigator said the problem was 'spiraling out of control,'" prosecutors said. Under the terms of the Justice Department agreement, Wells Fargo acknowledged the allegations and agreed not to commit similar offenses for three years, in exchange for prosecutors waiving filing charges. The San Francisco-based bank can easily absorb the fine because it had set aside USD 3.9 billion at the end of June last year to settle legal disputes, including those related to its business practices. US authorities last month fined John Stumpf, who served as Wells Fargo's chief executive from 2005 to October 2016, USD 17.5 million and banned him for life from the banking sector. Two CEOs and other senior executives at the bank have lost their jobs amidst the probe into the scandal and outrage over claims the bank was slow to correct it. Charlie Scharf, who took over as CEO last October, has promised to revive the bank, whose 2019 results have been hit by the scandal. The bank already has paid out USD 4 billion in financial penalties related to its business practices. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - $221,000 has been raised for a nine-year-old boy Quaden Bayles to be sent to Disneyland after a distressing video emerged online - Quaden, who has a form of dwarfism, has suffered incessant bullying in school and could be seen in the video crying and saying he wants to die - American comedian Brad Williams set out to raise $10,000 for Quaden through a GoFundMe campaign, but the campaign has raised $221,000 Following a distressing video of a 9-year-old victim of bullying Quaden Bayles, American comedian Brad Williams has raised $221,000 (N80,333,500) to send Quaden to Disneyland. In the video, Quaden, an Australian national, could be seen crying and wanting to commit suicide as a result of incessant incidents of bullying in school because he has a form of dwarfism. Legit.ng gathers that the video was posted by Quaden's mother Yarraka Bayles so that people would understand the effects of bullying, and the video has generated a lot of reactions. Brad decided to raise $10,000 (3,635,000) through a GoFundMe campaign to help send Quaden and his mother from Australia to Disneyland in California, but the campaign has raised $221,000 as at the time of filing this report. Apart from Brad who decided to put a smile on Quaden's face, other people have reached out to the boy to shower him with love and to tell him how amazing he is. According to Brad, any money left over after the trip is paid for will be donated to anti-bullying charities. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Allison Flowers, a Central High School senior had been accepted to 23 different colleges with over $400,000 (N145,400,000) in scholarships. The teen prodigy has always loved going to school from an early age and now all her hard work is paying off. Reflecting on her achievements, Flowers said she wishes her grandfather were alive to witness her accomplishments and see her graduate. Although she was too young at the time to remember, Allisons grandfather, who passed away when she was in 11th grade taught her never to give up on her dreams regardless of the setbacks she would encounter. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better There is a 'genius' in every Nigerian family - Comic Con founder | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng By PTI NEW DELHI: Several scholars under the banner of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Mahmood Madani faction) denounced the National Population Register (NPR) and urged people to not give their details to enumerators. A brainstorming session was jointly convened by Maulana Mahmod A Madani, General Secretary of the Jamiat, and Kamal Faruqi. At the end of the session, a unanimous resolution was adopted which "unequivocally" rejected NPR on the grounds that it was a "gross violation of article 14 of the Constitution", a statement by the Jamiat's Mahmood Madani faction said. "NPR is the first stage of data collection to prepare NRC as per Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship Rule 2003. It is patently discriminatory, divisive, exclusionary and unconstitutional and targets communities on the basis of religion, class, caste and gender," the statement said. "We must politely decline to co-operate or make available any details to them (data collectors)," it said. The NPR update exercise will be held between April and September. Warning: Graphic content Three men have been jailed for a minimum of 75 years after they tortured a friend to death. Jordan Metcalfe, 24, Nathan Redmond, 21, and Scott Crutchle, 24, subjected 42-year-old Jonathan Dews to two-and-a-half hours of "brutal, vicious, explosive, mindless violence", the court heard. The victim was slashed, stabbed, hit with house bricks and had part of his ear cut off before his body was set on fire in a bid to conceal the crime. (From L-R) Jordan Metcalfe, 24, Nathan Redmond, 21, and Scott Crutchle, 24 (Picture: Police) The victim was left with more than 90 injuries. Neighbours at the house in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, heard screams for a "considerable period of time" during the incident in the early hours of 6 September, 2019. After the attack, the men caught a taxi to Scarborough where they were arrested later that day after attempting to hide from police at the end of a pier. They were all handed life sentences at Leeds Crown Court on Friday after being convicted of murder following a four-week trial. Jonathan Dews was tortured to death (Picture: Police) Metcalfe and Redmond will serve minimum jail sentences of 27 years, while Crutchley must serve a minimum of 21 years behind bars. Sentencing, Mr Justice Jay said: "I am satisfied that all three of you were in the thick of it in the first phase of this attack in Jonathan Dews' bedroom. "This was brutal, vicious, explosive, mindless violence." The judge described the room where Mr Dews' was killed as being like a "massacre scene". Read more: Pensioner, 76, jailed for historic child sex offences A general view of Leeds Crown Court (Picture: PA) Prosecutor Simon Kealey, QC, told the court Mr Dews was stabbed in the head, neck, and body, and that slash wounds included horrific attempts to cut his throat and part of his ear. The victim's hands were also tied together and a bootlace was tied around his neck. The court heard Metcalfe began taking advantage of Mr Dews by using his bank account to deposit money from online fraud. The court was told the decision was then taken to murder him as smackheads always talk. Read more: Jealous ex-boyfriend jailed after stabbing former partner to death in front of her children Story continues Detective Superintendent Nicola Bryar, the Senior Investigating Officer in the case, added: "All three men attempted to cover their tracks and all lied and blamed each other for the killing. "They have shown no remorse for their actions and continued to lie throughout the court case. After the hearing, Mr Dews' family released a statement which said: "Words cannot describe the torment of losing him in such horrific, brutal circumstances. The pain and suffering he endured throughout that night will haunt us forever. Read more: Bungling bank robber back behind bars after trying to rob the same branch three times The court heard how Mr Dews had only just moved into the terraced property, which was run by a project for the homeless, a few weeks earlier. He had an addiction to class A drugs and was prescribed methadone. Redmond and Metcalfe also lived at the property, while Crutchley rented a room at a nearby hotel. A forensic post mortem concluded that Mr Dews died from head and neck injuries. Related: High School Football Player Allegedly Killed by Friend Over YouTube Video One-third of children between the ages of 19-35 months don't receive vaccines on time, leaving them vulnerable to preventable infectious diseases, and their complications, a new study finds. The study revealed that 63% of children received vaccines on time before the age of three, as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, while 23% limited the number of shots per visit or skipped at least one vaccine. Another 14% were not compliant with guideline recommendations, according to data used from surveys at Emory University from 15,059 children nationwide showed. The CDC recommends children be vaccinated against 14 illnesses in their first three years of life; Chickenpox (Varicella) Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (4th dose), Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (4th dose), Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) (1st dose), Polio (IPV) (3rd dose), Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (4th dose), Hepatitis A (HepA) (1st dose). Vaccine delays were more common in children who moved across state lines, were not first-born, lived in the Northeast, were black or multi-race, and below the poverty level, according to the study. MORE: Get vaccinated or don't come back to school, officials tell Seattle public school students "Some families work with their pediatrician to come up with a modified immunization schedule (vs. CDC schedule) or they will split up the combination vaccines, which ultimately ends up being more of a disservice to your newborn because of more overall injections given. Delaying vaccines, delays the body's ability to develop an immune response, relying on immunity from rest of community" Dr. Shaliz Pourkaviani, who is a bicoastal neonatologist, said. PHOTO: FILE - This Jan. 23, 2020 file photo shows a patient receiving a flu vaccination in Mesquite, Texas. On Feb. 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the vaccine has been more than 50% effective in preventing flu illness (Lm Otero/AP) Vaccination has been named an effective public health intervention yet, parents are still choosing to delay or forgo vaccination for their children. Uncertainty about safety and necessity of vaccines, along with general mistrust of the pharmaceutical industry, has led to this recent trend, the study said. Story continues "There is a general trend in vigilant families to delay or refuse vaccinations due to concerns about preservatives used in vaccines," Pourkaviani said. The study also confirms that misinformation about vaccines in recent years and reservations about giving too many vaccines at one time may be leading to these delays. Authors of the study highlight a need for interventions to minimize vaccine delays that put children's health, and public health, at risk. MORE: Facebook alters policies to combat vaccine misinformation "It is important to speak with moms and try to dissect each individual family's concerns regarding vaccines. Often time's parents don't have a good understanding of why they are refusing, and seem to want to be a part of the anti-vaccine movement promoted by social media influencers/blogs and concepts that are not backed by reliable data" Pourkaviani said. "As a nation we need to push for pharmaceutical industry to be more transparent regarding ingredients used," Pourkaviani added. Interventions should target both providers and parents, the authors of the study said. For more information on vaccination schedules, safety and side effects, refer to the CDC's website. [Yalda Safai, MD MPH is a psychiatry resident in New York City and contributor to the ABC's news Medical unit] One-third of parents are delaying giving vaccines to their children: Study originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said 1.3 billion Indians have disregarded apprehensions and wholeheartedly accepted recent critical judicial verdicts which were subjects of global discussion. Speaking at the inaugural function of the International Judicial Conference 2020 Judiciary and the Changing World at the Supreme Court, Modi spoke about recent crucial judgements. In recent times, there have been some critical judicial judgments and decisions which have been the subject of global discussion. Before these judgments were delivered, several apprehensions were being expressed about the consequences. But look what happened! 1.3 billion Indians wholeheartedly accepted the judicial verdicts, Modi said. The PM also said that economic and infrastructure development can go hand-in-hand with environmental protection and Indias growth is testimony to that. India has grown from the 11th largest economy to the 5th largest in the last five to six years, and its forest cover has expanded substantially, Modi said. Thus, India has shown that infrastructure development can happen simultaneously with the protection of environment, he said in his inaugural address at the International Judicial Conference 2020 organised by the Supreme Court of India. Foreign dignitaries including Robert John Reed, president of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and Susan Kiefel, Chief Justice of Australia, are attending the two-day conference. The PM, in his speech, highlighted steps taken by the government in its bid to ensure gender justice. The enrolment of girls in educational institutions exceeds that of boys for the first time in India and this, the PM claimed, is on account of successful government schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. The government has brought about many changes for empowerment of women including the appointment of women in military service, changes in the selection process of fighter pilots and freedom of women to work in mines at night, Modi said. India, the PM said, is among the few countries in the world which sanction paid maternity leave of 26 weeks to women. Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was also present at the function, commended the steps taken by the PM with regard to womens rights. Gender justice, he said, is at the core of Indias constitutional ethos and the PM had taken the lead in empowerment of women in India. Our Prime Minister was bold enough to permit that women Indian Air Force pilots will also fly fighters planes and this was complemented by the recent judgment of Supreme Court where Indian women army officers were given the right to command. These are great initiatives of women empowerment, Prasad said. Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said the Constitution makers in India studied various models from different parts of the world and tailored Indias Constitution to fit the countrys diversity. The central governments top law officer, attorney general KK Venugopal, in his speech on taking poverty to the courts highlighted the role of the government and the SC in reducing poverty in the country in pursuit of the goals of a welfare state set out in the Constitution. He said India had moved beyond the traditional concept of fundamental rights and made living conditions a facet of right to life. (With Agency inputs) Ankara, Feb 22 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their countries' commitment to previous agreements on Syria during a phone call, the Turkish presidency said. During their discussion of the recent developments in Syria's Idlib Province, Erdogan said the Syrian government should restrain its actions in the rebel stronghold to end the humanitarian crises, according to a presidency statement. The Sochi deal must be fully implemented for a solution in Idlib, he noted. The recent developments in Libya were also discussed in the phone conversation, Xinhua news agency reported. The phone call comes just after Erdogan said earlier in the day that the outcome of his discussion with Putin would "determine" Turkey's attitude toward the Idlib issue. U.S. energy firm Westinghouse is expected to sign a new agreement with state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India for the supply of six nuclear reactors during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit next week, officials said, aiming to kickstart a long-running project. The agreement will lay out timelines and the lead local constructor for the reactors to be built at Kovvada in southern India and also address lingering concerns over India's nuclear liability law. The United States has been discussing the sale of nuclear reactors to energy-hungry India since a 2008 landmark civil nuclear energy pact and last year the two governments announced they were committed to the establishment of the six reactors. Last week representatives from U.S. energy and commerce departments, Westinghouse, the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum and The Nuclear Energy Institute were in India for talks with government officials as part of a commercial mission to promote nuclear exports to India. "We are encouraging moving forward with Westinghouse and NPCIL to sign a MoU. It certainly is a private industry to private industry, a business to business decision," Dr. Rita Baranwal assistant secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy, told Reuters in a phone interview. "We're optimistic that an MoU will be signed shortly," Baranwal, who was part of the mission, said. Once that is cleared the two sides will begin contract negotiations, delivery schedules and pick vendors. The plan for a new MoU has not been previously reported. Westinghouse did not respond to a request for comment nor did NPCIL. But Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday Westinghouse and NPCIL were in talks to move forward with the project. Also Read: Visiting Taj, India Inc roundtable: Trump's got two busy days in India "Following resolution of Westinghouse's bankruptcy issues, the two sides are in discussion regarding the division of responsibility of the work," he said. Trump has made bilateral trade with India a top priority, seeking greater market access for U.S. products from farm goods to motorcycles. Negotiators are trying to put together a limited trade deal before a bigger agreement that Trump said this week will probably happen after the U.S. presidential elections. Lack of movement on the nuclear reactors has been a sensitive issue, another member of the U.S. delegation said, after Washington made an exception for India by agreeing to provide it civilian nuclear energy technology even though it has not given up its nuclear weapons programme. A longstanding obstacle has been the need to bring Indian liability rules in-line with international norms, which require the costs of any accident to be channelled to the operator rather than the maker of a nuclear power station. Also Read: 'Great!': US President Trump hails Bollywood gay romance movie 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse's plans to supply the AP1000 reactors to India which it has also sold to China were thrown into further doubt when it filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after cost overruns on U.S. reactors. Canada's Brookfield Asset Management bought Westinghouse from Toshiba in August 2018 and has sought progress on the India sale over the next six-seven months, the member of the U.S. delegation said, speaking on condition of anonymity. India has made clear there is no going back on the 2010 Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage law that foreign governments and vendors say leaves open the possibility of lawsuits against suppliers for nuclear accidents, rather than the operators of the plants. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has tried to limit the impact of that law by setting up an insurance fund for potential victims of a nuclear accident. "To be clear, there are still open issues around the liability issue," Baranwal said, adding it was part of the discussions last week. "I can't say that it's been resolved. But we made some progress and understanding was that concerns were at a higher level." India expects to generate 22,480 MW of electricity from nuclear stations by 2031 up from the 2019 level of 6780 MW. But with renewable power dropping in price and the government's focus on solar power generation, there is a chance nuclear power will remain only small proportion of the country's energy mix where it stands at 1.9 percent. V.K. Saraswat, a top member of the government think-tank Niti Aayog said while solar was top priority, the government remained committed to nuclear energy also, as a clean source. It has finally happened, a Duggar kid has broken one of the familys biggest rules. Jill Duggar announced that she and her husband Derick Dillard have decided to enroll their son, Israel Dillard, in traditional school. Jill, who was notoriously homeschooled alongside her 18 siblings, had taken it upon herself to educate Israel during his preschool years, but things are about to change in a big way, and fans are totally here for it. Why did Jill and Derick choose traditional schooling over homeschooling? While homeschooling does have some serious benefits when done correctly, according to research, Duggar family critics have been concerned that the Duggar kids were not properly educated by their parents. To educate the family, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar used a homeschooling program endorsed by the IBLP. The program focuses heavily on faith and seems to avoid any educational topic that breaks from its ultra-conservative belief system. Several fans reached out to Jill to ask her about her decision to walk away from homeschooling, at least for now, but shes yet to comment. Some fans believe the decision was primarily Dericks, who, unlike Jill, spent all of his academic years inside a traditional classroom. Derick, who is currently enrolled in law school, appears to take education seriously. Before enrolling in law school, Derick attended Oklahoma State University, where he earned a bachelors degree. Derick has been outspoken about his desire for his sons to also attend the school. This is not the first decision Jill has made that bucks family tradition While Israels enrollment in school is a massive deal inside the Duggars circle, its not the first decision Jill has made that proves shes trying to distance herself from her family. Jill made the decision to pierce her nose and wear pants, both are choices that defy the rules set out by Jim Bob and Michelle. She also appears to be spending time with friends that wouldnt have been considered acceptable by the familys standards. The Duggar family has been outspoken about their beliefs when it comes to alcohol. They do not partake and dont believe others should partake, either. Jill has a few friends who clearly enjoy a glass of wine or two every now and again. While Jill has never mentioned if she drinks wine or not, some fans are starting to think she has, at the very least, given it a try. Being in the same room as someone drinking, according to the Duggar family, is verboten. Which Duggars are currently homeschooling? While the Duggar family is growing at breakneck speed, very few of the Duggar grandchildren are old enough to attend school. With that being said, several Duggars have shown an interest in continuing to homeschool. Anna Duggar, who is married to Josh Duggar, is currently homeschooling several children. Mackynzie Duggar, who turned 10 in October 2019, is being homeschooled, as is Michael and Marcus Duggar, who are both old enough to attend school. Anna shows no signs of changing directions with her childrens education anytime soon. It can be assumed the familys three younger children will also be educated at home. Jessa Duggar has not mentioned her educational plans just yet. Her son, Spurgeon, will turn five in November, making him old enough to enroll in kindergarten. Jessa seems likely to choose to homeschool, as she hasnt deviated much from the familys belief system since her 2014 marriage to Ben Seewald. Fans assume that Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Caldwell, will make the decision to homeschool when their children are old enough, too. Both Kendra and Joseph were homeschooled. Fans believe Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson will make the same decision for their daughter, Bella, although they have several years to decide. Bella was born in November 2019. The newest weapon in the Navy's arsenal is a laser dazzler that can stymie enemy drones threatening surface ships. And now it's installed aboard an active destroyer. The system was installed aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Dewey in November, but not announced until this week, officials with Naval Sea Systems Command told Military.com. Called Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy, or ODIN, the system is the technological successor of the Laser Weapons System, or LaWS, a 30-kilowatt laser installed on the amphibious transport dock Ponce in 2014. The ship conducted experiments in the Persian Gulf before the Ponce returned home for decommissioning in 2017; LaWS in its current form was never fielded. The capabilities and specifications of ODIN have been closely guarded; a NAVSEA official declined to share additional information about how the system will be tested or what it can do. Photos of the Dewey published on The Drive in November show a small turret mounted on the ship's deckhouse, in an area the publication notes is typically left open. Officials have said plans call for two of the systems to be installed aboard destroyers in the near term. "Going from an approved idea to installation in two and a half years, ODIN's install on Dewey will be the first operational employment of the stand-alone system that functions as a dazzler," officials said in a news release. "The system allows the Navy to rapidly deploy an important, new capability to the Navy's surface force in combating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) threats." Hostile drones are a complex and growing threat to U.S. forces worldwide. In 2017, during a reporting trip to the carrier George H.W. Bush in the Persian Gulf, the ship's then-commanding officer, Capt. Will Pennington, noted that Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles were being used to gather information on Navy movements. Dewey's upcoming experiments and operations with the laser will inform installation of ODIN aboard other ships and further development of Navy laser weapons, officials said. Related: How to Defeat a Drone Attack: Raytheon Shows Off New Tech in Tabletop Exercise The Department of the Navy's fiscal 2021 budget request included $68.2 million for the "Navy Laser Family of Systems," including the development of an "advanced prototype laser weapon system" at a strength of 60kW or higher for the purpose of helping surface ships counter enemy drones and defeat small boats. The budget request also mentions another effort, an advanced 150kW high-energy laser demonstrator set to be installed on the amphibious transport dock Portland in fiscal 2021. That is likely the Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation, or SSL-TM, program in development by Northrop Grumman. Another system set to be installed on a destroyer by 2021 is the High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS, a Lockheed Martin Corp.-developed prototype with a reported range of about five nautical miles. That system is set to have a 60kW laser, but could eventually increase to 150kW. During a recent visit to the Dewey, then wrapping up its multi-month dry dock maintenance period in San Diego, Navy's head of research and development praised the work of the team that made the installation of the first shipboard laser a reality. "This is a great example of our organic talent at the warfare centers all working together with ship's company to deliver a system which will provide game-changing capability," James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said in a statement. "Bravo Zulu to the entire ODIN team on being mission-focused and delivering lethal capability to the warfighter." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Read more: Security Forces Leaders Fired for Fostering Toxic Work Environment Click here to read the full article. If it werent for the work hed done in the Japanese fishing village of Minamata, W. Eugene Smiths legacy would likely be that of a war photographer, or else as one of the leading contributors to Life magazine, whose immersive approach to his subjects helped pioneer the concept of the photo essay. But Smith did go to Minamata, and the images he sent home in late 1971 especially a wrenching, pieta-like portrait of a mother bathing her mercury-poisoned daughter defined not only his career but the human impact of industrial pollution as the public knows it today. In documenting what came to be known as Minamata disease, Smith showed the world what toxic chemicals were doing to a community, paving the way for a different kind of war, one of personal political activism carried forward by Andrew Levitas impressive if somewhat less-than-nuanced look at this high-impact last-act triumph in Smiths career. The undeniably compelling project (just Levitas second as director, after 2014s low-budget but starry Lullaby) resurrects a downward-sliding Johnny Depp looking all but unrecognizable behind sun damage, liver spots and a sparse, spackled-on beard in what feels like an extension of the gonzo Hunter S. Thompson performance he delivered in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. More from Variety Gene Smith is not the same character by any means, but the comparison to Thompson seems unavoidable once audiences see Depp knocking back whiskey and amphetamines to chase away the ghosts. Some photographers can comfortably page through their oeuvre as if the past were a tastefully curated coffee-table book. But in Smiths case, it plays more like some kind of horror movie, bombarding him with subliminal flashes of his most haunting black-and-white images post-traumatic traces of all that hes witnessed over the years. Story continues Genes in bad shape when Minamata opens: Hes drunk, in debt, estranged from his kids, obliged to sell his equipment and accept an insincere endorsement deal for Fuji Film, even though hes never shot a color photo in his life. But that last opportunity introduces Gene to Aileen (Minami), the Japanese woman who will later become his wife. For now, shes hoping that this famous photographer might be able to help her raise awareness about mercury poisoning in the small town of Minamata, and she catches him at the right time. Gene pitches the assignment to Life editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy, suitably self-righteous) and receives permission to fly to Japan and explore the situation. The two early scenes that take place in Lifes corporate-looking New York offices point to another possible influence specifically, the agitated board-room opening of Robert Downeys late-60s Madison Avenue satire Putney Swope, which prowls through spaces of money and power as if looking for blood. Levitas is an unusual artist, an enviably handsome millionaire who dabbles in painting, metalwork, acting and (more recently) filmmaking, whose second foray into directing offered the chance to collaborate with DP Benoit Delhomme, fresh off Julian Schnabels At Eternitys Gate. Hes not in Schnabels league as a director not yet, at least but the choice gave him an opportunity to develop his own visual language. With Minamata, Levitas and Delhomme adopt a curious and somewhat risky shooting style, likely inspired by Smith himself: Rather than committing to storyboard-dictated angles, they plunge into the scene, counting on Delhommes handheld camera to capture its essence, then hoping to unlock the truth of the moment in editing. The approach feels disorienting and slightly drugged-out at first (as in an early darkroom scene, set to Ten Years Afters Id Love to Change the World) but settles into a more natural rhythm once Gene and Aileen reach Japan. As soon as they arrive, they are confronted by evidence of chemical poisoning: Its evident in the gnarled hands and deformed faces of the locals, including an accordion-playing young man to whom Gene loans a camera. Depp plays it surly throughout, dominating those around him, but Minami has a strong screen presence as well (despite struggling somewhat with the dialogue in her first English-language role). As Aileen, she needs only to look at Gene, and he will yield to her demands. The two characters read as equals here, despite their polar-opposite personalities, and that unusual chemistry fuels the dangerous reporting ahead of them. A sledgehammer treatment of many of the same issues so elegantly addressed in Todd Haynes recent Dark Waters (a domestic industrial-negligence saga all but overlooked in theaters last fall), Minamata features several jazzed-up white-knuckle sequences in which Gene, Aileen and other activists including a charismatic organizer played by the great Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada trespass in hospital wards and research labs where the Chisso Corp. patients are being treated for methylmercury contamination. Chisso makes for a powerful adversary that has both the police and local goons in its pocket, a massive chemical company that dumps its toxic byproducts directly into the water supply. Levitas sanitizes the waste water Gene observes, presumably to make the thick sludge he actually documented in 1971 seem more credible. But when it comes to violent confrontations including an attack that leaves Gene badly bruised and bandaged for the taking of his impactful Tomoko in Her Bath photograph Levitas shows no such restraint, leaning on master composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (in top form) to amplify the fundamental integrity of Smiths anti-corporate expose. Shooting halfway around the world (mostly in Serbia), Levitas and his team do an impressive job of doubling the sort of places where Gene and Aileen conducted their radical investigation but one location in particular serves to define the movie. In Belgrade, the production found a factory whose looming presence immediately conveys what the poor fishing community was up against. This monstrous building is an invaluable asset practically a character unto itself which Gene is invited to tour by Chissos openly corrupt chief executive (Jun Kunimura). On an upper catwalk, the man offers Gene $50,000 to hand over all his negatives and forget the cause, a scene that doesnt seem especially plausible but effectively dramatizes the leverage Chisso had to cover its tracks. Minamata was hardly an isolated case, as an end-credits montage reminds. Industry itself isnt evil, but the notion that audiences shiver before such a factory today despite decades of corporate propaganda extolling their virtues speaks to an enormous change in public sentiment over the past half-century, brought about in part by crusaders like Gene and Aileen Smith. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. President Trump would double the support he received from African American voters in 2016 if he ends up facing former South Bend., Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg in the upcoming election, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released Friday. Trump, who recorded eight percent of the African American vote against Hillary Clinton in 2016, hits 16 percent in the 2020 estimate against Buttigieg. Both men are tied with three percent of enthusiastic black voters with Buttigieg having the lowest percentage of enthusiasm in the entire Democratic field. Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster who conducted the survey with Democrat Jeff Horwitt, told the Journal that Buttigieg has simply not made a connection with African Americans, and added that he thought Buttigieg would struggle anywhere where African Americans are a chunk of the vote. A further breakdown of the vote by gender shows that African American women support Buttigieg overwhelmingly by an 87-6 margin over Trump. Among African American men, however, the margin shrinks to 59-29 in favor of Buttigieg. Despite strong performances in Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg has been dogged by weak support among minority voters. In November, Buttigiegs campaign made headlines for being intentionally vague in promoting endorsements from prominent black leaders in South Carolina as part of the rollout of Buttigiegs Douglass Plan for Black America. ABC News reported on Tuesday that Buttigieg described how he had proudly partnered with two local restaurants in a South Carolina op-ed last week as part of investing in African American small businesses, only for one of the owners to say she had never agreed to be in a partnership. The president featured African Americans prominently in his State of the Union address earlier this month, prompting CNN commentator Van Jones to issue a warning to Democrats that Trump was making a play for black voters. More from National Review David Goldman in the Asia Times: Humiliated by the United Kingdoms refusal to exclude Huawei from its 5G broadband network, the Trump Administration has doubled down on its attempts to stop China, with poor prospects for success. The American response includes prosecution of Huawei under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute, drafted to combat organized crime. It also includes proposed regulations that would stop the sale of any US components to Huawei and Chinas second-rank telecommunications firm ZTE if 10% of their production comes from American technology. Also proposed is a ban on sales of jet engines for civilian passenger aircraft that General Electric and Frances Safran have been selling to China since 2014 an economic warfare measure that has no national security justification. Never in the course of American events have so many said too much to so little effect. US National Security Adviser Robert OBrien, meanwhile, told the Wall Street Journal on February 12 that the US had uncovered a secret backdoor in Huawei equipment that enabled the Chinese firm to spy on Western communications. Huawei rejected the charge, demanding that the United States make the data public. More here. 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. Russia says Turkey sends large amounts of ammo to Syria's Idlib ahead of large-scale op Iran Press TV Friday, 21 February 2020 11:12 AM Russia says Turkey has sent large amounts of ammunition and armored vehicles into Syria's Idlib province, apparently in preparation for its anticipated large-scale operation in the Arab country. Turkey has brought large amounts of military hardware and ammunition into Idlib in recent weeks, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday. The deployment comes as Turkey announced Thursday it wanted no "face-off" with Moscow over Syria's offensive against terrorists near the two countries' border but said it might receive US defense missiles to protect Turkish forces. "We have no intentions of a face-off with Russia," Turkey's defense minister Hulusi Akar told CNN Turk broadcaster, adding that talks would continue with Russian officials. However, Ankara has asked the US to conduct aerial patrols in its airspace bordering Idlib to show support for Ankara's imminent large-scale military operations against the Syrian army, a Turkish official told Middle East Eye. The request came earlier this month in meetings with US Special Envoy James Jeffrey in Ankara, where Turkish officials also asked Washington for two batteries of Patriot missile systems to shield the border area from possible air attacks, the official told MEE on condition of anonymity. Another Turkish official said that Ankara was also waiting for a response from US-led NATO to provide more support for its air defense needs. Russia urges Turkey to allow Syrians flee to govt.-held areas Amid an imminent operation by Turkish forces in Idlib, the Russian defense ministry has urged Ankara to allow Syrian civilians to enter government-controlled parts of the Arab country. The ministry also denied reports that hundreds of thousands of Syrians were fleeing Idlib in the direction of Turkey. The Russian defense ministry issued its comments in a statement, saying it had been using drones and other resources to monitor the situation in Idlib. The Kremlin also announced on Friday that a summit of heads of Russia, France, Germany, and Turkey on Syria is under discussion. Tensions have mounted in the last three months between Turkey, which backs anti-government militants in Syria, and Russia which backs the Syrian army's offensive in Idlib, the last militant-held region of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An out-of-control truck ploughed into homes killing a mother and her three-month-old son. The 18-wheeler was carrying a digger on the back when it came off the road and smashed through buildings in Bulacan, the Philippines on Tuesday (Feb 18) afternoon. Michelle Ramos, 17, and her baby boy Matthew were killed in the collision. Her father-in-law was injured while her mother-in-law is still unconscious at the hospital. Ramos' husband, Rolly Bangit, tried to rescue his dying wife who was stuck under the debris. He then held her in his arms as she pleaded through tears to find their baby. Rolly said: ''I held her hand while trying to remove the debris on top her. Then I looked for our baby. She asked me where our baby was, then she slowly died while I was holding her. I couldn't do anything.'' Police arrested the truck driver Eliazar Lumawag. He allegedly told officers that he felt something was wrong with the truck when he started the journey but ignored it. He said that the brakes failed and was unable to control the vehicle when it went round a bend and hit the buildings. Michelle was working on her in-laws' watermelon store at the time. Several other people were injured and were taken to the hospital. Three other houses and several vehicles were also hit by the truck. The driver was held in the San Jose Del Monte police station where he allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine. He was later charged with reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide, multiple injury, damage to property and violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Police Corporal Dante de Guzman said: "We received information that the truck driver was under the influence of meth when the incident happened." Ottawa (AFP) - A chartered plane carrying 129 Canadians evacuated from the coronavirus-quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan landed at a military base in Ontario province early Friday. All of the passengers who arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, 200 kilometers (120 miles) southwest of Ottawa, had tested negative for the COVID-19 illness, the government said. They will however be quarantined for another 14 days at the Nav Centre in Cornwall -- a hotel and conference center that has been used before by the government as an emergency shelter. In online posts, the evacuees said medics in protective gear served them breakfast on the plane -- while checking each passenger's temperature for signs of fever. The Diamond Princess, which is moored in Yokohama near Tokyo, is the biggest coronavirus cluster outside the Chinese epicenter, with more than 600 cases confirmed among the 3,700 passengers and crew. The ship was quarantined on February 5 when a passenger who left in Hong Kong was confirmed to be infected with the virus. Passengers were confined to cabins except for brief trips on deck wearing masks and gloves, when they were told to keep their distance from others. Hundreds of passengers have since been allowed to disembark this week after testing negative for the deadly virus. Of the 246 Canadians originally on board, 47 have contracted the new coronavirus, Canada's public broadcaster CBC said, but they were not on the evacuation flight. It was the third flight to evacuate Canadians from coronavirus quarantine, after two earlier ones from the outbreak epicenter in Wuhan, China. About 300 Canadians who were quarantined at CFB Trenton after arriving on the first plane from Wuhan on February 7 and a separate US charter flight were released from the base on Friday, an official told AFP. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee. (John Donne) How appropriate it was that Fr Jim Donleavy's old friend, Fr Denis Murphy should quote from Donne's epic about life and death as he said farewell to a man who dedicated the last few years of his life to Drogheda. The funeral mass for Jim Donleavy (pictured) last Wednesday was essentially beautiful. Not a surprise that Jim himself organised all the details prior to his death. With the incredible voice of Eugene Ginty touching every beam of the magnificent roof of the church, the ceremony lacked just one thing, a few words from Jim himself. Even Fr Denis admitted to being nervous. Jim was regarded as a master preacher, a man who taught others and the task of filling his shoes on his final journey was pretty tough. But he rose to the occasion, describing Jim as a 'strong man with a tender heart'. He got some good advice from Archbishop Eamon Martin who visited the Dominican on Tuesday. He said to draw inspiration from Jim's deep, personal faith, a faith that marked his life. He joined the Dominican order on September 4 1954 - inspired years earlier by a visit to the church in Drogheda at the age of 14. He studied at the University of Sterling and Maynooth and began life as a preacher. It also took him to Rome and a spell in Italian rugby as a dashing wing forward with Roma CUS under the name of Augustine Albani Babeiri. 'He was a great preacher, devoted to the art,' Fr Denis remarked. His gift was reading the Gospel in terms that people understood, born from days when his father would read from Shakespeare and the Bible. Down the years, many came to assist Fr Jim in his daily life, the likes of Canon Jim Carroll and Fr Phil Gaffney, 'there was a great sense of harmony here,' he added. As he spoke about Jim's decency and generosity, he said some people said he should 'canonise him' but he didn't have time to get to the see the Pope! The mass was celebrated by Fr Larry Collins OP and attended by over a dozen priests, including Canon Eugene Sweeney, PP, St Peter's, Fr Colm O'Mahony, Prior of the Augustinian and Canon Jim Carroll. Many were thanked for their support of Jim down the years, not least Rita and Declan Hanratty who dedicated much of their daily lives to caring for him. Rita revealed that Jim had a great wish that the song 'My Old Walled Town' by the Boyne Folk be adopted as the anthem of Drogheda in the future he loved it so much. As he left the church, members of the ONE - the organisation of ex servicemen and women - formed a guard of honour and marched alongside the hearse to St Peter's Cemetery (pictured). His father was a member of the South Irish Horse during the first war and he did a lot for the ONE and was made an honorary member in recent years. Along the way, members of An Garda Siochana made sure the route was uninterrupted. It was stunning organisation. And a bugler played the Last Post by his graveside as a final tribute. Goodbye to Jim Donleavy, a man of Drogheda, a man for Drogheda. His Month's Mind mass will take place at noon on Sunday March 8. Sheila Jackson Lee is a force in the political landscape. When Jose Escobar, a Houston father, faced deportation to El Salvador, the 13-term U.S. congresswoman lobbied for his release from detention. When he was deported, Jackson Lee called on the Trump administration to reopen the case and accompanied the mans wife at a press conference. When migrant families were being separated at the border, Jackson Lee toured detention facilities in the Rio Grande Valley and spoke out about what she called horrific conditions and the inhumane and cruel zero tolerance policy. When a suspected cancer cluster was discovered in Fifth Ward, Jackson Lee pushed for a contamination study and hosted a town hall meeting with consumer advocate Erin Brockovich as a guest speaker. Jackson Lees high profile helps get things done. Escobar is now back with his family. The spotlight on family separations brought an end at least officially to that Trump policy. And the environmental dangers in Fifth Ward are finally getting needed attention. Jackson Lee, one of the most senior Democrats in Congress, is consistently ranked as one of the most effective lawmakers. In 2019, according to GovTrack.us, she cosponsored 772 bills and resolutions and introduced another 38. Last month, the president signed into law a bill authored by Jackson Lee and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, commissioning a federal study for a 51-mile Emancipation Trail between Galveston and Houston a rare bipartisan effort in this politically polarized atmosphere. She has also taken up the late John Conyers effort to create a commission to study reparations, an effort applauded by this editorial board. That record earns Jackson Lee our endorsement in the Democratic primary for Houstons 18th Congressional District. It is worth noting that Jackson Lee faces six challengers in the primary, a sign that many in her district are hungry for change. Donovan Boson, a public administrator and former educator, is pushing to increase the federal minimum wage. Marc Flores a construction project manager, emphasized the need for an infrastructure bill and flood mitigation. Bimal Patel, an optometrist and son of Indian immigrants, Jerry Ford, a retired firefighter and small business owner, and Michael Allen, a former pastor and landscape architecture firm executive who describes himself as a Republican running as a Democrat are also running for the seat. We were especially impressed with first-time candidate Stevens Orozco, a teacher and social justice activist, who displayed a keen understanding of political nuance. Jackson Lee would do well to listen to her opponents concerns and the issues for which they are advocating. Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh on Friday condemned the "brutal violence and assault against two Dalit youths" in Rajasthan's Nagaur district and added that the state government must provide adequate compensation to the victims. In his letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Suresh expressed "angst and disbelief at the level of violence that was unleashed upon the two Dalit youths as they were subjected to barbaric torture even when they were pleading with the perpetrators," read a statement.Suresh stated in his letter that the Rajasthan government must take all measures and take swift action against the perpetrators of this "heinous crime," adding that the state government must take steps in ensuring that actions against those who "commit atrocities against SCs and STs must become a model for other states to emulate for its efficiency and responsiveness," the statement added. Suresh said that the state government "must set an example of responsive legal deterrence, preventing occurrence of such crimes in future against the Dalits in Rajasthan that other states can refer and practice." In his letter to Gehlot, Suresh further emphasised that the "very idea of primal vigilante justice, by making a mockery of law enforcement agencies and the court is at its zenith ever since the BJP government came to power in 2014 and SC/STs and minorities and other sections of the society are fearing for survival." Suresh added that the state government must give adequate compensation to the victims of this "assault. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Most cases of the new coronavirus are mild, but about 20% of patients either have severe cases of disease or become critically ill. A fever is the most common symptom. Here's how the symptoms progress day by day among typical patients. For the latest case total and death toll, see Business Insider's live updates here. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. It starts with a fever. That's the most common symptom among patients infected by the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. coronavirus temperature AP Photo/Vincent Thian The virus has now reached at least 75 countries, including the US, which has reported more than 120 cases and nine deaths. It causes a disease known as COVID-19. A study of nearly 140 patients at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University identified a typical pattern of symptoms associated with COVID-19. About 99% of the patients developed a high temperature, while more than half experienced fatigue and a dry cough. About a third also experienced muscle pain and difficulty breathing. Research from the Chinese Center for Disease Control suggests that about 80% of coronavirus cases are mild. About 15% of patients have gotten severe cases, and 5% have become critically ill. Here's how symptoms progress among typical patients: Day 1: Patients run a fever. They may also experience fatigue, muscle pain, and a dry cough. A small minority may have had diarrhea or nausea one to two days before. Day 5: Patients may have difficulty breathing especially if they are older or have a preexisting health condition. Day 7: This is how long it takes, on average, before patients are admitted to a hospital, according to the Wuhan University study. Day 8: At this point, patients with severe cases (15%, according to the Chinese CDC) develop acute respiratory distress syndrome, an illness that occurs when fluid builds up the lungs. ARDS is often fatal. Day 10: If patients have worsening symptoms, this is the time in the disease's progression when they're most likely to be admitted to the ICU. These patients probably have more abdominal pain and appetite loss than patients with milder cases. Only a small fraction die: The current fatality rate hovers at about 2%. Day 17: On average, people who recover from the virus are discharged from the hospital after 2 1/2 weeks. Story continues The first symptoms, however, may not come right after a person has been infected. Lauren Ancel Meyers, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas at Austin, told Business Insider that a typical patient might be infected without showing symptoms for five or more days. Once symptoms do appear, they can be similar to those of pneumonia. But Paras Lakhani, a radiologist at Thomas Jefferson University, told Business Insider that COVID-19 could be distinguished from pneumonia because of the way it worsened over time. "Pneumonia usually doesn't rapidly progress," Lakhani said. "Typically, most hospitals will treat with antibiotics and patients will stabilize and then start to get better." Coronavirus patients, however, can get worse even after they receive treatment such as fluids or steroids. One case study found that three days after a 33-year-old woman started receiving treatment at a hospital in Lanzhou, her case was more pronounced than when she arrived. In total, the new coronavirus has killed more than 3,100 people and infected more than 92,000. Around 87% of cases are located on the Chinese mainland. Read more: Read the original article on Business Insider China is "deliberately delaying" permission for an Indian Air Force plane to coronavirus-hit Wuhan to supply relief materials and bring back more Indians from the city, official sources said on Saturday. India submitted its request with Chinese authorities on February 13 for the C-17 military transport aircraft while the flight plan was submitted on February 15 with a proposal mentioning February 20 as its date of departure, they said. When contacted, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said there was no deliberate delay in grant of permission for the Indian plane to reach Wuhan, adding China always attaches great importance to health and safety of Indian nationals in living in the country. "China is deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight," a high-level source said and questioned why the permission was not granted when flights from Japan, Ukraine and France operated from Wuhan between February 16 and 20. India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China. Government sources said Indian nationals stuck in Wuhan are waiting to be brought back home and the uncertainty over the evacuation is causing them mental stress and anxiety. The aircraft was to carry a large consignment of medical supplies to China as well. The sources said while the Chinese side continues to maintain that there was no delay in granting permission for the flight to go, the clearance has "inexplicably" not been given. "The current epidemic situation in Hubei province is complicated, and the prevention and control of Covid-19 has entered into a critical stage. We are carefully assessing ground situation, as prevention work requires," Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Ji Rong said. "Competent departments of the two countries are keeping communication and coordination in this regard. There is no such thing as China deliberately delaying granting flight permission," she said. The death toll in coronavirus in China has gone up to to 2,345 while the confirmed cases have risen to 76,288, Chinese health officials said on Saturday. In a letter to President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed India's solidarity to the people and government of China in meeting the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak and offered to provide assistance to the country. India then put together relief supplies in pursuance of Modi's commitment as a token of India's solidarity, particularly in the 70th year of the anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "These supplies have been offered even as India faces tremendous shortage itself, given our ethos of helping others in their hour of need," said a source aware of the issue. The items being supplied are gloves, surgical masks, feeding pumps and defibrillators based on the requirements as indicated by the Chinese side. A sizeable number of countries have evacuated their citizens from China and restricted movement of people and goods to and from the country in view of the massive outbreak of coronavirus there. Sources said Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight, adding the delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish. They said relief and evacuation flights from other countries including by France are allowed to operate by China but the permission has not come through in India's case. "Are they not interested in Indian aid provided as our token of support? Why are they creating roadblock in evacuating our nationals from Wuhan and putting them under hardship and mental agony?" said a person aware of the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Speaking at a government symposium in November, U.S. Special Operations Command CIO Lisa Costa described how her unit deployed DevOps with an analogy that any Navy Seal or Army Ranger would understand: tactical shooting. What do you do in tactical shooting?" she said. "You remove all extraneous movement, and thats how you get efficiency. Similarly, Costa said, her team focused on stripping away processes that had accumulated over the years and were now slowing down development. Reflecting on the impact of rapid technological change on operations and the need for much faster development, Costa called for adopting an enterprisewide view of DevOps. I dont think anything is going to change our culture more, she said. DevOps, an evolving software delivery methodology, is making application development quicker, cheaper and more collaborative. The software development framework addresses a traditional and problematic handoff between an organizations developers and its operations staff by encouraging both teams to collaborate on a project from start to finish. While Costas comments focused on the potential of DevOps to transform culture and accelerate innovation, agency decision makers increasingly recognize that the right culture must be in place to maximize the benefits DevOps can deliver. No matter where agencies are in their DevOps journey (even if it has not yet begun), there are several strategies to consider in creating a DevOps culture. Move beyond current metrics With DevOps requiring different processes and environments than what is in place, comparing the existing state to the desired state isnt applicable. Likewise, trying to leverage current metrics for the shift is resource-intensive and, in most cases, not cost effective. To move forward, agencies must take into account what theyre measuring now and couple it with qualitative justifications and goals. They must identify whats important and define their metrics accordingly, collecting data from all sources, including the IT team and users. Communication is key. Because DevOps is iterative, and there isnt a true endpoint, so IT managers should share metrics and empower their teams, motivating them to move forward. Being open to new ideas and encouraging outside-the-box thinking across all levels of the organization will inspire the innovation that will drive business forward. And then, of course, measure the results. Stay tuned into end goals There are many benefits to adopting a DevOps culture, including reducing risk and becoming more agile, collaborative and efficient. Although these goals have metrics tied to them, most agencies dont move beyond the macro level. If theyre pushing to move faster, they may measure a release date and not take into account functionality that was dropped to meet the goal. By diving deeper into the pieces of the development processes that affect the end goal, agencies can evaluate outcomes, rather than just outputs. In a 5K race, for instance. Winning isnt simply the result of running faster; its about increased training levels, improved gait and numerous other factors (both predictable and unpredictable) that affect the end result. Gain workforce and executive buy in DevOps is about people, culture and processes. In many agencies, theres a development team and an operations team with varying degrees of cohesion. The developers just want to develop -- they write code, publish code and then fix code. The IT operations team is concerned about compliance, security, performance and cost. Getting staff to buy in to DevOps calls for bringing the two teams together and communicating the vision. Moving from an environment focused on fixed project cycles to iterative, ongoing processes is an organizational shift, so breaking down silos between people, data, tools and processes is a top priority. Starting with smaller pilot projects that prove successful will show the benefits of working in new ways. Team members may fear the change; shifting roles and new responsibilities can create discomfort and uncertainty. Describing what jobs will look like in a DevOps environment and providing the training to set staff up for success (both in the agency and in their careers) will help alleviate some of the growing pains that can hamper progress. And while its important to acknowledge successes, the most successful DevOps projects have buy-in from the executive team who can say, This isnt optional, guys. You need to do this. Build the right infrastructure Without the right architecture to build, manage and distribute data to the people and places it needs to reach, agencies wont meet their goals. Cloud architecture in particular is critical to success. Last year, the DevOps Research and Assessment research firm reported that teams embracing the essentials of cloud computing such as on-demand self service, resource pooling and rapid elasticity -- are 24 times more likely to be a lead performer when it comes to successful DevOps. Agencies must evaluate their current infrastructure and identify gaps. Moving toward an environment that can support the automation, integration and monitoring will foster agility and efficiency, on-premises or in the cloud. Building in security is key Building security into the development process can be a challenge because it may be perceived as an interruption in the developers workflow and considered a productivity hit. A DevOps culture that accounts for security at the beginning of the development process by injecting security checks into the workflow. For example, after a developer submits code, security software can evaluate that code to check for practices that may lead to a vulnerability. Throughout the workflow, agencies can leverage software to run against the binary to uncover any additional vulnerabilities, which will generate a bug if something suspicious is found. Implementing DevOps is harder than buying and installing new technology. It requires a different culture, greater collaboration, new metrics and the right infrastructure to be successful. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-22 00:23:17|Editor: zyl Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State said on Friday that the United States and the Afghan Taliban are set to sign an agreement on Feb. 29 after the implementation of a week-long violence reduction in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that on the condition of a successful implementation of the reduction in violence across Afghanistan, the United States and the Taliban are expected to sign an agreement on Feb. 29, but he did not announce the location of the signing. According to the statement, intra-Afghan negotiations will start soon after the signing of the agreement. "Challenges remain, but the progress made in Doha provides hope and represents a real opportunity. The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," the statement said. The Taliban also confirmed a peace accord will be signed with the United States later this month. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, wrote on Twitter that following lengthy negotiations, "both parties agreed to sign the finalized accord in the presence of international observers" on Feb. 29. Earlier on Friday, an Afghan official said a week-long reduction of violence period during which the Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents will refrain from operations and attacks would start by early Saturday. The deal between the United States and the Taliban is expected to include a timeline for the reduction and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops, assurances by the Taliban that they will prevent terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire. President Donald Trump has long grumbled about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan that started in 2001, calling it "ridiculous." Peace talks between the United States and the Taliban began in 2018 but have been interrupted at least twice after Taliban attacks on U.S. military personnel last September and December. The United States maintains roughly 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, which mostly provide training missions to local Afghan forces while conducting counterterrorism operations. The war in Afghanistan is the longest one in U.S. history. The death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 since the country invaded Afghanistan in 2001. CARACAS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Members of a committee tasked with overhauling Venezuelan state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., or PDVSA, asked the company's vice presidents on Friday to offer their resignations, three sources said. The committee could accept the resignations or maintain those officials in their posts, according to one of the sources. PDVSA did not respond to a request for comment. The committee could not immediately be reached for comment. President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday created the committee, which he said would help recover slumping production, a day after the United States sanctioned a Russian firm that has helped Venezuela export crude despite a broad sanctions campaign. Members of the commission requested resignations at the company's production, finances and refining vice presidents and also ordered employees in those divisions to close accounting books immediately, one of the sources said. Maduro is seeking to turn around years of declining output, which accelerated after Washington opened a sanctions campaign meant to push him from office. The commission, which is led by Economy Vice President Tareck El Assiami, has not described how it plans to restructure operations. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga and Deisy Buitrago; Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Richard Chang) The United States has welcomed Ukraines progress in the fight against corruption and the implementation of institutional reforms, and also reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Donbas. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun said this during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko in Washington, D.C., on February 21. "Unwavering U.S. support remains crucial for Ukraine. New approaches not only in Kyiv - it's inspiring," Prystaiko wrote on Twitter. According to the U.S. Department of State, Deputy Secretary Biegun and Foreign Minister Prystaiko discussed their mutual desire for a peaceful settlement to Russias aggression in Ukraine. The Deputy Secretary congratulated the Foreign Minister on the progress his government has made to combat corruption and institute reforms. "The parties also discussed opportunities for further integrating Ukraines military, investment, and trade with the Euro-Atlantic community," the report reads. As Ukrinform reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko is on a visit to the United States. The day before, he took part in a UN General Assembly meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. ish According to a study published in January, as AVN.com reported, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren had the best internet technology platforms of any candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign. They two senators, generally considered the two most leftward-leaning in the Democratic field, received that rating from the nonprofit group Free Press Action despite both voting in favor of FOSTA/SESTA in 2018the law supposedly designed to combat sex trafficking that actually creates a large loophole in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides the basis for online freedom of expression. On Thursday, however, a new overview by the tech news site CNet reviewed the tech-related policy positions held by the top six remaining Democratic candidatesand found that most, but not all, are strong advocates of the open internet. On the net neutrality issue, both Sanders and Warren have proven to be strong advocates for the rules that guarantee equal access to the internet for all content providers. Both have promised to restore the Obama-era rules that were repealed in 2018 by the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has also pledged to make net neutrality rules the law of the land. As mayor of the small city, he signed a pledge to prevent internet access providers from blocking or slowing government content online. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has also said that she would put strong net neutrality rules in place during her first 100 days in office. But even though the now-repealed net neutrality ruled were put into place under the Barack Obama administration, Obamas Vice President Joe Biden has not committed to support net neutrality rules should he become president himself. Biden also holds a close relationship with the top executives at Comcast, a major internet access provider that has lobbied against net neutrality rules. Finally, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made no known statement on net neutrality one way or the other, according to the CNet report. On the issue of online privacy, Bidens record is also iffy. He has said little about the topic on the campaign trail, but according to CNet supported the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, which requires makers of smartphones and other devices to help police eavesdrop on online traffic. Bloomberg said he supports passing data privacy laws, while both Sanders and Warren call for top executives of tech companies to face criminal penalties over data privacy breaches. Klobuchars position is weaker, supporting only a data dividend which would levy an additional tax on companies that sell user data, supposedly returning the funds to U.S. taxpayers, somehow. Buttigiegs primary online privacy position, according to CNet, is his support of the Right to be Forgotten, a rule currently in effect in the European Union. Under the right, users may demand that Google and other platforms remove all search results relating to them. Photos By Gage Skidmore / United States Naval Academy Photo Archive / Wikimedia Commons New York, Feb 22 : Information overload may not always be a good thing. Researchers have found that in certain circumstances, having more background information may actually lead people to take worse decisions. The study, published in the journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, may help reframe the idea of how we use the mountain of data extracted from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms and how healthcare professionals and financial advisors present this new information to their patients and clients. "Being accurate is not enough for information to be useful," said Samantha Kleinberg, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, US. "It's assumed that AI and Machine Learning will uncover great information, we'll give it to people and they'll make good decisions. However, the basic point of the paper is that there is a step missing: we need to help people build upon what they already know and understand how they will use the new information," Kleinberg added. For example, when doctors communicate information to patients, such as recommending blood pressure medication or explaining risk factors for diabetes, people may be thinking about the cost of medication or alternative ways to reach the same goal. "So, if you don't understand all these other beliefs, it's really hard to treat them in an effective way," said Kleinberg. For the study, the researchers asked 4,000 participants a series of questions about topics with which they would have varying degrees of familiarity. Some participants were asked to make decisions on scenarios they could not possibly be familiar with. Other participants were asked about more familiar topics i.e. choosing how to reduce risk in a retirement portfolio or deciding between specific meals and activities to manage bodyweight. The team compared whether people did better or worse with new information or were just using what they already knew. The researchers found that prior knowledge got in the way of choosing the best outcome. Kleinberg found the same to be true when she posed a problem about health and exercise, as it relates to diabetes. When people without diabetes read the problem, they treated the new information at face value, believed it and used it successfully. People with diabetes, however, started second-guessing what they knew and as in the previous example, did much worse. "In situations where people do not have background knowledge, they become more confident with the new information and make better decisions," said Kleinberg. "So there's a big difference in how we interpret the information we are given and how it affects our decision making when it relates to things we already know vs. when it's in a new or unfamiliar setting," she added. Kleinberg cautioned that the point of the paper is not that information is bad. She argued only that in order to help people make better decisions, it is important to better understand what people already know and tailor information based on that mental model. Started in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the oldest technological institutes in the US.